Into the West
A Legolas and Gimli story
by talking2myself
"Wizards and dragons! Don't go getting yourself mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll end up in trouble too big for you!"
The Gaffer on wizards
-The Fellowship of the Rings
They left the silvery woods of Lothlorien behind them as soon at first light. The farther away they travelled, the more somber and quiet Elenuiel grew. Homesickness and worry was etched across her lovely features. Legolas fell back into step so he rode beside her. "You shouldn't worry about your home," Legolas said softly, "If these wraiths are chasing after members of the fellowship then Lorien should be safe."
"Then, how come they tore down my village?!" Rora demanded indignantly from on top of Aral's horse. "We didn't have any fellowship people living there!"
"The way I figure it," Legolas said thoughtfully, "Gimli and I never told anyone about our travel plans. So someone must've simply assumed that we would return to our homes. Your village was on the outskirts of Mirkwood. They probably took the same route as your people. Orcs can be very destructive and your village was right in their path."
Rora frowned, wiping away tears that she was trying to hold back with all her might.
"Don't worry little one," Aral said gently placing a hand on Rora's shoulder, "We'll stop them!"
"I don't wanna stop them!" Rora grumbled, "I just want to find my mama."
Gimli flinched. The vision of Rora's mother being dragged away haunted his memory. He had decided not to tell the others yet. He didn't want to worry the little one. She had seen enough sorrow. As for Legolas... knowing the elf he either already knew or would find out soon enough. Gimli wasn't sure if elves could read minds, but he was sure that if anyone could it would be Legolas.
"Is the Shire a nice place?" Rora asked timidly.
"Yes, my dear," Legolas said. It was refreshing that he didn't have to lie to her this time. "The Shire is a very nice place."
"You've been there?" Elenuiel asked.
"No," Legolas admitted, "But our dear friends talked about it so much..." Legolas trailed off sadly.
"What is it?" Elenuiel asked.
"We're taking them away from their home," Legolas said with a sigh, "Again."
"It's for their own good," Elenuiel said.
"That doesn't make it any easier," Gimli grumbled.
Suddenly, Orophin burst into the clearing where they were standing. He let loose a smattering of Elvish. "Slow down!" Rumil ordered his younger brother, "Speak clearly."
"Something is up ahead!" Orophin cried, "Coming closer!"
"Orcs?" Aral asked nervously clutching Rora close to her.
Orophin shook his head, "No. There's not that many. Two maybe three people. Coming this way!"
"Perians?" Legolas asked.
Orophin shook his head, "They have a horse! Or at least one!"
Legolas scowled and swore in elvish under his breath. Gimli jumped down from the horse, "Well, what aren't you silly pointy ears telling us?!" he demanded. "How many?!"
"Two," Legolas said.
"We can take them!"
"Wizards," Legolas said.
"How do you know that?"
Legolas lifted his hand and pointed in the distance. Two figures stood in the distance. Tall and erect each holding a staff. "Saruman?!" Gimli cried, "But that's not possible!"
"That's twice that you've mistaken me for Saruman, Master dwarf," a deep voice echoed.
The second shorter figure lunged forwards pointing his staff at the little company. Legolas froze suddenly collapsing to the ground. "Legolas!" Gimli cried. The shorter figure lifted Legolas off the ground spinning him around.
"Stop it!" Elenuiel roared whipping an arrow out of her quiver, "Or I'll shoot you dead where you stand!"
The taller wizard quickly intervened. "Stop it! They're friends!" he ordered the other. The shorter figure gave the first an unsure look before letting Legolas drop roughly to the ground. Legolas groaned and struggled to sit up.
Elenuiel jumped down from her horse and hoisted him upright. "Nice to know you're still as limber as ever, Gandalf," he grumbled.
The taller figure stepped forwards with shimmering white robes and hair. His blue eyes twinkled down at his comrades, "I apologize my friends. My young friend is rather paranoid at times."
"Friend?!" Gimli grumbled, "What friend? The same friend that might have killed Legolas?!"
"That's a gross exaggeration!" Legolas snapped, "I could've fought it!"
"Then, why didn't you?!"
"I suspected it was Gandalf."
"Right."
"I did!"
"Mithrandir!" Aral cried. Her shock had worn off and she was busy chattering again, "I've heard so many stories! Is it true that you can make flames jump out of nowhere? Oh and did you really fight off all nine ringwraiths at once? And is your robe really white or is it just a bunch of colors blended together? Aren't you supposed to be dead? How did you come back?"
"Aral!" Rumil cried slapping a hand across her mouth, "I apologize, Mithrandir," he said, "She doesn't know when to stop."
"It's perfectly alright," Gandalf said with a small chuckle, "Though it seems that there are some fantastic stories going around about me."
"May I ask who your friend is Gandalf?" Legolas asked. A lithe tall figure stood in the distance. He was clutching a staff tightly and his gray robes billowed around him as though they were too big. He gazed at them with big wide untrusting gray eyes. His wild dark hair blew around his face.
"Oh of course!" Gandalf cried, "How silly of me. This Sarmeth the Gray, my apprentice."
