My exalted reviewers:
Mashimaro-San: PLEASE DO NOT FAULT ME FOR MY LOVE OF ROMANCE! But it'll get gory and sad–no worries :) lol
Tell me what you would like me to do with this story, guys! (Don't expect me to listen, however!)
By the way, to the guy who didn't sign his name–Ever think it was only my 1st chapter???
Aside from the uncomfortable knot in his neck muscles, Gimli had had a very good night with his dearest friend. They had discussed all things in reminiscence ere day broke and then began preparing to move again. The eerie vision had passed out of memory for a while. All things seemed perfect. They were going home to see their family and they were both alive and well. They mounted Arod, who had been keeping watch on his own accord, and set out for the edges of the woods.
"I shall not be able to help myself," Gimli started, "when I see the look on your father's face as he beholds us walking up as brethren!"
"So you mean to come with me to meet my kin?" Legolas looked optimistic at the thought. In his heart he had dispelled all hope of Gimli continuing with him to his home. But now he smiled jovially as the dwarf nodded his head in reply.
"I cannot pass up the opportunity to meet the King who raised such an absent-minded, barbaric, uncouth prince! I must sternly lecture him about such matters!" Legolas laughed aloud at this and Gimli chuckled, as well.
"You shall be the guest of honor of the noble prince! We shall tell tales together and you shall have a kingly bed down the hall from my room! We will walk through the many corridors and you shall learn much of our lore. You may tarry in my kingdom for as long as thy heart demands!"
Gimli thought for a moment, attempting to picture the splendor of the halls of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. He had heard many tales of its glory and majesty from his elders. Then he laughed gaily. Legolas stared at him with bright, puzzled eyes.
"Oh, forgive me!" He managed through the bursts. "I have just had a funny thought! My father shall be incredibly jealous of my royal expedition through your forests when, at his visit, he was shut in a jail cell! What a time I will have explaining it all to him! He will not believe I have grown fond of a Mirkwood elf!" This kept them in a comic mood the rest of the way for they had quite the time imitating their fathers's expressions.
After a while they finally came to the edge of the woods. Arod seemed to remember it somehow, although he had lived his whole life confined to the borders of Rohan. With his new masters, he had come to travel many strange places and had grown fond of the forest. Here they needed not nudge him along, for he stepped willingly into the new scene. Since Fangorn, they had traveled mainly on flat lands with the occasional steep hill. In here it smelled of sweet, flourishing plant life. It would have been dark but for the warm beams of sunlight piercing through the tops of the trees. Legolas breathed in deeply, and then sighed heavily. It was finally beginning to dawn on him that he was really going home.
Every step they took he was expecting guards to jump out and demand to know their business. He wondered who it would be that would stop and demand the prince to state his name. He sighed happily again. He now remembered how much he missed all the things of his home. Then, like an arrow in his heart, the thought stung him. He remembered the sound of the gulls as he had sat in the city of Gondor, talking with his dear friends of past dangers. He gasped for air. He had never felt such a dire and alarming sensation. Gimli felt his friend's shivers. He knew Legolas was neither cold nor afraid of anything in a place so serene. Arod stopped abruptly and turned his head and nuzzled the elf's leg as best as his anatomy would allow.
"You are home, Legolas," he whispered into his ear. "Be not as you are! Be happy!" Legolas gripped his friend's hand and clenched his teeth and the feeling passed. He did his best to brush off his worry and aching as Arod moved on.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
"You two, get out there! Do not tarry! I have decided this is the last day you shall together be scouts. Tomorrow, Uruite can abide in the bushes with Milka! I shall go out with Lin."
