That evening, Gimli was escorted to the Dinning hall. A few minutes later, Legolas entered the hall. Gimli noted how pale the golden haired elf was and how much effort it took to take each step. Legolas looked down the room and saw Gimli. His face lit up with a genuine smile when he saw the Dwarf.
"Gimli you stubborn Dwarf, I did not know you had come to Mirkwood."
"Aye you prissy elf prince, I was told you wished to be left alone today."
"For you I would have made an exception. What are you doing here?"
The two of them embraced and sat down.
"I have come from Minias Tirith. Arwen has given birth to a little boy."
Gimli noted the elf's smile dim slightly at them mention of Arwen's name.
"This is wonderful news. I am sure King Elessar is very proud. May I enquire into the young prince's name?"
"Eldarion."
"That is a fine name, he will serve men well. So how are you?"
"I have been better." Gimli admitted.
"What is troubling you?"
"I have learned that two of my dearest friends are quite ill."
"Oh Gimli, I am terribly sorry to hear that. Is there anything that can be done for them? What has caused them both to become sick?"
"I am working on a way to heal them both but it will be hard because neither of them can travel such long distances. They are both struck down by the same illness."
"Oh I am sorry. Here, drink some wine and try to be at peace for one night."
Legolas poured Gimli a glass of wine. As he did, Gimli didn't fail to notice Legolas' hand shaking with the effort.
"So how are you Legolas? Are you preparing to take on your role of King of Mirkwood?"
"My father leaves in two weeks. It will be strange to have the entire kingdom under my ruling. King Elessar manages but he was born for kingship even if he never thought so. It is a strange thing, for years he talked about how he would never take the throne because he never deserved it. He always felt as if he had to earn a title like that. He was so stubborn."
"Like someone else I know." Gimli muttered under his breath. Legolas unfortunately heard and glared at the Dwarf. "So…" Gimli continued, "What else is happening? Melancier is worried about you Legolas."
Legolas turned his glare from Gimli across the table to where Melancier was listening in. she blushed and ducked her head slightly
"I don't know why. I am fine."
"Any thought of taking a partner to sit by your side?" Gimli asked. He looked intently at the Elf and noted the sadness that passed over his features.
"I did once but I know now that that will never be. And at any rate, what would the point be? It is sometimes easier to be alone then to face the pain of love."
"Even if that loneliness will kill you?" Gimli asked softly. Legolas turned to the dwarf and frowned.
"What do you know about it?"
"I know that whatever is wrong with you is slowly killing you, you can see it in the very air you breathe."
Legolas got up angrily. The court of Mirkwood stared as the Prince began to stalk from the room.
"Don't do this Legolas. Don't be as stubborn as him."
Legolas stopped for a moment before continuing out the hall. Gimli sighed and buried his head in his hands. Melancier came over and put an arm around his shoulders.
"I don't know what to do. I thought that if I came here I could help out from this end but now I see that Legolas is even more at a loss than Aragorn."
"I don't understand Gimli, what is the matter with Legolas and what does King Elessar have to do with all this?"
Gimli looked up and saw that practically all of Mirkwood was watching him.
"Melancier, I do not think that this is the time for such discussions. Finish your meal and we shall discus it after. Come to my room after we have eaten."
Melancier nodded and returned to her place. Gimli did not eat much and asked to be excused not long after. He went back to his room via Legolas'. He rapped quietly on the door. When he received no answer, Gimli quietly opened the door. He found Legolas lying shivering in front of a roaring fire. The room was stifling from the heat being generated. Gimli rushed forward and shook the unconscious form. Legolas mumbled slightly and curled further into himself. He was asleep.
"Oh Legolas, why are you doing this to yourself? Stubborn elf."
Just as Gimli began to try and lift the elf, Melancier walked past. She rushed in and carried Legolas to the bed. Legolas began to shiver more violently as he was moved away from the heat source.
His nurse came rushing in and put out most of the fire leaving a small flame still burning. She rushed to the bathroom and came back many hot towels. She placed them over the Princes head and covered him with a mountain of warmed blankets.
Melancier and Gimli stood back and watched how efficiently the prince was made warm, as if the nurse had done this before. Once she had finished, the nurse pushed Melancier and Gimli out the door and into Gimli's room.
"I am so sorry that you had to see that." She told them.
"What is wrong with him?" Melancier cried?
"He is dieing." Gimli told her after a momentary pause.
"How do you know this?" the nurse asked.
"Because a friend of mine is going through the exact same symptoms, only at a slower pace that Legolas."
"Who is this friend you speak of?" the nurse asked.
"Aragorn. You are talking about King Elessar aren't you?" Melancier reached out and took Gimli's hand.
"Yes Mel I am. Aragorn is dieing of grief just as Legolas is."
"King Elessar can not be dieing of grief. He is a man."
"He maybe a man but he has Elvish blood in his veins. I spoke to King Thranduil earlier today. I read him a page out of one of Aragorn's books. I did not tell him who wrote the words but he said that if a person had even a drop of Elvish blood in them then they would be dieing. Aragorn has diluted Elvish blood in him and he is in serious pain, I hate to imagine what it would be like for Legolas to even breathe."
"How do you know that their pain is connected? I do not know why Legolas grieves; only that he is. Have you given thought to the fact that King Elessar may be grieving at the thought of losing the Lady?" The nurse questioned.
"He does not grieve the Evenstar. They loved each other true but their marriage was one more of convenience."
"Where is your proof in this matter?"
Gimli got up and retrieved Aragorn's book from his bag. He opened it to the page he had given Thranduil and let both Melancier and the nurse read it. The book fell to the floor only a minute later.
"Oh my, I am sorry I doubted your word Master Dwarf."
"Don't worry about it. The only problem that I have is that neither of them will admit what they truly want. And aside from that, I do not know how they will be together. Aragorn is having trouble travelling and Legolas can not move from these halls."
"I may know a way of getting them together, I only hope that Legolas will last that long."
"The Kings departing?" Melancier spoke up.
"Yes. King Thranduil and the lady Arwen are departing on the same ship. Both Aragorn and Legolas will be together at the Grey Havens at the same time to say farewell."
"Does Legolas know about Arwen leaving?"
"No." Melancier told him, "Well I mean he may do but no one has been able to get close enough to him to find out. Not even me."
The three of them considered this for a moment. Finally Gimli sighed.
"I meant to stay here until the ship sailed for the west, but if Aragorn finds his book missing."
"Well we have a few people travelling to the white city in the morning. I am sure that one of them can take the book back there without raising suspicion."
"That would be very kind of you."
Melancier and the nurse rose and Melancier took the book.
"Gimli do not despair. Legolas will be fine and so will Aragorn. They just need to believe that themselves." Melancier told him.
Gimli nodded and the two elves left. He went to the window and peered out at the stars.
"Please let there be time."
Thank you to the people who reviewed Ch 5
- silverhope2001: I'm glad you are liking this J
- legolas19: thankyou J
- silvertoekee: yes it was sad, sorry bout that. I will try and make the chapters a little less sad from now on (but I'm not making any promises) J
- jadesaber: well Aragorn has Elvish blood as well so what is to prevent him from suffering the same things as the elves. Plus I didn't want it to be the same as the other stories I have read. It needed something different. J