Hello again! I've returned! And there is bluegrass music playing upstairs…right. And tomorrow is Christmas! Yay! Unfortunately, I think I'm coming down with a cold…Ug. I hope not. Anywho, on with the story!

Bold represents Tarmikos writing.

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Chapter 38- You Should Not Be Here

"How much further?" Estel questioned as he walked beside Mithrandir and the Muruien twins. Ricamros sighed, running his hand over his face and up through his long hair.

"I would say that we will reach the borders of the forest by morning if we continue at this pace through the night." He replied. The human nodded, quelling his excitement.

"Thank you." He replied, inclining his head, and then slowed to walk beside Arwen.

Another day passed and they still saw no signs of the falcon. Though everyone did notice the young prince slowly falling into despair again, despite their efforts to keep him entertained. The weight of Norui's passing still lingered heavily on their minds, but very slowly, the pain began to diminish, though it would never truly leave.

Estel had passed his new information to the other members of the group and everyone relaxed a little and was renewed with the strength to continue on. Their hearts were set on reaching the forest as soon as possible, no matter what it took for them to get there. But as evening drew near once again, the young human felt his vigor diminishing. He told his elven companions that they must keep going and that he was fine, but they would not accept it. Despite their own wishes, they settled down for the night in an area where rocks would provide protection for the human's sake.

A small fire was built at the assurance of the Muruien twins, both confident that the closeness of their homeland would keep them safe. The company scattered themselves where ever they could without having to deal with the discomfort of a rock jabbing into their back, spreading out as many blankets as could be spared. Once their camp was set, they gathered around the crackling fire, some gazing into its greedy flames while others talked quietly to one another.

"Do you think Father will have a feast upon our return?" Ricamros whispered to his brother through a mouthful of bread. The silent Muru wrinkled his nose as pieces of the food flew out of his brother's mouth and he scooted away. The other twin grinned and shoved in another mouthful, "Well?"

Tarmikos shrugged, tracing his fingers in the soft grains of dirt.

The other prince glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye, watching him intently. Tarmikos' face seemed drawn away, as if he knew something no one else did, and it confused him. Ricamros glanced around at the others in the group, then moved closer to his brother.

"You had something to do with it, didn't you?" He questioned as quietly as he could. Tarmikos froze for a split second, then continued his drawings, "You told her to go away." The silent twin paused, then nodded hesitantly. Ricamros narrowed his eyes, "Why? The young prince has already lost something dear to him, why make it worse?"

Quickly, the Muru scratched out his previous drawing and wrote into the dirt, "Because it will help him in the end".

"I know, but that could have waited. He needs some companionship."

"He has the lady." Tarmikos scribbled again.

"That is not enough. He needs someone he can trust."

"What is not to trust about her? Do you say this because you feel trust cannot be found in those you love?"

As the Muru finished his sentence, Ricamros gritted his teeth and brushed it away with his hand. He glowered at his smirking brother, crossing his arms.

"You must learn to be silent." He muttered.

"I am always silent, my brother."

"Be quiet!"

"But I-" He did not have the chance to finish his sentence before the silver haired prince leapt up and stormed away, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Tarmikos smiled as he watched his brother glower angrily, perched on a boulder behind everyone else. He shook his head in mirth, and then went back to making his patterns in the soil.

The company was content to sit in quiet once again as they stared into the fire. Subconsciously, Estel drew Arwen closer to himself and she rested her head on his shoulder, smiling contentedly. The fire seemed to put each and every one of them in a state of trance, unable to tear their gazes away from the flickering flames. Shadows danced across their faces and their eyes shone in the oncoming darkness.

A soft voice suddenly broke the silence and the trance and the company turned to the new sound. Still upon his perch, Ricamros quietly sang to himself, as if he were too bashful to sing any louder. They stared intently at the Muru with curiosity on their faces.

Night and the spirit of life calling 'listen'

And a voice just the fear of a child answers 'listen'

This is the throne of our ancestors

Oh, son of the nation.

