Stand not alone: Chapter 3:
It had taken Gimli to a moment to realise what had happened to make the usually sure footed elf stumble. They were able to move after the disappearance of Gawl and his friend, and Legolas pulled himself to his feet.
"You felt it, didn't you?" said Gimli, the two exchanging a look for a moment. "He struck me, and you felt it."
"I think you are right," said Legolas. It was as if he could feel the blood on his tunic at his side, but there was nothing there, not so much as a scratch or a bruise, yet he felt it, where as Gimli did actually sport the injury, he felt it as clear and as fresh as if it were his own.
"Curse them" Gimli spat, "And for what?"
"I'm not sure," said Legolas. "They spoke of war and bloodshed. What could they mean?
"I don't like it," barked the dwarf, only now realising that he too was free from the spell that had kept him from moving.
"The Elves and the Dwarves, I know are not great friends" sighed Legolas, "But Mailena and Gawl spoke as if they were killing each other back home."
"That they did, Master Elf, I don't like a bit of it. The elves are stubborn, but I can not see them as being stubborn enough as to go to war with the Dwarves…they know that is a war they could not win" he added.
"There would be nothing to gain by either side for a war between Elves and Dwarves," said Legolas "apart from the satisfaction of a few egos, on either side." Neither could understand the warnings they had been left, and the reason this curse had been put upon them.
"I will need to take a look at that side of yours," said
Legolas.
"Nay, it is fine"
"It doesn't feel fine," said the elf. Gimli mumbled something under his breath that even Legolas' ears couldn't pick up.
"Maybe so" he said allowed. "But I do not wish to linger here."
"Aye, if you wish we could move on before we stop to take a look at you wound-"
"-Our wound"
"And I will take a look at it Gimli."
"I believe you will hold yourself to that." Legolas beckoned Arod who came to his side. He stroked the horse's neck and whispered in his ear before pulling himself once again to the horses back.
"We will be away then," he said turning to Gimli still on the ground, holding out his hand to offer the dwarf help onto the horse. From under his helmet, Gimli drooped the rider a look.
"I think I will walk for a while," he said.
"Do we continue to Gondor or turn back?" Said Legolas before they started moving. "My heart tells me that such words of war are false, but something is wrong Gimli, I feel it."
"If our people were as close to war as the Lady said, surely of all people we would know of it, and would have known of it for a long time. Wars do not simply spring up overnight, Legolas, and if one were brewing between our people it would not have gone unnoticed by its Lords and Princes." Legolas' eyes rolled slightly at hearing his title. He was a prince, yes, but by birth only. It was his father who ruled Mirkwood and not him, and that was the way it would be for as long as he would have it. He was a Mirkwood elf, one of the Fellowship, and friend to the King of Gondor, not other title was needed, and he would tell anyone thus.
"Then you also think that we should continue to Gondor?"
"I do master Elf, unless you would rather go back home to see the situation for yourself."
"Nay, my friend, my father would have any such matter underhand, he would not let another war spill over into our boarders, and not with a people who we are at peace with."
"The same goes for my family," said Gimli.
"Then to Gondor we go" Legolas smiled, his hands lightly griping the strong mane of his horse.
"I don't believe there is any reason to rush" Gimli pointed out as Legolas nodded in agreement. "If we keep the pace we held before we were so rudely distracted, we should make the White City in good time. Aragorn had not seemed urgent in his call, he has had no reason to be since he became bloody King!" Legolas laughed, his voice picking up both of their spirits and Gimli smiled in return.
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Now, as Gimli settled down to rest, his thoughts again returned to the words of Gawl and Mailena, surely it was crazy that the Elves and Dwarves were at war, or soon to be at war. He looked over to Legolas who was singing gently and filling a water-skin with fresh, sparkling water. The Elves and the Dwarves were so different, in everything from their physical appearance to their outlook on life and to the world around them. On the surface, it was easy to see how the two races failed to get along, but the more Gimli had thought about it, the more he believed that they were like two halves of the same circle. It was obviously their differences and not their similarities that had made the two such strong friends, and he had grown to believe that their friendship would grow and spread to both of their people, in due time. Of course he didn't walk around the halls of his home and tell people to go and make friends with elves, surely if he did he would be laughed out of the mountains altogether!
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The messenger returned, exhausted after his speedy journey.
"Sire" he bowed respectfully as Aragorn walked through the hall, looking every inch the white King he was. "All is well in Mirkwood and in the Grey Mountains, my lord," he said, returning to meet his kings' gaze for a moment.
"You delivered the messages personally then," said Aragorn.
