___
69 reviews now… I can hardly believe it!!!
Once more thanks to all of you… and here is the next part …
Tomorrow I will be out of town so next update will be (hopefully) on Friday.
Tara: a big thank you for the big compliment :-) … I tried not to be too obvious with the story line and I am glad if I succeeded!
Lady of Legolas: more cliffhangers? I'll do my best! *g*
Ithilien: wow, thanks for the long reviews. You are one of my favorite writers here and to read reviews like this coming from you is a great joy for me!!!
Seaweed: thanks, also for your feedback to 'On the Road again' … what can I say – I love it when people like what I write!!! :-)
Jan: yeah, Gimli is a true friend… that's what I love so much between elf & dwarf : their friendship as unusual as it may be … and it is a good basis for writing angst :-)
Everybody else: thanks for your comments – they are more helpful than you may realize …
…so… please keep on writing them!!!
___
The city was dark and quiet as one man, one dwarf and one elf made their way through the vacant streets. The two guardsmen followed somewhere behind, feeling utterly needless.
Neither Gimli nor Elladan asked Aragorn where they were going as he led them through his city. It took the dwarf not long to guess their destination and his guess was confirmed as they followed Aragorn to the house of healing.
The king of Gondor had no trouble finding the right room and the healer that resided inside took only one look at them before he hurried outside.
The two men laying on beds in the room had similar expressions of apprehension and fear on their faces as they looked at them. Both of them struggled to sit up, the thick bandages on their right arms hindering their movements.
'Your Highness?' one of them whispered but was completely ignored.
Aragorn's gold gaze swept over both of them and finally came to rest on the unmoving form on a third bed.
'Is this Bethrol?' he addressed Gimli.
Two steps brought the dwarf close enough to answer the king's question.
'Aye. He looks quiet dead to me. A pity, for he will not be able to taste my axe any more.'
If possible the two men on their beds paled even more upon hearing Gimli's cold voice.
The king turned his attention to the two men, regarding them with a dark look.
'Is there anything you have to say?' his voice was not loud but held enough authority to let them flinch.
They exchanged a quick look, and it was clear that none of them wished to speak up.
'It had been brought to my ears that you did participate on the attack on Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thandruil of Mirkwood. An attack of the most cowardly kind as it took four of you to overwhelm him. You tormented him and left him for dead.'
The king paused, his gaze resting heavily on them. 'Is there naught you wish to say regarding these accusations?'
'I did not mean to get him killed.' One of the men cried out. 'It was only intended as a warning.'
'A warning?' Gimli's voice boomed as his temper flared upon hearing this words. 'You call this a warning? Maybe I should warn you a little bit…'
'Peace, Gimli.' Aragorn interrupted the dwarf's tirade before it could get out of hand. The dwarf fell silent but his eyes shot glares at the man that had shrunk away at his outburst.
Inside Aragorn seethed just as much as the dwarf but being the king meant keeping a certain detachment even if this concerned one of his best friends.
'Your name?' Aragorn's voice was devoid of emotion and somehow this was even scarier than the dwarf's visible anger.
'Lian.' The man answered.
Aragorn's eyes turned to the second man and he answered the unvoiced question quickly.
'Surdim.'
'I offer you one last chance to answer my question. Is there anything you wish to say?'
It was then that Lian found all of his courage to face his king.
'I can not deny what has been done or my part in it. I swear it was neither my intention for Prince Legolas to get hurt the way he was nor to get him killed. That was Bethrol's doing.'
'It was you who held him down.' Gimli hissed. 'You helped and you can not place the guilt on a dead man.'
Silence fell as the man did not respond to this. He averted his eyes, looking down on his bandaged hand.
'If the Prince of Mirkwood had lost his life then Gondor would face dire consequences.' Aragorn said, his face grave. 'You do know who his father is?'
A reluctant nod from both men answered this question.
'I can not even begin to understand what would possess anyone to act the way you did.'
He paused and they waited, apprehension in their eyes for his judgment.
Legolas has already demanded and received his retribution and for him the matter is settled.'
A sound of disagreement from Gimli was ignored as Aragorn continued.
'He choose not to take your life during fight and so I will not demand it either. But I do not wish to count people like you to my men. You have lost your status as warriors and you are to leave this city and this land within two hours to never return. If I ever see your faces again I will not hesitate to carry out what Legolas did not.'
Dismay formed on their faces for leaving Gondor to never return seemed a fate devoid of any hope to them. Imprisonment they had expected but not to be exiled from their land. They would loose anything they possessed and the wounds they carried would restrict their abilities to fight as well as carrying out work.
The king did not regard them any further as he turned to leave. With growing apprehension they noticed that neither the dwarf nor the elf made any movement to follow him.
There was a dangerous gleam in Gimli's eyes as he observed the two men that had participated in the attack on his friend. Seeing the fear in their eyes was a small satisfaction as he thought of the pain his friend had gone through.
He eyed them minutely while his hands played with his axe as if to decide with part of their body to chop first.
'What do you think, master elf,' he finally asked. 'Would it be more fun to relieve them of a leg or of an arm?'
