Aragorn knelt beside the unconscious young woman, dirt, blood, and other unnamable filth covered her body. It appeared she had made it across the bridge at Osgiliath and not much further. There were no signs of a struggle but she had been through something awful. She wore naught but rags and some horrid orc armor. Legolas was peering closely around for any sign of how she had gotten there or what had happened.

"Bring me some water," Aragorn ordered one of the nearby soldiers. He took the flask from the man and poured some on a rag, wiping some of the dirt from her face. Startled by a sudden recognition, he spoke her name.

"Daelon," He had shown her the ways of a ranger himself. Aragorn took the flask of water, pouring some of it on her face trying to get her to wake. Daelon heard her name from far away; the voice calling was familiar. Then a cold, wetness touched her face. She stirred trying to escape getting wet. Her eyes opened and she was staring up at him.

"Daelon, by all that is holy, how did you come to this?" Aragorn asked.

"Aragorn," she frowned as she recognized the man kneeling beside her. She struggled to sit and he helped her. "Aragorn," she threw her arms around him; he was the last person she ever thought she would see.

"What has happened to you?" He asked, holding her against him.

"I was captured by a group of orc, while I was on patrol. They took me to the Witch-king himself. I only just escaped, a week ago..." Legolas's swift approach startled both Daelon and Aragorn. He seemed angry as he came to stand beside them.

"No one escaped the Witch-king, you lie." Legolas spoke. Mystified as to why he was so angry and calling her a liar, Daelon looked at the elf. She had let go of Aragorn.

"I do not lie. I did...I did escape." Daelon licked her dry, parched lips. Aragorn offered her water and helped her drink, then stood.

"What is it?" He asked of Legolas. Legolas took a quick look again at the young woman. Her long hair, which had once been in a braid, was now dirty and full of weeds and other debris. Her dark eyes were shadowed with lack of sleep. He could not see why the Witch-king would have let her escape without some plan to use her.

"Have you known anyone to escape any of Sauron's minions without purpose?" Legolas asked.

"There is no purpose to it now, Sauron is gone. Be careful Legolas, this girl is one of Elrond's fosterlings. She is dear to me as well. I showed her a ranger's ways. I will take her to the healer hall." Aragorn reached for his horse's reins. Legolas stopped him from mounting.

"Let them check her for weapons," he said, indicating the two waiting soldiers. "We cannot be sure she was not sent to kill you." Daelon watched and listened to the conversation going on about her. She tried to stand but as she did, her head spun so she settled back to sitting.

"I have no weapons, Elf. You do not think they give them back do you?" She may have been weak but she was not about to take this treatment from anyone, not even an elf.

"What I was thinking is that perhaps they gave them back to you for a reason," Legolas said.

"That is enough!" Aragorn's sharp voice cut the air. "Legolas, you continue to help Gimli direct the clean up of the fields. We must free this place of the dead, quickly" He once again took up the reins to his horse and swung up into the saddle. He motioned for the soldiers to help Daelon up in front of him.

Once at the healer hall, they took Daelon from the saddle and rushed her inside, leaving Aragorn to look after the horse and settle himself for a wait. After what seemed hours, a small, round, healer woman came and got him.

"My lord there is something you must see." The woman bustled back down the corridor, Aragorn followed. Did they find something that would prove Legolas right? He stepped into a room; there was a bed, a table with washbasin and pitcher on it and a chair. The master healer and three others including the woman that had retrieved him all stood around the room. Daelon sat on the edge of the bed.

"Show him," the master healer snapped. Daelon stood, meeting Aragorn's eyes. He nodded for her to proceed. Daelon turned with her back to him and dropped the sheet wrapped about her to reveal her back.

"Those are morgul wounds," Aragorn said. He stepped closer to Daelon, looking closer at the ash gray marks. Wounds in various stages of healing covered her back; the morgul wounds were by far the worst.

When she spoke, her voice trembled. "When the normal torture was no longer satisfying, he did that. That blade was awful, Aragorn. He never said a word to me, never tried to get information from me. It was as though he was waiting for something and needed a distraction." Aragorn pulled the sheet up to cover her back. She turned to face him, tears rolled down her cheeks. He took her in his arms then looked to the healers.

