towerofanimus | (no subject)

Characters: Legolas (

bow_of_the_galadhrim), OPEN
Setting: Floor 32, any time in December
Format: Starting in prose, will switch it up
Summary: Legolas is hunting and gathering for the month and saving pelts to keep himself and others warm
Warnings: Hunting, possible shenanigans

As an elf, Legolas was quite resilient to the dropping temperatures in the tower. He knew there was a chill, knew that people were suffering, and he was careful that each time he killed anything now, while he was hunting, was killed as cleanly as possibly to save any pelts to make into blankets or anything else people might need. Already he had felled a deer and a couple pheasants. The meat would feed a few people for a few days at least. Maybe more if it was all properly managed.

The elf also had a leather bag nearby, he'd crafted it a couple months before, filled with berries and other edible plants. Some things wouldn't be tasty (a lot of things really) but they were edible and would prevent starvation. Especially since most people in the tower abhorred the nutribars. He didn't blame them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

His smile grew with every moment spent with this cheeky elf. How can he not smile around Legolas when he spoke so adamantly about him? It would seem that Haldir has accumulated a hefty debt he must pay off in hard labor. "If you wish it, then so be it. I suppose I do owe you something." Haldir replied with a cheerful chuckle. Long gone are the days when the march warden toiled about in mindless worry. It was almost as if his spirit has been lifted as of late, all thanks to Gandalf no less. If the White Wizard hadn't healed him, then Haldir probably would've surely succumbed to his awful wounds.

"Then allow for me cut the usable meat into smaller pieces." The older elf suggested as he began cutting away at the animal with a butcher's finesse. This was indeed bloody and grimy work, but Haldir seemed almost pleased to do so. Not very typical of the march warden who prized himself for his cleanliness. It seems that the elf was in a rather decent mood for once.

"I must say, you shouldn't go through such trouble for venison." Haldir idly said as he began to package the deer meat within the satchel. He wrapped them all within several clean scraps of cloth before putting the bloody chucks away. "You should try your hand at eating more vegetables, Legolas."

"You worried me enough to last a lifetime. Are you willing to make up for that?" Tease tease. Legolas would have, truthfully, been incredibly upset if anything had happened to Haldir, whether his hands would have been to terrible to use or if infection had set in and killed him. He'd have never forgiven himself for not acting quick enough and he'd prefer to keep Haldir's first death as far away as possible.

This kind of concern is normal among friends right? Yes, that's what Legolas continuously assures himself. Although, he does find a lot more pleasure in Haldir's company than with most people.

"I've gathered some berries and other edible plants as well. It's not all for myself though."

The march warden's laugh nearly echoed throughout the forest. "I am more than willing to try." He answered with a brilliant grin. "That is as long as you be be fair with your punishment." Finally done with carving the meat, Haldir packed them up within the leather bag before tending to the scraps left behind.

It wasn't uncommon for the Silvan hunters to bury the parts of the game they could not sell or eat. Therefore, Legolas probably wouldn't be shocked to see Haldir bind the rest of the deer's carcass within a thin white cloth before attempting to dig a proper grave for it. It would be rather foul for him to leave the rest of this once majestic beast out in the open for vultures and crows to feast upon it. So Haldir dug a proper grave for the deer's remains and buried under thick layers of dirt and stones.

"What sort of plants and berries have you gathered? If you filled your purse with that of bright red berries, then I fear you may poison us all." He said mockingly as a joke. "However, I surely do hope you have enough food to spare with me. I do believe I've earned a reward for my efforts thus far." Now washing away the blood from his hands using the water of his canteen, Haldir picked up the leather satchel and offered it to Legolas proudly.

"For you, my dear prince."

"You act as if I would be anything but fair, Haldir?" He feigned being insulted but couldn't help but laugh as well, a moment later. Haldir's laugh was a bit contagious, it seemed. And he needed it with how worried he now was about the people in the tower dealing with this.

Legolas watched quietly as Haldir prepared the deers remains and quickly joined him in digging the grave and burying the deer. He muttered a small prayer for its spirit and looked to Haldir with a smile.

"I would not gather anything that might poison us. I found some berries that would be safe as well as some mushrooms and roots. Little that would taste better than the nutribars but it is all healthy and free of anything Jason might do to it all."

He grinned and took the satchel, slinging it over his shoulder and lay his hand on Haldir's shoulder.

"You have my thanks, Haldir."

The march warden bowed gracefully before Legolas in hopes of hiding his embarrassment. Despite how often he spends his time with this regal elf, Haldir seemed to always find himself somewhat flustered as of late. Of course he blamed this upon his frayed nerves, but that isn't exactly true. If anything, he knew that Legolas was the cause of his nervousness but acts as if he isn't. There shall be other opportunities for him to explore such feelings, but for now Haldir was content enough to ignore them.

"Think nothing of it, my friend. You would do the same had you been in my debt." Quite jolly now for reasons unbeknown to him, Haldir reclaimed his knife and bow. "I have noticed the lack of provisions as of lately, along with the lack of suitable heat." He commented with a slight frown upon his lips. "I do believe that Jason's wrath extends to all of us thanks to a few stalwart rebels." News caught on quickly of the brave but foolish few who attempted to attack the Administrators. It would seem that the fragile peace of the Tower was at stake here.

"The coldest winter is ahead of us, Legolas." His frown deepened. "We mustn't allow these people to starve."

Edited 2012-12-09 08:04 (UTC)

"What those people attempted was reckless and nothing short of stupid." For a moment, he reminded himself of Gandalf and Pippin in Moria but quickly shook the memory off. Pippin wouldn't do something like this. This beat anything he and Merry could do. They should have known that Jason wouldn't take kindly to the attempt and that they wouldn't be alone in suffering.

Besides food, they could gather dry wood, blankets, anything that could provide warmth. Perhaps even furnish a shelter on one of the floors or have large groups stay in each room to share warmth.

"And we won't. We'll make sure as many people survive as we can. I'm going to need you, Haldir."

Both for support in this endeavor and because Legolas knew that he might end up getting himself killed if it meant keeping everyone else alive. And if there was anyone he could trust with helping it, it was the march warden. Haldir probably knew that, knew the level of trust Legolas held for him.

The march warden knew of that trust that brewed between them, and he planned to honor it anyway he could. "Then you have me as both sword, shield, and whatever other use you shall have for me." Haldir replied with much pride.

If they were going to save these people, then the time to act was now. Despite all his misgivings about the other residents in this tower, the march warden couldn't stand by idly and watch them die. He knew that his aid would likely go ignored by others, but Haldir honestly doesn't care. The elf doesn't wish to help for the sake of gratitude or fame; he merely wishes to save as many as possible.

Deciding to assist Legolas in carrying the pelts, Haldir reached over and hoisted them over his shoulder with ease. "You lead I shall follow." He may not be one of the brave few who joined the Fellowship of the Ring, but Haldir's just as brave as any of them.

And Haldir likely had no idea how greatly Legolas appreciated those words. Almost as though the weight he carried at worrying over the towers residents had lightened, if only a little.

"Thank you."

He meant that genuinely. With a smile, he lead Haldir from that floor and down to the kitchen. He could store and cook some of the food there rather than wasting wood that could be used to keep people warm. And then he could send a message around the tower to let others know that there was a small store of food.

Legolas had to wonder how his father managed an entire realm, to keep them safe and fed when their forest had grown more and more dangerous.