Chapter 11

Thoughts of a kingdom of trouble men seemed as far away as they could imagine, Arri just wanted to lay in his arms happily and forget the world's trouble and concentrate on their happiness. He kissed her head and rolled over on top of her forming a curtain with his hair, "I have never felt such peace." Many thoughts struck him, he thought of telling his father, of a huge celebration to have a lady with a crown again and a chuckle caught in his throat as he thought of a family would suit them in their home. Home and children, the idea made him feel like rushing home now. Never before could he say he had been in love... and meant it. Now all the maidens seemed as if practice until he found love.

Noticing how pensive he seemed suddenly she pulled him to kiss her and smiled, "it has stopped snowing and may will miss us soon."

He gestured to back of the small cave, "we should take fruit." She craned her neck to see the fruit Aine spoke of and began to laugh lightly and when looked back at him to see he was only looking at her with a serious expression.

Legolas touched her neck lightly and the necklace she still wore, "we will be together." She smiled back at him and he sighed rolling to his back, "we should go."

They both got to their feet pulling their garments on quickly and dared not get distracted as they had the four or five times before. Pulling on the leather braces over his forearms he stopped and smiled seeing Arri trying him dress as she placed little kisses along him as she did.

Watching her he smiled because it was obvious she had not an idea of how he dressed and he laughed, "you shall care for me?"

She gave him a little grin and nodded, "if you let me." She reached for his cloak and pulled it over his head and noticed his amused grin but before she could argue he picked her up high above his head and let her slide down his body slowly until their lips met again. His father told him how deep love would be when he found and now he believed it.

Aragorn opened his eyes slowly and looked to see Arwen laying by his side with her eyes open. So lovely was his Arwen that she seemed to wear a halo now and he looked again with waking eyes, not a halo but something white was sprinkled throughout her hair. Reaching for her hair he was mystified and then touched her face gently but raised enough look about the camp and noticed he was the last to wake. Gimli was speaking with Eosin about breakfast and he did not see Gandalf but could smell his pipe. He felt still in a dream.

Aragorn stood knowing they would break camp soon noticing Arri and Legolas were missing it, was then he found the source of Arwen's sparkles in her hair when he noticed the snow. "What trickery is this?" He looked to the others for explanation.

Gandalf suddenly stood at his side, "yes, wizardy to confuse us." Leaning down he offered both a drink.

"To keep Arri from arrival no doubt," he looked around for her somewhat panicked wondering what he had missed while sleeping

"She is with Legolas," Arwen assured.

Eosin began to pack the camp except for the meal, "Should we seek them out."

"No need," Legolas called as they both came walked out of the snow. "The snow has stopped and begun to melt."

Arri went to Eosin with the fruits they had found in the small cave and he raised a surprise eyebrow to them and smiled at Arri which vanished rapidly noticing something was different about her. A sinking feeling wrenched his heart until he noticed the charm bound around her neck. He was not sure which could be worse losing her to Loredell or Legolas because surely he just lost her to him completely now.

Gimli grunted as he stood wiping his hands of the meal, "are we leaving?" Once again oblivious of the difference in their party.

Moving along on their horsebacks slowly until the realized the inevitable, they were lost. Nobody seemed to mention for pride's sake and before they knew it they had gone in a circle in a day.

Arri looked to Legolas, "Perhaps we are further than we think." She was sure that Gandalf or Aine might know.

Gimli huffed, "this is what we get for following the elf." He had never needed a map before and now it seemed they might be lost. Most knew he spoke of Legolas and Gimli seemed bound to amuse himself. Eosin, Arwen, and Arri all looked to him quickly.

"Which elf would that be?" Aragorn chuckled watching the company take their eyes off Gimli slowly and he heard Legolas chuckle under his breath and enjoying his friend's reddening face.

Gandalf looked to Aine, "has the snow turned us around?" He worried this was more magic and Aine eyes echoed fear but hers seemed to be of another kind as keen Elven ears knew of a threat near.

Before Gimli could realize it Aragorn and the elves had their weapons drawn and pointing in the same direction of bushes. "Are all elves this paranoid." Gimli said as he kept moving until her heard the leaves rustling and Legolas stopped his horse with a warning glance keeping silent guard on his friend.