Daelon woke for the third morning in the healer hall. She would not stay there much longer; there was nothing to do. She paced the room, stopping to stare out the window that looked out over part of the city of Minas Tirith. That was when she heard a familiar voice out in the corridor.

"I wish to see her," the voice said.

"Lord Faramir, you are to be resting," The healer woman was telling him. Daelon had learned from Aragorn that Faramir had been shot with poisoned orc arrows and that Denethor thinking, in his madness, that Faramir was dead almost burned him to death. If it had not been for the hobbit Pippin and Gandalf, Faramir would be dead.

"I will go back and rest if you will let me see her." The door to the room opened; there stood Faramir, as handsome as ever. Daelon smiled. They crossed the room to meet, embracing fiercely.

"It is so good to see you," Daelon whispered.

"I thought you dead, my friend." Faramir said, holding her away from him to look at her. "Slightly worse for the wear, I would say."

"You should talk. I hear you were shot full of poison arrows and that your father tried to burn you alive." Daelon caught a movement in the hallway. Faramir followed her gaze.

"Ah, Eowyn," Faramir called to the blonde woman in the pale blue dress. He took her hand and pulled her to his side. Daelon could see there was something more between them than friendship by the way the gazed at each other. "Daelon, this is Eowyn, shield maiden of Rohan, my bride as well if I can get her to agree."

"You are the one who slew the Witch-king are you not?" Daelon asked. A bright red flushed Eowyn's face.

"That would be me. I would not have been able to do it if it hadn't been for Merry." Eowyn smiled. "Faramir was so worried about you. He called your name when he was so feverish with the poison."

"It is back to bed with you, Lord Faramir," the healer woman interrupted, "Master healer's orders. Tomorrow when he allows you out of here you may run yourself ragged." The short, stout woman gave Faramir a shove.

"I will see you tomorrow," Faramir said as the healer woman pushed them into the hallway.

"You, my girl," the healer turned to Daelon, "are going up to the King's house with King Aragorn himself." Daelon stared down the hall at the three as they retreated to the room where Faramir rested. A voice behind her startled her out of her thoughts.

"I brought you some clothes." Daelon turned to find Aragorn and Legolas standing behind her in the corridor. Daelon's expression hardened when she saw Legolas. Aragorn knew that Legolas should not have come along but the elf had insisted.

"Have you come along to protect the king, Elf?" Daelon asked, staring at Legolas.

"Here put these on," Aragorn shoved the clothes at her and pushed her into the room.

"Legolas, I don't understand why you think she is a danger to me. It is pointless now for her to kill me, Sauron is gone," Aragorn said.

"She could be under some dark influence. Saruman is still alive." Legolas said.

"Saruman has no power any more. Gandalf saw to that."

"Aragorn, she cannot be the same person you or Faramir knew. Sauron's henchman tortured her. She may be strong, beautiful and smart but I still say she was let escape." Legolas noticed a strange look come across Aragorn's face.

"What is it?" Aragorn shook his head, Legolas did not realize what he had said about her, and Aragorn would not point it out.

"You speak of a child Lord Elrond raised, a girl I trained, and a woman who has competently ridden with Faramir and the soldiers of Gondor against terrible odds. She harbors no evil, she is no danger." The door to the room opened and Daelon stepped into the hall. The soft blue shirt and leather breeches were a bit big on her but the worn doeskin boots fit perfectly.

"How do I look?" Daelon asked. She turned around as though she wore a wonderful gown instead of too large breeches, a baggy shirt, and worn boots.

"Beautiful." Aragorn stated, he noticed Legolas give Daelon an appraising look. Daelon caught the elf's stare. Their eyes met and held. Legolas felt as though she read his soul.

"You do not like me, why?" Daelon asked. Once again Legolas gave the ranger a once over. There was a fine scar across her left cheek down to the jaw line. Her dark eyes did not waver.

"I do not trust you," Legolas answered. Daelon wished the handsome elf trusted her. His reasoning was wrong; she had not been let escape. If they had had a plan for her, why were there morgul wounds burning, freezing, torturing her always? He did not know of those and she had asked Aragorn not to tell anyone. "I still believe you were let escape as part of a plan to bring down the rule of man in Middle Earth."

