a great thank you to all my faithfull readers out there!
I am on another trip right now - italy this time - and once more it is hard to find the time for writing and posting.
but for all of you who asked for more I managed to write a very short chapter...
thanks to Little My for beta reading!
so, on with the story... and let me know if you like it!!!
___
They reached the village much sooner than Gimli had expected. The twins had often left them behind, scouting out the area ahead while Legolas stayed with Gimli. As much as the dwarf had gotten used to riding, he was by far not as secure on horseback as the elves accompanying him. Legolas seemed content with staying at his side and he enjoyed his company.
They halted out of sight from the first houses, discussing what to do now. It was Legolasís suggestion that he would go to the tavern Gimli had spent the night in, to try and get some information. If thieves haunted the woods in this area, someone would know about it.
Gimli was reluctant to let his friend go, but the twins seemed to think it a good idea so he held his tongue. If Legolas thought he could discover something, he would not stop him from trying. They agreed to meet again at this place at dawn, and Legolas departed.
Unease settled in Gimli but he ignored it, blaming his own desire to do something, anything to find the ones who had ambushed and robbed him. But he knew there was a time to act and a time to wait. Right now there was nothing else to do but the latter.
They sat up camp and settled down to wait.
@@@
The tavern was full of smoke and the disgusting smell humans emitted, a stench of unwashed bodies and sweat. He could not help but wonder how anyone could take rest in surroundings like these.
But then again men did not posses the sharpened senses of elves.
He had drawn up his hood to hide his ears, not wishing to betray that he was an elf. Mixing with the crowd might offer him the opportunity to overhear something of interest. Some curious glances were directed at him when he made his way through the room towards an empty table, but no one showed any further interest in him. He ordered a pint of ale as he knew it to be the preferred drink of men, although he himself had never taken a great liking to it. He nipped at it while he used his keen sense of hearing to listen to the conversations going on around him.
There was talk of women, hunting and fighting, tales that sounded widely exaggerated and sometimes even disgusting to someone who had little knowledge of the ways of men. Hearing what he did, Legolas could only feel gratitude that he had so little dealings with this race.
Once he could hear a comment about Eomer and his wife, and it took much of his self-restraint not to interfere in the interest of one of the few men he had come to call friend.
Men truly are a peculiar race, he mused. He had seen them achieve things no one would have thought them capable of, and he had felt great respect for those he had seen fighting, even when the odds were not in their favor. But observing them as they were now, and listening to their speech, he could only wonder.
But naught he saw or heard gave him any hint about the men that had ambushed Gimli. He had finished his ale, and feeling the need to wash away the lingering bitter taste he rose to order some water, deciding to leave soon. He would not find the information he needed like this. Maybe if he asked around, but that would mean drawing attention to himself and he was reluctant to do so.
The bartender gave him a strange look, as if water was something no one would ever take if something else could be had, but did not comment. As he turned away to get it, Legolasís attention was distracted for a moment when voices rose in the back of the room. Giving a short glance towards the disturbance, it seemed that a few men had gotten into a dispute about a certain woman.
Legolas quickly paid and drained the glass, eager to leave the tavern and breathe clear air again. Even as he swallowed he recognized the strange taste of the water, but ere his mind had made the right connection it was already too late. The glass slipped from his fingers and the world around him suddenly started to blur. He felt a strong arm slip around his shoulders as he tried to get away and outside, and the strength to fight the supporting and restraining grip failed him. The last thing he heard ere awareness fled was the voice of a man close to him, but he could not make out the words.
@@@
He had known the elf would come. Why he could not say, but he had been sure enough to wait for him. Several days had passed, but each morning he had returned to the tavern and taken his seat at the back, waiting.
And then he had come.
It had been easy to recognize him, despite the drawn hood covering his golden hair and pointed ears. The way he moved betrayed him, and he could only wonder why no one else could see it.
He had watched him from his place, knowing he himself could not be seen, and his sharp eyes did not miss the subtle signs of hidden disgust. It only enhanced his own anger. So men were a repelling race for elves? The Eldar were so much above men that being among them caused them disgust?
A piece of gold was all it took to persuade the bartender to slip a few drops from the flask handed to him into the elfís next drink. He stood there, ready to move when the elf drained his glass, and at the first sign he moved forward. He was careful not to reveal his victimís true identity when he slipped a supporting arm around him. The draught has done its work--the elf was almost unconscious and he had only to mutter the words, ëhe has had too much to drink again, to reinforce the image of supporting a drunken friend out of the tavern. No one looked twice at them as he half-carried the elf outside.
His horse was waiting nearby, and it took less strength than expected to haul the elf across its back. He was lighter than he looked. Mounting behind the prone form, he made haste in getting out of the village, knowing the draughtís effect would not last long on an elf.
