Hey all. This is the last chapter (a long one at that) and after there will only be a short epilogue which I hope will be posted in the next week.
A major thank-you to Bookworm2000 for coming up with this chapter's title. I think it is clever, catchy and brilliant. Also a thank-you is extended to Lyn for spotting an error in the last chapter. I meant the 'heel of a sole' when I was describing Gimli's sandal's flopping and not 'soul' and 'heal'. Nice attention to detail! (^_^) Also thanks to Shlee Verde for the plot bunny you left in your review. Look for it – it might have hopped its way right into this chapter!
Sorry for the delay in posting. My computer caught a virus and I was without a word processor for a while. But it is all better now!
Chapter #7 ~ Concerning the Spilling of BloodLegolas lay crumpled in the closest, trying to gain some semblance of control over himself. His heart was racing, though he was not out of breath, and within him warred a multitude of conflicting emotions. Desperation, guilt, fear, frustration all coalesced into a single jumble of thoughts, making his fists clench in irritation with himself. To move. Such a simple goal, and yet the attempts of completing it were leaving him physically shaking with weariness.
To move. Such a simple goal, one he had always taken for granted, and yet it was a goal that evaded the elf with a mocking sort of nimble grace making Legolas want to scream. Move, he commanded his mind once again, trying to pry his feet from their leaden positions. Push open the door of the cabinet, came the primitive instructions, pull yourself from this tomb and help your FRIEND! The last part of his own mental dialogue realized itself in a screech of frustration, something that surprised the elf; he was not accustomed to shrieking.
Yet his body would not obey these commands. It was no longer his to control. It sat stationary, apparently lifeless as it obeyed Gimli's parting command unwaveringly. No matter what Legolas attempted to do to prod his limbs into action they remained infuriatingly unresponsive.
The elf could not so much as twitch a finger.
As the drugs that had kept him within the swirling black mists began to clear they left him vulnerable and still lacking in control. As these toxins slowly cleared his system Legolas was also slowly becoming a fragment of his former self. The elven prince once again became aware of time - a luxury he realized he did not have. Anything could be happening to Gimli. The dwarf was alone out there facing who knew what and yet Legolas simply sat here... doing nothing.
You must be stronger, he attempted to reason with his traitorous body. Gimli is in trouble. Your heart tells you this, and you know he will need you before the end. It was a strange thought, Legolas decided, and one that left him feeling the first prickling sensations of dread making his skin accumulate goosebumps and a shiver rack his lithe frame. A premonition hit him with sudden brutally. Someone was going to have to die for this episode to find a close.
Just not Gimli, Legolas hoped silently, for the dwarf was the only true innocent in all of this. Gimli - the dwarf - proved to be more of a puzzlement to Legolas everyday. From the onset of the fellowship, Legolas had been all but determined to hate the dwarf with all he possessed. To his own credit, Legolas had begun this acquaintance with an air of hostility that would have made his father proud... and yet somewhere along the journey that hatred had melted into a sort of grudging respect and finally into a tender curiosity. Friendship followed.
A strange journey it had been. To think that a prince of Mirkwood would one day consider a dwarf a friend, the idea was preposterous. This notion would have sent most people he knew into fits of laughter and denial. Yet, here he was. Gimli was his friend and now in need of his help. Legolas could not ignore that, nor did he want to.
Pushing himself to the very limitations he was capable of in his drug induced state, he strained and focussed every ounce of concentration to fight against the hold upon him. Move, he chanted, trying to force as much belief into the word as possible. You must move.
Several unsuccessful minutes later, Legolas was ready to scream. He was not of a patient temperament and did not accept failure, especially from himself, with good grace. Legolas was, in fact, something of a perfectionist. This did not make his current situation the least bit easier to endure. He had to move now. Nothing less would satisfy him.
A smaller, more reasonable, area of his brain asked the nagging question of what he could do once he had managed to escape the closest. Surely the first order he received would, in all likelihoods, make him sit or heel upon command. And yet he had to try. He knew Gimli was in trouble and there was no one else present here who would be able to assist the dwarf... there was only Legolas... as depressing as the elf found that realization at present.
He sighed, desperately attempting to calm the raging anger within him, Legolas leaned his head back and hit it roughly against the side of the cupboard. He tried to force himself into some semblance of patience ... Wait! The realization was slow to sink in, but as it did, Legolas felt a shot of elevation ring through him. He had just moved his head of his own accord!
Trying the duplicate what he had just done, however, accomplished very little. The only aspect of his situation which had changed was that his head now ached slightly from the force of the blow he had given it. It did not improve the mood of the elf.
