@Lucy : Err…nope! He! He!
@AAR Rocks My Socks : Thank you for the toast! I'll find the time to read your stories, I will. (I have been giving that promise to the other readers as well, but is yet to fulfill it. Bad me!)
@Irish QT : If I publish my book, you'll be the first to know!
@The Fire Breathing Ferret : Remember the 'blood brothers' thingy in 'Thicker Than Water' and how Aragorn had healed Legolas' blindness using the stone of Elessar? That's how Leggy knows…I think.
@AbbiCat14 : This is your fault! You and your bottomless cup of coffee! I'm too perky I can't even sleep! Arghh! Three more chapters coming up! Help! Can't sleep!
@Lexani : I can't thank you enough, mellon! So, would you like Orli's latest pic as a gift?
@Alkvingiel : Good. Now keep the sword out of my sight! It makes me nervous.
@Kayo : Doctor Legolas M.D. Ha! Ha! Imagine Leggy in a doctor's coat with a stethoscope around his neck! Ooo…neat! And I can take Leggy in green surgical scrubs anytime! Aw!
@Brazgirl : Do not eat your keyboard. I repeat; do NOT eat your keyboard. Eat your mouse instead. It's crunchier, don't you think?
@Aranel of Mirkwood : Orli and Kimi have been cloned! OMG! Then who are those two studs sleeping in my room? Arghh!
@szhismine : Yes, Faramir is about to tell.
@namarie2legolas : Nara is going to be a handful for our little lovely lord! He! He! You have snow? Lucky you. In Malaysia, the most we have is rain, rain and rain. Then comes the flood. Now that's when the fun really begins! Whoopee!
@Fire Pendant : I also thought that the blonde elf beside Elrond was Glorfindel, but to me he was not as cute as our real Glorfy!
@Hobbit Hugger : I guess Arwen sounds quite suicidal there, isn't she? Two more chappies? Er…no comment. LOL!
@Kitsune : Thranduil had been bugging Keldarion about grandchildren before this. Now it's Legolas' time!
@sygocer164 : Hello! It's so nice to hear from you! Thank you!
@Baby Blaize : I will continue, mellon. And I feel so honored that you placed me along with my/your favorite author Cassia. P/s : Do you know when she'll put up her latest fic? Is it after the New Year?
@Pheraearwen : It's okay. Keep your time in catching up. I'm not going anywhere.
*************************
The king woke up on the sixth day he was abed. The first person he saw was his lady wife, smiling down at him with happy tears in her eyes. "Hello, husband. You have been asleep for far too long now, don't you think?" she said.
Aragorn grinned weakly. "Have I?" He slowly reached up and touched her cheek. "What…happened, love?"
"Obviously some people have been using you for their target practice," Legolas stated with a smile of relief.
The king's head jerked towards his friend's voice. His eyes widened in surprise. "Le…Legolas?" he muttered a bit drowsily.
"Well, who did you expect? Surely not an orc!"
Dumbfounded, Aragorn could only stare speechlessly at the elf prince. Legolas chuckled at the comical expression on the king's face. "What? Cat got your tongue?"
The twins choose that moment to interrupt. "I think it's more like the Haradrim got his brain!" Elrohir exclaimed, already laughing.
"You are here," Aragorn said softly, shaking his head in wonder, staring first at Legolas then at the twins. "You are all here."
"Yes, little brother, we are here," Elladan spoke, reaching down to ruffle Aragorn's hair like he used to do when the man was just a little boy. "But I suggest you get better first before you throw us out of your palace."
"It's a citadel," Aragorn corrected, grinning like a fool.
"Whatever," Elladan said, shrugging sheepishly. The three elves then looked at one another before they gave out a loud whoop and descended upon the king on the bed, hugging him as they laughed together in delight.
"Oh, it's so good to have you all here!" Aragorn managed to gasp between his laughter.
Arwen exchanged a happy smile with Faramir who stood watching from the other side of the bed. "They can be quite nuts sometimes," she said, as if explaining the childish behavior of the males in her life.
Faramir chuckled. He was incredibly relieved now that Aragorn was finally showing signs of quick recovery. The king was going to survive his wounds, just as Faramir had expected at the elves' arrival a couple of days ago. The king's shooters were still at large and had to be caught. But for now, Faramir was going to enjoy watching the joyous reunion.
***********************
Several hours later, Faramir found the prince of Eryn Lasgalen standing alone at the balcony of his chamber, watching the twilight sky over Minas Tirith.