I am on another trip right now - italy this time - and once more it is hard to find the time for writing and posting.
but for all of you who asked for more I managed to write a very short chapter...
thanks to Little My for beta reading!
so, on with the story... and let me know if you like it!!!
___
They reached the village much sooner than Gimli had expected. The twins had often left them behind, scouting out the area ahead while Legolas stayed with Gimli. As much as the dwarf had gotten used to riding, he was by far not as secure on horseback as the elves accompanying him. Legolas seemed content with staying at his side and he enjoyed his company.
They halted out of sight from the first houses, discussing what to do now. It was Legolasís suggestion that he would go to the tavern Gimli had spent the night in, to try and get some information. If thieves haunted the woods in this area, someone would know about it.
Gimli was reluctant to let his friend go, but the twins seemed to think it a good idea so he held his tongue. If Legolas thought he could discover something, he would not stop him from trying. They agreed to meet again at this place at dawn, and Legolas departed.
Unease settled in Gimli but he ignored it, blaming his own desire to do something, anything to find the ones who had ambushed and robbed him. But he knew there was a time to act and a time to wait. Right now there was nothing else to do but the latter.
They sat up camp and settled down to wait.
@@@
The tavern was full of smoke and the disgusting smell humans emitted, a stench of unwashed bodies and sweat. He could not help but wonder how anyone could take rest in surroundings like these.
But then again men did not posses the sharpened senses of elves.
He had drawn up his hood to hide his ears, not wishing to betray that he was an elf. Mixing with the crowd might offer him the opportunity to overhear something of interest. Some curious glances were directed at him when he made his way through the room towards an empty table, but no one showed any further interest in him. He ordered a pint of ale as he knew it to be the preferred drink of men, although he himself had never taken a great liking to it. He nipped at it while he used his keen sense of hearing to listen to the conversations going on around him.
There was talk of women, hunting and fighting, tales that sounded widely exaggerated and sometimes even disgusting to someone who had little knowledge of the ways of men. Hearing what he did, Legolas could only feel gratitude that he had so little dealings with this race.
Once he could hear a comment about Eomer and his wife, and it took much of his self-restraint not to interfere in the interest of one of the few men he had come to call friend.
Men truly are a peculiar race, he mused. He had seen them achieve things no one would have thought them capable of, and he had felt great respect for those he had seen fighting, even when the odds were not in their favor. But observing them as they were now, and listening to their speech, he could only wonder.
But naught he saw or heard gave him any hint about the men that had ambushed Gimli. He had finished his ale, and feeling the need to wash away the lingering bitter taste he rose to order some water, deciding to leave soon. He would not find the information he needed like this. Maybe if he asked around, but that would mean drawing attention to himself and he was reluctant to do so.
The bartender gave him a strange look, as if water was something no one would ever take if something else could be had, but did not comment. As he turned away to get it, Legolasís attention was distracted for a moment when voices rose in the back of the room. Giving a short glance towards the disturbance, it seemed that a few men had gotten into a dispute about a certain woman.
Legolas quickly paid and drained the glass, eager to leave the tavern and breathe clear air again. Even as he swallowed he recognized the strange taste of the water, but ere his mind had made the right connection it was already too late. The glass slipped from his fingers and the world around him suddenly started to blur. He felt a strong arm slip around his shoulders as he tried to get away and outside, and the strength to fight the supporting and restraining grip failed him. The last thing he heard ere awareness fled was the voice of a man close to him, but he could not make out the words.
@@@
He had known the elf would come. Why he could not say, but he had been sure enough to wait for him. Several days had passed, but each morning he had returned to the tavern and taken his seat at the back, waiting.
And then he had come.
It had been easy to recognize him, despite the drawn hood covering his golden hair and pointed ears. The way he moved betrayed him, and he could only wonder why no one else could see it.
He had watched him from his place, knowing he himself could not be seen, and his sharp eyes did not miss the subtle signs of hidden disgust. It only enhanced his own anger. So men were a repelling race for elves? The Eldar were so much above men that being among them caused them disgust?
A piece of gold was all it took to persuade the bartender to slip a few drops from the flask handed to him into the elfís next drink. He stood there, ready to move when the elf drained his glass, and at the first sign he moved forward. He was careful not to reveal his victimís true identity when he slipped a supporting arm around him. The draught has done its work--the elf was almost unconscious and he had only to mutter the words, ëhe has had too much to drink again, to reinforce the image of supporting a drunken friend out of the tavern. No one looked twice at them as he half-carried the elf outside.
His horse was waiting nearby, and it took less strength than expected to haul the elf across its back. He was lighter than he looked. Mounting behind the prone form, he made haste in getting out of the village, knowing the draughtís effect would not last long on an elf.