It was so terribly dark inside the cupboard. The blackness reached greedily into the elf's eyes swallowing up his ability to see. Legolas was not good at coping with dark, enclosed spaces. Don't think of it, Legolas chided himself sharply. This, however, was something easier said than done. The blackness was so consuming and it greedily sapped whatever strength Legolas seemed to have left. Thick, like black molasses, it engulfed him in its heavy and oppressive layer smothering the light within him.
DON'T THINK OF IT!
The order came louder than before. Legolas was desperately attempting to quash the part within him which was beginning to despair. Elves generally do not do well in captivity, in closed, confined spaces. He could not afford to wallow in his own misery at the moment; Gimli had not done so when he, Legolas, has required aide. His friendship to Gimli had to come first, and he could dwell on everything else afterwards.
His body began to shake. This was only visible sign of the battle being waged within. His jaw was clenching and unclenching in strained concentration. Slowly, Legolas managed to lift his hand, this movement was felt more than seen, but he had gained a victory in it, though he had no idea how this had been achieved. Blindly pressing his hand outwards in the direction he knew the doors to the cabinet lay, he pushed. When this accomplished nothing, pushed harder.
The small click of the doors swinging apart what perhaps the most rewarding sound Legolas had ever heard. He had done it. He had disobeyed a command.
A rush of adrenaline allowed Legolas to awkwardly leap from the cupboard, completely devoid of his usual grace, to stand in the open. He smiled, sucking in the light to replenish his weary spirit before turning and trying to plan the next step. What was the next step? He was out, yes, but what would he do and where to go with his newly attained freedom?
In the end, the option was taken from him. One of the temples acolytes entered the room and spotting him gave a gleeful squeal. Hurrying over, the person dropped to the ground at Legolas' feet before rising and looking the elf over for injuries. "Come, exalted one. Come and I shall lead you to the High Priest!" came the excited command.
Legolas' first impulse was to deny the request, and yet his feet followed when the page left the room. What limited control he had regained seemed to have vanished with the darkness. He was mindlessly obeying once again.
In his mind, Legolas screeched in a very un-elf-like scream of frustration.
~*~
Addrodoc paced restlessly up the length of the main chamber and then back down it. Beads of perspiration had formed along the hair line of his scalp, his temples and the back of his neck, but he ignored the stifling heat and his frayed nerves in favour of the utter rage carousing through his body. How could this have happened! He wanted to scream, to beat his fists against something (mainly the dwarf) and stamp his feet against the stone. Yet one did not rise to a position of head priest, and one of the village elders of the community, with such pointless displays of emotional incontinence so he kept his raw fury more or less buried.
Around him his acolytes shifted nervously. They were weak Addrodoc decided. The uncertainty plaguing their eyes imitated the already frayed nerves of the priest. This village seemed determined to make each step of their redemption difficult, questioning his every command, and struggling to understand and interpret what the God's had chosen to impart to him. They questioned the necessity of killing the elf - they did not see that it was crucial, vital even, that they do so. How could they be so blind!
Rubbing wearily at his temple, Addrodoc sighed deeply. He had never felt so old or worn. He wished, even momentarily, that there was someone here he could rely on during this lapse of strength. Someone who would help him reach this noble and essential goal - and yet there was none he would trust fully. Their eyes, beady, passive, and pleading watched him, simultaneously judging him while also begging for his aide. Little lost sheep, that's what they were, and Addrodoc was their Shepard. He had been sent to see them safely from the pastures into the warmth and security of the barn. It was a heavy burden to bear, and now thanks to the deformed gnome everything was in jeopardy!
Grinding his teeth together, Addrodoc forced his feet to stop their pointless movements. He had to be stronger than this. He had to gather himself up and project a more confident air. Addrodoc, realized that if others saw his doubt, they would crumble. They were not strong enough to handle such pressures. No - for the sake of his people he would have to be strong, now more then ever.
Where was the elf? The question plagued Addrodoc. On first hearing the dwarf's boastful claim of the elf's escape, he had been certain that the hateful creature, that affront to the gods, had been lying. Yet they had searched the temple, all its rooms and chambers, and had not found a trace of the elf. Obviously there had been some truth behind the dwarf's words, but Addrodoc still sensed that this was all merely a bluff, a delaying tactic.
Things were rapidly spiralling out of control. The loss of power made Addrodoc feel desperate, a tension mounting in him that would provoke him into a rashness normally absent in his character. He could not fail; the Gods would not tolerate failure. He was their speaker, their hope!
