An Arrow's Path Complete

Title: An Arrow's Path
Author: Sarah
Chapter One.
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: a mild PG
Warnings: Slash eventually. None here.
Author's notes: I'm a new writer and couldn't have done any of these chapters without Cheysuli. I am very grateful. Book verse.
Disclaimer: Tolkien owns it all. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong solely and completely to Tolkien and are in no way related to the movie characters.
Feedback: Yes, please. saraharizonaanne@hotpop.com blackkoda@yahoo.com
Beta: Cheysuli.

Story can also be read at: http://avia.silverbloom.net/mirror/viewuser.php?uid=158


Gimli stared at the ceiling and tried to stay awake. Aragorn had been very adamant about not wanting Gimli to sleep just yet. He had said,” Your drowsiness worries me, Gimli. One should not go to sleep right after a head wound. Try to stay awake a little longer."

Gimli had not protested. He felt his tiredness was due to the battle and not his wound. He was too weary to argue. He had told Legolas and Aragorn that he was not in pain but it wasn't exactly the truth. Truthfully, the wound smarted and stung. He would be glad when he could get some rest.

There would be other problems, too, if that blasted elf did not stop gripping his hand like that and rubbing his thumb over Gimli's palm.

"You don't need to hold my hand, I am not a child. First, you try to tuck me in and now you hold my hand. Enough."

Legolas let go of his hand but for some reason this did not make Gimli happy, either. Perhaps the damage to his head was more severe than he had thought.

Legolas really should leave. Gimli had not asked the count of the dead or even who had died but he knew much. He had heard many rumours of elves and grief. He did not wish such an ordeal on Legolas. The rumours had helped to develop the friendship between him and Legolas because he had worried about Legolas after they had believed Gandalf to be dead. And he fretted over what would happen to Legolas when
Aragorn married as Gimli was certain he would.

Now they had survived a great battle and Legolas should go somewhere he would feel free to grieve. He should not be at Gimli's bedside looking so anxious.

Maybe he was waiting for Aragorn to hold him. If so, he had a long wait. Aragorn was busy with the injured and dying.

Gimli had complained about not being allowed to rest in his room, but Aragorn had said, "I need to have you here. I will be tending the wounded for awhile. If you are near them, I can check on you more often."

So, Legolas had moved a cot and a chair into a nearby storage room. This way Gimli would have quiet but still be close to the injured.

"You don't have to stay here, Legolas. I'm not dying. I battled after this wound and walked. The two of you are making too much of it. I'm exhausted because I was up quite awhile, battled long, and despite Aragorn's ideas on the matter, it is not that recent of a cut to force me to stay awake."

"Still, it would comfort me, Gimli, if you stay awake a bit longer."

Gimli heard the anxiety in Legolas' voice and decided not to argue the issue.

Legolas had been acting rather strange since he had discovered that Gimli was injured. He had gone even paler than he normally was when he had first spied Gimli.

Then, while Aragorn was tending Gimli's hurt, Legolas had hovered so closely that Aragorn had to tell him three times to move back.

The blanket had been odd, also; Legolas trying to tuck it around him like he was a baby.

Just when Gimli reckoned he knew everything Legolas could do to aggravate him, the elf found something new.

Right now, Legolas was staring at him as if he had never laid eyes on him before. Probably trying to make sure Gimli wasn't dozing.

"You saw me yesterday. And I'm not napping."

"I wish you wouldn't close your eyes. I can't judge if you are asleep or not and what is more it worries me when you shut your eyes."

Gimli chuckled. A bad response on his part as it sent sharp pains through his head but Legolas was funny.

Gimli had said many times to himself, "I wish he would rest with his eyes shut so I can tell if he is in repose or not."

"So it is true that elves close their eyes only when ill?"

"Yes, and I would be more at ease if you keep yours open."

"I closed my eyes because I was thinking."

"What of? And can't you think with your eyes open or is that why you behave so strangely at times? You have trouble thinking with your eyes open?"

Gimli laughed now. It hurt to laugh but it felt good, too.