As the dreaded words left Mailëa's twisted mouth, Lindelëa fought off the urge to bolt away. He even called her Lin, as though they were friendly! A shiver crept up her spine as hundreds of images of he alone with her ran through her mind. She frantically looked around at all her friends. The oldest elf in their company, Alkarinqua, stepped forward, anger plainly displayed across his face. As he moved to speak, Mailëa shot a look of pure evil at him. However, being one dismayed not by such a fraudulent attempt at bullying, dismissed the gesture and spoke at will. He seemed to grow in stature as he spoke and Mailëa was shaken by his words, though he brutally tried to mask it.
"While I am in this camp, you shall not be left alone with Lindelëa, as I am sure she would rather you call her. Do not think I shall stand idly by while you strive to act out a treacherous scheme to forcefully take her as your own! You are but orc blood to me. Orc blood that was once an indispensable part of a team of body parts. Orc blood that has since been trampled and trodden on to the point where it is worthless and of no more use. It gains no respect, no honor, no love. It is but filth."
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The two companions had not long to wait, but it was not quite what they had expected. Soon enough they heard a loud and terrible voice. It made Legolas nearly jump out of his seat. He knew that voice! Could it really be his-
"Father!" He cried his name aloud as the face slowly emerged from the shadows. Gimli tried his best to quickly hop off the tall horse as the stately King walked over to them. Not noticing Gimli for the moment, however, Thranduil embraced his son and laughed in mirth.
"Do you come home to me now for good, my son?" He cheeks were red and his eyes were bright. But it looked to Legolas that he had grown older in some way, more troubled from the world's many burdens. He kept these thoughts in the back of his mind and quickly remembered his manners.
"Father, I have brought to you a very good friend. He was part of the Fellowship, as well. We have come through many trials together." He now moved aside for the King's easier viewing. Thranduil jumped a bit at the sight of the dwarf. He was expecting an Elf, possibly of their southern kin. But now he found himself looking downward at a Naugrim. However, seeing how his trusted son had grown fond of his friend and knowing how the days were turning, he decided to give him a chance.
Gimli swept low, close to touching the ground, in reverence of the great King. He looked up. "Hail, Great King Thranduil. I am Gimli son of Glòin, who you may remember." He gave Legolas a humorous look, which made the Elf laugh. Thranduil smiled and nodded. "I seek to accompany your good son through your kingdom and to learn the lore of your people."
Satisfied he meant no harm, Thranduil spoke: "I welcome you openly to our land. If Legolas trusts you, so do I. You shall learn much here, for we are a skilled people in many ways. Linger here as you like, for our boundaries have been augmented." At this Legolas shot a look of confusion at his father.
"What do you mean? I must be told of all this news!" Then Legolas, with Gimli and Arod walking behind him, followed his father toward their home, listening to the news of Thranduil and Celeborn's treaty. At the mention of his name, Gimli sighed, remembering the fair Lady and Lord. He desired much to see her again. He pulled out the three hairs and looked at them as they walked. However, in the blear, they proved brighter than the reaching sunlight and caused the King to turn in curiosity.
"What is this?" He looked at them, his eyes locked. "They are so fair." Legolas told him they were from the Lady of the Wood, Galadriel. The King was astonished. He stared at the dwarf. There was apparently much more to him than met the eye. He looked off, remembering his visit with the Lady. Then, reminded of his lost wife, he lowered his head.
Gimli quickly put the golden strands back into secret under his many layers. Then Arod, coming up from behind, made himself known to the King.
"Oh, what a beautiful beast!" The King returned from his grief. "I have not seen such of him around. Where did you find him, my son?"
"He was given to us by the Lords of Rohan. They met us and, seeing we were walking far on foot, lent us this horse. However, they soon realized we had grown affectionate to him and he to us. They let us keep him and he has been quite brave. He has been through the great Fangorn and through the Paths of the Dead." The King looked at his son blankly.
"And this would mean you have gone through Fangorn and the Paths of the Dead? And to Rohan?" Legolas nodded. "I am glad you are home! Let us go and you shall tell me your whole tale! I would enjoy hearing how you and Gimli son of Gloin became so close. Your siblings and all the people will be so happy so see you alive and well."
