Please, my dear readers do not jump any cliffs and do not hurt yourself any other way...
This chapter may not answer all your questions... maybe none of your questions at all... but the next may ... :-)...
So just keep on reading... and maybe I keep on writing... * grin *
A great thank you to my beta reader... Little My !!!!!!!
And one more BIG BIG thank you to anyone who reviewed ... I love it!!!
So keep on reading & review please!!!
___
They never stopped for long, only making short breaks for Gimli to check on Legolas
or to have a drink of water and some food. The pace was slow enough not to tire the
horses and even when darkness fell no one suggested finding a place to make camp
for the night. Legolas had been unconscious for too long already, and although
Gandalf had never explicitly said that the Greenwood elves would be able to bring
him back to them, it was still a hope they all clung to. The Istari knew something they
did not, and they could only do as he bid them by taking Legolas home.
It was a bitter thought that entered Gimli's mind, that maybe they only did this so the
elf could pass from this world in the same place where he had been born and spent
most of his life. The great woods that he loved dearly even after the sea had gotten
its hold on him. But it was a thought quickly pushed away again, for it would not help
to despair now. His eyes once more slipped back to the pale face he could barely see
in what little light they traveled in.
The elves found their way even in the dark and led them safely ever deeper into the
woods.
It was late into the next day when they crossed the invisible borders to the elven
realm. Gimli would not have noticed had he not seen Aragorn's reaction. The man's
keen eyes searched their surroundings and a small smile appeared on his face.
They stopped once more and Gimli quickly turned to his friend, as if hoping that being
back his home would change something about the elf's state. Elves never were
completely unaware of their surroundings, that much Gimli knew by now, but he
wondered if this still held true for his friend.
Nothing had changed but Gimli refused to feel disappointed. It was the lady Gandalf
had spoken of that would offer the help needed. He could hear Aragorn speak and
turned his attention on his words.
'We will soon be met by a group of elves, for our crossing the borders will not have
gone unnoticed. No matter what the welcome is, do not raise your weapons; the last
thing we need now is a dispute.'
The words were directed to the guards as well as Eomer and Faramir, and for good
reason. The elves of Greenwood guarded their borders quite fiercely. Strangers were
not easily welcomed to their realm. It was a great contradiction, Gimli had come to
see, for by nature were a merry folk that enjoyed feasts and were openhearted
towards those they considered friends.
Right now he cared not what the welcome would be, as long as they finally reached
their destination.
It came about as Aragorn had said, for they had not been on their way again for long
when out of nowhere an elf appeared. All of a sudden he was in front of them, having
made no sound to warn them of his approach.
He held a bow loosely by his side, implying no threat. But there was no doubt in any
of them that more elves hid in the woods surrounding them, most probably with
arrows notched, ready to fight if they should pose a threat. But many of them were
known to the elves of Greenwood, and four of their own warriors accompanied them
so they were treated as friends, not foes.
The horses came to a halt and the elf acknowledged Calenuial and his companions
with a curt nod. His eyes wandered over the company and came to rest upon
Gandalf.
'It is a long time since you graced us with your presence here, Mithrandir,' he spoke.
'And you bring a great company with you. But the trees murmur of sorrow and I can
see your hearts are heavy.'
Once more his gaze wandered, this time towards the cart.
'It is grave news you carry. So the Lady was right, the prince of Greenwood has
fallen.'
There was deep sorrow in his voice and Gandalf quickly retorted, 'Nay, he is not
beyond help yet. But we have need for haste, for he is fading.'
Upon hearing this, the elf quickly took the few steps that separated him from Legolas
to look down on his still form.
'The palace is not far from here. We will announce your arrival, so you will be able to
pass without further delay.'
Then he turned and disappeared as quickly and silently as he had come.
'The elves of Greenwood are surely not ones to waste words or time,' Eomer
murmured.
'You should see them after they have had some wine,' Gimli retorted. 'Then they
seem unable to stop talking at all and if they do it is only to burst out in one of their
endless songs.' He shook his head, a fond smile grazing his lips.
@@@
No one hindered them as they made their way into the heart of the woodland realm,
and when they finally reached the gates they were allowed to pass without a word
spoken. An unusual silence had fallen over the elven city as no songs, no single
voice could be heard. But they could feel that their arrival had been noticed, and
many eyes followed them as they made their way towards the palace.
They stopped in front of it and dismounted, weary from the long way but excited by
the knowledge that finally some kind of decision was forthcoming. Legolas' fate would
not be unknown for much longer, and anything seemed better than the long torturous
waiting they had endured until now.
Elves greeted them, leading away the horses and even Eomer allowed himself to be
parted from his steed. Arod was freed, but it took some persuasion until an elf was
able to lead him away from his master.