Wait, there's no mountain too great

Hear the words and have faith

He lives in you, He lives in me

He watches over everything we see

Into the water, Into the truth

In your reflection, He lives in you

They live in you, They live in me

They're watching over everything we see

In every creature, In every star

In your reflection, They live in you

He lives in you, He lives in me

He watches over everything we see

Into the water, Into the truth

In your reflection, He lives in you

His voice carried off on the wind, slowly disappearing as quietly as it had come. The company continued to watch him with raised eyebrows as he lowered his head into his hands, struggling to keep his shoulders from trembling. Tarmikos gazed transfixed at his brother as a single tear slid down his creamy cheek.

"My lord?" Arwen called softly to the Muru.

"Our father taught it to us a few days after our eldest brother was killed." He explained quietly, his voice quivering, "I thought it appropriate for your situation." And with that, he leapt nimbly from his perch and cast himself down upon his bedroll.

The company did not say another word that night; instead they laid down to rest just as the Muru had done. His haunting melody played through their minds as they slept, each moved in their own way.

Tarmikos continued to gaze where his brother had previously sat, tears streaming silently down his face.

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The screeching of the goblins made her ears hurt and she wished desperately to block the noise with her hands. They all scurried around in a panic, trying to escape while others prepared for a battle. The leader shouted out orders above the shrieking and screaming, struggling to bring order to his armies.

Iaurtondariel's guards had left her in an attempt to aide their king and her warrior instincts kicked in. As quietly as she could, she began to crawl away from the feet of the king, using her elbows and knees. The creature did not seem to notice as he fought against his own warriors, still failing to calm them.

'What discipline.' The elleth thought dryly, rolling her eyes.

Another green arrow shot into the swarms of goblins and lodged itself in the neck of one of the creatures. Any control that had been brought under the beasts was now lost as they fled into any chamber they could find. They grappled over top of each other, some being beaten to death by their feet. Normally, a single elf would be laughed at but one that had come back to life after being slashed in the neck sent them into terror.

Suddenly, without warning, a bright light flashed up and shot into the fray, sending a dozen goblins flying into the air with their bodies torn to shred. If it were possible, the creatures put up even more of a struggle to escape. Iaurtondariel narrowly avoided being trampled in the process.

More of the destroying flashes appeared, sending more and more of the 'warriors' soaring. Some of the larger, better-trained goblins held their ground and slashed at what ever it was that was attacking. It was shrouded in a great golden light that burned the flesh off their bones whenever they touched it. This alone made even the largest goblins cower in fear.

Amidst all of this, Iaurtondariel continued to sneak away, doing her best to stay in the shadows. A dark cut out in the wall came in to view and she set her sights upon that. The goblins around seemed to forget about her for the time being but, suddenly, a massive pressure was placed on her back, knocking out her breath.

"Where are ya going, princess?" The Goblin King sneered as he drove his heel into the elleth's back. The elf, still bound, struggled to rid him of her but found him too heavy to move. She clenched her teeth together, trying to stifle a scream, as the pressure became almost too unbearable. She thought her spine would break until something else happened.

Time seemed to stop for a long moment, and everyone in the cavern froze. The screams and shouts were muffled until there was nothing left to hear, and each breath seemed like it took ages to finish. Thoughts slowed to a stop and everything was almost suspended in air.

Power seemed to emanate from the golden being in the form of a blinding light. Everyone cowered from it, shielding their eyes from the brightness. The figure was cloaked in its own energy, casting fear and awe on those before it. Its true form was hidden and could not be distinguished from the light emanating from its body.

The light seemed to waver, and then it burst throughout the cavern. The voices were returned, all screaming in pain and agony. Their bodies were torn apart and disintegrated into nothing, leaving nothing behind. Iaurtondariel covered her head in a vain attempt to protect herself as the wave washed over her. The King's curdling scream echoed in her ears as he was tossed aside, and his body disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The power seemed to glide over the elleth's body but she could feel it reaching into her, drawing out her soul as if testing her strength. She dared to roll onto her back to gaze upon this being with wonder-filled eyes. She squinted her eyes against the extreme light, trying to see through the power. But her breath caught in her throat suddenly and she fell back to the ground, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she fell into unconsciousness.

