A/N: ::bangs head against wall:: I'm very sorry. I meant to put
translations for Ada at the bottom of the Chapter four, but forgot. Ada
means Dad or Daddy in Elvish. Adar is more formal, meaning Father.
Thank you very much to Kukabura for the chapter title!
* * * * *
Dilse, a female cook, wrapped meaty hands round my upper arms and physically hauled me out the door. Out in the corridor, face and beard dripping.
"Master Gimli, I know Elves are most vexing creatures, but you cannot kill him."
It took me a minute to work out what she was blathering on about. The bloodlust raging in my veins had not let me think clearly.
"Dilse, you do not understand what that Elf did! He."
"Alright, alright, Master Gimli. But you still shouldn't kill him."
"Why on Earth not?"
She shifted, looking sheepish. "This'll come across as very foolish, no doubt, but well, he's been growing on me. I've never taken a partner, though I always wanted young ones, and, I guess I feel slightly motherly towards him. She died, in the wars, remember? There was a celebration." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my response. "Not too motherly though. He is an Elf, after all. But I never took part in the fighting, nor made friends with those who did, so I've nothing personal against them." Another pause. "He's just too thin. It isn't natural. It's no surprise them others keep fainting. Eat like birds, they do."
This brought a smile to my face. Dilse was legendary for trying to get you to eat more than you wanted. Why should she be any different with Legolas?
The minute his name passed through my mind, fury started to grow. Dilse, seeing the change, pulled me down the corridor. "What did he do, then?"
"I made this box, and it was art Dilse, art! I know I shall never make it's like again, and I trusted him with it, and he, he.he did something with it." She didn't relax her grip on my arm. "Dilse, I'm not going to run back and attack him. I feel calmer now."
She let go of my arm, and it was with some puzzlement I noticed we had reached the healers. What were we doing here? Neither of us was hurt.
Dilse marched in, leaving me with little choice but to follow.
"In Master Gimli's chambers there is an Elf. He'll need medical attention." The healers glanced at each other, not moving. Dilse growled. "Move! And be quick about it, come on! He's a valuable slave." She waited 'till they looked ready. "Follow me!"
In a different life I might have wooed her, I thought wryly. She was everything I admired in a female: strong, not afraid to take charge, caring about others, and she was a brilliant cook. She would make a fine wife for anyone.
I settled back into my chair to wait.
* * * * *
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye, and turned to investigate. Shock is really far too feeble a word to describe what I felt when I saw a silver-haired Elf poking his head around the oak door leading to the healers inner sanctum.
"Who are you?" I demanded, even though I knew full well that this had to be one of the other slaves.
"I work here, I suppose. Are you the dwarf that took Legolas?" The question came out rushed, but the words were clear enough.
"Yes. And know I wish that I'd just said no, and left him to the mercies of the Noldor. Why d'you want to know?" My voice came out surly, which was good: I didn't want the Elf to think I liked Legolas.
"I worry about him. He reminds me of my younger brother." He stepped further into the room. "He is very young, you know. And he's been through a lot. Is he hurt?"
I vividly remembered the feel of my axe striking the young Elf's body. It made me feel nausea swell up into my throat. "Yes, I hurt him. He betrayed me."
Shock and anger flickered over the silver-haired Elf's face before it settled into a mask of calm neutrality once more. "You hurt him? I do not know why I am surprised, dwarf, but I am. What reason would you have for hurting him?"
"He betrayed me. I made a box, something I was truly proud of, and he did something with it."
"He must have had a reason."
"He did not!"
"I say he did. You are enslaving him."
I opened my mouth to retort, but words failed me. As much as I was loath to admit it, the Elf was right. Legolas did deserve some revenge. Remembering his cries of pain, and the sobbing I always heard at night, I felt guilt hollow out my insides.
"And was it really worth it? Over a box? I knew dwarves could be unfeeling, but to attack someone over a box? Even if you did feel proud of it, that is beyond the pale."
He was right. I saw that now. I also saw that as hard as I tried to deny it, I had come to care for Legolas. It was hard not to. He had an air about him, of what I did not know, that made you want to protect me, befriend him.
Maybe I had been slow to realise that cared for Legolas and that lashing out had been wrong, but I prided myself on being good at apologies, on the rare occasions when I needed to make them. And as good as the box had been, I deserved some punishment. I had treated Legolas like a common slave, worth less than dirt.
Mind made up, I set off back to my chambers, leaving a bewildered Elf behind me. Legolas deserved an apology. For that matter, so did I, but I was determined to apologise first.
* * * * *
Replies to reviews.
