Author's Note: Ah, see, getting better at the updating again. Soon we'll
have this story out in no time! And I know what you all are dying for, so
let's just say this chapter is one of the more interesting ones. I hope
you enjoy, don't hesitate to review, and there's still no point in suing me
as I am a poor and starving student.
Chapter 10
Five days passed within the halls of Erebor. Things were almost back to normal, or as normal as Legolas supposed dwarven life could be. Continuous work was always being done somewhere deep in the mountain and the dwarves took little to no notice of the elf that walked among them, even Thror seemed less hostile.
Gimli had regained most of his strength and was acting normally, though the healer still advised him to be bed-ridden until the end of the week. Legolas spent most of his time with Gimli, and he no longer had to have his visitation rights cleared by Gloin. The elf was given free reign to do as he pleased without armed guards following him everywhere. Legolas saw less of the older dwarf, except for when he came in to visit Gimli himself, and the elf sensed less tension between them as well. All conversations about supposed poisoning had ceased.
"And I'm telling you I won fair and square," Gimli was saying during the evening meal when Legolas always came to eat with him.
Legolas finished the mouthful of food he had before answering. "And I stick with my claim that you were in a less fortunate place than I."
It was an old and familiar argument that the two were having, that of the dwarf's triumph at Helm's Deep. "And it was only a single orc," Legolas said, "everything happened quickly, perhaps somebody was lazy in their counting."
Gimli bristled at that and threw his hands in the air, upsetting his own dinner plate. It was only saved by Legolas' quick reflexes and the elf laughed.
"Peace, peace," he said as he returned the dwarf's plate, "I did not mean to upset someone who is still recovering."
Gimli folded his arms over his chest and glowered at Legolas. "Recovering. If it were up to me I'd have been up and about four days ago."
Legolas tried to still his laughter. "I know, I know. It is not your fault that you are still forced to remain in bed."
"Indeed," Gimli grumbled.
Legolas grinned and tried to think of something to distract the dwarf from his bad mood. "Come, tell me, what is it that you dwarves do all day in the mountains again?"
The ruse worked and the dwarf brightened before launching into a long and very detailed explanation of the kinds of excavations that were taking place. Legolas drank water from his cup and tried to keep his eyes and attention fixed on Gimli.
He was saved from further explanation when a loud roaring from the main hall came to them. Legolas turned and looked out the open door into the darkened hallway.
"What is that? What is going on?" Gimli said.
Legolas was already on his feet and making his way to the door so that he could peer out into the main hall where most of the commotion seemed to be coming from. He could see a large group of dwarves collected there and they were obviously arguing over something, though the volume of their voices coupled with the slight echoing the caverns in the mountains always produced made it difficult to hear what they were saying.
"What is it?" Gimli asked again and Legolas looked down in surprise to find the dwarf at his side.
"Gimli, you are not supposed to be out of bed."
Gimli waved his hand as if that was unimportant and stepped closer to the main hall.
"We cannot wait until more come to attack us, we have to act now!" one of the dwarves was saying.
"Let's wait until we hear what the elders have to say, somebody fetch Gloin."
"I am already here." Legolas looked to where he saw Gloin striding to the main group of dwarves. As he moved the other dwarves moved back and Legolas could glimpse another dwarf laying on the ground, an arrow protruding from his chest.
Gimli was moving forward, he had seen it too. "What is going on here?"
Three of the dwarves turned at his question and Legolas recognized Thror as one of them. "Ask your spy what's going on," Thror spat out before leaving the group to come towards Legolas. "Ask you elven friend what information he's been feeding his army to get past our defenses!"
Legolas looked at Thror blankly. He had no idea what he was talking about and a quick look at Gimli told him that the dwarf had no idea either.
Now most of the dwarves were gathering round near Legolas, leaving the fallen dwarf to the healer that was hovering over him. Gloin pushed forward to the front of the group.
"This is how you repay me for my kind treatment of you? A surprise attack? This is how you show your great friendship to my son?"
Legolas involuntarily took a step back. He held up his hands. "What attack? What are you talking about, what happened?"
