So, here it is. The epilogue. And, I'm sorry it didn't come sooner. This
time, it was RL being busy.
And, a massive thank you to everyone who's ever reviewed this. Without you all, I'd probably never have had the motivation to finish this. And, I really can't tell you how happy getting reviews makes me. So, thank you.
By the way, this takes place some time after the last chapter.
* * * * *
Even after almost two years, I still couldn't tell when Legolas approached. The first I knew of it was when he sat beside me, wrapping thin arms around green-clad legs, resting his chin on his knees.
"What, Elf? In case you hadn't noticed, I was thinking."
A perfect set up, and I realised that just too late. Legolas was not one to waste an easy insult like the one I'd just given him.
When he remained silent, I turned to look at him. Eyebrows were drawn into an unusually serious expression.
"You know, Gimli, I never thought I'd become friends with a dwarf." I wondered what had brought this on.
"I never thought I'd become friends with an Elf, of all things."
"But we are, though, aren't we? Friends?"
"Well, yes."
"I hated you at first. I blamed you for everything I'd lost. But then, I realised. You're not like the others."
"That's pretty much hat happened to me."
"You once called me dwarvish, remember?"
"And you called me Elvish, don't forget that."
"Well, yes, but, I was thinking.. I'm not dwarvish, and you're not Elvish.. we're just us."
"It's taken you this long to work that out?"
"When did you realise you didn't hate me?" Another sudden change of direction in this strangely solemn conversation, and I had to pause to think for a moment.
"I think it was when you destroyed my box."
"What?!" He had obviously not been expecting that.
"At first, yes, I was angry." Legolas muttered something under his breath that I chose to ignore. "But, afterwards, I felt like I should stay angry. And I couldn't. And I realised I didn't hate you because forgiving you was so easy and so natural, I did it without trying. I couldn't have done that if I hated you, of even just disliked you."
"Oh." Legolas paused, one hand gripping a small package I had not seen before. "Gimli.." He stopped again, wordlessly holding out the parcel.
I took it, curious, and felt that curiosity grow when I felt the parcel's shape. Small, rectangular, box-shaped..I pulled at the covering cloth, tugging excitedly, and at the first glimpse of gold, I felt I could die happy.
* * * * *
Legolas and I still argued, of course, but they lacked the same heat they used to. Instead, they were more battles of wit. The fact that they annoyed Aragorn had nothing to do with their frequency. Or, so we kept telling him.
All three of us lived in Rivendell for the moment, but Legolas and I both planned to go south with Aragorn to Gondor. He had spent quite some time extolling the virtues of some caves nearby. Of course, I could hardly trust his judgement. He was human, after all.
Still, if they lived up to his words, I would bring some of my kinsfolk south. Together, we would create art in those hills.
He had also mentioned some woods to Legolas, who had gotten all excited, of course. Honestly. Elves and their bloody trees.
I had received a letter from Dilse, who had apparently moved up in the world.
When the Elven Slaves of the Lonely Mountain were freed and went west to Mirkwood, she went with them. She now worked as King Thranduil's personal advisor on all things dwarven. Together, they were working out a trade agreement - metal and jewels for wood and silk.
Galadriel and Celeborn had met, and married, flouting tradition to forgo the usual betrothal period. Some had whispered it was because Galadriel was pregnant, but I knew why. Galadriel, older, wiser and more powerful than any other on Middle-Earth (excepting Gandalf) lived to break the rules.
Apparently, she was slightly worried about having twins. (I had assumed 'twins' were one of those ridiculous Elven notions, until Aragorn informed me it happened with humans too.) Celeborn had had two brothers which were twins, and twins run in families, or so I've been told. However, Gandalf is of the opinion that twins usually skip a generation. Gandalf himself has left for the Shire. Home, he calls it.
Personally, I don't think I need one. As long as I'm with Legolas, things will work out all right. After all, he does need looking after.
Elves are notoriously stupid creatures.
* * * * *
Responses to reviews.
Dis - They definitely all deserve peace. Weddings.I think Galadriel's and Celeborn's will be very joyous, but I think Legolas and Gimli will enjoy being bachelors a while longer!
EMQU - I reckon Elves are happy drunks. They're too pretty to be angry drunks. Legolas' hair? I'd almost forgotten about that! But yes. And, think of what Thranduil would have done! Gondor wasn't deeply involved with the war - think Switzerland to Germany in WW2. They didn't openly declare war, but weren't neutral either..
