Disclaimer: I own nothing as usual, I don't even have my ugly critter in this chapter, so I really have nothing, I'm definitely not worth suing in case anyone's sharpening the legal knives…

Author's Note:

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Just a little reminder, there will be no slash in this fic or in any way insinuated in it, in case anyone forgot.  I think that's an important point to remember.  If you like it fine, but it's really not my style.  And now on with the chapter.   

In all his years Nat Jacobs had never seen such a party as this.  For that matter he didn't think he had ever seen an elf before, much less an unconscious one.  He was for a moment unable to look away from its unconscious form, at which point the rough voice of the dwarf brought him back to the small village in which he had been born and raised. 

            In comparison the rest of the party wasn't much to look at.  There was of course the dwarf, ax in hand.  Nat for a moment considered demanding the party's weapons as was customary, yet one look at the dwarf he reconsidered.  This one seemed to have no qualms about perhaps ridding an interfering villager of a few excess limbs.  It recalled to him the stories his older sister had told him about elves and dwarves, he hadn't thought of those in years… 

            "Does…does it-" he cut himself off as he the dwarf turned towards him again, "Ehem, he need a healer?"  Nat swallowed hard; did dwarves really eat dragon meat?  This one certainly looked as if he might.  And why was he helping an elf?  Nat seemed to remember a story about the enmity between the two races. 

            "We're not a traveling show."  The dwarf hefted his ax as if to emphasize this, and despite the child he was carrying managed to look like something out of Nat's worse childhood nightmares.  The dwarf glanced at the woman on the horse before answering Nat.  The look was lost on Nat, but then many things tended to be lost on Nat, or at least that's what his sister was always telling him. 

            "We'll need supplies.  Where's the inn?"  The dwarf's gruff tone softened slightly, as he shifted the child betraying his weariness.  For a moment Nat saw something almost human about him, well not human, but all the same… 

            "I'll show you the way."  Nat started hobbling off in the direction of the inn.  Pulling his somewhat ragged cloak about him proudly.  This would be something to tell Ernie in the tavern, if of course Ernie believed a word of it he reflected. 

            Gimli slipped his ax back onto his back, rubbing his face wearily; each step seemed to be a separate effort in itself.  They had no idea where they were going, or why for that matter.  The dwarf felt lost, not a common feeling for him.  And as the leader apparent it appeared that it would be his responsibility to find the answers to the myriad of questions that surrounded the series of misadventures surrounding the four travelers. 

            The dwarf couldn't help but wish that the elf's relatives could see them in their current situation.  The memories of their horror at Legolas' choice of companionship were still sharp in his mind.  The single visit they had made to Mirkwood had been more than enough for Gimli.  If it wasn't the trees it was the elves in them…  The forest didn't seem very taken with him anymore than its occupants were.  Though now, the Prince of Mirkwood on a horse with a human being led by the dread dwarven friend, Gimli grinned, imagining the horror stricken reactions of Legolas' more conservative relatives. 

            Unlikely as that wonderful event was at least he could look forward to meeting his kin; he doubted that would be an experience quickly forgotten; as long as his friend pulled through this.  Irritating as he was, Gimli would have preferred one of his friend's comments about Gimli's ridding ability to the pained look that didn't leave his friends face even as he wandered in elven dreams. 

            The gatekeeper interrupted further thoughts on Gimli's part with their arrival at the inn.  Gimli raised his eyebrows at the structure, he wasn't sure if it was even safe to enter the inn, much less spend the night there.  For all it's bright blue trim and cheerfully painted sign it appeared that the building more than felt it's immense age.  The dwarf had no desire to be inside it when it finally gave up its struggle with the winds and collapsed. 

            The gatekeeper however had no such qualms.  He clambered up the rickety stairs, and banged on the door. 

            "'Eh!   Jhan!  Get out here!"  He called through the door.  As the door swung open Gimli could hear the rancorous noise coming from inside the in.  Apparently it was the real village center.  

            Gimli's eyes made their way up the giant who appeared from the inn.  Jhan folded his arms and looked down at the dwarf. 

            "And what 'ave ya got 'ere Nat?"  

            "Travelers!  They've got an elf, Jhan!"  Nat's eyes shown in wonder as he stared at Legolas.  Gimli winced, imagining what the elf's reaction would have been had he been aware of the attention he was receiving.  Jhan studied the travelers more objectively than had Nat the gatekeeper. 

