___
wow, the number of reviews leaves me speechless… I am getting the distinct impression that you like this story :-)
jan: very, very well written? *blushing* … if you keep up this praising I will grow a head the size of mount doom!!! well, about Aragorn's reaction… we will see :-) …
Blanton Cirith: the same goes for you… all this praise is getting to my head, but I do not mind reading reviews like this !!!!!! :-)
as you guessed correctly, English is not my first language and I tend to mix up words and expressions… not to mention my grammar :-( . so I am truly happy you still like it!!!
Tara: nay, I am not planning on going THERE. At least that is my plan… these characters tend to develop their own ideas of what they wish or not wish to do… *sigh* … they are hard to control sometimes!
Analorien: I kept writing… so keep reading :-)
OrliBloomLuvr: thank you, I am honored to be on your favorites list… I will work hard to stay there …
Joyjoy: I hope you had a good nights rest :-) … torturing you is not my intention so here you have another Lego and Gims fix for tonight…
Jevvica: well, we will see if our dear dwarf will get some more action in this… we will see… he is hard to control, I must admit…
Everybody else: thank you very much for your feedback – I love to know how you like this story… so keep on reviewing!!! :-)
So here is the next part… a short one only…
___
Elladan and Elrohir had cried out a warning along with Gimli when they saw Bethrol draw the dagger with his left arm.
Relief almost made Gimli's head spin when Legolas reacted with lightening speed. When the man fell, silence settled over the crowd.
For a moment Legolas' eyes met a another pair filled with dread and fear. He remembered very well how their owner had declared him dead and thus had probably saved his life. With a short nod he turned away from the young man forgoing to claim retribution from him.
The crowd parted to let him through. The adrenaline of the fight slowly began to fade and he became fully aware of the pain in his body. A sudden hard grip on his right arm stopped him and he whirled to face another opponent.
'Calm down, Legolas it is only I!' Gimli took a quick step back letting go of his friend.
With a sigh of relief Legolas relaxed. Taking in his pale face and the blood running down his arm Gimli resigned from telling him his mind right now.
'Well fought, Legolas.' The sound of Elrohir's musical voice caused a flicker of distress to flash in Legolas' eyes as he turned to look at the elf.
'I would like to know what brought this on. What business did you have with these men?' Elladan voiced his curiosity.
But Legolas only shook his head.
'The matter is settled. I do not wish to speak of it again.'
The sons of Elrond exchanged another look before moving to follow as Legolas turned away from them.
The pain seemed to intensify with every breath he took. He had to return to the house before his strength would leave him.
His head held high and his face not betraying what he really felt Legolas left the place of the fight. He ignored his friends as they followed him and concentrated fully on not collapsing. His right hand came up to press against the wound on his arm to slow the bleeding. He already began to feel light headed.
With a frown on his face Gimli walked behind his friend. He noticed the wound on Legolas' arm had not stopped bleeding but knew the elf's stupid pride would not admit how weakened he was. Anger over the elf's actions warred inside the dwarf with worry of what they might cost his friend. They were close to the house now and a short glance sideways told him the sons of Elrond were still with them, wearing identical looks of concern on their fair faces.
It was hard to miss that Legolas had started to falter slightly and his steps had lost some of their certainty. But using all his will power he managed to stay on his feet until he had reached the house. Once inside he grabbed onto the wall for support as he made his way into his room. A sigh of relief escaped him as he could finally sit down on his bed.
Gimli's fingers found the lamp in the near dark and turned it up to bath the room in its flickering light.
Legolas cast a weary glance at the dwarf and elves that had followed him.
'Is there anything I can do for you?' he asked with a strained but slightly sarcastic voice as he found them all staring at him.
It was too much for Gimli and the anger he had managed to control until now flared up.
'Maybe, you stupid elf, you could tell me what possessed you to go looking for a fight in the state you are in? I did not spent last night cleaning your wounds for you to go and get them ripped open again!'
Dark eyes wide with pain met Gimli's and his words trailed off as he noticed them drifting out of focus. He reacted instantly but Elrohir moved even faster than him and his arms caught Legolas as he sank forward. He gently lowered him to rest on his side while Elladan placed Legolas' legs on the bed. His eyes already started to blink open again as he recovered from the sudden wave of nausea. His try to move was stopped by the dwarf's gruff voice.
'Stay down there before you fall again. Next time we might just let you lay there on the ground.'
Elrohir's eyes had taken in the wound that still oozed blood. No words were needed between the brothers as he cast a short glance at Elladan. The elf quietly turned and left the room.
Elrohir removed the wrist guard from Legolas left arm noticing the fading bruises that had been hidden underneath. Removing the right one next he found matching bruises there but his face betrayed nothing of what he thought. The time to find answers to the questions forming in his minds would come later.
