Reviewer responses for Chapter 17:

Deana: Glad you enjoyed! The scene with Thranduil and Gimli was added since my original, lets-post-the-whole-thing episode. Glad I revised huh??!

Mornflower: Always a pleasure to read your reviews and your little 'skits'! How DID Captain Sparrow weasel his way into that!? He isn't in my story skims down the pages to checkNOPE, not there. Enjoy!

Tonianne: WELCOME BACK AGAIN! Glad you liked the last few stories and I'm pleased you think so highly of the story! Thanks for the compliments!

Zammy: Uh...here you are!

Karone Evertree: Nope, not stuck as non-Elf or 'human'! (I couldn't do that to my favorite Elf!!) Glad you liked the Gimli/Thranduil scene!

Chantal1409: Hello again! Here is the more you were wanting to read...

InsanePirate624: YUP...the graceful, seemingly-infallible Elven Prince...stuck in a spider web. HEHE. Thanks for the compliments...I appreciate it very, very much!

Pirate Gyrl: Here is what Aragorn is gonna do about it....hesitatesACTUALLY...just read on...you'll see his plan! (And yeh, poor Legolas!)

Kelsey: You are surviving high school then? Sorry to hear about your gym teacher and the running five miles a day...that doesn't sound too fun! Good luck with that and the 700 page novel. As for your likes in the chapter, that's cool. I had thought of Legolas ever bringing home a spider since I saw a picture drawn of that exact scenario. Interesting thought. As for your questions...not telling, but I can assure you there is a bunch more to go and there is plenty of angst and twists in the plot to go round. Enjoy the post...

Gozilla: Glad that you enjoyed it...here's another one!

Queenshadow: Glad that you were finally able to track the story down, hope you enjoyed the chapters, and here's another one!


Chapter 18: Intentions Revealed

Aragorn sat under a great willow tree, his head buried in his hands, mind reeling with the news Lord Elrond had brought. With child? How can I have been so blind? Why didn't she tell me? Perhaps she didn't know either. Why didn't I see her kidnapping, why didn't I save her?!

Silent tears began to fall. The world wasn't fair; evil was supposed to have been vanquished when Sauron was destroyed. Now his wife and unborn child were in the grasp of a Dark Lord who had accomplished as much, if not more, then Sauron had.

Tears came more freely now, the King's shoulders began to shake and heave with every hitching sob. He tried to stop the onslaught of emotion, but was unable to do anything about it. Better to get it out alone then to have the others see me crying like a child. He took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm his breathing. I will save her. If it is the last thing I do, I will save her.

Aragorn's hand fell to his waist, the hilt of his sword felt good in his hand. He felt he had power; the power to save Arwen. Then his hand brushed another thing at his side. He glanced down, momentarily at a loss as to what he had touched.

His eyes closed and he held back another torrent of tears. Arwen's sword...how it reminds me of her now. He fingered the beautifully wrought elvish weapon, tracing the hilt with his finger. It dawned on him now what should be done with it. Lord Elrond deserves to carry this sword once again, until it can be returned to its rightful owner.

Resolved, he stood hastily and retreated back toward the homely lights of the Green Dragon. To his relief, he had no need to go inside to summon the elf. As Aragorn reached the pub, Elrond stepped out, lightly wiping his hands with an already reddened cloth, Vilya sparkling in the waning sunlight.

"Ada, could I have a moment of your time?" Aragorn did not come any closer, choosing to keep his distance even from his foster father. "I have need to speak with you about something."

The Elf lord did not hesitate a second. He nodded and moved to follow the already retreating form of Aragorn, sighing lightly when he saw the shudder in the man's shoulders. He wondered inwardly what the man would say.

Soon, they reached a willow tree. Here, Aragorn turned to face Elrond. Reaching to his side, he pulled a sword from his belt and Elrond's face fell. "Ada, I give you Arwen's sword to keep once again until the day it can be returned to her." He held the weapon out to the Elf, his hand trembling.

