Oh my, if I had the time to answer to all of your reviews this would become longer than this chapter!!!
So I just say a big thank you for all the praise and encouragement...
To those of you that asked me to keep writing even when this story is finished : I will do my best... if inspiration hits me another story will surely follow :-) ... especially with so many faithful readers...
As you still asked for more of this story ... here it is ... and please keep reviewing - I got quite used to it :-) !!! and it is nice to hear that you like what you read!
___
Movement next to him made Gimli turn his head and his eyes fell on the dwarven woman standing beside him. He realized her to be the mother of the dwarf who's life Legolas had saved what seemed a lifetime ago. She carried blankets in her arms and held them out to him without a word. Her face was unreadable as she looked at the elf.
Gimli took the offered blankets and covered the still body. Legolas' skin remained cold to the touch but casting a glance around he could see Gudin was on his knees close to them, kindling a fire.
'He saved my son's life.' The woman spoke and Gimli's eyes returned to her face. She regarded him with calm eyes. 'If there is anything that might be done I will not hesitate to offer my help.'
He bowed his head at her in silent gratitude.
'Have they returned from the western passage?' he asked her. He knew not what had transpired there, if the creature was still alive and a threat to Legolas. He could only hoped the scream he had heard had meant the end of its life.
'I know not.' She answered softly, reading the still lingering fear in his eyes. 'I chose to follow you outside when I saw you passing.'
Gimli's fingers once more rearranged the blanket around Legolas' shoulders as her words brought him no comfort. For a moment longer she lingered and watched him, a fleeting expression of compassion crossing her face. Then she silently left.
After adding some more wood to the fire Gudin sat back on his haunches, his eyes scanning the sky above. Clouds hang thickly there and he hoped it would not start to rain.
Gimli shifted into a more comfortable position, preparing himself for a long wait. As he looked at the pale face and the closed eyes of the elf, his eyes traveling down the slender form he tried to find any sign of life he could watch over but there was naught.
His hand once more came to rest on the blanket that covered Legolas chest but he could feel nothing through the thick layers of cloth. So his fingers slipped beneath it, touching the soft material of Legolas' tunic. Still he could feel naught.
Tiny sparks of fear threatened to turn once more into a raging fire as his fingers deftly undid buttons and finally came into contact with bare skin. His hand stilled there, pressed above Legolas heart and with a small sigh of relief tension left his body as he could feel the soft beating of a heart.
He berated himself for reacting like this but his fingers stayed where they had come to rest. Each thump reassured him anew and he could not bring himself to break the contact.
His mind wandered freely as the memory of loosing Nirith was still painfully fresh to him.
Was he to loose the elf as well?
His heart would constrict at that thought but it refused to be simply pushed away.
This was the position Gloin found him in as he stepped outside of the caves. The older dwarf's sharp eyes took in the scene before him and a smile came to play around his lips. Many dwarves had found the way to the outside. A fire had been lit close to Gimli and Legolas and he could see one of their healers kneeling there, preparing something. He could see dwarves collecting firewood, adding to the stock already piled up. Others had gathered and were talking in hushed voices, never intruding on the two figures beneath the old tree but quietly observing.
It seemed that the folk of the Lonely Mountain had come to care about the fate of the son of Thandruil after all.
As he slowly walked over to his son he could see him raise his head and look at him. Relief showed on his face upon seeing him well and unharmed.
He came to stand next to Gimli, his eyes taking in the still form of the elf. He noticed the paleness of his skin and the hand resting above his heart. He refrained from asking for he could see Legolas was far from well. Remembering his own experience as well as the weakness of the five dwarves they had been forced to carry back, he could only marvel at how long the elf had been able to withstand this creature.
'Have you found it?' Gimli asked.
'Aye, we did. It is destroyed.' He answered simply, taking notice of the tension in Gimli that seemed to lessen a little bit upon hearing his words.
Gloin hesitated for a moment, carefully phrasing his next words.