'Do you have any healing herbs?' Elrohir directed his query at Gimli but it was Legolas who answered.
'In my bag.'
His voice sounded strained and weak to Gimli's ears and the dwarf moved quickly to get Elrohir what he needed.
Elrohir did not want to move the wounded elf again so he used a dagger to cut away the blood drenched sleeve from Legolas' arm.
Gimli showed him the small collection of herbs he had found in Legolas' bag. It was not much but it would do.
Elladan returned to them carrying a bowl with warm water and some clean rags.
Legolas hissed in pain as the wound was cleaned, his eyes tightly shut. With concern Gimli notices his face had lost any color by now and his breathing came in shallow gulps.
Satisfied that the wound was clean Elrohir selected two leafs and dipped them into the water for a moment before covering the wound with them. It evoked another hiss from Legolas as the sharp sting of pain brought tears to his eyes.
But the herbs worked their magic and the bleeding finally stopped. With a heavy heart Gimli realized that he would not have been able to help Legolas had the sons of Elrond not been here. The elf might have bled to death.
Elrohir dressed the wound and carefully lowered the arm to rest across Legolas chest when he was finished. Then he turned silver-gray eyes on Gimli.
'How bad is the wound on his back?' he asked.
Elladan had left to replace the bloody water with fresh one, knowing his brother was not finished with tending to Legolas.
'It is not a pretty sight.' The dwarf answered and the expression of worry and compassion in his eyes as he looked down at the ashen face of his friend told Elrohir as much as his words.
'If you could help me to turn him on his stomach.' He quietly asked.
'I can do this on my own.' Legolas intervened and slowly moved the upper part of his body. Gimli quickly reached out and assisted him by gently moving his wounded arm out of the way to prevent him from laying down on it.
An unreadable expression crossed Elrohir's face as he got his first good look at his back. The amount of blood worried him and he quickly started to cut away the tunic once more to get a look at the wound.
Gimli had not removed his grip from Legolas arm and he could feel the tensing up of the slender body. At the first try to pull of the silken material that stuck to his back Legolas cried out softly. The pain was immense and in his weakened state he did not have the strength to suppress the sound of distress.
Elrohir stopped as he saw the amount of pain the blonde elf was in. His nimble fingers once more searched through the dried leafs Gimli had laid out on the table until he found what he was looking for. On the table a pitcher with water and cups were placed and he filled one of them halfway. He pulverized a leaf between his fingers and mixed it with the water.
Then he handed the cup to Gimli.
'Let him drink this.'
Legolas accepted the cup without resistance, moving just enough to be able to bring it to his lips. His hand was shaking but he managed to swallow the bitter liquid without spilling it.
Elladan returned with fresh water as Gimli took the cup from Legolas' trembling fingers.
The herb took effect quickly and they could see the slight body relax as the pain was numbed. Elrohir retook his place on Legolas' side to try again to remove the bloody tunic. Gimli's hands reached out to carefully brush away strands of golden hair from Legolas' back.
To Gimli his wounds did look no better than they had the night before. Whatever healing had taken place had been undone by the elf's movements and skin that had just healed over had been torn open again.
It was a gruesome sight and Elrohir's breath caught for a moment as he took in fully the damage inflicted. A sound of dismay from behind him gave evidence to Elladan's shock.
'Has this been the reason for the fight?' he asked his eyes turning on Gimli. 'Has he been attacked like this by the men he fought with tonight?'
The dwarf only nodded while he grabbed for a clean rag and immersed it into the water. He squashed it before he began to clean the elf's back from blood relieved as no further questions came. He could fell the body tremble under his ministrations and tried his best to not inflict further pain.
Seeing the gentleness with witch the dwarf treated Legolas, Elrohir let him continue his task and turned to mixing herbs with water that would eased the pain and speed up the healing process.
Having cleaned away the blood as well as possible Gimli finally stepped aside to let Elrohir further tend to his friend. Legolas' dark eyes seemed wide in the pale face and Gimli noticed them slowly drifting out of focus as the herb started to take full effect.
'How did this happen?' he could hear Elladan ask. The elf had stepped next to his brother and watched as Elrohir applied the paste he had prepared.
A sudden noise relieved Gimli from giving an answer as the door to the room was flung open. Gimli whirled around, his eyes searching for his axe.
Two guardsman bearing the colors of Gondor stepped in, their eyes sweeping over the room.
'They are here.' One of them called out.
Elrohir did not look up from his task, only a slight tensing up of his body telling that he had even noticed anything going on. Elladan moved to stand beside Gimli to face the intruders just as the two guardsmen stepped aside to make room for another man.
