Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return To Mirkwood
Chapter Fourteen
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 Gimli and Legolas I write belong solely to Tolkien. They are not related to the movie characters.
Archive: Axe and Bow. 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 all the wonderful support, advice, and love.

Thank you to Adina, whose drabble inspired parts of this chapter. She kindly gave me permission.

Thank you to Marigold for the super great beta work. I am glad for your touch on my work. Any mistakes left are mine

Gimli paid no attention to the leaves crunching under his feet. His focus was on the warm autumn air and the trees with their brightly coloured leaves and the melody the air contained. The fresh, autumn scent smelled good. *A bit like my elf,* but Gimli kept that thought to himself.

The music was slow but clear to his ears. Legolas was singing softly. The forest floor was becoming carpeted with leaves of red, orange and gold. The trees were so tall above Gimli that he could catch only a gleam of fall's clear blue sky. Legolas occasionally stopped to examine the ground but Gimli, enthralled by the music, did not question him. The happiness of being able to perceive the music so clearly filled his spirit and he dwelt on each note, letting the melody take most of his concentration.

Their path led to a meadow sprinkled with pink and white flowers spilling sweet scent into the air. There were several little children gathering flowers into big baskets that held not only the blossoms but also pinecones gleaned from the forest floor. The elflings were singing as they worked. Two elven lads were trying to build a house out of leaves and twigs. Nearby an adult was gathering herbs. Gimli caught a glimpse of a striped cat in a tree.

Tiny black and white birds hopped among the grasses and around the small trees that ringed the place. The shrubs had red berries and Legolas informed Gimli that they were mulberry bushes. There was laughter in his voice but Gimli discerned nothing funny about the trees. Before he could question Legolas, his elf continued, "Sometimes we put tables here and have parties. I like this meadow. Would this place be acceptable?"

"Aye. Very much so."

There were trails leading away from the meadow in every direction and Legolas headed down one of them. Every so often Legolas would peer at the ground, around a log, or under a tree. Gimli's curiosity became greatly heightened. He left the joy of the song and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Have patience with me, melethron nín. I wish to show you."

Gimli asked no more. The footpath wended leisurely through the forest. The trees cast shadows on the carpeted ground.

After a time, Legolas ceased walking and sat next to a beech. He pulled Gimli close and started singing very quietly. Gimli eased down next to his love and into the arms that eagerly enclosed him. The music became even stronger than before and more distinct, Legolas' voice one with it, and Gimli understood. Legolas was helping him hear the song.

Gimli closed his eyes enraptured. A cool breeze blew against his face and he felt as if he would be carried away with the enchantment of it. The beech stirred slightly with the wind and the song moved like a wave with it. He opened his eyes again, observing the fair autumn day. He gazed at Legolas with gratefulness and love.

Legolas kissed him gently and then pointed. Gimli watched as a squirrel scurried out from behind a nearby tree and ran across their path and into another tree.

Time seemed stopped yet the light said afternoon was midway through when Legolas whispered into his ear, "I found what I was searching for, my best friend. Look, is it not beautiful?"

Gimli, feeling he had walked into an impossibly lovely dream was prepared to call anything beautiful, but what Legolas was pointing to tested that belief.

A small cluster of brownish-red mushrooms. The colour was familiar and Gimli recognized it. It was the same as his hair.

"These are not common, lover mine. They are considered a delicacy. These are not the variety that I was envisaging when I called you a mushroom as these are not deadly. I did think of these being like you at Helm's Deep when we had our conversation on mushrooms. I have yet to find the other kind I was referring to but they look similar - only a darker brown. However, I do not view you as either now. You are more like a fine bushy tree to me. One with red berries that grows low and sustains the birds for you give me life, too. Similar to the mulberry bushes I showed you."

Gimli pondered this speech. He had just been referred to as deadly, a mushroom and a tree. A bushy one at that. He believed he had even been called a delicacy. A sustaining delicacy. He thought of himself in many ways but never in any of these terms. It had all been said as a compliment and from the expression on Legolas' face he expected his words to be received as such.

Gimli struggled for some words to answer with and finally managed, "Thank you." He did feel flattered and even for some reason he could not fathom, proud.

Legolas smiled, "You are my treat, are you not?"

Gimli nodded.

Legolas said, "Let's leave the path a short distance so we can be assured of being left alone. I desire to love you, my dwarf, and wish to taste of your wine."