Andmetwen - School was out a bit ago for me, as I'm at University. And at least you don't have to worry about the frequency of any future updates! Because there won't be any!
Erhothwen - It was just a cameo, but I'm glad you liked it. And yep! Peace is here!
Nina - Thanks! I'm glad you thought it was happy! I was worried it was a bit too serious.
Ele - Glad you thought it was funny! I can't take credit for the pillow though - my roommate wanted me to stop writing and put the light out so she could get to sleep, and ended up tossing a cushion at me in frustration!
Dy - Thanks! As for a sequel - if there is one, it'll most likely just be one of the characters reflecting on their life in the future. Or possibly a reunion between people. Something short, anyway. But it's unlikely. Inspiration has run dry for this particular AU.
AA Battery - Thank you! And yeah, I'm glad you sympathise with the whole rushed thing. But also, as I said to Dy, my plot-bunnies have deserted me for this particular AU. They'll probably return after TT comes out on video, but I couldn't make you wait till then!
Kit Cloudkicker - Have you seen that advert where the whole world is just having one big pillow-fight? Very cool. Your review made me think of it. It's probably only on in the UK though. Anyway, thanks for your review!
Dragon-of-the-North - Yay! Long update. Well, I don't think the dwarves will continue the war for slaves. I think, deep down, a lot of them feel like Gimli. I'm glad you liked Gimli! Actually, if I had to pick the thing I was happiest with in this fic, I would say Gimli. He's been fun to write. I disagree with some writers who portray Gimli and Thranduil as enemies - I think, once they settled their differences, they would get on quite well! And thank you very much for your kind comments on the reunion thing - makes me feel better about it!
SperryDee - You don't need to see a shrink! Tell your teacher you just have a fertile imagination.. And, if I was going to do a sequel, it would most likely involve Galadriel and Celeborn. But I'm probably not.
Whitecoyote - Here! More! I'm glad you thought it was good, though yeah - it was short. I don't really know what else I would've added though.
Mysterious Reviewer - Thanks! I did think about doing the reunion from Legolas' point of view, but decided I couldn't do it justice, whereas your imaginations probably could. And thank you so much for your comments, which have left me with a massive smile! I'm very honoured you think I could make a career in writing, though for now I'm sticking to psychology! Thank you for that splendiferous (I love that word) review!
And just another overall thank you to everyone, for all your wonderful encouragement and support!
And, a massive thank you to everyone who's ever reviewed this. Without you all, I'd probably never have had the motivation to finish this. And, I really can't tell you how happy getting reviews makes me. So, thank you.
By the way, this takes place some time after the last chapter.
* * * * *
Even after almost two years, I still couldn't tell when Legolas approached. The first I knew of it was when he sat beside me, wrapping thin arms around green-clad legs, resting his chin on his knees.
"What, Elf? In case you hadn't noticed, I was thinking."
A perfect set up, and I realised that just too late. Legolas was not one to waste an easy insult like the one I'd just given him.
When he remained silent, I turned to look at him. Eyebrows were drawn into an unusually serious expression.
"You know, Gimli, I never thought I'd become friends with a dwarf." I wondered what had brought this on.
"I never thought I'd become friends with an Elf, of all things."
"But we are, though, aren't we? Friends?"
"Well, yes."
"I hated you at first. I blamed you for everything I'd lost. But then, I realised. You're not like the others."
"That's pretty much hat happened to me."
"You once called me dwarvish, remember?"
"And you called me Elvish, don't forget that."
"Well, yes, but, I was thinking.. I'm not dwarvish, and you're not Elvish.. we're just us."
"It's taken you this long to work that out?"
"When did you realise you didn't hate me?" Another sudden change of direction in this strangely solemn conversation, and I had to pause to think for a moment.
"I think it was when you destroyed my box."
"What?!" He had obviously not been expecting that.
"At first, yes, I was angry." Legolas muttered something under his breath that I chose to ignore. "But, afterwards, I felt like I should stay angry. And I couldn't. And I realised I didn't hate you because forgiving you was so easy and so natural, I did it without trying. I couldn't have done that if I hated you, of even just disliked you."
"Oh." Legolas paused, one hand gripping a small package I had not seen before. "Gimli.." He stopped again, wordlessly holding out the parcel.
I took it, curious, and felt that curiosity grow when I felt the parcel's shape. Small, rectangular, box-shaped..I pulled at the covering cloth, tugging excitedly, and at the first glimpse of gold, I felt I could die happy.
