CHAPTER NINE

Second Chances

As the Elves entered into the house, they felt slightly out of place. Removing the hoods from their cloaks, they surveyed the room about them. It was fine as far as human dwellings went. It certainly was warmer and Legolas felt Roth began to get less tense as he began to re-gather his warmth. Aragorn followed behind the Elves and put a hand on Legolas' shoulder as if to say, 'I told you it would be well. Why didn't you truly trust me?'. The prince looked back and smiled warmly.

Ryxen looked at the three friends and said, "there is a room where you can take baths. I used to have children, so there are several tubs in there if you choose to take baths together and have more time to talk. He motioned to the closed door on his right. He also laughed, "I suppose you will want some spare clothes to wear afterwards? I will send someone for your packs and weapons that were confiscated as soon, as may be. In the mean time, I have many robes you are welcome to use." Here he laughed, "after all, you are slimmer than I and they no longer fit me." He patted his fleshy stomach pointedly.

Legolas said quietly, "thank you for your kindness, and I can assure you all of your offers will be taken up." He actually smiled, but Aragorn thought the smile to be rather hollow.

The magistrate laughed and said to Legolas, "Master Elf, I would not have it an other way." He then nodded to them; "I have business to attend to, as you understand. When you are finished resting, you are more than welcome to help in any way that you know of." He then went into another room and began to talk in close whispers with his servants.

Legolas, Rothinzil and Aragorn went into the other room to get a warm bath.

The bathroom was tiled with brick and there was a stack of towels by each brass tub. It seemed to them to be the most wonderful sight in a long time. Servants knocked and entered in with three big basins of hot water with steam dancing across the tops and soap along with three robes, red of color.

Legolas noted with some slight pain that the servants acted afraid and hurried out quickly without uttering a word. Perhaps one might think it was for them to have their privacy, but it seemed more like they did not wish to be in the room with Elves more than they had to.

To all three of the companions thought the hot water felt beyond praise. Roth felt the cold leaving him and his throbbing back felt strangely soothed with little burn feeling.

Legolas sat in his tub, surrounded by bubbles and he was using his thin fingers to unbraid his long blonde hair. Once this was done, he plunged his head beneath the surface of the steaming water and came back up spluttering.

Ryxen was standing outside the room talking with one of his servants talking quietly and they began to walk to another room when a high pitched scream came from the room and he heard a cry, "I have soap in my eyes! Estel, you are dead!" The magistrate looked shocked at first, then he shook his head. It reminded him of his children long ago.

Finally, nearly two hours later, Legolas came out first in a scarlet robe fastened about the waste with a red cord to match. His long blonde hair was still not completely dry and hung limply about his shoulders, looking much longer wet than it did dry. The prince was in the process of pulling it back into its normal braids.

Around theblonde being'seyes, was a bit of red. A result of soap getting into his eyes from the ranger, who had lobbed a soap bar at him, hitting him square in the face. But if it were not for Legolas launching a towel at the human's head, Aragorn would have had no need to pitch a bar of soap at the Elf. So in the end each had gotten what they had deserved really. For once Rothinzil was not helping to stir up the tensions between the ranger and prince.

The saidRothinzil, dressed in a robe, appeared out of the steaming room nextand healready had his hair pulled back into braids like the ones Legolas was attempting to put in. He was actually laughing again and that was a joy to the prince's heart for the laughter was clear and rang true.

Last came Aragorn in his robe. His hair was already nearly dry and obviously was not brushed yet. Legolas looked at him and said, "you need to brush your hair out! Will you never learn?"

A servant came up and interrupted the momentas hesaid, "Masters, your clothes are here along with your weapons and Master Strider, the Master has some clothes he thinks will fit you rather well." The servant was a young boy, no more than twelve. He was looking at the pointy ears on the Elves as though they were going to bite him.

Legolas looked at Aragorn and decided it would be better for the ranger to do the talking. The dark-haired man said, "thank you. Where might we find them?"