"We were attacked on our rounds," said another dwarf stepping forward. Legolas could see that he was scratched up and dirtied, obvious testament to a fight. "Myself and Roli there. When scouting the outside perimeters a group of elves ambushed us. They demanded we tell them where the kidnapped prince was being held. When we told them they were daft and it was no concern of ours that they could not hold onto their own princes they attacked us. We fought back as long as we could but we were outnumbered and Roli was shot when we retreated. I had to carry him back here through a secret passageway so the elves couldn't follow us."
"Is that what your plan was?" Gloin said when the dwarf was done speaking. "That we kidnapped you? Is that your excuse for war?"
"No," Legolas shook his head, "I have no idea what's going on, I do not know why they are saying I have been kidnapped."
Gloin was not listening. "I've been blinded from the very start. To think an elf could actually be trusted, I knew they had to be after our own treasures, the time of the elves is over and they've got nothing else."
A roar from the other dwarves followed his proclamation and Legolas quickly assessed that it would take little to cause the dwarves to turn into an angry mob. If he did not say something now to calm them down he might not get a chance.
"The orcs tried to take the mountain once, it seems only fitting that now elves try!" Gloin was continuing. "At least the orcs did not try to justify their actions with a false war."
More shouts from the gathered dwarves and Legolas found himself taking another step back. His eyes were scanning the many tunnels and hallways that connected to the main hall, trying to remember which one would lead him outside.
"If they want to start a war on us then we might as well give them merit," Gloin said to more shouts of approval. "Seize him!"
Legolas took another step back but then moved no more as four or five dwarves converged on him. He tried to decide whether or not he should risk fighting back but before he could make up his mind he was dealt a harsh blow to his chest and he soon found himself on his back.
"Stop, stop!" another voice was yelling over the roars and excitement of the other dwarves. Legolas was hauled to his feet almost as quickly as he had been knocked down and he struggled to catch his breath while searching out the one who was yelling, Gimli.
"Father, stop!" Gimli stood in front of Legolas. "He has been with me most of the time, not running about giving spy reports to an army."
"Most of the time, son," Gloin repeated, "you know as well as I that he has not been with you constantly. And since I have been so gracious to treat him as a guest and not have him locked up there's no knowing what he did in his spare time."
"Father no," Gimli said and took a step towards him. But as he did so Gimli faltered and Legolas tried to move forward to catch him before he fell but was held back by the other dwarves. As it was, Gimli ended up on his knees and appeared dazed at his sudden lack of coordination. He was still not well enough to be up and moving.
Gloin was at his side in no time and helping him to his feet. "You need to get back to rest," he said. Then he turned to the waiting dwarves. "Send out a runner. Let it be known that the kidnapped prince will not be returned and unharmed until retribution for the attempted murder on my son has been met!"
Legolas saw a small party of dwarves break off and make their way towards one of the tunnels, undoubtedly the one that led outside.
"Lock him up," Gloin said before starting to lead Gimli away.
"Father no," Gimli was still trying. "You know he had nothing to do with this."
"I do not," Gloin answered, "and neither do you. You're still weak and injured and not thinking clearly. But don't worry son, you will be better and avenged in no time."
Legolas could not pay anymore attention to Gimli and Gloin's conversation as he had to move to avoid spears being thrust in his face and jabbed at his midsection. Legolas held up his hands and moved backwards voluntarily, knowing that it would be futile to try and fight his way out of this, there were far too many dwarves and too close together.
"After we've been so good to you," Thror was saying, brandishing the spear that was closest to Legolas' face. "This is the true courtesy of the elves? Betrayal?"
"Thror, I tell you I had nothing to do with this. It is a misunderstanding."
"Oh we misunderstood alright," Thror agreed, "I knew a dwarf and an elf could never truly be friends, that an elf could never be trusted."
"Thror, listen to me," Legolas was interrupted by the spear cracking him alongside the head.
"No more talking unless you are asked to," Thror said.
Legolas reeled from the unexpected blow and his vision swam for a few moments. A slow and warm wetness spilling down his temple and along his cheek testified to the drawing of blood from the blow. When he could clearly see again Legolas contemplated grabbing Thror's spear and wielding it himself, but the group of dwarves that were escorting them told Legolas that would be a bad idea. So Legolas only turned around so he could see where he was going and became mindful of the tips at his back that corrected his every movement.