*No,* thought Gimli, *I do not desire to inform him of my father's warnings.*

Gimli had tried hard to keep in mind his father's caution at the counsel but the instant he had set eyes on Legolas, the warnings had became dim.

Gimli had kept thinking that Legolas' hair was similar to liquid gold- more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. He had, in fact, deliberated on it so much, that he had missed part of what was being said about Gollum. He had found one of the hobbits later and managed to get the portion he had missed. That had been amusing because he had soon realised he was conversing with Sam and Sam had not been invited to hear any of it, yet he seemed to know all of it.

"You are not going to share your thoughts?"

"I was thinking that your hair reminds me of liquid gold. And you need a bath. Why don't you go take one? I will be fine."

"Do I smell that badly? Is that why you are so eager to get rid of me?"

Gimli glanced over at Legolas. "I just thought you might prefer taking a bath over sitting here. You don't smell. I enjoy your presence. Should my head start to hurt me as bad as you seem to believe it does, I could feast my eyes on your hair and forget the pain. And you would be happy because my eyes would be open."

Legolas smiled.” Now those statements I do like. You can be charming when you want to be. I just wish more of that charm was directed at me."

Legolas sounded wistful. Gimli understood that he hadn't given Legolas very many gracious words before Lothlorien. He had tried to ignore the elf the majority of the time.

There was, however, one statement in particular that Gimli regretting making. He could recall it clearly.

Aragorn had got up during Gimli's night watch and asked him why he was being so unreasonable with Legolas.

Gimli had not understood, the day had gone well.

Aragorn had said, "Legolas has tried for two nights now to be friendly and you have rejected him each time."

Gimli had been puzzled. "I don't remember Legolas attempting to be friendly."

"Legolas has approached you twice during the evening meal and you say nothing to him. You ignore him as if he wasn't there."

Gimli was beginning to see now. "Aragorn, he stands over me like... like... “Gimli could not think of a way to describe it, "...like an elf. He just towers over me. You call that an offer of friendship? Why can't he sit down to eat as the rest of us do?"

The Man's next words had both stunned and shamed the dwarf. Aragorn had simply said, "Did you invite him to sit next to you?"

Aragorn had said no more but he hadn't had to.

Unfortunately, Gimli had completely failed at the next evening meal.

Legolas had brought his food over again and Gimli had said in way of an invitation, "Don't tower over me like a troll, sit down."

Gimli had felt remorse over his statement as soon as it was made. He had been surprised when Legolas had settled at his side. If Legolas had challenged him then and there, Gimli would have felt he deserved it after such words.

Legolas had certainty re-paid him for the remark. He had replied,” You may call me a troll but you are a mushroom."

His declaration caused an instant reaction from Pippin who was on the other side of the camp. "Mushroom? Did you say mushrooms, Legolas? Did you find some?"

Gimli had perceived that the hobbits were focused on them now.

Legolas had sighed.” I am sorry to disappoint but I haven't found any mushrooms."

Frodo had answered rather sharply, "Then don't talk about it, Legolas. If your meal is not enough for you, imagine how we feel."

Legolas had said under his breath, "Hobbits love mushrooms."

Gimli had nodded and then a worse imagining came to him. Maybe this was some kind of huge insult. Was Legolas implying something about Bilbo being with dwarves? Gimli's musing had gone to several vulgar meanings at that point and he had become quite offended. Now as he reflected back on it he was sure Legolas had meant no insult. Ah, but what he had thought back then...

Gimli began to roar with laughter. The sharp pains in his head were a reminder that he should not, but he disregarded them.

"What is so entertaining?" Legolas inquired.

Gimli made an effort to stop laughing. He had refused the pain draught Aragorn had offered but he was causing his head to really ache.

"Legolas, I'm sorry I called you a troll."

Gimli tried not to laugh again.

"This is what you are laughing about?" Legolas said, bewildered.

"No. I thought you called me a mushroom because you were insulting my father."

"I don't understand."

Gimli looked over at Legolas. Legolas appeared very confused. *He will conclude that my head is causing me to speak nonsense soon,* Gimli thought. *I'd better make it clearer.* "You may not want to. You said hobbits loved mushrooms. I had this notion that you were suggesting that was why Bilbo liked dwarves."

