Here is chapter 13, lovelies! Enjoy! And thank you for all the reviews I have received for this story. It keeps me inspired and knowing that people are reading the story!

BOLD is for Elvish. ITALICS are for thoughts/memories

"Gollum has escaped!"

The cry came from the dungeons. Anolindë grabbed her knives and strapped them to her back along with her bow and quiver. She took the stairs to the dungeons in pairs, Legolas meeting her halfway.

"My lord, he has escaped!" an Elf told them as they reached the bottom.

The creature known as Gollum had been caught by Aragorn and left in the care of the Elves. They had kept him in the dungeons for safe keeping until the Ranger had decided what to do with him.

"How?" Legolas demanded of the Elf.

"I am not sure, my lord," the Elf said.

Legolas and Anolindë reached the cell in which they had kept Gollum. It was indeed empty.

"Confound that ghastly creature!" Anolindë hissed angrily.

"We must tell Aragorn," Legolas said to her.

"He will not be pleased," she sighed, closing the cell door.

~:✿:~

"You will ride to Imladris to tell Aragorn of Gollum's escape," Thranduil told them after they had presented him with the news.

"Take several guards with you. The world grows more evil."

Anolindë hastily threw some clothes in a small pack and readied her weapons and horse. Legolas and the guards met her in the courtyard and after a brief farewell from the king, they were off to Lord Elrond's realm of Imladris, the last homely house east of the sea.

~:✿:~

"Aragorn!"

Anolindë dismounted her horse swiftly to greet the Ranger. They had reached Imladris in a few short days, stopping only to allow the horses to rest. Anolindë gave the Ranger a welcoming hug.

"You are still as beautiful as the day we met," Aragorn said after they pulled apart.

"And you look as though you need a bath," she replied playfully.

"Mellon nîn," Legolas said as Aragorn turned to him, covering his heart with his hand.

Aragorn returned the gesture.

"I trust you have been keeping a watchful eye on Anolindë," Aragorn joked.

Legolas smiled. Aragorn knew of their bond and passed no judgement. He himself had the heart of an elleth despite his mortality. The elleth in question was Arwen, Lord Elrond's only daughter. She and Anolindë had a close friendship. Anolindë left the two males to speak of Gollum while she searched for the Evenstar.

"You are not a male."

A voice stopped her as she jogged through one of the beautiful gardens. Turning, she was met with the sight of another Man, this one bearing the markings of Gondor. A man of the south.

"No, I am not," she replied.

"Yet you wear the dress of a warrior," the Man continued. "Do all she-Elves fight in battle?"

Anolindë bristled at the words but said nothing. The Man extended his hand.

"I am Boromir of Gondor," he introduced.

"Anolindë of Mirkwood, formally known as the Greenwood," she said, not accepting his hand.

"You are very beautiful Anolindë," Boromir said, stumbling over her name. "I have never seen a female Elf until my arrival here."

At that moment, Legolas appeared behind her. He raised an eyebrow as he took in the scene before him. The Man seemed to be smitten with his beloved. He could see it in Boromir's eyes.

"Meleth nîn," he said in a low voice.

Boromir snapped out of his daze. He followed Anolindë's gaze to the prince behind her.

"And you are?" the Man asked.

"Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood," Legolas replied coldy.

"My betrothed," Anolindë added hastily.

Both males turned to look at her. Legolas smirked slightly.

"My apologies if I have offended you in any way my lady," Boromir said, bowing his head.

The Man left them quickly, mumbling under his breath.

"You're betrothed?" Legolas asked Anolindë as soon as Boromir was gone.

"It was all I could think of," Anolindë shrugged.

"I like the sound of it," the prince said, pulling the elleth close to him.

"As do I," she whispered, cupping his face in her hands.

Their lips met in a sensual kiss, fisting their hands in each other's hair.

~:✿:~

The two Elves stood near the steps of the Golden Hall, arms wrapped around each other as they looked out over the horizon. Legolas had his hand splayed over Anolindë's belly, feeling the fëa that was cocooned inside. His child, his heir. His mate was resting her head on his chest, eyes scanning the dark plains. They heard footsteps behind them but neither moved, knowing it was Aragorn who joined them.

"The stars are veiled," Legolas told him, his voice rumbling in his chest. "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice. The eye of the enemy is moving."

While he spoke, he held Anolindë closer to him. She turned to look at the Ranger. He was holding his pipe in one hand. His eyes caught hers.

"You are bonded," Aragorn said.

She nodded with a smile.

"And with child," she whispered.

"Congratulations mellon nîn," he said to them both.

Suddenly, a darkness washed over them. A feeling of doom. Anolindë inhaled sharply.

"He is here!" Legolas hissed.

The three ran back into the hall and to the room where the rest of their companions were. Pippin was rolling on the floor, the Palantír tight within his grasp. Aragorn went straight for the Hobbit. He wrenched the seeing stone from Pippin's grasp, going limp at the touch. Legolas caught the falling Ranger as Anolindë and the others dodged the rolling stone. Gandalf, woken by the commotion, quickly tossed his cloak over it, shielding it from them.

"Fool of a Took!" he said angrily, turning to Pippin who lay motionless on the floor.

Anolindë immediately knelt beside him, feeling his forehead. Gandalf joined her, placing his hand over Pippin's face and chanted something beneath his breath. Pippin's eyes flew open and he panted in fear.

"Look at me," Gandalf commanded.

"Gandalf, forgive me," the Hobbit pleaded.

"What did you see?" Gandalf asked.

"A tree. There was a white tree. In a courtyard of stone. It was dead," Pippin whispered, horrified. "The city was burning."

"Minas Tirith?" Gandalf asked. "Is that what you saw?"

"I saw…" Pippin began. "I saw him! I could hear his voice in my head!"

"And what did you tell him? Speak!" Gandalf asked almost frantically this time.

"He asked me my name. I didn't answer," Pippin replied. "He hurt me."

Anolindë felt a sharp pain in her heart as Pippin said this. The poor Hobbit had been tortured by this vision.

"What did you tell him about Frodo and the ring?"

~:✿:~

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes," Gandalf told the king the very next morning. "A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still,strength perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."

Theoden stood motionless for a moment.

"Tell me," he said after a few moments. "Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?"

"I will go!" Aragorn interjected.

"No!" Gandalf said quickly.

He muttered something quietly to Aragorn.

"Understand this," he said, turning to the rest of the gathered people. "Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone."

His gaze drifted to Pippin who was standing quietly near him. The Hobbit looked at him, fear in his eyes. Gandalf motioned for him to follow him out of the Hall.

~:✿:~

That evening it was quiet. Gandalf had ridden to Minas Tirith with Pippin, leaving a brokenhearted Merry behind. They all sat in silence in the hall, eating the food that had been prepared for them. Anolindë watched Merry as he barely touched any of the food in front of him. Legolas, who sat next to her, squeezed her leg gently.

"He will be ok my love," he whispered. "They will see each other again."

She stood abruptly.

"I will be in the stables," she said to him and turned to leave.

Arod whinnied when she approached.

"How do you fare, mellon nîn?" she asked, offering an apple to the horse.

He whinnied again before munching on the tasty fruit she had brought. She began to brush his mane as he chewed.

"I feel for Merry," she whispered to him. "He has lost his closest friend."

The horse nudged her belly gently.

"I see you have noticed," she laughed, stroking his forehead.

A few of the Men in the stables gathered nearby to hear the Elf speak to the horse in her native tongue. Anolindë ignored them.

"I do not know the gender of the child yet. Though I am hoping it will be an ellon."

Arod neighed softly as if agreeing with her.

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