Chapter 14

Hard enough to shake the feeling of dread but his feeling of worry he had over Arri being alone with Giles gave him chills. Sprinting to Arwen's room with Legolas he slowly explained to them about their notion of poisoning and to remain on their rations.

"So soon, you do not trust Giles," Aragorn joked lightly then was taken back noticing Legolas's forlorn look.

To the elves it seemed as if the sun had dimmed and darkened clouds occupied the very room wrapping their vapors around them and the air felt heavy making it harder to breathe. As soon as it had began it stopped but it seemed to hang overhead like a storm cloud and Aragorn looked at them booth questions playing in his eyes. Legolas knew he had to find Arri as the feeling of magic became stronger, "Gandalf would be of use." He looked to Aragorn who already knocked on the door and heard no answer or voices. He opened the door quickly to show nobody was there.

Aragorn turned to tell Legolas but he was gone and he began to trail his friend catching a mere sight of his blonde hair as it disappeared silently around the turn of the hall. Arwen's gestures bade him follow him up yet by quick glance he was sure she was not well enough to deal with sorcery yet or to keep a brisk pace.

He smiled seeing Arri but soon that look vanished knowing something was wrong and ran for her. Seeing her buckle to her knees in front of Giles and another man in long robes, he hit the floor sliding to get under her and when she sank to the floor his heart sank.

Without care for the other men, he pushed Giles and the other man aside as he looked to Arri and moved her head and felt for a pulse. Gently brushing the hair out of her eyes he spoke Elvish in hushed tones with hopes she knew he was there. Sighing he heard his friend's footfalls not that Aragorn was a noisy mortal but Legolas had very keen ears, even for an elf.

Aragorn ran up behind him with his hand at on the hilt of his sword and he regarded the situation quickly, he looked to Legolas, "is she all right?"

Looking to Aragorn not sure what to make of her condition and pulled her into his arms as he stood. Arri began to stir slowly and continued mumbling as Legolas watched her carefully then he noticed the other man was gone.

"What happened here?" Aragorn demanded looking directly at Giles and did not offer to lower his blade yet.

"She feel mumbling in another language," Giles shrugged as if to suggest she was responsible.

Arri began to squirm in his arms and pushed her way to her feet opening her eyes. Legolas watched her anxiously, holding unasked questions and she shook her head slightly not sure of what had happened.

Aragorn was more direct glaring at Giles straight on, "you would not offer a lady aide when she had fallen?"

Legolas looked behind him and past Giles as his eyes darted around, "the other man, where did he go?"

Giles squinted at Legolas as if he was nuts, "other man?" He scoffed then repeated haughtily, "Arri and I were speaking," he turned to Arri slowly, "did you see this other man?"

She looked at Legolas and shook her head lightly seeming to still be focusing her eyes, "no, but there was wizardry." She glared accusingly at Giles hardly remembering their conversation.

"I am afraid I don't know what you mean," he almost laughed.

Knowing she was right he thought of the presence felt in Arwen's room and had said the foremost thing on his mind, "If there is a wizard here we would like to meet him."

Giles was taken back, "Of course." He felt a wicked smile at the three, "but he dealt with other matters last night and will not wake for some time."

Aragorn felt they made some progress, "Who is this Wizard?"

"Manveru," Giles chuckled. "He is not as capable as you all seem to think and hardly one to do magic aside from what I tell him."

Never having heard the name he began awake as they began to walk he clutched Arri around the waist the steady her as Aragorn now spoke with Giles.

Gandalf sighed feeling a bit justified in his doubts and the door from whence he felt this unwholly magic. The large door was the same as the others but Gandalf could tell the difference of it and others. He raised his staff unwilling to touch this portal and rapped loudly on the wood, yet it gave a very odd noise but no knock. Not an answer he swung his staff with a powerful blow and tossed the door aside hearing the voice chanting in Quenya. The man rose to his full height and met Gandalf's eyes leaving his place from the middle of his etched floor with markings Gandalf knew too well.

"You do magic where you should not," Gandalf said eyeing the scroll the other wizard held but did not lead on the contempt he felt.

"Ah Gandalf," he gestured to a chair, "make yourself comfortable."