Lady Thwen - the internal conflict was Legolas deciding whether or not to destroy Gimli's box or not. He was feeling a tad guilty because Gimli trusted him.
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 - Sorry, I am very evil. I love cliff-hangers. Even if it's not me doing them, I still love cliff-hangers. Some have called me insane. I prefer 'different'.
Nina - Yes, sorry, no slash. I just wanted to try writing a nice PG friendship fic - I wasn't sure if I could!
Supergurl15 - I'm sure Legolas will be glad of cavalry whenever it arrives!
Rosie Rubix - I'm very sorry for not putting in a translation for 'Ada'. My bad. It's Elvish, meaning Dad or Daddy.
Arifel - Thank you! It's always nice to know someones enjoying one of my stories. It can be difficult getting stories up, can't it?
Andmetwan - I take it you don't like cliff-hangers?!
Jedi Cosmos - Hopefully next update will be coming soon. And no, it's going to start going better for Legolas, anytime now.
Marcy - all will be revealed next chapter!
Lissa - oy back at you!
Marj - Legolas is just feeling really down at the minute: he does expect to be a slave for the rest of his life, never see his father again, etc. So he's a bit crazed, and doing things he wouldn't normally do.
Cassandra - Yep, Gimli finally lost his temper. And what Legolas did with the box will be revealed next chapter. And I'm really, really glad you liked this chapter!
* * * * *
Dilse, a female cook, wrapped meaty hands round my upper arms and physically hauled me out the door. Out in the corridor, face and beard dripping.
"Master Gimli, I know Elves are most vexing creatures, but you cannot kill him."
It took me a minute to work out what she was blathering on about. The bloodlust raging in my veins had not let me think clearly.
"Dilse, you do not understand what that Elf did! He."
"Alright, alright, Master Gimli. But you still shouldn't kill him."
"Why on Earth not?"
She shifted, looking sheepish. "This'll come across as very foolish, no doubt, but well, he's been growing on me. I've never taken a partner, though I always wanted young ones, and, I guess I feel slightly motherly towards him. She died, in the wars, remember? There was a celebration." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my response. "Not too motherly though. He is an Elf, after all. But I never took part in the fighting, nor made friends with those who did, so I've nothing personal against them." Another pause. "He's just too thin. It isn't natural. It's no surprise them others keep fainting. Eat like birds, they do."
This brought a smile to my face. Dilse was legendary for trying to get you to eat more than you wanted. Why should she be any different with Legolas?
The minute his name passed through my mind, fury started to grow. Dilse, seeing the change, pulled me down the corridor. "What did he do, then?"
"I made this box, and it was art Dilse, art! I know I shall never make it's like again, and I trusted him with it, and he, he.he did something with it." She didn't relax her grip on my arm. "Dilse, I'm not going to run back and attack him. I feel calmer now."
She let go of my arm, and it was with some puzzlement I noticed we had reached the healers. What were we doing here? Neither of us was hurt.
Dilse marched in, leaving me with little choice but to follow.
"In Master Gimli's chambers there is an Elf. He'll need medical attention." The healers glanced at each other, not moving. Dilse growled. "Move! And be quick about it, come on! He's a valuable slave." She waited 'till they looked ready. "Follow me!"
In a different life I might have wooed her, I thought wryly. She was everything I admired in a female: strong, not afraid to take charge, caring about others, and she was a brilliant cook. She would make a fine wife for anyone.
I settled back into my chair to wait.
* * * * *
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye, and turned to investigate. Shock is really far too feeble a word to describe what I felt when I saw a silver-haired Elf poking his head around the oak door leading to the healers inner sanctum.
"Who are you?" I demanded, even though I knew full well that this had to be one of the other slaves.
"I work here, I suppose. Are you the dwarf that took Legolas?" The question came out rushed, but the words were clear enough.
"Yes. And know I wish that I'd just said no, and left him to the mercies of the Noldor. Why d'you want to know?" My voice came out surly, which was good: I didn't want the Elf to think I liked Legolas.
"I worry about him. He reminds me of my younger brother." He stepped further into the room. "He is very young, you know. And he's been through a lot. Is he hurt?"
I vividly remembered the feel of my axe striking the young Elf's body. It made me feel nausea swell up into my throat. "Yes, I hurt him. He betrayed me."
Shock and anger flickered over the silver-haired Elf's face before it settled into a mask of calm neutrality once more. "You hurt him? I do not know why I am surprised, dwarf, but I am. What reason would you have for hurting him?"
"He betrayed me. I made a box, something I was truly proud of, and he did something with it."
"He must have had a reason."
"He did not!"