            The three looked more than a little worse for the wear, especially the elf.  The woman tightened her grip on the elf's shoulder as if she could feel his eyes tracing her face.  Her eyes however remained staring straight ahead, unfocused.  In a moment Jhan realized she was blind.  This was quite the little party. 

            "Can ya pay for your lodging?"  His voice was gruff, the dwarf's hands twitched as if he wished to reach for the ax that was strapped to his back, but he kept them still.

            "Aye, we can pay for them."  The dwarf drew himself up to his full height, barely over Jhan's belt buckle and stared straight into the enormous innkeeper's eyes.  The dwarf reached inside his jerkin, pulling out a cloth bag.  He tossed Jhan a coin from within it. 

            Jhan took it, holding it up to the light streaming forth from the inn doorway and then testing it between his teeth.   From the corner of his eye he could see the dwarf growing even angrier.  For a moment he was surprised, he would never have guessed dwarves could turn that shade of red… 

            Finally the woman put her hand on the dwarf's shoulder and all the tension drained out of him.  He touched her gently to reassure her.  Jhan's eyes sharpened at that touch.  He had made his living more on his information gathering abilities rather than his inn for years and he recognized such a gesture, even if those involved did not. 

            "You're money's good.  Come on in.  I've got some rooms on the ground floor.   You won't be wanting to take him upstairs."  He nodded at the elf and turned, reentering his establishment. 

            Gimli helped Inara down and handed her Nodin who blinked sleepily before reaching up and lifting Legolas down from the horse.  He was pleased with how carefully he managed to do it, dwarves were small, but not weak, he said in his mind, proudly.  Even with his care however the movement hurt the elf. 

            Legolas cried out, putting his hand to his side as his knees collapsed under him.  Gimli pulled the elf's other arm over his shoulder quickly before he could deposit himself in another pile of snow, this particular one containing things of questionable colors which certainly weren't snow and which Gimli had no desire to investigate further. 

            Inara's hand sought his shoulder, and gripped it tightly as they approached the inn.  The horse appeared to be investigating Nat who seemed as equally interested in it.  After all, this horse had arrived with both a dwarf and an elf, who knew what secrets it might hold? 

            "I'll take your horse to the stable; you folks have your hands full.  I'll get those supplies while I'm at it."  Nat offered, waiting for the dwarf to nod in acceptance before leading his new friend away to comfortable lodgings of his own. 

            "Stairs."  Gimli warned Inara.  She moved her foot carefully, finding them, followed him up.  Getting Legolas up them was a painful and slow process as the elf was too weak to be of much assistance.  By the time they made it through the entrance, Jhan was already established behind the bar again and raised an eyebrow at them.  Gimli however was too exhausted to make an issue of it.  He would take it up with the innkeeper tomorrow. 

            The few drunkards still in the common room were singing along with a traveling musician, almost as drunk as they were in the corner.  Inara blushed as she heard the words to the bawdy song they were enjoying.  Gimli smiled at it, he could only imagine her reaction to dwarven songs of that nature!  For all their beautiful singing voices, Gimli had yet to hear a single elven song that provided this sort of entertainment.  He would remember to introduce songs such as these to Legolas; the elf really shouldn't miss out on such an opportunity as this, if only the participants were all singing in the same key…

            Jhan came out from behind the bar and led them down a dimly lit hall.  Gimli squinted in the smoke from the guttering candles.  The interior of the inn was not what could be called clean unless one was extraordinarily drunk or very optimistic.  Gimli however had slept in worse places than this and at least it appeared sturdier from the interior. 

            In the first room Gimli lowered Legolas to the bed.  The bed appeared to have a few residents of the insect race, but it appeared to have been recently cleaned at least. 

            "I do not believe you would approve of the surroundings my friend," he told the elf, "But our Uruk-hai pursuers leave us few choices." 

            Legolas' eyes focused on Gimli, but the dwarf could tell his friend wasn't entirely in touch with what was occurring around him. 

            "We… made it?"  the elf's voice faltered slightly. 

            "We did.  Not even Uruk-hai such as pursued us can get breach the walls." 

            Legolas nodded, his eyes shifting to study the surroundings he found himself in.  Gimli wasn't surprised when he grimaced. 