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Legolas jolted in his sleep, instantly waking him from slumber. He sat up quickly, his cerulean darting this way and that, searching desperately in the dark. A strange feeling pulsated through his being and it confused him greatly. Never before had he felt such a thing; it raised uncertainty yet excitement in his heart.

"Legolas?" Someone called softly and he glanced over to see his two sisters sitting up as well.

"Did you feel that?" Lothron questioned, watching him with glistening eyes.

"Yes, what is it?" He replied, crawling slowly over to them. Elladan muttered something in his sleep as the prince passed him by but did not awaken.

"I am not sure." The Crown Princess said, wrapping her blanket around her shoulders, "But it was strange."

"Almost as if another part of me was awoken again." Melyanna mused, moving closer to her siblings. Lothron nodded.

"What do you think it is?" Legolas asked, gazing upon his sisters with wondering eyes. They shrugged.

"I do not know." Lothron said, "Perhaps we can speak to Mithrandir about it in the morning."

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The old wizard sighed as he went about collecting his belongings, listening to the three Mirkwood elves as they explained to them their feeling they all awoke to. It was strange, he thought, that the three of them would feel the same thing at the same time. But, as he continued to tell them, he did not know what it meant at the moment. It would take time to figure out such a thing; something he didn't have at the moment.

"But Mithrandir," Lothron persisted, "Surely you must have some idea what this means!"

"I have told you countless times, my lady, that I need to think on it." The Istar explained once again in a less then patient tone, "You should not let it worry you too much."

"But is it not strange? That the three of us would feel like that at the same time?"

"I never said that it was normal but it is not something that I can answer immediately. I will think on it, then tell you what I figure out." He bowed and strode away quickly to avoid any more questions from the princess.

The three watched him go with frowns upon their faces. They knew it meant something important but could not grasp what it was. They glanced between each other with questioning looks in their eyes. It troubled them, yet elated them, and confused them yet brought hope.

Melyanna sighed, acknowledged her siblings with a small smile, and then went to check up on Elladan. Lothron clasped Legolas on the shoulder with another smile, kissed him softly on the cheek, and then went to speak with Arwen. The young prince, looked between everyone and up at the sky. He wished that one time when he looks up, he will be greeted by the familiar eyes of his beloved falcon. But that had not yet happened and it was slowly eating at his soul.

As soon as everyone had packed up and had a little something to eat, they continued on their trek. The Muruien twins led the way along with Mithrandir, shortly followed by the Peredhil twins with their brother and sister. The two Mirkwood princesses walked beside each other, speaking in hushed voices while the golden haired prince and Jaimea walked together in silence. As they walked, they noticed a large stretch of trees break on the horizon and their hearts leapt into their throat. With each step, the Muruien land was getting closer and closer.

The silver haired twins seemed to quicken their pace as they drew nearer to their homeland; their eyes alight with excitement. The company did not argue at the speed, each and everyone one of them filled with a new hope.

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Turwaithiel pulled back the branches slightly with narrowed eyes. She vaguely heard Uhako come up behind her, looking over her shoulder. At the base of a tree sat two bright haired males, speaking with grins upon their faces, and another dark haired male poking at a small fire with a stick. The three of them were clad in browns and greens with silver chain mail underneath. A long sword was at the waist of the dark haired one while the other two had longbows. One said something that the Muru didn't catch and the three burst out into laughter.

The maiden glanced at the Muru behind her and, with a quick nod, drew the hood of her cloak over her head, Uhako following her example. With almost no noise, they strode into the clearing. Immediately, the three guards leapt up with their weapons at the ready.

"State your purpose!" The dark haired one commanded, his chocolate eyes steely and hardened. Uhako raised his hand in peace.

