eachdraidh | Axe 01 - Audio - Open to Both Courts

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Axe 01 - Audio - Open to Both Courts - Forward-dated to October 2nd

[Not a video, just audio. It’s clear, however, that the person on the other end is inspecting the locket]

--hmph, thought as much. "Say a phrase and the magic will work", hm? Ridiculous. Who ever heard of speaking over distances with a locket.. Not even Legolas with all his fanciful Elven stories would have come up with something so foolish.

[More tapping and poking can be heard]

There’s nothing special about this at all. No gems, not even made of precious metals...and those creatures expect me to believe their stories? [A snort] I’d sooner believe there’s a man in Rohan afraid of horses! [He pauses, and then scoffs] Bah, listen to me, talking to myself. Legolas must be rubbing off on me more than I thought!

[Click goes the locket.]

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[ It's slow, quiet tears that begin to fall here and now, before he even decides to ask to respond to Gimli. For months now he had not taken rest proper, for months the world around him was spinning out of control, ever changing swiftly and suddenly. So much has happened, even still back home, back at Arda- so many years he had watched Gimli grow into a great Dwarf of his time, but with those years his hair and beard both lost their vivid colours to silver first then white, in those years too little by little his hands lost their previous strength too. He had not died in battle like many of his kin, but in a fine bed, on the finest of sheets in a land only but a handful of mortals were ever allowed to see.

Gimli has fallen to an enemy not even the elves could fight for the mortals. Age.

Legolas still remembers (and he always will) the months, years, of grief that followed. He still recalls every little detail carved into his tomb made of smooth stone. Such tears, silent and slow fell then too, interspersed with song of bone-deep grief. But those are all memories he should not be sinking into now, though the circumstance is terrible, this is a dear friend who has been returned to him and so it should be time to rejoice and to be merry. His chest aches with all sorts of conflicting emotions, but there is one that wins out and it's relief. With Gimli at his side, after all, all that he had set out to do is bound to be much easier to achieve. Such is the depth of his trust and belief in one of the greatest friends he has ever made.

Finally, he chooses to respond in the same manner Gimli has made his message, glad for it to be nothing but voice so that it gives him a convenient excuse for his own use of it. When he speaks, he sounds plenty cheerful, plenty teasing just as Gimli must remember him by. ]

Is this to say, I have managed to abate your stubbornness just a little as well?

Edited (added stuff about tone of voice!) 2014-09-29 06:50 (UTC)

Legolas!

[You can hear Gimli's smile when he hears his Elf's voice. He doesn't even think to ask the locket to let him see the Elf, he saw him only a few days ago and he sincerely doubts he's changed all that much]

So you are here. I was doubting what others had said, but I see they were telling the truth. Where are you?

[ To fall back into this ever familiar banter, tease for a tease, playfulness all abound, is comforting and for those moments it allows him to forget that he was the one to lay his friend to his eternal rest. And so his voice is cherry, laced with mirth and teasing. ]

Am I so plain and unmemorable that I could be mistaken for another, or have another mistaken for me?

[ And lacking any sort of seriousness so very much. But is it any surprise, truly? ]

I am not at the stronghold of Caer Glaem, as we speak I travel still, but soon I will be near-by and I have a matter to attend to there. Stay until I come, then we may leave together... should you wish it.

[ Though he says that, his tone is ever so knowing, expecting full well a rebuke for even implying that Gimli wouldn't go with him. ]

No, but perhaps they sought to trick me! The creatures who brought me here, these faeries, they seem the tricky sort!

[He laughs]

I went to Fangorn with you, did I not? I would refuse to travel this strange world with anyone else, Legolas. I will wait here and gather supplies.

They are playful, indeed, and I would watch your cup if you pay them no attention! Yet the fairies themselves, they are of the friendly sort as well. Be kind to them and kindness they will return to you!

[ Or just not as distrustful, since Legolas knows Gimli has plenty of kindness within him. ]

Then when we meet, I will share what knowledge of this world I have already gathered and there is a lot of it to share.

Hmph, if they want kindness perhaps they might try not kidnapping sleeping Dwarves!

[Just saying]

Good. I do not like going into a thing blind.

They serve their monarchs, it is them we should take our anger to. For fooling those who come willingly, like myself and my father, and for taking those unwilling against their wishes.

[ He's still... too soft hearted, in a way. The fairies have been most helpful to him, even if the monarchs have not. ]

I will make certain it is not so.

