Author's Note: Yea, another update! Hurrah! Okay, so I'm more excited
than anyone else, whatever. Anyways, as always I thank you for the lovely
reviews already and reward you with a new chapter. And I'm still poor and
own nothing, just in case you thought any of that had changed yet. Enjoy!
Chapter Three
The small contingent composed of elves and a single dwarf walked under the trees until the sun began to fade. Gimli stayed next to Legolas the entire time. Though nothing was said of his presence he could sense the coldness from the other elves. It was almost like when he and Legolas had just met and were forced to travel together. Normally, Gimli would never idly allow this to happen, it was a personal disgrace to him to be ignored and made to feel unwelcome, but he could not leave his friend. He had already faced almost certain death by Legolas' side many times followed by Fangorn in peaceful times, so he felt he could tolerate a few rude elves.
Gimli finally began to see an end to the denseness of the trees. The further along they got, the more trees there were and the less smoke he smelled, obviously the elves had fought harder to defend that which was closer to their home. But as the trees began to clear Gimli could make out a large gate that faded into the natural surroundings, making it seem smaller than it actually was.
"Edro," commanded Culhil when they stood before the gate.
Legolas glanced down at Gimli. "Ready yourself my friend," he said quietly, "for my father's halls are about to put your own to shame."
Normally Gimli would have had a ready retort for such a jest, but he did not feel like bantering in front of the other elves. That was something reserved for he and Legolas alone, he was not a common jester for all to see.
Legolas had expected a reply and he frowned a bit when the dwarf said nothing. He lightly touched Gimli's shoulder to see what was the matter.
Gimli started at the touch and looked at his friend. He saw the worry beginning to show on the elf's face so he smiled for him. Legolas smiled back, relieved that Gimli was not angry with him. He easily picked up on how Gimli was feeling due to the other elves, but he was sure all that would fade soon. His father would be happy to meet such a close friend of his son.
The gates swung silently open and they all stepped forward. Gimli turned slightly when he heard the gates shut behind them once they were all in, but then faced front again. He could see a large structure before them, but for a moment he thought his eyes were lying to him. He would have to wait until they got closer.
They came closer, and then Gimli could not help his breath quickly escaping him. He could not believe it.
Legolas, his friend who hated all that was dark and unnatural to the earth, lived in a palace made of stone.
Legolas looked down when he heard Gimli's soft exclamation. Then he looked back at his father's home with slight confusion. He had joked that it would awe Gimli, but he truly did not expect it to.
"What is wrong?" he asked Gimli.
Gimli turned wide eyes towards him. "You live in stone," he said. And then he laughed.
Now Legolas was more confused. He looked back at the place he had grown up in and had never really thought that much of. Of course he knew what it was made of, but it had never been a matter for to dwell over. And why what it was made of should matter so much to the dwarf....
The idea clicked in Legolas. He remembered all the times he had made fun of the dwarf for hiding in his caves and not appreciating real beauty. He also remembered protesting about the Mines of Moria and caves in general.
Legolas laughed along with him.
"I only sleep and eat in there," Legolas assured his friend, "most of my time was spent under the trees."
"I am sure Aragorn would love to hear about this," Gimli said.
"He might know already," Legolas said dryly as the dwarf continued to laugh.
"But I'm sure he does not realize what this means," Gimli insisted.
"And what does it mean?" Legolas asked. His initial good humor was gone, for he could never stand to be laughed at for too long. And he was pretty sure the dwarf was not laughing about the actual palace but at him.
Gimli caught Legolas' quickly changing mood and it only amused him further. "It means you're no better than the rest of us earth-dwellers."
"I never said that," Legolas replied with a clipped tone. "Now if you are going to meet my father I suggest you do not come to him laughing over his house."
Gimli sobered. "You're right of course. Lead the way my fellow dweller."
Legolas ignored the goad and only walked into the front hall where Culhil and the others were already gathered, wondering what was taking them so long. Gimli took a deep breath and wiped at his eyes. He straightened his beard as he followed, but he could not keep a grin from his face.
