Chapter 13

Laying next to Arri was still as new to him as this new morning broke in all it's splendor and he sighed watching her 'twilight sleep' but all the while let her know he was there in small ways. He kept his sword by the head of the bed and remained very board and but very intent. In his past had maidens before but with the emotions between he yet with Arri it seemed very new and much more intense. He knew she did not sleep as long as humans but she was very vulnerable because she did not jump awake like a human. Bored he thought of meditating and smiled as he ran his hand along her arm thinking of their evening alone and they found human bed was very uncomfortable to them but they made most of it. They also found the bedding much more coarse than they expected and he had thought how to cure that later so his lady would not be uncomfortable

Listening to the mornings sounds amused him, to the servants in the hall bustling about and he could hear Aragorn and Arwen speaking of Giles and the crown which was better than Gimli's snoring from the other wall.

His heart jumped hearing the lightest touch on the doorknob, surely he was wrong. Who would come to Arri's room this time of night? Completely still he watched the door open slowly and he saw the same guard who had leered at Arri earlier during their talk with Giles. He moved clumsily to the bed and smiled seeing the she elf then his hand tugged his belt but Legolas did not make a noise. The man reached for Arri and had one of her slender wrists in his grasp. For a moment he marveled at how soft her skin was and that her wrist so minuscule that his fingers wrapped around with room to spare. Never had this man seen anything as fine. He wet him mouth trying to contain himself from making noise and found the sword next to his neck from Legolas's hand in one swift motion.

"What business have you here?" Legolas hissed at the man who seemed to only see the sword of the man laying by Arri and it was obvious the guard had not seen him passed her mane of hair.

Aragorn burst into the room with his sword drawn only clad in his britches and he knew Arwen was right, as always. "Trouble?" Aragorn met the man's eye and his own anger rose but for his friends he kept it under control

The man looked to Aragorn and looked panicked obviously he had not expected to be caught. Now his questions asking if they were a couple did make sense, "I only thought the lady might require something before I retired milord." He bowed weakly hoping it would be forgot and shuffled to the door but Aragorn's sword was between him and the exit.

Legolas sat up slightly under the bed sheets and blankets trying not to leave Arri's side and to keep exposing himself in front of the hapless guard. He looked to Aragorn who took control quickly. He did not lower his sword but pointed to Arri and Legolas, "They, are my friends," he looked angrily at the guard. "Had the lady required anything he would have brought or they would have asked." He moved closer to the man, "try to sneak up on us again could mean the introduction of a blade."

"I meant no harm," the man was stammering.

Eosin ran to the doorway pulling his own clothing still wet and very obvious he had bathed. He looked to Aragorn and Legolas for a clue and Aragorn gestured for the man to pass through the door, "He was leaving." Aragorn said pointedly, "and shall learn a closed door is just that."

The man humbly made his way out looking at the floor rather than eyes and Eosin watched him run as got into the hall. They were not sure of his intentions but they were not good.

Legolas exhaled placing his sword down, "an assassin?" He was so angry he could hardly contain it, "he had his hands upon her..."

"Perhaps," Aragorn took control knowing Legolas was upset and his idea to restore peace right now might be heads on pikes, he looked to Eosin, "We should all double our sleeping to stay safe."

"If Aine would share a room with Gandalf," Aragorn began, "Arri is safe with Legolas and I am safe with Arwen." He looked to Eosin slowly, "since you do not sleep either you might be company to Gimli."

Eosin's eyes opened wider in disbelief, "the dwarf?" He exhaled knowing he would have to deal with somebody very unlike himself and wondered if he would get passed the stench. He heard the sounds through the wall as it seemed to rattle the foundation and looked to the noise, "What is that?"

"His snoring," Legolas tried to keep a straight face but the humor was welcome after the guard arising his ire.

"At least he will not be talking to me all night," Eosin said watching Arri's still features as jealousy touched him and he turned to leave and face the dwarf.

"She sleeps soundly," Aragorn said worriedly. "Is she all right?"

Furrowing his brow at Aragorn's notice of her sleeping and he worried him more but Legolas only nodded, "She does not sleep long and is aware of us."

Aragorn was intrigued but as he noticed Legolas moving to look at Arri he remembered he was probably undressed and smiled at Legolas's new adornment. He nodded to him, "sleep well." He teased as he pulled the door shut after him.

Legolas touch the crest on his neck, human royalty, and he remembered Arri wore his symbol of elfin royalty, half and half he mused. Like Arri seemed to be, half and half. He settled next to her to keep her warm and to let her know he was there.

Morning broke and Legolas was surprised Arri was just waking as the others were. He had heard Gimli jumping with a start finding Eosin there before Arri woke and could not help but to grin at the image.

Arri looked at him and smiled feeling him tracing her face and lips with his thumb but he held a concerned look and she sat up slowly remembering some of what happened while she slept, "the guard."