Aragorn's face was set in a grim mask and his eyes held as dark an expression as Gimli had never seen directed at himself by the king of Gondor.
wow, the number of reviews leaves me speechless… I am getting the distinct impression that you like this story :-)
jan: very, very well written? *blushing* … if you keep up this praising I will grow a head the size of mount doom!!! well, about Aragorn's reaction… we will see :-) …
Blanton Cirith: the same goes for you… all this praise is getting to my head, but I do not mind reading reviews like this !!!!!! :-)
as you guessed correctly, English is not my first language and I tend to mix up words and expressions… not to mention my grammar :-( . so I am truly happy you still like it!!!
Tara: nay, I am not planning on going THERE. At least that is my plan… these characters tend to develop their own ideas of what they wish or not wish to do… *sigh* … they are hard to control sometimes!
Analorien: I kept writing… so keep reading :-)
OrliBloomLuvr: thank you, I am honored to be on your favorites list… I will work hard to stay there …
Joyjoy: I hope you had a good nights rest :-) … torturing you is not my intention so here you have another Lego and Gims fix for tonight…
Jevvica: well, we will see if our dear dwarf will get some more action in this… we will see… he is hard to control, I must admit…
Everybody else: thank you very much for your feedback – I love to know how you like this story… so keep on reviewing!!! :-)
So here is the next part… a short one only…
___
Elladan and Elrohir had cried out a warning along with Gimli when they saw Bethrol draw the dagger with his left arm.
Relief almost made Gimli's head spin when Legolas reacted with lightening speed. When the man fell, silence settled over the crowd.
For a moment Legolas' eyes met a another pair filled with dread and fear. He remembered very well how their owner had declared him dead and thus had probably saved his life. With a short nod he turned away from the young man forgoing to claim retribution from him.
The crowd parted to let him through. The adrenaline of the fight slowly began to fade and he became fully aware of the pain in his body. A sudden hard grip on his right arm stopped him and he whirled to face another opponent.
'Calm down, Legolas it is only I!' Gimli took a quick step back letting go of his friend.
With a sigh of relief Legolas relaxed. Taking in his pale face and the blood running down his arm Gimli resigned from telling him his mind right now.
'Well fought, Legolas.' The sound of Elrohir's musical voice caused a flicker of distress to flash in Legolas' eyes as he turned to look at the elf.
'I would like to know what brought this on. What business did you have with these men?' Elladan voiced his curiosity.
But Legolas only shook his head.
'The matter is settled. I do not wish to speak of it again.'
The sons of Elrond exchanged another look before moving to follow as Legolas turned away from them.
The pain seemed to intensify with every breath he took. He had to return to the house before his strength would leave him.
His head held high and his face not betraying what he really felt Legolas left the place of the fight. He ignored his friends as they followed him and concentrated fully on not collapsing. His right hand came up to press against the wound on his arm to slow the bleeding. He already began to feel light headed.
With a frown on his face Gimli walked behind his friend. He noticed the wound on Legolas' arm had not stopped bleeding but knew the elf's stupid pride would not admit how weakened he was. Anger over the elf's actions warred inside the dwarf with worry of what they might cost his friend. They were close to the house now and a short glance sideways told him the sons of Elrond were still with them, wearing identical looks of concern on their fair faces.
It was hard to miss that Legolas had started to falter slightly and his steps had lost some of their certainty. But using all his will power he managed to stay on his feet until he had reached the house. Once inside he grabbed onto the wall for support as he made his way into his room. A sigh of relief escaped him as he could finally sit down on his bed.
Gimli's fingers found the lamp in the near dark and turned it up to bath the room in its flickering light.
Legolas cast a weary glance at the dwarf and elves that had followed him.
'Is there anything I can do for you?' he asked with a strained but slightly sarcastic voice as he found them all staring at him.
It was too much for Gimli and the anger he had managed to control until now flared up.
'Maybe, you stupid elf, you could tell me what possessed you to go looking for a fight in the state you are in? I did not spent last night cleaning your wounds for you to go and get them ripped open again!'
Dark eyes wide with pain met Gimli's and his words trailed off as he noticed them drifting out of focus. He reacted instantly but Elrohir moved even faster than him and his arms caught Legolas as he sank forward. He gently lowered him to rest on his side while Elladan placed Legolas' legs on the bed. His eyes already started to blink open again as he recovered from the sudden wave of nausea. His try to move was stopped by the dwarf's gruff voice.
'Stay down there before you fall again. Next time we might just let you lay there on the ground.'
Elrohir's eyes had taken in the wound that still oozed blood. No words were needed between the brothers as he cast a short glance at Elladan. The elf quietly turned and left the room.
Elrohir removed the wrist guard from Legolas left arm noticing the fading bruises that had been hidden underneath. Removing the right one next he found matching bruises there but his face betrayed nothing of what he thought. The time to find answers to the questions forming in his minds would come later.
