A/N: Ok so I somehow got myself grounded for the entirety of my life so we will see if I can update tomorrow. I have to be really discreet about using the computer and if I get caught I definitely will be grounded in the afterlife.

lotrjesusfreak: I'm happy that you like Osric. I was really debating on wether or not to let Iasbelin keep him.

delenawolves: Maybe they will in this chapter!

20JenWinchester12: I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Chapter 16

Iasbelin woke in the early hours of the morning to a bed shared with Osric. The child was still sleeping so she didn't want to make too much noise as she got out of bed. As she rose she stretched out her arms and placed her feet on the ground. As she made her way to the vanity she almost tripped over a figure asleep on the floor. Iasbelin looked down and saw Legolas curled up with a blanket and a pillow on the floor. She giggled and remembered that he had come to bed much later than her and so he forfeited his bed to his wife and Osric. She decided that he was already angry about sleeping on the floor so she did not wake him for the day. She dressed in a simple green dress for the day and went out to the great hall to see if anyone was awake yet.

Iasbelin loved waking early to see a new day dawn, she remembered what it looked like in Mirkwood. She loved Mirkwood and wanted every day to go back there. Her entire life was there until the Ring had ruined it. She wanted to see her family but she knew she never could unless she sailed which she had no intentions of doing. She thought of her sister, Glinith, and her husband who were happily settled in Valinor. She grieved for her brother, Halchon, who now dwelled in the Halls of Mandos. Her parents had sailed after Halchon's death, at that time she wished she would have sailed with them.

Iasbelin found the great hall teaming with life. Servants ran everywhere to ready the palace for the day. She walked passed them not wanting to bother them and walked out the front doors of the palace. The sun was just rising and Iasbelin watched as the rays hit every mountain and every blade of grass on Rohan's landscape. She wished her brother and sister were here to see this with her. They had loved watching the sun rise when they were Elflings in Mirkwood.

Legolas groaned as the sun seeped in through the open windows of his room. He had slept on the floor the entire night and was quite sore from the hard wood. He stretched out his limbs and rose from the floor. He had somehow fallen asleep in his tunic and pants. He knew that there would be a meeting about what had happened last night with the Palantir and Pippin. He was worried about what would come to pass based on last night's events. Legolas quickly changed and noticed that his wife was not him her bed. Only Osric slept in the bed with his thumb in his mouth and his toy horse in the other hand. Legolas smiled and looked at the child closely. He was a sweet child and had a good spirit. Iasbelin had fallen in love with him so quickly and Legolas had done the same. He was wary however to become too attached because he knew that one day this child would die and he would have to bury him as Theoden had done to Theodred.

Legolas sat in a chair close to the bed and stayed quite for a while. He simply watched the child sleep. Osric began to stir about twenty minutes after Legolas had sat down. He took his thumb out of his mouth and sat up in bed. He looked at where Iasbelin had been sleeping and looked confused. He looked to Legolas and back to the empty spot.

"Where 'Belin?" Osric asked.

"She gets up early to see the sun rise. She will be back soon." Legolas told the child.

"Do you like my horse, Sir?" Osric asked showing off his horse. "My papa made it for me." Legolas looked sadly at Osric. This was the first mention of his family.

"It is a very made horse. What is his name?" Legolas inquired. Osric jumped out from under the covers and went over to Legolas who sat in the chair.

"His name Arroch!" Osric exclaimed.

"A good name for a horse. I also have a horse." Legolas told him.

"What your horses' name?" Osric asked excitedly

"Arod. He is a white horse of Rohan. He was given to me by Eomer." Legols explained

"Can I meet him?" Osric asked

"Of course you can. Once Iasbelin returns we will work things out." Legolas said. As if on cue Iasbelin walked through the door of their room wearing a green dress.

"Good morning you two." She greeted.

"'Belin!" Osric yelled as he ran over to her and grabbed her in a hug. Iasbelin picked him up and swung him around in a circle.

"Hello, Osric." Iasbelin said. Legolas rose from his chair and walked over to his wife. She greeted him with a swift kiss. "Did you enjoy the floor?"

"Twas a wonderful experience." Legolas replied sarcastically. "I have a meeting to attend now, but I will return later."

"Will you then tell me what happened last night?" Iasbelin inquired.

"Yes, once I know everything I will share it." Legolas kissed his wife again and walked out the door to attend his meeting.

