Well, I'm not so sure about "subtle" but I thought, since it seemed to go over well last time (see chapter three and Quiet Infinity's review of it if you're confused) I thought we ought to see some more of how the little people around them actually understand Legolas and Gimli's actions. That, and I wanted to draw the suspense out some more from last chapter. ;) Don't worry, you'll eventually find out what the "stupid, foolhardy, and reckless" plan is. And I'm standing by with a fire extinguisher in case of any accidental spontaneous combusting. Well, that and I'm a sucker…but don't let me keep you here, read on and learn the twisting confusion that is the Elf's idea of a plan! Bwahahahahahahaha…!

Chapter Eighteen: Silent Trust

It took the drowsy Eldarion a few moments to become aware of what was going on. He had closed his eyes again against the torchlight, stingingly bright after so long lying in darkness. His still-sleepy mind had to process things for a little before it struck him as odd that Uncle Legolas and Uncle Gimli were pausing so much in their conversation—a conversation that did not make much sense. Then he realized that they must be, for the most part, talking without words.

Eldarion's eyes flashed open and he stared hard at his uncles. He was determined to learn how to converse without speaking, and he did not want to miss a thing. Grey orbs that showed age far older than his few years fastened tightly on the Elf and Dwarf above him.

Uncle Legolas twitched his eyebrows and blinked twice.

Uncle Gimli drew his bushy brows down firmly in response and twitched his nose.

Uncle Legolas shrugged slightly and tilted his head to one side.

Uncle Gimli pantomimed drawing a bow and frowned heavily.

Uncle Legolas scowled and clenched his hands into fists.

Uncle Gimli nodded and crossed his arms.

Uncle Legolas jerked his chin up and glared down his nose at the Dwarf.

Uncle Gimli firmly shook his head, and emphasized it with a short, warning, "Elf…"

Uncle Legolas sighed and rolled his eyes, then fastened them on Gimli and thinned his lips.

Uncle Gimli put his hands on his hips and shook his head again.

Uncle Legolas spread his palms and then drew his hands in sharply before nodding sideways at the rock.

Uncle Gimli flung his arms up into the air and glared at the Elf.

Uncle Legolas crossed his arms across his chest and glowered at the Dwarf.

Uncle Gimli stamped his foot and growled.

Uncle Legolas's face twitched into a grin of triumph, then his gaze softened. "Do not fear, mellon nin," he spoke quietly. "I think that it is not so foolhardy an idea as you would fain believe."

Eldarion blinked in disappointment. He had watched so carefully, but he still hadn't been able to tell what was being said. He knew that they had been arguing, but beyond that the boy was as in the dark to the nature of their discussion as he had been in the cave only a short time earlier. The young prince sighed dejectedly, wondering if he would ever be able to figure out his uncles' speech-without-words conversations.

He knew that sometimes his ada, and even his nana, could pick up on pieces of the discussions, but as far as the child knew the only people truly fluent in what he termed "silent-talk" were Uncle Gimli and Uncle Legolas. And the worst part was, it seemed so natural to them! When asked about it, they would stare back at the questioner with equal looks of plainly innocent confusion. Eldarion wished that he could speak without words as naturally as his uncles could.

Eldarion sighed dejectedly. "I wish I could do that," he muttered quietly.

"Do what, little one?" Uncle Legolas, whose hearing was even sharper than naneth's, had heard him clearly.

"Talk like you and Uncle Gimli do, without using words!" the child answered dismally.

Legolas and Gimli turned looks of such extreme innocence toward the child that a more jaded observer would have known instantly that it was an act. "What do you mean?" they asked in perfect unison—another sign that the boy missed picking up on.

Eldarion sighed again. He would never be able to learn how to do that, he was sure of it…

………………

Legolas and Gimli exchanged tiny grins that immediately sobered as they faced their next action. Legolas could tell that Gimli was remarkably unhappy, and he had given in only after much effort. Finally, pressed to admit that they had no time to waste as well as to confess that he could think of no better plan, the Dwarf had acquiesced gracelessly.

But that did not stop him from shooting dark glares at the Elf as they prepared. Gimli was adjusting some stones around the base of the boulder as a safety measure. Legolas lit the rest of the torches and, using some rocks that Gimli had discarded to prop them up securely and placed strategically to provide the most light possible in the small space. The arrangements completed, the two friends turned to each other and exchanged grim smiles that attempted to be reassuring but came out apprehensive. Quickly turning away they readied the last stages of the necessary preparation.

Legolas knelt by Eldarion to explained what they were going to do. "You shall soon be out child," the Elf reassured him. "Gimli shall lever the rock so that it is no longer pressing on your limbs, and I shall pull you out from beneath it as quickly as possible. All right?" He caught the boy's eyes with a penetrating Elvish gaze of enough intensity to make even Eldarion—distant child of the Eldar himself, and well used to such glances from his kin and friends—aware of the import of the moment.

Sobered, the child nodded seriously. "Yes, Uncle," he said quietly. "I understand." There was such trust in those wide grey eyes that Legolas was forced to turn away as he was suffused with guilt. How could they have brought such an innocent into such danger? Eldarion trusted them completely, and here they were about to risk his life—yet the child, though full aware of the danger of the task, was not in the least bit worried. He trusts us, Legolas thought sadly, yet this day we have not proved worthy of that trust. Let us pray that we do so now…

Shaking off his thoughts for later, the Elf turned his attention to the task at hand. He crouched next to the boulder and slid his hands in under it as far as they would go on either side of Eldarion's legs. He suppressed the slight tremble of fear he felt at the action. As Gimli had pointed out, Legolas was an archer. His fingers were long and nimble—and now waiting beneath heavy stone that could well fall and crush them to powder with the slightest miscalculation. But for Eldarion, there was no hesitation at any risk. The Dwarf felt the same; he would do anything for the child's sake. He just did not want Legolas to do so as well. The Elf understood; he would have felt the same were it Gimli in his position.

