Into The West

A Legolas and Gimli Story by talking2myself

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from Lord of the Rings

"Come Gimli! We will journey on together through Mirkwood and beyond."

-Legolas's final line

The Return of the King

Lady Hyanthiel of Mirkwood stood outside a glorious balcony She gazed out at the emerald beauty that was the forest of Mirkwood. It was her favorite time of day. Twilight. A strange hushed peacefulness fell over the kingdom. She let out a sigh as she settled into her chair which sat perfectly aligned on the veranda. It was quiet. This was a change. The past months had been filled with nothing, but war. Peace was new. Peace was welcomed. The warm breeze swept across her face and ruffled her hair. Here was the perfect place. It was the only place she could be alone. She didn't often seek solitude. It was impossible with her many grandnieces and nephews scampering about the palace halls. She smiled thinking about them. Even now she could hear her nieces and her nephews' wives singing them to sleep down the ancient halls.

It seemed odd that they were mothers and fathers now when they had been children only yesterday, playing with her own son. She let out a heavy sigh. She had only had one child and he had vanished. She got up slowly and began pacing over to the edge of the balcony. Her faithful guard Furin stood at the door. The only person who was allowed out here since her son was gone and her husband too busy to appreciate the beauties of their own kingdom.

Hyanthiel stood there staring out at the forests of Middle Earth waiting for something to jump out at her, as though she would get the answer by simply staring out at the trees for a long enough time. Her husband, Lord Thranduil was in the next chamber. He was pacing. She could hear him doing it... again. Fuirin, her faithful guard, was standing across the room for staring forwards. He was the only other person in the room. He was a tall young elf with dark hair and grey eyes. He was handsome, but all elves were so most of the young lady elves took that for granted. Furin knew she was distracted. He had been loyal to her for some time now. Not only was he one of the finest warriors in Mirkwood, but Hyanthiel genuinely enjoyed his company. He had been her son's closest companion. Perhaps that was another reason why she employed him so long. He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking, "You are troubled, your majesty?" Fuirin asked gently

"Not troubled, Fuirin," she said gently," Just distracted."

"Your majesty," he said," Forgive my boldness. He's not coming back, my lady. He hasn't sent word. It's only through our scouts that we know he's even alive at all!" Hyendell didn't respond. Fuirin continued," The quest has been over for days. He could be anywhere." He took a few steps closer to his queen before saying gently," He won't return. Not whilst SHE's here."

Her steady warm gaze drifted over to him. Her eyes were a lovely golden color. They were gentle and twinkled in the half-light. She gently pushed her long golden braid free of her face. She was beautiful as all elves are. She was nothing compared to the fabled beauty of Galadriel, but she could hold her own against the younger elven maidens. "When, you say "She" I assume you mean, Hareth," she said to Fuirin.

"Yes, my lady," Fuirin said. Hyanthiel chuckled to herself. Fuirin was young. If her son

was here, he'd be about the same age. Both of the young men thought themselves so clever. They both thought that they could quietly go about their own doings without notice. They were both mistaken. Fuirin was talking of her son as though he were long dead, but he seemed just as anxious as the rest of the royal family. As for her son, well he was more difficult to find, but once he was found and brought home he would have some explaining to do.

Hyanthiel fingered a leaf that had sprouted out of the wooden balcony. The palace had been ingeniously designed so that most of the trees were still alive and growing. It was hard to tell where nature stopped and architecture started in Mirkwood. Art and nature blended together in perfect harmony She let out a sigh. Green Leaf. Her son's name. Legolas.

It had been too long since she had last seen him. She could still remember him riding away with the other delegates to the mysterious council at Rivendell. If he had been scared he didn't show it. She had been worried of course, as any mother would be, but she was also proud. Proud that he would accept duty without faltering... or so she had thought.

She let out a sigh. What was this elf thinking? He had served bravely during the quest, but the quest was done! The perian had destroyed the ring! Peace was spreading over all of Middle Earth. Sauron was dead. Now was the time for rebuilding! He should be here

"Many things could have happened to him," Hyanthiel said logically, but she knew in her heart that what he said was true. Her scouts had reported seeing her son alive and whole at the coronation of King Aragorn. She had rejoiced at the news, but that had been five months ago. Five long months. He had not contacted any of his family members. Even the men he had traveled with had no knowledge of where he was. After the ceremony he had seemingly vanished into the world.

Hyanthiel frowned. It was entirely unlike him. Her son had never been one to shirk his responsibilities nor run from duty. He would not leave his fiancée so lightly. Poor Hareth. A lovely elf with long dark hair and big dark eyes. The daughter of an elvish lord they had been friends for years and engaged to her son for several months before the war of the ring had ruined her engagement.