Elladan was not short of an answer. 'I would say it would be more convenient to take the arm or they would have trouble to leave within the two hours the king has given them.'
He paused for a moment before he added.
'And if they do not leave their punishment would be death and the pain of loosing a leg too short lived. Nay, master Gimli I would vote for the arm.'
Panic started to show on their faces. The words uttered in a conversational tone struck fear in their hearts as they had little doubt about the dwarf's intention to carry out his threat.
Gimli nodded slowly as if considering the words. Once more his eyes swept over their bodies as if choosing the right place to aim his axe at.
'But maybe some toes?' he asked. 'Not enough that they would loose their ability to walk… just a little bit.'
'If you are careful. They might bleed to death if you hit the wrong spot.'
'Aye, that would lessen the fun, you are right, master elf.'
Gimli stepped closer to the man called Lian who shrank away as far as he could.
'You would not.' He whispered hoarsely.
Fire flared in the dwarf's eyes.
'Why should I not? You held him down, did you not? You watched as he was beaten. Why should I feel pity when you did not?'
His axe was ready in his hands.
'The arm, you said, master elf? We will need to bind their wounds ere they bleed to death.'
'We can call the healer.' Elladan answered, his voice unaffected. 'When we are done.'
Gimli's eyes turned to the second man who has scrambled to his feet, backing away from them
'Which one would you like to start with?' the dwarf asked Elladan.
Looking from one to the other the elf shrugged.
'It matters not. Maybe one of them wishes to volunteer?' he commented.
Both man had backed away from them as far as possible by now. Elladan had moved to block the door and the windows the room held were too small for a grown man to escape this way.
'Well,' Gimli asked, a grim smile on his face. The friendly tone of his voice only heightened the impression of madness he projected. 'Does one of you volunteer to go first?'
It came as no surprise that none of the two men answered his question.
@@@
The house was quiet as Elrohir retook his seat on the second bed after checking on Legolas once more. The elf was deeply asleep.
Listening to the even breathing of his friend the son of Elrond pondered at the strange friendship between Gimli and Legolas. It had been more than obvious that the dwarf had been deeply concerned for his friend's well being. So different they seemed to be and yet they had found to have so much in common.
What worried Elrohir was Legolas' attachment to the dwarf. Friendships like this with a bond so deep could only end in pain for the immortal. For the day would come when Gimli would perish and the pain would be Legolas' to bear.
He settled down into a more comfortable position as he wondered how exactly Gimli was going to avenge what had been done to Legolas. A smile played around his lips as he could easily picture the dwarf handling his axe and striking terror in the hearts of those who had dared to cross his path.
69 reviews now… I can hardly believe it!!!
Once more thanks to all of you… and here is the next part …
Tomorrow I will be out of town so next update will be (hopefully) on Friday.
Tara: a big thank you for the big compliment :-) … I tried not to be too obvious with the story line and I am glad if I succeeded!
Lady of Legolas: more cliffhangers? I'll do my best! *g*
Ithilien: wow, thanks for the long reviews. You are one of my favorite writers here and to read reviews like this coming from you is a great joy for me!!!
Seaweed: thanks, also for your feedback to 'On the Road again' … what can I say – I love it when people like what I write!!! :-)
Jan: yeah, Gimli is a true friend… that's what I love so much between elf & dwarf : their friendship as unusual as it may be … and it is a good basis for writing angst :-)
Everybody else: thanks for your comments – they are more helpful than you may realize …
…so… please keep on writing them!!!
___
The city was dark and quiet as one man, one dwarf and one elf made their way through the vacant streets. The two guardsmen followed somewhere behind, feeling utterly needless.
Neither Gimli nor Elladan asked Aragorn where they were going as he led them through his city. It took the dwarf not long to guess their destination and his guess was confirmed as they followed Aragorn to the house of healing.
The king of Gondor had no trouble finding the right room and the healer that resided inside took only one look at them before he hurried outside.
The two men laying on beds in the room had similar expressions of apprehension and fear on their faces as they looked at them. Both of them struggled to sit up, the thick bandages on their right arms hindering their movements.
'Your Highness?' one of them whispered but was completely ignored.
Aragorn's gold gaze swept over both of them and finally came to rest on the unmoving form on a third bed.
'Is this Bethrol?' he addressed Gimli.
Two steps brought the dwarf close enough to answer the king's question.
'Aye. He looks quiet dead to me. A pity, for he will not be able to taste my axe any more.'
If possible the two men on their beds paled even more upon hearing Gimli's cold voice.
The king turned his attention to the two men, regarding them with a dark look.
'Is there anything you have to say?' his voice was not loud but held enough authority to let them flinch.
They exchanged a quick look, and it was clear that none of them wished to speak up.
'It had been brought to my ears that you did participate on the attack on Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thandruil of Mirkwood. An attack of the most cowardly kind as it took four of you to overwhelm him. You tormented him and left him for dead.'
The king paused, his gaze resting heavily on them. 'Is there naught you wish to say regarding these accusations?'
'I did not mean to get him killed.' One of the men cried out. 'It was only intended as a warning.'
