A/N: I would like to give personal thanks to Cassia and Leelee.
Disclamier: I own nothing of LOTR.
Chapter Two
Unwanted Company
When Legolas woke, Aragorn had already packed his belongings and stood with his back to the elf, at the front of the cave.
"You didn't take rest last night. You should have traded watches with me."
The ranger turned at the soft voice and faced his friend, "I wasn't tired."
He was pinned with an unconvinced glare. "You need more sleep than I'll ever require."
"Don't start that again."
"Still sore over your loss yesterday?"
Aragorn choked and sputtered on his water skin. "Sore? I was never sore to begin with! You cheated."
"Of course, Estel." And the argument ended there. They gathered their supplies and left their shelter, setting out once more.
"When we reach the palace, what will we do with the rest of the day?" The human inquired later in the afternoon.
Legolas shrugged absently and answered, "There won't be much to do on my return. My father will wish to hear how my meeting with Lord Elrond went, and I will more than likely be asked to attend a formal dinner." He muttered the last with a bit of disdain.
Aragorn nodded. "You don't like formal meals?"
The elf shook his head. "It isn't that I don't like them; it's the fact that I go to one almost every evening."
The ranger tipped his head toward the elven prince, "Why do you go, then?"
"My father-"
Legolas' response was cut short as a sound came from ahead of them. Two horses burst out of the trees at a grueling pace, their riders paying no heed to the companions they headed for as they raced.
Aragorn jumped to the left and Legolas to the right, but the lead horse turned in his direction and bolted toward the elf.
The horse caught sight of the fair being his owner intended to trample and swerved sharply to avoid striking him. The unexpected movement from the great steed startled the rider, and he kicked the stallion in the side harshly.
The creature reacted immediately and bucked his mount into the air. The rider flew off and hit the ground with a dull thud.
The second being wheeled his horse around and froze as he witnessed the other sprawled across the dirt.
The ranger and the elf ran over to the downed horseman. "Are you all right?" Aragorn asked breathlessly.
The being before him sat up quickly and shoved the offered hand away. He was no elf nor dwarf, but a man. He stood from his prone position and glared daggers at the two.
He dusted himself off as his counterpart approached, "My Lord! Are you hurt?"
"No, Deonvan. It seems I have been obstructed by two senseless fools. Our race is off."
Aragorn stiffened and narrowed his eyes. Legolas made no movement, but watched the man before him.
"We are sincerely sorry for your misfortune, but insults are not needed here," the elf stated in a low tone.
"You should not speak when you are the cause of my misfortune. How dare you address me so? Bow your head when you speak to me, I am Prince Teocryn."
"Prince? Of what region?" the ranger queried doubtfully. His question was met with an indignant scowl.
"The kingdom of Aethur!"
Legolas raised an eyebrow. The city he spoke of was not on good terms with his realm and was known for its ruling tyrant, King Blegwyn. The two kingdoms were close neighbors and on a thin peace agreement, but held very little interest in each other. The man in front of him was the second youngest of the three sons.
The fact that it was a human populated city did not bring them any closer.
At that moment, several men rode out from the brush, bearing the symbol of Aethur.
"My Lord, do you need assistance?" A tall, burly man with jet-black hair came forward.
"I need no assistance from any of you. I was merely dealing with this fool of an elf who provoked my horse into throwing me."
Aragorn's eyes flashed dangerously at the lie, but he held his temper in firm check as his friend relied evenly.
"Perhaps you should be more careful of where you are going. Especially in a land that does not belong to you. You have no right to treat me as one of your peasants."
Teocryn growled and his guards strayed for their weapons. He held up one hand and they ceased their action. He smiled eerily at Legolas.
"You are bold for someone in your position. Therefore, you may be able to hold you own in a duel? I doubt it, but let us find out if you are as good with a weapon as you are with your stupidity."
The challenge was far too tempting, but the elven warrior pushed his pride into the back of his mind. Far back. It was obvious he would win such a duel, but the consequences of it could create a war between the two kingdoms.
"I don not think that it is proper for two princes to indulge in such a thing for petty reasons."
Surprise passed briefly across Teocryn's eyes at the realization that the elf before him was indeed a prince. It wore off as quickly as the memory of falling off his steed rose in his mind.
"Well, is it not true that princes should also defend their honor?"
Before Legolas could answer, the man added:
"Instead of running like a coward."
He spat the words, slurring them and, removing his glove, stepped toward Legolas and slapped the elf squarely across the face and hissed in his ear, "You have been challenged."
Aragorn flinched and started forward, rage masking his face. If this imp of a man wanted a fight, he would more than gladly participate.
A hand on his arm stopped him mid-stride, and he paused to look into a pair of elven eyes. The meaning was clear, and he reluctantly stepped back again.
The stinging in Legolas' cheek was slightly annoying, but it was the fury burning in his mind that worried him. No good would come of a battle between the princes of hostile kingdoms.
He shook his head. "I decline," he said softly, meeting the other's gaze.
Teocryn clenched his jaw tightly and his nose flared angrily. His mouth opened and his voice was cold.
"You will regret making a fool of me. My-"
His sentence was cut off as a blood curdling howl erupted from the woods and answering calls filled the forest.
Legolas and Aragorn tensed.
