Disclaimer: Okay, we should very well know this by now. Um, not much to
say, enjoy and review! Love y'all!
Everlasting Road ch. 29
When the small caravan finally reached the main province of the area, the elves were taken aback by what they saw. Compared to this, Legolas' homecoming had been nothing. Probably every dwarf within the area had been gathered, and great cheers greeted them. Gimli was an undisputed hero to them all, and he accepted the praise with dwarf-like grace.
Gloin was the first to approach the group, and Gimli bowed down to him. Gloin only laughed and raised his son to give him a hearty embrace. He then turned to Legolas and bowed himself. "I have heard many stories of you, and I hail to you fair Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas felt slightly embarrassed. Gloin had been one of the dwarves held captive by his father, and he felt like an apology was due. If anything, he should be bowing to Gloin. "I only hope that my friendship with Gimli and the consequent dwarves can be enough to settle any past disputes. If there is anything more that is desired, let me know and I will see it done," Legolas spoke as humbly as possible.
Gloin looked Legolas in the eye, a knowing glint in them. He was very old for a dwarf and wise. "The worth of mithrail is not judged by the mountain it comes from," was all he said. Legolas smiled and bowed, they both understood where the other was coming from and it seemed peace would stand.
During all of these, Liria stood a bit uncomfortably. The dwarves were not paying much attention to her, to her liking, but she had a feeling a question might be raised about her. And then it would be up to Gimli to defend her again. She did not feel that might be a wise thing to do after he had already done so, asking for it twice in one day might seem like too much.
But her worries proved to be for naught, and everybody turned to walk into the heart of the dwarf city, where a huge feast was readily being prepared. Out of respect for Gimli's guests, it was being held in an open field rather than in one of their fine caves. Legolas breathed a mental sigh of relief at this, he was not sure if he would be able to handle any more caves, he had had enough for his long lifetime.
In no time at all, the sturdy and fast-working dwarves had the food readied and everybody seated accordingly. Gloin and Gimli sat at the head of a make-shift table, with Legolas seated next to Gimli and Liria next to him. Liria felt like she was out in the open, but again no more attention than was necessary was given to her, and she was satisfied. As long as Legolas was next to her, she would be alright.
In the midst of all the red meat, bread, and endless amounts of beer, which the elves kindly refused in favor of water, Liria found herself wondering at those around her. She had been instilled with the elvish prejudice against dwarves ever since she could remember, thus she had never actually bothered with them. But here, they seemed to take on a totally different light. The mountain they used and resided in did not look any the worse for the wear. In fact, it looked more healthy than it might be, for dwarves took special care to fortify foundations and cater to weak parts. They conversed and joked about in raucous voices, but there was much humor in them. And there were actually trees and other plant-life within their territory. She had heard that dwarves despised living things and cut them down recklessly.
By the end of the meal, Liria had grown especially silent, intently listening to and gazing at the dwarves. Legolas noticed her silence and glanced at her. She was staring as if she had never seen dwarves before, and in a sense she had not. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You are aware that you are staring, are you not?" He laughed slightly at her abrupt shake of her head as she straightened herself and turned to face him. "Do not worry," he replied at her look, "they are different from what you have known. I use to think the same. But if you think the dwarves are interesting, you have yet to meet the small hobbits. Now that is a merry race."
Liria smiled, "I shall look forward to meeting them, then. For it seems that my former knowledge warrants nothing." She looked back at the dwarves assembled about them and tried to picture the hobbits Legolas had spoke so much of. She knew them to be smaller than dwarves and lighter, but that was as far as she could go. Legolas' favorite description of them were smaller versions of elves with curly hair.
Liria suddenly found herself looking at Gimli. He was speaking with his father, and they both burst out into loud laughter. Gimli looked over while laughing and caught Liria watching him. He sobered slightly. Liria found herself smiling a little at Gimli, and his grin broadened before turning back to his father.
The feast was over, and Liria and Legolas wandered about by themselves. The dwarves had retired to the caves, and Legolas had informed Gimli that they would stay outside for the night. He had not seemed to mind, and Legolas knew that he had catching up to do with his father.
