Wow, bet you didn't think I'd ever write more on this. Me neither but
thanks again to my beta, muse and bestest friend EVER, I have new
inspiration. So check it out, more on Estelless and Target Practice coming
soon (now that was a shameless plug). Cowgoddess, you're the best and
while I would dedicate this chapter to you, in reality, it's all about
chapter 4. However, with that said, um. here's chapter 3!!! (I'm so
weird. and going now)
Guilt By Association
Chapter 3 - Slow Decay
Legolas arrived only a mere seconds behind his father however, the inevitable fight was already underway. Thranduil stood completely still, his fiery eyes glowing as if trying to stare down the dwarf. Though what he did not know was that Gimli was not one to back down from a fight and this was not one he was prepared to lose.
"I didn't say that! I simply said that your infernal son was not responsible." Gimli's arms were crossed over his chest, a position Legolas had come to be familiar with. The dwarf was trying to reign in his temper. Legolas sighed rather more heavily than he meant to. This was really only a matter of time.
"I do not need you to tell me that, dwarf." Thranduil's voice was quiet, a very bad sign. Gimli started to sputter something but was cut off by the king before the words could even be formed. "However, since the blames lies not with Legolas then it would stand to reason that it would lie with you."
This accusation spurred Gimli's anger and his thoughts formed clearly into words. "Only from the inept mind of an elf would that twisted logic make any sense."
Legolas fought the urge to sigh again. Here we go.
"You dare insult not only me but my entire race as well?" It hadn't seemed possible but Thranduil's stance had gotten even stiller and with it, his fury more terrifying.
That is, to anyone but Gimli. He had traveled, fought and lived with Legolas for years now and this type of elven anger he knew well. In fact, knowing Legolas as closely as he did and being so comfortable with his moods and fears was giving Gimli a false sense of security. His instincts held him firm in the knowledge that Legolas, while truly intimidating in his anger, would never hurt him and it was Legolas' reactions he saw now mirrored through Thranduil. And while Gimli could fight safely with Legolas until the land passed into nothingness, this was not a trait he shared with his father.
"I would feel lucky if I were you, for if indeed your race was comprised of ignorant, selfish, foolish elves such as yourself then it would have died off years ago!" Gimli's voice had slowly risen throughout his speech and by the time he had finished he was so worked up, he was screaming.
Legolas stood frozen where he was, unconsciously mimicking his father. For the first time he noticed that a silence had fallen across the hallway. Tarsul stood at the King's back, shaking with anger, his hand on his long sword's hilt. Legolas upon seeing this quickly slipped between Gimli and the guard, an act of pure instinct bred by years of battle. His movement stirred his father out of his shock.
"I hereby accuse and condemn you Master dwarf of the wounding of Orophil and banish you from this realm from this day forth." Thranduil's voice was deep and cold. His eyes hard steel. It was a look Gimli had seen before only it had never been directed at him. This affected Gimli as nothing else could for it finally drove home the differences between his best friend and the King who hated him. Gimli backed off sensing from Legolas the need to be cautious and quickly waived away an angry rebuttal that he saw forming on the elf's face.
When Gimli finally spoke, it was with great care and no inflection. "As the King commands." He turned to leave, strictly refusing to meet the eyes of his traveling companion at his side but was turned around by another voice.
"And what of me then, Lord Thranduil?" The group of four all turned in the direction of this new voice. Glorthrandir had joined them. "If Gimli is indeed to blame then I am just as guilty. Will you banish me as well?"
Thranduil frowned. "You are hardly at fault, you were not even there at the time of Orophil's attack."
"I was." Gimli groaned at Legolas' statement. That had been his whole point, simply that Legolas was not to be held responsible yet here they were again. Honestly, thought the dwarf, between Legolas and Aragorn it was amazing that there was any guilt LEFT in the world. Gimli refocused on Legolas' words. "Would I also face banishment then?"
Whether or not it had been intentional, the two admissions of the elves had backed Thranduil neatly into a corner. He could not banish the dwarf without also banishing the other two elves and sending his son away was not something Thranduil was prepared to do. So they stood in silence again, both parties waiting for the other to speak. Legolas watched with growing fascination and dismay as his father's anger slowly withered away to be replaced by a more ominous emotion; grief. Finally Thranduil simply walked away pulling his guard along with him. The remaining three watched him go in grim countenance and then turned to each other wondering what to do next.
Glorthrandir was first to speak. "I actually came to tell you that Orophil has awakened and is out of danger."
Both Legolas and Gimli shared a coordinated sign of relief causing them to smile at each other. Gimli's voice resumed it normal pitch. "That is certainly the good news I needed to hear." Legolas said nothing but the smile stayed on his face. "So then he should clear my good name."