            "Only a dwarf… would have picked… this inn."

            Gimli laughed, "Since it's the only choice we have I didn't think you would be too displeased.  And there are some singers here whose songs you ought to hear."

            Legolas looked at him questioningly, causing Gimli to laugh still more.  The dwarf was relieved his friend still remained with him.  More than once on the journey he had been sure the elf would not survive. 

            The latch on the door opened and for a moment Gimli tensed, reaching for his ax, even Legolas reached for the knife, still in his belt, but the door only revealed Inara.  Her hands traced the wall until she came to Gimli.  She had a cloth bag over one arm as well as a basket.  Gimli took them from her and set them on the bed. 

            "Nodin is asleep, and the gatekeeper was as good as his word.  All the healer's supplies we need are there.  How are you Legolas?" 

            "Well enough."  Though he was unusually pale, now that they were no longer riding, Legolas appeared to have regained a small portion of his strength. 

            Inara's hands sought the elf's face, "I don't think I agree master elf."  She told him, borrowing one of Gimli's favorite names for the elf. 

            Inara proceeded to redress his wound with Gimli's help.  Her sense of touch though far superior to the dwarf's enabled her to handle almost anything.  Legolas bore it silently, despite the fact it caused him great pain.  Gimli could see his friend's suffering from the way the elf's hands tightened on the edge of the bed. 

            By the time Inara was finished all involved were exhausted, Legolas fell asleep almost immediately after drinking the herbs Inara prepared with Gimli's assistance, leaving the other two alone for all intents and purposes. 

            Inara traced the dwarf's face with her hand, letting it come to rest on his shoulder, "Goodnight, Gimli." 

            "Goodnight," Gimli paused as if to add something, but continued, "I will watch him tonight.  You need to rest." 

            Inara smiled, "He will be fine.  You should sleep.  Only one of us rode the horse today."         

            "I don't need any reminding of that."  He interrupted. 

            "I imagine not, rest Gimli.  It will be fine."  Her hand touched his face again, before she turned towards the door.  Gimli stepped forward to help her, but she quickly made her way to the door and left.  He shook his head; Inara never accepted help unless it was necessary. 

            Gimli slumped down in the small chair in the corner of the room, stifling a yawn.  He wrapped one of the blankets around himself, determined to keep watch, but soon the journey, the fear, and the weight of responsibility pulled him into sleep and his head fell forward, for once oblivious to all around him. 

Author's Note:

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Alexia S. Luclwit:  Thank you!  Thank you!  Especially for making me a favorite.  It really means a lot to me.  I'm really glad you liked it.  Good luck in the Holmes contest!

Kit Kat 17:  I agree about Gimli.  He rocks and is way underappreciated.  I will do my absolute best to meet your request.  That sort of thing is wonderful in fics, but not easy!  I'll get it in there though!  Let me know how I'm doing.  I really, really appreciated what you said, thank you. 

White Wolf1:  I'm glad you liked the idea.  And yes, of course there will be elf angst, it's just fun.  Gimli may be my favorite, but there's no reason not to have fun with our poor elven friend!

Roseblade22:  I'll be sure to tell Poshnak you're feelings about the whole eating Legolas thing.  No more threats on Legolas for now.  I need to be nice to him for awhile.  I'll give you a little warning though, in a couple chapters you aren't going to like something.  (don't worry, the elf is safe!)  Only seven more days until school!  What a horrible thought!  Then I'll really have to work to write, but hey this is getting fun now.  Oh yeah, and update your fic soon!

Alina11:  Don't worry, it's coming, just have to leave you guys in suspense about Inara a little longer. 

Coolio02:  I can see you raising your hands from here.  I'm glad you liked it.  I hope you liked the Legolas parts in this one, Inara got to have all the fun again with a shirtless Legolas, no fair, huh?

EnglishMystic:   If only we all lived in middle earth where we had our chance.  That should be the next genetic engineering experiment, elves.  Or Legolas clones for everyone who's interested…

Star-Stallion:  Well, a bit more Gimli in this one, but hey, Legolas needs a break, we want him back in one piece after all, more to go around that way. 

Legilmalith:  Hey, I know you're nice!  Your review was great. It's others who have issues.  I'm a sci-fi girl, it makes fantasy a bit rough, I appreciate the comments though, you made me feel better about the whole updating thing.  Thank you!