Cale au Aratar 4
In silence Elrohir and Gimli made their way to the room Legolas stayed in, Elrohir having no desire to speak to the dwarf of things that would undoubtedly be repeated later on when they were joined by his brother and Gimli being intimidated by the tall silent warrior – though he would die before admitting it.
Gimli was reaching for the handle of the door, as he felt a slender hand on his left shoulder, his first instinct was to shrug it of but then he remembered, that this elf was a friend of Legolas and that he therefor should at least attempt to be polite. So instead of being offended he looked calmly up to the elf, registering for the first time how much like Lord Elrond he looked – they must be his sons he realised. With this realisation his feelings to the elf next to him softened considerately: wasn't Lord Elrond married to one of Lady Galadriels daughters?
"Master dwarf, I must warn you before we enter...we do not know if the Prince will survive, but we will do everything to save his body and his spirit. What we will tell you today, what I will tell you now, can never be retold, not to Estel – Aragorn – or anyone else!"
Seeing Gimli nod in agreement he continued in a softer tone:
"All of us who have come today have sworn their life to Legolas, our prince. We will do everything for him, even if it would mean to kill ourselves or our kin. He is our prince, our king!"
At this words Gimlis eyes widened #he is our prince, our king # could this elf mean, that Legolas was the Elven prince they had talked about.
Ignoring Gimlis inquisitive stare Elrohir continued
„Years ago, when he was still a child, even in the reckoning of men, Legolas gave Aule an oath, only he knows what exactly it contains, but from that time on he became interested in the matters of your people. Even though his father tried to discourage him many times he stood up for them.
A rumour said, that Aule taught him your tongue – today that rumour was proved fact. Whatever you do in there do not upset him! The potion my brother gave Legolas is not able to neutralise the poison in his body – only drive it away. He will be in even more pain than he was before but it is his only chance to survive.
We decided to bring you to him because he called out in Kuzdul – be there for him but remember that at the moment everything is able to kill him – and with him the whole race of the firstborn would fade."
Grey eyes never left Gimlis face as Elrohir spoke to him. Any other time Gimli would have been unnerved by these eyes but at the moment he couldn't care less.
"I would do NOTHING to harm the lad in any way, master elf! Now let me to him so that we can insure that he will get up in the near future!"
Amusement and relief flickered over the elves features at the dwarfs gruff words; taking his hand from his shoulder he opened the door indicating the dwarf to enter.
He had purposely held their conversation in front of the door, insuring that everyone inside would be able to hear him, half hoping half fearing, that Legolas was still well enough to be capable of Elven hearing. Though one look inside told him, that Legolas had not been able to hear them, confirming Elladans suspicions that Legolas was not only suffering from the poison.
Legolas lay stretched out on the bed, only the slight rising and falling of his chest indicating that he had not yet faded. At his side sat the Lady – Althilwen – Gimli reminded himself, who had cast her cloak aside and was now only dressed in a simple yet elegant pale blue dress, her hands holding one of Legolas.
The silver guard had positioned themselves along the walls, only one of them was at the side of the dying – no, not dying, just sick – elf. As soon as Gimli had fully entered the room the elf stood up gesturing to him to take his place.
All of the sudden Legolas began to talk and it took Gimli a moment to realise, that Legolas was speaking in Kuzdul, so unused was he to hear his hard tongue spoken with the soft voice of an elf.
#Whatever happens, Gimli, promise you me you will keep Althilwen alive! She shall not have to suffer because of me.#
With his last words Legolas had opened his eyes and turned his head to Gimli. It was the first time, that Legolas had directed his gaze completely at the dwarf thus startling him with the intensity of his gaze. Had he thought the other elves grey eyes unnerving he would have recoiled from Legolas glance had he not considered the elf as his friend.
Meeting the elves eyes he answered without hesitation
#I will promise you that I will keep her safe – even though you will be there to ensure it yourself!
Now why in Aules name can you speak Kuzdul? I have never heard of a pointy eared who was able to speak the language of the dwarfs!#
Legolas laughed at the indignant tone the dwarf used, easing some of the tension the other occupants of the room felt. Softly squeezing the hand of his beloved his eyes never left Gimlis.
#Oh, that would be because I'm the only elf cursed with the torture of being able to understand dwarfs – and even speak in their tongue!#
He mocked his friend, his eyes showing besides the well concealed pain amusement.
#Don't dare to insult the mighty tongue of the dwarfs, elf!#
Gimli snapped good naturedly at his friend, noticing only after he had spoken, that at his tone the guards in the room had visibly tensed. Legolas too had noticed this and calmed them, switching to common as he informed them with a wink at Gimli, that the dwarf had demanded to be taught the language of the elves now that an elf was able to speak the language of the dwarfs.
"I did no such thing you flighty elf!"
Gimli huffed not really offended by Legolas "translation", but regretted the words almost as soon as they had left his mouth. He had just insulted THE Elven prince in the presence of his guard and while he knew that Legolas enjoyed their banter as much as he did, he could not be sure that counted also for the other elves.
But before any of them could react to the direct insult Legolas laughter stopped any act of revenge on the dwarf.
"You did not?" he managed to say through it, trying futively to hide his coughing as he laughed, "So you wish not for us to be even? – or do you think yourself unable to learn our language?"
The guard stared in amazement at their friend and prince: while they knew of his playful side of his delight in teasing others they had not expected him to act this way towards a dwarf. Sure, he had always been friendly to Aules children, but this was a side of him that he only showed his family and his closest friends. To strangers he had always been polite and aloof.
The sun was already setting as Gimli finally left the rooms of Legolas, only realising as the door had already closed behind him, that he still did not know what oath his friend had given the Valar.
