Little My:
well if quick updates keep you from doing harm to yourself I will have to keep you happy :-) …can not let you hurt innocent brick
walls after all :-)
__
Lakergurl13:
thank you for pointing that out – and do not fear, I do not think of it as flaming, I am actually grateful to people who point out
errors to me! (as long as it is nicely done… ) – I read that part of the appendix but it seems that bit of information slipped my
mind…
__
So many of you did time to review and I can only say a huge THANK YOU!!!!
So, to keep people from …
…Dying of suspense
…Hitting their heads against brick walls
…Starting to read the story all over again
…here is another chapter… I stop telling you they are short for I guess you noticed it by now :-) … if you would prefer less few
updates but longer chapters just let me know… *grin*
oh… and please review?
:-)
____
Midnight had long passed when Aragorn noticed that Gimli had finally dozed off. Casting a look around he found Faramir and
Eomer had joined Gudin at the fire and both had settled down to sleep although their hushed voices told him they were far from
asleep.
His eyes met Gudin's and to his surprise the dwarf rose and took a few steps away from the fireplace signaling him that he
wished to speak to him.
Aragorn rose without a sound and took the few steps to join him.
'There is a matter I feel you should know.' Gudin spoke but there was reluctance in his voice as if he did not really know how to
voice it.
'I fear the elf carries a wound at his side.' He finally spoke. 'I do not think it serious but I know it pained him before.'
'A wound?' Aragorn showed his surprise. Why would Gimli not know of this if his friend was hurt? 'How did he receive it?'
But Gudin's eyes only flickered to Legolas and Gimli for the shortest moment ere they returned to Aragorn. He only shrugged
not wishing to speak of this. He knew how the elf had come to bare the wound but this was naught he would speak of.
For the moment the answer to his question seemed not important, so Aragorn returned to his friend's side. Kneeling next to him
he mimicked Gandalf's earlier movement as he placed his hand on Legolas' brow. It was still cool to the touch and the king of
Gondor felt deeply shaken upon feeling such weakness in his friend. Then his hands moved to carefully fold the blanket away
from Legolas' chest. He noticed the partially unbuttoned tunic and with gentle fingers he finished the task Gimli had begun. He
repeated the same at the light silver tunic Legolas wore beneath the thick green one until the elf's chest lay bare.
He had tried to move silently to not wake the sleeping dwarf but Gimli's rest was far from peaceful and the rustling of cloth woke
him. For a few seconds he only blinked uncomprehending at Aragorn, taking in the sight of the man kneeling over the elf and
baring his chest. Than with a sound of dismay he rose quickly from where he had come to lay on the ground and fear exploded
in his heart.
'Nay…!!'
Aragorn's head whipped around, seeing the wide panicked eyes and realized what this would look like to the dwarf.
'No, Gimli, he is fine.' He was quick to assure the distressed dwarf. 'I only wish to make sure he does not carry any wounds.'
Relief so strong it made him feel lightheaded forced Gimli to sit down again, taking a deep breath. Upon seeing Aragorn like this
he had truly believed the elf's heart had stopped beating.
Aragorn could feel the attention Gimli's cry had evoked from those around them slowly waning again as it became obvious that
nothing had happened. Casting a short glance to Gimli who looked terribly pale in the flickering light of the fire he was glad to
see the dwarf had quickly calmed down again. He turned his attention back on Legolas, his fingers carefully tracing the elf's
chest. The healer in him could feel the heat of the injury long before his fingers reached it. As Gudin had said he found the
wound at Legolas side, a deep bruising of skin, flesh and bones as if something hard had hit him with terrible force. One rib he
was quite sure to be broken, the others at least badly bruised. Looking up he could see Gimli's eyes transfixed on the dark
marks of bruising on the elf's pale skin.
There was a strange expression in his eyes that Aragorn could not read.
Before Aragorn could ask he rose and spoke softly. 'I will bring you something to wrap his rips.'
But he did not have to go far for Gudin had foreseen this and anything they might need had been brought to the fireplace.
Aragorn's face showed his surprise when Gimli returned not only with cloth to be used as bandages but also a small bowl that
contained a strong smelling pulp that seemed to be a mixture of different herbs.
'One of our healers prepared this.' Gimli repeated Gloin words. 'It will quicken the healing of broken bones.'
Aragorn did not doubt for a moment the effectiveness of this ointment but he could not help but wonder how freely the dwarfs
seemed to offer their help to the elf. But he was glad for it for he knew as weak as Legolas' body appeared to be he could need
any aid in healing that was offered.
Gimli felt strangely removed as he watched Aragorn apply the ointment with gentle fingers. His eyes wandered along the elf's
torso until he found the mark upon Legolas' abdomen. The elf had not had much time to heal and it stood out darkly and
accusingly against the pale skin. A feeling of utter despair welled up in Gimli as he remembered all too well how it had come to
be there. He remembered his own fist driving into the slender form, remembered Legolas being thrown backwards and his hard
impact on the wall.
