Author's note ; Yikes ! It's been over a month ! Where does the time go ? Really sorry about the delay folks but things have been hectic in work for the past month. A bazillion practical cookery exams and craft projects for the State exams finally out of the way, so should have more time for writing now. Anyway enough with the excuses. Please read and hopefully enjoy the latest chapter, as always let me know what you think ! Thanks !
Chapter Nineteen ; An Unexpected Request
Legolas made his way back to his room, feeling much more at ease with himself, his mood was lighter than it had been in days. The shadow of worry was fading and the knot of tension which had been building up inside him was finally starting to unravel and it felt good.
To have his Father look beyond his preconceived notions and biased opinions and actually agree to accept Gimli as a suitable friend for his son had meant a great deal to the young elf and he could not wait to tell the dwarf the good news.
As he walked through the familiar passageway he paused once again before the small painting depicting the Lonely Mountain. He looked at it appreciatively and smiled, he had made his decision.
Reaching up he carefully removed the picture from its resting place and ran his fingers lightly across the little mounds and swirls of oil paint. He then gently blew over the paint, removing tiny traces of dust which had gathered on the textured canvas over the years. Tucking it under his arm he walked to his room.
No sound could be heard in the stone hewn corridor, his friend was no longer snoring and yet as he reached the dwarf's door he could clearly hear Gimli's heavy breathing. The dwarf was still asleep, Legolas would have to wait to share his happiness with his companion.
As he entered his own room, Legolas headed straight for his bed where he pushed aside the contents of his travelling pack and carefully placed the picture down. He then began to search the deep drawers of his press and rifled through his storage chests until he found something suitable to wrap the gift in. His search had revealed two perfect coverings. The first, a large piece of dark green velvet which Gwaithwen had given him to cover the top of his press to prevent it from being damaged by his numerous weapons. He had accidentally scratched its surface once long ago and she had made him work in the kitchens for a whole month. The second was a piece of soft doe leather, he had often used it to carry spare arrows in but now it would act as a perfect outer covering for the picture.
He deftly wrapped the painting up in the protective velvet and then placed it in the centre of the laid out leather, folding in each of the edges until it was fully covered. Then he reached under his bed and retrieved a long wooden box. When opened it revealed a treasure trove of feather fletches, strong fine string, lethal ornate arrow heads, sturdy bone nocks and a small yet impossibly sharp knife. He measured out some of the string and then cut it free with the knife. He used the string to secure the wrappings and used a decorative elven knot to hold everything together.
Pleased with his efforts he went back outside and laid the gift outside his friend's door. The dwarf's breathing was much lighter now, it was possible he would be awake before long. Content to wait until then, the elf returned to the privacy of his own chamber.
oOoOoOo
The elf's observations had been accurate and shortly after he had returned to his own room, the dwarf began to stir within his. A deep grunt followed by a long tortured moan filled the air as Gimli stretched his arms above his head and peered disdainfully at his surroundings through a single barely opened eye.
Both eyes were soon shut again and he released a contented sigh, he had not dozed so well in many weeks. Grunting once more he tried to pry himself free of the comforting hold of the soft down filled pillows surrounding him. Once he had achieved a sitting up position he risked opening both eyes, each one blinking quickly in the late afternoon sun. His waking gaze studied the shadows cast on the chamber's floor and he judged that he had been resting for the best part of two hours. It was time to make an appearance.
He begrudgingly eased himself off the comfortable bed and straightened out his clothes, a quick slap on each cheek and he was ready to face the world once more, even if it was a world currently filled with flighty elves.
He decided to call on his friend next door. The elf had most likely returned from his discussion with Thranduil and the dwarf was forced to admit that he was secretly anxious to know how things had gone.
It was then that the freshly familiar smell of almond cakes tickled his nose and he smiled appreciatively at the small plate of sweet treats.
As he filled his mouth with several of the delicacies he wondered who had brought them to him.
