13. I claim being a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, Legolas (of course), Aragorn and Thûlocuil (for that matter). I claim this story to be my own. However, I do not claim to own all that is in it, it was inspired by the films of Peter Jackson and 'The Lord of the Rings' by Tolkien. I only wish to entertain myself and others with this story. I do not have any intention of making money with this story. I do have the intention of someday making money writing.
After this rather long claimer/disclaimer: let's hunt some orcs!
13 Of slow thinking elves and wise dwarfs.
Since Legolas lost his believe in a quick decision by the generals, he and Gimli left the next morning on horseback. They were riding together like so many times in the past, on the steed that Aragorn had lent him. In the early light they travelled through Ithilien, heading for the old bridge of Osgiliath. Gimli hummed some road song under his beard, like the ones the hobbits used to sing during their quest together. Legolas sat just pensively, his body moving in phase with the movements of the horse beneath him.
He had a lot to think about. These last few days had been a string of emotions and new, highly alarming information. He was in doubt: should he return to Minas Tirith, as planned or find the quickest way to his father's realm. Going via Minas Tirith meant to lose time. And time was still on their side (that is what she had said), but for how long?
Going to his father's realm at once would spare time, but Aragorn wanted to know his friend's findings, and Legolas did not like to let him down.
On the other hand, his father could summon any elves for military duty at any time, no matter what the generals' decisions would be.
Although a lot of elves already left Middle Earth, the elves of Eryn Lasgalen did not leave in the same amount as the elves of Rivendell or Lothlórien. This probably was due to the fact that both Galadriel (with Celeborn) and Elrond had left where as Thranduil had stayed. The renewed peace in Eryn Lasgalen also had a hand in it; other Elvenrealms had known peace before the War of the Ring, Eryn Lasgalen had only become to know peace again after, by and through it. There were still more than enough elves to gather a regiment of Elfwarriors: and those were still the fearless, skilful and efficient assassins they had ever been. He had to make up his mind!
What do I really want? I want to see whether this talk about a new Ringwar is true, that's the bottom line, Legolas thought.
Was it? Was he being honest, or was there another reason he wanted to go to Udûn as soon as possible? What about Thûlocuil? He sat up in his horse's saddle, and shrugged his shoulders.
Yes, what about her? He was attracted to her, although he did not know her as good as he wanted to. And that's the crux! I do not want to think about her, I want to know about her. To know more, to know all there is to know! Somehow this elf touched me in a way no one has ever before...
Yuk! I'm starting to sound like a pubertal elf in love! A broad grin crept up his face. Yeah! That's mainly it: I'm in love. The grin became grim: and I am acting like a thirty year old pubertal fool about it. So, let's tackle this problem then, I'm not a thirty year old adolescent, I'm a 2953 year old assassin. I could take somebody out without even thinking about it; and so I've done. Maybe I should get back to that as soon as possible and handle this all like a 2953 year old elf, Prince, assassin, Member of The Fellowship! Now let me think, that person would probably...
Travel to Udûn as soon as possible and take care of business! All the business, orcs and she-elves alike. She had said that there was a change of smothering evil and he was a skilled elfwarrior with a unique experience regarding orcs, battles, Ringwars, she-warriors...
Now how did that last item became a part of this list?
When they came to a grassy hilltop Legolas said to the steed: "Daro! Daro roch-mellon!" [Halt! Halt horse-friend]. He turned to Gimli: "We will rest here for a moment," "Good! I'm getting a bit stiff here," the dwarf answered. They both dismounted and Legolas told the steed to find some food, but not to wander too far. Gimli was walking about a bit, stretching himself by waving his arms about and bending his back to and fro. "If you take a good run, jump into the air and keep waving your arms like that, you just may be able to continue this trip flying like a bird, my friend, thus keeping clear of any stiffness!" Legolas said with a laugh in his voice. The dwarf stopped his moving immediately and slowly turned to eye his friend. "You just might have the pleasure of flying yourself if you keep up this dump humour, my friend!" This only caused Legolas to laugh and soon Gimli joined him. "Well, well, I must say, master-elf, I'm glad that you are still capable of laughing. I had given up all hope for any joy for this day since sunrise" Gimli said as a variation to the common elven morning's greeting. "I have done some thinking," Legolas defence came.
"Some? Some? The sun is up for at least seven hours and you have done SOME thinking?" Gimli's voice was dripping with sarcastic disbelief. "Let ME think, just for a second now, this dwarf will show you how a mortal, with no eternity to spend, thinks. Aaaaah, it's getting clear already: are we to go to Minas Tirith or are we to follow a certain she-elf to MORDOR? Well, this IS a huge problem. Let me think again... No, don't interfere with my ALMIGHTY thinking," he stopped Legolas on seeing him wanting to react. "THIS will only take a second! Save and sound Minas Tirith over who-knows-what-we-will-find in MORDOR? I'll spell it out for you, since I do not expect you to think as fast as any mortal, let alone a dwarf! No, you just listen, elf!"
