Title: Out of Space and Time ch10
Author: sheraiah
Rating: T (to be safe, there's some swearing)
Genre: Avengers/LOTR crossover
Summary: The Tesseract and the Bifrost aren't the only ways by which to travel between the worlds, and there are more worlds than Thor has spoken of. When one of the pathways goes awry, the Avengers are called in to clean up the resulting mess.
Disclaimer: If I owned any of it besides the plot, I wouldn't be slaving away in retail.
A/N: A reader asked why Elladan and Elrohir call Legolas 'cousin' since they don't do so in my other stories. The reasons for this are as follows:
They call him 'tithen ernil' or princeling, 'gwador' or sworn brother and 'pen neth' or young one in my other stories and rather than translate that out I chose to go with cousin as the translation. Remember, the Avengers aren't native speakers of Sindarin and are either translating in their heads or via their earpieces (thanks to Tony's foresight).
The relation is NOT canon but my own headcanon. In my little universe, Thranduil's paternal grandmother and Celeborn's father were siblings, making Elrond's children and Legolas fourth cousins.
Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen are pseudo-siblings to Legolas, who is an only child in my universe. In addition, Arwen is something of a surrogate mother to Legolas. He has little memory of his own mother, in my universe she was killed by orcs when Legolas was just old enough to be starting to walk and talk.
Hope that answers the question. I never mind answering any politely phrased questions and if I feel that they may be raised by multiple readers, I'll answer them here.
And just an FYI: My life is hectic. I write when I can and post when I can. If you're someone who is driven crazy by long periods of time between updates, it's best that you either don't read my fics or don't read them until they're finished. I refuse to apologize for taking my time and doing the best job of it that I can.
The song is 'Lasto I Lamath' by Rahman, Varttina, Nightingale, McKenna and Warchus is from the London production of the musical: 'The Lord of the Rings'. I was privileged enough to see the original version of the musical in it's first run in Toronto, Ontario and LOVED it. I always thought it the greatest pity that it never gained the popularity that musicals I like far less have had. If you've never listened to the cast recording, please do so if you have the opportunity. At any rate, I know so little Sindarin that my CD jacket was where I went looking for song lyrics.
Ooo
i-ngwaew asia wintar
ar i ardh iaur u dara.
erui men uvill
gomen amdiram
orthored i wath
lasto i lamath
erin gwaew
i lamath lin edair
avo osto!
aphada ven thane
ar u dhir tira
last'inn tegitha
(The winds of change blow
and the old world will not remain
Separate we are vulnerable,
together we may hope
to conquer the shadow.
Listen to the voices
on the wind,
the voices of your forefathers.
Do not be afraid!
There is a choice to make
and none can help you.
Listen, your instinct will lead you.)
There was a lot to be said for traveling with an elf and two peredhel, Steve mused as he listened to the three, Clint and Tony singing. Elladan and Elrohir, after hearing both the Men sing, had been impressed enough to teach them several songs in Sindarin, Adunaic and the Common Tongue, with Legolas adding a few in the language of the Silvan elves. Steve had known that Clint sang rather well, as the archer had a habit of singing in the helicarrier's showers when the missions went well, but Tony's vocal talent had come as a complete surprise. This misadventure was proving valuable in that Steve was learning things about his team that he might not have otherwise. He caught Natasha's eye briefly and she favored him with one of her rare, genuine smiles. Apparently, he was not the only one enjoying the singing.
Once the song ended, Tony slowed his mount, dropping back so that he could talk with Gimli. Surprisingly to everyone except Legolas the dwarf and the engineer had formed a friendship rather quickly, Tony's knowledge of forging metal et all giving them common ground. That Gimli was a rather patient soul and blessed with a fine sense of humor, though he tended to keep the latter well hidden around those he was not well acquainted with, had helped cement the friendship. Steve grinned as Legolas rolled his eyes comically once the conversation turned to the working of metal.
Clint began teaching the twins a rather ribald song in English and Steve chuckled, trading a grin with Legolas. This was getting interesting.
Ooo
"We will stop here for the night," Elladan said, reining his horse to a stop. He dismounted, his twin less than a beat behind. Legolas helped Gimli down and handed the dwarf the saddle bags before dismounting himself.
"I will scout to the North and see what game I may find for our supper," Legolas said stringing his bow.
"Brother and I will take Southeast and Southwest, then head Northeast and Northwest to overlap with your area and look for game as well," Elrohir said, handing his horse off to Thor as Elladan handed his off to Clint, both twins taking out their shorter bows and stringing them before heading off.
Thor and Clint began removing the tack from the horses and brushing them down while Tony and Gimli saw to the creation of a fire pit and the starting of a fire. Bruce and Natasha began searching the area near the camp for roots, flat rocks for use as cooking surfaces, and the edible plants that Legolas and the twins had taught them to identify while Steve began gathering wood to feed the fire.
"How much longer until we reach Minas Tirith?" Tony asked, laying the kindling into the pit he and Gimli had just prepared.
"Another day and night, give or take a bit and the weather continuing in our favor, laddie," the dwarf replied, pulling his tinderbox out of one of his packs. "It's a grand sight, the White City. Especially the gates."
"Tell me about them," the engineer asked, eyes bright with interest. Gimli chuckled and launched into the tale of how the gates came to be, going into detail on the constructing and raising of the massive structures while Tony listened, engrossed and still for once.