They all walked down a long corridor and Gimli could instinctively sense that there were rooms and places further down that were not actually above the ground. Oh this was too much, not only was it made of stone but some of it was underground as well. Gimli felt his laughter rising up again but he choked it off as Culhil began to speak to Legolas.
"Your father and most of us are likely in the large dining hall. I will announce you before you show yourself of course. You are to be given the homecoming of a hero."
Legolas nodded and followed down a branch of the hallway off to the left. Gimli soon saw that it was not truly another hallway, but rather an alcove that led to a wide room beyond it.
"Wait here for the moment," Culhil said. Legolas and Gimli stayed in the alcove with two of the elves on either side while Culhil and the other elf made their entrance in the dining hall. It was as Culhil as said, Legolas could already plainly see his father seated at the head of a long table with every seat around it occupied. Many other tables filled the rest of the room and most of those were full as well.
"My King Thranduil," called out Culhil as he walked in.
All conversation and eating in the room stopped as the two elves walked in. Thranduil turned from where he had been speaking to an advisor seated next to him and looked expectantly at Culhil. "Yes?"
"It is my great honor to present one of the greatest warriors of our time, one whose recent adventures have already proceeded him with song and tale."
At this Thranduil was slightly confused as he had been expecting no guest. But then he looked into the alcove and saw the dim outline of a figure standing there. Hope came to him and he stood.
Culhil knew where his gaze was directed and smiled faintly. "Legolas Thranduillion," he finished and turned with his hand held out towards where Legolas stood. There were many gasps and excited whispering and everybody turned in their seats.
Legolas took that as his leave and with Gimli on his right side and both elves flanking him, he made his way into the room.
He was not quite sure what to expect, but all doubts were pushed aside when all in the room came to their feet and began applauding. Culhil had not lied, the stories of all that the fellowship had done had already reached them.
Legolas was overwhelmed with the response, but as he continued to walk forward his eyes were only on one person. His father stood still where he was, his mouth slightly open. He was not clapping, but that was not due to any disrespect.
Legolas' followers stopped at the side of the table, even Gimli, and Legolas went forward to Thranduil. Thranduil was following his progress and his eyes never left his son, but he did not make a move of his own toward him. In fact, one of his hands was gripping his chair hard, needing the extra support.
"Father," Legolas said when he reached the head of the table.
There was a pause between the two of them, and then the slight wonderment melted from Thranduil's face only to b replaced with a large smile. He could finally move, and he embraced Legolas.
Legolas hugged his father back just as hard, and it was not until this moment that he realized the fear he had held deep inside of him sometimes that he might never return back to Mirkwood and his father.
Thranduil finally drew back, holding Legolas' shoulders and looking at him as if searching for signs of change in his son. "A feast," he called out to the room. He turned to look at everyone who were still on their feet and clapping. "Tomorrow night we hold a grand celebration. My son and your prince has returned."
Cheers rose up at this and Legolas finally acknowledged the applause by bowing low.
"Come," Thranduil said, "sit and begin telling me what really happened while we eat."
A chair was brought up to the head so that Legolas could sit next to his father and no time was wasted in bringing him plates of food and cups of wine. Legolas sat and laughed at the keen attentiveness of three servers who suddenly appeared behind him.
"If it pleases everyone I believe I shall save the story-telling for tomorrow night, for the tales are too long and complicated for a single sitting. I think I would rather eat all the good food now and save my strength," Legolas said good-naturedly.
By now everybody had sat back down and though they faked interest in their own food, every ear was trained on what was going on at the head of the table.
"Of course," Thranduil said, "I am sure you have not had decent food or wine in over a year. Eat now and we will demand the tales later."
Legolas nodded and reached for a glass of wine. It was then that he noticed a figure still standing uncertainly along the side of the room. Legolas immediately stood, berating himself for forgetting.
"Father, pardon my bad manners. I have come with one of my companions and a very close friend of mine. I present to everyone Gimli, son of Gloin, one of the nine walkers."
