Disclaimer – yep I own nothing cept the Moriquendi elves! Hee hee oh yeah and Aragorn's children!
Hey thanks for the reviews…nice to know some ppl like this story!
Trinilee Greenleaf – hey sorry you wont find out who Rian is for a while, so I'm thinking that blackmail is a good way to get people to update…how about if every time you update, I will update (if I can!) correct the white wizard is saruman
To my other reviewers – thanks for making me keep writing this story, there was a long delay between the first two chapters because I was not sure if anyone liked my story but hey people reviewed and now I'm inspired to keep writing it! Reviews do wonders for your self-eestem!
Chapter Three
The dark haired girl tumbled down the stairs. Over and over she fell. Identical faces peeked out from around a corner and cried out in fear before vanishing. Finally the girl came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. She lay motionless, her dark black hair framing her golden skin, brown eyes shut to the world. Thus she lay until Lady Arwen chanced upon her.
King Elessar had been ruling Gondor for fifteen years. He was the proud father of five children and the most loving Ada for one elf maid. He and Arwen had taken in the lone elf-maid when they had found her wondering the halls of Imladris two years after Elrond had left. The twins had informed them that Elrond had taken her in and cared for her. They were happy to look after her but had agreed to let Aragorn and Arwen take her where she would have a healthier upbringing. Growing up with the twins was very unhealthy! So Aragorn and Arwen had taken Deladrieng to live with them. Right now Aragorn was sitting in her room as she slept. His eldest children were surprisingly like his elven brothers in their playful nature. Like his brothers they were twins. Alanna and Aisling. Both had the deep grey eyes of their father and the dark brown locks of him as well. But though they were identical, they tended towards different things. Alanna liked to watch and learn how to use a sword while Aisling was more inclined towards healing. By the time they reached fourteen, both were showing surprising skills in their chosen areas. They were both showing a skill in pranks. Many a time had Aragorn had to apologise to servants and guests for their jokes. But though he knew he should punish them, he found himself wanting to join in. This time it had gone too far. Their latest prank was the cause of Deladrieng lying in her bed. A simple trip wire placed at the top of the stairs. What they had not counted on was for Dela to be running along the corridor. Aragorn smiled softly as he remembered the state of panic the twins had been in when they came racing to his study. By the time he had reached the stairs, Arwen was already there.
Legolas was down on the archery field with Aragorn's youngest daughter. He had been teaching her how to use a bow and was now demonstrating his skill. Though the child was only just eight, she was strong and determined. Her twin brother was of the same build but was not interesting in archery; he preferred the sword and hand to had combat. Even twelve year Earendil liked the sword. Thus it was that little Elyssa became Legolas's favourite child. So it came to be that the time he spent in Gondor was taken up by this small child and her love of the bow and arrow. He could not wait to tell her his news.
"Look Legolas!" cried Elyssa as she waved her bow about.
"Well done Ely, well done!" praised Legolas as he saw she had just got a bulls eye. He scooped her into his arms and swung her around.
"Can you do that to me?" asked Eldarion coming over to them. Legolas smiled as he placed Elyssa down. Then with a loud whoop he snatched up her twin and spun around. Their laughter mingled together in the wind.
"You would make a wonderful father Prince of Mirkwood!" Arwen said as she drifted over to them. Legolas hastily put Eldarion down and turned to Arwen swaying slightly from spinning too much. He smiled and bowed elegantly in her direction.
"And what does this lovely queen wish of us?" he asked mockingly. Arwen laughed as her two youngest copied the elf prince.
"I just want to warn you that you can not leave quiet when you wanted to, Dela has been hurt and will need time to recover before she travels," Arwen paused and looked past Legolas to the younger twins. Both were looking straight at their mother with unblinking blue eyes. A gift they had inherited from their elven side, that and the slightly pointed ears.
"Where is Legolas going?" they asked together.
"No where important!" smiled Arwen knowing that Legolas wanted to tell Elyssa himself.
"What happened to Dela?" asked Eldarion, concern laced in his voice.
"The A's set a trip wire at the top of the long stairs and Dela tripped over it, she fell down the stairs." Arwen explained. The A's was what they called her oldest twins; her youngest were just called El. Legolas smiled when Arwen told him what had happened. He remembered seeing them walking towards the stairs with a long length of wire in their hands, they had been whispering together and had not noticed Legolas walking by. His smile vanished as he caught sight of Arwen's face.
"Honestly Legolas, you are as bad as the children!" she sighed. Then she turned and walked away back up to the palace.
Three days later found Legolas attaching a saddlebag to his horse. Beside his horse stood two more horses. Aragorn had deemed Deladrieng fit to travel and she and Elyssa were greatly excited about going somewhere with Legolas. Little Elyssa was so excited she could not stop talking about it. She would tell anyone who listened that she was going to Fangorn Forest and then on to see Gimli. Only one person was upset over this arrangement. Eldarion wanted to go too. Legolas had spent three hours in a room talking to the youngest son of Aragorn before emerging. Eldarion had come out looking delightfully happy and secretive. When asked what Legolas had said, the child had just smiled.
It had been three days since Legolas, Deladrieng and Elyssa had left. Life was going on in Gondor. At least that is what it seemed to be. Aisling was worried. Aragorn was worried. He was worried about Aisling. Alanna did not seem to be spending much time with her twin and this left Aragorn worried about his eldest daughters. He would often see Aisling wondering the lookout point in bare feet and a long white nightdress. She would often stop and stare out at the fields below. Ever since Legolas had gone, Aragorn had noticed the change in his daughters. So it came to be that while Aisling paced, Aragorn could be found standing watch beside the white tree. On the morning of the fourth day things took a turn for the worst. Aisling seemed to stand looking out for a very long time. Then came an awful scream from her lips. The dark haired twin rushed past her father and down to the gates. Aragorn close behind her. By the time they reached the gates, the guards were just opening them for the approaching horse. With a startled gasp, Aragorn raced outside and past his stunned daughter.
Upon the white horse were two riders. The one in front was small and had pale brown hair while the one behind had black hair and dark brown eyes. Arod raced towards the gates, urgency quickening his pace.
As Aisling watched the horse, she knew her world was about to be tipped upside down. Why had Legolas's horse returned without him and what had happened to Deladrieng and Elyssa? In her heart she knew. The Moriquendi had returned.