Chapter 9: News from home.

Gimli clung tightly to Eomer as they cantered through the trees and over green meadows of Ithilien. It was green, Gimli thought grumpily, because it rained so much. Grey clouds bowled over the hills and rain poured over the Men and horses so their hides were sleek and the Men's cloaks dripped and soaked through. Gimli was grateful at least that he was protected from the worst of it by huddling behind Eomer.

He glanced through the rain over to the edges of the company where Legolas rode, no cloak, face lifted up to the rain as if it were sunshine; but he did not sing as he would have done before, if only to irritate Gimli. No, his face was set and hard for he was angry that Eomer had chosen to return rather than pursue the remaining orcs into the Dead Marshes. Legolas was not the only one to drag his feet and cry out for longer pursuit; there were plenty of Rohirrim who had lost those they loved or seen things too dreadful to speak of on the little farmsteads and villages of Rohan. But Eomer was right of course, Gimli nodded to himself. They risked too much by pursuing the orcs and they could not do so on horseback. Added to that, Gimli did not think it would have done Legolas any good whatsoever in his fey state of mind, for the stories told of the dead men and elves in the pools of the marshes only alarmed the dwarf and he thought Legolas might well follow some will o' the wisp and be lost. Especially after he had turned so savage and cold in the last skirmish.

In truth, Gimli had been a little frightened by the cold wrath and savagery he saw in Legolas. Not for himself but for his friend. If it had been Elrohir, no one would have thought anything of it. But it had been Legolas who had put the orc out of its misery all those months ago in Eriador when they had tracked the Nazgûl before the Fellowship had even been chosen. Gimli worried at the end of his beard.

No, he told himself. Best off going home, seeing Aragorn and letting Elrohir calm Legolas and get him back in the land of the living.

They plodded through the rain over a rise in the road and suddenly there below them was the camp of Cormallen.

Eomer pulled up and Gimli peered from behind a little irritably because it was harder to look round Eomer than Legolas; the Man was just bulkier and had more stuff on than Legolas ever wore. Why he had to have armour and a cloak which dripped onto Gimli, AND a quiver, sword, shield, Gimli grumbled mentally and wondered why he hadn't just stuck with Legolas.

He was shocked for a moment for the colourful pavilions were gone, and only a small collection of tents remained, and a few Men milled about between the tents. Where the herd of horses had been, there was nothing, and the once lush grass had been churned into mud in the rain.

Legolas shaded his eyes with his long hand, his skin wet. 'There are Pippin, and Sam…. They do not seem distressed.'

A cart seemed to have got stuck in the mud down there and several Men gathered round to help push it. They could hear them shouting to each other. And then it seemed the news of their arrival must have reached the camp for faces turned towards them and in spite of the weather, sudden excitement rippled through what was left of the camp.

'There are many ships sailing downriver,' Legolas told them and they turned their eyes to see a fleet of ships in the near distance as if they had not long left. They were making their way to Osgiliath, Gimli realised.

'They are moving the camp,' he said, mentally kicking himself for not working that out.

'Then Aragorn must be returning to the city,' Eomer said and urged Firefoot forwards.

The troop followed, their horses' ears pricked and their heads up now that they were home.

Most of the remaining Men gathered to greet the returning Éored and Dúnedain. Gimli waved to Pippin and Sam who were waiting excitedly.

Gimli slid from Firefoot's back, Eomer lending him a hand and found himself ankle deep in mud but he cared not for it was uncomfortable riding behind the saddle bumping along like so much baggage. He squelched through the mud, happy nonetheless to be on his two feet on the earth and the good rock and stone beneath, and greeted the hobbits.

Pippin was sliding towards them and waving in excitement. 'Gimli! Legolas!' The rain had plastered his hair round his face.

Legolas slid from Arod's back and patted him while the hobbits edged their way through the column of Rohirrim. Arod followed the last horse gloomily, head low and plodding, leaving Legolas and Gimli to greet Sam and Pippin.

'Welcome back,' cried Sam, and Gimli was delighted to see how much better the little gardener looked. He had his Lorien cloak pulled close over his head and round his shoulders.

'Have you had breakfast?' Pippin asked immediately. 'We are just on our way to elevenses.' He ran a finger round his teeth. 'We had some very nice bacon this morning. With eggs and mushrooms and tomatoes. They had those little loaves you like, Legolas.'

Gimli laughed. 'Well now, master hobbits, I have certainly had First breakfast but not second, although I need to get out of these wet clothes and find Aragorn first and then will join you I think. What say you, Legolas?'

