A/N: I really hate it when Fanfiction web site breaks down..very
frustrating. Anyway to recap this story, Berilac fears that his love he has
for his oldest son would some how change after just finding out that his
son is not truly his.
Gimli goes to the Lonely Mountain to see his father and wants to give him a treasure of Mithrill from Moria. He had freed Moria from the orcs and the Dwarves now reside there. When he gets there, he finds his father on his deathbed and unable to tell him. Gimli also had a greater plan, but now it looks hopeless.
Legolas is not looking forward to seeing his father with the wars still brewing between the Elves and the Dwarves. However, Legolas wishes to honor Merry and Pippin with the miniature horses that he knows that lives in Mirkwood.
Aragorn is healing Nibs who lost his hand fighting the orcs and must help him relearn how he can manage his own life.
Fredegar is helped by Merry to rebuild his business in Hobbiton.
Merry is trying to bring back the miniature horses to Buckland. Then to capture the stallion that Éomer had given him.
While Merry was in a dream like state, Estella told him how much she had always loved him. The imagines play out in Merry's mind of what she is telling him. Merry clearly sees for the first time that he has always loved Estella, but because so many things were asked of Merry in his life, he was not able to feel what was in his heart. He had always thought of her as a childhood friend, but could not see that she was actually the love he has been waiting for all of his life. Even though Estella's heart has been broken from waiting for him all these years, she would always love Merry and wait for him no matter how long it took. Merry is now awakened from the sleeping water that was spilt accidentally on him.
Chapter 23
What Is In My Heart
The dimly lit tent gave ease to Merry's eyes as he opened them. He could see a small line of sunlight filtered in from the flap of the doorway. Merry could hear distance voices talking just outside the tent and he struggled to hear what they were saying. Trying to force the fogginess from his mind, he was unsure what has happened to him. Tracing his thoughts back to what he could last remember, seeing Tom, who has almost ready to drink from a small bottle of water that Aragorn used to heal others. Then hearing Estella screaming for Merry to stop him. Pulling the bottle from Tom's hand, caused the water to be spilt on his hand. This gave Merry the feeling of being pulled into the darkness. Then imagines of his dreams came into focus of Estella and the love she had for him. It warmed his heart with those imagines. He did not want to forget one moment of those dreams, but some how, those dreams seemed too real from any others he has had before, as if Estella's voice narrated them as it danced throughout his mind. Merry then realized that looking into those dreams that he discovered what was in his own heart. The loneliness that he fought and suppressed deep in heart was in vein as he tried to busy himself with so many other things rather than face his true feelings. It was there all along, his love for Estella.
The voices outside of the tent became louder as the three entered the tent. Aragorn and Legolas walked passed him toward Nibs, while Estella followed them from behind. Merry raised up on one elbow, seeing her, as she froze in her footsteps and rushed to his side.
"Merry you are awake!"
Smiling, he took her hand and beckoned her closer to him. She reached to touch his face to see how he was feeling. The worry in her eyes and concern on her face was enough for Merry to see that his dream was true. She did truly love him. She looked deeply into his eyes and smiled at the joy of seeing him awake. Merry took her hand and placed it to his lips as he kissed her hand. Then saying to her, "Estella, I have been a fool in not seeing just how much you have meant to me. I was so lost in everything that has happened around me, that I never took the time to look into my own heart and see the love that was always there for you. I have pushed so many feelings away from me either through pain or fear trying to find my place in this world that I have blinded myself from your love. But I see it now, I can tell you what is in my heart. I love you, Estella, I have always loved you."
He reached up to draw her into a kiss and before their lips touched she said the words that she had always long to say, "I love you, Merry."
Wanting to hold her tighter, he pulled her off her balanced, falling on top of him, where he rolled her over and laid her by his side. They both broke out in laughter as they hugged each other.
Even though Legolas and Aragorn worked on Nibs who were a short distance away, they went unnoticed by the two who just found each other.
