Author's Note: See? I told you the update wouldn't be so bad this time! I
want to thank you guys so much for the continued reviews, I can tell from
your insights and comments that you guys are really understanding this
story and picking up on the reason why I wrote it and that makes me happy
that I can actually get my point across. The last few chapters won't be
too long in coming and I just hope nobody will be disappointed with the
ending. Enjoy!
Chapter 19
When Legolas stepped outside, he could practically feel the anticipation in the air. Everybody was awake and alert, preparing themselves to meet the dwarves. But there was nobody actually in sight, and Legolas counted himself lucky. He did not want anybody to know what he was doing and report to his father.
Legolas ran silently across the ground, straight towards the gates. He let himself out quickly and then leapt up back into the trees. He remained still for a moment, gathering his information from the trees. Their distress was increased, and he knew that the dwarves were almost upon Eryn Lasgalen. Letting the trees guide him, Legolas made his way towards the approaching army.
It was not long before Legolas saw the first of the dwarves. He paused in his leaping through the trees and watched them silently through the foliage. He had been right, this was no simple search party, but a full army. He would not be surprised to learn that the whole of the Lonely Mountain had emptied to come march against the elves.
But he was not concerned with all of them at the moment. He was searching the iron-clad warriors for one face, for the one person that would make his plan work.
When the first line of dwarves passed underneath the tree Legolas waited in, he saw the one he wanted. Gloin was near the front and off to one side of the dwarvish contingent. It would be a risky move, and Legolas could only hope that the dwarves did not choose to cut him down right away, but there was no other way.
Legolas leapt lightly down from the tree, landing directly in front of Gloin.
Gloin let out a small yell of surprise and the dwarves halted immediately, predictably drawing their weapons. Legolas had to act fast.
He held up his hands to show he did not hold any of his own weapons and went down on one knee. "Peace," he said quickly, "I wish to talk to you."
Gloin looked at him with a mixture of surprise and suspicion on his face. He was in the middle of drawing his own axe free, and he paused for a moment, unsure as to whether he should draw it all the way out or not.
After a short hesitation, he said, "What, elf?"
Legolas stood. "Gimli is in danger, and if you allow this war to happen he will not live to see it through."
"It is not I who wanted this war," Gloin answered, "but your own kin who kidnapped Gimli to get back at the dwarves."
Legolas was taken aback by the news. "What?"
"When the elves came back to Erebor the last time, we discovered Gimli missing soon after the incident. It was not difficult to figure out what had happened and why."
Legolas felt his mouth hanging slightly open and he shut it quickly. Then, "Gimli was not kidnapped, he came back here to try to reach me so that we could stop all this from happening."
Gloin clearly did not believe him. "If he came on his own then why do you say that he is in danger now?"
"Because he was captured before he found me and now after word was received that you were in the forest he has been taken as a prisoner of war."
Gloin frowned and Legolas pressed on. "If a war breaks out, he will be among one of the first to die, executed as retribution for any of our kin that fall."
Gloin finally finished drawing his axe free. "If he is to be executed then we can make our own example out of you."
Several dwarves stepped forward and Legolas felt a hand fall on his arm. Without thinking, he jerked to the side and collided with another dwarf that was moving forward. There was an immediate surge and Legolas recognized his own imminent danger. An axe swung for him and Legolas was only barely able to grab onto the shaft and prevent the blade from sinking into his mid-section. But while his attentions were focused toward the front he felt a blow come from behind and crack the back of his legs, forcing him to fall to his knees.
"No, stop, I came in peace to help Gimli," Legolas said staring up at Gloin.
The dwarves hesitated, glancing uncertainly at one another. Gloin stepped closer to Legolas, his own axe held so that it grazed the side of the elf's face.
"What is your plan to help Gimli? Why can you not simply tell your father to set him free?"
Legolas wanted to stand again but was keenly aware of all the heavy blades surrounding him. This was not turning out as well as he had hoped, and knew that if he did or said one more wrong thing the dwarves would likely kill him without a second thought. And if that happened, then Gimli would most certainly die.
"My father will not listen to me," Legolas said, "but he is not beyond all reason. If you come to the gates with me as your own prisoner you can exchange me for Gimli."
"And once we have my son back," Gloin said, "then what? What is to stop the elven archers from killing us as we stand before the gates? We are easy targets if we stand there making demands."
"They will not fire," Legolas said. "It is not within our custom to kill those who pose no immediate threat. If you make the exchange you can then negotiate with my father and there will be no need for a war."
Gloin snorted. "What kind of negotiations is there to make? The blood of our own has already been spilled..."
"Along with ours," Legolas interrupted. "We have both lost already, but if we allow this to happen, both sides will lose more life. There is no need for this, we are not enemies. I know you have come seeking the safety of your son, if the exchange is made then there is no need for more bloodshed."