Legolas was looking away towards the river as if distracted.

Pippin gave the elf a worried look then and touched Legolas' arm. 'Legolas, before you go looking, Elrohir has gone with Merry back to Minas Tirith. He was sent with Gandalf and Merry to greet Faramir and make sure everything was ready for Aragorn's return.' He looked up anxiously at Legolas, who glanced down briefly and then silently turned his face west again.

Gimli gave him a quick look and said nothing but he grabbed at the ends of his beard and worried at them.

'I knew he was no longer here,' Legolas said and his voice was distant. 'I could not hear him.' But he did not say what he meant by that and Gimli decided that it meant that Legolas was perfectly well without Elrohir…Except it would have helped to have Elrohir adding his voice to Gimli's that all Saruman dealt in was lies.

Rain ran off the sides of the pavilions and into the narrow paths between, making the mud slippery and deep in places. Gimli found himself clinging to Legolas as he slipped and slid after the hobbits. It was the not the first time that Gimli thought hobbits' feet gave them an advantage over his sturdy boots. But he would not admit that Legolas seemed to tread upon the mud and leave barely a mark or that his boots had only a light scuff where Gimli's were covered in soft, wet mud. It was not the first time either, that he had remarked that Legolas' tunic seemed to repel the weather like nothing he had ever seen. It irritated him unreasonably.

'Aragorn has had messages from the North,' Sam said over his shoulder and Gimli grunted that he had heard. 'There was news that the Shire has been unscathed, but that Rivendell was attacked.'

'Rivendell?' exclaimed Legolas in surprise as if he had awakened from a dream. 'That is news indeed. I did not think Sauron would dare try his strength against Elrond unless he had the Ring itself.'

'I suppose there was war everywhere,' said Pippin sadly. 'There were no dwarves among the messengers, I'm afraid, Gimli, or elves. But perhaps they brought letters from the Lonely Mountain and the Wood.'

Gimli's heart raced at the news that there were messengers from the North. No dwarves did not mean there were no messages. Legolas had straightened too and exchanged a glance with Gimli.

'Any crumb of news will be welcome,' Legolas said hopefully. 'I hope that there are messages from my father and brothers.' He looked a little forlorn then and Gimli crossed his fingers in an ancient prayer and hoped with all his heart that there was, and that it was good news for all of them.

'Then we will go straight to Aragorn and wait to get dry and fed. My heart aches to hear from my kin,' Gimli said.

But when they arrived at Aragorn's tent, much smaller and less imposing than the great pavilion of before for that too had been packed up and sent to Minas Tirith, he was in council and would not be finished until a little later. But the equerry who spoke to them assured them that the King would finish early in order to greet them.

'You may as well come to Second Breakfast then,' Sam invited them and Pippin gave them a wide grin.

'I am going to get dry first,' said Gimli determinedly. He thought briefly about intruding upon Aragorn and demanding their letters but Aragorn was so new to his role and there would be those who pounced on every sign of weakness.

So, in a smaller tent than he had had before and was now back to sharing with Legolas, Gimli peeled off his sopping wet clothes, right down to his small clothes and dried himself in front of the small fire in the centre of the tent and watched the raindrops that came through the vent in the roof for smoke, sizzle on the logs. He shook his head. Really, Men did not seem able to make a fire that did not smoke, he thought. Sam and Pippin were to wait for them in the new dining tent. 'Not as big as the old one but there's more food and fewer people to feed,' Pippin had announced happily.

Gimli pulled on a blessedly warm and dry undergarments and shirt, breeches and wondered if he should try bare feet like the hobbits.

'Feet dry more quickly than boots.' Legolas quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head towards Gimli's own boots, thick with wet sludge as if he had read Gimli's own thoughts. Gimli hummed but was pleased that Legolas seemed himself again. And he too felt more comfortable and at ease. And the dining tent was very close by. In fact, the advantage of a much smaller camp, thought Gimli, was that everything was close by.

'What is that tent there?' he asked Legolas as they dashed from theirs to the dining tent. It was very small and two sentries stood miserably in the soaking rain.

Legolas shook his head. 'I am not sure. Perhaps there are still prisoners?' He was quiet for a moment and then he said, almost with relief, 'That Mirror is no longer here. I cannot feel it.'

Gimli glanced at him, a gnaw of fear in his bones. 'You cannot feel it?'

Legolas shook his head. 'No. It has gone.'

But before Gimli could ask if it felt like the Ring, they were at the entrance of the dining tent and Legolas ducked his head to go inside. But Gimli paused for a moment before he followed, pulling off his boots before he walked on the rushes and thick rugs.