Stepping forward, Elrond could not take his eyes from the sword. It was a chilling reminder that his only daughter was in the hands of the enemy. Not that he needed a reminder, for it would not leave his mind until she was found.

"Estel, I will guard this sword and keep it safe until that day," he took the sword, now looking into Aragorn's eyes. "Until that day when she is safely returned to us and I have the pleasure of returning it to its rightful owner." He hesitated, not sure if he should touch Aragorn or refrain from physical contact. He chose the former and laid a hand lightly on the man's shoulder. "We will find her and save her."

The Elf Lord's voice wavered slightly as his mind flitted to memories of another female dear to his heart that the Orcs had taken captive. Celebrian, his wife, now safely in Valinor, had suffered greatly at the hands of those vile creatures and his heart broke thinking of Arwen in their custody.

Aragorn's eyes darkened and his hand tightened on his own sword. "Yes, we will. I will not let harm come to her while I still have strength to fight."

A wan smile crossed Elrond's face. "It is not our fight to win, Estel. The fight against Graelath will come to Legolas, but we will not let him face it alone."

The man nodded, turning back toward the willow tree, signaling the end of the conversation. Elrond didn't need any further message, he knew Aragorn wanted to be left to his thoughts and right now the Elf Lord found he had few words of comfort anyway.

Sighing lightly, he turned and headed back to the Green Dragon to check on the Gaffer. As he walked through the door with Arwen's sword in hand, Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas all looked at him expectantly. He only shook his head, signaling that he had accomplished nothing in the way of comforting Aragorn.

Elladan and Elrohir frowned. "I wish there was something we could say to him," Elladan commented to no one in particular, drawing the attention of Frodo and Sam, who were seated at the Gaffer's bedside.

The Elf's twin sighed, resting his head on his hand as he leaned on the bed of Gimli, momentarily surprised at himself that he was so close and at ease with a dwarf. But then again, this was Gimli who had been declared an Elvellon {elf-friend} by his own grandmother.

"I don't think anything we say will help him, Elladan." The dark-haired elf, glanced momentarily at Legolas in another bed. "We both love Arwen dearly, but Estel's love is different and he feels guilt at her kidnapping."

Legolas was listening to the conversation. Though he doubted anything he said would have any affect on his friend's feelings, he would not let Aragorn sit and sulk alone. And he resolved that no one was going to stop him this time.

Rising slowly so he didn't jar any injuries, the blonde-haired Elf moved toward the doorway, seeing Elrond move to intercept him. He stopped, looking at the Elf lord with a sigh. Elrond put a hand on his shoulder. "I do not think Estel wants company right now, Legolas. He does not want anyone's sympathy."

Legolas looked Elrond straight in the eye and said grimly. "I do not plan to offer him sympathy, nor do I plan to try to ease his guilt. I simply wish to be there with him, even if means saying nothing to him. I can share his guilt at her kidnapping, we were both there." That said, he shook out of the Elf's grasp and scurried out the door before he could be stopped again.

Galadriel came up behind Elrond and sighed wistfully. "Estel is blessed with loving friends, Elrond. Legolas is right to go to him; he needs support even if he will not ask for or accept it." She turned away, smiling at her grandsons.

Elrohir looked at his brother again. "Legolas is a good friend, if anyone can comfort Aragorn now, he can. They both share their guilt at her kidnapping and they both know what it is like to lose someone dear to them"


Elladan knew that his brother referred to Legolas losing his mother and most recently, his dear sister. They all loved Arwen; they were all grieving in their own ways. The brothers hoped that Legolas could offer some solace to Aragorn.

I hope he doesn't resent my intrusion, Legolas thought to himself as he neared the slouched figure of Aragorn under the willow tree. He was somewhat surprised that the ex-Ranger didn't seem to notice his approach. He laid a hand on the King's shoulder, frowning when Aragorn jumped.

