~Distractions and Diversions~
Legolas was having a terrible time concentrating in the large chamber where Aragorn, Gandalf, Éomer, Halbarad, Elladen and Elrohir stood around a large table strewn with detailed maps. They were not the only one's present. Across the table was Boromir's younger brother, Faramir, captain of the Rangers of Ithilien, who was still healing from an attack, and Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. The small group of lords and captains were using their combined knowledge to decide on their next plan of either attack or defence against Sauron.
Another was also in attendance and the sole reason for his distraction, her very presence driving him slowly mad. They had finally, truly found one another and here they were attending a council. A council! He doubted he would even need to give his opinion on the matters which were being discussed. Aragorn, Gandalf and Imrahil were holding most of the discussion. His mind kept wandering, thinking of the elleth beside him. He had so many things he wished to say to her, and he wanted to kiss her again.
"If Sauron had the ring, we would know it."
"It is only a matter of time."
"His armies are regrouping as we speak."
"But if he does not know of the halflings whereabouts, is not all well?"
"From what Faramir has relayed, more than ten thousand Orcs, perhaps twenty thousand, stand between Frodo and reaching Mount Doom."
"I've sent him to his death."
"Not necessarily, he needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth." That was Aerlaer's voice, hearing it made his heart feel lighter. Oh, how he had missed hearing her speak these past days.
"We can give him that" Aragorn answered her.
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms." He vaguely heard Éomer say as he felt Aerlaer's arm brush feather light against his as she traced a finger along a section of the map before them, distracting him further as his skin tingled. She stood so close!
"Nay our armies are not large enough, we have lost too many." Imrahil added.
"But there is enough to occupy him. Enough to keep him blind to all else that moves, keep him distracted from Frodo."
"Will he not suspect a trap then?" He thought he heard either Elrohir or Elladan comment beside him.
"If we draw him out with something he fears, he will turn all his attention to us." Aerlaer spoke again, her words conspiring. Even plotting against Sauron, she is an imp. A beautiful, clever imp.
She seemed to move a fraction closer to him, her hip brushing against the side of his. This is torture, when is the damn council going to end?
"Great eye to focus entirely on us?" He half heard Aragorn question someone.
"Legolas!" Aerlaer hissed, and he realised everyone had fallen silent. He glanced up to find they were all watching him expectantly.
"What?" He hissed back.
"Aragorn asked your opinion." Elrohir said beside him and he looked over to Aragorn who was watching him with a perplexed expression.
"Uhh…" He hadn't been listening properly and quickly pieced together the snippets he had heard.
"A diversion." He said cleverly and Elrohir snorted beside him.
"Nice answer, Sinda." He snickered along with Elladan.
"Prince Imrahil and Faramir looked at him as if he were a complete idiot."
"Forgive the young prince of the Woodland Realm." Gandalf said smoothly to the two Gondor men. "He is not usually this inattentive." The wizard's blue eyes twinkled as a smile played on his lips.
"Oh, he is very attentive, just not on the matters discussed." Elrohir snickered. Aerlaer shot her cousin a scathing look as he felt his ears warming. Both men scrutinized him before Faramir turned to Aragorn
"And would he take the bait?" The young man asked.
"Oh, I think he will." Aragorn said as he looked at Aerlaer, an understanding passing between them.
"When do you propose we cause this diversion?" Imrahil asked, accentuating the word as he looked at Legolas from the corner of his eye. Well this is just brilliant! These Gondor men now actually think I'm a complete idiot. He purposely tried shutting out Aerlaer's presence beside him. Tried and failed.
"Immediately." Aragorn answered. "We want him to think his siege on the city was an easy won battle and has hardly affected us. If we retaliate immediately, he will pay more attention to our forces. He might even think we have the ring ourselves and have discovered how to wield it against him for our boldness."
"And for that single reason, the great eye will be trained on any army we send his way. He'll be looking for his ring amongst us and to him it will be as if we have delivered it to his door." Legolas said, redeeming himself and internally feeling smug as Imrahil nodded his way in understanding.
"My men can ride out tomorrow." The prince of Dol Amroth decided and Faramir nodded beside him.
"As can mine but I am despondent to say I will not be amongst them, for I cannot ride or wield a sword in this condition."
"We did offer our aid." Elladan interjected and the Gondor man shook his head.
