Chapter 9 – The Companion from Erebor

Immediately there were harsh whispers around them and Mirgom and Calegris looked sharper than ever. How dare this Elf come to their dwelling and speak to their lord in such a discourteous manner? Gimli snorted in reply,

"Guest you say? I did not remember sending an invitation to any Elf to come to our fair dwelling and alas! My gladness fled from me to see you again so soon, Legolas. I'm afraid I am growing weary of your face!"

At this reply it was Mirgom's turn to hiss angrily at this dwarf's impudence. However, seeing that the guests were their lord's acquaintances, the other dwarves set back to their work – digging in the caves for treasure. Only a few still stood nearby, preparing to defend their lord if any danger arose. Not all of them could understand this absurd friendship.

Legolas and Gimli stood there staring at each other sternly, and then a few seconds later both of their faces softened and laughed heartily. Gimli's eyes shone when he stopped laughing,

"Come, my friend. Though I am weary of your face, I may be able to endure your company for a while longer!"

Then out of formality, all of the party was introduced to Gimli. The messengers bowed to Gimli and he spoke words of welcome to them. Mirgom nodded in respect, for Gimli was his prince's friend, but Calegris merely nodded ever so slightly at Gimli before he turned away. Gimli didn't bother much with the haughty manner of the Elves, having a good friend like Legolas and being in the good side of the Lady of the Wood were more than he dreamed of.

Last of all, Narla approached him. She smiled warmly at Gimli and spoke very politely. If you could remove all hair from his face, you would notice his face was bright red. Women usually treat dwarves as gold-diggers, thus they spoke rudely with disrespect or talked to them out of fear. But Narla was friendly to this dwarf whom she had never met. They spoke words of courtesy and Legolas was amazed at Gimli's gentleness. He had never seen the gentle side of his friend nor knew that he had one. But Legolas was more surprised at how at ease Narla was towards someone she didn't know. Suddenly he remembered that she seemed to know him as well, yet she had never showed such pleasantness to him. If he had not been too engrossed with his suspicions of Narla, he would have noticed the slight pang of envy in his heart.

Gimli noticed that his friend's gaze was on the lady in front of him a lot. Though he would like to spend more time with this strange lady, he knew he would have to know the reason of his friend coming here. Gimli told some of his people to provide food and rest for Legolas' companions in the caves, but as Mirgom and Calegris refused to step into these stone covered holes, they waited outside tending to the horses. Narla felt reluctant to leave the elves alone out there but she desired to explore the homestead of the friendly dwarf. Dwarves weren't so bad; in fact, she had thought Gimli would have spoken to her roughly, and with suspicion like Legolas had the first time they met. Gimli led Legolas into another tunnel, which branched from the main cave while a lady dwarf came to tend to the humans.

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Inside what you could call Gimli's quarters, the two friends sat down and talked and ate. Through their usual sarcastic comments and disputes over the past, Legolas had somehow managed to inform Gimli of his quest and asked Gimli, in a rather crude way, if he was up for another adventure. However, it seemed that Gimli could not agree despite his wished to join his friend for another quest.

"Why, Legolas, my friend! It has not even been a full moon cycle since we parted and now you are requesting for my company? Are you so weak that the strength and courage of a Dwarf is needed to protect you?"

"Nay, Gimli. I'm afraid that it is I who will need to save you from trouble!" replied Legolas light-heartedly. "But we could use a bush to trip a foe or two! Come now, my friend. Time runs short as we speak. Would you journey with us to the plains of West Searia?"

Gimli looked at his enthusiastic friend and felt reluctant to extinguish that spirit, but he shook his head gravely,

"I fear I could not rescue you in times of need this time, my good friend! My axe lays restless and my heart burns to go with you, but it seems you will need to get yourself out of trouble now, for my father has gone to Rivendell and as son of the Lord Glòin, I have duties which I need to perform. And there is another thing at hand. I have been thinking of the Glittering Caves ever since I returned and I have gotten permission to bring some of my best men south to Minas Tirith and keep my promise to Aragorn. It is any Dwarf's desire to enjoy the sight of the glamorous caves and preparations are being made right this moment! If you do not come soon, you would find no crack or space in the whole city to plant any seedling!"

"Aye, Gimli, I will come in good time. For I still have another quest at hand. However, we Elves are folk of speed. Perhaps when you have reached the White City of Men you would find it covered with life that none of your stonework could fit in save you head!"

They laughed and continued their discussion. Gimli's refusal to join him to Searia had been disappointing, but Legolas believed that his visit had not been in vain, for he had learnt of Gimli's plans and started to think about his own. Before he could ponder any further, Gimli asked him about Narla,

"Who is that lady in your company, my friend? Surely you have no intention of bringing such a burden with you in the journey?"

