Author's Note: Okay, so the consensus on Thranduil's halls being made of
stone seems to be that nobody can quite remember. Special thanks goes to
Memeofmirkwood for the quote, so I guess it is at least plausible. We'll
just pretend it's a fact and hope no severe purists come this way. So
thanks to everyone for their thoughts on it. As promised, a new chapter,
with action! Yeah, ya'll thought I forgot about the exciting stuff, eh?
Worry not my friends, enjoy!
Chapter Four
Two weeks time passed by under the trees of Eryn Lasgalen. The homecoming celebration for Legolas had come and gone and things were finally settling back to the now normal routine of restoring what had been damaged.
The night before Legolas and Gimli were to leave to continue on to Erebor Legolas came to his father's chambers. He knocked lightly on the large door and listened.
"Come in," his father said.
Legolas pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Thranduil looked up from where he was seated at a small table with parchments spread out before him. He pushed the parchments aside and smiled at Legolas' entrance.
Legolas smiled back but hesitated a moment before he said anything. He was looking around the large room, admiring the many candles that created soft light upon the dark wood furniture.
"I had almost forgotten the small comforts," Legolas said softly.
Thranduil pushed away from the table. "But that is all done with now, you can rest and enjoy the remainder of your years with a light heart before passing over the sea."
Legolas felt a small twinge go through him at the mention of the sea, but he swallowed and pushed it away. He sighed, "I wish I could take my rest here forever."
Thranduil misunderstood. "Yes," he said, "but the Grey Havens promises a much better place than even the best that can be offered here."
Legolas looked at his father. He had not been able to tell him yet that he had no intention of staying here that much longer at all. Gimli was itching to get to the Lonely Mountain and he had promised Aragorn he would return. Legolas silently went over the details of his father's appearance. They were very similar in looks, the same eyes, hair, and facial features. But his father held an air of wisdom and grace to him that Legolas often thought he would never possess himself.
"I have come to tell you," Legolas began, glancing away from his father's sharp gaze, "that I am leaving tomorrow. With Gimli."
Thranduil frowned for an instant but then quickly masked his expression. He silently held out a hand towards a chair that was against the wall and Legolas took it.
"Why?" he said when Legolas was settled.
Legolas took a breath before answering. "Before I came back here, I had made a bargain with Gimli. We were going to pass through here and then go on to his own home in the Lonely Mountain. After that our plans were to return to Minas Tirith and aid Aragorn in restorations of the White City."
Thranduil was quiet for a moment. "There are restorations to be done here as well," he finally said.
Legolas heard the underlying tone of his father but he pressed on. "I know that, but there is more than enough help to be had here."
"And I am sure the humans can look after themselves," Thranduil replied, his voice sharper than it had been a moment ago.
Legolas closed his eyes briefly before speaking again. "You said it yourself, we are not to stay on this middle-earth. Our time is over and I know it as well as anybody, I feel the pull of the sea everyday. But I cannot yet go without helping the friends I know will have to stay."
Thranduil stared hard at Legolas and Legolas thought he was going to try to perhaps forbid Legolas from going anywhere. But then Thranduil's shoulders dropped and a softer look came to his face.
"When I heard that you had joined the fellowship, I accepted the fate that I may never see my own son again. However I am not selfish and I know that you are not either, so I did not demand that you were to return home to aid in our own wars. When I heard the tales and triumph of the fellowship, I did not want to turn to false hope that I would see you in this life. And then when you finally returned two weeks ago, my fears were defeated and my joy complete. I knew that my son had returned to me to help restore what beauty was left before we left these shores together. Our work is not yet done here, I know this. And while you may feel your work lies elsewhere, I still wish you would stay by my side."
"But we have eternity in the Havens together," Legolas said, "I have to do what I can now before I leave."
Thranduil passed a hand over his brow. "If that is your will than there is certainly little I can do to change it."
"I do not leave to leave you and Mirkwood," Legolas said.
Thranduil nodded. "I know," he smiled faintly. "I always knew you were loyal to those you loved."
