Like Fran and Phillipa said... "I felt like a really bad mother when I realised there was a bit of neglect going on!!!" Sorry for not writing for quite a while, but I've had quite a lot of things in Real Life (yes, I do have one!!!) that I've had to sort out... bloody exams... bloody school productions... bloody friends-that-don't-act-like-friends... but let's leave that one out... =(

Review replies!!! ^_^ Just to cheer me up...

Sirithiliel; ^_^ Nice to see that the Elf and Dwarf are cared about! Ok, here's an update for you!

Sparrow Greenleaf; Aaaw, how sweet! I'll let them know that they've got your support... even though, me being me, there'll quite a few little challenges along the way... =)

Deana; Oh dear, judging by how long it took me to write this, you're dead and buried by now... ooh, can you read my mind?! Or perhaps you just know me too well? =) Well, we'll see what happened to poor Leggy's stomach pains... erm, quite soon I reckon... =)

Gwyn; Thanks mellonamin! ^_^

The joyous pumpkin; Oh, happy birthday for 28th Feb!!! ^_^ Sorry it's late, but hey! =S Yeah, I've noticed that too! I reckon it's hilarious; Legolas is way older than Gimli but that loveable Dwarf still insists on calling him 'laddie'... ^_^ I love it, I really do...

Anarya; *huggles Anarya* You gave me constructive criticism!!! ^_^ Ok, you probably think it's really weird that I'm overjoyed at this, but you see nobody's given me C.C in months and months and I was beginning to get a bit tired of it because no-one was telling me how to improve... THANK YOU! --- That's me shouting, but the characters weren't exactly shouting, just talking REALLY loudly and angrily to each other, so I use 3 !'s. When they shout, I USE ALL CAPITALS. I DON'T DO IT OFTEN THOUGH BUT YOU WILL SEE IT IN THIS STORY!!! Now I'd better stop shouting as my throat's hurting now... ^_^

Estel Elven Enchantress; *flicks our dear 4-inch friends on the forehead* I know I'm evil; I don't need you two to tell me that!!! *turns back to Estel* 'Lo deary! ^_^ Right, I sent you the email about Twilight, with all my input, corrections, etc... did you get it? ^_~

Mellaithwen-AngelMaiden; Yup, Legolas is daft... I think he's been hit one too many times with the stupid stick...

     LEGOLAS: I heard that!

     Well duh... die puny armour, DIE!!! =) Ah, torture; I love it...

elfmage; Ah ha ha, you wanted dearest Faramir one of my stories, so he'll have to pay the consequences!!! Much as I love him, I can't just introduce a much-loved-by-me character then not let them get a little dirty, as you've seen with Legolas, Aragorn, and to a lesser extent, Arwen and Gimli... don't love them in that sense, but they're great! And so much fun to make their lives a misery... =) Will Minas Tirith be overrun? You'll have to wait and see...

BlueRaie14; Thanks! Elf Torture? Oh, don't worry, I may well stick some more in here soon! Or maybe not... depends what my beloved reviewers want... =) Lol, yeah, I love my cliffies! ^_^ Hate reading them, love writing them, coz at least that way, I know what'll happen! They're a great way of getting people to come back to the story each time.

Callie3; Yup, Evil is named! ^_^ I just came up with it; you really do like it? Great! Nice to see that one of my customers... I mean, reviewers, is satisfied... ^_^

Razeer; Thanks! ^_^

Darcy Took; THERE YOU ARE!!! *strides up to Darc and tries to look angry... before breaking down and crying like a little kid* Please please please please update Forgive and Forget!!! PLEASE?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! Look at me; I'm resorting to begging... WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO JUST TO GET A NEW CHAPTER?! I'll lick your shoes clean!!! Just UPDATE!!! ... ... oh, and thanks very much for the review... ^_^ Lol! Oh, and thank you very much for recommending this to bloomgirl! ^.^ --- Ooh, I'm all embarrassed now!!!

Fritz Will Get You; Ah, so that's who Fritz is... ok! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!

bloomgirl; Hello! ^_^ Thank you very much for the review – wow! Someone recommended my story! *blushes* -^.^- It's lovely to see you, thanks for taking the time to tell me what you thought! ^_^

Ok then! So, on with the story!!! ^_^

.:Chapter 14:.

"What are you doing?" enquired Gimli. Legolas stopped midway through removing the sling that his arm rested in and looked up.

"Pardon?" asked the Elf. Gimli sighed.

"Why are you taking that off?" wondered the Dwarf aloud. "Your arm isn't that well yet."

Legolas slid the white bandage off over his head. "If I am right, and Aragorn is in trouble, it would be far easier to be able to fight with both hands instead of one." He ignored the sceptical look his companion gave him. "And anyway," continued the Elf. "It feels much better now." He rotated his shoulder gently, getting some of the feeling back. The still-healing cut stung still, but he'd live.