"The Master used to have children long ago before the disease came. In the back room there are beds for you to sleep on tonight of you wish. You will find your clothesthere too," finished the boy concisely.

Finally, the Elves and Ranger were dressed. The clothes were a perfect fit for the ranger, but he still felt awkward in them because they did not have the same feeling as his own. They were not of the same style and material. But they were comfortable.

Legolas and Roth were glad they had brought an extra pair and they felt fine in them.

They found themselves seated at a medium sized table being served hot brandy. After the maids had left, the Elves looked at the steaming amber liquid with slight frowns on their faces. They never really drank anything like this and Aragorn took a long pull from his mug. He looked at the Elves over the rim of his vessel. Setting it down on the table he said, "try some, its good."

Legolas looked at the ranger like he was crazy. Rothinzil took a sip and then smiled and gulped some. "It remind me of what I would be given after I came in during the winter as an Elfling." He drank some more and Legolas continued to scowl at his.

"I suppose it isn't going to kill me..." he muttered, as he watched the liquid swirl about the flagon when he sloshed it around in the mug. He took a small sip and said to himself, "well it isn't horrible, but if this is chiefly what men get drunk from they must drink it by the gallon!" He sipped some more and smiled slightly. Oh yes, it was much less potent than his fahter's wine.

It felt good to be warm and dry, safe and sound. But he wondered if they really were safe. For the moment, yes, most likely, but would it last? It couldn't.

Ryxen stepped in with Kixer and he smiled, "feeling better, yes?"

They all nodded and said simultaneously, "yes, thank you."

Ryxen frowned and said more seriously, "we have to talk. I would love to let you stay here, but we need your help. You seem to know these men and what they were doing. Elves are known for tracking, as are rangers. We would be honored if you would help to get these men and bring them back."

Legolas looked up and said, "In plain words you fear us staying here with you and want us to be on our way as soon as possible." He shook his head and said, "you could have just told us and we would not have cared. However, we mean to go after these men and will help you anyway we can. They did not only wrong you and the whole town, but us as well."

Rothinzil nodded and Aragorn stared at the brandy in his flagon.

Ryxen said, "Kixer and his men will go with you and aid you, for their horses were among the ones stolen and anyway, it is their job. I expect you three will want fresh cloaks and such. I have plenty of old ones, some were my sons' some were mine when I was smaller." He chuckled wryly and said, "I will be out in the study and you may come and speak to me before you go, unless you wish to stay."

It was not long before they were saying farewell to the elderly man and walking out the door with a snug leather cloak each, lined with wool or rabbit furs.

They met Kixer outside the town along with some more of his men, four to be exact. They had no horses now and were forced to travel on foot. They were not hostile towards the Elves and ranger, but they did shun them. It was perhaps not intentional, but it happened.

They were not so withdrawn about Aragorn, but with Legolas and Rothinzil there was no doubt that they were doing it. Legolas and Roth felt the their fear and tried to keep away from them as well.

When they walked on top of the snow, both of the fair being's felt scornful eyes upon them, cast from humans forced to trudge behind them and flounder in the deep white flakes. The eyes made Legolas shiver, but they did not have much effect on Rothinzil.

He could remember things for a long time, but he did not hold grudges or continue to find fault with those who wronged him after they had asked for forgiveness or showed remorse. It was not his nature and so their scornful looks did not hinder him, but they made Legolas uncomfortable.

Aragorn knew this and kept close to Legolas' side. Legolas looked at Aragorn and smiled, "I guess I won't be home for the festival tomorrow." The ranger gave a soft laugh and answered,

"No, I don't think so." He stumbled in the snow and Legolas gripped his arm to keep him from falling. The snow was getting deeper and harder for the men to travel in, even as they walked in the path plowed by the many horses they were tracking.

Legolas did not even have to say, 'be careful.' It was written on his face. Aragorn smiled back at his friend and Legolas snorted, "next time I will let you fall." The man just laughed and the blonde Elf prince felt his lips curl up into a smile to replace the alarmed look his face had taken when his friend tripped.

