Sorry this took so long. Indeed, I'm a poop. Merry Christmas.

Chapter 6

Mari woke to the sound of a gentle voice calling her name and a soft nudging to her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw Legolas, but was not afraid. The memories of safety, comfort, calm, and warmth were the memories freshest in her mind.

"It's time to go," he said in the same monotone voice he'd spoken in the night before. He walked away without saying anything else. She watched him walk out beyond the clearing to where she assumed the horses had been taken because she could no longer see where they were. The wind blew around him didn't disturb his clothes or hair. He seemed a ghost trapped in a living body.

She rolled up her mat, put the salve in her pocket, wrapped her shawl around her waist again, and went in the direction Legolas had gone. There, the others were mounting up. She noticed Milhir was mounting his own horse instead of riding with Iflaim.

"Mari!" he called to her.

"You're well enough to ride on your own?" she asked once she was by his side.

"Certainly! I'm sorry you won't be having this fine steed all to yourself now that I'm well," he said. "I missed you dear Stiro, old boy." Affectionately he patted the horse's side. "I'd be most honored if you rode with me, though," he said, addressing Mari again. "Would you?"

"Of course," she answered, and strapped her pack to the horse's side. Just as she was about to mount up behind Milhir, Iflaim raced up beside them, reached down, and snatched her up, placing her comfortably in front of him, all the while laughing. She gave a small shriek of surprise when the force of his arm first hit her, but began laughing too when she realized what he'd done.

"I've found a far better riding partner now that you've healed," he called to Milhir over his shoulder.

"Very clever of you, Iflaim!" Milhir called back to him. Iflaim didn't stop. He began to ride away from the rest of the elves, toward the road. A littler farther up he slowed his horse to a stop.

"We should wait for the others here," he said once he'd stopped laughing.

Mari's lungs heaved for air, recovering from the fit of laughing. She suddenly felt very guilty for laughing. She felt as though she hadn't the right to. She should have been mourning for her family. This was no time to be laughing and happy. She grew quiet and her body went stiff. Iflaim sensed it.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I...I'm just remembering my family."

Iflaim's eyes became soft and sympathetic. "I too lost my family. My father and brother, in a war long ago," he said to her in a lamenting tone.

"They died?" She turned her head to face him better.

"Yes."

Swallowing hard, she worked up the nerve to ask her next question.

"Do you still feel a hurt inside your heart?"

It took a moment for him to answer. "It hurts, still, but time has helped lessen the pain. I had to keep on living. You mustn't be afraid to live your life, Mari." He touched her chin, turing her head slightly to face him. "They wouldn't want you to be like this."

Mari was able to smile slightly. His eyes became a bit brighter at this. "You're right," she said. "Thank you."

"I will always do for you what I can."

"If you don't mind me asking, how long ago was it?"

"Some thousands of years ago." Mari's eyes widened. Iflaim laughed again. "Yes, I am quite old."

He turned his head. She followed his gaze and saw the other elves finally coming toward them.

"It's about time!" Iflaim called out to them.

"Be quiet, you thieving elf!" Milhir cried jokingly. "She was to ride with me!"

"Oh, what's the difference?" asked Iflaim when they approached. He was growing frustrated by Milhirs obvious aggravation.

"I was hoping Milhir would be able to explain to Mari about Gondor," said Elrond, speaking for the first time that morning.

"And why couldn't I?" Iflaim sounded almost insulted.

"No offense friend," quipped Elrohir, "But you tend to go off on tangents very easily."

"Yes, I was actually quite surprised by how you were able to stick to your story last night," continued Elladan.

"By the time we get to Gondor, she'll have learned the best places to find strawberries in Mirkwood, the name of your pet rabbit from childhood and the finer points of arrow making, but won't even know what Minas Tirith is," finished Milhir. At this, the three who had been antagonizing Iflaim laughed. Iflaims lips sealed together and stuck his jaw out. He was looking quite perturbed by their teasing.

"Are you three done?" he asked.

"Quite," Milhir managed to say between laughs.

Mari felt she had to remedy the situation.

"I'm sure I'd learn plenty about Gondor from you," she reassured Iflaim.

"There! You see! She believes in me!" A playful, cocky grin was plastered across his face.

"Just the same, to be safe, I think that I too should tell her a bit about the country."

"Alright," began Iflaim. "A short history of Gondor, as told by Master Iflaim of Mirkwood."

Mari giggled to herself in a girlish way. If he was acting like a little child, she might as well too.

"Let's see. Where to begin?"

"Gondor is a kingdom of Men in the South," interjected Milhir.

"Excuse me!" exclaimed Iflaim. " I believe I was telling 'A short history of Gondor' to our young charge!"

"And a fine job you were doing," said Elladan. "Go on, Iflaim."

"Thank you!" replied Iflaim, slightly irritated. "Now where was I before I was so RUDELY interrupted?"

"Gondor is a kingdom of Men in the South," repeated Milhir.

"Ah yes! The language they speak is 'Common Tongue', though there are a few different dialects. I suppose we shall have to teach you a bit of that as well, won't we?"