"You are stupid, Elf. I could no more harm Aragorn than you could," Daelon turned from him to Aragorn. "Come, Aragorn, show me to my new quarters." Daelon wrapped her arm around Aragorn's and they started for the King's house. Legolas began to follow and Aragorn shook his head no, stopping the elf from walking with them.

"Why did you run from Rivendell? Elrond was worried for you, Arwen and me also." Aragorn spoke.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Daelon paused for a long moment. "I was a foolish girl. So young, you were the first man to show any interest in me at all. I should have known there was no place for me in your heart."

"What? You are wrong Daelon; there has always been a place in my heart for you."

"You did not love me." Daelon looked at him, his rugged, handsome features much the same as when she thought herself in love with him.

"I did love you, I still do. It is a different kind of love than what I share with Arwen."

"I never meant to hurt anyone, not Father, not you and not Arwen. "Daelon had always called Elrond father and he had never stopped her.

When they arrived at the King's house Aragorn showed her to her room and left her to settle in. As she went to enter the room, a movement in the shadows caught her attention. Legolas stepped into the light. Daelon could not help but notice how straight and tall he held himself.

"What is it you want," she paused for a moment, "Elf?"

"I believe we should put our fight to rest," Legolas said

"I need your trust that I would never harm Aragorn or anyone who fought to bring light to our world. I do not understand your mistrust of me; you do not even know me," Daelon said

"No one escaped the Witch-king or Sauron without purpose to their end. It is impossible." Legolas spoke gently, softly, less threatening. His blue eyes studied Daelon's face. She fought for composure, he could tell.

"I believe not too long ago, a certain hobbit and his friend managed to traipse across Mordor to Mount Doom destroying the one ring. Then Gandalf and the Eagles rescued that same pair from Mount Doom in its death throes. Frodo and Sam made an impossible journey to an impossible task. You, Aragorn, and so many others rallied to fight impossible odds. I fought to stay alive in an impossible hell. Do not speak to me of impossibilities." Once again, her eyes searched his as though she could see into his soul. She had remained calm while speaking.

"What you say is true Daelon. I cannot fault you for fighting to survive. Perhaps you did escape as you say you have. Shall we call a truce?" Legolas asked.

"I will accept a truce." Daelon said reaching out to take Legolas by the forearm, they shook and that was that.

A week later, Daelon decided to join Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Faramir for a sparring session. The truce between Legolas and Daelon held. It seemed a friendship might blossom.
Daelon wanted to get used to the feel of a sword in her hand once more. Aragorn had given her Haldir's weapons. He had retrieved them after the battle at Helm's Deep. She took a few swings with the sword. The action made the morgul wounds scream with pain. She grimaced as the hot, cold, burning sensation swept through her. Aragorn stepped close beside her.

"Are you all right?" He asked quietly.

"Moving like that made my muscles realize they were alive, that's all." She tried to play off the pain.
Her first battle was with Faramir. It did not take long for him to disarm her.

"The first time since we met that I beat you." Faramir told her as he helped her up from the dusty ground.

"I am quite out of practice," she told him.

It had only taken a moment for Legolas to best her. Aragorn, she knew, would be no easier than the others had but she had warmed up by then.

Aragorn moved first, Daelon slid out of his way. Daelon moved; Aragorn blocked her. The next moment their swords met in a clang of metal. They retreated for another go. Aragorn attacked again, Daelon once more turned out of his way. She dropped her sword as he was righting himself and slid her dagger from its sheath. When he turned, he found her dagger pressed against his throat.

All at once, Daelon found herself sprawled in the dirt, looking up at Legolas, who had a murderous look on his face. So much for a truce, she thought. Anger and hurt welled up within her. Legolas turned to face Aragorn. His mistake, for Daelon swept his feet from under him with her leg, laying him flat on his back in the dust. In a lightening flash, she straddled him, gripping the neck of his tunic in one fist and the other holding the elfin dagger to his throat.

Aragorn, who had been about to berate Legolas for his stupidity stood in shocked silence as he watched Daelon. Would she kill him? There was no stopping her if she wanted to now.

"I told you I would never harm Aragorn. I am not now, nor will I ever be, part of the darkness that covered our world. I would die first. Consider our truce broken, Elf." Daelon snarled. She shoved off him and stood. She let the dagger drop in the dust beside him. Bright tears stood in her eyes; she turned and ran.

