A big, big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed !!!
And I fear I have to hide Calenuial real well… too many of you are already
threatening to hunt him down… poor elf :-)
As requested by many of you another quick update – thanks to Little My
And I was able to re-upload the first 4 chapters – beta read by Little My !!!
A huge thank you to her for all the work she is doing in making my stories more
presentable.
So, read on and keep on sending me all this nice, encouraging, threatening,…
reviews!!!
___
Aragorn was quite surprised to see Calenuial pass them by without speaking a word.
The elf's expression spoke of great anger, and only belatedly did the man realize that
the direction he was going would lead him directly to Gimli.
He was on his feet in an instant, worry coloring his voice as he spoke. 'Come with
me, my friends. I fear we might need to keep a certain dwarf out of a fight.'
They followed him, surprise and confusion on their faces, but he ignored their
questions in his haste to follow the angry elf.
An enraged elf of Lars Lasgalen was unpredictable and more dangerous than
Aragorn would wish right now. Somehow Calenuial must have found out what had
happened between Legolas and Gimli, and judging by the deep anger the man had
witnessed, Gimli was certainly in trouble. For a moment, Aragorn wondered how
Calenuial had come to know about this. Gimli certainly had not spoken, and that left
only Legolas. He directed his long strides to where he guessed Gimli to be, hoping
he would not be too late.
The angry voice that could be heard now told him they were heading the right way,
and only a few moments later Aragorn came to a stop, taking in the scene before
him.
Calenuial and Gimli were only a few steps apart, staring at each other. The elf's long
hands were balled into fists, his whole posture rigid and emanating tension and
danger.
It was the dwarf that completely surprised Aragorn. He simply stood there, his head
raised and proud, but there was something in his stance that spoke of defensiveness
rather than aggression. Where normally he would not back down from any form of
challenge, he seemed rather subdued now. Defeated. With a sudden stab of
compassion, Aragorn realized just how much all this was wearing the dwarf down.
Legolas was his dearest friend, no matter how much he would deny this under
normal circumstances. To feel responsible for the elf's uncertain state had to affect
him badly.
'I warned Legolas that his friendship with you would only bring him pain.' The elf's
cutting voice carried clearly over to the three men. 'But not even I could imagine that
you would hurt him like this.'
'You know naught of our friendship,' Gimli spoke.
'I know more than I wish to. I have been Legolas' friend for more years than you can
even imagine and never, never in all those years would I ever have hurt him like this.
How can you call him friend and raise a hand against him? You wounded him, and
left him behind.'
'It is a matter between Legolas and I. Believe me when I say I know the blame I
carry.'
'You know nothing, or you would not be here any longer. Do you really expect that he
wishes to see you again, when only the voicing of your name brings him unbearable
pain? And even if he wished, do you think I would allow you the chance to hurt him
any further?'
He had taken another threatening step closer towards the dwarf. In his anger, he was
blind to the affect his words had on Gimli, but Aragorn was not. He could see the
dwarf flinch.
The words had cut deep, as they seemed to confirm Gimli's greatest fear. Legolas
did not wish to see him. Although he had known to expect this eventuality and tried to
prepare himself, it still hurt more than he would have thought possible. His mind
numb with pain, he heard himself speak.
'If it is what he wishes, I will leave.'
With blazing eyes Calenuial looked at him.
'It would be the best you could do,' he spat. But strangely, seeing the defeat upon the
dwarf's face brought him not the satisfaction he had excepted. The knowledge that
his own behavior was unjustified weighed heavily upon him. He was not mean or
perfidious by nature, but honest and fair, and only his own pain and worry had
controlled his actions. He knew he had no right to send Gimli away; not even Amayn
had taken this liberty. So it was with some relief that he heard a voice speak up
behind him.
'It is not you who should make this decision, Calenuial, but Legolas.'
Aragorn's voice was calm but emphatic. The two adversaries turned towards him and
he faced two pairs of eyes. He was not surprised to see the emotions in them
mirrored each other. Both were tense with worry, and both held guilt. Aragorn's eyes
narrowed at this and his words were sharp, for he could see only one explanation for
the guilt clouding the elf's eyes. He sincerely doubted that Legolas would truly wish
the dwarf gone, and so he had interrupted ere things could get out of hand.
