*Authors Note* Hope this doesn't spoil anybody's hopes or dreams, but A&A are not married. If you know the characters you know who I'm talking about, but I don't want to ruin anything for anybody who hasn't seen the movies.

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What a dreadful day. Gimli thought to himself as sat on a forest rock, waiting for Legolas to appear. What had started as a simple union had turned into a life-long friendship, and now the two were inseparable. It had been three years since the War of the Ring, and now they traveled together most frequently; either to Mirkwood to see Legolas' people, who were always a bit leery when Gimli arrived with him, or to the Kingdom Under the Mountain to see Gimli's people, who were always a bit leery when Legolas arrived with him.

The rain splashed down through the leaves of the old forest, and kept smacking Gimli in the face. If they hit his helmet, he was bombarded with 'clink – clink – clink- clink' He was starting to get a headache…all because Legolas had wanted to see Fangorn again. Gimli shook his head…elves.

"Isn't a beautiful day, don't you think Gimli?" Legolas asked brightly, suddenly emerging from under the trees. The water seemed to not touch him at all. He looked more vibrant then ever. Why couldn't some of that grace be passed toward the dwarves, Gimli wondered.

"Oh yeah…exactly what I was thinking." Gimli lied, and smiled a bit.

Legolas glanced over, and smiled at the soaked dwarf. "You could have called, I wouldn't have taken much longer. I came across an Ent, and we had a nice conversation."

"That's where you're wrong." Gimli said, jumping to his feet. "I don't mind waiting. The longer I sit on this rock, the longer I don't have to sit on that horse!"

"Come Gimli." Legolas laughed. "I fear we have lingered too long." The two started to walk toward the edge of Fangorn forest, when a bright light of lightening blinded them. They both cringed and drew their hands over their eyes. "What is this nonsense?" Legolas asked when the light didn't disappear.

"Meeting an old friend is hardly nonsense." Gandalf chided his old friend.

"Gandalf?" Gimli asked peering around Legolas' arm from behind. "Is it really you?"

"Indeed it is, Gimli." Gandalf smiled warmly at his two old friends. "Indeed it is."

"What brings you to us, Gandalf?" Legolas asked, his eyes still adjusting to the bright figure. "We haven't seen you in three years!"

"The two of you are needed for a grave mission." Gandalf intoned. His hand flew to his neck subconsciously, and stroked something within his robes, his face scrunched a bit in pain. "We haven't much time. Come, I shall explain it all once we meet up with the other two." He turned on his heel and went back to where Shadowfax was waiting. Gimli and Legolas glanced at each other and shrugged, then moved to follow him.

*~*~*

"Lunge! Side-step! Parry! Lunge!" A lead knight shouted the orders out, standing in front about thirty knights who were sweating furiously at the effort; their swords were gleaming in the afternoon light. He then noticed how tired and haggard the knights looked, and smiled a bit…they had been at this since breakfast. "Alright guys, good job! That's enough." The knights of Gondor nodded, and sheathed their swords. They were ready for a brake.

One of the young knights, Peregrin Took, aka Pippin sighed happily. He was ready for a third lunch. He was serving his yearly service for Aragorn as one of his knights. Pippin was always delighted every single year for three years now when he would get a letter from Aragorn himself inviting him to come train. Pippin usually stayed and trained for a month or so, while keeping Aragorn company. Pippin wiped the sweat from his brow, and glanced over as one of his friends came over to greet him.

"Pippin!" Joshua cried out happily. "When did you get back?! I can't believe you didn't search me out!"

Pippin laughed, and turned toward Joshua, who was about sixteen and just about six inches taller then Pippin. "Sorry Josh. I only got here this morn. Aragorn put me to training right away."

Joshua stared at his friend for a second. "You mean King Aragorn?"

"What?" Pippin asked. "Oh sure. Didn't I mention King? Yeah…King Aragorn." He grinned at Joshua, and they started walking back toward the castle.  

Joshua grinned back at him. "If I knew the King personally, there would be some changes around this place."

"Really?" Pippin asked, keeping his eyes forward, he saw something that made him grin. He glanced at his friend. "Like what?"

