Trunks stood on the balcony of his chambers, a towel wrapped tightly at his waist as he dripped lightly rose-scented water onto the floor. He had bathed on his return, and now stood staring up into the alien sky, feeling a little at ease that somewhere, one of his friends was doing the same and he felt a little less alone.

Quiet conversation was heard from below, and Trunks leaned over the rim to see down and recognized the twins as they walked the paths between the buildings bound for the dining hall. It was nearly time for supper. Grinning, he stepped back and entered his room, drying himself quickly with a flare of ki and dressing in a pair of loose cream colored leggings and snug white shirt. Even as a teen, he had felt more comfortable with his clothes in such a manner. He smirked at his reflection in a mirror and ignored the fact that he reminded himself strongly of Vegeta. He had never thought himself vain, but tonight after the little event of the evening, he felt he would at least use some of the handsome features him mother always claimed he had.

Pulling on stiff leather boots, he ran his fingers through his hair and entered the hall, bound for the dining room. Hopefully he would meet some of the other elves and learn some of this world's history. He had found it quite intriguing so far.

---

Arwen smiled happily at her family as they chattered over the day's events. Lady Bulma sat across from her and they began to talk quietly about love and happiness. Much like every other time they sat down together. Before long, Elladan and Elrohir entered the dining hall, grinning about some secret or another and Arwen nodded to them as they sat beside her. "What are you two scheming now?"

Elrohir managed to look hurt, "My dear sister, how it pains me when you speak so!"

Elladan nodded enthusiastically, "I quite agree. It is very hard to remain happy when everyone seems so suspicious all the time. Surely we are not so bothersome."

Arwen rolled her eyes and turned back to Bulma. "I heard your son is here, I have not yet met him."

At the man's mention, the twins stilled a moment before quickly carrying on loudly. Bulma giggled. "Yes he is. He should be down to eat, he has quite an appetite."

Arwen smiled. "If he is anything like his father as you say, I would think that is an understatement."

Bulma playfully slapped at Arwen's hand and giggled again. The twins stilled quite suddenly again and Arwen looked at them in surprise before following their gaze. She smiled lightly and looked back to Bulma.

Trunks stood in the door way, feeling a little out of place. It appeared that he was a little late, the table was already lined with many people and most of them though still talking quietly were watching him as he walked to his place by his mother's side.

Elrohir, who sat directly next to his sister, began to fidget. And much to Arwen's amusement, the closer the young man got, the more flustered her brothers looked.

Before Trunks had quite reached the table Arwen grinned wickedly at her brothers. "It is a rare treat to find someone who has you wound around their fingers instead of the other way around."

Elladan tore his gaze away from Trunks to glare at his sister. "Do not be so rude, Arwen. We have only just met him."

Grinning, Arwen gave them both a knowing look and was pleased to see a light blush along their cheekbones.

Trunks paused before his chair and kissed his mother's cheek. "Hello, Mother." He pulled the chair away from the table and sat down delicately, smiling slyly at the twins across from him. "Elrohir, Elladan." He nodded to them and Arwen watched in quiet amusement as the twins nodded in return.

Bulma sighed heavily and Mirai turned to face her. "Trunks, you know I love your hair, but you can't keep it in your face all the time." The exasperation in her tone made him smile lovingly at her. "Here," Bulma took the cuff of her dress and began to pull on a string.

"Don't do that! You'll ruin it!" Trunks admonished but Bulma clucked her tongue.

"I can hem it up again later. Now here." She handed him the length and smiled reassuringly at him as he pulled the hair from his face and tied it at the nape of his neck.

"Better?" He glanced at the twins for their reaction before looking at Bulma.

Bulma beamed. "Much." Arwen cleared her throat delicately and Bulma slapped herself in the forehead. "I'm sorry Lady Arwen. Trunks, this is the Lady Arwen, Arwen, this is my son Trunks."

"I'm glad to have finally met you." Arwen smiled. Trunks stood and bowed lightly at the waist, taking her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles.

"A pleasure." Trunks sat again, feeling a little foolish for being so excessive. But the look on the twins faces more than made up for any discomfort he may have felt.

It was only moments as trays began to line the long table, steam and the smell of stewed meats wafted through the air and Trunks quickly forgot that he was in an alien world. As the elves began to fill their plates and eat happily, talking quietly to each other; Trunks loaded his own plate and ate at a quick pace but with neatness and precision that would have made Vegeta proud.