Most likely Legolas, he thought. The elf would have no doubt caught him sleeping, no harm, he would deny it, stating that he had been merely resting his eyes, for sturdy dwarves such as himself require little in the way of sleep.
Gimli opened the door to his chamber and was about to step out into the corridor when a strange sound stopped him, something had fallen. He looked to the floor only to see a neatly tied up package lying at the threshold. He looked at it suspiciously for a moment and gave it a gentle shove with his boot, when nothing happened he reached down to pick it up.
It wasn't heavy and someone had paid careful attention to wrapping the item. As he examined it closely, realisation dawned and he began to suspect as to what the mysterious item may be. Heading out into the corridor, Gimli turned left and made his way to where his friend's paintings were displayed.
It was as he suspected. A large empty space was all that remained of where the painting of Erebor had once hung.
It seemed his pointy-eared friend was not going to take no for an answer and the dwarf smiled at the elf's thoughtfulness.
Soon after Gimli stood outside his friend's door and rapped his knuckles on the wood.
"Come in", came a distant sounding reply.
The dwarf pushed open the door to reveal a large room which looked very similar to his own, however this chamber was filled with personal belongings and gave the room a more lived in appearance.
It was heavily yet tastefully decorated with little leaf designs.
More plants and trees, Gimli thought as he rolled his eyes, don't they ever get tired of it, he wondered. It seemed to him as if elves were adverse to using a solitary straight line in anything they designed or made. It was all so different to the bold geometric structures and patterns favoured by his kin.
A quick look about the room and the elf was no where to be seen.
Maybe he is in his wash room, Gimli surmised, and so he decided to wait.
It was then that he noticed that there were even more windows in this room, each one draped in the same sheer curtains, yet these were dyed a shimmering olive green. Pushing through one window was, what could only have been, the branch of a very large tree and it was not alone, it seemed as if the creeping ivy had also been given free rein to invade the room and it was doing its best to cover much of the stone inside.
A large bed littered with items and similar to the one he had just left, stood to the left of the room. Above it hung a long, ornate elvish banner. To Gimli it looked very old and slightly battered, it was possible this banner had been carried into battle. Curious he moved closer to examine it better. It was then that he spotted the faint tell-tale splatters of faded brown speckled about the banner. At some time in the distant past these little stains would have been a rich vibrant red, full of colour like the now faded elaborate designs adorning the banner.
He also noticed several more pictures about the room and a small, plain bow hanging high up on the far wall.
Suddenly his observations were cut short as he heard his name being called.
"Gimli ?", Legolas called out to his friend, wondering why he had not heard from the dwarf.
It was then that Gimli realised the elf was actually outside the room and was most likely some where at the other end of that trespassing branch.
It was with slight hesitation that he moved to the open window and pulled back the fine gauze like drape. Looking directly outside he did not spot his friend straight away.
"Ah, there you are Master Dwarf, come, will you not join me ?",asked a light teasing disembodied voice.
Gimli leaned further out the window and looked high up into the leafy canopy above and there perched precariously on a branch that looked like it could not support anything but itself, sat his friend, looking for all the world as if he had been born in a tree.
"You crazed creature !", Gimli censured, "are you deliberately trying to get killed ? That branch does not look like it could hold a squirrel, never mind a long-legged loaf like you !"
Legolas could only chuckle at his friend's unusual demonstration of concern.
"Do not fear friend Gimli, I am perfectly safe, this branch is more than strong enough, however if it eases your mind I shall move to another" the elf replied as he swiftly navigated his way down the tree and closer to his companion.
Gimli studiously tracked his friend's progress and absently wondered exactly how much did an elf weigh. He had seen the elf glide over freshly fallen snow without sinking so much as an inch and he had seen him thread lightly over young sweet grass without bending a single blade nor did he ever know the elf to leave even the faintest of tracks in his wake. How did he do it ? he pondered.
Before Gimli knew it, the elf had landed safely and silently before him, perfectly balanced on the much broader branch which had worked its way into the room.