Gloin was silent for a few moments and Legolas began to feel hope. Perhaps this would all work out after all.
And then a familiar voice said, "Elves cannot be trusted with their negotiations. Was the elven king willing to negotiate the last time he took you into his dungeons without a second thought?"
Legolas glanced over to see Thror making his way through the crowd of dwarven bodies. "We already know he is a spy of theirs," he continued when he had made it to the front. "Who's to say that this isn't a tactic of theirs? To send him with a false story so that we do come to the gates as easy targets. 'It is not a custom of theirs to kill those who do not pose a threat', but is there no custom saying that they cannot imprison those who hold no threat?"
Gloin looked at Thror, and then back at Legolas. After a few silent moments, he said, "I know my son counts you as a dear friend of his. I do not know why, or even how such a thing came to be. But since he holds such blind trust in you, I will consider that it must have its roots somewhere. So we will take you as a prisoner in an effort to get my son back, because I do not wish anymore bloodshed either. However," Gloin continued when a general rumble of disquiet began among the dwarves, "if it proves that you are lying to us, I will kill you. If it is the last thing I do upon this earth, your death will compensate for the death of my own son."
Legolas said nothing. He was partially relieved that Gloin had listened to him, but also slightly chilled by the look in the older dwarf's eyes. Truly there was no love lost between them. But Legolas reminded himself that this was all for Gimli, and that he would rather die anyway than to have Gimli harmed, so he nodded.
Legolas was hauled roughly to his feet and his hands then bound behind his back. He remained silent and put forth no struggle. He only kept his eyes trained on Gloin, who stared just as coolly back at him. When the dwarves were satisfied that his hands were tied tightly enough, and Legolas could attest that they were, the coarse rope was biting into his flesh, they turned him around and marched him before them. Legolas let them lead him towards his own lands, Gloin beside him the entire way. Legolas could only hope that what would happen next would transpire with as little conflict as possible. It was not even his own life he was concerned about, though he had a nagging feeling that he might very well not come out of this alive, but the desire to avoid another war. These grounds had already had enough blood spilled upon them recently, there was no need to add more.
They had made it to the gates faster than Legolas had anticipated and he stopped and stood with the rest of them as they surveyed the gates. All appeared to be silent, there were no elves to be seen. But Legolas was not fooled, and apparently neither was Gloin.
"Let King Thranduil come forth," he said in a strong voice that carried easily in the relative silence. "For we have the prince."
Chapter 19
When Legolas stepped outside, he could practically feel the anticipation in the air. Everybody was awake and alert, preparing themselves to meet the dwarves. But there was nobody actually in sight, and Legolas counted himself lucky. He did not want anybody to know what he was doing and report to his father.
Legolas ran silently across the ground, straight towards the gates. He let himself out quickly and then leapt up back into the trees. He remained still for a moment, gathering his information from the trees. Their distress was increased, and he knew that the dwarves were almost upon Eryn Lasgalen. Letting the trees guide him, Legolas made his way towards the approaching army.
It was not long before Legolas saw the first of the dwarves. He paused in his leaping through the trees and watched them silently through the foliage. He had been right, this was no simple search party, but a full army. He would not be surprised to learn that the whole of the Lonely Mountain had emptied to come march against the elves.
But he was not concerned with all of them at the moment. He was searching the iron-clad warriors for one face, for the one person that would make his plan work.
When the first line of dwarves passed underneath the tree Legolas waited in, he saw the one he wanted. Gloin was near the front and off to one side of the dwarvish contingent. It would be a risky move, and Legolas could only hope that the dwarves did not choose to cut him down right away, but there was no other way.
Legolas leapt lightly down from the tree, landing directly in front of Gloin.
Gloin let out a small yell of surprise and the dwarves halted immediately, predictably drawing their weapons. Legolas had to act fast.
He held up his hands to show he did not hold any of his own weapons and went down on one knee. "Peace," he said quickly, "I wish to talk to you."
Gloin looked at him with a mixture of surprise and suspicion on his face. He was in the middle of drawing his own axe free, and he paused for a moment, unsure as to whether he should draw it all the way out or not.
After a short hesitation, he said, "What, elf?"
Legolas stood. "Gimli is in danger, and if you allow this war to happen he will not live to see it through."
"It is not I who wanted this war," Gloin answered, "but your own kin who kidnapped Gimli to get back at the dwarves."
Legolas was taken aback by the news. "What?"
"When the elves came back to Erebor the last time, we discovered Gimli missing soon after the incident. It was not difficult to figure out what had happened and why."
