Wow, the number of reviews so far beats everything ... a huge thank you to all of you!
And a special thank you to Little My who beta read this chapter!
So, on with the story...
And let me know if you liked it ... :-)
___
Although the last days had been long and hard, Aragorn woke at the break of day. Gandalf was still keeping watch and greeted
him with a warm smile. As the man got to his feet and stretched to remove the kinks from his back, the Istari rose as well. No
words were needed as Gandalf gave him a short look and he nodded in response to the unspoken question. The tall form of the
Istari disappeared silently and Aragorn quietly made the short way to Legolas' side. He knelt and his penetrative glance tried to
find any indication of the elf's condition.
He did look strangely peaceful and only sharp eyes would detect the strain still present on his fair face. Had he not grown up
with elves and know them as well as he did, Aragorn would not have seen the subtle signs as clearly as he did now. Legolas'
skin was maybe a shade paler than usual and his hair seemed to gleam just a bit less. But he was still alive and fighting and for
the moment this had to be enough. With a sigh, the King of Gondor got to his feet again and took a look around. No stir of
movement came from the fireplace where Eomer and Faramir seemed to be still asleep. The dwarves had returned inside their
caves to spend the night there and he could not see any sign of them yet.
Gimli still slept, laying on his side facing Legolas, as close to the elf as he dared. His face showed deep lines as even in sleep
his troubled mind would not allow him to relax. Anger had directed his tongue the day before, but by now Aragorn could feel
only compassion for him. The dwarf had lost someone dear to him and he was in danger of losing the one who had come to be
his closest friend. A sudden sound made him wake from his musings and he straightened, his keen senses trying to find the
source of it. Footsteps were nearing, but from outside the camp. He could discern the steps of a man and slightly surprised he
moved to greet the newcomer.
The Kings of Gondor and Rohan as well as the Prince of Ithilien had not traveled without a group of guards accompanying them.
But Aragorn had ordered his men to stay behind ere they entered the realm of the dwarves. They had made camp there, waiting
for further orders. But obviously one of them had followed them now and he could not help but worry what news he would carry.
He went to meet the newcomer but stopped in surprise when he perceived the shapes of two men through the green of the
shrubbery surrounding their camp. He could only make out the footsteps of one of them, which could only mean that the second
would be an elf. For their steps were hard to hear even for his own keen hearing.
He became even more alarmed when he came to see them more clearly. It was an elf and he bore the colors of Greenwood, the
same brown and green Legolas usually wore. His head was held high and his face set in grim determination, while the man
walking next to him seemed slightly troubled as well as out of breath. It was obvious that he had had a hard time matching the
elf's quick steps.
With long strides Aragorn met them, troubled at what would bring a Greenwood elf to enter the realm of the dwarves. He did not
miss the flicker of relief on the man's face upon seeing him. The guard opened his mouth to speak but the elf beat him to it.
Giving a short bow he greeted Aragorn with respect.
'King Elessar, it is a pleasure to meet you.'
Aragorn answered his greeting, noticing the elf's eyes darting around, taking in his surroundings.
'What brings a warrior of Greenwood here?' he asked, foregoing further courteousness for he could feel the elf's unease.
'I am to deliver a message to Legolas Thranduillion,' he answered and Aragorn could feel a sense of foreboding. There was no
way of telling how the elves of Greenwood would react to hearing that Legolas had come to harm while dwelling in the realm of
the dwarves. He only felt relief that the thick shrubbery would hinder the elf's view of the camp.
'He is resting,' he answered quickly, hoping to avert what could become a tense situation. 'But I can deliver it to him as soon as
he awakes.'
It was a desperate try and he knew it, for if matters should turn out ill and Legolas not recover he would find himself in the
ensuing debacle.
But as he had feared his offer was declined politely.
'It is to be delivered to Legolas in person,' the elf spoke and it was obvious that he would not be swayed.
'This might not be possible,' Aragorn was forced to admit and he found himself caught in an unwavering stare that seemed to try
to read the meaning of his words from his mind.
'I do not understand.' The words were spoken slowly but the elf's eyes had narrowed suspiciously.
'Legolas was wounded. Not by the dwarves but by a dark creature that he helped to overcome.'
He could see something flash in the other's eyes but it was quickly gone.
'I know of this creature,' the answer came. 'We met the prince on his way here and he gave us a warning to deliver. But why
would you try to hide his being wounded from me? If he needs aid it would be best offered by an elf.'
'I fear there is naught you could do for him.' Aragorn could feel the situation exacerbating as he could see anger mounting in the
elf's eyes.
