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MODERN EARTH SERIES
21 Bail
22 The Ride Home
23 Home Again
Home Again Part Two
24 A Visit With The Neighbors
25 Will They Ever Get To Bed?
26 To The Rescue
27 Treasures of the Past
28 Armed to the Teeth
29 Night Fight
30 Underground
21 Bail
Elf and dwarf kissed, holding one another a long moment. Then Old Took cleared his throat and told them to hurry. Gimli opened the suitcase and in a few minutes transformed Legolas into the dashing, charismatic elven philanthropist that the city was used to seeing at society functions. Hair meticulously brushed and braided, careworn face kissed to a rosy glow, Legolas was ready.
The judge was a middle aged man who yawned listening to the prosecution’s many reasons for denying bail yet again. Old Took raised his bushy brows and took his cue. It was his turn to present.
"Your Honor," he began. "I will cut to the chase and save us all a good deal of time. My esteemed colleague is worried that my client will flee to a ship the moment he’s cut loose from jail. Well, I’ll pledge my own tidy fortune and my good name to say he won’t. I’ve drawn up a simple agreement and I’d like to present it to you, sir."
The judge dropped his jaw. Then he politely closed his mouth and picked up his cup. He took a sip of something. The prosecution was getting to her feet by this time. Out of the corner of his eye, Old Took saw her mouth begin to open, her face twisting in cold fury. The judge couldn’t ignored her. He glanced her way and then, he put on a pair of reading glasses. He twitched his finger at Old Took.
"Let’s see," the judge muttered.
The document was short. It stated that not only would the fortune of Old Took be surrendered to the court but the considerable holdings of Mr. Legolas Greenleaf too, if the aforementioned skipped. It would make the state immensely rich. But, the clincher rested with Took’s reputation. He volunteered to be disbarred if Legolas ran.
"You play often at high stakes poker, Mr. Took?" the judge drawled.
"I only bet on sure things, yer honor," Took answered.
"Bail granted at ten thousand," the judge said bringing down the gavel. "My clerk will inform you of the court date, Mr. Took."
Gimli blinked and squeezed Legolas’ arm. The elf smiled and sighed. Court was adjourned and Old Took skipped like a boy down the hall. His companions followed him. They retrieved the few personal items the police had taken from the elf. Legolas saw Black Pete in the hallway and wished him good fortune. The man nodded his thanks.
Hobbit, dwarf and elf stepped outside into the gleaming sunshine and Legolas lifted his face, his eyes closing in a moment of ecstasy. The elf drew in a deep breath. His mouth twitched into a broad grin.
"Let’s get something to eat and sit under a tree, Gimli."
"Whatever ye like," Gimli said. "There’s a fine little square of greenery down this way."
"I’ll call Underhill," Old Took said. "He’ll bring us sandwiches."
22 The Ride Home
The afternoon was long and golden, like the elf’s hair. Sweet and silken breezes moved the slowly coloring leaves overhead. Sunflowers, asters and summer’s fading roses bloomed their heart’s out in the little square where elf and dwarf spent the quiet hours following lunch.
Old Took had gone back to his office. Downtown workers returned to their desks. Gimli had instructed his answering service to handle everything for him the rest of the day, patching through only truly dire emergencies. Dreamily, Legolas gazed into the boughs of the tree supporting his slender back. He breathed deeply and combed his slim fingers through the lush carpet of grass beneath him.
Gimli eyed his friend from a stone bench. He never tired of the view. There were clouds in their future but the sky was blue overhead at the moment. There was no need to mar the moment either. Gimli kept watch and Legolas rested.
Only when the buildings began to expel their inhabitants, did Legolas get up and stretch his long frame. He smiled at Gimli.
"Where did you park your beast?" the elf asked softly, laughing joyously to the accompaniment of birdsong.
"At the court house," Gimli answered, gathering their things.
"Let’s go bail it out then," Legolas replied. "I’m ready for a real bath."
Gimli nodded and wondered how he was going to tell his companion about all the damage at their home. They got the truck without a problem. Legolas raising his eyebrow at the price Gimli paid for their freedom.
As they drove through the city streets Legolas lounged and Gimli thought. He reasoned that the ruined paintings could be replaced. The sofa was in the shop already and the new door was up. Only one precious thing lay in ruins in a cardboard box, the alabaster statue that had been a gift to a wedded couple.
