Yes, the 2nd chap came out right J  reviews please, they really make my day !
Disclaimer:Guess I know who Lego and Gimli are now...lol...they're
MINE!MY OWN!MY PRECIOUS!;-);-) j/k I'll return them( and whoever
else I use) to Tolkien in one piece,lol.

Chap 3--History Repeats

"You might as well propose that we disguise ourselves as goods, or
that we swim out in the stream that leads to the Forest River."
Gimli jested.

Legolas sprang up, his eyes shining with excitement. "I have it!
Gimli, you are a genius!"

Gimli looked bewildered. "Do not jest with me, elf. I cannot swim,
and you know that well. I was merely joking."

Legolas grabbed Gimli's arm in his zeal. "No, you misunderstand me.
I do not mean swimming. Do not you recall how your father escaped
from my home with his companions, and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins?" He
winked.

Gimli's eyes grew wide. "Yes! Why did not we think of that sooner?!
My father has told me of this many times, and I remember how I
laughed, begging your pardon." Then his face fell, and he looked
deflated. "But the circumstances are different this time. Your folk
will not be fooled in the same manner twice. And there would be no
one to pack one of us in a barrel. Nay, this would not succeed."

"Elviondel will help us, I know," Legolas said. "I am a prince here,
remember. I feel sure that I can persuade a couple of them to aid
us." Gimli looked dubious. "Hesitate no more, Gimli. I am determined
to go, and I would not have you trapped here with me. In a week or
so, it will be our autumn festival, to mark the change in seasons,
and also to thank the Iluvatar and the Valar for giving us what we
have. My father will have a grand feast as usual. Almost all my
folk will be involved in the preparations and merrymaking. The time
for carrying out this plan would be ripe."

The dwarf sat down uncomfortably. "Well…we would risk great
punishment, I fear, if we are discovered. It would also be a very
uncomfortable mode of travel, and we risk being drowned or
suffocated."

"My mind is made up, Gimli," Legolas said firmly. "Whether you are
willing to accompany me or not, I will go."

"Crazy elf," Gimli shook his head. "Come to your senses!"

"I am not afraid, Gimli, though I am aware of the risks. You may
stay here if you wish."

Gimli looked at the determination in his friend's bright elven-
eyes. "If you are game enough to try this bold plan, I am game for
anything too." The pair smiled at each other. "Besides, what would I
do all alone here? Also, if I did not follow you, you are sure to
get into some trouble."

They drew up a detailed plan. Elviondel was let into the secret, and
although reluctant, as a loyal friend, he was willing to do his
part, for it saddened him too to see his friend unhappy. Legolas
went to the chief butler to enlist his help. The elf was quite
scandalized to hear what the prince proposed.

"Why, my lord, I cannot do this! If I was discovered to have played
a part in your disappearance, the king will have my head! Surely you
would not want such a fate to befall me! All of us are under the
king's orders to keep you here, my lord, and he cannot be defied."

"If you keep mum, none will be the wiser."

"But…"

"You forget that I am your lord too. You must not defy me, for this
is an order." Legolas's voice was hard and authoritative.

Gimli stared at his friend in surprise. He had not seen him acting
the prince before. In fact, Legolas behaved so humbly and normally
that often his friends forgot that he was a prince and treated him
as an equal, as he treated them. An amused smile played across the
dwarf's features, and he was quite tempted to laugh when he saw the
expression on his friend's face. He was recalling the moment in the
plains of Rohan during the War of the Rings, when Aragorn had acted
with the authority and dignity of a king. He had wore an expression
that was almost identical to the one Legolas had now.

"Forgive me, my lord, but I cannot do this. Furthermore, the king's
command overrules the prince's command, and that is the law."

"If you do not do as I command, very soon every one of our folk will
know what you did. You can be sure that the punishment meted out
will not be much better than having your head off."

The butler looked troubled, and flustered. "Forgive me. Your wish is
my command." He hastily blurted out. "Please continue to keep the
secret to yourself, my lord!" Gimli looked on, incredulous and
nonplussed by the abrupt change . Legolas explained to the chief
butler his part in the whole affair, and the latter agreed, nodding
the whole time.

When the friends were alone, Gimli curiously asked, "How did you
manage to change his mind so quickly?"
"I have a hold over him."

"What would that hold be?"

Legolas furtively looked around, and spoke in a low voice, "I hope
it will suffice to say that he committed a sin that he would want no
one to know. And I happened to see him do it. If my father should
know of this, all I can say is, may the Valar save our butler."