It was not long before they reached his old room, but it did not surprise Legolas that the command to stop did not come there. He was being led further into the mountain, straight into the depths, to where he was sure an elf's nightmare truly existed.
Chapter 10
Five days passed within the halls of Erebor. Things were almost back to normal, or as normal as Legolas supposed dwarven life could be. Continuous work was always being done somewhere deep in the mountain and the dwarves took little to no notice of the elf that walked among them, even Thror seemed less hostile.
Gimli had regained most of his strength and was acting normally, though the healer still advised him to be bed-ridden until the end of the week. Legolas spent most of his time with Gimli, and he no longer had to have his visitation rights cleared by Gloin. The elf was given free reign to do as he pleased without armed guards following him everywhere. Legolas saw less of the older dwarf, except for when he came in to visit Gimli himself, and the elf sensed less tension between them as well. All conversations about supposed poisoning had ceased.
"And I'm telling you I won fair and square," Gimli was saying during the evening meal when Legolas always came to eat with him.
Legolas finished the mouthful of food he had before answering. "And I stick with my claim that you were in a less fortunate place than I."
It was an old and familiar argument that the two were having, that of the dwarf's triumph at Helm's Deep. "And it was only a single orc," Legolas said, "everything happened quickly, perhaps somebody was lazy in their counting."
Gimli bristled at that and threw his hands in the air, upsetting his own dinner plate. It was only saved by Legolas' quick reflexes and the elf laughed.
"Peace, peace," he said as he returned the dwarf's plate, "I did not mean to upset someone who is still recovering."
Gimli folded his arms over his chest and glowered at Legolas. "Recovering. If it were up to me I'd have been up and about four days ago."
Legolas tried to still his laughter. "I know, I know. It is not your fault that you are still forced to remain in bed."
"Indeed," Gimli grumbled.
Legolas grinned and tried to think of something to distract the dwarf from his bad mood. "Come, tell me, what is it that you dwarves do all day in the mountains again?"
The ruse worked and the dwarf brightened before launching into a long and very detailed explanation of the kinds of excavations that were taking place. Legolas drank water from his cup and tried to keep his eyes and attention fixed on Gimli.
He was saved from further explanation when a loud roaring from the main hall came to them. Legolas turned and looked out the open door into the darkened hallway.
"What is that? What is going on?" Gimli said.
Legolas was already on his feet and making his way to the door so that he could peer out into the main hall where most of the commotion seemed to be coming from. He could see a large group of dwarves collected there and they were obviously arguing over something, though the volume of their voices coupled with the slight echoing the caverns in the mountains always produced made it difficult to hear what they were saying.
"What is it?" Gimli asked again and Legolas looked down in surprise to find the dwarf at his side.
"Gimli, you are not supposed to be out of bed."
Gimli waved his hand as if that was unimportant and stepped closer to the main hall.
"We cannot wait until more come to attack us, we have to act now!" one of the dwarves was saying.
"Let's wait until we hear what the elders have to say, somebody fetch Gloin."
"I am already here." Legolas looked to where he saw Gloin striding to the main group of dwarves. As he moved the other dwarves moved back and Legolas could glimpse another dwarf laying on the ground, an arrow protruding from his chest.
Gimli was moving forward, he had seen it too. "What is going on here?"
Three of the dwarves turned at his question and Legolas recognized Thror as one of them. "Ask your spy what's going on," Thror spat out before leaving the group to come towards Legolas. "Ask you elven friend what information he's been feeding his army to get past our defenses!"
Legolas looked at Thror blankly. He had no idea what he was talking about and a quick look at Gimli told him that the dwarf had no idea either.
Now most of the dwarves were gathering round near Legolas, leaving the fallen dwarf to the healer that was hovering over him. Gloin pushed forward to the front of the group.
"This is how you repay me for my kind treatment of you? A surprise attack? This is how you show your great friendship to my son?"
Legolas involuntarily took a step back. He held up his hands. "What attack? What are you talking about, what happened?"
"We were attacked on our rounds," said another dwarf stepping forward. Legolas could see that he was scratched up and dirtied, obvious testament to a fight. "Myself and Roli there. When scouting the outside perimeters a group of elves ambushed us. They demanded we tell them where the kidnapped prince was being held. When we told them they were daft and it was no concern of ours that they could not hold onto their own princes they attacked us. We fought back as long as we could but we were outnumbered and Roli was shot when we retreated. I had to carry him back here through a secret passageway so the elves couldn't follow us."