'A warning?' Gimli's voice boomed as his temper flared upon hearing this words. 'You call this a warning? Maybe I should warn you a little bit…'
'Peace, Gimli.' Aragorn interrupted the dwarf's tirade before it could get out of hand. The dwarf fell silent but his eyes shot glares at the man that had shrunk away at his outburst.
Inside Aragorn seethed just as much as the dwarf but being the king meant keeping a certain detachment even if this concerned one of his best friends.
'Your name?' Aragorn's voice was devoid of emotion and somehow this was even scarier than the dwarf's visible anger.
'Lian.' The man answered.
Aragorn's eyes turned to the second man and he answered the unvoiced question quickly.
'Surdim.'
'I offer you one last chance to answer my question. Is there anything you wish to say?'
It was then that Lian found all of his courage to face his king.
'I can not deny what has been done or my part in it. I swear it was neither my intention for Prince Legolas to get hurt the way he was nor to get him killed. That was Bethrol's doing.'
'It was you who held him down.' Gimli hissed. 'You helped and you can not place the guilt on a dead man.'
Silence fell as the man did not respond to this. He averted his eyes, looking down on his bandaged hand.
'If the Prince of Mirkwood had lost his life then Gondor would face dire consequences.' Aragorn said, his face grave. 'You do know who his father is?'
A reluctant nod from both men answered this question.
'I can not even begin to understand what would possess anyone to act the way you did.'
He paused and they waited, apprehension in their eyes for his judgment.
Legolas has already demanded and received his retribution and for him the matter is settled.'
A sound of disagreement from Gimli was ignored as Aragorn continued.
'He choose not to take your life during fight and so I will not demand it either. But I do not wish to count people like you to my men. You have lost your status as warriors and you are to leave this city and this land within two hours to never return. If I ever see your faces again I will not hesitate to carry out what Legolas did not.'
Dismay formed on their faces for leaving Gondor to never return seemed a fate devoid of any hope to them. Imprisonment they had expected but not to be exiled from their land. They would loose anything they possessed and the wounds they carried would restrict their abilities to fight as well as carrying out work.
The king did not regard them any further as he turned to leave. With growing apprehension they noticed that neither the dwarf nor the elf made any movement to follow him.
There was a dangerous gleam in Gimli's eyes as he observed the two men that had participated in the attack on his friend. Seeing the fear in their eyes was a small satisfaction as he thought of the pain his friend had gone through.
He eyed them minutely while his hands played with his axe as if to decide with part of their body to chop first.
'What do you think, master elf,' he finally asked. 'Would it be more fun to relieve them of a leg or of an arm?'
Elladan was not short of an answer. 'I would say it would be more convenient to take the arm or they would have trouble to leave within the two hours the king has given them.'
He paused for a moment before he added.
'And if they do not leave their punishment would be death and the pain of loosing a leg too short lived. Nay, master Gimli I would vote for the arm.'
Panic started to show on their faces. The words uttered in a conversational tone struck fear in their hearts as they had little doubt about the dwarf's intention to carry out his threat.
Gimli nodded slowly as if considering the words. Once more his eyes swept over their bodies as if choosing the right place to aim his axe at.
'But maybe some toes?' he asked. 'Not enough that they would loose their ability to walk… just a little bit.'
'If you are careful. They might bleed to death if you hit the wrong spot.'
'Aye, that would lessen the fun, you are right, master elf.'
Gimli stepped closer to the man called Lian who shrank away as far as he could.
'You would not.' He whispered hoarsely.
Fire flared in the dwarf's eyes.
'Why should I not? You held him down, did you not? You watched as he was beaten. Why should I feel pity when you did not?'
His axe was ready in his hands.
'The arm, you said, master elf? We will need to bind their wounds ere they bleed to death.'
'We can call the healer.' Elladan answered, his voice unaffected. 'When we are done.'
Gimli's eyes turned to the second man who has scrambled to his feet, backing away from them
'Which one would you like to start with?' the dwarf asked Elladan.
Looking from one to the other the elf shrugged.
'It matters not. Maybe one of them wishes to volunteer?' he commented.
Both man had backed away from them as far as possible by now. Elladan had moved to block the door and the windows the room held were too small for a grown man to escape this way.
'Well,' Gimli asked, a grim smile on his face. The friendly tone of his voice only heightened the impression of madness he projected. 'Does one of you volunteer to go first?'
It came as no surprise that none of the two men answered his question.
@@@
The house was quiet as Elrohir retook his seat on the second bed after checking on Legolas once more. The elf was deeply asleep.
Listening to the even breathing of his friend the son of Elrond pondered at the strange friendship between Gimli and Legolas. It had been more than obvious that the dwarf had been deeply concerned for his friend's well being. So different they seemed to be and yet they had found to have so much in common.
What worried Elrohir was Legolas' attachment to the dwarf. Friendships like this with a bond so deep could only end in pain for the immortal. For the day would come when Gimli would perish and the pain would be Legolas' to bear.
He settled down into a more comfortable position as he wondered how exactly Gimli was going to avenge what had been done to Legolas. A smile played around his lips as he could easily picture the dwarf handling his axe and striking terror in the hearts of those who had dared to cross his path.