Into the West
A Legolas and Gimli story by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from The Lord of the Rings
"It is a red dawn. Strange things await us on the eaves of the forest."
-Legolas
The Two Towers
"Orcs?" Gimli cried in surprise," Surely, you must be mistaken child."
Rora shook her head firmly," No! He said they were orcs! He said they were supposed to be dead! My mama always told me they lived in Mordor with all the other bad creatures!"
Legolas and Gimli exchanged nervous glances," Is it possible?" Gimli asked. Legolas shrugged," Something attacked these people." He looked down at Rora. Now that she had confirmed they weren't orcs she looked up at them with a defiant gaze. "We can't just leave her here," Legolas said.
"Where is your home, Rora?" Gimli asked her gently.
Rora looked at one and the other suspiciously as though she were weighing the truth in their words. "We won't hurt you," Gimli said gently," You see Legolas is an elf. He's about as far from an orc as you can get."
"And Gimli has fought orcs fiercely in battle before," Legolas added.
Rora looked down again," I live in the Hidden Dale."
Legolas frowned," You mean the one right outside the elven lands?"
"That's the one."
Gimli turned and looked at his friend with a smug smile," Well, this is good fortune as Legolas has family nearby."
"Indeed," Legolas said sadly.
"We will be quite happy to take you to your home, my dear," Gimli said helping the girl to her feet," Legolas, help the lady up onto her steed."
"You won't go too fast now will you?" Rora asked nervously as she sat atop the tall horse with Gimli behind her.
"No, I won't," Legolas said holding Arod's reins and leading the horse. He had his bow in his free hand. "Be alert Gimli there may be orcs about."
They rode for several hours. The young girl fell asleep aboard the horse. Gimli looked up at Legolas," So when we get to the Hidden Dale after we find her family..."
"It's only on the edge of Mirkwood," Legolas snapped," YOU can take her home. I'll stay out here and wait for your return with the horse."
"No!" Gimli cried," Absolutely not! Why don't you simply tell me what it is you're so afraid of at your home and have done with it!"
"It doesn't concern you, dwarf!" Legolas snapped fiercely. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be that sharp, but if you ask me about it again I won't be so friendly about it."
Gimli let out a sigh and sat back," Elves."
"Someone approaches!" Legolas cried suddenly," Hold the reins." He shoved them into Gimli's hands. Gimli fumbled with them for a few seconds while Legolas vaulted ahead. He whipped out his bow and arrow.
Suddenly, he found himself face to face with another arrow. He looked up into a pair of blue eyes. Bright and shockingly blue and fierce. An elven maiden stood in front of him. Her straight long blonde hair floating around her face. Her arrow aimed at his nose and his arrow at hers. "Who are you?!" she demanded in Elvish.
"Put your bow down!" he retorted.
"Elenuiel!"
"Legolas!"
A few seconds later Gimli and Rora rode into the scene. As well as two more elves. The smallest elf with big blue eyes and long dark hair pushed her way through to the maiden standing in front of Legolas. "Elenuiel!" she cried," Do as he says! Rumil says he's not dangerous! He says he recognizes him!"
"Rumil?" Legolas asked," Haldir's brother?"
"The same," the small elf said," You must be Legolas of the fellowship?"
"Yes," Legolas said slowly.
"Do you need help Legolas?" Gimli demanded swinging down to the ground from the horse.
"A dwarf!" the first maiden hissed in elvish.
"A fierce warrior and a loyal comrade," Legolas said. There was no mistaking the warning in his voice.
"Elen!" the small elf snapped," As much as he loves your arrow shoved up his nose please take it away!" Elenuiel looked at him like she wasn't sure before slowly bringing her bow down. Legolas did the same.
"Sorry about that," the small elf said," Elen's people skills need improving. My name is Aralnel. Aral. You must know Rumil and that lovely ray of sunlight is Elenuiel."
"You are too trusting Aral," Elenuiel snapped," The quest may be over but these are still dangerous times."
"Will you trust my judgment on this one, Elen?" Rumil asked mildly," Legolas and his companion were at the battle of Helm's Deep and Pelennor Fields as well."
"You'll have to forgive them," Aral said sadly," We've been tracking orcs all the way from Lorien."
"More orcs?" Legolas cried in surprise," Where do they come from?!"
Aral shrugged," We don't know, but their parties have been attacking elves as they try to head to the gray havens. Lady Galadriel has ordered us to try and thin their numbers."
"Any luck?" Gimli asked.
"None," Aral said sadly," We fear we've lost them."
"Not quite," Legolas said," We have their latest victim." Rora shrank back on the horse. Aral let out a small cry and hurried over to the child," Oh poor dear! Are you hurt? Come let's find you something to eat!" She lifted Rora off the horse and brought her over to their small campfire.
"Awfully bubbly for an elf," Gimli said.
