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 entered the House of Healing at a brisk walk. When the group had returned to Minas Tirith earlier that day Legolas had turned the care of his friends over to the healers there, shortly before being chased out to bathe and change himself. He had relented and done so, but as quickly as he could manage, after a few words with Aragorn. Gimli had drifted into an uncharacteristic silence as they had traveled, and Legolas did not like the idea of letting his friend out of his sight for too long a time. Legolas entered the room where Gaila and Gimli had been last. Gaila leaned against several pillows in one of
the beds, her mood obviously less than serene.
"Legolas, tell them I am well and good and this," snarled Gaila, gesturing to a large, unwieldy splint on her leg, "is completely unnecessary." Legolas eyed the wooden trappings doubtfully, but a quick glance at the healers as they left the room settled him.
"I will do no such thing, if they say it is needed, than it is." The elf winced slightly at the growl of frustration emitted by Gaila as she crossed her arms across her chest in what looked very much like a pout. Not that Legolas would ever tell her that. He sat carefully on the edge of her bed and carefully out of her reach.
"Does your leg pain you much?" The look Gaila shot him would have stopped a Nazgul in its steps. "Where is Gimli?" asked Legolas, quickly changing topics. The storm clouds in Gaila's eyes did not dissipate, but they no longer seemed aimed at him.
"Gone."
"Gone where?"
"I would know, were I not trapped here like an invalid," growled Gaila through
clenched teeth.
"Ah," murmured Legolas. "I see."
"Do you really? Somehow I doubt that," spit Gaila angrily. Legolas stood without a word and walked toward the door. "Legolas." Gaila's softened voice stopped him. "Legolas, I am sorry." The elf turned and regarded the dwarven maid with an intense gaze. Gaila plucked at her blankets idly before meeting his eyes. "I am angry at being kept here and concerned for Gimli. I should not have spoken as I did."
"Do not worry, Mistress Dwarf," said Legolas gently. "I will find him." Gaila nodded wordlessly and leaned her head back wearily, exhaustion seeping into her features. Legolas watched her a moment more before continuing out of the room. He paused outside the door, catching the arm of one of the healers.
"Is the splint truly necessary?" The kind looking woman grimaced slightly.
"Yes and no. Her leg is not so badly damaged as that, but she does not need to be walking on it either. After Master Gimli bullied his way out, we had to find a way to keep Lady Gaila from following."
"And how was Gimli? Any other injuries?"
"We wrapped his ribs, but he would not take anything for the pain and he would take no rest. A handful they were, with Master Gimli trying to run off and make Lady Gaila stay all the while Lady Gaila is shouting for Master Gimli to do as we said and ready to take off after him when he did not." The healer shook her head ruefully. "A handful indeed." Legolas thanked her and made his way out of the House. He was not certain he knew where Gimli had gone, but he had an idea as to where to begin his search.
As Legolas stepped beneath the entry arch of Queen Arwen's garden, he was pleased that his guess had not been wrong. His quarry rested on a bench under the spreading branches of a huge maple. Gimli sat stiffly, his broken ribs obviously pained him, but Legolas knew the dwarf would never say as much. The elf approached quietly and sat down next to his friend. Legolas said nothing, for he knew not what to say. Gimli did not need to be admonished for not caring for himself, no matter how much Legolas wished to give just that lecture. He merely waited in comfortable silence, watching the
leaves of the tree dance in a soft breeze.
"How fairs Gaila?" asked Gimli, after some time.
"Her leg will heal," said Legolas. "Along with her mood, I am hoping." Gimli chuckled softly. "She worries about you, Gimli." The dwarf heaved a great sigh and shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"A sister's duty, it seems."
"Will you not tell me what happened down there?" asked Legolas, turning his gray eyes to Gimli. "Can today be that day?"
"I killed Thror, Legolas. That is what happened," said Gimli evenly, his voice flat.
"The cavern? Why did..."
"A trap." Gimli laughed bitterly. "You were right. He could not be trusted. Support columns must have been weakened strategically. When it became apparent he would not win, Thror triggered the cave-in. When I realized what he had done, I ran for nearest exit tunnel." Gimli took a deep breath, a tightness apparent around his dark eyes. "He did not even try to escape. He just stood there and laughed as I ran. Laughed as his death rained upon him."
"I am sorry, Gimli. I did not want to be right," said Legolas quietly. "Many years of anger and resentment, ending as it did." The elf shook his head. "But is does not sound to me as though you killed Thror."
"Just because my axe did not take his life does not mean the responsibility is no less mine."
"Nowhere, in any of this, can I see how Thror behaved honorably," said Legolas. "You cannot blame yourself for his death."