Aragorn held his hand out to Legolas so he could pull him to his feet. There was a look of utter shock on Legolas's face. He looked at his friend and swallowed

"You taught her that?"

"I think its time for a drink," Aragorn said.

"Aye, high time, maybe somebody can explain to me what just happened," Gimli said.

The tavern was cool and dark. Faramir ordered four tankards of ale before joining his comrades. They sat away from the few other patrons there at that time of day. It was just after noon meal.

"She could've have killed you," Gimli was saying as Faramir took a seat.

"Tell me something I am not aware of, Gimli," Legolas said, he was feeling bad tempered now.

"I believe, my friend, that you have pushed her far enough. She has a strong will and her beliefs deeply felt. You broke the truce; you fix it. She will make you pay if you do not. I know from experience."

"What experience. You betrayed her?" Legolas asked.

"When I was helping her learn to track and all that she began to have feelings for me."

"She was in love with you." Legolas said. Aragorn nodded and continued the story.

"When Arwen returned from Lothlorien though was the first I was aware of it. Daelon did little things to annoy me and she did a few to hurt Arwen. When we finally realized what was going on, I had lost my temper and confronted her. She fought me, I took her down and that, and I thought was the end of it... In the middle of the night, she left, no word, no note, nothing. I had no idea where she had gone until we found her here. We talked and all forgiven. She has matured greatly since then." They sat in a long silence, sipping their ale.

"What about you Faramir? How well do you know Daelon?" Gimli asked. Faramir choked on his mouthful of ale then swallowed.

"Better than I should, I suppose."

"What does that mean?" The dwarf asked. Faramir's reaction to the first question gained their interest.

"First of all do not breathe a word of this near Eowyn, she need not know." He set his tankard down on the table and cleared his throat. "From the first time Boromir laid eyes on Daelon, he wanted her. She would not accept his advances. This night we had all had too much to drink and he started in on me about women. He was a braggart and had an insatiable appetite when it came to women. I am not the same way. He decided to have some fun, with me, if you want to call it that. He told me that if I had my way with the barmaid on the table now he would never bother me again. I just stared at him. Daelon stood then, it looked like she would just walk out. She did not, she looked from Boromir to the barmaid and then to me and said, 'you do as he says and you will never bed me again'. Then she walked out leaving my brother and me in shock. I do not know where she had gotten the courage to say that, the tavern was full of people. I followed her to find out why she had done that. She could have tarnished any respect the men felt for her by doing that. I found her sitting on the water fountain. She said she could not take Boromir's taunts any longer. We had a good laugh at the look on Boromir's face Then we stumbled our up the hill to our quarters. We ended up in my quarters together, I am sure the drink and our elation over besting my brother had a lot to do with it. It never happened again."

"You two..." Gimli started to ask. Faramir nodded.

"I tell you this because it did not effect the way we worked together. We have been the best of friends ever since." Faramir laughed. . "I t was worth it to see my big brother's face." Faramir was silent for a moment or two. "Then Father sent her and two others on scouting trips. He sent them alone, each in a different direction. Daelon's horse was the only sign that any of them had a chance to fight."

Legolas had been silent the entire time. Was he jealous of Daelon and her friendship to Aragorn? Had it been legitimate to think she was there to harm him? He realized he did like her. He had to apologize and see if he could salvage a tiny bit of friendship.

Daelon avoided Legolas as if he were a plague. If he were in the great hall at mealtime, she would return to her room. She would spar with Aragorn or Faramir and sometimes Gimli if Legolas were not with him. If Legolas did appear, she would simply walk away. She would not even let him near enough to speak to her.

He glimpsed her walking to the citadel one day; he followed her to the entrance leading down to the bathing chamber.

"Daelon," he called. She disappeared down the stairs.

"Legolas," Arwen had come up behind him. "There is something I must tell you before you go down there." Legolas tried to protest his intentions but Arwen read him too well. "Do not tell me that is not what you were going to do, Legolas. I must tell you something. Daelon made Aragorn promise he would not tell. I made no such promise."

"What is it?"

"Daelon has been marked by a morgul blade." Legolas frowned. Could that have been why he saw her as evil when there was nothing there but those wounds? Sadness and confusion swept through him.

"Why did she not tell me?"

