(-)Chapter 7(-)
Aragorn lifted the bow with the two arrows immediately and shot, even before the traps beneath the elves opened. Not even realizing that he had his bow ready or that he had shot until the arrows had left.
Legolas squeezed his eyes shut as he prepared for either his neck to be broken or to strangle to death. There was never even a jerk. The elf hit the ground with a thud and winced.
Elrond fell next to him and gasped slightly in shock upon finding himself on the ground.
Aragorn shoved his way through the crowd, the Steward following behind him.
The ranger split off and immediately went to his father and friend while the Steward went to speak with the exocutioners.
Aragorn immediately pulled the ropes off their neck's and slit the ropes off their wrists with an arrow as he had left any other weapons back in his house, "Estel al us-lle," he muttered encouragingly, though he was not entirely sure why he said it. (hope (did) not leave you)
Legolas stared at him a moment, catching his breath before managing a rather shaky smile, "Wh-ere'd you l-learn to shoot like tha-t?"
"I've been practicing what you taught me so many years ago, elf."
Legolas chuckled slightly, "W-well you c-couldn't have lear-ned it f-rom your b-bro-thers," he joked.
"I take off-ence to... that," Elrond muttered, "I d-did help train th-em after... all."
"You tried ada," Aragorn laughed, "they were a lost cause from the beginning, admit it," he joked.
Elrond just smiled.
Aragorn pulled the two into a tight hug, "I'm sorry I did not come sooner," he muttered, his weariness finally catching up with him now that the adrenaline was wearing off.
Elrond frowned, "Estel, you do not look well... are you sick?"
The human shook his head, "Nay ada, just... tired."
Elrond frowned at him, "Why are you so tired though?" his eyes widened slightly, "Estel have you not slept since the trial!"
Aragorn smiled sheepishly, "If I had you'd both be dead right now so be thankful."
Legolas eyed him, "That's not funny."
Aragorn sighed, "It wasn't really meant to be..."
Elrond just pulled the human against him as he lay back against a support for the platform.
Aragorn sighed, already half asleep.
Elrond glanced up, "Lord Ecthelion?" he called, just loud enough to catch the man's attention, "I hope you do not mind, but I think I am going to take him home now. He needs to get to bed before he falls asleep right here."
Ecthelion nodded, "Of course, I will come and get you personally if you are needed."
Elrond smiled, "Thank you," he stood and lifted the man right off his feet.
Aragorn immediately snapped awake, "Ada! No, I can walk, please put me down."
"I would like to see you try to get up all those steps but I fear you'd end up tripping and falling all the way back down," he muttered in a half sarcastic half amused way.
Aragorn grumbled something under his breath and shook his head, "I can walk. I will be fine."
Elrond just gave the young human a look, "Don't make me put you to sleep right now."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes, "You wouldn't."
"Don't push me Es..." he shook his head slightly, surprised at his slip, "Thorongil."
Aragorn smirked wickedly.
"Not a word," the elf muttered.
Aragorn just shrugged.
Legolas quickly stood and was at their side, disturbed at the annoyed looks some of the men in the crowd had.
Ecthelion smiled as he joined them, accompanying them back to the captains house. He would write something to send to Mirkwood and Rivendell from there.
Elrond frowned and glanced over at the Steward, "What is it that you found to stop that?"
"I? I found naught," he smiled, "'T was Thorongil who found an old passage in a book about trials and some mistakes that had been made. It had been completely forgotten but half of the group deciding upon the outcome of the trial must be from the defenders homeland."
"Indeed?" Legolas sounded incredibly relieved then frowned, "I suppose you'll need to send messages to them then?"
"Aye."
"You can do that when we reach my house," Aragorn muttered, sounding slightly displeased at being carried still.
Ecthelion chuckled slightly, "Thank you, the sooner the better, I'm sure we all wish to get this over with."
"Indeed, the sooner it's over, the sooner we can get rid of these two and I can stop being carried around like a child," Aragorn muttered jokingly.
Elrond smiled, "Don't get me started on that."
Aragorn frowned at him, "You still insist I'm a child?"
"Aye," he laughed.
Aragorn grumbled slightly.
Legolas smirked, "You just can't accept it can you?"
"Legolas..."
"Aye?"
"If you don't be quiet I'll dye your hair pink again," he mumbled tiredly, "or I'll feed you to Elen next time I manage to find her..."
Legolas glanced over at Ecthelion and smirked, "Indeed? Somehow I doubt she'll go for that mellon-nin, 't is odd really, how something so big can hide so well."
