Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of the Lord of the Rings characters, nor do I want such a responsibility, so I do not claim them, I just write my own made up stories using them.

The sun slowly faded behind the hills causing a splash of brilliant red, orange and some blue to spread across the sky. Wisps of white clouds were dotted throughout as Gimili ran up the hill, green rolling hills as far as the eye could see. Gimili ran to the top and took in a breath of the fresh air. With the heavy burden of the final battle off of his mind, he felt like he could finally breathe. Legolas ran up the hill next to him, a bright smile on his pale, Elvin face. He was relaxed as well now that the world was once again at peace.

"Well friend Gimili, what say you?" Legolas asked, sitting down on the plush grass and watching the sun fade.

"I say home is close at hand." he laughed, sitting next to him. "How great the return journey has been."

"And how great the welcome home will be." Legolas smiled, removing his quiver from his back and lying back on the fresh grass. Spring had reached the world of Middle Earth with a sudden grace. Trees became as emeralds against a sapphire blue sky. Flowers bloomed and flourished and the days seemed to become warmer and longer. Middle Earth these days felt bright and sunny, no longer were the days dark and the land over run with Orc.

"We shall feast in honor of our friendship and we shall tell the story of our journey. Legolas we shall be remembered." Gimili growled a smile on his face. His cheeks were rosy from the brisk run, the excitement of home quick on his trail. Legolas reached into one of his pouches and pulled out some lembus bread from a pouch at his side and handed Gimili a piece. Stubby little fingers quickly stuffed it into his mouth.

"We shall remember Frodo, and Aragorn and their greatness Gimili. We were but small players in a grand production. But yes, we will tell our story." he sat back up and scanned the hills with his bright, ice blue Elvin eyes. At the foot of the hill was a small grove of pine trees. "Gimili you act as if you haven't had food for weeks. Soon we shall be home, and you shan't hunger." Legolas laughed. Gimili looked a little hurt by the comment, but continued to eat.

"Well I shall remember our hard times, and our grown friendship, Master elf all the same, if that be fine with you." Gimili took the canteen that Legolas handed him and gave it a long swig.

"You remember what you want, Master dwarf. Middle Earth should value this age that we are now in. They should value the hobbit." Legolas smiled at his friend, but then his stunning Elvin eyes caught something. Gimili brushed the crumbs out of his fiery red beard and then looked at Legolas.

"Do you think that Frodo will be safe in the Grey Haven?" Gimili asked looking at the ground. He tried his best to be a tough, stout hearted dwarf, and through the whole journey, was reluctant to let the elf know that he felt any sorrow about their parting with the hobbits, but he felt the need to let it out now.

"Hmm, that is tough, but he is there with Bilbo and Gandalf, and the world is at peace. I believe that he will be happy." Legolas whispered the loss of his friends just as great.

"What do you see?" Gimili questioned noticing the worry in his voice. He followed Legolas' gaze into the tress and squinted hard. "Oh to have the eyes of the elf!" he commented a little frustrated.

"To have the heart of a dwarf!" Legolas answered. "I see shadows in the trees, but am not sure what causes them. It has been long since shadows dared cross this land." And that was true. Two years he and Gimili had spent crossings roads and paths, memories of their journey, and their fellowship. They had desired to return to most places they had visited during the journey. They followed old trails to the land of Lothlorien, Rivendale, and they lingered some in the White city of Gondor, helping Aragorn to rebuild that which was broken. They stayed for the blessed wedding of Arwen and Aragorn, and the engagement of Eowyn to Faramir. Now, their journey returned them to a road where they must part, or journey to each others lands. Neither one had decided yet, and neither one had questioned it, so both left the problem alone. "Good byes were meant for the sad, the ones that you never mean to see again. We are neither sad nor have any intention of the latter, so good bye will never be in order." Gimili told Legolas, in hopes of avoiding his own sadness and having to say good bye to a friend and a fine archer.

"Shadows? Are they Orc? I thought what was left of the Orc went into hiding in the underground hollows of the earth. Word has been that the Orc took to tunnels that they dug from Mordor, and Isengard and are now living underground. It is said the all of the Uruk-hai were destroyed in the final battle. How could they be roaming the land?" Gimili stood up, his hand to his brow. He squinted even more, trying desperately to get a better look at the shadows below.

"My eyes cannot take me that far, therefore I am unsure. Part of me dares not to venture there though, for fear that we might find what we suspect." Legolas stood up also, and replaced his quiver. He drew one of the long slender arrows from it and drew it back.

"Let us go in and fight them!" Gimili growled taking up his axe. He slowly began to trudge down the hill. Looking back, he saw that Legolas wasn't following. "Come! This battle I shall win."

"No friend Gimili. We are too few. Their numbers are large, and we aren't sure what they are. No, we shall return to Aragorn." Legolas smiled at his friend. "I'm sure that it is nothing." But the look on his face said more. There was worry in his eyes, and fear in his smile. Gimili picked up a stone and chucked in into the trees. A cry emerged from behind the wall of pines. It was a loud shriek, full of rage and anger. Shadows began to make their way to the edge of the forest looking about for someone. "I smell dwarf!" they yelled from the shadows, their voices harsh.

"Well, I think that it is safe to assume that they are Orc." Gimili yelled above the ruckus below. He and Legolas began to start down the path that they had come.

"Not just Orc, but Uruk-hai. They were all thought to be dead, and yet some remain. Come we must make haste to Minas Tirith." Legolas smiled taking long strides down the lonely, and well trodden road.

"Off on another journey. I grow tired of these cross country tracking!" Gimili laughed starting off after the elf down the path.