2.

In their small cabin the bamboo walls seemed to close in. It was as if the walls themselves were afraid, for they too had been alone, standing on that cliff edge above Orome, holding the forest's protectors inside.

Gimli peered at Legolas through his long eyelashes, stroking his beard as he considered this new piece of information. 'Not alone? What do you mean by that lad? Pfft I've never heard such…'

'I can feel it,' Legolas said simply. 'Listen.'

Gimli did. As far as he was concerned there was nothing down in that pathetic so called forest and there was no evidence that they would ever come across one of the Druchii. Or the Dark Elves as the translation would have it.

'Look if you think...'

'Shhh!' interrupted Legolas. He was quite still positioned in the middle of the room. He willed Gimli to hear what he could; a faint whispering in the trees below. A soft voice crying out, he could make out the sounds, almost as if they were lost words. As if they had been calling out for decades for someone to come and retrieve them and produce meaning from a forgotten language. Who was the creature behind the sound?

Gimli strained to hear what was so captivating to Legolas. He thought he could make out a crow cawing in the distance. And something else, what was that? Perhaps the wind in the trees? He huffed – enough was enough.

'We've been damn well alone in this forest for as long as I can remember!' he yelled. He was agitated now, his chest heaving up and down as he paced the small room, up and down.

'There's no point getting your hopes up that there's something out there lad – experience and time alone should tell you that. This isn't some far fetched attempt at driving me insane is it? I complain of boredom yes – but this is near cruelty! To suggest to an old Dwarf such as myself, that someone, anyone might join our company, coupling, twosome, whatever you want to call it! And as for danger, ha! We've seen nothing of the Druchii, nothing. I'm beginning to think they don't even exist! What evidence do we have Legolas? Hmmm? Tell me, what?'

Rant over he waited for a response from Legolas. Nothing came – he was away, transfixed by the now singsong tune he could hear in the distance.

'There is evidence,' he replied eventually. 'Death, darkness, sadness everywhere. It litters that forest. And finally it's here. I'm going down there Gimli – and you're coming with me!'

'Oh ho I think not lad, I think not!'

'It's your job! It's our duty and it's what we've been sent down here to do. Besides I didn't mention the Druchii not once. You came up with that conclusion on your own.'

Legolas smiled, he knew his next move would swing the dwarf to his way of thinking. Finally some movement! Finally some change in their long and lonely lives. He reached for his bow and arrow, about to be put to good use now. So long had they been fired into tree bark for sport, at last they would fulfil their purpose again. It was as if they themselves breathed a sigh of relief. Legolas strapped his kit on his back and turned to Gimli.

'Unless of course you're afraid old friend.'

Gimli glared at the Elf while strapping his own axe to his torso. He knew Legolas was going to play this card and he had already made up his mind that he would go with him. And besides Legolas seemed to think this 'feeling' he had and this 'sound' he could hear was nothing to do with the Druchii. And so what if it was! He was Gimli son of Gloin! He had fought Orks in their thousands, he was quick and he was strong. But he shuddered when he remembered the legends of the Druchii. He was old and he was unfamiliar in these lands. Despite residing there for, what was it 4, 5 years? They never crossed into the forest, on instruction.

Legolas patted Gimli on the back as he searched the cabin for kept rations and fluids they would take with them. They had now reached an unspoken understanding, that following instinct was paramount in Legolas and that Gimli ultimately trusted the Elf. No more was said between them as they left their cabin for the unknown world of Orome.