"Nay, My lord, the Elf Legolas was on an errand and not set to return for days, and I felt I should travel to the Mountains as swiftly as possible, I gave the message in Mirkwood to King Thranduil himself. I trusted the King would give it to his son on his return." Aragorn nodded, Kane was his most trusted messenger, and he trusted his judgement that Thranduil would relay the message. "Lord Gimli was given the message ere the following two sunsets" he finished. Aragorn seemed satisfied with his report, and the messenger watched, as what he could have sworn was a smile play on his Lords lips. "If I may, my Lord" he trod carefully, "The council is set but not for another three weeks, is it not too soon to have these Lords travel to the city? And why send for the son of the king and not Thranduil himself? " The White King shot the man a look, and for a moment the messenger was unable to read what it said, he knew he shouldn't have dared questioned the king!
"True" smiled Aragorn, much to the relief of his subject, "I have called a council of all the Lords of these lands, I am just lucky that Lords such as the elf and the dwarf are some of my closest and most trusted friends." Aragorn looked lost for a moment as he looked out of the window and over the land before him. A smile crossed the messengers face as Aragorn snapped out of whatever memories he was holding. "It would be good to see them all again."
"It is true what they say, my Lord, never has there been a king so worthy of his crown yet so human at heart. It makes you seem almost, um, normal" he joked; feeling much more relaxed now in the other mans presence.
"A king who does not long for the counsel and the company of his friends, as well as his loyal subjects, is a foolish one indeed, don't you agree?" said Aragorn, again looking out of the window and over the White Mountains in the distance.
"Aye, my lord."
"Then the king will indeed be glad." As the Lady Arwen walked silently into the Hall, her eyes met with those of her husband, and she smiled, after all, being an elf she had heard the conversation long before she had entered.
"My Queen" Kane bowed, not meeting the eyes of the Lady, fearing he would blush in the presence of the royal couple.
"Then all of our messengers have returned" she smiled. Aragorn arched a dark eyebrow; no news had yet been brought to him from his other messengers. "We have guests" she smiled, almost childlike.
"Aragorn!"
"Strider!!" The three looked to the archway so see their guests at their most fitting arrival at the royal household. Kane's eyes bulged as the gang of Hobbits raced across the marble floor, almost slipping in their rush to the King. Frodo, Merry and Pippin almost knocked Aragorn off his feet in their embrace. Arwen stood apart, near Kane and laughed, as much at the expression on the messengers face as at Aragorn and the Hobbits.
"It has been too long, my friends," said Aragorn, as the three Hobbits seemed to calm down and release him form their grip.
"Too long" replied Frodo. They smiled at each other as Aragorn caught site of yet more Hobbits slowly walking through the hall (at a much more respectful pace than the others) towards them.
"Sam!" cried Aragorn. Sam smiled proudly as he looked at the King and then turned his glance to the maiden with him.
"Long time no see, Strider" he smiled, "Lady Arwen," bowing slightly to Aragorn and Arwen. Aragorn nodded in agreement as he clapped a hand on the Hobbits shoulder.
"And who is this?" he asked, smiling at the Hobbit lady at his side. Rosie blushed at being addressed by the king and curtsied. She had heard many tails by now of the great king of Gondor and of men, and she had heard many tails of Strider, the Ranger, from her husband and their friends. Even now she could not believe that they were the same person. It was a great honour to be in the presence of the king, and Merry, Pippin and Frodo just run up to him and nearly take him down in their excitement!
"This is Rosie" smiled Sam, and this, he gestured behind, this is Elanor. From behind Rosie's long skirt, a small child peeped at the King, a child with round cheeks and blonde curly ringlets in her hair. Much to the surprise of Rosie (but it seemed, not to the other Hobbits), Aragorn lowered himself so that he was only a little taller than the hobbit child.
"Hello there, little one" he smiled gently. The child came out from behind her mother and shyly smiled back.
"Hello" she said meekly. Aragorn shook the child's hand gently as he greeted her.
"That is a pretty name you have," he said
"It's a flower," she said, remembering what he father and uncle Frodo had told her.
"A very special flower" smiled Aragorn before returning to his feet and once again towering over the Hobbits.
Kane, who understandably was completely confused (as well as in awe at the great king, dawned in white and silver robes and a crown of Mythril and jewels, on the floor shaking hands with a Halfling child), cast a questioning glance at Arwen, before he realised he had done so, she answered his question.
"The Mayor of Hobbiton and the Shire" she said. Kane understood why the Mayor would be here, for the council, of course, but why the others. "I knew they wouldn't let Sam come without them" she smiled, again answering his unasked question.
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*Sigh* I know this chapter is pretty short, but I know where I'm going with it (um…I think). I should have put this on the first page or something, but anyway: I apologise for any spelling errors, yes I know I have a spell check programme, but that isn't always reliable!! My spelling sucks, always has done, probably always will do (my English teacher always used to say that it was amazing that I kept writing even when it was so bad…. don't know whether to laugh or cry at that, but what they hey…)