"You are blackmailing the butler!" Gimli burst out in shock.

"Shhh….keep your voice down!" Legolas hissed. "Believe not that all
Elves are virtuous folk who would never intentionally do wrong." He
winked. "Though I am only doing this because I have no choice."





Soon the big day drew near. The whole of the Eryn Lasgalen was
buzzing with activity, for the wood-elves were kept busy making
final preparations for the grand feast. This particular occasion was
rather important that year. For the very first time in a long time,
the remaining Lorien elves would join their kinsmen in the feast and
celebrations, and naturally Thranduil's folk wanted to make a good
impression.

There was to be the usual ceremonies, and then a specially grand
feast, followed by dancing, singing and much merrymaking. The elves
had much to do, scurrying about putting up the decorations and
ensuring that there would be enough food to go around, and checking
that everything was as it should be.

Thranduil himself was busy, for he had to supervise the
preparations, and do this and that and a thousand other things.

So Legolas found it relatively easy to prepare for his escape
unnoticed, when he was not helping out. He discreetly brought out a
traveling pack and sorted out his belongings meticulously, deciding
on the most important items to take with him, for they were to
travel light.



Finally the day arrived. Thranduil waited at the gates to welcome
the guests. He looked absently around. "Elviondel, saw you Legolas?
He ought to be hither to welcome our kinsmen as well."

"My lord, he is unwell and is resting in his chamber."

"Unwell?" Thranduil frowned. "What has he come down with?"

"He says that he has a headache and a fever, and a stomachache as
well, but that he ought to recover with some rest."

Thranduil sighed. "This child will be the death of me. On such an
important occasion, he falls ill. Are you certain he is not feigning
illness just to get out of everything? He looked well just
yesterday."

"My lord, I believe that Legolas is truly ill. He is rather pale.
Worry not, I will stay with him."

"Nay, Gimli will suffice. I need your help, Elviondel. I have a lot
to do."



Meanwhile, Gimli and Legolas were alone in Legolas's chamber. They
had packed what they could into a pack each. The palace halls were
completely empty, for the entire celebrations would be held
outdoors, and every single elf was already outdoors, even the
servants, for the feast was all set up ready and waiting.

Legolas seemed rather skitterish, and was absently looking around
his room.

"What do you seek, my friend?" Gimli asked.

"Nothing, Gimli, just ensuring that I have not left anything
important behind."

Gimli peered out of the window, which faced the clearing where the
celebrations were being held. The venue was already packed with well-
dressed elves.

Just then, Legolas started, and sprang hastily into bed.

"What is it?" queried Gimli.

"Someone comes," Legolas hissed. Gimli padded(as softly as a dwarf
can) to the door and peeked out. Legolas's sisters, Elriowiel and
Elriodriel, and brothers-in-law Elladan and Elrohir were drawing
near. Gimli sat down in a chair. Legolas was already lying
motionless, covered with his blanket, his eyes open and staring
unfocused; his breathing like that of a sleeper. He looked for all
the world as though he really was asleep.

Elriodriel walked right into a chair without realizing it and there
was a loud clatter. Gimli put his finger to his lips.

Legolas shifted a little and called out, "Gimli! Would you be quiet,
I cannot rest if you are making such a racket."

"It is not I," Gimli said, a little incensed, but he decided to play
along, "but your sisters."

"I am sorry," said Elriodriel, "but I walked into a chair that you
have left lying around. Father wanted to know if you wanted to come
down and join in the festivities."

"Am I not barred from the festivities? After all, where it is held
is beyond our palace grounds."

"Nay, Father will not bar you from the festival, of course."

"No thank you, I would rather rest up hither."

Elladan indicated the map that was hanging on Legolas's wall. "This
map is very well made. Very meticulously detailed." It was a map of
Eryn Lasgalen, and the surrounding areas.

"Legolas made it himself," Elriowiel said with a hint of
pride. "Well, we will leave some food and drink for you and Gimli
here, Legolas."

"Elladan, Elrohir, why did not you pass away over the Sea with your
father? Do you not miss him?" Legolas asked suddenly.

The brothers hesitated and exchanged glances. "Certainly we miss
Father. But we are—how shall I put it---bound to our love for Middle
Earth," Elrohir finally said," Why do you ask?"

Legolas nodded and lay back down. He felt a little better. He would
much have desired to sail over the Sea, but it was only his love for
Middle Earth and what he had here that made him stay. "Nothing much."

"Will you not join in the festivities, Gimli?" Elriowiel asked.