---did you say you came willingly?

[ There's a moment of silence. ]

Aye. To aid another people from succumbing to darkness. How could I not give my support when I have known the threat myself so intimately?

And beyond that, the high life at Valinor does not fit me [ not without the dear friends to traverse the wilderness with, ] I have found!

[ And so he tries to laugh off the memories painful with a little tease, a small joke. ]

[...Valinor?

After fumbling for a moment, Gimli manages to make this private]

You have sailed?

[ It seems he had got himself into this corner now, where he wishes he could brush it off as nothing, avoid the subject gracefully and with the same elegance that his limbs know, he knows Gimli better than this. He knows he would not have it.

And he does not wish to lie to him either. ]

For a time, there were a great many anchors that have held me firmly in Middle Earth despite the yearning that had awoken. One by one these anchors withered and crumbled, and though my father remained, I had to set sail.

[ With you. Should he say that? ]

My last anchor, however, I took with me. So that you could see the marvels of my new home and approve, [ yes, he had stayed so long as he had, despite the deep longing for the sea that had him aching each day, for all his mortal friends, ] and so that you could speak with the Lady that had swayed your heart once more.

[Gimli just stares at Legolas.

He can't be serious. A Dwarf, sail West with an Elf and be allowed to see Valinor? Impossible!

But Legolas doesn't lie, not to him, and so...

He mumbles something in Khuzdul]

You come from a long time after the War, then. Oh, Legolas.

[He knows, a little, of the pain that must have caused him, to stay in Middle-earth and see his friends all die and the world change. But he did, and Gimli stayed with him.

Well, of course he did. Why wouldn't he?]

[ Gimli is very correct in that: there are matters he would rather not mention at all, indeed, but when he must then it will be all truth and not a thread of a lie in any of it.

There is a soft smile in his voice now, though it's heavily laced with sadness he tries to hide. ]

Aye, ninety years have I lived at Valinor when the fairy folk came to ask for aid.

[ But no matter, rejoice, rejoice for his dearest friend is there and there is plenty of land to traverse for them together. ]

You will have seen all of Valinor with me, 'tis a future I promise you! And here you will see all of Drabwurld with me as well. Varied and beautiful land it is, though war ravaged as well.

[Ninety...if everyone else has died and it's ninety years after that...Gimli himself is either very old or dead, unless the grace of the Valar was extended to him as well (and he doesn't think it would be, he is a Dwarf and only his Maker has ever really cared for Dwarves).

Legolas, he appreciates you not telling him that but really he isn't stupid. Still, he does not comment on it]

Aye, and so was Middle-earth when I left it. It will be just as it should be.

[ That their conversation does not turn to paths most uncomfortable, Legolas is very grateful. And so he offers a smile and it rings fresh like a morning breeze on a summer day. Perhaps too, it's been a while since he felt such relief, and smiled so freely. ]

So it will be.

[ A pause with a soft gasp, a huff of laughter. ]

You will have to forgive me my sentiment, Gimli, but I may burst if I do not give voice to this: you deserve the hard earned peace of Middle Earth, but selfishly I rejoice to have you at my side here in this world.

It is as if a sense of safety has been returned to me.

[Gimli waves aside Legolas's request for "forgiveness"--as if he'd forgive his friend for being an Elf!]

Bah, you deserve it as much as if. It's only fair that if you do not get to enjoy the peace I shouldn't either. Besides, you'll be bored without me!

[He pauses]

And if I must be here, I would prefer to be here at your side. I too feel safer this way.

Aye, to be without your sense of humour and great charm all those months-! [ Enter stage left: exaggerated theatrics to distract them both. ] Each day my heard ached, when all I had to content myself with were memories. Terrible fate has visited me, yet now it may be chased away.

[ It softens then, though, just a little to convey the truth and honesty of those words, hidden behind the teasing tone. ]

What sense of safety I may offer, it is always yours, Gimli, be it a hand on your shoulder or my skills with bow and arrows.

Or your absurd love of theatrics?

[He's smiling though, please to be with Legolas again. He hasn't missed him, really, since for him it was only yesterday that they were bickering over what to eat for dinner]

Foolish Elf.

An entertainment in its own right, is it not? You would be bored without me much in the same way!

[ And Legolas, in turn, is laughing. ]

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Axe 01 - Audio - Open to Both Courts - Forward-dated to October 2nd

voice. private.

voice. private.

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private

so very very private

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