#tharnachad

  “And a serpent’s mind to match it.”

  Although that is unfair to snakes. They are not malevolent creatures, nor are they greedy and dimwitted; their venom they use only in self-defense, a last resort when bared fangs are not WARNING enough. The guest in question gave no warning before he struck. Nor was he being threatened. Unprovoked he attacked the people of the Woodland Realm, bringing up a grudge — that of his inprisonment when travelling unnanounced and in secrecy through the elven kingdom — long since settled and forgiven. There may be no friendship between the wood-elves and the dwarves, but neither is there HOSTILITY. To bring up such a matter can serve only to kindle hatred between their peoples again, to sow distrust where there need not be distrust — and to bring further damage to wounded elven pride after their failure to keep watch over the creature Sméagol.

  Legolas held his tongue then, priding himself on being the better of the two though sorely tempted to snap back. He is not holding his tongue now.

  “Remind me again why the son of that — savage — is to be part of our endeavour? Surely even among dwarves there are those with more tact.”

        Dutifully, the Ranger heard the words; without interrupting, he allowed the prince his time to vent his displeasure while he worked away with packing his things. They were to leave on the morrow, and it would be early; he doubted he would get much rest this night.  

        A wry smile was given, scarce, the look sent over his shoulder to Legolas at the words; he shook his head. ❝ The task before us is one that affects all of the Free Peoples; they have a right to send one of their own. I trust in Elrond’s decision. ❞ He slipped a dagger in its sheath, binding it to the outside of the pack with a few short jerks of his fingers. ❝ Though I will not deny that his words had little place in such council. ❞

Tension before battle was a familiar sensation. There was always a tenuous thrum of nervous energy, bouncing off one warrior to the next until it created a thick cloud of anxiety. Gimli was relatively calm, stalwartly accepting of the very real possibility of defeat. He trusted his friends, he trusted his axe, he trusted the stone would come up to meet him should he fall in battle. He also trusted that the cause he was dying for was a just one.

What more could a Soldier need?

But Gimli was less than content that dark night as the Rohirrim peoples trembled about him and ancient stone walls shook with heavy feet. Legolas was not ok. It seemed an impossible notion, but there it was.

      Elladan and Elrohir both spoke highly of Aragorn’s new rule and the lands that had flourished beneath it.  She knew they would always think well of him, he had been as a brother to them and their sister was always dear in their hearts.  She had not been among those that had made the initial journey to Gondor for his coronation but the days within these lands were rapidly approaching their end for her and she wished to change that.

       The Gondor she was able to see now was a beautiful and thriving one compared to that marred by war and loss with a looming black cloud of destruction and death lingering at their doorstep.  The darkness that had been Mordor was now gone and the air was all the clearer, the skies more open for it.  It was a good sight and for that alone she was glad to have made the journey so South.

       When a route home was recommended to her that included Ithilien, her curiosity was piqued.  To her, the days of the Elves were coming to an end but there was word of a new hall having been created for them within the borders.  Thus her route was changed and she marveled at the sight of Henneth Annún.  The Elves there seemed to be more of those from the Greenwood but it felt natural and organic, as though this land had always been their home and these trees had been cultivated from saplings by their hands.