Curse the ability of Elves to be so quiet! Aragorn said to himself. He hadn't even known Legolas had arrived until the Elf had touched him. If it had been an enemy, Aragorn would have been dead before realizing he was no longer alone. I need to get a hold of myself; I can't be so off guard!

He turned to face the newcomer, surprised when Legolas said nothing. The Elf looked at the man for a second, then sighed and glanced up at the swaying branches of the willow tree. "Willows always were calming when I was younger," the prince said wistfully. "I do not see them nearly enough anymore." He said nothing else, sitting himself down on the ground beside the King.

Aragorn looked thoughtfully at his friend, and then he too watched the motion of the tree. "I can see how they could be calming," he said quietly. "But the trees cannot calm my raging mind, Legolas. I can't get over this guilt I feel, like I failed Arwen, I let her be kidnapped. Guilt that I did not know she was pregnant. How could I not know?" He broke off, not sure he wanted to hear what the Elf was undoubtedly going to say.

"Aragorn," Legolas said, pausing until the man was looking at him. "What is done is done; there is nothing we can do to change that now. Stop thinking about what you could or should have done; let us focus on what we will do now." He sighed. "And as for not knowing Arwen was with child...we know why Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel likely knew of it, but you...you have had a lot on your mind lately."

He paused, as if contemplating his words. "Think about it, Aragorn. Not only are you forced to deal with all the pressures placed on your shoulders as King, but then Graelath chose to strike which has brought even more stress into your life. You've been traipsing around Middle-Earth, saving me and my father, riding to Rivendell, Rohan, and then to the Shire...there has been so much going on that it's a wonder we are still sane. Overlooking Arwen's symptoms was easy to do...we all overlooked them, not just you. I do not think Arwen will blame you for anything, mellon nin."

Aragorn said nothing for a few long minutes, and then he straightened up. "You are right, Legolas. I can not change what has happened, but I can plan for Arwen's rescue. It pains me to think of her in the hands of that wizard."

The Elf nodded, but said nothing. Instead, he put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "You are not alone in your grief, though your grief may run deeper than mine. I will not let you bear this burden alone, Aragorn. And neither will the others." He turned until he could rest both hands on the man's shoulders. "Your friends are with you Aragorn; we will get through this together."

A small smile crossed the king's face. "I have no doubt we will, Legolas. The strength of the Fellowship and of the Ringbearers is great. We will prevail." The two sat in silence, looking past the swaying branches of the willow to where the sun finally dipped down past the horizon, giving way to the moon and a peaceful night.


Graelath's Fortress...

The mist was everywhere, shrouding even Arwen's sight. Somehow, the Uruk leader knew where he was going in the low visibility and he dragged the Elf at a breakneck speed toward their destination.

Suddenly, the mist parted and a tall tower appeared on the mountainside. The top was jagged and unnatural, jutting into the dark sky. It was roughly hewn, black as coal and windowless. Arwen cringed at the sight, before turning to gaze at the trees in the distance, knowing that this was the last she would see of the forest for a long while.

"Move it, Elf," cried the Uruk as he tugged viciously on Arwen's arm, nearly tearing the limb from the socket. Arwen cringed and obeyed, grimacing in pain, her vision swimming. Her nausea grew and crested, then subsided as quickly as it had come. The sickness was getting worse.

As the group entered the tower, a majority of the orcs broke off from Arwen and the Uruk, leaving them with a guard of five Uruks; still far too many for the wounded Elf to escape from. "My Master has waited long for this moment, he has had his eye on you for years," the Uruk taunted, unable to hide his hatred of Arwen.

Arwen remained silent, full of trepidation. Graelath has had his eye on me? Why would I interest him? Has he been planning this for that long? She had no idea what the wizard could want with her. Her questions were soon to be answered.

"Queen Arwen Undomiel, long have I awaited this meeting." Arwen's head snapped up, causing pain to lance through her temple. She strained to see in the darkness of the tower, her eyes adjusting to the difference in lighting. They fell on a tall, handsome man. His eyes were black as coal, which was the first thing the Elf noticed.

