The wind that usually blows across the plains of Rohan is missing today and the sun strong, the grasses are already turning brown although it is not long passed mid-summer. When the wind blows the plains are like a green sea, constantly in motion, I am glad that this morning all is calm. It is a good day for riding and my mount is eager to shake the fidgets out of her legs. Gelir was a gift from my father; an elven horse bred for speed and endurance she is easy to ride and responds swiftly to my instructions.

I am riding her because Arod is getting older now and so I only ride him around my demesne in Ithilien but I have plans to breed him with Gelir so that his line will endure even when he is gone. I felt sorry to leave him at home when I decided to come to Rohan but it would not have been fair on him and I wished to travel quickly I needed to travel quickly.

I have been struck down in the last few weeks by a renewal of the sea longing, this time the mental torment and the agitation it causes me was much harder to deal with although I did try.

Galathil seeing how I was struggling suggested I should call for Gimli to come to me, for he knows that better than any other my dwarf is able to distract and comfort me when this longing strikes. My other friends do their best, but they do not understand just how debilitating the condition is, and I am glad for I would not wish this 'desperate need' on any other.

But the fact was that I knew Gimli was busy on an engineering project to benefit both his own folk and the denizens of Helms Deep and I did not want to take him away from something he would so much enjoy being involved in and so I tried to get through the episode alone, unsuccessfully as it turned out.

Galathil became so concerned over me that he threatened to ride to Aglarond and bring Gimli back with him if I would not write and beg for his company. In the end we compromised. Rather than drag my guardian away from his work I suggested going to him instead, which is why I find myself on this fine summer morning just cresting the last rise that will take us onto the plains before Helms Deep.

While my arrival may come as a shock, I do not fear that my coming will be unwelcome. Gimli and Mam are always happy to see me and when I explain why I have come I am sure that Gimli will say I have done the right thing albeit somewhat belatedly.

Looking down into the Deeping Valley, I feel a strong pull of home and family similar to the one I get when I enter the woods of Eryn Lasgalen. Gelir senses my sudden sense of urgency and springs forward and then my guards and I are flying across the plains and then thundering up to the open gates of the Deep itself.

Gimli and his folk have their own grand entrance to Aglarond now, which means they do not have to use the tunnels under the fortress. But protocol demands that I, at least, make my presence known to Lord Erkenbrand and his family before I go on to Aglarond and I have letters to deliver from Edoras where I spent last night and which I offered to carry for Eomer King to his Marshal of the West-fold.

The guards allow us to ride through with little formality for they know me well enough, and some here fought beside me at the Battle of the Hornburg during the Ring War.

Lord Erkenbrand comes out of the keep to welcome me. He is a great bear of a man, getting on in years now, but still hale, and he all but lifts me off my feet as he embraces me.

"Welcome Prince Legolas, welcome! To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I am on my way to see Gimli" I tell him, "and thought I would pay my respects to you and your family first. I also bring messages from Eomer for you."

I hand over the leather bag that my guard has carried from Edoras.

"Well, come in, come in. Lord Gimli is somewhere in the Deep I think. He and my son are involved in this water project; something to do with sluice gates and locks," Erkenbrand shrugs, "I have long since given trying to understand what they are talking about" he adds with a rueful grin, "I just let them get on with it and try and stay out of their way. Shall I send someone to find them? Gimli said nothing of your coming when I saw him this morning."

"That is because he did not know I was on my way. I came without an invitation and will have to throw myself on your mercy if he will not take me in."

Erkenbrand laughs at this, "Small chance of that happening although my wife would be happy to have you as our guest. She still has two daughters to dispose of in marriage you know, and it is not every day an elven prince comes a calling."
Seeing my dismay, he slaps my back and adds, "Fear not I will protect you from her machinations… or perhaps it will not be necessary."

He looks behind me and I turn on my heel and see my dwarf coming towards me his face wreathed in smiles, although I sense his concerns as well as his dark eyes scan me for any physical hurts.

"Lamb what are ye doing here, is ought amiss in Ithilien?"

I drop to one knee and embrace Gimli fiercely. Just being in his presence makes me feel better.

"Nay, I just wished to see you and hoped you would not mind an unscheduled visit?"

"Mind? Eh, lad, it is good to see ye again!" Gimli holds me away from him and then tells me "ye are as thin as a willow wand! Do ye never eat properly when ye are away from me? Tis a wonder ye did not get blown away in the breeze on the plains."

Ducking my head at this fond scolding I revel in the feeling of being safe and cared for. I do not wish to speak of the sea longing before Erkenbrand so I say only that I have missed my guardian and then ask him how his latest project is going.

"Time enough to talk of that later," Gimli informs me. Giving me another of his perceptive looks, he squeezes my shoulder and I know he has already discerned what has brought me here so unexpectedly. Then he turns to Lord Erkenbrand.

"If ye will excuse us Marshall, I will take my lad here down to greet Mam, and the rest of our family. I will see you tomorrow" he calls over his shoulder to Erkenbrand's son and before anyone can object to this plan he is towing me away and down to the gates that open up into the Glittering Caves where he has made his home.

The gates are not yet as fine as the ones that protect Minas Tirith but they are sturdy enough to withstand an attack from anything less than a dragon I suspect and the carvings on them proclaim to all who enter that they are in the realm of Gimli Lord of Aglarond and keeper of the Glittering Caves and that all who come in peace are welcome. Dwarven masons are working on the carved stone pillars and I am delighted to see that besides the traditional runes and designs that there are flourishes of what is undoubtedly an elven inspired motif. I am not given the opportunity to comment on this for Gimli is hurrying me past the entrance and then drawing me into the small guard room that is next to the gates.

