Chapter Seven
Many thanks to Armeniel for beta-reading, as always.
Erebor rose definitely against the sky, glinting in the sunlight like a tower of rock, grafted by nature rather than Dwarves. Beautiful it seemed even to Legolas's Elven eyes, and he wondered if something of Gimli had passed into him to think so. Or perhaps it was his own upbringing in the halls of Mirkwood, listening to his father's songs echoing among the stone.
For a moment, he wondered if it might be a home, halls of stone where an Elf and a Dwarf might live in peace and share wine over flickering fires. But the fantasy would not take hold, for he knew what Gimli brought to Erebor would not just be accepted. In his heart, Legolas knew Gimli would have to face the same choice he had - live in silence or find a new home.
A new home...
He had not thought he would leave Eryn Lasgalen until the sea would roar in his blood and draw him from under the trees. He had not thought of a lot of things, least of all to be facing the anger of Dwarves for taking one of their kin to love.
He threw a glance at Gimli, who was walking in silence, his face cut in stone. Legolas wondered what he was thinking. Was he realising the loss before him? Was he begrudging the choice made? Was he worried they would both come to regret this, forced to live cut off from their kind? The lines of his face did not say, but they were troubled.
"How do you feel about caves, Legolas"
The question came so abruptly the Elf found himself staring for a few moments before managing a reply. "I have lived in caves and under trees my entire life, Gimli. You have seen my father's halls. Why do you ask"
"My heart has been speaking to me of the Glittering Caves" Gimli replied, sounding almost dreamlike. "I shall not linger long in Erebor. But there are those among my kin who are young and desire change. Such a wonder would make a fine home for many a Dwarf."
Legolas looked at him and felt his heart skip a beat. He was not sure if it was pain, for it was such a strange mix of emotions he did not know where one ended and one began. Elves looked to the past. Dwarves looked to the future. Already, Gimli was planning their new home for them, not pondering on the choice or lamenting the past.
"It would make a wonderful home indeed to Gimli, honoured Dwarf of Middle-earth" Legolas replied lightly after a moment.
"Hmpf" the Dwarf said, but he did not sound too displeased.
A colony of Dwarves... The idea gave Legolas a strange jolt. Perhaps... Perhaps some of the young Elves of Eryn Lasgalen also desired change. His father would not mind for all his grief, Legolas knew in his heart. A new home. And thus they would both have their own kin and not be faced with isolation. One less thing their love would cost them.
He found himself travelling the paths of Middle-earth in his mind, seeing them anew without the threat of shadow. And as if it was meant to be, he found himself lingering in Ithilien fair. It would be within distance of Gimli and King Elessar would surely not mind Elves present. Nor would Lord Faramir or Lady Éowyn, Legolas felt with certainty.
It would make a fair home.
"You look as if you have bested me in Orc slaying" Gimli remarked and shot him a sideway glance.
"I was learning how to be a Dwarf" Legolas replied truthfully.
The response made Gimli's eyebrows shoot up, but a moment later he merely smiled. "Have you been teaching yourself to grow a beard"
Legolas could not help but laugh, suddenly feeling strangely merry and free. "That would be a wonder indeed! Nay, my friend, I was looking to the sunrise, not the sunset."
"You have much to learn before you are a Dwarf yet. You are still as cryptic as an Elf."
"I must have sought a poor teacher."
A smile finally cracked Gimli's stone face and the Dwarf shook his head fondly. "Aye, you have me there. So shall I use my lifetime attempting to make sense of your words or will you kindly tell me in plain Dwarven terms what you are talking about"
"Ithilien."
Gimli's look of resigned exasperation made Legolas laugh again, the wind carrying his mirth towards the snow-specked tops of Erebor. Glinting in the sun, it seemed to be almost laughing with him.
"I am imagining sunrises and sunsets in Ithilien and you bathed in them. I am imagining... A home. A home, Gimli. For me and the Elves that may feel the shadow linger on Eryn Lasgalen still and desire a new dwelling."
"And the Glittering Caves"
"Will be your home. I love you, Gimli, and my heart is yours, but it is still an Elven heart and will need an Elven home. And you, my dear Dwarf, will need your caves and gems and fellow Dwarves to build all the dreams I can see in your eyes."
Gimli looked at him quietly, eyes glimmering in the sun. "You are my dream."
"But one dream should not deny you all the others."
"I could live a thousand lifetimes on this dream alone."
Legolas closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the twinge of now familiar pain. He would have to live a thousand lifetimes and see his beloved turned to ashes. That was his pain. "You honour me."
"I love you."
Three words that were the dream. It would not last. When the night passes to dawn, all dreams must perish. Legolas could feel it in his blood as surely as the call of the sea. But for now, he would dream of Ithilien's sun kissing the weathered face of a Dwarven beloved.
Perhaps you could live a thousand lifetimes on a dream. Perhaps...
And in the distance, Erebor glinted still as night started to fall and dreams came with the the western wind.