"I thought you were telling her everything yourself," Elladan said. Iflaim sighed in frustration. "Everyone is allowed to help me explain!" he nearly shouted in defeat. Aladar, Elrond, Arawen, and Legolas all turned their heads from up front. The five in the back all smiled and waved as a sign showing there was no problem. They turned back around; Mari was sure she'd seen Aladar roll his eyes, and was that a smile she saw on Legolas' face...? Her attention quickly came back to Iflaim when she remembered he was telling her something important.

"The recently crowned King Ellesar rules the Kingdom of Gondor. We all know him as Aragorn. He is the one Arwen meets to marry."

Elrohir continued. "Aragorn was brought by his mother to Imladris, (also known as Rivendell), my home, when he was just a boy to be kept safe from those who believed Gondor needed no king and wished to kill him. Our father, Lord Elrond, raised him as a son, as our brother.

"How then is it," asked Mari, "If he was raised as a brother that he and Arwen came to fall in love?" She was a bit disturbed by that whole concept.

"Arawen spent a part of her life living in Lothlorien with our grandparents. She and Aragorn met for the first time once he had grown into a man and fell in love. She understood now.

"And that is why when we realized you spoke Sindarian, we thought Aragorn might know of you. Having been raised by elves, he speaks Sindarian and Quenia fluently. In fact, he is one of the few Men who does."

"And now that you know I've never met Aregorn?"

"Well, it would be heartless of us to leave you here," said Elladan. "Do not be fooled by its beauty, Mari. This land can be treacherous to those who don't know it."

Mari found it particularly arrogant of him to say it would be "heartless" for them to leave her where they'd found her, but she didn't say anything. She'd had no say in where they were going or the fact that she was going at all. Still, she thought it best to hear what they had to say if she indeed had no choice in going to Gondor. Even though everyone was pleasant, she still saw the whole thing as a kidnapping, no matter how cleverly disguised in politeness, and her primary objective was to get away. She had no idea where she would go once she escaped and perhaps listening to the information they were giving her could be of use. She'd then be able to make a break once in Gondor.

"Also," continued Elledan, "Minas Tirith is the largest center of human living. Once there it may be easier to determine where it is you would like to go." He gave her a knowing glance that no one else seemed to see.

Ah, she thought, so he's figured me out.

"There is also someone very wise you should like to meet there."

They all looked up to see that Legolas had fallen back a bit to be included in their conversation. They all were surprised, to say the least, but did not question him.

"Who is it?" Mari asked.

LGLGLGLGLGLGLGLG

Legolas was shocked she responded to him. He stared at her, forgetting for a moment she'd asked him a question, before he answered her.

"We call him Mithrandir. He is an Istari. Others know him as a wizard. He possessed great power; power exceeded possibly only by his wisdom."

"How is it you know him?" Another question? Since when did she become so curious? Wasn't she terrified of him anymore?

"He was a part of the Fellowship, as was I."

There was an uncomfortable silence between all of them. He could plainly see Mari had no idea what this discomfort was for. She searched each of them for a possible answer but everyone was cleverly avoiding eye contact with her. So, with nowhere left to turn to, she came to Legolas. His gaze did not waver. He didn't wish to hide from her the despair she willingly went searching for in the depths of pain that were his eyes. Surely she would shy away once she caught even a glimpse of the horror.

But she did not. She looked him dead in the eye. This woman is bold, he thought. And determined, and brave. Why hasn't she blinked yet?

"Oh," she finally said, breaking the silence. The time between what Legolas had said and what had just transpired seemed like hours but had only lasted a few moments.

LGLGLGLGLGLGLGLG

Mari cut off the connection. She now knew.

One of her greatest abilities had always been her ability to discern people. Before, she had been to scared to notice anything, but nearly all was clear to her now. The mentioning of the Fellowship had triggered it all. Something had happened to Legolas as a part of the Fellowship or the war. She didn't know what, but at least now she was one step closer to knowing this enemy.

Enemy? She questioned the title. Was he really her enemy? Well, he's certainly no allay.

"Yes," continued Iflaim. "Mithrandir will be able to answer all questions you may have.

"So you know him as well?" she asked.

"I have met him on a few occasions. You will like him when you meet him. I promise."

At that moment, they reached the road. Along the sides it was lined with massive, white stone blocks that came to the knees of the riders. On each stone was the large carved symbol of a tree.

"This is the road to Gondor," she heard Milhir say.

They spent most of the day on the road, stopping once at mid day for a short meal.

The party stopped rather early in the day in comparison to the day before. "Why do we rest? asked Mari. "There are some good hours left of daylight.

"This is true," said Milhir, "But it is best we all be well rested before arriving in Gondor. This, and we are not expected to arrive until tomorrow. It would be rude to arrive a day early; they would not be prepare to receive us. Also," he paused looking in another direction, "There are certain rites to be performed."

Mari followed his line of site to Arwen and Elrond. She remembered that the beautiful elf maid was getting married when they arrived at Gondor. Perhaps these "rites" had something to do with that. At that moment Arwen turned toward her. It was a little startling. she gave Mari a friendly smile. Mari finally blinked, breaking the spell of Arwen's beauty. She dismounted and unfastened her pack from Milhir's horse.