Thanks to all of you who reviewed… your encouragement and thoughts really mean a lot to me – and some of you surely influenced the way this story went…

Love you all :-)

And no, this is not the last part… one more to come for sure…

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Silence settled over the room after Noldim had left. Elrohir regarded the king with unreadable eyes. Aragorn's face was grim and he stared straight ahead, obviously lost in thought.

A small sound made the elf's eyes turn to the bed where they met a pair of dark browns ones that were surprisingly alert. He wondered just how much the blonde elf had overheard.

Slowly Legolas started to move himself into a sitting position.

'You should not move. You might reopen your wounds again.' Elrohir warned but did not hinder his movements.

Upon hearing his words Aragorn turned to look at Legolas.

'If he was able to roam the streets at night and fight, then I am sure he will find the strength to sit up.' The man said somewhat sarcastic.

Legolas did not respond to his sharp words but only returned the king's glare with a stoic calmness.

For a moment Aragorn's eyes softened and his voice showed real concern as he asked.

'How do you fare, Legolas?'

'I feel much better, thanks to Elrohir's knowledge of healing.' The elf answered with a grateful smile at the Rivendell elf. It was answered with a dismissive gesture.

'It was nothing. I did no more than Gimli has done before.'

Upon the mentioning of his friend's name Legolas' eyes searched the room to return to Aragorn when he could not find a trace of him. The question in them was easily read.

'He is still holding a conversation with the two men you caused to be brought to the house of healing. Elladan is with him.'

'A conversation?' Elrohir's voice held not much belief in this. 'I doubt that much words are spoken there.'

A strange look crossed Aragorn's face.

'I trust Elladan to keep the dwarf from doing something rash.' He said but was answered by a snort from the dark haired elf.

'Have you not seen the fury the dwarf carried inside? I doubt that even if Elladan would wish to stop him he would not be able to do so should Gimli consider to do something rash as you call it so nicely.'

For a long moment the king simply stared at the elf than he finally shook his head.

'I fear it is too late to interfere by now. I only hope I will not have to explain two other death's ere the night is over.'

Aragorn could not help the feeling that somehow things simply did not run his way tonight.

'Gimli would not do that.' Legolas' voice cut in. 'They are wounded and he would never take a life in a less than fair fight.'

This brought the king's attention back to the blonde elf who found himself again pierced by his glare.

'I am truly glad to hear that.' his voice held a sarcastic tone again. 'But there is one man who has found death tonight. I know the circumstances for Gimli has told me of what he knew. Is there anything else you might consider telling me?'

Legolas had straightened under his stare and his head was held high. His attitude emanated pride and dignity and his eyes flashed as he answered.

'There is nothing else to tell. If you know what brought it on than you know it was my right to do what I did tonight. If I kept you unaware it was not to wrong you but to keep the knowledge of what has been said from Arwen. I did not wish her to know the words that were spoken against her.'

'I know this. Your intentions might have been noble but it was not your place to decide what I should know or not. The faults of man are not unknown to me and Arwen is aware of them. There is no need and no use in trying to protect her. And even if there was, it would be my place to do so, not yours, my friend.'

There was a slight expression of hurt flickering in Legolas' eyes for the briefest moment and it made Aragorn pause for a moment. His voice was not as hard as before when he continued to speak.

'What is done, is done. I am truly sorry for what has happened to you, my friend. But tomorrow morn I will need to explain to the people of Gondor why one of them has lost his life and why I exiled two others.'

The lack of surprise on Legolas' face told Aragorn he had indeed heard most of what he had spoken to Noldim. His next question confirmed this.

'I understand and will not hesitate to explain myself should it be needed.' He said his voice not leaving a doubt that he thought the matter settled with that. With an inward sigh Aragorn realized this would be all he would get from the stubborn elf. For Legolas the discussion was ended and the king knew better than arguing with his friend. It would only drive him to utter desperation and he would not gain anything from it.

'What do you plan for Noldim?' the elf asked when Aragorn did not speak further.

With a sigh Aragorn sat down on Gimli's bed facing his friend pondering his answer to that question. He had not made up his mind yet.

'He is still young and he has shown regret for what he did. I would not wish for him to be punished with the same severity as the other two.'

If the king was surprised to hear this words coming from Legolas he did not show it. It was Elrohir who spoke up.

'But still he did not tell anyone and he did not send help for you. Had your wounds been any more severe you might have died. His little bit of interference would have been no help at all then.'

Legolas did not deny his words but kept his gaze on Aragorn, waiting for the man to speak.

'So, for you the matter is settled?' the king asked. 'You refrain from asking retribution from him?'

'Aye. Whatever judgment you will speak will be enough for me.' The elf answered.

At least one decision he was allowed to make on his own tonight Aragorn realized. Again the king fell silent for some time before he asked another question.

