A/n: hey a chapter! I am so horrible. I think I'm just in a rut point in the story and that's why I'm having problems…but don't fret … if there is anyone left reading the story to fret…I'm still making headway, it's just slower than I intended.
This chapter is chock full of romantic goodness…okay maybe not, but it does strengthen some up and coming ties and binds. Let me know what you think.
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Piccolo had left the talan nearly at the same time the sun was heaving its weight over the horizon. The night had been long, and his meditation was filled with images of Legolas, sitting quietly with that small smile. Then the fair elf would melt away and Gohan would take his place, reclining in a field of timothy grass with the ever-famous Son grin stretched across his face. Then a deep shadow would cross over him, and Gohan would look up in surprise, his happy face falling into fear. Piccolo had shaken himself awake at least three times in the night, panting, and soaked through with cold sweat and a gnawing panic in his guts. He didn't know if something was happening back on their Earth or if his subconscious was just manifesting his worry of not being able to return and protect the single being that had saved his soul.
It was getting to the point that whenever he even closed his eyes to rest his heart would leap into his throat for fear of what his mind would dredge up. It wasn't so much the images, but the fact that he couldn't do anything to set them at ease. He couldn't exactly wish himself home to see if Gohan was okay, or bring Gandalf back from the dead to help Frodo's broken heart.
Sighing, Piccolo leaned into the tree he was seated under. The back of his tunic was soaked from the dewy ground and he cursed softly, right now he would rip out one of his antennae just to be able to levitate. He could hear the Anduin roaring and even see it sparkle in the new light some ten yards through the trees. Normally he would have perched along the bank in some nook, but the oak was comfortable enough and he didn't feel like meditating.
Piccolo snorted, how would the others react if he had told them that. A crackling of leaves and snap of twigs to his left, Piccolo turned his head and saw a bobbing head of messy black hair. Before he even had time to roll his eyes and look away, Goku entered a small clearing and tripped over a large root. Vegeta was laughing when he followed, they both didn't seem to notice Piccolo plopped in suitable leisure. Sighing, Piccolo stood, not wanting to be near the two saiyajin at the moment, especially if they were headed to the river to bathe.
Tipping his head into the breeze he listened quietly to the trees as the whispered amongst each other. He didn't understand a word of what they said, he assumed they were speaking some form of elvish or even some tongue that was even more ancient to the world. He followed the breeze, gazing into the canopy of leaves as they began to glow with the morning light.
A small whisk of air blew across his neck, Piccolo whirled with fists balled tightly. The land around him was calm, the trees still tittered softly and slowly Piccolo let himself relax. He had taken no more than three steps when the back of his mind prickled in alarm and he spun in a blur to the right, his hand snatching out. There was a crack in his fist and he glared at the object in his hand, it was an arrow. He ground down on the piece of wood and it crumbled into splinters.
Piccolo whirled again, the whispering trees forgotten as his hearing piqued and the entirety of his body wound as tight a spring. He could feel someone there but he wouldn't allow himself to call to them, if they had been sneaky enough to get this close without him knowing he wouldn't risk them moving again while he bellowed out cover. There was a noise, no more than a catch of breath but it was enough.
There was blur again as the green bulk grew invisible to the naked eye and with a grunt a solid body was pinned tightly to the trunk of a thick willow. Piccolo's lips were pulled into a snarl and he could feel all the muscles in his shoulders bunching and releasing in ticks as they strained to stop his fist from pummeling his captive.
The face of his attacker was ground into the bark of the tree, Piccolo holding him by the back of the neck. After a moment, Piccolo's anger faded a little and he saw through the fuzzy red outline of his vision that it was an elf he held pinned.
Letting go, Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest and frowned deeply, his antennae swaying as he backed up a pace. The elf turned and smirked smartly up at the Namek, pushing a stray lock of pale blonde hair from his face and rubbing the raw strip of his cheek. Haldir straightened his tunic and mimicked Piccolo's stance by crossing his own arms over his chest plate armor.
"What do you want?" Piccolo growled, his voice a little more gruff than he had intended, but with the turn of events he didn't honestly care.
Haldir regarded him with pale eyes for a moment. "The news of your strength and speed has spread among the troops of Lorien, I merely wanted to see if they were true or a mouth full of lies."
Piccolo snorted. "You could have asked." He nodded his head toward the river now farther behind him. "Goku would have shown you."