"Do you feel any different?" Legolas broke a long silence.
Liria paused in her step, "What do you mean?"
Legolas stopped to face her. "You know what I mean. The dwarves, you feel differently towards them now. You cannot deny that to me, I know you better than you think, and as I said before, I went through the same thing. Only that was on elvish land without a multitude of dwarves. I suspect it might be overwhelming for you."
Liria thought a moment before answering. "I do feel differently, but at the same time, I am hesitant to throw all of my faiths away. But from what I have seen, I think that it might not be such a bad thing to do. Gimli and I have had our difficulties in the past, but now I see that the fault could have been mine."
Legolas held up a hand to stop her. "I did not mean that you should feel guilty or responsible for the past. I know both of you, and believe me when I say that the feud was valid on both sides. You do not have to assume all responsibility in order to feel differently towards Gimli, or any dwarf. Just listen to the trees and life around you."
Liria was puzzled by his last statement, "What? What does listening to the life have to do with the dwarves."
"Just trust me and listen," replied Legolas, and then fell silent. Liria did as he suggested, and cleared her mind from all other thoughts. She took in the feel of the trees and grass around her, and listened to the small cries and callings of various animals. But on top of all that, there was a continuous thrumming running through it all. The strong, untainted thrum of life, the same strain that could be heard in the deep of any forest. Liria closed her eyes, and was reminded of the glade in Fangorn, the pure life that was found there was the same here.
"It feels like Fangorn," she whispered, voicing her thoughts and breaking the silence. She turned to face Legolas, and his blue eyes glowed in the moonlight. Liria knew that her own were the deep shade of green that mirrored the forests.
"Because it is the same life," Legolas replied softly, "it is said that dwarves destroy life and devastate the earth, in elf folklore that is. But it is not true, they nourish life in their own way, and find beauty in things that others would discard. All life is the same, and every noble creature takes care to make sure it stays that way."
"I understand," Liria answered, looking out over the trees and then back at the mountain towering over them. She turned back to Legolas and smiled, and he smiled back as he reached out to draw her closer.
Everlasting Road ch. 29
When the small caravan finally reached the main province of the area, the elves were taken aback by what they saw. Compared to this, Legolas' homecoming had been nothing. Probably every dwarf within the area had been gathered, and great cheers greeted them. Gimli was an undisputed hero to them all, and he accepted the praise with dwarf-like grace.
Gloin was the first to approach the group, and Gimli bowed down to him. Gloin only laughed and raised his son to give him a hearty embrace. He then turned to Legolas and bowed himself. "I have heard many stories of you, and I hail to you fair Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas felt slightly embarrassed. Gloin had been one of the dwarves held captive by his father, and he felt like an apology was due. If anything, he should be bowing to Gloin. "I only hope that my friendship with Gimli and the consequent dwarves can be enough to settle any past disputes. If there is anything more that is desired, let me know and I will see it done," Legolas spoke as humbly as possible.
Gloin looked Legolas in the eye, a knowing glint in them. He was very old for a dwarf and wise. "The worth of mithrail is not judged by the mountain it comes from," was all he said. Legolas smiled and bowed, they both understood where the other was coming from and it seemed peace would stand.
During all of these, Liria stood a bit uncomfortably. The dwarves were not paying much attention to her, to her liking, but she had a feeling a question might be raised about her. And then it would be up to Gimli to defend her again. She did not feel that might be a wise thing to do after he had already done so, asking for it twice in one day might seem like too much.
But her worries proved to be for naught, and everybody turned to walk into the heart of the dwarf city, where a huge feast was readily being prepared. Out of respect for Gimli's guests, it was being held in an open field rather than in one of their fine caves. Legolas breathed a mental sigh of relief at this, he was not sure if he would be able to handle any more caves, he had had enough for his long lifetime.
In no time at all, the sturdy and fast-working dwarves had the food readied and everybody seated accordingly. Gloin and Gimli sat at the head of a make-shift table, with Legolas seated next to Gimli and Liria next to him. Liria felt like she was out in the open, but again no more attention than was necessary was given to her, and she was satisfied. As long as Legolas was next to her, she would be alright.
