Thanks for the many reviews :-)))))
Here is a short chapter – I did not really find time for writing but I
hope to have the next part up soon
So read on and let me know if you like it
___
'A dwarf does not love easily,' a soft voice spoke, and Legolas' eyes
quickly turned on its owner.
Gloin looked at him with a sad expression in his eyes. 'And only once
in his life.'
A quick glance around told Legolas that none of the other dwarves
seemed to have noticed what had just happened, and he turned his
attention back to Gimli's father.
'There was naught I could have done,' he repeated his earlier words
with a feeling of despair. Did they really think he would have let her
die?
'I know this, and so does Gimli in his heart. But the pain he feels is too
strong for him to see reason, and his rage blinds him further. When he
regains his senses he will realize that she had already faded beyond
help ere you touched her.'
The dwarf's dark eyes wandered over the elf, taking in his stance and
the arm that was protectively curled around the side that had
connected with the wall earlier. To a dwarf, the slender form of an elf
looked much more fragile than their own stout and compact bodies,
and upon seeing the force of the impact he had feared the elf's bones
would shatter. But once more they proved to be much more resistant
than they looked. Still he could see the pain in Legolas' eyes, although
he was not sure if it came from a wound of the body or the soul. But
he knew better than to offer comfort where it would not be welcome.
'I fear your warnings have not been taken as seriously as they should
have,' the older dwarf spoke on. 'Our king wishes to speak to you
again, for this creature must be destroyed.'
Legolas nodded and straightened, ignoring the hot pain in his side. He
did not think anything had broken but knew he was badly bruised.
Each breath he took felt like a dagger twisting in his side, but worse
than this was the pain in his heart. Gimli had never before turned on
him like this, not even during the times of the fellowship before they
had become friends. The accusation stung, but the fact that the dwarf
had turned his rage on him by hitting him hurt more than anything
else. He had thought their friendship true and strong, and not so easily
broken.
A part of him understood. Although he himself had never experienced
a love like this before, he could imagine the grief and anguish felt by
his friend. But it pained him that that it had been himself that Gimli
had doubted and lashed out at.
In silence, he followed Gloin to the king's chambers. Entering, he could
see only five other dwarves, all of them standing around a table and
looking intently at the map spread out there. Greetings were
exchanged and it took Legolas much willpower not to moan when he
returned the bows of the dwarves in kind.
Thorin wasted no time. 'This creature, you said it can be killed.'
'Yes,' Legolas answered. 'Fire is deadly for it, and it fears it.'
The dwarven king nodded, and motioned him to step closer and take a
look.
'This mountain is filled with caves,' he spoke. 'And it would hide in one
of them during the hours of daylight, if I understood your words
correctly.'
The elf nodded.
'These caves are well known to us. We know each stone, each glimmer
in them. We will take torches and search every single one of them.
The exits we will close with large fires so it cannot escape.'
A hard light shone in the king's eyes. Legolas could feel his
determination to destroy this creature that had dared to harm his
people.
'Are you sure there are no exits from these caves that you might not
know about?'
He received an indignant look for this and Thorin straightened to his
full height. 'Do not the trees speak to you?' he asked the elf. 'This
mountain has no secrets from us, just like the woods of Mirkwood
would not hide theirs from you.'
Legolas believed him.
'I would ask you to accompany us, master elf, for I do not doubt you
wish this creature dead as much as we do.'
The thought of venturing deep inside this mountain held no appeal to
Legolas. Even now he could feel the pressure of the stone around him,
weighing on his heart. But he was not one to succumb to his own
fears, especially not in front of a group of dwarves.
'But I fear the caves we will search are not built for someone of your
height,' Thorin spoke on. 'So I would ask you to lead those who stay
behind and keep the fires going. It must not escape, and you know
more of it than we do.'
He looked at the elf for a response, knowing that he did ask much of
him. He had come as a messenger, not to become involved in the
hunt for this creature. Especially as guarding the exits would not be an
easy task.
Legolas bowed his head in consent. 'I will be honored to help you.'
@@@
Preparations were made, and wood was collected to nourish the fires
that would block the exits. Torches were made to be carried along by
the searchers. Legolas found himself idle, for his status would not
allow him to do much more but give a few orders that were swiftly
carried out. He was surprised that dwarves would even listen to an elf,
but soon he realized that the group he had been asked to lead
consisted only of those he had met before. He had seen all of them in
Moria, as he had helped them lay their dead to rest. And his help had
not been forgotten.
He had not seen Gimli and the pain in his heart grew. He watched as
the dwarves set the wood alight and soon the fires were roaring,
effectively blocking each exit. Two groups of dwarves, armed with
axes and lit torches, started the search. Legolas was quite sure he
could even make out two or three dwarven women go with them. For a
short moment he could see a familiar figure, but Gimli never cast a
single glance into his direction, causing another twinge of pain in his
heart.
