Thanks to all of my reviewers! I'm so happy....5 reviews!!!!!!
Marissa: You are my first reviewer of my first Lord of the Rings fanfic! When I read on
the review page "1 review" I screamed and jumped up from my chair, prancing
about like a lunatic! I'm glad you like it!
Artemisa: I'll try my best to keep Elladan and Elrohir in the stories. I was thinking of having one of them accompany Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to Mirkwood. Thanks for the compliments!
Fairylady: Wow! Thanks a bundle for your review! I'll try to keep reviewing as fast as I
can but with school and my after-study sports, it's getting difficult. Hope you like
this chapter!
Bill-the-Pony: You're one of my favorite authors and I got a review from you! :-D I'm
so happy that you like my story. It's great to hear it from someone who's style of
writing you know. Again, thanks.
Lutris: Haha, know what you mean about Gimli. He's great and all, but he's quite
stubborn. So is Legolas, so in the first chapter I tried to make them play a battle
of wits, so to speak. But no one won....yet......
Author's Notes: I didn't notice until I posted the story that the italics from my computer don't work on the fanfiction site. Therefore, some changes are to be made. Common tongue is still in ("..."), but now Elvish is in (~...~) and thoughts are in ({...}). Sorry if I confused you last chapter! Also, if anyone could possibly tell me how to translate Sindarin, it would be appreciated! I have no idea how to speak it! Thanks!
And now, on with the story!
Chapter Two
Legolas woke early the next day, the sun just breaking the horizon. He dressed and walked to the balcony, overlooking the gardens of Rivendell. Many Elves were already awake, picking the fragrant flowers. One man picked an especially beautiful one and gave it to his spouse, who modestly smelled it and kissed him in return. Legolas wondered if he would ever have a mate.
He brushed aside the thought and began packing his things. He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
~Come in.~
Elladan poked his head in.
~May I join you?~
~I am almost finished.~
Elladan walked over to Legolas's pack and pulled out a rumpled tunic.
~No you aren't. Who taught you how to fold you clothes? A Balrog?~
Legolas chuckled. Elladan always had a way of brightening peoples' day. Legolas pulled out a chair and motioned for Elladan to sit in it.
~Are you ready for today?~ Elladan asked, striking up a conversation.
~What do you mean?~
~You'll be spending months with a Dwarf. You need to be prepared.~
~I have been spending years hiding from Orcs, Wargs and spiders all my life. I think I can control one intemperate Dwarf.~
~Are you sure of this? Spiders and Orcs attack with weapons and fangs, but Dwarves attack with words. Do you know of your fate in the battle of words?~
~Ha! A Dwarf? Outsmart an elf? That'll be the day.~
~Have you ever met a Dwarf before?~
~Of course not. I don't converse with the filthy creatures of the world.~
~Filthy they may be, but Dwarves are smarter than you think. I should know....~
~Why?~ Legolas had a feeling he was prying into information not suitable for him.
~It is a long story. I am sure Gimli will tell you. He enjoys revealing the errors of Elves.~
~Why do you always have to be so secretive, Elladan?~
~Why do you always have to be so impatient, young one?~
Legolas couldn't help but chuckle.
~Well, I have done what I can with this muddle. You'd best be off soon. If only that blasted Dwarf were awake.~
Legolas hesitated.
~I will wake him.~
Elladan shrugged and left the room. Legolas gathered a few more items for his travels before leaving to wake Gimli.
As he walked down the halls of Rivendell, he heard a disgusting snorting noise. He followed it and put his ear against the door.
{Only a dwarf would snore that loud!} He thought. As he opened the door, the sound intensified. It was one of the most revolting noises Legolas had ever heard. Grimacing, he shook the shoulders of the sleeping Dwarf.
"Grrrm!"
"Wake, Gimli. It is time to depart."
"Argh......mangy Elf!"
"Just get up and stop griping."
Gimli sat up and scowled in annoyance.
"What about breakfast?"
"There's not enough time. We'll have to eat on the way."
Legolas headed for the door.
"And hurry up; I have not the time for you to meander."
Gimli grabbed his slipper and threw it at the door. Legolas, with his elven reflexes, shut it to block the incoming shoe. It hit the door with a loud thud and a cry of dissatisfaction from the Dwarf who had thrown it.
* * * * * *
"I won't do it!"
"Gimli, this is one of the finest horses in Middle Earth. Surely you aren't as stubborn as to...."
