A/N: This is a sequel to "The Road to Isengard". It is dedicated to the
many wonderful people who encouraged me with that little LOTR experiment.
Thank you so much!!! :)
It takes place about 1-1/2 years after the events in "The Road to Isengard" and includes a little more of Gimli than the last story did.
It is rated PG13 for grossness factor mostly. The category for it is: Mystery, Action, Angst, and Romance (no slash. I wouldn't have a clue how to write it. *shrugs*)
Enjoy and thanks for reading. ~Nebride
"The Caverns of Mirkwood"
Chapter 1
Friends in Need
"It's very pretty, I grant you," Legolas said to his friend Gimli. The Elf and the Dwarf stood in a private courtyard in the royal palace of Minas Tirith. Before them was a huge stone pool carved in the likeness of a water lily. The granite petals cupped the still blue water.
"But would it not look better with real plants and lilies adorning the surface of the water?" Legolas continued. "It is rather plain as it is."
"Nay," Gimli cried, his face alight with enthusiasm. "For that is the cleverest part! One of my craftsmen had devised a way to make the water fountain from the center. Then the water will dance and tinkle into the pool below. And when the Lady Arwen." here Gimli gestured toward the royal apartments. ". steps out onto her balcony she will be greeted by the sound of water."
"I am not sure, my friend," Legolas said. "But I believe that her Ladyship would prefer lilies. There is already too much stone in Gondor."
"Too much stone!" Gimli blustered with a growl. "It is not possible to have too much stone. Stone holds a shape like no living thing! It will not wither or die. Stone lasts for eternity, standing proud long after its maker has perished."
"Perhaps some brightly colored fish," Legolas suggested, ignoring his friend's outburst. The Elf kept his face as neutral as possible so that Gimli would not know that he teased him. Though in truth his amusement was threatening to bubble over at any moment.
"Fish!" Gimli roared. "What in Middle Earth would you want fish in the pool for? Nasty, smelly." he widened his stance, his face grim, clearly he was set to argue all day over this issue. "I'll not have your water weeds and fish fouling my fountain!"
Legolas finally lost the battle with his self-control and doubled over with laughter.
"Oh, curse you Legolas," Gimli rumbled once he'd realized the Elf had been having a joke on him. "How a race can be as melancholy one moment and frivolous the next as Elves is beyond me!"
Legolas clapped his friend on the back, "I'm sure Lady Arwen will be very pleased with it, just as it is."
The dwarf was still grumbling to himself. "I hope so," he said as they started to walk away. "But I'd better not find any weeds or fish in it Legolas!"
Legolas winked at him conspiratorially and Gimli muttered in his beard something about 'damn Elves'.
"Come," Legolas chuckled, a companionable hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let me buy you a mug of that ale you relish so to make up for the teasing you have suffered."
Gimli's eyes brightened. "Buy me two and we'll call it even."
"Done."
*********
The two were walking back up to the palace from the inn when they heard the frantic beat of horses hooves on the cobbled streets. Legolas looked around, for horses were unusual inside the stone city. As the horse paused at one of the many gates, Legolas heard the rider cry to the gatekeeper, "I have an urgent message for Prince Legolas of Mirkwood!"
"Here," Legolas called as he ran to the gate.
An Elf wearing the clothing of Mirkwood slid gracefully off of his weary horse and bowed. "Your Highness, your father lies gravely ill and begs you to return."
"Ill! What illness does he have?"
"It is the same illness that felled your Lady Mother."
Legolas staggered slightly at the news and immediately felt a strong hand grip his arm. He glanced down gratefully at Gimli, then addressed the messenger again. "We must ride immediately. I'll fetch us fresh horses."
"What can I do?" Gimli asked. "I would come with you, but I would slow your ride. Even I will admit that two Elves can travel swifter on horseback when not encumbered by a Dwarf. Shall I follow you?"
"Nay," Legolas said as they walked swiftly toward the stables. "But if you would bring me parchment and quill, I would be grateful."
"You seek to send a letter?" Gimli said puzzled.
"Yes, to the Lady Alede. She is the most skilled healer I know of. If anyone can cure my father, she can."
"Ahhh," Gimli said with some misgivings, for he had heard the story of his friend's rescue and had guessed at the parts that Legolas had omitted. "Of course. I'll bring it to you in the stables so as not to slow your departure. Lord Aragorn can speak to birds as you can and will send your message."
"Thank you, my friend," and Legolas hurried away, a slight tremor in his belly that was not all due to his father's illness.
