Title: Philo
Author: asparagus
Email: asparagus@iamwasted.com
Rating: G
Summary: The love of friends...
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings - the novels, movie, merchandise, characters, or plotline. In no way whatsoever am I profiting from this fictional piece - unless it's an ego boost from any comments you people deem worthy of sending my way.
Author's Note: This is the first of three-parts that I call "Of the Heart" for lack of a better title. One can consider "Hunter" as a prelude and offer his comments or suggestions. I am open to both.
Philo
*****
"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same."
- Elbert Hubbard
*****
"Stupid dwarf."
"Crazy elf."
The golden-haired one just tossed his head haughtily, but azure orbs sparkled as pursed lips twitched suspiciously. Then, musical laughter cut through the silence. A gruff chuckle followed it soon enough. Their mirth faded with the winds that blew past them yet their lips remained turned up at the corners. Together, the strange pair trudged through the sloping expanse of rough stone and verdant green undergrowth.
Sharp sight studied the sky thoughtfully before turning to look about at the isolated landscape. Searching for danger that went unfound, the keen eyes settled upon the shorter form that marched at his side. Under the intense inspection, warm brown warily peered up despite the bright sunlight to meet curious blue. Raising a brow, the dwarf spoke.
"What is it, Elf?"
"Nothing..." Legolas replied lightly.
"Elves...craziest creatures I know..."
The dwarf snorted as he muttered under his breath, not stopping his steady stride.
"...Dwarf."
"What, Elf?"
"What are we?"
Brown orbs looked at the other as if suspicions had been confirmed. Another snort.
"A dwarf and an elf. Even I don't have to live for centuries to know that, Elf."
"I know that."
The shorter person looked up at the other in obvious disbelief.
"Sure you do."
Brushing back a stray strand of gold, the elf explained himself.
"What I meant to say was that - "
"For all your years, you're daft."
Earlier on, that comment would have been enough to start a furious debate that would begin with the trivial remark and wind down to ancestry and old family feuds. Now, however, the elf just smiled in amusement and continued alongside his short companion.
"No. I meant to ask what you thought of the two of us."
Suddenly self-conscious, the elf fell silent and warily watched the other's face for a reaction. The dwarf's initial one was to blink up at the elf and then look down at the ground as they walked on. After some time, he simply shrugged.
"That's not much of answer," Legolas casually remarked.
"Well, what would you have me say, Elf?"
"I don't know." A sudden frown appeared on the pale face.
"Hn. You asked me what I thought. Now, what do you - an ancient, and so supposedly wiser, one - think of us?"
"Frankly...I'm not sure. I've been trying to figure it out."
"Ha. It's hard to believe that an elf would find a dwarf worthy of his time and thought."
"Oh, but you're an unusual dwarf," Legolas said absentmindedly.
It was obvious that he was deep in thought, searching for an answer to his own question.
"Is that so? I've been called stupid, but never unusual."
"I think it's the first that makes you the second."
The dwarf mock-scowled at the elf's impish smile.
"So, what conclusion have you reached, o wise one?"
Brown eyes looked back at the elf after a few moments. The clouded look of the other cleared and brightened as they looked down on the other. Raising his head high, the elf smiled in a superior manner that he used just to aggravate the short dwarf.
"O wise one," Legolas repeated, rolling the words on his tongue. "Hm...I like that. ...From now on, you shall have the privilege of addressing me as such."
"You go ahead of your supposed greatness. Do you have the answer?"
"Ah, the answer to our riddle...of course."
"You're riddle. I don't waste my time with such worthless thoughts."
With an indignant sniff, the elf crossed his arms and quickened his pace. The dwarf just rolled his eyes, knowing full well that not a minute would pass before the elf looked back to check on him. He was not disappointed.
"I don't know why I put up with you," Legolas said with the air of a long-suffering martyr.
"Ditto," the dwarf noted.
"While it's not worth -my- time to impart such knowledge on one such as you..." A martyr's sigh. "I shall do so."
"Get to it before I fall asleep on my feet."
"Hmph. Such ingratitude. ...So, I did the logical thing of crossing out what we -couldn't- be first. We aren't - "
"I know what we aren't," Gimli cut in. "Get to what we are already."
"Such impatience." Legolas looked to the heavens beseechingly. "Why am I burdened with him?"
"I could ask the same thing. Now, get to it."
"Fine, fine. First of all, we are - as you already pointed out - a dwarf and an elf. We also are two of the Nine Walkers, also known as the Fellowship of the Ring. That would make us both comrades in arms and warriors. We're also an axeman and an archer - though I do consider myself a dashing good rear guard -and- a wicked watchman."
"Get to the point."
"Hmph."
The elf crossed his arms across his chest as if insulted. When the dwarf saw that the other wouldn't give in again, he muttered an apology.
"What was that? I didn't hear it."
"I'm bloody sorry." In a lower voice. "Wicked watchman indeed..."
"In that case, I shall continue."
"And you better end soon. The sun's setting. We'll make camp soon."
"Well, considering numerous situations that have put us in danger and forced us to trust each other - "
The elf abruptly cut off his fast-spoken repartee. The light banter in his words had left just as suddenly. Face flushed, he turned away as he finally finished in nonchalant tone.
"I suppose I could call you a friend."
After a moment's pause, the elf couldn't help but look back at the one beside him. If he noticed the other's gaze this time, the dwarf showed no sign of it. Then, he looked up.
"That's strange," Gimli noted with the same nonchalance. "I think the same thing of a crazy elf I know."
The elf's solemn face abruptly broke in a smile as his eyes shone.
"Stupid dwarf."
"Crazy elf."
