Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Twenty Eight
Author: Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: G this chapter.
Disclaimer: I love them and thank Tolkien for them. They are not mine. I claim
only the original characters and ideas. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters.
Archive: Axe and Bow. Cuddle slash. Others please ask.
Feedback: Please. saraharizonaanne@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 love, advice, and support. Thank you to Marigold for the wonderful beta work. Any
mistakes left are mine.

The elves around them slowly filed out of the clearing, some of them pausing to smile and nod at Gimli, as they went past.

Legolas was embraced by his father and both his brothers before they left. Celund also embraced Legolas and patted Gimli on the back before he departed.


As soon as they were alone, Legolas held a quiet conversation with the little seedling speaking words of encouragement to it and telling the sapling of his love for Gimli.

Gimli waited, listening partly to the music of the forest and some to Legolas who was informing the tree that 'his dwarf was perfect and more beautiful than any being that ever existed.'

Gimli chuckled and caressed Legolas' arm. "Your compliments are biased, I believe, but they are highly flattering."

Legolas stood up and embraced Gimli. Gimli moved into his arms and for several minutes they clung to each other, listening to the sound of the wind in the trees and the music. Gimli felt as if his heart had settled in next to Legolas' own and even the beat of it was slowing to match that of his love's. He wondered
if this was a fancy or like the music that he once dismissed very real.

"Gimli, how did you know what to do?"

"Tasar taught me while you were with your King."

"Our King now. That was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. You have replaced the hurt in one swift stroke, faster than you kill orcs with your axe. How can I ever thank you?"

Gimli rubbed his elf's back. "You love me and I think that is quite enough. It's a small gift compared to having your love which has given me much."

"I do love you Gimli, with everything I am."

They lingered on the lane leading to the feast, neither in a hurry to join the crowd. "I believe the Valar blessed us, Gimli." Legolas said excitedly. "I sensed our bond grow stronger and I could feel your heart next to mine," he paused for breath, "and I could perceive your emotions. You felt it, too, did you not?"

"Aye, and I'm beginning to conclude that you are right. Perhaps we were meant to be. It is difficult for me, Legolas. So much I would have deemed impossible has happened that I find it hard to judge what is or is not likely. Sometimes, I feel as if I walk in a wonderful dream that I fervently hope never ends. I am more aware of the bond than I was before. Perhaps to your kind it is just a
common feeling."

"It is new to me and I will never feel it is common. Wonderful is more how I'd describe it."

Even before they arrived Gimli could smell the roasted fowl and fish mingled with the night time forest scent.

More tables had been placed in the glade. Heavy green and blue cloths covered the tables, which were laden with good things.

Legolas headed to one of the tables. Gimli felt hungry and hoped he was going to be allowed a chance to taste some of the food. Legolas had told him that they were expected to sit at the middle of a table and that people would visit them in turns during the feast.

The first elves to visit them were Lire and her parents. Gimli was aware that Lire refused to rest at night unless Ata'da had wished her a good sleep. By Ata'da she meant the King and Gimli had seen her brought to him at every party they had attended. Normally she was wearing a nightgown but tonight she was clothed in a yellow dress. Lire's hair had been pulled back over her ears and
tied with a ribbon. She was beaming and came right up to Gimli, "That was beautiful. Really beautiful. I have never seen a sapling replanted so wonderfully." She sighed happily.

Lire glanced at Legolas. "Will you be bringing home a lot of dwarves to plant trees?"

Both her parents instantly said, "Lire!" but Legolas replied, "No, only this one."

Gimli could tell his elf was amused despite the shocked expressions of the child's mother and father. He said gently to the excited lass who didn't seem at all abashed by her parents' reaction, "Dwarves usually do not plant trees. I was
taught by Tasar and that was a special planting done just for Legolas."

She nodded, pleased with his answer. "Because you love him."

Gimli answered, "Aye."

Her face shone with joy, she bounced on her toes, and repeated, "Beautiful."

Casting apologetic looks at Gimli, Callon, Lire's father said to Legolas and Gimli, "May your future have all you need and contain much you desire. Let your joy in each other make the bond strong." Then he said to Lire, "Let's go see the King now."

They headed off but Lire suddenly turned and running up to Gimli embraced him. She addressed them both and said, "May your happiness in each other never end."