"Lord," a tentative voice squeaked, making Addrodoc pivot on his heal sharply to glare at the person who spoke. "What of the dwarf?" The question was asked in a mere whisper, but even at such a soft tone it was enough to enrage the human priest.
Striding quickly over to the now cowering boy, whose blond hair stood up on end and spattered in every direction, Addrodoc slapped with violent force. The stinging sound of rough palm hitting the soft flesh of a cheek reverberated around the room. "Rulif, isn't it?" Addrodoc asked in a dangerous tone as recognition began to wash over him as he observed the cowering child.
Sniffing back tears from unusually large eyes, the boy nodded, obviously too afraid to make a sound. "Well, boy," scoffed Addrodoc, "never, ever mention that insidious creature to me again. I will not have the walls of my temple profaned with its mention! You are not even a servant of this temple - why do you lurk around here? Get back to your horse field and your sinful parents or be silent."
Rulif, chewing on his bottom lip, attempted to gather his courage. "He... he was nice to me. Kind and all. I... that is... I don't want him to be hurt." The bravery and selflessness of the child would have touched Gimli, had the dwarf been present, but all the child got in return for his pains was another sharp slap.
"Remember your place! Do not address your elders thus!" came the sharp, cold and callous command. The courage that Rulif had managed to accumulate melted in the face of the stern figure he confronted. Defeated, he nodded, his eyes blurring with tears as he backed away submissively.
"Lord!" a new call came as one of the temple's servants swept into the room herding Legolas towards him. Addrodoc stood still with shock for a moment before sweeping joyously across the room - relief flooding into every limb.
His hands came up to hold Legolas's shoulders, and their grip was almost painful with the strength of the hold. The human priest beamed, nodding his head up and down. "We have been so worried for your safety, esteemed lord," he cooed softly. The sickly sweet tone in his voice made the elf in question want to wrench.
Addrodoc turned quickly and went to his work bench. The light he detected in Legolas' eyes, and the sheer power it revealed, sent a shiver of fear creeping down the priest's spine; this required immediate attention. Addrodoc poured a glass full of the drugged amber liquid from the flask on his workbench, brought it quickly over to the elf, raised it to his lips, and forced him to drink its contents or become drenched.
Legolas swallowed quickly, trying to step back; he was practically drowned by the assault, but Addrodoc's free hand reached out and grabbed the back of his neck holding him firmly in place. Not till every last drop was gone, and Legolas was left panting for the air he had been deprived of while drinking, did Addrodoc look satisfied.
"Nothing has changed," Addrodoc barked at the wide-eyed onlookers. "Make sure all is in readiness for the ceremony. It is already afternoon, and the gods do not grant us much more time." Those present were quick to disperse, fleeing the room to go about their respective duties with a frenzied proficiency driven and motivated by fear.
"You," Addrodoc whispered quietly, turning once again to face Legolas. "You have lead us on quite the chase." His hands snaked forward to stop the elf from backing away once again, one hand grabbing Legolas' upper arm and the other resting on a soft cheek. "I almost feared that I had lost you."
"Where... is... Gimli?" Legolas ground out through his constricted throat, each word was a battle to form.
"He is my safety net now. I had a feeling you would not abandon him. You will obey. You will play the part you were born to play, or, your dwarf," the word emerged from the human's lips with a disdainful sneer, "will be made to suffer."
Legolas glared, though he was feeling sluggish and light-headed. Something strange was happening, and the elf was not sure he understood what it was. He had just ingested the priest's concoction and yet... yet he was not feeling as influenced by it as he normally did. He was feeling stiff, achy and hardly himself but the darkness did not swirl forward this time to chain him more tightly within his own body. His own consciousness still felt as though it could fight. An encouraging realization.
He was feeling a sense of nausea as well, and when the cup had touched his lips there had been a part of him that had felt almost desperate to have the drink. He craved it even now. The taste, the flavour... pushing aside such thoughts Legolas gasped. Where had such a longing come from?
Focus, he instructed himself, you must help Gimli now. Breaking eye contact with the insane priest landed Legolas' eyes on something else all together. Behind Addrodoc, merged with the shadows of the far wall and almost hidden behind a large flower pot, crouched a young boy whose eyes were glaring and cheeks were tear-streaked. The child scowled at the human priest with loathing, absolute loathing.
Realising he was being watched, the child jerked, his head shooting up to look at Legolas and his eyes adopting a scared tint. The elf wished he could reassure the child, but his voice was not his own and before he could work on forming the words, the boy sprang up and silently fled the room leaving Legolas alone.