"Wargs," the Ranger breathed.
Disclamier: I own nothing of LOTR.
Chapter Two
Unwanted Company
When Legolas woke, Aragorn had already packed his belongings and stood with his back to the elf, at the front of the cave.
"You didn't take rest last night. You should have traded watches with me."
The ranger turned at the soft voice and faced his friend, "I wasn't tired."
He was pinned with an unconvinced glare. "You need more sleep than I'll ever require."
"Don't start that again."
"Still sore over your loss yesterday?"
Aragorn choked and sputtered on his water skin. "Sore? I was never sore to begin with! You cheated."
"Of course, Estel." And the argument ended there. They gathered their supplies and left their shelter, setting out once more.
"When we reach the palace, what will we do with the rest of the day?" The human inquired later in the afternoon.
Legolas shrugged absently and answered, "There won't be much to do on my return. My father will wish to hear how my meeting with Lord Elrond went, and I will more than likely be asked to attend a formal dinner." He muttered the last with a bit of disdain.
Aragorn nodded. "You don't like formal meals?"
The elf shook his head. "It isn't that I don't like them; it's the fact that I go to one almost every evening."
The ranger tipped his head toward the elven prince, "Why do you go, then?"
"My father-"
Legolas' response was cut short as a sound came from ahead of them. Two horses burst out of the trees at a grueling pace, their riders paying no heed to the companions they headed for as they raced.
Aragorn jumped to the left and Legolas to the right, but the lead horse turned in his direction and bolted toward the elf.
The horse caught sight of the fair being his owner intended to trample and swerved sharply to avoid striking him. The unexpected movement from the great steed startled the rider, and he kicked the stallion in the side harshly.
The creature reacted immediately and bucked his mount into the air. The rider flew off and hit the ground with a dull thud.
The second being wheeled his horse around and froze as he witnessed the other sprawled across the dirt.
The ranger and the elf ran over to the downed horseman. "Are you all right?" Aragorn asked breathlessly.
The being before him sat up quickly and shoved the offered hand away. He was no elf nor dwarf, but a man. He stood from his prone position and glared daggers at the two.
He dusted himself off as his counterpart approached, "My Lord! Are you hurt?"
"No, Deonvan. It seems I have been obstructed by two senseless fools. Our race is off."
Aragorn stiffened and narrowed his eyes. Legolas made no movement, but watched the man before him.
"We are sincerely sorry for your misfortune, but insults are not needed here," the elf stated in a low tone.
"You should not speak when you are the cause of my misfortune. How dare you address me so? Bow your head when you speak to me, I am Prince Teocryn."
"Prince? Of what region?" the ranger queried doubtfully. His question was met with an indignant scowl.
"The kingdom of Aethur!"
Legolas raised an eyebrow. The city he spoke of was not on good terms with his realm and was known for its ruling tyrant, King Blegwyn. The two kingdoms were close neighbors and on a thin peace agreement, but held very little interest in each other. The man in front of him was the second youngest of the three sons.
The fact that it was a human populated city did not bring them any closer.
At that moment, several men rode out from the brush, bearing the symbol of Aethur.
"My Lord, do you need assistance?" A tall, burly man with jet-black hair came forward.
"I need no assistance from any of you. I was merely dealing with this fool of an elf who provoked my horse into throwing me."
Aragorn's eyes flashed dangerously at the lie, but he held his temper in firm check as his friend relied evenly.
"Perhaps you should be more careful of where you are going. Especially in a land that does not belong to you. You have no right to treat me as one of your peasants."
Teocryn growled and his guards strayed for their weapons. He held up one hand and they ceased their action. He smiled eerily at Legolas.
"You are bold for someone in your position. Therefore, you may be able to hold you own in a duel? I doubt it, but let us find out if you are as good with a weapon as you are with your stupidity."
The challenge was far too tempting, but the elven warrior pushed his pride into the back of his mind. Far back. It was obvious he would win such a duel, but the consequences of it could create a war between the two kingdoms.
"I don not think that it is proper for two princes to indulge in such a thing for petty reasons."
Surprise passed briefly across Teocryn's eyes at the realization that the elf before him was indeed a prince. It wore off as quickly as the memory of falling off his steed rose in his mind.
"Well, is it not true that princes should also defend their honor?"
Before Legolas could answer, the man added:
"Instead of running like a coward."
He spat the words, slurring them and, removing his glove, stepped toward Legolas and slapped the elf squarely across the face and hissed in his ear, "You have been challenged."
Aragorn flinched and started forward, rage masking his face. If this imp of a man wanted a fight, he would more than gladly participate.
A hand on his arm stopped him mid-stride, and he paused to look into a pair of elven eyes. The meaning was clear, and he reluctantly stepped back again.
The stinging in Legolas' cheek was slightly annoying, but it was the fury burning in his mind that worried him. No good would come of a battle between the princes of hostile kingdoms.
He shook his head. "I decline," he said softly, meeting the other's gaze.
Teocryn clenched his jaw tightly and his nose flared angrily. His mouth opened and his voice was cold.
"You will regret making a fool of me. My-"
His sentence was cut off as a blood curdling howl erupted from the woods and answering calls filled the forest.
Legolas and Aragorn tensed.
"Wargs," the Ranger breathed.