RUNES

                     by Pride

       Legolas and Aragorn's horses trotted on warily. The elves gave off a subtle pale light. It was enough to guide them through. At the end of the alley was a door and a red light, as though from a fire. They all dismounted their horses and Melanna offered her hand to Aragorn as Assistance. He finally noticed as he took her hand that runes were etched into her arm. Khazad, Edhel, 1298 and Moria was what they said neatly.

He held her hand for a moment longer. Those runes seemed so famaliar....

       Melanna jerked her hands away from him.  She turned, rubbing her hands, and looked around at everyone. A elf girl came before her and started asking her questions about the humans politely in quenya. Melanna answered all questions hurriedly in quenya also and only Aragorn understood what they said.

       Melanna motioned to a vacant and clean bed in a corner and Eowyn lay Theodred down while Legolas scanned the cave for Gimli. He noticed the dwarf sleeping against a wall, his hands bound before him and a mug of ale beside him. Legolas ran quietly over to him.

       "Gimli! Wake up! We have come to-" Gimli awoke at his voice. When the elf reached the word 'to', he suddenly yelled and fell to the ground on his side. Another blond male elf stood over him holding a knife by the blade. He dropped the knife, blood dripping from his hand that was wrapped around the knife. The male quickly bent and sheathed his knife, and walked away towards Aragorn. He tapped Aragorn on the shoulder, spoke to him and pointed towards Legolas.

       " I found him trying to release the prisoner. I hit him. He fell. Please excuse me, Milord. I was merely following orders." The elf male that had walked up to him said scared-like. "Who are you and who submitted the orders?" Aragorn replied.

       "I am Nilor, milord. The orders were that of Melanna. 'The dwarf is our prisoner, treat him as more of a friend but watch him.' That is what she told the others and I." He looked at the ground shyly.  Aragorn pushed past Nilor and headed towards Gimli. Two guards stepped into his way and stood tall.

       "Allow me to get Legolas, the elf. Gimli is your prisoner. I will not deny you of that. Keep him. Give me Legolas." Aragorn said to them in a hushed voice. Their spears clinked softly as they pulled back, allowing him to Gimli and Legolas. Melanna heard this light disturbance and averted her eyes to Aragorn. He noticed her gaze and stared back at her. She stood from her seat besides Theodred's bed and walked over to him.

       "Aragorn? What is it? You know you cannot take Gim-" Melanna started and spotted Legolas. "Oh. Nilor." She looked over her shoulder and Nilor merely shrugged under her gaze and grinned. She sighed and turned back to kneel besides Legolas.

       "Legolas? Legolas. Come back to us now." Melanna muttered in her fair elvish song. Aragorn looked over to Gimli while Melanna was doing so, but his eyes were fixed on Theodred.

       Legolas awoke to Melanna gazing down at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Welcome back." Her voice in his head told him. Legolas smiled up at her and accepted her help to stand. Mela was about to go back to Theodred when Aragorn spoke to her.

       " Milady Melanna. Is it alright if we were to speak with your prisoner to check on his welfare?" She sighed and told them to be quick.

Then Melanna went back over and resumed her seat by the ill body of Theodred.

       "How are they treating you here? Do they hurt you or talk about their plans?" Legolas asked of Gimli once Mela was gone.

       "Good enough food for a prison," Gimli joked," I ....trust Melanna. She tells me that the only reason none of their prisoners are never seen again in Rohan is because they are taken North or West. When one week is up, she tells me, I will escorted back to any place North or West of here I'd like to go. Until then, I have to wait it out. My leg is broken and that is why their waiting one week, for it to heal. Some idoit broke it 'by accident.' " Gimli said the last words with a sneer.

(A.N: I know it takes 2 months to heal a broken leg. Their elves. Their special!)

       " Where will you go? We cannot let them take you. You have to come with us." Legolas whispered quickly.

       " Oh, I dunno. Kind of like the sound of the 'Grey Havens'. They sound beautiful. Legolas, I'll be fine." Melanna walked over to him at that moment with a tray in one hand and a mug in the other. She set them down next to Gimli and on the tray was lembas. "Mmm." Gimli said quietly.

       "Yes, Gimli. Lembas. You have the Lady Nauriel to thank for that. She believed you needed it to heal your leg quicker. It shall help. Have you decided where you want to go?" She went on as though the others weren't there.

       "Melanna, I do not mean to push my luck, but I wish to be set back with my friends." Melanna nodded and smiled knowingly. She looked at Aragorn and he remembered where he'd seen her. Tinumandra.

       " So be it. We will go on like nothing happened. But still, All of you should feel welcome to stay here as Haven if needed ever. Understood?" Melanna said clearly. Gimli nodded at her. She pulled out a knife and cut the ropes on his arms. With that, Melanna rose to walk away.

A.N.: Got the LOTR soundtrack in so I am going to start making it a bit more....er.... gentle? ;) Please Review. Reviews keep me going!!!!

 PEACE! :-p