'Preparations are made to lay the two to rest that we lost last night.' He softly spoke.
His words caused pain to pierce Gimli's heart. His eyes left Legolas' face to roam around, noticing that most dwarves had started to wander back inside the caves, no doubt to join the families in mourning.
For a moment grief seemed to overwhelm him and he closed his eyes.
Gloin watched him carefully. Dwarves usually were not free in showing their feelings but hardly anyone had missed the growing love between his son and Nirith.
'I will watch over him, if you wish to join...'
'Nay.' Gimli spoke up. 'I thank you for this offer but now is not the time for me to mourn her. I wish to do so when my mind is free of other worries.'
Gloin only nodded in understanding. To mourn a lost love was not to be done when attentions were divided. Time to grief would come for his son and he could only hope that the cause for it would not become more than it already was.
A sudden rustling of leaves broke the silence that had settled and both dwarves turned their head into the direction it had come from. With a startled exclamation Gloin took a quick step backwards as a huge horse appeared only two steps away from them.
With eyes widened in surprise he watched as the horse came to stop next to the elf, its head bowing down and its nostrils nuzzling his golden hair.
With a whine it threw it's head up causing Gloin to stumble another step backwards.
'Calm down, Arod.' Gimli spoke soothingly upon seeing the horse's distress over its master's stillness.
Hearing his voice the horse turned its head to regard him with its dark eyes. It seemed to calm down as if recognizing the dwarf and obeyed him as he spoke again.
'Go, Arod. I will look after him.'
Slowly it took a few steps away and remained there, a still figure watching over them.
Gimli turned to look for Gloin to find a look of utter astonishment directed at himself. For a dwarf to talk to a horse was a strange thing to do and even stranger that the horse would obey him. He could only feel deep gratitude that no-one has seen him talking to that tree earlier.
'I will go and join the celebration.' Gloin finally said and turned to leave. Gimli could see him shaking his head as he walked away and mumbled words barley reached his ears.
'First elves, now horses, I wonder what will be next...'
With a wry grin he turned his attention back to his friend after casting one pointed glance at Arod.
@@@
Daylight was fading and only the warmth of the fire kept the chilling coolness of the approaching night away. Gudin kept watch over the flames, adding wood when needed and offering a silent comfort to Gimli through his presence. No words were spoken and the other dwarves that had rejoined them outside kept their conversations hushed. Food had been brought as well as water and ale but worry kept Gimli from even feeling hunger.
Legolas' condition had not changed neither for better, nor for worse. Gimli's hand still rested above his heart, keeping watch over his every heartbeat.
Many thoughts had come and gone during this last hours as fears rose and were battled down again. But in the end all he could do was wait.
He looked up, glad for a distraction when laud voices arose from out of sight and for a moment his heart skipped a beat as he thought to recognize one of them. Than the speakers appeared within his line of vision and his hope was confirmed.
Gandalf.
Next to him he could see Gloin and Aragorn walking, Eomer and Faramir following them.
The sudden urge of relief that flooded his heart was quickly dampened by the grim look on the Istari's face as he spoke with Gloin.
Reluctantly he withdraw his hand from Legolas and stood to greet them as the small group reached them.
Gandalf could see the mixture of hope and fear on Gimli's face as they exchanged words of greeting. Without hesitation he went down on his knees laying his hand gently on Legolas' brow. With shock he realized how weak the spark of life left in the elf was.
Aragorn had dropped down next to him, scanning what he could see of the elf's body with keen eyes. He took in the pallor of his skin and the tightly closed eyes in a face that still showed the strain of what he had gone through.
So Gandalf had been right, Legolas had been in great danger.
'What happened, Gimli?' Gandalf asked although he knew what it was the dwarf would tell them.
They listened without ever interrupting him as he told them all he knew. But as he spoke of the screams he had heard and Legolas own cries of agony, Gandalf's features darkened even more. With dread Gimli realized that this was something the Istari had not been prepared to hear.
