AN: Another week, another update. My break's over and it's back to school
for me. Well, there's only about a month and a half left for my semester
and then I'm free for the entire summer. Anyway, thanks for all of your
reviews! I greatly appreciate them and I'm always surprised to get them.
LadyJadePerendhil: I will try to answer all your questions by the end of it all. Niphredil might find her way to Middle Earth and a rescue mission will be involved soon. I'm glad you liked the way I tied the two stories together.
pixie88: I'm happy you liked the way I tied the two stories together. I have this insane obsession with tying things together in different ways. You may get to see what happens when, and if, Niphredil gets home.
A Monkey's Harp: Well, that's an interesting review! She may find her way away from Jay and Kay, eventually.
hobbitgirl11: Actually, I got your review just before I left for dance classes. I understand the whole pressed for time because of dance thing. I'm nearly always just a bit late for my Tuesday night classes.
Lindiel Eryn: I'll try to set up the time frame soon. Sorry, if I didn't yet! That's the one thing I think I forgot to do. Anyway, how Niphredil gets back (if she gets back) to Middle Earth will be revealed eventually.
sunni07: Well, I had an uneventful Spring Break. Unless you count being dragged by my sister to see "Jersey Girl" and getting sick events. There may be just a bit more of Jay and Kay in the future. They're going to try to get their last kicks in.
PixiePea000: Well, that rebel is on his way out anyway because he wasn't very nice to the other rebels. They'd do away with them if they turned into a certain Agent Elf. See, we're updating now! Anyway, GOLLUM and watch out for Agent Elrond Smith (the rebel offer still stands).
LalaithoftheBruinen: It's ok. I'm stuck on a once a week updating thing because of school. Here's the next chapter, fresh off the preverbal presses.
Midnight-Insomniac1532: I use to take Tae Kwan Do and I got up to my brown belt before my instructor decided to retire because of a hip replacement. Do you do martial arts?
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
Messages had been sent out and many of the necessary parties were on their way. Gandalf had been the most difficult to locate but he too had been found. His role in the events to come was no small one indeed.
Though both Aragorn and Arwen were excited about the prospect of their wayward daughter returning home, there were some that were not. Many of the city's elder councilmen did not deem it wise for the king to flaunt his, so- called, transgressions.
These feelings seemed to follow the lines of everyday business in the Kingdom of Gondor.
"I do believe that is it, my good men," Aragorn stated, preparing to take his noontime meal someplace far away from his councilmen, "I will see you all soon."
"My lord," one of the eldest members called, "We have arranged for you to take your meal here today. There are many pressing matters we must discuss."
With a heavy sigh, Aragorn sat back down and watched as several pages trooped in with enough food to feed a small army. He had a funny feeling he knew where all of this was headed.
"We have discussed all we need to discuss for now. I do believe whatever is left can wait," Aragorn broached.
"Nay, my lord, this is a subject that must be dealt with right away. It concerns the very survival of both your kingdom and your position on its throne," added a second councilman.
"Out with it then," the king prompted, making a halfhearted attempt to not let his exasperation seep into his voice.
All eyes fell on the eldest of all the councilmen. The old man took a deep breath, preparing to present the concerns of his fellows. They had hoped that his age and wisdom would allow their point to prevail over that of their king.
"Word has reached us that you are planning to make an attempt to reach out to a different world to bring home a child you did not know you had," the elder man started.
"We have been through this more times than I can possible recall. Yes, I am well aware of the fact you are unhappy with what I am doing. Yes, I know that you believe I have lost my mind by endeavoring to contact this 'other world', as you call it. What I do not understand is why this concerns you so. Please, help me to understand these feelings," Aragorn interjected.
The outburst seemed to unsettle the gathered council members. A tense sort of silence filled the small room, broken only by the shifting of papers or bodies in their seats.
"It is just that," the elder man began, "no where in our history is an heir produced outside of marriage. To bring this child here will only cause others to see you as weak, as able to be seduced by even the simplest of things. We would like you to reconsider your rash actions. Forget she even exists, my lord, and focus on bringing the kingdom a proper heir."
Aragorn shook his head ruefully. There were many days where he enjoyed his position as king. Then again, there were just as many days where he longed for his simpler life as a Ranger. Recently, the latter comprised most of his days.
"I understand your fears but they are unfounded. I plan on continuing with my plans whether you approve of them or not," he stated.
"But she is an elf!" exclaimed one of the younger men, "To have her kind here is unheard of!"
Looking slightly ashamed by his outburst, the younger man added, "I am aware that your wife-the queen-is also of elven blood but it is widely known that she has forsaken her immortality to rule at your side. If you are unable to convince this child to forsake her immortality, then you will have an elven creature in the citadel. That can not happen."
Aragorn was about to question his out burst, to allay any fears of elf- marked children in the city or horses left with knots in the manes and tired muscles, when a knock at the large door grabbed his attention. Thanking every lucky star for the diversion, Aragorn called for the doors to be opened.
He recalled being told, by a very good friend, that he lived by his luck. It seemed, to Aragorn, that his luck was still with him.
The two figures that strode---well, one strode while the other walked after trying to avoid the eyes that were on her---into the room were enough to silence the gathered councilmen.
(AN: The idea of elf-marked children comes from a belief in England during the Middle Ages that blamed elves for everything from sudden deaths do to mysterious aliments [they believed the person was "elf shot' or struck with the poisoned arrow of an elf], birth defects [elf marked children], the suffering of a paralytic or deforming stroke [elf twisted], and even tangled hair [elf locks]. The whole idea of tired horses with knotted manes is an ancient attribute of pixies, which are kind of like elves.)