Rothinzil was ahead with the men, his fair face was troubled and he stopped, letting the men walk by. Then, looking back at Legolas and Aragorn, he said, "they are not too far ahead now. I can hear the snorts of the horses."

Legolas listened and he too heard the snorts of the animals and their hooves tearing at the snow. If they went ahead much farther and over the knoll that loomed ahead they would loose the element of surprise. If that happened, many more men could die and the town would know an even greater loss. These thieves would not give up without a fight now that they knew the chase was on.

Legolas called out to Roth in the Gray Tongue, "tell them to stop! Tell them the men are over the knoll!" Rothinzil nodded and trotted lightly over the snow to walk alongside the men. Legolas could hear him talking with the men and telling them and he whispered to Aragorn, "this is it. But you know as well as I do that they will not give in easily. We have to surprise them."

The wind plastered the prince's hair to his cloak hood and nipped the Elf's nose. Kixer and his men came back with Roth beside them. The green-eyed marshal asked, "what do you propose we do then? We cannot surprise them! That is folly!"

Aragorn said tersely, "it would do you well to listen to what Legolas and Rothinzil have to say. They have lived longer than we have and faced dangers you cannot fathom, yet come out alive." A hardened look came to the ranger's face that made him seem like an Elven-lord when he spoke with such sincerity. Legolas and Roth even had to wonder if the bit of Elven blood in his veins did not seem to flow stronger than it had in his ancestors.

Legolas said, "I think you Roth have a good chance of rounding up the horses. Roth and I can take care of the men easier than could you. We wish to be the one's to take them down and bring them back." Rothinzil nodded and said,

"We can buy you time to get the horses and keep them off your backs."

Kixer said with a growl in his voice, "how do we know you aren't one of them, Elf?" He eyed Legolas suspiciously, as though he expected the Elf to try and attack him.

Legolas suddenly notched his bow with extreme accuracy and speed and pointed it at the man's head. The man's suspicious look melted away into one of fear and anger. Legolas nearly smirked, "if I was against you, you would be dead by now Kixer and your men as well. Do not underestimate me and take me for a fool." His voice sounded lethal and Kixer backed off with his hands raised.

"Alright Elf, I will trouble you and your companion no more about whose side you are on. You have made your point very clear."

Legolas put his bow, along with the arrow away. "Good," he said with a smile, "then let us continue." His blue eyes danced and Aragorn knew that Legolas had just played a sort of Elven joke on the men. To the Elves' way of thinking, it was whimsical. Legolas sighed and said, "first of all, if you go straight at them, they will see you and shoot you, if we divide up too much we will be killed one at a time."

Kixer nodded, "I see your point Elf." What he did not see was that Legolas was giving himself and Roth the most dangerous part and the townsmen a chance at coming out of this mess alive. But Legolas had a feeling that he would be the one with the element of surprise this time and he and Roth would win this match. All the men could see, however, was that the Elves did not wish to be with them and they took it as the immortals were hiding something. Legolas, Roth and Aragorn all knew it, but arguing it was like arguing over spilled milk.

Aragorn looked at Legolas and said, "I am going to come with you." Legolas gave Aragorn a hard look, but the man shook his head. He would be dead before he would be left behind.

Kixer divided up his four men into two groups, one to go for the horses right and one to bring up the left. More reinforcements were expected to come from a neighboring town so they could bring the horses back up to Farlost and fix the lock on the corral.

Legolas carried his bow loosely in his grip as he prepared with Aragorn and Roth to attack Calmir and his men. "The sooner we get started, the sooner we can be rid of this... unpleasantness," said Legolas bitterly. He was tired of being around men and wished to go home and be with his people. He had never thought that he would miss home as much as he did then.

Legolas, Aragorn and Rothinzil waited on top of the knoll. They lay on their stomachs, in quiet watchfulness for the running of horses, the signal to spring the trap.

