Here is the second last chapter.
Thank you, for all the reviews, I can't believe it has gotten so many!
Again thank you to the great Beta-Reader Badger Lord.
Final Chapter up really soon.
Aragorn looked at the departing back of Gimli. Despite what Gimli had said, he didn't feel angry. He felt guilt more than anything else. As Gimli stormed out the door he saw his shoulders were slumped and he didn't walk with his usual gait.
Aragorn unconsciously sat on the same spot as Gimli had just left. Beside him lay the elf. He looked close at his face, dirty but unsullied. He looked like a human sleeping with his eyes closed. Aragorn lifted the remainder of the blanket and saw a would that marred the body. Animar had told him they believed the wound to have been mortal.
Aragorn looked at him as he got a bowl and began to clean the face.
"There are so many things I wanted to say to you."
He waited almost hearing his friend's response, but knowing it was all in his own head.
"It wasn't meant to be this way. You are supposed to be saying farewell to me." He paused while wiping the blood from the mouth. "Gimli hates me, I can't really blame him, he is so protective of you.. I'm sorry I'm so sorry!!" Aragorn leaned over him and rested his head on his chest. Choking sobs escaped his throat, as he gasped for air on his chest.
Gimli stormed into the room he had in the keep, or rather the room he and Legolas were to have. Legolas wasn't ever to sleep there; he had found a colder narrower bed.
Gimli around, there was nothing here that belonged to Legolas. It was like his life was erased. Gimli growled and decided it was time he went back to the room. Before he had gone far, he stopped and listened. The elves lament still went on as those elves still living cried for those gone to Mandos and the men gone wherever they go.
Aragorn felt rather than heard Eowyn come behind him. She left a plate with some food beside him and watched as he looked on at his friend.
"I never knew him."
Aragorn looked at her for a moment before returning his gaze back to his friend.
"He is known by strangers as stiff and heartless, yet I have known him to have.had the kindest heart and the gentlest tongue. He.was.shy, didn't like a crowd."
Eowyn nodded, and then she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It was not your fault Aragorn, do not blame yourself."
He replied with a mirthless laugh. Eowyn looked at him and held his face in her hands.
"Aragorn your people need you, Gimli needs your, share your grief. To take all the blame will help no one save yourself."
"Myself?" He growled angrily pushing her away. "I made the decision! I can never forget that. I must live with that for the rest of my life"
Gimli had been at the edge of the room, when he heard the last of what Aragorn had said. As mad as he was with Aragorn, no one should live with that sort of guilt. Gimli closed his eyes, took a deep breath before entering the room. It was time to tell Aragorn of Legolas' last conversation with Gimli.
Aragorn never heard Gimli and was more than shocked when he appeared in front of him.
"He knew you know"
Aragorn glanced at him
"Knew what?" though he had an idea
"He knew it would be him, he told me. He had a feeling that it was his time. He was afraid."
Aragorn stared open mouthed.
"He never said a thing, he would have told me."
"He tried, but he got bitter." The argument Aragorn, thought, he knew then.
Aragorn looked at Gimli,
"I would give my own life for his Gimli, I would have given it last night. But I couldn't give everyone else's life for him."
A shadow moved before them. Animar bowed before approaching. Speaking softly as though all the dead were only asleep he said.
"My Lord Aragorn, Master Gimli, we are to depart for Lorien again. We wish to remember and prepare our fallen in preparation to return to their homes."
"He's of Mirkwood not Lorien", Gimli pointed out.
"Yes Gimli, son of Gloin. We will inform his father, King Thranduil of the loss of his youngest son and bring the remains back with us."
Aragorn looked at Gimli who nodded. The looking at Animar he said.
"We will bring him out."
Hours later the elves began their ritual, in total 85 put of 101 elves were laid out. Legolas was one of the first as he was of Mirkwood and of noble blood.
Elven songs were hauntingly sung. Aragorn heard them telling stories of the brave acts of each of the elves. However it wasn't simply the brave acts as through the tears Aragorn smiled as he heard the story of Haldir and Legolas in their youth and a hunting trip that ended with Haldir shot in the foot.by Legolas. The other elves smiled, some remembering the incident, others thinking that their leaders could have done such a thing.
The men watched heads bowed in respect. All those who fought knew that they were brave and even though it had not been their war, they still came and battled.
One by one each pile was burned.
Gimli looked from the deep out before him. The piles had been put out and now the elves prepared to leave. He turned around and gave a startled yelp as Animar materialised before him.
"Gimli, son of Gloin, forgive me. I did not mean to startle you."
"Worry not Animar as Haldir once said, I breathed so loud they could have shot me in the dark."
Animar smiled sadly at the mention of his former commander. Gimli opened his mouth to ask forgiveness but Animar stopped him.