"No, I do not wish it. I know you mean well, but I am still unsure of the way in which you Elves heal." He replied and Elladan nodded.
"You are needed here to watch over the city, Faramir." Aragorn said kindly. "If all should not go so well, your people will need someone to rally them." The acting steward of Gondor nodded, seeming to have a burden lifted from his young shoulders.
"The Rohirrim will ride with you tomorrow." Éomer said and Aragorn smiled at his friend.
"Excellent, and so too can the Dunedin." Beside him, Halbarad murmured his agreement. "We will join and fight together to whatever end." Aragorn said with a kingly air he was born to. Goblets were raised about the chamber. "We will prepare this evening and ride out to the Black Gate four hours past dawn on the morrow." He added.
"That will be adequate time to organise our men and to determine if those who have healed wish to follow our command." Imrahil said. The man made to leave the chamber followed by Faramir and Éomer.
Finally! Legolas could speak with Aerlaer and know those sweet lips again. He turned towards her now, brushing his hand against hers, entwining them. She brushed her fingertips over his knuckles and he felt his heart flip. How wonderful everything was! Even despite the very fact they were to ride to war and quite possibly die. The odds were well against them. But with the most reckless Elf in all Arda by his side, they could do anything! He looked into her eyes to find she was watching Aragorn who was speaking to her. Oh, I have done it again! I must concentrate!
She turned to look up at him, a sweet smile upon her face. Yes, now we can be alone!
"I will meet you back in the encampment when we've finished." She said to him and he stared at her, baffled.
"Where are you going?"
"Honestly Legolas, have you not been paying any attention to what we've all been speaking of?" She asked, shaking her head in exasperation. Sheepishly he shook his own head.
"Aragorn and I have this matter to attend to immediately." She explained.
"How long will you be?" He asked.
"We do not know." She replied, and he felt a little despondent. "Could you retrieve my belongings from the Healing Houses and take them back to the encampment?"
"Of course." He replied, a smile finding its way back to him, realizing he could sleep beside her that eve without argument or awkwardness. Oh, could I be happier!
"Thank you, go now, we have work to do." She reached up and brushed a light kiss upon his cheek before letting go of his hand and with a grin, he left the chamber followed by Halbarad and the twins.
"Are all Sinda this scatter-brained?" Elladan whispered to Elrohir who snickered.
"Well Legolas did tell us his father chases butterflies, they simply must be." He whispered back. Legolas glared at him.
"You do realise we are riding to Mordor in the morning?" Elrohir asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I am well aware." He shot back, annoyed he was their current subject of torment.
"It's probably a good thing you didn't hear what Aerlaer and Aragorn are up to then." Elladan said, and he realised Aerlaer had not actually told him what they had stayed back to do.
"Tell me." He demanded and Elladan shook his head. "Not until you have retrieved yours and Aerlaer's belongings and returned to the encampment." They were now keeping something from him, and they wanted him far from Aerlaer when he found out. It was something dangerous, he was sure.
"Tell me right now or I shall storm back into that chamber to discover for myself." He growled out and Halbarad sighed on his left as they entered the Houses of Healing.
"Truly you two are wicked, keeping this from him." The older Ranger muttered and turned to Legolas. "They are going to attempt to contact Sauron through the Palantir." Legolas felt the colour leave his face. He spun to return to the chamber where they had left his dear friend and his very world. He was grabbed about the arms.
"You cannot interrupt them Legolas!" Cried Elladan.
"Oh yes I can!" He thundered. "Are they mad!" He seethed as he tried to drag himself from the grip of the twins. Halbarad suddenly stood before him, a calming hand upon his arm.
"Elladan is right Legolas, if you interrupt them now they will break composure, and then Sauron very well could inflict damage." Legolas hesitated.
"Aragorn asked Aerlaer to stay as a healer and his friend." Elrohir added. "She has more lifeforce now than the rest of us for we have been healing every day since the battle and you still only have Aerlaer's sustaining you." He explained. Legolas nodded, the fight leaving him. The twins let him go, and he silently retrieved his and Aerlaer's belongings, swinging both packs over his shoulder.
"Speaking of which, you should head back to your bedroll and eat and rest Legolas." He shook his head.
"Absolutely not. I will take our belongings back to the encampment, but then I am coming back here to wait until they come out." He declared, mind made up.
"You are pushing your luck, Sinda." Elrohir muttered. "Know I will be telling Aerlaer of your foolishness." He threatened with a smirk. Legolas shrugged.