"I feed you to her brother then."
Legolas just rolled his eyes.
Elrond shook his head, "Must you do this now?"
Ecthelion looked amused and confused at the same time.
"It can wait," Aragorn yawned.
Legolas rolled his eyes.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Aragorn glanced outside as he caught something out of the corner of his eye, "They've come."
The two elven realms were told of their predicament and now three elves from each realm were coming to join the six from Gondor.
From Mirkwood came Celebelen, Adaron and Raenan, and from Rivendell came Lindir, Erestor and Silür.
Aragorn just wanted to jump on them and thank them all for coming when he met them a ways from the city gates but didn't, instead keeping himself calm and doing the job he had been sent out to do.
"Welcome to Minas Tirith," he spoke strongly, "I've been sent to bring you up to the Citadel to the Steward."
Silür blinked, "Estel?"
Aragorn nodded, "Aye, sorry, but come, you must indeed meet with Lord Ecthelion."
Erestor rode up next to the man, "Estel? Are you well, you seem..." he frowned, "rather reserved, are you worried over the trial? We know they would not do this thing, it will go well."
Aragorn simply shook his head, "I am not worried, not any more, I am simply doing my job right now my lord."
Erestor froze and narrowed his eyes at the man, "Estel something is wrong, you're not yourself, tithen min." (Little one)
Aragorn smiled back at him to calm the elf's fear, "Worry not Erestor, truthfully my friend, I am well."
The elf frowned slightly a moment before nodding, "Alright then," he eyed the man slightly.
Aragorn shook his head in amusement, "Come! Follow me!" he laughed, turning his horse and heading back to the city and rode straight up the stairs.
The elves shook their heads slightly and followed.
Aragorn reached the top a while before them and turned to watch them, only to find them all staring at him from the sixth level. He frowned at them.
Erestor stared up at the man, not able to keep the slight awe off his face.
Aragorn finally shook his head, "Are you all just going to stand there? And what are you staring at?" he glanced behind himself unconsciously.
Erestor shook his head as the King he swore he had seen a moment ago seemed to dissapear into the young man he was used to and quickly pushed his horse forward again.
Silür glanced over at the elf, "What was that? I mean... what just happened?"
Erestor shook his head with a slight smile, "You will understand when the time comes."
The younger elf sighed, "Alright..."
Aragorn smiled as he left the horses with a handful of slightly surprised stable hands and climbing the steps pulled the heavy wooden doors open and lead the six elves inside. He quickly strode down the hallway and knocked loudly on the door.
Ecthelion opened the door and smiled, "Ah, come in Thorongil, thank you for going out to meet them."
"It was no problem whatsoever."
Raenan blinked and turned to stare at Legolas who had stayed with the Steward with Elrond while Aragorn went out to greet them.
The two elves were both smiling, looking quite amused over the confused looks that crossed half of the elves faces upon hearing that Aragorn had yet another name.
Ecthelion chuckled, "Come now Thorongil! You need not act as a guard, calm down."
Aragorn chuckled slightly, "Sorry, I suppose I'm simply a bit nervous."
Adaron stared at the man a moment in confusion before finally realizing who he was, the calmer, less strict look on his face now reminded the elf.
Lindir stood a ways behind them with a slight smirk on his face, of the six elves that just arrived he seemed to be the only one who found this funny in any way.
"Mae govannen hir-nin," he snickered slightly. (my lord)
Elrond leveled him with a quiet stare which quickly shut the elf up.
"Lle ista not ha kwed nad mav-ta Lindir!" Aragorn snickered. (You know not to say thing(s) like that)
Lindir just smiled innocently.
Erestor sighed, he swore that elf was insane.
Appart from Lindir the elves stood with their arms crossed, calmly awaiting to be told what would happen next.
Ecthelion had to admit he was slightly nervous around the elves but he hid it well, "The trial is tomorrow afternoon," he smiled, "I'm sure things will go better now."
"Now?" Celebelen frowned.
"Yes..." Ecthelion shifted, "you see during the first trial-"
"First trial?" Adaron spoke, "why have you already had the trial then? If we were called?"
"I had forgotten that-"
"You forgot that it is against the law to judge one that does not live in your realm without some of their own at the trial?" Raenan growled slightly.
Aragorn cut in when he noticed the Steward's uncomfortable and embarrased look, "That does not matter right now, mistakes were made but the important thing is that they've been fixed as best they could be, you're here now are you not?" he shook his head, "Until tomorrow you'll be staying in the guest rooms."