Hearing the laughter coming from behind him, Aragorn chuckled as he turned to watch the two hobbits. "If you two are finished getting to know each other better, I have a patient here in need of a good meal." He too began laughing at the couple's playful nature with each other.
"Aragorn, you wound me by taking her away from me." Merry jokingly told him.
"I will not keep her long, Merry. And besides, I still need to check you over also." Aragorn approached Merry. "As you should remember after wakening from the sleeping waters, your legs will be very weak and it will take a couple of days to regain some of their strength. You will need to eat and drink, but I am sure, your Estella will see to it that you do."
Bringing a bowl of Gimli's finest stew that was heating on the campfire, Estella approached Nibs, but he push it away.
"Nibs, it will not do you any good to refuse to eat. You need your time to heal, and I promise you that everything will be all right." Aragorn said trying to encourage him.
"You should of left me to die. I have no reason to go on." Nibs said as he rolled over not wanting to face them.
"You are not the only one who has suffered the lost of a part of their body, it is not easy, but you can over come it and still have a life you can be proud of. You must trust me Nibs. Regain your strength and I will show you how." Aragorn promises him. "Just leave the stew next to him, Estella. He may want it in a while."
"Aragorn, Legolas please, help!" Fredegar screamed as he ran into the tent to warn them. "We are surrounded by elves and they have arrows all pointed at Pippin and Berilac. They are trying to hold them off with only a sword and an arrow."
Legolas rolled his eyes, knowing his father has finally decided to come to him. He quickly checked his bow to see that it was in ease of his reach.
Aragorn pulled his sword, only to make sure his camp was protected. "Keep Merry here on his blanket, Estella. We will see what the Elves want."
Walking from the tent to see numerous arrows pointed at Pippin and Berilac who stood by them in the center of the camp. The group of elves parted and their king walked into the camp.
The King stood tall with golden blonde hair that draped well pass his shoulders. On top of his head he worn a crown of golden leaves weaved with emeralds. He wore a long flowing robe of green silk with golden threads embroidered at the sides of the robe. At his waist hung the precious threads of Mithrill that draped to the floor.
Merry tried to get to his feet but fell. Estella ran towards Merry to get him to lay back down. "No, I can not just lye down and not help my friends. Get me my sword."
Estella handed him his sword, and supported Merry to walk out of the tent. Seeing the King of the Elves he stopped to observe what would happen next.
"Why does the Prince of Mirkwood prefer the company of mere hobbits and a ranger rather than presenting himself to his king?" King Thranduil asked his son.
Estella's eyes widened when the king pronounced Legolas as prince of Mirkwood as she has never seen a king or a prince before.
"These are not mere hobbits, but hobbits of great respect and honor." Legolas held out his hand towards Pippin and Berilac.
"You speak of honor, yet these hobbits steal our miniature horses of Mirkwood." King Thranduil inquired.
Legolas walked over to Merry and picked him up and set him down in front of Pippin. "The horses are gifts from the elves given on behalf of their prince to honor the greatness of these honorable hobbits."
"What honor do you speak of, my princely son?" King Thranduil asked in a cool tone looking down upon the three hobbits that stood before him.
"They wear the leaves of Lothlórien given by Galadriel. The lady of light, Galadriel blesses the swords in their hands. If it was not for these two hobbits and their kinsmen, Master Frodo and Sam Gamgee, all Middle Earth would have been destroyed by the evil of Sauron. It was Master Frodo; himself who destroyed the one ring and forever taking Sauron from our world. These two brave hobbits fought side by side with Rohan and Gondor for all of our freedom. We owe them much." Legolas told his father.
Approaching the hobbits, the king touched the Lothlórien leaves with his fingertips and looked closely at the swords the lye in their hands. Then he looked into Merry and Pippin's eyes, and slowly turned back towards Legolas.
"I am greatly pleased that you have seen to honor our guests to Mirkwood and the giving of our small horses to them." King Thranduil said to Legolas, but having his back turned from the hobbits.