A chill seized Gimli’s heart. His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. A furrow instantly appeared between Legolas’ fine bright eyes.
"What’s wrong, Gimli?"
There was a long pause. Gimli kept his eyes on the road and Legolas fixed his gaze upon his companion.
"Well, you’ll know soon enough," the dwarf said at last, mastering his discomfort and more over, his unwillingness to burden his friend. "We were visited by the Nine. They broke down the door and wreaked havoc in the living room."
"You faced them alone?" Legolas gasped, his expression one of shock and alarm.
"I wasn’t home," Gimli replied, patting the elf’s thigh. "I was taking a bite of supper with my foreman last night. He’d invited me for coffee after work and he coaxed me into having a meal. The break-in occurred about eight P.M. according to witnesses."
"Was anyone injured? Any of our poor neighbors?"
"Fortunately, no. It was Eorand who saw them. He counted the bikes, clever lad. One Harley and eight Katanas. They have to be the same ones Sober the dwarf saw in the park."
Legolas closed his eyes and bit down on his lower lip. He clutched the arm rest, his fingers tensing. He swallowed, but did not ask more. The dwarf knew what the elf feared.
"Randy saw a light, Friend," Gimli said softly. "Your treasures are safe yet."
Legolas relaxed a little. He turned and looked at Gimli.
"You know what it would mean if they found the ring."
"Yes, I do. I was there at your side, remember?"
"Yes, you were, Gimli. And glad I am to have you nigh.”
23 Home Again
Once inside their dwelling, Legolas fell into Gimli’s arms and breathed in the smell of his thick, nut-brown hair. Ages rolled past. Wood smoke, the reek of battle, the fragrance of new mown hay, he remembered them all. They’d lived lifetimes together. The strength of one flowed to the other like the confluence of streams joining, making a mighty river.
The wooden floor creaked under their feet like a flet in Lothlorien. They’d chosen a second floor home to please the elf but Gimli installed the stone fireplace in the living room a week after they’d moved in. The airy dining space, the balcony, the commodious forested bedroom were more gifts for Legolas. In turn, the elf had insisted that one room quicken a dwarf’s heart.
"Come, Friend," Gimli said at last. "Undress yerself whilst I prepare yer homecoming."
"A taste first," Legolas whispered. "I’ve missed you."
Long fingers curled around the base of Gimli’s skull. The willowy elf bent like a sapling sweeping a boulder on the mountain side. So, they kissed, fleetingly at first, then full and long until Gimli was breathless. Their passion had taken them to the bedroom but Gimli was stern. Legolas laughed like silver wind chimes.
"Yes, Gimli," Legolas said finally, his eyebrows arching. "A bath first."
A moment later, like a breeze rustling the silk fabric, Legolas threw off the fine suit of clothes, slipped out of his linen and walked sky-clad to the bathroom, a dwarven masterpiece. At the same time, Gimli toddled off to the kitchen to fetch his lover’s homecoming gift.
In the bathroom, the elf shook out his hair and stepped into a deep pool fashioned within what appeared to be an underground grotto of richly veined green marble. He pressed a small, familiar outcropping of jade. At the touch, a misty cascade spouted from a realistic fissure in the malachite wall. Legolas tipped up his face. The spray tingled. The temperature was that of a mountain freshet. He briskly rubbed his face, then turned around to let the water stream through his hair and down his back.
"Gimli, are you joining me?" he called.
"Aye," came a rough voice from the kitchen. "Must crack open the bottle first."
23 Home Again Part Two
The bath was relaxing for both of them, splashing in the deep pool after the cascade had filled it. The cool water was refreshing, yet at the same time soothing to their spirits, like the rich red wine they drank from a shared bottle. In one another’s arms they reminisced about quieter days after the war, when they had explored together Fangorn’s hidden, rushing streams and secret underground pools within the caverns at Helm’s Deep.
"Aye," Gimli said, rising at last. "I miss the peace of those days."
"After this is over," Legolas breathed getting up and stepping out of the pool, "I’ll put on the ring. We’ll build our ship as we promised Gandalf."
"You have put off that day, haven’t you," Gimli said nodding and taking a towel, drying his companion’s back.
"The sea will not part us, Gimli."