"You, boy. They tell me you are from another place as well." An elf at Trunks left was looking at him, his eyes cool and calculating. Pale hair, nearly white, was pulled tightly from his face in thin braids. Trunks could feel a type of honor and dominance in the elf's gaze, and though he was loathe answering him, he would not be rude.

Trunks set his fork down neatly beside his plate and took a sip from his goblet, noticing the look of impatience that flickered over the elf's face. "Yes, I am." Trunks set the glass back on the table and gazed steadily at the man.

Eyes the color of faded denim locked with bright azure, and the two remained glaring for nearly five minutes. Trunks was ready to fume, feeling his father's temper rise inside of him, but the elf suddenly grinned broadly and laughed so heartily that Trunks blinked in surprise.

Lord Elrond chuckled lightly under his breath and smiled warmly at Trunks. "It seems, Uruite Ernil, that you have won over Lord Glorfindel."

Trunks' brow furrowed at the Elvin words and he turned to his mother for answers but she only smiled sweetly and shrugged. The twins across from him were looking at their father just as confused.

"What do you mean, Ada?" Elladan enquired, taking side-long glances at Trunks.

Elrond smiled, "Lady Bulma has spoken to me of the boy's father. Vegeta is the Prince of his race." The twins eyes widened and they looked at Trunks with a new sense of awe. "Beyond that, both Glorfindel and I caught his spectacular power show earlier this evening from my study window." With that, the twins' glowed bright red and Glorfindel gave them both a wink.

Trunks, still confused looked to Arwen, "What did he say?"

Arwen smiled gently and Trunks felt calmer just having seen it. "It means 'Fiery Prince'."

"Oh." Trunks nodded, pushing a pit of fruit around his plate with a spoon.

Glorfindel clapped Trunks on the shoulder and plucked the cherry from the saiyajin's plate. "I would normally tell you to be wary of those two, but it seems to me that you have them well in check."

Instead of blushing like he thought he would, Trunks grinned wide and took a berry from his plate and popped it into his mouth. Bulma looked between them curiously, not understanding, and looked to Arwen for help.

The Lady smiled, "Later." Bulma sighed and nodded, picking at her own food and watching her son oddly as he began to laugh loudly with the blonde elf as the twins began to fidget.

---

The sun was just settling along the plateaus when the group of riders finally rode up to the outskirts of Edoras. A flag, with the symbol of the house stitched across a black field, fluttered past and Vegeta watched it catch along the grasses before looking up into the towers. A compact structure sat at the highest peak, a scattering of village huts and merchant shops to the left.

Gandalf breathed heavily through his nose and tugged at the tip of his beard. He motioned them all forward, and silently they all found themselves on a slab before heavily engraved doors. "I would prefer if you three remained here." He looked over at Goku and Vegeta, only glancing at Piccolo.

Goku's eyes were hard, the sheen of total comprehension and the smell of battle etched into his face. Vegeta opened his mouth to complain but Goku shook his head slowly and sat on the lip of the small wall that bordered the plateau edge. Grunting and a little dejected, Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at all of them.

Piccolo snorted, facing north and thinking hard on the steady thrum of ki in Rivendell. Things were getting confusing, and the more complicated this plot became the harder it would be for them to get out of it alive. Closing his eyes a moment, Piccolo ignored the bead of sweat that rolled down his jaw and shivered at the foreign energy that flowed across his back.

The doors behind burst open, a man stumbled, then skid down several stone stairs and across the granite flooring. Vegeta quirked an eyebrow and watched as a man with graying hair and a sword clutched in one hand stalked behind him. Gandalf appeared in the doorway, looking pleased.

"Please, sire! I only ever tried to serve you! Please!" The man squirmed, rising to his knees and holding his hands before him in defense of any blows.

"Cease your blathering, Wormtongue! Too long have you corrupted these halls!" The sword raised high, the setting beams of the sun glinted off the edge and Vegeta watched in mild fascination, waiting for an arch of arterial blood and moan of pain, maybe a gurgle as the mans lungs filled and that huffing labored breath that the victor would have when it was all over. The back of his mind squeezed and began to itch in temptation, but the stroke never fell.

Aragorn stepped to the man's side, blocking his blows. "Théoden King," Aragorn looked into the man's angry face, "there have been enough lives lost already."

