Wowa... so many reviews in just one day! That beats anything else so far!
And I must admit the cliffhanger was a bit mean ... but it was too good to miss!!! :-)
So for all of my faithful readers and reviewers a little bit more... very, very short, but as you asked for it... I simply can not ignore the pleas :-)
So... please read & review!!!
___
In the sudden quiet all that registered to Gimli's mind was that he could no longer feel the weak pulse underneath his fingers that had never left the elf's slender wrist.
He reacted without thinking, his hand letting go of the limp arm and suddenly shaking fingers searching at Legolas' throat for any sign of life. He could not find anything and a sound of dismay escaped the dwarf's lips.
But he refused to give up. There was still the tiny hope that his fingers had only missed the weak pulse and so he bent over the still figure, lowering his ear to the elf's chest.
He held his breath, afraid to miss the sound that had to be there.
His own heart was hammering in his breast as he listened closely praying to the Valar for a sign that life had not left his friend's body.
How long he remained in this position he could not say. Maybe seconds, maybe minutes but any feel for time had left him as he waited.
And than a sound almost like a sob escaped him as he heard the soft thump of a heartbeat, so weak he was not entirely sure it had truly been there. But then he heard it again and this time there was no doubt.
Legolas heart was still beating although weakly.
Gimli forced himself into a sitting position, his body trembling with shock and only slowly abating fear. But he knew the signs of life were weak, too weak to ensure Legolas could not still fade.
His fingers found the small flask again and once more he wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders in an attempt to lift him. Another set of arms joined his and in surprise he looked up into the grim face of Gudin. The other dwarf had a strong grip on the elf, lifting him effortless into a sitting position, his head lolling back. Gimli used his now free arm to hold Legolas' head up while bringing the flask to his lips. There was not much left of the magical draught and he carefully trickled it into the unresisting mouth hoping to not choke his friend.
But it seemed to go down the right way and Gimli finally put down the empty flask. Gudin lowered the elf back to the ground and for a moment both dwarves simply looked at the unmoving form, unsure of what to do next.
Only now Gimli became aware that the silence was broken by nearing voices and footsteps as groups of dwarves returned from several passages seemingly at once.
Only from the western passage no sound came.
All of a sudden the chamber filled with the flickering light of the still burning fires and loud voices shouting to each other became too crowded and seemed to narrow down on Gimli. He had never before in his life felt constrained by the dark walls of these caves but right now he could feel the weight of the mountain pressing down on him. For a moment he wondered if this was what it felt like for Legolas.
Sudden realization hit him and Gudin was greatly surprised as Gimli reached out for the elf once more. One arm he slid underneath Legolas shoulders, the other under his knees. He already struggled to his feet, lifting the prone form in his arms when the other dwarf found his voice.
'What are you doing?' he wondered aloud.
Standing Gimli shifted the weight in his arms to get a better grip.
'This is no place for an elf to be.' He simply answered as he started to walk.
It could have been a comical sight as he carried the tall elf in his arms, Legolas feet almost touching the ground, but the expression of deep worry on his face took any humor out of the situation.
Slowly he made his way past the fire, taking no notice of the dwarves standing there and staring at him and his silent burden. He walked through the corridors ignoring the whispered comments and questions that reached his ears.
He stepped outside into the light of day and his eyes searched the sky only to find the sun concealed behind thick clouds. Disappointed that her rays would not warm the elf's cold skin he kept on moving until he reached his appointed destination. He sank to his knees awkwardly but gently lowered Legolas down into the thick grass growing between the roots of the old tree he had sought.
Once more he pressed his ear to the elf's chest, satisfied as he could hear the soft beating of his heart. Much too weak but still there.
He arranged the long, slender limbs into a comfortable position, laying one of the elf's limp hands against a dark wooden root. Once more he looked up, this time into the rich green of the tree top above them.
'I know not how, ' he whispered hoarsely 'but I know he draws strength from you. So I beg you to give it to him, for I could not take to see him die.'
As his look fell back onto his friend he could not help but shake his head.
'The things you make me do, my friend. So you finally got me talking to trees. I fear I will never live that one down.'
But his heart still held a desperate fear as he could only hope that Legolas would live to tease him about this.