"Ye are afflicted by the sea-longing."

It is not a question; just a statement and I do not seek to deny it.

I shrug but answer as well "It struck a few weeks ago."

"Then why did ye not come to me straight away? Either that or send for me. Ye knew I would come to ye."

"I thought I could manage it, and I did not wish to bring you away when you were so busy, so" I look up at Gimli through my eyelashes, "I came to you instead, and I already feel better just to be here with you."

"Hmm," I see Gimli is not pleased by my procrastination but is relieved that I have finally come to my senses. "Well ye are here now, and we can deal with this thing together aye and beat it too."

And I find I believe him and that all will be well. Gimli's greatest strength is his determination and strong will. Once he has decided upon something then nothing will gainsay him. I allow myself to draw upon that strength and relax into his embrace again resting my head on his sturdy shoulder.

Gimli holds me for as long as I need and as soon as I pull away he lets me go asking matter of factly.

"Will your guards be staying with ye Lamb?"

I shake my head, "No, they will return to Ithilien tomorrow. Lord Erkenbrand has offered them accommodation for the night and will stable my horse for me while I am here. When it is time for me to return I am to send a note to Galathil, and he will provide an escort."

I wrinkle my nose at the memory of this last argument with my guard captain, over the necessity of such an action, which he won by the simple expedient of pointing out that Gimli would never allow me to travel home on my own. I do not tell this to Gimli of course, but I suppose I do not need to. He and Galathil for all their differences have a very similar opinion on my ability to travel alone without finding trouble so I just watch my dwarf nodding in approval and then allow myself to be herded into the hallways that will lead to Gimli's private apartments and a reunion with Mam, Dorbryn, Greirr and Thorûr.

Gimli puts a finger to his lips when we arrive at the door that will lead into the family quarters; then he opens it up and calls out,

"I am home Mam."

Lady Vonild is busy in the kitchen area no doubt preparing the evening meal, "you are early son; is all well?"

"Aye things are going along as we could hope for, I have bad news though, I found a thoroughly disreputable character lurking around our gates wanting us to provide him with room and board said he had fought alongside me at the Hornburg."

Mam snorts at this, "If I had a gold piece for every old soldier who used that to get a free meal out of us I would be a rich woman. Mind, if he did indeed fight in the wars I'd not see him starve, or lack a place to lay his head. Did ye send him to Mistress Dis in the main hall?"

"Nay" Gimli winks at me "I brought him home for dinner."

Mam bustles out of the kitchen area and sees me where I am standing behind her son.

"Legolas, lad" she cries out and then holds out her arms and I am soon wrapped in her embrace while she alternatively laughs and scolds Gimli for teasing her so.

"Come in lad and sit ye down" she pushes me into her favourite chair by the fire, "now bide there while I get you some tea. Ye look as if ye could do with something hot inside ye."

"I do not wish to be a burden," I begin only to be hushed.

"A burden? Having all my family under my roof again is hardly a burden. Just wait until Greirr hears you are here, aye and Dorbryn too. Ye will hold a feast to welcome our guest I expect"

This to Gimli.

"Aye in a day or so. Let my Lamb recover from his travels first. There is no hurry Legolas will be with us for a month or more I expect and I suspect tonight he might just like to spend time with his family rather than deck himself out in formal clothing and do the pretty to all those dwarven matrons who dote on him so much."

"I would certainly prefer a quiet night in" I hurry to agree, and I catch Mam and Gimli exchanging looks and know there is little point in denying that I am not at my best, "I am feeling a little tired after the journey."

"And all the rest" Gimli grunts, then picks up my saddle bags and carries them off into the guest room leaving me with Mam who is inspecting me closely.

"The sea longing" Once again not a question. Mam knows my travails as well as her son does.

"I am afraid so" I answer.

"Well, ye did right to come here and be with your family, and I am sure between us we can set you to rights."

Uncomfortable with talking about my problems I ask after Greirr, and am told he is now apprenticed to one of the jewel workers, and doing well. I am pleased for him for I know it is what he has long wanted to do, but it highlights yet again how my mortal friends all outstrip me. Greirr is not yet a full adult but whereas five years ago we were almost equal in maturity he is now likely to be the elder in our relationship even if not by too much.

Still I look forward to seeing him again and spending time in his company. Like his uncle Greirr is very open to new ideas and thoughts and he has none of the prejudices that some of the older dwarves still occasionally display not that they as a race are alone in that. There are many elves who still consider themselves superior to the other races on Arda and who fail to appreciate the different skills and abilities each race brings. We are all the children of Eru after all.

Mam is still talking, telling me the news, and asking about those elves she knows in Ithilien.

"I had a long letter from your Adar" she adds, "he did not mention your affliction, I suppose ye have not told him?"

"I did not wish to worry him."

Mam kisses the top of my head, "Bless the boy, that is what parents are for. But at least ye had the sense to come here. Now swallow this tea down while I go and make up your bed."

I do as I am bid and allow myself to sink back into the cushions and close my eyes. Listening to Gimli and Mam talking I do not even finish my tea before I step onto my dream path and for the first time in several months my rest is not plagued by the sound of the sea.