"First of all," Joshua said, ticking the items off on his fingers as he said them, keeping his eyes lowered. "Active knights such as ourselves would get prime seats at the head table, right next to the King." He nodded and continued talking. "And every once in awhile, Aragorn should pick one knight to act as the king for just a single day." He smiled in satisfaction. "If I was King for a day…I'd make Rita go out with me!"

Pippin laughed. "The new Steward's daughter?!"

Joshua laughed. "And then I'd—

"Do tell." A voice interrupted him. "What would you do?" Joshua's eyes went wide recognizing the voice. He very slowly turned around, and looked up at his King, who looked down at the young knight, laughter in his eyes. Pippin noticed, and also that the corners of his mouth were twitching slightly. Pippin had to cover his mouth and feign a cough to keep from laughing out loud.

"I…uh…well…" Joshua fumbled for the right words.

"Just as he said." Pippin supplied for his friend, and glanced up at Aragorn with a smile. "King for a day to make Rita go out with him." Joshua turned three shades redder, and kept his face lowered to the ground.

"Pippin." Aragorn laughed. "I'd like to see you after you get cleaned up. Come to the throne room." He turned, and with one more quick glance down at Joshua, put a hand on his shoulder then left.

Pippin glanced at Joshua who was still looking down at the ground, only two shades redder now. "Are you alright?"

"How can you talk to him like that?" Joshua asked.

Pippin grinned. "Ah…me and Strider…we go waaaaaaaaaaay back."

*~*~*

I can't believe they wanted me to lose Pippin as a knight. Aragorn thought disdainfully to himself. If his new Steward made any more obscene suggestions, he'd be looking for a new Kingdom. Aragorn couldn't imagine a more loyal knight then Pippin. He went through everything with Frodo, never had any songs written about him, risked his life countless times for the sake of Middle-Earth…and the new Steward wants to get rid of him. Aragorn shook his head. He was going to tell Pippin to be on his guard. He sighed wistfully, wishing Faramir was still his Steward.

Aragorn nodded at the people he passed on his way to his throne. He didn't have much to do today. He intentionally scheduled it that way so he could have a chance to talk with Pippin. Aragorn looked forward to Pippin's yearly visit, much more then anybody could ever realize. Aragorn was so deep into his own thoughts that he didn't notice that three very familiar people occupied his throne room. An elf a dwarf and a wizard stared at him as if he intruded on their conversation. Aragorn stopped mid-step, and assessed the situation. Gimli sat on his throne, drinking his wine, and knowing on a turkey leg; Legolas sat at the head of his table, sharpening his arrows, and using the table as a footrest, while Gandalf stood by a window, barely recognizable at first. Aragorn glanced around at them before he leapt into action. "Gandalf! Gimli! Legolas!" He went first to Legolas and then to Gimli and gave them both a mighty hug, which they returned whole-heartedly. Then he reached Gandalf at the window. Gandalf nodded at his old friend and extended his hand. Aragorn looked at the hand for a second, then smiled mischievously and gave Gandalf a huge hug. Gandalf patted him on the back awkwardly…not expecting this kind of behavior from the King of Gondor.

Gimli nodded at him in an understanding way. "Business slow?"

"Terribly!" Aragorn laughed. He was overjoyed at seeing his friends. He hadn't seen them since he had accepted his new role as the King of Gondor.

"We have trouble." Gandalf said.

Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Figures. You guys can never stop by for a social call." Before Gandalf or anyone could answer, the elf the dwarf and the wizard all looked toward the door where a freshly clean Pippin stood.

"My elf eyes hardly believe it." Legolas commented, swinging his legs down from the footrest. "Is this Peregrin Took?"

"My how you've grown lad!"

Pippin grinned proudly. "I've been a knight for Aragorn for three years now."

"And he's doing a mighty fine job." Aragorn put a hand on Pippin's shoulder, in a fatherly type of way. Pippin's chest stuck out further at the compliment from Aragorn.

"The four of you are needed on a new mission to save Middle Earth." Gandalf said, interrupting the happy reunion.

The four turned and gaped at him. "Ever heard of leading up to a subject?" Pippin asked gaping at him.