Title: FOR CONTINUING STRANGE (26)
Author: Annie Harris
Email: annie_mouse2001@yahoo.co.uk
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: R.
Summary: Bathtime! and a visit to friends.
Disclaimer: The usual: No claims, no pack drill - and of course no
profit. Just living in the gaps and round the edges.
Warning: None.
Archive: LoM, Axe & Bow Yahoogroup message archive. Anyone 
interested
just ask.

26

They woke early, to gusty winds and low clouds heralding some rougher
weather to come. Gimli admired his fire opal again by daylight, and
thanked the Elf with many more kisses and loving words..
They decided that a bath would do no harm after last night's
exertions, and Gimli made up the kitchen fire, filled the kettle and
set it on the stove. Then while he wandered off to the privy Legolas
prepared the bath.

'There, all ready,' he said as the Dwarf returned.

Gimli hung up the brown robe on one of the wooden pegs on the back
wall, kicked off his leather slippers, and stepped quickly into the
tub, only to leap out again, splashing and cursing.

'Hammer and tongs! I have not yet turned into an Elf! I will not
freeze my balls off when there's hot water in plenty next door!'

Legolas turned from hanging up his own robe, genuinely surprised. He
thought he had got the water was quite warm enough - much warmer than
he would have had it. He started to apologise, but Gimli charged at
him with a growl, catching him with one arm behind the knees and the
other around his back, scooping him off the ground. He made no
attempt to resist or escape, and was swiftly dumped the the bath with
a huge splash and a snort of 'Khazad ai-menu!'

It was the messiest, merriest bathing session, and the tiled floor
was soon swimming with water and very slippery, so that the fun came
to an abrupt end when Gimli skidded into the leg of the old oak table
near the window, banging his knee and pushing the table against the
wall with a surprsingly loud hollow boom. Though the blow scarcely
left a mark, Legolas was full of concern and contrition, and Gimli
was soon rewarded by the sight of a naked Elf lugging pails of hot
water from the kitchen to refill the bath for him.

At last they sat in the kitchen, drying their hair, and eating
oatcakes and honey with sweet-scented fruit tea for breakfast while
the blustery showers Legolas had foretold raced up the valley and
across the city.

Gimli let Legolas comb and braid his hair and beard, the 'mistake'
with the bathwater forgotten. It was a great pleasure to the Elf to
handle the heavy tresses and admire the fine crimp, running the
length of every hair, that produced the distinctive fullnes and
texture. Legolas wove the thick back braid, then turned his attention
to the beard and the long flowing ends of the moustaches, forming the
latter into braids of four strands, elvish style, before making each
into one of the three parts of the beard's twin forks. When Gimli
realised what he had done, he kissed the nimble fingers and then, in
his turn, worked three-strand dwarf-style braids into the Elf's fine
straight silken locks. Then they looked at eachother and smiled,
ready for another day.

While Gimli returned to his hired workshop to continue the slow and
difficult work of enamelling the small flower-shapes, Legolas tended
the plants in the courtyard and on the terrace. The ladybirds seemed
to have taken to their new homes well enough, and were starting to
control the greenfly. Afterwards he walked up to the citaldel and
arranged with the Chamberlain for the making of the new robes for
Gimli. It still seemed that nothing was too much trouble if a member
of the Fellowship requested it.

And so the days went on, from May to June. The blossoms fell from the
thorn trees and the berries began to set. Gimli's work still
progressed slowly, as he came to the forget-me-nots for the circlet
of Galadriel. He struggled to capture accurately the tiny dark centre
of each flower, the golden eye with its narrow white surround, and
the clear, bright fiery blue of the petals. He grew weary with the
concentration needed for the miniature work, and old Bergthor urged
Legolas to make sure that Gimli took enough rest.