He nodded, "yes, he was here." He did not look happy with the memory but he looked at her confused, "you slept all night."

She looked up at the window to see the day had broke without her but she still felt tired and she replaced her head on the pillow and shut her eyes again to feel his hand on her shoulder. "Are you ill?" He knew he sounded worried but his heart was racing until she opened her eyes slowly. He had worried she might have been poisoned by them considering the man who would have seemed to assassinate her in her sleep.

She thought about it and did not feel ill and shook her head but even shaking her head seemed to take effort, "just tired." Then she had felt she had been expending a lot of energy with Legolas and it was very rewarding to them but emotionally tiring. More than joining passed between them when they coupled, their hearts and mind seemed to collide as well.

"Perhaps Aine and Arwen should be aware," he suggested lightly.

She sat up again, "I am fine." Hauling the coarse sheet to her feeling a little uncomfortable now that she knew somebody had tried to come in on them in the night.

"Did you eat or drink here?" He asked getting up from the bed slowly to meet her on the other side of it.

"Yesterday, they gave us some water when we separated," she thought of the water and none of them had thought any of the less of it.

"You all drank it?" He squinted his eyes in thought.

"Just Aine and I," she met his gaze as she watched him pull on his more richly garments.

"You think it was tampered."

Nodding he watched her carefully, "but you noticed nothing?" Thoughts raced through his mind. "Perhaps our own rations would do better." He spotted his bow thinking of hunting to provide an untainted food source.

"We can not turn down their hospitality," she found her own gown and pulled it own knowing they would face formalities being their first day there. "If one of us stayed on our own rations it might prove a point."

"Arwen," he nodded. "She had not drank here?"

"She was not conscious," Arri looked at her feet thinking of how pitiful Arwen had looked.

He nodded knowing that she would certainly get away with it nursing her own wound and he packed lembas and the remaining water he had in his pack for her. He tugged on his tunic and pants, "a day should tell."

Arri nodded but her attention was at the village below watching the people and how they moved among themselves. He joined her looking as well and looked back at her little smile.

"Do they make sense to you," he teased and then pointed at them.

She smiled, "some but some is intriguing."

A knock on the door reminded them they would have formalities and she sighed as he opened the door to find Giles himself with Jared. Giles took a second glance at the door when Legolas opened it, "forgive me, I must have the wrong door." He seemed put off at Legolas's expressionless face. "I was told this was Arri's room."

Legolas nodded, "It is." He glanced back to Arri who came to the door and Legolas opened it wider.

Giles eyes opened wider, "you are intended then?" He said almost accusingly.

Legolas narrowed his eyes at him curious of why such things mattered there but Arri nodded, "by human traditions and elven." She said crossing her arms.

Giles kept his stare, "we are gathering for breakfast." He looked to Arri, "I thought I would accompany you since we are some what related we should know each other."

Legolas walked into the room and gathered the food in the bag he had put together for Arwen. He nodded as he held it, "I will accompany her."

Arri put her hand on his arm to assure him she would be all right and did not want to offend, "I will met you there." She wasn't dumb after last night's incident she had concealed a dagger to keep with her.

He looked at her knowing she must have reason to feel secure but it did not ebb the worry, "then I will join you both shortly." He was not happy with the arrangement but he went to Arwen's room quickly.

Giles watched him go, "he visits the other female? You are not committed to each other?"

"Yes, we are but Arwen is our friend and was injured," Arri almost hissed. "I would have checked upon her too."

"Your other companions are gathered for breakfast," Giles sighed. "Please realize we do not have much dealing with elves and it will take our people time to grow accustom to the idea." He sighed heavily. "Maybe a great deal of time."

"Really?" she asked with little interest and she knew he was already beginning to talk her out of a crown.

"Yes," he sighed dramatically, "I am afraid that an elf might never be truly accepted."

"In time I am sure we will," she paused, "we do not die of old age like a man. Where a man may live only to a hundred years, to an elf it is just a blink of an eye."

"But you can be killed," he hissed.

"What?" she turned quickly feeling overcome as the threat as they had in the woods with the winged beasts then she felt a cold hand upon her neck and felt pale.

"Elves have been killed," he said simply. "Helm's Deep claimed a great many of them."

"Yes, fighting for men." she said feeling a little winded and short of breath and began to feel faint.

"Loredell does not see it that way," Giles sighed watching her stumble slightly but offered her no hand.

She opened her mouth to argue and she found herself losing track of her thought rampant thought until she noticed his eyes, unfeeling and cold like death, "What magic do you bring?" She asked in a hollow voice and tried the defense Arwen taught her mumbling in Sindarian as she fell to her knees.

Giles could not hide his smile as he watched her drop slowly, "if you feel ill, I can have breakfast brought to your room." He offered with as much courtesy as a snake to a mouse.

Arri continued to mumble the enchantment but no longer did she see him but only a pair of red eyes as she felt her head hit the floor.