The route among the trees passed by a toppled trunk covered with green velvet moss. It was here that Legolas discovered the other mushrooms he was hunting for and showed them to Gimli. They were not much different from the first mushrooms being only a shade darker.

The place Legolas brought them to was heavily carpeted with leaves and the trees grew closely together. He leaned against a beech and said, "Let me hold you and talk to you. It is time we dealt with something. I had thought the misunderstandings of the past would ease in your mind. Yet it has not. We discussed this in Lothlorien but our love has deepened and with it your sense of recrimination."

Gimli went happily to the arms that reached for him. When he had settled into the elven warmth, Legolas said, "You remember my saying you were a mushroom?"

Gimli nodded firmly. "Aye because I called you a troll."

"I believe your words were 'like a troll.' However, I recall telling you once that your race was the stubbornness, most difficult and impossible one in existence."

"Aye but that was my fault. Several times when you tried to talk to me, I rebuffed you."

Legolas smiled. "And that is one of the things I feel is wonderful about you. You've never blamed me but I know some of those little remarks were made in response to my attitude. Only you still feel guilty and I want to end that this afternoon. When the memories come to mind in the future let us laugh at our foolishness and rejoice in being able to overcome past misunderstandings. The only reason to bring up the unpleasantness of it is so when our people struggle to deal with each other we can be patient knowing it is not easy to bring two very different cultures together. I hold nothing against you and I've long since realised that you have forgiven me. Can you let go of the guilt, Gimli?"

Gimli sighed. "I agree with you but my heart tells me that I should have made a better attempt at understanding. I was so negative to you."

Legolas was silent for a second and then he said, "One of the most exquisite words you ever said to me was 'don't.' That one word makes up for the rest."

The memory that came to Gimli was sharp and extremely clear to such an extent that he wondered if he was viewing it through the bond they shared and seeing it from an elf's acute recall.

Helm's Deep.

Gimli had begun an exploration of every inch of his beloved's neck, careful to leave no mark where it could seen, Legolas' body stirring awake under him.

They had spent far too much of their rest time joining with each other. Both comprehending that there would be many dangers to face in the days ahead, they had been reluctant to sleep.

Legolas had mumbled, "I cannot again, Gimli."

Gimli cupping Legolas' very hardened erection said, "Love?"

"There has not been time to tell you of elven bonding. Greatly do I desire to bond with you. Never have I sensed such a powerful longing. Should we love again, I fear I will not be able to stop my spirit linking with yours."

Gimli became even more aroused and loving Legolas with all his heart, had replied, "Don't."

Later as they were united in love, Legolas had cried out, "Gimli! My spirit seeks..."

Gimli, close to his release, had answered only, "Find."

Now as he looked back on the event, Gimli realised that he had made no attempt to help Legolas. He had been too lost in passion and had assumed that a dwarf could not assist an elf in achieving a bonding anyway.

He had been aware of the consummation of the bonding though. While they had hurriedly dressed, both thinking they should find and support Aragorn, the dwarf had felt certain that his reality had shifted. He had a deep sense of belonging, of finding his place in Arda, and knew that even if separated from Legolas, he would never be alone again. Gimli had felt as if he had just become alive and had beheld his environment with new eyes. Legolas had appeared lost in rapture.

Gimli brought his mind back to the present and nestled into Legolas' chest. "I've called you names and didn't help you when I should have."

"Help me? What do you mean?"

"The bonding. I didn't aid you in its start."

"That took no effort on my part. The toil would have been in preventing it and as you gave permission, I just let it happen. No effort but incredible joy. "

"I could have hurt you with my words before we became friends. I would not want to have done that."

"I might have caused pain, too, but even at our worst neither of us chose words we knew would inflict damage. Am I not correct?"

Gimli's heart rejoiced. He embraced Legolas. "Aye. You are right. No more guilt."

Legolas' hands moved to Gimli's chest. "We have plenty of good memories and we will make another one. And you can help me remove these inconvenient clothes."

"Wait, my elf. I wish to know what it felt like. How did you know the bond might take place if we joined?"

Legolas considered Gimli and then nodded. "Brace yourself."

Gimli thought this an odd request but he complied. "All right."

Legolas reached out and jerked him forward. *He isn't using all his strength,* Gimli reflected, *but close to it.*

"It felt that way. If you were not a dwarf and sleeping so peacefully, at that moment when I realised I could no longer resist the bond, I would have believed your spirit was demanding to join with mine." Legolas smiled and the hands that had gripped so hard moments ago began to caress.

