Chapter 28
Deceived
Estella beamed with a brilliant smile, as the line of guests congratulated her and Merry by her side. Aragorn stood next to Merry and King Thranduil beside him. Estella was introduced to so many elves that she could never keep their names straight. As the line dwindled down, Legolas and Gimli was the last to congratulated the new couple. On bent knee, Legolas first kissed Estella's hand and she giggled be kissed by a prince. The week that Legolas and Gimli traveled with them, Estella grew very fond of these two and considered them both dear friends. She could not imagine how she had once feared them, the first time she had seen them. She understood that if Merry ever needed his friends, that these two would always be ready to help him. Gimli shyly kissed Estella hand, just has Legolas had done previously. Estella looked into Gimli's eyes. He gave her a wink and a smile. She squeezed his hand tightly. Gimli then stood in front of Merry and grasped his hand in his, doing this Aragorn placed his hand on top of the two, and Legolas and Merry did the same. All four looked at each other as they again silently gave each other their respect and friendship.
King Thranduil seeing this, while he stood next to some of his dignitaries asked, "Let us all go into my chamber to open a special bottle of the oldest wine there is, to toast Merry. Legolas, please join us, bring your friend as well." King Thranduil looked at Gimli, then his son.
Legolas agreed and Gimli followed them with Aragorn behind him. When they entered the corridor, Gimli picked up his traveling bag and placed it over his shoulder. They all followed the king as he walked them to his private chambers.
King Thranduil opened the doors to his great chambers. The servants were opening the bottles of wine and pouring them into tall clear wineglasses. They handed one to each of the guests.
King Thranduil, holding up his glass of wine, said, "This is one of our most treasured items in Mirkwood, of which we have many. Let us raise our glass to honor Merry of the Shire and wish him many years of happiness with his new bride." They all toasted Merry. The king's guests had never tasted a wine such as this and they all marveled at its flavor.
"We have many treasures here at Mirkwood such as this wine, would you care to see our most treasured piece?" King Thruanduil asked Merry.
Knowing what his father was about to show them, Legolas felt his father only wanted to flaunt over Gimli the Hearth Stone. "Your highness, I do not think Merry would be interested in seeing that stone."
"Nonsense, my son. It is not often that the stone is looked upon and admired for the perfection that it has. One should not leave Mirkwood, without seeing this wondrous sight."
Opening the hidden passageway behind the bookcase and having the guards lighting the torches to reveal the golden altar where the stone once sat, King Thranduil pretended a gasps in surprise when they saw the stone was missing.
"Guards, arrest that dwarf!" King Thranduil shouted in alarm.
Spears surrounded Gimli and Legolas was held back by Aragorn as he knew he would defend Gimli with his life.
"Now is not the time to fight, Legolas! Let me talk to your father." Aragorn ordered Legolas.
Aragorn turning to the king, saying, "King Thranduil, surely you jump to conclusion that our friend, Gimli would do such a thing. I know this dwarf's heart and he would never do such a thing as you accuse him of."
"Let him prove his honesty, here and now!-----guards search him and his bag." King Thranduil ordered.
Pulling the Hearth Stone from Gimli's bag, they all gasped and looked accusingly towards Gimli.
"I have never set eyes upon this stone before, someone has placed this in my bag to frame me," was all Gimli said.
"As any criminal would contend to say," King Thranduil accused him.
"You are wrong, father! I know Gimli and I believe him! Anyone could have placed that stone in his bag!" shouted Legolas, as Aragorn still held him back.
"Take the dwarf away and lock him up, we will see to his judgement tomorrow morning." King Thranduil ordered and dismissed his guests from his chamber.
The guards carefully placed the stone back on the altar and locked the bookcase. While, Gimli was lead to their lower level in Mirkwood. Locking his arms and legs in chains to the wall, the guards left him standing in the darkness behind a locked door.
Legolas cast his anger in his eyes towards his father, as Aragorn held tightly to Legolas and walked him out of the king's chamber.
King Thranduil evilly smiled as he leaded against the closed door. His plan had worked.
Merry ran back into the gardens and gathered his hobbits together, telling them what had just happened. The party was over with and they all went to their rooms.
Estella was in shock as Merry led her to his room. "Aragorn has asked to meet us all in the gardens later this evening. We must plan what we need to do next."
Legolas watched his father's chamber closely and began making his own plans.
~*~
After evening meal, Merry excused himself and walked down to the stables to see to his horses. The evening air was still warm and a gentle breeze followed Merry into the stables. This should have been the happiest day in Merry's life, but with Gimli locked up, he feared for his friend's life. With a heavy heart Merry opened the stable doors and walked in. Taking a few minutes, for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the stables. Merry could barely make out which stall his little colt was placed in. Following the line of stalls, he finally saw a young colt happily nursing on his mother. Merry was very pleased that the young colt had recovered from its ordeal. With the swishing of its small tail, Merry could see that the colt was brushed down so not a dot of mud was on its coat. It gleamed from the low evening sun that filtered through the open stable window.