'I wish to see him,' he demanded.
There would be no way to hide the extent of Legolas' injury to the keen eyes of an elf. Although Aragorn did not wish to keep
him from the truth of what had befallen the son of Thandruil, he feared the consequences. Too unstable was the trust between
elves and dwarves, despite the deep friendship of Gimli and Legolas, to risk a confrontation. Too easily the elves could turn to
putting blame on the dwarves.
'He has been taken care of, I can assure you,' Aragorn spoke. 'He rests now and should not be disturbed.' He could see the
reaction to his refusal as the elf's body seemed to tighten and his hands tensed around his bow.
'Why would you refuse me to see him?' His voice rose with restrained anger. But then his eyes strayed from the man's face and
came to rest on something behind him. Some of the tension seemed to evaporate.
Heavy footsteps announced Gimli's approach and Aragorn could feel relief mixed with trepidation.
'Gimli Gloinson!' The elf called a greeting to the dwarf who responded in kind. It was obvious they had met before and at this
Aragorn could feel some of his fears abate.
The sharp eyes of the elf took in the strain of worry and something else on Gimli's face.
'I can see the worry you carry, elf-friend. Pray tell me why I would be refused to see Legolas. Why would he be kept apart from
his own people?'
Gimli's eyes flickered to Aragorn, and upon seeing the reluctance to answer his question anger rose once more in the elf.
Gimli could see the suspicion and anger plainly reflected on the elf's face but the warning glance from Aragorn stopped him from
speaking. He could understand what Aragorn was trying to do but doubted he would succeed with it. He knew the stubbornness
of the elves of Greenwood firsthand and he knew this particular elf. He was Calenuial, a friend of Legolas as well as one of the
most trusted warriors of Greenwood, and he would quite certainly not be swayed from finding out what had befallen his friend.
Before the situation could become even tenser, a deep voice called out to all of them.
'There is no use and no need in hiding Legolas' condition from the elves of Greenwood, Aragorn.'
The elf's face broke into a relieved smile.
'Mithrandir!' he cried.
They all turned towards the Istari who regarded them with a shake of his head.
'Nothing good has ever come from veiling the truth,' he spoke chidingly. His eyes came to rest on the elf's face.
'Come, Calenuial,' he spoke in a more gentle voice ere he moved away. The elf followed him with quick steps, eager to finally
see Legolas.
And a special thank you to Little My who beta read this chapter!
So, on with the story...
And let me know if you liked it ... :-)
___
Although the last days had been long and hard, Aragorn woke at the break of day. Gandalf was still keeping watch and greeted
him with a warm smile. As the man got to his feet and stretched to remove the kinks from his back, the Istari rose as well. No
words were needed as Gandalf gave him a short look and he nodded in response to the unspoken question. The tall form of the
Istari disappeared silently and Aragorn quietly made the short way to Legolas' side. He knelt and his penetrative glance tried to
find any indication of the elf's condition.
He did look strangely peaceful and only sharp eyes would detect the strain still present on his fair face. Had he not grown up
with elves and know them as well as he did, Aragorn would not have seen the subtle signs as clearly as he did now. Legolas'
skin was maybe a shade paler than usual and his hair seemed to gleam just a bit less. But he was still alive and fighting and for
the moment this had to be enough. With a sigh, the King of Gondor got to his feet again and took a look around. No stir of
movement came from the fireplace where Eomer and Faramir seemed to be still asleep. The dwarves had returned inside their
caves to spend the night there and he could not see any sign of them yet.
Gimli still slept, laying on his side facing Legolas, as close to the elf as he dared. His face showed deep lines as even in sleep
his troubled mind would not allow him to relax. Anger had directed his tongue the day before, but by now Aragorn could feel
only compassion for him. The dwarf had lost someone dear to him and he was in danger of losing the one who had come to be
his closest friend. A sudden sound made him wake from his musings and he straightened, his keen senses trying to find the
source of it. Footsteps were nearing, but from outside the camp. He could discern the steps of a man and slightly surprised he
moved to greet the newcomer.
The Kings of Gondor and Rohan as well as the Prince of Ithilien had not traveled without a group of guards accompanying them.
But Aragorn had ordered his men to stay behind ere they entered the realm of the dwarves. They had made camp there, waiting
for further orders. But obviously one of them had followed them now and he could not help but worry what news he would carry.
He went to meet the newcomer but stopped in surprise when he perceived the shapes of two men through the green of the
shrubbery surrounding their camp. He could only make out the footsteps of one of them, which could only mean that the second
would be an elf. For their steps were hard to hear even for his own keen hearing.
