Authors notes: - Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoy this and thanks for
all the reviews they are much appreciated!!!
**
The ride to Ithilien was tense. No one spoke more than was needed and even the weather seemed to suit the mood. The air was damp with drizzle and a mist laid low across the plains.
Breaks were short only to eat and sleep and taken when only needed. Legolas neither ate nor slept despite the pleading of Gimli and Eomer. The elf refused to talk and remained distant from the group his eyes facing the direction of the Ithilien at all times.
"You will serve no good to your people if you are exhausted" Gimli stated as he settled down next to Legolas. The elf again did not respond like he hadn't all the other times Gimli had tried to engage him in conversation.
"You pick a fine type to become silent. During the whole journey to Mordor you sang those dratted songs when I desperately wanted you to be quiet, now for once I wish to hear your voice and you become quiet. You really are an annoying elf!" Gimli joked trying to draw the elf into a conversation.
"I failed them." Legolas suddenly whispered. Gimli frowned.
"Nay my friend. You have done everything for them, for your people. They could have asked for no more."
"If a failure as a leader who was not there in their time of need was exactly what they were looking for I have excelled." Legolas snapped and Gimli could see clearly the self-loathing in the elf's eyes.
"You could not be in two places at once. Gondor needed you, Aragorn needed you."
Legolas whirled around fury at himself clear on his face.
"Gondor is not my home nor my people. I remained trying to tell someone about the deception but nay you were all blinded. Weak minds manipulated to believe evil."
Gimli ignored the insults knowing that Legolas was just venting his anger. The camp had stilled and all were watching unabashed as the scene unfolded.
"I died! I was dead. Buried alive. Alone. I died for Gondor when I should have died for my people. What have mortals done for me? I have suffered and died for you and what have I gotten in return? Insults about my race, distrust and thinly disguised hate. Now I have been brought back, changed, altered without my permission to forever remain here to protect you. I will never see my family again. I am an elf. This is not meant to happen."
"Legolas calm down." Gimli tried to calm the agitated elf and looked very concerned at Legolas who was acting totally different than normal.
"My colony was attacked and my people are suffering. I was not there to fight beside them. I am a poor leader. I have failed them." Legolas whispered the last part and sat gracefully down leaning on a tree for support. For the rest of the break he did not even acknowledge Gimli. He just watched the horizon.
* After a few more halfhearted attempts at getting the elf talking Gimli gave up and rejoined Eomer and the other warriors near the fire.
"He seems very agitated." Eomer commented as Gimli sat next to him.
"Aye but considering the circumstances he is doing well. I at least would have done some damage with my axe. Once we get to Ithilien I think he will get worse."
"What exactly went on after I left?" Eomer asked. Gimli paused his eating and frowned. He told Eomer the facts all the while watching the still figure of his friend.
"I'm not surprised he is like he is. I have sent scouts ahead to Ithilien they should return by morn." Eomer said changing the subject not knowing what else to say.
"He will die." Gimli whispered so quietly that Eomer thought he had misheard. "From grief." Gimli could have said and would have said a few years ago disparaging comments about elves in continuation of this comment but he remained still, his thoughts on how much the elf had changed him.
"Legolas is strong he will survive." Eomer said firmly.
"Would you? In a few years all will be gone that he once knew. We would have passed on, the elves would have departed and yet he would remain. How could anyone ask that of an elf? Of Legolas?"
"I know not but is has to be done. We cannot undo the will of the Valor we can just help and guide him through until we can no longer."
"I feel we have failed him. He was right. Everything he said about the comments and all that he has suffered. What have we given him in return?"
"Friendship. Do not think that that counts for little. Friends are things more valuable than gold or mithril. We will stand by him through everything that he has to face." Eomer said gripping the shoulder of Gimli in a gesture of support. Gimli watched as Legolas shifted slightly but the elf's eyes remained firmly on the horizon.
After a few minutes of silence Gimli turned to Eomer. "Thank you."
"For what?" the horse lord asked confused.
"You helped him when we did not. You made sure that he did not suffer alone."
"I did nothing that any of us wouldn't have done. He deserves all the praise, for if not for him Gondor would have fallen and Rohan would have been close behind."
Gimli nodded. "Then yet again he saved us. We owe him more than we can ever repay."
"Aye." Eomer said and the two lapsed again into silence watching the elf.
*
The dawn broke chilled and still. Gimli rose unsurprised but concerned at the fact that Legolas had not moved during the night and was awake still. Marching over to the elf he shoved some dried fruit into his hand.
"Eat it!" he snapped his concern turning into anger at his friend's neglect of his own welfare. "Making yourself sick will not aid anything let alone your people."
"Elves don't get sick." Legolas replied not moving anything other than his mouth to speak.
"Curse this Legolas!" Gimli yelled and several moans could be heard as the sleeping warriors were awakened by the shout. Legolas still did not move.