"Then why do I fear the Western Shore as I feared the Paths of the Dead?"
"In the lands beyond the Sundering Sea there are no ghosts, Gimli. They are our comrades living and breathing as we do here. You will see Galadriel."
"I am content with one elf."
Legolas smiled and toweled the bearded face of his lover.
He whispered, "Ever do you comfort me, Gimli."
24 A Visit with the Neighbors
Legolas buttoned up the fly of his 501’s after tucking in a soft cotton shirt. Then he felt a sharp pinch on his backside.
"Why do you do that, Gimli?" the elf asked, already knowing the answer.
"Be’cuz I love seein’ an elf in jeans."
"I suppose you’d like me to come work for you. Get all dirty and then go with you to drink beer and watch sporting events in the evening."
"Ye’re makin’ my mouth water, elf."
"I think you’re drunk, Gimli," Legolas said close to his friend’s ear, lifting the shirt out of the waistband of the dwarf’s jeans.
Legolas slipped his cool fingers around the smaller figure and suddenly tickled mercilessly. The dwarf squirmed and launched his own attack with a battle cry. Legolas caught him in his arms.
"Shhhh," he said. "We have neighbors listening."
There it was, a knock at the door. Legolas sighed and kissed his companion. Then he winked and made a motion like tucking in his shirt. Gimli took the cue and straightened his rumpled clothing. He watched with longing as the elf sauntered barefoot across the wood floor to the front door.
A peek through the spyglass and the door was opened.
"Eorand," Legolas said. "Is something amiss?"
"Naw," the lad said. "Mom sent me to invite you two to supper. She didn’t know if Mr. Gimli had time to shop. You know women."
Elf and dwarf exchanged looks.
"I’d be happy to dine with you and your mother, Eorand," Legolas said. "Gimli? How about you?"
"Oh aye! Home cookin’s best," Gimli said. "I’ll get the wine."
The boy called to him, "We’re having turkey meatloaf. Is that red or white?"
"We’ll make it a sweet red and have it with dessert. Ye like chocolate cake, don’t ye, lad?"
"Passionately, sir!"
"Then lead on. Supper awaits," Legolas said.
The corner apartment where Eorand and his mother Mirandwyn lived was neat but humble. Eothred, the boy’s father, in the tradition of the Rohirrim, had entered military service not long after his marriage. Then he’d been killed in an orc uprising in the Misty Mountains when Eorand was twelve.
At the time, Mirandwyn believed that her husband had made arrangements for his family's future before entering his uncertain profession. He had not. Even so, money appeared in their bank account and there was a nice college fund too.
In truth, Legolas was insuring the boy’s future, and Gimli contributed to their finances. When Legolas had investigated the fatal incident a few days after the funeral, he’d spoken with the company’s commander. The army, he was told, paid a small amount to widows, but it was hardly enough to live on. So, elf and dwarf took it upon themselves to safeguard their neighbors.
Mirandwyn worked part time at a local daycare and devoted a great deal of time to local causes. She had purchased the yellow ribbons and asked people in the neighborhood to tie them to their trees. She was overjoyed to see her elven neighbor free at last. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Then she kissed Gimli too who waited patiently in line behind the elf.
Eorand sighed, clearly embarrassed by the fuss his mother was making. He pulled out his mother’s chair at the head of the table, forcing her to sit or look foolish. Then he indicated places for the guests. Being the man of the family, he cut the savory meatloaf and served everyone. Finally he sat down too, after fetching ketchup, pickles and rescuing the brown ‘n serve rolls crisping in the oven.
After supper clean-up, they sat together in the cozy parlor listening to the softly rustling click of knitting needles working. Mirandwyn was making booties for expecting mothers at the daycare. Next to her, Gimli dozed in a padded rocker, his feet up on a footstool.
At a small card table, Legolas played chess with Eorand. From time to time, the elf showed the boy clever moves and even let him win the third match. Starting their fourth match, Legolas glanced at Gimli.
Then he whispered to the boy, "Tell me about the break-in. Gimli hasn’t told me much of anything."
"There were nine of them, sir," Randy said in conspiratorial tones. "Eight dressed in black pajamas, Ninja style. One guy with lots of silver chains and a death’s head helmet. He rode the big Harley. And, he stayed outside with the bikes."
"How long were they inside?"