The fires had been placed between the caves that led deep inside of
the mountain, and those that held the chambers and living areas of
the dwarves to shield and protect them. Legolas had worried that the
smoke and heat would soon fill the caves, but he found now that it did
not. Obviously the dwarves had their own system of transferring fresh
air to the inside.
Still, not even the heat of the flames could warm Legolas as a chill
settled in his bones. He remembered the feeling well from his visits to
Moria and even the Glittering Caves. He missed the warmth of the sun
and the smell of the outside world, for since his arrival here he had not
been outside again. The longing grew but he pushed it to the back of
his mind. This was not the time or the place to deal with it. So he
ignored the feelings that filled his heart with anguish to concentrate on
his task.
They stood and waited, watching out for any sign of movement as
time passed slowly.
@@@
The night had been satisfying, for it had been able to feed more than
in a long time. It had been surprised to make out the presence of an
elf here but had shied away from him. He was awake and watchful and
the dwarf close to him was protected. But it found other victims, and
its hunger was stilled as it had returned to its hiding place to rest.
Now it woke as a change made itself known to it. The dwarves had
come to know of its presence.
Feeding off of orcs for so long had made it careless, it realized, for
they did not care if some of them died in a mysterious way. But the
dwarves obviously did.
It moved carefully, for although they were not close, it did not want to
make its position known to them. It stopped in surprise when it saw
the fires blocking its way. With anger and fear it recoiled without being
seen. How had the dwarves come to know so much so soon? The
answer came quickly. The elf.
Its body could not pass the fire but its mind could, and it reached out.
With a flare of sudden hate, it felt the elf there, close to the fire,
waiting for it.
Then with surprise it noticed the change in him. Last night he had
been strong and too dangerous to attack. But now it could feel the
cloud of pain that enveloped him. Pain of the body, for he carried a
wound, as well as a torment of the heart. With glee it devoured his
emotions, so much more intense than anything it had ever tasted
before.
It was sure he was the one that was truly blocking its way. The
dwarves it would be able to overcome even while awake, now that its
strength was restored. It could bend them to its will and to escape
would not be difficult. But the elf…
Carefully, so as to not make its presence known, it probed at his mind.
He was weakened by his pain, and while it would have been close to
impossible to break his barriers and torment his mind, it was
surprisingly easy to see into his heart. There was no need to force
itself into his mind and use memories and fears against him. It simply
had to increase the anguish of his heart.
Here is a short chapter – I did not really find time for writing but I
hope to have the next part up soon
So read on and let me know if you like it
___
'A dwarf does not love easily,' a soft voice spoke, and Legolas' eyes
quickly turned on its owner.
Gloin looked at him with a sad expression in his eyes. 'And only once
in his life.'
A quick glance around told Legolas that none of the other dwarves
seemed to have noticed what had just happened, and he turned his
attention back to Gimli's father.
'There was naught I could have done,' he repeated his earlier words
with a feeling of despair. Did they really think he would have let her
die?
'I know this, and so does Gimli in his heart. But the pain he feels is too
strong for him to see reason, and his rage blinds him further. When he
regains his senses he will realize that she had already faded beyond
help ere you touched her.'
The dwarf's dark eyes wandered over the elf, taking in his stance and
the arm that was protectively curled around the side that had
connected with the wall earlier. To a dwarf, the slender form of an elf
looked much more fragile than their own stout and compact bodies,
and upon seeing the force of the impact he had feared the elf's bones
would shatter. But once more they proved to be much more resistant
than they looked. Still he could see the pain in Legolas' eyes, although
he was not sure if it came from a wound of the body or the soul. But
he knew better than to offer comfort where it would not be welcome.
'I fear your warnings have not been taken as seriously as they should
have,' the older dwarf spoke on. 'Our king wishes to speak to you
again, for this creature must be destroyed.'
Legolas nodded and straightened, ignoring the hot pain in his side. He
did not think anything had broken but knew he was badly bruised.
Each breath he took felt like a dagger twisting in his side, but worse
than this was the pain in his heart. Gimli had never before turned on
him like this, not even during the times of the fellowship before they
had become friends. The accusation stung, but the fact that the dwarf
had turned his rage on him by hitting him hurt more than anything
else. He had thought their friendship true and strong, and not so easily
broken.
A part of him understood. Although he himself had never experienced
a love like this before, he could imagine the grief and anguish felt by
his friend. But it pained him that that it had been himself that Gimli
had doubted and lashed out at.
In silence, he followed Gloin to the king's chambers. Entering, he could
see only five other dwarves, all of them standing around a table and
looking intently at the map spread out there. Greetings were
exchanged and it took Legolas much willpower not to moan when he
returned the bows of the dwarves in kind.
Thorin wasted no time. 'This creature, you said it can be killed.'