"We are with you. Do not shut us out."
Legolas slowly turned to face Gimli and blinked. The dwarf could see the exhaustion plain as day on his face and the anguish. He wished now more than ever that he could have gone through whatever Legolas had gone through. His kind-hearted friend who should not know such darkness had seemed to have disappeared. The spark of innocence that made the elf so endearing to all that met him had gone replaced by a beaten and wearied expression, like one who had tried time and time again to rise above but had been pulled down once again. Gimli's heart cried for his friend.
"Please my friend you are not alone."
"You are wrong Gimli. I am very alone." Legolas said softly and he turned away.
Gimli stepped backwards in shock at the words. He wanted to shake Legolas to try and get it into the elf's stubborn head that he was not alone but as Gimli thought back to the last night's previous conversation he realised that Legolas was indeed very alone. He walked back to the camp and over to where the horses stood. Aure stood watching more subdued than normal as if he sensed the distress of his owner. With a gentle pat he began securing things to the saddle.
Eomer called for the warriors to mount and only than did Legolas move. He mounted gracefully and waited for Gimli to mount. Then they were off and Gimli knew that before the sun set again many things would reveal themselves to them. For before sunset they would reach Ithilien.
* ~A few hours before dusk~
The group of warriors were making good time towards Ithilien and would reach it shortly. The mood had become tense in anticipation for the upcoming battle. Eomer opened his mouth to give orders when Aure, the horse Legolas and Gimli were riding fell to the ground stone dead an arrow in its chest. The loss of momentum carried both Gimli and Legolas off the horse and they slammed into the ground next to the certainly dead horse. Immediately the Rohan riders scattered to make themselves less of a target. Eomer approached the downed horse to see Gimli struggling to his feet looking a little dazed. Legolas had already moved over to Aure and was frozen over the horse, his faithful friend.
"Legolas?" Eomer called desperately but the elf did not move. No more arrows fell but then the creatures burst out of the trees screaming and howling as if possessed. Gimli withdrew his axe and the riders of Rohan reformed ready for a brutal charge. Still Legolas had not moved.
"Legolas?" Gimli said moving to the elf. "Come on elf we need you!"
The words seemed to make some impact on the elf and Legolas rose a look of complete fury on his face and with a snarl he withdrew his bow and fired.
Gimli did not know whether to be happy that the elf had finally taken action or worried at the change in the demeanour of the elf. Unfortunately for him Gimli did not have time to think about these concerns as the creatures descended on them with a terrible fury.
**
**
The ride to Ithilien was tense. No one spoke more than was needed and even the weather seemed to suit the mood. The air was damp with drizzle and a mist laid low across the plains.
Breaks were short only to eat and sleep and taken when only needed. Legolas neither ate nor slept despite the pleading of Gimli and Eomer. The elf refused to talk and remained distant from the group his eyes facing the direction of the Ithilien at all times.
"You will serve no good to your people if you are exhausted" Gimli stated as he settled down next to Legolas. The elf again did not respond like he hadn't all the other times Gimli had tried to engage him in conversation.
"You pick a fine type to become silent. During the whole journey to Mordor you sang those dratted songs when I desperately wanted you to be quiet, now for once I wish to hear your voice and you become quiet. You really are an annoying elf!" Gimli joked trying to draw the elf into a conversation.
"I failed them." Legolas suddenly whispered. Gimli frowned.
"Nay my friend. You have done everything for them, for your people. They could have asked for no more."
"If a failure as a leader who was not there in their time of need was exactly what they were looking for I have excelled." Legolas snapped and Gimli could see clearly the self-loathing in the elf's eyes.
"You could not be in two places at once. Gondor needed you, Aragorn needed you."
Legolas whirled around fury at himself clear on his face.
"Gondor is not my home nor my people. I remained trying to tell someone about the deception but nay you were all blinded. Weak minds manipulated to believe evil."
Gimli ignored the insults knowing that Legolas was just venting his anger. The camp had stilled and all were watching unabashed as the scene unfolded.
"I died! I was dead. Buried alive. Alone. I died for Gondor when I should have died for my people. What have mortals done for me? I have suffered and died for you and what have I gotten in return? Insults about my race, distrust and thinly disguised hate. Now I have been brought back, changed, altered without my permission to forever remain here to protect you. I will never see my family again. I am an elf. This is not meant to happen."
"Legolas calm down." Gimli tried to calm the agitated elf and looked very concerned at Legolas who was acting totally different than normal.
"My colony was attacked and my people are suffering. I was not there to fight beside them. I am a poor leader. I have failed them." Legolas whispered the last part and sat gracefully down leaning on a tree for support. For the rest of the break he did not even acknowledge Gimli. He just watched the horizon.
* After a few more halfhearted attempts at getting the elf talking Gimli gave up and rejoined Eomer and the other warriors near the fire.
"He seems very agitated." Eomer commented as Gimli sat next to him.
