A/N: I'm so sorry about the length of time between updates. I'm currently
in my last term of university, and very busy with all that involves.
Anyway, please feel free to call me evil, wicked etc for the length of time
between updates, and accept my humble offering of a slightly longer chapter
than normal.
* * * * *
Alleyways concealed by dark shadows, tall houses looming over the roadways. Everything sinister, suspicious, threatening.
That was how I had expected Bree to look.
The reality was quite different.
The sun's rays warmed cobbled streets, and painted houses cast cool shadows down on the edges of roads. Women chattered in their gardens, hanging washing out, and apples could be smelt from a nearby orchard. The other travellers we passed ignored us; we returned the favour.
Why I had expected it to look so different, I had no idea. However, I did suspect it was something to do with how terse Aragorn became whenever the subject of Bree, or Gandalf, was mentioned. Why he had to be so mysterious, I did not know, though I did suspect it was something to do with being brought up by Elves. He couldn't have survived it unaffected.
He was currently leading us into the centre of the town, where front gardens were small, or, more commonly, non-existent. I sincerely hoped Aragorn knew where he was going - the streets were narrow and twisty, and to me, all looked very similar.
However, Legolas hadn't voiced any worries, so I wasn't going to either. I became glad of this when we stopped outside a small pub, entitled 'The Prancing Pony.'
"Why have we stopped? Cannot we go in?" If Legolas hadn't asked, I would've. Aragorn was looking at us with a worried expression.
"Can you two put your hoods up?"
What? "Why?" I queried.
"Because we don't want to draw too much attention, and an Elf and a dwarf would draw too much attention."
Beside me, Legolas pulled his hood up, so I decided not to press the issue. Drawing my hood up over my head, I followed both of them in.
The interior of the inn did look as I had expected. Dark wood beams supported the ceiling and walls and lamps lit the smoky air. Men in various stages of inebriation either sat at round tables scattered around the room or leaned up against the bar. The bartender was in deep conversation with another man, but quickly hurried over on noticing Aragorn.
"Strider! How can I be helping you?" So. This man was not someone Aragorn trusted. But then, I wasn't surprised - I wouldn't trust him. He didn't look as if intelligence was one of his virtues.
"I'm looking for Gandalf, Barliman."
"Gandalf? I 'aven't seen 'im around for a while. Word is 'e's spending time in the Shire. Got 'obbit friends, 'e 'as. If you're looking, my guess is, 'e's there." It was said like a prophetic announcement, as if there was no chance of him being wrong.
Aragorn merely nodded politely. "Thank you. We'll spend a night here, then move on."
"I'll arrange rooms for you then, Master Strider. Do you and your companions 'ave any 'orsies? Will you be requiring any dinner? Only that's extra, you know, but breakfast is on the 'ouse."
"No, no horses. And yes, dinner would be nice."
"Right then. You pay in the morning, and I'll get someone to escort you to your rooms now." His next move was to turn and yell, so loudly I couldn't make out what was actually. Evidently, someone understood, because the next arrival was a young, and very peculiar, boy. Nothing wrong with him, I suppose, but he had a full head of very curly hair, and were his ears..no. They couldn't be. I decided to ignore him, and fall to the back. As a consequence I was the last to exit the room, and last to enter the room we would apparently be staying in.
It was nice enough, with small windows, a hardwood floor, white painted walls, and thick brown beams stretched across the ceiling. There were four beds; one too many, but I guessed parties of four were more common than parties of three.
The boy left, and Aragorn shut and locked the door behind him. Legolas, obviously not agreeing with me on the 'ignoring unusual things' policy, spun to face Aragorn, whipping his hood off in one smooth move.
"Aragorn, who was he? For I have never seen anything like him. Human features, Elf ears, dwarf feet.. what was he?"
"Not dwarf feet. Hobbit feet. That's what he was. I forgot that neither of you will have seen a Hobbit before. It's not surprising: they keep to themselves. Few ever leave the Shire." He paused, thinking, then smiled. Was it me, or did he looked as if he were trying not to laugh? "And, Legolas.."
"Yes?"
"I really doubt dwarf feet are that hairy." He definitely sounded as if he was trying not to laugh.
"How hairy?" I almost growled. I wasn't sure, but I was almost positive that had been insulting.
"Gimli, Legolas probably meant nothing by it." I was fairly sure that Legolas, who was now lying laughing on his bed, had meant something by it. "He probably just assumed that dwarves might have hairy feet, because of their illustrious beards."
