Heehee, I love this chapter!

Not much to say really. Just that a few things are found out…

I GOT RETURN OF THE KING ON THURSDAY! WAH HEY!

Ah hem…

Yes, I got Return of the King on DVD. THE EXTRAS RULE!

Thank you for all your lovely reviews, and all replies are below. I got some for past stories as well, so I'll put them on here, and on the new chapter of New Hope and Love.

Lainfaer

Rayame325 – You gave me soooo many reviews! I lost count! Thank for every single one! Glad you liked all the stories that you've read! Thanks for reviewing.

Mayrana – Heehee, of course he's a flirt! He's Leggy! And cue, charming, lovely, handsome……YOUR WORDS! Ooh, I like Leggy's bow! Very nice. I'll never wash my hands again! Um………how about a free backstage pass to MirkwoodPalace? With Prince Leggy as my tour guide? That would be nice! Thanks for reviewing.

vanessa – Glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing.

RandomInsaneElfStalker89 – Cool name! Hmm…will she find out he is Leggy? Read on and you'll find out! Thanks for reviewing.

Elerrina – She might die, she might not. Read on and you'll see! I wanna talk to you too! Heehee. Thank for reviewing.

Chapter 4: The Drinking and the Dancing.

Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn walked around the village all morning, generally just looking around. Some people gave the hooded Legolas some suspicious looks, but no one talked to them.

At one point, a load of children came running down the street, and stopped to talk to Gimli. They thought he was wonderful because he was a Dwarf, and he loved all the attention they gave him. Legolas and Aragorn just looked at each, smiling and shaking their heads.

Eventually, when the children had run off again, they carried on, and finally ended up back at the inn. It was busier now; the locals were coming in. Most of them were husbands who were bored of working. They would get drunk, go home really late, and get told off by their wives. It was part of their daily timetable.

The three went straight to their room. To their surprise, the beds had been made, and the whole room had been cleaned. It was now brighter, and had a more homely feel to it. The sun could come in clearer through the window, as it had been covered in dust before. The fire was burning low, but there was a new stack of logs beside it. Everything was tidy, and a jug of water stood on one table with three glasses beside it.

"Well this is better," Gimli said, sitting down on his bed.

"Much better," Legolas agreed, taking off his cloak, and sitting down opposite Gimli.

"I wonder who did all this?" Aragorn asked, walking over to the window and looking out.

"It was that Chalibeth. She's smitten with Legolas," Gimli said quickly before Legolas could interject.

"No she is not," he argued, crossing his legs and resting his arms upon his knees. "She told us herself she liked all of us, and she is just being friendly, that is all."

"Of course it is," Gimli agreed, but there was a clear sarcastic tone to his voice. Legolas scowled, but said no more.

Later that evening, they went down to the bar and had some food. Chalibeth talked with them all night, and they told her more tales of their travels.

"You've led such exciting lives," she said when she brought them some drinks. "It must be great, to be able to just travel around as you please, having no one to order you around."
"Aye, it is good," Gimli agreed. "We've travelled all our lives."

"Where else have you been?" she asked, leaning against the back of Gimli's seat.

"All over the place," Aragorn told her. "We've been both sides of the Misty Mountains for a start."

"Ooh, I would love to see West of the Misty Mountains. I have heard so many tales about it. Elves live there, don't they?"
"Yes, in a place called Rivendell," Legolas told her.

"Have you been there?"
"We all have," Aragorn said. "It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It rests in a valley on the slopes of the mountains, and you can only get there if you already know the way. We were allowed entry, and so have been there many times."

"Please can you tell me more about it?" she begged. They laughed. "Of course we will," Aragorn promised her.

Just then, a large, rough-looking man came swaggering over. "Chalibeth," he said, his voice slurring with all his drink. He had spilled plenty of it down his clothes, and he stuck of ale.

"What?" she asked harshly.

"Are you going to dance tonight?"
"I don't know yet. Go and have another drink Glaer."

"Who are you?" he asked the three travellers, completely ignoring Chalibeth.

"We're travellers," Aragorn answered simply.

"I don't recognise you."

"Go and have another drink Glaer," Chalibeth said fiercely. "Leave these tired men be, or there won't be any dancing tonight." Glaer grunted, but staggered off, drinking as he went.

"Sorry about that," she apologised. "He's never sober, and doesn't like strangers. His wife left him years ago, and the drink was his only escape. That's all he loves; the drinking and the dancing."
"Dancing?" Legolas asked in interest.

"Yes, every night or so, me and the other girls do a dance for the drunkards. It keeps us occupied, and them off our skirts."

"Will you dance tonight?" he asked.

"Probably."
"Good, we'd like to see you dance," Gimli told her.

She blushed. "Really?"

"Yes, I'm sure it will be an outstanding performance." She grinned, then turned at a shout. "Got to go I'm afraid. The dancing will begin shortly." She smiled, and then hurried back behind the bar.

"You just could not resist could you?" Legolas asked Gimli, grinning.

Gimli just grinned back. "Just paying my compliments, that's all."

"Just paying your compliments? Of course you were."

"Shut up Elf."

"What sort of dancing do you reckon they do?" Aragorn asked, downing his ale.

"Haven't a clue," Legolas replied, watching Glaer.

"What's wrong?" Aragorn asked him.

"Nothing. He's just being…"

"Drunk?" Gimli tried.

Legolas scowled at him, but nodded. "I don't like the way these girls are treated, do you? Its not right."
"No, its not," Aragorn agreed. "No one should have to do this to get money for food and drink. Do they live here?"
"Probably. I doubt they have anywhere else to go."