Estella, Wilcome, Fredegar, Berilac and Tom looked at Merry and Pippin as if seeing them for the first time in awe and pride.
King Thranduil walked over to Aragorn and looked down at him as he circled him. "You may not know of this, your highness, but you are not looking at the ranger Aragorn, but King of Gondor and healers as his fathers before him."
King Thranduil bowed at the waist in standing in front of Aragorn; "Your presence honors us greatly." Turning to his son, "You travel with greatness my son and I can now see why you are so delayed."
Etella and the hobbit's mouth all dropped open in awe as their eyes darted back and forth from the royalty that stood before them. They never dreamed even when they first heard the stories about the travels of Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Sam just what it all meant until hearing it from the kings of men and elves.
The bushes rustled and all eyes looked to see what was approaching. Gimli entered the camp and halted in shock seeing all the elves standing in the camp. Within an instance, the elves pointed their arrows at Gimli ready to fire at their sworn enemy.
Legolas held up his arms and stood before the warrior elves to prevent them from firing and screamed out to them, "Hold your arrows, he is under my protection."
"He is your ENEMY!" Shouted King Thranduil.
"No, not Gimli, son of Gloin! He is my closest friend!" Legolas's voice shouted back at his father in firm determination.
"I forbid it! You are a prince and destine king of Mirkwood. Dwarves are our sworn enemy!" Shouted King Thranduil.
"Then I forfeit my crown and my title, in order for my friend to live." Legolas stated to his father.
"Please, Legolas. You do not need to do this." Gimli said while lowering his head and his voice.
"I would not be standing here now, if not for this dwarf! I have fought side-by-side with him, I have eaten with him and I stand next to him. If you draw on him, I will die with him!" Legolas shouted so all Elves could hear him.
"It is because of Gloin this war was started, his son is of the same blood! You turn your back on your own people?" Thranduil shouted back.
"He may have the blood of Gloin, but he does not have the heart of him. I judge the dwarf by his deeds and not by his lineage." Standing firm in his determination, Legolas glared at his father.
"That we will see, my son. For now, I will tolerate this Dwarf, just keep him away from me. I will hold you responsible for him." King Thranduil snapped back at Legolas. "Until I have decided what is to be done..... you all will come to the Halls of Mirkwood, pack up your things." King Thranduil turned to say to Aragorn just before he left the camp. "I will have consult with my son." His eyes taking in the ruff appearance of Aragorn, looked at him in repulsion as he turned sharply from him and left the camp.
Estella ran to Merry as Aragorn picked him up in his arms and carried him back to his blanket.
Wilcome, Tom and Fredegar gathered around Pippin and all admired him greatly after hearing all the things Legolas told his kingly father about them. They all wanted to hear the story of meeting the Lothlórien elves as they touched the leaf that was attached to his robe and to hold Pippin's sword that Galadriel had blessed.
Joining Merry, Estella and Berilac also wanted to hear the stories of his travels to Lothlórien. "Merry did you really do all those things that Legolas said to his father?" Berilac asked him.
"Before he tells you these honorable tales, he first must eat and do not let him become too tired from all of his noble deeds which are many." Aragorn told them as he saw the admiration in both the eyes of Estella and Berilac. Nibs turned around on his blanket when he heard that Merry would tell the story of his past adventures. He listened intently.
Gimil approached Legolas and said to him, "I am sorry, it is my fault. I should of known better to barge into the camp. I guess my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of my father's death."
"What? Your father is gone?" Legolas turned to Gimli knowing his news greatly hurt his friend as he has learned during his travels with the fellowship how death effected others who were not immortal.
"Yes, he died before I could talk to him about the mithrill and pay for the great hearth stone that the elves of Mirkwood have and end this ridiculous war. The Mithrill would have paid for the stone three times over." Gimli felt guilty that he had failed his mission he had planned with Legolas.
"We will find another answers, Gimli. Somehow I will convince my father to stop this war." Legolas told him.