I mulled over that. It wasn't outside the realms of possibility, of course. Legolas, being a typical Elf and having no beard, was probably ignorant as to what body hair was. After all, as my father always taught me, the Valar punished the Elves for their many sins by depriving them of body hair, so they would always know that the dwarves were superior to them in every way possible. Aragorn's explanation made sense.
"Fine. I accept the Elf's apology."
Legolas finally stopped his inane giggles. "What?! As if I would ever apologise to you." I decided not to point out that in the past he had. "Especially when I have done nothing to apologise for!"
I gave up on the not reminding Legolas about his previous apology. It was really a favour to the Elf: how could I let him go through life so unaware of how hopelessly wrong he was?
"Actually, you have apologised to me in the past."
"Gimli, I think old age is distorting your memories."
"As if! Elf, my memories remain as clear as they ever did. I think it is you who have forgotten in your insufferable pride!"
"Your memories were never very clear to begin with, so saying that they stay the same is hardly saying very much." He glared at me. "And I am not insufferably proud!"
"As long as you believe that, I suppose that's all that matters." I put all my effort into sounding as disdainful as possible.
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Nothing."
Legolas paused for a moment, before his eyes narrowed. "So, basically, your arguments have been defeated by my superior wit."
"Superior wit?! And you say you're not insufferably proud."
On the other side of the room, Aragorn rolled over on his bed with a groan, before sticking his head under a pillow.
* * * * *
Responses to reviews.
P.Rico - I'm very honoured you reviewed two chapters in a row, if you don't normally. And yes, isn't Legolas clever?
MoroTheWolfGod - Scene was e-mailed. If you didn't get it, tell me. Yahoo Mail is wonderful at mucking up.
Dy - I couldn't just cut his hair though - the mental image of Aragorn with short hair gives me the giggles.
SperryDee - He is a bit icky. Though, in his defence, there probably aren't too many baths lying about the woods of Middle-Earth.
Nina - I completely agreed with the 'Legolas's hair is too beautiful' thing. Don't worry, his hair will be spared.
Kit Cloudkicker - Yay! Another believer that Legolas is cleverer than he looks. There are too many fics where Legolas is portrayed as a feminine, dumb blonde.
Dragon-of-the-North - I thought about not telling you where it was from, but decided against as I wasn't sure how many countries it was published in. Didn't want to give Britons an unfair advantage, and my copy is from a British publisher. And yes, Legolas has made a recovery from his slave- days, and no, I promise I'm not cutting off anyone's hair!
Jen - Thanks! And thank you for reviewing.
Jaded Scorpio - You're a much better reviewer than me! I'm very glad you love the story, and I agree with you about loving the ToI bit!
Ele - You thought horse? I thought pig! Don't really know why, though I guess because of pig's trotters. Anyway, like you, I am very glad it was changed.
tenshiamanda - They do create plot-bunnies, don't they? Though most of mine have been of the slashy, adult variety, which I suppose I shouldn't talk about here. Don't want to give FF.net any excuse to yank this. Glad you liked the chapter!
Lady Thwen - A few more chapters, then Elrond will arrive. Still trying to work out how to fit the twins in, but they will be there. Maybe as strong- but-silent guards.
Andmetwen - Well, I care about Aragorn, but I still agree he needs a hair wash! Though, I suppose you could say they were trying to be realistic, by giving him greasy hair..
Kukabura - Galadriel? This is where the fact that I can't keep my mouth shut (or fingers still) becomes a problem. Anyway, I'm not going to tell you anything (though I really, really want to) but Galadriel will be there. And, I think Ungoliant has probably eaten herself. Unless Gimli decides he doesn't want this to end and persuades her to come and attack.
AA Battery - Here! More! Though, I'm sorry it took a long time in coming. And the plan of how they're going to get Legolas into Rivendell hasn't been fine-tuned yet, but I have a few ideas..
Alasse - I know! I'm so glad Tolkien came to his senses..no offence to Hobbits, but Aragorn being one would not have worked.
brazos - Thank you! I'm glad you're finding this funny - I was thinking about changing the genre to angst/humour, but thought that might look a bit weird..
Equinox - I'm sorry for the long wait! But, I have (finally) updated with more.
Dis - I think Gimli's name will be forever smeared - undoing centuries of prejudice is a bit of a big task, and Gimli will probably go down in history as 'the weird one that made friends with an Elf.' Still, hopefully he will be able to go home etc.
