I hope you enjoy this. I'm not the best writer, but I do enjoy writing, so yeah. Please r&r! I want 'em so bad! And if I get flames, I'll just use 'em to heat my house 'cuz it gets cold where I live. My room especially. :)
Chapter OneNight fell quickly over the plains between Loríen and Fangorn. A lone figure, armed with only a bow and two long knives, cut through the enveloping darkness headed southeast and riding hard on her faithful steed.
"Come on, Aradae, make yourself useful," she whispered, knowing the dark horse would hear her. In response, all he did was slow down, and then stop to munch on the knee-high grass.
For a moment, the elf just sat on her horse, with a look of irritation playing across her beautiful face. Then, resolve flew into her deep green eyes. She jumped off lightly and faced her stubborn horse.
"Look, I know you want to eat, mellon, but you've been eating and sleeping half the day! We must get to Minas Tirith as fast as possible, and you're the only horse that can do it in two days." She stopped, kneeled in the grass and lifted her horse's head so that she could look into his brown eyes. "Aradae, I need your help. Just because you're mearas doesn't mean you get special treatment. She laughed softly. "It only means you get to choose who rides you." He huffed and lifted his head out of her grasp. She stood up and started walking away. Aradae slowly lifted his head in her direction, but didn't move.
"If you return to Lothloríen without me, you'll receive no food," she called back to him, her voice carrying far over the plains. "If you come with me, I shall guarantee the best oats, carrots and apples to be had." She continued walking, never breaking her stride.
That last part caught Aradae's attention. He absolutely loved apples and he knew that this rider of his was right. Slowly he began to walk towards her, then stopped and pricked his ears.
At the same moment, the girl stopped and sniffed the air. "Orcs," was all she said before two-score of them crested a nearby hill. She crept over to her horse and jumped back on, and this time, he needed no urging to run straight towards them.
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"Legolas, there you are! I was wondering when you'd return."
"Well, Gimli, I had to make sure the firewood was really dead, and not a root. I didn't think you wanted to be chased to Gondor with the whole of Fangorn right behind you!" he laughed and then dropped some more onto their cheery fire before sitting down.
Gimli took a deep draw on his pipe and then spoke again. "You know, my young friend, Fangorn wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." He blew out some smoke in his friend's direction.
"And I must admit the Glittering Caves were beautiful, which was quite a surprise. I think I know now why Dwarves prefer living beneath the earth to above it." There was a sparkle of mischief in his clear blue eyes.
"And why is that, elf?"
"Because it smells just as bad as you!" Legolas started to grin, and then burst into laughter.
Gimli picked up his axe and started towards Legolas. "Why you little..."
Legolas immediately turned serious after he heard a faint noise. "Gimli, help me put out the fire; I hear a faint gallop, and an evil smell."
"Orcs?"
"I think so. Come on."
Quickly they put out the fire and readied their weaponry.
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"Aradae, let's put these miserable creatures into the grave!" Horse and rider swept upon the unsuspecting orcs in a fury unlike no other. They swept between the ranks, making carcasses out of living flesh. The elf jumped off her horse and straight into the fray, her swords a silver lightning flash.
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Legolas and Gimli crept up a nearby hill, to where even Gimli could hear sounds of battle. As they neared the top, they peered over the edge and saw a single elf maiden fighting at least a score of Uruk-hai, with many already dead at her feet. They saw her horse kicking any Uruk that tried to come near.
"We should help her, Gimli."
"With what?"
Legolas just looked at his companion and sighed, then ran to join the mysterious elf. Gimli, in turn, looked after his friend, hefted his axe, and then slowly followed, although once he was engaged, he entered in almost joyously.
Soon, there was nothing left of the orcs but their still carcasses. Not a single one had fled; none had been able to.
The girl looked at the latest arrivals, nodded thanks, and leapt onto her horse. She was about to go when a voice from behind stopped her.
"Who are you?"
She looked down to the ground, and then turned her head to the blond-headed elf behind her. She uttered but a single word, "Eliessa," and again made to leave when a second voice changed her mind.
"Get down from that horse and give us the thanks we deserve."
"Gimli..."
Before Legolas could finish his thought, Eliessa had pulled out her bow and was aiming straight for his short friend. Just as quickly, Legolas drew his and aimed for the girl's heart.
"Drop your weapon, or I will be forced to shoot."
"Should you do so, you will have all the forces of Loríen at your heels."
Gimli's ears pricked at the sound. "You mean the realm of the Lady Galadriel?" he asked with awe. "I didn't realize we were so close."
"You're not, Dwarf, and aye. The Realm of the Golden Wood is the closest thing I have resembling a home." She slowly lowered her bow and put it away, watching warily while Legolas did the same. "Who are you two travelers and what are you doing joining a battle that is already won?"
"My Lady, first answer my question." Legolas waited until the rider nodded her fair head. "Why don't you spend the night at our camp? I'm sure your horse could use a break."
Eliessa sat speechless and dumbfounded. Never before had anyone offered her a place at their camp. And here were an elf and a dwarf offering her one! She shook her head to rid herself of the shock and jumped off her horse for the third time that night. "Where is it?" she simply asked.