"I do not blame myself," answered Gimli quickly. "Thror chose his path and he followed it to the end. Responsibility does not equate blame, Legolas. Since accountability belongs to me, I will travel to our home and inform his kin of his death. If he had a partner or child with no other means, they too would be my in charge, but he does not." Gimli sighed again. "The weight in this case is small."
"It does not seem a light burden to me, elvellon," murmured Legolas, Gimli looked the weariest the elf had ever seen him.
"What of those who supported Thror?"
"They will be dealt with," said Gimli as though he could not care less at that moment. The elf and dwarf sat together, watching the coming night.
"You said it is a small weight," said Legolas after some thought, "but I would bear it with you. Allow me to accompany you home." The dwarf gave him a considering look, but said nothing. "I do not think you weak. If ever I did, I was gravely mistaken. I want to come. And perhaps," smiled Legolas, "I feel a need to keep an eye on you after recent events."
"I do not need your eye upon me, Master Elf," muttered Gimli, but a smile belied his gruff voice. "However, if having you about keeps Gaila's furies from me, then you are most welcome." Legolas laughed and helped Gimli to his feet.
"I thought Gaila and I were twice the pain in your stiff neck, Master Dwarf?"
"You are," said Gimli, the pair making their way out of the garden. "But as you may have noticed, Gaila is of a foul temperament when she is ill or injured. I am not above sacrificing you to her anger."
"Sacrificing...!" sputtered Legolas.
"Ah Legolas, you are a true friend," Gimli hurried on, before Legolas could retort. "I knew you would understand."
"I suppose I can take comfort in knowing I can outrun her in her present state."
"She will still try to catch you."
"You have not yet seen the contraption on her leg."
"That big, eh?"
"She is in a proportionally unfavorable mood." Gimli laughed and slapped Legolas on the back.
"Glad you are coming along, Legolas, glad you are coming."
~~*~~Epilogue~~*~~
"Are you certain this is wise, Gimli? Would you not rather stay a few more days?" asked Aragorn, surveying the mounted dwarves preparing to leave. "Two days hardly seems adequate time to heal before departing again."
"I am certain, Aragorn. There are certain matters that must be addressed back home, but thank you for the offer, my friend." Aragorn sighed deeply and gripped Gimli's shoulder.
"As you wish then. I hope you have a safer journey this time."
"As do I," laughed Gimli wryly. "I have had quite enough adventure for a while."
"I believe adventure will always find you, my friend. As well as him," murmured Aragorn as Legolas approached with Arod following him. "It is best you face it together."
"Perhaps. I wonder though, if he shares that sentiment?" smiled Gimli.
"Yes, I do think it best," said Legolas, drawing to a stop. "All the better to save this dwarf's neck yet again." Gimli snorted, but turned to Aragorn.
"Fare thee well, King Elessar. Until we return to once again complicate things for you." Aragorn laughed.
"I look forward to it, Master Dwarf."
"I will hold you to that, Aragorn, when next you are grumbling about us," said Legolas, reaching down to pull Gimli up onto Arod's back.
"I am certain you will. Safe journey, my friends." Legolas nodded to the King of Gondor and directed Arod out of the Gates. Their leaving was understated this time, no cheers or speeches. Legolas set a leisurely pace, wagons and ponies following behind. A quiet morning. *Too quiet* though Legolas. He could feel the angry eyes of a dwarven maid secured in a cart behind him. He and Gimli had both managed to dodge Gaila for two days, hoping her anger over her incapacitation and Gimli's flight from the House of Healing would cool in that time. It seemed however, that her temper had waited and grown at their evasion.
"She is not pleased, Gimli," said Legolas softly, not turning his head.
"No, she is not."
"Gimli, the brace is unnecessary. You and I know this and I am fairly certain that Gaila is aware of it as well. If anything, you are only making things worse."
"You are probably right. We will remove the brace tonight."
"We could free her now."
"By all means, Legolas, but I am not getting off this beast 'til I must. If you wish to take it upon yourself, however..."
"We can remove the brace tonight," said Legolas quickly. "Surely that is soon enough. No harm in caution."
"No harm at all," said Gimli, his smile evident to the elf's ears. Legolas sighed.
"If we were truly cautious we would leave her in that cart until escape was possible," said Legolas dryly.
"Aye," said Gimli matter-of-factly, but Legolas could feel the dwarf shaking with silent mirth.
"She is going to skin us, isn't she?"
"Probably. Definitely me and more than likely you for good measure. The perils of being part of our family, it seems. Valar help us," laughed Gimli. "We shall need it."
End