Disclaimer:  I own nothing though I wish I owned Gimli, perhaps I will receive a extra special Christmas gift!

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Virag fingered the scrap of cloth that had torn from the man's expensive robes. He found it curious that one of the race of men would despise them as much as the Uruk leader. This one would have to be watched closely.

His attacks had failed to bring him the child. Perhaps a more subtle method would succeed where the others had failed. If he trusted to luck it was possible it would even overcome the damage done by his former second in command.

At first he had outraged that a man would dare come alone to his caves. How the man had even found them was lost to the Uruk chieftain.

It had only been the man's stumbling greeting in the black tongue that had stayed his hand as he had prepared to kill the man.  It appeared that instead of slaying some foolish adventurer Virag would instead gain a valuable if disposable alley in the world of men. 

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Gimli kept his grip on Inara's hand as they reached their rooms. Legolas opened the door to their room, but the dwarf waved him away.

"I will see that Inara and the babe are safe. Give me a moment." The elf just nodded, slipping into the room and closing the door behind them.

Inara opened her mouth to protest; she could after all care for herself as she had done for many years. Gimli though held up his hand, gesturing to the shadow cloaked halls. Any could wait and listen in the darkness of this place. None were safe in this house of the past.

Inara sighed reaching out until she felt the thick oaken door and shoved it open, nearly stumbling as it came free. Gimli caught her elbow, not an easy thing to do for one of his size. Luckily Inara was not as tall as most of her race.

The bland faced servant woman stood, bowing to them before gliding from the room, her somber skirts making little sound as she disappeared into the night.

"Humph, you would think this place was the home of ghosts the way these people sneak about!" Gimli's gruff voice dispelled some of the dark chill from their surroundings.

Nodin giggled, reaching up for his mother from the small basket in which he lay beside the hearth. Apparently the Lord and his Lady were ill prepared for guests of his age. Inara reached out, feeling her way along the bench until she reached his small form.

She lifted him up, resting him against her shoulder and rocking him softly. Nodin's small dark head seemed almost peaceful resting there; a strange state for one as busy as him. Gimli noticed the over bright sheen in Inara's eyes as her gaze remained locked before her, seeing nothing.

He could feel her sorrow though he could not understand it. He knew nothing of her people. He did not even understand his own intentions towards her, he wondered if she had any thought to how this could be done. Or even whether it should, he was not so ignorant as many might believe; he had seen the unspoken warning in Legolas' eyes. But for some reason there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Inara, what the Lady said." he began, staring down at his hands.

Inara shifted Nodin, her hand stroking his head as if to calm him though the babe was in a deep sleep. The light from the fire flickered over their faces giving them a warm cast, it being the only light in the room. Gimli had not bothered to light candles and Inara did not need them.

"My people have long passed from the annals of history Gimli, there is no need to speak of their fate. They were neither good nor evil, but not all accepted their ways, and now they are gone." She turned away from him; perhaps afraid he would see tears on her face.

"But you are not gone." He reached out taking her hand, "While you and your son yet leave then surely your people survive as well. Why can you not speak of them, perhaps it would ease the pain."

Inara gave a short harsh laugh, "No, not now, someday. It has no bearing on our current troubles. Of that you can be sure, but not all dying peoples are the ancestors of kings."

Inara drew in a shuddering breath, turning slowly back toward Gimli. He stood, coming to sit beside her. Together they waited through the darkest hours of the night, neither moving or speaking and not needing such as that. For there was more spoken in that silence than any words could convey.

In his own room Legolas stood, staring out the window over the fields, still ill at ease, even in what passed for sleep with the elves. His mind wandered the paths of his life and remembered, not all of his dreams brought joy, for sorrow seldom truly fades only remains, long buried.
As dawn broke over those same empty plains he turned to find that Gimli had not returned during the night. Legolas raised his eyebrows, imagining what sort of remarks he could make to the dwarf about this state of affairs. Though he would not speak any of them before Inara for he would not question her choice, for it remained hers to make.

When Legolas stepped from his room he knocked softly on Inara's door. Upon receiving no response he tested the handle. Not surprisingly it was unlatched. He opened it gently.

He couldn't help but smile at the sight that met his eyes. There was never any need to question his friend's honor. He couldn't help but wince remembering the jokes he and his companions had made about dwarven courtship rituals within the depths of Mirkwood.

Now should he hear those same jokes again he would spring to the defense of the dwarven race. Inara's head leaned against Gimli's and both appeared to be asleep, Nodin curled between them. The fitful flames of the night's fire appeared to be dying in the hearth.

Legolas backed carefully towards the door, but even his elven grace could not maintain silence upon ancient floorboards. The slight sound as he shifted his weight roused the sleepers. It was impossible to tell who wok e first, but it was Inara who spoke.

"Good morning, Legolas." Nodin came awake with a squawk.

Gimli frowned from the infant to the elf, muttering under his breath and straightening his jacket, carefully to hide his blush from his friend.