~*~
The afternoon passed too quickly for Legolas' liking. The patch of sun that shone through the window panes above moved steadily across the room until it became only a mere sliver of what it had been. Its progress mocked Legolas. The elf was caged within himself, some of his commands being obeyed while others were utterly rejected.
Addrodoc would pop in from time to time, forcing more of the drink into the elf, yet Legolas was struck by the lack of its effects. Its taste seemed dulled, and served only as a dim reminder of the full force the drink had once wielded. His body was behaving strangely as well. It was going through episodes of tremors that would wrack through him, leaving him feeling simultaneously cold and hot. His mouth watered as it begged for more of the drugs Addrodoc had forced into him and his mind snarled with frustration.
He did NOT have time for this. Such assertions did little to change the situation.
He strained his ears, trying to catch words that might reveal the fate of the dwarf to him, yet no one seemed to be discussing the dwarf. His vanishing seemed to be taken in silence; those who watched Legolas remained mute and uncurious. It did not bode well and Legolas dreaded what might be befalling Gimli at this moment - that was if he were still alive to experience anything.
Addrodoc came waltzing in once again, looking far too pleased with himself for Legolas' liking. Smiling and sweeping his gaze around the room to make sure all was in order, the priest supervised everything with a cockiness that made Legolas grind his teeth together. "I shall be back within the hour to escort our most honoured lord to the dais outside. Stay with him until then, he instructed the two guards who had had Legolas's charge throughout the day.
The human priest paused before leaving the room. He turned and came over to Legolas, bringing their faces close together and speaking with a lowered voice ensuring no one would overhear.
"You both out up a good struggle. Destiny cannot be denied though. We all have our roles to play and yours, my friend, has come to an end. Take peace knowing that it has served a purpose. Many leave this life behind without having impacted anything."
"You are insane," Legolas hissed back, his own anger giving his voice the necessary push to overcome his leaden body. "My fate is mine alone to command, and for you to think you hold any sway over it shows how little you truly know. I am of the firstborn of this world. My light shall never perish no matter what you might try to do to it. You have no real power over me, if you did you would not require drugs to sedate me."
Addrodoc looked unmoved by the tone or words Legolas employed. If anything, the elf swore he looked at him with something akin to pity. "You are so perfect," he whispered quietly. "What an honour I have been granted in performing this sacrifice." His hand came forward and stroked Legolas' face and the elf refused to flinch away from the touch, instead settling for glaring. "Goodbye Legolas," Addrodoc continued. "It will all be over soon and there is no shame in being afraid."
Not granting the elf the chance to retort, Addrodoc straightened and left.
Legolas fumed. He had not meant to allow the human to see his fear, had not even thought he had done so. It nagged him to have allowed an enemy the chance to see his emotions, usually so guarded and restrained.
So focussed was he on once again fighting with himself, that he did not notice Rulif enter carrying two goblets of wine. All the elf knew was that when he looked up the guards were already draining their glasses, heads tilted back. Rulif stared straight at him and Legolas knew then, as he looked into the boy's eyes, that he had an ally.
It happened remarkably quickly given that the child could not have had much time to plan. The dull thuds of the guards bodies hit the ground hard, before silence descended.
"Not dead. They are not dead." Rulif seemed to be as shocked by his involvement as Legolas himself was. The child was bruised by abuse he had suffered earlier under the priest's hand, and if possible his hair seemed to be in even a greater state of disarray. The child floundered for words for a moment before he once again met Legolas' eye. "What my village is doing, what Addrodoc is, is wrong."
The statement made Legolas smile. The child had a quiet strength in him that amazed the elf. Nothing he could say would ever be enough.
Rulif, however, continued speaking. "My village is not bad. My people are not cruel. They are just confused and desperate." The words came out very fast and almost slurred together, but their simplicity and elegance still made them powerful.
"I know," Legolas said, and it surprised him, for he did know. Looking into the eyes of this child, he momentarily wondered how he could have ever doubted it. Rulif smiled tentatively, before his grin blossomed into a toothy, lopsided expression of pure joy.
"Follow me! Follow me, great and forgiving lord! I will show you to the dwarf! This way, this way now!" Legolas slipped eagerly to his feet, forcing them to move though the actions were leaden, heavy and awkward. He strove to keep pace with the bounding child in front of him who wove with enviable ease through the winding passageways, hopping this way and that and occasionally slipping to the ground in clumsiness. The child was a sight to behold.
