It was near midnight when they stopped and Legolas announced that they would rest for around 20 minutes. Ohtar got off his horse and headed towards Zerameth, but then Yrinvan stepped in his way.
"Where are you going?" the mortal asked.
"Do you mind?" said the arrogant prince. "I was walking."
"And I asked you, to where?"
Ohtar knew exactly what had possessed Yrinvan to get in his way. He didn't want Ohtar to be with Zerameth… he wanted her for himself.
"You know where, filthy human!"
At hearing this Yrinvan pounced on Ohtar and they rolled around on the ground wrestling for only a few seconds when Legolas, Aragorn, and Arwen wrenched them apart. Both boys struggled ferociously against their grip, trying to break free.
"What is the meaning of this?" Legolas demanded. He readjusted his grip on his son and spoke louder, "Ohtar, answer me!"
Ohtar stopped struggling for a minute, then with a sudden yank of his arm broke free. But he did not use this freedom to attack Yrinvan back, he in stead turned to his father. "Nothing."
"You will tell me," Legolas said in a warning tone.
"I'm sorry, all right?!" Ohtar replied, hoping desperately that his father would not make him tell what they'd been fighting about. Not in front of Zerameth. Then he decided that Legolas couldn't make him tell. Because he wouldn't, no matter what. No, he would not.
"That does not answer my question," Legolas responded, looking sternly at Ohtar.
"Im carú boe treneri lle!" Ohtar snapped sharply. (I do not need to tell you!) Zerameth's interest was caught when she heard the elvish words, then she began to listen intently.
Legolas knew that Ohtar only used elvish during high emotional states. The same was with himself, Anywien, and Gwilith. They spoke both languages fluently, but used their native language when they were especially happy, or especially sad, or especially excited. Right now, Ohtar was especially angry.
Legolas sighed. "Ohtar, dár lle dambeth Im. Ha ú thelfa taw ha pednal." (Ohtar, please tell me. This won't be solved until it is addressed.)
"Ha thang alpednal," Ohtar answered. "Da ú tolad." (This needs no addressing. It won't happen again.)
Legolas didn't know why he'd switched back to the Common Tongue, but he did. "It had better not," he said. "Do you understand me?" Ohtar nodded and Legolas walked off. Aragorn and Arwen looked at Yrinvan who suddenly found the ground very interesting.
"Yrinvan," Aragorn said. "If this does happen again, it will raise many more questions in my mind. About having you in the royal family."
Yrinvan nodded. "Yes, I understand."
"You have already made me question this decision, do not press me." Yrinvan continued to nod. "I have had pity for you thus far, understanding your present situation, but do not press me for this grace I've been showing you, for it is about to run out."
Yrinvan bit his lip at the hinting of his parents. "Yes, I know."
"I will not-" Arwen gently touched her husband's arm to stop him. She did not want him to hurt Yrinvan emotionally, for he was a fragile child and he'd had a sad past.
"Shh," she said to him. "You need not scold him."
Aragorn looked from Yrinvan to Arwen, then released his grip on the orphan. "I will be watching you," he said. Then he looked to Ohtar. "Both of you," he added. Then he walked away, and Arwen followed him, intending to talk to him and hopefully calm him down. Yrinvan turned to glare at Ohtar.
"Now we are in trouble, and it is all your fault," he said.
"My… you were in my way!"
"Well, you needn't insult me."
"You are very lucky my father came to pry me away from you, or you would no longer draw breath."
"How could you manage to call me a filthy human, yet have eyes for her?"
"Because she is a lovely human, you are the opposite."
"I don't see why she likes elves so much," Yrinvan muttered as he walked away. He did not want to be tempted to tackle the elven prince again, for that would ruin his chance at being an heir of Gondor. Aragorn and Arwen were in need of adopting a son, for they were too old to have any more children. They had always seemed to like Yrinvan, especially since his parents had died shortly after Aragorn claimed the throne. Arwen had found him wandering and had asked him where his parents were, and since then he'd visited them once a week. Then he began to see them more often… he would come and go as he pleased, and it ended up averaging out to about 4-5 times a week. They would often invite him for meals, and he would often accept. They did not know where he went when he was not with them, for he had no home. Nor did they know how he passed his time or where he slept or what he ate when he was not within their walls, but the truth was he tended to spend time with his parents at the place that they were buried. Now and again he would talk to them and tell them what was going on in his life… sometimes he would talk about Zerameth. His father had known Aragorn, not very well, but known him just the same. But neither of Yrinvan's parents had known his daughters, so he would describe them to them, and their personalities and how they looked, what they liked to do. He did not eat anything when he was not with the royal family, but he didn't mind it. He was used to going without food, and he didn't want to ask them for more than they gave. Yrinvan was a polite boy, and quite charming as well once you would get to know him.
Ohtar ignored his comment and turned towards Arwen's horse, the one that was carrying the food. There he saw Amethyst and started a conversation.
"Hello," he greeted. She turned and smiled at him.
"Hello," she replied, handing him a bit of bread. He smiled gratefully and took it.
"Thank you." She nodded. There was a bit of silence until Ohtar said, "So… are you a witch?"
Amethyst laughed. "Oh, no. There hasn't been a witch in Angmar for 300 years at least. I am a human… just a normal human. I have a different culture than many, but I'm only a plain human. You are a prince, are you not?"
Ohtar nodded. "Yes, but elven princes don't do very many things. Not most of them, anyway, since elves are immortal. But I do end up doing much more than many elven princes since my father… well, he never rules."
"Maybe you should talk to him about it."
"The worst part is, he expects everything to be fine. He returns from battle happy, thinking to receive a warm welcome. He doesn't seem to realize how angry we all are at him."
Amethyst nodded. "I understand. Maybe… maybe you should talk to him."