Ankhesanamun - No! I can't cut Legolas' hair! Though, if I ever feel the urge to, I will remember you and your scissors..
* * * * *
Alleyways concealed by dark shadows, tall houses looming over the roadways. Everything sinister, suspicious, threatening.
That was how I had expected Bree to look.
The reality was quite different.
The sun's rays warmed cobbled streets, and painted houses cast cool shadows down on the edges of roads. Women chattered in their gardens, hanging washing out, and apples could be smelt from a nearby orchard. The other travellers we passed ignored us; we returned the favour.
Why I had expected it to look so different, I had no idea. However, I did suspect it was something to do with how terse Aragorn became whenever the subject of Bree, or Gandalf, was mentioned. Why he had to be so mysterious, I did not know, though I did suspect it was something to do with being brought up by Elves. He couldn't have survived it unaffected.
He was currently leading us into the centre of the town, where front gardens were small, or, more commonly, non-existent. I sincerely hoped Aragorn knew where he was going - the streets were narrow and twisty, and to me, all looked very similar.
However, Legolas hadn't voiced any worries, so I wasn't going to either. I became glad of this when we stopped outside a small pub, entitled 'The Prancing Pony.'
"Why have we stopped? Cannot we go in?" If Legolas hadn't asked, I would've. Aragorn was looking at us with a worried expression.
"Can you two put your hoods up?"
What? "Why?" I queried.
"Because we don't want to draw too much attention, and an Elf and a dwarf would draw too much attention."
Beside me, Legolas pulled his hood up, so I decided not to press the issue. Drawing my hood up over my head, I followed both of them in.
The interior of the inn did look as I had expected. Dark wood beams supported the ceiling and walls and lamps lit the smoky air. Men in various stages of inebriation either sat at round tables scattered around the room or leaned up against the bar. The bartender was in deep conversation with another man, but quickly hurried over on noticing Aragorn.
"Strider! How can I be helping you?" So. This man was not someone Aragorn trusted. But then, I wasn't surprised - I wouldn't trust him. He didn't look as if intelligence was one of his virtues.
"I'm looking for Gandalf, Barliman."
"Gandalf? I 'aven't seen 'im around for a while. Word is 'e's spending time in the Shire. Got 'obbit friends, 'e 'as. If you're looking, my guess is, 'e's there." It was said like a prophetic announcement, as if there was no chance of him being wrong.
Aragorn merely nodded politely. "Thank you. We'll spend a night here, then move on."
"I'll arrange rooms for you then, Master Strider. Do you and your companions 'ave any 'orsies? Will you be requiring any dinner? Only that's extra, you know, but breakfast is on the 'ouse."
"No, no horses. And yes, dinner would be nice."
"Right then. You pay in the morning, and I'll get someone to escort you to your rooms now." His next move was to turn and yell, so loudly I couldn't make out what was actually. Evidently, someone understood, because the next arrival was a young, and very peculiar, boy. Nothing wrong with him, I suppose, but he had a full head of very curly hair, and were his ears..no. They couldn't be. I decided to ignore him, and fall to the back. As a consequence I was the last to exit the room, and last to enter the room we would apparently be staying in.
It was nice enough, with small windows, a hardwood floor, white painted walls, and thick brown beams stretched across the ceiling. There were four beds; one too many, but I guessed parties of four were more common than parties of three.
The boy left, and Aragorn shut and locked the door behind him. Legolas, obviously not agreeing with me on the 'ignoring unusual things' policy, spun to face Aragorn, whipping his hood off in one smooth move.
"Aragorn, who was he? For I have never seen anything like him. Human features, Elf ears, dwarf feet.. what was he?"
"Not dwarf feet. Hobbit feet. That's what he was. I forgot that neither of you will have seen a Hobbit before. It's not surprising: they keep to themselves. Few ever leave the Shire." He paused, thinking, then smiled. Was it me, or did he looked as if he were trying not to laugh? "And, Legolas.."
"Yes?"
"I really doubt dwarf feet are that hairy." He definitely sounded as if he was trying not to laugh.
"How hairy?" I almost growled. I wasn't sure, but I was almost positive that had been insulting.
"Gimli, Legolas probably meant nothing by it." I was fairly sure that Legolas, who was now lying laughing on his bed, had meant something by it. "He probably just assumed that dwarves might have hairy feet, because of their illustrious beards."
