A/N: Before we begin, sorry for the long wait. This was a MAJOR pain in the ass to write because the muses were being a bit rebellious. Also, apologies to any who wanted to see Legolas ride to the Black Gate but we just didn't see that happening. Aragorn would never let Legolas go with the Host after the injury at Helm's Deep and that whole 'Oliphaunt Surfing' stunt on the Pelennor. Besides, we had something else in mind for the little princeling and there was a specific scene we wished to use later that just wouldn't have worked if Legolas had gone with Aragorn. If it's any consolation, though, Boromir is the one taking Legolas' place at Aragorn's side. Doesn't that make up for it a bit?

On another quick note, this chapter is written from the perspective of those waiting in Minas Tirith, simply because we loathed the thought of writing out another battle.

Now, come. Join us once more in our little fantasy land...

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Chapter 37

TA 3019 March 15, Afternoon to Early Evening

Minas Tirith Stables

"You promised Ada you would stay here."

Legolas shook his head as he led the way into the Citadel stables, "No, I said I wouldn't ride to the Black Gate."

It was Farothen's turn to shake his head, "It's the same thing."

"No," Legolas repeated, "I am not riding to the Black Gate."

Farothen sighed, "Adar..."

"Farothen." Legolas said in the same abject tone.

Suddenly feeling like a beleaguered father Farothen narrowed his gaze, "Are you mocking me?"

Legolas gave an injured huff, "I wouldn't think of it."

"You are," Farothen argued, seeing the humor in the situation, "Who's the son here?"

Leading Arod out of his stall Legolas threw the half elf an all too innocent look, "Well, you are of course."

"Exactly. So why am I the only one retaining his sanity?" Farothen asked.

"Nonsense, Farothen, I am perfectly sane." Legolas said, looking for all the world like a drunken hobbit high on weed.

Shaking his head Farothen rolled his eyes, "If you're so sane why did you have me put that braid in Boromir's hair?"

"Now I already told you, Farothen," Legolas sighed, "Aragorn doesn't know. Neither my father nor I wear it, and we are the only ones with the right to do so...I mean, besides you, Boromir and Estel."

Farothen heaved a sigh, "My point is you promised Ada you wouldn't..."

"Ride to the Black Gate. I am not riding to the Black Gate." Legolas repeated once more, seriously debating writing it out, for Farothen was obviously not getting it.

"Alright, so you say you aren't. Then you won't mind taking Haldir with you." Farothen challenged.

"Haldir?" Legolas asked.

At the same time, from a stall at the end of the row where he'd remained unnoticed up until then, Haldir stood up and gasped, "Me!"

"Yes," Farothen nodded, "Adar, you are not leaving the city alone. Haldir, you are the only one with the experience to keep him in line. You both go or no one goes."

That said the half elf turned and walked out of the stables. The two elves regarded each other for a moment.

"I'm going." Legolas insisted.

Haldir sighed, "I should start my own nursery. I've become the designated nurse maid anyway."

Legolas grinned, "So we're going?"

"Yes," Haldir replied snippishly, "Valar forbid we should stay. Your pouting would drive me to drink in seconds."

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Fifteen minutes later Farothen stood at the far point of the ship's keel courtyard silently watching his adar and Haldir ride out the shattered gate seven levels down. He sighed, he'd actually thought the Lorien elf would hold out and refuse to go. That was why he'd said the elder elf had to go with Legolas in the first place. Yet, somehow, he wasn't really surprised Legolas had gotten his way once again.

Farothen straightened up and turned around when he heard someone approaching. Upon seeing Faramir he gave a small half bow and murmured, "Good afternoon, Lord Faramir."

The man gave a dismissive wave, "Ah, none of that. We are family after all, are we not?"

"Yes, I guess we are, Lor...Faramir." Farothen agreed.

Faramir nodded, "Well, you are married to my brother."

"Yes, I am." Farothen agreed once more, tilting his head, "What is on your mind, L...Faramir?"

There was a beat of silence before Faramir drew in a deep breath and looked Farothen in the eye, "What happened the day my father died?"

Farothen blinked, trying desperately to think of a reply. Unfortunately, all he managed was a somewhat unintelligent, "Uh..."

"I need to know." Faramir insisted, "What does everyone not want to tell me?"