He became even more alarmed when he came to see them more clearly. It was an elf and he bore the colors of Greenwood, the
same brown and green Legolas usually wore. His head was held high and his face set in grim determination, while the man
walking next to him seemed slightly troubled as well as out of breath. It was obvious that he had had a hard time matching the
elf's quick steps.
With long strides Aragorn met them, troubled at what would bring a Greenwood elf to enter the realm of the dwarves. He did not
miss the flicker of relief on the man's face upon seeing him. The guard opened his mouth to speak but the elf beat him to it.
Giving a short bow he greeted Aragorn with respect.
'King Elessar, it is a pleasure to meet you.'
Aragorn answered his greeting, noticing the elf's eyes darting around, taking in his surroundings.
'What brings a warrior of Greenwood here?' he asked, foregoing further courteousness for he could feel the elf's unease.
'I am to deliver a message to Legolas Thranduillion,' he answered and Aragorn could feel a sense of foreboding. There was no
way of telling how the elves of Greenwood would react to hearing that Legolas had come to harm while dwelling in the realm of
the dwarves. He only felt relief that the thick shrubbery would hinder the elf's view of the camp.
'He is resting,' he answered quickly, hoping to avert what could become a tense situation. 'But I can deliver it to him as soon as
he awakes.'
It was a desperate try and he knew it, for if matters should turn out ill and Legolas not recover he would find himself in the
ensuing debacle.
But as he had feared his offer was declined politely.
'It is to be delivered to Legolas in person,' the elf spoke and it was obvious that he would not be swayed.
'This might not be possible,' Aragorn was forced to admit and he found himself caught in an unwavering stare that seemed to try
to read the meaning of his words from his mind.
'I do not understand.' The words were spoken slowly but the elf's eyes had narrowed suspiciously.
'Legolas was wounded. Not by the dwarves but by a dark creature that he helped to overcome.'
He could see something flash in the other's eyes but it was quickly gone.
'I know of this creature,' the answer came. 'We met the prince on his way here and he gave us a warning to deliver. But why
would you try to hide his being wounded from me? If he needs aid it would be best offered by an elf.'
'I fear there is naught you could do for him.' Aragorn could feel the situation exacerbating as he could see anger mounting in the
elf's eyes.
'I wish to see him,' he demanded.
There would be no way to hide the extent of Legolas' injury to the keen eyes of an elf. Although Aragorn did not wish to keep
him from the truth of what had befallen the son of Thandruil, he feared the consequences. Too unstable was the trust between
elves and dwarves, despite the deep friendship of Gimli and Legolas, to risk a confrontation. Too easily the elves could turn to
putting blame on the dwarves.
'He has been taken care of, I can assure you,' Aragorn spoke. 'He rests now and should not be disturbed.' He could see the
reaction to his refusal as the elf's body seemed to tighten and his hands tensed around his bow.
'Why would you refuse me to see him?' His voice rose with restrained anger. But then his eyes strayed from the man's face and
came to rest on something behind him. Some of the tension seemed to evaporate.
Heavy footsteps announced Gimli's approach and Aragorn could feel relief mixed with trepidation.
'Gimli Gloinson!' The elf called a greeting to the dwarf who responded in kind. It was obvious they had met before and at this
Aragorn could feel some of his fears abate.
The sharp eyes of the elf took in the strain of worry and something else on Gimli's face.
'I can see the worry you carry, elf-friend. Pray tell me why I would be refused to see Legolas. Why would he be kept apart from
his own people?'
Gimli's eyes flickered to Aragorn, and upon seeing the reluctance to answer his question anger rose once more in the elf.
Gimli could see the suspicion and anger plainly reflected on the elf's face but the warning glance from Aragorn stopped him from
speaking. He could understand what Aragorn was trying to do but doubted he would succeed with it. He knew the stubbornness
of the elves of Greenwood firsthand and he knew this particular elf. He was Calenuial, a friend of Legolas as well as one of the
most trusted warriors of Greenwood, and he would quite certainly not be swayed from finding out what had befallen his friend.
Before the situation could become even tenser, a deep voice called out to all of them.
'There is no use and no need in hiding Legolas' condition from the elves of Greenwood, Aragorn.'
The elf's face broke into a relieved smile.
'Mithrandir!' he cried.
They all turned towards the Istari who regarded them with a shake of his head.
'Nothing good has ever come from veiling the truth,' he spoke chidingly. His eyes came to rest on the elf's face.
'Come, Calenuial,' he spoke in a more gentle voice ere he moved away. The elf followed him with quick steps, eager to finally
see Legolas.