"No thank you, I will be stationed here." The two friends exchanged
surreptitious glances.

When the `intruders' had exited the room, Gimli hurried over to the
tray of food and tucked eagerly into the delicious food.

"I have to compliment you on your acting skills," Gimli said, his
mouth full of food. "You looked as though you truly were ill and
asleep."

"Thank you. I have to compliment you on your eating capacity. Never
have I seen a dwarf who can eat this much. You may have my share
too, if you like." Legolas half-jested.


The dwarf watched the ceremony with interest. They planned to wait
till the ceremonies were over and the merrymaking and feast was in
full swing ere they descended to the dungeons.

The elves were singing some hymns in their native Silvan tongue,
which Gimli of course did not understand much. Legolas had taught
him some words, but Gimli was not one who was competent in learning
languages. Next the elves pranced around the trees, singing songs in
Quenya this time, and then knelt in prayer for what seemed to the
dwarf like eternity.

Gimli then saw the elves begin to disperse and head towards the good
food laid out, a clear sign that the feast was beginning. Gimli
waited till he saw all the elves seated in groups eating, drinking
and talking before nudging Legolas.

"Legolas, it is time to go, I feel."

Legolas looked wistfully out at his celebrating kinsmen. "This is
the biggest occasion of the year, save the New Year. I always
enjoyed the celebrations."

"You still have an opportunity to give up, if you will."

Legolas smiled, a little too brightly. "Nay, we have gone too far to
go back. Come, Gimli, let us hasten to the underground storey."

The pair tiptoed quietly down to where the stream ran swiftly from
the foundations of the palace to the open. The gates that barred the
waterway had already been raised. The chief butler and Elviondel
were waiting.

"Here you are," Elviondel greeted the duo. "Are you set?"

"How comes it that you can be here?"

"How could I not be here when my friend is going away, perhaps for
good?" Elviondel answered. "I could not let you leave without saying
farewell. I managed to occupy your father and distract him. It was
indeed difficult to stop him from going to your chamber!" the elf
shook his head, "I had much to do, but I managed to slip away
unnoticed. Come, we must hasten if you are going off."

Gimli was helped into a barrel.

"Why did not you select a bigger barrel for me?" Gimli grumbled as
he was squeezed in rather tightly. Straw was packed in as well.

"It was one of the largest, Master Gimli," the butler
protested, "Forgive me. But it is only for a short time, so please
bear with it."

The chief butler had been ordered to go into the dungeons to collect
some last-minute additions, and drop the empty barrels and cartons
into the river to be sent to Laketown, so no one was suspicious of
his absence.

Legolas embraced Elviondel tightly, then climbed into another barrel
next, but his slender tall frame was crammed so tightly that it was
decided that the barrel was too small. The butler went in search of
a better container, and returned with a wooden box, which Legolas
was more comfortable in. The elf-prince was almost bent double, but
it was a great improvement over the previous container. However, his
long bow of Lorien would not fit into the box. Neither would the bow
fit into the two luggage barrels, for it jutted out prominently. His
long silver knife would not go in either.

"Alas!" Legolas cried, dismayed, "I must bring the bow of the Lady
with me! It is one of my most precious, important possessions." The
group was at a loss until the butler left them and returned with a
specially long box. Gimli's axe, the bow and the quiver of arrows
were wrapped in waterproof oilskin and put in.

"Thank you, you have been most helpful!" Impulsively Legolas leaned
over and gave the bewildered butler a squeeze. Finally he clambered
into the wooden box. He was well-padded with straw as well, but it
seemed to Gimli as though his friend was better-protected.

"Favouritism," Gimli thought to himself. He watched Elviondel and
the butler put the lid carefully on and tightly. Out loud he
teased, "A nail in your coffin, Legolas, eh?" The four laughed.

"For your foul mouth, you will be the first to go! Farewell, Gimli!"
Elviondel and the butler grunted as they tugged the now-heavy barrel
and released it with a splash into the stream.

"Farewell, Legolas, and may you and Gimli have a safe journey! Come
back when you may, and forget us not!" Elviondel called to his
friend.

"Farewell, Elviondel! My deepest gratitude for all your aid,"
Legolas called out.

"Here goes nothing!" Legolas thought to himself as he felt the box
fall into the river with a loud splash. Dimly, behind him, he heard
three more splashes as the luggage barrels and his weapon- container
tumbled into the stream.

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Sorry about this chapter being extra long, but I thought my previous
chapters were all too short.