Story Downloaded from Open Scrolls Archive (https://www.openscrolls.net)

Title: Playing Cat and Mouse (#3899)
Author: sivan
Chapters: 5
<br />
<b>Warning</b>:  Undefined variable $retval in <b>/home/httpd/vhosts/openscrolls.net/httpdocs/fanfic/download.php</b> on line <b>105</b><br />

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Lord of the Rings
Description: Gimli and Legolas friendship. Drabbles, ficlets inspired by bunnies or prompts.
Published: 14 Sep 2008
Updated: 08 Nov 2008
Warnings: Angst/humor, friendship, pranks, AU. Might OOC.
Type: General
Characters: Legolas; Gimli


Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Fault

Title: Playing Cat and Mouse
Author: Sivan Shemesh sivan325@walla.com
Beta: Aranel
Rate: G/K
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. 
Warning: Angst/humor, friendship, pranks, AU. Might OOC.
Summary: Gimli and Legolas friendship. Drabbles, ficlets inspired by bunnies or prompts.

A/N: Written for 'The Tolkien Tango'. 

Prompt #17: Fault

"This is all your fault!" Gimli muttered to the elf.

Legolas stared at the dwarf in surprise, not understanding what wrong Gimli was accusing him of.

"What did I do?" Legolas asked.

"How did I agree to let you lead me this way through the marshes…" Gimli grumbled and shot a glare at his friend.

"And this is my fault?" Legolas stared at the dwarf with a frown.

"Yes, it is," Gimli replied.

"Gimli," Legolas sent him a warning glare and continued, "And pray tell, why have you still not taken me to see the restoration of Moria and its beauty?" 

Gimli became mute.

"I am waiting…" Legolas tapped his foot on the muddy ground, not wishing to look into the haunted water.

"It is still your fault." Gimli mumbled, his mind growing hazy. He could no longer keep his eyes from the still waters that called eerily to him. He looked into it mesmerized, staring at the corpses and dead bodies. Something told him he should look away, but he could not. He could feel his body moving closer and closer to the water, and he reached out a hand to touch it. 

Then suddenly he was pulled back and flung unsteadily onto the ground. He blinked and looked up – into the elf’s worried eyes.

Gimli sighed heavily as he realized how Legolas had saved his life. He shrugged awkwardly, grinning at his friend, "It is still your fault."

"Well, elf-friend,” Legolas shook his head wearily, “I only wish to take a short cut to Ithilien. And you still have yet to answer my question."

Gimli resumed his moody silence again.

Legolas felt tempted to snap at him, but turned and smiled instead. What else could he do when Gimli held a special place in his heart? Gimli was like a brother he never had to fight with – or perhaps a friend.

End of this prompt.


Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Silent

Disclaimer, Summary and Warning could be found in the 1st chapter.

Beta: Aranel

Prompt #21: Silent

"You need to be quiet, Gimli, or they will find us," Legolas warned the dwarf urgently.

Gimli stared at his friend, not knowing what foe he spoke of.

"Who is it? What are you talking about, elf?" Gimli whispered, looking up into the elf’s blue, hawk-like eyes.

"We will be caught; is that what you want?" Legolas was losing his patience. He hoped that Gimli would finally be quiet and silent as the wind – preferably even more silent than that.

Gimli glared at the elf, not understanding why they should be hiding and whispering. He was about to say something but Legolas simply gesticulated and motioned toward the reason for all this.

"Them? You cannot be serious, Legolas," Gimli said, and continuing, he asked, "Why should we be hiding from our friends?"

Legolas became mute. 

Gimli stared at him, wondering just what exactly the elf had done.

"Legolas, what did you do?" the dwarf asked suspiciously, raising his voice a little to make his point.

Their pursuers stopped and frowned at hearing his voice.

"Can you not simply be quiet? Just hush now and please say nothing!" Legolas asked, not certain if he could ever count on the dwarf in any similar request.

Soon, footsteps were heard, and Legolas watched helplessly as Elessar and Eldarion pushed aside the long and thick bush that veiled them.

"Now, I want to know which of you painted me in my sleep?" Elessar demanded and looking back and forth between Gimli and Legolas.

End of Prompt.


Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Monster

For Disclaimer, Summary & Warning check in 1st chapter.

Beta: Aranel - thank you for the bunny, it helps a lot.

Prompt #30: Monster

In Gondor, at night…

Gimli sat at the foot of the bed while King Elessar told Eldarion and him a bedtime story.

The king had to hide his grin, though, as it seemed that the dwarf actually believed his tale about monsters. He was not worried about his child; after all, should the boy should be frightened, he would eventually run toward Arwen and his room.

Elessar wondered just how Gimli would take things from here.

In the morning…

Legolas watched as Gimli checked for something below the bed in Eldarion’s room. The elf soon became curious.

"Gimli, what are you doing?"

"Looking for something."

Legolas was aware that Gimli held his axe in a very alert position as though he was ready to attack anyone, and he wondered what it could be… Then a thought struck him.

The elf grinned at his friend and asked, "Is it possible that you are looking for Eldarion's monster there?"

Gimli left the bed and stared at Legolas with a slight fear in his eyes, "Is it there?"

Legolas hid his grin as he continued to tease him, "Have you checked in the closet? It must be watching you now."

Gimli turned toward Legolas, not knowing if the elf was making fun of him.

Legolas changed tactic. As he walked toward the doorway, he asked, "Gimli, where were you when Elessar told Eldarion his bedtime stories?"

But before Gimli could answer, Eldarion burst into the room, calling for him.

"Uncle Gimli, uncle Gimli…" the boy called.

