So, I have learned to stick to my update schedule, aren't you all proud of me? –hears insistent grumbles from readers- I assume not then. So, the reason I am so happy today?

You might say that Masterarcher has successfully kept me walking on a cloud for the next millennia or two:o) Seriously, so, because I am so very happy with Masterarcher I am dedicating this lovely little chapter to her!

So, I have a question for all of you who actually read these notes, and it's not going into much detail. Pick one of the twins. I know hard choice! That's why YOU'RE picking and not me:o)

So, I'm a toad nervous about this chapter, it's my first attempt at –gasp- Legolas emotional angst, I think I rather killed it as well…still worried. So bare with me as I get used to this…on a random note, a very wise man once said: "Keep whips out of reach of fools." Something to ponder as you decide weather or not my villainess is a fool.

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"It is not befitting of a Queen to threaten her guests," Aragorn said once he had regained his breath and his heart had stopped beating quite so fast. Morwen pulled away with a small smile, sheathing her blade.

"One could say the same of guests who sneak away in the middle of the night," Morwen replied.

"Touché, Lady Steelsheen, touché."

"I can not come to help, though I know I should, send me word should you need me and I will leave. I have prepared you some provisions," she smiled softly. "Estel, I would suggest you return whole, your Adar would not be happy with me if I sent you to your death."

"How know you my name?"

"I am certainly not an idiot, it is woman's duty to know much about who comes into her house, or so my husband tells me. It did not take long; you wear the star of the Dúnedain, you look…alike to Elros, from what I had seen in pictures and paintings."

"My Lady, I am far older than you, how did you..."

"Older in years, yes, but older in equivalent? You are no older to me than Legolas is to you. Estel, galu, I will do all I can to aide you in returning Thranduil's son to his halls."

"Hannon le, Steelsheen, one must wonder…how you learned all you know." She smiled.

"Some other time, mellon nin, some other time," she spoke fluently in elvish.

"Farewell."

"Estel, avo faro a phrestad; telitha achen."

"I have learned that to be true, my lady, too true indeed." She smiled softly at him.

"You must go, the guards come; there is a horse in the courtyard for you, an elvish one I am proud to say. No, do not ask me how I found him, just go. All will be explained."

Aragorn smiled softly and nodded, pulling his cloak tighter around him as he slipped onto the empty plains. It was beautiful at night, the full moon shown easily down, and the light, early autumn chill relaxed him. He could see the horse just ahead and gave a low whistle, a sign most elven horses understood.

The beautiful black animal trotted up to him, nosing him gently in the shoulder. Aragorn rubbed the horse softly.

"You will need a name, my friend, what think you of Coru?" The horse snorted and tossed its head. Aragorn chuckled as he patted the horses black coat. He breathed in deeply and mounted, securing his bags to the saddle in a few deft movements. He turned around for a last look at Meduseld, on a small outcropping, a balcony of sorts, stood a pale figure in a white dress. Her hair whipping around in the air. One white clad arm was lifted in farewell, Aragorn raised his own arm. He may not have gone with the blessings of the king, but he went with those of one he held in higher status, the Lady Steelsheen's.

---&---

To say his Lady was angry would have been an understatement. Caireth stood before her advisor with her silver eyes glinting darkly from her too thin face; her red hair circled it like a halo of fire.

"What do you mean 'we can not find the ranger' for I know you were jesting!" she said in a deadly voice.

"M-my Lady Caireth he is-is gone; he must have left in the middle of the night during the changing of the guard!"

"Left in the middle of the night," she repeated blankly, her eyes cold. "Tell me, why was the guard not paying any attention, of course the human left late you imbecile! You didn't expect him to leave in the middle of the day did you!" her voice was bordering on yelling and she worked quickly to get her anger under control. When she had taken several deep breaths she stared down at the man, feeling him shrink before her.

"Find him, do not let them go, or there will be severe consequences, understood?"

"O-of course Lady Caireth!"

"See to it then," she snapped as she stalked out of the room. She moved swiftly over to the tent where she knew the elf was kept.

She yanked the tent door open with so much force it was very nearly ripped off, she spared it barely a glance.

"Caireth," Naerdor said rising.

"Take your leave, lieutenant," she hissed. The man scrambled to do as she bid, that at least made her day worth while, she loved it when people followed her orders.