In all his life Gimli son of Gloin had never felt ashamed of anything he had done and he had been proud of this. But right now as
everything he had said and done during the last day came back to him he could feel nothing but shame and guilt at his own
behavior. How he had come to treat a trusted friend like this he could not say. Had his mind been clouded by grief and pain so
much, that he had truly believed Legolas had refused to help?
Aragorn had finished to spread the paste upon Legolas' side and looked up to ask Gimli for help. Seeing the forlorn look on the
dwarf's face he paused, wondering. He could not shake the feeling that he did miss something here but decided to not voice the
questions burning in his mind. First he would take care of Legolas, then he could demand some answers from Gimli.
'I need your help here, Gimli.' He spoke softly and after regaining the dwarf's attention he added. 'If you can lift him I can take off
his clothing and bind his rips.'
Without a word Gimli did what he had asked him for, moving behind Legolas head and gently grasping his shoulders lifted him
off the ground. Together they managed to remove the tunics and Aragorn wrapped the rips tightly, securing the cloth with a knot.
Gimli lowered the elf back to the ground and Aragorn covered him once more with the warm blanket.
Legolas had never stirred through all of this.
Looking up from the pale face on the ground Gimli almost jumped in surprise and a small gasp escaped him. He had not heard
Gandalf approach them and had not expected to suddenly face the Istari.
Aragorn showed no sign of surprise but only retook his place on the ground. Questions burned as he wondered how Legolas
had come to bare a wound like this. From what he had heard nothing explained how the elf had been hurt.
Gimli watched as Gandalf settled down next to them preparing his pipe. When the first cloud of smoke escaped the wizard's
mouth he finally dared to ask what had been on his mind ever since he had found the elf kneeling slumped over on the ground.
'Tell me, Gandalf,' he spoke softly, afraid of what the answer might be. 'why it was possible that Legolas was attacked like this.
He himself told me that the mental shields of an elf's mind are hard to break. So why could this creature overcome him so
easily?'
'There was nothing easily done to him, Gimli or he would not be alive anymore.' Gandalf could see the flinch his words caused
and softened his next. 'But Legolas was right when he said an elf's mind is hard to break but it seems he was not as strong as
he thought himself to be. Tell me Gimli, did he show any signs of the sea longing while he was here? For if it did sense a
weakness in him it would explain why it did turn on him out of all the victims it could have chosen.'
'Nay.' Gimli answered but his mind was in turmoil. It had not been the sea longing that had effected his friend.
'Than maybe it was the physical pain of his wound that it could feel?' Aragorn asked.
Gandalf's gaze remained fixed on Gimli's face as he did not answer the man's question. He could feel the dwarf had something
to tell them and that it would explain much of what had transpired here.
well if quick updates keep you from doing harm to yourself I will have to keep you happy :-) …can not let you hurt innocent brick
walls after all :-)
__
Lakergurl13:
thank you for pointing that out – and do not fear, I do not think of it as flaming, I am actually grateful to people who point out
errors to me! (as long as it is nicely done… ) – I read that part of the appendix but it seems that bit of information slipped my
mind…
__
So many of you did time to review and I can only say a huge THANK YOU!!!!
So, to keep people from …
…Dying of suspense
…Hitting their heads against brick walls
…Starting to read the story all over again
…here is another chapter… I stop telling you they are short for I guess you noticed it by now :-) … if you would prefer less few
updates but longer chapters just let me know… *grin*
oh… and please review?
:-)
____
Midnight had long passed when Aragorn noticed that Gimli had finally dozed off. Casting a look around he found Faramir and
Eomer had joined Gudin at the fire and both had settled down to sleep although their hushed voices told him they were far from
asleep.
His eyes met Gudin's and to his surprise the dwarf rose and took a few steps away from the fireplace signaling him that he
wished to speak to him.
Aragorn rose without a sound and took the few steps to join him.
'There is a matter I feel you should know.' Gudin spoke but there was reluctance in his voice as if he did not really know how to
voice it.
'I fear the elf carries a wound at his side.' He finally spoke. 'I do not think it serious but I know it pained him before.'
'A wound?' Aragorn showed his surprise. Why would Gimli not know of this if his friend was hurt? 'How did he receive it?'
But Gudin's eyes only flickered to Legolas and Gimli for the shortest moment ere they returned to Aragorn. He only shrugged
not wishing to speak of this. He knew how the elf had come to bare the wound but this was naught he would speak of.
For the moment the answer to his question seemed not important, so Aragorn returned to his friend's side. Kneeling next to him
he mimicked Gandalf's earlier movement as he placed his hand on Legolas' brow. It was still cool to the touch and the king of
Gondor felt deeply shaken upon feeling such weakness in his friend. Then his hands moved to carefully fold the blanket away
from Legolas' chest. He noticed the partially unbuttoned tunic and with gentle fingers he finished the task Gimli had begun. He
repeated the same at the light silver tunic Legolas wore beneath the thick green one until the elf's chest lay bare.
He had tried to move silently to not wake the sleeping dwarf but Gimli's rest was far from peaceful and the rustling of cloth woke
him. For a few seconds he only blinked uncomprehending at Aragorn, taking in the sight of the man kneeling over the elf and
baring his chest. Than with a sound of dismay he rose quickly from where he had come to lay on the ground and fear exploded
in his heart.
