Happy Birthday to Bilbo and Frodo!

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Morning found Legolas hoping dearly that the strange Elves of the night's encounter had decided to leave Minas Tirith for whatever reason. He still did not understand just what made him so adverse to them, but somehow he just felt that he did not trust them. A strange feeling it was to him indeed, ordinarily in his life it had been Noldor Elves saying the same about him and his people.

Joining his friends for a morning meal, at which Lómëmir and Vaneldur were also present, Legolas mentioned but casually the newcomers. Something in his eye told Aragorn not to rush to greet them before Legolas had a chance to speak to him. There was a great deal of talk concerning almost everything else at the table that morning, for new arrivals were really fairly common and nothing unusual since word had gone out about Gondor's new king. With the meal finished the talking continued ever more, particularly from four certain guests of honor for whom talk (and a pipe) was the only thing that could rightly follow a good, full meal.

Slipping away from the gathered, Aragorn motioned for Legolas and Faramir to follow him into his study. Aragorn had a sense that Legolas did not like the Elves who awaited the king's greeting and he wanted to be on alert as much as possible. He thought it best to make Faramir aware of these things as well. He had learned in his years in Rivendell that not all Elves are to be necessarily considered friends, if one ventures too far. Elrond had warned his nomadic son against going beyond the charted realms of Middle-earth and had spoken of a race of Elves who were not really evil in any way, but merely quite strange to most of Middle-earth's generally accepted customs - they certainly had their own ideas. Elrond had spoken in reference of the tale of Eöl and Aredhel, which Aragorn then relayed to his two close friends.

It was then that Legolas also realized that the Elves they encountered had none of the usual light of the Eldar. Legolas decided not to accompany Aragorn when the king left with Faramir to offer, cautiously, the welcome of his kingdom. The Mirkwood Prince rather preferred to have nothing to do with the reclusive Elves who proved so offending to him. He instead went back out to the dining hall, hoping to talk to Lómëmir again. Neither she nor Vaneldur were still about so the Elf resigned himself with lending an ear to his Dwarf friend as he carried on, again, about the quality of Minas Tirith's stonework.

---

Just after he noticed Aragorn steal away to his study, Vaneldur caught Lómëmir's eye enough to intimate they might follow suit. Together they left the Citadel mostly unnoticed. That was until a voice in the shadows called out to Lómëmir.

The smoothed-voiced (yet little spoken) Morion stepped out slowly, as though he did not enjoy the light of the morning sun. He bowed to her and caught her eye as he rose with just the most ephemeral, merest wisp of a smile tracing his lips before his features looked terribly bored and rather taciturn again as he noticed the Mortal standing beside the elleth. As a rule, Elves were hard to read to the mortal eye, but this Elf was beyond all others that Vaneldur had met in his travels.

Lómëmir recalled that the foreign king was rather unhappy with her not being introduced last night and so she offered an acquainting of Vaneldur and the Elven ruler. Vaneldur bowed deeply and offered a complimentary Elvish greeting, knowing well enough how to comport himself in the company of Elf-monarchs thanks to his upbringing in his uncle's home. Morion almost, for just a split second, seemed impressed.

At that moment did Aragorn and Faramir come to greet the woodland King and his small troupe. Vaneldur was somewhat relieved that he and Lómëmir were then able to depart them without seeming rude, for he was more than cautious when regarding foreign rulers, particularly of other races. Just as they were turning toward the next level's gate, Faramir called to Vaneldur and stepped aside with him.

"Are you able to meet with Lord Aragorn and i after this evening's meal?" the Steward quietly asked the slightly younger man.

"Yes, of course, my Lord," Vaneldur said, equally as softly.

Faramir nodded with a smile and turned back to the company, noticing that Aragorn was deep in a discourse in Quenya with the fellow king.

The rest of the day passed along without any incident to speak of. Aragorn and Faramir spent the best part of the day in council with Morion, both Mortals unintentionally letting their minds wander in turn from the Elven King's attention in the heat of the Gondorian afternoon. Morion found that much had taken place in the world that he had not been aware of. It was shortly before the forming of the Last Alliance that he had ordered a cessation to the thrush messengers who had been their last real link to the rest of Middle-earth. The Dark Elf could not say that he was sorry to have missed most of the world's dealings, but it was clearly an ostentatious occurrence that these Elves should leave their wood to give tribute to a king of Men.

Both Aragorn and Faramir were unreservedly glad when a guard interrupted to let them know that dinner was served. Naturally, Aragorn requested that Morion join them in their meal, though he only did so as a diplomatic formality. Such was an aspect of his position that he found detestable at best. Fortunately enough the meal went quickly and he was able to excuse himself along with Faramir and Vaneldur for their meeting.

Legolas had disappeared very quickly and quietly after supper and so Lómëmir was left as the only other Elf who might accompany and entertain Morion. The Avari king was not at all averse to her presence, and in fact, he only seemed to smile when she was about. Lómëmir in no way considered herself a proper representative of the great city of Men, but ever the genteel lady, she was happy to show him about the city under the stars as best she could. Morion said very little indeed on their walk as Lómëmir indicated what points of interest Vaneldur had shown her that afternoon. By the time they reached the first level and started back upward, Lómëmir feared that the next six levels were going to be rather dull going, as Morion had yet to converse with her at all. Yet she could feel his intent gaze upon always.

As Lómëmir turned and started off to the next gate up she felt a hand on her arm. Morion's grip was gentle but firm as she turned to face him with sudden apprehension. "Lady Lómëmir," he said in his slow, even tone, "you have enchanted me." He tightened his grip as he felt her trying to step back. "Fear me not, O fair Lady. Rather come with me to my home in the far wood and be my wife, my queen, for you are a regal woman, and surely the most precious jewel in Middle-earth. Such that i would have for my own." Pulling Lómëmir into his arms, he stopped her from protesting with a deep kiss but she finally broke away, her heart pounding with affront, and insisted that he leave her immediately. There was a steely glint in the stranger's eye, but he bowed to her and resumed his bored countenance before submitting to her wishes. Lómëmir turned and went quickly back to the security of the Citadel.

In the courtyard of the White Tree once again Lómëmir recollected her pride and decided not to mention the incident, certainly it had not been a first for her. She would simply forget that it had happened, surely it would not reoccur since she had made clear her repulsion.

She did not see Morion reenter the Citadel to stand at the further end of the courtyard, contemplatively watching the moonlight bathe her, illuminating her red hair against the green and silver gown she wore. The far-away king made up his mind that she would be his queen under star and tree, no matter what it took. He was not to be refused.