'Yes,' Legolas answered. 'Fire is deadly for it, and it fears it.'
The dwarven king nodded, and motioned him to step closer and take a
look.
'This mountain is filled with caves,' he spoke. 'And it would hide in one
of them during the hours of daylight, if I understood your words
correctly.'
The elf nodded.
'These caves are well known to us. We know each stone, each glimmer
in them. We will take torches and search every single one of them.
The exits we will close with large fires so it cannot escape.'
A hard light shone in the king's eyes. Legolas could feel his
determination to destroy this creature that had dared to harm his
people.
'Are you sure there are no exits from these caves that you might not
know about?'
He received an indignant look for this and Thorin straightened to his
full height. 'Do not the trees speak to you?' he asked the elf. 'This
mountain has no secrets from us, just like the woods of Mirkwood
would not hide theirs from you.'
Legolas believed him.
'I would ask you to accompany us, master elf, for I do not doubt you
wish this creature dead as much as we do.'
The thought of venturing deep inside this mountain held no appeal to
Legolas. Even now he could feel the pressure of the stone around him,
weighing on his heart. But he was not one to succumb to his own
fears, especially not in front of a group of dwarves.
'But I fear the caves we will search are not built for someone of your
height,' Thorin spoke on. 'So I would ask you to lead those who stay
behind and keep the fires going. It must not escape, and you know
more of it than we do.'
He looked at the elf for a response, knowing that he did ask much of
him. He had come as a messenger, not to become involved in the
hunt for this creature. Especially as guarding the exits would not be an
easy task.
Legolas bowed his head in consent. 'I will be honored to help you.'
@@@
Preparations were made, and wood was collected to nourish the fires
that would block the exits. Torches were made to be carried along by
the searchers. Legolas found himself idle, for his status would not
allow him to do much more but give a few orders that were swiftly
carried out. He was surprised that dwarves would even listen to an elf,
but soon he realized that the group he had been asked to lead
consisted only of those he had met before. He had seen all of them in
Moria, as he had helped them lay their dead to rest. And his help had
not been forgotten.
He had not seen Gimli and the pain in his heart grew. He watched as
the dwarves set the wood alight and soon the fires were roaring,
effectively blocking each exit. Two groups of dwarves, armed with
axes and lit torches, started the search. Legolas was quite sure he
could even make out two or three dwarven women go with them. For a
short moment he could see a familiar figure, but Gimli never cast a
single glance into his direction, causing another twinge of pain in his
heart.
The fires had been placed between the caves that led deep inside of
the mountain, and those that held the chambers and living areas of
the dwarves to shield and protect them. Legolas had worried that the
smoke and heat would soon fill the caves, but he found now that it did
not. Obviously the dwarves had their own system of transferring fresh
air to the inside.
Still, not even the heat of the flames could warm Legolas as a chill
settled in his bones. He remembered the feeling well from his visits to
Moria and even the Glittering Caves. He missed the warmth of the sun
and the smell of the outside world, for since his arrival here he had not
been outside again. The longing grew but he pushed it to the back of
his mind. This was not the time or the place to deal with it. So he
ignored the feelings that filled his heart with anguish to concentrate on
his task.
They stood and waited, watching out for any sign of movement as
time passed slowly.
@@@
The night had been satisfying, for it had been able to feed more than
in a long time. It had been surprised to make out the presence of an
elf here but had shied away from him. He was awake and watchful and
the dwarf close to him was protected. But it found other victims, and
its hunger was stilled as it had returned to its hiding place to rest.
Now it woke as a change made itself known to it. The dwarves had
come to know of its presence.
Feeding off of orcs for so long had made it careless, it realized, for
they did not care if some of them died in a mysterious way. But the
dwarves obviously did.
It moved carefully, for although they were not close, it did not want to
make its position known to them. It stopped in surprise when it saw
the fires blocking its way. With anger and fear it recoiled without being
seen. How had the dwarves come to know so much so soon? The
answer came quickly. The elf.
Its body could not pass the fire but its mind could, and it reached out.
With a flare of sudden hate, it felt the elf there, close to the fire,
waiting for it.
Then with surprise it noticed the change in him. Last night he had
been strong and too dangerous to attack. But now it could feel the
cloud of pain that enveloped him. Pain of the body, for he carried a
wound, as well as a torment of the heart. With glee it devoured his
emotions, so much more intense than anything it had ever tasted
before.
It was sure he was the one that was truly blocking its way. The
dwarves it would be able to overcome even while awake, now that its
strength was restored. It could bend them to its will and to escape
would not be difficult. But the elf…
Carefully, so as to not make its presence known, it probed at his mind.
He was weakened by his pain, and while it would have been close to
impossible to break his barriers and torment his mind, it was
surprisingly easy to see into his heart. There was no need to force
itself into his mind and use memories and fears against him. It simply
had to increase the anguish of his heart.