Sighing Farothen met Faramir's gaze, "Are you sure you do not wish to hear it from Boromir?"

Faramir shook his head, "He will not tell me. Besides, you saw his reaction last time. I will not do that to him again. Please."

Farothen gave a small relenting nod, "What do you wish to know?"

Everything." Faramir replied, "Why was I on a pyre? Did my father look at me with love before..."

"I don't know much. Boromir and I only got there in time to see Gandalf..."

The half elf paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "Den...your father was attacking Pippin for 'taking you from him'. Gandalf urged Shadowfax to kick him back to save Pippin."

"Onto the burning pyre." Faramir whispered seeing the blurry flash of a memory.

Farothen nodded, "Like you, Denethor was soaked in oil. For a moment he looked at you with a father's instinct and whispered your name."

"With love." Faramir half sobbed.

Again Farothen pulled in a fortifying breath, "Then he caught fire and fled."

Faramir closed his eyes as his mind filled in the rest, showing him flashes of vague memory. Gandalf passively watching Denethor run out.

A shuddery sigh escaped the younger man, "So Gandalf killed my father."

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Somewhere with Legolas and Haldir

Anorien perhaps

"Have you ever thought about how weird your name really sounds?"

Haldir blinked at the sudden question. He and Legolas had been traveling for several hours now and up until then nothing had been said between them. He looked at the younger elf, head tilted slightly in question.

"Are we talking names in general?"

Legolas shook his head as if it was obvious, "Of course not. I mean your name...Haldir."

"Huh?"

"Well, think about it." Legolas continued innocently, "Hal-deer. It just sounds...weird. Besides, the meaning is even stranger. I mean, 'hal' with one L. Shortened from 'hall' with two L's perhaps...meaning 'exalted'. Then 'dir' meaning 'adult male'."

"Hal' can also be taken to mean 'hidden', 'veiled' or 'shadowed'." Haldir said.

A moment of silence passed as Legolas thought about that. Finally he shook his head, "No. That does not work. You are not hiding, nor do you wear a veil, and you are not shadowed in any way."

"Ah," Haldir nodded, "It could also mean 'high'."

"So you are a 'high adult male'?" Legolas asked then shook his head again, "No. It just doesn't have the right ring to it."

He regarded Haldir out of the corner of his eye, "Though, I don't think 'exalted' quite fits either."

"Oh, and 'Greenleaf' fits you perfectly." Haldir drawled.

"Well," Legolas started, as if the strangeness of his own name had never occurred to him before, "It does sound a little girly, now that I think about it. At least it doesn't sound weird when you say it as it was meant to be said. In the Silvan dialect."

"Okay, speaking of that," Haldir started, "Why is your name of the Silvan dialect yet you are a Sindar elf?"

Legolas looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging, "Not sure. Maybe my naneth was Silvan. I never met her so she could very well have been. But really, most of the elves of Mirkwood are Silvan."

Haldir teeter-tottered his head slightly as he relented, "Okay you have a point there. On the bright side, 'Greenleaf' does sound better in the Silvan dialect than it would in either Sindarin or Quenya."

"Thingol was said to have outlawed Quenya in the First Age, after the Kin-slaying, anyway." Legolas retorted, "At least he did in his lands."

Before Haldir could reply to that Legolas once again continued, "But we were not discussing that. We were discussing your name."

"Can we not discuss someone else's name? Like Aragorn for instance." Haldir half complained, "It means 'Impetuous royal'."

"But it fits him. He is very impetuous." Legolas argued, "We were discussing how your name does not fit you."

"I think I am very 'exaltable'." Haldir replied.

"Exaltable? Is that even a word?"

The Lorien elf sighed, bringing a hand up to rub the bridge of his nose. It was going to be a long, long trip.

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Minas Tirith

King's Garden

The worst thing about waiting for word from the army was having nothing to do and going somewhat insane.

Farothen's solution to this dilemma was to horde Gondor's supply of strawberries and sneak into the King's Garden to snack on them. The view of the Pelennor, though still showing the signs of battle to the east, was both relaxing and breathtaking to the north. At the same time it got him away from the depressing atmosphere of the House of Healing.

'I need something to go with these strawberries,' he suddenly thought to himself.

"How about whatever I have in this picnic basket," a voice said from behind the half elf.

