Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Twenty
Author: Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: PG this chapter.
Disclaimer: I love them and thank Tolkien for them. They are not mine. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong completely to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters. I claim the original characters and ideas.
Archive: Axe and Bow. Others please ask.
Feedback: Please. saraharizonaanne@hotpop.com
Author notes: I did not give Legolas his colour. I had a method that determined both L/G's colours and fittingly Legolas got green. Thank you to everyone who gave me fb. The encouragement helps me more than I can say. Thank you to Marigold for the wonderful beta work.

Gimli delighted in their walks. He no longer experienced any difficulty in hearing the song. Their route usually went by the little seedling Legolas wanted transplanted. Legolas often talked and sang to the small tree.

They spent many hours in each other's arms under the spruce where Gimli had first told Legolas about being able to hear the song. Gimli would listen to the melody and Legolas' singing. They had their talk time under that tree in the late afternoon, as Gimli was far more comfortable conversing in private.

Legolas often asked Gimli to sing to him or tell him a story. Gimli soon discerned his elf's good judgment. He could teach Legolas much about his people through their songs and tales. It was far easier to do than having serious conversations about such things.

Gimli, also, realised that he was teaching Legolas a foundation for more knowledge later. He taught Legolas the poem dwarf children memorised as they learned the letters of Khuzdul. He recited the rhyme that was used to instruct little ones in their numbers. This, too, he repeated in his own language until Legolas knew it by heart. Legolas could, also, soon sing with no flaw the colour song that educated dwarven children in their colours. The song taught the many colours by naming gems with that shade.

Gimli felt great pride at his elf's quick grasp of sounds. He expressed this to Legolas who promptly laughed and replied, "Your speech is difficult. I believe it was designed to be hard for others to learn to speak. Often you have stated something and I have wondered how I will ever manage to get my tongue to pronounce that word. It cheers me that you think I'm doing well for I would have rated my accomplishment as fair at best."

It was under this evergreen that Legolas began teaching Gimli Sindarin. He assured Gimli that his language was easier to learn. The dwarf, however, doubted this was true. Despite Legolas confirming that a word or sentence was correct Gimli often imagined that it was not. The elven speech did not sound the same spoken in his deeper voice. Once, when Gimli sensed his frustration mounting, Legolas had pulled him close, and said, "Elvellon, your discourse is good enough for your words to be understood easily. That is a great achievement. You've made a lot of progress."

Two days before the contract signing Gimli knew it was time for another serious discussion of his people's customs. He waited until they were comfortable together under the spruce and then began to reveal the naming ceremony each dwarven baby received.

"There are two parts to it. A private one that is attended only by parents and two or three other adults when the true name that few besides the dwarf himself have knowledge of is granted."

Gimli paused and laid his head against Legolas' chest. Legolas' arms went around him.

"Who knows yours?"

"My father, my sister, Naur and his parents. You will soon."

"Gimli, you aren't obligated to tell me that."

Legolas' fingers played gently in Gimli's hair and Gimli was very aware of the hand that rested against his hip. "Aye. I think I am. The bond makes our spirits one and you are not even to be informed of my true name? I will disclose it to you but I desire to do so the night of the contract. After all is done and we are alone again. Though it is your right to know, I will give it as a gift and as something else from my people. If you are agreeable?"

"I am. I perceive it as a gift for all you say differently."

"The next part of the naming ceremony is done with the whole family when the name that will be used every day is given. The tattoo is done afterwards and it is retouched again at the coming of age."

Legolas moved Gimli's leggings from the dwarf's ankle and observed the tattoo.

"The mountain is one of Ered Luin and tells my birthplace. A dwarf would discern by looking where I was born. The symbols at the bottom of the mountains display the year I was born. Only one mountain because I am Gloin's eldest. My sister has two signifying that she is a second child. The background colour behind the mountain belongs to my family and the dye on both sides indicates the month I was born and at the bottom is the day's colour."

Legolas rubbed his thumb over the tattoo. A blue mountain that had a background of burgundy inside a circle. "Does the circle have significance?"

"It discloses my family's status. The circle denotes nobility."