In silence Elrohir and Gimli made their way to the room Legolas stayed in, Elrohir having no desire to speak to the dwarf of things that would undoubtedly be repeated later on when they were joined by his brother and Gimli being intimidated by the tall silent warrior – though he would die before admitting it.
Gimli was reaching for the handle of the door, as he felt a slender hand on his left shoulder, his first instinct was to shrug it of but then he remembered, that this elf was a friend of Legolas and that he therefor should at least attempt to be polite. So instead of being offended he looked calmly up to the elf, registering for the first time how much like Lord Elrond he looked – they must be his sons he realised. With this realisation his feelings to the elf next to him softened considerately: wasn't Lord Elrond married to one of Lady Galadriels daughters?
"Master dwarf, I must warn you before we enter...we do not know if the Prince will survive, but we will do everything to save his body and his spirit. What we will tell you today, what I will tell you now, can never be retold, not to Estel – Aragorn – or anyone else!"
Seeing Gimli nod in agreement he continued in a softer tone:
"All of us who have come today have sworn their life to Legolas, our prince. We will do everything for him, even if it would mean to kill ourselves or our kin. He is our prince, our king!"
At this words Gimlis eyes widened #he is our prince, our king # could this elf mean, that Legolas was the Elven prince they had talked about.
Ignoring Gimlis inquisitive stare Elrohir continued
„Years ago, when he was still a child, even in the reckoning of men, Legolas gave Aule an oath, only he knows what exactly it contains, but from that time on he became interested in the matters of your people. Even though his father tried to discourage him many times he stood up for them.
A rumour said, that Aule taught him your tongue – today that rumour was proved fact. Whatever you do in there do not upset him! The potion my brother gave Legolas is not able to neutralise the poison in his body – only drive it away. He will be in even more pain than he was before but it is his only chance to survive.
We decided to bring you to him because he called out in Kuzdul – be there for him but remember that at the moment everything is able to kill him – and with him the whole race of the firstborn would fade."
Grey eyes never left Gimlis face as Elrohir spoke to him. Any other time Gimli would have been unnerved by these eyes but at the moment he couldn't care less.
"I would do NOTHING to harm the lad in any way, master elf! Now let me to him so that we can insure that he will get up in the near future!"
Amusement and relief flickered over the elves features at the dwarfs gruff words; taking his hand from his shoulder he opened the door indicating the dwarf to enter.
He had purposely held their conversation in front of the door, insuring that everyone inside would be able to hear him, half hoping half fearing, that Legolas was still well enough to be capable of Elven hearing. Though one look inside told him, that Legolas had not been able to hear them, confirming Elladans suspicions that Legolas was not only suffering from the poison.
Legolas lay stretched out on the bed, only the slight rising and falling of his chest indicating that he had not yet faded. At his side sat the Lady – Althilwen – Gimli reminded himself, who had cast her cloak aside and was now only dressed in a simple yet elegant pale blue dress, her hands holding one of Legolas.
The silver guard had positioned themselves along the walls, only one of them was at the side of the dying – no, not dying, just sick – elf. As soon as Gimli had fully entered the room the elf stood up gesturing to him to take his place.
All of the sudden Legolas began to talk and it took Gimli a moment to realise, that Legolas was speaking in Kuzdul, so unused was he to hear his hard tongue spoken with the soft voice of an elf.
#Whatever happens, Gimli, promise you me you will keep Althilwen alive! She shall not have to suffer because of me.#
With his last words Legolas had opened his eyes and turned his head to Gimli. It was the first time, that Legolas had directed his gaze completely at the dwarf thus startling him with the intensity of his gaze. Had he thought the other elves grey eyes unnerving he would have recoiled from Legolas glance had he not considered the elf as his friend.
Meeting the elves eyes he answered without hesitation
#I will promise you that I will keep her safe – even though you will be there to ensure it yourself!
Now why in Aules name can you speak Kuzdul? I have never heard of a pointy eared who was able to speak the language of the dwarfs!#
Legolas laughed at the indignant tone the dwarf used, easing some of the tension the other occupants of the room felt. Softly squeezing the hand of his beloved his eyes never left Gimlis.
#Oh, that would be because I'm the only elf cursed with the torture of being able to understand dwarfs – and even speak in their tongue!#
He mocked his friend, his eyes showing besides the well concealed pain amusement.
#Don't dare to insult the mighty tongue of the dwarfs, elf!#
Gimli snapped good naturedly at his friend, noticing only after he had spoken, that at his tone the guards in the room had visibly tensed. Legolas too had noticed this and calmed them, switching to common as he informed them with a wink at Gimli, that the dwarf had demanded to be taught the language of the elves now that an elf was able to speak the language of the dwarfs.
"I did no such thing you flighty elf!"
Gimli huffed not really offended by Legolas "translation", but regretted the words almost as soon as they had left his mouth. He had just insulted THE Elven prince in the presence of his guard and while he knew that Legolas enjoyed their banter as much as he did, he could not be sure that counted also for the other elves.
But before any of them could react to the direct insult Legolas laughter stopped any act of revenge on the dwarf.
"You did not?" he managed to say through it, trying futively to hide his coughing as he laughed, "So you wish not for us to be even? – or do you think yourself unable to learn our language?"
The guard stared in amazement at their friend and prince: while they knew of his playful side of his delight in teasing others they had not expected him to act this way towards a dwarf. Sure, he had always been friendly to Aules children, but this was a side of him that he only showed his family and his closest friends. To strangers he had always been polite and aloof.
The sun was already setting as Gimli finally left the rooms of Legolas, only realising as the door had already closed behind him, that he still did not know what oath his friend had given the Valar.