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Some time later, all three were sitting around another campfire, just staring into the flames. Eliessa was the first to break the silence. "You never answered my question. Who are you?"
Dwarf and Elf looked at each other, but it was the Elf who spoke first. "I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of the Lord Thranduil of the Forest Realm." He then looked to Gimli, prompting him with a slight nod of his head.
"And I," he began, his voice gruff and harsh, "am Gimli, son of Gloín, of the Lonely Mountain." He took a deep draw from his pipe and then leaned a bit further against his log.
At the mention of the Lonely Mountain, Eliessa's face took on a slight change as a look horror and sadness briefly crossed. She pulled herself together before anyone noticed. "I've heard tell 'tis a beautiful place, full of treasure and wondrous craftsmanship."
Gimli looked at the girl with a face that would've curdled milk and make a babe cry. "So 'tis," was all he said, and went back to smoking his pipe.
"Well then, I'm glad you enjoy your home." She looked to Legolas and stood up. "I really must be going; I have a long ways to go and not much time to do it in."
He looked at Gimli from across the fire. "Should we accompany her, my friend?"
"Um..." A look of disbelief crossed over Gimli's face. "Well, uh... "
"Well, I don't need any guards, if that's what you are asking, Legolas Greenleaf." Eliessa tossed her head back slightly and looked down her nose at the elf sitting before her. "I need no help." She walked over to Aradae and mounted gracefully. "Come on; let's go." Her horse lifted his head, but otherwise did not move. "Come, mellon: apples," she whispered in his ear. All she received in reply was a swish of a tail and a prickling of ears and fits of laughter.
"This is unbelievable! An Elf who can't get her horse to move!" Gimli roared between bursts of laughter.
Eliessa just stared at the Dwarf and then returned her attention to her horse. "Aradae, I need your help." She leaned in a bit further and whispered, "You know where we must go."
All Aradae did was wiggle his ears.
"And why are you so secretive about your journey and who you are?" demanded Gimli. He hadn't heard Eliessa whisper to her horse, but knew he hadn't heard much about her at all.
"Because I am smart enough not to tell the whole world about my past," was the smart reply. Eliessa just stared Gimli down from atop her unmoving horse.
After watching them bicker again, Legolas finally had enough of it. "Stop! Both of you!" He looked between the two like a father would to misbehaving children. "I've had enough of this. Gimli, we must travel south, to Gondor. We can accompany the lady until out paths split."
"Well, my liege, our paths split here," sneered Eliessa. "I've had enough of this Dwarf who thinks of me as a thing and not as a creature of the Valar. He may have changed his ways for you, Legolas Greenleaf, but for no other. He holds me in contempt, and trusts me not. I cannot ride with one who does not trust me. He is a disgrace to the Race of Dwarves."
At this, Gimli rose and brought out his axe, hefting it menacingly. "Why, little lady, I will cut off your head if you say anything else." He practically growled.
"There are others who have said the same thing, Gimli son of Gloín, including your father and Thorin, King Under the Mountain. However, they put aside their prejudices so that we could do business, and even if we weren't the best of friends, they both trusted me, as well as those of Moria."
"Ha! I knew it! The tales of an elf fleeing from the battle of Moria are true. All the more reason for you to die."
"Flee? You dare think that I would flee? Those tales are naught but fiction, myth. I traveled to Moria numerous times before the Balrog of Morgoth came to the mines. I, along with Gandalf, was one of the first to discover that all were dead. But we did not run from battle." She looked at Gimli with such conviction that he almost believed her. But her faced hardened once again. "I am truly sorry, my lord, but I must be leaving. Surely you understand?"
"No, I do not. But I see you stand firm and I cannot change your views, although your mearas must before you go."
"'Tis wise to see that. And I need no instruction on a mearas." She turned and spoke to Aradae, who reluctantly left. They rode south, disappearing in the night.
"Gimli, put out that fire."
"Nay, my lad. I am not following that she-elf," he spat.
"We are not following her, my friend. We go to Gondor to see our friend."
"Too bad we cannot hunt some more orc."
Legolas turned and looked at his short friend. He grinned devilishly. "Who says we can't?"
Gimli roared with laughter. "And I shall beat you again, lad!"
"You never beat me in the first place, Dwarf!"
"An Elf's memory must not be so good to forget Helm's Deep so quickly."
Legolas looked at his friend. "Well, if an Elf's memory is bad, I'm surprised you can even remember your name."
They just looked at each other and then burst out laughing. "Come on; let's go see Aragorn."
"All you want to see is Arwen," muttered Gimli.
Legolas heard the comment, but decided not to reply. It was true he admired Arwen, even liked her, but longed for nothing more than her friendship, which he already had. "Gimli, that fire should've been out long ago."
"It is, Elf."
"Then why is it glowing?"
"Is not."
"Whatever you say, my friend. Whatever you say."
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Did u like it? If so, review! If not, review! I'm like a little kid at Christmas who just wants her presents so baaaaaaaad. Oh, and sorry if there are any mistakes. I don't know elvish, so if anyone can help me with that... And I need a beta. Just someone who's there to help me, correct me, save me from my stupidity... And does anyone know dwarvish that can help me out?