Legolas stood and crossed the space between he and his father until he was at his side. He knelt and clutched at Thranduil's hand. "And my loyalties and love to you are the strongest. That is why I go now so I can return to you with a clear conscience in the Havens."
Thranduil looked down at his son and the same thoughts Legolas had had about their similarities ran through his mind. Only he accredited his son with a spirit and heart that he never thought he had.
Thranduil touched the side of Legolas' face. "Do not worry. Though it grieves me to see you go so soon you can carry my full grace and approval with you. Do what you feel you need to do in this world. You have already left a great mark on it and I know you will rise to even greater things yet."
Legolas smiled and kissed his father's hand. Then he stood and Thranduil stood with him. "I will be back in less than another two weeks' time," Legolas said. "After Gimli and I visit his home we will pass back here before returning to Gondor."
Thranduil's brows creased slightly. "Why must you go with the dwarf to the Lonely Mountain?"
Legolas took a step back. "We made a promise to each other, and so far he has followed through with all he has said. I cannot leave him to his own now."
"You said he was the son of Gloin?" Thranduil said.
Legolas looked at his father carefully, "Yes."
"Then I do not want to have to worry about you being punished for your father's misgivings."
Legolas shook his head. "No, there is no need to worry. I have already met Gloin a while back at the council of Elrond. And Gimli himself assures me that there is no ill will between our houses anymore."
"Not that I would readily dispute the word of a friend of yours," Thranduil said, "but he is a dwarf. And they are stubborn and vengeful in their feuds. Why not just stay here until Gimli is ready to make the trip back to Gondor?"
"I have already explained to you why I cannot stay here." Legolas took his father's hand again. "Please, I do not want you thinking badly of Gimli. He has proven himself beyond any tests of friendship. No harm will come to me just as no harm has come to Gimli here."
Thranduil took a deep breath. "If you say so, then I have no better word to trust."
Legolas embraced his father. "And I will be back," he said before releasing Thranduil and stepping away. "We will talk again in the morning before I leave," Legolas said.
Thranduil nodded and watched silently as Legolas turned and exited the room. Then he remained where he was after the door had closed again, thinking about what could possibly drive Legolas to visiting dwarven halls.
Legolas and Gimli were ready to make the trip to Erebor in the morning. This was at least one trip they would not have to make on foot as they had been supplied with horses. Legolas had raised an eyebrow when he heard Gimli ask for his own horse, he had assumed they would ride together as they always had. But Legolas kept his mouth closed when he glanced at Gimli standing beside him, his chest puffed out a little as he tried to maintain his full height. It was not hard for Legolas to understand that Gimli did not want the other elves to note any sort of weakness or disability in him.
And now they were both seated on horses, Gimli a bit unstably. He clutched at the horse's mane hard and Legolas wished that there were a saddle and tack available for the dwarf. But of course there were none, as elves had no use for that sort of thing.
"Are you sure that you do not want an escort?" Thranduil asked for perhaps the tenth time that morning. He and a small gathering of elves had come to the gates to see the pair off.
Legolas smiled. "I am sure. Darkness does not lie in the forest anymore. Do not worry, we shall be back before you even remember we were supposed to be gone."
"Farewell then," Thranduil said raising a hand. "May your trip be short and pleasant."
Legolas touched his chest and raised his own hand in response. Then he expertly turned his horse with a light touch. He stopped when he noticed Gimli was not following.
The dwarf was looking wide-eyed at Legolas as his own horse started to toss its head. The discomfort of Gimli's tight clutch was finally getting to the horse.
The other elves were looking on with some amusement and Legolas could see Gimli's face turn red beneath his beard. Softly, he called out a command to the horse.
The horse stopped moving restlessly and instead turned around smoothly. Legolas prompted his own horse to move so that Gimli's horse could follow without Gimli having to actually direct it.
Gimli did not say a word until they were past the gates and well out of the hearing range of the elves. "I do not see why we cannot trust our own feet to carry us."
Legolas laughed. "Worry not my friend, it will be quicker and easier this way. And as long as you do not irritate your horse any further he will follow me without complaint."
