Ok here is chapter 3. There are 2 more chapters (Thank You Badger Lord) and
they will be up over the weekend
Firstly Legolas is still dead I'm afraid. I really like all the ideas you all e-mailed me about bringing him back to life, though the idea of Harry Potter turning them into bugs and allowing them to crawl away.mmmmm I will need a bit if time with that one. I know I should reply to all of them I got, but there's so many. Just thank You!!
Next, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to Badger Lord, the Beta Reader on this fic!!! I could not have done it without you. Your comments were really great and if you ever need a Beta reader don't hesitate to e- mail me. I hope we work together in the future.
This fic is dedicated to Mark. About 4 years ago I met a guy, he was pretty much the nicest guy I'd ever met. I'd worked up the courage to go out with him. Unfortunately he has killed in a hit and run before I could. Not much news was made of it at the time, as there were elections on. I guess the idea from this came from the fact that sometimes they don't come back to life but also to remember them.
Robin
Gandalf leaned heavily on his staff. He had heard of the terrible losses suffered by all at the deep, but especially to the fellowship. The elf.
Seeing Aragorn he walked up beside him. The wind blew through his hair but the smell was the worst for now the sun had begun to come out and a mixture of blood and flesh filled his nostrils. Even Gandalf's presence beside him didn't rouse him.
"I have failed"
Gandalf did not reply but took it as an invitation to sit down instead.
"The battle may be won here but there will be a war."
"Did you not hear that I left my friend to die? I should have opened the door. There were enough of us inside to close it. Some commander I make, I kill my advisors." A small grunt "One way to get rid of opposition"
Gandalf looked into his eyes.
"Have you seen him?"
Aragorn sat down with his head on his folded arms. Tears began again to flow down his face.
"We had an argument before.he said many would die.I said.I said I would die with them."
Gandalf nodded saying nothing just waiting for him to continue.
Sniffling as though to get a handle on his emotions Aragorn took a deep breath then began to speak.
"I think he was afraid, I think he knew. I wish.I wish I had done something instead of being the coward I was."
Gandalf looked over the plains. Around him they were bringing in so many dead.
"So do all who have to take command of a situation. Aragorn what happened was a tragedy, but you must move on. Gimli needs you, Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo all need you"
"What about the one who needed me the most and I could not be there? They.begged at the door.I heard the Uruk-Hai behind them. Had I tried."
"Many would be dead and I would be consoling Legolas, Theoden was right .You will lead many into battle. Legolas, Seolan and Narolan were all experienced warriors. They knew what was to occur. You disrespect them and I say "them", as you seem to forget that two other great elves died at that door Aragorn. Feel guilt for Legolas but then feel guilt for the others. Feel guilt for them all. Where will it get you? Nowhere! Let him go Aragorn! His spirit lives on in the Halls of Mandos but you must let him go! Carry his spirit with you, but sitting here feeling guilty.No."
With that Gandalf sat up and walked away. He knew it had been harsh but he had no choice. Aragorn would have to accept it sooner rather than later.
Gandalf walked to where the dead were laid out. Elves were singing prayers for their own and the many men lost alongside them. In the corner of the room he found Gimli huddled before a bundle wrapped in a cloak.
Gimli reached out but still could not pull down the cloak to gaze at the face. Gandalf came into the light. Gimli looked at him with grief filled eyes.
"I can't look. If I don't pull it down he may still be alive. If I pull it down he's dead. Look at me a dwarf afraid of a cloak. It's all that crazy elf's fault"
Gandalf did not say a word remembering the reply that used to follow that.
"I had a dream that he was alive. I woke up and forgot for a moment that he was gone."
"Gimli, soon we must depart here, I need you to go to Aragorn."
"Aragorn, "The future king" Spat out Gimli, fire blazing in his eyes. "He left them to die! They would be alive if it were not for him."
"You are still a member of the fellowship Gimli no matter what you say, you bound your life and death to him and the others. Don't abandon them just because of this tragedy."
"Why did it have to happen Gandalf?"
In all his years many people who had been through pain had asked him that question. He could only reply the only way he knew.
"I do not know Gimli, but I will say that having known this one since nearly his birth, he would have never wanted others to feel pain due to his death. Remember his life Gimli. I must leave you now."