Farothen whipped around, while remaining seated at that, to see Faramir approaching with a picnic basket. His new brother-in-law took the responding silence for consent and seated himself with the basket between them.

"I didn't realize I'd spoken out loud," Farothen said.

Faramir shrugged, "Maybe you did and maybe you didn't. I've always had the Numenorean gift of vision, but I seem to be more sensitive now that I'm carrying my son."

The half elf grinned, "Your son, huh? What makes you think you're carrying a boy?"

The younger man got a warm look on his face as he brought out a jar of honey from the basket, "I saw a vision of a little boy with blond hair and blue eyes when I was hovering between life and death."

Farothen used Faramir's momentary distraction to dip one of his strawberries in the honey.

"Hey!" Faramir protested, "Don't get any seeds in my honey!"

"Of course not." Farothen replied with an impish grin, "If these are the cravings I'm getting this early on I hate to see how weird they're going to get later."

The two sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying their picnic, before Faramir broke the silence, "So, I'm going to be an uncle around the same time as I'm going to be a father?"

"Actually," Farothen corrected with an evil grin, "You're going to have a chance at being a mother before an uncle."

Faramir's mouth dropped open in shock, then he unexpectedly burst out laughing, "Oh that was low!"

"You spend some time around my fathers and Boromir you learn some cheap shots." Farothen responded.

"I can't vouch for Aragorn and Legolas, but you're right about Boromir," Faramir agreed, "And what makes you think I'll have my baby before you?"

"Because I'm half elf and elves carry for a full year." Farothen said with a shrug, "Besides, Ada is full human and he carried me for ten months."

Faramir winced, "Glad I'm not an elf."

Farothen chose to nibble another strawberry instead of dignify that with a response. After a moment he said, "For some reason Boromir seems to think our child is a girl...and I'm the one carrying it!"

Faramir snorted, "Yeah, right. Hurins don't have girls."

"Tell that to my husband."

"To the man who was actually dense enough to marry someone with a name so similar to his own brother's?"

"Hey!" Farothen replied, "As long as he doesn't get our names mixed up in the bedroom, I don't care."

"Farothen, why did you have to put that image in my head!" Faramir groaned.

"I have an even worse image for you head." Farothen said with another evil grin, "I look almost exactly like one of my fathers."

"Oh, you're right, that is a worse picture." Faramir agreed, "Poor Aragorn."

"Ai, Valar, I hope Ada's line of thought never wanders in that direction."

"Don't worry about it," Faramir suggested, "Aragorn seems way too protective of you to ever think of you that way. He probably sees you as more of a reflection of the one he loves."

Faramir's voice held a wistful note that Farothen picked up on with some concern, "You seem you have more regrets toward your father that actual anger."

Faramir barely nodded, "Despite the problems that I had with Father I still wish I had been honest with him about my relationship with Eomer."

"Well, if it makes you feel better," Farothen started, "Your regret is still my burden. Ada still doesn't know Boromir and I are married...let alone that I'm pregnant."

A moment passed as Faramir froze at that bit of information before turning to Farothen with a silly grin on his face, "Can I be there when you tell Aragorn?"

Farothen threw his hands up in the air, "Why does everyone always ask that!"

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Somewhere with Legolas and Haldir

Along Rohan's border maybe

Three days out of Minas Tirith Legolas and Haldir unexpectedly met up with Thranduil's small escort from Mirkwood. Legolas slid from Arod's back and landed lightly in front of his father as the elder elf approached.

Delightfully surprised Legolas hugged his father asking, "What are you doing here, Ada?"

Thranduil smiled a bit secretively, "A little bird informed me I would be wise to ride to Minas Tirith."

"But what about Mirkwood?" Legolas persisted, "Surely you did not leave our people leaderless."

"Of course not." Thranduil gently chided as if it should have been obvious, "I do have a steward and a Brigade Commander. Together they can handle things. I simply decided some things are more important than a mere kingdom."

There was a pause as Thranduil held Legolas at arms length and looked him over to satisfy his fatherly instinct to make sure his elfling was unhurt, "I'd lose my kingdom in a heartbeat if it came down to a choice of you or Mirkwood. Now..." He lifted his gaze back to Legolas', a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Would you care to explain why there is a little more to you now than there was when you left home six months ago?"

