Another great thank you to all the wonderful reviews!
And laure: thanks for cookies and hugs… if you keep this up I will need to go on an
imaginary diet :-))))
So, I hope I have not lost your attention while waiting so long for this chapter – the
next one will come soon this time.
As always thanks go to Little My for beat reading!
So, on with the story… and let me know if you like it!!!
___
Gimli was not pleased to hear the news the sons of Elrond brought.
'What do you mean we cannot attack?' he fiercely protested even ere Elladan had
finished. 'You said you have seen Legolas? They keep him a captive there and we
will get him out.'
'You know not all there is to tell, son of Gloin,' Elrohir calmed him. 'The camp is full of
people…'
'I care not. Let them taste my axe if they wish to.'
'There are women among them, and children. Do you truly wish to endanger their
lives as well?'
The dwarf fell silent, a deep frown forming on his face. This was unexpected.
'We cannot simply barrel in there and free Legolas by force. We need to find another
way.'
'But Legolas is alive and well?' Gudin asked, barely masking the worry in his voice.
'Aye, he seemed not grievously wounded but we did not get close enough to make
sure of this,' Elrohir answered.
Elladan cast a look at Gimli, noticing the dwarf's absent look. It seemed he was deep
in thought and he chose to wait until Gimli spoke up.
'You did not recognize anyone in this camp?' the dwarf finally asked.
'Nay,' Elladan shook his head.
Gimli nodded, his face grim. 'If no one there knows us, then I might have an idea how
to get that elf out of there.'
But he refused to speak further, and leaving them, he began to search through his
pack. Then he disappeared out of sight between some trees. The elves exchanged a
troubled look, not sure what to make of this.
'Has he lost his mind, or does he truly know a way?' Elrohir mumbled. His brother
only shrugged, and as his words had been spoken in the elven tongue the three
dwarves standing close to him did not understand them.
A gasp of surprise escaped Elladan when he caught sight of Gimli again. The dwarf
stepped back to his companions, and for a moment stunned silence reigned as five
pairs of eyes stared at him in disbelief
It was Elrohir who broke it first, and there was barely suppressed laughter in his
voice.
'By Elbereth, Gimli, what have you done?'
The dwarf met his gaze in silence, and the look in his eyes was determined enough
to make the chuckle die in the elf's throat. His hair, usually a deep red, had changed
its color to a dark brown, close to black. Even his beard had taken on a matching
color.
Gimli's voice was calm as he spoke, carefully explaining the plan that had formed in
his mind. His companions listened in silence. When he had finished, the twins
exchanged a quick look ere Elladan spoke.
'This sounds like folly to my ears.' He shook his head, regarding the dwarf with a long
look. He could see Gimli bristle at his words and quickly raised a hand to silence him.
'You do know that those who have ambushed and robbed you might be in this camp?
That they might recognize you?'
Gimli answered with a short laugh, shaking his own head now. 'To the eyes of men,
all dwarves look the same. They can only keep us apart by the color of our hair or the
kind of armor we wear.'
He gestured towards his now dark hair, a grim smile forming on his face. 'They will
not recognize me, not even if I stand right in front of them, for the dwarf they robbed
had red hair.'
The elves exchanged another glance, Elrohir giving the slightest of shrugs.
'Folly it may be, but it might actually work,' he voiced their thoughts. 'And if not, we
still have the option of taking Legolas out of there by force.'
'So it is decided.' Gimli regarded his dwarven companions with a last questioning
glance, receiving only nods. They would go with him.
@@@
The pain in his arm had become a constant, sapping his strength. The position
Legolas was forced into put pressure on the broken bones that made it impossible for
the elf's healing abilities to kick in.
He had carefully checked out his surroundings, noticing the number of people living
here. The camp had to be well hidden in the depth of these woods for no one to have
discovered it by now. Still, he held no doubt that his friends would be able to find it.
He knew Gimli well; the stubborn determination once he had set his mind to a task.
And he knew the twins, had seen them at their best during many of their long hunting
trips with the rangers.
No, he held no doubt that they would find this place. The only thing that worried him
was how much time he had left. The man Surdim would not leave him here in the
care of a woman for long, he was sure of this. Once he was back, Legolas had the
distinct feeling his life would not be spared for much longer.
He let his eyes roam over his surroundings once more, trying to find something that
would turn his attention from the burning pain in his arm. His gaze fell on the water
skin still lying on the ground only a few feet away. Thirst burned in him and he tried to
remind himself that he was an elf, he did not need water and food as mortals did. He
could go without it if need be. But maybe the potion he had been forced to take had
some lingering effect on him, for the burning longing only grew stronger.