"Infernal elves! Could you not at least knock?" he grumbled, getting to his feet, holding the increasingly awake Nodin at arms length, out of reach of his beard.

"I did, you did not answer." Legolas could still the smile that spread across his face.

Gimli simply growled, not deeming that statement worthy of any further response. Inara just laughed at the two who despite both their years and wisdom still acted like young children. She could think of no better companions.

As they waited, she swept her hair back, running her hands over it to smooth it. Proper toiletry items had not been among the things she had saved from her burning home, and thankfully none seemed to mind.

During the interval Gimli had managed to pass Nodin to Legolas, upon which the babe had promptly attached himself quite firmly to the elf's long hair. This had remained his favorite and most consuming interest during their travels, much to the elf's dismay.

Even now the bright dawn light distained to enter the close hall. Despite dawns arrival its dismal passages remained lit by guttering torches. Gimli's had went to the empty loop on his belt where he carried his axe. His two throwing axes remained thrust through his belt, the elf was not the only one to sense something foul within the timbers of this place, though he wished the conventions of men would have allowed him to go armed without comment.

Lady Marja met them in the hall with a table laden with food for the morning meal. Her face remained hidden by her hair. Gimli frowned, starting toward her, leaving Legolas trying to keep a hold on Nodin's squirming form. The elf finally surrendered, sitting himself at the table and using the food to distract Nodin's inquisitive mind.

The elf was fascinated with Nodin's actions, as it had been long since there had been children among the elves and it would likely never be so again. Gimli felt sorrow for his friend; it was a reminder that all had its cost; even immortality was not without loss. He couldn't imagine a life such as that bereft of the joy of children. Perhaps that was why so few elves had a sense of humor, Legolas relatives perhaps.

Gimli touched her arm gently, and was surprised when she flinched away.

"My Lady?" He gently turned her face towards him, her hair falling away. He gasped at the dark bruise that spread across her cheekbone glaring against her pale skin. The eyes that met his though were not those of one who had been subdued. Instead they blazed with a rage, so different from one whose life and purpose was to preserve the past.

"I am fine Master Dwarf, please, sit and eat. My Lord will join us shortly." Gimli could not miss the tone of triumph in her voice when she spoke of her husband.

"My Lady, if he has done this to you, we will make him pay for harming you." Gimli spoke quietly and slowly, hoping to bring something rational back to her gaze to overcome the fatalistic gleam now residing there.

"You can do naught. It comes, and perhaps those who look back on these times will thank us for it. It is not for me to judge."

"Then for whom is it to judge Milady? For whom is it to chose?" Legolas' tone was solemn; Gimli could not keep his surprise from his face.

"My Lord does not think as you and I might Master Elf, you remember the past in your long years, and I live to preserve it, but he looks to the future and he sees great changes there." She smiled, "For all his lack of fineness perhaps were are naught but two halves of a whole as we were told upon being wed, though I do not much care for his methods either upon the guidance of our land's future or in his care of his wife."

She looked to them, reading the concern on their faces, "Do not fear, my husband knows of my skills with a blade and he values his completely anatomy too much to go too far."

At this point the lord himself appeared waving them to the table, "Come my friends, if I may call you such, please do not wait on my account!"

Gimli gritted his teeth, stepping away from Marja to take his place beside his friends. Legolas was again absorbed by the youngest member of their party, but Inara gripped Gimli's hand tightly beneath the table.

The companions ate sparingly, uncomfortable in the presence of the hall's lord, despite his cheerful conversation and clever words. It was perhaps this that made him the most dangerous for his words could as easily bring forth a laugh as wound more deeply than any blade.

"Now what would a dwarf be doing traveling with an elf? Did he bribe you with a treasure of sorts? Not that the elves have any real treasure." Gimli glanced up at the lord, at a loss as to what to say. Legolas however was not so bound.

"We travel as friends, my Lord." When the title came from the elf's mouth it sounded more like an insult than anything else.

"Indeed? Well, then my elven friend, you are a rare pair indeed. Perhaps you would like to try your hand at a friendly bout of sword play, after we have eaten our fill?"

Legolas opened his mouth to accept the challenge but Gimli interrupted, "I am sorry my Lord, but my friend has been recently injured. Would you like to try your hand against a dwarf instead?"

"Gimli!" Legolas' whisper did nothing to conceal his anger.

"Keep your pride in check lad, this will be no friendly match. I know you have recovered well. I have fought at your side in the ambush, but this will be a duel, no brief battle, let us not test your strength thus."

"He is right Legolas." Inara put her hand on the elf's arm as if to hold him back. Finally the elf relaxed but he had not given up entirely.

"But what of you Gimli? You too were injured."

"Ha! A dwarf allow an injury to slow him? We are not so fragile as elves believe, it healed long ago, and I am far more able than you to remind our host of his manners."

Gimli put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I will take no risks. We dwarves are a study folk it would take far more than a simply bout such as this to bring us down."

Inara reached out gripping his arm tightly, "You shall be careful Gimli son of Gloim or you shall answer to me."