'There is another thing we must not forget. You are not only my friend, Legolas but you are the son of Thandruil. I sincerely hope your people will no take offence on what has happened.'

Legolas shook his head.

'This was a personal matter and it only concerns me. My father will not interfere if for me it is settled.'

Aragorn felt relieved at that. He truly did not wish to have the elves of Mirkwood against him. Seeing that Legolas was still waiting for his decision he rose.

'I will heed your wish concerning Noldim.' He spoke. 'He will not be exiled.'

The elf followed his movement getting to his feet although much more slowly. Pain flared at each movement but he ignored the looks he received and reached for his robe.

'Let me bandage your wounds first.' Elrohir's voice stopped him. 'It would do no good if dirt would cause them to get infected.'

Understanding and accepting the elf's unspoken wish to be present when he voiced his judgment Aragorn waited patiently while Elrohir wrapped Legolas' torso up.

He had just finished his task when a roaring voice could be heard outside the house.

'Gimli.' Aragorn sighed. Once more he had the strange feeling that things were not really in his hands. For being the king he felt surprisingly powerless and the wide grin on Elrohir's face did not help to lighten his mood. He reached out to help Legolas into his robe earning him an indignant look from the elf. With a sigh he tried to remind Legolas of the very furious sounding dwarf outside.'

'Hurry up, my friend or we will not find enough left of this young man to announce a punishment.'

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Noldim was pacing up and down in front of the house his heart heavy. He feared what was to come. The king's anger had been plainly to see. To be exiled would not only mean to loose everything he owned but would break his mothers heart and his own as well.

Footsteps coming closer made him stop his pacing and look at who was coming towards the house. He could make out two shapes, one tall and slender, the other smaller and stout. It would have been a comical sight had he not known who at least one of them was.

The friendship between Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf had been noticed with astonishment and wonder.

In the dim light he could still clearly see the dwarf's face grow dark when his eyes fell on him. Sudden fear gripped his heart when he saw recognition in his eyes. The dwarf knew exactly who he was.

Gimli tightened the grip on his axe when he saw he young man standing in front of the house. He could sense Elladan tense beside him.

'What are you doing here?' he bellowed not caring about the lateness of the hour.

The man backed away from his fury his sword still on the ground and out of reach.

'I am waiting…' he stammered. '…the king is inside… he told me to wait here.'

Gimli's axe had come dangerously close and all of a sudden the king's wrath seemed less threatening than facing a furious dwarf.

'Gimli, let him be.'

Aragorn's voice stopped him from advancing even more on the clearly frightened man. But he made no move to step away either.

The young man dropped to one knee when he saw his king and bowed his head. Surprised at this action Gimli finally took one step back and his eyes turned to Aragorn.

The king had stepped outside and to Gimli's surprise Legolas stood next to him. He could not see the elf's face but did not fail to notice that he moved quite stiffly.

'Noldim, you have made yourself guilty of assaulting a friend and ally of Gondor. You have shown regret and this will not be ignored. You will loose your status as a warrior of Gondor until you prove yourself worthy of it again. Furthermore to overcome your aversion against elves you are to assist Legolas Greenleaf during his stay in Minas Tirith in any tasks he might bestow on you. You are to follow his orders without question and if I ever should hear that you made yourself guilty of any offence against his orders you will come to regret it.'

He paused to let his words sink in ere he continued.

'Do you accept your penalty?'

'Aye, my king.' Noldim answered relief evident in his voice.

'Tomorrow morn you will appear in front of the queen and ask her forgiveness for the insult given by you and your friends. The whole matter will be made public and you will have to explain your actions to the people of Gondor. You may leave now.'

The young man almost stumbled in his haste to get away. The glowering look from Gimli surely did something to quicken his strides.

To everybody's surprise the dwarf broke out in roaring laughter as soon as Noldim was out of sight.

'This truly was a satisfying night.' He declared sounding quite pleased. He turned to Aragorn.

'I fear these two you ordered out of town will not be able to do so within two hours. The healers will need to take care of their wounds more properly.'

'More properly?' the king sighed and decided not to ask. The smirk on Elladan's face told him enough.

Taking one long look at his four friends a thought started to form in the king's mind. There was one thing all of them seemed to have forgotten about.

'I will leave you now, my friends for I still have a feast going on and my absence there has most probably been noticed by now. I expect all of you tomorrow morn for breakfast.'

Taking in the smiling faces around him he added with a smirk in his voice.

'I am sure you will enjoy telling Arwen of all that has transpired.'

Gimli's snickers died instantly and he could have sworn he heard a groan coming from Legolas. Arwen's brothers had frozen, a look of horror dawning on their identical faces.

'I bid you a good night, my friends.'

As the king of Gondor walked away a broad grin lit his face for the first time this night.