Gimli walked towards Legolas accompanied by applause. And though nobody stood for him he figured that was as good as he would get in a hall full of elves.
Thranduil looked at Gimli with some interest. "Son of Gloin?" he said.
Legolas glanced at him. "Yes, and he has become one of my closest friends."
Thranduil looked as though he wanted to say something more but he thought better of it. Instead he turned to one of the servers standing behind them. "Bring another chair and more food, quickly."
A chair was found and Gimli sat, keeping his mouth shut when extra pillows were hastily placed on the char.
"You must first try the wine," Legolas told him, ignoring the uneasiness the dwarf felt. "I know you dwarves hail your own, but I tell you that you have never tasted wine like this nor will you again."
Gimli looked at his friend incredulously. Now his friend drank as well? He had thought the elves would dare put nothing in their bodies save for water.
Legolas laughed as he read the look in Gimli's face. "I only drink the best of wine. I cannot settle for anything less."
"Then this wine must be something indeed to meet an elf's standards," Gimli replied and reached for his own cup. His unease was beginning to melt, nothing out of the ordinary had happened yet and he was being treated civilly enough.
Gimli sipped the wine carefully under the watchful eye of the elf. It tasted unlike any wine he had ever had, that much was true, but he had to admit to himself that he might prefer his own malt drinks to this.
But he glanced at Legolas and lowered his cup with raised eyebrows. "That is indeed like nothing else," he said truthfully. Legolas laughed and turned back to his own food.
Gimli looked up when he heard voices start to rise. Three elves were walking in, singing and carrying some sort of stringed instrument. Of course, Gimli thought as he took another draught of the wine and looked around over the rim of the cup, elves had to have entertainment as they ate.
Author's Note Part II: Okay, it's been a while since I've brushed up on The Hobbit, so I might have taken liberties with the palace of Mirkwood. I know some of it is underground, but was it made of stone? If I made a horrible mistake please let me know, and if you guys can't stand the thought of author liberties I'll redo it. I just thought it would be a good chance for Gimli to make fun of Legolas :) Oh, and I know these chapters have been kind of slow, but I swear there's action in the next one! Come on, you didn't really think these guys were off the hook, did you?
Chapter Three
The small contingent composed of elves and a single dwarf walked under the trees until the sun began to fade. Gimli stayed next to Legolas the entire time. Though nothing was said of his presence he could sense the coldness from the other elves. It was almost like when he and Legolas had just met and were forced to travel together. Normally, Gimli would never idly allow this to happen, it was a personal disgrace to him to be ignored and made to feel unwelcome, but he could not leave his friend. He had already faced almost certain death by Legolas' side many times followed by Fangorn in peaceful times, so he felt he could tolerate a few rude elves.
Gimli finally began to see an end to the denseness of the trees. The further along they got, the more trees there were and the less smoke he smelled, obviously the elves had fought harder to defend that which was closer to their home. But as the trees began to clear Gimli could make out a large gate that faded into the natural surroundings, making it seem smaller than it actually was.
"Edro," commanded Culhil when they stood before the gate.
Legolas glanced down at Gimli. "Ready yourself my friend," he said quietly, "for my father's halls are about to put your own to shame."
Normally Gimli would have had a ready retort for such a jest, but he did not feel like bantering in front of the other elves. That was something reserved for he and Legolas alone, he was not a common jester for all to see.
Legolas had expected a reply and he frowned a bit when the dwarf said nothing. He lightly touched Gimli's shoulder to see what was the matter.
Gimli started at the touch and looked at his friend. He saw the worry beginning to show on the elf's face so he smiled for him. Legolas smiled back, relieved that Gimli was not angry with him. He easily picked up on how Gimli was feeling due to the other elves, but he was sure all that would fade soon. His father would be happy to meet such a close friend of his son.
The gates swung silently open and they all stepped forward. Gimli turned slightly when he heard the gates shut behind them once they were all in, but then faced front again. He could see a large structure before them, but for a moment he thought his eyes were lying to him. He would have to wait until they got closer.