The elves waited for the group to finish packing their camp and they guarded the miniature horses that were in the coral.
~*~
When the hobbits were led into the halls of Mirkwood, they announced that on the fourth night, they would have a ball in honor of the King of Gondor and the greatness of the hobbits. However, Gimli was forbidden to attend.
"Merry, I cannot go to a ball dressed like this. I wear pants and they are filthy." Estella said to Merry as she looked into the mirror that stood in the hallway. She was so shocked at her appearance.
Legolas approached Merry and Estella and told them that their dress marker was the most talented among the elves. He would send the dressmaker to her room. Estella thanked Legolas for his generosity.
When Estella was shown to her room, Merry asked Legolas to introduce him to the dressmaker. Legolas told him that he would send him first to Merry's room.
Within an hour the dressmaker entered Merry's room and they talked for about an hour. Afterwards the dressmaker went to see Estella, after she finished with her bath. He had brought with him some dresses that he could alter for her immediately.
The elves waited on the hobbits with anything they could possibly want. While Legolas was led to his father's chamber.
"Shut the door behind you." Ordered King Thranduil, and then he continued, "You are my only son, Legolas. Why do you turn from me?"
"I do not turn from you, my king. I only turn from your words. Whatever your feelings are towards the dwarves is your concern. You taught me to hate them, but living out among the others, I have come to judge my enemies solely on their intent to harm me and not judge them for what they are. There is strong honor and goodness in Gimli, I trust him with my life... I owe him my life." Legolas told his father.
"I have lived longer in the world than you, perhaps your eyes deceive you?" King Thranduil looked suspiciously at his son.
"My eyes are sharp and cunning. I can judge a dwarf true. Until the day Gimli's heart does change, I will believe him and stand by him." Legolas proudly stood up to his father.
"Then so be it. You will stay here for a fourth night, and then you will be free to travel beyond our boarders. I will not harm the dwarf while he stays here. Then perhaps your eyes will open to the treachery of these dwarves. We will be watching him very closely to make sure the hearth stones stays in Mirkwood." King Thranduil said and then dismissed his son.
Gimli goes to the Lonely Mountain to see his father and wants to give him a treasure of Mithrill from Moria. He had freed Moria from the orcs and the Dwarves now reside there. When he gets there, he finds his father on his deathbed and unable to tell him. Gimli also had a greater plan, but now it looks hopeless.
Legolas is not looking forward to seeing his father with the wars still brewing between the Elves and the Dwarves. However, Legolas wishes to honor Merry and Pippin with the miniature horses that he knows that lives in Mirkwood.
Aragorn is healing Nibs who lost his hand fighting the orcs and must help him relearn how he can manage his own life.
Fredegar is helped by Merry to rebuild his business in Hobbiton.
Merry is trying to bring back the miniature horses to Buckland. Then to capture the stallion that Éomer had given him.
While Merry was in a dream like state, Estella told him how much she had always loved him. The imagines play out in Merry's mind of what she is telling him. Merry clearly sees for the first time that he has always loved Estella, but because so many things were asked of Merry in his life, he was not able to feel what was in his heart. He had always thought of her as a childhood friend, but could not see that she was actually the love he has been waiting for all of his life. Even though Estella's heart has been broken from waiting for him all these years, she would always love Merry and wait for him no matter how long it took. Merry is now awakened from the sleeping water that was spilt accidentally on him.
Chapter 23
What Is In My Heart
The dimly lit tent gave ease to Merry's eyes as he opened them. He could see a small line of sunlight filtered in from the flap of the doorway. Merry could hear distance voices talking just outside the tent and he struggled to hear what they were saying. Trying to force the fogginess from his mind, he was unsure what has happened to him. Tracing his thoughts back to what he could last remember, seeing Tom, who has almost ready to drink from a small bottle of water that Aragorn used to heal others. Then hearing Estella screaming for Merry to stop him. Pulling the bottle from Tom's hand, caused the water to be spilt on his hand. This gave Merry the feeling of being pulled into the darkness. Then imagines of his dreams came into focus of Estella and the love she had for him. It warmed his heart with those imagines. He did not want to forget one moment of those dreams, but some how, those dreams seemed too real from any others he has had before, as if Estella's voice narrated them as it danced throughout his mind. Merry then realized that looking into those dreams that he discovered what was in his own heart. The loneliness that he fought and suppressed deep in heart was in vein as he tried to busy himself with so many other things rather than face his true feelings. It was there all along, his love for Estella.