Author: asparagus
Email: asparagus@iamwasted.com
Rating: G
Summary: The love of friends...
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings - the novels, movie, merchandise, characters, or plotline. In no way whatsoever am I profiting from this fictional piece - unless it's an ego boost from any comments you people deem worthy of sending my way.
Author's Note: This is the first of three-parts that I call "Of the Heart" for lack of a better title. One can consider "Hunter" as a prelude and offer his comments or suggestions. I am open to both.
Philo
*****
"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same."
- Elbert Hubbard
*****
"Stupid dwarf."
"Crazy elf."
The golden-haired one just tossed his head haughtily, but azure orbs sparkled as pursed lips twitched suspiciously. Then, musical laughter cut through the silence. A gruff chuckle followed it soon enough. Their mirth faded with the winds that blew past them yet their lips remained turned up at the corners. Together, the strange pair trudged through the sloping expanse of rough stone and verdant green undergrowth.
Sharp sight studied the sky thoughtfully before turning to look about at the isolated landscape. Searching for danger that went unfound, the keen eyes settled upon the shorter form that marched at his side. Under the intense inspection, warm brown warily peered up despite the bright sunlight to meet curious blue. Raising a brow, the dwarf spoke.
"What is it, Elf?"
"Nothing..." Legolas replied lightly.
"Elves...craziest creatures I know..."
The dwarf snorted as he muttered under his breath, not stopping his steady stride.
"...Dwarf."
"What, Elf?"
"What are we?"
Brown orbs looked at the other as if suspicions had been confirmed. Another snort.
"A dwarf and an elf. Even I don't have to live for centuries to know that, Elf."
"I know that."
The shorter person looked up at the other in obvious disbelief.
"Sure you do."
Brushing back a stray strand of gold, the elf explained himself.
"What I meant to say was that - "
"For all your years, you're daft."
Earlier on, that comment would have been enough to start a furious debate that would begin with the trivial remark and wind down to ancestry and old family feuds. Now, however, the elf just smiled in amusement and continued alongside his short companion.
"No. I meant to ask what you thought of the two of us."
Suddenly self-conscious, the elf fell silent and warily watched the other's face for a reaction. The dwarf's initial one was to blink up at the elf and then look down at the ground as they walked on. After some time, he simply shrugged.
"That's not much of answer," Legolas casually remarked.
"Well, what would you have me say, Elf?"
"I don't know." A sudden frown appeared on the pale face.
"Hn. You asked me what I thought. Now, what do you - an ancient, and so supposedly wiser, one - think of us?"
"Frankly...I'm not sure. I've been trying to figure it out."
"Ha. It's hard to believe that an elf would find a dwarf worthy of his time and thought."
"Oh, but you're an unusual dwarf," Legolas said absentmindedly.
It was obvious that he was deep in thought, searching for an answer to his own question.
"Is that so? I've been called stupid, but never unusual."
"I think it's the first that makes you the second."
The dwarf mock-scowled at the elf's impish smile.
"So, what conclusion have you reached, o wise one?"
Brown eyes looked back at the elf after a few moments. The clouded look of the other cleared and brightened as they looked down on the other. Raising his head high, the elf smiled in a superior manner that he used just to aggravate the short dwarf.
"O wise one," Legolas repeated, rolling the words on his tongue. "Hm...I like that. ...From now on, you shall have the privilege of addressing me as such."
"You go ahead of your supposed greatness. Do you have the answer?"
"Ah, the answer to our riddle...of course."
"You're riddle. I don't waste my time with such worthless thoughts."
With an indignant sniff, the elf crossed his arms and quickened his pace. The dwarf just rolled his eyes, knowing full well that not a minute would pass before the elf looked back to check on him. He was not disappointed.
"I don't know why I put up with you," Legolas said with the air of a long-suffering martyr.
"Ditto," the dwarf noted.
"While it's not worth -my- time to impart such knowledge on one such as you..." A martyr's sigh. "I shall do so."
"Get to it before I fall asleep on my feet."
"Hmph. Such ingratitude. ...So, I did the logical thing of crossing out what we -couldn't- be first. We aren't - "
"I know what we aren't," Gimli cut in. "Get to what we are already."
"Such impatience." Legolas looked to the heavens beseechingly. "Why am I burdened with him?"
"I could ask the same thing. Now, get to it."
"Fine, fine. First of all, we are - as you already pointed out - a dwarf and an elf. We also are two of the Nine Walkers, also known as the Fellowship of the Ring. That would make us both comrades in arms and warriors. We're also an axeman and an archer - though I do consider myself a dashing good rear guard -and- a wicked watchman."
"Get to the point."
"Hmph."
The elf crossed his arms across his chest as if insulted. When the dwarf saw that the other wouldn't give in again, he muttered an apology.
"What was that? I didn't hear it."
"I'm bloody sorry." In a lower voice. "Wicked watchman indeed..."
"In that case, I shall continue."
"And you better end soon. The sun's setting. We'll make camp soon."
"Well, considering numerous situations that have put us in danger and forced us to trust each other - "
The elf abruptly cut off his fast-spoken repartee. The light banter in his words had left just as suddenly. Face flushed, he turned away as he finally finished in nonchalant tone.
"I suppose I could call you a friend."
After a moment's pause, the elf couldn't help but look back at the one beside him. If he noticed the other's gaze this time, the dwarf showed no sign of it. Then, he looked up.
"That's strange," Gimli noted with the same nonchalance. "I think the same thing of a crazy elf I know."
The elf's solemn face abruptly broke in a smile as his eyes shone.
"Stupid dwarf."
"Crazy elf."