Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas, Gimli, or any other recognizable characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I merely wish to play with them a bit and put them back in (more or less) one piece:) I'm not making any money off this.
Legolas stared at the ruin before him, voices and thoughts running through his head. "'I will see you outside.' *I will not interefer.* 'You have my word.' *One arrow...* 'Do not leave him!'"
"No." With a single word and a single thought, Legolas began running toward the entrance. Several of the dwarves moved to stop him, but there were nothing, gnats to be swatted away. He thought he heard Gaila calling to him, but he could not be sure, with the blood pounding in his ears. He would not, could not, stop.
Legolas ran down the tunnel as quickly as he could. *Perhaps he was in the tunnel and not the cavern. Any moment now I will come across him, laughing at me for worrying. I shall kill him myself...* A dark pile of rubble rose before the elf and he skidded to a halt. Dust still settled from the ruin in front of him and there was quite obviously no way through.
"Gimli!" yelled Legolas, his elven ears straining for a sound of response. "Gimli! I am no longer amused by this! Answer me!" The elf listened, but there was no hint of his friend. Legolas fell to his knees, a scream ripping from the depths of his soul that ended in a hoarse whisper, "Gimli, please." But there was nothing.
Legolas had no idea of how long he stared at the caved tunnel, but the next thing he was aware of was a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked up at Gaila. Her eyes were dark and unreadable as she gazed at him, but her jaw was set in a way that Legolas knew well.
"Come, Legolas. There is still hope." Legolas stared at her, struggling to understand what she was saying through the despair that filled him.
"Hope?" He turned his eyes back to the rubble. "How can you see hope in this?"
"Not here," she said, her eyes taking in the destruction, unchanging. "There is another way."
Legolas raised himself up and followed Gaila back out of the tunnel as fast as Gaila's leg would allow. The she-dwarf did not speak and she fairly radiated anger. Legolas suspected much of it was directed at him, but he could find no words. No blame could be heavier than the guilt he placed upon himself. Nothing he could ever say could ever undo what had happened, could make Gaila trust him again.
When they emerged into the sunlight, Legolas' sight followed where Gaila pointed. Some of the other dwarves were already making their way along the basin created when the cavern collapsed. On the far edge, Legolas could just make out another opening in the earth.
"There is always more than one way in and out of a cave of the dwarves," murmured Gaila softly. "Valar send he is over there." Legolas turned to face her, useless words forming on his lips, but she held up a hand to silence him. "Just go, Legolas."
Legolas did not pause. He broke into a dead sprint across the meadow. He quickly overtook the dwarves and did not lessen his pace. Hope once again lent to his flight, but he did not dare too much. If Gimli was dead, Legolas feared he would not survive the dwarf long. He had no doubt the depths of elven grief would destroy him. Gaila. What would her sorrow bring? Perhaps her anger would end his grief for him, a quick end compared to the wasting of sadness.
As Legolas neared the opening, he sent out his senses, searching for anything of Gimli. His sensitive ears were met with the echoes of a shuffling, unsteady step and ragged breathing. Legolas came to a stop at the entrance, too afraid to hope, too afraid to breathe. He listened to the slow but steady approach and then calmly drew his knives. Gaila and the others were still some minutes away, but it did not matter. Legolas was finished with dwarven ideas of honor and debt owed. If it was Thror who emerged from the shadows, Legolas would not hesitate.
Legolas stood on his toes, a study in stillness and calm. A carved statue of grace that looked as if it could move, but never would. All his thoughts and senses centered on the figure approaching sunlight. The elf's knifes glinted in the light and were still as death. In the distance, the steps of the other dwarves approached, but they did not matter. All Legolas knew was the here and the now. And what he would do if Thror came to stand before him.
Legolas' eyes narrowed as he saw movement in the darkness. A faltering shadow, blacker than the shadows around it, coming toward the day and the waiting elf. Legolas' eyes were mere slits, searching for something distinguishable amongst the dust and darkness. His hands tightened on his glittering knives as the ragged breathing drew closer.
Finally, the dwarf moved into the light and Legolas ran forward like a flash of silver. He was at Gimli's side just as his friend sank to his knees.
"Gimli! Are you hurt? Where is Thror? What happened?" Gimli gave a soft smile and leaned into Legolas' arms.
"Flighty elves," whispered Gimli roughly. "They wait not for an answer to one question before they bombard you with ten more." Legolas frowned as he tightened his grip on the dwarf. He did not like the weakness of Gimli's voice. The elf settled on the ground and leaned Gimli against his chest. He kept his voice smooth and light as he addressed Gimli.
"Then focus your slow mind and answer me one at a time. Where have you taken hurt?" Gimli waved his hand dismissively, but his breathing was not much eased.
"It is nothing, Legolas. Some cuts and scrapes."
"It does not sound like nothing, Master Dwarf."
"Where is Gaila?" Legolas felt his frown deepen at Gimli's dodging, but answered anyway.
"She approaches quickly. I must say, she is rather upset with me or dragging her out of the cavern." Gimli chuckled before deep coughing stopped him.