"Aye but considering the circumstances he is doing well. I at least would have done some damage with my axe. Once we get to Ithilien I think he will get worse."
"What exactly went on after I left?" Eomer asked. Gimli paused his eating and frowned. He told Eomer the facts all the while watching the still figure of his friend.
"I'm not surprised he is like he is. I have sent scouts ahead to Ithilien they should return by morn." Eomer said changing the subject not knowing what else to say.
"He will die." Gimli whispered so quietly that Eomer thought he had misheard. "From grief." Gimli could have said and would have said a few years ago disparaging comments about elves in continuation of this comment but he remained still, his thoughts on how much the elf had changed him.
"Legolas is strong he will survive." Eomer said firmly.
"Would you? In a few years all will be gone that he once knew. We would have passed on, the elves would have departed and yet he would remain. How could anyone ask that of an elf? Of Legolas?"
"I know not but is has to be done. We cannot undo the will of the Valor we can just help and guide him through until we can no longer."
"I feel we have failed him. He was right. Everything he said about the comments and all that he has suffered. What have we given him in return?"
"Friendship. Do not think that that counts for little. Friends are things more valuable than gold or mithril. We will stand by him through everything that he has to face." Eomer said gripping the shoulder of Gimli in a gesture of support. Gimli watched as Legolas shifted slightly but the elf's eyes remained firmly on the horizon.
After a few minutes of silence Gimli turned to Eomer. "Thank you."
"For what?" the horse lord asked confused.
"You helped him when we did not. You made sure that he did not suffer alone."
"I did nothing that any of us wouldn't have done. He deserves all the praise, for if not for him Gondor would have fallen and Rohan would have been close behind."
Gimli nodded. "Then yet again he saved us. We owe him more than we can ever repay."
"Aye." Eomer said and the two lapsed again into silence watching the elf.
*
The dawn broke chilled and still. Gimli rose unsurprised but concerned at the fact that Legolas had not moved during the night and was awake still. Marching over to the elf he shoved some dried fruit into his hand.
"Eat it!" he snapped his concern turning into anger at his friend's neglect of his own welfare. "Making yourself sick will not aid anything let alone your people."
"Elves don't get sick." Legolas replied not moving anything other than his mouth to speak.
"Curse this Legolas!" Gimli yelled and several moans could be heard as the sleeping warriors were awakened by the shout. Legolas still did not move.
"We are with you. Do not shut us out."
Legolas slowly turned to face Gimli and blinked. The dwarf could see the exhaustion plain as day on his face and the anguish. He wished now more than ever that he could have gone through whatever Legolas had gone through. His kind-hearted friend who should not know such darkness had seemed to have disappeared. The spark of innocence that made the elf so endearing to all that met him had gone replaced by a beaten and wearied expression, like one who had tried time and time again to rise above but had been pulled down once again. Gimli's heart cried for his friend.
"Please my friend you are not alone."
"You are wrong Gimli. I am very alone." Legolas said softly and he turned away.
Gimli stepped backwards in shock at the words. He wanted to shake Legolas to try and get it into the elf's stubborn head that he was not alone but as Gimli thought back to the last night's previous conversation he realised that Legolas was indeed very alone. He walked back to the camp and over to where the horses stood. Aure stood watching more subdued than normal as if he sensed the distress of his owner. With a gentle pat he began securing things to the saddle.
Eomer called for the warriors to mount and only than did Legolas move. He mounted gracefully and waited for Gimli to mount. Then they were off and Gimli knew that before the sun set again many things would reveal themselves to them. For before sunset they would reach Ithilien.
* ~A few hours before dusk~
The group of warriors were making good time towards Ithilien and would reach it shortly. The mood had become tense in anticipation for the upcoming battle. Eomer opened his mouth to give orders when Aure, the horse Legolas and Gimli were riding fell to the ground stone dead an arrow in its chest. The loss of momentum carried both Gimli and Legolas off the horse and they slammed into the ground next to the certainly dead horse. Immediately the Rohan riders scattered to make themselves less of a target. Eomer approached the downed horse to see Gimli struggling to his feet looking a little dazed. Legolas had already moved over to Aure and was frozen over the horse, his faithful friend.
"Legolas?" Eomer called desperately but the elf did not move. No more arrows fell but then the creatures burst out of the trees screaming and howling as if possessed. Gimli withdrew his axe and the riders of Rohan reformed ready for a brutal charge. Still Legolas had not moved.
"Legolas?" Gimli said moving to the elf. "Come on elf we need you!"
The words seemed to make some impact on the elf and Legolas rose a look of complete fury on his face and with a snarl he withdrew his bow and fired.
Gimli did not know whether to be happy that the elf had finally taken action or worried at the change in the demeanour of the elf. Unfortunately for him Gimli did not have time to think about these concerns as the creatures descended on them with a terrible fury.
**