Author's Note: Another chapter at last. Enjoy, and don't forget to review, please. The less I get, the longer it takes for me to get the resolve to write more.



Chapter Nine: The Last Councils

Aragorn awoke in the room he shared with Gimli, refreshed and for once not aching from sleeping on the ground. The bed that cradled him as he slept was soft with many pillows, clothed in white satin and velvet, and very faintly scented of sandalwood. The Ranger lay back, in no hurry to rise and fight off the last soft shadows of sleep, for in the Temple he had no need to be quickly alert.

Across the room Gimli stirred, and finally sat up a little ways, yawning cavernously and stretching his short limbs. He looked to Aragorn and smiled broadly through his beard.

" Good morning, Ranger, if there is such a thing in this place; the stars shine on no matter the time of day. Ah...I feel as though years of toil have melted from me in the space of one night's rest. How fare you?"

" Just as well, Gimli," Aragorn smiled. " Though I am slightly saddened, for it is today that we pass from here and continue on our journey."

" So soon? Is Legolas ready?"

" He said that today would be the day we depart. He longs to feel the bow of Galadriel in his hands again, and the ground beneath his feet."

" As would I, had I such a fair and beauteous weapon," agreed the dwarf. "Though I daresay my axe suits me better than Elven bows, begging the Lady's pardon." He looked round as though Galadriel were listening. Aragorn laughed and reluctantly rose from the gentle warmth of his bed, tying up his boots.

" I will return," he said, and Gimli nodded, wonder in his eyes.

With that Aragorn set off to take his final counsel with Renália, leaving Gimli to revel in his comfort for a bit longer before he returned to the harshness of travel.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Aragorn did not know where Renália might be staying, at least, not in his mind. He had learned many things in the temple, and among them was the new- found trust he found in his heart to guide him in places where the eyes were of little use.

He did this now, and found himself walking down a long corridor, lit with wall sconces cradling merry flames, which, oddly, did not give off any heat. On the walls were carved images wrought of ithildin, which shined eternal, as tiny windows criss-crossed the corridor to allow in the ever- present light of the stars. Each was a scene of some sort, Aragorn noticed, and recognised many of them as scenes from the history that had befallen Middle-Earth while the light of Eärendil looked down from above.

Renália was there, suddenly visible a ways before him, but not at the end of the hall, for Aragorn could see no end of it in sight. The light-being walked toward him swiftly, and Aragorn watched with wonder as the ithildin designs gleamed several times brighter with his passing, and faded back to their normal hue when he had gone. The light-being approached hi and smiled.

"You seek council with me, I understand," he said softly.

Aragorn nodded. " I have been instructed by your healer, and I took his advice, for he seemed nearly as wise as you."

" Indeed," answered Renália, "And I expect he told you of my speaking with the Lord Eärendil himself."

" He did."

" And were you at all surprised, Ranger?"

"Not in particular," replied Aragorn, slightly puzzled.

" Then would you be surprised to know Uónie himself speaks unto our Lord?" Renália said, smiling gently, or so it seemed. "He spoke unto Him whilst I sent you and Gimli fast to dreams while our work was done, and he healed the Elf. It was unto him that was told the call of the Lady Galadriel had been heard and answered. He and I took counsel with Eärendil the moment we heard it, while the Elf still lay dying in your arms. I expect he gave you much advice that you may not have recognised, and still may not, until the time for its need arises."

" You have made many miracles here for us, Renália, and your company; more perhaps than I shall ever see again in a lifetime, and yet I would regret it not, for the memory of your kindness will never grow stale in my heart."

" A segue," smiled Renália. "Yet you have but one more favour to ask of me."

" Yes," said Aragorn. "If it is your will, of course; you have done more for us already than we have time in our lives to suitably thank you for."

Renália held up a long hand in dismissal, and his kind gaze held no impatience or ill favour. He folded his arms inside his wide sleeves and waited for Aragorn to bid what he needed of him.

" Uónie spoke to me of my anger today," Aragorn sighed. "And indeed he was correct; my rage for the Dark One and every one of his minions has grown into a blaze that I cannot control for long. The Healer told me to seek council with you to ease my heart, and I admit I need your help, for I know and was told that such black anger will but hinder my quest. I know how rage can make a man blind, Renália, and I cannot bear to lose my sight, not when I tread the path that I do."