Gimli looked worried. "How do you irritate it?"
Legolas glanced at Gimli. "You can stop pressing your legs so hard. He will throw you if breathing becomes difficult for him. Though he is a good horse even he has his limits."
Gimli carefully shifted himself so that he was not holding on quite so hard. But fear of falling would not allow him to sit easily.
"I thought we had turned you into a horseman," Legolas said.
"It is one thing to ride on your own than with somebody else," Gimli said irritably. "Now I will have no more of your jokes about this, it is not fair to tease someone for a skill they never had use for."
Legolas held up his hands in mock surrender. "I would never even think such things," he said.
Gimli eyed him. "Just see to it that you don't fall off your own horse."
Legolas looked at his hands that held onto nothing. "What, this? I am sure you will be able to do it soon enough."
Gimli snorted in reply and looked forward. His attention was diverted back to Legolas when he heard an exaggerated yawn and he turned to watch the elf stretch out his arms and lean back dangerously low.
"I hope this brings great amusement to you," Gimli snapped.
Legolas laughed and sat upright. "It truly does."
Legolas laughed some more when Gimli did not reply and only grumbled under his breath. Legolas decided he would save his trick of sitting nonchalantly on a horse cross-legged until later.
The two continued on in general silence. Legolas figured that due to the horses they would be at the Lonely Mountain in no more than three days and out of the trees by nightfall.
The sun began to sink and as Legolas had suspected he could see the end of the trees in front of them. Then all they had to do was cross a small plain before coming up to the mountain.
"Do you wish to make camp under the trees or on the plain?" Legolas asked.
Gimli considered. "If you can stand it," he said carefully, "I would prefer the plains."
Legolas smiled. "I thought you would say as much. Do not worry, for you I can forsake my trees for one night."
They were almost out of the trees when Legolas pulled his horse up short. Gimli twisted in his seat and looked back as he did not know how to make his own horse stop. Legolas was looking up into the treetops, his eyes wide.
"Gimli, stop!" he called out.
Gimli was about to shout back that he couldn't when he saw a great shape come at him from the corner of his eye. The horse sensed it too and finally stopped on his own accord, but it was too late. Gimli heard an arrow sing through the air but the shape darted down anyway and came straight at Gimli, knocking him off the horse. Gimli collided with the earth hard and his vision blurred. He felt a sharp sting at his throat before getting his senses back and then he pushed at whatever was on top of him. He could finally make out what it was, and he was vaguely surprised to see a huge spider on top of him.
The spider hissed and its jaws clamped in an effort to get back at Gimli's throat. Then it squealed when another of Legolas' arrows went into its side. Gimli felt the spider go limp and he threw it aside before sitting up.
"Spiders," he heard Legolas shouting as he rubbed his neck.
"I know that," he called back as he tried to get to his feet and get his axe ready at the same time. He was moving very sluggishly and he could not force his eyes to see straight.
The sounds of a horse screaming came to him and Gimli looked over in time to see his horse being pulled down with two spiders on top of it. Gimli swung his axe up and almost fell back with the momentum. He shook his head at the falter and willed his legs to move forward.
One of the spiders noticed his movement and jumped off the horse with surprising speed. It came straight at Gimli and he barely registered it before blindly swinging his axe. Thankfully, he felt it collide with its target. But even though he took down his opponent his own momentum carried him down with the spider.
Finding himself on the ground once more, Gimli stared up awkwardly into the trees above him. He could see shapes moving within them, but for a moment he could not figure out if they were real or just spots created from his eyes.
He slowly realized he did not have his axe in his hand anymore and he blindly groped for it with his hand. He tried to raise his head to look for it but soon discovered he could not get his neck to comply with such an action. His head seemed far too heavy to lift. Okay then, Gimli thought, he would simply rest for a few moments until his body decided to start cooperating again.
Legolas quickly loosed his arrows, finding a mark for each one. There were not that many spiders and they soon began to retreat as their numbers began to quickly fall. One last spider made a spring for Legolas and the elf reached back for another arrow only to discover he had already used them all. Changing gears, Legolas quickly dropped his bow and instead went for the long knife he had at its belt, but the spider crashed into his chest before he could bring it up.