Legolas was already sitting between the hobbits, his long legs stretched out and Pippin perched beside him, swinging his feet and talking excitedly. But though he seemed relaxed, Gimli thought Legolas looked pale and too still. He longs for news as do I, he thought.

'You were going to tell me about your brothers, Legolas. We talked about them before the Battle.' Pippin loaded a plate with bacon and eggs and mushrooms and fried potatoes for Gimli first and then Legolas.

'I have two brothers,' Legolas said with a small smile. 'Laersul- who is taller than anyone here, and very strong. He is the leader of our troops. Our people love him.' He paused. 'As do I. When Laersul is with you, you feel that you can never come to harm.'

"That's just how I feel about you, Legolas!' exclaimed Pippin.

Legolas looked surprised and pleased and almost ducked his head as if faintly embarrassed. Gimli's heart gave a fond squeeze of affection.

'He has just found his beloved.' Legolas smiled very slightly to himself at some memory. 'He kept her waiting for so long before he realized what everyone else had known for…years.' His voice caught them and Pippin looked up quickly. But Legolas swallowed and then continued with a forced brightness, 'And Thalos is my other brother. He can spin silk from a spider with his words.' He laughed softly. 'He is the captain of the East Bite. I served under him when I first went to the South with Anglach… Thalos would always let us have our leave at the same time.' Legolas looked down at his plate and after a moment, put his fork down. Then he asked brightly, too brightly thought Gimli, 'Do you have brothers, Pippin? Or sisters?'

'I do. I have three older sisters. Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca.' Pippin chattered on.

'Are they famous beauties?' Gimli asked, gallantly as always.

Sam looked uncomfortable and Pippin twitched a little.

'Well…Folk come from miles around to visit...And if Pimpernel does have rather smaller feet than Pearl, she is the kindest soul that ever lived.' He glared at Sam as if daring him to speak.

'That is true, Pip,' Sam nodded. 'And she can cook. She can bake the lightest cakes, iced with chocolate icing and walnuts. And her pastry melts in the mouth.' Sam looked dreamily.

'My lords?' A Man greeted them courteously, a little awed, and bowed low. 'The King asks that you join him. He has messages. From the North.'

Gimli looked up at Legolas. 'At last! We will have news of our kin!' He drained his tankard of ale and smacked his lips. 'I have only news that my father is still hale and well, but I long for news of my kin and friends. They will have fought before the gates of the Mountain.'

Legolas was quiet though and Gimli knew that he saw the yellow smoke curling through the burning trees, screaming, the gurgling growl of Orcs and goblins.

0o0o

They were escorted by the Man to a tent that was not as grand as before, but Legolas noted the two Gondorian soldiers standing to attention outside. It was a custom, he had observed, to stand guards outside the King's tent even though he was surrounded by an army.

Aragorn immediately came to greet them, clasping their arms and asking after the hunt.

'Well I have to credit Legolas with twelve,' Gimli said loudly, standing with his feet apart before the stove that had replaced the cheerful fire. It was cold, unlit on this April morning but still Legolas knew how mortals seemed to feel the cold even on such as day as this.

'Twelve?!' Legolas exclaimed but his heart was not in it. He simply wanted the letters. To put his heart at rest, he told himself. To hear that his father, Galion, both his brothers were safe.

Aragorn seemed to understand for he said, 'I have had letters from both Dain and Thranduil.'

Legolas felt a little sigh escape. From his father. A letter in his own hand. It meant that he at least was safe. But Laersul?

'Both realms have survived with losses on both parts I fear,' Aragorn went on. He stood beside his desk where a small pile of letters was perched on the corner. 'I do not know how heavy the losses I fear but Erebor is clear of Sauron's armies. They fell when Sauron did- it seems the goblins did not have enough will to fight on once he was gone…In the Wood there are skirmishes rather than battle. The Wood is burned, your father says.' He looked at Legolas. 'But he says it will recover.'

Aragorn picked up the small bundle of papers in his hand and he fidgeted with them awkwardly. Then held them out towards Legolas. 'There are messages here. For you and Gimli…. Personal ones.' He paused and then said, 'With news of home.'

Legolas stared at him and then at the letters. Almost trembling, he reached out and took them. Two had the hard runes of the Khazâd which he gave straight to Gimli and one was fastened with a thin red ribbon and the seal of the Wood. He could hardly wait and unravelled the ribbon and pulled the fine white parchment open.

The writing was in father's fine hand and even though Aragorn had told him his father was alive, seeing his writing made Legolas gasp in relief and he clutched the letter hard.

