Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or any of its characters. I do not make any money from this. I do not like green eggs and ham...oh, wait...wrong book.

Chapter 6

Sorry

"So, what be yer plans now, Laddie?" Gimli asked Elrond, between mouthfuls of breakfast, his beard dripping. Gimli's head was soaking wet since he had just dunked it in a bucket of water to dispel the horrific hangover he had woke with.

"I have no specific plans, actually," Elrond replied coolly, sipping at a glass of juice. "Eventually I will have to see about constructing a boat to get me to Valinor, I suppose."

"Are ye in any rush? Legolas and meself were thinking of taking a trip back to Minas Tirith to visit with Aragorn for a while," Gimli explained, a sliver of egg white clinging to his lower lip. "Ye might want to consider joining us...I heard tell that Arwen was a big as a house with child. Ye may be a grandfather by now!"

"Do you really think I would consider a trip with the two of you after your behavior last night? Do you think I am a glutton for punishment?" Elrond asked, still highly affronted by the last evening's doings.

"I already said that I was sorry, Elrond. How long are ye going to hold it against me?" Gimli entreated, looking up at the Elf with a slightly irritable expression.

"Elves are immortal. How long is that?" Elrond replied, his nose in the air.

"Bah! Ye need to let it go, Elrond. Ye would have done the same, given the opportunity, and ye know it! Come on, give old Gimli a chance to make it up to ye!

"We shall see, Master Dwarf," Elrond sniffed, waving a dismissive hand in Gimli's direction.

"We shall see what?" Legolas asked, joining the two at the table. He picked up a piece of lembas and began nibbling at it.

"I asked Mr. Elrond, here, if he might want to join us on a trip to visit Aragorn and Arwen," Gimli said, hooking his thumb at Elrond. "He doesn't seem inclined to take me up on me invitation."

"Didn't you apologize for last night? I told you to..." Legolas reminded Gimli, nodding his head toward Elrond.

"'Course I did! First thing this morning. Eloquent speech, it was, too! 'Lord Elrond, it is with greatest humility that I beseech yer forgiveness...'"

"Horsecrap! All you said was 'Sorry, El. That's it...two words! You didn't even use my full name, AND you were shoveling eggs into your mouth at the time!" Elrond clarified, pointing his finger at Gimli.

"Gimli! Tsk, tsk," Legolas admonished, shaking his finger at his friend. Turning to Elrond, he bowed low, and said, 'Lord Elrond, please accept my most humble apologies on behalf of Gimli and myself for the horrendous treatment you suffered at our hands last night. It is our supreme wish that you be comfortable here as our esteemed guest in Mirkwood. Please ask, for anything we can do to compensate for our abject lack of judgement last night will be offered to you with our most sincere gratitude for your forgiveness."

Elrond didn't catch Legolas turning his head slightly and winking at the Dwarf, or Gimli's barely suppressed chuckle.

"That's much better. All right, I forgive you. Now, when did you plan to leave for Minas Tirith?" Elrond asked, puffing up a little at the formality of Legolas' speech.

Legolas smiled, and returned to nibbling on his lembas. "Probably not for another week...we just returned shortly before you got here. My father would not be happy if I should take leave again so soon."

"Who is he trying to harness you with this time, Laddie?" Gimli asked, reaching for a bowl of strawberries.

Legolas sighed, rolling his eyes at the ceiling, "some Elleth named Marysue, or Beckylou, or Tiramisu, or some such name...I can't keep track of them all."

"Why on earth do you fight your father on this, Legolas? He only wishes for you to produce an heir! I can certainly understand his concern," Elrond stated, spreading butter on a piece of lembas.

"I look forward to Arwen's giving birth, if she hasn't already. A child to carry on the lineage is important!"

"I can produce an heir WITHOUT my father's help," Legolas replied.

"But not without an Elleth's help," Elrond retorted, "unless you have discovered some new way of procreating that you haven't shared with the rest of us!"

"I just have no wish to settle down yet. After all, I am only 2,931 years old! I have no need to settle down and produce an heir, yet!" Legolas adamantly explained.

"He probably has a score of heirs running about the countryside by now, anyway!" Gimli laughed, poking Legolas in the ribs.

"Gimli! Really! Must you be so crude at the breakfast table?" Legolas asked, cuffing the Dwarf in the shoulder.

"I agree, Gimli. Besides, they would hardly count, would they? An heir needs to be legitimate, and you know it! If it were not the case, Legolas himself would have an army of brothers and sisters beating down the door!" Elrond laughed.

"Lord Elrond! Please, I must ask that you refrain from such bawdy talk..." Legolas brows knitted together as his lighthearted mood dissipated. "Do you suggest that my father was unfaithful to my mother before she sailed to Valor?"

"I apologize, Legolas. Of course that is not what I meant...my mouth runs away with me!" Elrond stammered, realizing his faux pas after receiving a swift kick under the table from Gimli.

Legolas downed a glass of water, calming himself. "Apology accepted. Now, back to subject on hand...we leave for Minas Tirith in a week's time. Will you join us?"

"Aye, Legolas. IF you promise to muzzle the Dwarf!" Elrond laughed, eyeing Gimli.

"Bah! 'Twould be a boring trip without me banter!" Gimli said, frowning up at the two tall elves. "Ye'd miss me colorful conversation!"

"Life would be dull without you, mellon min," Legolas smiled, patting the dwarf on the back.

"It would be a QUIET life, at any rate," Elrond laughed, giving Gimli a little push. "I think this will prove to be a very interesting, if noisy, journey."