"Perhaps. But the true test of a warrior is in a moment of surprise. The enemy does not ask for permission to attack before leaping into battle." Haldir grinned and Piccolo felt it didn't quite fit the march warden's face.
Piccolo grunted in response. They walked quietly toward the city before a thought caught Piccolo's attention. "If it was only a test, why did you shoot an arrow at me? Why not simply by me?"
Haldir cocked a thin eyebrow. "It would not have killed you. My aim is true. It would have struck you in the shoulder." When Piccolo looked down at him sharply Haldir's grin returned, "It would have only been a glancing blow."
Piccolo snorted but a small, lopsided grin wormed onto his face anyway. As they reached the limits of the city, a large handful of elves stood to the side, watching the two as they walked side by side. Haldir nodded almost imperceptibly at them and they began to murmur to each other. Piccolo didn't have to ask what it meant, he knew that Lorien must have been waiting for the march warden to return to tell them whether the strangers were as fast as they had been told.
The two paused in the middle of the city, the bustle of the day just picking up pace. Piccolo looked into the trees again, he didn't think he would ever grow tired of looking at them. But the Fellowship had to be moving on. Even if he wanted to ignore the slippery black coil of evil that was growing steadily in his mind, the evil wouldn't just go away. Much like Vegeta had felt, the eerie underscore of coming danger was pulsing, and Piccolo could feel it grow the farther they went.
A familiar blond head bobbed through the throng of elves, many of those he passed smiled politely and stepped from his way. Legolas was scanning the crowd when his eyes fell on Piccolo and Haldir. The two were talking quietly, Piccolo with a tiny smile. Legolas' stomach clenched momentarily and he blinked choosing to ignore it. He paled slightly as he walked to them, his pace slowing. He had slept easy enough during the night, but his usually dreamless sleep had been riddled with images of the Namek. Most of them were sullen enough, times they had kept pace with the group, others when they were seated in silence.
The other images bothered him to no end, they all started simple enough, a scene of battle where the air was electrified with tension. Legolas would look over his should and beam at Aragorn and Gimli before he bellowed out his kill rate. Behind them he could see Piccolo as the Namek began running toward a group of warriors that looked no more than a pack of boys. An echoing boom made his ears ring and Legolas whirled in time to see a stream of Orcs running through the fortress wall, a pack of them were headed directly for Piccolo and the children. He drew arrows from his quiver, dozens of them raining down onto the charging beasts but it didn't slow them. He yelled out for the others to help but he saw Piccolo breaking necks and getting swathed in blue-black blood before a cerated edge drove deep into his chest and he fell. Legolas reached into his quiver but it was empty and he watched in horror as the Namek struggled, purple blood running in streams…
Legolas shook his head to clear the dream from his mind. All during the night, one bloody scene after the other had plagued him. But they were only dreams and he wouldn't let them get to him.
Haldir nodded his head as Legolas approached but a feeling of unease radiated from the regal elf and he frowned. "How are you fairing this morning, Legolas son of Thranduil?"
Legolas smiled lightly, but it had done nothing to alter the apprehension on his fair features. "Well." He looked up at Piccolo, the Namek was watching him oddly and Haldir looked between the two and felt as though he was missing some part of the story.
Haldir cleared his throat and the two looked immediately at him, almost thankful of the reprieve. "I will leave you two to your day. I must take up my duty. If I do not see you before you leave, fair well on your journey." Legolas thanked him and watched as the march warden disappeared into the crowd.
Piccolo felt an incredible urge to fidget but masked it by taking up his defensive posture. "You didn't sleep well." It wasn't a question, so Legolas only looked up at him a moment and didn't answer.
Several minutes of silence stretched, and instead of it being the normal comfortable quiet, Legolas struggled with himself to find something to say to break the monotony. "Did you meditate well during the night?"
Piccolo grunted but said nothing. The silence stretched again and Piccolo found himself purposefully looking at everything except the Elvin prince. Aragorn was walking toward them and they both released a small sigh of relief—they both had heard the sound from the other and for a second wondered what was wrong before passing it over.
"We'll be leaving soon. You should pack your things and gather some provisions." Aragorn smiled warmly at them before his eyes narrowed. "Are you both feeling well?" Piccolo nodded and Legolas assured him that he was fine. Aragorn turned to Piccolo, "Have you seen your friends?"
"They've gone to the river to clean up. They should be back soon, I don't think they've eaten." Piccolo informed him, and just as Aragorn nodded they could hear the saiyajins crashing through the tree line, Goku laughing like a child while Vegeta chased him with a look of pure death on his face.