"'Belin?" Osric asked

"Yes?" Iasbelin replied

"I want to see mama and papa now." Osric said. Iasbelin placed Osric down on the bed and sat next to him. She could no longer avoid this conversation.

"Osric, do you remember when you first met me?"

"Yes." Osric responded

"Your brother, Theolaf, asked me to look over you because he knew he wasn't going to see you again." Osric simply looked at her not registering what she had said. "Your mama, papa, and two brothers are not going to be able to see you again. They went to be with my brother in the Halls of Mandos. You cannot see them again."

"I can't see mama and papa again?" Osric asked.

"You will one day but for now Legolas and I will be your family." Iasbelin explained.

"Ok 'Belin. You can be my family." Osric said as he hugged her. Iasbelin wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged him back.

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains." Gandalf addressed his friends. "He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." Gimli sighed a breathe of relief. "We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep has shown 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 enough to perhaps challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the people of Middle Earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground. If the beacons of Gondor are lit then Rohan must be ready for war." Theoden simply contemplates this for a moment before answering the wizard.

"Tell me! Why should I go to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Theoden asked. Legolas gave a silent huff and stared at the stubborn king. He knew exactly why he needed to come to their aid.

"I will go!" Aragorn said suddenly as he rose from his place at the table. Legolas stepped forward and Gimli rose from his seat. If Aragorn went so did they.

"No!" Gandalf stopped Aragorn in his tracks.

"They must be warned!" Aragorn countered.

"They will be." He approached Aragorn and spoke in a hushed tone. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the Black Ships. Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I won't be going alone."

Gandalf gestured to Pippin and both him and Merry followed Gandalf outside. Aragorn followed the two Hobbits. Gimli and Legolas stood awkwardly in the King's presence.

"I must go Gimli. I promised I would introduce Osric to Arod." Legolas excused himself.

"Can I come, laddie? He my horse to ya know!" Gimli asked as he waddled behind Legolas.

"Of course, Gimli." Legolas called after his friend. Gimli and Legolas both found there way back to Legolas' rooms and opened the door. Iasbelin and Osric looked up from their place on the floor and waved to their friends.

"I thought Gimli and I would introduce Osric to Arod." Legolas said. Iasbelin smiled and rose from the ground.

"I think he would enjoy that. Come Osric." Iasbelin put her hand out and Osric grabbed it excitedly. The four of them walked to the stables to meet Legolas' horse. Osric was practically jumping out of his socks the entire way there. Once they reached the stables Legolas picked him up and walked with him over to Arod's stable. Legolas greeted his horse and then showed Osric how to say hello to him. Arod seemed to like Osric. Gimli pulled a carrot out of his pocket for Osric to feed Arod. They both enjoyed it very much. After they were done meeting every horse in the stable they decided that it was time for lunch and they walked back to the palace. However, before they could reach the palace something caught Osric's eye and he ran from Iasbelin's hand to go to it.

"Osric come back!" Iasbelin called after him. The two Elves and the Dwarf ran after the child as he made his way to a small house on the eastern side of the city. Osric reached the house and entered hesitantly. Legolas was the first to reach Osric.

"What is it?" Legolas asked

"That mine." Osric pointed to a small wooden sword that had been thrown on the floor in a rush. Legolas realized then that this was Osric's home. Iasbelin came running in and noticed Legolas expression.

"What is this place?" She asked Legolas.

"Osric's home." Legolas replied. Iasbelin clamped her hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out. Osric ran around the home picking up everything that belonged to him. Legolas, Iasbelin, and Gimli simply watched the young child go through his dead family's things.

After a while Osric came up to Legolas and pulled on his boot. He gave all of the things in his arms to him and pulled Iasbelin to a loft. She climbed the ladder and saw what she figured was the children's bedroom. She saw three neat beds and folded clothes beside each bed. Osric grabbed a set of clothes near a smaller bed and grabbed the blanket off the bed and went to give Iasbelin the things he carried. She told Osric that it was time to leave and he followed her done the ladder. She nodded to Legolas and Gimli and they walked out the door. Iasbelin and Osric followed.

Iasbelin had never realized before that she was new in his life and that he was leaving behind a whole other life to be with her. She looked down at his clothes in her arms and saw the needle work. The needle work that had not been hers but another woman who loved this child as much as she did. The needle work of Osric's real mother.

A/N: Ok this is probably my favorite chapter so far! Please a review!