The next stall, pacing in the small confined space, was Merry's stallion. The door was shut and locked to keep the stallion from getting out. It neighed and pawed the floor of its stall when the stallion noticed Merry watching him. Merry was happy seeing the stallion, now rested and fed. He looked no worse of wear from its harrowing ordeal being stuck in the mud with Merry all those hours this morning. The quietness of the stable gave Merry time to relax and think about everything that had happened today and he was lost in this thoughts.
Without warning, a hand grasped his shoulder and Merry screamed out of fright, turning to see Aragorn who now stood in front of him.
"Did you really have to scare the life out of me, Aragorn?"
"I am sorry, I guess my old ways has trained my feet to be very silent," Aragorn teased him.
"He is beautiful, isn't he Aragorn?" Merry said as he turned back to watch the stallion.
"That he is----which reminds me, I have not given you your wedding present yet."
"What is it?" Merry asked with a gleam in his eye from anticipation of something wonderful from Aragorn.
Placing his hand into his bag, he pulled out a stone that he had recognized from the time with the fellowship. This stone once belonged to Gandalf and he remembered it from the Mines of Moria.
"Gandalf gave this to me before he left with Frodo to the Greyhavens." Aragorn began to tell him, as he placed the stone in Merry's hand, and then continued, "you remember Shadowfax, Gandalf's horse?"
"Yes, I do."
"Gandalf shown me how to use this stone to control his horse. By holding this stone in your hand and whistling like this." Aragorn demonstrated the usual whistle that Gandalf taught him. Merry tried many times, until he was finally able to imitate the sound.
"Only you would be able to do this, once the horse eyes the stone and you whistle, this horse will only obey you from then on. You will be his master." Aragorn told him.
Opening the door, Aragorn let Merry into the stall and shut it behind him. Merry now faced the stallion alone.
Seeing Merry, the stallion charged him and Merry jumped to the side of the stall. The stallion reared its legs and pawed towards Merry as he dodged this way and that.
"Show the stallion the stone, Merry! What are you waiting for?" Asked Aragorn, almost laughing as he watched Merry ducking and dodging the angry horse.
"I'm trying! But he is not cooperating with me," Merry shouted almost in fear of his life.
"Hold the stone out to him!" Aragorn ordered him.
"Nice horse, see the pretty stone I have for you?"
"Oh....No! oops....easy now!"
"Quit playing around Merry, show him the damn stone!" Aragorn instructed, "Do not forget to whistle like I have shown you."
Aragorn heard a loud thud and hammering against the wall of the stall and then the whistle that he taught Merry. All of sudden the sound in the stall was quiet. Looking in, Aragorn almost busted out laughing hysterically seeing Merry laying flat down on the floor of the stall, holding the stone high in front of the horse. The stallion froze in its tracks as it watched Merry calmly.
Opening the stall Merry stood petting the stallion as it nuzzled up against him. Aragorn approached him handing him the bridle. "What is that smell?" Aragorn asked sniffing Merry while standing next to him.
"While I was trying to get control of the stallion, I slipped on something." Merry face was somewhat red with embarrassment.
"Remember now, this horse will only come to you. His spirit is still wild and he will not allow anyone near him. He is now your horse." Aragorn told him, while taking the stone from Merry and placed it back in his traveling bag.
Aragorn sat on a bench and filled his pipe. Smoking it, Aragorn watched Merry as he got on the stallion and bolted out of the stables.
The stallion obeyed ever command that Merry asked of him. Then allowing the stallion to run at full speed, Merry laughed as he felt himself soaring in the sky with the eagles with the speed this stallion possessed. Merry learned each movement of this stallion as it pranced and dashed through the evening hours running through the grounds of Mirkwood and open pasture lands.
Returning back to the stables, Aragorn told Merry to get off his horse and remove the saddle and bridle. Merry looked at Aragorn oddly because he knew the stallion would turn and run away once it was free of these things. Just as he predicted, the stallion took off running away from the stables.
"Call to him, Merry." Aragorn instructed.
Merry whistled just like Aragorn had taught him and within seconds the stallion returned back to Merry.
Aragorn smiled to Merry knowing how much this gift had meant to him. "He will always return to you, whenever you call to him. You no longer need to tie him up. Let him run free as he was meant to be. Until you need him."
"Thank you Aargorn. This is the finest gift that I have ever had."
"Come, it is time to meet the others in the garden. We have more work to be done." Aragorn placed his arm around Merry and watched the stallion run free as they headed towards the gardens.