* * * * *
Legolas and I still argued, of course, but they lacked the same heat they used to. Instead, they were more battles of wit. The fact that they annoyed Aragorn had nothing to do with their frequency. Or, so we kept telling him.
All three of us lived in Rivendell for the moment, but Legolas and I both planned to go south with Aragorn to Gondor. He had spent quite some time extolling the virtues of some caves nearby. Of course, I could hardly trust his judgement. He was human, after all.
Still, if they lived up to his words, I would bring some of my kinsfolk south. Together, we would create art in those hills.
He had also mentioned some woods to Legolas, who had gotten all excited, of course. Honestly. Elves and their bloody trees.
I had received a letter from Dilse, who had apparently moved up in the world.
When the Elven Slaves of the Lonely Mountain were freed and went west to Mirkwood, she went with them. She now worked as King Thranduil's personal advisor on all things dwarven. Together, they were working out a trade agreement - metal and jewels for wood and silk.
Galadriel and Celeborn had met, and married, flouting tradition to forgo the usual betrothal period. Some had whispered it was because Galadriel was pregnant, but I knew why. Galadriel, older, wiser and more powerful than any other on Middle-Earth (excepting Gandalf) lived to break the rules.
Apparently, she was slightly worried about having twins. (I had assumed 'twins' were one of those ridiculous Elven notions, until Aragorn informed me it happened with humans too.) Celeborn had had two brothers which were twins, and twins run in families, or so I've been told. However, Gandalf is of the opinion that twins usually skip a generation. Gandalf himself has left for the Shire. Home, he calls it.
Personally, I don't think I need one. As long as I'm with Legolas, things will work out all right. After all, he does need looking after.
Elves are notoriously stupid creatures.
* * * * *
Responses to reviews.
Dis - They definitely all deserve peace. Weddings.I think Galadriel's and Celeborn's will be very joyous, but I think Legolas and Gimli will enjoy being bachelors a while longer!
EMQU - I reckon Elves are happy drunks. They're too pretty to be angry drunks. Legolas' hair? I'd almost forgotten about that! But yes. And, think of what Thranduil would have done! Gondor wasn't deeply involved with the war - think Switzerland to Germany in WW2. They didn't openly declare war, but weren't neutral either..
Andmetwen - School was out a bit ago for me, as I'm at University. And at least you don't have to worry about the frequency of any future updates! Because there won't be any!
Erhothwen - It was just a cameo, but I'm glad you liked it. And yep! Peace is here!
Nina - Thanks! I'm glad you thought it was happy! I was worried it was a bit too serious.
Ele - Glad you thought it was funny! I can't take credit for the pillow though - my roommate wanted me to stop writing and put the light out so she could get to sleep, and ended up tossing a cushion at me in frustration!
Dy - Thanks! As for a sequel - if there is one, it'll most likely just be one of the characters reflecting on their life in the future. Or possibly a reunion between people. Something short, anyway. But it's unlikely. Inspiration has run dry for this particular AU.
AA Battery - Thank you! And yeah, I'm glad you sympathise with the whole rushed thing. But also, as I said to Dy, my plot-bunnies have deserted me for this particular AU. They'll probably return after TT comes out on video, but I couldn't make you wait till then!
Kit Cloudkicker - Have you seen that advert where the whole world is just having one big pillow-fight? Very cool. Your review made me think of it. It's probably only on in the UK though. Anyway, thanks for your review!
Dragon-of-the-North - Yay! Long update. Well, I don't think the dwarves will continue the war for slaves. I think, deep down, a lot of them feel like Gimli. I'm glad you liked Gimli! Actually, if I had to pick the thing I was happiest with in this fic, I would say Gimli. He's been fun to write. I disagree with some writers who portray Gimli and Thranduil as enemies - I think, once they settled their differences, they would get on quite well! And thank you very much for your kind comments on the reunion thing - makes me feel better about it!
SperryDee - You don't need to see a shrink! Tell your teacher you just have a fertile imagination.. And, if I was going to do a sequel, it would most likely involve Galadriel and Celeborn. But I'm probably not.
Whitecoyote - Here! More! I'm glad you thought it was good, though yeah - it was short. I don't really know what else I would've added though.
Mysterious Reviewer - Thanks! I did think about doing the reunion from Legolas' point of view, but decided I couldn't do it justice, whereas your imaginations probably could. And thank you so much for your comments, which have left me with a massive smile! I'm very honoured you think I could make a career in writing, though for now I'm sticking to psychology! Thank you for that splendiferous (I love that word) review!
And just another overall thank you to everyone, for all your wonderful encouragement and support!