Ooo
By the time Legolas and the sons of Elrond returned, the sun was beginning to set and the conversation had turned to Tony and Thor telling some of the Avengers' more amusing adventures. The Thunder god was a born storyteller, using gestures and inflection to add to the feel of the story. Tony's asides added a comedic element to any but the most serious of topics. The two of them together were engrossing, and Thor was one of the few with patience enough to not only allow Tony's commentary, but encourage it. The peredhil and the elf grinned at each other before entering the camp together.
"Greetings, friends!' Thor called out, spying the returning hunters first. "What did you find for our meal this night?"
"Legolas has a pair of fowl, and Brother and I have rabbits." Elladan handed the already dressed carcasses to Gimli, who deftly spitted them and placed them over the waiting fire. As soon as he was done with the rabbits, Legolas handed him the fowl, also already dressed and plucked. The dwarf's knife made quick work of the birds, preparing them for roasting on the flat rock placed in the coals. Legolas handed his carry sack to Bruce, who opened it to find cress, roots and some odd-looking fruits.
"The fruit is best stewed," the elf said, handing Bruce one of the iron pots that their pack horse had carried. "You need not peel it, merely slice it and add either water or wine." He smiled at the physicist. "The fruit will go well on the last of the bread."
"And most of us would never say no to a bit of something sweet to end our meal," Gimli said with a chuckle. "Least of all a certain elven princeling I know."
"Who is sadly out of chocolate bars," Clint added with a smirk in the elf prince's direction.
"I do miss chocolate," Legolas admitted with a shrug. "But I will enjoy the fruit and if Gimli does not mind his portion, I will eat his share as well." He shot a challenging look at the dwarf.
"See here, you daft, pointy-eared, scrap of mischief. You've no call to be poaching my dinner any longer. You're as well fed as ever I've seen you since we left Rivendell on the Quest. Keep to your own dinner or you may well draw back a stump!" The dwarf's gruff tone fooled no one and muffled snorts of laughter were heard from all corners of the camp. Legolas made no pretense of hiding his amusement and laughed openly.
"Peace, Master Dwarf. Your plate will be safe from me, if for no other reason than that I value my draw hand more than some fruit and bread." Gimli responded with a grunt and he shook his head, his frown fading.
"Best get to checking those arrows of yours, elf. I'm not of a mind to have you run out should we need them." Legolas merely grinned at him and settled down next to the dwarf to do exactly as Gimli suggested.
Ooo
Just after first light, the companions prepared to set out on the final leg of their journey to the White City. Mornings during their travels tended to be quiet; the Avengers, with the exception of Steve, were not morning people per se though Legolas, the Twins and Gimli spoke and sang as a matter of course regardless of the hour. A quick breakfast of dried meat and waybread was consumed before they mounted their horses and turned once more towards the White City. After about an hour of riding, the Twins manovered their horses to flank Legolas and Gimli's.
"You are unusually quiet this morning, Cousin," Elladan observed. "Do you fear that you will be taken to task for your absence?" Legolas gave a brief chuckle.
"I have no doubt that I will be taken to task, by your sister if no one else. No, I am looking forward to seeing everyone. I am merely pondering all the strange things I have seen and how I might best explain them."
"Allow Tony to do that for you. The Man can speak circles around even the most learned, I have no doubt," Elrohir opined with a grin, humor lacing his tone.
"That's good strategy, lad," Gimli chimed in.
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" Tony said, his face a picture of mock affront.
Ooo
"We will stop here. The horses need rest as do we. Do any object to a cold supper? We will be riding into Minas Tirith shortly before noon tomorrow." Elladan said, dismounting and rolling his shoulders.
"Not al all. We've plenty of dried meat left, and some of those roots that Legolas found this morning. We'll be fine," Gimli said as his feet touched the ground.
"Agreed," Steve opined, dismounting and hefting his shield. A chorus of assent followed from the rest of the group.
"I will still gather what I may as I scout," Legolas said, handing his mount off to Thor. He grinned at the Thunder god. "Some of our companions resemble bottomless pits."
Thor chuckled.
"Your foraging skills have never failed us on this journey; I do not think they will at this late hour. As Elladan has said: we have dried meat and roots. We shall not starve regardless."
"Meh, food is just fuel," Tony commented, starting to dig the fire pit. "Although, fresh bread or pie sounds really good right now. Just saying."
"Mmmmmm, pie...," Clint said with a grin. Natasha elbowed him.
"Not McDonald's pie, real pies," she said with a half smile.
"Sam's apple pie, " Legolas said, trading a grin with Gimli.
"Aye, laddie. Nothing beats Sam's apple pie."
"Oh, I don't know, Bruce makes a fantastic apple cobbler," Steve said.
"Pumpkin Crunch Cake!" Tony added. "I vote Pumpkin Crunch Cake!"
"We know pumpkins, but how does one make a cake that crunches?" Elrohir asked.
Ooo
It was impossible not to be awestruck by the sight of the White City rising above the Pellenor. The companions said little as they rode towards their destination. Just before noon, they rode through the gates. They were permitted to ride all the way up to the First Circle, where they were shown to rooms and allowed to make themselves presentable for their audience with the King.
TBC