With his new found positivity he gravely summoned up the last of his strength and forced his aching body to make the long descent down to the dungeons. Gimli had been, or rather would be there to support him, the least he could do was return the favour by giving his father the portrait back and maybe a little extra information too.
It had taken him far longer than he had hoped to make it down to the dungeon, frustrated with his body's shortcomings he stopped when he reached the dungeon doors needing to catch his breath before slowly pushing them open with a creak. The first cell he came to was Thorin's. It was placed alone and closest to the guards room giving them easy access in case he caused trouble. The voices of the two guards engaged in a spirited card game, no doubt picked up from the men of Lake Town wafted down the corridor. Letting Legolas know that he would not be disturbed any time soon.
He clumsily stepped up to the first cell cursing his lack of elven grace. Once his body came to a stop in front of the bars his mind seemed to calm and without compand words left his lips.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Legolas whispered, he lowered his head in remorse causing his hair to fall forward.
Thorin growled in anger storming forward to hit the bars.
"How dare you bring up the loss of our homeland and countless of our people in some sort of false pity to get information from me" Thorin roared.
The other dwarves all placed in neighboring cells fell silent. Elves had come and gone all afternoon curious to regard the peculiar ways of dwarves. They had all left pretty sharpish once Thorin had gotten involved. So when Legolas didn't immediately retreat from the dungeons like so many others, the rest of the company took notice.
On Legolas' part he seemed to hardly notice the fuming dwarf snarling beside him. The only thing separating the pair was a few strands of metal and yet the elf remained rooted in place, any closer and Thorin would surely be able to reach out and grab him. Slowly Legolas' bent head raised and his blue eyes met Throin's.
"I do not mean the pain of yesterday, I mean the pain of tomorrow" He took a deep breath as if trying to comprehend the enormity of the message he was about to deliver.
"A dragon is not the only thing that awaits you within that mountain. You must ask yourself this, is gaining what was taken from you worth losing all that you have now" The prince's words were laced with deep hurt as his mind travelled back to the images of the fallen, unable to stop them from invading his thoughts.
Thorin looked taken aback by this unexpected answer. He blustered loudly, AgainnLegolas didn't seem to notice the affronted dwarf instead staring off at a point just over Thorin's right shoulder. There was no malice in his words, just a calm acceptance, so matter of fact that none dare argue.
After a long stretch of silence the mysterious elf spoke again.
"Pass on my regards to..." What was it Gimli would call him in his stories? ah yes "your burglar. He is a long way from home and our kingdom can be overwhelming to those not used to our ways" Throrin stiffened at his words. His mouth opened to demand clarity but Legolas was already shuffling off.
He stumbled down past two empty cells until he reached the next occupied cell. His milky blue eyes scanned the occupants. He stopped locked eyes upon a certain orange haired dwarf who was sitting on the stone floor staring at his boots. Legolas noted that Gloin seemed to be in a world of his own examining every inch of his boots, while his mind thought over heavy burdens. The other two dwarves locked in the cell with Gloin were not so oblivious.
"What do you want?" Kili growled much like his uncle while Fili stood by his side with his arms crossed over his chest menacingly.
The sound of Kili's voice seemed to rouse Gloin and he looked round for the cause of the disturbance, surprised to find Legolas staring back at him.
"Gloin" Legolas' greeted warmly once he had gotten Gloin's attention.
Gimli certainly did take after his father in looks, Legolas mused that he would be quite forgiven for thinking he was back in another one of his visions with the similarity between them both. Maybe that was why his head was starting to get so foggy.
"Do I know you?" Gloin asked gruffly the question that every member of his party was currently wandering.
Legolas took a moment to think about how best to answer. However hard he tried to focus on the here and now he was pulled off, his visions were clouding his mind. He felt cut off, as if separated from the rest of the world by thick fog.
Logic went out the window and all that was left were the visions. So he came to the conclusion to let his heart take the lead.
"I thought you might like this back" He held out his hand showing the framed portraits.
Legolas felt the narrowing of eyes upon him.
"And what will it cost me? '' Gloin's suspicious voice accused not daring to take the offered item from the elf's grasp.
Legolas cocked his head to the side in confusion before responding.
"It will cost you nothing, it is not a weapon nor could it be fashioned as one. I see no reason why you should not be allowed to keep it"
When Gloin still did not take the portraits the Prince added.
"Gimli would want you to have it" A small smile played on his features when the frame was hastily grabbed from him.
"How do you know of my lad's name?"
"We will meet on a quest not unlike your own, many years from now" Legolas was once again pulled into recalling his visions, flashes of the ginger haired dwarf floated past him. His voice shouting.
"That still only counts as one"
The smell of fire and smoke. There one second and with a blink of an eye gone. He carried on speaking, needing to get the words off his chest.
"Gimli son of Gloin will be a talented fighter, protector of all races of Middle Earth and a dear friend" Legolas' voice held pride while talking of his newly discovered friend. It felt right, finally a part of his visions were starting to make sense.
"Legolas" A voice bellowed from above him. He did not need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to and the reaction of the dwarves in front of him only added to his assuredness.
As the footsteps from behind him grew closer the dwarfs started hurling abuse at the newcomer but King Thaduil did not spare them a glance completely focused on his wayward son.
"Legolas" He tried again, much softer.
Thranduil waited patiently as Legolas blinked several times until he was focused enough to look his father in the eye.
"Ada?" He whispered back.
Hearing this the grumbles coming from the cells behind them picked up pace, displeased to find out their connection. However the Elven King only had eyes for his son, taking in his pale skin and slightly shaking form. Instinctively he removed his cape and wrapped his son securely in it. The rich green fabric covered the smaller elf and reminded Thranduil of the many times he wrapped his son up as a babe and held him till he drifted off.
"What are you doing down here?" After the king did not receive an answer he brought a hand up to slowly feel his son's forehead.
"What have these creatures done to you?" He spat the words for the first time acknowledging their audience.
Thorin and Thranduil were locked in a hate fueled stare down for several seconds.
"Ada, they didn't do anything to me...they're helping" He whispered, his head still spinning.
Upon hearing this Thranduil broke his stare off of Thorin and onto Legolas again. His features immediately softened.
"The dungeons are no place for you in your current condition" The King muttered so only his son could hear. He could tell that his son wanted to fight him on this matter, his stubbornness knew no bounds. Even when he was visibly swaying from side to side holding onto the bars with one hand to keep himself upright he still held out, until he finally caved under his fathers raised eyebrow.
Thranduil saw the moment his son's resolve broke and he wordlessly nodded letting himself be lead away by a sturdy hand on his shoulder guiding him slowly back up the stairs. Leaving a group of baffled dwarves behind them.
Just as they made it to the heavy door leading out of the dungeons Legolas turned back around to face the dwarves.
"It was nice talking with you" He said politely "I beg you to think over what we spoke about" He all but pleaded to the party as he was led from the room.
Let me know what you think.