The Elves' eyes could see farthest and they could see the men circling carefully about the horses. With regret they each saw their own horses mixed with the human's horses. The difference in the horses was more than obvious. The Elven horses were bigger and much sleeker, even in winter their hair was not shaggy.

Suddenly the horses began to run and the companions began to slide down on their bellies. In this way they would avoid being seen until the opportune moment. They were being careful not to slide down and give themselves away, but ice had been frozen onto much of the hillside from the storm. As they neared the bottom Legolas stopped and he whispered, "something isn't right. I don't see them. They should be here." He looked at Aragorn with narrowed eyes and an alarmed look.

Did they not have the element of surprise? What had they missed? But then the thought struck him, who were they dealing with? Roth just snorted and shook his head. "It's like they vanished, "he whispered.

Aragorn returned Legolas' disquieted gaze and said, "I think we are being watched."

Legolas stood up carefully and then Roth stood up beside him and Aragorn looked up at them before rising himself. Legolas sprinted cautiously ahead and checked the around where the men had been and saw something odd. They had a fire going. It was then he knew that they were expecting to stay here and a chill went down his spine as he understood, they were the not the hunters, but the prey now.

Somehow the men had found a way to turn everything around and it was disquieting and Legolas spun around to see Rothinzil up behind him. The dark-haired Elf said, "Legolas, we are the prey and they are a pack of crafty predators." The other being's face was marked with a considerably credible look of intense thought.

Legolas said, "but it was reversed and strangely so." He felt confused and unsure. It was not a feeling he liked and he looked at Rothinzil with concern lighting up his face, "where is Strider?"

Rothinzil spun around on his heel and said, "behind-" his jaw dropped. Aragorn was gone. Rothinzil looked at Legolas and his whole comportment had changed from one of thoughtfulness, to one of regret and shock.

Legolas turned an icy look on Roth that he only used when he was really furious, "why did you leave him Rothinzil!" seethed the Wood-Elf through clenched teeth.

Rothinzil stammered, "he told me to go and see what you were doing and make sure nothing ill befell you! I did not think! Legolas I am sorry!"

Legolas snapped, "you are right, you didn't think! He is out there and for all we know he could be dead!" Roth saw the icy looks in his friend's eyes and cast his gaze from the blonde Elf's face. He felt horrible, not only had he let his prince down, but also his friend and he felt queasy in his stomach now with guilt.

Legolas suddenly looked and saw Aragorn come running over the knoll edge and then he saw another man come and slam into the ranger, toppling him down the hill. Legolas notched his arrow quicker than sight and aiming a little off by mistake , he shot the man in the leg as the outlaw tried to harm his friend.

The prince normally would have not shot to kill, but this human was far too close to taking Aragorn's life than he took comfort in. The man who had thus attacked his friend was one of four who deserved to go back and be tried for his crime. It was not Legolas' call whether he lived or died, but the law. Roth notched his bow as well. Aragorn came running towards Legolas.

"Run Legolas! Noro lim! Run Roth! Mellon nins, RUN!"

Legolas and Roth did run, towards their human friend. The four men were coming over the crest of the hill and they could see what was happening. As the Elves ran lightly over the snow they clashed with the thieves head on.

But Legolas found out swiftly as he fought that there was more than just these four. Other men came over the hill and surrounded the Elves. Legolas suddenly felt hampered and he felt weight crushing him to the ground. He found himself looking through a net of heavy iron chain links that had covered him. His knives could not free him and he was pressed into the snow.

He thrashed around and he felt men pile up on top of him. The Elf could still kick and buck like a possessed thing and he was fighting his way free when a cold voice he had heard before said, "struggle anymore Elf and your friend gets his throat cut. Not only that, you will get to watch."

Legolas wondered which friend the man was talking about. When he saw Roth being held by his hair with his head tipped back he resisted the urge to take a sharp intake of breath. He could see Rothinzil was still struggling, even with the knife being pressed into his throat.

