Aragorn sighed, shuffling his papers absentmindedly around his polished desk. The king raised his head to look out at the serene azure sky stretching to the horizon without a single streak of white to interrupt the tranquil sea. Birds chirped happily, flitting through the air. A finch even landed on the king's open window sill silting its head questioningly at the man.
"Enjoying the weather my friend?" He asked with a smile distracting himself from his previously gloomy thoughts. The finch jumped lightly on its twig like legs before taking off into the air once more to join its fellow friends. Aragorn sighed once more lowering his grey eyes back to the piles of treaties, trade agreements, and petitions awaiting his review.
"What troubles you so meleth-nin. The sun shines brightly and surprisingly no grave disasters have rained down upon your beloved realm." A voice smooth and sweet as honey drifted into the solar. The newcomer wiped the worry from Aragorn's face as quickly as the spring sun drove away the remnants of winter snow.
"Arwen my love." He stood to kiss his bride lightly.
"If you truly find the paperwork to be so tedious why not take a stroll through the gardens? They are especially lovely right now thanks to Anor and of course Legolas. His ability to bring such lush life to all manners of growing things still amazes me." At the mention of the Prince of Greenwood Aragorn's face fell again.
"I'm afraid it for that tree loving fool I feel uneasy for." Arwen raised her eyebrows at this.
"I can't imagine why. He's only been gone five days. It's not as if he's marched off to Mordor." She sounded surprised.
"I know, I know. Logically there is absolutely no reason to worry but yet I feel uneasy." Her lips curved into a small smile, her grey eyes understanding.
"You two have been on far too many misadventures together for you not to worry about him. Tis only natural. I'm sure he worries for you too when you're gone, Valar knows he panicked just as much as my brothers and father when you vanished from father's house." Aragorn flushed bright red.
"How do you know! You weren't even there." He cried. The queen laughed.
"I have been regaled with so many enchanting tales it is as if I were there in person."
"When Legolas comes back and those two hellions visit all three of them are dead." He muttered darkly. Arwen rested a slender hand on her husband's shoulder.
"Take a walk in the sun my love. Enjoy the fresh air and be with your people. Your troubles shall melt away and you shall feel much better for it." She promised gliding out of the room. Aragorn watched the hem of her blue dress swish out of the doorway. His wife was most likely right, irritatingly she almost always was. A walk would do him good. Aragorn left his quill on the wooden desk and gathered the papers into a neat pile to be perused later. Waving off the guards insistently King Elessar descended the white city of Men.
The sun shone brilliantly down upon the people milling through the street. Merchants selling their goods and families browsing various wares. The man turned his face up to soak up the warm rays of light gracing his city. The steady buzz of the crowd and perfect weather calmed his restlessness. As Aragorn passed the lower justice hall he caught the tail end of a conversation between a young dark haired individual and one of his court officials.
"No problem Master Melbryn. Master Tybolt here can accompany you back and get this trial overseen and done in no time. Good luck with getting this thieving lowlife." The young man named Melbryn nodded his thanks as an older man, whom Aragorn recognized by his garb as one of Minas Tirith's judges, joined the youth and mounted a dun colored horse. Melbryn mounted his own steed and they rode off at a slow trot through the crowd.
Aragorn was just about to turn back towards the upper levels a small commotion caught the king's attention. He could see the outline of a horse whinnying in irritation. The wild animal turned just as the two men Aragorn had just seen leave the justice building rode past nipping angrily at the two men's horses. The two steeds reared unhappily but their riders maneuvered out of the crazed horse's way with many curses leaving their mouths. After a moment of hesitation the dark outline began violently pushing its way up the city streets.
A beautiful riderless white horse charged impatiently through the startled crowd. The horse was clearly irritated tossing its head and whinnying loudly in protest as a few brave souls tried to grapple the beast into submission. Aragorn's eyes widened in recognition. That wasn't just any wild horse charging up his streets, it was Arod, with no Legolas.
"Stop. Stop!" he shouted at the crowd which was beginning to panic as the horse continued to bodily nudge people of the way. Both men and horse stilled at Aragorn's commanding call.
"Your majesty!" One man cried in surprise dropping quickly to his knees and offering a reverent bow. Many followed suite realizing whose presence they were in.
"Please rise." He said giving the crowd a reassuring smile. He made his way to Arod who was no longer whinnying threateningly but was still tossing his head in distress. "What is wrong my friend. What has my reckless brother gotten into this time?" He asked patting the animal's head calming his movements.
A cursory glance told the king that Arod was not wounded and the lack of blood on his white pelt suggested that his rider had not been wounded when he was separated from his steed. Arod nudged the king with his nose prancing nervously turning back to face the lower level gates. The horse wanted to take Aragorn somewhere, most likely wherever that stubborn elf had managed to find trouble again.
Arod turned his head to face Aragorn, then at the justice building. A tingle traveled down the man's spine. Recalling the uncharacteristic aggression Arod had shown the judge who had just rode out of his city the king turned to face the towering stone structure. Without clear rhyme or reason the king allowed his legs to lead him towards the clerk who had been talking to the young man named Melbryn just a few moments before. The clerk looked up startled when a shadow was cast over his counter.
"Your majesty." He cried beginning to bow.
"At ease. I just a few questions for you."