Legolas glanced down at his belly as he stammered, "Well, I...um...you see...that is I...uh...Surprise?"

The last came out a bit higher pitched than normal and Thranduil chuckled, "Come, you can rest and eat in my pavilion while you tell me about all that's happened the last few months."

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"You have a fully grown son?" Thranduil gasped as he watched to make sure Legolas ate everything on the plate he'd been given.

Legolas swallowed the bite in his mouth, nodding, "His name is Farothen. He looks like me but with Estel's coloring, save his eyes...which are mine. I've mentally kicked myself many times for letting the gulf between Estel and I go so long...I could have been there...I should have...when my son was born. All his firsts I missed."

Instinctively knowing a topic change was needed because the current one was obviously painful for Legolas, Thranduil motioned to his son's swollen belly, "But you've been given a second chance. I'm assuming, of course, Estel was involved in the creation of the little one you carry now."

In the next moment Thranduil got his first glimpse of his son's unexpected mood swings as Legolas threw up his hands, plate and all, and huffed, "Well, of course he is, Ada! I didn't pine for 38 years just to take another lover now!"

Thranduil blinked, seeing in his mind's eye, not his son, but Legolas' mother. Irrational mood swings...apparently...were hereditary.

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A little A/N explaining the translations of Haldir and Aragorn: As was said earlier...

Hall: 1. Hidden, veiled 2. Exalted, high, shadowed (Sindarin)

Dir: An adult male of any race (Sindarin)

Ara: High, noble, royal (Sindarin)

Gorn: Impetuous (Sindarin)

Now, whether any of these names were meant to be translated in Quenya (which is possible but as it says in the Silmarillion that Thingol outlawed Quenya in his lands I doubt it) we used Sindarin translations from the Dictionaries on the Council of Elrond site The definitions may not be right on but they were as close as we could get them. Neither of us pretends to speak Elvish fluently, as I'm quiet sure not many (if any) fanfic writers can. DO NOT challenge us on our translations here unless you can place strict proof in your review. Even then, this is merely for fun, we really couldn't care if we have something a little wrong, so you'd be wasting your time, not ours.

Ah, before I forget...

Naneth: Mother

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Now, for our replies to reviews...

Naltucien Arnatuile (Rodwen Blaire): No, we are not going to kill Bori. We both love him too much, plus, we just went through a lot of trouble to keep him alive. Besides, we have plans for him later. The reason(s) we killed off Eowyn are somewhat simple, if perhaps a little self-serving. We had no real idea what to do with her from that point in the story on. Plus, we didn't really wish to go into another explanation of a relationship explaining her. Also, we were both of the opinion that someone had to replace Boromir (at least) since we kept him and Haldir alive and this story is primarily movie verse. As for Legolas getting his jam...I'm sure he will eventually. I hope this answers your questions sufficiently. Regarding your review for chapter 5, as we've said before, our free time has decreased drastically. You just have to be patient with us. We do have lives beyond writing fanfiction.

Lana G: As we explained in the A/N at the beginning of the chapter, we just didn't see Aragorn allowing Legolas to ride to the Black Gate with how things had been going lately.

Msel: This chapter answers your question. Yes, Legolas did let Aragorn go to the Black Gate without him, but he is far from being a completely good little elf.

Breon Briarwood: Please, have patience. Aragorn will find out about the marriage sometime in the next few chapters after things have calmed down once the war ends.

ak-stinger: Nope, Aragorn didn't about the braid. Glad you liked the Palantir scene and the one between Boromir and Faramir.

Arch-Nemesis: As I said, up there, see, that last review? Okay, now that you've looked, Aragorn didn't know. He really doesn't know all that much about Mirkwood's traditions, only about her prince. Hope you continue to enjoy the following chapters.

Angel of the Night Watchers: We'll tell Aragorn soon, I promise. As for Eomer, he'll probably find out about his new role sometime after the war is won.

Okay, I think that's all the questions. If I missed any, let us know.

Thanks again for all the reviews.

Becky and Brina

P.S. – Before we close this chapter completely, we'd just like to mention, we know it sucks waiting for updates, we all have our favorite stories that we hate waiting for. We do our best to get these chapters written, but our lives outside fiction come first. Just be glad we haven't given into our occasional temptations to go on hiatus.