The voices outside of the tent became louder as the three entered the tent. Aragorn and Legolas walked passed him toward Nibs, while Estella followed them from behind. Merry raised up on one elbow, seeing her, as she froze in her footsteps and rushed to his side.
"Merry you are awake!"
Smiling, he took her hand and beckoned her closer to him. She reached to touch his face to see how he was feeling. The worry in her eyes and concern on her face was enough for Merry to see that his dream was true. She did truly love him. She looked deeply into his eyes and smiled at the joy of seeing him awake. Merry took her hand and placed it to his lips as he kissed her hand. Then saying to her, "Estella, I have been a fool in not seeing just how much you have meant to me. I was so lost in everything that has happened around me, that I never took the time to look into my own heart and see the love that was always there for you. I have pushed so many feelings away from me either through pain or fear trying to find my place in this world that I have blinded myself from your love. But I see it now, I can tell you what is in my heart. I love you, Estella, I have always loved you."
He reached up to draw her into a kiss and before their lips touched she said the words that she had always long to say, "I love you, Merry."
Wanting to hold her tighter, he pulled her off her balanced, falling on top of him, where he rolled her over and laid her by his side. They both broke out in laughter as they hugged each other.
Even though Legolas and Aragorn worked on Nibs who were a short distance away, they went unnoticed by the two who just found each other.
Hearing the laughter coming from behind him, Aragorn chuckled as he turned to watch the two hobbits. "If you two are finished getting to know each other better, I have a patient here in need of a good meal." He too began laughing at the couple's playful nature with each other.
"Aragorn, you wound me by taking her away from me." Merry jokingly told him.
"I will not keep her long, Merry. And besides, I still need to check you over also." Aragorn approached Merry. "As you should remember after wakening from the sleeping waters, your legs will be very weak and it will take a couple of days to regain some of their strength. You will need to eat and drink, but I am sure, your Estella will see to it that you do."
Bringing a bowl of Gimli's finest stew that was heating on the campfire, Estella approached Nibs, but he push it away.
"Nibs, it will not do you any good to refuse to eat. You need your time to heal, and I promise you that everything will be all right." Aragorn said trying to encourage him.
"You should of left me to die. I have no reason to go on." Nibs said as he rolled over not wanting to face them.
"You are not the only one who has suffered the lost of a part of their body, it is not easy, but you can over come it and still have a life you can be proud of. You must trust me Nibs. Regain your strength and I will show you how." Aragorn promises him. "Just leave the stew next to him, Estella. He may want it in a while."
"Aragorn, Legolas please, help!" Fredegar screamed as he ran into the tent to warn them. "We are surrounded by elves and they have arrows all pointed at Pippin and Berilac. They are trying to hold them off with only a sword and an arrow."
Legolas rolled his eyes, knowing his father has finally decided to come to him. He quickly checked his bow to see that it was in ease of his reach.
Aragorn pulled his sword, only to make sure his camp was protected. "Keep Merry here on his blanket, Estella. We will see what the Elves want."
Walking from the tent to see numerous arrows pointed at Pippin and Berilac who stood by them in the center of the camp. The group of elves parted and their king walked into the camp.
The King stood tall with golden blonde hair that draped well pass his shoulders. On top of his head he worn a crown of golden leaves weaved with emeralds. He wore a long flowing robe of green silk with golden threads embroidered at the sides of the robe. At his waist hung the precious threads of Mithrill that draped to the floor.
