Bearded

Chapter 21

From the dark, Nori came forth bearing a lantern in his hand. It was darker than usual down in the dungeons and only a few petty thieves and drunken damagers of property were locked down here. Ancient walls and many-pillared balusters were illuminated by his swaying lantern-beam. His slow feet echoed until he came at last to the cell in which Legolas was held. He picked the lock and silently the door swung back.

Nori stared uneasily about him and dimly saw the Elf lying as if dead upon the bench. Mahal's balls.

Legolas was wakened by the light, but when he heard the sound of his door unlocking he remained still. Perhaps if he took the guard unawares he could surge forward and make his escape. But he knew that would be futile. Even if he miraculously did manage to escape, unarmed, from a mountain full of Dwarrow, all spouting hammers and maces and axes, escape would make him an outlaw. How would he see Gimli again? Gimli had spoken to him of the laws of Erebor. As a fugitive outlaw any Dwarf he encountered would be given licence to kill him on sight. And Gimli had been candid and told him that for the longest time all Elves had looked the same to him. What then would be the fate of any blond-haired Elf who happened to cross the path of a Dwarf?

Legolas raised his head slowly and he saw a Dwarf with hair bound in three peaks, pacing to and fro. This was Nori, one of Gimli's family friends. One who had been locked in dungeons such as this by his father. A thrill of fear ran through him. Was he here for revenge?

He mastered his emotions and in a low voice Legolas spoke. "What news of Gimli?"

"Still alive." Came the gruff answer.

Nori looked around then slipped into the cell with Legolas. "Look, Gloin's like a brother to me. I don't like to see his lad tangled up in all this. We don't want you killed." He paused as if making a decision. "Yer free to go lad. I'll help you."

Legolas knew enough to see that this release had no official sanction. Legolas could hear the unspoken subtext. Just fuck off back to the Elves.

"I'll be cut down before I turn the first corner."

Nori spoke again in a confident voice. "I have paid off the guards and I can open the secret door to the mountain and end this trouble. I have Bombur in his litter and bearers you can trust waiting outside this prison. We would hide you in the chair under blankets. Yes, you would be crushed, but only for a short while. For sure, all would say you had enchanted your way out, but your neck would be safe. Elf, I don't know what you want with Gloin's boy. A joke is a joke, but it's gone far enough."

Legolas sat up on the rough bench. He did not have the strength to argue and try to prove their love was real. Mentioning their marriage to this Nori against the king's orders could even stir up more trouble, so instead he drew a slow breath and spoke. "If Gimli wakes, he will speak the truth of what transpired. If he perishes, I will meet my doom here. There is no benefit to my escaping." Legolas' eyes closed as he spoke. Furthermore, he could not encourage rumours of Elves having the power to compel guards to act against their own will and release their charges. To encourage a belief that Elves could wander around Erebor unseen, or perhaps cause witnesses to forget what they had seen.

He and Gimli could flee together. Perhaps even to the Easterlings and leave behind everyone and everything they knew. But they would also be leaving behind more rumours. Causing more divisions.

"I must remain to face justice."

At this Nori winced and was silent.

"In your father's dungeons Ori told me you brought him parchment, quill and ink. He was the youngest and he was so scared. Then you helped us escape." The words had the air of explanation.

As Nori walked away, in the corner of the cell Legolas saw the soft movement of glow worms.

It felt as if days had passed.

Nori returned.

The familiar voice in the dark spoke through the bars. "The offer still stands."

"How fares Gimli?"

"Getting stronger."

A long silence was his only response.

Then Legolas spoke. "Grant me if you would, this boon. Go and find Arod, our horse and see how he is housed. For he also helped save Gimli's life."

When he left the cell there was an apple on the ground.

Nori found that Arod had been well housed and tended. For in the days after Erebor had been reclaimed there had been built some fair stables to house a few horses, alongside the war goats, mules and ponies the Kingdom kept. The horse whinnied as Nori entered the stable and turned his head.

Nori reached up into the creature's mane. The horse was unnervingly large. "Gimli and Legolas send greetings; I am to see that all is well with you; and you are resting after your many valiant labours."

Arod tossed his head and stamped, but he allowed Nori to tentatively touch his head and gently stroke his great flanks.

He looks as if he were spoiling for a race, Lord" said the attendant to Nori. "How strong and proud he is."

"Where is his harness?" asked Nori.

The young groom replied, "The Elf told me he will have none. If he will consent to bear you, he does; if he will go with you, he will; and if not, well, no bit, bridle, whip or thong will tame him."

As stubborn as the two he bears," mused Nori.

Arod lifted his head and neighed, then Nori took his leave, seeing that the manger was well filled. He took a him a few morsels he had brought and Arod graciously accepted though the horse seemed to have no lack.

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Time moved slowly and Legolas once again fell into deep sleep. When he woke Nori was in the cell with him again. He pressed Legolas to drink a sip of water and when he had recovered a little, he produced a piece of fruit and sliced it himself and made him eat it. By then, he was too worn out to offer much resistance, so Legolas ate, then stretched out and slept a little in uneasy fits; sweat grew chill on him and he shivered. Nori slipped out and once again Legolas was alone.

Even as hope had died in Legolas, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. He grew stern, almost grim as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill as if he were turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor the stone above could subdue.

The thought of being with Gimli again had a potency that sustained him. It fed the will and it gave strength to endure and to master his spirit. A decision was made once again to resist fading. He could not slip down that road, for it would part him from Gimli before their time. He turned his will away from it, yet still the valley stood before him, waiting in his mind. He began to dream. In his dream he forded a river at a wide shallow place full of the noise of foam and the sea nearby. He thought to walk into the sea and not return. Dark and inviting the waves looked, with starlight dancing on the surface.

With a start Legolas woke and cried out. "Ada!"