So I just say a big thank you for all the praise and encouragement...
To those of you that asked me to keep writing even when this story is finished : I will do my best... if inspiration hits me another story will surely follow :-) ... especially with so many faithful readers...
As you still asked for more of this story ... here it is ... and please keep reviewing - I got quite used to it :-) !!! and it is nice to hear that you like what you read!
___
Movement next to him made Gimli turn his head and his eyes fell on the dwarven woman standing beside him. He realized her to be the mother of the dwarf who's life Legolas had saved what seemed a lifetime ago. She carried blankets in her arms and held them out to him without a word. Her face was unreadable as she looked at the elf.
Gimli took the offered blankets and covered the still body. Legolas' skin remained cold to the touch but casting a glance around he could see Gudin was on his knees close to them, kindling a fire.
'He saved my son's life.' The woman spoke and Gimli's eyes returned to her face. She regarded him with calm eyes. 'If there is anything that might be done I will not hesitate to offer my help.'
He bowed his head at her in silent gratitude.
'Have they returned from the western passage?' he asked her. He knew not what had transpired there, if the creature was still alive and a threat to Legolas. He could only hoped the scream he had heard had meant the end of its life.
'I know not.' She answered softly, reading the still lingering fear in his eyes. 'I chose to follow you outside when I saw you passing.'
Gimli's fingers once more rearranged the blanket around Legolas' shoulders as her words brought him no comfort. For a moment longer she lingered and watched him, a fleeting expression of compassion crossing her face. Then she silently left.
After adding some more wood to the fire Gudin sat back on his haunches, his eyes scanning the sky above. Clouds hang thickly there and he hoped it would not start to rain.
Gimli shifted into a more comfortable position, preparing himself for a long wait. As he looked at the pale face and the closed eyes of the elf, his eyes traveling down the slender form he tried to find any sign of life he could watch over but there was naught.
His hand once more came to rest on the blanket that covered Legolas chest but he could feel nothing through the thick layers of cloth. So his fingers slipped beneath it, touching the soft material of Legolas' tunic. Still he could feel naught.
Tiny sparks of fear threatened to turn once more into a raging fire as his fingers deftly undid buttons and finally came into contact with bare skin. His hand stilled there, pressed above Legolas heart and with a small sigh of relief tension left his body as he could feel the soft beating of a heart.
He berated himself for reacting like this but his fingers stayed where they had come to rest. Each thump reassured him anew and he could not bring himself to break the contact.
His mind wandered freely as the memory of loosing Nirith was still painfully fresh to him.
Was he to loose the elf as well?
His heart would constrict at that thought but it refused to be simply pushed away.
This was the position Gloin found him in as he stepped outside of the caves. The older dwarf's sharp eyes took in the scene before him and a smile came to play around his lips. Many dwarves had found the way to the outside. A fire had been lit close to Gimli and Legolas and he could see one of their healers kneeling there, preparing something. He could see dwarves collecting firewood, adding to the stock already piled up. Others had gathered and were talking in hushed voices, never intruding on the two figures beneath the old tree but quietly observing.
It seemed that the folk of the Lonely Mountain had come to care about the fate of the son of Thandruil after all.
As he slowly walked over to his son he could see him raise his head and look at him. Relief showed on his face upon seeing him well and unharmed.
He came to stand next to Gimli, his eyes taking in the still form of the elf. He noticed the paleness of his skin and the hand resting above his heart. He refrained from asking for he could see Legolas was far from well. Remembering his own experience as well as the weakness of the five dwarves they had been forced to carry back, he could only marvel at how long the elf had been able to withstand this creature.
'Have you found it?' Gimli asked.
'Aye, we did. It is destroyed.' He answered simply, taking notice of the tension in Gimli that seemed to lessen a little bit upon hearing his words.
Gloin hesitated for a moment, carefully phrasing his next words.