Legolas did his best, but found it hard to oppose dwarvish
determination when carried to the point of outright obstinacy. The
Elf stayed longer in the workshop now, mostly just watching, but he
was often called upon to try the circlet as the flowers were added,
so that Gimli could study their arrangement. He would also massage
the Dwarf's neck and shoulders, trying to soothe the tension that
made the fine work harder and risked spoiling it altogether.
Then an evening came when Gimli's eyes looked so red and sore from
poring over minute detail amid the fumes of the workshop that Legolas
gave up persuasion and started giving orders.

'Tomorrow you will come out of the city with me, and rest your eyes
on green and growing things, on clouds and distances.'

Gimli opened his mouth to protest, but the Elf laid a finger on his
lips to silence him, then leaned close to kiss the inflamed eyelids
very softly.

'A day's rest will do as much as good as two of toil; he said; - For
now you make errors through very weariness, and have it all to do
over.'

Legolas stood tall and looked at him so sternly and yet so kindly
that Gimli swallowed his protests, admitted the truth of the Elf's
words, and went down to tell Bergthor not to expect him the next day.
Then he went home with Legolas through the city, his devotion to his
work still fighting a rearguard action against common sense.
Once back in their quiet house, Legolas set out a simple meal of
bread, cheese and fruit, with a refreshing herbal infusion that
filled the kitchen with a delightful scent, and, while Gimli sat and
slowly sipped the brew, darted out to the terrace and returned with
somehing he had remembered: a bunch of the leaves from which Sam had
made a potion for the eyes. Soon he had a bowlful in preparation.
When they had finished their meal, be brought the bowl to the table,
took a napkin from the linen cupboard, and used it to bathe Gimli's
eyes with the lukewarm liquid. The he sat sideways on the bench next
to the Dwarf, and got him to lean back against his chest. He dipped
the cloth in the solution again, wrung it out and laid it over
Gimli's eyelids, then wrapped his long arms about the stocky body,
and held him for long minutes while the healing herb did its work.
Slowly Gimli relaxed in the firm embrace, feeling an occasional soft
kiss on his hair. He folded his hands over the Elf's encircling arms,
and almost fell asleep.

'We haven't spent an evening with the others for a long time,' he
said eventually; - 'They'll think we're hiding.'

He felt Legolas' body stiffen behind him.

'Hiding? Never!'

'Dear Legolas! That wasn't meant seriously. I know we cannot hide,
and wouldn't try. Let's go up and see them tonight, if you will.'

'But you are tired.'

'I'm much better now. Your treatment is working. You're a wise Elf,
Legolas. I could have worked myself to a standstill without you to
make me see sense. It's something we do from time to time. We should
see our friends, and be seen together.'

Legolas refreshed the compress and laid it over Gimli's eyes again.
'Very well, we shall go, when this has worked a little longer.'

He put his arms around the Dwarf once more, and Gimli settled back
with a sigh of contentment.

'Gimli?'

'Hmm?'

'I have my mallorn leaf, and you will have your earth-star, but, if
you talk of being seen together, might we have rings, to be worn
always, as a sign that any could read?'

Gimli turned and straightened up suddenly, taking the cloth from his
eyes.

'Why of course! Fool of a Dwarf that I am, to be making gifts for
ladies and neglect such tokens. We must have rings, silver rings,
yours with my name, mine with yours: is that not the right way? I
would sooner use mithril, but there is none to be found here. Ach!
Fool of a Dwarf!'

'No, do not blame yourself. We do not NEED rings to bind us, and time
to make the circlets is short; but when you spoke of being seen ...'

'Rings we shall have,' said Gimli. - 'That is work I can do here, in
the small room. A change of task from the enamel work will be a rest
for me.'

'So that is the trick? It is easier to get a Dwarf to change his work
than to stop it!'

'Well, of course, dear Elf! But now let us go and see our friends,
before they forget us.'

Legolas looked closely at Gimli's eyes, and saw that the infusion had
already produced an improvement.

'I'll leave this to develop overnight, as Sam said, and you can use
some more when we come back, and in the morning.'