"Will you not join me Master Dwarf ? It is a most pleasant afternoon and the views from this fine tree are a wonder to be seen", the elf invited once more.
"Legolas if you think for one instant that I am about to willingly crawl out there into that tree" he pointed, "then Master elf you are even more cracked than I had originally estimated !" the dwarf retorted loudly.
"You know you can just about see Erebor from up here" , Legolas baited, "would you not care to catch a glimpse of your beloved mountain, after all it has been sometime since you have laid eyes on it."
Legolas could see a tiny glimmer of interest spark in the depths of the dwarf's brown eyes at the mention of his home. But it was clear that there was more encouragement needed.
"There is a talan just a small climb up my friend, you would be perfectly safe there I can assure you and you would be free to enjoy the beautiful views of your much-loved home", he added while offering a stretched out arm to his friend.
Gimli grunted and leaned further out the window to see exactly how high up this tree was. His eyes opened wide when he realised how far from the ground he would be, this tree was huge ! But the prospect of seeing his home was very tempting. A mini battle raged within him as he weighed the pros and cons of venturing out onto the twisted limb.
"I shall not let you fall my friend", the elf assured in all seriousness and sincerity as he locked eyes with his stout friend.
And with that simple comment his decision was made, Gimli trusted this elf implicitly and he knew the elf would never deliberately put his life in jeopardy, he would rather die himself before risking the short lives of his mortal friends.
So he carefully placed the gift against the wall and dragged over a sturdy wooden chair to the windows stone mantle. With a small grunt of effort he was soon standing on the sill and about to take his first step onto the branch and his friend was by his side, his pale slender hand gripping him with hidden strength as he guided him out onto the branch.
Far below Gimli could see clusters of what looked like mushrooms growing in the shade of the tree's vast canopy , as he looked down a slight wave of vertigo over came him and he began to wobble slightly on the branch. He was instantly caught in an iron grip that took him by surprise and he looked to his friend in slight wonder but the elf merely smiled back in return and continued to guide him up higher into the tree.
Soon they were both sitting comfortably as promised in the wooden flet.
Both sat in comfortable, companionable silence as their eyes drank in the vast views surrounding them. It was as the elf had said, truly beautiful and Gimli was lost for words as he saw a sight that he had recently on occasion, thought he would never see again. Erebor, in all its glory, rising proudly and majestically, high up into the early evening sky.
Anor was beginning her slow decent but her waning rays still bathed the mountain in a warm light and elsewhere shadows stretched across its expanse. It was a sight that brought much joy to the dwarf's heart.
Once sated by this precious glimpse of home Gimli's curiosity turned to other matters.
"So tell me Master Elf, how did matters go with the King ?", he asked some what anxiously.
"Ah my friend all is well, your mind can be at ease for my father has agreed to accept our friendship and I think in some small way he has begun to understand it, which you must know Gimli is a large leap on his behalf", Legolas explained.
"Aye I suppose it is", Gimli agreed, "and though I do not fully understand the full reasoning behind his words and actions earlier, I am happy that he has for now agreed to acknowledge our friendship, it is a good outcome."
"Thank you my friend", the elf said softly.
"Thank you for what ?", Gimli asked, slightly confused.
"Thank you for understanding him and his actions even though you have been given no cause to, it means a lot to me" Legolas admitted.
Gimli simply nodded then reached out to touch one of the large green leaves covering the tree.
"I recognise these leaves," Gimli stated, taking Legolas by surprise, "they look like those of a mallorn tree."
"Why Master Dwarf be warned, you are in danger of becoming an elf," Legolas teased, "first you willing climb trees, then you correctly identify trees, I expect next you will be constructing a flet of your own."
"First of all," the dwarf pointed out, "I reluctantly climbed one tree and I correctly identified one tree and I will be wed to an orc before I built anything in any type of tree and you should be warned that you Master Elf are in danger of coming face to face with those mushrooms far below" the dwarf gruffly warned.
