Return to Mirkwood COMPLETE

Title: Return to Mirkwood
Chapter Six.
Author: Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I love them and thank Tolkien for them. They are not mine. I claim only the original ideas and characters. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong completely and 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. It helps a lot. I've needed the encouragement. Thank you to Nefertiti for some extra encouragement when I needed it so very much. Thank you to erobey for the loyal support. Thank you to Marigold for the beta work and for telling me I should write this story. Any mistakes left are mine.

Thank you Nina for the review. I always enjoy knowing what people liked in a chapter. Brazgirl, they are loud. I tried to write a quiet sex chapter, which is later on in the story. and I think I only succeeded in making them louder! Thank you for the review. Thank you to Erunyauve for the review, also. I enjoy your comments. Sivan, thank you. I'd like a Gimli beard myself.

A short time before the noon meal found Gimli sitting in front of the mirror with Legolas across from him putting what he called "lover's braids" in Gimli's hair. Gimli had noticed several elves at the party last night look at the braids in his hair. He had a sense of pride in them for they did not just mark him as Legolas' lover but told clearly who Legolas belonged to.

Dwarves had their own types of braids but Gimli had not changed anything yet in Legolas' hair. This was partly due to the fact that the braids Legolas currently wore labelled him as a warrior among his people. This, too, Gimli was proud of. And Legolas had told him once that he needed the braids to keep his hair from interfering with his archery. Lastly, there was the knowledge that changing Legolas' hair would mean explaining dwarven customs and Gimli rarely felt comfortable doing so. He had been taught reserve for too long and found the breaking of a long history of secrecy by dwarves to be difficult even with Legolas.

Deep inside his heart, Gimli knew there was another reason, too. Putting his own braids in Legolas' hair would be changing something about his elf that had been done in the same fashion long before Gimli had even been born. It would say loudly that Legolas loved a mortal and be a reminder to Gimli of what the consequences might be for his elf.

Naur had disagreed with Gimli on this subject and had stated so strongly.” It is going to be very hard for our people to accept Legolas. You must insist in every way that they do so, seeing to it that he has every privilege due him from being claimed by a dwarf. You're going to have to tell him things, no matter who objects. Never mind the braids, Gimli, he needs to understand certain things and you are late in the divulging. He has a right to belong to our house now, cousin, you gave him that privilege when you took him as your one. You are aware of the rules as well as I, and the least you could do is be sure he comprehends his options. I understand it's difficult. I'd probably have to be half drunk to talk about some topics, but you must find a way."

Gimli realised the time would come when he would have to overcome his feelings of reservation concerning matters of dwarven culture and tell his beloved many things. He knew he owed Legolas the facts to make the decisions that would have to be made in the future. He had already broken a history of seclusion between the two races by taking an elf as his lover and despite all his love for Legolas, he felt reluctant to do more. Yet, he would have to talk to his elf long before they arrived at his own home.

Gimli watched as Legolas glanced at the mirror and paused. Fearing Legolas' thoughts would make them late for the meal and therefore make Legolas tardy for the meeting with his father, Gimli hastily said, "Will you tell me now what is bothering you?"

"My hair really does get a bit messed up during love making, doesn't it, Gimli?" Legolas replied dreamily.

"Only for a few minutes due to my fingers. It falls back in place soon enough. Are you going to answer me?"

"I hardly feel like discussing it. Were you upset about Celduil? I left you alone to deal with him and acted jealous, too."

Gimli was silent for a few minutes. "They all wanted to welcome you home so you were busy and it would have seemed as if you expected trouble if you felt the need to be next to me each time a family member came close."

When Gimli added no more, Legolas said, "And the other?"

"It appears to be possessiveness but it isn't really. And it has helped us because it changed the way I think about you."

Fingers stilled in Gimli's hair. "You can't stop there."

"I noticed in Gondor that your possessiveness seemed to have no pattern to it. Some people were fine, others were not. Your reactions to Naur, for instance. You tensed up when he hugged me in greeting and yet later I even spent time alone with him talking of the gates and you were fine with it. Before, I'll admit to a bit of sadness over your lack of trust in me."

Legolas' fingers moved to run lightly across Gimli's face. "Nay. It was never that."

"I know that now. At first your attitude puzzled me greatly. Why some people and not others? Why is it not alright, sometimes, and then is?"

Legolas finished the braiding and sat back. "Did you come to a conclusion?"

"I almost didn't. I dismissed it as strange elven behaviour but then my thoughts changed and I believe our love will be the better for it."

When Gimli paused, Legolas said, "Yes?"

"I decided that as I was to spend my life at your side I should at least attempt to understand you. Incredibly hard task that it is."

As summer blue eyes met dark brown ones, Gimli sighed, "Ah but it is a rewarding one. So after musing over it I saw a pattern to it. Perhaps I am wrong but I don't reckon you were stating you didn't trust Celduil or me. You make your possessive actions whenever you feel someone will not recognise either the relationship or your rights because of it."

"As soon as Naur accepted us and you knew Naur would not question your rights you were fine. In Celduil's case it was your way of declaring 'the love exists and I have rights and I want them acknowledged.' Am I not correct?"

Quiet in the room and then Gimli was taken aback by Legolas' strong hug. "Yes, a'maelamin, you are." Legolas whispered in his ear. "So I am to have both understanding and love. Truly you are a gift to me. And that which was bothering me seems insignificant compared."

Gimli lifted a chin to see those blue eyes. "You still confuse me greatly at times. Maybe you always will. But it does change things. In time, perhaps, it will make what we have even stronger, though I wonder if that is possible as intense as it is now between us."

Legolas hugged him tighter. "And maybe that is why we have been blessed with the bond. Because you are willing to try to understand me when you don't. Know this, Gimli, I will try to learn to understand you as well."

Legolas searched brown eyes and said softly,” I am your shield brother. That gives me the privilege and obligation to defend you both in battle and should any disagreement arise between you and my family, it is my right to stand with you. If they discern that, then there will no hurt feelings should such a situation take place. You are my lover and I want my privileges as such to be known and the exclusiveness of the bond accepted. Do dwarves have the same views?"

Gimli nodded and held the blue eyes with his own, their hands clasping together, "Though we might add that as my best friend, you have the right to know me better than anyone. To hear my secrets and to be certain that yours are safe with me. As my one love, you have the right to share my good times and the responsibility to be there in the bad times. Just as I have with you. I'm going to have to tell you more of my people and our culture soon."

"I hope you will. I..." Legolas stopped and appeared to be listening. "The noon bell."

Gimli heard nothing but he had no doubt Legolas had discerned the bell. '"We are done, anyway. And loving you makes me hungry."

Legolas laughed. "Come then, Elvellon, so we will not miss the meal."

TBC