December 30th, 2002
Disclaimer: We don't actually own much of this story, just the original characters, and even they are up for grabs.
Authors' Blab: This is the lovely first chapter of our first fanfiction, Once In A Thousand Years! It's mainly a Gimli story, but with a whole lot of that bad-ass elf Legolas! and the peasants rejoice Just to make it clear, this story WILL GET FUNNY! We promise! Once Vebor gets involved and you get to know Calen a bit more, hilarity will ensue. We'll hopefully be updating this often and there will be quite a few chapters. But here it is! Enjoy! – Howard & Porta, AKA: Emilee & Anna
--
Footsteps light and swift across the forest floor, the Prince of Mirkwood returned. At first sight he appeared to be traveling alone, but as he paused, the dimming sun flickering in his blue eyes, another approached behind him. The elf smiled to his dwarf companion as he arrived, huffing and gasping for breath next to him.
"We are almost home, Gimli my friend," the Prince told the dwarf, placing a reassuring hand on his companion's shoulder.
Gimli's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked up at his friend, "Home to you Legolas, not to me. If I had a gem for every root I've tripped over..." he grunted.
Legolas grinned as the duo came over the hill, before them was more dark forest, but now lights had come on like fireflies in the wood, and they could hear music and laughter not far from them.
Looking down they could also see the wall of the cave that the Elvenking of Mirkwood, Legolas's father, dwelled in, and it was at this that Legolas smiled broadly, "The kingdom of my father, Thranduil." he looked back at Gimli with bright eyes, "A feast and dance await us!"
And with that the elf bounded down the hill toward his home. While his dwarf companion shook his head and followed shortly after, slowly.
-
The Prince was welcomed home as expected, royally. Thranduil embraced his son and hurried him off to the feast- after he changed into his royal attire of course.
Gimli wasn't welcomed as warmly as his friend. The elves forced smiles and showed him to a place at the table, between the King's Royal advisor and an odd elf who spilt his ale twice and giggled loudly both times. Gimli did not ask his name.
It was at the dance that Gimli finally met back up with Legolas, who had been seated quite far away at dinner. The dwarf looked around with a gaze mild amusement on his face. He was holding a glass of ale and standing in the middle of a group of elves who were chatting about this and that- Gimli didn't feel like paying attention. He raised his eyebrows as he saw Legolas walk up, then laughed and walked over to his friend.
"What are you wearing?"
Legolas had on a pale blue tunic that shimmered in the lamp light. In it his blue eyes looked bluer and he laughed and placed his hands on his chest. "This, my good friend, is the royal tunic that the prince must wear to special occasions." He looked Gimli over with mock snootiness, "Might I ask what you are wearing?"
Shooting a glare at the elf, Gimli opened his mouth to reply, but something caught his eye and he found that he could not close it. It was a woman. A beautiful she-elf with dancing blue eyes and short blonde hair. She was wearing a light blue dress that made her look as if she was floating. Gimli gaped at her, completely unaware that Legolas was awaiting his reply.
Legolas frowned at his friend, then turned to see what it was that was interesting him so. When he saw the elf woman he grinned, "Calen!"
His friend's laughing snapped Gimli out of his daze and he quickly closed his mouth, realizing that he had begun to drool he wiped his mouth, trying his best to become presentable as Legolas waved at the girl.
"Over here! There is someone I would like you to meet!"
The elf-woman glided toward them, smiling happily at Legolas as she quickly skipped through the crowds. "Legolas! By the Valar, it's been forever!" She said cheerfully, hugging Legolas tightly.
Her voice was like flowers blooming in the spring, Gimli noted as he stood up as tall as he could.
Legolas hugged her back, then squeezed her hand. "It is wonderful to see you!" he looked at Gimli and motioned to him grandly with his hand, "Please, meet Gimli, my friend."
Nodding to her, Gimli took her hand in his and kissed it lightly, "It is an honor milady."
Calen's eyes grew wide as she watched the dwarf take her hand. She quickly glanced at Legolas to be sure he was serious, introducing her to a dwarf. She did all of this quickly while Gimli's head was down, kissing her hand. When he looked up she forced a smile and snatched her hand back from him. "Pleased to meet you, Master Dwarf. Mirkwood is honored to have you stay."
Gimli smiled widely and nodded again to the lady.
"This is Calen, Gimli. She's my sister's, father's, brother's, daughter." Legolas explained, his voice full of pride as he looked upon Calen.
Narrowing his eyes, Gimli thought on this, "Cousin?" he offered, looking confused as to why Legolas didn't say that right off.
Calen laughed and that strayed Gimli's mind briefly, as he glanced at her and couldn't look away.
Legolas frowned, "Well...in a way...my sister has a different father than I."
Forcing another smile, Calen looked around absently, secretly searching for a way out of this conversation. It was very uncomfortable to be introduced to a dwarf, not to mention one who couldn't seem to stop staring at her.
Gimli's deep throated laugh sounded, and he shook his head, "I will never understand the ways of the elves."
Smiling, Legolas looked up from Gimli and saw his father waving to him, obviously eager to introduce his son to a newcomer. "I apologize Gimli, but I must go speak with my father." he said, nodding to Calen and setting a hand on Gimli's shoulder before he made his way to Thranduil
Calen's face fell for a moment when Legolas left, but she quickly recovered and looked at the smiling dwarf in front of her.
"Have you ever heard of the Mines of Moria?" Gimli asked her proudly.
Thinking how terribly rude she was being, but how desperately she wanted out, Calen looked at Gimli for a moment, then looked off suddenly, as if someone had called her name. "What's that Minyafuiwen?" she called out over the crowd, then turned back to Gimli, "Pardon me Master Dwarf." She said, then hurried off.
Gimli sighed contentedly, watching her leave, obviously not catching on that she was trying to get away from him. He hardly noticed when Calen past Legolas and Legolas walked up to him.
"So how do you like the elvish parties so far?" Legolas asked.
With a grunt, Gimli snapped out of his trance and looked up at Legolas, "Better than expected."
Legolas was happy to hear this and smiled at his friend, "Good, good. Then have another ale and then we'll dance!" he said cheerfully.
Gimli blinked as Legolas plucked his glass of ale from his hand and refilled it with a jug a servant carried by. "Dance?" Gimli snorted, "No, no, that's one thing you'll never see me do. Dancing..." He gave another amused huff and shook his head.
Shaking his head, Legolas looked a bit disappointed, "Fine then."
A small smile crossed Gimli's face as he thought of the likelihood of him dancing, and he absent-mindedly looked around the room for another glimpse of the elfish beauty.
"She's talking with my father, Gimli."
"Oh." Gimli grunted in response, then realized what Legolas had said and glanced at his friend quickly. "I mean- what? What are you talking about? Who?"
The elf prince just laughed and ran out into the crowd and started dancing with the others. Gimli glared after Legolas then smiled and chuckled softly, watching the elves dance. Soon Calen joined in with Legolas and they danced together, and suddenly Gimli wished he hadn't rejected dancing.