---
The sun was set and barely any rays were peaking across the crests of the mountains when Piccolo heard Gandalf leave the doors below him. He didn't bother to listen as the wizard spoke with another and instead looked up into the deepening twilight sky. A spatter of stars was starting to show and the temperature was dropping steadily.
He was just falling back into the oblivion of his mind when a tumble of stone and soft patter of feet came from behind him. He felt a body settle down next to him and rumbled low in his chest in acknowledgment.
"I did not mean to disturb you." Legolas' voice was quiet.
"It's alright." Piccolo replied. He debated on giving up on meditating for a time and with a sigh gave in and opened his eyes.
It was startlingly darker than a moment before and it took a second for Piccolo's eyes to adjust until he could see the rooftop that spread out around them. When he looked over, Legolas lay back gazing up into the canopy of night with his hands pillowing his head. He studied the elf's profile for a while and never noticed when Legolas turned his head and looked up at him.
"What are you thinking?" A small smile tugged at the corner of Legolas' lips. Piccolo blinked and shrugged before looking up at the sky. Legolas sat up in a smooth motion and looked up with him for a time. "If I sit here quietly, would you mind if I stay for a while?"
Piccolo looked over at him, "Free rooftop." Confusion clouded Legolas' eyes and Piccolo grinned. "Sure you can stay."
Legolas smiled. "Thank you."
It was quiet again, and Piccolo could hear Gandalf's request nudge his mind. With little resolve, he set his chin to his chest and breathed deeply. Meditation is a beautiful thing. In little than five minutes, Piccolo's mind was free of restraint and he started one of the first thorough meditations he had in weeks.
Legolas continued to look around at the scenery. He never thought he would see a better view than he normally would with his keen vision, but from this height it was magnificent. He knew he told the Namek he wouldn't bother him but he couldn't help but share the beauty with someone. When he looked over, however, Piccolo's face was entirely peaceful.
Tugging at a braid, Legolas unwound it in his nimble fingers and watched the Namek breath quietly. Now seemed a good a time as any to ponder over what it was that fascinated him, it had to be something relatively important for him to scale a stone wall and sit in the cold while Piccolo paid him no attention. He combed through the section of hair that had been recently unbraided, the wavy strands blowing across his face.
Biting at his lower lip, Legolas studied the angles of Piccolo's face up close for a time and moved on to the peach planes of solid muscles along his arms. That was an intriguing feature if he ever saw one. He flexed his fingers and reached out, he could feel the heat under his palm before he even touched the emerald skin and he paused pulling back and rested his hand in his lap.
It wasn't long before a fidget started, Legolas held his breath and let it out slowly. Fingers itching, Legolas looked down at his hands and then back up at Piccolo. He tried not to squint his eyes as he reached forward, as if he was waiting for some type of explosion as his fingertips barely graced across one high cheekbone and he pulled back in shock. Piccolo didn't stir. Legolas felt a peal of laughter bubble up in his throat in relief and held it back. With a little mustering of courage, he reached forward again and let his finger pads play along a cheekbone and then slowly trace down the edge of Piccolo's jaw. He watched his fingers sketch along and felt a bit of awe at the flesh beneath his calluses. The jade was soft and yielding but as thick as leather. He followed a chord in Piccolo's broad neck and just touched the dip of his collar bone when he dared glance up to the alien's face and stopped his movement with a jerk.
Ebony eyes were staring down at him in surprise. Legolas felt his cheeks prickle with heat and removed his hand abruptly. "I—uh…forgive me."
Piccolo blinked at him and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.
"I will leave you now." Legolas stood, the blush burning as he walked to the edge of the building.
"It's alright…" Piccolo watched him from his spot on the roof. Legolas turned his head and looked at him over his shoulder. He nodded perched on the lip of the building, turning to begin his descent.
"Good night, Master Namek." Legolas called softly over to him.
Piccolo grunted. "'Night." And the elf was gone.
Piccolo settled, feeling phantom fingers move, and when he finally meditated again the visions came slowly. Unfortunately when morning would finally come they wouldn't be images he was going to share with the others. The passing frames of pale blond hair, strong thin fingers and sparkling eyes were his to sort alone.
---
Goku lay staring up into the dark ceiling. He could feel the heat from Vegeta at his side and sense the older saiyajin twitch now and then as he forced himself not to curl up into Goku. Far in the distance he could feel the cold flash of ki that signaled Freeza. There was a twisting of emotion that creased his brow as he thought about the Icejin.
Kami, how did he get here? Goku tried to think as best he could of any way that the small alien could have managed it. How did he manage to get out of hell? But most importantly, why this world, why this time?
Vegeta groaned into the pillow and shivered. Goku looked down at the prince and saw his face twitch in dreams. There was a connection in his mind like a stiff wind that made his thoughts clear. They were the reason. Somehow Freeza knew they were here, and now they were going to face him as they were, without ki and surely they could not win. How could they beat him?