"Provided she returns well from this madness, I will certainly eat and sleep." He replied as they walked back out of the Healing House and down the narrow street. Halbarad chuckled.
"Give up Elrohir, he is as stubborn as Aerlaer. There is no use arguing the matter." Legolas smirked at the Ranger as Elrohir made to say something and then changed his mind.
"I am still telling her." he threatened, a smile playing on his lips and Legolas nodded.
"Go ahead, I'd welcome her wrath over seeing her so still and silent any day." To this all three of his companions nodded. It was truly good to have Aerlaer full of life again.
…
"The eye will try to roam, to seek out any others in the room. You must keep out of sight." Aragorn said and Aerlaer nodded as they both turned a large table on its side in the chamber and Aerlaer settled hidden behind it.
"If anything goes amiss, you must call for me immediately, Estel." She said softly, and he smiled at the use of his elven name.
"Of course." He replied, looking into her blue eyes before turning and walking to the smaller table where the Palantir rested wrapped in a cloak, locked in darkness. He picked it up and revealed the black orb beneath.
"Long have you hunted me, long have I eluded you. No more." Aragorn said strongly, and the great eye of Sauron revealed itself, a blazing flame with a never-ending blackness at its centre. He could almost feel the heat radiating from within the orb.
"The hearts of men are weak. I do not fear you." Dark words hissed in a deep and ancient voice, the power behind those words trying to knock him to his knees. He resisted and with his other hand drew his sword and held it up to the eye.
"I do not think you have forgotten the sword of Elendil." He said regally. "Behold it now! Reforged again! Soon you will remember its might and see the true might of my people!" The eye blazed and within its black depths he could see Sauron himself, revealing himself to Aragorn, clad in the blackest of armour, the flames radiating from him.
"The wrath and ruin I bring to all men will be imminent. You will die heir of Isildur and those you love too will die." Sauron laughed cold and cruel as he revealed images of men falling in battle and flame, elves beaten bloody, tortured by ruthless orcs and Arwen, his Arwen dead before his very eyes. His heart, his very soul screamed in anguish and he fell to his knees but still he held the great orb with all his might, fighting the power of Sauron.
"It will not come to that!" He hissed. "Not while my heart still beats! Not while I still draw breath! Middle Earth will not succumb to you!" It took all his strength to say those words and Sauron seemed to flinch back, once more becoming the eye, roving his face with its heat and then it looked behind him a moment and he realised Aerlaer was present. The eye then looked back to his again; looking, could it truly be, afraid? Quickly he cast the cloak back over the Palantir and wrapped it up, covering away the heat it had omitted and placed it upon the ground before crumpling wearily upon himself and then he felt himself being pulled into arms and likea child he once was, he buried his head into her hair, taking wracking breaths as tears formed and fell like fragments of his heart.
"Estel what did you see." She asked him worriedly and again the image flashed before his eyes. It would now haunt him in dreams. There would now be no peace for him.
"Arwen." He whispered. "She was dead, the light had left her." She held him tighter.
"It will not come to pass." Aerlaer murmured. "Do not fear Estel, it cannot be true. It was the one thing he could use to truly undo you and you held your ground for I saw the fear in his eye as you did." He looked up and into her face and green eyes looked back at her but there was a fierceness in the sorrow that lingered in their depths.
"What did you see?" He asked in shock.
"Legolas." She replied quietly, and he realised the vision Sauron had shown him of Arwen's fate, he had shown Aerlaer the very same, but Legolas.
"How could you endure it better than I?" He asked her, and she gave her a painful smile.
"Because I have truly endured it before and I will not lose him a third time." She said softly. "Did you see anything else?" she asked him, biting her lip.
"Yes. He showed me the fates of mankind and that of the elves too."
"What fate is that?" She whispered and he briefly closed his eyes as he answered.
"Death and torture." He replied. "Did you see anything else, did he ask anything else in the brief moment he saw you? You should not have come out."
"I heard you cry out and fall." She replied. "And yes, I do not understand it. The eye became as if it were afraid." He nodded for he too had seen the change just before he had covered the Palantir back up.
"Did he speak?"
"He seemed surprised. He said he expected the fickle hopes of men but not the light of Laurelin but like Melkor before, he would extinguish it." He looked at her with raised brows, as baffled as she. "I do not know what he means but the two of us combined, it did well to frighten him somewhat, and so our intention has worked even better than we had hoped." She reassured him with a grin and he smiled.
