The next morning Fingon came early to Aeroniel's tent and found her waiting for him.
" Good morning, I trust you rested well?"
" Very thank you. Although after all the excitement it took a little time to fall asleep. Besides the fact that a few eflings found it more interesting to run through the tent grounds all night."
Chuckling he offered her his arm and they began to walk slowly to the field where all the horses were kept. Everyone was just being to wake and a few drowsy looking Edain children tumbled out of their tent on their way to wash in the clear pools. They bowed to the Prince and ran off daring each other to jump into the water fully clothed.
" By the way, who won the dancing contest? Maedhros or Maehsos?" Aeroniel asked.
" I think they gave up after they found there was only one girl left and they both couldn't dance with her at the same time so they called it fair. You really should have seen the look on that poor eflleths face as they argued over her. I was afraid she would burst into tears right then and there."
" Oh the poor thing, yet she should feel flattered that she was sought after by two such noble elves. Even if was only a contest." laughed Aeroniel as the horses came into view.
Whistling shrilly Fingon called the herd to the close end of the field. They came thundering over the ridge in a magnificent waves of flying mane and pounding hooves. Reaching the gate they turned and wheeled away and at another single by the Prince they came to a prancing halt.
Stepping under the fence the Prince approached a frisky looking chestnut.
" Isn't that the horse that threw you during the orc attack?" Aeroniel asked coming up the stroke the velvety nose of the beast.
" Yes, but I think he's gotten passed that kind of behavior now. He's a proper war steed now and a little thing like a spider isn't going to frighten this brave fellow is it?" he said rubbing the soft ears and speaking in delicate elvish.
" I should certainly hope not or that creature would be a shame to the mare that bourn it." said another voice and they turned and found Lord Maedhros leaning his giant frame against the rails. After greetings Maedhros inspected the chestnut inquiring " Going for a ride this morning I see. Would you and this Lady care for some company?"
For a moment Aeroniel was tempted say no they didn't want any company, but when Fingon sent her a questioning glance she nodded consent.
Calling his own horse Maedhros vaulted onto the beast, it was nearly as large as he was and Aeroniel wondered if there had ever been a bigger horse.
As if he read her thoughts he smiled " A big horse for an even bigger elf my lady. I'll warrant your own is as tiny and good natured as yourself?"
She laughed as Fingon brought up her mare, it was not the "cow-horse" of previous years, but a calm cream mare. "I would say yes to the first surmise, and no to the second. This little lady has a mind of her own at times and only consist patting keeps her happy. That's true isn't you silly thing." The horse shook her head and whinnied softly.
Saddling her was not hard as the horse was tiny and Aeroniel had learnt long ago that she had to care for her animal to keep a good bond between them. Fixing the bridle and reins Fingon lifted her up into the saddle, thinking that she was not the same skinny adolescent of former years. She was soft and supple and had the figure of a beautiful Edain woman.
Then he looked away as he realized that he was staring rather rudely at her. " Well we'd better be off now I suppose." he said and called Sargon to him. " Now my man" he addressed the horse. " No funny business now when we're riding. We're not in the battle field and we don't buck and rear around the Ladies understand?"
The horse whiffled back and nudged Fingon's shoulder in an impatient gesture. Pulling himself up they rode out and toward a vast plain fringed by the green forests at the foot of the mountains.
For a few minutes they merely conversed on the happenings of the passed evenings merriment. But they were interrupted by the arrival of an small detail guard.
" Oh no." Fingon said in mild frustration.
" What is it?" asked Aeroniel.
" They're coming to escort the Prince, to baby sit him." was the humorous reply from Maedhros.
They detail rode up and the head soldier bowed and spoke." I apologize for not meeting you sooner my Lord I did not know you wished to go out this morning."
" That is quite alright Lieutenant, I did not tell anyone because I did not wish the guard to accompany me. Now you may return to the camp and enjoy yourselves."
The Lieutenant looked like he wanted to do just that, but he said " I cannot do that now my Lord. If you were already gone and we hadn't found you maybe we could have done want you suggest, but now…" He trailed off lamely.
His lips tightened into a thin line the Prince nodded. " I understand, very well come along but keep a distance of at least 300 hundred yards."
" Very well my Lord." and they reined in and waited for the group to make their progress across the field.
" Why on Arda would you have to have a guard when you are such a valiant soldier?" inquired Aeroniel.
" Because of the sudden attacks that sometimes plague this country. I do not fear such an attack or I would have hardly brought you anywhere near it. But my Adar no doubt considers it a precaution."