"Why Bilbo liked dwarves?" Legolas asked, sounding even more perplexed.

Legolas looked so lost that Gimli had difficulty not laughing again. He had faith in Legolas figuring it out, though.

A few minutes later a soft, "Oh," from Legolas and Gimli discerned that he was beginning to comprehend.

He peered back at Legolas and started chuckling again.

Legolas’ face was a mixture of shock and upset.

"Gimli, I did not mean that; it never occurred to me. Do you always think so nasty?"

Gimli was still laughing and could only shake his head. Another bad move on his part. His head was really starting to hurt now.

"No wonder you acted so offended the next few days. I couldn't understand it at all."

Gimli could tell Legolas was starting to feel upset over the conversation. It was possible the elf believed he was still offended.

"I imagine not. And it is not really a slur to me. It could be taken as a compliment even though I deemed you wanted to slight me."

"So you got offended because you reckoned I wanted to offend you?"

Gimli could hear amusement enter Legolas' voice now. Legolas was starting to see the humour in it finally.

Gimli laughed again, Legolas soon joining him, before he was stopped by a sudden sharp pain. He felt Legolas' hands on his shoulders as the elf eased him up and handed him a drink. The instant Gimli tasted it, he realised the pain draught had been mixed with it. He did not comment on it.

There was a tap on the door. Legolas called, "Come in."

Aragorn stood in the doorway, looking more fatigued than Gimli felt. He had brought his bag of herbs and healing salves.

Gimli wondered why he had knocked, it was just a storage room. It wasn't as if he and Legolas could be having a private conversation. Gimli wasn't the one who was always speaking a language no one else understood with Legolas.

"How are you feeling, Gimli?" Aragorn said with concern.

"He's in some pain. My fault for encouraging him to talk." Legolas said.

Gimli frowned. "I can speak for myself."

Aragorn began to examine the wound.

Gimli braced himself. He knew Aragorn's idea of treating the damage. Last time, it had involved cleaning it and making remarks on just how much blood Gimli had lost. Observations that seemed to distress Legolas more than Gimli.

Aragorn's treatment had, also, included that awful salve that was most likely the reason the injury stung. Aragorn had said it was useful so the wound would not fester, but Gimli was of the opinion that the sting alone could kill one.

Legolas probably had personal experience with the salve because it was when Aragorn reached for it last time that the elf had felt it necessary to hold his hand.

Legolas had already moved from the chair to stand behind Aragorn.

"I'm fine but could you send the elf away? He really should go to bed, surely even he needs rest by now."

"He wouldn't sleep for worrying over you and elves have a better sense of time than humans. I'll need him to wake you later. I don't think you need more ointment on the gash. Your eyes appear to be fine," Aragorn commented, smiling.

"Very well. Legolas, let him sleep. Send someone for me if he appears to have any problems. Wake him in an hour, and check his eyes. If they seem in any way to be different from normal, you are to call for someone to get me immediately. If he seems confused or dizzy, I am to be informed. Don't let him go back to sleep if he is having any problems. Alright?"

Legolas nodded.

Gimli sighed. No rest for the weary. So much fuss over a minor injury.

Aragorn added, "If he seems fine in an hour, let him sleep. I'll be back to see how he is as soon as possible."

After Aragorn left, Legolas said, "I suppose you are going to close your eyes now."

"I can't sleep otherwise, Legolas. I am not fragile, I'll be fine."

Gimli was close to slumber, when he thought of something else he wanted to tell Legolas. "Legolas?"

"I'm here."

"I like it now."

"Like what?"

"The way you sleep. Eyes so beautiful should not be closed. Besides, I'll probably be able to discern soon if you are asleep or not. Your eyes look different when you are in repose, as if you are walking somewhere far away. Perhaps one day, you will tell me where you go when you are asleep."

"I will."

"And Legolas?"

"Yes?"

"Bilbo lives with elves."

Gimli drifted into sleep listening to the pleasant music of elven laughter.

Tbc.