Part the Fifth: Sterransen joins the party

The rising sun found nine companions nestled in sleeping bags, in the midst of Rivendell territory. Six of said companions shook themselves out of slumber as the first rays of the dawn threw sparkles to the morning dew. Three stayed solidly where they were.

"Hey!" yelled Pippin, shaking the nearest motionless sleeping bag. "Aren't you going to get up?"

Aragorn's hand flashed out and caught the hobbit by the shirt collar. He heaved slightly, sending Pippin flying over him into another prone shape. He then turned over and went back to sleep.

"Having you fling yourself at me first thing in the morning is not the way I prefer to wake up, Pippin," Legolas complained. Pippin quailed under the fierce glare of the elf, scuttled away, and returned with a mushroom omlette. He offered it to Legolas.

"I forgive you," Legolas grinned, and dug into the omlette. Aragorn, in the background, was emerging from his cocoon.

* * * * * * *

Half an hour later.

"Oh my Boromir, I'm so sorry, did you want some?" Sam asked innocently, batting his eyes. "I'm afraid there doesn't seem to be any left."

"Why not?" grunted Boromir, only half awake.

"Because," chuckled Gimli, who had never been taught not to start a sentence with because, "the greedy elf ate it all."

Legolas paused. One braid of hair hung across his shoulders; he was working on the other one. "Who are you calling a greedy elf, shortarse? I happen to know you personally ate six eggs' worth."

"Yes, but I cooked, ignorant elf," argued Gimli. "Chef's privilege."

"Well, cook me some more," Boromir ordered.

"He can't," piped up Frodo. "We're out of eggs."

"Congratulations, everyone," Aragorn said, walking up and buckling his sword belt. "You've managed to eat the rations that were meant for the whole trip. I can see we're going to get along splendidly."

"I know," deadpanned Merry. "We finished the mushrooms, too."

The debate would have dragged on for some time had the travelers not heard rapidly approaching hoofbeats. "Hark!" shouted Aragorn, drawing his sword.

"Hark?" muttered Legolas. "You sound like my father."

"Ssh!" hissed Pippin, who had thrown himself behind a convenient bush and was cowering with his hands over his head.

A rider on a great bay horse pulled up in the clearing. When the dust cleared, they saw a blond, pointy-eared creature, dismounting fluidly from his steed. A quiver of arrows was slung across his back and a long knife, identical to Legolas's, hung at his side. Yep, definitely an elf.

Unfortunately for the elf, Aragorn's sword was at his throat.

"Whoa!" he said, surprised. "Watch it. It's me, Sterransen."

"And who would Sterransen be?" enquired Aragorn, tilting Anduril a little, so the point rested in the hollow of Sterransen's neck.

"I'm his brother," Sterransen explained, pointing v-e-r-y slowly in Legolas' direction. Since Frodo, Sam, Boromir and Gimli were surrounding Legolas, it was impossible to tell who he meant. Legolas knew, of course, but remained impassive.

"Whose?" Aragorn persisted.

Sterransen looked annoyed. "Legolas. Of Mirkwood. I'm his younger brother."

"Prove it," Legolas said, stepping forward and crossing his arms over his chest. "You could be an impostor."

Sterransen spluttered in indignation. "I should think you'd recognise your own kin, Legolas…"

"Prove it."

Sterransen's eyes flashed angrily. "You are such a dick!" he yelled.

Aragorn looked questioningly at Legolas, who shrugged in reply and grinned mischievously. "Yep, that's him."

Aragorn sheathed Anduril and waved for Sterransen to sit down. Instead, Sterransen stalked over to Legolas, furious, and punched him in the face.

What happened next? I'll leave that to your imagination…

-fin part five-

Thanks to all you people who reviewed! (AJ Matthews, Blood thirsty, Rosie, Shiva, Jim Morningstar, Eos-Is-Mah-Muse-157, Papillon) There will be more coming on the way… slowly… Meanwhile, keep rocking all!!