Deceived
Estella beamed with a brilliant smile, as the line of guests congratulated her and Merry by her side. Aragorn stood next to Merry and King Thranduil beside him. Estella was introduced to so many elves that she could never keep their names straight. As the line dwindled down, Legolas and Gimli was the last to congratulated the new couple. On bent knee, Legolas first kissed Estella's hand and she giggled be kissed by a prince. The week that Legolas and Gimli traveled with them, Estella grew very fond of these two and considered them both dear friends. She could not imagine how she had once feared them, the first time she had seen them. She understood that if Merry ever needed his friends, that these two would always be ready to help him. Gimli shyly kissed Estella hand, just has Legolas had done previously. Estella looked into Gimli's eyes. He gave her a wink and a smile. She squeezed his hand tightly. Gimli then stood in front of Merry and grasped his hand in his, doing this Aragorn placed his hand on top of the two, and Legolas and Merry did the same. All four looked at each other as they again silently gave each other their respect and friendship.
King Thranduil seeing this, while he stood next to some of his dignitaries asked, "Let us all go into my chamber to open a special bottle of the oldest wine there is, to toast Merry. Legolas, please join us, bring your friend as well." King Thranduil looked at Gimli, then his son.
Legolas agreed and Gimli followed them with Aragorn behind him. When they entered the corridor, Gimli picked up his traveling bag and placed it over his shoulder. They all followed the king as he walked them to his private chambers.
King Thranduil opened the doors to his great chambers. The servants were opening the bottles of wine and pouring them into tall clear wineglasses. They handed one to each of the guests.
King Thranduil, holding up his glass of wine, said, "This is one of our most treasured items in Mirkwood, of which we have many. Let us raise our glass to honor Merry of the Shire and wish him many years of happiness with his new bride." They all toasted Merry. The king's guests had never tasted a wine such as this and they all marveled at its flavor.
"We have many treasures here at Mirkwood such as this wine, would you care to see our most treasured piece?" King Thruanduil asked Merry.
Knowing what his father was about to show them, Legolas felt his father only wanted to flaunt over Gimli the Hearth Stone. "Your highness, I do not think Merry would be interested in seeing that stone."
"Nonsense, my son. It is not often that the stone is looked upon and admired for the perfection that it has. One should not leave Mirkwood, without seeing this wondrous sight."
Opening the hidden passageway behind the bookcase and having the guards lighting the torches to reveal the golden altar where the stone once sat, King Thranduil pretended a gasps in surprise when they saw the stone was missing.
"Guards, arrest that dwarf!" King Thranduil shouted in alarm.
Spears surrounded Gimli and Legolas was held back by Aragorn as he knew he would defend Gimli with his life.
"Now is not the time to fight, Legolas! Let me talk to your father." Aragorn ordered Legolas.
Aragorn turning to the king, saying, "King Thranduil, surely you jump to conclusion that our friend, Gimli would do such a thing. I know this dwarf's heart and he would never do such a thing as you accuse him of."
"Let him prove his honesty, here and now!-----guards search him and his bag." King Thranduil ordered.
Pulling the Hearth Stone from Gimli's bag, they all gasped and looked accusingly towards Gimli.
"I have never set eyes upon this stone before, someone has placed this in my bag to frame me," was all Gimli said.
"As any criminal would contend to say," King Thranduil accused him.
"You are wrong, father! I know Gimli and I believe him! Anyone could have placed that stone in his bag!" shouted Legolas, as Aragorn still held him back.
"Take the dwarf away and lock him up, we will see to his judgement tomorrow morning." King Thranduil ordered and dismissed his guests from his chamber.
The guards carefully placed the stone back on the altar and locked the bookcase. While, Gimli was lead to their lower level in Mirkwood. Locking his arms and legs in chains to the wall, the guards left him standing in the darkness behind a locked door.
Legolas cast his anger in his eyes towards his father, as Aragorn held tightly to Legolas and walked him out of the king's chamber.
King Thranduil evilly smiled as he leaded against the closed door. His plan had worked.
Merry ran back into the gardens and gathered his hobbits together, telling them what had just happened. The party was over with and they all went to their rooms.
Estella was in shock as Merry led her to his room. "Aragorn has asked to meet us all in the gardens later this evening. We must plan what we need to do next."
Legolas watched his father's chamber closely and began making his own plans.
~*~
After evening meal, Merry excused himself and walked down to the stables to see to his horses. The evening air was still warm and a gentle breeze followed Merry into the stables. This should have been the happiest day in Merry's life, but with Gimli locked up, he feared for his friend's life. With a heavy heart Merry opened the stable doors and walked in. Taking a few minutes, for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the stables. Merry could barely make out which stall his little colt was placed in. Following the line of stalls, he finally saw a young colt happily nursing on his mother. Merry was very pleased that the young colt had recovered from its ordeal. With the swishing of its small tail, Merry could see that the colt was brushed down so not a dot of mud was on its coat. It gleamed from the low evening sun that filtered through the open stable window.