He prevented Legolas from cutting in once more. "Well the wise thing to do would of course be to go to Minas Tirith, and elves are the wise ones, are they, or so they say... And you are an elf, now aren't you... So, it is this simple: Let's hurry and go directly to Udûn!" He looked at Legolas with a serious look on his face; that he could only hold for about three seconds. Then he broke out in laughter again. "I'm sorry Legolas; it is just that you look so sweet and worried over this she-elf. Learn from a dwarf this: she either likes you or not, and the quickest way to know is to ask her! Don't look like I'm telling you to eat orcdung! Take by heart an advice from an old dwarf, I do have experience in this field you know!" he paused for a moment, looking at Legolas's face: "This time you look like you've already eaten the dung!" and that made him burst out in laughter again. Legolas wisely turned from the laughing dwarf. He went towards some blackberry-shrubs that were surrounding part of the hill.
After a short while he called out to the dwarf: "Gimli! Are you still laughing?" "Why?" came the answer, but from the tone of his voice it was clear that Gimli was on the brink of bursting into a fit again.
"Well, then I could just throw some blackberries in your open mouth and make you listen to me for a while!" with that Legolas appeared again. "I'll try and stop laughing at you master-elf, but just in case, let me have my share of that!" Legolas handed Gimli a good hand-full of the delicious fruit. "Alright, now talk!" Gimli ordered, between two blackberries going down his throat.
"Alright, now listen!" Legolas shot back in the same tone. "I was not thinking of just the two of us going into Udûn, not even of going in there alone. When what she says is true, and war is looming, you and I, as stout and brave as you dwarves are, are of no use. I was thinking of going directly to my father and come back with a regiment of our warriors. But on the other hand, I did promise Aragorn to tell him what I thought of the meeting. Hence... my problems that needed SOME thinking!" he finished waiting for Gimli to speak. But the dwarf remained silent. "You are not going to say something extremely witty about this now master-dwarf? O, I know, you're going right into a fit just without any clever remarks!"
First Gimli remained silent, then he swallowed and said: "I was just merely eating my last blackberry but if you're sure you have said everything..." "I have, dear friend, I have," came Legolas's answer.
"Well, without further hesitation or any smart remarks, for that part, let me tell you, that the solution to your problems is right in front of you!" He continued when Legolas only raised his brows: "What if you ride, as fast as you can, to your father's Kingdom and do as you say, and I ride to Minas Tirith and tell Aragorn what we've learned? I might even try to get some of his man to join me and we'll meet again in... well, let's meet at the Morn Dant.* The first one to reach that will send scouts into Udûn."
This time it was Legolas who was laughing: "You're wise Gimli. That must have something to do with your long friendship with elves!" He only got a pointed look for an answer and continued more seriously: "But I do feel thankful for that friendship. You're plan is good and clear. Let's ride!"
But Gimli protested: "Now, now, hold your horses; you're acting like a dwarfling, yes, just like one that has not come of age yet! Think before you act my dear elf! What about the generals? You think your father or Aragorn will surpass the generals just like that? And what kind of help or action must and can we provide? Where? How? When? No, my eager friend, there is still some thinking to be done!"
But Legolas mind was set: "If they sent us to scout into Udûn and another one with an answer from them back to the generals they will have the advantage of shooting two arrows with one bow**, no your plan is fine Gimli!" and with that he whistled for their horse.
At an inn in Osgiliath Gimli got a pony and Legolas found a horse that was originally from his father's stable so he left his steed to be taken to Minas Tirith by the next man that was going that way, as was common in Middle Earth. In the town square they said their goodbyes. Gimli would ride west to Minas Thirith, Legolas would follow the east banks of the Anduin and head straight for Eryn Lasgalen.
Gimli said to him: "You'll send a messenger to the Lonely Mountain then, to inform my father. And I'll expect you to arrive at the Morn Dant within a month. However, the first one to arrive will send out scouts into Udûn, towards the other and, if necessary, a messenger to Minas Ithil." Legolas answered: "Yes, and just maybe, maybe if we find her she will tell another elf what she knows." he turned his horse: "Well, I wish your road to be fair and swift my friend: Bain men!" and with that he urged his horse to start.
"Bain men, Legolas!" Gimli shouted after him, and on kicking his own horse into action continued to himself: "and just maybe, maybe if we find her a certain elf will tell her something yet!" and laughing he started his journey to Minas Tirith.
Bain men=fair road.
A/N:* I suppose they renamed the place where the Black Gate stood. So I named it: Black Fall (since 'ruin' was not in my sindarin dictionary).
** Since there is no English equivalent to the Dutch pronoun: 'Twee vliegen in één klap slaan'; I made up this elvish proverb. It means: to have two things done in one action.
13 September 2003: changing some spelling errors.