Surprised that Gimli would use the word 'lady' on a young girl rather than the crude 'lass' which he usually would have used, Legolas wondered if he should tell his comrade about Narla. But Gimli was looking so concerned with a tell-me-everything look that Legolas yielded. So Legolas told Gimli about the mysterious girl from another world, though there was not really much he could tell. Indeed Narla would prove to be a burden during the perilous journey, but staying in Mirkwood was no option, as she would not part with her jewel. Besides, up until now she had brought no trouble, so perhaps things would go smoother than he expected. But Gimli was not convinced.

"I see there is no stopping your course and company," said Gimli grimly. "That lady looks alright to me, but Legolas my friend, we know not whither she came from nor whither she shall go. This may sound like poor advice, but beware whither your heart lies!"

Shocked at Gimli's unpredictable assumption, Legolas replied crossly, "My heart lies upon the Sea and it shall tarry there until I sail over it! No place have I left in my heart to accommodate love for a mortal youngling, especially those not of this world!"

Though his words seemed realistic, Gimli was still worried for his friend, for he could sense something in the air that he could not name, but whatever it was, it bonded his dear friend and that mysterious foreigner. Legolas himself, however, was ever confident of his own heart, and would not be slighted at his will.

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No more did the friends speak of Narla or the quest and it was but a few hours before sunset when everyone gathered outside the main cave. The rest of the companions had eaten and rested, even the other Elves. Their supplies had been restocked and fresh water was stored in water skins under the request of Gimli.

"Would you not reconsider staying here for the night? Even Elves can get weary!" said Gimli, as he did not want to part with his friend as yet.

Legolas laughed, knowing his friend was reluctant to part with him.

"Elves get weary not, my good friend! I thank you for your kindness, but I fear I have wasted much needed time here. We shall need to heed haste from now on!"

"Alas! But not without a healer at hand!" exclaimed Gimli as he called forward a hooded dwarf. "Your journey would prove perilous and though I may not be able to save you from danger, I shall send with you Oriah, our best apprentice healer, though she had yet to see the world."

At that moment, the pale gray hood was pulled down and Narla gasped in surprise. There stood a person taller than a dwarf yet shorter than Narla, a half dwarf and half human. She seemed younger than Narla for her face showed youth, yet her eyes showed wisdom. On her left cheek there was a birthmark, or was it a mark? As Narla drew closer she saw that the mark was similar to a tattoo of her world and this one was a mixture of a small scythe and a hook below it. This Oriah wore a gray cloak and bore a short staff. Several small pouches hung from her waist and she was dressed in a mixture of gray and brown. Her brown braided hair was tucked in her cloak and her figure small and thin, unlike the dwarves. In fact, her only resemblance with a dwarf was of her look, for her eyes gleamed brightly in a similar way to the dwarves.

Seeing another burden added to the company Calegris wrinkled his fine features and turned away, extremely displeased with the turn of things. Legolas saw the mark as did the others and they bowed in front of Oriah.

"Never did I imagine that I would see a descendent of the Marked Ones remaining in Middle-Earth," smiled Legolas. "We are honored to have you in our company, Lady Oriah."

Oriah blushed at being called a lady. It seemed that Oriah had the blood of the ancient lineage of the best halfling healers. The Marked Ones walked few now, in Middle-Earth, for most had either perished for their soft-heartedness or gone over the Sea. Yet here was a half-breed, bearing the Mark of a True One. Indeed, perhaps when she had grown to her prime, her powers would be immense.

And so the party had another member from the Lonely Mountain. Greeting Gimli farewell, Legolas led the six companions down the other side of the lonely mountain heading towards the River Running. As he did so, he began to think of his plans after this quest was over. Gimli, on the other hand, temporarily pushed his preparations to set out aside and thought of his friend, and that foreign girl of mystery. Unable to see his friend's heart broken, he sent one of his kindred to study the situation. And for that purpose Oriah had joined the party, as unwilling as she could be.

The females of the group soon became close and even Oriah seemed to have adapted to her company. She seemed to have forgotten her true purpose in following them, but she was not to blame, for Legolas and Narla spoke but a few words on the journey. Though she appeared quiet and stern when they met her, Oriah was quite a merry chatterbox. Since she was doomed to follow this crowd, she might as well get along with her companions.

"O-rai-yah...that's how you pronounce it!" said Oriah as she taught Mirgom how to call her. Narla soon felt at ease with this shorter companion of theirs and treated this trip like a picnic.

Little did Narla know that the reason they could feel so at ease was due to the fact that Legolas and Calegris and Vortayn had kept lookouts and discussed the safest roads to take before they made their move the next day. So the party journeyed east to cross the river. They made camp on the third day near the river, and Narla had known a lot about Oriah in these few days. What Oriah brought in her pouches, what she did, how old she was (Oriah was only of 20 summers, which was considered a child in the years of a Dwarf), why she decided to join (Oriah said that she wanted to see the outside world and enhance her healing skills in Searia, but didn't tell them about what her side mission was), and they both learnt a lot about Searia from Irthal. That night they slept late, but slept peacefully.

Author's Notes: Sorry guys, bout the delay…of the romance and the progression…I'll try to speed up! And yeah, sorry to disappoint Gimli fans, but his role is over…don't kill me~