@Baby Blaize : Yes, he had done that before. When? The story will come out later in a prequel. ;)

@purplesmackers : I guess there will be. Let's see how it unfolds.

@Kayo : Yep. POTC all over again. I just love Jack Sparrow when he said that part!

@Sairalind/Tari : It is a cool idea! Very interesting! I'll come back to you about it after I finished this wild roller-coaster ride of my life! Oh, and about those pic, keep checking your e-mailbox. It will be there any day now.

@szhismine : Nope. You're not the only one, mellon. I truly like Jack's smirking face while he said those lines that I included them in this fic!

@Musicstarlover : Yes. We had fireworks last night! So awesome!

@Gerri : Not just gorgeous, girl. It was totally 'drop dead' gorgeous.

@namarie2legolas : Hey, I love 'The Carpenters' too! Remember the song 'Close To You'? Somehow, that guy character in the song reminds me so much of our Leggy! LOL! Err…Luke and Leia? Wait. That sounds from another dimension far, far away.

@Young Storyteller : Faramir will hate to be left out of the fun, new daddy or not! Dan 'Selamat Tahun Baru'!

@Karina : Yes, I got the idea for those lines from POTC. And yes, the story about Leggy being a decoy is yet to be posted (hint, hint). And Glorfindel is going to have his own moment in the next chapter.

******************************

Two nights later, they carried on with the plan.

Faramir had told Asfahn about the king's 'journey' to Rivendell a day earlier. "Only you know of this so keep it hushed," Faramir had seriously cautioned the other man. "We don't want the Haradrim to find out. They might have failed killing the king the first time, but they might succeed in their next attempt. Oh. By the way, the king wants you in charge of the White City in his absence."

Faramir had to stop himself from punching the victorious smile off Asfahn's face then. Instead, the Ithilien prince quickly left the man's keep, hoping that Asfahn would immediately initiate the next 'agenda'.

In the royal quarters, Arwen and Aragorn looked on as Legolas donned the king's great cloak, pulling the hood on to cover his golden head. The queen left her husband's side and walked closer to her friend. She reached up to touch his cheek. "Legolas, you had better not get killed in this, or I will kill you myself!"

The prince laughed. "Get in line, Arwen. My father, Nara and Lord Glorfindel are waiting for turns to come after my hide if I did!"

He gently kissed her temple and turned to approach the bed. "I promise you victory, my brother," he said, gazing warmly at Aragorn as they both clasped hands.

Aragorn had to swallow around a huge lump in his throat before he could reply, "Just return safely to us, Legolas. That's all I ask."

Legolas nodded. "I will not fail you in that either."

The twins choose that moment to enter the chamber, with Faramir following behind them. "Lord Imrahil is already setting into position. It's time to move," the man announced.

"All set?" Elladan asked, eyeing Legolas' attire appreciatively.

"All set and ready to go," Legolas said, touching the sword of Anduril strapped to his waist, which was on loan from Aragorn.

"Ah…there's something else that I'm afraid you've overlooked," Arwen interrupted.

"What?" the males asked simultaneously.

"Me," she answered, smiling demurely. The chamber was quiet for a full moment before they broke out in a loud round of protests.

"No, you are not going with them, my love!"

"You are not coming with us!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"Let us all handle this. You just stay here where it is safe."

"I am staying here, silly!" Arwen fumed. "Just shut up and listen to what I have to say." When she finally got their attention, Arwen continued, "Someone has to pose as me in the journey to make it more convincing, don't you think?"

The rest of them looked at one another after hearing her words. "She's right. I never thought of that," Legolas said, shrugging sheepishly.

"So, who should we pick to be her?" Elrohir asked. "Surely not any of her maids?"

Elrohir and Elladan were going to pose as the couple's protectors during the journey. So that left Faramir. They all whipped their heads to stare at the Ithilien prince who started to fidget on his feet.

"What? Me?" Faramir stared back at them. "No. No way! I'm not going to wear a dress! Not even for you, my king!" He directed the last sentence at Aragorn who was already laughing hard with amusement.

"Oh, you silly man! Of course you are not going to wear a dress!" Arwen admonished as she rushed to the other side of the room and returned with her own purple colored cloak in her arms. "Here. Wear this. It will do just fine."

Faramir glared at the feminine looking garment as if the cloth would strike back at him. "Are you sure about this, my lady?"

"Indeed I am or I would not even suggest it. Now put it on."

Despite his obvious reluctance, Faramir took the cloak and flung it around his broad shoulders. Like Legolas, he also pulled the hood on to cover his head. "I hope Éowyn won't find out about this, or she will never let me live it down."

"Fret no more, sweetheart. All will be well," Legolas said playfully, linking his arm through Faramir's. "Help me to the door, love. I feel so frail."

"As you wish…honey," Faramir growled in retort, causing the others to dissolve into laughter.

Then they were off.

*****************************

The royal carriage under disguise moved in the dark of night into the woods. They had no trouble passing through the great gate of Minas Tirith as Faramir had already informed the captain on duty of their secret plan. Elrohir and Elladan, as well as a group of Imrahil's warriors, were riding on horseback alongside the carriage, creating a protective barrier around it.

Faramir and Legolas sat comfortably inside, waiting expectantly for the attack. If Asfhan played his cards right, it would happen as soon as they entered the glen around the corner situated between two hills, which was a perfect and strategic place for ambush.

They didn't have to wait for long. Elladan suddenly knocked twice on the carriage roof, signaling to the princes inside that he had caught sense of their enemy. "Be ready. They are here," he whispered.

Legolas glanced at Faramir, caught the man's eyes and they both nodded. "Here we go," the elf said.

"For Gondor," Faramir responded grimly, clutching at his sword hidden within the folds of Arwen's cloak.

"For Estel," Legolas added, unsheathing Anduril in one fluid move.

Not long after, came the eerie thudding sounds of arrows hitting the carriage walls.

************************

Lors, lord of the Turbin clan, watched in satisfied silence as his men shot incessantly at the royal entourage from Gondor. A number of the horseback warriors had already been struck down, but the two distinguished looking elves and most of the outriders were still holding strong, managing to block the rain of arrows with the shields on their arms.

From the other side of the glen, several other clans of the Haradrim were also shooting down in frenzy. Their intention was to weaken the king's outriders before getting to the royal couple inside the carriage.

Lors waited until his shooters had finished their arrows before he drew his sword and cried out, "Charge!"

Almost at once, hundreds of Haradrims rushed down the hills towards their prey in a loud wild roar.

TBC…

Sorry. So short, I know. And, yes. Cliffie. So sue me!

Oh. You know what? I just love to know where you all come from and how you celebrate your New Year! Please tell me about it!