" I should rather think it was Lady Bethriel sticking her nose into your business again." stated Maedhros flatly. " I still don't understand why you keep the old buzzard around Findekáno."
Fingon sighed " For myself I wouldn't and not for my own pleasure either, but rather for those she has a bad habit of bringing down. " He glanced at Aeroniel and smiling said " You wouldn't find it hard to see the back of her?"
" Well that is a tricky question my Lord, if I said yes then I may be thought of as ungrateful and disrespectful of my caretaker of all these years. However I would be dishonest if I said I wanted her to stay. Therefore I will withhold my council."
Laughing Maedhros turned his horse around and began walking it backward as he kept pace with Aeroniel's mare. " I think you have made a wise choice my Lady, Fingon has been known to corner people with similar tactics. Therefore I applaud your neat side step."
Fingon looked mildly offended at this. " I don't like your tone Maedhros, are you trying to steal the loyalty of my fair companion?"
A sneaky expression came over Maedhros's face and he took hold of Aeroniel's hand and kissed it extravagantly. A gasp of surprise came from the following guard and Maedhros rolled his grey eyes and asked " Findekáno what say you? Do you think we should "ahem" lose the faithful guard?"
" I think that we should do so forthwith." agreed the Prince who gently pulled Aeroniel's hand away from his large cousin. " Can you gallop?"
" Yes!" Aeroniel agreed as a little thrilled went up her arm and down her back at the touch of the Prince's hand.
" Very well, Maedhros I'll give you the nod and we'll separate meeting up in that farther cluster of trees."
" With pleasure!" and suddenly he broken away with a wild cry and began a fats sprite across the field his long copper hair streaming out behind him.
The guards looked startled at this sudden behavior, but since the Prince was still there they remained. Besides there no telling what a Feanorian might do.
Fingon leant over and whispered. " Now my dear when I say, pull your mare up and ride after me as hard as you can. We'll lose them in the trees understand?"
" Right, just don't lose me as well." she said and after a few more feet of plodding walk they burst into a canter and then a gallop and before the surprised guards had time to react they were disappearing into the dense tree line.
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" So Ronny what's your plan of action?" asked Bill now attired in his normal jeans and t-shirt.
" I am going to call the district office and find out what I can about this Samuel Anderson. I figure that he's got to have some dirt on him that we can use to edge him out. I wasn't due to leave until June anyway." Ron sipped another cup of the bitter tea.
Bill fiddled with his mug a minute and looked off into the distance a second before answering. " You know Ron I have to warn you that we're not dealing with a jerky guy here. This is like evil con-evil here. Next to Morgoth there has never been a more wicked and twisted power."
" What about Hitler?"
" He was just a man with a big army and ego. This guy has supernatural evil on his side. We can't just go and have him fired! He'll the worlds best liar I might add and can smooze his way out of any situation."
Running his hand through his hair Ron sighed " So since you shot my idea's out of the air how about you come up with something?"
Bill smiled and leaned back in his chair balancing on the back two legs. " I thought you'd never ask."
" I look at it this way, if we're fighting someone supernatural we going to need someone with simlier powers right? Okay now I know you're wonder where you would find such a person?"
" Yeah I mean it's not exactly like you can put an ad in the paper that says " Needed: Valar willing to fight evil warlord." said Ron .
" No of course not. But I do know a way to get in touch with something as good. What would you say if I could bring a real Ainur to help take him out?"
" And just where do you propose to find such a person?" asked Ron dryly.
The doorbell rang at that moment and Bill slammed his chair to the ground and said " Be back in a sec that'll be him."
Following his friend into the front room he watched as Bill embraced the man standing in the doorway. Because the sun was behind the man Ron couldn't make out his features.
" Ron I didn't like you to meet our much needed Ainur, Ron meet my dad Maehsos."
Ron's jaw dropped as the man came toward him and Ron saw the perfect even features of the elf from Aeroniel's portfolio. The same carroty hair and bright, bright blue eyes he even had his hair in the braid down his back.
He held out his right hand a bit stiffly and said in slightly accented English " You have no idea how long I've wanted to meet you Ron."
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Dear Reader/Reviewers
Mwhahahahhaha! Evil cliffhanger once again! Review if you want to know more! Short chapter I know but all I can squeeze out right now. Thank you all for your support and encouragement I really needed it.
It's hard to love something like LOTR and know that you can't really share it with your family. But at least I have you guys! Love always.
Jaffee.