Legolas felt pain in his shoulders as the shear pressure of bodies pressed him down. The links pinched his skin and he went limp, collapsing into the snow. He sighed in temporary defeat and Calmir came forward. He placed his boot toe through the net and placed it under the prince's chin. "I must say I thought that they would kill you. But I also have to tell you I am glad I was wrong." He kicked Legolas in the face roughly, "you know why we wanted to catch you earlier Elf? You are a fighter and we were thinking that we could mold you into something more befitting..."

Legolas licked his now bleeding lip, tasting the coppery tang and said, "you mean an arena slave?" He did not even look up from the snow. "A prizefighter? An animal? A raving corruption of life?"

He heard Calmir's cruel laugh and the thief said, "having that attitude will do you no favors Elf. And since you caused us to loose the horses and killed so many of our men, tonight we shall have to reward you. Remember Elf, it's an eye for an eye."

Calmir's voice turned to one filled with much scorn and bitterness. "You won't be around to see me hang Elf. I can guarantee you that." He kicked Legolas in the side and the prince withheld a grunt of pain.

"Strider will come for me, I can guarantee you that," snapped the prince with a bitterness of his own. He shifted beneath the mass of men that were pressing themselves upon the Elf to hold him to the ground. Legolas then spat out insultedly, "I will thank you to stop calling me 'Elf'!" The last remark went ignored.

"You mean that scrawny ranger that was with you and your little Elf friend?" Calmir laughed loudly with ice and steel lacing his voice and said, "I don't think so. Kushor has taken care of him. But I will let him tell you in gruesome detail how he died." He paid no heed to the struggling being's request and Legolas just rolled his silver blue eyes in complete annoyance.

But then reality set in and he said nothing...at first. He just let the silence speak for him, he was mourning his friend's death. But he kept his face stony and though tears formed behind his eyes he did not cry. Crying was what you did when you despaired or were in extreme pain. Right now he was in shock and all he could say was, "no. You lie."

"Maybe he is alive," admitted the man with a sigh that almost seemed counterfeit and it was completely bereft of pity. Then an evil glint came into his eyes and he said, "and even if he is alive, you will be miles away wishing you were never born before he even begins to realize where you have got off to."

The blonde Elf felt his color fading from his features and knew he had to look as crushed as he felt inside to think of them killing his friend and Aragorn dying alone and without saying a final good-bye to his brothers, or to anyone. If Aragorn really was dead he would never see his best friend again. Not unless he died as well and Mandos permitted it. The thought frightened him and though he was warm in the cloak and tunics, he felt his marrow go chill.

He had just been walking with me? How could he be dead? No! It can't be true. They are lying. He got away and he's coming back for me. He would never let me or Roth get hurt. No, he is coming back for us, I cannot believe he is dead unless I see his body. He has a destiny to fulfil, so he can't die.

All these rationalizations went through the blonde Elf's mind and he hung onto each and every one of them as the men dragged the chain net off of him and pulled him up by his hair. Legolas so much in shock he didn't even struggle really. The prince fought some, but a savage kick in his gut ended that quickly and he doubled over to his knees.

A sharp movement near him caused Legolas to look over and see Rothinzil showed into the snow roughly beside him. The other's face was no longer fearful, although he knew that Roth was scared, it was wrathful and perilous to look upon. The younger Elf's eyes were lit with a deadly fire and Legolas noticed that several men had their hands pressed onto Rothinzil's shoulders. At least he knew Roth was not in any form of intense physical pain at the moment.

Calmir stood before both of the Elves and his face was glowing with perverted amusement at their pain and frustration. Legolas then noticed that the man was a bit taller than he had once thought and that this mortal definitely looked like one who is used to getting what he wished and was not beyond using any kind of means to get to it.

Legolas jerked his head away with more indignation than Rothinzil thought he was susceptible to as Calmir ran his hand through some of the prince's golden hair. The mortal's face was vexatiously smug in the Elves' eyes. Calmir's lips turned upward with indulgence situated at his defenseless captive's ire.