Merry tried to get to his feet but fell. Estella ran towards Merry to get him to lay back down. "No, I can not just lye down and not help my friends. Get me my sword."
Estella handed him his sword, and supported Merry to walk out of the tent. Seeing the King of the Elves he stopped to observe what would happen next.
"Why does the Prince of Mirkwood prefer the company of mere hobbits and a ranger rather than presenting himself to his king?" King Thranduil asked his son.
Estella's eyes widened when the king pronounced Legolas as prince of Mirkwood as she has never seen a king or a prince before.
"These are not mere hobbits, but hobbits of great respect and honor." Legolas held out his hand towards Pippin and Berilac.
"You speak of honor, yet these hobbits steal our miniature horses of Mirkwood." King Thranduil inquired.
Legolas walked over to Merry and picked him up and set him down in front of Pippin. "The horses are gifts from the elves given on behalf of their prince to honor the greatness of these honorable hobbits."
"What honor do you speak of, my princely son?" King Thranduil asked in a cool tone looking down upon the three hobbits that stood before him.
"They wear the leaves of Lothlórien given by Galadriel. The lady of light, Galadriel blesses the swords in their hands. If it was not for these two hobbits and their kinsmen, Master Frodo and Sam Gamgee, all Middle Earth would have been destroyed by the evil of Sauron. It was Master Frodo; himself who destroyed the one ring and forever taking Sauron from our world. These two brave hobbits fought side by side with Rohan and Gondor for all of our freedom. We owe them much." Legolas told his father.
Approaching the hobbits, the king touched the Lothlórien leaves with his fingertips and looked closely at the swords the lye in their hands. Then he looked into Merry and Pippin's eyes, and slowly turned back towards Legolas.
"I am greatly pleased that you have seen to honor our guests to Mirkwood and the giving of our small horses to them." King Thranduil said to Legolas, but having his back turned from the hobbits.
Estella, Wilcome, Fredegar, Berilac and Tom looked at Merry and Pippin as if seeing them for the first time in awe and pride.
King Thranduil walked over to Aragorn and looked down at him as he circled him. "You may not know of this, your highness, but you are not looking at the ranger Aragorn, but King of Gondor and healers as his fathers before him."
King Thranduil bowed at the waist in standing in front of Aragorn; "Your presence honors us greatly." Turning to his son, "You travel with greatness my son and I can now see why you are so delayed."
Etella and the hobbit's mouth all dropped open in awe as their eyes darted back and forth from the royalty that stood before them. They never dreamed even when they first heard the stories about the travels of Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Sam just what it all meant until hearing it from the kings of men and elves.
The bushes rustled and all eyes looked to see what was approaching. Gimli entered the camp and halted in shock seeing all the elves standing in the camp. Within an instance, the elves pointed their arrows at Gimli ready to fire at their sworn enemy.
Legolas held up his arms and stood before the warrior elves to prevent them from firing and screamed out to them, "Hold your arrows, he is under my protection."
"He is your ENEMY!" Shouted King Thranduil.
"No, not Gimli, son of Gloin! He is my closest friend!" Legolas's voice shouted back at his father in firm determination.
"I forbid it! You are a prince and destine king of Mirkwood. Dwarves are our sworn enemy!" Shouted King Thranduil.
"Then I forfeit my crown and my title, in order for my friend to live." Legolas stated to his father.
"Please, Legolas. You do not need to do this." Gimli said while lowering his head and his voice.
"I would not be standing here now, if not for this dwarf! I have fought side-by-side with him, I have eaten with him and I stand next to him. If you draw on him, I will die with him!" Legolas shouted so all Elves could hear him.
"It is because of Gloin this war was started, his son is of the same blood! You turn your back on your own people?" Thranduil shouted back.
"He may have the blood of Gloin, but he does not have the heart of him. I judge the dwarf by his deeds and not by his lineage." Standing firm in his determination, Legolas glared at his father.