'Do you have any healing herbs?' Elrohir directed his query at Gimli but it was Legolas who answered.
'In my bag.'
His voice sounded strained and weak to Gimli's ears and the dwarf moved quickly to get Elrohir what he needed.
Elrohir did not want to move the wounded elf again so he used a dagger to cut away the blood drenched sleeve from Legolas' arm.
Gimli showed him the small collection of herbs he had found in Legolas' bag. It was not much but it would do.
Elladan returned to them carrying a bowl with warm water and some clean rags.
Legolas hissed in pain as the wound was cleaned, his eyes tightly shut. With concern Gimli notices his face had lost any color by now and his breathing came in shallow gulps.
Satisfied that the wound was clean Elrohir selected two leafs and dipped them into the water for a moment before covering the wound with them. It evoked another hiss from Legolas as the sharp sting of pain brought tears to his eyes.
But the herbs worked their magic and the bleeding finally stopped. With a heavy heart Gimli realized that he would not have been able to help Legolas had the sons of Elrond not been here. The elf might have bled to death.
Elrohir dressed the wound and carefully lowered the arm to rest across Legolas chest when he was finished. Then he turned silver-gray eyes on Gimli.
'How bad is the wound on his back?' he asked.
Elladan had left to replace the bloody water with fresh one, knowing his brother was not finished with tending to Legolas.
'It is not a pretty sight.' The dwarf answered and the expression of worry and compassion in his eyes as he looked down at the ashen face of his friend told Elrohir as much as his words.
'If you could help me to turn him on his stomach.' He quietly asked.
'I can do this on my own.' Legolas intervened and slowly moved the upper part of his body. Gimli quickly reached out and assisted him by gently moving his wounded arm out of the way to prevent him from laying down on it.
An unreadable expression crossed Elrohir's face as he got his first good look at his back. The amount of blood worried him and he quickly started to cut away the tunic once more to get a look at the wound.
Gimli had not removed his grip from Legolas arm and he could feel the tensing up of the slender body. At the first try to pull of the silken material that stuck to his back Legolas cried out softly. The pain was immense and in his weakened state he did not have the strength to suppress the sound of distress.
Elrohir stopped as he saw the amount of pain the blonde elf was in. His nimble fingers once more searched through the dried leafs Gimli had laid out on the table until he found what he was looking for. On the table a pitcher with water and cups were placed and he filled one of them halfway. He pulverized a leaf between his fingers and mixed it with the water.
Then he handed the cup to Gimli.
'Let him drink this.'
Legolas accepted the cup without resistance, moving just enough to be able to bring it to his lips. His hand was shaking but he managed to swallow the bitter liquid without spilling it.
Elladan returned with fresh water as Gimli took the cup from Legolas' trembling fingers.
The herb took effect quickly and they could see the slight body relax as the pain was numbed. Elrohir retook his place on Legolas' side to try again to remove the bloody tunic. Gimli's hands reached out to carefully brush away strands of golden hair from Legolas' back.
To Gimli his wounds did look no better than they had the night before. Whatever healing had taken place had been undone by the elf's movements and skin that had just healed over had been torn open again.
It was a gruesome sight and Elrohir's breath caught for a moment as he took in fully the damage inflicted. A sound of dismay from behind him gave evidence to Elladan's shock.
'Has this been the reason for the fight?' he asked his eyes turning on Gimli. 'Has he been attacked like this by the men he fought with tonight?'
The dwarf only nodded while he grabbed for a clean rag and immersed it into the water. He squashed it before he began to clean the elf's back from blood relieved as no further questions came. He could fell the body tremble under his ministrations and tried his best to not inflict further pain.
Seeing the gentleness with witch the dwarf treated Legolas, Elrohir let him continue his task and turned to mixing herbs with water that would eased the pain and speed up the healing process.
Having cleaned away the blood as well as possible Gimli finally stepped aside to let Elrohir further tend to his friend. Legolas' dark eyes seemed wide in the pale face and Gimli noticed them slowly drifting out of focus as the herb started to take full effect.
'How did this happen?' he could hear Elladan ask. The elf had stepped next to his brother and watched as Elrohir applied the paste he had prepared.
A sudden noise relieved Gimli from giving an answer as the door to the room was flung open. Gimli whirled around, his eyes searching for his axe.
Two guardsman bearing the colors of Gondor stepped in, their eyes sweeping over the room.
'They are here.' One of them called out.
Elrohir did not look up from his task, only a slight tensing up of his body telling that he had even noticed anything going on. Elladan moved to stand beside Gimli to face the intruders just as the two guardsmen stepped aside to make room for another man.
Aragorn's face was set in a grim mask and his eyes held as dark an expression as Gimli had never seen directed at himself by the king of Gondor.