They sat in silence for a while, watching the other goings-on in the bar. More men entered, bought drinks, and proceeded to get drunk. Sometimes, a wife would come in and scold her husband for not being at home. She would then drag him out by the ear whilst the rest of the bar cheered and clapped. Then they would all order another round of drinks for each other.

Suddenly, the room went quiet. A small jingling of tambourine bells could be heard. The crowd parted, and three girls drifted into the centre of the room. Chalibeth was in the middle. They wore light coloured skirts, lined with lace and beads. Scarves were draped around their waists and arms, and each held a tambourine.

A flute started playing, and then the dancing really began. They spun into the crowd and out again, their scarves rustling with each movement. Chalibeth was the tallest, and had her long dark hair down. They were all bare-foot, and made no sound as they swirled over the floor, weaving easily in and out of the men in time to the beat.

Chalibeth seemed to be leading them, and she slowly, but surely, made her way over to the three travellers. Legolas saw Gimlis' grin, but ignored it. She flashed a smile at them, and carried on. She paused for a second, and all three tossed their tambourines up into the air.

Hands reached out to grab them, and caught them. Chalibeths' headed straight for Legolas, and he easily caught it.

"I wonder why that one ended up over here?" Gimli questioned as the dancing continued.

"Shut up Dwarf," Legolas mimicked. It was Gimlis' turn to scowl.

The music sped up a bit, and they kept up with the speed. The drunkards were clapping a beat by now, and some were cheering. The three girls clearly loved the attention, and started doing even more elaborate moves.

As the music reached its climax, they stopped. The music also stopped. They were right on one side of the formed circle. The flute started again, and, all in unison, they flipped forwards across the circle. The two on the outside went out to the side, and as Chalibeth reached the opposite side, she jumped, and landed in a crouched position at Aragorns' feet. She winked up at him, and then she was gone again, back to the other two.

The three looked at each other. "They're bloody good," Gimli muttered.

The music began to slow down, and the dancers with it. Eventually, it stopped altogether, and they were in the very centre of the circle, the outside two crouching, Chalibeth standing.

The crowd cheered and wolf-whistled. The dancers smiled at them. Then, they went back the way they had come, to get changed back into their working clothes.

"Wow," Gimli whispered. "I ain't never seen dancing like that."

"So fluidic," Aragorn agreed. They looked at Legolas. He was just staring at the floor.

"Eh laddie, what's wrong?" Gimli asked.

Legolas jerked slightly, as if hearing them for the first time. "What? Oh…nothing, don't worry."

Aragorns sidled round to sit next to him. "Legolas, what's wrong?" he asked in a whisper.

"I can sense something," he replied. "But my hoods not helping. I need to go outside."

"I'll come with you. Gimli, stay here, and out of trouble." Gimli just grinned and ordered another drink.

The pair headed outside. When they were out of sight of anyone, Legolas removed his hood and shook his hair out. "That's better," he said, smiling. Then his senses kicked in again, and he stood stock-still, listening.

"Yrch!" he hissed after a few moments silence. "Heading this way. They'll be here within the hour."

"What do we do?" Aragorn asked.

"Warn people?"

"They won't listen, you know that. Look at them. Like Chalibeth said, they only care for the drink and the dancing."

"Chalibeth!" Legolas whispered in horror. "And the other girls! We have to get them out of here."

"Wait, slow down. They are loads of them. Too many for just us three to handle. Once the Orcs get here, it'll be chaotic."

"We must warn them," Legolas replied in frustration.

A shadow moved in a corner, and they both spun round, knives outstretched.

"Hey calm down guys, its only me," said a soft voice. Chalibeth stepped into the light, and stared pointedly at Legolas. "You're an Elf," she stated matter-of-factly.

He grinned, sheathing his knives. "You noticed?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't, sorry."

"What's all this about Orcs?"

Legolas sighed. He had hoped she hadn't heard. "I can feel a large group, heading for this village. We have to get you all out of here."

"That's impossible. You've seen what they're all like. They haven't fought a battle in years. They'll all be slaughtered."

"Exactly. What can we do?"

"Nothing. Just let them come."

"But what about you girls?" Aragorn butted in.

"We'll manage. There's a good strong cellar underneath this pub. There's a tunnel that leads out of the village, under the boundaries, and comes out somewhere in those meadows." She waved her hand out the way they had entered the village.

"Can you even fight?" Legolas asked.

"We can cope. Now, I suggest you go and tell your Dwarf friend what's going on. I get the feeling he doesn't like Orcs springing up at him at inconvenient times." She grinned.

"You're right there," Legolas murmured.

"And don't we know it," Aragorn finished.

She laughed. "You three go so well together. So, what's your real name…Guryn?"

He smiled. "Legolas."

Her eyes widened. "As in…the Legolas?"

"Aye. The heir to the throne and all that…yes." He grinned.

"Legolas…it's a nice name. And what about you...Strider?"

He sighed. "Don't spread this around, will you Chalibeth?"

"Swear I won't."

"I'm Aragorn."

She covered her mouth to stop the cry escaping. "What are you all doing here?"

"Travelling. That bit was true," Legolas answered.

"Oh, right. Come on, its freezing out here. Or are you two immune to the cold?"

"He is, I'm not," Aragorn replied, pointing at Legolas. She laughed, and they headed back inside.

Now you see what I meant about a few things being found out.

Chapter 5 will be up next Monday. Until then…

Lainfaer