"I’m not sure. I didn’t see them go in. I only watched them leave. There was a huge flash of light. Then, all hell broke loose. Shrieking, crashing, you know, almost like a fight."
The elf frowned. He scratched his narrow chin and moved a knight.
He said, "I wonder why they didn’t tripped the security alarm when they went in?"
"Ninjas are pretty smart, Mr. Legolas. Ever see ‘em in the movies?"
Legolas cast a sidelong glance down his sharp nose at the smiling boy. Randy was kidding, of course, not taking anything seriously at the moment.
"What was that light anyway?" the boy asked. "A security camera?"
"I wish it were," Legolas murmured. "Then I’d know for certain who they were."
"Well, you do make this neighborhood exciting, Mr. Legolas," the young man said moving his rook to block the attacking knight.
Moving his queen, Legolas knocked over the rook. Then he stared the boy in the eye.
"It would grieve me if you came to any harm, Eorand," Legolas said.
There was noise outside on the street. A car stopped and dogs began to bark.
"I’ll see what it is, mom," Eorand said getting to his feet.
"No."
A slender hand with the strength of iron encircled the boy’s wrist, holding him back. Eorand frowned and sat back down.
"I’ll see who it is," Legolas said.
Stepping outside the elf intercepted a police investigator heading upstairs to their apartment.
"Can I help you, officer?" Legolas asked.
"You can tell me where you’ve been all evening. Need to call your lawyer first?"
"I’ve been here at a neighbor’s home eating supper. Would you care to chat with the lady of the house?"
"Are there other witnesses?"
"My companion and the lady’s son."
The officer sighed. He wrote some notes on a little pad.
"What’s happened, officer?"
"That guy Fenton was found murdered an hour ago. Forensics figures time of death about seven this evening."
25 Will They Ever Get to Bed?
At about ten PM, Legolas phoned Old Took and told him about the police visit. They discussed the newest wrinkles in their case. Lurid stories had already appeared on the evening news. Fenton’s body had been found by his lawyer at his ranch home. Stable workers had given a description of a tall male with long blond hair who had been the most recent visitor at the ranch.
While the elf was on the phone, a news crew arrived at the apartment complex for a statement from the most likely suspect. Legolas ended his communication with Took and woke Gimli. Mirandwyn turned on their small television.
The dwarf fumed. The news media had already concluded that Legolas was guilty. He was in fact a blond male, only recently released from police custody after allegedly making death threats to the victim. Reporters cautioned that their speculation was just that. Nevertheless, Gimli was ready to boot them all off the face of the earth.
"Calmly, Gimli," Legolas whispered to his agitated companion. "I’ll make a short statement to whoever is outside and then we’ll go to bed."
"I’m too upset to ever get to sleep again," Gimli grumbled.
"Who said anything about sleeping," the elf whispered, raising an eyebrow, smiling and squeezing the dwarf’s meaty shoulder.
"Well, in that case," Gimli said brightening. "Bed sounds like a fine place. Be quick with yer admirers then, elf."
Legolas nodded and went out the door alone. After a brief statement of his innocence and a polite admonishment about the news crew’s fuss waking the whole neighborhood, Legolas bid the city good night on local television. Inside, Randy shook his head at the performance. So did Mirandwyn. Too glib, they pronounced. Elvish, Legolas reminded them.
Then, Mirandwyn bid her company good night and ordered her son to bed. Legolas and Gimli climbed the stair to their apartment and opened the door. A fresh breeze gusted toward them. Legolas crouched and went instinctively for a bow that wasn’t there on his back. The glass doors to the balcony were open.
A twitch of the elf’s hand and Gimli flanked left as they entered the door. They didn’t need lights to see. They hoped their intruder did. They crossed the room. Gimli pointed down the hall. He’d check that way. Legolas headed straight to the balcony.
As the elf was about to step through the glass doors, he spotted the tail end of a fine rope. He turned. The potted palm fronds fluttered. A lightning quick grab and Legolas had a hold on the thief. He heard to his amazement a coarse dwarven expletive. The elf blinked and then knelt down, eye-level with his prisoner.
"Who are you?" he said pronouncing carefully the difficult dwarven words.
Legolas had never before seen a frightened dwarf hiding behind a plant in his apartment. He noted other odd clues. The bearded face seemed young, the eyes wide and bright. The arm he clutched was not as stout as Gimli’s. The hand and fingers were far smaller. Legolas smiled. He softened his grip.