"Is that what your plan was?" Gloin said when the dwarf was done speaking. "That we kidnapped you? Is that your excuse for war?"
"No," Legolas shook his head, "I have no idea what's going on, I do not know why they are saying I have been kidnapped."
Gloin was not listening. "I've been blinded from the very start. To think an elf could actually be trusted, I knew they had to be after our own treasures, the time of the elves is over and they've got nothing else."
A roar from the other dwarves followed his proclamation and Legolas quickly assessed that it would take little to cause the dwarves to turn into an angry mob. If he did not say something now to calm them down he might not get a chance.
"The orcs tried to take the mountain once, it seems only fitting that now elves try!" Gloin was continuing. "At least the orcs did not try to justify their actions with a false war."
More shouts from the gathered dwarves and Legolas found himself taking another step back. His eyes were scanning the many tunnels and hallways that connected to the main hall, trying to remember which one would lead him outside.
"If they want to start a war on us then we might as well give them merit," Gloin said to more shouts of approval. "Seize him!"
Legolas took another step back but then moved no more as four or five dwarves converged on him. He tried to decide whether or not he should risk fighting back but before he could make up his mind he was dealt a harsh blow to his chest and he soon found himself on his back.
"Stop, stop!" another voice was yelling over the roars and excitement of the other dwarves. Legolas was hauled to his feet almost as quickly as he had been knocked down and he struggled to catch his breath while searching out the one who was yelling, Gimli.
"Father, stop!" Gimli stood in front of Legolas. "He has been with me most of the time, not running about giving spy reports to an army."
"Most of the time, son," Gloin repeated, "you know as well as I that he has not been with you constantly. And since I have been so gracious to treat him as a guest and not have him locked up there's no knowing what he did in his spare time."
"Father no," Gimli said and took a step towards him. But as he did so Gimli faltered and Legolas tried to move forward to catch him before he fell but was held back by the other dwarves. As it was, Gimli ended up on his knees and appeared dazed at his sudden lack of coordination. He was still not well enough to be up and moving.
Gloin was at his side in no time and helping him to his feet. "You need to get back to rest," he said. Then he turned to the waiting dwarves. "Send out a runner. Let it be known that the kidnapped prince will not be returned and unharmed until retribution for the attempted murder on my son has been met!"
Legolas saw a small party of dwarves break off and make their way towards one of the tunnels, undoubtedly the one that led outside.
"Lock him up," Gloin said before starting to lead Gimli away.
"Father no," Gimli was still trying. "You know he had nothing to do with this."
"I do not," Gloin answered, "and neither do you. You're still weak and injured and not thinking clearly. But don't worry son, you will be better and avenged in no time."
Legolas could not pay anymore attention to Gimli and Gloin's conversation as he had to move to avoid spears being thrust in his face and jabbed at his midsection. Legolas held up his hands and moved backwards voluntarily, knowing that it would be futile to try and fight his way out of this, there were far too many dwarves and too close together.
"After we've been so good to you," Thror was saying, brandishing the spear that was closest to Legolas' face. "This is the true courtesy of the elves? Betrayal?"
"Thror, I tell you I had nothing to do with this. It is a misunderstanding."
"Oh we misunderstood alright," Thror agreed, "I knew a dwarf and an elf could never truly be friends, that an elf could never be trusted."
"Thror, listen to me," Legolas was interrupted by the spear cracking him alongside the head.
"No more talking unless you are asked to," Thror said.
Legolas reeled from the unexpected blow and his vision swam for a few moments. A slow and warm wetness spilling down his temple and along his cheek testified to the drawing of blood from the blow. When he could clearly see again Legolas contemplated grabbing Thror's spear and wielding it himself, but the group of dwarves that were escorting them told Legolas that would be a bad idea. So Legolas only turned around so he could see where he was going and became mindful of the tips at his back that corrected his every movement.
It was not long before they reached his old room, but it did not surprise Legolas that the command to stop did not come there. He was being led further into the mountain, straight into the depths, to where he was sure an elf's nightmare truly existed.