Gimli laughed, touching her face gently with his rough hand. Marja's husband cleared his throat, interrupting the whispered conference.

"If you are ready Master Dwarf, I shall see you in the courtyard."

Gimli started for the doorway, following their host. Inara and Legolas hurried to follow, but she was hampered by her blindness in this unfamiliar place and Nodin kept Legolas speed to a minimum.

None noticed Marja draw back and disappear from sight. Her eyes followed them from the room but she made no move save to retreat farther from view. This chapter of history was one in which she wanted no part.

The sun shone weakly in the courtyard.  A few of the men at arms stood to either side, whether to watch or to step in to defend their Lord Gimli was not certain.  Gimli walked over, choosing a short wooden practice staff, heavily weighted at one end. 

"What?  No sword Master Dwarf?"  Something shone oddly in the man's eyes as he pulled a long wooden blade from the rack. 

"Nay, I prefer an axe or whatever else comes close."  Gimli hefted the staff, testing its weight.  He took his place at one end of the arena. 

His opponent simply saluted the dwarf with his sword.  Gimli returned it as they both prepared for the coming competition. 

"Please be careful Master Dwarf, I would not wish to be injured before the ceremony in which I am finally accepted as Lord." 

Gimli just shook his head, shifting his grip on the thick wooden staff.  He smiled grimly as his opponent came toward him, his sword held high. 

Gimli ducked the first slash, coming up and around the weighted end of the staff connecting with his opponent's knee.  The man stumbled, nearly falling. 

Gimli straightened, pausing to see if he had been injured, but the lord merely smiled and came around his wooden practice blade slamming Gimli's staff, almost knocking it from his grasp. 

The man pressed down, as if hoping to overpower the dwarf, not a probably occurrence, Gimli thought to himself.  He lunched away, allowing the blade to scrape harmlessly down the haft of his weapon. 

He returned the blow with one of his own, again catching his Lordship off guard and scoring a hit on his shoulder.  It was then that the expression changed on his Lordship's face. 

His eyes darkened and he swung the blade with all his might, striking the staff so that the blade nearly shattered.  He swung again and again.  The frenzied look on his face shocked Gimli.  The dwarf was hard pressed to defend against the flurry of blows.  The Lord was no mighty warrior, but through sheer madness he pressed hard on his smaller opponent.  Gimli longed for his own familiar weapons rather than a crude weighted staff.  

Finally the maddened Lord swung to far and Gimli was able to catch him across the side of the head, drawing blood.  As the scarlet slash appeared above his opponent's ear Gimli let his weapon relax, lowering it.  It was over.

But just as he was turning towards his companions a blow caught him in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground.  Gimli cursed in his own tongue, scrambling to his feet, his staff raised. 

The Lord swung again his blade connecting with Gimli's leg directly upon the sword injury that had so recently healed.  The sickening snap was accompanied by the sensation of blood soaking through thick cloth and a spreading dark stain.  His gasp of pain caught at Inara's heart as she lunged forward. 

Author's Note:

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See!  Look how fast I can update, and chapter 15 is already partially finished so I'll be updating again, very soon.  I'm really quite proud of this… Also, ROTK is amazing, absolutely amazing for any who have not seen it yet.  I've seen it 2 times now and I have to see it again!

Deana:  Yep, and I updated again,  shocking isn't it? 

itarilde-elenastar:  So did you get to see ROTK?  I'm hoping to see it at least one more time before Christmas and then oh a million or so after.  ;)  So what do you think of the cliffhanger?  Marja and her husband are well, odd, to say the least.  It shall get even more fun though hopefully in the coming chapters.  I think our friends will be spending some time here.  Well, when you see ROTK you'll have to tell me what you think.  I thought the battle for Minas Tiruth and the part in Mt. Doom were amazing.  The only complaint I had was that, well, it's about the end and the boats, but if you haven't seen it I won't get more specific. 

Littlesaiyangirl:  Cool!  I'll have to go and read your fic when it's up, Christmas fics are always fun!  Well, a little more action, and a little less creepy, in this chapter, but the next will probably be back to creepy. 

Alexia S. Luclwit:  This chapter's rough on our poor dwarven friend, it's his turn, Legolas needs a break.  Thanks for telling me you have author alert, you're right that probably works better, I'll just send e-mails to those who do not have author alerts.  Thanks for the compliment, I'm glad you like it. 

Roseblade22  :  Two times is not enough, I really need to see ROTK again.  Hopefully this week!  If of course my parents let me, but I think they will.  It's nice I don't have much homework before Christmas so I can actually update. 

Elessar*Lover:  Nice to meet you!  I hope you like my fic, and hopefully the rest of it was as good as chapter 1. 

Star-Stallion:  I don't give up!  And I updated quickly! Also, if Legolas does weigh too much Gimli can just leave some of his armor behind.  Getting them here is the important part!

Laegoleaf:  Hi!  I'm glad you like it. I hope you enjoy the rest of my fic as well!