Title: Luthien's flute

Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)

Rating: PG

Summary: Aragorn, Arwen and the family travel to Lothlorien after receiving a mysterious letter from Celeborn.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.

A/N: ok s the whole Legolas/Aragorn's daughter thing has been done to death but I'm just going to ask you to trust me and wait and see where I take it. You never know you may be pleasantly surprised.

Chapter 13

Old friends, new feelings

Legolas had arrived in Lothlorien in excellent time. He was working his way through the forest to the home of the Lord Celeborn. He was fatigued and anxious to reach his desired destination. The blond Elf looked the same as ever. The years had not changed him at all, he retained his youthful good looks. The fallen branches, that would crunch under the foot of any other, were soundless. He trudged on before stopping at the river Nimrodel to freshen his face and fill his water skin. He heard a faint noise, a pleasant noise. Somewhere near by a maiden was singing in Elvish. A sweet song he knew well, the song of Nimrodel herself.

"Besides the falls of Nimrodel

By water clear and cool

Her voice as falling silver fell

Into the shinning pool"

At first he wondered if it might not be the Lady Arwen but as he drew closer to the sound he realised that all though her voice was similar it was someone else. A beautiful young woman sat by the side of the river, she was busy braiding her hair. She seemed deep in thought and seemed not to notice him as he moved in for a closer look. He could tell that her ears were slightly pointed yet she seemed somehow different to an Elf. How like the Lady Arwen she was, the very same grace.

Legolas stepped closer to the maiden, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Who are you." Startled, she instantly went red at her rude tone and words. "I am sorry, I didn't mean…I mean I meant…oh bother. I am the Lady Galadwen and whom might you be?" She curtsied slightly, still flustered. Legolas smiled as he realised who the maiden was. He stood there and continued to simply look at her.

"Do not you remember me my Lady? Say it isn't so, for my heart shall be broken."

Galadwen broke in to a smile and then a frown.

"Iston le?"

*Do I know you?*

"Your face is familiar to me as though I have seen it in a dream." She moved closer to the stranger and instantly recognised him as an Elf.

"You are fair, perhaps you are from these lands? Mani naa essa en lle?"

*What is your name?*

She questioned him. Legolas found this far to funny to let her off the hook and tell her who he was.

"I shall give you a clue my Lady" He settled down on the grass of the river bank and was soon followed by a cautious Galadwen, blue eyes dancing.

He though for a moment, remembering the game she always made him play with her as a child.

Legolas would have to rescue her from the clutches of evil before whisking her away to be his bride. "I once rescued you from a red skinned dragon."

Galadwen looked at him, certain that this man was quite mad. "My dear Lord, you must have me confused with some other. Dragons haven't been in these parts for thousands of years. Perhaps you think me of pure Elf blood?"

Legolas laughed out loud, rather enjoying this game. "My Lady, I assure you I have not confused you with another. You are the Lady Galadwen, daughter of King Elesser, Princess of Gondor. Though it has been long since last we met and you have certainly changed since then." He unconsciously glanced quickly over her curvaceous body.

Galadwen smiled at him as she caught him looking her over. Her smile widened as he blushed slightly around the ears, turning his gaze back to the waters. Then it dawned on her who this handsome Elf was. "Why my good prince of Mirkwood, I do believe you are blushing."

Legolas returned his gaze to meet hers. "Ah so you do remember me!" He seemed pleased at this and turned completely to face her.

"How could I forget my brave rescuer." They both laughed whole heartedly as they remembered the game fondly.

"Does my father know of your coming?" Galadwen shuffled her legs so the her feet were dangling in the water.

"No my Lady. In truth I did not even know that he was here."

She nodded and gazed out over the beauty of Lothlorien.

Legolas watched her for a moment, a little unnerved by her presence. "How old are you now my Lady?"

Galadwen smiled and turned to him. "I am 19 years. Though my father swears I am older, he says I was born with the wisdom of the Elves."