Gimli saw that the stubborn creature had made up his mind and knew that there was no point trying to change it, and accepted Legolas' almost-valid point, albeit shaking his head as he did.

"Bloody Elves..."

~*~*~*~

Aragorn glared up at Cayred, pure hatred burning in his eyes.

"So you killed my father, drove my mother to grief and despair, kidnapped my wife and child, attempted to kill my friends, and now are planning an attack on innocent people who have done nothing to you," he spat. Cayred did not flinch; not a hint of remorse or guilt flickering across his stony gaze.

The pair locked eyes with each other for a moment, before Cayred blinked. "Yes." he said simply, turning away and walking forwards slightly towards the tunnel opening which they had come down earlier.

Aragorn shook his head slightly. There was an all consuming silence in the cavern.

"Why?" whispered the King numbly. He couldn't understand it. "Why have you taken Arwen and the babe?"

Cayred suddenly wheeled round on his heel, his black eyes glinting dangerously with fury. "So that I could have, for once, what you've always had the pleasure of having," he hissed.

The man's twisted mind was torn; to tell the King his true intentions and have Elessar enveloped in grief before his untimely demise, yet jeopardise his plans, or to keep them locked in his head and perform them once the King was dead.

It barely took his warring mind a moment to reach a decision.

"Once you are dead, I will keep your wife here, for my own purposes. A simple charm with this," he explained with a demented grin on his face, tapping his snake staff lovingly. "Will give me that. The White City will be in turmoil; their King, dead, their Queen, missing, and the heir to the throne gone with her, and with the Steward as one of the deceased from the battle which is so close, they will lose hope. My Orcs will take charge of the City, keeping it under control until this child is born and has grown. After the birth, she will no longer be needed." He pointed to Arwen.

Aragorn listened intently, but inside his horror was growing rapidly. He was to be killed, Arwen to be taken, and his child?

"When the babe is old enough, I will take it to Minas Tirith as his adopted father. There, I will instruct my Orcs to make it look as though we have defeated them. When the City realises that this is your heir, they will place the child on the throne and I as his or hers chief advisor. Then, all it takes is an unfortunate accident, and then the power of Gondor shall be mine."

Aragorn couldn't help himself. "You vicious conniving son of snakes! You, you-!" A long stream of emotionally-charged curses let fly from the King's mouth. Cayred simply smiled icily.

"Temper..." he jeered softly...

~*~*~*~

Faramir looked out on the horizon. He could see what looked like a band of travellers heading towards the City.

He frowned. True, they could be nothing more than merchants, but what with everything happening at the moment he could not afford to take any chances.

A Guard of the Citadel happened to be strolling past on his patrol. Faramir turned and called after him. "Soldier!"

The Gondorian responded to the call. "My Lord?"

Faramir cleared his throat and put on his most authoritive voice. "Assemble some of the guards. I wish to see who these 'travellers' are..."

~*~*~*~

The pair walked on in darkness for a while, barely able to see their way thanks to the Orcs putting out most of the torches along the walls.

"You don't think we could be heading in the wrong direction?" asked Legolas, discomfort evident in his tone. Gimli chuckled slightly.

"Laddie, this is me we're talking about. I've spent most of my life in caves like these. Trust me."

They wandered down the winding passageways for a while longer. After a short time however, Gimli noticed that his Elven friend had fallen behind. Turning back to tease his friend about Elves and their annoying ability to take their time with everything due to their immortal lives, he was surprised and concerned to see Legolas leaning heavily against the wall.

"Legolas?!"

The Elf managed a quick glance up. He looked quite flushed and tired. Gimli noticed the slender hand gripping his stomach, and the Dwarf sighed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"I didn't want to worry you," said Legolas through gritted teeth. The shorter being snorted.

"Look laddie, you worry me more when you don't tell me then give me a shock by nearly collapsing than you would if you told me you were feeling bad."

Legolas smiled weakly for a moment before hissing, sliding down the wall and doubling up over himself in a sitting position. Gimli knew he couldn't do anything for him.

All of a sudden...

"I don't think I can do this anymore," said Legolas sadly, his eyes still shut tightly.

Gimli stared in disbelief.

"What?"

~*~*~*~

Aragorn, enraged by all that Cayred had just said, swung his leg around. It caught the tall scrawny man behind the knee and brought him crashing down to the floor.

A flash of pain crossed Cayred's face as he glared at the young King.

"I should just kill you here and now..." he growled. Suddenly, his hand shot out and reached for Aragorn's neck. The former Ranger managed to dodge out of the way just in time.

He could barely hear Arwen's screams as he staggered to his feet, his hands still bound tightly behind his back.

The fight had begun...

~*~*~*~

Tell me what you think! ^_^ Again, sorry about not updating for a while, but I hope this made up for it...