Gimli returned the hug and said, "It's a blessing of my people to say, 'may your life be filled with happiness but to you I say, "May your eternity be filled with love and joy and your heart never shadowed by sorrow."

Her eyes brightened even further and her hug tightened. "You will visit me again?"

Gimli nodded.

"Then I shall be happy."

She returned to her parents. Her father smiled and said to Gimli, "Thank you."

After she left, Legolas said teasingly, "My niece is going to like you better than me Gimli."

The next few visits went smoothly with people wishing them well and giving a blessing.

There were many elves from the families of those who had fallen in the war that told Gimli they appreciated what he had done.

Essian's sister, Ecetincan, sat next to them briefly. She was wearing a necklace made of flowers. She said in a quiet voice, "I am so glad for what you did tonight, Gimli. Essian died fighting for our King and our people and the Greenwood. He would not want any part of it to be a place of sorrow. He would
rejoice to know love will be there instead. Greatly, do I and my family thank you."

She smiled and said, "My bond with Uritern will be two thousand years old soon and the King has told me that we may plant a seedling in honour of our love
where Essian died."

Legolas' hand stayed over Gimli's during the visits and he whispered after Ecetincan left, "You have made many people happy tonight, my dwarf."

Gimli had been correct in his assumptions that getting to eat would be difficult to accomplish. No sooner would one elf leave another would arrive. He had managed a bit of the fish when they were joined by a couple that Gimli had never seen before. The male was tall with long blonde hair but it was the female that
captured Gimli's attention. She was shorter and built more delicately than any elf Gimli had ever seen before. What really held Gimli's focus, however, was the long silver hair. He had seen silver haired elves before but this one's locks were a darker shade than any he could recall. Darker even than Lord Celeborn's,
Gimli reflected. The male had his arm securely around her and Gimli did not need to be told to know that he was gazing on a bonded couple.

It was the male who spoke first. His voice was low and his words were calmly spoken. "Legolas, I have always loved you, my Lord and my cousin's youngest, yet I was planning to never acknowledge your existence again. It was too much to
accept. Yet tonight..." his grey eyes went to Gimli. "Tonight I hope you will forgive my harsh thoughts." He loosed the woman from his embrace and bowed slightly. "Fromein, Nidon's son, at your service. This is my wife, Cuan, Harwe's daughter. I hope you will not hold my wrong judgment against her for oft she told me that it is only hate that builds barriers and love is strong enough to
destroy any obstacle. All I could see was the long distrust between the two races, yet this evening, my wife was proved right. I am glad she insisted that we attend the ceremony."

Legolas had thrown his arm around the back of Gimli's chair, letting his fingers rest against his dwarf's shoulders. Gimli knew he was stating his love and support. He stood up and said, "Gimli, son of Gloin. At yours and your family's." He motioned to the chairs next to them.

They sat for a while talking and Gimli tried to place how they were related to Legolas. He had met Nidon at one of the parties. Nidon was kin to Elind although Gimli could not recall how. So Fromein was from Legolas' mother's side of the family but beyond that he was at a lost.

When they departed Cuan said, "I hope you will visit us before you leave. Our talan is not too far from the fortress."

Fromein nodded and said," May your hearts always be open to each other and..."

Cuan finished the blessing, "May your love never grow cold."

Finally Tasar and Lisse arrived to sit with them. They did not seem to expect Legolas and Gimli to keep a conversation going so the dwarf began to make real progress on his roasted fish.

Gimli paused long enough to look for Lastand and Celduil as Tasar's presence reminded him of their discussion that afternoon. He found Celduil soon enough. Celduil was standing by the King talking with other elves. Once Celduil was located,
Gimli discovered it was easy to find Lastand. He simply followed Celduil's gaze. She was eating with Varyar, their oldest son, and his family at another table. Gimli watched as Lastand's glance went to Celduil only to hastily look away.

The wine flowed and Gimli saw no end to it. The elves imbued freely and by the time the sweet course arrived many of them had merrier voices than usual.

Tasar and Lisse remained with them through the sweet course. Celund and Celduil visited with them briefly. Lastand came to talk to Legolas and Gimli also. Gimli realised that if he hadn't been in the company of elves so often, he might have missed the traces of sorrow that was often in her speech. She left the meadow
after wishing them well, taking a path that Gimli knew led away from the fortress. He wondered how to ask about this action when Lisse said, "She is going to the talan, Celduil and she have often shared since the day of their bonding. They spent their first night together there and she lives in the talan more than at the fortress."