Legolas felt himself lose his footing and he fell back but moved his hand as he did so. By the time he hit the ground with the spider on top of him, the spider was already dead with Legolas' knife implanted deep within its belly.
Legolas pushed the spider off of him and rose to his feet while simultaneously pulling his knife free. He crouched low and immediately checked all sides for more spiders. But the ambush was already over and the spiders had escaped back to the trees to run off.
Legolas sheathed his knife and made his way over to where Gimli was sitting dazedly on the ground. "Spiders," he said slightly out of breath, "they have never been this far North. Whatever's left of them must be making their way out of these woods, they have no place here anymore."
Legolas squatted in front of Gimli when he reached him and noticed that Gimli had not replied to anything he said. He peered into the dwarf's face, "Gimli? We have to get out of here in case they return at nightfall."
Gimli still said nothing and Legolas noticed the dwarf's head drooping as he blinked to keep his eyes open. Legolas grabbed Gimli's shoulders and shook him. "Gimli, stay awake, you hear me? Stay awake, get up."
The dwarf mumbled something and pushed at one of Legolas' hands. Legolas moved his hand from his shoulder and held onto Gimli's chin instead, turning his head up so he could see his eyes. Gimli grumbled more at this and jerked his head out of Legolas' grasp, almost falling over as he did so.
When Gimli turned his head Legolas caught the marks on the side of his throat. He had been bitten by one of the spiders, and deeply. Legolas knew about the spiders well enough to know that their bite was poisonous and worked to quickly paralyze their prey. Eventually it would wear off, but it had been known to kill young elves if the bite was anywhere on the chest or near vulnerable areas. And the neck was definitely vulnerable.
"Gimli listen to me," Legolas said, "I do not know what kinds of poisons affect dwarves, can you tell me if any of your kind have been bitten by spiders before?"
"Sam said a spider bit Frodo," Gimli mumbled.
Legolas grabbed onto Gimli's shoulders again and shook him, harder this time. "Gimli stay with me." Legolas felt an icy thread of fear begin to wind its way around his heart. He had not spent all this time in war beside his friend only to have him killed in his own home when he had not been paying attention. Legolas had not even thought about the spiders, assuming that they had been killed or run off when Dol Goldur was overthrown.
"I have to take you back," Legolas said as he began to pull Gimli to his feet. "I have to get you to a healer."
Gimli regained some of his self as he felt himself being moved. "No, I don't want to go back. I want to go home."
Legolas considered for a moment. "Do you have healers there?"
Gimli nodded. "Dwarves know more of dwarves than elven healers," he reasoned with slurred speech.
Legolas looked around. He had to make a decision, and quickly. It would be shorter if he were to take Gimli back to his father's halls, but Gimli did make a point. They would not know what kind of affect the poison would have on a dwarf. If he rode hard and through the night, they might be able to make it to Erebor before tomorrow night.
After standing still for a few moments with indecision, Legolas finally let out a frustrated grunt through his teeth and swept Gimli clean off his feet. Before the dazed dwarf could protest being carried, Legolas brought him over to his horse. Gimli's horse had run off, or had been carried off, Legolas wasn't sure.
Legolas put Gimli on the horse and then leapt up behind him. "My feet are good enough," Gimli declared.
"That's good, say your delusions out loud. You cannot fall asleep," Legolas said. He said it as a joke, but his fear continued to grow. Gimli was turning delusional and Legolas could already feel the heat of a fever begin to radiate from him.
"Hang on," he said, "we are going to pretend we ride Shadowfax's back." Legolas pressed the horse's sides lightly with his legs, but the horse picked up the urgency of its riders and took off at a run.
"Gandalf's not gonna like us riding his horse," Gimli said as his body slumped forward.
"Indeed," Legolas said, wrapping an arm around Gimli's waist to keep him from falling over and off of the horse. A thought came to him. "Tell me again my friend how you managed to beat me at Helm's Deep."
