Chapter Eight: The Pit
Eldarion sighed heavily and tried to shift to a more comfortable position, where the rough floor of the cave would not be poking so pointedly into his back, but it proved impossible with his legs so securely stuck.
He had, so far, run through the numbers one to one thousand in both Westron and Sindarin, and tried to do the same with Rohirric but had only gotten as far as twenty-three before getting confused. He had then sung as much of every elvish song he knew, but it got annoying after a while because he kept finding stray lines that he either skipped or couldn't find somewhere to insert. Then he had hummed the Rohan chant that Aunt Éowyn was teaching him, and then the Dwarven one he always heard Gimli mumble when he thought no one was listening. After that he had run through all the jokes he knew, but they weren't as funny without someone else to tell them to and laugh with. Then he had pretended his fingers were armies, but since he couldn't see them it was hard to coordinate the battle. Next he had practiced making faces, but again, that wasn't much fun without being able to see them. He had even started telling himself the entire history of the War of the Ring that his ada, uncles, and aunt had fought in, but lost the thread of the trail halfway through Moria; it was uncomfortable to speak of Moria and the Balrog and the orcs when he was stuck in a cave.
Not that he was afraid. He just didn't feel like continuing the story. Besides, he might end up insulting one of the rocks. What if they had a cousin in Moria? That wouldn't be very polite of him. And he ought to mind his manners. After all, it was their cave. He couldn't go about insulting his hosts. He wasn't afraid, he just didn't want to be rude. That was all. That settled, Eldarion cast about for something else to occupy his mind with. It was boring stuck under the rock. If he could get his legs free, he could go exploring on his own until his uncles showed up, but the rocks prevented that. He strained against them again, just in case they had lightened or moved while he'd been waiting, but apparently they hadn't because he still couldn't get out. He sighed again, and crossed his arms tightly across his small chest, pouting in boredom.
Eldarion was running out of things to do. Why weren't Uncle Gimli and Uncle Legolas here yet? Surely they ought to be along any minute. Eldarion knew that nothing could dare stand against his uncles, and that included this cave. Maybe they were somewhere arguing about which way to go? They could spend hours debating. Eldarion giggled, and started picturing all the arguments his uncles had had.
That would entertain him for a while…
………………………………
Gimli gingerly probed the edge of the hole with the haft of his axe. He had almost fallen down it, but some ingrained sense of stone acquired over a lifetime spent working with it had warned him at the last moment. The rock had not crumbled when he first stepped on it by mistake, but it was always good to check. Deciding that it would probably hold his weight, and not being in the mood to spend time debating, the dwarf cautiously crept forward. He knelt down and felt the ragged break in the stone with an un-gloved hand. This was a new hole, he decided, probably caused by the recent turmoil in the cave.
He had cleared the small section of cave that he had fallen into, but found nothing. He had been alone, and his efforts had been for nothing. Well, perhaps not nothing, for by piling the large rocks in a corner he had created a crude but stable stair back to the upper level. He had not, however, climbed up it. He now had an egress, but he could not leave—not while the elf and boy were still down here somewhere. And they were down here somewhere, and they would be fine. Sightless in the dark, Gimli had only blind hope to trust to, and he had put all of his faith in it. His friends were fine, he had only to find them.
So Gimli had continued down the dark, rock-scattered, occasionally blocked-off maze of tunnels and openings he had never seen before. Of course, it was dark enough that he could not see them now, but one rarely explored underground with one's eyes. It was risky to walk them now, but he had no fear for himself. The heavy stone could collapse on his thick, foolish head and he would not protest—just as long as it waited long enough for him to find his friends and get them back to safety and light.
Gimli groped blindly at the stone under his feet in the darkness, gathering broken handfuls of rock. There were ways to see without light, and Gimli was well versed in them. He threw a pebble far down the tunnel in which he stood, over where the hole stretched before him, and heard it skitter across the stone on the far side. He threw the next one a little shorter, and heard the same. His next throw took longer to make contact with rock, and the sound came from below. He experimented with a few more pebbles, but it was clear that he would not be jumping across this void. From the noise of the rocks he dropped straight down, it was not a deep hole, but it was far enough down that he would not be able to climb back out without something to stand on or grab hold of. He cursed loudly in the Dwarven tongue and started to turn back the way he had come to explore another tunnel when he heard a faint noise that was instantly familiar.
