Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to LOTR, I only wish I did.

Rating: PG. I will change the rating when necessary.

A/N: This is a short chapter, to be sure. More to come. Constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated. This is told in the first person, from Freda's point of view. Many details of events and time lines are from The Encyclopedia of Arda online and . Translations come mostly from two online sites – Arwen Undomiel and Grey Company. Some translation help comes from software called Dragon Flame, a very few bits come from the English to Elvish translator I found on Angelfire. In cases where there are no translations already, I work to piece sentences or phrases together using the closest translation I can find and keeping to known linguistic patterns.

From the First

Chapter 7: Unwelcome Visitors

Gimli accompanied us on the next ride a few days later. Storms from the South had found their way Northward, bringing dousing rains and wind for a few days. Legolas grew restless being kept indoors. We spent the majority of the first clear day riding along the base of the mountains, stopping periodically upon my insistence. When we returned there were strange horses outside of the stables. A single guard in oddly familiar garments stood near them, as did a member of Prince Faramir's personal guard.

"Nuuta." Legolas cursed under his breath. (24)

My eyes flickered to him in shock. I had, in the days of my youth, been impertinent enough to ask if there were such words in the Elvish tongue. My instructor, though slightly taken aback, had taught them to me but had also assured me that such words were very seldom heard uttered. It was Gimli's growl that brought me back.

"Mani naa raika?" (25) I asked.

"Haradrim."

"I' minin ya harnant lle?" (26)

"Uma." (27)

I felt a chill run through my veins. The Dol Elessian guard seemed none too pleased about the Haradrim's presence, but the fact that the dark-skinned man was being allowed to stand freely meant that there was something else going on. Inside the hall were five more of the Southrons, three guards and two men who looked to be men of some importance. One of the Southron guards, upon seeing Legolas and Gimli, shouted and drew his sword. Much happened in the next few instants.

Legolas moved in front of me, drawing his own weapon. Beside him, Gimli brandished his axe with another growl. The two other Southron guards also had their weapons drawn and many of the Prince's guard were about to draw as well.

"Stay your weapons, everyone!" Prince Faramir ordered. "Lord Nizar, tell your men to stand down!"

The Haradric Captain said something in his strange tongue. One of his men nodded and lowered his weapon a little but did not put it away.

"It seems we have much to discuss, Prince Faramir." The Southron leader's accent was thick.

"We will discuss nothing with weapons drawn. Tell your men to stand down."

Lord Nizar continued as though he has not heard. Neither Legolas nor Gimli had obeyed the Prince's instruction either.

"Those two – creatures – killed several of my men some weeks ago."

"How dare you!" I snarled in outrage, taking a step forward. Legolas put his arm out, stopping me.

"Freda!" The warning in Lady Eowyn's tone was evident, as was her concern.

Lord Nizar turned and looked at me more closely. Something in the way he smiled made me uncomfortable and afraid but I refused to look away from him. It would show weakness. He waived a hand at his guards. They hesitated, then sheathed their weapons. After a moment's pause, Legolas and Gimli followed suit.

"Great Prince, let us speak plainly. Three weeks ago, that -" He hesitated and looked back at me, smiling his evil smile, "elf and his dwarf companion entered our lands unbidden."

"The southern mountains are a borderland between Harad and Mordor. As Mordor is no longer, they are free to be explored." Legolas stated.

"As Mordor is no longer, the mountains fall by right to the lands of Harad." Lord Nizar's second spoke finally.

"They were not causing any harm!" I protested, ignoring the sharp look sent my way by Lady Eowyn. I stepped around Legolas and advanced, slipping just out of his reach. The Southron guards tensed. Lord Nizar seemed to be amused. "Yet your men attacked. Thirty men on two! Hardly something to be called a defensive maneuver!"

"My men did not know whether they were spies or how many more might be with them." Nizar said as though it were perfectly acceptable. "And now they have returned here, on the same day that I arrive offering a treaty of peace. How very convenient."

"If you are suggesting-" Lady Eowyn began.