Gimli smirked and pulled up slightly. "You need to learn not to rely on a weapon that runs out," he said before going into a full recount of his fight at Helm's Deep.
Legolas urged the horse faster while simultaneously urging Gimli to keep talking. He just hoped they would make it to Erebor fast enough.
Chapter Four
Two weeks time passed by under the trees of Eryn Lasgalen. The homecoming celebration for Legolas had come and gone and things were finally settling back to the now normal routine of restoring what had been damaged.
The night before Legolas and Gimli were to leave to continue on to Erebor Legolas came to his father's chambers. He knocked lightly on the large door and listened.
"Come in," his father said.
Legolas pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Thranduil looked up from where he was seated at a small table with parchments spread out before him. He pushed the parchments aside and smiled at Legolas' entrance.
Legolas smiled back but hesitated a moment before he said anything. He was looking around the large room, admiring the many candles that created soft light upon the dark wood furniture.
"I had almost forgotten the small comforts," Legolas said softly.
Thranduil pushed away from the table. "But that is all done with now, you can rest and enjoy the remainder of your years with a light heart before passing over the sea."
Legolas felt a small twinge go through him at the mention of the sea, but he swallowed and pushed it away. He sighed, "I wish I could take my rest here forever."
Thranduil misunderstood. "Yes," he said, "but the Grey Havens promises a much better place than even the best that can be offered here."
Legolas looked at his father. He had not been able to tell him yet that he had no intention of staying here that much longer at all. Gimli was itching to get to the Lonely Mountain and he had promised Aragorn he would return. Legolas silently went over the details of his father's appearance. They were very similar in looks, the same eyes, hair, and facial features. But his father held an air of wisdom and grace to him that Legolas often thought he would never possess himself.
"I have come to tell you," Legolas began, glancing away from his father's sharp gaze, "that I am leaving tomorrow. With Gimli."
Thranduil frowned for an instant but then quickly masked his expression. He silently held out a hand towards a chair that was against the wall and Legolas took it.
"Why?" he said when Legolas was settled.
Legolas took a breath before answering. "Before I came back here, I had made a bargain with Gimli. We were going to pass through here and then go on to his own home in the Lonely Mountain. After that our plans were to return to Minas Tirith and aid Aragorn in restorations of the White City."
Thranduil was quiet for a moment. "There are restorations to be done here as well," he finally said.
Legolas heard the underlying tone of his father but he pressed on. "I know that, but there is more than enough help to be had here."
"And I am sure the humans can look after themselves," Thranduil replied, his voice sharper than it had been a moment ago.
Legolas closed his eyes briefly before speaking again. "You said it yourself, we are not to stay on this middle-earth. Our time is over and I know it as well as anybody, I feel the pull of the sea everyday. But I cannot yet go without helping the friends I know will have to stay."
Thranduil stared hard at Legolas and Legolas thought he was going to try to perhaps forbid Legolas from going anywhere. But then Thranduil's shoulders dropped and a softer look came to his face.
"When I heard that you had joined the fellowship, I accepted the fate that I may never see my own son again. However I am not selfish and I know that you are not either, so I did not demand that you were to return home to aid in our own wars. When I heard the tales and triumph of the fellowship, I did not want to turn to false hope that I would see you in this life. And then when you finally returned two weeks ago, my fears were defeated and my joy complete. I knew that my son had returned to me to help restore what beauty was left before we left these shores together. Our work is not yet done here, I know this. And while you may feel your work lies elsewhere, I still wish you would stay by my side."
"But we have eternity in the Havens together," Legolas said, "I have to do what I can now before I leave."
Thranduil passed a hand over his brow. "If that is your will than there is certainly little I can do to change it."
"I do not leave to leave you and Mirkwood," Legolas said.
Thranduil nodded. "I know," he smiled faintly. "I always knew you were loyal to those you loved."
Legolas stood and crossed the space between he and his father until he was at his side. He knelt and clutched at Thranduil's hand. "And my loyalties and love to you are the strongest. That is why I go now so I can return to you with a clear conscience in the Havens."