He had ridden off to the council of Elrond without a second thought. His father had told him to go and he went blindly never knowing what he was getting into. Weeks later word had been sent to them that the ring had been destroyed. Only one member of the fellowship had died, the Gondor prince. Why wasn't he here?! Hadn't he been worried about his betrothed? Or about his country which had been plagued by war all the time he had been away? Hareth had been his friend. The two had grown up with each other. The two were as close as any brother or sister could be. It had always been the three of them, Legolas, Hareth and Fuirin. When it had been announced that they were to be engaged Legolas had seemed almost relieved. It was almost as though Hareth had saved him from finding another suitor. Hareth had accepted the choice as well. That is until several weeks before Legolas had set out for Rivendell. It was then and only then that Legolas expressed doubts about the union. However, he never called off the wedding.

Lady Hareth had been calm almost the entire time he had been gone. Of course she had been worried about his safety, but had casually put off the wedding until he returned. Only when there was talk of him returning did she start to worry. The girl was a nervous wreck now. Spending most of her days in her chambers and speaking only to Fuirin. Days had passed and still there was no sign of Legolas.

Now rumors were flying around the land. People were claiming to have sighted Legolas. He was traveling, but not to Mirkwood. He was exploring other forests, but that wasn't the most surprising development. He was traveling in the company of a dwarf!

The dwarf must have been a bad influnce on him. That was what Thranduil had decided. Why else would he act in such a reckless manner? Why else would he disobey his lord and father? Hyanthiel however, possessing a woman's intellect suspected something more. She suspected it would take more than a dwarf to tempt Legolas. She also dismissed rumors that he was running away from his engaged. No, something must have happened to change his heart. It may take days, but she would find him. She would find out what was troubling him. And she would set it right.You will have to return sooner or later, Legolas. And when you do. I shall know your secrets.

Gimli grumbled as he stumbled through the great trees of Fangorn forest. He swore some of the trees enjoyed placing their roots in his path just to make him angry. He had known that he would be heading through Fangorn and he knew that he would not like it, but he had made a promise! He would keep that promise no matter what happened! SMACK! Gimli faceplanted into the ground... again. Another tree root. "Curse you ye overgrown weeds!" he snapped at the trees," I'm on to you! I'm sure you're having a good laugh now even as we speak!" He looked from tree to tree accusingly. All he heard was the swishing of the branches and leaves. He grumbled some more before dragging himself to his feet and brushing himself off. He never did understand how Legolas could "talk" to these trees. But then again there were still a lot of things he didn't understand about Legolas. Like how he could get lost so easily!

"Legolas!" Gimli cried," Legolas I know you're here! Get down this instant!"

Legolas had been sitting in the tree above Gimli. He leapt down lightly, his feet didn't make a sound. "Yes, Gimli?" he asked politely.

Gimli jumped up in surprise. "Don't do that!" he cried at him," You know I hate it when you do that!" Legolas smiled smugly. "And where have you been?!" Gimli demanded," I'm not going to go combing the forest for you every time you want to have a conversation with some over grown bush."

Legolas laughed quietly," I like having conversation with someone my own age."

"There you go again!" Gimli cried," You can stop calling me a child! I know you're an elf and you're older than dirt, but I'm no spring hatchling myself."

"Of course not, Gimli."

Gimli fell in stride behind Legolas," So what now?" he asked," I have you seen every bit of Fangorn Forest? Every rock, tree, and leaf?"

"Give me a mortal lifetime and I'd still not have enough time," Legolas said running his fingers up and down the bark of a tree.

"Well, you've had ENOUGH time!" Gimli said," We've been in this forest for months talking to trees and ents alike. Although I like ents better. They have far better conversations."

"That's because you can't hear what the trees say," Legolas said practically," The voices of the forest are old. They remember everything from the time Middle Earth was young. And they tell it to those who listen."

Gimli scoffed," I'm sure." The two continued through the forest in uncomfortable silence. "Perhaps now you can tell me why you don't want to return to your homeland?" Gimli said abruptly getting straight to the point.

Legolas turned to Gimli with an annoyed look," We've been over this already."

"And you never have a satisfying answer," Gimli retorted," Your answer changes every time. I want the truth."

Legolas let out a sigh," I left a lot of... things unfinished there. Things that should remain so."

"Why do you elves always have to be so cryptic?!" Gimli cried," Can you never speak plainly?!"

