Title: The Denial of Hope

Chapter: One

Chapter Name: Without Hope, Her Undying Light

Setting: Just after the council and the deciding of the Fellowship. This takes place in the home and surrounding grounds of Rivendell (excuse my use of the common tongue).

Chapter Rating: T

Rating: M

Words: 1155

Personal (OC) Character List:

Esmerel

Translations by the Grey Company:

Naugrim: Dwarf

Elleth: She-Elf

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Lord of the Rings' by Tolkien nor any of the associated characters. I do, however, hold ownership and rights over any non-Tolkien characters, plots, settings and complications.

~ I do not own rights nor do I write for profit. My own enjoyment and passion drives me. I do not wish to cause any grief so please do not cause me any either.

Important: This is the first segment of a two part series of the newly revised work. The companion piece will be uploaded soon. Currently everything is undergoing adjustments and is being revamped.

Constructive criticism and acknowledgement is welcome.

Enjoy...

. . .

Rain fell from the sky in torrents causing water to streak heavily down the worn carved paths. A grey bleakness had settled on the surrounding forest and yet, in the rain and all its misery, shafts of light could be seen to stream down from between the clouds.

Ornamentally carved pillars rose to meet sleek marble roofs; entwined silver myrrh stretched out across valleys to from bridges. Below, the brook whispered its silent tune as it gurgled off into the distance.

Esmerel stood leaning against the balcony railing, distantly she gazed down upon the serine backdrop. From the room inside a figure stepped through the door; so very quiet was he that even her elven ears almost missed his sound. But alas, knowledge was the disadvantage of being an elf of the Moon. Beauty and grace is found to be easily acceptable, however, nothing can ever be kept from a Moon Elf, always to be revealed before its big opening.

Sighing softly she closed her eyes, "Gimli, what ails you my friend?"

Sometimes the escape she looked for could never be found in solitude.

"Nothing troubles me sweet lass. I believe though that there is a thought that may lay heavy on your mind." His shoulders stiffened as he approached her hunched form. No creature of perfection should bare the weight of such concerns.

"Can nothing ever get past this crude but concerned dwarf?" she thought.

"Ah, there you are my Romeo," she teased him, "Is there nothing that escapes your notice?"

Confused at the sudden change of mood, the Naugrim took step closer to her. However being around the Elven folk far too much for his liking, Gimli could almost always pick up when one was lying or speaking the truth.

For days she had not left her room, not a soul had seen her step outside after the council. "You are like a daughter to me. Tell me little one, what is it that has kept you locked away?"

Sobs started to wrack her body as tears rolled down Esmerel's pale cheeks. Her fingers unraveled themselves from the death grip on the railing. At the same time her knees gave way and she fell to the floor.

"Have you ever loved…" can her quiet voice. It quivered like a bowstrings releasing its arrow. Hands came up to cover her face.

"Well, you could say that I have…" he began, "There was once this young she-dwarf who…"

"No, not like that… Have you ever loved a being but cannot tell them? I watch him pass by without a word and my heart melts. Not a single glance in my direction and yet I crumble. I cannot live without him; and now I am being made to sail. Tell me Gimli, have you ever lost your courage to speak three simple words even when they lie upon the tip of your tongue? I am scared because I am about to lose even though I never even had him. This quest will be the death of you all… of him."

Her breath shook as she looked him in the eye. "When you go he shall leave my heart in tatters. If he were to die then I shall die to. My heart belongs to a man who doesn't even know of my name or of my existence."

Collapsing into the Master Dwarf's lap, the elf cried until unconsciousness claimed her. Carefully, Gimli moved the hair from her face. "I love a man who can never love me…" she whispered.

He watched her steady breathing and felt anger rise inside of him. Gimli knew of which elf she spoke of. An idiot, "Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood," he muttered, "You never even knew of the mistake you made in ignoring this young elleth."

It was a fact well known between Aragorn and Gimli that the blond elf had indeed fallen head over heels for the pale Esmerel. However, he had chosen to ignore her, ignorant of her very existence believing that his heart still belonged to him and not to her.

"She is too young and beautiful, an elleth like that would never even glance in my direction, only my crown… I am a fool to think that I am anything to her." Legolas' words danced in his mind and Gimli sat stroking her raven hair. "And what a fool you are too young prince, what a fool you are too…" he muttered to himself.

Across the palace-like building, the very blond elf Esmerel and Gimli had been talking about only moments before sat in his room rocking back and forth. His assertion in joining the Fellowship had been a snap decision; one made in haste so as to attempt to block the pain of his heart. "If only you knew little one," Legolas whispered to himself.

"When I leave from here I shall be walking away from you and a part of my soul as well."

"After seeing you I could never love another, the way your eyes light up with laughter, you entrance me. I believe that I have lost my mind, heart and soul to you; and yet I cannot come to tell you of my affections… I shall lose you before I have even met you."

Grasping the sheets of the bed in which, tears began to trickle out from the corner of his eyes. "My love for you is eternal just is your caring ways. I watch the way you care for the hobbits and the dwarves; you are a pure soul. What am I to do…?"

For an age, Legolas continued to gaze at the ceiling – reminiscing.

Gimli had grown tired of watching the shadows dance across the floor some time ago. Even though it had been hours since the young elf had been carried to her bed, the dwarf had not left her side.

Both elves loved each other, he could even go as far to say that they were fated; however, neither knew of the others attentions. "It is hopeless to love someone when you know that you shall never return to see their smiling face again." Those had been Legolas' same words uttered not even days before. Oh how wrong he was.

"Those two bloody creatures, I don't care how blind you are to each other; by the end of this week I shall vow to see you together." Gimli swore to himself, he could fight fields of legions of Orc's without fear, but two moping elves… This he could not deal with.

Aragorn hated to see suffering, and for two of his closest companions, feeling their pain was tearing him down. He knew what it was like to love someone who you could not have. "Stubborn, denying elves; I doubt that this will be the last I hear of them," he spoke to himself. Composing himself, something had to be done and it had to be done quickly.