"Come let us see for ourselves if he is now focussed upon us." Aragorn stood slowly and Aerlaer with a concerned look helped him to his feet."
"This has wearied you, Estel." She said quietly as she placed her hand over his heart, eyes searching his. "Yet you are stronger than him for you still have a heart. he clings to the hope of the ring to truly come into greatness. You were born with it." She smiled at him and he knew she believed in him as Arwen did. Together they walked to the great oak door and opened it. Gandalf stood leaning against the wall of the hallway across from them.
"Did it go well?" The wizard asked, and Aragorn nodded.
"Better than we had hopped." He replied, and Gandalf smiled. "Will you accompany us to see if his eye has indeed turned to us?" He asked.
"I think I will." Gandalf answered and together the three companions walked through the halls of the Tower of Ecthelion and headed down and outside to where the fountain and the White Tree stood. Silent, they looked towards Mordor. Beside him Aerlaer seemed to shiver.
"I can feel his fell eye cast upon us, burning in contempt. It has certainly worked." She murmured.
"Now we must hope the little time we have given Frodo will be enough." Gandalf murmured, and a small smile played on his lips. Sauron will never see those two hobbits coming.
Chapter 94: Of Men and Ellons
While Gandalf and Aragorn still had matters to attend to in the city, Aerlaer was now free to return to the encampment she had not yet set foot in since leaving the Houses of Healing. Free to find Legolas! She grinned to herself as she practically skipped down the hall and leaving it, into another before finally walking out into daylight again. The city really was too much stone, it was built into a mountain! But how it had been built truly was a marvel in itself; level upon level. No wonder Gimli is truly in love with it.
"My Lady Aerlaer!" She turned at the sound of her name and grinned. So Bregon did find his way back to Minas Tirith. He strode up to her eagerly, a disarming smile upon his face.
"It warms my heart to see you well again, truly you radiate!" He exclaimed.
"Greetings Bregon, I too am glad to find you well in the White City." She said kindly. "How did you know I was unwell?"
"Word soon gets around if there is say a stunning elven princess gracing the Houses of Healing." He replied with a wink.
"Oh." She replied, a little bewildered by the idea the entire city knew she was here.
"However, it was Aragorn who told me such distressful news of your whereabouts, for I saw him pass while on guard duty these past nights at the entrance to the Houses of Healing. I went to see you as soon as I had been relieved of my duties. You were so pale so still. I could not believe one such as you could suddenly be in such a fragile state, and so the next eve as I was on guard duty I knew it was you I guarded, you I was keeping safe." He said sombrely and while his words were quite chivalrous, to Aerlaer it seemed rather overdone of him, as if he were wearing a façade.
"It was kind of you to think of me." She responded politely with a smile and he smiled brightly back.
"It was nothing, I would do it a hundred times over. Now you are well, and I admit it is the first time I have seen you so! Truly Lady Aerlaer you are a vision against these walls of stone." He said charmingly, and she noted again the cold look about his eyes. She chose to ignore his complements. There was only one she truly cared to hear such words from.
"This city of stone is magnificent however." She said, hoping to change the subject and he nodded in agreement.
"Aye it is. Say would you like me to give you a tour of these higher levels? I am within my right too." He said with a hint of self importance in his voice. She did wish to explore the city but with her companions and not before she had seen Legolas again.
"Your offer is a kind one, but I really must be on my way back down to the encampment." A flash of a raw emotion crossed his face. Was that anger? It was gone, replaced with a warm smile.
"Perhaps another time but I must insist I escort you out of the city." He held out his right hand to her.
"I am sure I can find my way out, I have been informed the general layout of the streets." She replied but he shook his head.
"No, please my Lady, it is a part of my duties as a guard of the white city to assist fair nobles and ladies such as yourself." He said with another charming smile. "It would greatly impede on my honour if I did not." He added. She internally sighed. She was thankful Legolas did not speak like this, it was infuriating. Even when he spoke close to this when he was drunk it was amusing and endearing. Bregon's court-like mannerisms were downright tedious. Still, she supposed she should humour him, she was in the world of men now and a strange world it was. Aerlaer had seen little of the Gondor people so far.