"Legolas!" the dwarf shouted, then listened anxiously, hands balled in nervous fists. His breathing sounded harsh and loud in the silence. It seemed to stretch on for a painful eternity before it was broken by a soft moan. Not pausing to think, forgetting everything he had ever been taught about safety in caves, he threw himself down the hole.
Every reason why that was a bad idea flashed through Gimli's mind, but they vanished again as soon as his thick boots touched the stone. He shot upright and yelled again, heedless of precarious rocks and potential dangers. "Legolas!" He heard no response, and began searching frantically on his hands and knees, grabbing at cold, empty rock.
Suddenly he felt a thin arm beneath thinner silk and froze. An exclamation vanished almost silently in his beard. He gently probed the still form for injuries and was rewarded with movement and a hiss of pain when he touched the elf's shoulder. Two small shadows of almost-light glowed in the darkness as Legolas opened his eyes.
"Gimli?"
His musical voice trembled so much that tears came to Gimli's eyes. He remembered when Legolas wouldn't have admitted in front of the dwarf that he would be slightly anxious to face Sauron himself. Now his hand was clenched so tightly around Gimli's arm that the dwarf knew it would leave bruises. He made no move to loosen the grip, so glad was he to have found his friend alive. The painful grip was more welcome than the sweetest caress to the distraught dwarf. Blinking back tears, he patted the elf awkwardly on the back. They would be all right now.
They were together again. Everything would be all right.
I hate this new formatting…it is the bane of my existence…that's why the last part didn't show up as soon as I thought it would, I suppose--I swear I submitted it earlier…sigh…I hope that, for once, this chapter works right on the first try. If it doesn't, I apologize and appreciate you slogging through the craziness. Anyway, on to the important stuff…
Reviewer Responses: And we have hit and passed 50 reviews! Thank you all so much! They really help me out, whether it's to write better next time, catch a mistake I missed, or just give me the incentive to continue. Each and every review really makes my day, and to get so many is just really awesome. A very, very heartfelt hannon le to you all!
Deana – soon enough? lol
Alma – he'd have to be lucky, to survive a childhood with his parents' friends… I'm so glad you like their reactions! And I'll try not to kill anyone. I can't speak for the cave, or what they'll do to themselves, but I, at least, will raise a hand against none of them… And you're quite welcome; now pay me back by giving me an update! lol
Katatonia – no, no, back foul bunnies! You and your muse can just go build a bigger rabbit hutch, I don't need any more!
Alatariel – Well, if I could get a kid to sit still for long enough to ask, I'd let you know. And just so that you don't need to think, I went and found the answer for your question—I can't have your head hurting, after all! Hard to type reviews when in pain…heh. Ulterior motive alert…
Gimli's description of lembas: "Why, it is better than the honey-cakes of the Beornings, and that is great praise, for the Beornings are the best bakers that I know of; but they are none to willing to deal out their cakes to travelers in these days. You are kindly hosts!" Also, the elves said that they will "keep sweet for many days, if they are unbroken and left in their leaf-wrappings, as we have brought them."
—Taken from Fellowship of the Ring, chapter 8, "Farewell to Lórien"
BanbieBunny – No! That is so sad! L Have a hankie! Have two! In fact, have a big sandwichy hug from Legolas on one side and Gimli on the other and Eldarion around your shins. They tell me they are very distressed that you are sad, and want to make you feel better. So feel better! Good luck, I hope everything gets fixed soon! Lots of love!
Ash – completely forgiven! And yes, yes, much elf angst indeed…why are we so horrible to the ones we love the most? Oh yeah, we're writers, I forgot…lol By the way, love the sentiments in your profile!
Narwen Almiriel – Yay, I love being evil! The Dark Side is so much more fun…ahem. Thank you very much for the lovely reviews! But I'm afraid I can't pass your message on to Gimli, not yet anyway, because that would spoil things. And I absolutely refuse to make everything better. Contrary to what I wrote in the chapter. Yes, erm, well…moving on… Must I accept the Nuzgûl to get the chocolate? I live off chocolate (and popcorn and pasta and apples), but I really don't know if I have enough room for any more plot bunnies…and Glerfindel is getting kinda fat—but don't tell him I said that! Oh well, I guess it's worth it for chocolate…Thanks again!
Daughter – Thank you, I'm glad to hear it! …oh no, not the crown…moan!
Setrinan – evilness is fuuuun, no? And sounds like a deal to me! Thanks! Smiles to you too!Thanks again everyone! I'll see you soon, hopefully!