Alrighty! Well obviously i didn't get this done before the new year ::blushes:: so sorry. I got hit with the worst case of writers block. But i think i'll be able to finish this up now. Mega ton thanks to my beta reader Mabby. Her patience is outstanding and her quick response to beting this while on vacation was wonderful!
To all my reviewers, i'm sorry to make you wait so long, there will be one more chapter after this, then Shantel's story will be done.
Time at Mirkwood seemed to pass too quickly once things were cleared up. Shantel had a great time learning the ins and outs of Thranduil's palace which led to the practical jokes on, Legolas and Gimli. Though when she almost pranked Thranduil himself, Legolas figured it was time for them to go, quickly!
"Shantel! What are you doing?" Legolas wondered in a loud whisper as she tip-toed past. She concealed something in her hands.
"A present for your father." She flashed him one of her mischievous grins and sauntered on.
"No, no, what are you hiding?" Legolas reached out and seized her arm..Shantel was forced to stop in fear of dropping her package.
"It's a surprise for you father," Shantel repeated innocently. "Let go before I drop it, Legolas."
"Hmm." Legolas grabbed for the package but missed as Shantel twisted in his grasp.
"No, you won't like it," Shantel pleaded. "Let go!"
"What's this?" Gimli had suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He grabbed the package as Shantel was focused on the elf.
"Ack! Gimli!" Shantel jumped towards Gimli only to be seized around the waist by Legolas.
"Well, who was this for, lass?" Gimli asked while pulling a long, slimy leaf from the basket.
"Decorations," Shantel replied, turning on the puppy eyes.
"I think it's time to go, Shantel is getting restless," Legolas said, flipping her over his shoulder.
"Hey, what am I? A sack of flour?" Shantel wriggled in an attempt to escape her confines. "Gimli please dispose of those."
"Sure, ask the dwarf," Gimli muttered as Legolas walked away. "The dwarf isn't doing anything important." After a quick breakfast, the three bid farewell and were on their way, heading off towards the Lonely Mountain.
"Heaven would know I've seen enough of Mt Doom, but this, the Lonely Mountain, wow!" The trip was only a week and a few days. There were times when Shantel would seem so upbeat on top of the world. Other times, she wouldn't talk, and the guys would have a hard time trying to find out what was wrong. A day away, Legolas and Gimli sat talking when Shantel fell asleep.
"I fear for her Gimli," Legolas confided. "If Shantel does not start talking, there may be no hope for her."
"What was the word she used?" Gimli asked. "People who are, very upset, they're despet, depret…"
"Depressed?" Legolas offered.
"Right!" Gimli nodded. "That's it! Bad things would happen if they didn't recover."
"Which I fear may be in Shantel's future if things don't change," Legolas sighed.
"So you have a way to contact the.." Gimli paused.
"Who?"
"The jeweled creatures," Gimli stated, not wanted to say their names.
"The jumi? No I don't," Legolas shook his head. "That may be something Gandalf could do, but he isn't here."
"Course, you don't have a wizard when you need one," Gimli gruffed. Both looked over to Shantel who was tossing and turning, as if plagued by a horrible nightmare.
"Maybe we should postpone our trip to the Lonely Mountain, and head for the Shire," Legolas said. "Gandalf may be there, with Frodo."
"If not, his two friends, Pippin and Merry should help cheer her up," Gimli said.
"I would hope so," Legolas got up. "Why do you think the jumi could help her?"
"Well I figured she may want to go back home, to her family," Gimli shrugged. "If that is the problem, I remember one, the conceited one…"
"Lavitz."
"That's it!" He was talking about using magic to get to places faster," Gimli said. "Maybe he could help her get home. To her family."
"Not a bad idea, for a dwarf," Legolas smiled at his friend.
"Oh, I must have sunk low, getting compliments from an elf," Gimli grinned as he said this before going to sleep. As morning came, the sun's rays is what woke Shantel first. Then Gimli's snoring prevented her from going back to sleep.
"Figures," Shantel muttered as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Good morning to you sleepy head," Legolas greeted, seeing that Shantel was awake.
"Umf," Shantel grunted in reply.
"There's a change of plans," Legolas said. "We'll be visiting the Shire first. It may do you some good to see Frodo and his friends." Shantel's eyes lit up hearing this, but her glum expression didn't change.
"We was also thinking, lass," Gimli joined in waking up himself. "That if Gandalf was there, we would see about sending you home to your family." Slowly, Shantel's eyes drifted over to Gimli, then to Legolas.
"You guys are my family," Shantel said softly. "You two, the hobbits, Aragorn, and Arwen, and even Gandalf."
"We do not like seeing you so sad," Legolas said.
"Am I sad?" Shantel questioned. "I don't mean to be, I just feel like some-one is missing. I feel empty."
"You miss Scott?" Legolas asked. Shantel nodded and wiped a few stray tears.
"But I don't know what I'm going to do," Shantel said. "If I leave, I'm going to miss all of you, but if I stay, this emptiness is going to swallow me up some-day."
"If you do leave lass," Gimli got up and put a hand on Shantel's shoulder. "We'll always be with ya, right in yer heart and in ours."
"Listen, he's smart for a dwarf," Legolas said. "But if there's a way home, may chance we'll be able to find a way for you."
"You guys are the bestest friends anyone could have," Shantel hugged them both, finally bearing a real smile since leaving Mirkwood. "But if we're a family boy ain't we the funniest looking bunch.
"Oh and one more thing," Shantel said to the two. "This close to the Lonely Mountain, there is no way I'm going to turn back with-out seeing it!"
"Very well," Legolas said. "Let us go then." Traveling a little faster, and with Shantel in better spirit's then before, they could see the mountain just before dusk.
"There it is," Shantel paused, looking at it. "It's wonderful! A Kodak moment!"
"A what?" Gimli and Legolas looked at her.
"Sorry never-mind, just be cool to take a picture, is all," Shantel said. "Should we keep going or camp?"
"Camp, we'll continue in the morning." Legolas said.
Even before the sun was up, Shantel was shaking Gimli awake as Legolas packed their things away. As he swatted her away, Shantel grabbed one of their water skins and spilled it over the dwarf.
"Agh!" Gimli sat up sputtering. "That's it woman! I'm up already!"
"Well, you needed a bath," Shantel smiled and dodged the empty water skin thrown her way. "Can we go!? Can we go!? Can we go!?"
"Yes, as soon as we eat," Legolas chuckled. It was good to see her spirit back, even though it meant that they would be loosing her soon. Passing the village on the river, the group climbed up the Lonely Mountain. Dwarves greeted Gimli but gave some questioning looks to his guests, a human and elf. The top, where the entrance to the great hall stood, was magnificent. Huge pillars, were built into the stone, with stairs that led up to the entrance. Inside, greetings were shouted out. Gimli's rumors of his return spread fast.
"I will make a quick meeting with my family but this is a short visit," Gimli said. "I'm giving my friends a tour, before Shantel leaves for her home."
It took a few minutes, but Gimli was finally able to visit his family in peace and introduce his friends, before his Father Gloin, and then took them all on a tour of the mountain. When Shantel met Gloin, even though she has seen him before, she surprised the old dwarf with a hug.
"Sorry can't help myself," Shantel said. "But the trip you made with Bilbo, I love that story."
"Ah, the burglar," Gloin nodded, smiling in remembrance. "He will always be welcome in our halls. Come let me show you around." They stayed for two nights, sharing tales between both of their adventures and recalling happy moments they had with their friends. All too soon though they seemed to be leaving, heading for the Shire.