"Peace my friend, I jest however that is one wedding I would willing attend even if it were to take place in the very fires of Mount Doom", the elf laughed, narrowly missing the dwarf's swinging blow.
"But you are right my friend it is indeed a mallorn tree and not native to these parts. It was a gift sent to my parents by the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood when news of my conception reached their borders. It was my mother that planted the young sapling outside my chambers before I was born. It is a young tree still and will take many more years to reach the size of its fellow mellyrn in Lothlórien. It has become a very special place to me", Legolas explained while his gaze drifted and looked to the far off distant horizon.
As he watched his friend, Gimli spotted the hauntingly familiar far away look return to the azure pools of his friend's eyes. It pained him to see that look for he knew what it meant and he knew what it could mean for this precious friendship.
"Do you think of it still ?" he asked softly.
The elf simply sighed and allowed his proud shoulders to droop ever so slightly.
"Every day my friend, everyday" the elf answered with heart breaking honesty.
"Have you spoken to your father about it ?", the dwarf enquired with touching concern.
"Nay Gimli not yet, it would have been too much too soon, though I shall discuss it with him…………he has not yet felt the pull of the sea-longing nor does he hear her haunting call as I do…………..many of my woodland kin have already answered the beckoning waves………….. but fear not my friend for I have no desire to do so yet, there is still much that holds me here", Legolas assured as he smiled faintly at his friend.
"But at what cost Legolas ?", Gimli asked.
"Who has yet to put a price on friendship elvellon ?", the elf asked in return.
The dwarf could only nod once more in support and understanding.
"I take it then you did not mention your proposed move to Ithilien ?", Gimli half stated, half questioned.
"I did not think it wise to discuss my impending move on the very day of my return home" the elf answered as lightly as he could, though in truth he thought the matter to be of a most serious nature. Family meant a great deal to his father and he could not afford to be too whimsical about the notion of leaving Eryn Lasgalen.
"You will know when the time is right my friend, do not worry", the dwarf reassured as he gripped the elf's slight shoulders.
"Let us hope there is such a time", replied the young Prince.
The silence stretched once more as each friend was left to their own thoughts. The sky's palette was changing in the steadily setting sun. Vibrant oranges and violets were reflected off the lower edges of the lazily passing clouds. Within a matter of a few hours night would be upon them once more and the heavens above would be bejewelled with a myriad of tiny stars, each one offering guidance to the inhabitants of Middle-earth below.
Once again the silence was broken by the dwarf's deep voice.
"I found the painting you left me Legolas…..and though I really do appreciate the gesture my friend……I cannot accept it, it is too much and I have naught to offer you in return."
It did not sit well with Gimli that he had nothing to give the elf in exchange for the picture, as was the custom amongst his kin.
"I do not offer you the painting in trade elvellon………..I offer it to you in friendship", the elf explained, "it would mean a great deal to me if you were to accept it."
Gimli looked to his friend, he was surprised to hear the tiny hint of hurt which had tainted his friend's normally musical voice and quickly made amends.
"Then I shall accept it my friend and I shall treasure it for as long as I draw breath….you have my thanks."
To which the elf smiled warmly once again.
"Now tell me Master Elf how is it that you somehow manage to perch yourself on naught but tiny sticks and seem to float over drifts of snow ?" Gimli demanded.
The question took the elf completely by surprise, he could not recall a time when the dwarf had ever wanted to know anything about the nature of elves.
"Well don't just sit there with your mouth hanging open, are you going to answer my question or not ?", Gimli insisted once more.
"I shall do my best my friend", the elf laughed lightly, then wondered to himself how best to explain this matter to his suddenly curious friend.
"Well………….it is not that we do not weigh anything….elves do have weight Master Dwarf, though perhaps we are not as heavy as men…………", he began to explain but was interrupted.
"So how do you do it ?", the dwarf asked with renewed vigour.
Legolas thought once more.