"What is it, son?" Gimli asked.

"Have you found my Orcling?" the boy asked, staring at the dwarf with pleading, innocent eyes.

Gimli raised his eyebrow and faced the smiling elf who was wondering what Eldarion meant.

"What are you talking about Eldarion?" Legolas asked. 

Just then, the king happened to walk by, and surprised to see them all in his son's room, he asked, "What are you all doing in Eldarion's room?"

Legolas gave his friend a look, “Do not look at me; I was surprised to find Gimli in here.”

"Gimli?" the king asked and stepped into the room.

"I… I was looking for something…" Gimli stuttered, adding no more.

"Like what?"

"Eldarion's monster," Legolas replied for him with a grin.

Gimli sighed and then he looked at the boy’s small form, noticing the pleading look as the boy waited for his answer.

"Have you found and killed my monster?" Eldarion asked again.

"No, I’m afraid I have not."

"That is because, I have found it," the king cut in and walked toward the bed, simply lifted the blanket a little, and pulled out a strange doll.

"How? What?" Gimli just stared at both adar and ion, not knowing what to do.

"Thank you, adar, you found my Orcling," Eldarion thanked him with a hug, and then he added, "Will you tell me another story about it?"

"Anything for you, my son." Elessar replied.

In his enjoyment at this whole scene, Legolas just could not resist contributing his thoughts, "Well, my friend,” he turned to Gimli, “I think all you need now is not to listen to Aragorn's stories as they seem to have a great effect on you."

"You think so?"

"Of course, look at what it has done to you! We were supposed to tour Gondor today, and we already lost quite a few hours,” Legolas gave him a look of mock disapproval. “My friend, you really should get a grip on yourself and grow up!"

End of this prompt.


Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Song

Title: Playing Cat and Mouse
Author: Sivan Shemesh sivan325@walla.com
Beta: Aranel
Rate: G/K
Disclaimer: Not mine, but the plots.
Warning: Angst/humor, friendship, pranks, AU. Might OOC.
Summary: Gimli and Legolas friendship. Drabbles, ficlets inspired by bunnies or prompts.

A/N: Written for 'The Tolkien Tango'. 

Prompt #01: Song

Legolas heard a strange sound. He frowned, hurriedly left the garden and entered the palace searching for the source of the disturbance.

"Gimli? What do you think you are doing?" Legolas asked, hiding the grin on his face as he stared at the now-blushing dwarf.

"Nothing," Gimli tried to shrugged off the issue.

"This is not nothing," Legolas muttered and continued more audibly, "I left the gardens to find out what’s causing this noise, and you know what I found?" Legolas paused, then pointed toward the dwarf, "You!"

"I wasn’t doing anything, lad." 

"Unless while trying to hit the right notes, your singing hit the wrong nerves and they happen to be mine..." Legolas growled, shuddering as he left the room.

Gimli paused for a moment. "Maybe I should change my tone, and sing with more passion," he thought aloud.

"Maybe you should." Thranduil said as he entered the room.

"I will," Gimli smiled gratefully, and then he added, "Have you sent the invitations?"

Thranduil nodded. “I see you are putting great effort into the songs,” he said genuinely. “You’re doing well.”

Somewhere down the hallway, Legolas gave a long sigh.

End of this prompt but not from this story.


Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Secret

Title: Playing Cat and Mouse
Author: Sivan Shemesh sivan325@walla.com
Beta: Aranel
Rate: G/K
Disclaimer: Not mine, but the plots.
Warning: Angst/humor, friendship, pranks, AU. Might OOC.
Summary: Gimli and Legolas friendship. Drabbles, ficlets inspired by bunnies or prompts.

A/N: Written for 'The Tolkien Tango'. 

Prompt #19: Secret

Gondor’s royal family had been riding hard into Mirkwood, and now, they took a well-deserved break.

"So, we’re going to visit Legolas and Gimli?" Eldarion asked after drinking his water.

"Yes, we are, my boy, and you will see also King Thranduil, the great king of Mirkwood," Elessar replied.

"How great is the king?" Eldarion asked.

"Very great,” Elessar answered, wrapped in sweet memory, “Thranduil has been a second father to me and when I saw the humble way he treats his elves and guards in Mirkwood, I am more convinced he is a great king, ion."

Eldarion wished more than ever to know all the stories his father had to share. He was certain there was more to all this than meets the eye. "So, what will we do when we get there?" Eldarion asked. 

"Can you keep a secret, son?" the king asked, noticing how his queen was smiling encouragingly, showing her support and care of the boy.

Eldarion nodded and waited for his father as patiently as he could.

"We have been invited to celebrate Prince Legolas’ Begetting Day, and King Thranduil has asked us not to say a word to Legolas, as it is supposed to be a surprise party," Elessar explained, and hoped with his heart that nothing would be revealed prematurely to his friend.

Arwen knelt next to her son, and softly told him, "Not one word to Legolas, but you can tell him that you are here to finally see his homeland."

"I will try to," Eldarion said, and then he turned to face his father and tried to explain his hesitation, "You know how easily Legolas reads me,” he paused. “But I know that he loves me, so I will try very hard to keep the secret as I love him too."

"Then, my son, consider it also as the king’s request,” Elessar suggested. “At the very least, we can distract Legolas while they are preparing all the stuff for him."

There was a sparkle in the young child’s eyes.

"Start thinking how we can do that, son," Aragorn added with a wink.

End of this prompt.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Downloaded from Open Scrolls Archive (https://www.openscrolls.net) on Sun Nov 15, 2026 1:16 am