Bearded

Chapter 31

Legolas turned away from his father and brother to make his way back towards Gimli to bid him farewell. A part of him, selfishly, wanted Gimli to leave with him, but he knew that the state of Gimli's health would not permit him to make a journey, even the short distance to Dale. As he approached, the guards at the entrance to the Mountain remained motionless. A part of him wondered if these were the same guards from that ill-fated evening. His memories of their return to the Mountain were vague and he could not recall. They had made no move to stop him or to bar his way so likewise, he ignored them.

As he walked back towards Erebor Legolas realised this may be the last time. The last time walking towards Gimli? Never. Gimli was the pull he ever followed. Even the sea-longing could not draw him away from Gimli. The draw of that loyal heart, the bond of their love and of their bodies were as solid to him as the ground upon which he walked. His realisation was that it may be his last time to walk towards Erebor and he knew not whether he would see Gimli's parents again.

In some ways, their experiment had failed. The situation was still too volatile for them to be able to be together in safety in Erebor. But there had also been much success. Legolas had had the chance to see Gimli's home and since before the last age, he was the first Elf to receive a welcome, even though the manner of his departure was markedly different from his arrival.

Both he and Gimli had planted the seeds of knowledge which would hopefully push through against ignorance. From observing how the people of Erebor lived, he could now share so much knowledge. No dwarven secrets, he would never reveal those, but he could now confirm the false nature of so many rumours. They did not live in dirt and squalor, eating worms from the ground, surrounded by troves of wealth gleaned from avarice and violence. He could tell them of Mili's translucent sculptures, of the way they caught the light. She had shown him how the light could be split into different colours. Her pleased excitement reminded him of Gimli speaking of the glittering caves. She had explained that she did not trade her craft outside of Erebor, due to the difficulty of safely transporting such fragile items. She had eagerly shown him the different styles of glass while they both sat at a highly polished granite table, admiring them, and all the while he was being fed heavy, sticky pastries.

Only in Minas Tirith had he found out that Gimli had a sweet tooth and in Erebor, he had delighted in seeing Gimli have all his favourite treats, brought by the basketful by friends and neighbours. Gimli would urge Legolas to try each kind, with a nervous look, worried he would not like them, then, like the dawn, delight would burst over Gimli's face as Legolas smiled and enjoyed the treats of his culture. When they were alone in their room, Gimli would lick clean the grains of sugar and the trails of syrup on Legolas' fingers and around his mouth, then carry on licking – just to be sure.

When Legolas reached the place where Gimli, Mili and Gloin stood they all fell silent for a while. He saw Gloin glancing anxiously at the massed army as if at any moment he might see them change their mind and surge forward and battle his kin.

They bore with them the green banner of the Elvenking and as they watched, the last of the Elven army was now floating away. As silently as wisps of white cloud borne on the stiffening breeze from the east that was now flapping and tugging the flags and standards of the mountain. Away at the front of the column, Thranduil, walking alone, could now be seen, majesty glittering upon him and in a mighty sweep mounting his Elk and leading the host away till it was lost to view in a haze and shimmer, as they made to return to the woods far beyond, which lay twenty leagues away.

The thin light showed his brother Therion's form as he stood motionless, waiting for Legolas.

Those who remained in the forest while the Elvenking and his host had ventured forth soon received news from the birds that loved their folk and very great indeed was the commotion among all things with wings that dwelt nearby, and swift-flying messengers flew here and there across the sky. Far over the canopy of trees the glad tidings spread: "Legolas lives! His One is safe!" even before the Elvenking had returned to his realm.