A/N.thanks for the reviews guys. I'm sorry I'm being a bit lazy on the update. And I'll take the advice of reviewing other people's work too. Sorry. Bad author.

On the morning of the next day, Gilraen was walking through the streets of Gondor on her way out the gates to gather some herbs for the Houses of Healing. She carried a basket with her and it dangled off her right arm.

Before she reached the last gate she saw Legolas coming towards her from the side. She stood still in place waiting for him to reach her.

"Good morning, Legolas," she said.

"Good morning, Gilraen. It seems I have caught up to you just in time. I was going to meet you in front of your room, but you left earlier than I thought."

"Why were you going to meet me at my room?" asked Gilraen slightly confused, "did you need something my friend?"

"Well, your mother asked me to accompany you today. Did she not tell you?" Gilraen shook her head in the negative. "Well, she was just worried about your safety. Do you usually go out gathering herbs alone?"

"No, I usually go with Ioreth's daughter, but I couldn't she suddenly informed me last night that she would be busy."

"Well then, shall we go?"

Legolas and Gilraen walked out the gates side by side and then walked about an hour towards the north before Gilraen found the herbs she was looking for. Off by the trees stood Arwen, who of course had arranged the whole affair. She had asked Ioreth's daughter not to go herb picking in the morning. And she had asked Legolas to accompany Gilraen.

Gilraen kneeled in the grass and filled her basket while Legolas stood nearby looking around the area in case there was any danger. He was there as bodyguard after all. Which is perhaps why today would be the only day he sensed someone in the area though he did not know who it was.

"Gilraen, " he said. She looked up at him from her position on the ground. "There is someone in those trees over there. Just one person, but I cannot see clearly who. They are hidden too well"

"What do we do?"

"Stay down there. Don't move unless I say so."

Legolas slowly walked towards the person. Arwen, seeing his approach, decided to try to elude Legolas. She ran as quietly as she could back towards the gates of Gondor. Mentally she imagined this was a futile attempt. She had been discovered, she should just stay her ground and think of an excuse. But before she could rationalize her thoughts clearly, she ran into Legolas' chest and fell backwards.

"Arwen?" Legolas looked down her thoroughly confused. "What are you doing out here? And why were you running from me?"

On the spot Arwen said the first thing that came to mind. "I went out for a walk. I ran from you because I did not know it was you," then she stood up and wiped the dust off her dress. "My eyes are not as elven as they use to be."

"Well, I am sorry I frightened you. But why are you walking alone? You yourself asked me to accompany Gilraen because you were afraid for her safety."

Arwen paused to think of an excuse. "I can take care of myself."

Legolas stared at her, not quite believing all he was hearing, but decided to let it go for the moment.

"Are you going back to the palace?" he asked.

"No," she said. She still had to gather information on Legolas and Gilraen. If she went back now she would have to arrange another meeting and then someone might truly get suspicious of her. "Actually, if it is alright, I will join you and my daughter on this stroll."

"Very well," he said. "Come this way."

Gilraen was still lying down on the ground when they reached her.

"You can get up now Gilraen," Legolas said, "It was just your mother taking a stroll."

Gilraen stood up, her white dress was soiled from the ground and she tried to wipe off some of it, but most of the dirt remained. She looked at her mother strangely.

"A stroll? Outside the walls when you have asked me to have an escort?" she asked.

Arwen stood by her story. "I can take care of myself."

Gilraen stood silent for a moment in thought. First, her friend cannot accompany her herb picking. Then Legolas shows up conveniently enough to escort. Then her mother just so happens to be in the woods where they are.

Arwen, sensing that her daughter was trying to put this all into a logistical perspective, spoke before her daughter could think about it any further.

"Are you finished here Gilraen? We could move on now so you get all the herbs you need and we can return within the gates before the sun sets."

"Yes mother, we can move on."

The rest of the day went by smoothly. Arwen dodged any remaining questions Legolas had, and after a bit, he got the hint and stopped asking.

When they Gilraen finished her task, the three walked back to the gates; Arwen holding the basket of herbs, Legolas looking around him for any immediate danger, and Gilraen, quietly in the middle of the two.