Chapter 1
Title: Over Hill, Under Dell
Author: Reber
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, just two kitties (Tater & Tot) and a computer.
Description: Holy wow, Reber actually came out of retirement to write another fic! I had this posted, but never got around to finishing this. For those of you who haven't read: Gimli goes missing until the rest of the Fellowship finds him. Where he's at, you'll never guess, and who he's with, you won't believe! Enjoy!
You COULD call this A/U if you wanted, because Rivendell is still alive and thriving, and there are many elves about. Set after the destruction of the Ring, where everyone is hanging out in Rivendell, just for the heck of it.
The title spawns from an old Army song, yet since these are Dwarves we are talking about, it will be "under" dell instead of over, so there!
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A slight breeze stirred golden locks from his shoulders. He took a deep breath of refreshing morning air, reveling in the precious few moments alone, or so he thought.
"Excuse me, Mister Legolas, sir," a small voice spoke up behind him. Legolas turned to find Samwise Gamgee looking a tad embarrassed. "Gandalf wishes to speak with you, if you don't be mindin'."
"Tell him I'll be there shortly." Legolas turned back to the east, where the sun was just coming up behind the shimmering waterfalls and mountains of Rivendell.
"You still miss him, don'tcha Mister Legolas?" Sam timidly walked up beside him on the ivy-covered balcony.
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It had been weeks since Gimli had been kidnaped by Orcs and the memory was still fresh in everyone's mind. They had been on their way to Rivendell when they were ambushed, Gimli had yelled for everyone to run ahead, he'd make quick work of the Orcs. Like a true friend, Legolas had stayed beside him, but something went horribly wrong.
Legolas had been awakened by a searing pain in his head, and nearly everyone was standing near his bed, everyone except Gimli that is.
"What happened?" Legolas grabbed his throbbing forehead, a soft bandage wrapped carefully around his head.
"You got knocked out," Frodo choked back tears. "They... They took Gimli before any one of us had a chance to do anything."
"Where... Where is he?" Legolas stammered, attempting to get up, but a sharp pain quickly laid him out again.
"They took him, Legolas." Aragorn rubbed his forehead. "Everyone in Rivendell has been out looking for him, and yet, we have come back each day empty-handed."
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That had been three weeks ago, and they were still not any closer to finding him. Most of them had given up any hope that he was still alive, or ever finding him for that matter. Even though they had destroyed the ring, dangerous packs of Orcs and Uruk-hai still roamed the forests and hills.
"Legolas!" the two turned to find an older wizard dashing up the stairs just as fast as his old wizard ways could carry him. "I sent that fool of a Gamgee minutes ago, in haste, to fetch you, and here you two are..."
Gandalf paused to catch his breath. "We may have found him!" he said in between huffs.
"Indeed," a deep voice came from behind them. The two turned, startled, to find that the King of the Eagles had alighted upon a large branch, which almost bent down towards the balcony. "One of my nests in the Mountains reports that there has been some 'activity' down in Moria that should be worth noting."
"What kind of activity?" Legolas demanded bitterly. "Because the last time I have checked, Orcs and Trolls so thick nobody could have cleared them out!"
"Young elf," Gandalf cautioned. "This may be worth checking into. Aragorn and Faramir are already packing. You should do well to do the same."
Without a single word, Legolas dashed down the marble stairs, almost crashing into Elrond as he neared the bottom of the stairs. The Elven king was dressed in his full warrior regalia, quite unlike him.
"Make haste, young one," Elrond pointed him towards the stables. "I shall be coming with you, and we will all meet at the Gate in no less than five minutes."
Legolas thought his heart would burst, he was so excited. He quickly ran to his quarters, shoving various things into his sack, and then he threw open his armoire to gather his many weapons.
He would not be caught off guard again, he thought fiercely. This time, he would rescue his friend and they could all enjoy this new-found peace together.
The rest of the Fellowship and Elrond had gathered at the Gates by the time he had gotten his horse out of the stables. Together, they set off, with Shadowfax and Gandalf leading the team. They rode at top speed through hill and dell, field and forest. The Eagle King and three of his sons flew overhead, keeping the swift pace with the rest of them.
They rode hard, stopping only to rest their horses. The poor Hobbit ponies could barely keep the pace, but somehow, they were managing. When they had reached the Mountains, they slowed their horses upon the slick cobblestones that led to the Mines of Moria.
"No sense in one of us getting hurt for something that might be nothing." Legolas murmured, staring in amazement at the artistry of the pathway. Instead of the ugly rocks and pebbled path, polished black marble cobblestones made an for an amazing journey up to the entrance of Moria.
"Wow," breathed Sam, looking down from his perch upon Bill the Pony. "Whoever is up here sure is making good work of this ugly mountain."
When they reached the gates, a beautiful garden filled with mountain flowers and lush evergreens greeted them. The murky lake had been drained and instead a smaller sparkling pond full of large fish had been put in.
Their horses then started to act very odd, snorting and whirling, whinnying and rearing high. Even Shadowfax seemed uneasy, his eyes growing large and breathing growing hard.
"What on earth could scare these horses so?" Gandalf patted the soft mane of his horse to reassure him.
"Can I help you?" A voice growled from the darkness of the shadows.
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Well, what do we think? What's going on in Moria that has everyone wondering what on Elrond's Green Garden is going on? Until the next chapter...
Reber
PS: Please review so I know what you people are thinking about this. Thanks!