Firstly, a big Thank You to those—Eregriel Gloswen, Gozilla, Yuki Hibiki
and clrules—who took the time to review the second chapter of "The
Glittering Caves". I really appreciate all your feedback. And if it
weren't for my reviewers, I probably wouldn't be writing this chapter.
As you might have guessed, the emotional roller coaster—happy to be there, reluctant to leave, over and over again—that accompanies any visit to the Caves has taken its toll on Legolas—I don't know if this sort of thing affects Elves' hearts or not, but for the sake of the story I'm assuming it does. Possibly, it has affected Gimli as well, though being a Dwarf he would probably be unwilling to show his feelings. For this reason I have provided a place where they can collect their thoughts and recover from the first shock of seeing the Glittering Caves, before going on.
* * *
* *
The emotional ordeal he had so far experienced had begun, as was to be expected, to play unwholesome games with Legolas' heart. Every time he entered a new cavern, full of exciting wonders he could not help but love, he thought only of the present time, the present happiness his heart delighted in. But every hall of unexplored mysteries all too soon came to an end, and his heart was repeatedly torn at leaving the place he had come to love so well, and in such a short time. Then, at the end of the long, dark passage, containing nothing but space for memories all too soon grown old—at the end of the tunnel he would see a light—a glitter—a faint sparkle—a beguiling promise of joys to come—and his heart would once again be lifted to new heights of expectation.
Already, at the end of the second chamber, the Elf felt emotionally fatigued and drained: he welcomed the dark, silent passage, with its welcoming, blank walls, devoid of beauty, ugliness or any other value, giving those who passed between them a space to gather their own thoughts and feelings, and muster the strength to go on. In one such passage the companions now lingered, Legolas savouring the silent yet friendly void, Gimli sitting faithfully by his side, waiting for his comrade to prepare himself for the wonders that lay ahead.
At length the Elf, who had been sitting with his eyes closed against the light, though now very dim, of Gimli's torch—the Elf stirred. "I am ready," he said softly to his friend. "Let us go on." The two moved on through the passage, Gimli's glowing torch faintly illuminating the open doorway in front of them. They stepped hesitantly through—caught a momentary glimpse of white stone or crystal sparkling—and the already small flame guttered, brightened for an instant, and died, leaving Legolas and Gimli in total blackness.
Frustrated, Gimli muttered unintelligible Dwarvish curses under his breath and prepared to light one of the spare torches he carried on his back. As he reached for the bundle, something stayed his hand. The tall Elf at his side, whose quick ears had heard Gimli's muttering and rustling and who had caught his hand by pure luck, spoke again. "Save your tinder-box for more pressing situations, my friend." Puzzled, Gimli looked up, although he could see nothing. "It was my understanding that you wished to see the caves, but how can you if there is not a glimmer of light? You are speaking in riddles like old Gandalf; and dwarves do not take kindly to puzzles." Legolas smiled in the blackness at his practical friend. "I do not feel that this cave is meant to be seen. Its purpose is for its atmosphere to be felt with the heart, not its surface merely scanned by a roving eye."
Although still struggling with this idea, Gimli bowed his head, defeated before he started by the Elf's wisdom—but still determined to have the last word. "The intuitions of Elves are not my concern. As you wish, my friend—we will sit here in the blackness and feel." With that, he sat down on the sandy floor of the cave and listened.
No answer came from Legolas; Gimli heard only the echoes of his own voice coming back from far away. The stream could still be heard, but only faintly. Every now and then, a drip of water could be heard somewhere in the distance, endlessly echoing against the rock walls. Apart from these, total silence prevailed.
To Legolas, these things had already been revealed and were now mere trifles. He sat a few steps away from Gimli, silently experiencing the cavern. The air was constantly moving around him, as if trying to fill the space of a vast chamber. A draught of warmer, closer air came from an unidentified direction, lost in the all-consuming blackness.
The Elf suddenly realized part of the reason that Gimli had wanted to light a second torch—when they had entered the cavern, the brief diamond sparkle they had seen had been blurred, not sharp and clear; it had been as if they were looking at it through a thick mist, as if the air had suddenly become thicker and visible to their eyes. Yet the whole cave was now invisible, as the air was naturally. That, he thought in a flash of understanding, was the reason Legolas had stayed Gimli's hand—if he had not, the cave would no longer have been in its natural form—invisible, not able to be experienced save by silence and concentration.
Legolas was brought back to the present by the sound of Gimli moving around and groping in the dark. The Dwarf, not accustomed to sitting still, had grown restive and impatient while waiting for his friend to "explore" the chamber. "You wish to go on, my friend?" Gimli snorted. "I see you have had your fill of darkness and silence. It is well that we came to this cavern before the one we are about to see, or I fear you would not have appreciated what is to come. Are you ready?" Legolas stood up and made his way towards the sound of Gimli's voice. "I am ready. Let us continue."