"If she had told you would you have trusted her or would you have persecuted her?" Arwen asked. "She has been hurt Legolas. She is not as strong as you may think. Her heart has many wounds, some only beginning to heal."

"Why does she go to the bathing chamber so often? It seems she hides from me there."

"She goes there because she has found that standing down there under the falls or swimming soothes the morgul wounds. They are very painful for her and they use her energy. Aragorn made her some salve to help soothe them also but they will always be there." Legolas stood to go down the steps to the bathing chamber.

At the bottom of the stairs, the warm, moist air hit him. He made his way into the cavern where the pool of warm water stood. He watched her as she swam under the waterfall and stood, letting the water run over her. There was a bench against the wall near the entrance to the chamber. Soft, white sheets lay folded on a shelf cut into the cave wall. He noticed the little pot of salve standing on one shelf. Her clothes lay in a pile in front of the bench.

Legolas sat on the bench and removed his boots. His heart thumped in his chest. He did not want to go to this trouble and have her not accept his apology.
He had undressed and now stepped naked into the bathing pool. He waded toward the young woman standing under the torrent of water pouring over the rocks. He cleared his throat to alert her of his presence.

"I heard you," she said, still facing away from him. A true ranger, he thought, she had shown no sign of being aware.

"What are you doing here, Legolas?" Daelon asked, letting the water continue to run over her head. She stepped from the water smoothing her short brown hair back.

"I came to apologize," Legolas waded closer to her. He stopped and stared at the scars on her back. "I spoke to Arwen." He found his voice.

"Did she tell you why I come here?" Daelon asked turning to face him. There were scars and fading bruises across what he could see of her belly and breasts. "Did she tell you I come here to try and chase the deathly chill those morgul wounds give me? Did you really come to apologize? Or did you just come to see for yourself?"

"Arwen told me," he said. "Aragorn and Faramir both told me of their time with you. I realize after listening to them, that I have been wrong to mistrust you. I could not believe you escaped the Witch-king. I do truly wish to apologize."

"I only escaped the Witch-king because Sauron called him to duty. They just walked away leaving me there alone. When I was sure they had left I crawled out of there." Daelon turned away, she let the water run over her head and down her body once again. She had a lean, strong body, perhaps a bit too thin at that moment. Scars and bruises covered most of it. Her hair, tangled so badly there had been no saving the long braid she had worn, was now short.

Legolas realized he was staring. Unlike an elf, he turned away, self-conscious. He waded to the edge of the pool, stepped out, and wrapped a soft, white sheet about his waist.

Daelon was not far behind. She seemed completely oblivious to the fact she was naked in front of and alone with him. She stepped out of the pool. Legolas grabbed another white sheet and wrapped it about her.

"Thank you," she said, reaching for the little pot of salve. "I don't suppose you could..." Legolas took the little jar and sat on the bench nearby, patting it for her to sit. Daelon sat, letting the sheet drop from her back. Legolas gently applied the salve to the ugly grayish pink scars. Daelon closed her eyes as warmth from the salve and the elf's touch spread through her.

"Will you accept my apology?" He asked.

"Yes," Daelon said, after a pause. "I will." Daelon sat quite still, her eyes closed. Her breathing was still slow and calm. Inside, her heart gave a start and beat more quickly.

When Legolas finished applying the salve, she stood, grabbed her clothes and began to dress. Leather breeches, white shirt, leather overlet and worn brown doeskin boots. Once she was dressed, she disappeared up the stairs leading into the citadel.

Legolas dressed quickly and followed Daelon up the stairs. He caught her in the hallway leading to her room.

"Daelon, wait!" Legolas called. Daelon turned to wait. He handed her the little pot of salve.

"Thank you," she said, turning once again to her room.

"I thought perhaps we could take a walk instead of joining the others for evening meal." Legolas said. She paused, her hand on the door handle.

"You do not want to go to evening meal? You would rather take a walk?" Turning back, she stared at him suspiciously.

"Yes, I would like to talk with you and I cannot do that at a table full of people." Legolas said.

Daelon did not know what to say. She was not sure she had not accepted his apology too quickly. Now he asked her to walk with him, alone. She stared at him a moment longer.

"I will walk with you. Let me put this away first." She held up the little salve pot.