Legolas continued to examine the mark. The sides were a lighter red than the burgundy and melted into a brownish-red at the bottom of the circle. "I always thought it was meant to be fierce, Gimli. All that red; but its purpose is identification, isn't it?"

"Aye. In case an enemy removes the head or mutilates the body. There is a good chance the ankle will be left. And it is done opposite of the weapon hand so if in anger the enemy destroys that half of the body the ankle might be left."

"Not fierce then but gruesome. Although your race has not had it easy so it is understandable. And that's why...." Legolas turned excitedly to Gimli, "It's why you found Pip isn't it? Were you hunting for an ankle?"

Gimli tugged Legolas back into his arms and replied, "I kept thinking of Merry. What were we to tell him? How could we go back and say we had no idea of Pip's fate? The Men had overlooked two hobbits before. It would be even easier to pass over one. I kept hoping to find him. He was not responding to your calls so I realised he was probably injured. It would have been a bitter victory indeed to win and yet lose our Pippin at the end. My heart felt it unbearable. Might as well tear Merry's heart out, too, bringing back such news. I couldn't even bring myself to think of Frodo. After all he went through to have to face the loss of Pip. The ankle crossed my mind more than once and I began to search for hobbit feet."

They sat together for a while and Legolas said, "I miss them. I hope they are well."

"Aye."

"I was thinking of Merry then too. My heart grieved yet I would go back into your arms when night came for consolation. No one could bring comfort to Merry as Pip could. They do not need us. They need each other."

Gimli sighed. "I wish you would not state it that way but you are right. The desire to go chasing after them and fret over their welfare is ours alone. We will always feel a trace of concern for their well-being whereas their lives will hopefully be full and blessed without us."

Gimli reached and tilted a chin placing a kiss on it. "Although if you had kept that piece of elven wisdom to yourself, I'd not have minded."

Legolas laughed. "Have to share so you get all the advantages of being bonded to an elf." His fingers traced Gimli's tattoo. "How would they do mine?"

"Three beech trees because are you a third child and were born in Mirkwood. Your background would be of my family because your people are not dwarves. And this would be the sign of acceptance that you are part of my house. The colours on the side would be green."

Legolas smiled. "My birth month's colour is green?"

Gimli smiled back. "Aye, it is. A bright green. You could leave the area under the trees undone because your day's colour is white or you could have the dark white some of our people choose for that day. When done on a babe it is left blank and the dwarf decides at the coming of age if they want the white added. They would probably allow you to leave out the year as you will be the only elf with a tattoo. So you would be known instantly. The year is detailed work and takes a bit of time. You could have two circles if you desire as your father being King would entitle you to that. I warn you though, the whole procedure is rather unpleasant."

Legolas frowned. "That is not good at all. If a dwarf says, 'the procedure is rather unpleasant', we are actually talking about real pain. At least for the rest of us. I suppose I should be grateful my Lord did not have five offspring with me as the youngest. Just how unpleasant will this be?"

Gimli replied, "I only had to have mine made brighter. It's a bit painful. Accepting the pain is our way of saying we would endure this and even more for the safety of our house. It is a symbol showing we would give our lives to protect our clan. Babies are given a pain draught so they sleep through it but at the coming of age nothing is taken. However..." Gimli paused. This was sensitive and he did not want to offend. "My kin understand you aren't a dwarf and if you want something for the discomfort..."

Legolas said fiercely, "Nay. I am a warrior. I can bear pain as well as you. They will be treating me as one of your house. You said it was the sign of acceptance. I shall be dealt with no differently from anyone else in your family. Although..." He glanced at Gimli and grinned, "I shall need plenty of comforting afterwards."

Legolas moved aside Gimli's hair and nuzzled an ear. "Yes, I should be rewarded. How many rewards can I claim for this and may I start now?"

"You can hardly claim a reward on what we haven't decided yet to do. For your consideration of the matter, I might be persuaded to give you whatever you desire."

Legolas pressed his mouth against Gimli's letting his tongue explore his dwarf's lips. Gimli's arms went around him. "Whatever I desire might be a great deal indeed." Legolas whispered against Gimli's lips.

Tbc