It took Nimoë two hours to recover enough from her tremendous use of power to be able to walk on her own.  Legolas carried her for the first while, but even he could not keep up such an activity forever for, contrary to myth, even an Elf maiden does weigh something more than a feather.  Gilmin took his turn, for Dwarves are sturdy, and by the time his arms began to fail him, Nimoë insisted she could travel well enough on her own.

Walk she did, although she was forced to lean heavily on her husband.  As time passed, however, she grew stronger until, by the time they were nearing Núrnelven, she was able to hold herself straight.

Inside the city, Legolas led them directly to his home, where he motioned Nimoë inside.  "Go.  Rest.  Tomorrow will bring the start of our long, hard journey.  I will return once I have seen our guests settled."

She did not protest for, although she forced herself to stand tall, her limbs were trembling with the effort, and the soft bed was calling out to her with its seductive tones.  She reached out to stroke Legolas' cheek, and smiled up at him.  "Do not stay up all night planning and plotting, my heart.  You will need your rest as well as I."  Then she entered the low dwelling.

"Come," the Elf Prince beckoned to his guests.  "I have had cots brought to the silo where you were first held.  I am sorry I cannot offer better accommodations, but," with a shrug of self-deprecation he gestured around them, "We did not plan for visitors when we built our city."

Gilmin replied, "A bed is all I need. I care not if I am surrounded by grain."

Raven only nodded his assent, for he was deep in thought, as he had been for the entire trip back to Núrnelven.

Two hours later, when the waxing moon had risen into the dark night, Legolas crept on stealthy feet towards the grain silo.  He had made up his mind to seek out Gilmin.  Something about Raven still concerned him, and he found he dearly wanted the Dwarf's insight into his traveling companion.

On silent feet he approached a low window and peered within.  Luck!  Raven was sleeping against the far wall, his back facing the interior of the room, while Gilmin rested near to the door.

Pulling away from the window, Legolas pulled out a small vial of oil he had brought with him.  Quietly he rubbed liquid drops along the wooden hinges of the door, hoping to minimize any noise it might make on opening.  Satisfied, he re-sealed the vial and wiped his hands down his dark tunic to clean them.  With bated breath, he pulled open the door.

Heavy snores greeted his ears from his left, and he smiled.  It appeared impossible for a Dwarf to sleep without sounding like a grating saw.  On silent feet he moved to Gilmin's side and laid his hand over the Dwarf's mouth.

The stone dark eyes flashed open and regarded him and, to his surprise, the Dwarf only nodded in greeting.  Legolas removed his hand and Gilmin dropped his feet silently to the floor, leading the way out the still open door.

Once on the outside, the Dwarf and Elf moved a good distance away from the silo, before Gilmin spoke.  "I have been expecting you, Legolas.  You want to hear about Raven."

Legolas could but nod, surprised at the Dwarf's insight.  "Aye.  I am uncomfortable around him, and I do not like the feeling."

They reached the base of a stunted apple tree and Gilmin indicated that Legolas should sit.  He did so, leaning his tall frame up against the sturdy trunk of the tree.

Gilmin remained standing, looking out into the distance behind Legolas.  "I have known Raven for many years.  When he arrived at our gates, seeking refuge for his band of Hobbits, he was barely into his majority.  Yet, even then, he was a master of weaponry.  Never have I seen a better fighter.  It is solely due to his prowess that the Hobbits survived long enough to reach our mountain.

"When they came, he was a bit merrier than you see him now, but not much.  His people had suffered terribly at the hands of Men.  There are only fifty Hobbits now left in Middle Earth."

Gilmin paused, letting that reality sink in.  Then he again took up his tale.  "Those little people were forced to hide in the bowels of the earth with us.  We, of course, see this as no hardship but, although Hobbits dwell in holes, that was no preparation for the life they would be forced to live.

"Within our mountain, away from sunlight and birdsong, they quickly grew morose.  No longer did music pour forth from their lips, and smiles are rarely seen.  I feared for a while that they would die, unable to sustain their will to live, but Hobbits are made of strong stuff.  While they are now sullen, unhappy people, they continue to persevere, awaiting that day when they will again return to the sunlight."

Legolas asked, "What about Raven, then?  He has been out of the mountain for many weeks now.  Why has the fresh air and bright light of day not eased his heart?"

Gilmin shook his head, looking somewhat lost.  "I cannot explain it.  I had expected him to recover quickly, but it has been much the opposite.  Now he is not only sullen, he is also suspicious and edgy.  Always his hands are clenching his weapons..."  His eyes caught Legolas' and would not release them.  "I count him my friend, Legolas.  I count him my friend, and it pains me to see him so.  It is as if he fights a battle within himself.  A battle of such a nature that I do not understand."

Shaking himself to dispel the gloomy mood that had settled over him, Gilmin continued, "Know this.  There is no better fighter than Raven.  He has sworn to see this quest fulfilled, and I believe in him.  I will not let him go astray.  Please, Legolas.  Trust me and trust him.  We will not fail you."

Legolas nodded and rose.  "You have answered many questions, Gilmin, but raised still more.  I will trust your judgment, but I will remain vigilant.  If he ever acts contrary to our goal, I will take measures against him."

"That is your right and your responsibility.  I do not begrudge it."

"So be it."  Legolas extended his hand and Gilmin caught it up in a firm grip, sealing their pledge.  "I am sorry for interrupting your sleep, but I could not venture forth with doubt still clouding me."

"It is nothing," said the Dwarf, turning back the way he had come from.  "I will see you in the morning.  Go and see to your wife."

Legolas smiled at the Dwarf's departing back.  It was so much like having Gimli back that he could hardly wrap his mind around the fact that Gilmin was, most assuredly, a different person.

Purposefully, then, the Elf turned and moved back towards the center of the city, to his wife, to his last night of peace before once again departing on a quest to save the world.

Author's Note:  Well, that explains a bit about Raven… are we feeling a little bit better yet?  Next chapter will likely be the departure, unless Caldarion yells at me to give him more attention first.

If any of you are interested, I have put up a picture of my baby boy on my author profile page… He is the light of my life, and he gets so ticked with me when I type.  It has gotten to the point that if I put my hand on my mouse or my keyboard he grabs it and yells "NO!" at me.  I am having to only write when he is asleep, so it's sort of his fault that I am not going quite as fast as I would otherwise… But I love him to pieces, and he really does deserve my full attention (Bad Mommy!  Bad Mommy!)

I am also having to try to keep up with my originals, and I am not doing a great job, although some are coming along…

Sorry, long note.  Just wanted to explain my slowness.  Have a nice day!