Glorthrandir's expression was stern yet not menacing. "So he was not one of the ignorant, selfish or foolish elves of whom you spoke earlier?"
Legolas watched with amazement as Gimli actually colored in shock. He begin stumbling for words, trying to form some type of apology or explanation just as Glorthrandir began to laugh. "Peace, Master dwarf, I am not offended. I rather count myself astounded to have witnessed someone stand up to the King and live to tell the tale."
Gimli's panic died down at this. "I believe I owe that in part to you. You have my thanks." Legolas kicked him somewhat subtlety in the leg spurring on Gimli. "And my apologies."
Glorthrandir at seeing this laughed heartily. "Both are accepted. Now if you will excuse me, I wish to return to Orophil's side."
Gimli nodded. "By all means."
The two friends watched Glorthrandir's departure. Gimli turned to Legolas but his prepared jib fled his brain at the look on his friends face. Legolas looked haunted and dreary. As if age had somehow claimed him. His eyes searched the now abandoned hallway where he had spent his childhood as if looking for something familiar. Finally his gaze came to rest upon Gimli who was watching him with concern.
"What is it? Ever since we arrived here you've acted strangely." Thought Gimli spoke with absolute certainty, he himself was just starting to understand the truth of what he was saying. "It's as if your looking for something you can't find."
At this Legolas' eyes shot to Gimli's. "Yes. That's it exactly. I have only just realized it when you said it. This place, being here now, it feels-" Legolas stopped. He didn't really know how it felt, just that it felt different than he remembered. He didn't even know why. An odd depression fell upon him then and he walked over to the doorway, letting the warm sun spread across his face.
Gimli came up beside him, bathed in his long shadow. "Feels like what?"
Legolas cocked his head to the side, the sunlight streaming through his hair in long, golden slivers. "Wrong. It feels wrong."
Gimli swallowed hard at the open sorrow he heard in his companion's voice. "Perhaps you should talk further with your father."
"It will not help. He's as stubborn-"
"As you are?" Gimli was pleased to see a small smile light up Legolas' face.
Legolas took a deep breath. "Yes. I will go to him. many thanks, old friend." The words were more of a formality, a level of courtesy that Legolas often displayed but they dig deep into Gimli's heart. He watched as Legolas turned away from him and headed towards his father's rooms. The sun no longer upon him but he still seemed to glow with a white light. "I'll wait for you." whispered Gimli, his trepidation growing. "I'll wait for you even if no one else wants me to stay."
Guilt By Association
Chapter 3 - Slow Decay
Legolas arrived only a mere seconds behind his father however, the inevitable fight was already underway. Thranduil stood completely still, his fiery eyes glowing as if trying to stare down the dwarf. Though what he did not know was that Gimli was not one to back down from a fight and this was not one he was prepared to lose.
"I didn't say that! I simply said that your infernal son was not responsible." Gimli's arms were crossed over his chest, a position Legolas had come to be familiar with. The dwarf was trying to reign in his temper. Legolas sighed rather more heavily than he meant to. This was really only a matter of time.
"I do not need you to tell me that, dwarf." Thranduil's voice was quiet, a very bad sign. Gimli started to sputter something but was cut off by the king before the words could even be formed. "However, since the blames lies not with Legolas then it would stand to reason that it would lie with you."
This accusation spurred Gimli's anger and his thoughts formed clearly into words. "Only from the inept mind of an elf would that twisted logic make any sense."
Legolas fought the urge to sigh again. Here we go.
"You dare insult not only me but my entire race as well?" It hadn't seemed possible but Thranduil's stance had gotten even stiller and with it, his fury more terrifying.
That is, to anyone but Gimli. He had traveled, fought and lived with Legolas for years now and this type of elven anger he knew well. In fact, knowing Legolas as closely as he did and being so comfortable with his moods and fears was giving Gimli a false sense of security. His instincts held him firm in the knowledge that Legolas, while truly intimidating in his anger, would never hurt him and it was Legolas' reactions he saw now mirrored through Thranduil. And while Gimli could fight safely with Legolas until the land passed into nothingness, this was not a trait he shared with his father.
"I would feel lucky if I were you, for if indeed your race was comprised of ignorant, selfish, foolish elves such as yourself then it would have died off years ago!" Gimli's voice had slowly risen throughout his speech and by the time he had finished he was so worked up, he was screaming.
Legolas stood frozen where he was, unconsciously mimicking his father. For the first time he noticed that a silence had fallen across the hallway. Tarsul stood at the King's back, shaking with anger, his hand on his long sword's hilt. Legolas upon seeing this quickly slipped between Gimli and the guard, an act of pure instinct bred by years of battle. His movement stirred his father out of his shock.