Following the warm draught of steam, they made their way slowly towards the doorway in the rock. Once again, Legolas felt a tug at his heart at leaving the quiet, peaceful cavern, but, refreshed as he was, he found the strength to leave it and face new, fantastic worlds, lying before him if he would follow the path.
As you might have guessed, the emotional roller coaster—happy to be there, reluctant to leave, over and over again—that accompanies any visit to the Caves has taken its toll on Legolas—I don't know if this sort of thing affects Elves' hearts or not, but for the sake of the story I'm assuming it does. Possibly, it has affected Gimli as well, though being a Dwarf he would probably be unwilling to show his feelings. For this reason I have provided a place where they can collect their thoughts and recover from the first shock of seeing the Glittering Caves, before going on.
* * *
* *
The emotional ordeal he had so far experienced had begun, as was to be expected, to play unwholesome games with Legolas' heart. Every time he entered a new cavern, full of exciting wonders he could not help but love, he thought only of the present time, the present happiness his heart delighted in. But every hall of unexplored mysteries all too soon came to an end, and his heart was repeatedly torn at leaving the place he had come to love so well, and in such a short time. Then, at the end of the long, dark passage, containing nothing but space for memories all too soon grown old—at the end of the tunnel he would see a light—a glitter—a faint sparkle—a beguiling promise of joys to come—and his heart would once again be lifted to new heights of expectation.
Already, at the end of the second chamber, the Elf felt emotionally fatigued and drained: he welcomed the dark, silent passage, with its welcoming, blank walls, devoid of beauty, ugliness or any other value, giving those who passed between them a space to gather their own thoughts and feelings, and muster the strength to go on. In one such passage the companions now lingered, Legolas savouring the silent yet friendly void, Gimli sitting faithfully by his side, waiting for his comrade to prepare himself for the wonders that lay ahead.
At length the Elf, who had been sitting with his eyes closed against the light, though now very dim, of Gimli's torch—the Elf stirred. "I am ready," he said softly to his friend. "Let us go on." The two moved on through the passage, Gimli's glowing torch faintly illuminating the open doorway in front of them. They stepped hesitantly through—caught a momentary glimpse of white stone or crystal sparkling—and the already small flame guttered, brightened for an instant, and died, leaving Legolas and Gimli in total blackness.
Frustrated, Gimli muttered unintelligible Dwarvish curses under his breath and prepared to light one of the spare torches he carried on his back. As he reached for the bundle, something stayed his hand. The tall Elf at his side, whose quick ears had heard Gimli's muttering and rustling and who had caught his hand by pure luck, spoke again. "Save your tinder-box for more pressing situations, my friend." Puzzled, Gimli looked up, although he could see nothing. "It was my understanding that you wished to see the caves, but how can you if there is not a glimmer of light? You are speaking in riddles like old Gandalf; and dwarves do not take kindly to puzzles." Legolas smiled in the blackness at his practical friend. "I do not feel that this cave is meant to be seen. Its purpose is for its atmosphere to be felt with the heart, not its surface merely scanned by a roving eye."
Although still struggling with this idea, Gimli bowed his head, defeated before he started by the Elf's wisdom—but still determined to have the last word. "The intuitions of Elves are not my concern. As you wish, my friend—we will sit here in the blackness and feel." With that, he sat down on the sandy floor of the cave and listened.
No answer came from Legolas; Gimli heard only the echoes of his own voice coming back from far away. The stream could still be heard, but only faintly. Every now and then, a drip of water could be heard somewhere in the distance, endlessly echoing against the rock walls. Apart from these, total silence prevailed.
To Legolas, these things had already been revealed and were now mere trifles. He sat a few steps away from Gimli, silently experiencing the cavern. The air was constantly moving around him, as if trying to fill the space of a vast chamber. A draught of warmer, closer air came from an unidentified direction, lost in the all-consuming blackness.
The Elf suddenly realized part of the reason that Gimli had wanted to light a second torch—when they had entered the cavern, the brief diamond sparkle they had seen had been blurred, not sharp and clear; it had been as if they were looking at it through a thick mist, as if the air had suddenly become thicker and visible to their eyes. Yet the whole cave was now invisible, as the air was naturally. That, he thought in a flash of understanding, was the reason Legolas had stayed Gimli's hand—if he had not, the cave would no longer have been in its natural form—invisible, not able to be experienced save by silence and concentration.
Legolas was brought back to the present by the sound of Gimli moving around and groping in the dark. The Dwarf, not accustomed to sitting still, had grown restive and impatient while waiting for his friend to "explore" the chamber. "You wish to go on, my friend?" Gimli snorted. "I see you have had your fill of darkness and silence. It is well that we came to this cavern before the one we are about to see, or I fear you would not have appreciated what is to come. Are you ready?" Legolas stood up and made his way towards the sound of Gimli's voice. "I am ready. Let us continue."
Following the warm draught of steam, they made their way slowly towards the doorway in the rock. Once again, Legolas felt a tug at his heart at leaving the quiet, peaceful cavern, but, refreshed as he was, he found the strength to leave it and face new, fantastic worlds, lying before him if he would follow the path.