And I must admit the cliffhanger was a bit mean ... but it was too good to miss!!! :-)
So for all of my faithful readers and reviewers a little bit more... very, very short, but as you asked for it... I simply can not ignore the pleas :-)
So... please read & review!!!
___
In the sudden quiet all that registered to Gimli's mind was that he could no longer feel the weak pulse underneath his fingers that had never left the elf's slender wrist.
He reacted without thinking, his hand letting go of the limp arm and suddenly shaking fingers searching at Legolas' throat for any sign of life. He could not find anything and a sound of dismay escaped the dwarf's lips.
But he refused to give up. There was still the tiny hope that his fingers had only missed the weak pulse and so he bent over the still figure, lowering his ear to the elf's chest.
He held his breath, afraid to miss the sound that had to be there.
His own heart was hammering in his breast as he listened closely praying to the Valar for a sign that life had not left his friend's body.
How long he remained in this position he could not say. Maybe seconds, maybe minutes but any feel for time had left him as he waited.
And than a sound almost like a sob escaped him as he heard the soft thump of a heartbeat, so weak he was not entirely sure it had truly been there. But then he heard it again and this time there was no doubt.
Legolas heart was still beating although weakly.
Gimli forced himself into a sitting position, his body trembling with shock and only slowly abating fear. But he knew the signs of life were weak, too weak to ensure Legolas could not still fade.
His fingers found the small flask again and once more he wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders in an attempt to lift him. Another set of arms joined his and in surprise he looked up into the grim face of Gudin. The other dwarf had a strong grip on the elf, lifting him effortless into a sitting position, his head lolling back. Gimli used his now free arm to hold Legolas' head up while bringing the flask to his lips. There was not much left of the magical draught and he carefully trickled it into the unresisting mouth hoping to not choke his friend.
But it seemed to go down the right way and Gimli finally put down the empty flask. Gudin lowered the elf back to the ground and for a moment both dwarves simply looked at the unmoving form, unsure of what to do next.
Only now Gimli became aware that the silence was broken by nearing voices and footsteps as groups of dwarves returned from several passages seemingly at once.
Only from the western passage no sound came.
All of a sudden the chamber filled with the flickering light of the still burning fires and loud voices shouting to each other became too crowded and seemed to narrow down on Gimli. He had never before in his life felt constrained by the dark walls of these caves but right now he could feel the weight of the mountain pressing down on him. For a moment he wondered if this was what it felt like for Legolas.
Sudden realization hit him and Gudin was greatly surprised as Gimli reached out for the elf once more. One arm he slid underneath Legolas shoulders, the other under his knees. He already struggled to his feet, lifting the prone form in his arms when the other dwarf found his voice.
'What are you doing?' he wondered aloud.
Standing Gimli shifted the weight in his arms to get a better grip.
'This is no place for an elf to be.' He simply answered as he started to walk.
It could have been a comical sight as he carried the tall elf in his arms, Legolas feet almost touching the ground, but the expression of deep worry on his face took any humor out of the situation.
Slowly he made his way past the fire, taking no notice of the dwarves standing there and staring at him and his silent burden. He walked through the corridors ignoring the whispered comments and questions that reached his ears.
He stepped outside into the light of day and his eyes searched the sky only to find the sun concealed behind thick clouds. Disappointed that her rays would not warm the elf's cold skin he kept on moving until he reached his appointed destination. He sank to his knees awkwardly but gently lowered Legolas down into the thick grass growing between the roots of the old tree he had sought.
Once more he pressed his ear to the elf's chest, satisfied as he could hear the soft beating of his heart. Much too weak but still there.
He arranged the long, slender limbs into a comfortable position, laying one of the elf's limp hands against a dark wooden root. Once more he looked up, this time into the rich green of the tree top above them.
'I know not how, ' he whispered hoarsely 'but I know he draws strength from you. So I beg you to give it to him, for I could not take to see him die.'
As his look fell back onto his friend he could not help but shake his head.
'The things you make me do, my friend. So you finally got me talking to trees. I fear I will never live that one down.'
But his heart still held a desperate fear as he could only hope that Legolas would live to tease him about this.