"Maegalda, was it?" Aragorn asked the elf leading the way.

"Yes, that's me," she turned and smiled up at him, her slightly impish features giving her a natural air of mischief. "What do you want to know?"

Aragorn smiled in response to her good humor, "Maybe I just wanted to say Hello?"

"I doubt that," Maegalda slanted her eyes at him in mock suspicion, "you have the look of a man fishing for information. So, what do you want to know?" Aragorn laughed at that. Common wood-elves were always so direct, their unending years giving them an earthly no-nonsense sort of wisdom quite different from the noble HIgh elves of Lothlorien and Imladris. It reminded him of conversations he had with other men and put him at ease.

"The Marchwarden, Legolas, do you know where might I find him? I wish to thank him for interceding on my behalf."

"Ah, yes, our King has always had a soft spot for his youngest son. It's good luck the young Prince seems to have taken a shine to you, otherwise you might never have gotten His Majesty to agree to take responsibility for that horrid creature." Maegalda paused in her cheerful banter when she realized the ranger was no longer following her. She turned around and started at the sight of the man. All the blood seemed to have drained from his face and he looked like he might lose his lunch right there on the stone steps leading to the guest quarters.

"Are you alright, sir?" Maegalda asked, worried that the man had suddenly sickened as his kind was wont to do. But Aragorn seemed to snap out of it and quickly school his features into an almost regal calm. This man was clearly used to leading others.

"Yes, I'm well. Please, lead the way," he waved his hand forward with a rather courtly grace that seemed out of place with his haggard unwashed appearance. Internally, Aragorn was screaming at himself. He could not BELIEVE he'd been so forward with the King of Mirkwood's son! He prayed to whatever Valar might be listening that the volatile King never found out that he'd laid so much as a finger on the elvish Princeling. As soon as he'd rested enough, he'd set out on the road and leave the whole troublesome situation behind him.

A/N: So, it's been like 7 years since I've posted anything- Whoops! But I've decided to try my hand at some writing again since I'm depressed at home and in desperate need of a creative outlet. :D