"I will be deciding as to who is stubborn, Master Elf! If I am not mistaken, Elven horses do not take riders from other races."
"Why don't you ask her?"
"What?"
"Ask her if you may ride her."
"I will do no such thing!"
Legolas slid off of Laurëroch, his horse, and walked over to Elvirith. He whispered a few Elvish words into her ear. She whinnied in reply. Legolas stood back, looking pleased with himself, and turned to Gimli.
"Elvirith has allowed you to ride her, only if you show you are worthy by apologizing to her."
"Why? I have done naught to offend her!"
"You refused her. That insulted her. Apologize or walk."
Gimli growled.
"I'm sorry, Elvirith. Now may I ride you?"
Elvirith answered by stomping her hooves and turning in a circle. Gimli heaved himself up, with much difficulty due to his small stature. Legolas remounted Laurëroch, and Aragorn rode Thintal, a large grey horse. Aragorn traveled to the front, with Legolas and Gimli not far behind.
* * * * * *
Legolas walked atop the snow, leaving hardly a trace of his passage at the Pass of Caradhras. Aragorn and Gimli were struggling through the snow, which was quickly reaching their knees. Elvirith, Thintal and Laurëroch were towed behind them.
"Blasted snow! I'm chilled through." Gimli rubbed his arms to warm himself.
"Legolas, is the sun not far ahead?"
Legolas ran onward to answer Aragorn's question. He stood on a pile of snow to get a better look.
"Nay, I fear, Aragorn. The sun travels to the east, so we are but following her."
"Can't you tell her to come this way?"
"That only works with trees, Gimli. I cannot control everything."
"I told you we should have gone through the mines. At least the Mines of Moria would be warm."
"There are evils that lurk in the mines. Morchaint. I believe we are nearing the other side of the mountain anyhow..." Legolas was interrupted.
"What is 'morchaint'?"
"Dark shapes....shadows....evils."
"There are no 'morchaints' in Moria."
"Then Lord Balin has told you wrong."
Gimli's face reddened, not from the cold but from anger.
"You are crossing the line, Elf!"
Aragorn interrupted.
"Stop, both of you! You are acting like children."
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Legolas looked up.
"Get down!"
*Haha.....hope you like cliffies! Sorry I took so long to update, but I had three matches this week and I had to babysit twice. Next chapter will come faster.
Marissa: You are my first reviewer of my first Lord of the Rings fanfic! When I read on
the review page "1 review" I screamed and jumped up from my chair, prancing
about like a lunatic! I'm glad you like it!
Artemisa: I'll try my best to keep Elladan and Elrohir in the stories. I was thinking of having one of them accompany Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to Mirkwood. Thanks for the compliments!
Fairylady: Wow! Thanks a bundle for your review! I'll try to keep reviewing as fast as I
can but with school and my after-study sports, it's getting difficult. Hope you like
this chapter!
Bill-the-Pony: You're one of my favorite authors and I got a review from you! :-D I'm
so happy that you like my story. It's great to hear it from someone who's style of
writing you know. Again, thanks.
Lutris: Haha, know what you mean about Gimli. He's great and all, but he's quite
stubborn. So is Legolas, so in the first chapter I tried to make them play a battle
of wits, so to speak. But no one won....yet......
Author's Notes: I didn't notice until I posted the story that the italics from my computer don't work on the fanfiction site. Therefore, some changes are to be made. Common tongue is still in ("..."), but now Elvish is in (~...~) and thoughts are in ({...}). Sorry if I confused you last chapter! Also, if anyone could possibly tell me how to translate Sindarin, it would be appreciated! I have no idea how to speak it! Thanks!
And now, on with the story!
Chapter Two
Legolas woke early the next day, the sun just breaking the horizon. He dressed and walked to the balcony, overlooking the gardens of Rivendell. Many Elves were already awake, picking the fragrant flowers. One man picked an especially beautiful one and gave it to his spouse, who modestly smelled it and kissed him in return. Legolas wondered if he would ever have a mate.
He brushed aside the thought and began packing his things. He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
~Come in.~
Elladan poked his head in.
~May I join you?~
~I am almost finished.~
Elladan walked over to Legolas's pack and pulled out a rumpled tunic.
~No you aren't. Who taught you how to fold you clothes? A Balrog?~
Legolas chuckled. Elladan always had a way of brightening peoples' day. Legolas pulled out a chair and motioned for Elladan to sit in it.
~Are you ready for today?~ Elladan asked, striking up a conversation.
