@Kayo : Be careful, mellon. You might fall in love with Gallard, and you'll fall hard. Piggy-backing on Gallard? LOL!

@Musicstarlover : I'm glad you like it. And yes, he is.

@Lucy : Ravens may be your fave, but they scared the devil out of me! Must be the color; all black and intimidating.

@Lady Lenna : Billy Crystal is indeed very funny. I just wish he won't put on Leggy's costume ever again!

@Fire Brreathing Ferret : No. You. Can't. Fly.

@Nikki1 : Yep. Lucky Nara. I'm so jealous.  Sometimes I think of killing her off!

@Brazgirl : You and me both. The ffnet has a lot of upgrading to do!

@Hp-Azn : Another sequel coming up! I promise! Now tell me; when has Legolas ever be 'all right' in my fics?

@Vanyaelen : Nope. He's not closely related to Gwaihir. They are more like distant cousins ten times removed! He! He!

@Princess Arwen of Smirkwood : Read on and you'll know…I hope.

@The Nazgul Sith Bitch : Thank you for the information even though I'm quite aware of that. Seriously, I don't feel like I've been slain by a Ninja, but more by an incoherent reader. I've had worst.

I also received a very interesting review from a reviewer called Evil Overlord. It sound like this : "First of all, Legolas doesn't get married. Secondly, 'Hawk-eye'? A pet/eagle?! Excuse me while I laugh at your futile attempts to be interesting. Or creative. I think I've read a book like this, only better. Yeah, see, that person could actually write."

Hmmm. How does he/she sound like to you? One thing for sure, that review made me laugh like crazy! 'Futile attempts to be interesting'? Now that's rich! Ha! Ha! Ha!

I wonder if the person ever read my other fics? ;)

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As Gallard's shoulders shook in his sobs, Legolas watched in respectful silence, fully understanding the draq's need to express his grief. He grasped Gallard's arm and squeezed. "How did you manage to escape?" the elf softly asked.

Wiping his tears away, Gallard answered, "I was spared because I was late."

Seeing the puzzled expression on Legolas' face, Gallard continued, "We were having a big gathering at the palace to celebrate my three hundredth birthday."

Legolas' eyes widened. "Three hundred?" He shook his head. "I was right. You are far too old for a mere eagle."

Gallard gave a watery grin. "Me? Old? And this came from a 2,600 year old elf!"

The both chuckled at that before Gallard resumed, "I was away earlier that day, roaming the sky, trying to… you know…escape all the hassle of the preparations." He threw his gaze out of the opened window. "I only returned home when the sun had come down. I was late—as usual—and I thought the gathering had already started without me. I had been dreading my father's displeasure for my tardiness. Instead, I found bloodshed in the ballroom."

Gallard shuddered and his eyes started to fill with tears once more. "They are all dead; my father, my brothers, lying there in disgraceful heaps on the floor with blood pouring out of them like a sea of red. I was so numb I couldn't move. I didn't know what had happened, and I surely did not know what to do. I just stood there among the slain bodies of my family, wondering where all our people had gone. Then, Callan, one of my brothers suddenly stirred. He then told me in his dying breath to flee. He told me that my uncle and his army of shraq were searching for me, waiting for my return to destroy my father's entire lineage. Then I flee, like a coward I was, leaving Callan's corpse and the others' to rot behind."

Legolas shook his head. "That is not the action of a coward, Gallard. You fled to survive."

"I almost didn't." Gallard looked down at his clenched fists. "I had just taken flight from the ballroom terrace when Kalden, my uncle, appeared with his army. They were in human form and they began shooting at me. I flew up higher but one dart caught my side. Still I held on, even when they started chasing me. Then I swooped down and flew among the trees until I lost them. I kept on flying, not really knowing where to go. But then I found myself landing on your balcony. I'd lost half of my senses by then, overwhelmed with pain. I didn't even realize it when I shifted into human form."

"And you have given us quite a scare," Legolas responded with a rueful smile.

"Forgive me. It was not my intention to be a harmful burden." Gallard lowered his head. "I will leave as soon as I'm able."

"That's not what I mean," Legolas said, gripping Gallard's slumped shoulder. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you want to. You have saved my hide many times before. Now you are in trouble, I'm more than happy to help you in return."

Gallard suddenly grew distressed. "But if they find out that I'm here, they will attack this place! I have to go!"

Legolas watched in alarm as the draq started to struggle out of the bed. "Wait. You are not well enough!"

"I must go," Gallard replied in determination, wobbling on his legs. He took a step forward, but his knees weakened and he collapsed to the floor.

Legolas rushed over to assist him. But the elf froze when Gallard crouched on hands and knees, concentrating hard on something. Then, steadily, a pair of golden wings began to form on Gallard's broad naked back. With his mouth hanging open, Legolas stared as Gallard's whole physique change from a man into eagle.