"This door. Yep, right here!" he whispered as he finally came to a stop, his arm outstretched and his finger pointing at the door in almost an accusing manner. Legolas smiled at the child.
"Thank-you for all your help, my young friend. You have done much for my friend and I. You should leave here now. I do not wish you to become any more involved or injured as a result of your kindness. Do you understand me?" Legolas asked, having knelt in front of the child so that he was speaking to him on eye level.
The boy frowned before nodding a hesitant yes. Legolas patted his head before rising and reaching out to grasp the door that would lead him to Gimli. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door as quietly as he could.
What he saw inside made his heart nearly stop. The dwarf was tied to a chair, his head drooped onto his chest and his breath coming out in raged pants. He was bruised, and blood had soaked into the rope bindings that held him. He looked a mess and Legolas felt a stab of guilt that he should be responsible for the dwarf's suffering. Yet Gimli's appearance was not what made Legolas freeze in horror, it was the presence of Addrodoc himself. The human's hand was clutching a knife, Legolas' own knife, and approaching the dwarf with dangerous intent.
The human's voice was soft but filled with malice as he spoke, "...and yet you failed," was the first part of the interrupted dialogue Legolas heard as he slunk quietly across the floor. "The elf is MINE. To think that you could have stopped me is laughable. He will be given to the Gods at sun set but you... you shall be given to the Gods now." As the word was spoken the knife descended, and Legolas lunged forwards, abandoning any stealth he had been employing, for haste.
Just before the elven blade sunk into the dwarf, Legolas' hand closed around Addrodoc's wrist, wrenching the human's hand away from its target with all the strength left he possessed.
Gimli jerked at the sudden arrival of the elf, though he was still bound too tightly to move far. He let himself release a shaky breath of relief. Only a moment ago he had been sure he would be returning to the halls Aulë and his ancient kin, his life among the living over. Snapping his attention back up to the human and the elf, Gimli struggled anew in an attempt to gain his freedom.
Legolas wrenched the blade from Addrodoc swiftly, amazed with how comforting it felt to once again have its familiar presence clutched in his palm. Breaking quickly away from the priest while he still had the benefit of surprise working for him, he placed himself protectively between the dwarf and the human, amazed that the simple manoeuver seemed to have winded him.
Addrodoc blinked, seeming puzzled by the sudden change in the situation. One moment he had been about to enjoy destroying the blasphemy and mockery of creation that was the dwarf, and the next moment he was unarmed facing a flushed but angered looking elf. Finally dismissing the logistics of how such a thing had happened in favour of simply dealing with it, Addrodoc smiled.
"Legolas," he said, purposefully keeping his voice soft and gentle, hypnotic. "We were just speaking of you. You are not strong enough to hold that dagger yet though. It is heavy, like solid stone..."
"Stop!" Legolas snapped, his wrist and arm shaking under the strain now of holding the blade which seemed to have multiplied in weight. "No tricks. I am through with them. No more illusions and no more commands."
Addrodoc frowned. The elf seemed to have overcome effects of the drug, and it came as yet another unpleasant shock to the priest. "Drop it Legolas," he ordered simply, but in a tone that most people would wish to obey.
The elf struggled, the conflict playing itself out across his face. His hand was shaking wildly now, his fingers loosening in their grip until the knife fell with a clatter to the ground. Legolas sucked in a deep breath of air, trying vainly to not feel frustrated at the loss of the weapon.
Addrodoc stepped forward slowly, walking toward the elf, determined to take advantage of the moment of weakness he had elicited. "You are tired, my lord. The strains of the past few days are confusing you," he coed. "I know it is hard to trust."
For each step towards him Legolas matched the movement with a step backwards. Steering both him and the priest away from the dwarf. Legolas hated the feeling of helplessness and despair that clung to him, the weakness that he projected, but he was incapable of doing anything except fleeing from Addrodoc's approach.
"You are feeling lost. You need not feel so, lord. I would not let you go astray, but you must trust me if I am to protect you. The Gods have chosen you..."
"Daro (stop)!" Legolas whispered, his voice as unstable and shaky as the rest of him. Addrodoc ignored the plea and continued soothingly.
"The drug... you miss its warmth. It gave you such certainty, such purpose, and now it is gone. I can see that you long for it. It is written in your face, the shaking of your body, in your dilated pupils. Can you deny that you long for it?"
The weakness was hit, and Legolas knew it. He did long for more. He was willing to do anything to make that longing cease. His voice was beyond him now. He merely nodded.
