Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Twenty Six
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 song is not mine. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong solely to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters.
Archive: Axe and Bow. Cuddle slash. Others please ask.
Feedback: Please. sarah@arizonaanne@hotpop.com
Author notes: Thank you to everyone who gave me fb. The encouragement helps me more than I can say. Thank you to erobey for the support and love. Thank you, Marigold, for the wonderful beta work and nice additions. I'm proud to be one of yours. Any mistakes left are mine.


Gimli sensed Legolas' surprise almost as if it was his own. He felt as if had lost his balance. The snugness in his heart remained and while it was a good sensation, he was unaccustomed to it.

Legolas' hand gripped Gimli's shoulder and the dwarf looked up into eyes overflowing with happiness.

The ceremony had overwhelmed Gimli and now he was going to have more elves than he had ever seen following him as he went to fetch the seedling.

The song came to him again, soft and smoothing. Reassured, Gimli concentrated. This was for Legolas alone and all the Elves in Arda did not for that instant matter. Only Legolas was important.

Gimli knew the paths well and headed towards the beech. Legolas moved to his side and whispered, "Gimli?"

Gimli shook his head. "You will know soon, my treasure."

The area around the seedling had been lit with lanterns hanging from the trees nearby. The light of the lanterns reached out to the sapling, joining it through the tenuous thread of luminance to the meadow where they had pledged their eternal unity, binding up its life force into their bond of love.

A bucket and a burlap sack that had been wetted had been placed next to the small tree. The promised circle had been drawn in the dirt.

Gimli bent over the beech and whispered, "It is time." Remembering Tasar's words he carefully began to dig around the circle. It was, in a way, similar to his gemstone work. One needed a gentle touch.

After Gimli had dug around and to the depth Tasar had instructed, he tenderly lifted the tree out and wrapped the wet burlap sack around it. He slid it into the bucket and glanced up at Legolas for affirmation that his actions were the correct ones. Legolas met his eyes and nodded.

Gimli picked the pail up and ignoring the crowd of elves, pretended it was just Legolas and him as he walked in the direction of the burned area.

Legolas sang softly during the route back. "We could not be torn apart without it tearing out a heart..."

Gimli recognised the song. It was referred to as the Bonding Melody and Gimli had heard Tasar sing it to Lisse at one of the parties.

When they arrived at the edge of the clearing, Gimli saw the shovel, burlap strips, and another bucket with water set in the very middle of the wide area.

Gimli made his way to the chosen spot. He carefully set the pail with the sapling down and said to the seedling. "This is your new home." He picked the shovel up and struck it firmly into the ground.

He paused and reminded himself to focus on Legolas alone and not on the spectators around them. Gimli glanced up into his love's gaze and stated, "I cannot repair what has been done. But I will replant this little one here, where it can get sunlight. Here it shall stand as a symbol of our love. May it grow to be a mighty tree as surely as our love will always remain strong. I will put love into this place where there has been sorrow. For you and for your people."

As Gimli spoke he watched as Legolas' eyes became bright with unshed tears and a single tear made its way down his face at the end of the dwarf's speech.

Gimli commenced to transplant the little tree. He went slowly. When he had the new cavity dug, he put some loosened soil into the bottom of the hole. Gimli looked back to Legolas. This to Gimli was the most difficult part, judging whether or not he was giving the root ball the right amount of space. The roots had to be level with the surrounding ground.

Legolas smiled, brushed a hand across his eyes, and then nodded.

Gimli continued cautiously. This was a living thing he was touching. Keeping his attention completely on the sapling, he placed it into the shallow pit. Then he cut the twine and loosened the burlap, rolling it back. He knew the next step: fill in the space around the roots with soil, and make a ridge of dirt around the edge of the hole. Tasar had told him that the ridge would help retain water near the tree's roots.

Last, Gimli wrapped the trunk of the seedling with the burlap strips and poured some water into the ridge he had created. He was almost finished but instead of a sense of pride, he just felt strange. Dwarves did not talk to trees nor did they spend time worrying over whether a seedling got sunlight. He was a dwarf and they did not...


Gimli peered back at Legolas and concluded that he must have done the transplanting correctly. His elf's face held rapture, bringing Gimli a sense of pride. Dwarves did not bring such happiness to elves either but he had.

When the moist dirt had been solidly packed in, Gimli laid down the shovel. He was surprised when an elf stepped forward with a bowl of water and a cloth. "For your hands."

Legolas had bent to the young tree and was speaking quiet words in Sindarin to it.

While Gimli cleaned the soft earth from his hands, he surveyed his surroundings. None of the elves were too close to them. They were gathered in quiet groups. Tasar had his arm around Lisse and they stood together silently as one. Celduil was studying the ground and Gimli wondered if the elf was remembering his own promises made long ago. Lastand was standing not far from her husband in between both of their sons. The King was a short distance away, his eyes on Legolas.

Once Gimli had washed, the Lord announced, "The feast will be in the meadow. Everyone is invited."

Tbc