Thranduil looked down at his son and the same thoughts Legolas had had about their similarities ran through his mind. Only he accredited his son with a spirit and heart that he never thought he had.
Thranduil touched the side of Legolas' face. "Do not worry. Though it grieves me to see you go so soon you can carry my full grace and approval with you. Do what you feel you need to do in this world. You have already left a great mark on it and I know you will rise to even greater things yet."
Legolas smiled and kissed his father's hand. Then he stood and Thranduil stood with him. "I will be back in less than another two weeks' time," Legolas said. "After Gimli and I visit his home we will pass back here before returning to Gondor."
Thranduil's brows creased slightly. "Why must you go with the dwarf to the Lonely Mountain?"
Legolas took a step back. "We made a promise to each other, and so far he has followed through with all he has said. I cannot leave him to his own now."
"You said he was the son of Gloin?" Thranduil said.
Legolas looked at his father carefully, "Yes."
"Then I do not want to have to worry about you being punished for your father's misgivings."
Legolas shook his head. "No, there is no need to worry. I have already met Gloin a while back at the council of Elrond. And Gimli himself assures me that there is no ill will between our houses anymore."
"Not that I would readily dispute the word of a friend of yours," Thranduil said, "but he is a dwarf. And they are stubborn and vengeful in their feuds. Why not just stay here until Gimli is ready to make the trip back to Gondor?"
"I have already explained to you why I cannot stay here." Legolas took his father's hand again. "Please, I do not want you thinking badly of Gimli. He has proven himself beyond any tests of friendship. No harm will come to me just as no harm has come to Gimli here."
Thranduil took a deep breath. "If you say so, then I have no better word to trust."
Legolas embraced his father. "And I will be back," he said before releasing Thranduil and stepping away. "We will talk again in the morning before I leave," Legolas said.
Thranduil nodded and watched silently as Legolas turned and exited the room. Then he remained where he was after the door had closed again, thinking about what could possibly drive Legolas to visiting dwarven halls.
Legolas and Gimli were ready to make the trip to Erebor in the morning. This was at least one trip they would not have to make on foot as they had been supplied with horses. Legolas had raised an eyebrow when he heard Gimli ask for his own horse, he had assumed they would ride together as they always had. But Legolas kept his mouth closed when he glanced at Gimli standing beside him, his chest puffed out a little as he tried to maintain his full height. It was not hard for Legolas to understand that Gimli did not want the other elves to note any sort of weakness or disability in him.
And now they were both seated on horses, Gimli a bit unstably. He clutched at the horse's mane hard and Legolas wished that there were a saddle and tack available for the dwarf. But of course there were none, as elves had no use for that sort of thing.
"Are you sure that you do not want an escort?" Thranduil asked for perhaps the tenth time that morning. He and a small gathering of elves had come to the gates to see the pair off.
Legolas smiled. "I am sure. Darkness does not lie in the forest anymore. Do not worry, we shall be back before you even remember we were supposed to be gone."
"Farewell then," Thranduil said raising a hand. "May your trip be short and pleasant."
Legolas touched his chest and raised his own hand in response. Then he expertly turned his horse with a light touch. He stopped when he noticed Gimli was not following.
The dwarf was looking wide-eyed at Legolas as his own horse started to toss its head. The discomfort of Gimli's tight clutch was finally getting to the horse.
The other elves were looking on with some amusement and Legolas could see Gimli's face turn red beneath his beard. Softly, he called out a command to the horse.
The horse stopped moving restlessly and instead turned around smoothly. Legolas prompted his own horse to move so that Gimli's horse could follow without Gimli having to actually direct it.
Gimli did not say a word until they were past the gates and well out of the hearing range of the elves. "I do not see why we cannot trust our own feet to carry us."
Legolas laughed. "Worry not my friend, it will be quicker and easier this way. And as long as you do not irritate your horse any further he will follow me without complaint."
Gimli looked worried. "How do you irritate it?"
Legolas glanced at Gimli. "You can stop pressing your legs so hard. He will throw you if breathing becomes difficult for him. Though he is a good horse even he has his limits."
