Thanks for your encouragement, and suggestions, Dreamingfifi and LegolasGirl666--I'll keep going for a while…
Chapter 31--Aftermath
Slowly things in Minas Tirith got back to normal. Sandi remembered nothing of her ordeal at Darrin's hands and Arwen only remembered what had happened when Darrin had released his spell to gloat about Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. They all agreed it was probably for the best. There was another problem though.
Jaisia walked down the hall towards Legolas' room. She was worried about him, all of them were. After Gimli's memorial service he had withdrawn from everyone, staying in his room most of the time. He hadn't come down to eat for two days. She came to the door and knocked.
"Whose there?" Legolas called.
"Jaisia--it is time for dinner, I thought we would go down together!" Jaisia replied.
"I am not hungry," Legolas said.
"It has been two days, you have to eat something," Jaisia protested. There was no answer. Sighing, Jaisia turned and made her way downstairs. Her eyes filled with determination she went into the kitchen and got a tray then began loading food on it.
Aragorn came in. "He still refuses to come down?" he asked.
"Yes, but I am not taking no for an answer this time. You might have to have the door fixed," Jaisia said. She left the kitchen with the tray and went back to Legolas' room. She knocked loudly. "Open up, Legolas!!" she called.
"Go away,' Legolas replied.
"No, open up or I will kick the door in!" Jaisia warned. "I will give you to the count of three. One, two--"
The door opened. "You are a nuisance sometimes, Jaisia," Legolas complained.
"I know," Jaisia said pertly, entering the room. She set the tray down on a table. "But I am your big sister so it is my job. There are four things that you are going to do. First you are going to eat then you are going to bathe and change clothes and finally we are going out to the gardens. You should not stay inside so much." Her tone warned the subject was not up for debate.
Legolas got ready to argue then changed his mind. "Very well," he agreed.
"Good, I will come back in two hours. Make sure your ready," Jaisia said and left the room. She was surprised to find Aragorn and Arwen waiting. Aragorn gestured for her to follow so she did.
They went to Aragorn's study and Aragorn closed the door. "How is he?" he asked.
Jaisia knew who he meant. "Not good, he has lost weight and he looks tired. I am worried about him, I keep remembering that an elf can die from grief. He and Gimli were so close. I think he also feels partly responsible for Gimli's death because he could not save him," she said.
Aragorn sighed. "I feared as much, we have to find a way to take his mind off it," he said.
"Well, I insisted we go out to the gardens in a couple hours, being inside so much can not be helping," Jaisia said. "Perhaps that will help."
"Perhaps, but only temporarily. We must find something, I will think about it," Aragorn said.
Jaisia left the room and went to get ready. She was at Legolas' door in two hours just like she'd said. She knocked.
Legolas opened the door. "I am ready to go," he said.
"We can drop the tray off at the kitchen on the way out," Jaisia said.
Legolas shrugged and got it. Most of the food was gone.
"You did not throw the food out the window or something did you?" Jaisia asked.
Legolas just laughed.
Jaisia smiled. It had been awhile since she had heard him laugh. They dropped off the tray and went out to the garden and settled by the pond. "Remember when I knocked Aragorn into this pond?" Jaisia asked.
"Aye, he was so furious," Legolas said, smiling faintly.
"Gimli would not want you to grieve so," Jaisia said gently. She laid her hand on his shoulder.
Legolas swallowed. "I know, but it does not change how I feel," he said.
"I know," Jaisia said softly. They sat in the garden together for a long time……
Jaisia's being all mothery again!! Poor Legolas!! R/R all, please!!