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Chapter 4: The eyes of an elf.

Gimli stretched and opened his eyes. Yawning, he stood up and looked around their camp. Then he realised that the elf was missing. He cursed under his breath when he noticed that the only thing that was missing, other than Legolas, was his bow. Thinking that his friend had been attacked and/or killed by the trees, he became frantic. He ran around the clearing shouting, "Legolas! Where are you, ye blasted elf?!" He soon became aware of someone chuckling softly, and listening to the sound, he looked up. The idiotic creature was sitting in a tree right above his head. Gimli glared at him, his face as red as his beard.

The way that Gimli stared daggers at him was too much for Legolas and he burst out laughing. He jumped out of the tree, clutching his side, while Gimli tried very hard not to stab him. The dwarf gritted his teeth and growled, "I didn't think that you would be stupid enough to wander around these woods alone."

The elf smirked at him, "I'm an elf. The trees won't touch me. They said so."

"And you actually trust them?"

"Of course. Though they were complaining about a certain bearded, axe-bearing creature so try not to be caught alone."

Gimli growled again, (an expression that was far too common for him to use around Legolas.) "What were you doing anyway?"

The blond threw two rabbits at his feet and simply said, "Hunting."

The dwarf snorted, trying to hide his surprise that the elf was able to find anything edible in that damp, suffocating forest. He eyed the trees suspiciously and with great disdain. Suddenly Legolas broke the silence, "I know that you don't like it here but it's not as dark as you would think" he whispered. He pushed a gnarled bush aside with his foot and Gimli was surprised to see a small purple flower growing near the elf's boot.

Gimli looked into his friends face, confused at the tone of his voice, and saw sadness, grief, awe. He had never seen Legolas look so much like, well, an elf. The dwarf realised how long it had been since they left Rivendell, and how many months since he had been home. The elf had not really left his home for years and was missing it terribly, Fangorn was the closest reminder of Mirkwood that he could think of and he doubted that it helped Legolas' homesickness. "Aye. Tis not all dark but it's far from pleasant." He reached up and put his hand on the elf's shoulder (which was quite a stretch for him), "Don't let the memories haunt ye, lad. We will see our homes again."

Legolas quickly changed the subject, quite surprised that Gimli had guessed what was bothering him, "Have you ever been in Mirkwood, Gimli?" he asked.

Gimli furrowed his bushy eyebrows, "No I haven't. Actually, I'm not a big fan of trees and it's always so dark there."

Legolas smiled, "It is dark there….until the bonfires are lit and the lanterns begin to glow." His sky-blue eyes were far away and he spoke softly, as if he were trying not to wake something, "We would grab flasks of wine and run out into the woods, at any time of the year, and spend the night dancing to the forest's song. The sounds you hear at night in Mirkwood, Gimli, there are none more beautiful. The owls hooting, the foxes calling their young, the wolves howling in the distance. All mingled with the sounds of singing and laughter and music. The elves do not settle in a place like dwarves or men. We live as a part of nature itself, we are as much a part of Arda as the trees and the mountains, we are one with the land." The trees began to bend and groan but for once Gimli was not afraid, they seemed almost to be dancing, as if in the words of the elf, they held a memory. "Do you know why I can speak to the trees?" he asked. Gimli shook his head, unable to talk, " The elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them how to speak. They built a bond, even depended on one another, for help, for protection, for friendship. I owe a great dept to the woods, they have saved me several times. We show each other respect and kindness. The trees are a part of Arda like we are. We are all connected, dwarves, elves, trees, men, mountains, rivers. We are one." The trees waved wildly, the birds darted through their branches, twittering. The sun rose over the horizon, coating the forest in soft, golden light. For once it wasn't dark, for once, a dwarf had seen the world through the eyes of an elf and it truly was beautiful.

A/N: I really wanted to give people a closer look at Gimli and Legolas' friendship. Mainly because I think that it is completely adorable.

P.S.: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! It means a lot to me. If you have any criticism, please give me your opinion but please word it kindly.

P.P.S.: And just because I'm random…

WAFFLES# PiPPiN. #NOM! Penguins attack!