Author's Note: Eeek! I am hated by some! I am afraid some people didn't read the note at the end of the last chapter, but it's okay. Another short chapter, but I don't think you'll mind much.

Thank you all ever so much for the fantastic reviews. Keep 'em coming!

Oh yes: Orlando the fish is greatly pleased with all the attention he's getting from you people. ;-)

-Spike

 

Chapter Five: A Gift

 

Aragorn and Gimli woke as the sun was sinking low in the West, and both were instantly confused. How had they fallen asleep, and when?

 

" Aragorn," Gimli muttered from where he lay on the leaves a few meters off.

 

" Yes, Gimli?"

 

" Did you fall asleep as well?"

 

" Yes, my friend," Aragorn replied, touching the tear stains on his face and grimacing at the tightness of his muscles. He was exhausted from grief, and doubted not that he friend felt much the same.

 

" I don't remember doing so..."

" Nor do I, friend," Aragorn said, shaking his head and remembering the sadness that sunrise had brought them. He looked almost fearfully to the tree where Legolas had lain, and his eyes suddenly widened and his hand flew to his mouth in shock.

 

Legolas was not there.

 

Gimli saw the shocked expression upon the Ranger's face, and looked to the tree. The dwarf gave a cry of shock and lurched to his feet, looking all round the clearing, searching for his lost friend.

 

Aragorn feared an animal had come in the night, and a lump rose in his throat with disgust and sorrow at the thought of what it wanted. He too inspected the area, but to his relief he found no signs of dragging, nor footprints or disturbance of any kind.

 

" What say you of this mystery, Gimli?" he inquired softly. The dwarf's eyes were still fixed on the sight, dimmed with stale raw grief.

 

" I say this traitorous forest claimed him for its own," he hissed. " It would deny us even a proper burial..."

 

Aragorn doubted these words, but he had not the heart to contest Gimli during a time of such grief and sadness. He moved forward and laid a hand on Gimli's shoulder, and smiled wearily down at him.

 

" We must travel on, son of Gloin," he said, "no matter how our hearts ache us. There are still two lives yet to save, and while they still live, so does hope."

 

Gimli nodded silently, reluctantly stepping away from the hallowed tree and picking up the gear they needed. He paused for a moment before shouldering the pack, his eyes closed, murmuring something in the Dwarfish tongue. A prayer.

 

Aragorn did the same, quietly and to himself, and when both were through they hefted their supplies and walked side by side on the path that would lead them out of the forest which held for them such grief.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

"Hush now, he wakes not, he wakes not... Time he must have to rest before life claims him again... My touches, soft as sunlight, wake him not, but voices may be another matter, my Lord..."

 

"Found you the others?"

 

"Fast to dreams Renália sent them, my Lord. And fast to dreams they held...In your Light we bathed them; may their hearts be less tempestuous..."

 

" They waken presently, then, and shall travel..."

 

"Delay them Oenú will, fast to this forest will they be bound to your discretion, ere our Prince returns to us, my Lord..."

 

" Hope still lies within all hearts involved. Perhaps our reconciliation will not be beheld too late. Has the Faire One made his choice?"

 

"He has accepted your Gift...Return he shall to us presently, my Lord..."

 

"... And so then he shall to them..."