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The trio had been running for days. They had run through hills and meadows alike, while occasionally pushing through streams. Their breaks were short, just enough to catch their breath and gather another burst of energy.
Gimli felt weak and sore, it was not in dwarves' nature to sprint, especially for so long. Aragorn had begun to feel exhausted, noticing it was harder to keep up with Legolas. The elf was nowhere near as worn down as either of his mortal companions, he could still sprint with ease, his body feeling as strong as ever. However he would admit that even he had missed the peace of taking their time.
So they decided tonight they would take a much longer rest. They were gaining on the orcs and would be no use to the hobbits if they were too drained to fight. Legolas suggested he go a little ways ahead to scout around. He intended to go alone especially with his two companions exhausted but Gimli just grumbled something about elves having terrible night vision and how dangerous it could be.
Which led the two taking a short walk up onto a nearby hill as Aragorn started a fire.
“Clouds have covered the moon, I cannot see as far as I would like” Legolas sighed as he looked up into the night sky.
“Aye, with your eyesight and my night vision we could’ve seen all the way to Isengard from here” Gimli nudged the elf’s shoulder.
Legolas looked back down at his companion. “Too Bad such a creature does not exist”
“Maybe it’s for the best, I shiver at the thought of some dwarven-elf crossbreed” Gimli shuddered, his face painted with disgust.
Legolas let out a small laugh, a rare noise. A noise that immediately got Gimli’s attention, he gazed up at the elf with a smug grin.
“I too shudder at the thought, how would such a creature come into existence?” Legolas tilted his head to Gimli.
“Well that’s simple nature, princeling” Gimli spoke in a calm level voice. If it wasn’t for Legolas' careful attention on the dwarf he would’ve completely missed the smirk on his face.
“Oh Gimli, That is tasteless” It was Legolas’s turn for his face to turn to disgust. The elf nudged Gimli back.
Gimli burst into deep chuckles, using his ax to support himself as he almost forgot to breathe. “You elves are so sensitive, almost as if you are the ones to live under a rock”
“And you dwarves are ever so vulgar” Legolas raised an eyebrow at the dwarf before sitting down in the grass.
“Aye, but I could be a lot worse laddie” Gimli took his seat beside the elf. He let out a sigh, the soreness in his body dulling as he finally relaxed. “Who even heard of an elf falling in love with a dwarf anyway?” Gimli asked with a snort. He was trying to prove a point, not aware he would be surprised by Legolas’s answer.
“I knew an elf who had fallen for one of the members of Thorin oakensheild’s company” Legolas voice was soft, almost fond.
Gimli had heard the tale of his father’s journey many times over but never had he heard about this. “They did? Were their feelings reciprocated?”
“Yes, oh very much so…I remember at the time not understanding how they could’ve found love and thinking it was a distraction during a time of war.”
“Why haven’t I heard this tale if their love was so true”
“Their love was true and strong, but alas her heart was broken when the dwarf was killed in battle” Legolas fiddled his hands. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
“Ah” Was all Gimli could muster. He fell into silence.
It was quiet for a few moments. The air was still, the two both seemed to be lost in thought until Legolas finally spoke.
“Do you think we will find the hobbits alive…?” The elf spoke quietly, like he almost hesitated even asking.
“You worry too much, they are a strong pair of halflings, I would be more concerned with the orcs who have to listen to their bickering” Gimli reassured, taking off his helmet and setting it to his side.
“I’ve seen lots of war in my lifetime, with war I have seen lots of death…and yet I remain unprepared for the pain and grief it causes me” Legolas’s voice never wavered, it was quiet yet deep and strong.
Gimli felt his heart sink at the elf’s words. He had never truly considered how much death the elf had seen in his thousands of years living amongst mortals.The thought of Legolas outliving the rest of the fellowship, leaving him all alone, pained him.
“You never get used to grief, it’s not in its nature. The pain dulls over time but it never truly disappears. It’s as if each death is a deep scar that never fully heals” Gimli turned his head to look at the elf.
Legolas was staring off into the distance, his facial expression forever unreadable to the dwarf. “I fear I don’t know how many more scars I can take, Gimli”
Gimli could feel Legolas's sorrow, it practically seeped out in every breath he took. Oh, and how it pained him. The dwarf felt a wave of urgency to do something, to comfort, to hug, to kiss the elf. Instead Gimli slowly took Legolas’s hand in his own; he was delicate, treating the elf as if he were glass.
This had gotten Legolas’s attention. He now turned his head, meeting the eyes of the dwarf. His deep blue eyes were filled with curiosity and astonishment at Gimli’s actions.
“What about the lives you have saved Legolas? Have you ever thought about them? Cause I know for certain that it doubles, nay triples the amount of scars you have gained” Gimli took a deep breath as he gave the elf’s hand a small squeeze, “You may be a stuck up pointy eared princling, but you are a good elf, the best I have ever met”
Legolas’s gaze softened. He looked as if a weight he carried had become lighter and more manageable (for the time being). “Thank you, my friend. Your words have indeed lifted my spirits”
“What else are friends for?” Gimli gave him a small smile.
Legolas smiled back. The elf leaned closer to the dwarf and placed a soft kiss to his slightly chapped lips. Gimli’s eyes fluttered shut as he gently cupped Legolas’s cheek, giving himself a chance to kiss back.
Oh Mahal was kissing the elf even better than Gimli had imagined. He gently stroked Legolas’s cheek as they deepened the kiss. His hand not daring to go into the elf’s perfect hair (as much as he wanted too).
Legolas let out a soft noise of pleasure. He squeezed the dwarf’s free hand, leaning into the palm of his other.
If it wasn’t for Gimli’s exhaustion he could’ve kissed the elf all night and into dawn. Gimli slowly pulled away a few moments later. “You sure took your time, ghivashel”
Legolas raised a brow at the comment. “Oh it was I who was responsible for kissing you first?”
“Aye, I was only being polite by waiting for you to move first” Gimli put his helmet back on as he slowly stood, still holding the elf’s hand.
Legolas rose to his feet “oh really now? I was being polite and waiting for you to move first ‘Ma’blarteralas”
“We got there in due course”
The two walked back to camp, fingers intertwined. Aragorn was tending to the fire. “How was your view?”
“Alas not very good, the clouds made it too dark for even my keen eyes to see” Legolas gently pulled his hand away from Gimli and sat down across from Aragorn.
“Aye, we saw nothing of importance,” The dwarf yawned. “Now if you will excuse me, I am going to get some sleep before we continue our chase” Gimli settled down on his bed roll near the edge of camp, finally getting comfortable.
“You were aware I could view you from here, were you not?” Aragorn looked at Legolas with a slight grin.
Gimli, who was still awake and overheard the comment, turned bright red.