Chapter Four.

Legolas felt something settle deep inside him as the elf-lord walked off. 'take her with me? Is he crazy? We are in a war here!'

A small voice spoke up in the back of his mind. 'and already she has won us a victory nearly single-handedly. So you know that's not the reason you don't want her to come.' the little voice took on a smug quality, 'or is it you're afraid of the blow to you're ego?'

Legolas glared back at the stupidity of that voice. 'of course not. WE simply must ask the dwarf and Aragorn.'

'Legolas I live inside you're head. I am not a separate being.' The voice admonished him as he turned to swift feet to take him to where they sat. Grinningly he told the two of his plans and was surprised somewhat by their grasp of the information.

"Of course she should join us! We can't have the lass getting killed now can we?" Gimli glared at the other elves cruelly. " Stubborn Jack-asses!" He bellowed to them all to have everyone in the room turn to stare at him. He saw Firith rise to her feet from a table full of men and limp over to him.

"Sir Dwarf I do believe that you have a problem with my…the elves." She faltered in the face of her memory. " What seems to be the problem we…they have caused?"

Gimli admired her strength and rose to offer her a seat. She nodded politely to him but declined with a swift glance at Legolas and an ironic half-bow. Firith backed away from the table to be caught by the waist by a very tall, fragile looking man.

"Gandalf!" The elf-prince leapt from his seat to kneel at Gandalf's feet. " My apologies sir! I never meant disrespect."

Gandalf fixed him with a iced gaze.

"It is not to me that an apology is owed." He flexed his arm around Firith, whose eyes remained fixed to the tops of her boots, "It is to Firith that you owe you're remorse."

Legolas's eyes flickered to her and he took her hand, cringing when she flinched away from him. " Lady…"

He found her gaze fixed firmly on him and faltered under her intense scrutiny.

" I am no longer a lady Majesty." her eyes widened as she felt the amber fire kindled inside her. " What did you do?"

" I did nothing…Firith. I wish to ask you something." Legolas smiled gently and lowered his voice, " You're father…erm Lord Endiesh asked me to take you with us. We hope you will not decline." He bowed over her hand and kissed it. Her fire lie in her eyes and she snatched her hand away.

"I will be no man's plaything, Majesty." By calling him that you place him above you're reach Firith. Remember that. "I will accompany you as an equal only, and that is where the line is drawn and will remain."

Legolas winced when she had called him 'Majesty' and backed away from her space. " As you will Firith."

The dwarf forgotten cleared his throat. " Now Lady," He ignored her righteous indignation at being called that. " We shall feast as equals!" He grabbed her wrist and tugged her down to the seat beside him. "Food!" He roared to the passing servant. " Blasted servants! Lady you must come to the dwarf kingdom! WE are much better at parting than elves!"

"And much better drinkers too eh?" Aragorn smirked from across the table.

For a moment Gimli's mouth opened and shut without a reply. " Feh." Was all he came up with in the end.

Firith chuckled and the table looked toward her with surprise. She caught their looks and laughed harder, her throaty chuckle echoing until all activity in the hall had stopped. It wasn't until Eomer came over to kneel beside her did she stop. Staring at him with stony silence as he whispered in her ear. She nodded and rose, excusing herself from the table to follow him out the door.

"I feel the compulsion to apologize Milady." Firith struggled to hide the flinch she felt at his words. "You did us a great service." He gestured to the halls around them. " I fear that with our you and my sister we would now be dead at the hands of orcs. I give you this," He handed her a small bag which jangled as she took it. "It will provide you with anything you need from us. Armor, troops, whatever you desire most will become yours."

Firith kept the fact that she wished for none of those things more than she wished for the return of her father. " Thank you Lord Eomer." She bowed to him and took flight towards the stables. Flitting through the dining hall quickly she fled to Fylorn's stall. She opened the door with a squeak and threw her arms around the warhorse's neck.

Fylorn patiently nuzzled her mistress's hair and puffed softly. 'What is the mater?'

'Fylorn! We are exiles dear one. My Lord has banished us from the Gadlenin…we will ride with the Princeling of Mirkwood and the other two wherever they go. Haldir, damn him, has left to seek his lady's counsel. And we heart sister are left on the brink.' Firith told her, to anyone else it would seem that she was thinking deeply about something, but to those who were familiar with the enidien would know in an instant that they were conversing.

' Shush now heart sister. We were never cut out for that life!' The mare nuzzled her shoulder. ' We will prove our place as both of our sires believe we can not.' Her ears shot forward. 'someone is coming, dry you're tears.'

Knowing that no one could witness her weak time she scrubbed her eyes furiously with the back of her hand and looked up over the stall door. Her eyes widen as she ducks to the opposite side of the mare, hoping to hide from the person approaching.

" Firith? Firith come on I know you're in here!" Legolas grinned as her saw her legs under the stall door. " I see you!" He entered the doorway and pounced her, tumbling her to the stall floor, thankfully clean.

Firith struggled under his weight, before she gave up and allowed him to trap her wrists above her head. With his hips pressed into hers and his legs trapping hers swiftly. Her eyebrow cocked at him, silently demanding what was wrong with him. "I think…" And he passed out, dead drunk.

A/N: Well another chapter out, and I know Lego's OC but I needed to lighten the mood for the next chapter. Erm….I was told to explain her injury. When she saved Haldir an orcs axe cut her shoulder. I am going to TRY to post at least once a week until this monstrosity is finished. ^.^