Legolas tidied the kitchen, telling Gimli to sit and rest, and then
they set out for the guest house as the sky faded from the rich blue
of day to the turquoise, amethyst and thin yellow of evening. They
found the house quiet on this occasion. Gandalf was sitting with the
Hobbits on the balcony that ran along the street front of the
building, facing northeast across the vast enclosure of the Pelennor
and the distant river.

'A lovely evening,' Sam was saying as the two arrived. - 'I hope
they're having weather like this in the Shire.'

'Are you feeling homesick, Sam?' Frodo started to ask, but the mood
was cheered by the arrival of the Elf and Dwarf.

The balcony held a number of wicker chairs, small tables, and a
couple of wooden settles. Legolas and Gimli seated themselves side by
side on one of the latter, and Gandalf smiled as he noticed how
nowadays they seemed to take the same position whenever he saw them,
whether walking or sitting: Elf on the left, Dwarf on his right, and
reasoned that this came from the way they had fought together, axeman
and archer defending each other.

Sam bustled off to fetch drinks for them as everyone started to
exchange their day's news, and soon returned with a goblet of wine
for Legolas and a mug of ale for Gimli. When Legolas had tased the
wine, he leaned forward to set the goblet on the table, and the
movement allowed the mallorn leaf pendant to swing out of the open
neck of his shirt. Sam noticed it immediately.

'You've changed your oak leaf for a mallorn, Legolas.'

'Yes indeed; or rather Gimli has changed it. He made if for me.'

'It looks beautiful - just as I remember the mallorn leaves. You're
very clever, Gimli. And did you lose the oak leaf in the fighting?'

'No; I gave it in an exchange of gifts with a brave child of Gondor -
the boy whose brother was killed.'

'Oh, I see. That was awful - just when everyone would be thinking it
was all finished.'

Gandalf joined in.

'Sauron and the Ring may be finished, but the evil that has been
abroad in Middle-earth since the coming of Morgoth is still bere -
diminished (in some ways) dispersed - but still here.'

'You're so cheerful, Gandalf!' said Pippin.

'I remind you, that later you may not be taken by surprise. But don't
let it spoil our pleasant evening. I have not seen Gimli's work
before, Legolas; may I take a closer look?'

The Elf got up and moved closer to Gandalf, who reached out a gnarled
hand to lift the enamelled leaf.

'The link is a swivel,' said Legolas; - 'I can show the green side or
the gold.'

'The dewdrop is beautiful,' said Gandalf; - 'An excellent piece of
work.'

'Wait till you see what else this wonderful Dwarf has done,' Legolas
replied. - 'Oh, but you see some of it now.'

He touched the blackthorn sprays that adorned his hair.

'What?' cried Frodo; - 'I thought those were real.'

'The blackthorn blossoms have fallen, and the sloes are setting,'

Legolas said; - 'But these I have always.'

Carefully he removed the circlet, and it was passed round for
admiration, while Legolas told the story of its making, gazing at the
Dwarf with bright loving eyes as he did so, and going on to speak of
the other flower crowns that Gimli was devising.

'You shall see them all when they are done,' said Gimli; - 'But let
me show you something else - though some of you know of it already.'

He reached into the inside pocket of his tunic (though it looked
rather as if he were fishing something out of his beard) and produced
a little leather bag, secured with a drawstring, from which he let
the fire opal slip into the broad palm of his left hand.

'See what my friend has found for me! These Elves will keep me busy,
I think. I have the lock of Galadriel to set, and now this! A rare
and wonderful stone. See the flame in its heart, bright as Durin's
forge! And Legolas tells me that I passed it by without seeing, while
he did not.'

'Strange things are happening these days,' smiled Gandalf.

'What will you make with it?' asked Sam.

'Well now, that I have yet to decide. It is not the hardest of
stones, so perhaps not a ring, but I will turn my mind to that when
the crowns are done.'