"Half elf," Rumil said," Her mother was human. We suspect she got her never ceasing
tongue from her."
"It's a nice change of pace," Gimli said elbowing Legolas.
"Please, rest a while at our campfire," Rumil offered," It would be an honor to have you there."
"Now that's more like it!" Gimli said with a smile. Elenuiel scoffed and stomped off to the fire.
"Does the ice princess seem rather familiar?" Gimli asked Legolas.
"Not to me."
"But her eyes," Gimli said," They're stunning. Quite beautiful."
"All elves are beautiful."
"But even by elven standards..."
"She is Galadriel's niece," Rumil said," We've been told she has many of her features."
"Yes!" Gimli cried," That's it."
"I don't understand why she has such a cold heart," Legolas said.
"Perhaps some day you will," Rumil said.
The night passed slowly with the elves and Gimli taking turns watching. Legolas would have gone on sleeping til morning if Gimli hadn't elbowed him awake. "The sun still sleeps Gimli," he mumbled not even opening his eyes," And so shall I!"
"Don't you hear that?!" Gimli asked.
"What?!" Legolas asked rubbing his eyes and sitting up. He listened with his sharp ears and picked up a small noise instantly. "Someone's weeping."
"The child I expect," Gimli said.
"Where is she?" Legolas asked.
The two of them got to their feet and followed the soft crying. Rora sat with her back against a tree her face buried her arms and her knees drawn up. She was nearly invisible under her bushy head of red hair. "Now what's all this then?!" Gimli asked gently sitting next to her.
Rora jumped up at his presence," I want my Momma!"
"Now, now," Gimli said gently lifting her up onto his lap," Don't ye fret little one! We'll have you safe at home in no time."
"I still want my Momma!" she continued to cry," I need a lullaby to sleep!"
"A lullaby?" Gimli asked nervously," Are you sure you need one?"
"I can't sleep without my lullaby!" she continued to cry with big fresh tears rolling down her eyes.
"Okay! Okay!" Gimli cried," Don't cry! I'll have to think of one..."
"You sing?" Legolas asked incredulously.
"Of course I sing!" Gimli huffed indignantly," You think that just because you're the fairest race, Master Pointy Ears that you're the only race that possesses great musical talent?!"
"I've just never heard you sing before."
"Oh, well," Gimli said proudly," I've been told I have the voice of a lark." Legolas rocked back onto his heels and tilted his head to the side. This would be interesting. "Now," Gimli continued," It's been a long time since I've heard any lullabies, but I could sing you a song that my father wrote for my mother."
"Just sing it before she starts again!" Legolas whispered intently.
"Alright, now don't rush me," Gimli said," I'm an artiste. I should probably warm up first." He started to hum a few pitches," Me me me me meeeee..."
"It'll be daybreak before you finish the song," Legolas complained.
"Very well then," Gimli snapped," Alright here goes..." Gimli drew a deep breath.
"Now pray let me tell ya about my dear wife, Nell.
With a beard down to her toes and a voice like a bell
She's older than dirt and boy you can sure tell
Ohhh Whoooaaa my darling wife, Nell
Her heart is as deep and black as a well
Like wild onions her breath sure does smell
She's an old witch and I'm under her spell
Ohhh Whoooaa my darling wife, Nell
Her yell for me is like a death knell
She'll croak one day and that'll be swell
Yes, she'll live her life and go straight to..."
"Enough!" Legolas cried his hands over his ears. He swiped Rora from his lap and pulled her close to him. "Stop that infernal racket or you'll have both of us weeping!"
"Hmmph!" Gimli grumbled," Just cause you don't appreciate fine music."
"Maybe I should try something," Legolas said.
"Fine, maestro!"
Legolas cradled the weeping child against his chest and sang softly.
"Lay down your sweet and weary head.
Night is falling, and you have come to journey's end.
Sleep now. Dream of the ones who came before.
They are calling from across the distant shore.
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see all of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping.
What can you see? On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea, A pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass.
A light on the water
Grey ships pass into the west."
Rora was curled up against Legolas sleeping quietly. "That was a pretty tune," Gimli said grudgingly," Where did you pick it up?"
Legolas shifted Rora to his other shoulder," It's sung to those who leave Middle Earth."
"Ah!" Gimli said," I understand." He inched closer to Legolas," Is Middle Earth such an awful place that you want to leave so badly."
"No," Legolas said quickly," No, Gimli of course not. It just seems like well... the quest is over. There's no need for elves anymore. We belong to history."
"Nonsense!" Gimli said," There's plenty left for you to do here. Get those thoughts of the sea out of your head." He rolled over in his sleeping roll and was snoring in seconds. Legolas shook his head and smiled at his friend. He laid Rora down next to him and laid down as well.
All that night he could hear gulls calling in his dreams.