"I say he did. You are enslaving him."
I opened my mouth to retort, but words failed me. As much as I was loath to admit it, the Elf was right. Legolas did deserve some revenge. Remembering his cries of pain, and the sobbing I always heard at night, I felt guilt hollow out my insides.
"And was it really worth it? Over a box? I knew dwarves could be unfeeling, but to attack someone over a box? Even if you did feel proud of it, that is beyond the pale."
He was right. I saw that now. I also saw that as hard as I tried to deny it, I had come to care for Legolas. It was hard not to. He had an air about him, of what I did not know, that made you want to protect me, befriend him.
Maybe I had been slow to realise that cared for Legolas and that lashing out had been wrong, but I prided myself on being good at apologies, on the rare occasions when I needed to make them. And as good as the box had been, I deserved some punishment. I had treated Legolas like a common slave, worth less than dirt.
Mind made up, I set off back to my chambers, leaving a bewildered Elf behind me. Legolas deserved an apology. For that matter, so did I, but I was determined to apologise first.
* * * * *
Replies to reviews.
Lady Thwen - the internal conflict was Legolas deciding whether or not to destroy Gimli's box or not. He was feeling a tad guilty because Gimli trusted him.
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 - Sorry, I am very evil. I love cliff-hangers. Even if it's not me doing them, I still love cliff-hangers. Some have called me insane. I prefer 'different'.
Nina - Yes, sorry, no slash. I just wanted to try writing a nice PG friendship fic - I wasn't sure if I could!
Supergurl15 - I'm sure Legolas will be glad of cavalry whenever it arrives!
Rosie Rubix - I'm very sorry for not putting in a translation for 'Ada'. My bad. It's Elvish, meaning Dad or Daddy.
Arifel - Thank you! It's always nice to know someones enjoying one of my stories. It can be difficult getting stories up, can't it?
Andmetwan - I take it you don't like cliff-hangers?!
Jedi Cosmos - Hopefully next update will be coming soon. And no, it's going to start going better for Legolas, anytime now.
Marcy - all will be revealed next chapter!
Lissa - oy back at you!
Marj - Legolas is just feeling really down at the minute: he does expect to be a slave for the rest of his life, never see his father again, etc. So he's a bit crazed, and doing things he wouldn't normally do.
Cassandra - Yep, Gimli finally lost his temper. And what Legolas did with the box will be revealed next chapter. And I'm really, really glad you liked this chapter!
Thank you very much to Kukabura for the chapter title!
* * * * *
Dilse, a female cook, wrapped meaty hands round my upper arms and physically hauled me out the door. Out in the corridor, face and beard dripping.
"Master Gimli, I know Elves are most vexing creatures, but you cannot kill him."
It took me a minute to work out what she was blathering on about. The bloodlust raging in my veins had not let me think clearly.
"Dilse, you do not understand what that Elf did! He."
"Alright, alright, Master Gimli. But you still shouldn't kill him."
"Why on Earth not?"
She shifted, looking sheepish. "This'll come across as very foolish, no doubt, but well, he's been growing on me. I've never taken a partner, though I always wanted young ones, and, I guess I feel slightly motherly towards him. She died, in the wars, remember? There was a celebration." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my response. "Not too motherly though. He is an Elf, after all. But I never took part in the fighting, nor made friends with those who did, so I've nothing personal against them." Another pause. "He's just too thin. It isn't natural. It's no surprise them others keep fainting. Eat like birds, they do."
This brought a smile to my face. Dilse was legendary for trying to get you to eat more than you wanted. Why should she be any different with Legolas?
The minute his name passed through my mind, fury started to grow. Dilse, seeing the change, pulled me down the corridor. "What did he do, then?"
"I made this box, and it was art Dilse, art! I know I shall never make it's like again, and I trusted him with it, and he, he.he did something with it." She didn't relax her grip on my arm. "Dilse, I'm not going to run back and attack him. I feel calmer now."
She let go of my arm, and it was with some puzzlement I noticed we had reached the healers. What were we doing here? Neither of us was hurt.
Dilse marched in, leaving me with little choice but to follow.
"In Master Gimli's chambers there is an Elf. He'll need medical attention." The healers glanced at each other, not moving. Dilse growled. "Move! And be quick about it, come on! He's a valuable slave." She waited 'till they looked ready. "Follow me!"
In a different life I might have wooed her, I thought wryly. She was everything I admired in a female: strong, not afraid to take charge, caring about others, and she was a brilliant cook. She would make a fine wife for anyone.
I settled back into my chair to wait.