This made Legolas smile. He slowly took in her dark, silken hair and her big star lit eyes. "You have grown in to a beautiful woman." He wasn't sure if he had meant it to come out in the rasping tone that it did.

Galadwen giggled a little and flushed. "I am not beautiful. Surely you have seen the beauty of my mother, I pale in comparison."

Legolas shook his head. "No, you have the beauty of the Elves. You are blessed with your blood."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Talk to him love."

Aragorn's eyes went to the face of his fostered son. Astald had been quiet and solemn since Aragorn's fall to darkness. He made his way over to where the boy sat. "What troubles you son?"

Astald continued to look at the leaves on the ground. Aragorn rested a hand on Astald's shoulder and comforted him. "You possessed not the power to stop him, none of this is your fault Astald. You must not blame yourself. I am fine and all is well again."

Astald looked up in to Aragorn's face. "I do not think it is over, I know not his reasons, but I know he will not so easily give in."

Aragorn had not the slightest idea what to say to the boy so moved his hand to ruffle his hair. "What ever comes, we will fight. We will be strong and united because we are a family."

Astald smiled slightly and nodded. Aragorn, feeling he had comforted him as best he could, left in search of his wife's embrace. Astald's face fell as soon as he was alone. The dark sorcerer was not finished and this played on his mind, painfully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eldarion sat alone in thought. He desperately longed to return to Edoras and the arms of Ithiliwen. He longed to make her his wife but he had not even discussed it with his family, save Galadwen. He missed his betrothed desperately and longed for night when he could retreat to sleep and beautiful dreams. Her golden hair, the way it smelled. Her soft cheek he had caressed. She was so far from him now that at times it burned him. A love that charred his bones to ash.

He closed his eyes and could almost feel her mouth on his. She would be his wife, if he had to give all that he had then that is what he would do. His whole life he had been told that someday he would be King. Eldarion had been terrified by the idea, completely unprepared. But now that he would have her to sit beside him as his Queen, he could take on any challenge, he could take on the world because she loved him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ada, look who I found wondering the forest." Galadwen motioned towards Legolas. Aragorn's face gleamed as he embraced the man fondly.

"It has been too long mellon nin. Too long indeed."

*My friend*

Legolas beamed at the ranger turned King. Celeborn, who was standing behind them, came forward. "You do not enter these parts often enough, Prince of Mirkwood."

Legolas turned to look at Galadwen, still somewhat unnerved at how much she had grown. "Or to Gondor, it would seem."

He then embraced Arwen and bowed to the youngest children. Eldarion stepped forward and took the Elf's hand. "It is good to see you again. I remember fondly my hunting lessons with you." Both man and Elf laughed at the memories of a nine year old Eldarion chasing after a brace of conies.

"I sometimes forget how quickly the time of men moves. Though I knew how long had passed, I am still somewhat surprised to find you all so grown." He then looked at Galadwen again and smiled mischievously. "Far too grown up to play dragons and weddings."

The pair laughed as if they were completely on their own. The others looked at each other not getting the joke.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arwen found her husband fast asleep in their chambers. A smile crept across her face as she trailed her thumb over his lips. His ranger senses had alerted him of her coming and his hand flew out to grasp her wrist. "I heard you coming, You are loosing your touch my love"

Arwen removed her hand from his grasp and moved it lower down his body. Aragorn took a sharp intake of breath and closed his eyes. "I take it back, there is nothing wrong with your touch."

Arwen giggled slightly and bent her head to kiss him deeply. He brushed the back of his fingers along her face and smiled against her mouth. After a while she stood and went to the window, watching her children talk with Legolas.

"Legolas was right, they are all so grown now. I remember Eldarion's birth as though it were yesterday. The race of men grow so quickly, their world is always changing. Making room for the new." She turned to face her lover, lying content on the bed. Her hands went down to stroke her stomach as she eyed his reaction carefully. "As are we."

Aragorn's eyes flew open, as did his mouth "Laito?"

*Baby?*

Arwen smiled and nodded.