~What do you mean?~
~You'll be spending months with a Dwarf. You need to be prepared.~
~I have been spending years hiding from Orcs, Wargs and spiders all my life. I think I can control one intemperate Dwarf.~
~Are you sure of this? Spiders and Orcs attack with weapons and fangs, but Dwarves attack with words. Do you know of your fate in the battle of words?~
~Ha! A Dwarf? Outsmart an elf? That'll be the day.~
~Have you ever met a Dwarf before?~
~Of course not. I don't converse with the filthy creatures of the world.~
~Filthy they may be, but Dwarves are smarter than you think. I should know....~
~Why?~ Legolas had a feeling he was prying into information not suitable for him.
~It is a long story. I am sure Gimli will tell you. He enjoys revealing the errors of Elves.~
~Why do you always have to be so secretive, Elladan?~
~Why do you always have to be so impatient, young one?~
Legolas couldn't help but chuckle.
~Well, I have done what I can with this muddle. You'd best be off soon. If only that blasted Dwarf were awake.~
Legolas hesitated.
~I will wake him.~
Elladan shrugged and left the room. Legolas gathered a few more items for his travels before leaving to wake Gimli.
As he walked down the halls of Rivendell, he heard a disgusting snorting noise. He followed it and put his ear against the door.
{Only a dwarf would snore that loud!} He thought. As he opened the door, the sound intensified. It was one of the most revolting noises Legolas had ever heard. Grimacing, he shook the shoulders of the sleeping Dwarf.
"Grrrm!"
"Wake, Gimli. It is time to depart."
"Argh......mangy Elf!"
"Just get up and stop griping."
Gimli sat up and scowled in annoyance.
"What about breakfast?"
"There's not enough time. We'll have to eat on the way."
Legolas headed for the door.
"And hurry up; I have not the time for you to meander."
Gimli grabbed his slipper and threw it at the door. Legolas, with his elven reflexes, shut it to block the incoming shoe. It hit the door with a loud thud and a cry of dissatisfaction from the Dwarf who had thrown it.
* * * * * *
"I won't do it!"
"Gimli, this is one of the finest horses in Middle Earth. Surely you aren't as stubborn as to...."
"I will be deciding as to who is stubborn, Master Elf! If I am not mistaken, Elven horses do not take riders from other races."
"Why don't you ask her?"
"What?"
"Ask her if you may ride her."
"I will do no such thing!"
Legolas slid off of Laurëroch, his horse, and walked over to Elvirith. He whispered a few Elvish words into her ear. She whinnied in reply. Legolas stood back, looking pleased with himself, and turned to Gimli.
"Elvirith has allowed you to ride her, only if you show you are worthy by apologizing to her."
"Why? I have done naught to offend her!"
"You refused her. That insulted her. Apologize or walk."
Gimli growled.
"I'm sorry, Elvirith. Now may I ride you?"
Elvirith answered by stomping her hooves and turning in a circle. Gimli heaved himself up, with much difficulty due to his small stature. Legolas remounted Laurëroch, and Aragorn rode Thintal, a large grey horse. Aragorn traveled to the front, with Legolas and Gimli not far behind.
* * * * * *
Legolas walked atop the snow, leaving hardly a trace of his passage at the Pass of Caradhras. Aragorn and Gimli were struggling through the snow, which was quickly reaching their knees. Elvirith, Thintal and Laurëroch were towed behind them.
"Blasted snow! I'm chilled through." Gimli rubbed his arms to warm himself.
"Legolas, is the sun not far ahead?"
Legolas ran onward to answer Aragorn's question. He stood on a pile of snow to get a better look.
"Nay, I fear, Aragorn. The sun travels to the east, so we are but following her."
"Can't you tell her to come this way?"
"That only works with trees, Gimli. I cannot control everything."
"I told you we should have gone through the mines. At least the Mines of Moria would be warm."
"There are evils that lurk in the mines. Morchaint. I believe we are nearing the other side of the mountain anyhow..." Legolas was interrupted.
"What is 'morchaint'?"
"Dark shapes....shadows....evils."
"There are no 'morchaints' in Moria."
"Then Lord Balin has told you wrong."
Gimli's face reddened, not from the cold but from anger.
"You are crossing the line, Elf!"
Aragorn interrupted.
"Stop, both of you! You are acting like children."
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Legolas looked up.
"Get down!"
*Haha.....hope you like cliffies! Sorry I took so long to update, but I had three matches this week and I had to babysit twice. Next chapter will come faster.