I would like to say a big thankyou to 'LadyJoselyn' for helping me out and helping to improve my story- you've helped to make my story even better. Thankyou :)
Return to Mirkwood
Chapter 1
Legolas stood on the balcony of the castle of Gondor, looking out over the kingdom, the moon lit up the lands with a silver glow. It reminded him of his home, when he would sit for hours at his window, just looking out over the forests and listening to the night. But he knew that it was not his home anymore. He turned as he heard footsteps behind him, it was Gimli, his best friend.
"What are you doing out here at this hour lad? You will catch a chill!" He said to the elf. Legolas did not want to lie to his friend, but he turned to the dwarf and explained that he was in need of fresh air.
Gimli smiled, "Aragorn is holding a feast tonight, he wishes us to be his honoured guests" he explained. Legolas sighed and dismissed his troubled thoughts, he left the balcony and returned to his quarters. It had been only a few weeks after the destroying of the ring and the falling of Sauron, the hobbits had returned to the shire and all was well.
The two friends were staying in Gondor, as King Aragorn's guests, they had many great feasts and talked of all the adventures they had had together. In the joy and laughter of the feast, Legolas forgot his earlier thoughts. He and his friends talked far into the night, he watched as Aragorn and the lady Arwen danced, and listened to the music of men. He had been away from Mirkwood too long; the music there was like none other in Middle Earth, but he blocked his memories from his head as he knew he could not ever return.
They stayed in Gondor for months, with Aragorn and Arwen but soon they felt it was time to move on,
"We shall go to The Shire, to visit the hobbits!" Gimli declared one day. Legolas strongly agreed, for he had begun to miss the joyfulness of his old friends.
So, they bid their fairwells to the king; their best friend. The lady Arwen gave them parting gifts, so they could remember Gondor forever more. An axe of silver and gems for the brave, strong dwarf, and two elvish knives for her fellow elf.
"Thankyou," they bowed to the king and queen, they shook their heads,
"It is us who must thank you, without you there would have been no victory " Aragorn knelt down infront of Gimli; so he was just the dwarf's hight, and embraced him in a hug. The dwarf felt a sad pain that he was finaly to leave one of his closest friends, but he knew that Gondor would be in safe hands with Aragorn as king.
Then he rose and stood in front of Legolas. "My friend and my brother, I have known you for nearly my whole life, I am sad to finally see you go" Grief was strong in his voice as he pulled the elf into a long embrace, he did not let him go.
"A brother you have been to me too, i am sure that Gondor will find a great king in you" The elf was suprised to find that he felt tears building up in his eyes as Aragorn finally moved away.
"Come" said Arwen; the king and his queen led them down glittering white marble steps, leading to the stables. A regal white stallion stood in the centre clearing,
"He is for you" Arwen gestured to the handsome horse. Legolas and Gimli both approached the stallion and they stroked and petted it fondly.
"Why, he is beautiful!" Legolas said, "what is his name?"
Aragorn stepped forwards and placed a hand on the horse's face "He is yours, therefore you can decide"
The elf and the dwarf wondered if there was a name worthy of the mighty stallion, suddenly Gimli perked up "His name will be Haldir, in honour of our fallen friend" Aragorn and Legolas agreed strongly with their friend, Haldir had tragically died in the battle of Helms Deep, but it was thanks to him that they won the battle; he had brought an army of elves to their aid.
Aragorn and Arwen said their last fairwells as the two friends rode off towards The Shire. Gimli felt great sadness in leaving Aragorn as they galloped out of the kingdom, he saw his own sadness reflected in his friends eyes. The two friends and Haldir journeyed far to The Shire, through forests and valleys, but they had no trouble with orcs or alike- Middle Earth was safe once again. Although, neither had been best pleased with the barman at The Prancing Pony, when they reached Bree, he had laughed at the odd pair
" Well, I say! If I ever saw a stranger sight" he chuckled. Gimli scowled and he was sure he heard Legolas muttering elvish insults at the rude man. But eventually they told him that they were close friends with the king of Gondor and the man did not say another word and permitted them to stay, with his most sincere apologies.
The next morning the friends bid their thanks to the barman, the quarrel of the day before was forgotten, for they were to see their old friends very soon so they were high spirited and joyful. They went to Haldir who had been staying in the inn stables, he was happy to see them.
"Come Haldir, we are to see our old friends Sam and Frodo, Merry and Pippin." Gimli declared as he mounted the stallion. Haldir must've detected his friends's haste for he quickly ran, like the winds of the high mountains. Neither the dwarf or the elf were prepared for Haldirs sudden take off; they were both thrown from the horse. They thanked that the weather had not been bad for the ground they fell upon would've been a cold mud. But it was only dust and stones, although that was more painful then mud.