"Lad, don't listen to him," Gimli's voice shot out, strained, panting, and laced with pain. The dwarf. Legolas had almost forgotten Gimli was there. He tried to focus on the dwarf, tried to push the caress of Addrodoc's voice from his head, but it was so difficult. When the elf's back hit a wall he felt the urge to panic outright.
Addrodoc smiled. Reaching into the depth of one large sleeve, he withdrew another small dagger. Standing close to the elf he brought the knife to Legolas' throat, pressing it into the small bump of his Adam's apple, and watching the small drip of blood that emerged as a result. "Your life force will give us ours back," he whispered in awe as he watched this single trickle of blood work its way down Legolas' throat until it hit the material of his shirt and was absorbed into the white material. "So much power lies in you."
Legolas wanted to pull away, wanted to fight and yet he remained still. His eyes darted back over to Gimli, who watched the pair tensely his mouth open in a soundless protest. The dwarf met his gaze, and Legolas read the silent pleading in his eyes. A slight movement caught him by surprise and he was once again shocked to see Rulif entering the room quietly. The boy's face was drawn into a look of utter concentration and determination. At first Legolas thought the boy was going to Gimli, but then he realized that was not the case. The boy was going for the knife Legolas had dropped.
As Addrodoc made several other small puncture marks along his throat and jaw line, Legolas merely watched detached as Rulif took hold of the dagger. His small fingers grasping the hilt before he stood straight.
"...You who are so perfect. You have so much to give us," Addrodoc continued, whispering though Legolas was now only vaguely aware of his words. Gimli too was watching the boy. "I will make you truly immortal. Frame you with the Gods in heaven. There is no need to fear."
"Yes, there is." Legolas said simply, snapping his attention back to the insane priest. "For power is a fickle thing, unpredictable. This is not right. Killing me, killing Gimli will solve none of your people's problems. Back away from it now or it will ruin you," Legolas requested softly.
Addrodoc smiled. "You, you who have control of nothing tell me this." He smirked. "You have no gift of foresight! I have the Gods on my side! I cannot lose!" and with this being said he turned, raising his knife to throw it at Gimli. Such was his shock when he saw the ivory-white elven blade flying though the air towards Legolas' outreached hand, that he ended up impaling himself on the blade as he flung himself around with the intention of confiscating it. His mouth open in a silent yell of denial, Addrodoc looked first at Legolas and then down at the knife that was embedded in his stomach. "It was not my time," Addrodoc croaked before he slumped forward into Legolas, his eyes glazing over as he died.
Legolas shook his head, his eyes closing as the realization that it was over hit him. Pulling his blade free he let the dead body fall to the ground. It was such a waste. The whole thing had been so pointless and unnecessary. Kneeling down next to the human, Legolas reached out and closed his eyes. "I failed you somehow," he spoke quietly. "I wish I could have given you hope of a different nature."
Standing once again he went over to Gimli, cutting the dwarf's bonds quickly. "I am sorry, mellon." The words were so inadequate, and Legolas, despite it all, was still shaking due to unpleasant addition he had formed from the drug.
"I know." Gimli replied, grasping Legolas' arm in warrior's greeting. Smiling reassuringly at him. Then the pair both turned their eyes on Rulif who was still staring at Addrodoc.
"I know you told me to go, but I could not!" he explained.
Legolas went to the boy. "I am glad you did not for I was in need of help, but I wish I could have spared you that. You are to young to see such things," the remorse in the elf's voice was genuine and deep.
The boy nodded. "We must get you safely from here. Come with me."
So it was under the hoods of temple officials that Rulif lead them from the temple into the fresh air. He took them quickly to Arod's pen, his lanky frame having acquired a solemn grace to it that came with age and experience. He had left his childhood behind in the room with the dead priest and it pained Legolas to know that in a way he was as responsible for that as Addrodoc.
Some things were to easy too lose.
Soft words were spoken of parting and farewell. Both dwarf and elf had serious misgivings about leaving the boy in the village, but Rulif had assured them that he would be well and had no desire to flee with them. Mounting the horse quickly, the pair left the village as the sun set over the trees in the distance. Both were plagued by a sense of failure although they both still lived.
"Silence does not become you elf," Gimli said quietly; his first words spoken directly to Legolas since leaving the temple.
"No, I suppose it does not. Yet my thoughts keep me otherwise engaged."
"Ah," Gimli grumbled. "Well do not dwell in that airy head of yours for too long, lest it have some permanent effect upon you. Better yet to talk to me so that I might teach you some of the sturdy sense of the dwarves."