They came closer, and then Gimli could not help his breath quickly escaping him. He could not believe it.
Legolas, his friend who hated all that was dark and unnatural to the earth, lived in a palace made of stone.
Legolas looked down when he heard Gimli's soft exclamation. Then he looked back at his father's home with slight confusion. He had joked that it would awe Gimli, but he truly did not expect it to.
"What is wrong?" he asked Gimli.
Gimli turned wide eyes towards him. "You live in stone," he said. And then he laughed.
Now Legolas was more confused. He looked back at the place he had grown up in and had never really thought that much of. Of course he knew what it was made of, but it had never been a matter for to dwell over. And why what it was made of should matter so much to the dwarf....
The idea clicked in Legolas. He remembered all the times he had made fun of the dwarf for hiding in his caves and not appreciating real beauty. He also remembered protesting about the Mines of Moria and caves in general.
Legolas laughed along with him.
"I only sleep and eat in there," Legolas assured his friend, "most of my time was spent under the trees."
"I am sure Aragorn would love to hear about this," Gimli said.
"He might know already," Legolas said dryly as the dwarf continued to laugh.
"But I'm sure he does not realize what this means," Gimli insisted.
"And what does it mean?" Legolas asked. His initial good humor was gone, for he could never stand to be laughed at for too long. And he was pretty sure the dwarf was not laughing about the actual palace but at him.
Gimli caught Legolas' quickly changing mood and it only amused him further. "It means you're no better than the rest of us earth-dwellers."
"I never said that," Legolas replied with a clipped tone. "Now if you are going to meet my father I suggest you do not come to him laughing over his house."
Gimli sobered. "You're right of course. Lead the way my fellow dweller."
Legolas ignored the goad and only walked into the front hall where Culhil and the others were already gathered, wondering what was taking them so long. Gimli took a deep breath and wiped at his eyes. He straightened his beard as he followed, but he could not keep a grin from his face.
They all walked down a long corridor and Gimli could instinctively sense that there were rooms and places further down that were not actually above the ground. Oh this was too much, not only was it made of stone but some of it was underground as well. Gimli felt his laughter rising up again but he choked it off as Culhil began to speak to Legolas.
"Your father and most of us are likely in the large dining hall. I will announce you before you show yourself of course. You are to be given the homecoming of a hero."
Legolas nodded and followed down a branch of the hallway off to the left. Gimli soon saw that it was not truly another hallway, but rather an alcove that led to a wide room beyond it.
"Wait here for the moment," Culhil said. Legolas and Gimli stayed in the alcove with two of the elves on either side while Culhil and the other elf made their entrance in the dining hall. It was as Culhil as said, Legolas could already plainly see his father seated at the head of a long table with every seat around it occupied. Many other tables filled the rest of the room and most of those were full as well.
"My King Thranduil," called out Culhil as he walked in.
All conversation and eating in the room stopped as the two elves walked in. Thranduil turned from where he had been speaking to an advisor seated next to him and looked expectantly at Culhil. "Yes?"
"It is my great honor to present one of the greatest warriors of our time, one whose recent adventures have already proceeded him with song and tale."
At this Thranduil was slightly confused as he had been expecting no guest. But then he looked into the alcove and saw the dim outline of a figure standing there. Hope came to him and he stood.
Culhil knew where his gaze was directed and smiled faintly. "Legolas Thranduillion," he finished and turned with his hand held out towards where Legolas stood. There were many gasps and excited whispering and everybody turned in their seats.
Legolas took that as his leave and with Gimli on his right side and both elves flanking him, he made his way into the room.
He was not quite sure what to expect, but all doubts were pushed aside when all in the room came to their feet and began applauding. Culhil had not lied, the stories of all that the fellowship had done had already reached them.
Legolas was overwhelmed with the response, but as he continued to walk forward his eyes were only on one person. His father stood still where he was, his mouth slightly open. He was not clapping, but that was not due to any disrespect.