"My lady and I only wish to venture out of the forest to visit some old friends a few miles north from here." He stated, wrapping his arm around the maiden next to him. The three Muruien guards narrowed their eyes at the two.

"Names?" The same one ordered again. Uhako subconsciously gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on Turwaithiel's waist. She nudged him slightly in the ribs with her elbow.

"Lord Nyo and Lady Medeki." He answered tensely, his patience already waning. The dark haired guard eyed them both suspiciously, looking them up and down. His heart began to pound in his chest when the three guards spoke together in hurried voices. Turwaithiel looked up at him with a warning in her eyes and he cleared his throat loudly.

"You know the laws, my lord. It is not safe to travel outside the lands nowadays. I am surprised my King even allowed his remaining sons to venture out beyond the borders." The same one scoffed as he turned to them once more, "Word has reached our ears of a company traveling this way but we do not yet know the cause. We were ordered to escort them to the palace, the princes with them."

The maiden's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She glanced sharply up at Uhako who was in the same state as well. The three Muruien watched them closely, the suspicion rising within them.

"You know of this already." He stated more then questioned. His grip on his sword tightened, "I am sorry, my lord and lady, but I-"

The guard didn't have time to finish his sentence before Uhako whipped out his sword, concealed beneath his cloak, and took no hesitation in cleaving off the Muru's head. Immediately, the fair-haired guards took aim and rapidly fired off arrow after arrow at the two. As if it were a daily routine, the couple flew apart from each other, dodging and parrying the arrows with their own weapons. One of the Muruien placed a gold horn to his lips and blew into it, sending off a resonating boom throughout the forest.

Almost immediately, shouts in the distance were heard and the ringing of swords being drawn reached the Muruien's ears. The fair-haired males continued to shoot off their arrows yet Turwaithiel and Uhako continued to dodge them. Arrows from different directions whizzed past their heads and they struggled to keep moving.

Suddenly, a cold draft pushed through the area, blowing out the fire and shoving the guards to the ground. The couple gazed around in shock, knowing full well what was happening: their Master had come. A bright shield of gold light formed around them, reflecting any arrows that came their way. In the middle of the clearing, they saw their Master take shape with his sword in hand. The Muruien on the ground stared up at him with fearful eyes, trembling. He raised his sword as if to strike them down but, instead, raised his other hand and a bolt of black light shot from it and into their hearts. They did not move again.

The shouts continued to grow closer and Eruko turned towards the couple, hissing between his teeth. The shield dissipated and he stormed towards them. Uhako tightened his grip on his blade and moved to stand protectively in front of Turwaithiel. The cloaked creature only growled and shoved him away.

"You fools!" He spat, "Look at what you have done! This will not go without punishment!" And without another word, a gust of wind picked up and they were gone, leaving nothing but the bodies of the guards behind.

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Her mind was in a whirlwind when she awoke. A chilly breeze whipped past her face and tousled her dark hair. All of her body ached and she found it hard to concentrate on anything. She was aware that she seemed to be suspended in the air and it was no longer dark. Something warm was around her but she felt bitterly cold, almost unbearably. She searched her mind, trying to find anything that would make sense, but found nothing.

She struggled to open her eyes and found herself looking up at the blue sky. White clouds wheeled above her and the sun shone brightly in the west. She heard the soft beating of something beside her but was in no state to see what it was. All she wanted was to rid herself of the pain that throbbed in her head and fall into oblivion.

And that was what she did.

The crackling of a fire brought Iaurtondariel back to her senses. And, to her dismay, found that it was the only light left in the darkness. She shuddered, fearful at the idea of being in the dark once again. When she tried to move, she found herself constricted and panic swept through her body. Memories of the short time she was trapped with the goblins flooded her mind and she struggled to fight back the overwhelming emotions.

There was a soft cackle beside her and she pried her eyes open. They darted every which way, widening in fear when she could not see a thing. The first thing that popped into her mind was that she had gone blind but this was quickly cast away when she saw the flickering of the flames beside her. There was another cackle and, slowly and painfully, she turned her head to find the source of the noise.