"Hawkeye…" Legolas' voice drifted into a whisper as the eagle began to flap its wings. The draq was several feet in the air when it suddenly plummeted back down. As he gradually returned to his human form, Gallard lay slump on the floor, panting and trembling.

Still in amazement himself, Legolas reached down and gripped Gallard's arm, helping him up. "Come. Let's get you back into bed. You are still unwell and need more rest. Whatever it is you have to do can wait until you are fully healed."

Gallard was shaking his head in despair. "But I must stop him! Kalden must be stopped! He killed my family and he will kill me and he might kill you too! So I must kill him first!"

"Listen to me!" Legolas cried out, shaking his friend's shoulders when Gallard struggled anew. "You can't do this alone! And you are hurt, remember? You can't even keep your eagle form, let alone confront your evil uncle in this condition! You need help, my friend. Our help. We will gladly help you deal with Kalden but not until you are well enough to do so."

The fight seemed to vanish out of the draq as he laid his head back onto the pillow. Closing his eyes, Gallard sighed. "Very well, Lord Legolas, if you insist."

"I am not your lord," Legolas replied, pulling the coverlet up to Gallard's chest. "I am your friend. Just call me Legolas. But what exactly should I call you from now on?"

Gallard was silent for a long while and the elf thought his friend had already fallen asleep. He was turning to go when Gallard suddenly said in a soft voice, "I'm always Hawkeye to you…Legolas. Always."

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Narasene was deep in discussion with her two maids about the flower arrangements in the parlor. She didn't realize when her husband walked in and stealthily approached her from behind.

"Now, these red roses will go perfectly with the sofa and…" her words were cut off in a gasp when someone grabbed her and spun her around before claiming her lips.

 The maids giggled at the spectacle, familiar they were with the show of affection between the lord and lady of the keep. They discreetly left the couple alone, whispering excitedly behind their hands.

Narasene pulled away and tried unsuccessfully to glare at her husband. "Really, my lord, if you keep doing that, our people will…"

"They will what? Burn us at the stake?" Legolas grinned devilishly, running his fingertip down the white column of her throat.

"No, but I believe that they will separate us so they can get their job done," she responded, catching his fingers before they could dip lower down the collar of her gown.

"Their job? What about my job? I have a wife to please," Legolas protested and began nibbling at her left ear.

Closing her eyes, Narasene moaned in pleasure but was clear headed enough to ask, "How is our guest?"

"Hmm?"

"Our guest. Your handsome friend. How is he?"

Legolas paused. "Handsome?" he asked with a frown, a little jealous that his wife would notice such a thing.

Narasene chuckled. "Well, isn't he? He looks quite like you, you know."

He flashed a cheeky smile back at her. "Then he is handsome." Playing with her hair, Legolas added, "I saw him change."

Her eyes widened. "You did? Then he is indeed Hawkeye?"

Legolas nodded. "No doubt about it. He changed form right in front of my very eyes. And it was incredible!" He began telling her the whole story, including Kalden and the murder of the Tasqamaran royalties. With tears forming in her eyes, Narasene shook her head in sadness. "That was awful. Poor Gallard. How terrible for him. We must help him, Legolas."

The prince cupped his wife's cheeks and kissed her nose. "That's exactly what I want to hear from you, sweetheart."

Wrapping her arms around her husband's waist, Narasene surrendered fully against his kisses, sighing in contentment. Legolas' fingers were back to explore the V collar of her gown, seeking for her soft flesh beneath.

"Your highness?"

Narasene yelped while Legolas jumped back and muttered an oath. They both turned to see Béregund standing in the doorway, grinning back at them. "Uh…am I interrupting?" the elder elf asked with an innocent expression on his face.

As his wife blushed, Legolas glared. "Want to bet?" the prince retorted, sending the elder elf a look that could have sent a lesser man quaking in his boots.

Béregund just laughed and bowed respectfully. "Forgive me if I did intrude you just now." Then he added with a tongue in his cheek. "I just couldn't resist it."

That caused Narasene to chuckle in amusement. The prince glanced sideway at his wife. "Right. Ha. Ha. I'm glad you think this amusing, sweetheart. But sooner or later, you will start complaining when you can't find any privacy in this place."

"Oh, pooh," Narasene replied with a nonchalant wave of her hand. She then faced Béregund. "What is that in your hand?"

The warrior glanced down and remembered the reason he was there. "Oh. Here's a missive that just arrived from Minas Tirith."

Narasene took the parchment from his hand. Legolas moved closer and peered over her shoulder to read. Then they both simultaneously cried out in joy, hugging each other with smiles spread wide over their faces.

"May I know the reason to such a celebration?" Béregund inquired in curiosity. It was obvious to him that the couple had just received some very good news.

"King Elessar has just become a father!" Legolas announced with delight. "Queen Arwen has given birth to a perfect and healthy little boy!"

TBC…