A stretcher had been brought, and this time it was Calenuial who lifted Legolas into
his arms. Gimli felt weary, exhausted to the bone from the long ride as well as from
the strain he was under. The fear of losing Legolas had never completely lifted from
his heart, for he knew well that it was only the magic of the miruvor that had kept the
elf alive for so long. If help could not be offered soon, he would fade.
Looking around he noticed that many elves had followed them and watched in
silence as Legolas was laid on the stretcher. He knew his friend was well loved by his
people, and he could feel their fear and sorrow upon seeing him like this.
He forced his tired body to move when the stretcher was lifted and carried inside, for
he wished to stay with Legolas. It was hard to keep up with the swift strides of the
elves who carried him, but worry and hope once more won over his exhaustion. A
time to rest would come, the true fight was only beginning.
The room they were led to was wide and filled with sunshine and the smell of living
things. Legolas was gently transferred to a comfortable looking bed, and the elves
that had moved him stepped away.
He looked worse than ever before, as the sick pallor of his skin and the missing
gleam of life in his appearance contrasted sharply with his surroundings.
Apart from the guards that had stayed outside, all of Legolas' companions had
followed, but only now Gimli realized that three more had entered the room. Or
maybe they had been here before, he could not say. Two of them stayed behind as
the third stepped forward, leaning over the elf lying on the bed.
No words needed to be said to tell Gimli that she was the one Gandalf and others
had spoken about. Her hair was dark and her face held a beauty as he had seldom
seen before. But her face bore so much pain and anguish that he could hardly bear
look at it. Her hand touched Legolas' brow and a shudder went though her.
She straightened and her eyes sought Gandalf.
'What has befallen him?' she voiced the same question as Calenuial had done
before.
Once more the Istari told what needed to be known, but she was not as easily
satisfied as the other elf had been.
'There are things that you do not tell,' she spoke. 'For he carries a wound that you do
not explain and you say not what sorrow weakened his heart that he could be
attacked like this. But I see that the answers to these questions are of no importance
now and may discussed later. I bid you to leave now.'
'I wish to stay at his side,' Gimli protested, his voice soft but strong with
determination. 'I may not be of much help, but I will not hinder you with my presence.'
She leveled her gaze on him for long moments, then turned it on the others of the
company. After a time, she finally answered.
'You might prove to be more hindrance than you would know, but then again you
might be a help I can not dismiss so easily. You may stay if you wish so.'
With that she turned away from them to focus her attention on Legolas.
This chapter may not answer all your questions... maybe none of your questions at all... but the next may ... :-)...
So just keep on reading... and maybe I keep on writing... * grin *
A great thank you to my beta reader... Little My !!!!!!!
And one more BIG BIG thank you to anyone who reviewed ... I love it!!!
So keep on reading & review please!!!
___
They never stopped for long, only making short breaks for Gimli to check on Legolas
or to have a drink of water and some food. The pace was slow enough not to tire the
horses and even when darkness fell no one suggested finding a place to make camp
for the night. Legolas had been unconscious for too long already, and although
Gandalf had never explicitly said that the Greenwood elves would be able to bring
him back to them, it was still a hope they all clung to. The Istari knew something they
did not, and they could only do as he bid them by taking Legolas home.
It was a bitter thought that entered Gimli's mind, that maybe they only did this so the
elf could pass from this world in the same place where he had been born and spent
most of his life. The great woods that he loved dearly even after the sea had gotten
its hold on him. But it was a thought quickly pushed away again, for it would not help
to despair now. His eyes once more slipped back to the pale face he could barely see
in what little light they traveled in.
The elves found their way even in the dark and led them safely ever deeper into the
woods.
It was late into the next day when they crossed the invisible borders to the elven
realm. Gimli would not have noticed had he not seen Aragorn's reaction. The man's
keen eyes searched their surroundings and a small smile appeared on his face.
They stopped once more and Gimli quickly turned to his friend, as if hoping that being
back his home would change something about the elf's state. Elves never were
completely unaware of their surroundings, that much Gimli knew by now, but he
wondered if this still held true for his friend.
Nothing had changed but Gimli refused to feel disappointed. It was the lady Gandalf
had spoken of that would offer the help needed. He could hear Aragorn speak and
turned his attention on his words.
'We will soon be met by a group of elves, for our crossing the borders will not have
gone unnoticed. No matter what the welcome is, do not raise your weapons; the last
thing we need now is a dispute.'
The words were directed to the guards as well as Eomer and Faramir, and for good
reason. The elves of Greenwood guarded their borders quite fiercely. Strangers were
not easily welcomed to their realm. It was a great contradiction, Gimli had come to
see, for by nature were a merry folk that enjoyed feasts and were openhearted
towards those they considered friends.
Right now he cared not what the welcome would be, as long as they finally reached
their destination.