Legolas stood in the corridor waiting for her to return. Just a few weeks ago, they would have killed each other. She had come too near to taking his life for his liking, yet here he was apologizing and asking her to go for a walk with him, alone.

Daelon stepped out into the hallway. She also, he noticed, wore her sword. He was sure a dagger was concealed somewhere also.

"That is really not necessary. We are only going for a walk," he said.

"I will not go without my weapons. I see you will not either." Legolas's hand went to his sword hilt. The only weapon he did not carry was his bow.

"Shall we go, before the others find us?" He looked around, sure that if they did not show up at the table soon there would be a search party.

They stepped out into the last light of the day. The sun had just dipped below the peaks to the west. They swiftly made their way to the gate leading to the first level of the city. They continued in a comfortable silence until they came upon a baker just closing up shop.

"We will take one of those loaves," Daelon spoke.

"They are not fresh, Ranger," the baker said.

"That does not matter." She handed the man some coin, Legolas took a loaf from the cart. As they walked on, Legolas broke a chunk off the loaf and handed it to Daelon. They ate as they walked.

"He knew you," Legolas said.

"Yes, most of them do. I have spent quite a few years living here among them."

"Tell me, Elf. Why did you really want to walk instead of joining the others?" Daelon looked at him.

"I wanted to talk with you," Legolas said. "If we are going to be friends I should know more about you."

"Do you truly wish to be my friend?" The light from the sun had faded completely. The only light now came from the windows of shops converted to family use at night. The smell of roasted meat wafted on the air. Daelon and Legolas strolled on.

"Yes. Yes I do, Daelon." He could not see her expression but could feel a thoughtfulness coming from her.

"I must tell you, Legolas. I was afraid I accepted your apology too quickly."

"I was afraid I was too insistent on apologizing." Daelon laughed, startling Legolas. It was an unexpected sound from the troubled ranger. He had not heard her laugh since meeting her.

"Why did you not tell me about the morgul wounds?" Legolas asked.

"You hardly would have let me. I wanted no one to know."

"Aragorn could have told me."

"I made him swear to tell no one."

"He told Arwen."

"That was to be expected. She is his wife." They stopped in the courtyard leading to the next level of the city. They sat on the base of a statue depicting an ancient king of Gondor.

"Tell me, why did you dislike me so?" Daelon asked.

"I am truly not sure now, perhaps a mix of sensing the morgul wounds or fear of losing a friend and the king of Gondor. These people need him."

"It did not make you feel any better to learn that Aragorn knew me?"

"I was not willing to believe you were anything but a minion of the dark, until you laid me out on the ground that day with your conviction." They sat in silence for a minute or two.

"What did they tell you about me?" Daelon questioned.

"Who?" Legolas asked.

"Aragorn and Faramir, what did they tell you?" Legolas did not answer. He was trying to tell her without embarrassment for both of them.

"I know," Daelon began, "Aragorn told you about me being in love with him. I thought I was, you know. Come to find out it was a young girl's fantasy." She stopped and sighed deeply. "Faramir told you about Boromir and that night. Boromir would not leave either of us alone. He was always after Faramir for not bedding a barmaid every night as he did and after me for not wanting to be in his bed. What happened between Faramir and I was not meant to happen. We were drunk, we were completely ecstatic that we had stumped Boromir for once. I do not know why or how we ended up together but I do not regret it. It never happened again and we were still able to ride together."

"You do not need to explain. Things happen for a reason. As I see it, when Boromir realized you really were in bed with Faramir, he was willing to leave well enough alone. Faramir was more of a man to him and you belonged to his brother," Legolas said.

"I just do not want you to think that is something I do." Daelon stood and started a slow idle walk back the way they came. Legolas joined her, took her hand and put it around his arm. They made their way back quietly enjoying each other's presence.

Legolas walked Daelon to her quarters. Neither of them noticed the figure standing in the shadows of the hallway.

"Good night, Daelon. I enjoyed our walk together."

"I did too, Legolas. Good night." Daelon went into her room and closed the door. Legolas turned to go down the hallway.

"It is about time you two showed up." Aragorn slipped from the shadow. "Where have you been?"

"We went for a walk. We talked." Aragorn stared at his friend for moment then smiled. "We thought you two had drowned each other. No one was willing to go see." Aragorn slapped Legolas on the shoulder as they made their way toward Legolas and Gimli's shared quarters.