"Don’t be afraid," he whispered in the common speech. Then he called out, "Gimli, come see who I’ve found."
Just then, there was noise down the hall. Shouting in dwarven from two distinct voices. Legolas lost the thread of the exchange after several colorful expletives. He regretted the elvish language’s beauty. Cursing well was difficult in elvish. His small captive said something.
"Say again," Legolas said softly. "Slowly."
"Dayci," the creature said. "Mr. Gloinson’s found my brother Dayci."
26 To the Rescue
"Well, what are ye doin’ here, ye pair o' scallywags?" Gimli asked after the dwarf siblings were both in the living room.
Laci answered him shyly, "The battle’s begun."
Dayci gave his sibling a sharp glare. Laci stopped talking.
Taking a deep breath, Dayci stated, "We could hear them coming. Narsi prepared a counter-attack. He told us to get to some place safe. I was to look after Laci. We crossed the river and cut through the park. The last thing I heard was Burli calling out that everyone should fall back into the storm drains."
"How did ye pick this dwelling? Had ye seen us here before? Gimli asked.
"We found your truck in the garage and the number on the parking place matched the apartment number. Lace figured it out."
"So ye let yerselves in. Then, why did ye hide?"
Laci suddenly dissolved into tears. Legolas frowned and laid a hand on Gimli’s shoulder.
"You were afraid, weren’t you," he said.
The young dwarf nodded.
Then, a small voice broken by soft sobs explained, "I remembered the old story about King Thranduil. He nailed dwarves into barrels and threw them in the river."
Legolas rolled his eyes and shook his head slowly. He sat down, cross legged on the floor in front of the small dwarf. Tenderly the elf took the wide hand of the young dwarf into his own hand.
"I’m pleased you came here," Legolas said. "We want to help you."
Then he asked quietly, "Who attacked your kin?
"Riders, Black Riders," Laci said, eyes round and wide.
"On horses?" Elf and dwarf both asked at once.
"No," Dayci said shaking his head. "Fast motorbikes. But they can’t cross water. We know where the stepping stones are. So, we waded across."
Dayci fidgeted. Then he added, "If Burli and the others made it to the storm drains, they’ll be safe for a while. The tunnels aren’t big enough for large creatures on bikes."
"We must go to their aid, Friend," Gimli said, looking intently at Legolas.
"I agree. Yet I am loathe to enlist women and children."
"These two will stay here and guard our fortress," Gimli said. "I’ll show them the means to operate my cellular phone."
"Then I have a note to pen. A note that I’ll place into the trusty keeping of our dear Mirandwyn."
"I’ll get our weapons."
"Go quickly, Gimli. I fear for the dwarves."
"Aye."
Going quickly to his writing desk near the balcony, the elf chose a fine piece of parchment paper. Then, Legolas wrote in his fair hand,
"I, Legolas Greenleaf, write this the last day of harvest, the first day of the dwarf New Year. I place it in the keeping of my friend Mirandwyn who knows not the language of the message."
Then he nearly filled the paper with several flowing paragraphs of fine elven script. Flourishes accented the fair name of Legolas at the bottom. A stylized leaf fluttered after the name. No one could duplicate such a signature. Only the learned would understand the message.
27 Treasures of the Past
Legolas beckoned to the young dwarves. He said, "Youngsters, attend the opening of the great doors. See what your stout ancestors witnessed."
Tall and beautiful Legolas appeared to them then, his great age giving him the brilliance of Celeborn descendent of Celebrimbor writer of the words on the Doors of Moria. Gimli, son of Gloin and descendent of Narvi the Stonewright, seemed broader and more solid too, standing next to his life-long companion. Together, they led the youngsters to their bedroom and uncovered a secret panel. Taking a tiny gem full of starlight, they traced the light upon a section of their bedroom wall.
All at once, elvish writing gleamed, glowing and flowing like molten mithril. The young dwarves covered their gaping mouths. They’d heard about the West Gate, built in the days when Elves of Hollin and Durin’s Folk lived in harmony, but they had always thought the stories wishful visions of a rosy, impossible past.
