A/N: yay! I have learnt Elvish! So there will be some in here! The translations will be at the bottom of the page.

Chapter three.

As the four horses and their riders thundered across the plains, an idea popped into Alixuss' head. If he were seen in Imladris, the whole realm would be at risk! What was he going to do now? They were a few minutes away, and at the speed they were travelling, he couldn't stop. As hi stallion bolted down the gravel hill towards their destination, Alixuss noticed his hood from his cloak had slid off his head revealing his long, very long red mahogany hair. If someone saw that on it's own, they would be in danger. Turning his head to the side to catch a glimpse of the Elf next to him, he smiled. That poor hobbit was being thumped up and down on a horse with only the lock he had around Legolas' waist to stop him from falling off. Alixuss looked down to the man in his arms, his head rolling on his shoulders at each stride the horse ran with. The Elf pulled hard on the reins of his horse, forcing it to halt.

"Whoa Avondale, calm my steed." The horse snorted and dipped his head to the grass below and nibbled. The other three stallions halted too, almost throwing their riders over their own heads. Gimli was rambling on about something and muttering curses as he slowly hoped off his horse and pulled Pippin off. Frodo and Sam stayed upon theirs, silently screaming for the pain in their backsides. Legolas gently lowered Merry to the ground once he prized himself out of his vice-like grip and followed shortly then walked over to his friend who was checking the man out while he was slumped against his chest, not brothering to get off his horse.

"What's going on? Do you sense something I cannot?" Legolas asked with concern, looking about them with narrow eyes. Alixuss shook his side slightly before lifting the man's chin gently and peering over his head to look at his sleepy face.

"Nay, I do sense something but not danger as you think. My coming to Imladris, I lied to you Mellon-Nin and I'm very sorry for doing so." Alixuss somewhat mumbled as he raised an eyebrow at the man's unconscious state.

"Whatever do you mean?" Legolas asked him, eyeing the hobbits to his side as the dwarf watched them carefully. Alixuss let the man's head drop limply against his chest before turning his gaze to Legolas with a sigh.

"I mean Elrond doesn't know I'm with you. With my skills, I made him hallucinate that a messenger had been sent to him saying that you were on your way, the seven of you, with Aragorn injured. So as far as he knows, that is the case. Other terms of what I fear is myself being in Rivendell, it brings danger to them and they may have an attack launched on them though I highly doubt it, you can never be to careful." Alixuss sighed and tried to crack his knuckles through the metal of his gloves, not succeeding but giving his hands a glare.

"I understand. What are you going to do?" Legolas asked walking back over to his steed and mounting it.

"Legolas, I will still ride with you and stay there although no one can see me arrive. My prince, I have done this many times before. You will have the man now, I will take a hobbit and as soon as we get into Rivendell, I'll cast a spell on my cloak to stay on my head, and I will lower the hobbit off my horse and sneak in. agreed?" he spoke quickly and moved his horse next to Amik and slowly slid Aragorn into Legolas' arms before he moved his mount forward and peered down at two sore hobbits.

"Who's riding with me?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow when Pippin jumped up and smiled. Merry and Gimli went and mounted Dust who had lowered himself to their height and then steadily rose once they were seated. Alixuss pulled the small half-ling into his lap and wrapped an arm around his small waist to hold him in place before whispering in Elvish again. Avondale took off again with the others not far behind.

"Fixus cloakatuminos!" he whispered and his hood lifted up and placed itself over his eyes to cover half of his face in shadow and fixed itself there. The four horses galloped through the ford and along a long dirt road before the gates came into view. Alixuss leant forward and whispered into Pippin's ear that he was to drop him off and sneak in and that he was not to say a word. The hobbit nodded as Avondale began to slow and within a few seconds, Pippin was down on the ground watching the white horse and it's dark rider turn off into some trees as the others carried on into the realm.

Alixuss slowed his horse to a trot around to the stables, still out of sight. As he neared, a groom came towards him and bowed slightly as he dismounted.

"Would you like me to take the stallion my Lord?" the groom asked, taking the reins as he did so. Alixuss smiled and nodded.

"Please do. Much appreciated. Now, there is a small group coming in around about now with three horses, please put mine with them. Thank you again." The groom nodded and led Avondale away with some struggle, as the horse was extremely strong. Alixuss grinned and headed for one of the backdoors of Elrond's home, hoping he wasn't spotted. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


The Lord of Rivendell was waiting at the front gates as Legolas and his friends came riding in. Legolas' horse stopped dead in his tracks and knelt down, letting his rider climb off without complications and lift Aragorn into his arms. Gimli fell off Dust and pulled Merry with him, both hitting the floor with groan of pain.

"Stupid horse!" the dwarf spat, earning a kick in the mouth from the stallion which sent him back a good few feet, a bruise appearing on his face in the shape of a half-moon. Merry started to laugh and Pippin came running in through the gates, panting and clutching his ribs. Frodo and Sam gently patted Thinal and he dropped to his knees, letting them climb off.

"My Lord…" Legolas bowed slightly before walking up to Elrond and showing him his son. Elrond nodded.

"Aye, thank you Legolas. I have been expecting you, please follow me and bring you…companions with you." Elrond turned on his heel and disappeared into the house with Legolas and company not far behind him. Elrond walked quickly into the Hall of Fire and pointed to a large bench for Legolas to lay Aragorn upon, the Elf did as he was told. Elrond disappeared and reappeared soon after with towels, jars of herbs and bandages. He set them down on a near by table and walked back to his son and felt his forehead. He frowned and lifted the tunic up, the tunic he had never laid his eyes upon before, and looked utterly shocked at his wounds.

"Someone has given him an antibiotic already. And a quick-healing substance. Amazing! Legolas? Did you make it?" Elrond said without taking his eyes off the already forming scar on his son's abdomen, trailing his finger lightly across the soft tissue still there. Legolas shook his head and watched carefully.

"No my Lord, I did not. Excuse my asking so, but how long until he is fully healed?" Legolas asked, turning to see Gimli and the four hobbits asleep on the fur throw near the fires. He smiled somewhat before turning his attention back to the Lord.   

"A few days at least. Legolas, I must know who gave him this. It's the most powerful mixture I have witnessed in my time, there is only one other being I know to be able to make it." Elrond pulled a sheet up over the man before turning and walking over to two chairs and sitting on one, beckoning for the prince to sit with him.

"Tula, hama neca i'nuar." He said as he tapped the chair next to him. Legolas walked over to the Lord and carefully sat down. He sighed and faced him, meeting a concerned gaze.

"It's a pretty long story my Lord, would you like to know everything that has happened?" Legolas asked the high peredhil. Elrond nodded and crossed his right leg over his left and entwined his fingers in his lap as he leaned back into this seat, watching the young Elf.

"Kwentra i'narn…" he said as Legolas got comfortable, looked to his unconscious friend and back to the dark haired one before him, closed his eyes and began to tell him everything.

Translations

"Tula, hama neca I'nuar." means "come, sit by the fire."

"Kwentra I'narn." means "Tell the tale."