"If it will prevent your honour from impediment then I guess you better escort me to the gates then." She laughed, and he grinned, placing her arm to rest upon his. She immediately did not like the feel of his skin on hers and ignored the feeling as one would ignore the feel of an orc in hand combat in order to get the job done.
"Follow my lead, Lady Aerlaer." He murmured as she let him lead her along a path which to her delight had gardens leading down stairs and through an open gate to the next level of the city.
"I live on the seventh level we have just left, right behind and under the King's Hall." Bregon told her as they walked. "I am one of the Citadel Guards, an honorary position." He said with evident pride in himself. " I did however grow bored with the little work we did, and I have since been granted guard duties on the sixth level we walk though now and soldier duties. I was a part of a small party of soldiers when we were taken by the Corsairs." He explained a little about himself. Aerlaer nodded politely.
"Have you always lived within the city?"
"I have, yes." He replied and turned to look at her as they walked. To live here, it would drive an elf mad! She thought to herself. "And where does a fair elven princess call her home?" He asked with a roughish smile which just did not have anywhere near the same effect as a genuine and mischievous smile bestowed by Legolas did. She wished this man would stop with these attempts at charming her.
"My home was once the Gladden Fields and a part of the Greenwood but home it is no more, I find myself without one now for I am all that is left of my kin." She replied feeling the familiar pain in her heart upon thinking of her lost family. He stopped suddenly, pulling her arm to face him, and Aerlaer only just managed to keep from instinctively dropping him to the ground, holding her composure.
"My Lady Aerlaer, I did not know! I regret your loss deeply." He said, and she saw actual compassion in his eyes which she did not expect. Perhaps I judged him unfairly. "The pain it must cause you."
"It is a pain I am now used to." Aerlaer shrugged. "They are in Valinor, safe in the Halls of Mandos and for that I am thankful for they are all together." She replied, hoping they could move onto another topic and furthermore, continue walking. To her surprise he gently placed his other hand against her cheek. Again, his touch made her uncomfortable as if she were in the presence of an enemy, but she ignored it.
"They may be together, but you are alone." He said softly and again she shrugged.
"I still have remaining family in Middle Earth, and I have dear friends, the Fellowship, we have all formed strong friendships with one another." She explained, and a flash of annoyance crossed his face as it had earlier and then he stepped closer towards her, his hand still against her cheek.
"I find you intriguing My Lady, never have I had the pleasure to meet one as strong and as beautiful as you. You have a fierceness about you and I find I wish to-" He stopped mid-sentence and swallowed and Aerlaer realised he was now caressing the skin of her cheek. It felt almost possessive. She did not like where this was going. She most certainly did not like his hand upon her face. Truly the men of Rohan never acted like this.
"Bregon I do not-"
"Hush, let me finish." He silenced her, bringing a finger to place against her lips greatly annoying her and she resisted the urge to bite it angrily. She breathed in to calm herself, to be sensible and polite in this situation, but his scent filled her nose putting her on edge. There was something about the way this man naturally smelt which she did not like at all. She knew from many skirmishes, danger had a smell as did fear. This man, he was danger.
"I wish to court you." He whispered to her and she fought to not laugh at the absurdness of it, keeping her face impassive.
"Bregon." She began but he still held a finger to her lips.
"I could give you anything you need. I can give you a home here with me." He murmured, letting his finger trace away from her lips to her jaw. Her nerves recoiled angrily at his touch, but she held still ready to spring into action if needed. "Your skin, it is so soft." He mused almost to himself and she saw a look of longing in his eyes.
"I am an elf, Bregon." She said quietly. "I cannot live couped up in a city of stone."
"You would come to like it." He said. "I know you feel this too." He said, and his voice had become rougher, darker and his eyes had taken on a possessive quality again. If he had some wild notion she felt something as such for him he was about to learn it was not so. He was swiftly falling out of her good graces with his current behavior. "I know you are as intrigued by me as I am by you." He whispered. "Men and elves, they have joined before." Aerlaer did not mistake the desire now evident in his eyes as he seemed to lean closer to her.
"No Bregon, I think you will find you are very much mistaken I am sorry to say. I do not feel whatever it is you do." She said with authority, leaning away from him but still maintaining perfect balance if she should need to physically deal with him. He chuckled.
"There is no need to deny it, my Lady, that you too desire me. "He leaned further towards her. "Let me show you, let me make you realise it." He whispered, and she swiftly stepped back causing his hand to fall from her face.