Legolas felt his mouth hanging slightly open and he shut it quickly. Then, "Gimli was not kidnapped, he came back here to try to reach me so that we could stop all this from happening."
Gloin clearly did not believe him. "If he came on his own then why do you say that he is in danger now?"
"Because he was captured before he found me and now after word was received that you were in the forest he has been taken as a prisoner of war."
Gloin frowned and Legolas pressed on. "If a war breaks out, he will be among one of the first to die, executed as retribution for any of our kin that fall."
Gloin finally finished drawing his axe free. "If he is to be executed then we can make our own example out of you."
Several dwarves stepped forward and Legolas felt a hand fall on his arm. Without thinking, he jerked to the side and collided with another dwarf that was moving forward. There was an immediate surge and Legolas recognized his own imminent danger. An axe swung for him and Legolas was only barely able to grab onto the shaft and prevent the blade from sinking into his mid-section. But while his attentions were focused toward the front he felt a blow come from behind and crack the back of his legs, forcing him to fall to his knees.
"No, stop, I came in peace to help Gimli," Legolas said staring up at Gloin.
The dwarves hesitated, glancing uncertainly at one another. Gloin stepped closer to Legolas, his own axe held so that it grazed the side of the elf's face.
"What is your plan to help Gimli? Why can you not simply tell your father to set him free?"
Legolas wanted to stand again but was keenly aware of all the heavy blades surrounding him. This was not turning out as well as he had hoped, and knew that if he did or said one more wrong thing the dwarves would likely kill him without a second thought. And if that happened, then Gimli would most certainly die.
"My father will not listen to me," Legolas said, "but he is not beyond all reason. If you come to the gates with me as your own prisoner you can exchange me for Gimli."
"And once we have my son back," Gloin said, "then what? What is to stop the elven archers from killing us as we stand before the gates? We are easy targets if we stand there making demands."
"They will not fire," Legolas said. "It is not within our custom to kill those who pose no immediate threat. If you make the exchange you can then negotiate with my father and there will be no need for a war."
Gloin snorted. "What kind of negotiations is there to make? The blood of our own has already been spilled..."
"Along with ours," Legolas interrupted. "We have both lost already, but if we allow this to happen, both sides will lose more life. There is no need for this, we are not enemies. I know you have come seeking the safety of your son, if the exchange is made then there is no need for more bloodshed."
Gloin was silent for a few moments and Legolas began to feel hope. Perhaps this would all work out after all.
And then a familiar voice said, "Elves cannot be trusted with their negotiations. Was the elven king willing to negotiate the last time he took you into his dungeons without a second thought?"
Legolas glanced over to see Thror making his way through the crowd of dwarven bodies. "We already know he is a spy of theirs," he continued when he had made it to the front. "Who's to say that this isn't a tactic of theirs? To send him with a false story so that we do come to the gates as easy targets. 'It is not a custom of theirs to kill those who do not pose a threat', but is there no custom saying that they cannot imprison those who hold no threat?"
Gloin looked at Thror, and then back at Legolas. After a few silent moments, he said, "I know my son counts you as a dear friend of his. I do not know why, or even how such a thing came to be. But since he holds such blind trust in you, I will consider that it must have its roots somewhere. So we will take you as a prisoner in an effort to get my son back, because I do not wish anymore bloodshed either. However," Gloin continued when a general rumble of disquiet began among the dwarves, "if it proves that you are lying to us, I will kill you. If it is the last thing I do upon this earth, your death will compensate for the death of my own son."
Legolas said nothing. He was partially relieved that Gloin had listened to him, but also slightly chilled by the look in the older dwarf's eyes. Truly there was no love lost between them. But Legolas reminded himself that this was all for Gimli, and that he would rather die anyway than to have Gimli harmed, so he nodded.
Legolas was hauled roughly to his feet and his hands then bound behind his back. He remained silent and put forth no struggle. He only kept his eyes trained on Gloin, who stared just as coolly back at him. When the dwarves were satisfied that his hands were tied tightly enough, and Legolas could attest that they were, the coarse rope was biting into his flesh, they turned him around and marched him before them. Legolas let them lead him towards his own lands, Gloin beside him the entire way. Legolas could only hope that what would happen next would transpire with as little conflict as possible. It was not even his own life he was concerned about, though he had a nagging feeling that he might very well not come out of this alive, but the desire to avoid another war. These grounds had already had enough blood spilled upon them recently, there was no need to add more.
They had made it to the gates faster than Legolas had anticipated and he stopped and stood with the rest of them as they surveyed the gates. All appeared to be silent, there were no elves to be seen. But Legolas was not fooled, and apparently neither was Gloin.
"Let King Thranduil come forth," he said in a strong voice that carried easily in the relative silence. "For we have the prince."