The prince looked about him with eyes of emotionless blue ice. He snarled, "when my father finds out about this, you will be the ones wishing you had never been born!"

Calmir came closer to the prince and said, "nobody will ever know where you went. You will just be missing Elf, you and your friend." He drew out his sword and looked at its sharp edges eerily and with a sense of deep foreboding. "You had better hope nobody comes for you, or they will be dead and that includes your ranger friend."

One of the men near the Elf began to place a rope about the fair being's neck to act as a leash. Calmir stopped him and said, "he isn't going to be awake for this trip. Neither is the other one." Legolas had no time to ponder what this meant beyond him obviously being knocked out in some fashion before he saw spots and felt a pain in the back of his head. And then he felt another pain and his world dimmed into black and peaceful nothingness took over.

Roth saw them hit his prince over the head with a club and he only had time to gape before he suffered the same treatment.In seconds everything was black for the Elves and the men around them flashed a few quick smiles.

Calmir looked at the two limp Elves lying side by side on top of the snow. "I will not risk them evading us a second time." He looked over to the crest of the hill and saw Kushor stumbling back.

He did not have to be told. The ranger had to be dead. If he was not dead, why would only Kushor be returning? The ranger was not going to be coming for the Elves. They were alone and that was just how he wanted it.

"So we must carry these damn Elves?" asked one of the men angrily as he began to drag Legolas up from the ground by his arms. He shot a fiery look towards Calmir who was glaring at him with dark eyes of deep observation and calculating malevolence.

"Do you think that they are going to walk?" he snapped irately. "Pick him up and sling him over your shoulder. Don't worry, we will have fun with them when we get to the mines." He smiled coldly and said, "then after that I will become more wealthy than father could ever have dreamed of."

Legolas felt himself flung over the man's shoulders, for though he had been hit, it had not been enough to keep him out for as long as the men could wish. But the words the men spoke did not even mean anything to him. He was so dazed that everything that was happening seemed of no importance and it seemed to him that he was watching these goings on from within the safety of a bubble.

It had not yet crossed his mind that bubbles can be broken, though he knew this fact and so for the moment even though he knew he was far from safe, he felt shielded from pain, misery and fear. The Elf prince closed his eyes and then he knew no more.

> > > >

Glorfindel and Erestor looked up at the cliff's steep wall. The Gondolin Elf sighed and knew that there was no way that they could get over it. It was impossible and so he had already made his mind up not try. Erestor just scowled and said, "So now what do we do? We can't turn back, Elrond would kill us! We can't go forward, unless we can fly!"

Glorfindel mumbled, "if you can't say anything encouraging or amusing, please just say nothing at all! I am trying to think!" Perhaps we are not trapped. The cliff does not run far. If we followed it to the left as we stand facing it, then we may have a chance of going around it and thus onto our journey. It is worth a try anyway.

But that will take some four miles out of our way. Oh well, if we don't try we are dead. "Erestor we are going to go around. It will only take us four miles out of our way. I know however, that is not on the map. This knowledge comes from experience and Erestor you are going to have to blindly trust me."

Erestor just looked at the snow and said, "me? Blindly follow you? Glorfindel, we...I...it isn't going to work!" he fumed. "When we get to Thranduil's Halls I will be so relieved I will kiss the floor!"

"You will?" asked Glorfindel with a thin smile. "Good. I will inform Elrond that you need to be replaced on charges of insanity! I will also make sure to tell Thranduil that he needs to keep his floors exceptionally clean during your stay." He strapped his bow along with the quiver onto his back and buckled it. Then, he picked his sword up off the ground and sheathed it. Suddenly a smile burst across his face and he looked at Erestor, "who ever taught you to use a sword then?"

Erestor frowned, "my father. Why?" He narrowed his eyes into dark slits of questionable anger and Glorfindel frowned slightly as he spoke,

"You are a bit rusty is all." The Gondolin Elf looked at the slain warg and gestured to it, "when she got above you, had you known what you were doing, you could have slain her."