It came about as Aragorn had said, for they had not been on their way again for long
when out of nowhere an elf appeared. All of a sudden he was in front of them, having
made no sound to warn them of his approach.
He held a bow loosely by his side, implying no threat. But there was no doubt in any
of them that more elves hid in the woods surrounding them, most probably with
arrows notched, ready to fight if they should pose a threat. But many of them were
known to the elves of Greenwood, and four of their own warriors accompanied them
so they were treated as friends, not foes.
The horses came to a halt and the elf acknowledged Calenuial and his companions
with a curt nod. His eyes wandered over the company and came to rest upon
Gandalf.
'It is a long time since you graced us with your presence here, Mithrandir,' he spoke.
'And you bring a great company with you. But the trees murmur of sorrow and I can
see your hearts are heavy.'
Once more his gaze wandered, this time towards the cart.
'It is grave news you carry. So the Lady was right, the prince of Greenwood has
fallen.'
There was deep sorrow in his voice and Gandalf quickly retorted, 'Nay, he is not
beyond help yet. But we have need for haste, for he is fading.'
Upon hearing this, the elf quickly took the few steps that separated him from Legolas
to look down on his still form.
'The palace is not far from here. We will announce your arrival, so you will be able to
pass without further delay.'
Then he turned and disappeared as quickly and silently as he had come.
'The elves of Greenwood are surely not ones to waste words or time,' Eomer
murmured.
'You should see them after they have had some wine,' Gimli retorted. 'Then they
seem unable to stop talking at all and if they do it is only to burst out in one of their
endless songs.' He shook his head, a fond smile grazing his lips.
@@@
No one hindered them as they made their way into the heart of the woodland realm,
and when they finally reached the gates they were allowed to pass without a word
spoken. An unusual silence had fallen over the elven city as no songs, no single
voice could be heard. But they could feel that their arrival had been noticed, and
many eyes followed them as they made their way towards the palace.
They stopped in front of it and dismounted, weary from the long way but excited by
the knowledge that finally some kind of decision was forthcoming. Legolas' fate would
not be unknown for much longer, and anything seemed better than the long torturous
waiting they had endured until now.
Elves greeted them, leading away the horses and even Eomer allowed himself to be
parted from his steed. Arod was freed, but it took some persuasion until an elf was
able to lead him away from his master.
A stretcher had been brought, and this time it was Calenuial who lifted Legolas into
his arms. Gimli felt weary, exhausted to the bone from the long ride as well as from
the strain he was under. The fear of losing Legolas had never completely lifted from
his heart, for he knew well that it was only the magic of the miruvor that had kept the
elf alive for so long. If help could not be offered soon, he would fade.
Looking around he noticed that many elves had followed them and watched in
silence as Legolas was laid on the stretcher. He knew his friend was well loved by his
people, and he could feel their fear and sorrow upon seeing him like this.
He forced his tired body to move when the stretcher was lifted and carried inside, for
he wished to stay with Legolas. It was hard to keep up with the swift strides of the
elves who carried him, but worry and hope once more won over his exhaustion. A
time to rest would come, the true fight was only beginning.
The room they were led to was wide and filled with sunshine and the smell of living
things. Legolas was gently transferred to a comfortable looking bed, and the elves
that had moved him stepped away.
He looked worse than ever before, as the sick pallor of his skin and the missing
gleam of life in his appearance contrasted sharply with his surroundings.
Apart from the guards that had stayed outside, all of Legolas' companions had
followed, but only now Gimli realized that three more had entered the room. Or
maybe they had been here before, he could not say. Two of them stayed behind as
the third stepped forward, leaning over the elf lying on the bed.
No words needed to be said to tell Gimli that she was the one Gandalf and others
had spoken about. Her hair was dark and her face held a beauty as he had seldom
seen before. But her face bore so much pain and anguish that he could hardly bear
look at it. Her hand touched Legolas' brow and a shudder went though her.
She straightened and her eyes sought Gandalf.
'What has befallen him?' she voiced the same question as Calenuial had done
before.
Once more the Istari told what needed to be known, but she was not as easily
satisfied as the other elf had been.
'There are things that you do not tell,' she spoke. 'For he carries a wound that you do
not explain and you say not what sorrow weakened his heart that he could be
attacked like this. But I see that the answers to these questions are of no importance
now and may discussed later. I bid you to leave now.'
'I wish to stay at his side,' Gimli protested, his voice soft but strong with
determination. 'I may not be of much help, but I will not hinder you with my presence.'
She leveled her gaze on him for long moments, then turned it on the others of the
company. After a time, she finally answered.
'You might prove to be more hindrance than you would know, but then again you
might be a help I can not dismiss so easily. You may stay if you wish so.'
With that she turned away from them to focus her attention on Legolas.