Loyalty Unwavering

"My lord?" Arglin asked timidly. After a long silence, Arglin said, "It is the Dwarf, is it not?"

Legolas shook his head, but tears continued to roll down his cheeks.

Arglin paused, and then said, "My lord, give me a short while. I must attend to something. I will be back when the preparations are made."

Legolas watched as Arglin leaped onto his horse and rode out of sight.

Meanwhile, in the Mines of Moria...

Gimli thought he had heard her voice. He must have been imagining things- but then he heard it again, very clearly-there was no doubt about it.

"Dwarf." The melodic, lilting, yet clear and cold as ice voice started. "Thy friend prepares to sail. Yet one of his desired company is missing- you. Are you not joining him?"

Gimli felt himself growing red hot. He was utterly furious with that elf for becoming so cranky about that Eressea or whatever the elves called it. He was also seething with anger-at himself. Why had he shouted so insultingly at his best friend? Yes, only now he realised, Legolas Greenleaf, was his best friend, closer even than Aragorn or Gandalf. Or even the hobbits.

"Dwarf, regret is rather late now." Gimli covered his head in his hands and moaned. He knew now where his true destiny lay-in the Mines of Moria. There was no way he could make it back to the harbour in time. Could he defy fate?

Gimli shook the thoughts out of his head. He loved Middle Earth-especially the Mines which he had put so much effort into to start afresh-too much to leave it all behind. Yet, he was so close to that elf he had never wanted to part from him.

Thoughts were whirling in his head. He was confused beyond what he had ever imagined. Gimli thought of his ageing father Gloin, the hobbits-then he thought of Legolas and-of course, he had only heard her voice moments ago- Galadriel.

Images of Galadriel began flashing in his head. Each time, she was not in Lothlorien but in a beautiful arbour with an even more stunning fountain. The fountain was made out of gold-coloured marble (a kind he had never seen before; it was sure to be a special rock found only in Valinor) and around its sides were engraved: Aina-aglar nen-elen aelin andune, anna Alatariel Galadhriel. Good stonework, Gimli thought.

He reached into his pocket and brought out the three strands of Galadriel's hair. Watching the firelight of the Mines flickered off the long silky strands, he suddenly knew where he was supposed to be. He prepared to cast the strands into the fires-

"Milord?"

Breathing furiously with the strands still clutched in his hand, his mind filled with the terrible anguish which comes from trying to forget your best friend and the memory of a beautiful elf's face, Gimli saw an elf standing in front of him. He wondered how the elf had got past the Gate. The elf was wearing pale grey robes.

"I come from Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood." The elf bowed. "We are about to sail to the undying lands. My name is Arglin; I am his Highness's page."

Gimli grunted, but he could tell that the elf knew his true feelings.

"His Highness is deeply grieved by your unwillingness to follow us. He will not admit it, but I know he longs for your presence. I come of my own will to beg you to sail with us."

Gimli looked at the elf, who had tears in his eyes. "All right." He said gruffly. The earnestly sad look on Arglin's face was replaced by a look of pure joy. Gimli couldn't believe that Legolas had such a loyal servant.

"Come!" Arglin took Gimli by the wrist, stooping, and half-pulled, half-led him to the Gate of Moria, where a saddled horse was waiting. Arglin helped Gimli on the horse and got on behind him.

Against his will, Gimli was worried. He was anxious that Legolas would sail without them. He doubted that Legolas would leave without his page, but anxiety still hovered about like one of those annoying gulls who had started all this. As Arglin rode furiously towards the harbour, Gimli son of Gloin, proud dwarf of Dwarrowdelf, shed his first tear.

Okay! Done with the second chapter! Finally :P Anyways, thanks for reading so far, I must have bored y'all to death :D The engraving on the fountain in Valinor is in Elvish-as much as I can piece together. I am not learned in that lore...so all scholars please forgive any errors in that sentence. Also...R&R please!!!