They looked toward the noise to a startled man in armor, who was obviously a guard by the markings on his clothing. Arri kept her bow trained on the man but tilted her head in wonder noticing the similarity of the markings to the ones she had seen and drawn, even on the box she made for Legolas. When he cast a glance back at her knowingly she knew he remembered them now and without much notice was closer to her in silent protection.

The man had his hands aloft in surrender and looked to them with a confused stare. He hadn't even the opportunity to draw his own sword on his back finding several bows pointed at him and one man who wielded a sword.

Aragorn pushed forward lowering his sword slightly but still on guard, "We are in search for Loredell."

The man recognize the name and nodded, "Straight ahead milord." He looked at the others and realized most were elves. "They'll not be allowed in."

Legolas squinted watching the guard squirm. "Elven folk are not welcome." The guard went on.

Gandalf made his way forward and was not thrown by this man's bad manners, Instead he gestured to Aragorn, "Aragorn and I have business with your king."

The guard looked dubious but shrugged sloppily as he made his was to them, "you can sure try." Coming closer to them he began to move to the other end of the brush and then waved to them to follow him. They followed on his heels until they saw the small village at the base of a small mountain with a much larger land spread along the side with a vast castle upon the top and the company got from their horses to lead them through the gates.

Aine sighed taking in details long lost to her and many memories. "As I remember it." She whispered to Gandalf. The guard ushered them to the stables for the horses and curious men took their horses slowly as they took in the look of the new comers.

"Such reception," Gimli complained and looked to the others for agreement but they were busy taking in the details of the man made place. Arri's eyes seemed to dance as a thousand unanswered questions were finally told and Legolas walked along side of her slowly watching her face lighting up at everything. The guard who led them to the castle stopped by the other guards.

"You must leave your weapons," the man told them as the other guards moved taking bows, swords and Gimli's axe. They look wary but let the men set their weapons by a table close to the castle gate and the men began to put them on a rack on the ground. They all looked to their weapons with longing but knew they were supposed to bring peace and to do that meant they could not look or appear to be a threat, even if it meant letting the men win small battles. Although, Legolas was sure he heard Gimli give the slightest hint of a whimper when he looked back at his beloved axe.

Gandalf winked at Aragorn that they had not taken his staff.

They let the men surround them as they made way to the gate and they all moved closer together as the men seemed to close in on them. They all looked at one another feeling the uncomfortable mood of the men who pressed closer to them, men who did not like elves.

Legolas felt one of the men brush his arm and moved closer nearly colliding with Arri as she avoided another man who moved in. They soon realized they had little room to move as they approached the gate and men shoved the group apart and they realized the only reason they had gotten this far was because the men had wanted them too.

Legolas felt his hands seized and pulled from them watching Arri being pulled the other way. He looked to the others for help but saw the same happening to them but they were not allowed to fight them and they had to suffice their treatment, for now. Aragorn groaned as Arwen, Aine and Arri were pulled from them and he noted they even had Gandalf's staff now. Men held the females in a strong held lock and it took several men to restrain Gandalf, Eosin, Aragorn and Legolas when they finally lost temper with the treatment of the ladies.

The men reached wildly as Gimli was the only one who was not so easily caught because of his lack of height and ran under legs of men skidding to retrieve Gandalf's staff. Being it the only weapon among them not confined he had it in his plump fingers easily

He held it low and raised it as he ran under the men who reached for him as if trying to restrain a squealing pig. Gimli only raised the staff once he dove under a man's leg bringing it in contact with the man's groin then he chuckled watching man upon man fall to the ground until he made way to Gandalf.

Legolas and Eosin watched amazed at Gimli's agility and the men's attention on the dwarf. They took advantage and began to wrestle free watching Arwen, Arri, and Aine try the same. Arri kicked a discarded sword of one of men who Gimli had struck, to Arwen's waiting hands and she began to push the guards from Aine and Arri with swordsmanship that took the men breathless.

