Queen Naehlara (LOTR, Legolas love story)

Chapter 11

A whole day had passed since entering the mine, or at least Naehlara think its been a day. She did however know Legolas was right, the constant dark was getting to her, she already longed for the sun and to have nature around her again. It was hard not to be jumpy at every sound that echoed around the mines. Naehlara and Legolas could hear the quiet dripping of water or quiet shuffling that the others could not. Creatures around them moving about but it being completely dark made it impossible to see if there really was anything out there.

Entering a new chamber, the pathway narrowed. Becoming a sliver of a path, that dropped to nothing. Everyone clung to the wall, not wanting to slip into the never ending darkness. Naehlara walking in front of Legolas as they followed Gandalf further into the mines. Glancing over the edge of the pathway, Naehlara's breath stilled it was a never ending cavern below them. One slip and they would certainly fall to their deaths.

"The wealth of Moria was not in the wealth of gold or jewels but in Mithril." Gandalf says, lifting his staff over the edge, the entire cavern seemed to light as the light reflected veins of silver shining jewels. Pippin leaned over the edge looking at the jewels, his jaw dropping in aw. Merry quickly grabbing his shoulder pulling him back. "Bilbo had a shirt for mithril rings that Thorin gave him."

"Oh, that was a kingly gift." Gimli states, nodding his head like he was agreeing with himself. He had been quiet up to this point not talking, just mourning his kin that laid dead around him.

"Yes. I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire." Gandalf says looking back to Frodo.

The path widened as they came to a door way, walking through, the open cavern turns into a long staircase. The steps were larger than most making it harder for the hobbits to climb up, especially as pieces would break under their feet as they climb up. Naehlara passed the hobbits, coming to walk up the steps by Gimli's side.

Legolas watched from the back, for once not worried that a fight was going to breakout between the two. He knew she went up there to talk to him, not to fight.

Naehlara sat there quietly for a moment not sure where to start. "Gimli, I'm sorry for your loss." She finally landed on saying looking to the dwarf. He looked up to her slightly surprised at her suddenly talking to him."I know how it feels to suddenly find out all of your kin are gone." Naehlara says, quietly.

"Not all of them are gone but a great deal. They will be missed dearly." Gimli said gruffly, before pausing on the stairs. "All of your kin? But the pointy ear elf is right there." Gimli questions, pointing down to Legolas.

"He is an elf, yes." She says, looking back to Legolas. Giving her a nod of encouragement she turns back to Gimli. "Do you know why Lord Elrond or Aragorn has introduced me as the High Queen?" Gimli shook his head no, as they both continue to climb up the stairs, the others of the fellowship listening to the Queen and the dwarf talk. "I am the High Queen of Elves because my father was the High King of Elves. The King of Doriath during the first age." Naehlara explained, the first time she, herself explained her heritage to someone else.

"Doriath? The first age? But all the elves of that age left." Gimli says, looking to Naehlara before pausing mid step, causing Pippin to slip. Aragorn catching him and keeping him up right, whispering to be more careful. "All your kin left. Why did you not leave with them?"

"I stayed to fade away with my kin that had chosen to stay on Middle Earth. But Galadriel found me on the edge of fading away at the start of the Second Age. She nursed me back to health, but I slept for nearly two ages before awakening. Partially because of your father, I awoke the day Smaug was killed. It was when I awoke that learned that all of my kin had faded away." She frowned, a single tear falling down her cheek. "I miss them greatly. Feel your grief Gimli. It does not make you weak."