"Ah, consider the dragon fly", he instructed.
"The dragon fly ?", queried the dwarf somewhat warily.
"Yes, does it not appear to walk on water when we know this to be an impossible feat ?", the elf questioned in return.
"What ?" shouted Gimli incredulously.
"Well it is a matter of weigh distribution is it not ?"
"Weight distribution !" the dwarf repeated, as his tone became increasingly wary.
"Yes weight distribution" the elf insisted.
"But you have only two legs Master Elf, how much weight can you possibly hope to distribute…..you know if you don't want to tell me well that is fine by me, if it is some sort of strange elvish secret you only have to say so…….dragon flies……………I never heard anything so ridiculous in my life !", Gimli ranted.
Legolas just stared at his friend and then erupted into a fit of uncontrolled laughter.
"Laugh all you like elf, just don't expect me to reveal any dwarvish secrets when we reach Erebor, you shall simply have to compound your general ignorance with that of a painful ignorance on the matter of dwarves !" the dwarf fore warned.
The elf simply laughed even harder.
Seeing that his comment did not evoke the desired effect, Gimli decided to change the subject once more.
"I noticed a small bow hanging on the wall of your chamber…………..is it yours ?" the dwarf enquired.
The elf's laughter died down once more as he was forced to answer another uncharacteristic question from his friend.
"Yes Gimli, it is mine…………from a time when I was much younger and I have not used it in many years though it is precious to me", the elf revealed.
Intrigued by this, Gimli questioned his friend further for he did not see anything special about the bow, it was rather plain and lacked the craftsmanship of the Galadhrim bow that even he could appreciate.
"More precious than the Lady's gift ?" he asked.
The elf answered a simple "Yes." without any hesitation.
Now eager to change the subject himself, Legolas asked a question of his own.
"Now Master Dwarf we still have some time remaining before tonight's feast, where else in my father's Kingdom would you like to go, what do you desire to see, you have but to ask and I shall take you there my friend", the elf stated with exaggerated flourish, as he gestured with open arms.
The dwarf thought seriously on the offer for a moment and then decided to make his request, it was something which he had been thinking about even before he had arrived in the Woodland Realm.
"Very well Master Elf, I wish to see where my father was kept during his brief stay in your father's halls."
For the first time in his long life Legolas Thranduilion thought he was at risk of falling out of a tree.
OooOoOoOo
Review Responses;
daw the minstrel; Hi there ! Yes I think Gwaithwen was possibly the most important female figure in Thranduil's life after his wife died. She has basically become a surrogate mother to Legolas and a friend and confident to Thranduil.
Jebb; Thrilled you liked how your idea turned out and that you enjoyed it so much (commence ewok dance). Yes me thinks it shall not be all plain sailing for Gimli and Thranduil, it'll get "tricky" but I think they'll try their best for Legolas' sake !
Kestrel of Valinor; Thanks very much ! Yes yummy caramel one of my personal favourites ! Heehee! And thanks again for reviewing "Sacrifice", you don't get too many people that read and review poetry for some reason, so when it happens it's great !
Kelsey Estel; Sorry for the delay ! Glad you liked my little attempts at humour, I've tried to put in a bit more in this new chapter and I hope you enjoyed it as much. No Aragorn yet but soon, hang in there !
Marnie; Hi ! And thanks fro reading and reviewing once more, those ninja bunnies are a force to be reckoned with ! glad you're still enjoying the story and all the weird relationships it involves !
Messenger of the Elvenking; Hello there ! You had a good laugh ! Great ! As I find it knid of hard to write convincing humour, so I'm happy it has worked out. Ah yes , look up "stubborn" in the Sindarin Dictionary and there's bound to be a picture of Thranduil and Legolas ! Heehee !
PS ; just a quick note; I'm not exactly sure if you are supposed to be able to see Erebor from anywhere in the vacinity of Thranduil's Hall but lets just stretch the imagination and pretend that you can !