'How would you know so much about how Legolas fares? Tell me, Calenuial, who did
mention Gimli to him so you would see his pain?'
Gimli's eyes turned from pained to angry as the implication became clear to him, and
his defensive stance turned suddenly aggressive. Calenuial only hesitated a moment
ere he answered.
'It was I that asked him if he wished the dwarf removed after what he had done to
him. The pain it caused him was not of my doing.'
'That is quite easy to say!' Gimli bellowed. Rage was taking over as he realized what
must have happened.
@@@
Amayn held on until she could feel Legolas relax, and only then did she assist him in
lying down again. His eyes were wide with a mixture of emotions.
'I am sorry,' she whispered, 'that I was not here when you awoke. I did not expect for
your memory to return so suddenly.'
He only looked at her and she noticed his hand was pressed against his side.
'Does it hurt you?' she asked, concerned.
He blinked, his eyes moving away from her face for the first time.
'Gimli,' he whispered. 'It was Gimli.'
She knew what he was talking about and felt grateful that the dwarf had told her.
'Aye. And the guilt for what he has done weighs heavily upon his mind and heart. I
cannot claim to understand why he did this, but I feel he deeply regrets it.'
She gently stroked his face and he did not flinch away from her caress as he would
have normally done, a sign to her of how shaky he still felt.
'He lost someone he loved dearly,' Legolas softly spoke, but his brow furrowed as if
he had trouble remembering correctly. 'He believed I had refused to help her. His
pain was great and I doubt he knew what he was doing then.'
She could see sudden fear in his eyes.
'Is he still here? You said he was here?'
'He is still here,' she assured him, smiling at the relief in his eyes.
'I hope he does not still feel anger towards me,' he mumbled, his eyes betraying a
flicker of insecurity.
'I would say that anger is the last thing he feels right now. He fears to have lost your
friendship, and this pains him deeply.'
Legolas shook his head, a soft smile of relief appearing on his face.
'My memory is still a bit confused,' he spoke.
She could feel pain radiating from him and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to
ease it somewhat.
'But I know I do not wish to lose his friendship, either.' His smile turned wry. 'Although
I fear Calenuial will not understand this.'
'He was here when I came in. Was it something he said that caused your memory to
surface so suddenly?' She felt sudden anger, for she knew the danger this had
meant for her son. He was still weakened and it could have easily turned for the
worse.
'He did nothing,' Legolas quickly assured her, not wishing to complicate matters any
further. Too much it already seemed to him to sort out easily. Gimli was dear to him,
and he did not want to lose him but knew not what to expect from the dwarf. Had he
forgiven him for his presumed refusal to help, or would he turn away again as soon
as he knew the elf was well? And if not, would Calenuial understand? He knew his
friend to be impulsive and feared he would take out his anger on Gimli.
But ere he could lose himself in his musings, quick steps neared and to his surprise it
was Gandalf who entered the room.
A warm smile formed on his face when he saw Legolas awake.
'You look much better, my friend,' he said.
'I do feel much better,' the elf answered.
The Istari nodded but his eyes turned on Amayn, a silent question in them although
his words were directed at Legolas.
'Would you feel strong enough to accompany me on a short walk through the
gardens, then?'
She knew there was more to it as his eyes asked her if Legolas was up to the
exertion. She knew not what he had in mind and was not entirely sure if her son was
stable enough, but knew the Istari would not ask this of him if he did not really think it
important.
So she gave the slightest nod even as Legolas immediately rose, eager to leave the
confinement of this room. She offered him her arm, although she knew his body was
not as weak as he appeared. It was the strain upon his mind that had exhausted him.
Walking in the gardens would do him good, and she even considered informing his
friends so they could meet him there. Maybe it was time to let him see Gimli again so
he could resolve his matter with the dwarf. His loyal friendship would aid him much
more than the uncertainty that was eating at him now. She realized that most
probably this was exactly what Gandalf had in mind as she hesitantly let go of her
son, allowing him to stand and walk on his own.