"I suggest nothing more than what I have seen, Lady." He turned to me, "And you had best learn to speak only of things which you have seen with your own eyes."

"I have seen enough in the injuries inflicted upon them." My voice rose and trembled with anger. I didn't realize I had started moving again until I stepped right up to him. "Yes, my lord Nizar, I have seen what kind your people are. I would beg my prince and my lady to send you away immediately and not listen to another word you have to offer of your supposed treaty, and that would be the more merciful thing I would ask for you!"

"Enough, Freda!" Prince Faramir's voice was firm. "Go to your rooms."

I couldn't believe he was considering the offer after everything. "But-"

"I will not tell you again."

"Amin feuya ten'lle, Utinu en Lokirim!" I bit out, glaring into Nizar's eyes before spinning in the direction of the corridor that would lead me to my room. (28)

It would be hours before I knew what transpired after I left. There was a knock at my door and then Lady Eowyn entered, looking put out.

"What's come over you, Freda?" She asked wearily, sitting in a chair.

"My Lady, you can not possibly believe that they want peace! You saw what they did!"

"I did see." She agreed, "But we should consider that he may be sincere in his offer – not without caution." she amended as I opened my mouth to protest, "There has been so much war for so long between our two peoples. Perhaps they are as weary of it as we are."

I knew she was right, but I could not – would not – forgive Nizar and his men for nearly taking the life of my friend.

"What did you say to him before you left?"

Her eyes held a hint of mischief, though the rest of her expression was blank.

"I said he disgusts me." I admitted, "And I called him a son of snakes..."

Then she did something I did not expect. She laughed. I relaxed a bit. If she would laugh at that, she must not be as angry with me as I supposed.

"Oh, Freda, what am I to do with you?"

"You could give me a sword and some time with that bastard..."

"Freda!"

I blushed. I had never cursed in front of her before. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I know why you are angry with them. But you must promise me that you will do no more to insult them while these talks proceed."

I closed my eyes, seeking strength. "Yes, my lady." When I opened them again, she was smiling at me soothingly.

"They will be staying in the castle tonight. As a show of respect after your little outburst."

I swallowed a grunt of disapproval. "What of Legolas and Gimli?"

"The Haradrim's rooms are in a different corridor all together. There is little chance of them meeting anywhere but in the great hall." She rose and placed a hand on my shoulder. "One day. Possibly two. Then they will be gone."

I nodded wordlessly.

She moved to my door. "There is a guard out in the hall. You are not to go anywhere without him accompanying you. For your own protection."

I frowned but nodded again. "Yes, my lady."

She left me to my thoughts, which were now simmering. They attacked revered friends of the King, they followed them to Ithilien to offer a false treaty, they nearly attacked again as soon as we had entered the hall, but I was the one placed under watch? I sighed loudly and began to unbind my hair and comb it. I removed my outer gown and shoes, placing my feet into soft slippers. Then I went to sit at the table near one of the sconces and draw.

I don't know how long it was that I sat there, creating images of the Haradrim. Underneath Nizar's likeness I wrote out his new nickname, smiling with childish vengeance. A distant sound caught my attention and I stopped, listening. Everything was still. It was probably just a bird. Then I heard it again, heard footsteps in the hallway, then silence. Curious, I rose and went to the door. For a moment I thought about going back and ignoring it. There was something not right, though. Opening the door, I peered out into the dim hallway. The guard was not outside the door.

At the end of the corridor, a shadowy figure moved, darting out of sight into an adjoining hallway. Fear prickled along my skin, raising the flesh. There were no sounds. I crept to the next doorway, then the next. A hand shot out of the dark. My scream was cut short as another hand clamped over my mouth and strong arms hauled me back against something solid. I smelled sweat and a spice scent that I did not recognize save for a faint whiff I'd smelled in the presence of the Haradrim.

(24) Nuuta – Damn

(25) Mani naa raika? - What is wrong?

(26) I' minin ya harnant lle? - The ones who wounded you?

(27) Uma – Yes

(27) Amin feuya ten'lle, Utinu en Lokirim! - You disgust me, Son of Snakes!