Ecthelion nodded in slight relief when the elves simply accepted what the man said, their anger seemingly dissipitating with the other man's words. He wondered in slight awe how he had managed to calm their anger so easily.
Elrond smiled at his son before turning and eyeing the three elves that had spoken up in annoyance.
Legolas smiled reassuringly at the elves.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Aragorn grinned as he left the courtroom, that was it, it was over and they were free to go. The man who seemed to have mixed feelings about whether he was guilty or not was finally declared guilty. The difference was that the death penalty had been thrown, it would not be cast again, for fear of mistakes being made and innocent people being killed. Instead he was sentenced to a life in the dungeons.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Elrond sighed slightly as he mounted his horse. It was time for them to head back home now.
Aragorn smiled slightly up at the elf, "Have a safe trip," he muttered quietly.
Adaron quietly pulled the man around, "I have to thank you, I have not had a chance to until now, thanks to you, the Prince and your friend the fire's caused by the dragon had stopped and I was never able to thank you... or apologize for my harsh words."
Aragorn chuckled slightly, "There is no need to thank or apologize, you need not worry."
Adaron smiled slightly and mounted his horse before riding ahead.
Aragorn smiled, "Namárië mellyn-nin, varna," he paused and glanced over at his father, "Namárië adar." (Farewell my friends, (be) safe, farewell father)
The elves smiled at him sadly before turning their horses and leaving.
Aragorn watched them go before slowly turning to stare at the city, a slow grin spreading across his face as he realized he was finished here, "I'm going home," he muttered softly then grinned even further when he though about what Legolas would say when he realized that the cloak Aragorn had so kindly allowed him to take since his had been destroyed was the same one the twins had painted the pink and yellow 'Have a nice day' smiley face on.
The End
A/N
E.K.: Hiz:D I hope you is all havin' a good day! I ish:P Thank you everyone for the great reviews and I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I've posted a one shot as well, it's kinda pathetic... 't is my horrible attempt at a fluff fic... XP lol, but w/e... XP thanxes:P
Nessa Ar-Feiniel - Lol! You seemed oh so sad... "oh no too late," lol:P Hope this answered your questions:P
IwishChan - :P Lol, fortunetly for them it was not too late...
Kalayna - Lol! Oh yesh, I already knew that... Lol! I'm so glad you liked the ending to my last chapter:P (Hope this one was better!) :P
Microchips - ... O.o... :P yes I can! I did:P Lol, EBIL! XP (and is ready to kill you for being sick so long...)
sielge - Yay! You guessed:P XP nopeses... I'm not wanting to kill them... yet... :)
grumpy - Yes he should! Been away too long, he forgot... lol
marbienl - Lol! That they could... Huggles them lol. Yesh, I'm glad you liked it, I really didn't know what else to write and I had to kinda fill it with the songs... XP I didn't want to leave it at six chapters... I don't know why... lol. Yipes... half an hour? That's not fun... XP shudders as well yuck... XP. Lol, I think all three of them could now. :P yes... they'd have to lock him in a closet or something... XP lol, poor live trouble magnet... :P lol.
Bubble-Sheep - lol, I could make them die... but it obviously wouldn't be true to the story line and I love them too much... XP lol.
KAT15 - Lol, you guessed too:P XP I guess it wasn't that hard though was it:P lol, glad you're enjoying it!
tracey - You probably wont be back, so I don't honestly know why I'm writing, but whatever, anyhow, thank you for taking the time to review, I realize I'm not a very good writer but what can I say? It's just something I do because I enjoy it. Thank you for your input though, I'll try to work on making my writing more mature.
discombobulatedcheezeNUSH - Lol, thank you:P I think... O.o
viggomaniac - Thank you so much for your review! I have to admit I was a little down after that but your review got rid of that feeling. :) Thank you for the compliments, they were greatly appreciated along with the encouragement.
Pippin the hobbit-elf - Lol! Shiny:P lol, Have much fun:) Thank you for the review and yes! You're reasoning makes so much sense? I mean, people with hair and two feet just shouldn't die:P lol. I know, I'll cut off their feet... and then kill them! OH! Or shave them:P lol, jk:P
E.K.: Okay! That's it! But you know what? I have to say one more thing here. 'tracey' was speaking of maturity; well leaving reviews like that isn't very mature either, at least my immaturity isn't hurting anyone. Anywho! I hope you all enjoyed it! My little annoyance out now... :P Namarie:P
Elenmeoi
