Short chapter, I know, but I haven't updated for quite a while, and just wanted you guys to have something new to read while I worked out the kinks of the next major chapter. I hope my character is developing well...let me know what you think! .

Chapter 5

"What on earth do you mean?"came her voice, quiet, yet moved. This had been a most unexpected answer. More lay in this prince's head than what he wished to reveal. Nuriathiel, her eyes wide as opals, observed him with a mix of concern and curiosity in her expression. "Who do you mean?"

"This creature is of far more importance than I would have previously thought." Legolas answered quietly, observing her expression with a inquiring glow written upon his features. His eyes darkening slightly, he continued. "It is someone of great power. Aragorn will not divulge who or what it is. But, I am most certain that there may be another method to gain that knowledge."

"He will not tell you?" Nuriathiel answered, approaching the prince slowly, but carefully. "I had thought he would trust you more than that..." Wrapping her cloak tightly about her, she observed the prince, whose eyes had grown distant. His thoughts seemed so jumbled at the moment, his words a rushing torrent of ideas which he wanted so much to understand and reveal.

"I am not quite sure whether he knows it himself..." The prince answered in their common tongue. "I am most positive that he would have told me, if he could..."

The prince turned away then, slightly surprised as he heard a tread approaching the stables. It was still far away, faint and quiet to most ears within the wood, but audible none-the-less. The prince remained with his gaze upon the entrance, seemingly as if caught between two worlds, unsure of which step he wished to take. It appeared to have alarmed the elven prince, his gait one of defense and surprise, setting her heart to fall. She would receive no answer.

"What do you think is searching this creature out?" Nuriathiel asked, her interest peaked and wishing to be sedated. She stood almost immediately, hurrying towards the prince's side and gripping his shoulder in the hopes of gaining his ear once again. He, in contrary to her insistent voice, ignored her, his gaze fixed upon the door. "Please, answer me!" she said urgently.

"Someone approaches." Prince Legolas answered, turning to face her once again. "Aragorn comes, I know it. Let us leave this conversation at that. Pretend as if nothing has been discussed, act as though you know nothing."

"You leave me at this?" Nuriathiel asked in their native tongue, her voice hinting as though she had been slighted. He shook his head in affirmation, though his eyes said differently.

"Nothing more can be said on this matter, not now." he answered simply in the like. So melodic his voice was, calming and unstrained. "Go now, before you are found out. I should have said nothing. Go by a different road, and hurry home. I will follow soon enough."

Nuriathiel, dropping her hand from his shoulder, took several steps back. Her mouth turned down in a frown as she heard his words. Her voice wished to say something more, to voice her interest in what he had said, but she remained silent on the matter. The prince would not reveal more than he had. It had been an extremely bad stroke of luck for her. Why did Aragorn choose this exact moment? A sudden flash of anger passed through her as she looked to the prince. Pursing her lips tightly, she wrapped her cloak about her, walking hurriedly past the prince before turning to face him once again. "Then I will do as you wish. Until tomorrow, my prince."

Frustration burning within her, and demanding words stinging the tip of her tongue, she willed herself to be silent. After all, she had only just made things right between them, to anger the prince again would be to test her own good fortune. And so, forcing herself to smile, Nuriathiel nodded her head in deference. "Thank you for your confidence." she said simply. Turning away, she moved to leave.

"Counselor." the prince said quickly, remembering to say something more. She turned as he stayed her, her eyes widening slightly in confusion. He did not say anything for a moment, looking past her into the dense wood, and the small beaten path that lay between it. Nothing yet approached, though the tread grew louder with each step.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as she released herself.

"Tomorrow, will you go and see this Gollum? Perhaps you can make sense of what it seems to say. Speak to it, perhaps it will listen." the prince said in their tongue. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"What it seems to say? How will it listen to me?" she asked, as she spoke the old words of their language. It was so familiar to hear, yet so foreign to others.

"Will you see it?" Legolas answered hurriedly. She nodded in answer as he smiled. "I am glad. I will come for you in the morning, you will get your answers then. Now go." he said, waving her away. And leaving him, she disappeared into the darkness, and silver light.