When everyone had seen the stone he put it away again, next to the
lock of Galadriel's hair, and turned to help Legolas replace his
blackthorn. The others all saw how gently and skilfully he arranged
the Elf's hair to hide the thin gold band. When the two sat again on
their seat, Legolas laid his right arm along the backrest, so that
his hand touched Gimli's hair. Gimli leaned back, enjoying his ale.

'Things seem quiet here tonight.'

'A party every night is too much of a good thing,' said Frodo; -
'Even for Hobbits.'

'Hmm,' said Gimli. - 'When I've finished the crowns, we must have a
party at our house.'

Everyone thought this a good idea, and the Hobbits were keen to start
planning the menu right away.

'But I cannot tell yet when that will be,' said the Dwarf; - 'The
blue of the forget-me-nots is giving trouble. I don't always get that
bright, chalky look, and anything the least bit dull or muddy is
useless. I've had such a job with it that Legolas has ordered me to
take a day's holiday tomorrow - can't say I'll be sorry.'

Legolas smiled at him affectionately.

'I never knew such a one for work!'

The arm along the seat back moved to hug the Dwarf's broad shoulders,
and Hobbits all smiled at the sight, glad to see them so at ease
together.

They sat and talked as the summer evening faded. The cries of owls
floated from the city turrets, and Legolas said:
'There are bats about tonight. It's the first time I've heard them.'

'You can hear bats?' said Pippin; - 'Some young Hobbits say they can,
but I've never heard them.'

'Yes, I can hear them. Very high pitched sounds.'

'You Elves are full of surprises,' said Gimli, this time feeling that
the public meeting mode of address was justified.

Suddenly a couple of bats swooped near enough to be seen, proving
that elvish senses were indeed better tuned to the world than those
of others.

'There seem to be more birds about in the city than when we first
came,' said Frodo; - 'We've seen swallows, house martins, sparrows,
as well as the pigeons and doves that the people keep, and all sorts
of birds I don't know.'

Everyone had noticed the same thing: the Hobbits, being country
people, were particularly alert to country sights  within the
unfamiliar city.

'All good signs,' said Gandalf, puffing his pipe till it glowed.
'You should see Legolas with the birds,' said Gimli; - 'He whistles
to them and they'll come and take crumbs from his hand and perch on
his fingers. Only the other day he got a little wren to jump from
his hand to mine, if you'll believe it! We Dwarves were not made with
a great liking for wild creatures, despite the love between our
Master and Yavanna, and I never heard of such a thing happening to a
Dwarf before, but there it was - so strange to me - such a tiny
thing, with eyes like beads of jet and legs as thin as drawn wires,
yet I felt the warmth of those little claws on my finger. Such life,
in such a little space: bone and sinew, blood, its scaly skin - so
small, so perfect! And the feathers! Brown! How many words are there
for 'brown'? Not enough for the colours of the smallest birds.'
'Russet, tawny, fallow, - er pipeweed-colour ...' said Pippin.
'Rust, mud, chestnut, ginger, cinnamon ...' said Sam, mentally moving
from garden to kitchen.

'Fawn, dun, bay ...' said Merry, thinking of the horses of Rohan.

'Umber, ochre, sepia, tan, madder, buff ...' added Frodo.

'That's good,' said Gimli; - 'Very good; but it was as if I'd never
seen a wren before, not truly SEEN one. They were just little brown
birds with big voices! It's Legolas, you know, he makes things look -
new!'

There was a pause as the others took this in with assorted 'ohs' and
'ahs' of acknowledgement; and Gandalf said;
'Yes; that is the gift of one dweller in Middle-earth to another,
even when they are not of different kindreds.'

'And you do it too,' said Legolas; - 'Your words alone have persuaded
me that I must visit the Glittering Caves. You have persuaded me that
I was born in a cave, lived in caves in my father's halls in the
Mountains of Mirkwood - and somehow never noticed that they were
caves at all - none of us did - do. Isn't that ridiculous?'