Gimli sat by the bundle on the floor. Tentatively he put his hand out to touch the cloak. Closing his eyes he gently lifted it but could not open his eyes. Then with great determination he barely opened his eyes to see the face of his friend. Gimli sighed but did not notice the tears that now poured down his face. Reaching out a finger he touched the face but snatched it back as though burned.
"It's so cold"
All the strength of his denial at that moment left his body and curling into a ball he cried for the past that he couldn't change, the present he wanted to forget and the future he feared. Then an arm wrapped around him, and for one moment he believed that it may have all been a dream, but at hearing the voice, he was struck right back to reality and cried even harder.
Finally his sobs started to ease and a sense of shame began to grow within him. Pushing away the arm that had held him, he sat up and looked at the one on the floor again. Then scowling at Aragorn he said
"Never thought you would come here."
"I was not going to, I hoped if I did not there might have been a chance it was a mistake."
"They found them thrown over the bridge." He glanced at Aragorn through half open eyes "Aragorn was it quick?"
Aragorn found himself staring at the floor for a moment. How to answer, do I lie or would he know?
"Animar said the wound he had would have killed him anyway. So he was in pain. No one knows whether the Uruk-Hai killed them or if one of the others killed each other to prevent them being taken"
Gimli closed his eyes at hearing that. Resting his head on his chest for a few moments he took some deep breaths. He looked around him going through what he was about to say before his eyes finally rested on Aragorn.
"Why did you leave them?" he growled.
Aragorn held the gaze. This was both the question that he dreaded and yet needed to answer,
"Gimli, had I opened the door, we would all be dead. No listen," he began as Gimli started to protest," they could only hold them off a short time".
"You went after the Hobbits" Gimli hissed
"I did, but Gimli, it was only 3 of us then. We were risking the entire nation of Rohan. Women and children would have been slaughtered. If it had been me I would not have wanted that risked for me. I believe Legolas would have thought the same. The other two elves were also warriors. They knew what they risked."
Gimli didn't answer. He got up after and walked away. Before going out the door he turned and looked straight at Aragorn.
"Well as long as your conscience is clear it doesn't matter what they sacrificed."
Firstly Legolas is still dead I'm afraid. I really like all the ideas you all e-mailed me about bringing him back to life, though the idea of Harry Potter turning them into bugs and allowing them to crawl away.mmmmm I will need a bit if time with that one. I know I should reply to all of them I got, but there's so many. Just thank You!!
Next, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to Badger Lord, the Beta Reader on this fic!!! I could not have done it without you. Your comments were really great and if you ever need a Beta reader don't hesitate to e- mail me. I hope we work together in the future.
This fic is dedicated to Mark. About 4 years ago I met a guy, he was pretty much the nicest guy I'd ever met. I'd worked up the courage to go out with him. Unfortunately he has killed in a hit and run before I could. Not much news was made of it at the time, as there were elections on. I guess the idea from this came from the fact that sometimes they don't come back to life but also to remember them.
Robin
Gandalf leaned heavily on his staff. He had heard of the terrible losses suffered by all at the deep, but especially to the fellowship. The elf.
Seeing Aragorn he walked up beside him. The wind blew through his hair but the smell was the worst for now the sun had begun to come out and a mixture of blood and flesh filled his nostrils. Even Gandalf's presence beside him didn't rouse him.
"I have failed"
Gandalf did not reply but took it as an invitation to sit down instead.
"The battle may be won here but there will be a war."
"Did you not hear that I left my friend to die? I should have opened the door. There were enough of us inside to close it. Some commander I make, I kill my advisors." A small grunt "One way to get rid of opposition"
Gandalf looked into his eyes.
"Have you seen him?"
Aragorn sat down with his head on his folded arms. Tears began again to flow down his face.
"We had an argument before.he said many would die.I said.I said I would die with them."
Gandalf nodded saying nothing just waiting for him to continue.
Sniffling as though to get a handle on his emotions Aragorn took a deep breath then began to speak.
"I think he was afraid, I think he knew. I wish.I wish I had done something instead of being the coward I was."
Gandalf looked over the plains. Around him they were bringing in so many dead.