Gimli carefully shifted himself so that he was not holding on quite so hard. But fear of falling would not allow him to sit easily.
"I thought we had turned you into a horseman," Legolas said.
"It is one thing to ride on your own than with somebody else," Gimli said irritably. "Now I will have no more of your jokes about this, it is not fair to tease someone for a skill they never had use for."
Legolas held up his hands in mock surrender. "I would never even think such things," he said.
Gimli eyed him. "Just see to it that you don't fall off your own horse."
Legolas looked at his hands that held onto nothing. "What, this? I am sure you will be able to do it soon enough."
Gimli snorted in reply and looked forward. His attention was diverted back to Legolas when he heard an exaggerated yawn and he turned to watch the elf stretch out his arms and lean back dangerously low.
"I hope this brings great amusement to you," Gimli snapped.
Legolas laughed and sat upright. "It truly does."
Legolas laughed some more when Gimli did not reply and only grumbled under his breath. Legolas decided he would save his trick of sitting nonchalantly on a horse cross-legged until later.
The two continued on in general silence. Legolas figured that due to the horses they would be at the Lonely Mountain in no more than three days and out of the trees by nightfall.
The sun began to sink and as Legolas had suspected he could see the end of the trees in front of them. Then all they had to do was cross a small plain before coming up to the mountain.
"Do you wish to make camp under the trees or on the plain?" Legolas asked.
Gimli considered. "If you can stand it," he said carefully, "I would prefer the plains."
Legolas smiled. "I thought you would say as much. Do not worry, for you I can forsake my trees for one night."
They were almost out of the trees when Legolas pulled his horse up short. Gimli twisted in his seat and looked back as he did not know how to make his own horse stop. Legolas was looking up into the treetops, his eyes wide.
"Gimli, stop!" he called out.
Gimli was about to shout back that he couldn't when he saw a great shape come at him from the corner of his eye. The horse sensed it too and finally stopped on his own accord, but it was too late. Gimli heard an arrow sing through the air but the shape darted down anyway and came straight at Gimli, knocking him off the horse. Gimli collided with the earth hard and his vision blurred. He felt a sharp sting at his throat before getting his senses back and then he pushed at whatever was on top of him. He could finally make out what it was, and he was vaguely surprised to see a huge spider on top of him.
The spider hissed and its jaws clamped in an effort to get back at Gimli's throat. Then it squealed when another of Legolas' arrows went into its side. Gimli felt the spider go limp and he threw it aside before sitting up.
"Spiders," he heard Legolas shouting as he rubbed his neck.
"I know that," he called back as he tried to get to his feet and get his axe ready at the same time. He was moving very sluggishly and he could not force his eyes to see straight.
The sounds of a horse screaming came to him and Gimli looked over in time to see his horse being pulled down with two spiders on top of it. Gimli swung his axe up and almost fell back with the momentum. He shook his head at the falter and willed his legs to move forward.
One of the spiders noticed his movement and jumped off the horse with surprising speed. It came straight at Gimli and he barely registered it before blindly swinging his axe. Thankfully, he felt it collide with its target. But even though he took down his opponent his own momentum carried him down with the spider.
Finding himself on the ground once more, Gimli stared up awkwardly into the trees above him. He could see shapes moving within them, but for a moment he could not figure out if they were real or just spots created from his eyes.
He slowly realized he did not have his axe in his hand anymore and he blindly groped for it with his hand. He tried to raise his head to look for it but soon discovered he could not get his neck to comply with such an action. His head seemed far too heavy to lift. Okay then, Gimli thought, he would simply rest for a few moments until his body decided to start cooperating again.
Legolas quickly loosed his arrows, finding a mark for each one. There were not that many spiders and they soon began to retreat as their numbers began to quickly fall. One last spider made a spring for Legolas and the elf reached back for another arrow only to discover he had already used them all. Changing gears, Legolas quickly dropped his bow and instead went for the long knife he had at its belt, but the spider crashed into his chest before he could bring it up.
Legolas felt himself lose his footing and he fell back but moved his hand as he did so. By the time he hit the ground with the spider on top of him, the spider was already dead with Legolas' knife implanted deep within its belly.
