The old ways

Gimli strode towards the old Istari “How can you be this calm about it? We cannot let him go! Say something, do something!”
“Gimli, I don’t believe, I can change our elf’s mind, in this matter. You have to understand that elves do have a special role here on Middle earth. I fear for him and the unborn child as much as you do, but all we can do is to help and protect him the best we can. And I think you will be the perfect protection for him. Legolas, “ Gandalf turned and addressed the elf “only we know about your condition. Don’t thi think you should tell Aragorn as well?”
“No, Gandalf. He doesn’t even know about our marriage. Haldir and I had been apart for a long time already when I got to know Aragorn, that I wouldn’t want to bother him with my private life now. He has enough to worry about already. No, maybe, if we all survive this, he will know eventually. Let me keep it to myself for now.”
“If you wish. But if the need arises, don’t hesitate to ask for help, for I won’t be there to help you.”
Gimli stood proud as he interrupted “Don’t worry Master Gandalf. I will protect not only our elf but also his child. I think my head has the perfect height. So Legolas, if you just stay behind me, nothing can go wrong.”

Gandalf left them, in order to find Eomer and promised to be back on the fifth day. The people of Edoras had evacuated their homes and took only the most important things with them and now they marched towards Helm’s deep. Legolas was scouting the area on foot, while some others went on horses to clear their path of any approaching foe. Gimli had chosen to stay on Arod, not because he liked riding so much, or his short legs wouldn’t carry him, but he had made up his mind, that even if he was not an accomplished rider, he wanted to bring the horse to Legolas as quickly as possible, if it was needed. They had not walked half the distance when they were attacked by warg riders. Gimli tried to suppress his panic and rode after Legolas quickly. The fight was hard but over in no time. Many good fighters had lost their life in this fight and would be badly missed in the upcoming battle for Helm’s deep. When the dust had settled, Gimli and Legolas frantically searched for Aragorn, who was still missing. All they found was the pendant of the Evenstar in the hands of an orc who laughed at them before he died.
It was a quiet and sad returning to the rest of the group, who had already reached the keep. Gimli busied himself with tasks, grouping up women and their children, organising troops and their stations. It looked hopeless. Far too little men who would be able to fight, too little weapons and no courage wherever he looked. All his eyes met was despair and fatigue.
Aragorn’s death weighed heavily upon them and he didn’t want to think about how it was for Legolas. He found the elf huddled in a corner, lost in thought and as if he wasn’t quite there. The dwarf crouched before Legolas and put his hands on the elf’s knees, a little like he had done in Fangorn forest. “Legolas, do you hear me?”
After a few seconds Legolas eyes refocused and he looked at the dwarf questioningly “Yes, Gimli?”
“How do you feel. Any problems? Nausea, dizziness? Pain? Do you need anything?”
“No, thank you. I just, I don’t know. I wish I could have Haldir here. I need him so badly. But on the other hand I dread meeting him again.”


“Why do you dread meeting him again? Are you scared that he would have the same opinion as I about you joining us in your condition? Maybe you would listen to him. I still don’t think it is a very good idea. Specially now that we have lost Aragorn as well.”
“Oh Gimli. It is worse than that. The main reason I choose to leave Haldir all those years ago was something he said, that hurt me very much. Coming to think of it now, I think he was right. He was right about me and that is taking all my hope for our future.”
“Are you tal abo about the future of Middle earth or your future with Haldir?” Gimli sat back on his heels.
“Haldir’s and my future.”
“Hey, come on. You just got back together again and you seemed quite happy. What could be so bad that it wouldn’t work out somehow?”
“Gimli, Haldir and I had a lot of fights when we were still together. But the worst bit was, when I had undergone the procedure to become fertile. It was not certain as when I would become pregnant, they told us that the first time would happen eventually and after that I could control my body functions to an extent that I could actually have an influence as to when I want to become pregnant again. But anyhow, the first time was to be kind of surprising. The whole time Haldir was at me, ‘be careful’, ‘don’t do this, don’t do that’, ‘what if your are pregnant and you don’t notice’ and so on. At that time Mirkwood was heavily invaded by Sauron’s creatures and I begged him to come with me and go to my home to defend it. He wouldn’t hear of it. In the end our fight got so bad that I threatened him to go on my own. All he said to me was; ‘Legolas, you are the most irresponsible person I have ever met. One can not trust in your judgement, or your not existing wisdom. I, for myself, would never in my life trust you, of all, with the life of my child. You would manage to go to war carrying my child and I want no part of it. Do you understand what I am saying?”
Gimli looked a little shocked but pulled himself together immediately “Listen, I don’t think he meant it like that. And he’s not here. So, he doesn’t know and when this war is over and we are all healthy and back together again, you will tell him and you’ll see that he will be happy and everything is going to work out just fine.”
Legolas’ lips curved in the smallest of smiles “Thank you for your comforting words my friend. I know Haldir hadn’t meant the words he said, but there is a t in in them that scares me. And I don’t think he will take it lightly when he finds out. But there is much time until then and we will have to face this battle first. There is just so little hope that we will make it through the night. And to think that I won’t see my love again and that I haven’t had the chance of telling him about our child makes me very sad.”
“As Aragorn said; there is always hope.” Gimli nudged Legolas legs a little and stood up “Come, my friend help meget get a small troop together, we have to make do with what we’ve got.”
Legolas got up as well and followed his comrade to the great hall and out to the entrance, when he suddenly heard Gimli raise his voice and saw him hugging the familiar form of his friend Aragorn. It couldn’t be. He was alive. Legolas felt his knees weaken a little. Hope flared in his chest and he stood waiting on top of the stairs, still not quite believing what he saw. Then Aragorn was ascending the steps, keeping his gaze downcast, nearly bumping into the elf.
The short banter between the two clearly showed the stress they were under and the relief to see each other again. But even though the leader of the fellowship was with them again, it didn’t improve the fact that there were no soldiers to defend the keep. Gimli sensed the upcoming fight between Legolas and Aragorn but he was in no situation to stop it. The fear was clear to see on the elf’s face when he shouted at Aragorn and Gimli knew er ter than to explain to Aragorn that Legolas was not only in fear for himself but also for the unborn child he was carrying. He knew the two friends would make up sooner or later, so he let them be. And how right he was, as Gimli was trying to find a chain mail for himself, he spotted Aragorn and the elf hugging and obviously excusing themselves for their previous behaviour. The dwarf couldn’t help himself making a joke about the chain mail he had just been trying on, as suddenly horns were to be heard and only he noticed the mixed emotions in Legolas voice as he exclaimed “Those are no orc horns!”. The elf was clearly happy to hear horns of his own people, but a slight twinge of fear laced his voice, hoping it were not the Galadrim who had come to their aid.
Aragorn stormed out of the armoury to meet whoever had announced himself so loudly. Out on the stairs to the great hall they all stood and stared, through the large gate of the keep poured an elven army of archers and sword fighters and leading them in a shining gold and red armour came Haldir of Lorien a brilliant smile on his features.