Careful not to wake Vegeta, Goku slipped from the bed and pulled his boots on, checked to make sure he hadn't disturbed the Ouji and pulled his tunic over his head. He paused at the door when Vegeta softly called out in his sleep and he frowned. Vegeta had never spoken in his sleep before. He perched over Vegeta and watched as his features twisted in anger and anguish. Goku scowled in the direction of that evil ki and ran a hand through Vegeta's hair.
The Ouji stiffened but still slept on. Goku bent over the smaller saiyajin and lightly kissed his temple. "Rest easy, Vegeta. Freeza can't get you here. I won't let him." A small sound like a sigh came muffled through a pillow and Goku touched his hair again before leaving, pausing to look back and make sure the Ouji would be fine.
The small fortress was quiet as Goku walked along the corridor. He jumped in surprise as he rounded a corner and nearly ran into Legolas. The elf, surprised just as badly had unconsciously pulled a dagger from his waist. They laughed nervously for a second and Legolas excused himself. Goku watched as Legolas walked on, he looked preoccupied with his own thoughts so he left the elf be.
The throne room loomed into view, deeply shadowed with only two torches lit near the entrance and one at the beginning of the hall. Goku moved into the shadow, maneuvering to a long table and sat down heavily into an oak chair. A soft sound came from the far end of the table and Goku tensed. A bulk shifted and quiet steps brought Aragorn into the dim flickering light of the torches. Goku sighed and relaxed, settling his forehead on the grainy tabletop.
"You should be resting." Aragon's voice was soft in the dark of the room.
Goku shrugged his shoulders, still not picking up his head and mumbled into the wood. "Too busy thinking."
With his face still against the oak he failed to see the amused look that flickered over the ranger's face. "Is it about Vegeta?"
This brought Goku's head up and he looked at Aragorn with a tense look of contemplation. "Not really. But he is part of it."
Aragorn pulled a pipe from his vest along with a small pouch of tobacco. "Then what has you up in the middle of the night?" He packed the bowl of his pipe with a pinch and lit it with a sliver of wood caught fire from a torch.
Running a hand down his face, Goku slumped into the chair. "Freeza. He was unbelievably strong when I beat him the first time. And I just barely managed to do that then. And he still came back."
Aragorn's eyes widened a little as he puffed on his pipe. "Then he should be weaker now."
Sighing, Goku shook his head. "No, he always comes back stronger. Trunks had to kill him the second time." Aragorn's mouth fell open. "Of course I wasn't there to try either…"
"How many times has this creature been felled?" Aragorn leaned across the table, pipe clenched in his teeth.
"Twice that I know of. But now he's back and I'm pretty sure he's only here because he wants me and 'Geta." Goku watched a spider crawl up the stones beside him.
It was silent for quite some time, Aragorn watched Goku watching the tabletop. Finally nearly half an hour later Aragorn stood and gripped the saiyajin by the shoulder. "You should rest. It will be easier to think after a good sleep."
Goku nodded and stood. He followed the ranger back down the hall, not really noticing when the man entered into his own chambers and continued until he came to his own room. When he pushed open the door he could see Vegeta curled up into a ball shivering, the blanket had been kicked off and was in a pile on the floor.
Kicking off his boots and pulling off his tunic, Goku paused to scoop the blanket from the floor and settled in next to Vegeta. After a few minutes, the shivering ceased and Goku's mind still wound on and on. Only when Vegeta grumbled in his sleep and pulled him to his side before burying his head in the larger saiyajin's chest did Goku finally close his eyes and fall into slumber.
---
Bulma yawned and rubbed at her sleepy eyes. She had been sitting up for hours trying to tell Elrond everything he wanted to know and explaining out things she wasn't sure of. The Lord elf looked about as tired as she felt. His shoulders were drooping, his head resting in one palm as he tried to read over paperwork with glazed eyes.
Elrond cleared his throat and Bulma suppressed a groan. "Then Freeza has the ability to destroy our world if he wishes. But why?"
"I don't know! Because he's an evil creep who thinks he can have whatever he wants!" Bulma huffed, the lack of sleep was making her far more cranky and irritable than normal. She rubbed at her temples and decided that she didn't care how Elrond would take it and twisted around a moment before flinging one leg up over the arm of the chair and slumping into the corner.
A graceful eyebrow arched but Elrond didn't say anything about it. "I am just curious. If he wanted to destroy our world, why would we not have seen or heard of his destruction already? Why is he sitting in wait?"
Bulma sighed, "I don't know. He always seemed to like to make you wait, give you time to sweat and worry, you know?"
"Mmm." Elrond shuffled through further papers before pausing to remove the headdress from his hair. He ran his fingers through the length and massaged his scalp. "No doubt Galadriel will know already. I am not sure how to help." He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
A soft knock came to the study door and Elrond looked at it queerly, it was far too late for the others to be up and about. "Come."