"I hereby accuse and condemn you Master dwarf of the wounding of Orophil and banish you from this realm from this day forth." Thranduil's voice was deep and cold. His eyes hard steel. It was a look Gimli had seen before only it had never been directed at him. This affected Gimli as nothing else could for it finally drove home the differences between his best friend and the King who hated him. Gimli backed off sensing from Legolas the need to be cautious and quickly waived away an angry rebuttal that he saw forming on the elf's face.
When Gimli finally spoke, it was with great care and no inflection. "As the King commands." He turned to leave, strictly refusing to meet the eyes of his traveling companion at his side but was turned around by another voice.
"And what of me then, Lord Thranduil?" The group of four all turned in the direction of this new voice. Glorthrandir had joined them. "If Gimli is indeed to blame then I am just as guilty. Will you banish me as well?"
Thranduil frowned. "You are hardly at fault, you were not even there at the time of Orophil's attack."
"I was." Gimli groaned at Legolas' statement. That had been his whole point, simply that Legolas was not to be held responsible yet here they were again. Honestly, thought the dwarf, between Legolas and Aragorn it was amazing that there was any guilt LEFT in the world. Gimli refocused on Legolas' words. "Would I also face banishment then?"
Whether or not it had been intentional, the two admissions of the elves had backed Thranduil neatly into a corner. He could not banish the dwarf without also banishing the other two elves and sending his son away was not something Thranduil was prepared to do. So they stood in silence again, both parties waiting for the other to speak. Legolas watched with growing fascination and dismay as his father's anger slowly withered away to be replaced by a more ominous emotion; grief. Finally Thranduil simply walked away pulling his guard along with him. The remaining three watched him go in grim countenance and then turned to each other wondering what to do next.
Glorthrandir was first to speak. "I actually came to tell you that Orophil has awakened and is out of danger."
Both Legolas and Gimli shared a coordinated sign of relief causing them to smile at each other. Gimli's voice resumed it normal pitch. "That is certainly the good news I needed to hear." Legolas said nothing but the smile stayed on his face. "So then he should clear my good name."
Glorthrandir's expression was stern yet not menacing. "So he was not one of the ignorant, selfish or foolish elves of whom you spoke earlier?"
Legolas watched with amazement as Gimli actually colored in shock. He begin stumbling for words, trying to form some type of apology or explanation just as Glorthrandir began to laugh. "Peace, Master dwarf, I am not offended. I rather count myself astounded to have witnessed someone stand up to the King and live to tell the tale."
Gimli's panic died down at this. "I believe I owe that in part to you. You have my thanks." Legolas kicked him somewhat subtlety in the leg spurring on Gimli. "And my apologies."
Glorthrandir at seeing this laughed heartily. "Both are accepted. Now if you will excuse me, I wish to return to Orophil's side."
Gimli nodded. "By all means."
The two friends watched Glorthrandir's departure. Gimli turned to Legolas but his prepared jib fled his brain at the look on his friends face. Legolas looked haunted and dreary. As if age had somehow claimed him. His eyes searched the now abandoned hallway where he had spent his childhood as if looking for something familiar. Finally his gaze came to rest upon Gimli who was watching him with concern.
"What is it? Ever since we arrived here you've acted strangely." Thought Gimli spoke with absolute certainty, he himself was just starting to understand the truth of what he was saying. "It's as if your looking for something you can't find."
At this Legolas' eyes shot to Gimli's. "Yes. That's it exactly. I have only just realized it when you said it. This place, being here now, it feels-" Legolas stopped. He didn't really know how it felt, just that it felt different than he remembered. He didn't even know why. An odd depression fell upon him then and he walked over to the doorway, letting the warm sun spread across his face.
Gimli came up beside him, bathed in his long shadow. "Feels like what?"
Legolas cocked his head to the side, the sunlight streaming through his hair in long, golden slivers. "Wrong. It feels wrong."
Gimli swallowed hard at the open sorrow he heard in his companion's voice. "Perhaps you should talk further with your father."
"It will not help. He's as stubborn-"
"As you are?" Gimli was pleased to see a small smile light up Legolas' face.
Legolas took a deep breath. "Yes. I will go to him. many thanks, old friend." The words were more of a formality, a level of courtesy that Legolas often displayed but they dig deep into Gimli's heart. He watched as Legolas turned away from him and headed towards his father's rooms. The sun no longer upon him but he still seemed to glow with a white light. "I'll wait for you." whispered Gimli, his trepidation growing. "I'll wait for you even if no one else wants me to stay."