Gimli sat himself up and quickly looked around, for fear that someone had seen the clumsy accident. He rubbed his nose as he had fallen on his face, and began to dust his once clean beard. He heard a groan and turned around, he laughed at his companion, who did not appear hurt. Legolas picked himself up and picked up his arrows that had fallen from his back. He looked up as Gimli laughed more, he glared at his friend who found the fall amusing. But as he was about to stomp over to his friend he was knocked down by Haldir, who had finally realised that his companions were no longer with him. The horse nuzzled his face and Legolas gently petted him, whispering elvish words to him. Gimli ran over and hugged the stallion "Silly lad!" he chuckled. Haldir twisted around and pushed his face to the dwarf, Gimli laughed happily. Soon, the three friends were back on their way.
"Hey Pippin! Catch this!" Yelled Merry as he threw an apple to him.
They were sat outside their house, with Frodo, and Sam's family. It had only been a while since the ring was destroyed, but now it seemed like nothing bad had ever happened.
"Woah! Careful!" Sam shouted, as the apple wizzed just past his face.
"Sorry!" Called Pippin.
Frodo and Sam were sat nearby, along with Sam's wife and his daughter Elanor. They did not ever speak of the perilous journey they had faced together; even thinking of it caused pain.
"Oh Sam," said Frodo, "I am glad that Middle Earth is safe now" Sam turned to his friend and hugged him tightly, but before he could reply Merry and Pippin requested them join their game.
So it was that six hobbits could be seen throwing and catching an apple around a small garden, as the sun rose high in the clear sky. Soon, young Elanor became tired, Sam kissed her cheek goodbye as her mother carried her home. The apple game continued for a long time more.
"Hey! See if you can catch this then!" Sam yelled to Pippin. He hurled the apple far over Pippins head, the young hobbit tripped in his attempt to catch it. They all laughed, until they realised that apple was zooming towards the window of old Digory, the smiles quickly left their faces as they new that Digory would not be pleased for the smashing of his window. The hobbits looked on in horror as the apple neared the window. Suddenly an arrow struck the flying apple away from the window. They reached it as it dropped limply to the ground, the arrow still embeded in the apple.
" I know of one who can make a shot like that" Merry grinned, so did his companions for they knew who he spoke of.
They looked up to see the magnificent white stallion and their old friends beaming back at them. They dismounted their horse and strode over to the hobbits, where they were welcomed with hugs and greetings. "Ah! I see that you are all up to your old tricks!" Gimli boomed. "We have missed you so, friends" said Frodo "And us the same, mellon nin" said Legolas, his bow still in his hand.
Frodo led his guests inside his house, it was warm and inviting to the long traveled pair. Gimli found the hobbit hole perfect for him, he was only a little taller than the hobbits, but Legolas had to stoop down just to enter the door
."Ow!" He exclaimed as his head hit the door frame.
"Oh, please do take a seat!" Called Frodo from his kitchen.
Legolas perked up at the sound of the loud voice; he again hit his head. He turned a corner and saw that the three hobbits and Gimli were seated around a large wooden table. He sat himself next to Sam, across from Gimli. Frodo brought out plates filled with foods of all delight, they ate and talked for a long time. They told the hobbits of their stay at Gondor and Haldir, who was now quietly grazing in Frodo's garden. They showed them their gifts from lady Arwen.
"Wow, this is beautiful" Exclaimed Merry as he held Gimli's jeweled axe. He ran his hand over the emeralds and rubies, marvelling at their beauty.
Pippin held one of the elvish knives, while Sam held the other. "They are so light!" Said Sam, as he pretended to slice at an enemy.
The red of the sun lit up the sky, as it set behind the hills. Legolas was tending to Haldir, he whispered to him in elvish, telling him about the brave elf he was named after. He silenced as he heard someone open the door of the house. It was Frodo.
He walked over to the elf, and helped him brush the horse's coat, but of course being a hobit he could not reach high.
"You look troubled, dear friend" Said Frodo, peering his head around the huge stallion.
Legolas's voice was quiet as he replied, not looking up. "I miss my home"
Frodo walked around Haldir and looked up at the elf, he saw a deep sadness in his blue eyes.
"Then, why don't you go back? You are the prince after all!
I am not permitted to enter Mirkwood, I can never go back there." Legolas turned away, Frodo heard the grief in his friend's voice.
"Do you miss your father?" He asked, cautiously.
Legolas turned, and Frodo was shocked to see a tear falling down his friend's face. The elf knelt down infront of him and Frodo could see he was trying hard not to let another tear fall.
He took the elf's hands, "Go to him" Whispered the wise hobbit. Legolas nodded
"Thank you, mellon nin" then he stood and walked back to the hobbit hole.
