Title: Of Iron and Steel
Pairing: Mostly Legolas/Gimli. If you don't like it don't read. Perhaps side pairings if you squint...
Rating: M in later chapters.
Notes: I own nothing but the plot...the characters belong to a member of the Inklings J.R.R. Tolkin and his estate/publishers. I mean no offense...I write as I see it. The friendship between Legolas and Gimli seems far from platonic to me...
Two days…silence…
Gimli had to admit the elf…it was easier to call him Elf then Legolas. If he dared to speak that name, his rapture at the mere beauty of his name would be easy to hear. He was no love-sick dam…
He was male…a miner…a wielder of a large double-handed ax and one not to be trifled with. Yet, he was drawn to the Tall proud Elven Prince….who was most likely more interested in poetry then gem cutting.
If given the chance, he would treat the Elf like a precious gem, like a diamond…
XoooooX
"Oh Gentle Yavanna…I must take after thee…for I fear I have fallen for a child of thy husband Aule's creations; The Adopted Ones. It was Legolas' time to stand watch, he spent many hours in silent meditation. Sleep as elves do did not come easy…surrounded on all sides with rock and cold wind did little to ease the elf's claustrophobia…
He was no weakly but he preferred to see the sky and not be trapped. He certainly felt trapped; by Moria and his growing desire of the noble dwarf who bore the shock of the death of his kinsman well. The expedition to retake the lost Dwarven Kingdom of Moria had failed. The hospitality Gimli had promised was naught. They were alone…trapped beneath a mountain wondering when the evil that befell Balin and his fellows would descend upon them.
Gimli took the dark deathly silent hallows of Moria gruffly, if one had stumbled into the lost fallen realm of Gondolin then the place would have been filled with ancient songs of mourning, songs that told of the greatness of Gondolin in its prime. One would have to be blind not to see the art of Moria, the designs that were painstakingly carved upon the stone of the hall were the others attempted to sleep had not been beneath him to notice. He wondered, why any elf would come here…he knew that Elves had passed through Moria before it's fall but it was so dreary….so far beneath a mountain he could almost feel it oppressing them.
He leapt to his feet hearing the yells and jeers, he snorted, "Goblins…" he shook Aragorn and Gimli, "We have company. We should greet them properly."
Gimli woke quickly, rising and raising his ax menacingly, "I have score to settle…and my kin to avenge…"
Aragorn turned to Boromir, "Awake...the eve of battle is upon us."
The Gondorian soldier awoke, leapt for his weapons.
Frodo woke, first of the hobbits, "The mountain has awoken and released the horde's of Darkness…"
The eldest hobbit's voice woke Sam; who turned, "Wake up…" he shook Merry and Pippin.
Frodo withdrew Sting, it glowed blue. He muttered, "Goblins…"
Gimli had heard of the elvish knife that served as Thorin's thief's sword, crafted during the Goblin Wars…it was awesome to behold. It would serve the Ring-Bearer well if he could wield it.
Gandalf had risen himself, or had he actually rested? The wizard seemed to be resigned to something….
It was over…
Gandalf had fallen…
Aragorn had managed to get them out of Moria…
Somber faces all around…
Merry and Pippin were sobbing, Frodo's eyes were wet and he was clutching Sam's hand like a lifeline. Sting hung limply from his other hand still dripping dark ichor from the goblins, it no longer shined with a eerie blue light so they were safe for now. Who knew that a Bal-roq had liven- if one could call it living in the bowels of Moria with hosts of goblins for company and servitude?
They argued where to go next…whom to gain counsel?
Gimli was uncharacteristically silent since Legolas had dragged him from Balin's tomb.
Legolas turned to Aragorn, "We need rest and as safe a haven we can find in these dark days. I say we head for Loth Lorien. The Lady of the Golden Wood would receive us…she is wise and generous…she can tell Elrond that Gandalf has fallen…"
"To her own…which I have sometimes counted due to my relationship to Elrond. I doubt Gimli or Boromir would be well-received. The hobbits are hard to resist…and the Lady would no doubt be intrigued by them. She would approve of Sam…Frodo would enjoy meeting her…" rather then talk himself out…the ranger had instead talked himself into it. He turned to his weary, mourning companions, "We head for the Golden Woods to cast ourselves at the Lady's feet and beg for refuge and guidance…"
Boromir had heard nothing good about the Witch who inhabited the Golden Wood, "Aragorn, my liege…She is said to distain men…to detain them and imprisons those to enter her domain."
Gimli snarled, "Better an Elven Witch then the horrors of Moria. Surely The Elf's advice and promise of refuge cannot turn as sour as mine. Lead on Elf." He would gladly have given his life for the wizard if it had been an option, why did the Elf drag him from his kinsman's tomb? He had felt the determined grip through his armor…it had burned through to his skin…