"I have no doubt she is furious with us both," said Gimli, when he had caught his breath. "Her anger will pass, Legolas. You did well, my friend." Gimli laid his hand over Legolas', clasped on the dwarf's chest. "You kept your word to me."
"Yes, I did," murmured Legolas. He gently freed his hands from Gimli's and began to check the dwarf for injuries; as best he could with Gimli leaning against him. Everything seemed just as Gimli had said, bloody cuts and scrapes, until he reached Gimli's broad chest. The movement of ribs beneath his fingers told him enough, if Gimli's sharp intake of breath had not told him more. "That is not nothing, Gimli."
"Oh, that?" said Gimli, his voice soft and innocent. "I have hardly noticed."
"How did it happen?"
"The ceilings of caves are very heavy," said Gimli wryly. "I will tell you the tale one day."
"Not today?"
"No, not today, but one day."
"It is just as well," said Legolas, resuming his position with his arms encircling his friend, choosing to let the matter lie for the time being. "Perhaps your injuries will hold back Gaila's anger." Gimli snorted and then tensed in pain.
"That is not likely to be the case, Legolas. Not likely at all." Legolas turned to watch the other dwarves approach and judged he had a few more moments alone with Gimli.
"Never again, elvellon," whispered Legolas softly, resting his chin on Gimli's shoulder. Never again will I stand by and let you fight alone."
"I am sorry," said Gimli gravely, "if I caused you worry."
"I would have you worry me a while longer yet, if I can keep you alive to do it," said Legolas lightly, but his voice returned to its serious tone. "I have never been so frightened as I was today, Gimli, so close to despair." Legolas smoothed the dwarf's hair and pressed a kiss to his temple. "Never again."
"Does he live?" came Gaila's booming voice as she strode toward them, limp almost imperceptible. "He had better, for I have every intention of killing him!" Legolas let go of his anxiety and laughed like bells ringing. If Gaila had a tail, it would have been lashing.
"Aye, Mistress Dwarf, he does." She stood over the pair, her hands on her hips.
"Of all the obstinate, stubborn, foolish, proud, headstrong, unyielding, suicidal dwarves in the world, the most stiff-necked, hard-headed one of all had to be my brother. Have you no sense? Having me carted off like a sack of grain, when I could have helped you. Letting your foolish dignity rule you! And you!" said Gaila, turning her blazing gaze on Legolas. The elf quickly lost his smile. "You deserve each other! Making ridiculous oaths to carry out shoddy ideas, but never once pausing to consider you may be wrong in your woolheaded mulishness!" Gaila finally paused for a breath and all the fire seemed to go out of her. With Legolas' help, Gimli levered himself to his feet and stood before Gaila.
"Are you quite finished, Sister?" Gaila nodded once and slowly raised her eyes to Gimli's. He smiled and brushed at the single tear that traced a way through the dirt on her cheek. "Then I am glad to see you, too." With a cry, Gaila flung herself into Gimli's arms. He grunted in pain, but did not loosen his grip on his sister, his face buried in her hair. He murmured to her in soft words Legolas did not know, but they rumbled like the earth and soothed like a warm fire. When Gaila pulled away, her eyes were red and shining, but she smiled as she tugged at Gimli's beard.
"Well, what are you gaping at?" asked Gaila, hands once more on her hips, her eyes fixed on the other dwarves, who had kept their distance when her outburst began. "Go and get the ponies. Let us linger here no longer than we must. Go!" With that the dwarves quickly made off toward the place where the ponies and Arod were hobbled, talking animatedly amongst themselves.
"Will you be able to ride, Gimli?" asked Legolas, placing a hand on the dwarf's shoulder.
"I think I will manage, Legolas. If you can control that beast of yours."
"I will see what can be done," smiled Legolas. The elf turned to Gaila, who watched him darkly. Gimli had been forgiven. It did not look as though he had. Legolas knelt before the dwarf maiden and looked up at her.
"I am sorry for carting you off like a sack of grain, Gaila," said Legolas in perfect seriousness, but his eyes smiled. "I promised Gimli to see you safe and I held to my word. We both realize now our error and it will not happen again." He stood in a fluid motion and bowed low. "Never again." Gaila studied him a moment and then reached up to gently tough his nose.
"Never again," echoed Gaila softly. Her hand cupped Legolas' cheek for a moment before pulling on a lock of his hair. She smiled up at him then; her eyes clear blue in the sunlight. "Never is a terribly long time." Gaila turned and followed after the other dwarves, laughing as she went.
"Legolas? What just happened?" asked Gimli, looking after Gaila as he walked away.
"She said never is a long time," said Legolas, his tone puzzled. "Either she does not believe I will never carry her off again or she foresees hitting me sometime in the future."
"Ah," said Gimli. "So that is why your face if puffy with dried blood all over it." Legolas gave a start, his hands going to his nose, wiping at the blood under it.
"Forgive me, Master Dwarf, if I was more concerned for you." Legolas looked down his companion who was shaking with silent mirth. The elf rolled his eyes and threw up his hands. "Oh, just laugh, you will only hurt yourself further." The dwarf's chuckle rolled over the meadow. Legolas fixed him with a regal and long-suffering look. "You sister has quite a punch."
Gimli only laughed harder.