As the last light was extinguished besides that of the stars, Legolas laughed softly. Momentarily he reached down and squeezed one of Gimli's hands that rested on his own stomach from where the dwarf held tight to him. "Teach away, oh wise and noble dwarf, for I am all curiosity as to what you would describe as dwarven sense. I have yet to see you display such traits, but if you do possess them then by all means enlighten me."
The dwarf snorted and the familiar patterns of healing and recovery began.
Reviewer Responses:
MOST REVIEWS EVER FOR A SINGLE CHAPTER! THANK-YOU SO MUCH!
HalandLeg4ever ~ LOL. Well some of your guesses became true in this chapter. Poor Gimli, he had to try though and it was not his fault that the doors would not open. As for Legolas… well he has never been the obedient kind so staying in a closet would be out of the question, lol.
Star-Stallion ~ LOL… I know. Bad me! I left you for almost 2 and a half weeks without an update. It was evil. Sometimes real life just won't give me writing time though! How pathetic was that excuse, lol. I am glad it got you so excited when you realized I had updated though. I gives me a plot of pleasure to know that I have people waiting upon my reviews! LOL. There was still a chapter to go and there was no way I was letting them slip away – not when I could have a much more dramatic escape, lol. Thanks again for all your support.
Karri ~ Yes, they got Gimli! You didn't really think I would let them slip away, did you? I am way to evil to have let it be *that* simple. Anyway – this chapter will hopefully alleviate the majority of your concerns. Your story is coming along slowly, eh? Well that just means more reviews might inspire you to write faster, lol. As soon as I am done my mid-years I am going to read it… and vignette's are always good! I love your vignette's so by all means – keep posting them!
Rosie ~ Yeah, poor Gimli. We all have to give him full points for trying, lol. Could not have been easy for the little guy. Oh yes and Addrodoc is evil… there is no question about it. Thanks for wishing me good luck. I have my biological anthropology exam in 1 hour and I am writing my responses now to calm me down before my ride arrives to take me to school. The key is not to panic, lol. Anyway – thanks for your review and sorry for my ramble.
Tinnuial ~ Glad you got a kick of Gimli wearing a toga! I thought it was funny too. I mean I had to come up with a disguise for him so that he would look the part of a "servant for the god" role and a toga popped into my head, lol. Glad your are enjoying it and I hope this chapter does not disappoint you!
Nikki1 ~ LOL. Yeah! I loved the mental image too, lol. It is definitely something you do not see everyday! Yeah I had to make Legolas sort of be himself if even for a moment just so people will realize how far he had fallen. At first I was not sure if people were even realizing he was changing so I think it is important that I underline what the drug has done so people can see now. Sorry to have dashed your hopes… but this chapter will make up for it… I once again returned to Legolas' point of view so it probably cleared up a lot.
Sirithiliel ~ Good for you for taking part in a play. I have done that before and it is a time consuming task. What musical are you doing? I love musicals and so far I have seen Oliver, The Fantastics and The Lion King performed live... Cannot get enough of them! My favorite one is Les Miserables though! You never come on MSN anymore. I have read the Fading Hope chapter and I really liked it – thanks so much for doing it. I am definitely going to use it as a model when I start writing. I have just decided to finish this story first since it is almost done and then return to my original story.
WhiteWolf ~ LOL. Glad you got a kick out of Gimli's disguise. I had fun writing that scene just because I had such a vivid picture of it in my head. I am glad you liked Legolas and Gimli's dialogue together. I have fun trying to think how they would speak to each other and keeping their comments witty and funny. Glad you got a kick out of Gimli's final solution as well! I am so pleased you are enjoying this… It makes me happy to know I can repay you for the hours of entertainment you have provided me with your story 'The Wrong Path'. ^_^
LalaithoftheBruinen ~ Yeah – poor Gimli… I have been putting his through a lot recently between an elf who thinks himself a god, a toga, and a town full of religious fanatics. Still though… for a dwarf he is doing all right for himself, lol. Thanks for the good luck wishes and the plot bunnies.
Bookworm2000 ~ LOL. Romans… that is true. I remember my sister forcing me to watch all 14 hours of "I Claudius" (I think I spelled that right) and watching the toga/robe things they wore. They looked so comfortable, lol. Well I hope you liked how the conflict of this chapter ended… no more cliffies really – only an epilogue. It has been fun writing this story. Again thanks for the chapter title… it fit in perfectly and was much wittier then what I had thought up, lol. I agree totally with you as well. Nothing like analyzing people and their motives to truly appreciate how they function. Thanks for your continued support.