.
And I fear I have to hide Calenuial real well… too many of you are already
threatening to hunt him down… poor elf :-)
As requested by many of you another quick update – thanks to Little My
And I was able to re-upload the first 4 chapters – beta read by Little My !!!
A huge thank you to her for all the work she is doing in making my stories more
presentable.
So, read on and keep on sending me all this nice, encouraging, threatening,…
reviews!!!
___
Aragorn was quite surprised to see Calenuial pass them by without speaking a word.
The elf's expression spoke of great anger, and only belatedly did the man realize that
the direction he was going would lead him directly to Gimli.
He was on his feet in an instant, worry coloring his voice as he spoke. 'Come with
me, my friends. I fear we might need to keep a certain dwarf out of a fight.'
They followed him, surprise and confusion on their faces, but he ignored their
questions in his haste to follow the angry elf.
An enraged elf of Lars Lasgalen was unpredictable and more dangerous than
Aragorn would wish right now. Somehow Calenuial must have found out what had
happened between Legolas and Gimli, and judging by the deep anger the man had
witnessed, Gimli was certainly in trouble. For a moment, Aragorn wondered how
Calenuial had come to know about this. Gimli certainly had not spoken, and that left
only Legolas. He directed his long strides to where he guessed Gimli to be, hoping
he would not be too late.
The angry voice that could be heard now told him they were heading the right way,
and only a few moments later Aragorn came to a stop, taking in the scene before
him.
Calenuial and Gimli were only a few steps apart, staring at each other. The elf's long
hands were balled into fists, his whole posture rigid and emanating tension and
danger.
It was the dwarf that completely surprised Aragorn. He simply stood there, his head
raised and proud, but there was something in his stance that spoke of defensiveness
rather than aggression. Where normally he would not back down from any form of
challenge, he seemed rather subdued now. Defeated. With a sudden stab of
compassion, Aragorn realized just how much all this was wearing the dwarf down.
Legolas was his dearest friend, no matter how much he would deny this under
normal circumstances. To feel responsible for the elf's uncertain state had to affect
him badly.
'I warned Legolas that his friendship with you would only bring him pain.' The elf's
cutting voice carried clearly over to the three men. 'But not even I could imagine that
you would hurt him like this.'
'You know naught of our friendship,' Gimli spoke.
'I know more than I wish to. I have been Legolas' friend for more years than you can
even imagine and never, never in all those years would I ever have hurt him like this.
How can you call him friend and raise a hand against him? You wounded him, and
left him behind.'
'It is a matter between Legolas and I. Believe me when I say I know the blame I
carry.'
'You know nothing, or you would not be here any longer. Do you really expect that he
wishes to see you again, when only the voicing of your name brings him unbearable
pain? And even if he wished, do you think I would allow you the chance to hurt him
any further?'
He had taken another threatening step closer towards the dwarf. In his anger, he was
blind to the affect his words had on Gimli, but Aragorn was not. He could see the
dwarf flinch.
The words had cut deep, as they seemed to confirm Gimli's greatest fear. Legolas
did not wish to see him. Although he had known to expect this eventuality and tried to
prepare himself, it still hurt more than he would have thought possible. His mind
numb with pain, he heard himself speak.
'If it is what he wishes, I will leave.'
With blazing eyes Calenuial looked at him.
'It would be the best you could do,' he spat. But strangely, seeing the defeat upon the
dwarf's face brought him not the satisfaction he had excepted. The knowledge that
his own behavior was unjustified weighed heavily upon him. He was not mean or
perfidious by nature, but honest and fair, and only his own pain and worry had
controlled his actions. He knew he had no right to send Gimli away; not even Amayn
had taken this liberty. So it was with some relief that he heard a voice speak up
behind him.
'It is not you who should make this decision, Calenuial, but Legolas.'
Aragorn's voice was calm but emphatic. The two adversaries turned towards him and
he faced two pairs of eyes. He was not surprised to see the emotions in them
mirrored each other. Both were tense with worry, and both held guilt. Aragorn's eyes
narrowed at this and his words were sharp, for he could see only one explanation for
the guilt clouding the elf's eyes. He sincerely doubted that Legolas would truly wish
the dwarf gone, and so he had interrupted ere things could get out of hand.