In the midst of all the red meat, bread, and endless amounts of beer, which the elves kindly refused in favor of water, Liria found herself wondering at those around her. She had been instilled with the elvish prejudice against dwarves ever since she could remember, thus she had never actually bothered with them. But here, they seemed to take on a totally different light. The mountain they used and resided in did not look any the worse for the wear. In fact, it looked more healthy than it might be, for dwarves took special care to fortify foundations and cater to weak parts. They conversed and joked about in raucous voices, but there was much humor in them. And there were actually trees and other plant-life within their territory. She had heard that dwarves despised living things and cut them down recklessly.
By the end of the meal, Liria had grown especially silent, intently listening to and gazing at the dwarves. Legolas noticed her silence and glanced at her. She was staring as if she had never seen dwarves before, and in a sense she had not. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You are aware that you are staring, are you not?" He laughed slightly at her abrupt shake of her head as she straightened herself and turned to face him. "Do not worry," he replied at her look, "they are different from what you have known. I use to think the same. But if you think the dwarves are interesting, you have yet to meet the small hobbits. Now that is a merry race."
Liria smiled, "I shall look forward to meeting them, then. For it seems that my former knowledge warrants nothing." She looked back at the dwarves assembled about them and tried to picture the hobbits Legolas had spoke so much of. She knew them to be smaller than dwarves and lighter, but that was as far as she could go. Legolas' favorite description of them were smaller versions of elves with curly hair.
Liria suddenly found herself looking at Gimli. He was speaking with his father, and they both burst out into loud laughter. Gimli looked over while laughing and caught Liria watching him. He sobered slightly. Liria found herself smiling a little at Gimli, and his grin broadened before turning back to his father.
The feast was over, and Liria and Legolas wandered about by themselves. The dwarves had retired to the caves, and Legolas had informed Gimli that they would stay outside for the night. He had not seemed to mind, and Legolas knew that he had catching up to do with his father.
"Do you feel any different?" Legolas broke a long silence.
Liria paused in her step, "What do you mean?"
Legolas stopped to face her. "You know what I mean. The dwarves, you feel differently towards them now. You cannot deny that to me, I know you better than you think, and as I said before, I went through the same thing. Only that was on elvish land without a multitude of dwarves. I suspect it might be overwhelming for you."
Liria thought a moment before answering. "I do feel differently, but at the same time, I am hesitant to throw all of my faiths away. But from what I have seen, I think that it might not be such a bad thing to do. Gimli and I have had our difficulties in the past, but now I see that the fault could have been mine."
Legolas held up a hand to stop her. "I did not mean that you should feel guilty or responsible for the past. I know both of you, and believe me when I say that the feud was valid on both sides. You do not have to assume all responsibility in order to feel differently towards Gimli, or any dwarf. Just listen to the trees and life around you."
Liria was puzzled by his last statement, "What? What does listening to the life have to do with the dwarves."
"Just trust me and listen," replied Legolas, and then fell silent. Liria did as he suggested, and cleared her mind from all other thoughts. She took in the feel of the trees and grass around her, and listened to the small cries and callings of various animals. But on top of all that, there was a continuous thrumming running through it all. The strong, untainted thrum of life, the same strain that could be heard in the deep of any forest. Liria closed her eyes, and was reminded of the glade in Fangorn, the pure life that was found there was the same here.
"It feels like Fangorn," she whispered, voicing her thoughts and breaking the silence. She turned to face Legolas, and his blue eyes glowed in the moonlight. Liria knew that her own were the deep shade of green that mirrored the forests.
"Because it is the same life," Legolas replied softly, "it is said that dwarves destroy life and devastate the earth, in elf folklore that is. But it is not true, they nourish life in their own way, and find beauty in things that others would discard. All life is the same, and every noble creature takes care to make sure it stays that way."
"I understand," Liria answered, looking out over the trees and then back at the mountain towering over them. She turned back to Legolas and smiled, and he smiled back as he reached out to draw her closer.