Shortly after Tasar and Lisse left, Orontem arrived. Orontem was happily informing Gimli how much he liked the idea of the tree and that he had heard that their Lord was going to let other bonded couples transplant a seedling there to stand for love, too.

Gimli observed Orentem as he talked. He definitely had a habit of stating things as if he knew more of the subject than anyone else. Yet he was, also, clearly expressing true joy about the seedling.

Their next visitor was the King himself. He directed his first statements to Gimli, "I'm very happy about the seedling. The Shadow has finally departed from my lands. I would not have traces of it left to linger in the Greenwood. We will not forget those we lost but memories with love have no darkness unlike
recollections where there is only sorrow."

Gimli felt proud. He answered, "I love him and his people are part of who he is." He thought it was a too simple answer yet it stated exactly what he believed and brought smiles to the faces of both father and son.


Thranduil said, "Legolas, your mother would have been very happy tonight. She greatly wanted her sons to be loved. You are much like her in temperament. And she was a gem whose beauty was beyond all other jewels. A treasure with no flaws."

Gimli stared at the elven Lord. He could see why Thorin would not have wanted to trust the woodland King. Thranduil's words sounded similar to a dwarf describing his one love. Gimli had used such expressions himself to describe Legolas. Gimli was aware of Legolas' grin.

Before Thranduil left, he told them that he would not be the one to decide which couples would be chosen to plant seedlings in honour of their bond. His people would submit their names or the names of the couples they felt should be picked. The list of names would be given to three elves from his council. The only
stipulations the King had given them was that they select both older and newer bonds and that they allow Essian's sister and her bonded one to plant a seedling.

After the last course was served, Legolas said, "We shall be expected to get up soon and make an effort to talk to everyone here."

Gimli stared at him in disbelief. "My elf, they have all been over here at least once."

"It is custom." Legolas grinned.

Gimli shook his head but he got up when Legolas did.

An hour and many visits later, they found themselves with Celduil. He was standing quietly off to himself. They talked for a few minutes then Celduil said, "I imagine you miss your parents tonight, Gimli."

"Aye. Although I doubt my father would have come even if invited. My mother has been dead for many years."

"That is a very difficult hardship to endure. Do you have siblings you were responsible for?"

"I have a sister. Her one faithfully stood by her, though. "

"Her one? Oh, you mean her bonded."

Gimli did not correct this statement. His people did not use the term bonded.

Celduil appeared lost in thought.

"I guess her bonded love did not have many obligations besides her," he said softly.

Gimli easily comprehended that Celduil wanted to excuse his behaviour of long ago. He did not intend to give him reasons to justify his lack of support to Lastand when Legolas' mother died. A dwarf would consider Celduil's actions disloyal. "No, but he volunteered to go in and help recover the bodies. It was an extremely difficult ordeal."

A soft gasp from Celduil. "That is awful. How could he provide consolation to anyone after that?"

Gimli did not know how to help this elf understand. "My people tend to draw closer in times of sorrow. He went to search for our mother's body because he cherishes my sister. He did so, also, to spare her doing so herself. And Dorin stayed by her afterwards. There is little love cannot give strength for if we really care for the person."

Legolas' hand had gone to his shoulder.

Celduil grew even more thoughtful. "I've been watching you two and doing a great deal of thinking. The way you love each other. Maybe I really should... The dwarf...Dorin... that went to look for your mother out of love for your sister. Perhaps dwarves love so strongly they can do that. Do you suppose if this dwarf could do this for your sister I can... well, I could... I suppose?"

Inwardly Gimli felt like pulling his beard in frustration. Legolas' fingers went to his beard as if he sensed Gimli's emotions. Celduil couldn't even bring himself to suggest apologising.

Gimli was unsure of how to aid Celduil further. Celduil needed a rather huge shove yet the dwarf did not like the thought of angering him. The idea that was forming might work but he hated the possibility of causing Legolas' brother to dislike him. Still the discord had gone on for far too many years. "No. I doubt you could."

"What!"

"I do not believe you are capable. Love gives strength, aye, but there must be some there in the first place. I would not expect such from an elf."

