Everyone was sitting around in a nice circle eating when Aragorn got up and whispered something inaudible in Legolas's ear. Legolas, too, stood and they began to walk away. Arwen opened her mouth to protest, then decided not to. She stayed with the children in silence.

"Where are we moving after this?" Aragorn asked once they were farther away from the group.

"To Rivendell for a day or so, then we are continuing West. Far West."

"Why there?"

"It is the Elven maid, Elviondel. She told me that the Ums were believed to be created near the Ice Bay of Forochel. Therefore until I hear differently, that is our route."

"And how long is she to continue on with us?"

"Until she decides to leave."

Aragorn shifted his weight and sighed. He didn't like this one bit. Not simply Elviondel, but any of it. This entire plan seemed crazy to him. He didn't even know why they were going to the bay! What good could they do there? And why was Legolas so secretive?

"I think she should leave now," Aragorn replied.

"I told her that she may stay with us until we got out of the forest. Please understand. You are a King, you know how it is when you go back on your word." Legolas himself wasn't sure if Elviondel coming along was the greatest idea, but he knew that she would be gone in a few hours or so, so it was not weighing heavily on his conscience.

Aragorn paused, then reluctantly consented. "Yes, I understand. But what was possessing you when you invited her along?"

Legolas smiled faintly. "She reminds me of Gwilith."

Aragorn looked confused and looked back at Elviondel, who at the moment was talking with Arwen. She didn't look much like Gwilith, so he couldn't understand Legolas's reason. "How is that?"

"I met my wife in Lórien," Legolas explained, remembering that heavenly day. "And they project the same essence."

"Maybe, but I trust Gwilith more so than a stranger in the woods. How does she know so much of the army, as well? Maybe she was lying so that she-"

"You are untrusting by nature, Aragorn," Legolas insisted. "That is your character. You will not trust someone unless you have evidence that they are friends."

"And perhaps you are too trusting," Aragorn replied. He wasn't trying to argue with Legolas, he simply wanted to prove his point, that Elviondel may not be a positive addition to their group. "Not hating anyone unless they attack you first. That is how one is unprepared."

"But she may help with the plan, besides," Legolas said. That much was a lie, he couldn't see how she would help, but he knew that Aragorn didn't know the full plan, so he realized that his reasoning might work.

"How is that?"

"You will see."

"Forgive me, Legolas, but I am used to leading, and not knowing this "plan" has been on my mind since we set out, so if you would be so kind as to inform me, I would appreciate it. It's not that I don't trust you, old friend, but simply that I have always known what is going on, and I don't like the feeling of not."

"I cannot tell you, Aragorn."

Aragorn looked surprised, and almost hurt. "Why not?"

"All of us risk capture, and torture goes hand-in-hand with it. The children especially cannot find out, for if they do get tortured they may tell the whole thing, and then the rest of us are doomed."

Aragorn still did not understand. He thought Legolas knew him better than that. "You know that I would die before I betrayed you or my wife or my children. I'd sooner endure the torture, whatever it may be."

"Just the same, I think I will withhold the temptation."

Then another thought dawned on Aragorn, one that he hadn't noticed sooner. "If we all risk torture, then why did we bring the children?"

"We need the children."

"For what?"

"You will see."

Aragorn was beginning to get frustrated. "Did we need all of them?"

Legolas nodded. "All of them."

"For what?"

Legolas hesitated. He did not want to tell Aragorn the plan… he knew that if he did he would be uneasy. But he also knew that Aragorn would surely be angry with him if he did not tell him even a bit of the plan.

"There is a pass where they must continue on without us. They are small and the only ones that can fit through, if even them. Laesien will make it, as for the others… we shall see."

"And they will leave us?"

"No, they will let us in. When we arrive I will give them the proper instructions. Do not worry about it, everything will work out."

"Where is this pass?"

"The Westernmost side of Angmar, should we get there without problems. You have been to Angmar, have you not?"

"I had been," Aragorn answered. "Once. But I do not remember it much… I only remember the preserved witch-shelters and the fields and meadows. The inhabitants are not very friendly, however. After the witch-realms they have been suspicious of outsiders. We will have troubles there."

Legolas nodded. "I'm counting on that much, at least. The more hostile they are, the better."

Aragorn stared at Legolas. What did he mean? How in the world were they going to make it to Angmar at least, and yet farther to Forochel? Aragorn was sure they wouldn't make it. At the pace they were going at, it would be a miracle if they even made it to Rivendell. They could not continue on like this… everyone was so tired and weary. These short, infrequent stops were horrible on the poor children, and more wear and tear on the horses. How could they hope to make it? And with the army chasing them, where could they hope to find refuge?

Where could they go to survive?