Perched upon a small stone was the golden Peregrine falcon she knew and recognized. The falcon quirked her head at the elleth as if questioning the reason for her shock. The elf's lips moved as if to speak but found no words would form.

A shuffling on the other side of her caught her attention and she turned her head towards the new noise. A shadowed figured walked silently through the camp, bending down to pick up small sticks and branches to feed the fire. Her eyes strayed over the person's form, taking in every tiny detail. He walked with such a gracefulness that only one of the Eldar could possess and every step was silent. A hood concealed his face and his cloak billowed out behind him gently like a ghost. He stopped suddenly, feeling eyes upon him, and he turned towards the elleth with sorrowful eyes.

Emerald eyes met her own and she felt her heart constrict in her chest. Mahogany hair had escaped from the person's hood; the small locks billowing out in the crisp breeze. Grief was plastered upon his face and Iaurtondariel felt her own self-fall into depression at the aura he gave off. His body seemed to tremble but from what, she knew not. The wind changed directions sharply, casting his hood from his head and she could clearly see his true form. Now, her own body began to shake.

The person sighed, drawing his gaze away from hers. She felt the blood being drawn away from her face as she reached out to the person. Seeing this, he strode over to her swiftly and kneeled before her, taking her hand in his. Her eyes darted frantically over his chiseled features, his pointed ears.

Slowly, the elleth reached up and touched his cheek lightly with her finger tips; he did not pull away. Her fingers glided up the side of his face, her eyes never leaving his, and then trailed down the bridge of his nose. From there, they gently passed over his lips, down his chin until they came to rest upon a long, white scar on his throat. Her hand quivered and fell to the ground, tears streaming down her pale face.

"How is this possible?" She breathed, "I saw it happen…you should not be here." The frown on the male's face deepened and he looked down to the ground. He took her hands once more and brought them to his lips, kissing them both softly.

"If only I could answer that, it would settle the struggles in both of our hearts, my lady." He replied softly. Sadness dripped off his voice and Iaurtondariel winced slightly. She was vaguely aware of his thumbs massaging the tops of her hands.

"But you should be dead." She whispered, gazing deeply into his emerald eyes. Her hands, once again, touched the thin scar on his throat, "How? How have you returned to us? Or is it the other way around and I have joined you in the Halls of Mandos?"

"No, we are both in the living world, as you should be. But I do not belong here. I was torn away from the peace of death in a way that I should not have been."

"Do you not wish to be here then?" She questioned, her heart tightening. A sigh escaped his lips.

"I do not know what I wish for anymore." A tear dripped off his chin and he leaned down to kiss the elleth on the forehead, "You need to rest. You have been through much." He stood to leave, drawing his cloak around him once again.

"But you have been through more, my lord." She said softly, already closing her eyes. He froze in his steps, willing to keep his emotions in check. She felt her mind begin to haze once again and she managed to utter a few more words, "I love you, Norui."

The ellon looked over his shoulder at the sleeping elleth with glazed eyes. Her felt his mind and heart clash against each other, confusing and tormenting him to no end. He knew the meaning behind her words though it made him cringe. In the short time he knew her, he knew that it would eventually come to this just by watching her as she watched him when she thought no one noticed. It pained him to know that he would have to tell her the truth but that could wait, he thought.

A shaky breath escaped his lips and he strode back over to the elf. He knelt down beside her, stroking her dark hair out of her eyes. He was relieved to find that her eyes had closed, signaling the deep sleep she had fallen into. The ellon hung his head, touching his throat gingerly with his fingers. He looked over to the falcon who still sat quietly on her perch, gazing at him with her golden eyes. He sighed shakily, his emerald eyes watering.

"What now, Espenshade?" He whispered, "What am I supposed to do now?"

The falcon only clicked her tongue in response, eyeing the ellon closely.

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The elves perked up when a tremor shook the ground they walked upon. They glanced around with confusion in their eyes, all wondering what had caused the disturbance. The Muruien twins seemed equally distressed as they gazed worriedly upon the borders of their homeland. They looked back to the company with anxious eyes.