Gimli gazed into his love's eyes and saw reflected back the image of himself snuggled against Legolas at Helm's Deep. "I was sleeping when you noticed?"

Legolas' hands started working with Gimli's clothes. "Yes, you were asleep and I should have been resting, I suppose, but I was going over every part of your body and savouring it and giving praise to Aule. I often do so while you sleep. I was at your chest...doing just this." his fingers slid under the last tunic Gimli had on and he ran his fingers through the dwarf's chest hair.

"You are firm and strong and this feels good. I knew once I perceived the pull that if I lost control in passion we would be joined in more than body. I already yearned for the bonding and was fearful I would not be able to prevent it. I had never longed for a bond before and was unsure how to handle my absolute need for you. I would not have been able to forgive myself if it had happened without your consent."

He nudged his head against Gimli's chest. "I did not believe you would ever be aware of the bond or I would have insisted on waiting until you understood the full consequences. I will never regret my actions for it is obvious that the results are to your satisfaction, too."

Gimli's tunic being successfully removed, Legolas laid his thumbs over his dwarf's nipples. "I was dwelling on how appropriate these are. Hidden like the best treasure." His thumbs began a circling motion.

Gimli gasped. "No reason for regrets. I'd have given you the same answers had I known. As it was I understood this was something you yearned for and that was enough. Legolas, I still desire to understand what you felt when the bonding took place." His fingers clenched Legolas' shoulders as his elf circled a nipple with his tongue.

"I felt dazed. My heart found its home and yet was now free. A contradiction but true. Released to soar with happiness." His breath brushed Gimli's nipples.

Gimli held on tightly, eyes closed, need for Legolas coursing through his body.

"I will never really be alone again and my pleasure was boundless." He attached himself to a nipple.

The trees swayed mildly in the wind and the sweet melody of life entwined with their lovemaking.


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The afternoon was waning when they arrived back at the meadow. The children were gone. A couple passed them. The two did not even notice Legolas or Gimli. They were busy gazing into each other's eyes and Gimli understood the feeling. He looked up at Legolas who met his eyes and smiled. Another pair of elves were sitting at the edge of the meadow by a mulberry tree. They had a hamper of food and a tiny baby lying asleep on a blanket next to them.

Legolas gestured toward a shady pathway. "It leads to the burned area, Gimli. I must see what those filthy creatures did to my beloved woods but it saddens me, too."

"I will stand with you."

Legolas nodded and headed down the path. They came far too suddenly upon an open area with no trees.

To Gimli's eyes it was not so bad. The summer had erased the scars. The white flowers grew in abundance and a butterfly flitted among them. Someone had set a huge basket with flowers of various colours down in one spot. There was a fallen tree with a brown frog sitting on it nearby. Gimli wondered why the elves had left the fallen tree. He recalled the conversation at the dinner table. They had removed what was left of the other trees and had scattered the ashes throughout the entire area to enrich the soil. Though they had died the lost trees would help the new saplings to grow. Vines that had started to become thick had been destroyed in order to leave space for the seedlings that would be moved here.

Gimli knew Legolas would be remembering and mourning the elves that had died here and the trees that no longer were. It was a far bigger area than Gimli had deduced it would be. He could see across the swath of land but not to the end of its length. He slipped his arm around Legolas and pulled his beloved close. He said nothing. There was no way to undo what had been done.

Legolas said, "I suspect the flowers mark where Essian died. Tasar was very good friends with him, and Lisse is fond of buttercups and lobelia. Severvarn died in this area, too. He was one of my Lord's best guards. He would have been somewhere near my Lord at the time. His bonded one died soon afterwards. His name was Aryar. He was..." Legolas' voice quivered and he stopped.

Gimli rubbed Legolas' back. "It is difficult, loved one."

Legolas' arms went around his dwarf and he continued, "Aryar was one of the eldest among us. Older even than my Lord. He was well acquainted with my Lord's father."

Legolas stood holding onto Gimli for many long minutes. Gimli was quiet letting his elf reminisce. Legolas sighed heavily. "So many fine trees, too, Gimli. There was a beech right here at the edge. I used to keep a talan over there in an ancient oak," he pointed across the area, "And there were several dwellings in this area."