He wore a black cloak and carried a twisted black staff. If she had to venture a guess, everything he wore and owned would be black. But he was handsome, if not as much as Aragorn.

"I do hope my faithful Uruk-hai and orcs have not harmed you too much, I would hate to lose you so soon after our meeting," he came closer, each step echoing in the hall. "I had hoped we would be afforded much time together."

As he reached her, the wizard moved to brush hair from her face. Arwen backpedaled, falling into the Uruk leader who shoved her forward as if she had burned him. The queen stumbled and would have fallen if Graelath hadn't caught her.

"Now, now, Ruklac, let's not be so rough." Graelath's hand lingered on Arwen's stomach and his smile widened. "We wouldn't want to harm anyone now, would we?"

Arwen's face twisted into a scowl and she swatted the man's hand from her. "Don't touch me wizard, you know not what consequences your actions will accrue," she cried, trying to muster all the strength she could.

To her dismay, Graelath only laughed. "Oh, is that the best you can do Queen of Gondor? I had thought you would be more intelligent than that." He spun on his heel and turned away from her. "I bet you have wondered why I have brought you here. Or perhaps you have not?"

Glad to be free of the Uruk's grasp, Arwen rubbed her raw wrists. "You wish to use me to draw King Elessar from Gondor, to control him by threatening to kill me if he does not heed your desires. All villains are the same, they seek to control through loved ones. It will not work on Elessar; he is a good and righteous King and will not sacrifice a world for me."

He words were bold and her voice unwavering. She truly was a formidable presence when she wanted to be, having lived with her grandmother for so long, ever since her own mother had sailed to the Undying Lands. There were few who dared to stand up to her when she was truly angered. But it didn't seem to faze the age-old wizard in the slightest.

Graelath nodded, but laughed. "Yes, that was my original intent...until a moment ago." He turned back toward her and continued, "Until a moment ago when my mind was made up at the sight of your exquisite beauty and perfect being. And the sensation I felt when touching you."

The Queen was disgusted and she faltered. "What? I do not understand."

She almost didn't want to hear his explanation, but he went on. "You are beautiful, Queen Arwen. I have no doubt you knew this, for you are the fairest of your people... and a fitting bride for the soon-to-be ruler of Middle-Earth. A bride who is already carrying an heir for me."

"I will never be your Queen, you vile, evil, ruthl...." Arwen stopped her irritated tirade. "Heir?" She was speechless, the words slowly, ever so slowly, sinking in. Heir? I am with child? That explains the morning nausea and my moodiness. How could I have missed this?

Graelath obviously realized he had surprised the Queen. "I see my words come as news to you." He stood directly in front of Arwen, staring at her. "Can it be the great King and Queen of Gondor did not know they were soon to be parents?" He laughed again. "Well, no matter, this will work to my advantage. Though, I will have to sire someone to continue my own race, Elessar's child will not be Ethaim."

Arwen cringed at the thought, feeling her nausea increase, although this time it was solely caused by the thought of what the wizard intended to do to her, not from her pregnancy. "You are a sick man, Graelath. I will never submit to you, nor will you get what you desire! Greed will be your undoing in the end." She leveled a steady, intimidating glare at him, locking eyes with him and holding them as she spoke. "Mark my words, you will not come out of this on top!"

Graelath smirked, gesturing to Ruklac, "Oh, if you don't want to cooperate I have ways of making you." He spoke to the Uruk-hai. "Take her to the north turret and see to it she is locked tightly away. And, Ruklac, no rough-housing, I want her to remain beautiful."

Arwen struggled vainly in the Uruk's grasp even though she knew it was useless.

Graelath watched her until she was out of sight, and then spoke slowly. "With child...what a pleasant surprise. And I am certain Elessar and company have learned of this by now, I could not have planned it better myself."