Lotr doesn't belong to me. I technically own a few of the characters, like Naomi
Day Five
When they woke, Legolas was still gone. He had probably slept in the comfort of the trees. They ate breakfast silently, but afterwards the hobbits wanted another story and so asked Aragorn.
"I will tell you why Legolas does not like caves perhaps. It has also to do with your father Gimli," Aragorn said. Gimli looked up startled that his father would be in this tale.
Flashback
Legolas was out riding on a horse. He has two other elves with him. They were his best friends called Sammy and Jessica.
"Do you hear that?" Sammy called to Legolas. There was a rustling to the bush beside them.
Jessica got off her horse. It was most likely just a bunny, but they decided to check anyways. She got checked it and turned around to call the all clear and a dwarf came out near the bush and swung his axe into the girls back.
Sammy and Legolas immediately jumped off their horses to attack when another orc jumped in the way and beheaded Sammy.
More gathered around. He was outnumbered and he could easily fight them off when one cut his leg deep and they stole his bow and arrows. They pushed him to the ground and took his daggers.
Fili and Kili laughed darkly at Legolas, lying down in the grass.
Legolas kicked one in the gut and went to run, but they quickly knocked him out. They tied him up and blindfolded him before putting him in a cave to die.
He was stuck there. He woke up and found he could not move, see or speak. He was scared of what could happen. He prayed for days that someone would find him. He was dying of hunger.
His prayers were answered after a week of being alone with nothing. Gandalf had come.
"Little green leaf, are you alright?" He asked as he untied him. Legolas croaked yes. He had not had anything to eat or drink. "Are you okay to move? Do you need food or water before we leave?"
"I need to see the sun or the stars. Please Gandalf," Legolas pleaded. He had never been cut off from the sun and stars for so long. He felt as if he was cut off from himself.
Gandalf helped support Legolas as he led the way outside. It was nighttime. Legolas collapsed agaisnt a tree once out and Gandalf gave him food and drink. They stayed there for the night. Once morning, Legolas ate more and he was feeling strong enough to ride back to the palace. He had nightmares for weeks afterwards. He had to sleep outside and he vowed to never go into another cave.
Flashback over
"My father would never do such a thing!" Gimli spluttered.
"Who wouldn't?" Gandalf had just come to Mirkwood and heard that.
"Gimli said some things about Legolas' family that made him run off. I told them about what happened between Legolas and the dwarfs," Aragorn told him.
"Legolas ran off today?" Gandalf questioned.
Aragorn shook his head, "last night,"
"You fool, Gimli," Gandalf rounded on Gimli looking angry, "his mother is dead and yesterday was the day she died! Aragorn, you have to try to find him,"
Aragorn ran off towards the woods. Gimli looked saddened.
"Gimli, you must understand that elves may not show much emotion, but they still feel the way we do. Possibly they feel emotions stronger, but they never lose their mask," Gandalf told him.
"There is no way they could feel emotion stronger. We show our feelings because we feel them stronger," Gimli replied.
"Listen. Imagine losing someone close to you. You would remember everything about how they died right?" At Gimli's nod he continued, "Elves live forever, and they lose a lot of their friends because men and dwarfs are jealous they live forever and so, kill them. Elves can recall a specific moment with such clarity that it is like they are living it again. All elves would be dead if they allowed their emotions to run their hearts. Elves can die of grief," Gimli was becoming more and more shocked as Gandalf went through this speech. Gandalf announced that they should eat lunch now.
"What about Aragorn and Legolas?" Merry asked.
"We cannot find them out there. We cannot do anything but wait for them to come back on their own," Gandalf led the way to the kitchens. Gimli ate a lot for elves, but he only ate about half of what he normally would. Gandalf watched that closely and hoped Legolas and Gimli could be friends. The men were no longer killing elves because they saw the relationship between Aragorn and Legolas. If Gimli and Legolas were friends, then perhaps dwarfs would stop killing as well. They waited and waited and stories were told as they waited.
As it was, Legolas and Aragorn did not get back until late in the night. Legolas forgave Gimli, but Gimli knew that his words were not forgotten.
Merry and Pippin wanted Legolas to smile and maybe laugh and decided to do something. After Gandalf had fallen asleep, they braided plants and flowers and made a crown to go on Gandalf's hat. They hoped it would make Legolas happy again and went to sleep.