Legolas pushed the spider off of him and rose to his feet while simultaneously pulling his knife free. He crouched low and immediately checked all sides for more spiders. But the ambush was already over and the spiders had escaped back to the trees to run off.
Legolas sheathed his knife and made his way over to where Gimli was sitting dazedly on the ground. "Spiders," he said slightly out of breath, "they have never been this far North. Whatever's left of them must be making their way out of these woods, they have no place here anymore."
Legolas squatted in front of Gimli when he reached him and noticed that Gimli had not replied to anything he said. He peered into the dwarf's face, "Gimli? We have to get out of here in case they return at nightfall."
Gimli still said nothing and Legolas noticed the dwarf's head drooping as he blinked to keep his eyes open. Legolas grabbed Gimli's shoulders and shook him. "Gimli, stay awake, you hear me? Stay awake, get up."
The dwarf mumbled something and pushed at one of Legolas' hands. Legolas moved his hand from his shoulder and held onto Gimli's chin instead, turning his head up so he could see his eyes. Gimli grumbled more at this and jerked his head out of Legolas' grasp, almost falling over as he did so.
When Gimli turned his head Legolas caught the marks on the side of his throat. He had been bitten by one of the spiders, and deeply. Legolas knew about the spiders well enough to know that their bite was poisonous and worked to quickly paralyze their prey. Eventually it would wear off, but it had been known to kill young elves if the bite was anywhere on the chest or near vulnerable areas. And the neck was definitely vulnerable.
"Gimli listen to me," Legolas said, "I do not know what kinds of poisons affect dwarves, can you tell me if any of your kind have been bitten by spiders before?"
"Sam said a spider bit Frodo," Gimli mumbled.
Legolas grabbed onto Gimli's shoulders again and shook him, harder this time. "Gimli stay with me." Legolas felt an icy thread of fear begin to wind its way around his heart. He had not spent all this time in war beside his friend only to have him killed in his own home when he had not been paying attention. Legolas had not even thought about the spiders, assuming that they had been killed or run off when Dol Goldur was overthrown.
"I have to take you back," Legolas said as he began to pull Gimli to his feet. "I have to get you to a healer."
Gimli regained some of his self as he felt himself being moved. "No, I don't want to go back. I want to go home."
Legolas considered for a moment. "Do you have healers there?"
Gimli nodded. "Dwarves know more of dwarves than elven healers," he reasoned with slurred speech.
Legolas looked around. He had to make a decision, and quickly. It would be shorter if he were to take Gimli back to his father's halls, but Gimli did make a point. They would not know what kind of affect the poison would have on a dwarf. If he rode hard and through the night, they might be able to make it to Erebor before tomorrow night.
After standing still for a few moments with indecision, Legolas finally let out a frustrated grunt through his teeth and swept Gimli clean off his feet. Before the dazed dwarf could protest being carried, Legolas brought him over to his horse. Gimli's horse had run off, or had been carried off, Legolas wasn't sure.
Legolas put Gimli on the horse and then leapt up behind him. "My feet are good enough," Gimli declared.
"That's good, say your delusions out loud. You cannot fall asleep," Legolas said. He said it as a joke, but his fear continued to grow. Gimli was turning delusional and Legolas could already feel the heat of a fever begin to radiate from him.
"Hang on," he said, "we are going to pretend we ride Shadowfax's back." Legolas pressed the horse's sides lightly with his legs, but the horse picked up the urgency of its riders and took off at a run.
"Gandalf's not gonna like us riding his horse," Gimli said as his body slumped forward.
"Indeed," Legolas said, wrapping an arm around Gimli's waist to keep him from falling over and off of the horse. A thought came to him. "Tell me again my friend how you managed to beat me at Helm's Deep."
Gimli smirked and pulled up slightly. "You need to learn not to rely on a weapon that runs out," he said before going into a full recount of his fight at Helm's Deep.
Legolas urged the horse faster while simultaneously urging Gimli to keep talking. He just hoped they would make it to Erebor fast enough.