Gandalf gathered his staff from Gimli's thick hands and pounded it against the ground creating such a thunderous sound all men paid attention and all kept silent. Only the shuffling of a few remained. "Let them GO!" Gandalf boomed as the men released Eosin, Legolas and Aragorn who began to look for the others. A muffled cry came from the direction of the guards who still kept the women from them and as Eosin, Legolas and Aragorn pushed forward they noticed archers had them in their sight as well as Gandalf.

They could see Arri was now again restrained as a guard held his hand over her mouth and knife to her throat. Arwen began the best the men knocking them all aside but hurt not a one of them, still with a lone sword she was outnumbered. As she fought a small group of four another bashed her in her head with his unsheathed sword. Arwen flew to the ground quickly as two men hauled her up by her arms and a man's voice was heard yelling now, Aragorn. Nobody was surprised as he began to fight his way to her with not a weapon in hand and the guards seemed to find it amusing Aine's eyes held the horror she felt as the guards held her from the younger elf.

The men began to push forward seeing Arwen's fall and Eosin stopped them, "We are outnumbered." Legolas grit his teeth watching Arwen's unmoving body drug away and felt the guards grab his arms again.

The man who had met them stood by Legolas, "they will bring the females back if you do not resist." Legolas watched them restrain Eosin and Aragorn again and looked to see Gimli now caught and tied in a rope with a gag in his mouth as he mumbled and struggled.

Gandalf and Aragorn were shoved past the gates first and Aragorn looked to the on man who seemed to listen, "Where did they take the others?"

The man sighed, "Female elves?" He looked dismal as if he did not approve of what had happened, "probably the dungeon, if the one lived after that hit."

"It matters they are female elves?" Aragorn asked trying not to worry over Arwen.

"Yes," the man looked back to Gimli, "We wouldn't have gagged him but he wouldn't shut up and he left some men wondering if they will be able to bear children." Aragorn couldn't help but look amused but the man muttered, "sorry."

Legolas scoffed, "I wish I had thought of it." Eosin chuckled as looking at Gimli who reminded him as a pig with an apple in his mouth.

They were ushered by the pushing of swords and found themselves in front of a throne where a lone person stood at the foot of it. The man dressed like the king but bore no crown still he had on robes and garments that would certainly be only worn by royalty. His hair was nearly the same blond as Arri's but his hair poked out in awkward shapes and they looked at his skin that bore the same marks of age that most men would get or achieve with their years. Staring at Eosin and Legolas with pure venom as they were pushed forward and one of the guards approached his listened intently as he whispered to him. His eyes lit up seeming to register something and it was Legolas who narrowed his eyes noticing the man's eyes were nearly the same hue of aqua that Arri's. It was then Legolas met the others eyes knowingly with a passive look, he knew this man to be a relative to his lady.

A voice broke his thoughts away as he looked to see the man spoke, "Let the men approach," he said with a loud voice. Aragorn and Gandalf moved. "I am Giles," he waved his arms grandly as if to make his own fanfare, "what is your business here?"

Gandalf stood closer inching forward with his staff and leaning upon it greatly as would an old man with many ailments. They held Eosin and Legolas back although neither resisted now. "Just to speak with you and have our females returned to us." Aragorn said quickly but stayed by Gandalf partly for fear he would lose his temper after what happened to Arwen.

"Females?" the guard by him gave him a knowing look and whispered again to the man's ear.

"Female ELVES?" Giles almost yelled. "We can not have that now can we?"

Legolas lost his temper and rushed the guards without weapon but pushed his guards into Eosin's as both elves grabbed decorative swords and nodded tossing one to Aragorn, who cut Gimli free.

Legolas and Eosin each pushed most of the non-armed guards back past the throne room and shoved the doors shut cutting them off from the rest they left only the guard who had brought them and the one by Giles, they quickly barred it and moved to the throne .

Gandalf sighed and looked to Giles, "I am Gandalf and this is Aragorn." He gestured to a now armed Aragorn who placed the sword he had at the feet of Giles and Legolas and Eosin walked forward doing the same.

"Understand we let you take us," Gimli gritted his teeth. "We have fought with less people and less than us have remained standing." Giles held his last two guards back, "Just to speak?"

"And the women," Gimli said before the other could. Legolas almost rolled his eyes at Gimli's gruff nature but he seemed to be getting their point across.