The door opened slowly revealing a sleep rumpled Trunks. Bulma sat properly in her chair and looked worriedly up at him.
"What's the matter Mirai?" She stifled a yawn.
Rubbing at one eye, Trunks plopped uninvited onto an ottoman and looked between Bulma and Elrond. "You need to go to bed."
Elrond snorted and Bulma shot the elf an irritated look. "You got up just to tell me to go to bed?"
Trunks nodded slowly. "Well, yea. I'm already jumpy, and every time you get worked up your ki spikes and it wakes me up." He grinned at his mother.
"Oh." Bulma yawned. "Go to bed then, I'm going soon." Mirai quirked an eyebrow and Bulma swatted at him. "Go! Now! You have a lot to do tomorrow."
Mirai stood and opened the door before pausing and leaning into the door jam looking back in on his mother and Lord Elrond. He gazed quietly at the elf for a minute before smiling and shaking his head and leaving.
Elrond blinked at the closed door and then looked over at Bulma. Her head was resting on the chair back, she was sleeping. With a soft smile, Elrond stood and walked around the great desk. He lightly shook Bulma until her blue eyes blinked slowly.
"Come along Lady Bulma, it is past time to retire." Elrond helped her up and held the door for her, watching her mumble to herself and walk sluggishly down the hall. After she had turned a corner out of sight he closed the study door and sat behind his desk again. He plucked the stack of papers from the surface and shuffled through them, all of them notes taken on this new event. He hoped there would be some kind of miracle that would aid them. He blew out the lantern on his desk and stood in the dark for a moment praying to the Valar that something would happen.
---
The sun rose, and as the first beams bit into the fading night sky, the population of Edoras was already on the move. Aragorn stood surveying the groups of people, hearing the echoing calls from servants and guards, "Take only what you can carry and is most important. There is no time to pack your houses. Hurry up there!"
He bit his pipe, frustrated that they were fleeing. The door behind him creaked open and a swirl of skirts beside him found lady Éowyn at his side. She sighed softly as she watched the bustling town-folk in the dim light. "I have a bad feeling in my heart about all of this."
Aragorn turned and looked down at her, "As do I. All we can do now is make the best of what we're given. Even if that is guarding hundreds across open fields." And into certain death. Making sure the last was spoken only to himself.
A tinkle of falling pebbles had them both turning and a moment later they could see a bulk of jade and violet at the edge of the building. Aragorn smirked and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned into the outer wall. "Getting down is a far greater task than going up." He called up to Piccolo. He couldn't see the Namek's face from the distance but could have sworn he heard a grumble of annoyance.
The door before them opened again, this time revealing two sleep rumpled sayajins following Gimli and Legolas. Gimli was talking quite loudly about dwarf burrows and how nicely the underground construction of Edoras was, but how much better it would be had a dwarf built it. Vegeta kept scowling down at the smaller creature but was holding his tongue by some unnatural feat of resistance.
Goku stretched and yawned, finger-combing his wild hair several times as he sat heavily on the lip of wall beside Aragorn. The ranger nodded to him in greeting. "Did you sleep well?" Vegeta gave them both a weary gaze before settling far from everyone, tilting his head so he could still hear.
Shrugging, Goku stretched again and popped several times along his spine. "I guess, but I didn't think up any answers."
Aragorn nudged him with his elbow and favored him with a reassuring smile. "Once we start moving it may come to you." Goku nodded, looking hopeful before he peered up at the edge of the building and grinned stupidly.
"Hey Piccolo, are you coming down?"
There was a mumble that they couldn't quite hear, though Legolas moved around to them and gazed up laughing to himself. Aragorn gave him a questioning eye and the elf shrugged, "He is using some rather…uncultured language." He beamed at those around him as the meaning sunk in.
Vegeta snorted and smirked. "Don't fall Namek, you'll squish the dwarf." Gimli gaped and shuffled quickly away from the doors.
Finally after another full minute of stares, Piccolo called down to them. "Alright, but I don't want to hear one word. Got that, Vegeta?" The small saiyajin snorted and shrugged noncommittally. With a soft sigh, they watched as Piccolo gripped the edge of the building and slowly lowered himself. When he was finally suspended and dangling from his right arm he curled his legs behind him and pushed himself away from the stone. Éowyn let out a startled gasp as he plummeted from forty feet and gripped Aragorn's shoulder. The ranger was tensed under her grasp, his mind whirring with thoughts of how much injury the alien was going to get.
There was a soft pat of feet on the granite and everyone save the saiyajins stared with their mouths hung open. Piccolo landed gently, one knee bent to the earth and hunched over. He stood up brushed invisible dust from his tunic.
Aragorn was the first to recover. "Well, now that we are all here I think it is time we got moving if we want to make Helm's Deep by nightfall." There was a collective affirmation of nods and grunts and the procession moved from the stairs and mounted. Slowly and painfully the town of Edoras emptied. A stiff breeze blew from the east and on it was the stench of smoke and decay.