It was the sound of soft footsteps that alerted him to raise his eyes to the
approaching figure. Dian stopped a few steps away, regarding him with a mixture of
curiosity and contempt.
Legolas held his gaze and in the end it was the boy that looked away, his gaze
dropping to the ground. He moved suddenly, picking up the water skin and looked at
Legolas once more. This time there was an expression in his eyes the elf could not
read.
'Do you want some water?' the boy asked, his voice giving away his insecurity.
'Would you give some to me even if I said yes?' Legolas responded, reluctant to
admit any kind of weakness towards this child.
There was a flicker of surprise in Dain's eyes, telling the elf that such cruelness had
not been on the boy's mind.
They regarded each other silently for long moments ere the boy slowly took a step
towards the bound elf, then another. He kept as much distance as possible as he
held the water skin to Legolas's lips.
The cool liquid was too alluring for him to resist, and only as he noticed the tiny
expression of triumph in the child's eyes did Legolas realize he had been tricked. He
jerked his head away, causing water to spill on his clothes as he spit out what he had
not swallowed yet. Dian quickly stepped away from him, only to flinch and drop the
water skin as a cry rang out.
'Dian!'
It was his mother, concern on her face as she rushed towards them. It quickly
changed to something akin to anger as she took in the situation, quickly assessing
what had happened.
The taste was not as strong as it had been when the potion had been given to him
the last time, but its effect was quickly felt. Although he had taken only a little of the
water, Legolas could feel the numbness starting to creep through his mind.
He hardly noticed the boy turning and running away, past his mother. His task was
fulfilled--he had done as Surdim had told him to. But somewhere in the boy's heart
there was an uncertainty as to if he had indeed done the right thing. The look of
betrayal on the elf's fair features had shocked him more than he would have liked to
admit.
Clardyn remembered Surdim's words when she saw the water skin on the ground
and the dark splotches on the elf's clothing. His eyes had lost some of their
brightness, a glazed look coming over them. She could see he was fighting it, trying
to focus on her. The look on his face was a mixture of betrayal and confusion, and
she felt deep anger towards Surdim for making her son do this.
'I am sorry,' she whispered, but he did not react to her words, his head falling back
against the trunk he was tied to. She could see he was still awake but barely so.
At least it helped to numb the pain, Legolas absentmindedly realized as he fought to
keep some control over himself.
And laure: thanks for cookies and hugs… if you keep this up I will need to go on an
imaginary diet :-))))
So, I hope I have not lost your attention while waiting so long for this chapter – the
next one will come soon this time.
As always thanks go to Little My for beat reading!
So, on with the story… and let me know if you like it!!!
___
Gimli was not pleased to hear the news the sons of Elrond brought.
'What do you mean we cannot attack?' he fiercely protested even ere Elladan had
finished. 'You said you have seen Legolas? They keep him a captive there and we
will get him out.'
'You know not all there is to tell, son of Gloin,' Elrohir calmed him. 'The camp is full of
people…'
'I care not. Let them taste my axe if they wish to.'
'There are women among them, and children. Do you truly wish to endanger their
lives as well?'
The dwarf fell silent, a deep frown forming on his face. This was unexpected.
'We cannot simply barrel in there and free Legolas by force. We need to find another
way.'
'But Legolas is alive and well?' Gudin asked, barely masking the worry in his voice.
'Aye, he seemed not grievously wounded but we did not get close enough to make
sure of this,' Elrohir answered.
Elladan cast a look at Gimli, noticing the dwarf's absent look. It seemed he was deep
in thought and he chose to wait until Gimli spoke up.
'You did not recognize anyone in this camp?' the dwarf finally asked.
'Nay,' Elladan shook his head.
Gimli nodded, his face grim. 'If no one there knows us, then I might have an idea how
to get that elf out of there.'
But he refused to speak further, and leaving them, he began to search through his
pack. Then he disappeared out of sight between some trees. The elves exchanged a
troubled look, not sure what to make of this.
'Has he lost his mind, or does he truly know a way?' Elrohir mumbled. His brother
only shrugged, and as his words had been spoken in the elven tongue the three
dwarves standing close to him did not understand them.
A gasp of surprise escaped Elladan when he caught sight of Gimli again. The dwarf
stepped back to his companions, and for a moment stunned silence reigned as five
pairs of eyes stared at him in disbelief
It was Elrohir who broke it first, and there was barely suppressed laughter in his
voice.
'By Elbereth, Gimli, what have you done?'
The dwarf met his gaze in silence, and the look in his eyes was determined enough
to make the chuckle die in the elf's throat. His hair, usually a deep red, had changed
its color to a dark brown, close to black. Even his beard had taken on a matching
color.