'Legolas? What news?' Aragorn leaned forward anxiously.

Legolas shook his head, tears blinded him and he glanced at Aragorn in relief. 'My father writes,' he said. 'I haven't even read it yet! It means he lives.'

He wiped his eyes unashamed and looked down at the script.

'My dearest Legolas,

'I hope with all my heart this finds you well and that means that you will soon be coming home; I wish to hasten your return of course, but you will represent me at Aragorn's coronation and I am proud that you will stand for the Wood in this new world. I know you will have acquitted yourself well and that you have shown all the Peoples of the World your quality and the quality of the folk of the Wood.

'Battle yet lingers here, skirmishes in the main for with Sauron gone, the Orcs seem to have lost their will. Even so, I will again lead our warriors out here in the north of the forest. Galion is here beside me and telling me what to write, so I am ignoring him.'

Legolas smiled, imagining the two of them, heads bent over this paper, Galion wittering in Thranduil's ear until he became irritated and snapped at Galion. But Galion would ignore him and carry on and surely…he turned over the letter and there was Galion's spidery script scribbled at the bottom.

He turned it back- he would read that later.

'But I know you will want news of your brothers, my heart. '

Here, there was a small blot, like Thranduil had rested his pen on the paper as if thinking how to write. Legolas' heart speeded a little. Sudden doubt crept into him.

Yellow smoke…. a body hoisted high…

He breathed in sharply, belly churned with anxiety.

'Thalos is safe, or at least he leads the last skirmishes in the South and I have heard no different.'

Thalos? If Thalos was leading then where was Laersul?

That yellow smoke…. golden hair like a pennant…Not Thranduil then…Not Thranduil…No.

'And Laersul…'

Legolas stilled. His heart gave a dreadful jump.

'…was injured in the assault upon Dol Guldur and had to be returned home. He has awoken now but has no memory of the attack. Galion says he has not been so grumpy since he was a small child and lost his mumakîl. But Laersul has never been grumpy.'

Legolas found himself weeping as he had not since a small child and Thranduil had shut himself away in his own grief. It was Laersul - strong, kind Laersul - who had lifted Legolas and held him against his chest, murmuring softly and stroking his hair, singing to him until the beat of that indomitable heart had enveloped him. The Song had curled around him and held him safe in those strong arms.

Gimli was on his feet in consternation and Aragorn took two strides over to Legolas and gripped him by the arms. 'Tell me!' he insisted. 'What news can bring you such desolation? Legolas! Speak to me!'

Legolas looked up at him through his tear-filled smile. 'Saruman lied. They are all alive. They all live. It was a lie, Gimli. You told me that. How did you know? All this time I have lived with it….' And suddenly he realised the immense pressure that had been building up inside him and it broke. He took a deep breath and tipped his head back so his hair streamed behind him and closed his eyes, glorying in the relief, his love for his home, his family. Elrohir. He could go to Elrohir now.

Later he read the whole letter once more. It was a long letter full of news. The Wood was still burning but the fires were under control and the Men of Dale and Esgaroth as well as some Dwarves from Erebor were helping get it under control. Thranduil wrote admiringly of the inventiveness of the dwarves who had constructed a device of iron and steel to pump water from the underground lakes to quench the flames nearest the stronghold. There was sad news too: amongst the dead was Lossar who had stood before a group of children and women to slow down the orcs and allow the group to escape. He was cut down before their eyes. And every child and every woman butchered.

Legolas could not read anymore for a moment. Lossar, with his slow, sensual smile and long dark hair. His quick wit. He wondered how Miriel was for she and Lossar had used to listen for each other's song, even when both of them twined about Legolas and the three of them had loved long and deeply. He knew that Lossar would not be the only one they lost and about whom he cared.

Galion had added, 'Write to us soon, little one. We are desperate to know you are safe and your father is a bear with not knowing. Sadly, Alagos did not perish and is taking this message to Lothlorien where someone more suitable will bring the message on, but come back to us. Ignore what your father says about staying any longer and come home. We miss you. I will make enough rabbit pie to keep you happy for months. And let us know soon that the rumours about you taking a dwarf to your bed are not true. That is too much, even for you, Legolas. I hope so anyway. Anyone else I would scoff at but with you I never really know. Laersul says to stay safe; he had some sort of premonition but we hear you are well and so it was a lie.'

Legolas kept the letter close and read it over and over. He wept for Miriel, sweet girl that she was, and for her always beloved Lossar. But Laersul was alive. And Thalos and his father and dear Galion. They were all safe.

0o0o0o