gwador | (no subject)

(no subject)

Who: Legolas & Gimli
What: Legolas invites Gimli to come with him to the Undying Lands
Where: Minas Tirith

[The city was quiet as of late, and understandably so. King Elessar had been greatly loved by his people, and his death left a wound upon all the lives that he had touched. Those closest to him, however, were left with wounds greater than others.

The gulls had come far inland that day, distracting Legolas from other matters, and leaving him with no desire to leave the guest room he was given. The stars are out when Legolas realizes he hadn't once touched the meal that had been sent up to him for dinner. He was too lost in thought, gazing westward through the window.

In retrospect it had been rude of him to say nothing spend the day beside the window instead of beside his friends, but it was too late now. The day had slipped away quietly while his mind wandered.]

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[ Being such a distance away, it had taken Gimli longer to arrive than others. The dwarrow custom called for some celebration and feasting to honor the memory of the great man they had lost. The sorrow would come, aye, but slowly. It was meant to be that way. For every bit of sorrow, you were to drown it with the good. It helped you to remember your loved ones as they were.

Yet, Gimli could not bring himself to do more than small smiles and only when greeting others. They were soon to fade. Aragorn had been dear to him.

Gimli was an old dwarrow now. Hardly a bit of fiery hair left on his head. He could move about on his own, don't you worry. He was shorter of stature, believe it or not, and it took him longer to do things - and the list of things he could do were growing fewer and fewer.

He heard of where Legolas, his dearest friend, was. How he hadn't left his room for very long at all. Well, there was only one way to correct that wasn't it? He doesn't knock. It wouldn't be the first time he's seen the elf bare with their journeys together. ]

I heard you were being unsociable-- And you haven't even touched your dinner! Elf or no you can't live off air, lad.

[ There was perhaps too much energy in his words. A bit of forced manners that only those closest to him could ever know. ]

[The door opening started him briefly. It was so like Gimli to not even knock. When he turns, for a moment he expects to see him as they journeyed together during the war, so the mostly white hair almost hurts to look at. Having just lost Aragorn, mortality was a sad subject still on his mind.]

It is good to see you, my friend.

[Legolas doesn't acknowledge either comment about his unusual behavior, but Gimli's tone isn't lost on him. He doesn't know what else to say, but he continues to keep his eyes on the dwarf with a slightly pained expression.]

[ Whatever wall he had built up to honor the tradition of his people, it's knocked to pieces with the look of pain in his dear friend's eyes. He knows this pain all too well. Later in their lives, they hadn't seen each other as much as they had wanted. Too old, too far, at least for Gimli and Aragorn. Letters. Nothing but letters for many years.

And now he was gone. ]

Aye...

[ His voice tremors and he doesn't hide a bit of it now.

No more words for now. Gimli crosses what little space there is to pull Legolas into a backbreaking hug. Not as strong as it had once been but strong enough to keep him in place. ]

[Strong enough to keep him in place, certainly, but Legolas had no desire to push Gimli away either. Still, the Dwarf is shorter than him, so all he can give in return is a hand on each of Gimli's shoulders.]

Forgive me, Gimli. I have not had the heart to seek company.

[Hence the untouched dinner, as well. Now he gently detaches himself from his friend and pulls up a chair for him. It was a little tall, but Legolas hoped he could still hop up onto it. If not... well, he'd find something. A step-stool, perhaps.]

I can't blame ya, lad.

[ They soon part and Gimli tries to wipe away the few stray tears in his eyes. It's going to be mighty difficult to keep them away. Almost as difficult as this chair.

He groans and complains of bones aching and men being too damn tall for their own good. He fails at least twice in getting in the chair but-- yes! Finally! A breath of relief as he can settle comfortably. ]

How long have you been here?

[It pains him to watch Gimli struggle with the chair. He looks away and out the window again at the stars.]

A few days, only. I saw him briefly, before the end. I feel he was... content.

[That didn't make it hurt any less, though. To an Elf, death was a cruel and unnatural fate. He pauses a moment before speaking again.]

...but tell me how you fare, if you will. It has been some time since I last traveled to see you.

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