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Daelon rode out of Minas Tirith on a scouting trip. There had been reports of a small band of orc straggling through Gondor.

Daelon rode alongside Aragorn. They both wore the tough leather clothing of a ranger.

Daelon carried a bow and quiver of arrows as well as her sword and dagger. She and Legolas had been arguing over who was better with a bow. If nothing else perhaps they would bag supper.

The four riders stopped for the night near a stream in the Druidian forest. Gimli gathered wood while Aragorn set up camp. Legolas and Daelon went to hunt before the light was completely gone.

"Do you think those two are goin' to kill one another or fall in love?" Gimli asked coming back to camp, dropping the wood he had gathered. Stooping down he fed the fire Aragorn had started. Aragorn looked at the dwarf, a broad smile playing across his face.

"I have been wondering the same thing."

Legolas and Daelon had both bagged a couple of rabbits. Their competition still unresolved as they headed back to camp with their kill.

"I believe I shot mine a bit faster," Legolas was saying. Daelon stopped suddenly.

"Legolas," she whispered as he stopped beside her.

"I hear them." They both dropped their kill and moved silently through the trees. Catching up to the noisemakers, the discovered a band of orc, ten strong.

"They are headed toward camp," Daelon said.

Splitting up, the two of them skirted the group in either side, hoping to reach camp before the orcs.

Aragorn noticed that the night noises had stopped. The he heard it, the clank of armor and marching footsteps.

"Gimli we are going to have a fight on our hands." He hoped Legolas and Daelon knew there were orc about.

As the thought passed, Legolas stepped from the dark to one side of the fire. A few moments later, Daelon stepped into the firelight on the opposite side. Both had their weapons at the ready.

An arrow flew from the dark, striking the ground near where Aragorn stood.

"Aragorn, look out!" Daelon yelled as several orc rushed from the darkness. Aragorn killed one and moved to the next. Daelon was in the fray, killing another. Legolas skewered two in a heartbeat with his bow. Gimli dispatched another.

They had pretty well finished them when one bound from the trees at Aragorn. Legolas and Daelon did not hesitate they both put an arrow in him.

"Where'd your bow come from?" Legolas asked, smiling at the ranger. Daelon made to reply when she grabbed another arrow, knocked it, aimed, and fired without a word. Another orc had come from the trees at Legolas but Daelon had seen him before he could attack. Legolas looked from the dead orc back to the young ranger.

"Thank you," he said.

They rid the camp of the dead orc and retrieved arrows. They sat around the fire and tried to calm their nerves. Gimli and Aragorn out of habit had their pipes out and were smoking.

"All right, Elf, where is our supper?" Gimli asked.

"Back in the forest," Legolas replied.

"You mean you dropped it?" Gimli huffed.

"We were a bit more concerned with your safety than your stomach," Legolas said, sitting down.

"I guess its dried meat and fruit, then," Aragorn said.

"I'll go back and get the rabbits," Daelon said, getting up.

"No, we will not split up again. There could be more orc. We will return to the city tomorrow. I will set soldiers out to patrol. It will not take them long to rid us of these vermin."

They ate a bit. Gimli and Aragorn finished their pipes. They decided who would take what watch. Aragorn would take first watch, then Gimli, Daelon, and Legolas.

It was nearing dawn when Aragorn woke and joined Legolas as his watch ended. They would be saddling up and riding back to Minas Tirith. Aragorn stirred the embers to the fire and added some wood to get a fire started. A hot cup of tea would hit the spot after a cold night on the ground. He filled the pot with water from his canteen and set it in the fire to heat. He sat down beside Legolas who sat watching Daelon sleep.

"She sleeps so soundly, how can she do that after all she has been through?" Legolas asked no one in particular. Aragorn watched the peaceful face. It was the same peaceful face he hated waking when he had been training her.

"She knows she is among friends. Friends that would never let her come to harm while she sleeps," Aragorn said. They sat in silence for a while. Daelon stirred in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping. "She has always amazed me," Aragorn said. "I do not know how Elrond kept her from killing herself when she was young. She was always finding some trouble to get into. Elrond must have had the twins following her constantly. When she turned fifteen, he asked me to take her and train her as a ranger. I think he thought it would calm her. It made her focus her energies but did not slow her down."