Bearded

Chapter 14

That evening, when the Hobbits had retired and Gandalf was doing Mahal knows what, Legolas came into my room.

"Gimli, my people-," He faltered. "We have no bed sport for fun. For me, this will mean we are wed."

I looked panicked.

As if he read my mind he continued. "Not what happened this afternoon. Just because you desired me not make us wed. Only with the will and intent to form a bond would that be so. And without love for you already present in me, there would be no desire in me for a joining. I am not able to love you only physically without a desire to love you in all ways."

The air was taken from the room. All of my choices in life came down to this moment. Would I live with the Elf or without him? The universe shifted. I could not imagine living without him.

......

......

I sat on the low bed looking at Gimli. I began to unlace my tunic, but he made the Inglishmek sign wait. After Mithrandir had fallen, Gimli had begun to teach the remainder of the Fellowship the dwarvish warrior sign-language. He said it could save our lives and he would not lose any of the Fellowship for the sake of a taboo. He asked only that we not teach others and if possible, keep our own knowledge hidden from any who were not dwarrow. The dwarves we met in Minas Tirith had been furious when Gimli told them we understood their signs, but Gimli simply said it would be worse if he had allowed them to think they were signing privately when the Fellowship could understand, and said that he did not regret providing a tool to the Fellowship which may have saved our lives.

Gimli took a deep breath and signed again wait.

He looked nothing like an Elf. He was stout and sturdy and broad - unmistakably Dwarven and he stood at full height, to my sternum.

Clear-eyed he gazed at me and his eyes said everything. They were so raw, so open, so tender. I was looking right into the centre of his soul and found there only love. He stood feet planted as at the line of battle. He was offering himself, his whole self.

His lashes were wet and when I ran a thumb over the glimmer, it came away warm and damp. We were both under no illusion that this would be easy, that we would be accepted by the world we had helped save.

That was a small acorn, compared to the towering expanse of my love for him. I opened out my arms in acceptance. In welcome.

Still we did not speak. The silence was too sacred to mar with speech.

***

"Hervenn," he had said softly. "Husband." Legolas beamed with pure joy and contentment.