This chapter is also not beta-ed yet.
You'll find out that I didn't mention several things in these coming chapters; which includes the monster in the water, the big fat monster in the tomb chamber etc. I hope that will not disappoint you all.
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Gandalf sat on a rock, puffing on his pipe, as he grew deep in thought.
The rest of the fellowship let the wizard figure out which way they were suppose to take now that they had encountered three different tunnels after almost an hour of walking. Gandalf had suddenly stopped short and announced that he couldn't remember which tunnel would lead to the correct path.
The hobbits gratefully settled down on their cloaks and munched on some apples. Boromir lay down on the ground and dozed off, while Gimli sat beside Aragorn on a ledge several yards away. Legolas had vanished through the passage they had just walked through earlier. "To keep watch for any unwanted shadow," he had said.
The dwarf stared at the ranger thoughtfully. Aragorn had his back leaning against the rocky wall, and his eyes were gazing steadily at a distance. Gimli knew this would be the only suitable time to discuss a certain matter that kept disturbing his mind. "What are you thinking?"
Aragorn glanced at Gimli with narrowed eyes. "Nothing."
"Yeah, right." The dwarf snorted. "Are you thinking about Legolas?"
Aragorn didn't answer, wishing terribly that the dwarf would go away and leave him be.
But Gimli was persistent. "Why are you so angry with him?"
"None of your business, Gimli," Aragorn said through gritted teeth.
"It is my business. Legolas is my friend. I thought he is your friend too."
Fuming, Aragorn didn't reply.
"I wonder, exactly how bad it was the deed he'd done that totally surpassed all those terrible things he'd endured for your sake all those years ago?"
Aragorn's eyes widened. The dwarf knows?
The man opened his mouth to speak, but Gimli was not finished. "Does it have to be this way, Aragorn? Made one mistake and forever he is spurned? All his thousands of good deeds totally erased by only one error? Does the kind hearted Legolas had instantly turned into a dishonorable person in your eyes? Does his love for you mean nothing at all? Truthfully, I envy your friendship with him. I knew him a lot longer than he knew you, but he is closer to you than he is with me. And now you are throwing it all away, slapping them back at his face. Was his mistake so bad that you can't forgive him?"
"Shut up, Gimli! You know nothing at all!" Aragorn said, totally uneasy with the whole conversation.
"I might be ignorant of the reason that caused this rift between you two, but I can never forget that day Keldarion had carried the half naked Legolas to our home and begged for blankets! The light that was shining bright in his eyes the first time I saw him was not there anymore! It took me years to figure out what had caused it! If you think he doesn't deserve your forgiveness after all that he'd gone through for you, then I'm sorry to say that you are not worthy enough to be his friend!"
With that, Gimli jumped off the ledge and headed towards the direction that Legolas had gone to.
Aragorn sat there unmoving. He was incredibly speechless. Stunned. Stupefied.
The dwarf didn't even need to use his axe to give Aragorn a mighty blow. Gimli's words were enough to left him feeling like he was only two inches tall.
Some sense had finally burst through that thick-skull brain of his. He just hoped that he was not too late to repair the troubled friendship he had with Legolas.
If the friendship still existed.
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Legolas winced as he gingerly touched his injured side. Ai! It's not healing properly! He grimaced when the pressure sent waves of agony all over him, making him nauseous that instant. Lord, it hurts! What am I to do, now?
Approaching footsteps alerted him suddenly. As quickly as he could, Legolas refastened the catches of his tunics and picked up his bow from the ground. He turned to face the stout person coming towards him. "Oh, Gimli. Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, elf. I just want to know how you're doing," said Gimli, eyeing Legolas up and down. He is hiding something, but what?
"Everything's fine, Gimli. So far, no one seems to be following us," Legolas replied. "Has Gandalf make his decision?"
So, he's not going to tell me, is he? Gimli frowned. I asked about how you were doing, you stupid elf! Not about the stupid ringwraiths or whatever!
"Gandalf was still thinking the last time I saw him," the dwarf answered. "It might take a while. Aren't you going to get some rest?"
"I am resting."
"No, you're not. You're keeping watch. Go and lie down with the rest of them. I'll take over."
"Gimli…"
"Want me to hit you on the head to make you listen to me?" said Gimli, raising his axe in warning.
Legolas held up both hands in surrender. "Easy, dwarf. I'll follow your orders. Just keep that thing away from me!" Chuckling, Legolas then turned and left unhurriedly.
Gimli's eyes were not as keen as the elf's, but he could see the steps that Legolas took were not as smooth and graceful as usual. Is the elf in pain?
The dwarf abandoned his spot and came running after Legolas. Legolas raised his eyebrows quizzically when he saw Gimli following him. "I thought you said you want to keep watch?"
"Tell me the truth, Legolas. Are you all right?" Gimli growled.
"Err…"
"Hey, you two!" Boromir called out suddenly as he saw them approached. "Gandalf has finally remembered the way!"
The wizard frowned at the man. "It's the air, Boromir, that tells me the direction. You should try sniffing the air and you'll find out the difference."
Gimli growled in frustration when Legolas rushed ahead to follow Gandalf and the others. Darn! He's evading my question! He is hiding something!
Still grumbling under his breath, the dwarf proceeded to catch up with the rest of the company.
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Aragorn kept glancing at Legolas, trying to figure out the best way to approach his friend and settle the rift between them. He thought he was imagining it, but he had caught Legolas stumbling several times already. Is he all right?
Gimli had totally forgotten his concern about the elf. As they all followed the wizard through the magnificent space of Moria, he looked around him in growing anxiety. Where is everybody? Why is this place so quiet?
Gandalf also knew this. Something terrible had already happened here, no doubt about it. He looked down when the dwarf grabbed his cloak. "Gandalf, something's wrong."
The wizard nodded grimly. "I'm afraid that you're right, master Gimli."
"This place seems so empty," Pippin voiced out. "Where are the dwarves? Are they all dead?"
"Pippin!" Merry admonished the other hobbit, indicating the worried Gimli beside them.
Pippin lowered down his head guiltily. "Sorry, Gimli."
But Gimli didn't hear the hobbits. He was staring at an opened doorway on his left, before running towards it. He feared to know what he'd find out, but he needed to know.
"Gimli!" The others were startled, and then began to follow the dwarf. They found themselves entering a large square chamber.
Gimli was kneeling in front of a tomb, sobbing earnestly. "He's dead! My cousin Balin is dead!'
They surrounded around him, staring at the words that were engraved on the slab runes.
"Here lies Balin son of Fundin," Gandalf read. He placed a consoling hand on the dwarf's trembling shoulder. "I'm sorry for your lost, Gimli."
The others lowered their heads in silent respect. Pippin even came closer to Gimli and gave him a comforting hug. The dwarf lost his pride for a moment and let himself being held.
But Legolas had gone deathly still. He was listening and sensing very intently, a look of distress marred his fair features. "Orcs!!" he blurted.
And that's when the rest of the fellowship heard it.
A sound of echoing blast of a great horn came from outside the chamber amid loud frenzy cries. Thunderous sound of footsteps was heard approaching at fast pace.
TBC….
Yes, I know! The evil cliffie from Mordor!!!!