'How would you know so much about how Legolas fares? Tell me, Calenuial, who did
mention Gimli to him so you would see his pain?'
Gimli's eyes turned from pained to angry as the implication became clear to him, and
his defensive stance turned suddenly aggressive. Calenuial only hesitated a moment
ere he answered.
'It was I that asked him if he wished the dwarf removed after what he had done to
him. The pain it caused him was not of my doing.'
'That is quite easy to say!' Gimli bellowed. Rage was taking over as he realized what
must have happened.
@@@
Amayn held on until she could feel Legolas relax, and only then did she assist him in
lying down again. His eyes were wide with a mixture of emotions.
'I am sorry,' she whispered, 'that I was not here when you awoke. I did not expect for
your memory to return so suddenly.'
He only looked at her and she noticed his hand was pressed against his side.
'Does it hurt you?' she asked, concerned.
He blinked, his eyes moving away from her face for the first time.
'Gimli,' he whispered. 'It was Gimli.'
She knew what he was talking about and felt grateful that the dwarf had told her.
'Aye. And the guilt for what he has done weighs heavily upon his mind and heart. I
cannot claim to understand why he did this, but I feel he deeply regrets it.'
She gently stroked his face and he did not flinch away from her caress as he would
have normally done, a sign to her of how shaky he still felt.
'He lost someone he loved dearly,' Legolas softly spoke, but his brow furrowed as if
he had trouble remembering correctly. 'He believed I had refused to help her. His
pain was great and I doubt he knew what he was doing then.'
She could see sudden fear in his eyes.
'Is he still here? You said he was here?'
'He is still here,' she assured him, smiling at the relief in his eyes.
'I hope he does not still feel anger towards me,' he mumbled, his eyes betraying a
flicker of insecurity.
'I would say that anger is the last thing he feels right now. He fears to have lost your
friendship, and this pains him deeply.'
Legolas shook his head, a soft smile of relief appearing on his face.
'My memory is still a bit confused,' he spoke.
She could feel pain radiating from him and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to
ease it somewhat.
'But I know I do not wish to lose his friendship, either.' His smile turned wry. 'Although
I fear Calenuial will not understand this.'
'He was here when I came in. Was it something he said that caused your memory to
surface so suddenly?' She felt sudden anger, for she knew the danger this had
meant for her son. He was still weakened and it could have easily turned for the
worse.
'He did nothing,' Legolas quickly assured her, not wishing to complicate matters any
further. Too much it already seemed to him to sort out easily. Gimli was dear to him,
and he did not want to lose him but knew not what to expect from the dwarf. Had he
forgiven him for his presumed refusal to help, or would he turn away again as soon
as he knew the elf was well? And if not, would Calenuial understand? He knew his
friend to be impulsive and feared he would take out his anger on Gimli.
But ere he could lose himself in his musings, quick steps neared and to his surprise it
was Gandalf who entered the room.
A warm smile formed on his face when he saw Legolas awake.
'You look much better, my friend,' he said.
'I do feel much better,' the elf answered.
The Istari nodded but his eyes turned on Amayn, a silent question in them although
his words were directed at Legolas.
'Would you feel strong enough to accompany me on a short walk through the
gardens, then?'
She knew there was more to it as his eyes asked her if Legolas was up to the
exertion. She knew not what he had in mind and was not entirely sure if her son was
stable enough, but knew the Istari would not ask this of him if he did not really think it
important.
So she gave the slightest nod even as Legolas immediately rose, eager to leave the
confinement of this room. She offered him her arm, although she knew his body was
not as weak as he appeared. It was the strain upon his mind that had exhausted him.
Walking in the gardens would do him good, and she even considered informing his
friends so they could meet him there. Maybe it was time to let him see Gimli again so
he could resolve his matter with the dwarf. His loyal friendship would aid him much
more than the uncertainty that was eating at him now. She realized that most
probably this was exactly what Gandalf had in mind as she hesitantly let go of her
son, allowing him to stand and walk on his own.
.