"How's this for plain?" Legolas snapped," Let it go!" He stomped a few paces ahead of Gimli. Gimli rolled his eyes, but followed him.

A strange cawing noise echoed over the skies. Gimli looked up in surprise," Gulls? Seagulls? How is that possible? We're leagues from the sea!"

Legolas looked up at them longingly," They do that to torture my heart."

"Oh no you don't!" Gimli snapped," You're not going to start that again!" He slapped Legolas on the back," You'll get your chance to go to the sea someday, but until then we have things to do here. Like getting out of this forest!"

Legolas smiled at Gimli," Yes, you are right my friend. Forgive me. I realize I have been... difficult lately."

"Hmmph!" Gimli grumbled," If by difficult you mean moody and stubborn and annoyingly withdrawn then yes. You HAVE been difficult!" Gimli chuckled to himself," Everything I would expect from an elf."

Legolas laughed softly," Well, then master dwarf. If you continue to insult me how do you expect to ride out of here?" He held Arod's reins in his hand. The white Rohan horse was a short distance away grazing.

"I prefer walking anyway," Gimli said huffily," I don't want to try mounting that great beast!"

"Very well," Legolas said smugly," The choice is yours."

"Hold on!" Gimli cried," I'm coming!"

The two had ridden a long way since the quest had ended and the Fellowship had finally broken. Aragorn had his queen and his kingdom to mind and the hobbits had finally returned to their precious shire. Gimli and Legolas had taken to wandering since then, getting many odd glances as they traveled. They had spent most of their time in Fangorn Forest visiting their friends the ents.

"So where are we going now?" Gimli asked," If not Mirkwood?" Legolas wasn't listening. He had his head cocked like a bird listening. "Do you hear that?"

"No, master pointy ears," Gimli sighed," I don't have your sense of hearing."

"It's coming from this way," Legolas said. He whispered something to Arod and the horse took off like a bullet. Gimli clutched Legolas in a panic.

"Hey now!" Gimli cried," What's the hurry?!"

"Sounds of battle!" Legolas cried.

"Battle?" Gimli asked," Ridiculous! We haven't seen battles in days!"

They sped through the trees and out of the forest. There lay the long plain before you entered the forest. Gimli was silenced instantly. The plain was littered with the remnants of battle. Bodies of men and horses lay everywhere. Legolas and Gimli stared in horror.

"How can this be?" Gimli cried," We haven't seen things like this since..." He trailed off.

"Since we were tracking orcs," Legolas finished. He leapt down nimbly to the ground," I'm going to look for survivors."

Gimli followed though far less gracefully. He stumbled to the ground with a plop. "Oof!" he cried. He paused for a second he thought he heard giggling. "It's not funny!" he yelled at Legolas.

"What's not?"

"Just cause I'm a little shorter than you doesn't mean you have to laugh!"

"I'm not laughing."

"You're not?" Gimli asked confused.

"Stop this foolishness!" Legolas cried," Are you going to help me or not?"

Gimli looked around. Someone HAD laughed! And it clearly wasn't Legolas. He looked around the abandoned field. A large shield sat a few steps away from him. He looked at it curiously. Hadn't that been a few paces to the left a few moments ago? He walked closer and used his axe to tip it over.

"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU UGLY MONSTER!" a shrill voice rang out. A rock bounced off Gimli's forehead before he fell backwards.

"Legolas!" he cried.

Legolas bounded out of nowhere with his bow and arrow in his hands arrow notched. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but it certainly wasn't this. Gimli sat back a few paces rubbing his forehead. A small girl sat a few paces away from him. She had been crying and her big brown eyes were red from tears. Her hair was frizzy and red. It looked rather unkept as though she'd been out here a few days. In her hands was a little sling which she was clutching tightly. At the sight of Legolas's bow. She gave out a small cry and pulled the shield back over herself again cowering in fear. Legolas looked down at Gimli raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"It was her!" he cried sitting up," She did it!"

"Of course she did, Gimli."

"She did!"

Legolas lifted the shield off the girl again. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" the girl cried huddled on the ground. She threw her hands up over her head trembling. Legolas knelt down next to her.

"We won't hurt you, little one," Legolas said gently in his soothing elven voice. He pushed her hair aside gently so he could see her face.

"I'm... I'm not little!" the girl said defiantly.

"Of course not," Gimli said sitting up," Good shot." A glimpse of a smile crossed her face, but it vanished instantly. "What's your name, girl?"

"Rora," she said," Rora daughter of Treka."

"Okay," Gimli said," Who attacked you?"

"I don't know," Rora said sitting up," But... Captain Falden called them... orcs."