Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay between chapters. I already have the next few ready so hopefully that won't happen again. And thanks so much for the kind reviews already!

Chapter 2

"What happened?" Legolas asked after they had been traveling for a few hours.

Gimli had been expecting the question, and was somewhat surprised that it had taken the elf so long to ask it.

"Aragorn had gone for a morning walk as is his habit now," Gimli began, "he likes to take a few moments for himself before the start of the day. He had not even yet gone out of the citadel when somebody approached him. He was dressed like any person of Gondor and Aragorn suspected little of him. They bid each good day and it was not until Aragorn had walked on a few steps that he felt something was wrong. If he had not been a ranger all these years we might very well have a newly crowned, dead king on our hands. He turned just as the stranger let a dagger fly. Aragorn was able to duck underneath it, but he did not have his sword with him to fight back. However, by the time he was back up and ready to defend himself the stranger was already running away. Aragorn followed of course, and some of the guards noticed and came to help."

Here Gimli stopped to snort, "If it had been me there who had seen it happen we would know who the killer was after his loved ones came to identify his body. Instead of helping Aragorn and going after the stranger, the guards ran to Aragorn and stopped him to see if he was well. By the time Aragorn convinced them he was, the stranger had vanished somewhere in the city."

Legolas interrupted, "The guards are that poorly trained?" His mind could not even fathom such a reaction, years of patrolling and leading had made his own thought processes regarding such matters simple; if it could be helped, you never let the guilty get away.

Gimli's voice turned slightly empathetic. "Well, these ones were rather young, Aragorn likes to give opportunity to as many as possible. And they do love him so, their first thoughts were for his own well-being. Not the best of responses, but not the worst either." Gimli's voice hardened again, "If it had been me though, I would have cut him down with my axe and then made sure Aragorn was well."

"And where were you?"

Legolas' question was asked idly, not out of condemnation, but Gimli felt a small prick of shame all the same.

"I was still asleep. I had had a few ales the night before, that bar maiden always has something new for me to try out." Gimli was silent a few moments. "Normally I am awake by that time, and even though I know Aragorn likes his peace in the morning, I still keep tabs on where he is. I knew something like this would happen, any king as careless as a ranger is bound to get into trouble."

"He is not careless," Legolas said, "merely not used to having to watch out for more than just himself. I am sure if he was still used to being in hiding and being wary of any possible danger he would have seen that stranger for what he truly was."

"That's what I told him," Gimli said. "I think he was more angry himself than scared or hurt."

"Then we shall do the watching for him until he gets used to it," Legolas finished. It could have been meant in a light-hearted way, and Legolas did keep his tone light, but Gimli knew his friend well enough. The tightness of the lip and hardened eyes did not lie, Legolas was angry for Aragorn's carelessness. He would have a few words to say once they arrived. He had not grown up observing the matters and precautions of his own father for nothing. A king's death was not just the death of the individual, but could leave an entire nation broken.

Legolas heard a soft rustling in the tree-tops behind them. He did not show any sign of hearing it, but immediately berated himself. After thinking so badly for Aragorn's own lack of precaution, he let himself become preoccupied and not pay attention to his own surroundings. Truly the defeat of Sauron had caused them all to grow careless.

When Legolas heard it again, closer this time, he swiftly turned on one heel, pulling his bow and fitting an arrow all in one, fluid motion. He sighted along the arrow, right towards where the sound had been coming from.

Nothing there.

Gimli stopped a full three feet ahead, finally aware of what his friend was doing. He saw the bow and arrow readied and pulled out his axe. "What is it?" he whispered, though it was still whispered loudly.

Legolas frowned and lowered his bow.

"Nothing," he said.

He turned and began walking again. Gimli stared at his friend in surprise. It was not like the elf to be wrong. If he heard or sensed something, then it was because something was there.

"Nothing?" he asked, finally turning to catch up with him.

Legolas had already placed his arrow back in the quiver and restrung his bow over his shoulder. "There was nothing there," Legolas said shortly, "I thought there was, but there was not."

Gimli opened his mouth to say more, but then eventually thought against it.

Legolas glanced at the dwarf askance, noticing his friend think better of his words. Legolas sighed. "I thought I heard something in the trees, I heard it twice before I reacted. But there was nothing there."

"Perhaps a bird then?" Gimli tried to be helpful.

"Perhaps," Legolas said. Though he knew the sounds of things that belonged in a forest as opposed to those that did not. He had thought he heard something, or maybe all his worry about lack of caution had caused him to hear it. It would not be the first time he had worried himself to believing there was something out there waiting to attack, although even then he tended to be right.

Once twilight turned into a darkness that Legolas was sure Gimli would have difficulty seeing in, he suggested that they stop for the night.

"Nonsense," Gimli insisted, "I have traveled in far worse conditions than this, as I'm sure you know. Besides, the sooner we get to Aragorn the better."