They rubbed their eyes. Now, in the modern era, they were witnessing the opening of smaller, but hardly less powerful, gates. Within a secret hiding place, they saw a flash of flame. The ring Narya the Great, full of fire, lay upon a snowy satin pedestal. In the next instant, it shone upon the pale finger of the tall elf.
The slim hand, white as frost, caressed the ruddy features of the dwarf. Gimli’s beard seemed suddenly glossier, fuller and even more curly. The dwarf’s eyes twinkled like moonlight on water. His muscular arms encircled the elf’s waist and they kissed. A moment later, Legolas smiled sadly.
"In haste we are now, Gimli," he whispered. "And no regrets, if this be our last kiss. Your Nogothrim are in need."
"If this night goes against us," Gimli murmured softly. "I will batter down the doors to Aule’s Smithy and keep you there with me. They will not reject a stone like Narya, nor its wearer if I have anything to say about it."
"You comfort me, Gimli," Legolas said softly, smiling in the starlight. "Now, to our weapons."
28 Armed to the Teeth
Gimli led the way to the study. As the young dwarves watched, he opened the case and he reverently lifted out the bow of Galadriel. Legolas ran his fingertips over the fletching of his long, white arrows before taking up the quiver. Then he took the great bow from Gimli’s hands and slipped it over his left shoulder.
With as much care, Legolas presented Gimli with his heavy axe. The thong was a new one, a gift from Legolas. The wooden handle of white oak had been newly carved a decade before and lovingly oiled to a satin sheen. The blade was sharp. Only Gimli knew the place where the orc’s collar had nicked the edge at the Battle of the Glittering Caves.
The white knife was there too, and hand guns, a Smith and Wesson for Gimli and a Walther for Legolas. They would take no chances. They entrusted a small Remington to Dayci and Gimli gave Laci his cell phone with instructions on how to call the authorities if they were attacked at the apartment.
Legolas stuffed his letter into an envelope and tapped Gimli’s shoulder. He jerked his head toward the door. Gimli nodded and gave the youngsters a fleeting grin.
“We’ll be back,” the dwarf said.
The pair walked down the stairs and Legolas rapped lightly on Mirandwyr’s door. She answered it, her eyes suddenly wet when she saw how her neighbors were dressed for battle. She took the letter and promised to keep it safe. They bid her good-bye and told her that she and her boy would never want for anything no matter what happened to them. At that, she burst into tears and leaned against the doorframe.
Legolas stroked her hair and shook his head. Then the warriors stepped into the dark beyond the range of her eyes. The door closed and they began the loping sort of run they’d used to follow the Uruk Hai that had stolen two hobbits. They crossed one of the streams in the park as the dwarf youngster had, over the stepping-stones. Legolas’ sharp eyes noted the eddies in the moonlit waters and he splashed ahead of Gimli. Neither missed a step.
Finally, they followed the stream to the great river and the system of storm sewers that drained their part of town. At this point they stopped and listened for sounds that might direct them. They heard the wind in the pines and the murmur of water over concrete. Then they caught the hum of approaching engines. The Nine were on the riverbank path and coming nearer.
29 Night Fight
"Gimli," Legolas hissed. "I can’t simply shoot them, you know."
"Aye," the dwarf said, shifting his axe from hand to hand. "Wouldn’t be sporting, would it?"
"That’s how the law sees it."
"An', ye’re giving me a chance at ‘em too. That’s kind of ye."
"Not as many as we faced at Helm’s Deep."
"Nor the great Fields."
The elf glanced toward his partner standing on stout legs. A wild grin flamed across the dwarf’s features. The elf returned his own cold, grim smile. Like old times, they stood facing the foes of Light. The motorcycles roared into view. The big man on the first cycle whirled a long length of chain above his head as he rode. Legolas twitched the corner of his mouth into a half smile. He narrowed his eyes, and fired his pistol.
The cycle’s front tire blew, sending the man to the ground with a hard thud. The rest of the smaller bikers scattered like crows. Elf and dwarf stood their ground, the river at their backs. A moment later, the sound of the bikes stopped. Only the sigh of the pines and the murmur of flowing water reached Gimli’s ears. He waited, back to back with the tall elf.