Legolas' followers stopped at the side of the table, even Gimli, and Legolas went forward to Thranduil. Thranduil was following his progress and his eyes never left his son, but he did not make a move of his own toward him. In fact, one of his hands was gripping his chair hard, needing the extra support.
"Father," Legolas said when he reached the head of the table.
There was a pause between the two of them, and then the slight wonderment melted from Thranduil's face only to b replaced with a large smile. He could finally move, and he embraced Legolas.
Legolas hugged his father back just as hard, and it was not until this moment that he realized the fear he had held deep inside of him sometimes that he might never return back to Mirkwood and his father.
Thranduil finally drew back, holding Legolas' shoulders and looking at him as if searching for signs of change in his son. "A feast," he called out to the room. He turned to look at everyone who were still on their feet and clapping. "Tomorrow night we hold a grand celebration. My son and your prince has returned."
Cheers rose up at this and Legolas finally acknowledged the applause by bowing low.
"Come," Thranduil said, "sit and begin telling me what really happened while we eat."
A chair was brought up to the head so that Legolas could sit next to his father and no time was wasted in bringing him plates of food and cups of wine. Legolas sat and laughed at the keen attentiveness of three servers who suddenly appeared behind him.
"If it pleases everyone I believe I shall save the story-telling for tomorrow night, for the tales are too long and complicated for a single sitting. I think I would rather eat all the good food now and save my strength," Legolas said good-naturedly.
By now everybody had sat back down and though they faked interest in their own food, every ear was trained on what was going on at the head of the table.
"Of course," Thranduil said, "I am sure you have not had decent food or wine in over a year. Eat now and we will demand the tales later."
Legolas nodded and reached for a glass of wine. It was then that he noticed a figure still standing uncertainly along the side of the room. Legolas immediately stood, berating himself for forgetting.
"Father, pardon my bad manners. I have come with one of my companions and a very close friend of mine. I present to everyone Gimli, son of Gloin, one of the nine walkers."
Gimli walked towards Legolas accompanied by applause. And though nobody stood for him he figured that was as good as he would get in a hall full of elves.
Thranduil looked at Gimli with some interest. "Son of Gloin?" he said.
Legolas glanced at him. "Yes, and he has become one of my closest friends."
Thranduil looked as though he wanted to say something more but he thought better of it. Instead he turned to one of the servers standing behind them. "Bring another chair and more food, quickly."
A chair was found and Gimli sat, keeping his mouth shut when extra pillows were hastily placed on the char.
"You must first try the wine," Legolas told him, ignoring the uneasiness the dwarf felt. "I know you dwarves hail your own, but I tell you that you have never tasted wine like this nor will you again."
Gimli looked at his friend incredulously. Now his friend drank as well? He had thought the elves would dare put nothing in their bodies save for water.
Legolas laughed as he read the look in Gimli's face. "I only drink the best of wine. I cannot settle for anything less."
"Then this wine must be something indeed to meet an elf's standards," Gimli replied and reached for his own cup. His unease was beginning to melt, nothing out of the ordinary had happened yet and he was being treated civilly enough.
Gimli sipped the wine carefully under the watchful eye of the elf. It tasted unlike any wine he had ever had, that much was true, but he had to admit to himself that he might prefer his own malt drinks to this.
But he glanced at Legolas and lowered his cup with raised eyebrows. "That is indeed like nothing else," he said truthfully. Legolas laughed and turned back to his own food.
Gimli looked up when he heard voices start to rise. Three elves were walking in, singing and carrying some sort of stringed instrument. Of course, Gimli thought as he took another draught of the wine and looked around over the rim of the cup, elves had to have entertainment as they ate.
Author's Note Part II: Okay, it's been a while since I've brushed up on The Hobbit, so I might have taken liberties with the palace of Mirkwood. I know some of it is underground, but was it made of stone? If I made a horrible mistake please let me know, and if you guys can't stand the thought of author liberties I'll redo it. I just thought it would be a good chance for Gimli to make fun of Legolas :) Oh, and I know these chapters have been kind of slow, but I swear there's action in the next one! Come on, you didn't really think these guys were off the hook, did you?