The light-being nodded slowly. "I see, and understand. Come, walk with me, son of Arathorn, and I will calm the fires in your heart."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Gimli had been brought his breakfast to eat in his bed, as though the light- beings were sympathetic about his return to the wilds. He accepted the hot, sweet cakes, flavoured with honey, graciously, and drank of the same golden- swirled liquid he had taken the meal before. The light-beings did not speak to him, but smiled gently, or so they appeared to be through their golden haze. They left him to enjoy his meal in peace, making no sound as they glided across the white floors.

At length Gimli finished and laced up his boots, leaving the sanctuary and rest of his room reluctantly at first, but then he thought of seeing Legolas and his heart was glad to go.

Oenú met him at the door, nearly startling the Dwarf, who took a step backward. The light-being smiled down at him, as light-beings seemed wont to do.

"Good morn," he said. "I trust you had a restful sleep."

" I did, and am grateful for it, as it was perhaps my last good rest for a very long time...perhaps forever."

Oenú placed a cool hand upon his shoulder. " Do not trouble your mind with what fate may hold for you, son of Gloin. You are powerless to change the course of your fate, thought not so of your future, and thus must not trouble yourself with the higher concerns. Focus now on your journey, and, most of all....on your friends."

" Greetings again, friend Gimli," came Legolas' soft voice just then, and Oenú stepped aside, smiling still, to allow the Dwarf to see his friend finally standing, whole again.

Indeed Legolas stood, as proud and tall as ever, his face still pale but healthier still, wearing a long white robe with wide sleeves not unlike those of the Servants, and it shimmered beneath the lights of the temple. His hair was clean and combed and shining like hammered gold in the midsummer sun, his braids freshly done, now entwined with fine, intricate silver Elven chains that shone as brightly as the light-beings themselves, as did the pendant he wore upon a similar chain. It was wrought of some brilliant silver metal, in the shape of Eärendil's star. In the centre was stone as black and lustrous as the sable night, and set still in the centre of that was a stone as red as blood. Legolas was smiling gently down at Gimli, the same Legolas, youthful and vibrant, and yet more deeply centred and wiser than before, if indeed possible. To Gimli he seemed very much like Galadriel and Celeborn and even Renália; unearthly and regal in his shining beauty, ageless in body, immortal in wisdom. Gimli's heart, it seemed to the Dwarf, nearly sighed aloud in wonder when he beheld his dear friend so utterly changed and yet exactly the same.

" You look rested, my friend," Legolas said gently, breaking the spell.

" As do you," answered Gimli. " These beings have...they have indeed performed a miracle. And the pendant you wear... it is too fair for words..."

The Elf smiled. " A gift to commemorate the greater Gift," he said. "Come, and I will show you something."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas led Gimli through unfathomable corridors in the unaccounted time that followed; places that seemed to jump out right as they were passed, but were hidden from sight otherwise. Each corridor looked the same, with the intricate carvings shining gently upon the alabaster white of the halls, and upon the companion's faces as they walked side by side in comfortable silence. Yet somehow Legolas knew where he was going, and forgot not the way he came, although to Gimli it seemed that every step, though breathtakingly beautiful, was the same as the last.

At last they reached a room that bore no door, and Legolas led the awe- struck Dwarf into it, placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him, for the room had no walls but merely the shining white and silver of the floor on which they trod. Around them it was utterly silent and chill, and all that could be seen was the indigo expanse of the sky, the stars glimmering far away, and yet to Gimli they seemed nearly close enough to touch.

In the centre of the room there was a pedestal of carved marble, in the shape of a great dragon whose talons bore a massive sphere of clear crystal, and in it was reflected the black bejewelled sky. A silver statue bearing the star of Eärendil was upon its top, and in the centre of this was a midnight stone, and it its centre a blood red stone. Gimli sighed aloud in wonder.

" What is this for?"

" Eärendil is the Elves' most beloved star," murmured Legolas. " It is though that sphere that Renália and his companions speak unto Him."

" It is beautiful," Gimli breathed.

" Aye, and very powerful."

" I should like to look into it and speak to the Lord," the Dwarf said wistfully, " though I can fair imagine His majesty and beauty would be too great a sight for me to bear."

"Nay," Legolas shook his head. " We have no need to seek the Crystal of Eärendil, friend Gimli. For He speaks unto us already."

Gimli looked up to his friend. " Does He, Legolas? I have never heard Him..."

" Perhaps," said the Elf, "you were listening with the wrong ears." He reached out and touched the Dwarf upon his tunic. "Here, son of Gloin, is where He speaks to you...within your heart."

Gimli clasped his friends hand tightly. " Then He has been speaking much these past days, my dearest friend."

Elf and Dwarf then smiled upon one another, and walked side by side from the crystal room, and to a fate they could only guess.