********Disclaimer – see chapter one********
Here is the next long awaited chapter. I was so swamped over Christmas – as I am sure many of you were as well. Just no time to write but time for great fun. My twins, Andrew and Abbegayle were 17 montha at Christmas and just a hoot opening their own presents for the first time. Though just after they both came down with croup, complicated by Andrew's previous bout with pneumonia and resulting athsma we have just been very busy and SLEEPY at my house. I will try to make the next chapter longer but here is what I have for now.
Love to you all
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luvguurl - Here is another chapy coming at ya!! :o)
Montana - Thanks so much I am glad you like it, and that you think it is good work!!
Devon - SO sorry about the break time but with Christmas and sick 18month old twins there was just no time to write!! Sorry this is such a short tidbit too but want ed to give my loyal readers something!! Oooooh and enough with the foreshadowing already - I felt an eerie chill just there like you were wandering around in my head!! There is more healing to come just you watch and read!!
galadriel evenstar - hope you like this next bit!
Devon - who hoo 2 reviews in same chapter - I am humbled. I do not have much in the way of others stories here just yet. But if I can not post my latest work, I can email you some more hurt / comfort stuff I am working on!! Or once I post it at the other site I'll send you the link!!
Reius Devirix - thanx, and he is very cool!
Alex mistress squirrel - thanx and yes it is very stressful!!
Lady of Nimrodel - Thanx from the bottom of my heart. I am glad it makes you glad :o)
Quickbeam - You are just awesome! Please let me know if you like this little teaser at all – short though it is!!
Lady Laswen - Yeah I like the sacrifice part too! Lots.
Roccovende - I too was sad when I left the last movie. Not that I did not LOVE it. I did but I mourn the end a truly awesome journey. Here is more for our minds eyes – we need to band together and keep the stories coming to fuel our hunger.
Ryoko Lasgalen - Thanks for saying cool fic. Even a little encouragement helps thought the writers block times!!
n - here is more though I apologize it was not sooner
************************Now on to the story************************
Ribbons of ever brightening colours were starting to spread across the sky. The sun was rising. Gimli, nodding to Legolas who was checking for any signs of new bleeding in Aragorn's wounds, said, "don't you worry lad, I'll find the path out of this ravine, just you be ready when I return."
Standing to face his friend, Legolas placed his hand on the dwarf's shoulder and Gimli clasped the elf's arm in echoing friendship. "We will, Gimli. Go quickly. We've not much time to waste." Then, with a worried sigh, Legolas turned back to his fitful patient.
Before he left his companions, Gimli noticed the involuntary shudder that coursed through the Elf as Legolas knelt beside Aragorn swaying almost imperceptibly. -Almost imperceptibly-, Gimli thought to himself as he walked briskly away from the warm campfire he had spent the night tending and stoking. That flaming Elf had better think twice if he thought that Gimli, son of Gloin was going to let him do more harm to himself with that blasted mind trick of his. "While I still draw breath," Gimli muttered, "I swear those two will make it to Helms Deep if I have to carry them and the darned horse out of this ravine!"
The water was flowing fast and thunderous beside him when Gimli rounded a blind corner and smiled. Here the river took a sharp turn west but the eastern bank now opened onto a wide sloping bank that was no longer a high escarpment, cut into rough rock. This was it, this was how Brego had gotten down into this ravine and found Aragorn and this was how they would get him out! With renewed vigour, the dwarf hurried with an all out run back to his friends. The road to their escape lay less than a few minutes walk or ride from where they had just spent a chaotic night.
"Legolas, it's just down the way from here. Several hundred yards laddie!" Gimli huffed as he ran up to them. He noticed that all the supplies had been put back onto Brego and the fire was doused and barely smoking.
"Good work Gimli. We are ready." Legolas answered as he nimbly affixed the clasp on his cloak then knelt to lift his injured friend.
Gimli was astounded by the ease with which Legolas raised Aragorn and set him carefully upon Brego. It was not a brute force similar to what he was accustomed to with his dwarven kin but instead a graceful strength that bespoke of a power and elegance that dwelt deep within this magical Elvish creature. Aragorn slumped forward with a deep moan, his head resting into Brego's silky amber mane.
Legolas turned to Gimli. "We will have to guide Brego through this rocky shore till we reach the opening before we can all mount him." Without further words, they set off following the shore closely, all the while Legolas carefully and painstakingly guided Brego over the slippery rocks.
As the sun crept higher into the morning sky, they reached the end of the escarpment. Swinging up into the saddle behind Aragorn, Legolas pulled his unconscious friend back to lean against his chest and wrapped an arm around Aragorn's waist. Then he looked down to the dwarf and reached his hand to lift Gimli behind him. "Come Gimli, we must make haste!"
"You will ride faster not saddled with me, Legolas. Go! Get him to the Deep and to the safety you both need." Gimli urged him.
"Yes Gimli, we could travel faster also if we all had mounts but we do not have such luck and I will not leave you here. Do not worry, we will still make it back faster than had we not found Brego and had to carry Aragorn. Now stop being a stubborn rock dweller and get up here." Legolas looked at him with steely determination.
With a sigh of defeat and acceptance, Gimli grabbed the Elf's outstretched hand and Legolas smoothly pulled him up to settle behind him on Brego's strong back. Then with an Elvish word that Gimli did not understand, Legolas urged Brego forward and the horse obeyed willingly even with its new burdens.