Gimli's voice was calm as he spoke, carefully explaining the plan that had formed in
his mind. His companions listened in silence. When he had finished, the twins
exchanged a quick look ere Elladan spoke.
'This sounds like folly to my ears.' He shook his head, regarding the dwarf with a long
look. He could see Gimli bristle at his words and quickly raised a hand to silence him.
'You do know that those who have ambushed and robbed you might be in this camp?
That they might recognize you?'
Gimli answered with a short laugh, shaking his own head now. 'To the eyes of men,
all dwarves look the same. They can only keep us apart by the color of our hair or the
kind of armor we wear.'
He gestured towards his now dark hair, a grim smile forming on his face. 'They will
not recognize me, not even if I stand right in front of them, for the dwarf they robbed
had red hair.'
The elves exchanged another glance, Elrohir giving the slightest of shrugs.
'Folly it may be, but it might actually work,' he voiced their thoughts. 'And if not, we
still have the option of taking Legolas out of there by force.'
'So it is decided.' Gimli regarded his dwarven companions with a last questioning
glance, receiving only nods. They would go with him.
@@@
The pain in his arm had become a constant, sapping his strength. The position
Legolas was forced into put pressure on the broken bones that made it impossible for
the elf's healing abilities to kick in.
He had carefully checked out his surroundings, noticing the number of people living
here. The camp had to be well hidden in the depth of these woods for no one to have
discovered it by now. Still, he held no doubt that his friends would be able to find it.
He knew Gimli well; the stubborn determination once he had set his mind to a task.
And he knew the twins, had seen them at their best during many of their long hunting
trips with the rangers.
No, he held no doubt that they would find this place. The only thing that worried him
was how much time he had left. The man Surdim would not leave him here in the
care of a woman for long, he was sure of this. Once he was back, Legolas had the
distinct feeling his life would not be spared for much longer.
He let his eyes roam over his surroundings once more, trying to find something that
would turn his attention from the burning pain in his arm. His gaze fell on the water
skin still lying on the ground only a few feet away. Thirst burned in him and he tried to
remind himself that he was an elf, he did not need water and food as mortals did. He
could go without it if need be. But maybe the potion he had been forced to take had
some lingering effect on him, for the burning longing only grew stronger.
It was the sound of soft footsteps that alerted him to raise his eyes to the
approaching figure. Dian stopped a few steps away, regarding him with a mixture of
curiosity and contempt.
Legolas held his gaze and in the end it was the boy that looked away, his gaze
dropping to the ground. He moved suddenly, picking up the water skin and looked at
Legolas once more. This time there was an expression in his eyes the elf could not
read.
'Do you want some water?' the boy asked, his voice giving away his insecurity.
'Would you give some to me even if I said yes?' Legolas responded, reluctant to
admit any kind of weakness towards this child.
There was a flicker of surprise in Dain's eyes, telling the elf that such cruelness had
not been on the boy's mind.
They regarded each other silently for long moments ere the boy slowly took a step
towards the bound elf, then another. He kept as much distance as possible as he
held the water skin to Legolas's lips.
The cool liquid was too alluring for him to resist, and only as he noticed the tiny
expression of triumph in the child's eyes did Legolas realize he had been tricked. He
jerked his head away, causing water to spill on his clothes as he spit out what he had
not swallowed yet. Dian quickly stepped away from him, only to flinch and drop the
water skin as a cry rang out.
'Dian!'
It was his mother, concern on her face as she rushed towards them. It quickly
changed to something akin to anger as she took in the situation, quickly assessing
what had happened.
The taste was not as strong as it had been when the potion had been given to him
the last time, but its effect was quickly felt. Although he had taken only a little of the
water, Legolas could feel the numbness starting to creep through his mind.
He hardly noticed the boy turning and running away, past his mother. His task was
fulfilled--he had done as Surdim had told him to. But somewhere in the boy's heart
there was an uncertainty as to if he had indeed done the right thing. The look of
betrayal on the elf's fair features had shocked him more than he would have liked to
admit.
Clardyn remembered Surdim's words when she saw the water skin on the ground
and the dark splotches on the elf's clothing. His eyes had lost some of their
brightness, a glazed look coming over them. She could see he was fighting it, trying
to focus on her. The look on his face was a mixture of betrayal and confusion, and
she felt deep anger towards Surdim for making her son do this.
'I am sorry,' she whispered, but he did not react to her words, his head falling back
against the trunk he was tied to. She could see he was still awake but barely so.
At least it helped to numb the pain, Legolas absentmindedly realized as he fought to
keep some control over himself.