LadyJadePerendhil: I will try to answer all your questions by the end of it all. Niphredil might find her way to Middle Earth and a rescue mission will be involved soon. I'm glad you liked the way I tied the two stories together.
pixie88: I'm happy you liked the way I tied the two stories together. I have this insane obsession with tying things together in different ways. You may get to see what happens when, and if, Niphredil gets home.
A Monkey's Harp: Well, that's an interesting review! She may find her way away from Jay and Kay, eventually.
hobbitgirl11: Actually, I got your review just before I left for dance classes. I understand the whole pressed for time because of dance thing. I'm nearly always just a bit late for my Tuesday night classes.
Lindiel Eryn: I'll try to set up the time frame soon. Sorry, if I didn't yet! That's the one thing I think I forgot to do. Anyway, how Niphredil gets back (if she gets back) to Middle Earth will be revealed eventually.
sunni07: Well, I had an uneventful Spring Break. Unless you count being dragged by my sister to see "Jersey Girl" and getting sick events. There may be just a bit more of Jay and Kay in the future. They're going to try to get their last kicks in.
PixiePea000: Well, that rebel is on his way out anyway because he wasn't very nice to the other rebels. They'd do away with them if they turned into a certain Agent Elf. See, we're updating now! Anyway, GOLLUM and watch out for Agent Elrond Smith (the rebel offer still stands).
LalaithoftheBruinen: It's ok. I'm stuck on a once a week updating thing because of school. Here's the next chapter, fresh off the preverbal presses.
Midnight-Insomniac1532: I use to take Tae Kwan Do and I got up to my brown belt before my instructor decided to retire because of a hip replacement. Do you do martial arts?
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
Messages had been sent out and many of the necessary parties were on their way. Gandalf had been the most difficult to locate but he too had been found. His role in the events to come was no small one indeed.
Though both Aragorn and Arwen were excited about the prospect of their wayward daughter returning home, there were some that were not. Many of the city's elder councilmen did not deem it wise for the king to flaunt his, so- called, transgressions.
These feelings seemed to follow the lines of everyday business in the Kingdom of Gondor.
"I do believe that is it, my good men," Aragorn stated, preparing to take his noontime meal someplace far away from his councilmen, "I will see you all soon."
"My lord," one of the eldest members called, "We have arranged for you to take your meal here today. There are many pressing matters we must discuss."
With a heavy sigh, Aragorn sat back down and watched as several pages trooped in with enough food to feed a small army. He had a funny feeling he knew where all of this was headed.
"We have discussed all we need to discuss for now. I do believe whatever is left can wait," Aragorn broached.
"Nay, my lord, this is a subject that must be dealt with right away. It concerns the very survival of both your kingdom and your position on its throne," added a second councilman.
"Out with it then," the king prompted, making a halfhearted attempt to not let his exasperation seep into his voice.
All eyes fell on the eldest of all the councilmen. The old man took a deep breath, preparing to present the concerns of his fellows. They had hoped that his age and wisdom would allow their point to prevail over that of their king.
"Word has reached us that you are planning to make an attempt to reach out to a different world to bring home a child you did not know you had," the elder man started.
"We have been through this more times than I can possible recall. Yes, I am well aware of the fact you are unhappy with what I am doing. Yes, I know that you believe I have lost my mind by endeavoring to contact this 'other world', as you call it. What I do not understand is why this concerns you so. Please, help me to understand these feelings," Aragorn interjected.
The outburst seemed to unsettle the gathered council members. A tense sort of silence filled the small room, broken only by the shifting of papers or bodies in their seats.
"It is just that," the elder man began, "no where in our history is an heir produced outside of marriage. To bring this child here will only cause others to see you as weak, as able to be seduced by even the simplest of things. We would like you to reconsider your rash actions. Forget she even exists, my lord, and focus on bringing the kingdom a proper heir."
Aragorn shook his head ruefully. There were many days where he enjoyed his position as king. Then again, there were just as many days where he longed for his simpler life as a Ranger. Recently, the latter comprised most of his days.
"I understand your fears but they are unfounded. I plan on continuing with my plans whether you approve of them or not," he stated.
"But she is an elf!" exclaimed one of the younger men, "To have her kind here is unheard of!"
Looking slightly ashamed by his outburst, the younger man added, "I am aware that your wife-the queen-is also of elven blood but it is widely known that she has forsaken her immortality to rule at your side. If you are unable to convince this child to forsake her immortality, then you will have an elven creature in the citadel. That can not happen."
Aragorn was about to question his out burst, to allay any fears of elf- marked children in the city or horses left with knots in the manes and tired muscles, when a knock at the large door grabbed his attention. Thanking every lucky star for the diversion, Aragorn called for the doors to be opened.
He recalled being told, by a very good friend, that he lived by his luck. It seemed, to Aragorn, that his luck was still with him.
The two figures that strode---well, one strode while the other walked after trying to avoid the eyes that were on her---into the room were enough to silence the gathered councilmen.
(AN: The idea of elf-marked children comes from a belief in England during the Middle Ages that blamed elves for everything from sudden deaths do to mysterious aliments [they believed the person was "elf shot' or struck with the poisoned arrow of an elf], birth defects [elf marked children], the suffering of a paralytic or deforming stroke [elf twisted], and even tangled hair [elf locks]. The whole idea of tired horses with knotted manes is an ancient attribute of pixies, which are kind of like elves.)