Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Twenty one
Author: Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: PG this chapter.
Disclaimer: I love them and thank Tolkien for them. They are not mine. I claim only the original ideas and characters. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong solely to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters.
Archive: Axe and Bow. Others please ask.
Feedback: Please. saraharizoneanne@hotpop.com
Author notes: 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.


They lay mingled together recovering from their loving, just hours away from the contract being signed.

"Gimli, I've been thinking about when we became lovers. I wasn't overwhelming was I?"

Gimli chuckled. "Now is an interesting time to ask. You are always overwhelming and I'm glad for it."

"I did try going slowly as we elves often do but you made it difficult indeed. I remember well a certain night in Lothlorien when I sat close to you and..."

"You've had a habit of sitting close beside me since the beginning of the Quest. Never understood that."

"I like the way you smell."

"Hmm. Thank you." Gimli felt very happy with the compliment. He suspected Legolas' sense of smell was as acute as his other senses.

"We were sitting next to each other and I even had an arm around you. I told you how I could not imagine anything better than sitting under the stars with you. That being in your company was, to me, far better than the presence of any of my own people. I must have gone on for a quarter of an hour. I thought I was expressing myself quite well and yet when I was finished you snorted at me! Snorted, Gimli!"

Gimli said indignantly, "I do not snort."

Legolas cleared his throat, "You went..." He tried to imitate Gimli with no success. He could not get his voice low enough. He was capable of making small growling sounds but they in no way resembled the deeper noise Gimli had made. With each attempt Gimli laughed harder, finally having to sit up and gasp for breath. He laughed for quite a few minutes.

When he was quiet, Legolas said, "I hope you are quite through with your enjoyment at my expense so that I may continue."

Gimli, who was still trying to catch his breath, had trouble not laughing again.

Legolas continued, "I know you well now. That sound from you means that you agree with me and are quite fond of me."

"To say the very least," Gimli replied. "I love you, my crazed elf."

"At the time, I believed your response was because you considered me the silliest creature alive."

Gimli chuckled. "The night you are referring to, I was caught up in the spell of your beautiful voice. It did not occur to me to wonder how you were perceiving things. We've made a lot of progress. Join me in a bath?"

"Now? We have a few hours before the contract."

Gimli, knowing the King would send for Legolas in an hour said, "I desire a bath."

"All right. I'll join you."

Legolas was just finishing the last braid in Gimli's hair when he said, "Someone is at the door."

Legolas opened the door to a servant who handed him a card and then left.

Legolas read it and said, "I've been summoned to my King. He wishes to speak to me alone. What do you think he wants, Gimli?"

"It is customary among my people for a father to teach his son the obligations of a commitment."

Legolas gazed at Gimli, "Obligations?"

"Aye. Although in our case with you screaming so loudly and often, perhaps he wishes to tell you how to make our joinings less painful."

"What?"

Gimli bit his lip to keep from laughing. Legolas' voice had risen and he had gone pale except for the tip of his ears which had become flushed. It was a most interesting reaction and though he felt guilty, Gimli enjoyed it. "Legolas, I am jesting. I know not what your King desires to speak with you about but probably he just wants to express his love for you. You'd best go."

Legolas nodded. At the door, he paused to give Gimli a glance, saying, "I love you, meleth nín, but your joke lacked humour."

Gimli made sure Legolas had left before having a good laugh.

Gimli sat down and waited quietly. It was not long before there was another tap on the door. Gimli answered it.

Tasar greeted him and said, "Father told me what you want to do. I think it is a wonderful idea. Are you ready to leave?"

"Aye."

Tbc