"What is it with the stars that so fascinate you, Legolas?" the man asked, standing beside the elf. "What do they tell you?"
Legolas smiled as he answered. "Hope and life, my dear friend. Look at that one over there," Legolas said, pointing at the brightest star above their heads. "That's Elbereth. She watches over me and gives me direction. As long as she still shines, I won't be led astray. I will prevail."
Faramir nodded. "You are never the one to easily give up, are you?"
Facing the man, Legolas replied, "Oh, I've given up several times before, Faramir. But that's how I found out that it wasn't the best way to resolve any problems."
"And what a big problem we are facing right now," Faramir said. "The Haradrim for instance."
"Yes. That is a nuisance that we must get rid off, quickly and effectively." Legolas nodded, and then he tilted his head to one side. "Arwen informed me that you have been busy running your own investigations. I understand that you never found the shooters. But your face also tells me that you did find something else. Something prior to the shooting, I believe."
Faramir raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "I can never keep a secret from you, can I?"
"That depends on what kind of secret you keep from me." Legolas grinned. "I'm still in the dark of your…uh… marital bliss though. Is Éowyn still as intimidating as the time when she was pregnant with Boromir?"
The man broke up laughing. "You can't tell? Remember when I told you that I had to hunt for a wild deer for weeks because she was craving its milk? Well, she just warned me beforehand that she might be craving for oliphaunt's milk when we have our second child!"
Legolas had to lean against the balustrade for laughing so hard. "Err… good luck, my friend!"
"Right. Laugh at me. Don't forget, you are about to get married yourself. So you will be going through the same drill!" Faramir retorted.
"No, no! My future lady wife will not be asking for oliphaunt's milk! We are vegetarian, remember? But I won't be surprised if she asked for winter pomegranates instead!"
"Winter what?" Faramir was puzzled.
Legolas chuckled. "Never mind. Long story," he said with a nonchalant wave.
"I have seen your missing daggers," Faramir suddenly said.
Legolas went absolutely still. He stared hard at the man's face. "You know who has my blades," he quietly stated.
Faramir smiled surreptitiously. "I know who has your blades."
The elf was silent for a long moment as he digested this. "Someone I know?"
"Someone we all know," Faramir answered in disgust before he began to tell Legolas of his findings at Asfahn's keep. "So, are we going to get your blades back?" the man later asked.
Legolas looked down at his bunched fists as he replied through gritted teeth, "You want to bet?"
"We need a plan."
Turning to face the man once more, Legolas smiled grimly. "Don't worry, my friend. I already have a plan."
*************************
Leaning against the mound of pillows propped behind his back, Aragorn stared wide eyed at Legolas after the elven prince finished telling them the details of his plan. "Have you gone mad?"
Legolas raised his eyebrows. "What makes you say that?"
"It's like the battle at the Black Gate, you dolt! It will lead us all to our grave!" the man exclaimed, and then cringed in pain when the effort pulled at the stitches of his wounds.
Chuckling, Legolas responded, "No, we will not. Or at least, you will not. You and Arwen are not to leave this chamber while the entire event is taking place."
"But you just said that we will be leaving Minas Tirith for Rivendell so that Estel can recuperate from his wounds there," Arwen interjected.
"Correct," Legolas said, smiling. "And that's what Asfahn will think because we will purposely tell him that. But that doesn't mean you are actually going."
"Like I said, it's like Black Gate all over again!" Aragorn blurted, rubbing his chest. He already understood Legolas' true intention. "You decided that Asfhan will take the bait and inform the Haradrim. You deliberately want them to come after our heads. And I know who will be riding in the royal carriage in my stead." He glared at Legolas. "You are putting yourself up as the decoy! Am I right?"
"Yes, and why not? I have done this before."
"Oh, no. Not this time, you won't," Aragorn said, sitting straighter in the bed as he tried his best to look intimidating. "On my command, Legolas, you are not going to endanger yourself. Again."
Legolas exchanged knowing looks with Faramir and the twins who had been listening all the while. "I knew he would say that," he stated with a shrug before turning to the king once more. "Sorry, Estel, but you have no control over me this time. I'm going to overrule you in this matter because currently I'm not acting as your vassal. I'm doing this under the standard of my father, the king of Eryn Lasgalen."
As Aragorn stared open mouthed, Legolas grinned and pointed at the silver circlet around his head. "Just to let you know, I'm not wearing this blasted thing for nothing!"
TBC…
Its 20:00 hrs Malaysia time now. About 4 hours to go to 2004 so, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!