He spread his long hands in a 'beats me' gesture, and everyone
laughed, but Gimli looked round at him with an expression both gentle
and admiring. It was a startling admission for and Elf to make, and
he was not about to crow over it. He patted Legolas' knee
reassuringly.

'There are worse things to be than ridiculous,' he said; - 'But it is
not ridiculous to change the way you look at things: everything in
the world seems to be changing these days, and often for the better.'

'That's what we did it for,' said Frodo; - 'To change things.'

Everyone looked at him in respectful silence for a moment.
'I didn't put that very well,' said Gimli; - 'I'm sorry, Frodo. What
I meant was, that even things I wouldn't expect to change, are
changing.'

'That's how it will seem to many people,' said Gandalf; - 'A great
burden is still being lifted from the world, and though as I said,
evil, or the possibility of evil, is so woven in to the fabric of the
world that it will never be removed, the destruction of the Ring was
not an end but a beginning. Much is still to happen, and there will
always be work to do.'

'That should keep Gimli happy,' said Legolas with a smile.

'Yes, so long as there's good ale like this when work is done!' said
the Dwarf, taking another draught from his mug. Then a moment later
he started to sing quietly, holding up the mug.

'And when I'm in my grave and dead,
And all my sorrows are past and fled,
Transform me then into a fish,
And let me swim in jug of this!'

The young Hobbits laughed aloud. This was the sort of song they
liked, and one they had not heard before. But Legolas heard the tune
rather than the words.

'Does all dwarvish music go in five counts?'

'No indeed, not all; but perhaps we have more such than other folk.
Yet I think that is not a dwarvish song. I have heard tell it was
learned of the Men of Dale in the days before Smaug, and they still
sing something very like it today.'

'Five counts?' said Frodo; - 'Is that so?'

Gimli sang some more of his drinking song, and sure enough, Legolas
was right. The five counts gave the rather slow tune a sort of
lurching motion that suited the subject well enough. Then the talk
wandered off to past and possible future parties, and Gimli began to
nod, his chin sinking slowly down onto his chest.

Sam looked into the beer mug.

'Must be strong,' he said; - 'He hasn't even finished it.'

Legolas squeezed Gimli's shoulder gently to rouse him.

'What? Oh, I beg your pardon. So rude of me!'

Gimli struggled back to wakefulness.

'Finish your drink,' said Legolas; - 'Then we'll go.'

'Yes, very well, perhaps we should. I'm more tired than I thought -
or else that ale is very strong! It's been a pleasant evening. I'm
glad we came up.'

The others wished them goodnight, and a happy day's holiday to
follow. They leaned over the balustrade watching the two walk away,
dark shapes in the dim white street.

Gandalf leaned back in his wicker armchair with a faint creak.
'Well, you crafty Hobbits, are you pleased with the results of your
scheming?'

'Scheming? Who? Us?' said Pippin.

'That wasn't a scheme,' said Merry; - 'More of an inspiration, on the
spur of the moment. Anyway, Sam said something about looking after
the plants first.'

'And they told us about the house,' said Sam in self-defence; - 'And
they never tried to stop us.'

'Well, however it happened, it seems to suit them,' said Frodo
mildly.

'Very true,' said Gandalf; - 'And I hope it means that all Elves and
Dwarves may have a chance to leave their old quarrels behind and end
their Age of the world as friends.'

'End?' cried Sam in alarm.

'Yes, my dear Samwise. It is my belief that the reign of King Elessar
may well see the last of the Elves you love so much. Their years here
are drawing to an end, their great work is done, and the last rebels
have reached the end of their exile. Even one so great as Galadriel
owes her release to you, the Hobbits, at the last, and is glad that
the long years of struggle are over.'

'Well, if you put it like that ... ' said Sam reluctantly, recalling
Galadriel's words by the Mirror; - 'But we'll see them again, won't
we?'

'Indeed you shall. I do not mean that they will vanish overnight. But
I do mean that the time of the Firstborn is ending, and that this new
age will be the beginning of the Ages of Men in Middle-earth.'