* * * * *
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye, and turned to investigate. Shock is really far too feeble a word to describe what I felt when I saw a silver-haired Elf poking his head around the oak door leading to the healers inner sanctum.
"Who are you?" I demanded, even though I knew full well that this had to be one of the other slaves.
"I work here, I suppose. Are you the dwarf that took Legolas?" The question came out rushed, but the words were clear enough.
"Yes. And know I wish that I'd just said no, and left him to the mercies of the Noldor. Why d'you want to know?" My voice came out surly, which was good: I didn't want the Elf to think I liked Legolas.
"I worry about him. He reminds me of my younger brother." He stepped further into the room. "He is very young, you know. And he's been through a lot. Is he hurt?"
I vividly remembered the feel of my axe striking the young Elf's body. It made me feel nausea swell up into my throat. "Yes, I hurt him. He betrayed me."
Shock and anger flickered over the silver-haired Elf's face before it settled into a mask of calm neutrality once more. "You hurt him? I do not know why I am surprised, dwarf, but I am. What reason would you have for hurting him?"
"He betrayed me. I made a box, something I was truly proud of, and he did something with it."
"He must have had a reason."
"He did not!"
"I say he did. You are enslaving him."
I opened my mouth to retort, but words failed me. As much as I was loath to admit it, the Elf was right. Legolas did deserve some revenge. Remembering his cries of pain, and the sobbing I always heard at night, I felt guilt hollow out my insides.
"And was it really worth it? Over a box? I knew dwarves could be unfeeling, but to attack someone over a box? Even if you did feel proud of it, that is beyond the pale."
He was right. I saw that now. I also saw that as hard as I tried to deny it, I had come to care for Legolas. It was hard not to. He had an air about him, of what I did not know, that made you want to protect me, befriend him.
Maybe I had been slow to realise that cared for Legolas and that lashing out had been wrong, but I prided myself on being good at apologies, on the rare occasions when I needed to make them. And as good as the box had been, I deserved some punishment. I had treated Legolas like a common slave, worth less than dirt.
Mind made up, I set off back to my chambers, leaving a bewildered Elf behind me. Legolas deserved an apology. For that matter, so did I, but I was determined to apologise first.
* * * * *
Replies to reviews.
Lady Thwen - the internal conflict was Legolas deciding whether or not to destroy Gimli's box or not. He was feeling a tad guilty because Gimli trusted him.
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 - Sorry, I am very evil. I love cliff-hangers. Even if it's not me doing them, I still love cliff-hangers. Some have called me insane. I prefer 'different'.
Nina - Yes, sorry, no slash. I just wanted to try writing a nice PG friendship fic - I wasn't sure if I could!
Supergurl15 - I'm sure Legolas will be glad of cavalry whenever it arrives!
Rosie Rubix - I'm very sorry for not putting in a translation for 'Ada'. My bad. It's Elvish, meaning Dad or Daddy.
Arifel - Thank you! It's always nice to know someones enjoying one of my stories. It can be difficult getting stories up, can't it?
Andmetwan - I take it you don't like cliff-hangers?!
Jedi Cosmos - Hopefully next update will be coming soon. And no, it's going to start going better for Legolas, anytime now.
Marcy - all will be revealed next chapter!
Lissa - oy back at you!
Marj - Legolas is just feeling really down at the minute: he does expect to be a slave for the rest of his life, never see his father again, etc. So he's a bit crazed, and doing things he wouldn't normally do.
Cassandra - Yep, Gimli finally lost his temper. And what Legolas did with the box will be revealed next chapter. And I'm really, really glad you liked this chapter!
* * * * *
Dilse, a female cook, wrapped meaty hands round my upper arms and physically hauled me out the door. Out in the corridor, face and beard dripping.
"Master Gimli, I know Elves are most vexing creatures, but you cannot kill him."
It took me a minute to work out what she was blathering on about. The bloodlust raging in my veins had not let me think clearly.
"Dilse, you do not understand what that Elf did! He."
"Alright, alright, Master Gimli. But you still shouldn't kill him."
"Why on Earth not?"
She shifted, looking sheepish. "This'll come across as very foolish, no doubt, but well, he's been growing on me. I've never taken a partner, though I always wanted young ones, and, I guess I feel slightly motherly towards him. She died, in the wars, remember? There was a celebration." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my response. "Not too motherly though. He is an Elf, after all. But I never took part in the fighting, nor made friends with those who did, so I've nothing personal against them." Another pause. "He's just too thin. It isn't natural. It's no surprise them others keep fainting. Eat like birds, they do."
This brought a smile to my face. Dilse was legendary for trying to get you to eat more than you wanted. Why should she be any different with Legolas?