A loud puff of air caught the elf’s attention. Gimli cursed. A long dart had pricked the dwarf's thigh just above his knee. Then a hail of steel stars hit them. Legolas pulled one out of his upper arm and threw it to the ground. They could see no one along the riverbank. The massive silver-helmed rider was slowly gaining his feet. Legolas tugged at Gimli’s sleeve. It was time to find the park dwarves’ hiding place.
Legolas led their retreat. He loped with an arrow on the string now, ready for any dark shape that stood in their way. He was glad to have the dwarf’s heavy armor protecting his back. From the burn in the nick on his arm, he suspected the Dark Riders were using poison. It was their style after all.
Elf and dwarf followed the landmarks the dwarf youngsters had given them. Under the bridge at Ninth Street, past the main camp, to the narrow channel that drained the streets of the hospital complex. Once inside, they were to alternate left and right at each junction. Then they would find the underground hideout.
"A marvel, Friend," Gimli whispered. "Are they not?"
"Yes, if the smell were more appealing," Legolas replied softly.
"Dank is invigorating. I could have ye right here."
"It’s fighting that gets your blood up, Gimli. That night after your return from the Glittering Caves, I could barely sit a horse the next morning. Even Aragorn thought I’d been wounded."
"Ye never told me that."
"We had greater concerns at the time. And, I was afraid you’d think me fragile."
"Ye’ are."
"Am not."
A raspy new voice floated out of the darkness.
"Quiet down. Ye’ll lead ‘em here, ye will."
30 Underground
“Eh, Narsi,” Gimli spoke into the darkness. “Is that you?”
“Course it’s me, Old Timer. An’ ye brought yer elf too. Always good for a rousin’ bicker, aren’t they?”
“Careful wha’ cha say, Narsi. He’s nocked and ready.”
Legolas snorted delicately. Then he said, “Men are wrong when they accuse elves of frivolity. They should observe dwarves.”
“See?” Gimli said, stepping closer to Narsi and pointing a stubby finger at Legolas. “The braiding hides the raised hackles. Ye haf’ta know ‘em well and then ye’ll see.”
After their remark, the dwarves turned and started trudging deeper down the tunnel toward a faint, luminous glow. Legolas rolled his eyes. He replaced his arrow in his quiver. Slinging the great bow over his back, he followed them.
Just loud enough to be heard, Legolas commented, “I didn’t know I was going to be roasted by slow dwarven wit when I agreed to this mission.”
Gimli paused, turned and took his companion by the arm. The elf’s shoulders straightened and his chin went up. The dwarf began a slow smile.
Gimli said, “No airs now. Ye’re here because ye love a good fight. I’m wise to yer sly elvish ways.”
“Oh, come on, friends,” Narsi said. “We’re preparin’ fer battle. The elf’s more ‘an welcome.”
Legolas was amazed at where they’d ended up. The narrow watercourse opened into a vast underground chamber cleverly lit by warmly glowing stones. Carved pillars, porticos, galleries and tiers connected by ornate stone steps surrounded them.
“Have we entered Moria, Gimli?” Legolas asked, his fine eyebrows arching. “I doubt the city ordered all this opulence built into a storm sewer system. Have you been free-lancing?”
“On the official plans, this one’s called the Gloin Reservoir, a mere holding pond for the occasional torrent. Since huge rainstorms are fairly uncommon, my workmen built additional living space down here. A haven in times of need.”
“So city officials don’t know?”
“They have their storm drains and a wee bit more.”
At that moment, the conversation was halted by a sharp cry of pain. Narsi turned and Gimli touched the younger dwarf’s shoulder.
“Who’s that?”
“Burli. He was hit by a dart. His arm is swollen. Sober’s with him.”
“Take us to him,” Legolas said. “Had I known someone was hurt, I would not have tarried.”
“This way,” Narsi said beckoning.
“Poor guests we are, Gimli, to keep our host waiting.”
“At first it seemed minor,” Narsi said. “It’s worse now that we’ve removed the dart.”
“They use poison,” Legolas said.
“We both got hit by the dark little buggers,” Gimli said. “I feel no effects.”
Legolas laid his white hand upon Gimli’s shoulder. He said, “The ring protects us, Gimli.”
Narsi said, “A ring?”
“Narya,” Legolas said, showing the young dwarf his hand. “To warm Naugrim hearts.”
Narsi looked in wonder upon it. He murmured, “As in the days of friendship between the Mountain and the Wood.”
Go on to: Parts 31-40
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