Goku tried to plead with the Ouji as he ran, but it came out in a giggling stutter. "Com'on 'Geta. *heheh* I-haha didn't mean –hehaaha anything." Vegeta however didn't appear to be listening, if they had use of ki, Piccolo was certain he would see a final flash building in the saiyajin's palms.
Aragorn watched them, his mouth slack and hanging in a gape. Piccolo sighed and excused himself, following the others up into the talan, leaving the shocked crowds of Lorien to their confusion.
When Piccolo made it to the room, Goku had calmed himself and was wringing water from his hair. Vegeta was back to the room, glowering into the corner. "What was that all about?"
Goku looked up and smiled wide at Piccolo. "Oh hi Piccolo. What was what about?" Piccolo motioned to Vegeta and Goku suppressed another peal of giggles. "We were just getting cleaned up and Vegeta started complaining about how cold the water was, then about not having any soap and I told him he sounded like Bulma." Vegeta huffed in the corner.
Piccolo rolled his eyes. "I thought you might have told him he looked good naked."
Vegeta went rigid and turned in shock, his eyes wide. Goku scratched his head. "Why would I say that?"
A small blush creeped onto Vegeta's cheeks and Piccolo felt a small pang of guilt, but it passed quickly. "Never mind, Goku." Piccolo picked up his satchel and rummaged through it, making a mental list as he went. "We're leaving soon. You should pack your stuff."
Goku's mouth fell open. "But I haven't even eaten yet!"
"Relax, Goku. Hurry up and pack, then eat." Piccolo sighed as the saiyajin began to fly across the room, scooping up his stray items and stuffing them haphazardly into his bag. Vegeta still kept his back to the room and Piccolo sat down a few feet away.
"Look, Vegeta, Goku isn't simple he's just naïve." Piccolo didn't look at the Ouji, and he talked low so that only Vegeta would hear while Goku was busy in a near panic. "You have to tell him, cut and dry. If you're waiting for him catch on, you'll be dead for twenty years before he gets it."
Vegeta turned with a hiss. "You don't know what you're talking about Namek. You should keep you nose out of places it doesn't belong."
Piccolo grunted and watched as Vegeta stalked toward Goku and forcefully sat the younger saiyajin down. He spooned out a large bowl of food and handed it to him. Goku beamed and began to eat quickly while Vegeta overturned the man's bulging satchel and neatly folded the items and replaced them inside in an orderly fashion. Piccolo shook his head and closed his eyes.
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Bulma was just waking up when a small knock on her door forced her to stop rolling over and ignoring the sunlight that peeked in through the heavy curtains. She grumbled as she kicked the covers back and rubbed at her eyes. She pulled the door open a crack and saw Arwen smiling sweetly down at her.
"Good morning, Lady Bulma.
May I speak with you?" Arwen's
eyes flicked down the hall before returning to Bulma's shadowed face. Smiling sleepily, Bulma pulled open the door
and Arwen dropped her eyes. "I didn't
realize you were not dressed, I'll come back later."
Bulma held up a hand, "Oh please, I usually sleep with way less than this. Come in, I'll get dressed while you tell me what's going on."
Reluctantly Arwen entered and sat down on a plush chair while Bulma stretched and stepped into the bathroom. Her voice echoed out of the room and Arwen smiled at how friendly the woman was. "So? What's going on?"
Arwen ran her fingers through her hair and thought for a moment. "Latinelin said you were a good listener, I was just hoping I could speak to someone without it getting around to the others."
Bulma's blue head poked out of the doorway, "Well, you have my word I won't tell anyone without asking you first. Unless I need to bust in some heads." Bulma grinned and Arwen let out a small peal of light laughter.
"It's about love." Arwen paused. A clatter came from the bathing room and Bulma came busting through, a brush and small basket of various lotions in one hand and the other clutching her robe shut as she ran to the small table and dumped the contents onto it.
She held up one finger, her blue eyes sparkling, "Hang on just a second." She ran back to the bathroom and returned less than a minute later working a towel around her damp hair. Bulma giggled, "I think that's the fastest I've ever washed my hair." She sat down in the chair and arranged the items in a neat row and opened various ones before pausing and looking up at Arwen. "Well, go on."
Arwen lowered her eyes, and when she looked up again they were dark and intense. "My father will not allow me to stay. He demands that I sail with the others to Valinor."