"Do not dare." She said regally, internally seething. I hope all the soldiers we ride out with are not as truly bad as he! He looked furious and his eyes darkened coldly. "You are misguided for my heart belongs to but one." She added and he took a step towards her.
"An elf?" He asked, and she nodded, taking another step back. "That blonde one?" Again, she nodded.
"Legolas." She said, relishing the comfort his name on her lips brought as she dealt with this stupid man before her. He chuckled again as he thought of something.
"For all his years he would not have the experience of a man. He would not be able to handle you as I could." He suggested and Aerlaer did laugh now. Bitterly in her anger. "Has he even kissed you?" Bregon scoffed. "Let me kiss you now and show you how a kiss should make you feel, for I will show you that we are matched." He tried to coax. Aerlaer moved away further from him, towards the way she wished to go. "Your hair, it is like copper!" He exclaimed. Oh, it is because I am thoroughly restraining from punching you! She thought darkly
"He has, and nothing you can possibly offer will compare." She snapped at him. "You have escorted me far enough, I shall make my own way to the encampment now." Giving him a pointed 'do not dare to follow me' glare, she stalked swiftly away, barely containing her anger for the bold and insolent guard.
She stalked her way along and down the next few levels of the city. They took a zig zag pattern, a gate at each opposite level as she descended. She was aware those she passed watched her intently and she could feel the eyes of other various guards upon her, it caused her more annoyance. She refused to look at any of them for if they were all like Bregon, it seemed they could not tell the difference between desire and friendly politeness. She leapt two steps at a time down towards the first level of the city, entering a large square and there he stood watching her, a look of joy which soon turned to worry as he quickly took in the way she walked, and her sparking copper tresses. She would wipe that concern right off his face. That excuse for a man should have followed, then he would have seen exactly how it was with her and Legolas and that nothing, nothing in all of Arda, in all of the universe even came close to comparing.
"Aer-" He began to say and she heard the concern in that one syllable of her name before she vanquished it, grabbing him firmly by the front of his tunic and pulling his lips down onto hers, entangling her other hand in his hair as she kissed him thoroughly before pulling away.
…
"Manwë!" Legolas gasped. "I don't know why you were annoyed but if that is how you wish to deal with such things, then by all means my lips are yours." He chuckled, catching his breath. She grinned up at him.
"I do feel much better now." She replied. "Come let us return to the encampment, I have had enough of this city for today." He nodded and taking her hand in his, made to turn to cross the busy square and exit the confining stone walls. Amongst the faces he knew had been watching Aerlaer's passionate display of affection, he felt eyes boring into him and looked back towards the feeling. Cold black eyes glared angrily at him. Legolas merely smirked cheerfully, looking pointedly at the man watching from the shadows. She is mine.
Thanks to all you lovely reviwers! I'm half asleep, so hopefully I don't miss anyone!
blasttyrant - Three times! Thanks, that is pretty neat! I had a goal to have everything back up by Christmas, but about to move house, so I'll see what happens!
RachelTW - Thank you! I enjoyed orchestrating that chapter and the revelations!
Patishlebish - Oh my gosh, a day! Did you even sleep? Glad you are enjoying it, thanks!
Luna dans les Etoiles - You'll probably enjoy the next chapter I think.
Guest - It will be completed.
Aralinn - Well Bregon is a git, haha! As for Aerlaer's father, we have a lil bit to go before that is revealed.
Guest 2 - Haha, think by the end we'll all be hoping something bad happens to Bregon!
Tobi256 - Haha, I didnt even realise I had got the male realism down pat there! Unfortunately only one chapter, not three this time. but I do want to get as much if not all back online before Christmas eve! And happy belated birthday for October!
RaqualiaMio - Thanks, glad you are enjoying it! I've been playing around with a sequel, but it will take a bit of a darker turn if I do write it, sticking along the lines of tragic Elven stories which are so true to Tolkien! But then I love these characters so much, and Aerlaer, so its why I've not put a single word on paper of my sequel idea, it might be too much. I dunno. I'll finish this one finally and see how I feel about it all then. :)
thrndlewood - He is a lil bit. :D
SakuraBlossoms14 - Haha, you are welcome. :D Horsepower, freaking lol!
XiiiKakashi - It was a good chapter end, but def not the story end. I still have lots of mischief to get through with this one!
Theendproductions - oh my gosh, I love your username!