Jamie ~ I am so glad you liked it and that you left me a review! I live off reviews! I hope I didn't make you wait too long for this chapter and that you enjoyed it as well!
bunny-luver ~ Glad the last chapter put you on your toes for this conclusion. I like building suspense… it makes stories more interesting, lol. *blush* So honored that you still think of it as the "best" you have read. I personally think it is one of the best things I have written and it is the first story I have ever manage to finish… well I suppose I should not say that until the prologue is posted… but I have never even gotten this close to an ending before. It is very exciting for me! Thanks again for your encouragement!
Sparrow Greenleaf ~ Addrodoc has issues no longer, lol. I bet you were just dancing for joy when he kicked the bucket! *drools* Legolas… cookie… yummy. If that is not motivation to write, I don't know what is, lol!
Lyn ~ So glad you liked it… LOL. I make mistakes like that all the time! I don't know what is wrong with me… I know they are two different words but when I am editing for some reason it never clicks in that I am using the wrong word. Ah well… I guess as long as people keep bringing it to my attention that I have made a mistake then I will eventually improve… and that is the important thing. Anyway – once again I hope you continue to read and enjoy.
Jedi Cosmos ~ Sorry about leaving off there last chapter, lol. I love suspense and I love making you guys guess about what is coming next… makes you want to come back and keep reading, lol. Anyway – thanks for your continued support throughout this story and I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter.
fliewatuet ~ LOL. Yes, Gimli was in a horrible mood upon awakening and Legolas did manage to escape the cupboard… eventually, lol. I was tempted to make this into 2 chapters instead of one and leave you with one final evil cliffy before the conclusion but then I decided that would be too nasty… so only the epilogue left. Thanks again for your review.
Elfling ~ Oh my! You don't have to apologize! I know how real life and internet problems can keep you away and I too have been falling behind in my reviews… so don't worry! I understand, lol. LOL. I know… I am a complete sucker for Legolas angst. Just mention it and I start drooling! Anyway, I am glad you are still enjoying this and I eagerly await an update from you *hint, hint*! ^_^
Artemisa ~ LOL. Too good to end, huh? Well I am determined to not make this story draw out like Fading Hope has. So this was the final chapter and there is only a short epilogue left that will hopefully be funny and fluffy. Print away, my friend, print away! LOL – thanks for waiting for me to update my other story… by the time I update it no one is going to remember what it is about. Um as to my vignette's… I think you have already reviewed them both. Just click on my name and one is called 'Namarie' and the other 'A Tale of Wet Elves and a Disgruntled Wizard'… but as I said I think you have reviewed them both already, lol. Feel free to read them again though! (^_^) LOL. Thanks for the good luck wishes… trust me I needed it!
Eldameldo ~ Thanks so much for all your reviews! I got home and had a total of five waiting for me… it was very exciting and I was just sitting here and beaming from ear to ear looking at my total review number! I live off reviews… they get me so excited. Anyway – besides my obsession with feedback – I am glad you found this original. eLLe and I really wanted to come up with something that no one else had done before and to know we have succeeded is a great feeling! Thanks for reviewing my vignette as well and I am sorry it made you cry!
Shlee Verde ~ Oh… thanks so much for the plot bunny. As you can see I tried to incorporate it on a minor scale in all this. I almost wish I had divided this chapter into two pieces and maybe expanded on them both… but too late now. Glad you liked the banter… it just forced its way in there, lol. I LOVE writing it. I makes me feel clever and witty, lol. I love their dialogue too and if you really want to read someone who is a master at Gimli/Legolas banter then you must read 'Thundera Tiger' if you have not already. Thanks so much for your praise and I hope you continue to enjoy!
Niori ~ Hehehe. I am glad my 100th review was by someone I know too. I was seriously sitting at the edge of my seat just thinking, "come on, one more!". Rather pathetic but I am a review addict – so what can I say! Yes – wherever Legolas goes cheering and drooling seem destined to follow. I just it is one of the drawbacks to being an elf, lol. Well I hope you were cheering encouragement to him in this chapter because he needed all the support he could get here.
Irish QT ~ You love the amount of detail? Well then I imagine this chapter proved to be a feast for you, lol, given that I could not stop writing. I am sorry I kept you waiting so long for this update and I wish I could get them up there faster too. Trust me when the reviews slowly stop coming in - I get panicky and HAVE to get the next chapter up there! I am such a review addict. Anyway, glad you are enjoying it and thank for the review.
Sorry if I missed anyone! See you next week with the epilogue!