They walked across the clearing. Now they were out in the open Gimli could see another basket of flowers in the clearing. He paused when they arrived by one basket. Being closer to the flowers showed him the little blue ones scattered throughout the rest. Gimli recognised these flowers for Legolas had named them to him once. They were forget-me-nots.

When they arrived at the place where the fallen log was, Legolas said, "My talan was right here, Gimli. Perhaps it is just as well. I would not need it for you would not be comfortable there. I would not be happy if you were not content."

Gimli contemplated the place of sorrow and shook his head, "No. It is not just as well. Nothing about this is right."

Legolas smiled sadly. "Yes, there is, for out of death life can be born. Examine the log. It has become a cradle for new seedlings. I wish I had some way of replacing the hate they gave us in this place with love instead, but you are here and so I'm all right, meleth nín."

Gimli observed the little seedlings in the hollow of the tree and listened to Legolas' words. An idea began to form but he had no idea of how to implement it.

The first part of the solution came easily.

Legolas paused as they made their way home to study a seedling a short distance from the path. "I need to tell my Lord of this one." He touched the little beech gently. "It has the potential to grow into a very strong beech but see, Gimli, how the trees being so close around it block the little one from getting sunlight? It is a good candidate to be replanted for it is essential that it gets more space." He smiled at Gimli and sang to the beech.

Gimli caressed the silken blonde hair. He could hear his elf's voice along with a song from the very air around them now.


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Gimli had a chance to start putting his plan into place that evening.

Legolas hoped that there would be information on Narvi or Aren in the library. The library was a different place in the evening. There were no children and the elflings' room was dark. They passed a group quietly discussing a book that sat in the centre of their table. Gimli stopped to look at a painting of a rainbow that he hadn't noticed during the last visit.

"I'm going to go through the scrolls on Mirkwood's first years. I think any books on Narvi would be in the seventh aisle."

Gimli was at the end of the aisle when he spied a book on the top shelf that had Narvi's name on the binder. He stared up at it trying to think of a way to retrieve the book without having to go get Legolas.

"May I be of assistance?"

Gimli closed his eyes briefly. He was accustomed to Legolas' silent approach but it still was unnerving to have someone suddenly behind him most especially the Elven Lord.

"Aye, Lord," he said. "There is a book on Narvi on the top shelf." It occurred to him that this might be his one opportunity. As soon as Thranduil handed him the book, he began in a low voice to tell what he wanted to do.

Under normal circumstances trying to talk to the Elven King might have proved difficult for Gimli but he was in haste to explain what he desired and did so easily. Gimli was relieved that the King not only considered his idea a good one but was very pleased with it.

They were still in a whispered discussion when Legolas came in view and the King said quietly, "I'll ask to speak with Legolas and send Tasar to you shortly before the signing."

As Legolas drew close, his father said to him, "I will have my librarian go through the books and sort out those Gimli might be curious about to place on a separate shelf. What do you think, Gimli? Right about here?" He gestured with his hand.

Gimli nodded. It was a perfect height.

A flash of obvious relief crossed Legolas' face. "That would be appreciated, my Lord."

"Indeed, my Lord, you are most thoughtful. You have my thanks," said Gimli sincerely.

The King replied, "I would like to see both of you in my study the day after tomorrow so we can discuss the contract. Sometime after the noon meal. Have a good evening."

After he had left, Legolas said, "You seemed in a rather earnest conversation with my Lord?"

"I told him about the seedling. He agrees that it should be transplanted. He is planning a feast after the ceremony so they are going to delay the planting. The time is going to be devoted to preparing for the ceremony."

"I've found absolutely nothing on Aren. It is as if he never existed. In fact, I couldn't find any records on my people's first hundred years here. I guess the next step is to search in the List of Names. Let me see what you've discovered before we look there."

They sat down at a desk and began to read. Gimli kept one hand on Legolas' leg and his elf's fingers meandered in his hair. It was not a big book but from Gimli's knowledge of Narvi all of it was correct. *And,* Gimli reflected, *it is written in common.*

There were a few pages on the door at Moria and mention of Celebrimbor's work. It stated that the two of them were friends but gave no details and Legolas sighed. "What do you believe, Gimli? Are we really the only ones to have loved?" Legolas whispered.

Gimli shrugged. He thought it quite possible there were no others.

They spent several hours hunting but found no new information. Before they left for the night, they checked in the list of elves that had gone to the havens. Aren's name was not among them.

TBC