"Master Gimli, there is nothing to forgive. However I have something for you. "
He held out a piece of leather and a ring. The leather was embossed with an oak leaf and acorn. The ring was on a chord.
"What is it?"
"It is a gift from warriors to friends. I was in Lorien when you passed and I spoke with Legolas then of your friendship. You were to have these, should this ever occur."
Gimli took each very gently as though it might shatter. The leather looked so fragile, much like his own impressions the first time meeting their former owner's. The ring looked worn but cared for.
"The ring belonged to his mother I believe. The Lady Leomar. Master Dwarf, you have been named Elf-friend. You are welcome in any elvish land and with these two pieces you can travel with us to Valinor."
"The Grey Havens? But how do you know I am elf-friend? Did Lady Galadriel tell you?"
"Nay, but I could not have given you those pieces had you not been. I must leave Master Dwarf. I bid you good day."
"Thank you Animar." Then at his first bit of elvish taught painstakingly by Legolas. "Mellon-nin"
Aragon looked at elves before him. Animar approached him.
"My Lord, we are preparing to leave and return to Lorien."
Aragorn nodded but could not bring himself to look him in the eye as he asked,
"Will you travel to Mirkwood?"
"That journey is not without peril at the moment, however you have my word that King Thranduil will be informed of Prince Legolas' death."
Aragorn nodded. Animar touched his shoulder.
"My Lord, Narolen and Seolan were two of the best warriors in Lothlorien. They have been my friends for 1000 years. I trained initially with Legolas as a warrior many years ago. We will not forget any of them my lord"
Aragon didn't look at him for a moment. Then as if building up resolve, he looked into Animar's eyes.
"Thank you."
He bowed then left.
Aragorn found Gimli outside by Arod.
"I didn't think you would ride with me."
"I wasn't going to. But, he would be sad if we were not to remain travelling companions. We are still part of the fellowship. If someone would get me onto this beast without my being killed I would be grateful."
Aragorn smiled at Gimli, for as unhappy as he looked being on a horse, Arod did not look much happier. Almost as to show how angry he was he snorted and tossed his head.
Gimli looked down at Aragorn. No words passed, but there didn't need to be. It was an unspoken truce.
Aragorn nodded knowing that that was as good as it would be between them. He felt better but that could not hide the feelings of guilt that constantly ate at his stomach.
Thank you, for all the reviews, I can't believe it has gotten so many!
Again thank you to the great Beta-Reader Badger Lord.
Final Chapter up really soon.
Aragorn looked at the departing back of Gimli. Despite what Gimli had said, he didn't feel angry. He felt guilt more than anything else. As Gimli stormed out the door he saw his shoulders were slumped and he didn't walk with his usual gait.
Aragorn unconsciously sat on the same spot as Gimli had just left. Beside him lay the elf. He looked close at his face, dirty but unsullied. He looked like a human sleeping with his eyes closed. Aragorn lifted the remainder of the blanket and saw a would that marred the body. Animar had told him they believed the wound to have been mortal.
Aragorn looked at him as he got a bowl and began to clean the face.
"There are so many things I wanted to say to you."
He waited almost hearing his friend's response, but knowing it was all in his own head.
"It wasn't meant to be this way. You are supposed to be saying farewell to me." He paused while wiping the blood from the mouth. "Gimli hates me, I can't really blame him, he is so protective of you.. I'm sorry I'm so sorry!!" Aragorn leaned over him and rested his head on his chest. Choking sobs escaped his throat, as he gasped for air on his chest.
Gimli stormed into the room he had in the keep, or rather the room he and Legolas were to have. Legolas wasn't ever to sleep there; he had found a colder narrower bed.
Gimli around, there was nothing here that belonged to Legolas. It was like his life was erased. Gimli growled and decided it was time he went back to the room. Before he had gone far, he stopped and listened. The elves lament still went on as those elves still living cried for those gone to Mandos and the men gone wherever they go.
Aragorn felt rather than heard Eowyn come behind him. She left a plate with some food beside him and watched as he looked on at his friend.
"I never knew him."
Aragorn looked at her for a moment before returning his gaze back to his friend.
"He is known by strangers as stiff and heartless, yet I have known him to have.had the kindest heart and the gentlest tongue. He.was.shy, didn't like a crowd."
Eowyn nodded, and then she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It was not your fault Aragorn, do not blame yourself."
He replied with a mirthless laugh. Eowyn looked at him and held his face in her hands.
"Aragorn your people need you, Gimli needs your, share your grief. To take all the blame will help no one save yourself."