Legolas did not even tense and Gimli was relieved. This was not aimed at Legolas but at the elf whose mouth had just fallen open.

For long moments Celduil said nothing and made no movement besides staring at Gimli.

Then he said firmly, "I can. I most certainty can. Legolas, you have done me a disservice. You did not warn me how painful his arrows could be. I will prove you wrong, Gimli." He left without waiting for a reply.

Gimli noted that he headed down the path Lastand had taken.


Legolas tugged his beard. "I would not expect such from an elf, indeed. That is painful! I understand your purpose, though, and I'm grateful. His pride is wounded enough that it may be awhile before he realises you can't possibly mean your words. After all, you just officially bonded yourself to an elf."

Gimli shrugged. "He made his own insult. He said, 'Maybe dwarves love so strongly they can do that.' Implying elves cannot." He removed Legolas' fingers from his beard as they were pulling his thoughts elsewhere.

Legolas suddenly began laughing. Those around glanced at him but none came his way. Finally he caught his breath and said, "Celduil has never in all his years been spoken to in such a way. Never. 'I would not expect such from an elf.' You should be glad he did not go into shock."

Many thoughts raced through Gimli's mind. Legolas had probably never been spoken to that way before the Quest and the dwarf had not spared him.

The Elven King was used to being given the utmost respect too and Thorin's lack of it would have angered him deeply. Scrutinising the elves around them, Gimli also perceived that as the woodland people had been in the midst of a party on the night the dwarves had encountered them, many of Thranduil's folk would have been drunk. So the Lord would have been dealing with unaccustomed rudeness and having many of his army intoxicated. It would not have been a comfortable place to be in.

Eventually, Legolas seemed satisfied that they had seen enough people. He said to Gimli, "Are you ready to leave, meleth-nín?"

"Aye, mir nín."

Legolas' gaze fixed on Gimli and then he grinned, "Did Tasar teach you the word for treasure too?"

"Aye."

Legolas laughed. "I knew I had brothers for some reason."

They were stopped at the edge of the meadow by Elind. She was with a male elf and she stated to Gimli, "I will introduce you if you promise to not insist on that greeting."

Gimli could feel the sudden tension in his elf. Gimli grinned and nodded.

"This is my husband, Kelium."

Kelium said, "I hope you both find acceptance among your new people."

"What you ought to hope is that Gimli's people do not take a disliking to Legolas and kill him in some odd ritual of theirs." The words were harsh but she said it in a soft tone and caressed Kelium's face as she spoke.

Before Gimli could protest, Kelium replied, "If he can cause one dwarf to love him so much, then surely the rest will at least put up with his presence. No point in worrying over what we cannot control."

Gimli stated firmly, "My people will do no such thing. Legolas is my one. Whether they like him or not, they will respect that."

Elind looked at Gimli and replied, "I gave up my right to protest to the two of you tonight, however..." she glanced across the field and Gimli followed her gaze to the woodland King, "I never told him that I would be quiet about everything. Where is that oldest son of his? Thranduil should do something about that situation and I shall inform him of it, seeing as he is overly slow in tending to the matter."

Gimli suddenly had a great amount of sympathy for Legolas' father. He did understand Elind, though. The ceremony had made her feel that it was past time for Celduil to heed his own vows. He looked over at Kelium. He did not seem disturbed about his wife's intentions. He just said, "The dancing should start soon. I want to talk to Calimetaur about that beautiful song."

They both headed their different ways and Legolas said, "I'm sure my Lord will enjoy her advice."

Gimli grinned. "I doubt it."

Legolas said, "Kelium rarely talks to anyone. He used to laugh often. When I was growing up, I thought there was nothing in Arda that he could not find amusement in. Then my mother died and now he hardly ever laughs."

Gimli patted Legolas on the back. He was aware of how sorrow changed people.

Legolas smiled at him, "My mother would have loved you, Gimli."

Seeing Gimli's expression, Legolas said, "She told me before my coming of age party that if she could have one wish for me, it would be that I find a love that was strong and true. I have both in you. It was the last time, Naneth and I talked alone. You'd have brought her happiness. She was never one to even dislike people much less hate them."

Gimli smiled and nodded. "Your father said you are like her. She was wonderful, I'm certain of it, love."

Legolas' happiness shone from his eyes and face. Joining hands, they left the party.

Tbc.