Legolas did not bother to argue, though he did notice the dwarf sticking even closer to him.

The pair reached Gondor by the middle of the night and came to the gates of the quiet city. "Have you seen these yet?" Gimli asked, pride touching his voice. "One of the first things we fixed."

Legolas eyed the gates that were much brighter and thicker than he remembered. Though beyond that, he could not tell much of a difference.

"Inlaid with more mithril than even our own gates, made of the best quality stone we could find. All painstakingly crafted, every rung fit perfectly," Gimli's voice was droning on about the gate.

"Yes, but do they open?" Legolas interrupted, impatient.

Gimli scowled, an expression Legolas easily read in the dark. "Of course they do," Gimli said. "It's just a matter of whether or not the person on the other side is awake."

Gimli pounded on the stone gates, his fist creating a hollow booming sound.

There was a yell from above, and then the gates began to swing open. Legolas had to credit the dwarves with one thing, the gates used to make horrible noises whenever opened. Now they swung smoothly without the sound of stone and wood grating against each other.

"And now we find our charge," Gimli said as the two stepped through the gates and they swung closed again.

They walked unerringly up through the winding streets of Gondor. Straight to the top where the House of Kings held Aragorn.

"Is he not asleep now?" Legolas asked. "There is no need to wake him."

"We'll only wake him if he has failed in my orders," Gimli said as they entered the stone building.

When they came within sight of the doors that led to Aragorn's personal lodgings, Gimli's mouth grew taut and he began to stomp forward faster. "And indeed he has disregarded my orders."

Before Legolas could stop him, Gimli had pushed through the doors and clambered inside.

Legolas hurried to catch up to him, "Really there is no need to wake," Legolas never finished his thought.

Aragorn stood before them, and all worry of waking him was gone as it was apparent he had yet to see his bed. He was still dressed in his normal clothing and a large fire was blazing in the fireplace.

Aragorn smiled as he saw Legolas. "It is good to see you again," he said.

Gimli interrupted before Legolas could respond. "I told you to have at least two guards outside this door at all times. And where are the other six? Do you really not have any sense in that head of yours?"

Normally, such an insult to a king would be worthy of a severe punishment, but Aragorn merely smiled again. "Yet tell me, master dwarf, since not everybody in all of Gondor knows exactly where my personal lodgings are in this great house, would it not look more suspicious to have multiple guards standing outside a single door?"

Gimli was momentarily silenced, his mouth left hanging as he strove to come up with an answer.

"Either way," he finally said, "you could still have at least one guard in here at all times."

"I think I'm a well enough guard," Aragorn said quietly, "at least, I was until you fine gentlemen showed up. Now I will let myself retire knowing that Gondor is once again in good hands." Aragorn glanced at Legolas, "I trust you remember what rooms are prepared for you stay?"

Legolas smiled. "If it pleases the king, I would prefer to roam about a while yet and perhaps retire later."

"I did not call for you so that you could overwork yourself," Aragorn said, "I assure you there are plenty patrolling the city."

At these words a small glint came into the elf's eyes. "The same type of guards that let the assassin escape before?"

Aragorn gave a short nod. "Those, as well as our more experienced guards. We have switched up the shifts so that old and new can learn from each other."

Legolas let a small smile form on his lips. His friend was not as careless as he thought. "I do not doubt the quality of your men, but I have yet to feel tired, so I shall at least see to what is going on."

"I will go as well," Gimli said, "I have a few guards I'd like to have a word with, letting my word be overruled like that."

"I know you are tired, Gimli," Aragorn said, "you found Legolas faster than anyone else would have been able to, which means you have not been resting for the last three days."

Gimli was silent for a few moments, trying to decide whether he should be offended that Aragorn suggested he would tire out or be pleased with the compliment. Finally, Gimli compromised.

"Well, since the elf is here now, I suppose I can let him see to things for now. Though I will be up with the sun, and if you even think of taking a walk without me you will have more to answer to than just disobeying my orders."

Aragorn bowed slightly, "Of course my lord."

Gimli chose to ignore the smiles on both Aragorn's and Legolas' faces when Aragorn straightened again. "I will be outside the door waiting," he said as he turned to walk down to his own chambers.

When the dwarf was gone, Legolas and Aragorn faced each other.

"Are there any leads as to who it was?" Legolas asked.

"I will tell you all in the morning," Aragorn said, "for unlike Gimli, I do not have the endurance of the elves at this late hour."

Legolas saw a movement behind Aragorn and his eyes shifted up. "My lady," he said as Arwen came into the room from the private adjoining bedroom.

She bowed. "Will you let my husband come to sleep now?" she said in her soft voice. "He has been waiting for your arrival."

Legolas immediately understood. Aragorn had not slept in three days. "Of course," Legolas said. "I will be back in the morning as well, camped with Gimli outside your door."

Aragorn smiled. "I shall be looking forward to it."

Legolas turned and disappeared down the long hall.