Legolas for his part wasn't overly excited, in fact, he had the distinct feeling that his day had just gotten a whole lot worse. The girl who stood in front of him was too thing, and her tunic hung around her frame like an out of place blanket. Her eyes were a color that rivaled that of even Aragorn's and her red hair was sleek and seemed deadly, in conclusion, he decided, waves of evil were radiating off her like the rays of the sun. She smiled at him, tightlipped and false.

"Well, elf, I don't suppose Naerdor ruined my surprise, why you are here?"

"He did, terribly sorry," he said with as much sarcasm in his voice as was humanly possible.

"Well then, I shall show you a bit of what we shall do to your ranger for losing my trackers, he will pay elf, and it will be worse than what I am doing to you!"

"You will not lay a hand on him!" Legolas replied. Unnerving worry was like a lead weight in his stomach, her eyes were like silver coals, and it looked to him that she liked nothing more than torture. There was a sick blood-lust in her eyes. Legolas realized with a terrifying start that he was afraid of this maiden.

And with good reason at that, he decided, watching her examine different whips as though it was truly the most important thing in the world. Apparently it wasn't enough that she was getting the chance to severely beat him, no, apparently she also wanted to narrate the possibilities.

"This one," she began, "is a hybrid of sorts, a mix between a snake and a multi-prong, for those of you who aren't master's in whips, it means it's a very snappy whip with lots of leather strips." It went on for quite a while, and soon Legolas found himself almost bored enough to ask her to begin, almost.

After all, he really didn't want to tangle with a healer. Especially the petite blonde from Lothlórien Lord Elrond seemed so fond of, she was small, and younger than the twins, but she had a fiery temper and most of the time you didn't want to not obey her. What was her name again…ah yes, Maendí, the horrible monster of a healer…in fact, much to his own annoyance, she was only 1030!

"Elf, I consider it rude when those who I am speaking to don't listen to me."

"Oh, well, I consider it rude when I am captured, tied to a horse, and oh yes, referred to as elf. So please, excuse me if I am in a rather rude mood," the prince hissed.

He had barely blinked before he felt his head snap to the side. She smiled softly at him.

"Oh, my dear, dear Prince, I believe you do not understand," she began, "you are mine, my slave if it pleases you, but you are mine. No one wants to save you, and that ranger of yours, he couldn't care."

Legolas met her threat with an even glare, he wasn't afraid, of her. And he knew, more than anything that despite her lies Aragorn was coming, and that was what he really feared, dragging his friend into the middle of this mess.

"Thank you for that, informative….information," he replied.

"Even if he does come," she said lazily, "it will be your fault when my master…runs out of uses for him. And then you can watch as I tare him apart, bit by bit," she smiled. "But that's another day, I have you here right now, and shall make use of that." Her grin broadened as she fingered the whip almost fondly. "Another day, another time," she said softly, a wicked glint in her eyes. She raised the whip, a gleeful smile on her face.

---&---

A challenge, a challenge. That was what the man who wrote the letter had said. Aragorn grinned wryly.

This was no challenge.

This was a bloody test of his skills; no mediocre tracker could even have realized there was a track. As it was, he was no mediocre tracker, and he was still having issues. The track was faint at the best points, and invisible at the worst. Of course he thought, somewhat ironically, if I get too confused I could waltz over to the three people who are following me and say "Excuse me, but could point me in the direction of your employer, thanks." Ah yes, that would go over quite well. Aside from nearly uselessly angering Legolas' captors it would put his friend in more danger then he was already in (if that was even possible anyways.) Aragorn decided that if he kept grinning wryly his face would permanently freeze in that position, and while he wanted to do nothing more than continue grinning, he really didn't want to look like that forever. He had been traveling for nearly a day and a half, and even though he hated to admit it, he needed to rest, if he didn't…well, he would be no help to Legolas if he wasn't at least vaguely rested. The thought of sleep made his stomach clench, he didn't want to see the images flash before his eyes…the pain, the death. He shuddered slightly, the thought of his dreams….no, he wouldn't think about them. Now officially in a determined mood (or, as Legolas would have said "stubborn mood,") he looked around, jumped off his horse and glared at the darkening sky. It was time to set up camp. He took out a wafer of whatever it was Morwen had packed him and sat down slowly. His horse nudged his shoulder and he smiled. The horse nudged him again, appearing almost alarmed. Aragorn jumped up in surprise, he heard it too.

"Who goes there?" he called to the empty night, realizing that had probably been a stupid thing to say.

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Okay, so I had my first volunteer thing today. And now that I am sufficiently warm, dry, and smell normal, I am going to go eat some lunch. So, don't forget to PICK A TWIN. I need you answers soon!