Vegeta frowned, that same piece of his mind screaming about the atrocity of leaving the man alive. A warm hand settled onto his shoulder and Vegeta looked up in surprise and annoyance. Goku stood behind him, his face uncharacteristically blank as he gazed down at the Ouji. Vegeta sighed and leaned imperceptibly into his grip.

Théoden deflated, dropping the sword to his side and watched as Wormtongue mounted the nearest horse and bolted from the fortress walls. Gandalf stepped behind them, his face soft and grandfatherly. "We have much to discuss, Théoden King."

Théoden nodded his head, suddenly looking weary. "I assumed we would." He turned slowly, climbing the few stone stairs back to the granite slab. Aragorn stayed a step behind, but his arm was crooked at Théoden's back as if waiting for the man to collapse. Legolas and Gimli watched quietly, following the ranger.

After the slow group moved into the entry, Gandalf turned and looked up at Piccolo. "Master Namek, as much as I would have liked to speak to you, it seems I haven't much time." For the first time, Gandalf smiled lightly at him, and Piccolo frowned.

Goku gave Piccolo a quick look and a small salute when the Namek nodded lightly at him. Grabbing Vegeta by the hand, Goku began up the stairs, hauling the indignant Ouji behind him.

Gandalf watched the ordeal with a chuckle and sat down on the stone lip of wall, carefully watching Piccolo as the Namek settled into the corner, leaning along the stone rise. "I know you have been highly annoyed by my actions, and I apologize." Piccolo's eyes widened and Gandalf laughed again. "I am not so maddening all the time, but I felt I needed to be sure."

"Sure of what?" Piccolo's voice was low and gruff. He wasn't in the mood for more riddles.

"I have been observing the three of you. Goku seems naive from time to time, but he is a strong tactician and seems to be the buffer of much anger from both you and Vegeta." Gandalf paused, the corner of his mouth quirking when Piccolo nodded. "I feel there is much we can learn from him in the future. I will see to it, Aragorn and he have a frank discussion soon.

"Vegeta is strong, in both body and temper, though I sense that his mind is often in great turmoil with what his heart tells him. His pride is his greatest strength as well as his greatest weakness. Ghosts from his past plague him often, just as yours plague you…"

Piccolo snorted. "That's an understatement."

Gandalf's smile was still soft and comforting. "From you, I am often confused. It is as though there are parts of you that come to the surface that are not entirely you." Piccolo nodded again, eyes lowered to the stones at his feet. "There is a warrior's spirit, wisdom beyond your years and something else I cannot touch upon."

When Piccolo glanced up, Gandalf was looking at him with slight confusion on his weathered face. Taking a light breath Piccolo shifted his stance, "Namek's have the ability to fuse with others of their kind. I have with two others."

Gandalf stroked his beard, eyes cloudy with thought. "Yes, I see…" Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest, watching as the sun set lower. "The guardian, he gave it to you…"

Blinking, Gandalf shook his head and looked back up at Piccolo. "It does not matter. What I am most interested in, is that you are a seer." Piccolo's face was placid. "Do you understand what I say? There are times when you can feel what is coming, knowing to take one path will lead to destruction, while another will be full of hardship but all will be well at the end."

Piccolo cocked his head to the side, thinking of the countless battles he had fought, the strategies he had used, the number of times he had meditated only to have images fade in and out. When he looked harder at Gandalf, the wizard's face was serious and open.

"You understand what I mean. I would like to propose that here, with the effects of this world, your power is stronger." Gandalf held up a gnarled hand, "Then again, it may not. But beyond your need to rest I would like you to try to see what you may. There are other ways to look into the near future with orbs, but they have a heavy price. With Goku's tactical skill, Vegeta's hardened spirit and your ability to aid us to less deadly paths, I'm hoping we might get through this with fewer casualties."

Piccolo entered Edoras for the first time, head down and deep in thought. Many of the guardsman grew tense as he walked by, but trekking before him was Gandalf and the wizard gave them each a withering look as they gripped their weapons.

"So good of you to join us, Gandalf, seeing as how you claim there are important matters to discuss." Théoden sat upon his thrown, a goblet in one hand, the hilt of his sword still clutched in the other.

Gandalf dipped his head in respect, glancing over his shoulder at Piccolo who now stood in the entry, frowning at his feet. "I regret keeping you waiting, Théoden King, but overdue business was also pressing."