"Myself?" He growled angrily pushing her away. "I made the decision! I can never forget that. I must live with that for the rest of my life"
Gimli had been at the edge of the room, when he heard the last of what Aragorn had said. As mad as he was with Aragorn, no one should live with that sort of guilt. Gimli closed his eyes, took a deep breath before entering the room. It was time to tell Aragorn of Legolas' last conversation with Gimli.
Aragorn never heard Gimli and was more than shocked when he appeared in front of him.
"He knew you know"
Aragorn glanced at him
"Knew what?" though he had an idea
"He knew it would be him, he told me. He had a feeling that it was his time. He was afraid."
Aragorn stared open mouthed.
"He never said a thing, he would have told me."
"He tried, but he got bitter." The argument Aragorn, thought, he knew then.
Aragorn looked at Gimli,
"I would give my own life for his Gimli, I would have given it last night. But I couldn't give everyone else's life for him."
A shadow moved before them. Animar bowed before approaching. Speaking softly as though all the dead were only asleep he said.
"My Lord Aragorn, Master Gimli, we are to depart for Lorien again. We wish to remember and prepare our fallen in preparation to return to their homes."
"He's of Mirkwood not Lorien", Gimli pointed out.
"Yes Gimli, son of Gloin. We will inform his father, King Thranduil of the loss of his youngest son and bring the remains back with us."
Aragorn looked at Gimli who nodded. The looking at Animar he said.
"We will bring him out."
Hours later the elves began their ritual, in total 85 put of 101 elves were laid out. Legolas was one of the first as he was of Mirkwood and of noble blood.
Elven songs were hauntingly sung. Aragorn heard them telling stories of the brave acts of each of the elves. However it wasn't simply the brave acts as through the tears Aragorn smiled as he heard the story of Haldir and Legolas in their youth and a hunting trip that ended with Haldir shot in the foot.by Legolas. The other elves smiled, some remembering the incident, others thinking that their leaders could have done such a thing.
The men watched heads bowed in respect. All those who fought knew that they were brave and even though it had not been their war, they still came and battled.
One by one each pile was burned.
Gimli looked from the deep out before him. The piles had been put out and now the elves prepared to leave. He turned around and gave a startled yelp as Animar materialised before him.
"Gimli, son of Gloin, forgive me. I did not mean to startle you."
"Worry not Animar as Haldir once said, I breathed so loud they could have shot me in the dark."
Animar smiled sadly at the mention of his former commander. Gimli opened his mouth to ask forgiveness but Animar stopped him.
"Master Gimli, there is nothing to forgive. However I have something for you. "
He held out a piece of leather and a ring. The leather was embossed with an oak leaf and acorn. The ring was on a chord.
"What is it?"
"It is a gift from warriors to friends. I was in Lorien when you passed and I spoke with Legolas then of your friendship. You were to have these, should this ever occur."
Gimli took each very gently as though it might shatter. The leather looked so fragile, much like his own impressions the first time meeting their former owner's. The ring looked worn but cared for.
"The ring belonged to his mother I believe. The Lady Leomar. Master Dwarf, you have been named Elf-friend. You are welcome in any elvish land and with these two pieces you can travel with us to Valinor."
"The Grey Havens? But how do you know I am elf-friend? Did Lady Galadriel tell you?"
"Nay, but I could not have given you those pieces had you not been. I must leave Master Dwarf. I bid you good day."
"Thank you Animar." Then at his first bit of elvish taught painstakingly by Legolas. "Mellon-nin"
Aragon looked at elves before him. Animar approached him.
"My Lord, we are preparing to leave and return to Lorien."
Aragorn nodded but could not bring himself to look him in the eye as he asked,
"Will you travel to Mirkwood?"
"That journey is not without peril at the moment, however you have my word that King Thranduil will be informed of Prince Legolas' death."
Aragorn nodded. Animar touched his shoulder.
"My Lord, Narolen and Seolan were two of the best warriors in Lothlorien. They have been my friends for 1000 years. I trained initially with Legolas as a warrior many years ago. We will not forget any of them my lord"
Aragon didn't look at him for a moment. Then as if building up resolve, he looked into Animar's eyes.
"Thank you."
He bowed then left.
Aragorn found Gimli outside by Arod.
"I didn't think you would ride with me."
"I wasn't going to. But, he would be sad if we were not to remain travelling companions. We are still part of the fellowship. If someone would get me onto this beast without my being killed I would be grateful."
Aragorn smiled at Gimli, for as unhappy as he looked being on a horse, Arod did not look much happier. Almost as to show how angry he was he snorted and tossed his head.
Gimli looked down at Aragorn. No words passed, but there didn't need to be. It was an unspoken truce.
Aragorn nodded knowing that that was as good as it would be between them. He felt better but that could not hide the feelings of guilt that constantly ate at his stomach.