The minute his name passed through my mind, fury started to grow. Dilse, seeing the change, pulled me down the corridor. "What did he do, then?"
"I made this box, and it was art Dilse, art! I know I shall never make it's like again, and I trusted him with it, and he, he.he did something with it." She didn't relax her grip on my arm. "Dilse, I'm not going to run back and attack him. I feel calmer now."
She let go of my arm, and it was with some puzzlement I noticed we had reached the healers. What were we doing here? Neither of us was hurt.
Dilse marched in, leaving me with little choice but to follow.
"In Master Gimli's chambers there is an Elf. He'll need medical attention." The healers glanced at each other, not moving. Dilse growled. "Move! And be quick about it, come on! He's a valuable slave." She waited 'till they looked ready. "Follow me!"
In a different life I might have wooed her, I thought wryly. She was everything I admired in a female: strong, not afraid to take charge, caring about others, and she was a brilliant cook. She would make a fine wife for anyone.
I settled back into my chair to wait.
* * * * *
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye, and turned to investigate. Shock is really far too feeble a word to describe what I felt when I saw a silver-haired Elf poking his head around the oak door leading to the healers inner sanctum.
"Who are you?" I demanded, even though I knew full well that this had to be one of the other slaves.
"I work here, I suppose. Are you the dwarf that took Legolas?" The question came out rushed, but the words were clear enough.
"Yes. And know I wish that I'd just said no, and left him to the mercies of the Noldor. Why d'you want to know?" My voice came out surly, which was good: I didn't want the Elf to think I liked Legolas.
"I worry about him. He reminds me of my younger brother." He stepped further into the room. "He is very young, you know. And he's been through a lot. Is he hurt?"
I vividly remembered the feel of my axe striking the young Elf's body. It made me feel nausea swell up into my throat. "Yes, I hurt him. He betrayed me."
Shock and anger flickered over the silver-haired Elf's face before it settled into a mask of calm neutrality once more. "You hurt him? I do not know why I am surprised, dwarf, but I am. What reason would you have for hurting him?"
"He betrayed me. I made a box, something I was truly proud of, and he did something with it."
"He must have had a reason."
"He did not!"
"I say he did. You are enslaving him."
I opened my mouth to retort, but words failed me. As much as I was loath to admit it, the Elf was right. Legolas did deserve some revenge. Remembering his cries of pain, and the sobbing I always heard at night, I felt guilt hollow out my insides.
"And was it really worth it? Over a box? I knew dwarves could be unfeeling, but to attack someone over a box? Even if you did feel proud of it, that is beyond the pale."
He was right. I saw that now. I also saw that as hard as I tried to deny it, I had come to care for Legolas. It was hard not to. He had an air about him, of what I did not know, that made you want to protect me, befriend him.
Maybe I had been slow to realise that cared for Legolas and that lashing out had been wrong, but I prided myself on being good at apologies, on the rare occasions when I needed to make them. And as good as the box had been, I deserved some punishment. I had treated Legolas like a common slave, worth less than dirt.
Mind made up, I set off back to my chambers, leaving a bewildered Elf behind me. Legolas deserved an apology. For that matter, so did I, but I was determined to apologise first.
* * * * *
Replies to reviews.
Lady Thwen - the internal conflict was Legolas deciding whether or not to destroy Gimli's box or not. He was feeling a tad guilty because Gimli trusted him.
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 - Sorry, I am very evil. I love cliff-hangers. Even if it's not me doing them, I still love cliff-hangers. Some have called me insane. I prefer 'different'.
Nina - Yes, sorry, no slash. I just wanted to try writing a nice PG friendship fic - I wasn't sure if I could!
Supergurl15 - I'm sure Legolas will be glad of cavalry whenever it arrives!
Rosie Rubix - I'm very sorry for not putting in a translation for 'Ada'. My bad. It's Elvish, meaning Dad or Daddy.
Arifel - Thank you! It's always nice to know someones enjoying one of my stories. It can be difficult getting stories up, can't it?
Andmetwan - I take it you don't like cliff-hangers?!
Jedi Cosmos - Hopefully next update will be coming soon. And no, it's going to start going better for Legolas, anytime now.
Marcy - all will be revealed next chapter!
Lissa - oy back at you!
Marj - Legolas is just feeling really down at the minute: he does expect to be a slave for the rest of his life, never see his father again, etc. So he's a bit crazed, and doing things he wouldn't normally do.
Cassandra - Yep, Gimli finally lost his temper. And what Legolas did with the box will be revealed next chapter. And I'm really, really glad you liked this chapter!