"Something has happened." Ricamros whispered, "We must hurry." Tarmikos nodded and, without a word to the others in the group, the Muruien sprinted away, ignoring the confused cries of their companions. The vaguely heard their footfalls fast approaching them but they did not slow down. The only thing they cared about at the moment was the safety of their home and people. They could feel the tension emanating from the forest, even at this distance.

Their feet continued to glide unhindered over the plains, nimbly jumping over any obstacle that stood in their way, their strides matching the others perfectly in time. They only slowed their pace when they came to the border of trees, both staring into its depths. They stood there for what seemed like the longest time, searching for anything that might be amiss and they did not acknowledge the others as they came behind them, some breathing heavily in exhaustion.

"What was that about?" Melyanna questioned, slowly coming up to stand beside them. She followed the Muruien's gaze and gasped, "What happened?"

Quickly, the elleth darted into the forest despite the others' calls. She clambered through the thick vines and twisted trees, her eyes set on a small clearing deep in the forest. Her hair became tangled in the sharp thorns that wove between the trees like a spider's web, unaware of her companions following quickly behind her.

When she finally reached her destination, she dropped down to her knees beside the body of a lifeless male. His golden hair was spread wildly about him and his eyes were wide as if frightened. The elleth looked around and noticed that two other males lay dead on the ground. She whispered an elvish prayer under her breath and made to stand but was stopped suddenly when cold steel was placed against her neck. Her eyes widened.

"And what have we here?" A cold voice hissed from behind her, "Surely, no Muru. A trespasser, perhaps?"

"Melyanna!" Someone called, stumbling into the clearing followed by her companions. Lothron's eyes widened in shock "Let her go!" She cried again.

"You expect us to let a murderer go, my lady?" The same one questioned harshly.

"Enough!" Ricamros growled pulling Lothron back behind them, "Leave her be, my lord, she has done no evil." The kneeling elleth heard the one behind her take a sharp breath and then pull away.

"Forgive me, my prince." He said apologetically, "Someone sounded a warning and we came as quickly as we could. Seeing the lady here, one could only believe she had something to do with it."

"A simple elleth defeating three trained guards of the Muruien single handedly? I think not." The Muru twin stated, raising an eyebrow. The other bowed his head.

"I am sorry."

Lothron pushed the Muru aside and rushed to her sister, pulling her up quickly. Melyanna turned to look at the one behind her with nervous eyes and saw a tall Muru with golden hair and hard eyes watching her regretfully. Her eyes took in his form quickly, and she bowed her head, muttering an apology.

"I take it this is the company that the King has been anxiously waiting for?" He questioned, turning his attention to the two silver haired princes. He smiled when Tarmikos came up beside his brother and the Muru returned it.

"Aye, it is. We found them only a few days from here. And may I say that this is quite the interesting bunch." Ricamros answered, eyeing the dark haired Noldor twins. They grinned in response.

"Right." The guard said, "I trust that you can safely lead them to the town. Or should I send some escorts with you?" He added with a small smirk.

"That won't be necessary." The prince replied, smirking as well, "We can take it from here. Thank you, my lord." The fair-haired guard bowed at the waist and the two princes returned it.

Once again, the company started forward, following the Muruien twins and eyeing the group of guards curiously. They found it difficult to navigate the further they ventured into the forest, the foliage thick and the air humid. Strange birds of bright colors flew above the heads, peering down at them with black eyes. The wild calls of animals was all around them and, at one point, Elrohir fancied that he saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes following them in the distance, occasionally glimpsing a sleek, black creature in the bushes. He swallowed hard and moved closer to his brother. Elladan quirked his eyebrow at his twin whom only grinned sheepishly in reply.

Slowly, the trees began to open up and it became easier to breathe. A pathway appeared before them and the company sighed in relief. They eagerly followed the two silver haired princes, gazing around in wonderment. Brightly colored flowers sprung up from the ground, emitting aromatic scents. A thick canopy shaded them and the elves found comfort in the forest. Their hearts sang at being under the trees again, familiar or no.