'Preparations are made to lay the two to rest that we lost last night.' He softly spoke.
His words caused pain to pierce Gimli's heart. His eyes left Legolas' face to roam around, noticing that most dwarves had started to wander back inside the caves, no doubt to join the families in mourning.
For a moment grief seemed to overwhelm him and he closed his eyes.
Gloin watched him carefully. Dwarves usually were not free in showing their feelings but hardly anyone had missed the growing love between his son and Nirith.
'I will watch over him, if you wish to join...'
'Nay.' Gimli spoke up. 'I thank you for this offer but now is not the time for me to mourn her. I wish to do so when my mind is free of other worries.'
Gloin only nodded in understanding. To mourn a lost love was not to be done when attentions were divided. Time to grief would come for his son and he could only hope that the cause for it would not become more than it already was.
A sudden rustling of leaves broke the silence that had settled and both dwarves turned their head into the direction it had come from. With a startled exclamation Gloin took a quick step backwards as a huge horse appeared only two steps away from them.
With eyes widened in surprise he watched as the horse came to stop next to the elf, its head bowing down and its nostrils nuzzling his golden hair.
With a whine it threw it's head up causing Gloin to stumble another step backwards.
'Calm down, Arod.' Gimli spoke soothingly upon seeing the horse's distress over its master's stillness.
Hearing his voice the horse turned its head to regard him with its dark eyes. It seemed to calm down as if recognizing the dwarf and obeyed him as he spoke again.
'Go, Arod. I will look after him.'
Slowly it took a few steps away and remained there, a still figure watching over them.
Gimli turned to look for Gloin to find a look of utter astonishment directed at himself. For a dwarf to talk to a horse was a strange thing to do and even stranger that the horse would obey him. He could only feel deep gratitude that no-one has seen him talking to that tree earlier.
'I will go and join the celebration.' Gloin finally said and turned to leave. Gimli could see him shaking his head as he walked away and mumbled words barley reached his ears.
'First elves, now horses, I wonder what will be next...'
With a wry grin he turned his attention back to his friend after casting one pointed glance at Arod.
@@@
Daylight was fading and only the warmth of the fire kept the chilling coolness of the approaching night away. Gudin kept watch over the flames, adding wood when needed and offering a silent comfort to Gimli through his presence. No words were spoken and the other dwarves that had rejoined them outside kept their conversations hushed. Food had been brought as well as water and ale but worry kept Gimli from even feeling hunger.
Legolas' condition had not changed neither for better, nor for worse. Gimli's hand still rested above his heart, keeping watch over his every heartbeat.
Many thoughts had come and gone during this last hours as fears rose and were battled down again. But in the end all he could do was wait.
He looked up, glad for a distraction when laud voices arose from out of sight and for a moment his heart skipped a beat as he thought to recognize one of them. Than the speakers appeared within his line of vision and his hope was confirmed.
Gandalf.
Next to him he could see Gloin and Aragorn walking, Eomer and Faramir following them.
The sudden urge of relief that flooded his heart was quickly dampened by the grim look on the Istari's face as he spoke with Gloin.
Reluctantly he withdraw his hand from Legolas and stood to greet them as the small group reached them.
Gandalf could see the mixture of hope and fear on Gimli's face as they exchanged words of greeting. Without hesitation he went down on his knees laying his hand gently on Legolas' brow. With shock he realized how weak the spark of life left in the elf was.
Aragorn had dropped down next to him, scanning what he could see of the elf's body with keen eyes. He took in the pallor of his skin and the tightly closed eyes in a face that still showed the strain of what he had gone through.
So Gandalf had been right, Legolas had been in great danger.
'What happened, Gimli?' Gandalf asked although he knew what it was the dwarf would tell them.
They listened without ever interrupting him as he told them all he knew. But as he spoke of the screams he had heard and Legolas own cries of agony, Gandalf's features darkened even more. With dread Gimli realized that this was something the Istari had not been prepared to hear.