I mulled over that. It wasn't outside the realms of possibility, of course. Legolas, being a typical Elf and having no beard, was probably ignorant as to what body hair was. After all, as my father always taught me, the Valar punished the Elves for their many sins by depriving them of body hair, so they would always know that the dwarves were superior to them in every way possible. Aragorn's explanation made sense.
"Fine. I accept the Elf's apology."
Legolas finally stopped his inane giggles. "What?! As if I would ever apologise to you." I decided not to point out that in the past he had. "Especially when I have done nothing to apologise for!"
I gave up on the not reminding Legolas about his previous apology. It was really a favour to the Elf: how could I let him go through life so unaware of how hopelessly wrong he was?
"Actually, you have apologised to me in the past."
"Gimli, I think old age is distorting your memories."
"As if! Elf, my memories remain as clear as they ever did. I think it is you who have forgotten in your insufferable pride!"
"Your memories were never very clear to begin with, so saying that they stay the same is hardly saying very much." He glared at me. "And I am not insufferably proud!"
"As long as you believe that, I suppose that's all that matters." I put all my effort into sounding as disdainful as possible.
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Nothing."
Legolas paused for a moment, before his eyes narrowed. "So, basically, your arguments have been defeated by my superior wit."
"Superior wit?! And you say you're not insufferably proud."
On the other side of the room, Aragorn rolled over on his bed with a groan, before sticking his head under a pillow.
* * * * *
Responses to reviews.
P.Rico - I'm very honoured you reviewed two chapters in a row, if you don't normally. And yes, isn't Legolas clever?
MoroTheWolfGod - Scene was e-mailed. If you didn't get it, tell me. Yahoo Mail is wonderful at mucking up.
Dy - I couldn't just cut his hair though - the mental image of Aragorn with short hair gives me the giggles.
SperryDee - He is a bit icky. Though, in his defence, there probably aren't too many baths lying about the woods of Middle-Earth.
Nina - I completely agreed with the 'Legolas's hair is too beautiful' thing. Don't worry, his hair will be spared.
Kit Cloudkicker - Yay! Another believer that Legolas is cleverer than he looks. There are too many fics where Legolas is portrayed as a feminine, dumb blonde.
Dragon-of-the-North - I thought about not telling you where it was from, but decided against as I wasn't sure how many countries it was published in. Didn't want to give Britons an unfair advantage, and my copy is from a British publisher. And yes, Legolas has made a recovery from his slave- days, and no, I promise I'm not cutting off anyone's hair!
Jen - Thanks! And thank you for reviewing.
Jaded Scorpio - You're a much better reviewer than me! I'm very glad you love the story, and I agree with you about loving the ToI bit!
Ele - You thought horse? I thought pig! Don't really know why, though I guess because of pig's trotters. Anyway, like you, I am very glad it was changed.
tenshiamanda - They do create plot-bunnies, don't they? Though most of mine have been of the slashy, adult variety, which I suppose I shouldn't talk about here. Don't want to give FF.net any excuse to yank this. Glad you liked the chapter!
Lady Thwen - A few more chapters, then Elrond will arrive. Still trying to work out how to fit the twins in, but they will be there. Maybe as strong- but-silent guards.
Andmetwen - Well, I care about Aragorn, but I still agree he needs a hair wash! Though, I suppose you could say they were trying to be realistic, by giving him greasy hair..
Kukabura - Galadriel? This is where the fact that I can't keep my mouth shut (or fingers still) becomes a problem. Anyway, I'm not going to tell you anything (though I really, really want to) but Galadriel will be there. And, I think Ungoliant has probably eaten herself. Unless Gimli decides he doesn't want this to end and persuades her to come and attack.
AA Battery - Here! More! Though, I'm sorry it took a long time in coming. And the plan of how they're going to get Legolas into Rivendell hasn't been fine-tuned yet, but I have a few ideas..
Alasse - I know! I'm so glad Tolkien came to his senses..no offence to Hobbits, but Aragorn being one would not have worked.
brazos - Thank you! I'm glad you're finding this funny - I was thinking about changing the genre to angst/humour, but thought that might look a bit weird..
Equinox - I'm sorry for the long wait! But, I have (finally) updated with more.
Dis - I think Gimli's name will be forever smeared - undoing centuries of prejudice is a bit of a big task, and Gimli will probably go down in history as 'the weird one that made friends with an Elf.' Still, hopefully he will be able to go home etc.
Ankhesanamun - No! I can't cut Legolas' hair! Though, if I ever feel the urge to, I will remember you and your scissors..