Erestor just looked at Glorfindel and said, "I am a counselor. Never before have I even considered killing unless it be in my thought towards you my Lord Glorfindel." Knitting his brows and casting wrinkles on his usually smooth forehead, he asked incredulously, "and you could teach me how to fight? That is surprising, but why would I want to learn from one who is constantly coming back in need of stitches, medication and bandages might I ask?"

Glorfindel said, "I could, were we back in Rivendell and all was well. But not here, we need to move on. Staying in one place too long can be dangerous Erestor. Goblins can come up on you swiftly. You really have never done something like this before, have you?" He choose to ignore the other comment about his death and constant injuriesthat had been made against him, but he would not forget it and if Erestor was lucky he would decide not to retaliate.

"Yes, I have. But it was long ago and it was my journey to Imladris from my home in Hollin." Erestor looked a little sad and Glorfindel did not press the issue. This was another side of Erestor that he seldom saw.It was a little bit unnerving.

Shrugging his shoulders to make the quiver and bow rest easier on them, the golden-haired Elf said, "we had best keep moving if we wish to enter Thranduil's Halls in one piece." Erestor said nothing, but shouldered his bag of maps and then went to the corner to pick up the small pack of inconsequential supplies they had. It was manly consisting of Lembas bread and cordial should one get hurt. There was also one spare cloak and two blankets that rolled up incredibly small as was their design, but kept so warm it was like you were in bed.

Erestor frowned and said, "and I suppose before we even get there we will have to deal with those beastly giant spiders! How can they live so close to those things?" He then went to where the warg lay dead and seeing his sword hilt sticking out from beneath the warg, he gripped it and pulled his weapon out.

As he sheathed it, he looked at the warg. Her claws were huge and her eyes were still open, yellow and yet cloudy now with death. Her teeth were still fierce and her lips were curled into a bloody snarl. He was waiting for her to lunge up and sink her long fangs into his throat.

Glorfindel came over and said, "don't worry. She is dead." He nudged her with his foot and Erestor snapped,

"I know that! Now lets get moving!"

Glorfindel shook his head. "You looked like she was going to get up and bite you."

Erestor brushed past him and turned around with a gaze that was pierced with annoyance and anger. "Looks are deceiving Glorfindel, "he answered thickly. Pivoting on his heel, the raven-haired Elf walked stiffly ahead and Glorfindel watched him go for a moment before following.

TBC... Now the summary will begin to take place in the chapters to come. Yeah, we know...that is a bit annoying, but better late than never.

Could you could dropa reviewin before Saturday, it would really make our morning/day! Thanks a lot!

-hug resistingreviewers and wink pointedly at lurkers- LOL

Review responses:) Hannon le mellonins!

Nefhiriel: Hey! So you like how we portray the friendship? That's great! Thanks a lot. It is hard to do accurately at times so when you say that it makes us feel as though we have succeeded! LOL Yes, well, he only gets more interesting, trust us. About co-authoring...no real tips...except don't make your friend(s) angry becaue then they can lock you out of theaccount (we know)and just e-mail each other the ideas with a format with the title:...author:...summary:...story line/ideas: thanks for the review:)

Deana: Yes! But as always...the troubles nver seem to end for them, do they? LOL

Snow Glory: yes...the calm before the storm. Well put! Glad you noticed how we made the weather concur with the emotions. Yes! Ph there is no doubt that Glorfindel and Erestor are setting a bad example, nay, a horrible example. But just wait and see.

Marie Delcore: Yes you did tell us that. Well...you were right! Yes...the ranger is in for his fair share of angst! -grabs fleeing ranger- Hu-uh! You aren't going anywhere! Us? Lots of reviews? How sweet, but actually Nili and Cassia are the ones with lots.

Astievia: We haven't heard that song but yes, Glorfy and Erestor had better get another plan, because that just isn't going to work! LOL Well, they of course don't have any Elvish Rope because they forgot it due to having overly much fun baiting each other.