Disclaimer: All places and persons belong to Professor Tolkien whom I greatly admire. This was written for the simple joy of writing. No copyright infringment intended, no money made.
Rating: General, suitable for all.
Series: The Mazarbul Chronicles
Archiving: my website and Edhellond. Everyone else: please, ask first.
Summary: Gimli has grown old and the Sea calls, but Legolas does not want to sail without his friend. Triple drabble, 314 words.
Dedication: to Ro, my fellow Dwarf-fancier, for Edhellond's 5th anniversary.
Beta read by Alawa, thanks!
Rating: General, suitable for all.
Series: The Mazarbul Chronicles
Archiving: my website and Edhellond. Everyone else: please, ask first.
Summary: Gimli has grown old and the Sea calls, but Legolas does not want to sail without his friend. Triple drabble, 314 words.
Dedication: to Ro, my fellow Dwarf-fancier, for Edhellond's 5th anniversary.
Beta read by Alawa, thanks!
"What other choice would you have, Elf?" asked the Dwarf good-naturedly. Unlike his friend, he had grown old in the recent years, his hair and beard turning white like snow, and while he was still powerful, a strange weariness had begun to spread through his limbs. "You either bury me or leave me, as long as I am still alive."
"Nay!" cried out the Elf in dismay. "I cannot do either! I would not lose you, too, as I have lost Aragorn and the young hobbits. As we lost Boromir the Brave, so early on."
"Legolas," said the Dwarf reasonably, "there is no other way. I am a mortal, while you are not. Besides, death does not frighten me. I have had a long life, and a full one. I am well content."
"Oh, but you are wrong, friend Gimli," said the Elf. "There is another way. Come with me when I sail to the West. Let us make one last journey together."
At that, the Dwarf laughed, a deep full-belly laugh of fondness and mirth.
"You are truly mad, Master Elf," he said. "The Valar would never allow us to change the order of things. Dwarves do not belong in the West. We return to the stone when the fullness of our time has come."
"Then I shall turn the ship back," said the Elf, "for I will not enter the Blessed Realm without the dearest friend I have had in my long life."
"You are mad indeed," the Dwarf chuckled, "but if it makes you happy, for your sake I will try it."
~The End~