Théoden grunted, but spoke not a word, content on looking dejectedly down on the wizard. He glanced up at the alien in the doorway but did not comment, no doubt if the creature was important he would be brought up soon enough.

Piccolo cleared his throat, finally looking up at the surrounding room. His eyes lighted on a woman in the corner, fair skin looking transparent in the torch lighting. She was hovering near Aragorn and when Piccolo caught her gaze she flinched and stepped back. Suppressing a sigh, Piccolo noticed that both Vegeta and Goku were not among the present. Gimli sat a small table chewing gratefully on roasted meat and Legolas was perched on the opposite end of the table where Aragorn sat.

"Your friends have gone to their chambers." Legolas tilted his head, and Piccolo nodded although a little unnerved that the elf had read his mind.

Aragorn nudged the woman lightly with his elbow and nodded to a hallway. She jumped lightly and blushed. "If you'll follow me." Piccolo looked over the group again, the base of his skull beginning to throb dully and he grunted in reply.

The lady's shoes clicked lightly on the cobble floor as she walked quickly down the narrow corridor. Piccolo could smell the fear rolling over the stale air and curled his lip in disgust. The woman turned her head, looking over her shoulder and gave him a weak smile. "I am Lady Éowyn, it is –ah—a pleasure to have such warriors in our house."

She paused before a door and watched him expectantly but when he failed to answer her after a moment, her face flushed and she pushed open the door. "These will be your quarters. I hope you find them to your liking." Quickly excusing herself, Éowyn retreated down the hall, disappearing around a corner.

The room was small and rough, not that Piccolo minded. After a quick tour of the small flat, he noticed with some regret that the place had no windows. He felt the ki of Vegeta and Goku across the hall, most likely in the room directly from his, and stepped from the small space and pushed the door open without bothering to knock.

The door opened soundlessly and Piccolo paused, a fat bead of sweat rolling down his temple. Vegeta stood clad only in leggings and boots, his fist curled into the front of Goku's tunic. The larger saiyajin was bent slightly, one of his larger hands nested in the prince's upsweep of hair. They both looked flushed, standing so close they looked like they were trying to push their way through one another, eyes closed and lips pressed hard against the other.

Slowly reaching out, Piccolo grasped the handle of the door and pulled it closed. He stood there stone still for a full minute face faulted. Finally he blinked several times and he smirked. He had seen more than he wanted, but also learned what he had intended on asking; there were no windows in the saiyajin's quarters either.

Walking back the way he had come, Piccolo paid closer attention to the air around him and realized that he was walking up a small incline. The guest quarters were built into the plateau, which would certainly explain the lack of ventilation and the stale air.

Voices murmured the closer he got and he could hear the tension in the words passed. Rounding the corner, he paused and watched as his traveling companions glared around them in exasperation. Gandalf's eyes fell on him with a sense of relief, as though he were the blade he needed to cut the strings of stress.

"Master Namek, is there something we could help you with?" Gandalf's voice was weary.

"I didn't come to interrupt. I just wanted to get on the roof." Piccolo shifted feet, aware that every eye in the room was locked on him.

Théoden raised an eyebrow. "What is this creature that wants atop my fortress?"

Aragorn took the pipe from his teeth. "He is Piccolo Diahmoa, a warrior." He pushed a lock of hair from his eye and rubbed at his temple. "What he wants with your roof, I know not."

"Why do you want up so high?" Gimli paused from his plate and cast a queer eye. "It is only natural to keep your feet on solid ground."

Legolas' tinkling laugh seemed to relax many of the shoulders around the room and he winked at Gimli. "That is only because you live deep in the earth, Master Gimli. If a dwarf had told me otherwise I would question his sanity."

"Look, I just want somewhere quiet and in the open where it will be hard to be bothered." Piccolo frowned at them, not feeling angry but frustrated.

Théoden waved his hand at the entry. "There is one way but I am wary to show a creature that I do not know. It leads through many places of my house I would not show a wanderer."

Breathing heavily through his nose, Piccolo scowled at the man. "Then I will scale the outer wall," he grit his teeth and spat, "with your permission."

Théoden smiled, "If you can climb it, by all means."

Spinning on his heel, Piccolo stalked from the room and pushed the heavy doors open. He gazed up the granite wall and felt like slapping himself in the forehead. Instead, he set his jaw and gripped the nearest handhold, searched quickly for the next and hefted his way up the side of the building.