Literary Master--*Blush* thank you, Jade--I'll add Gimli soon.. Chapter 20 coming up and to think I thought this would only go 12 chapters or so!! I'm having to much fun!!
Chapter 20
They met in the main courtyard at dawn, gear packed and ready. A stable boy brought out two fine horses and a pony.
"Does this mean I don't get ridden anymore?" Jaisia pouted.
"Afraid so--it's a long trip to the Glittering Caves so the horses are necessary," Legolas said.
"Who is the pony for?" Kai asked.
"Gimli the dwarf," Aragorn said.
"We get to meet a dwarf? Wow! We're meeting a lot of interesting people!" Jaisia said enthusiastically. "How far to the Glittering Caves?"
"At least two months, maybe three if we have trouble," Aragorn said.
Just then Arwen came up to them. She hugged Aragorn and kissed him. "Be careful on your journey, my love, return safely to me," she said. She hugged Jaisia and Kai. "You two take good care of sweet cheeks for me," she said.
"ARWEN!!!" Legolas shouted.
Arwen just giggled and hugged Legolas. "You be careful too and give Gimli my greetings," she said affectionately. She turned and walked gracefully back into the castle.
Aragorn swung onto his horse's back, gripping the pony's reins securely. "Mount up, we're wasting daylight, sweet cheeks," he said.
Legolas leaped on his mount. "Stop that, Aragorn!" he grumbled.
Aragorn just laughed and urged his horse forward. Legolas, Kai and Jaisia followed him. Legolas remembered something and looked pointedly at Jaisia. "Shirt," he said.
Jaisia pouted, but pulled out the yellow shirt and put it on. "You're no fun, sweet cheeks," she complained. "You need to relax more."
They arrived at the city gates and had just gone through when the were forced to stop because another group had been outside waiting to get inside.
Legolas froze and stared, stunned. "Father! What are you doing here?" he gasped.
Thranduil frowned at his youngest. "I was looking for you. How could you be so irresponsible to run off like that without telling any one and what are these creatures?" he demanded.
"Those creatures as you call them are Centaurs and my newly adopted family," Legolas said.
Thranduil looked disgusted, but waved it off. "You must come home with me at any rate," he said.
"Why should I?" Legolas demanded.
"To meet the maiden I've chosen to be your bride," Thranduil said.
SURPRISE!! I couldn't let them leave to easily!! I wasn't sure how far from the caves were from Gondor so I took a guess!!! Soon our adventurers will enter lands charted in my evil imagination alone…Can someone tell me how to spell Legolas' father's name? Thanks--R/R!!