Chapter 10

Aragorn saw the terror in young Aura's eyes. They rounded with fear and her mouth dropped with shock. "Don't say anything!" she mouthed to him, as Legolas' back was turned to her. He nodded curtly, still looking at Legolas, "my dear friend, how long it has been!"

"Yes Aragorn, it has been a while." Legolas laughed and they embraced again.

"Legolas! Who is this beautiful young woman with you? Shame for being so selfish and keeping her for your own." Aragorn teased.

"This is Aura." He pushed Aurora forward.

"Just Aura?" Aragorn faked inquiry.

"Yes milord. I have no family. I was orphaned and now serve the throne of Gandarl." Aura explained pointedly. "I have come to represent my King and Country."

Aragorn nodded. "It is an insult to this council to have a servant appear for a country. Does your king so easily disregard your country's well being."

Aurora was ready for this question, as she knew it would be on everyone's tongue, and prepared for it accordingly.

"No milord. He is heavily occupied with the country's business. He sent me because I know my people's needs. Who better to send but someone who is part of the collective?"

"Very well. Legolas, could you scavenge for some food. Aura and I will prepare for the meeting tonight." Aragorn proposed, and once Legolas had left, he turned to Aura with serious eyes. "Aurora, my darling goddaughter," he took her in a long embrace. "Speak true now. You may trust me."

With much sorrow, Aura sat on a nearby rock and held her head in her hands. Aragorn sat beside her, comforting her. "Please Aura, tell me the truth. What of your father? Why are you here? Why the secrecy of your identity?"

"Father is ill. I do not know why," she explained. "One day, he did not awake. For weeks, he lay in bed, starring at the ceiling. Sometimes he would say a few words to me. But as I left, he would no longer recognize me. Your messenger came one day and father was too ill to sit up. Galdor told me to present myself as queen," pain struck her face. "I decided that I should go to the council. I know my country's affairs. I could not sit in the castle of sickness any longer. My father, he must feel so betrayed." She cried, crystal tears.

"Aura, you've done nothing for which you should be ashamed. You have done precisely as your father and I would have done." As he looked into Aura's disbelieving eyes, "who would know better than I? I am glad that you have come." He smiled "I hope to reacquaint myself to my goddaughter." He put his arm around her, and Aura dried her tears.

"I have missed you terribly." She smiled sadly.

"Do not worry, we have a long journey ahead of us, by the end, we will almost be sick of each other." He laughed

She laughed along when Legolas returned with an elk over his shoulder. He had a proud smile and a gleeful sparkle in his eye. For some reason or another, they all burst out laughing, forging new friendships.

A few hours later, stragglers began arriving to the rocky home of the council. A myriad of cultures surrounded her and her tongue twitched anxiously to speak the dozens of languages that assaulted her ears. The different features of each face intrigued her and this made her look very conspicuous. "What's that woman doing here." She heard many say, but Aurora did not care. She was too captivated in the sight of all the people. The elves with their tall stature, long flowing, partially braided hair, all seeing eyes and pointy ears; the dwarfs with their tiny brutish bodies, long tangled beards and pudgy stout faces; the hobbits with their childlike figures and youthful faces, earning the name of pheriain "halflings"; all surrounded her. All this was a little overwhelming but Legolas stood protectively over her. He leaned over to her and whispered, "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"As do you." She responded with a mocking tone.

"I am intrigued by your candid curiosity, as if you've seen the world for the first time." Legolas smiled at her.

" I did not think that I would have to explain myself constantly." She told him in an annoyed tone.

"I suppose that I am trying to prepare you for what is to come."

"I fail to recall electing you as my mentor, Prince of Mirkwood." She said in a loud mocking whisper.

"Then I just did it out of the goodness of my heart." He mocked back.

"Then it is unwelcomed" she told him fiercely and strode off. He put his hand on her shoulder in the same soothing manner as Galdor had done before she left.

"I mean not to upset you, but to help you. This council is of serious matter and all who are here must be trusted. You must take this testing gracefully, for the good of your country." He murmured.

Aura looked at him, this tall, perfect being whose serious face had softened, and she lost all words, but looked at him softly. She nodded curtly and continued to walk among the small group of races. Legolas stayed by her side but only disrupted the silence when she asked of the creatures surrounding her.

It had been an hour into their walk when a gruff voice interrupted them.

"If it isn't the elf, always surrounded by pretty lasses!" It shouted.

Legolas turned swiftly only to have a dwarf fly into his arms, collapsing the both of them to the ground. The dwarf stood up quickly and claimed Legolas as a prize, standing over him with a foot on his chest.

"Comrade, this only proves that dwarfs are far superior to any elf." He gloated with pride. However, Legolas had another idea in mind. He swiftly pushed the sturdy dwarf's leg back, flipping him to the ground. It was now his turn to stand over his prey and say, "but dwarves are far too proud!" then helping his friend up.

"Must you always embarrass me in front of the pretty ones." The dwarf laughed heartedly.

"Not always my friend, but only when you deserve it." Legolas laughed as well, "Gimli! How I have missed you! What adventures have you seen since we last departed?"

It was strange to see the usually composed elf acting so… human. His eyes sparkled with laughter and his face radiated happiness. His laugh was song-like, beautiful in itself. But the laughter stopped and their faces became grave.

"It is the cause of our meeting, my last adventure. I may not freely dispel any information until then." He told his friend, but then his mood brightened as he changed the subject quickly. "Who is this lass, then, that you have not yet introduced me to? Are you that insecure of your own romantic abilities that it frights you for her to know mine?" he laughed.

"Not frightened at all," he returned. "This is Aura of Gandarl. She comes to represent her country at the council."

"Ah, a princess." Gimli kissed her hand.

"Hardly. She's the king's servant and was orphaned." Legolas said in an arrogant tone.

Gimli almost immediately dropped her hand, but did not give her the time to be insulted as he hugged her ferociously.

"Good!" he laughed, "I hate those stiff necked nobles!"

Aura laughed as well but held bitterness towards the Prince of Mirkwood. How did she ever feel drawn to him? He was filled to the brim with superficiality and arrogance. What she thought was compassion was really self-love. He served his own purpose and he thought she was nothing, but she would show him.

She looked down at the dwarf's small brute body. He had a bushy russet beard with two thick braids and bushy hair to match under his large helmet. When he looked up at her, two squinted eyes would greet her under bushy eyebrows and drooping skin. It was a very friendly face, which held all sincerity. Anger would easily be read from it with a certain passion, she could see.

"Well," he mumbled with an embarrassed gruff, "you are more breathtaking than any princess I've ever seen and I would be honored if I could think you as such."

Aura bent down to him and told him with a sincere smile.

"I would be honored us I may call you a friend and consider you so."

To this he blushed wildly and said "You may call me friend if you call me Gimli."