"Of course. Anything I can help with would be an honor my king." The clerk said nervously.
"The man who was just here, Melbryn, who asked for an overseer for a trial in his town did he speak to the nature of the trial?" He asked.
"He did not give many details my lord. He only said that an elf had been arrested for theft and they were holding a trial. Most unusual but I suppose the fair folk are like us. Most are good and kind but there are bad apples in every bunch I suppose." The clerk did not noticed how Aragorn's skin had paled as he heard the man's explanation.
"That idiot." He mumbled under his breath. "Thank you, you've been most helpful." Aragorn thanked quickly before turning back to Arod. The great horse's pink nostrils flared gently waiting for a move from his master's friend.
"Arrested. Again! Really now, you'd think he's trying to set some kind of record." He complained to the horse. Aragorn sobered slightly as he looked out towards the vast expenses beyond the city gates. "Let's go get your master back Arod." He whispered. "Uh…right after I change." He added looking down at his shirt of fine silk with the tree of Gondor and formal pants completely impractical for an expedition. If he was to ride headlong into one of the lovely messes he and Legolas always managed to get themselves into it would be in the garb of his youth. In his Ranger's garb.
As the rolling hills of emerald green receded into a town nestled in the protective dip of two grassy knolls Aragorn pulled Roheryn to a halt. He had left soon after the messenger from this town, stopping to do little else but change and give Arwen a brief description of the situation. His queen had promised to look after Minas Tirith but Aragorn had refused the guards' offer to accompany him saying he would ride faster alone. With Arod as his guide the man had made good time and was sure he was right behind Melbryn. He needed to reach Legolas before the trial started and get the mess sorted out before true pandemonium could erupt.
He swung off Roheryn, telling both horses to graze but stay close before flipping up his hood and making his way down to the town. He drew little attention to himself as he wandered the streets of the small settlement. To the people there he appeared as nothing more than a passing traveler. After about fifteen minutes he located what appeared to be the jail house. He entered the front door without hindrance, no one expecting trouble in broad daylight. There was only one young guard whom Aragorn recognized as Melbryn, the youth sent to retrieve a judge from Minas Tirith. He stood swiftly seeing the intruder.
"Who goes there? What business have you in this jailhouse?" He questioned hand reaching for his sword. Aragorn flung his hood back with a flourish revealing his ebony curls framing a proud, handsome face and noble grey eyes. The guard paled immediately fumbling his sword.
"My sincere apologies. I did not realize, I did not"
"Peace. I am here to see a prisoner for I heard you recently arrested an elf." Aragorn explained quickly. The guard, still rather pale, shook his head vigorously.
"Aye my lord. But he's dangerous I wouldn't go near him sir, I've heard all about how elves can curse you just by looking at you." Aragorn mentally snorted at the absurdity of the man's statement but kept his face firm.
"Do you forget that I have chosen to take one of Fair Folk as my bride and as your queen?" He questioned, tone betraying nothing. If the guard was anxious before it nothing compared to how he trembled now.
"I did not mean…but I've heard stories about Elf spells and curses." The boy stuttered. Aragorn had to suppress an irritated scowl, he didn't have time for this. He was anxious to see his friend now. The ride here had allowed time for his brain to conjure up all sorts of terrible circumstances surrounding his friend's arrest and he would not rest till Aragorn saw Legolas with own eyes.
"That is utter nonsense and nothing more than superstition. Let me see this elf." He insisted. Melbryn jumped forward the keys jingling in his shaking hands.
"Right this way my king." He said leading Aragorn down the dim hallway to stand before heavy steel doors. The guard inserted the key and turned the lock still shaking slightly. The sight the open door revealed did nothing to ease Aragorn's fears. If anything his fear was quickly replaced by cold fury.
Chained to the opposite wall lay his best friend. Dried blood caked his torso and head. Numerous ugly bruises were already blossoming purple and green all over the elf's slender body. Worse perhaps was the obviously broken left arm pulled ruthlessly over his head secured by heavy iron chains. The elf's pallor was pale and sweat beaded his brow making his vibrant blond locks damp with perspiration. Blue eyes opened slowly registering the change in his surroundings. Aragorn hated the grogginess that clouded those normally crystal eyes. Legolas looked up eyes widening in shock as they locked onto familiar grey.
"Release him." Aragorn's tone yielded no room for argument, his anger thinly veiled behind a stoic mask. The poor guard cowered in the doorway, trapped between fear of disobeying his king and terror of being cursed by evil elven magic. The lad was shaking worse than a leaf caught in a storm. Feeling sympathy for the poor boy Legolas's eyes softened and he called out gently.
"I will not harm you. You have my word." The prince's whisper was gentle and warm as if speaking to a young foal. "Obey your king." The guard swallowed nervously before shifting yet another set of keys on his belt and shuffling forward. He methodically released each cuff binding the elf never once meeting the prince's eyes. When the restraints on Legolas's left arm were released he couldn't help wince when the broken appendage position was shifted. Aragorn noticed this and his frown deepened.
"Leave us." He commanded as soon as all the locks were undone. Melbryn scurried to obey fleeing the cell as if a pack of wargs were hot on his heel. As soon as the steel door closed silence reigned supreme in the stone prison.
"Really Legolas! What have you gotten yourself into this time!?"