'Nay…!!'
Aragorn's head whipped around, seeing the wide panicked eyes and realized what this would look like to the dwarf.
'No, Gimli, he is fine.' He was quick to assure the distressed dwarf. 'I only wish to make sure he does not carry any wounds.'
Relief so strong it made him feel lightheaded forced Gimli to sit down again, taking a deep breath. Upon seeing Aragorn like this
he had truly believed the elf's heart had stopped beating.
Aragorn could feel the attention Gimli's cry had evoked from those around them slowly waning again as it became obvious that
nothing had happened. Casting a short glance to Gimli who looked terribly pale in the flickering light of the fire he was glad to
see the dwarf had quickly calmed down again. He turned his attention back on Legolas, his fingers carefully tracing the elf's
chest. The healer in him could feel the heat of the injury long before his fingers reached it. As Gudin had said he found the
wound at Legolas side, a deep bruising of skin, flesh and bones as if something hard had hit him with terrible force. One rib he
was quite sure to be broken, the others at least badly bruised. Looking up he could see Gimli's eyes transfixed on the dark
marks of bruising on the elf's pale skin.
There was a strange expression in his eyes that Aragorn could not read.
Before Aragorn could ask he rose and spoke softly. 'I will bring you something to wrap his rips.'
But he did not have to go far for Gudin had foreseen this and anything they might need had been brought to the fireplace.
Aragorn's face showed his surprise when Gimli returned not only with cloth to be used as bandages but also a small bowl that
contained a strong smelling pulp that seemed to be a mixture of different herbs.
'One of our healers prepared this.' Gimli repeated Gloin words. 'It will quicken the healing of broken bones.'
Aragorn did not doubt for a moment the effectiveness of this ointment but he could not help but wonder how freely the dwarfs
seemed to offer their help to the elf. But he was glad for it for he knew as weak as Legolas' body appeared to be he could need
any aid in healing that was offered.
Gimli felt strangely removed as he watched Aragorn apply the ointment with gentle fingers. His eyes wandered along the elf's
torso until he found the mark upon Legolas' abdomen. The elf had not had much time to heal and it stood out darkly and
accusingly against the pale skin. A feeling of utter despair welled up in Gimli as he remembered all too well how it had come to
be there. He remembered his own fist driving into the slender form, remembered Legolas being thrown backwards and his hard
impact on the wall.
In all his life Gimli son of Gloin had never felt ashamed of anything he had done and he had been proud of this. But right now as
everything he had said and done during the last day came back to him he could feel nothing but shame and guilt at his own
behavior. How he had come to treat a trusted friend like this he could not say. Had his mind been clouded by grief and pain so
much, that he had truly believed Legolas had refused to help?
Aragorn had finished to spread the paste upon Legolas' side and looked up to ask Gimli for help. Seeing the forlorn look on the
dwarf's face he paused, wondering. He could not shake the feeling that he did miss something here but decided to not voice the
questions burning in his mind. First he would take care of Legolas, then he could demand some answers from Gimli.
'I need your help here, Gimli.' He spoke softly and after regaining the dwarf's attention he added. 'If you can lift him I can take off
his clothing and bind his rips.'
Without a word Gimli did what he had asked him for, moving behind Legolas head and gently grasping his shoulders lifted him
off the ground. Together they managed to remove the tunics and Aragorn wrapped the rips tightly, securing the cloth with a knot.
Gimli lowered the elf back to the ground and Aragorn covered him once more with the warm blanket.
Legolas had never stirred through all of this.
Looking up from the pale face on the ground Gimli almost jumped in surprise and a small gasp escaped him. He had not heard
Gandalf approach them and had not expected to suddenly face the Istari.
Aragorn showed no sign of surprise but only retook his place on the ground. Questions burned as he wondered how Legolas
had come to bare a wound like this. From what he had heard nothing explained how the elf had been hurt.
Gimli watched as Gandalf settled down next to them preparing his pipe. When the first cloud of smoke escaped the wizard's
mouth he finally dared to ask what had been on his mind ever since he had found the elf kneeling slumped over on the ground.
'Tell me, Gandalf,' he spoke softly, afraid of what the answer might be. 'why it was possible that Legolas was attacked like this.
He himself told me that the mental shields of an elf's mind are hard to break. So why could this creature overcome him so
easily?'
'There was nothing easily done to him, Gimli or he would not be alive anymore.' Gandalf could see the flinch his words caused
and softened his next. 'But Legolas was right when he said an elf's mind is hard to break but it seems he was not as strong as
he thought himself to be. Tell me Gimli, did he show any signs of the sea longing while he was here? For if it did sense a
weakness in him it would explain why it did turn on him out of all the victims it could have chosen.'
'Nay.' Gimli answered but his mind was in turmoil. It had not been the sea longing that had effected his friend.
'Than maybe it was the physical pain of his wound that it could feel?' Aragorn asked.
Gandalf's gaze remained fixed on Gimli's face as he did not answer the man's question. He could feel the dwarf had something
to tell them and that it would explain much of what had transpired here.