They heard whispers all around them and they stared deep into the trees with curious eyes, seeking out the hidden people around them. They saw fleeting images of some smaller people darting between trees and watching them from high in the canopy though they could make out no features. They noticed Tarmikos and Ricamros were right at home, their footsteps light and love was in their eyes. They all knew the joy that returning to your home brought.

Before any of them, excluding the Muruien twins, realized how much time had passed, a great wall of smooth stone loomed before them. A heavy wooden gate was set in the middle, intricate patterns engraved into the wood weaving around a creature that was unfamiliar to them. They looked upon it with awe in their eyes, unaware of their escorts conversing with two guards that had come forth from the gate.

"I saw one of those in the forest." The younger Peredhil twin commented quietly to his brother, nudging him in the ribs. The other twin grunted in annoyance, then studied the carving on the door. The creature had long and nimble legs with deadly claws outstretched from its paws. A long, thin tail stretched out, curling above its body, and its massive jaws were twisted into a snarl. Elladan snorted.

"I doubt that, my brother. It looks to me like some creature from legend."

"It would not surprise me if you did see one of these, my lord." A guard said suddenly catching the attentions of the companions, "They are not rare in the forest, nor are they common. We call them Oqueri in our tongue, but I know not the translation of it in your language."

Elrohir only nodded his thanks to the guard before turning back to his brother with a satisfied smirk on his face. The other ellon rolled his eyes.

"Well, if you are ready." Ricamros called to the group, barely able to suppress his grin, "Welcome to Banemera, city of the Muruien."

Sharp gasps escaped the lips of the companions as they gazed around in wonder at the city before them. Buildings of smooth white stone lined the cobblestone streets and people mingled with each here and there. Children darted across their path, laughing with each other as they played their games. Older citizens stopped their business to bow to their princes, who inclined their heads to them as well, and eyed the company curiously.

Legolas chuckled when he saw a few strange creatures with long tails and fingers darting among the carts filled with fruits and vegetables. When the keeper of the market turned, they all snatched away a piece of fruit, shoved it into their mouths and leapt nimbly up into the trees. The golden haired prince nudged the elleth who walked beside him gently, motioning with his head towards the mischievous creatures. Jaimea stifled her laughter when the keeper turned and gasped in outrage when she saw one smaller animal munching on a shiny apple. She swatted it away with her hand and it went scampering into the trees, squealing as it went.

They noticed, to some confusion, that most of the people had either golden or silver hair. Only occasionally would they see one with dark hair mixed in with the crowds. Not only that but almost all had eyes the color of navy blue. Once again, only a few defied this trait.

Within a few moments, they came upon an even grander structure, its tall peaks cutting through the thick canopy. Shimmering glass windows reflected the sunlight and a large waterfall flowed down the side of it as if the building had been built right into the river. A bridge crossed behind this, concealing a few of the people as they passed by. Gardens of beautiful flowers and herbs lined the base of the building, leading right up to a great gate engraved with the same creature on the city's walls. The structure was enormous and glorious, even to the elves, and the whole thing glimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

Ricamros and Tarmikos turned back to the company with excitement in their eyes, "Welcome to the palace of King Judeqir, our father."

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Hum bum, here you go! I hope you liked it. By the way, Ricamros's song is from The Lion King. Hehe, I got the Broadway CD of it and when I heard that song, I freaked out! I was like, "SWEET ERU! This song is perfect!" So, ta da! I'm actually listening to it right now…you know, I think I have a subconscious obsession with that movie. I noticed that in two of my other stories, I put in a reference to it: Call of the Red Bird and Love at First Sight. Muahaha.

Well, thank you for reading! I hope everyone had a good Christmas! My parents got me Hadhafang and Legolas's knives! AIIEEE! So wonderful:D Okay, anywho! Ta ta for now!

And thank you, Ty, for betaing for me! It is much appreciated and the chapter looks great!

Until Next Time,

Manwathiel