"So do all who have to take command of a situation. Aragorn what happened was a tragedy, but you must move on. Gimli needs you, Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo all need you"
"What about the one who needed me the most and I could not be there? They.begged at the door.I heard the Uruk-Hai behind them. Had I tried."
"Many would be dead and I would be consoling Legolas, Theoden was right .You will lead many into battle. Legolas, Seolan and Narolan were all experienced warriors. They knew what was to occur. You disrespect them and I say "them", as you seem to forget that two other great elves died at that door Aragorn. Feel guilt for Legolas but then feel guilt for the others. Feel guilt for them all. Where will it get you? Nowhere! Let him go Aragorn! His spirit lives on in the Halls of Mandos but you must let him go! Carry his spirit with you, but sitting here feeling guilty.No."
With that Gandalf sat up and walked away. He knew it had been harsh but he had no choice. Aragorn would have to accept it sooner rather than later.
Gandalf walked to where the dead were laid out. Elves were singing prayers for their own and the many men lost alongside them. In the corner of the room he found Gimli huddled before a bundle wrapped in a cloak.
Gimli reached out but still could not pull down the cloak to gaze at the face. Gandalf came into the light. Gimli looked at him with grief filled eyes.
"I can't look. If I don't pull it down he may still be alive. If I pull it down he's dead. Look at me a dwarf afraid of a cloak. It's all that crazy elf's fault"
Gandalf did not say a word remembering the reply that used to follow that.
"I had a dream that he was alive. I woke up and forgot for a moment that he was gone."
"Gimli, soon we must depart here, I need you to go to Aragorn."
"Aragorn, "The future king" Spat out Gimli, fire blazing in his eyes. "He left them to die! They would be alive if it were not for him."
"You are still a member of the fellowship Gimli no matter what you say, you bound your life and death to him and the others. Don't abandon them just because of this tragedy."
"Why did it have to happen Gandalf?"
In all his years many people who had been through pain had asked him that question. He could only reply the only way he knew.
"I do not know Gimli, but I will say that having known this one since nearly his birth, he would have never wanted others to feel pain due to his death. Remember his life Gimli. I must leave you now."
Gimli sat by the bundle on the floor. Tentatively he put his hand out to touch the cloak. Closing his eyes he gently lifted it but could not open his eyes. Then with great determination he barely opened his eyes to see the face of his friend. Gimli sighed but did not notice the tears that now poured down his face. Reaching out a finger he touched the face but snatched it back as though burned.
"It's so cold"
All the strength of his denial at that moment left his body and curling into a ball he cried for the past that he couldn't change, the present he wanted to forget and the future he feared. Then an arm wrapped around him, and for one moment he believed that it may have all been a dream, but at hearing the voice, he was struck right back to reality and cried even harder.
Finally his sobs started to ease and a sense of shame began to grow within him. Pushing away the arm that had held him, he sat up and looked at the one on the floor again. Then scowling at Aragorn he said
"Never thought you would come here."
"I was not going to, I hoped if I did not there might have been a chance it was a mistake."
"They found them thrown over the bridge." He glanced at Aragorn through half open eyes "Aragorn was it quick?"
Aragorn found himself staring at the floor for a moment. How to answer, do I lie or would he know?
"Animar said the wound he had would have killed him anyway. So he was in pain. No one knows whether the Uruk-Hai killed them or if one of the others killed each other to prevent them being taken"
Gimli closed his eyes at hearing that. Resting his head on his chest for a few moments he took some deep breaths. He looked around him going through what he was about to say before his eyes finally rested on Aragorn.
"Why did you leave them?" he growled.
Aragorn held the gaze. This was both the question that he dreaded and yet needed to answer,
"Gimli, had I opened the door, we would all be dead. No listen," he began as Gimli started to protest," they could only hold them off a short time".
"You went after the Hobbits" Gimli hissed
"I did, but Gimli, it was only 3 of us then. We were risking the entire nation of Rohan. Women and children would have been slaughtered. If it had been me I would not have wanted that risked for me. I believe Legolas would have thought the same. The other two elves were also warriors. They knew what they risked."
Gimli didn't answer. He got up after and walked away. Before going out the door he turned and looked straight at Aragorn.
"Well as long as your conscience is clear it doesn't matter what they sacrificed."