Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Twenty three
Author: Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: G this chapter.
Disclaimer: I love them and thank Tolkien for them. They are not mine. I own nothing that belongs to Tolkien. I do claim the original characters and ideas. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong completely to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters.
Archive: Axe and Bow. Others please ask.
Feedback: Please.
Author notes: Thank you to everyone who gave me fb. The encouragement helps me more than I can say. Thank you, Marigold, for the wonderful beta work and nice additions. I'm proud to be one of yours. Any mistakes left are mine.
Thank you, Sivan, for the lovely review. Thank you Brazgirl for the great review. I'm glad you can see Gimli's love. Tasar is my emotional one, who feels strongly. :} I hope you like this chapter, too. Plenty of Thranduil. :}

Legolas made his way down the quiet corridors, wondering what his father could want. Several people greeted him as he passed and a friend called, "Are you nervous about tonight, Legolas?"


Legolas shook his head and smiled. "I'm excited about it." He arrived at the partially open door to the Lord's study and called, "My King?"

"Enter."

Legolas went into the chamber and inclined his head in deference to his father who smiled and gestured for him to sit. He glanced curiously at the gold chest on the desk. It was ornamented with green jewels and had a heavy lock.

"Son, is there anything you wish to discuss with me before tonight's bonding ceremony?"

"There is a song that would give me joy to hear at the start. I'll stop by Calimetaur's and see if she feels she has time to learn it. There is nothing else." Legolas paused. There was an issue Gimli had felt his father should be made aware of. "Wait. Yes, there is something. Gimli feels you should know. I have heard the cry of the sea gulls, my Lord. The sea calls to me. Its pull is strong yet I want only to resist it. It's not just because of Gimli. I cannot bear the thought of never seeing our hobbits again and Aragorn will have children that I shall never behold if I leave and..." He took a deep breath. He was aware he was giving his Lord a rather emotional response that might not make much sense.

Legolas continued, "Gimli and I do not desire to reveal certain things to many people. Yet Gimli has given his consent for me to tell you. The Lady Galadriel has granted him permission to leave these shores when I do and Mithrandir also gave his blessing." Not giving his father a chance to reply or even recover from this announcement, Legolas hastily said, "I understand that you won't like this because you'll view it as Gimli does: I'm taking my risk of dying with me but..."


"Son, calm down. When I asked you to speak, I did not realise you were going to pour out so many important statements and not give me a second to consider one matter before you declared another. As for Gimli departing with you, I do not view this as if you were taking your risk of death with you. Your news brings me great joy. I've paid close attention to both of you. It is my belief that you would not survive the crossing without him in the first place. If he goes with you then perhaps you will be granted extra years and each of those I will value. I am very happy about this, my son. You have asked Gimli, I take it, and he has said he will go with you?"

Legolas focused on the box. "Not exactly. I told Gimli I desired him to go but I can't ask that of him, Ada. He has told me that he will go."

"Son, I have noticed throughout your life that you have a habit of stating what you want but not actually asking. Please tell me that you do not do the same with Gimli."

"Nay. I..." Legolas paused. He could clearly recall informing his love that he could not ask him to attend that first meeting with Legolas' family. When he had wanted Gimli to go with him.

"I see. Legolas, you should ask for what you need. Gimli shouldn't be expected to guess. If he is willing to forsake even Middle-earth for you then he deserves to have you request the gift. That way, you can acknowledge the gift and freely accept it, blessing his sacrifice with your love. You can use his offering to increase the love you two share if you don't choose to hide his gift away instead."

"I can't, my Lord. To ask that of Gimli is to request so very much. It's selfish of me to want him to leave when I do."

"What does Gimli say about that?"

"He states that I cannot help the way I was created."

"Gimli is correct and very kind to you, Legolas. It must take a great deal of bravery to be willing to part from all he has ever known and go live with a people that are not his own. Surely, you can find the courage to ask him outright to depart with you. I won't command you to do so but I will strongly urge you to. I don't think that by requesting this of Gimli you are making him sorrowful. You lessen the joy of giving if you don't ask and accept. It would be as if you hid a present he gave you, never letting him see your happiness over it. If you do that all you've left him is the sacrifice and none of the reward. It appears to me that you need to start making a habit of asking for what you want. Request the most difficult matter first and everything else should be easier."

Legolas nodded. "You are right, my Lord."

Thranduil smiled. "You've made me almost afraid to inquire but is there anything else you desire to talk about?"

"Are you going to permit me to live in Ithilien with some of our people to start a colony there?"

"Yes, I thought that was understood. Tasar and Lisse and many of their line plan on leaving with you. This brings us to something I wish to talk to you about. Do you want me to settle a certain amount of money on you now or do you wish to continue as we always have?"

"I will need to think on the matter. I have nothing else to pounce upon you with, my King. Is the question regarding the money what you summoned me for?"

"Nay. I wished to apologise to you, Legolas, for sending you away from home in anger. I have regretted doing so many times. I am aware that my sending you has turned out for the best but I am sorry it was done while I was still furious."

"I bear no grudge, Ada, and never held it against you. I was to watch Gollum and took him for walks without your knowledge or consent. I failed you."

"I believe we failed each other. I am proud of you. I do want you to realise that I'm not upset over your relationship with Gimli. I was in the beginning. You know what I went through when your mother died and you saw my grief when Nelyahin was killed. I could not understand how you could risk putting your family through such sorrow again. However, I've watched Gimli and you closely. Not many are loved the way you are."

The King smiled. "I hope you've noticed the many little things he does. I've seen the servants serve him sliced apricots and he waits until he thinks no one is looking and then slides all but one or two onto your plate. Gimli knows what you love. I observed how his hand went to yours when we spoke of things he knew were unpleasant to you. I can feel nothing but gratitude toward him for I've noted something else, too. The way you look at him as if every breath you take belongs to him. You love so strongly that I would fear for you if I had not seen his love for you in return."

Legolas replied, "I am very aware of the many little ways Gimli shows his love for me." He smiled. "Including the apricots."

"I've seen you display the same love to him. I myself know what biscuits he likes best because as soon as the servants bring them out at the parties, you take some to him."

Legolas felt his heart sing with happiness at his father's words. His King had seen how much they loved each other. "I love him more than I could ever say."

Thranduil slid a small silver key across the table. "This box and its contents are yours. You may do as you wish with it. I thought when Gimli bestows jewels upon you, you might wish to have something to give back. As you are not exchanging rings tonight, you might also appreciate having such gifts."

Legolas opened the box and gasped. He picked up a beryl ornament meant for the hair. "My Lord, the white ones are some of your favourites, yet you are giving several to me."

"Of course Legolas. It wouldn't be much of a present if I only gave jewels I don't care for myself."

Legolas had spotted something else. It was a carnelian, the same shade as Gimli's birth day's colour on his tattoo.

"I'm giving you that one for a specific reason. When you were a toddler I used to carry you around with me often. Once, I became overly occupied with my treasure, and wasn't paying adequate attention to you. All of a sudden, your mother swooped down on me and informed me that she'd never trust me again if I couldn't watch you better. You had taken that particular stone and decided to taste it. You earned me quite a lecture on how elflings can choke on small items."

Legolas laughed. His fingers lingered over various beautiful and familiar pieces and he looked over at his father. "I cannot thank you enough, Ada. In truth, my pride was not happy with accepting jewels from Gimli but now..." his voice choked slightly, "It is all right now."

"I am glad, my son. Legolas, remember, you are always welcome to come and talk to me. I will try to be fair in my advice."

Legolas stood up and went to his father's side. His Lord met him and for long moments they stood embraced in each other's arms.

Tbc