Bulma was taken a little aback by the anger in her words. "Valinor? Are you saying every one else is leaving too?"
Arwen nodded. "Valinor is where the elves go after they reach a certain age or if they want to be away from all the troubles. But I don't want to leave, Estel is here and I love him so deeply it hurts."
Bulma tapped at her chin with her fingertip. "And Elrond is making you go?" When Arwen nodded, Bulma's face lit with anger. "He can't do that! No one can stop love! Who does he think he is? Cupid?! He can't control the way you feel and I think it's wrong that he would make you give up someone you love so much!" When she finished, Bulma was panting for breath, a hairbrush clamped tightly in one hand and the other a fist that had repeatedly banged the tabletop during her outburst.
Nodding lightly, Arwen sighed softly and began to fiddle with a container of perfume. "Elrohir says I should just leave, find Estel and ignore father. Elladan agrees but I could not do that to Ada…"
Bulma rummaged through the nearest closet and pulled out a simple dress of ivory and tugged it on. "Those are the twins right?" Arwen nodded. "And you've talked to your father about it and he still says you should go?" Arwen 's blue eyes shimmered in unshed tears.
With a harrumph, Bulma pulled soft soled shoes onto her feet and tied her hair back into a low ponytail. "We'll see about that…"
Arwen stood, watching Bulma's retreating form as the door was flung open in a flourish and the woman began to stalk down the halls, bellowing to the passing Elves that she demanded to see Lord Elrond. Arwen smiled, part of her grateful and the other part in horror at how her father would react. When she exited the lady's chambers, she could see her brothers in the hall smiling knowingly at her. She walked to them, her blue eyes sparkling.
"So you've done it?" Elrohir asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes." Arwen ran her fingers through her mane and nodded. When she looked up her brothers tried not to giggle. "She's gone to find him. Maybe this will aid my problem and give father something to think about as well." She laughed lightly and the three split quickly, knowing that if Elrond caught them they would surely be in for some unpleasant business.
Bulma had stomped around half of the castle before she saw the back of Lord Elrond's head as he was speaking quietly with several elves. "YOU!" Bulma screeched, and Elrond turned in surprise.
"Lady Bulma, is everything all right?" Elrond asked, only to see the anger on the woman's face grow.
"I should certainly say it is not! How dare you tell your daughter who she can and cannot love!" Bulma had crossed her arms over her chest, which was now heaving in rage.
Elrond turned to the group of shocked elves behind him and they quickly dispersed, leaving the fuming blue haired woman and their Lord alone in the hallway. "Please, keep your voice down."
"I will do no such thing!" Bulma's accusing finger came out to poke at Elrond. "I don't know who you think you are, trying to tell that poor sweet girl that she has to leave when she is so madly in love!" The finger poked into Elrond's chest on every other syllable.
"My lady, I will not stand here and take this! You speak of rights, when you have none to tell me what I should do with my daughter!" Elrond tried to keep his voice contained and the end came out in a low hiss.
Bulma's voice dropped and her eyes narrowed. "You can't stop love. If you try to make her do this she'll hate you forever!"
As the two fumed with each other in the hall, they were too taken with their argument to see the twin heads poked around the corner watching in amusement. Elladan clapped a hand over his mouth as he tried not to laugh and Elhorir ground his elbow into his brother's ribs to keep him silent.
"You can't make someone just give up love." Bulma crossed her arms over her chest again and pouted.
Elrond grabbed Bulma by the upper arm, hauling her closer and looked down at her. "What I do with my children is my affair. I only do what I see best for my daughter!"
"You can't keep your children locked up forever, they will only hate you in the long run." Bulma's eyes narrowed as the grip on her arm tightened.
Elrond huffed and seconds later pulled Bulma to his chest, his free hand gripping her ponytail and kissed her with all the heat of anger in him. Bulma stiffened, shocked before closing her eyes and then realized what she was doing as she pushed him away. They stared at each other in surprise for a moment before color heated Bulma's face and she swung her arm in a strong arc and slapped Elrond across the face.
"How…dare you!" She hissed as she stalked down the hall, bound for her chambers. Elrond watched her a moment and growled before throwing himself into his study and slamming the door behind him.
At the end of the hall Elhorir and Elladan were staring at each other with mouths agape. That was certainly not an event they had foreseen. Gaining their composure, they turned on heels and quickly paced down the hall to tell their sister what had happened.