"Apprentice?!" Gimli and Legolas cried in unison.
Elenuiel raised an eyebrow, "Is this so unusual?
"Yes!" Legolas snapped, "What do you mean 'apprentice?'"
"I mean he is the one I am training to take my place before I go to the undying lands," Gandalf said slowly. Legolas's gaze went to Sarmeth and then back to Gandalf not understanding. "Is it really that hard to grasp master elf?" Gandalf asked.
"Sauron is gone," Legolas said, "There will be no need for wizards after you're gone."
"If the evil is gone from this world then why are there still ringwraiths hunting us?" Gandalf asked gently.
"So they've been tracking you as well?" Gimli asked.
"Night and day," Gandalf said sadly.
"That's why you've taken an apprentice!" Gimli cried. Gandalf nodded.
"Well, good enough for me," Aral shrugged as she stepped forwards offering him her hand, "My name is Aralnel."
Sarmeth shrank away from her silently. "Sarmeth is a man of few words," Gandalf said.
"Good," Rumil grumbled, "Hopefully he'll teach Aral a thing or two." Aral scowled at him.
"What are you doing in these parts?" Legolas asked.
"In the past months we've been guarding the little ones," Gandalf said, " The ringwraiths won't let the ringbearer out of their sight for long. Especially, when they're so determined to capture the rest of the fellowship."
"That's why we're here as well," Gimli said, "To bring the hobbits to Mirkwood."
"Oh?" Gandalf asked, "Under who's orders?"
"My father's," Legolas said grudgingly, "He thinks that they'll be safer there."
"I'm sure Thranduil means well," Gandalf said, "But that might not be the wisest course of action. The four hobbits plus you and Gimli and I. That's nearly the entire fellowship."
"Of course four sturdy walls and several scores of elven archers may protect them better than two vigilante wizards," Legolas noted.
Gandalf gazed at him for a few moments considering the weight of his words, "You have a point. I believe we will have to let them decide then."
"Decide what?!" Rora demanded impatiently, "Are we going to the Shire or not?!"
"Yes, we're going Rora," Legolas said quickly.
"Ah!" Gandalf said looking over at the little imp, "A young one of your own? Have you been starting a family Legolas?"
Legolas frowned due to his current situation he couldn't see the humor in the jest. Gimli answered quickly, "We found her in the aftermath of one of the orc attacks. We've kind of adopted her, but she's certainly not of Legolas's brood. Personally, I think she's more dwarf than elf."
"And what is your name little one?" Gandalf asked her quietly.
"Rora," she said before quickly adding, "And I'm not little!"
Gandalf lifted her off the horse, "Oh no! I see that now." Rora looked up at the old man curiously. He seemed a nice enough man. Kind of like her grandfather. Except he was all shining in white more like an angel than anyone she had seen before.
"Are you coming with us?" she asked eagerly.
"I do believe so," Gandalf said his eyes twinkling, "Though I do think that we should rest for the night."
-888-
Aral walked alongside Elenuiel as they went to gather firewood. "So Elen," she said with a cheeky smile, "What was that all about?"
"What was what all about, Aralnel?!" Elenuiel asked with an exasperated sigh.
"That!" Aral cried, "I'll shoot you dead where you stand."
"He was hurting Legolas!" Elenuiel cried, "What was I supposed to do? Let him torture him?"
"You just seem rather protective of him," Aralnel shrugged, "Especially when you hate him... supposedly."
"I don't need to explain my actions to you or anyone else!" Elenuiel said before hurrying away from her cousin. Aral giggled happily to herself as she followed her cousin. Finally! She had found a way to get under Elenuiel's skin.
-888-
Gimli and Gandalf stayed awake into the night smoking their pipes and gazing into the fire. "Finally," Gimli cried, "A descent smoking companion. Legolas only grumbles that I'm polluting the good clean air."
"No, Sarmeth doesn't enjoy smoking very much either," Gandalf said with a smile. He blew out a ring of smoke that transformed magically into a horse running into the distance, very similar to Shadowfax. Shadowfax was now grazing next to the other horses. He was easily the finest horse there.
"So where did you pick up Sarmeth?" Gimli asked eyeing Gandalf's young ward.
"In the wreckage of that final battle," Gandalf said quietly, "His entire family had been killed by orcs and other foul beasts. He was angry and bitter not to mention horribly wounded. I saved him. Gave him this chance to have a new life. A little hope goes a long way."
"That it does," Gimli said, "So you trust this lad?"
"With my life," Gandalf responded, "I wouldn't be training him otherwise."
"Of course," Gimli said.
"Our elven friend seems rather distraught of late," Gandalf said, "Why would that be?"
"It's his miserable family back at Mirkwood," Gimli scowled, "Forcing him into this marriage that he doesn't want." He glanced over at Fuirin. "Others aren't very supportive either. And his father..."
"Thranduil is renown for his stubborn streak," Gandalf agreed, "Though he does love Legolas. Sooner or later he will recall." Gandalf frowned at his own comment. The last time he had said that Faramir had nearly gone to his death. He prayed that this time the story would have a different, happier, ending.