The next stall, pacing in the small confined space, was Merry's stallion. The door was shut and locked to keep the stallion from getting out. It neighed and pawed the floor of its stall when the stallion noticed Merry watching him. Merry was happy seeing the stallion, now rested and fed. He looked no worse of wear from its harrowing ordeal being stuck in the mud with Merry all those hours this morning. The quietness of the stable gave Merry time to relax and think about everything that had happened today and he was lost in this thoughts.
Without warning, a hand grasped his shoulder and Merry screamed out of fright, turning to see Aragorn who now stood in front of him.
"Did you really have to scare the life out of me, Aragorn?"
"I am sorry, I guess my old ways has trained my feet to be very silent," Aragorn teased him.
"He is beautiful, isn't he Aragorn?" Merry said as he turned back to watch the stallion.
"That he is----which reminds me, I have not given you your wedding present yet."
"What is it?" Merry asked with a gleam in his eye from anticipation of something wonderful from Aragorn.
Placing his hand into his bag, he pulled out a stone that he had recognized from the time with the fellowship. This stone once belonged to Gandalf and he remembered it from the Mines of Moria.
"Gandalf gave this to me before he left with Frodo to the Greyhavens." Aragorn began to tell him, as he placed the stone in Merry's hand, and then continued, "you remember Shadowfax, Gandalf's horse?"
"Yes, I do."
"Gandalf shown me how to use this stone to control his horse. By holding this stone in your hand and whistling like this." Aragorn demonstrated the usual whistle that Gandalf taught him. Merry tried many times, until he was finally able to imitate the sound.
"Only you would be able to do this, once the horse eyes the stone and you whistle, this horse will only obey you from then on. You will be his master." Aragorn told him.
Opening the door, Aragorn let Merry into the stall and shut it behind him. Merry now faced the stallion alone.
Seeing Merry, the stallion charged him and Merry jumped to the side of the stall. The stallion reared its legs and pawed towards Merry as he dodged this way and that.
"Show the stallion the stone, Merry! What are you waiting for?" Asked Aragorn, almost laughing as he watched Merry ducking and dodging the angry horse.
"I'm trying! But he is not cooperating with me," Merry shouted almost in fear of his life.
"Hold the stone out to him!" Aragorn ordered him.
"Nice horse, see the pretty stone I have for you?"
"Oh....No! oops....easy now!"
"Quit playing around Merry, show him the damn stone!" Aragorn instructed, "Do not forget to whistle like I have shown you."
Aragorn heard a loud thud and hammering against the wall of the stall and then the whistle that he taught Merry. All of sudden the sound in the stall was quiet. Looking in, Aragorn almost busted out laughing hysterically seeing Merry laying flat down on the floor of the stall, holding the stone high in front of the horse. The stallion froze in its tracks as it watched Merry calmly.
Opening the stall Merry stood petting the stallion as it nuzzled up against him. Aragorn approached him handing him the bridle. "What is that smell?" Aragorn asked sniffing Merry while standing next to him.
"While I was trying to get control of the stallion, I slipped on something." Merry face was somewhat red with embarrassment.
"Remember now, this horse will only come to you. His spirit is still wild and he will not allow anyone near him. He is now your horse." Aragorn told him, while taking the stone from Merry and placed it back in his traveling bag.
Aragorn sat on a bench and filled his pipe. Smoking it, Aragorn watched Merry as he got on the stallion and bolted out of the stables.
The stallion obeyed ever command that Merry asked of him. Then allowing the stallion to run at full speed, Merry laughed as he felt himself soaring in the sky with the eagles with the speed this stallion possessed. Merry learned each movement of this stallion as it pranced and dashed through the evening hours running through the grounds of Mirkwood and open pasture lands.
Returning back to the stables, Aragorn told Merry to get off his horse and remove the saddle and bridle. Merry looked at Aragorn oddly because he knew the stallion would turn and run away once it was free of these things. Just as he predicted, the stallion took off running away from the stables.
"Call to him, Merry." Aragorn instructed.
Merry whistled just like Aragorn had taught him and within seconds the stallion returned back to Merry.
Aragorn smiled to Merry knowing how much this gift had meant to him. "He will always return to you, whenever you call to him. You no longer need to tie him up. Let him run free as he was meant to be. Until you need him."
"Thank you Aargorn. This is the finest gift that I have ever had."
"Come, it is time to meet the others in the garden. We have more work to be done." Aragorn placed his arm around Merry and watched the stallion run free as they headed towards the gardens.