And it was Gimli who stood poised to raise the rock. He trusted his friend completely. The Dwarf might not have full confidence in his abilities, but Legolas did—although, of course, he would never do Gimli the disservice of admitting it for that would break their silent pact of feigned-antagonism.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself as much as his cave- and darkness-frayed nerves would allow, the Elf looked up and met Gimli's eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, speaking without words, then Legolas nodded firmly.

Gimli pressed his weight upon the flat of his axe's wide blade and the rock began to rise…

Reviewer Responses: I love you guys. I really, really do and I just had to tell you all that. You make life worth living…or at least updating! Rhys blows a kiss to all her wonderful reviewers. Thank you!

Deana – ask, and I shall answer…yes! Great jig, by the way! Such grace, such style, such—whoops!

soso – yes and yes; I'm happy you're happy! :)

Spencer Brown – Bwahahahahahahahaha! Oooh, spontaneous combustion…fire prettyyyyyyyy… Rhys tears herself away from the pretty flames. Sorry about that…okay, I'll do my best!

Avalon – Rhys stares and blinks a few times. Ba…na…na? What banana? Um…Avie, hon, maybe you should see someone…you're hallucinating random bananas, and they appear to be carniverous…
Noooo don't leave me! pout. Fine, well have fun at least. It will give Glerfindle time to escap…I mean, time to adjust to confinement. Yeah. cough! I'm glad I left you off in a happy—if cliffie—place. See, Spencer? Some people like cliffhangers…demented maniacs like Avie and me…but still… Have a good trip!! We'll miss you! And...er...your banana...

Aranna – Hee hee! That should be the slogan of all angst-writers everywhere! I'm posting it… Legolas, do something stupid? Noooo! Not our Elf! Hmm—warm you were, but not quite on fire. That's Spencer's job. Oh, and Legolas begs you to please never call him that again in Gimli's hearing. Something about "never hearing the end of it" or some such nonsense…I think he liked it—ouch! Bad Elf! No shooting! Ouch! Give me that quiver! Augh, Avie, you locked up Glerfindle, now I have no protection from irate Elf archers! Ouch! Bugger it all…! Legolas, stop or I swear I'll…I'll…I'll lock your father and Gimli in a room alone with weapons! Ha, I win…

Jebb – Bwahahahaha, again! Boom indeed…and I'm sure we'll have Thranduil vs. Gimli in future stories, don't worry! (I know better than to drop references like certain crowns and not be prepared to back them up with stories now…) A Plot Nunny: a Nuzgûl that has found religion Okay, Webster I am not, but it was still a great typo… Oh, and Legolas (now that he's done using me for target practice!) would like to state that no one was more relieved to see Gimli than he was. Not that he was worried. snort. Huh? No, Legolas, I believe you, of course I do…don't shoot, don't shoot!

Alma – Bwahahahahaha some more! ;) Well, little Eldarion isn't out yet but we're getting there, we're getting there… Would you like a torch too, until we finally see daylight again? Here you go. "Better" however is a very subjective term…

Banbie – wow. I'm so glad you were amused…and gladder that you shared it. ;) And don't worry, I'm off to see Galadriel to get scanned for an alien presence right now…

hidden-maia – I'm so glad you came and enjoyed! And that you like my Elf and Dwarf. As for Legolas—well, when you hang around with a Dwarf long enough, you're bound to pick some things up. Like how to be stupid, foolhardy, and reckless. ;) Please don't die! Thank you. And don't worry, I'm going to Galadriel to get scanned for alien influences right now…

Arithon – thank you and thank you and I will! And I'm so glad that you commented, you make me all warm and fuzzy inside. And inspired to make more angst. I know, I know, it makes no sense…but that's what I love about being a torturer!

I love you guys. You make my days so wonderful when I come and see all those lovely reviews. I'm so very glad that you're enjoying the story, and thank you so much for taking the time to tell me. It really helps. Like I'm tempted to update now because of it. Oh, bugger, what the heck I will…update it is!

Unfortunately, I've run into a bit of writer's block about halfway through the next chapter. (Either that, or the alien gave me my body back, I'm not sure which…) I'm pounding away at it with this huge hammer-thing, "Grond" or something like that, but so far all I've done is prove that my aim with a hammer is even worse than my aim is in archery. And since my major accomplishment at the Ren Faire this summer was managing to actually get the arrow to fly far enough to hit the wall where the targets are and mostly stick there, that should tell you something. Shadows Creeping is still going along, although a bit too slowly for my happiness, but I'm at a dead end right now, so I'll just apologize right now. I had intended to hold off on posting this chapter for a little longer so that the gap would be spread out into two spots but you guys convinced me (I'm a sucker, I really am!) to put it up now. So you have no one to blame but yourselves!…and me, I guess. Bugger.

Who knows, I could always be struck with a flash of inspiration (or a blunt, heavy object) and fly through the next bit! We must have elessar, mellyn nin! ;)