"We came in peace and want to be of some assistance," Aragorn said quickly.

"I am intrigued," Giles heard the guards battering the door. "Stop them." He ordered the guard behind the group. He nodded and made way to door and Eosin moved to help him remove the large wooden bar.

The man nodded his head, "Thank you." Eosin moved back as the guard waved them away and Giles confirmed it.

"I am Jared," the man bowed his head quickly to Eosin.

"Eosin," kept his eye but showed the man no emotions or committal looks.

Giles heard this. "and who is our other elf and the dwarf?"

"Gimli son of Gloin," Gimli spoke quickly and Legolas gave him a sidelong glance.

"Legolas of Mirkwood," Legolas said simply still watching this man carefully.

"Mirkwood?" Giles eyes grew wide making it all too clear he knew of the Greenwood.

Legolas nodded slowly trying to measure his response.

Giles rubbed his jaw in thought, "let us get this talk over with."

Gandalf moved forward slowly, "we will need our female companions for they carry most of our things."

Giles exhaled loudly and looked to the other guard, "See it done."

The guard Jared moved to their sides slowly and Giles spoke quickly, "take them to clean after their journey and let them meet their females in back here."

Jared nodded and waved for them to follow him as the silently moved from the throne and into the hall.

Eosin and Legolas felt the eyes upon them and heard them whispers about their ears and looked to the other slowly. They were brought to a room with a bath and several basins with water and they all looked at one another when left alone.

"Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a man," Aragorn sighed.

Legolas nodded and in elven whispered, "but you are not like them."

Gimli scoffed, "Surely you would not strike a woman."

"Peace here?" Eosin said thinking of Arwen's injury.

"Thranduil said every creature deserves redemption," Gandalf sat down looking at them. "Arri is hope here once Aine establishes her birth lineage."

Legolas's eye held fire at the thought of the crown, "Should she have to take this crown?" They knew he would fight it.

"Time will tell," Gandalf sighed looking at a dismal Aragorn who sat with his stare fixed at nothing. He touched his shoulder, "she shall be fine." He said quickly referring to Arwen and Aragorn offered him a little smile a thanks.

Legolas's demeanor was not much better nor Eosin. Memory of them dragging them apart was vivid in their minds, "we should not be separate."

Eosin opened his eyes wide, "I was just thinking that."

Gimli scoffed, "So elves are mind readers now?" He shook a fist at the two elves, "I was thinking it first. Get out of my head."

Aragorn looked alarmed as they realized what was going on, "we have not yet seen this wizard Aine spoke of before we left Mirkwood."

Legolas nodded, "probing our minds."

Gandalf longed for his staff, "What shall he find?" He knew he was the only one who hadn't been thinking the same thing. They all traded cautious glance wondering what would happen next. It seemed to be more than a rocky start.

Jared moved to Giles hoping to diffuse this before it was well out of control and the only way he could see was to explain how serious it was to the witless Giles, "The one elf is the Prince of Mirkwood." He stood by the throne to warn Giles alone. He knew who most of these people were and the consequences they could hold.

"The wood elve's prince?" Giles grunted he thought of the last wood elf that had occupied these walls. "What does he want here?"

"You did not recognize another King, Giles?" Jared inquired quickly.

"What king?"

"Aragorn to be king of Gondor," Jared watched Giles face fall quickly, "Gandalf the gray."

"So he is a wizard and Gandalf?" Giles looked gloom. "Why would such important people travel with three she-elves."

"They are part of the fellowship," Jared warned. "Greatly respected."

Giles considered his options and how many kingdoms he would have to answer too.

"Should I get the females to them now?" Jared asked quickly.

"Yes and see if medicine is needed for the injured female," Giles growled and before Jared could leave Giles cleared his throat. "What do you recommend?"

"Make them rooms and invite make them comfortable," Jared sighed, "the injured elf is daughter to lord Elrond," he shook his head, "even the dwarf carries high position of not only the dwarves but from his deeds among middle earth. Giles, there are many other kingdoms and races involved to anger here."

Giles nodded, "See it done." Then he waved Jared away as it dawned on him that even the annoying dwarf seemed to hold a bit of power and he had to wonder of the other three elves and what power they held.