*********
A/N: Thanks for reading! Chapter 2 will be up this weekend!
It takes place about 1-1/2 years after the events in "The Road to Isengard" and includes a little more of Gimli than the last story did.
It is rated PG13 for grossness factor mostly. The category for it is: Mystery, Action, Angst, and Romance (no slash. I wouldn't have a clue how to write it. *shrugs*)
Enjoy and thanks for reading. ~Nebride
"The Caverns of Mirkwood"
Chapter 1
Friends in Need
"It's very pretty, I grant you," Legolas said to his friend Gimli. The Elf and the Dwarf stood in a private courtyard in the royal palace of Minas Tirith. Before them was a huge stone pool carved in the likeness of a water lily. The granite petals cupped the still blue water.
"But would it not look better with real plants and lilies adorning the surface of the water?" Legolas continued. "It is rather plain as it is."
"Nay," Gimli cried, his face alight with enthusiasm. "For that is the cleverest part! One of my craftsmen had devised a way to make the water fountain from the center. Then the water will dance and tinkle into the pool below. And when the Lady Arwen." here Gimli gestured toward the royal apartments. ". steps out onto her balcony she will be greeted by the sound of water."
"I am not sure, my friend," Legolas said. "But I believe that her Ladyship would prefer lilies. There is already too much stone in Gondor."
"Too much stone!" Gimli blustered with a growl. "It is not possible to have too much stone. Stone holds a shape like no living thing! It will not wither or die. Stone lasts for eternity, standing proud long after its maker has perished."
"Perhaps some brightly colored fish," Legolas suggested, ignoring his friend's outburst. The Elf kept his face as neutral as possible so that Gimli would not know that he teased him. Though in truth his amusement was threatening to bubble over at any moment.
"Fish!" Gimli roared. "What in Middle Earth would you want fish in the pool for? Nasty, smelly." he widened his stance, his face grim, clearly he was set to argue all day over this issue. "I'll not have your water weeds and fish fouling my fountain!"
Legolas finally lost the battle with his self-control and doubled over with laughter.
"Oh, curse you Legolas," Gimli rumbled once he'd realized the Elf had been having a joke on him. "How a race can be as melancholy one moment and frivolous the next as Elves is beyond me!"
Legolas clapped his friend on the back, "I'm sure Lady Arwen will be very pleased with it, just as it is."
The dwarf was still grumbling to himself. "I hope so," he said as they started to walk away. "But I'd better not find any weeds or fish in it Legolas!"
Legolas winked at him conspiratorially and Gimli muttered in his beard something about 'damn Elves'.
"Come," Legolas chuckled, a companionable hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let me buy you a mug of that ale you relish so to make up for the teasing you have suffered."
Gimli's eyes brightened. "Buy me two and we'll call it even."
"Done."
*********
The two were walking back up to the palace from the inn when they heard the frantic beat of horses hooves on the cobbled streets. Legolas looked around, for horses were unusual inside the stone city. As the horse paused at one of the many gates, Legolas heard the rider cry to the gatekeeper, "I have an urgent message for Prince Legolas of Mirkwood!"
"Here," Legolas called as he ran to the gate.
An Elf wearing the clothing of Mirkwood slid gracefully off of his weary horse and bowed. "Your Highness, your father lies gravely ill and begs you to return."
"Ill! What illness does he have?"
"It is the same illness that felled your Lady Mother."
Legolas staggered slightly at the news and immediately felt a strong hand grip his arm. He glanced down gratefully at Gimli, then addressed the messenger again. "We must ride immediately. I'll fetch us fresh horses."
"What can I do?" Gimli asked. "I would come with you, but I would slow your ride. Even I will admit that two Elves can travel swifter on horseback when not encumbered by a Dwarf. Shall I follow you?"
"Nay," Legolas said as they walked swiftly toward the stables. "But if you would bring me parchment and quill, I would be grateful."
"You seek to send a letter?" Gimli said puzzled.
"Yes, to the Lady Alede. She is the most skilled healer I know of. If anyone can cure my father, she can."
"Ahhh," Gimli said with some misgivings, for he had heard the story of his friend's rescue and had guessed at the parts that Legolas had omitted. "Of course. I'll bring it to you in the stables so as not to slow your departure. Lord Aragorn can speak to birds as you can and will send your message."
"Thank you, my friend," and Legolas hurried away, a slight tremor in his belly that was not all due to his father's illness.
*********
A/N: Thanks for reading! Chapter 2 will be up this weekend!