"That we will see, my son. For now, I will tolerate this Dwarf, just keep him away from me. I will hold you responsible for him." King Thranduil snapped back at Legolas. "Until I have decided what is to be done..... you all will come to the Halls of Mirkwood, pack up your things." King Thranduil turned to say to Aragorn just before he left the camp. "I will have consult with my son." His eyes taking in the ruff appearance of Aragorn, looked at him in repulsion as he turned sharply from him and left the camp.
Estella ran to Merry as Aragorn picked him up in his arms and carried him back to his blanket.
Wilcome, Tom and Fredegar gathered around Pippin and all admired him greatly after hearing all the things Legolas told his kingly father about them. They all wanted to hear the story of meeting the Lothlórien elves as they touched the leaf that was attached to his robe and to hold Pippin's sword that Galadriel had blessed.
Joining Merry, Estella and Berilac also wanted to hear the stories of his travels to Lothlórien. "Merry did you really do all those things that Legolas said to his father?" Berilac asked him.
"Before he tells you these honorable tales, he first must eat and do not let him become too tired from all of his noble deeds which are many." Aragorn told them as he saw the admiration in both the eyes of Estella and Berilac. Nibs turned around on his blanket when he heard that Merry would tell the story of his past adventures. He listened intently.
Gimil approached Legolas and said to him, "I am sorry, it is my fault. I should of known better to barge into the camp. I guess my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of my father's death."
"What? Your father is gone?" Legolas turned to Gimli knowing his news greatly hurt his friend as he has learned during his travels with the fellowship how death effected others who were not immortal.
"Yes, he died before I could talk to him about the mithrill and pay for the great hearth stone that the elves of Mirkwood have and end this ridiculous war. The Mithrill would have paid for the stone three times over." Gimli felt guilty that he had failed his mission he had planned with Legolas.
"We will find another answers, Gimli. Somehow I will convince my father to stop this war." Legolas told him.
The elves waited for the group to finish packing their camp and they guarded the miniature horses that were in the coral.
~*~
When the hobbits were led into the halls of Mirkwood, they announced that on the fourth night, they would have a ball in honor of the King of Gondor and the greatness of the hobbits. However, Gimli was forbidden to attend.
"Merry, I cannot go to a ball dressed like this. I wear pants and they are filthy." Estella said to Merry as she looked into the mirror that stood in the hallway. She was so shocked at her appearance.
Legolas approached Merry and Estella and told them that their dress marker was the most talented among the elves. He would send the dressmaker to her room. Estella thanked Legolas for his generosity.
When Estella was shown to her room, Merry asked Legolas to introduce him to the dressmaker. Legolas told him that he would send him first to Merry's room.
Within an hour the dressmaker entered Merry's room and they talked for about an hour. Afterwards the dressmaker went to see Estella, after she finished with her bath. He had brought with him some dresses that he could alter for her immediately.
The elves waited on the hobbits with anything they could possibly want. While Legolas was led to his father's chamber.
"Shut the door behind you." Ordered King Thranduil, and then he continued, "You are my only son, Legolas. Why do you turn from me?"
"I do not turn from you, my king. I only turn from your words. Whatever your feelings are towards the dwarves is your concern. You taught me to hate them, but living out among the others, I have come to judge my enemies solely on their intent to harm me and not judge them for what they are. There is strong honor and goodness in Gimli, I trust him with my life... I owe him my life." Legolas told his father.
"I have lived longer in the world than you, perhaps your eyes deceive you?" King Thranduil looked suspiciously at his son.
"My eyes are sharp and cunning. I can judge a dwarf true. Until the day Gimli's heart does change, I will believe him and stand by him." Legolas proudly stood up to his father.
"Then so be it. You will stay here for a fourth night, and then you will be free to travel beyond our boarders. I will not harm the dwarf while he stays here. Then perhaps your eyes will open to the treachery of these dwarves. We will be watching him very closely to make sure the hearth stones stays in Mirkwood." King Thranduil said and then dismissed his son.