Gandalf placed his staff in front of him threateningly and pointedly knowing better than to touch a thing another wizard owned, even with his bottom, "I would rather stand." He took in the white wizard and the looks of him, "you have not changed much, Manveru."

"Your friendship with the elves brings you here?" Manveru almost laughed. "This heir will not want 'this' crown, Gandalf."

"Why do you say that?" Gandalf watched Manveru's manners and gestures as he spoke hoping to understand more of what he could about the magic he felt.

"An elf with a human crown?" He sighed trying his best to look mournful. "It is not done."

"Peace will come to the crown and I will see it done," Gandalf promised and stood moving to the door, "With you help or without your hindrances." He looked at him from the corner of his eye.

Manveru gestured to him as he moved to the door, "if I may be of assistance." He said emptily.

Gandalf bowed his head as he left the other wizard alone and as he did he knew more of the threat that grew. Still Gandalf would remind him that he was, Gandalf. As soon as he cleared the door and foot touched the cool marble of the hall he tapped his staff on the floor as a brilliant light spun around the staff then his body although as the sparkling blue mist spun over his body it was then it would disappear. As the last bit touched it left an empty place where he had stood and leaving Manveru staring.

Eosin met the rest of the them for breakfast and found Gandalf watching Arri with great interest.

"It would be advantageous for you to meet the villagers," Gandalf suggested lightly.

Arri nodded feeling ill and confused after the incident with Giles and she could feel Legolas's eye on her as well as Aine. She made her best effort to eat the food offered but fatigue made her feel far away.

Eosin noticed the uncomfortable feeling about the table and looked to Giles who looked somewhat pleased with himself.

Aine traded a look with Eosin over her plate and looked at Giles and cleared her throat, "What of your other cousin, Jareth?"

Giles coy smirk was now gone and he was clearly flustered nearly choking on the food, "he is but a coward who met his timely end before taking the crown." He spat quickly.

Gandalf watched the change in nature quickly and decided to help break Giles mask, "I have met your white wizard, Giles," Gandalf said loudly for the benefit of all at the table. "He seemed to be quite in task when we spoke," Gandalf watched his companions are eyes grew wider and some jaws dropped. "Manveru has grown much stronger than I had last seen him."

"A WIZARD?" Gimli yelled. "Is that what is going on?"

"Nothing is going on my fine dwarf friend," Giles said trying to regain his composure.

Legolas put his cutlery in his plate losing his appetite quickly and he still did not trust foods there. He had been entirely sure he had seen a man dressed in white robes by Arri with Giles earlier and Giles regarded him as insane ramblings. "When shall we meet this wizard?"

"He does prefer to keep to himself," Giles sighed.

"Shall we seek him out," Aine tilted her head almost in challenge. "With so many guests this might be considered rude."

"Why? Does he need time alone?" Arri said but her head seemed to be spinning.

Gandalf watched them as they began to mimic Legolas's gesture with their cutlery and he knew tempers would raise, "Manveru and I shall need a long talk later." He assured them.

Arri felt Legolas's hand on hers under the table and she squeezed it back she let go feeling weak and tired but nobody else had felt ill, it made her wonder.

She stood slowly and Gandalf watched her curiously, "Don't you feel well child?"

Arri shook her head and Legolas stood taking her by the elbow and hand to balance her. She gave him a grateful look, "I just need some fresh air." She looked to Legolas, "it might be a good time to see the people."

Legolas nodded not convinced but he would never argue in front of Giles and he found Eosin and Aine stand quickly.

"It might be nice to see how things have changed since my husband's rule," Aine sighed and Eosin followed them out the door.

Giles looked at Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf, "I hope she is not ill." He drank from his golden cup and set it back down, "I could send the surgeon to attend to her."

"Would he be skilled in Elvish medicine?" Aragorn asked quickly.

"No," Giles admitted and looked to Aragorn hatefully. "How is the other female elf?"

"She does well now." Aragorn smiled.

Gimli grumbled to himself, "nonsense," he caught curious stares from Jared and Giles. "You should tell us of this wizard," he refused to let the topic go. "We deserve to know that."

"I can not tell him to stop his duties right now," Giles said with a pleased look.

"Indeed," Gandalf sighed. "Just as I have my own duties to attend to." He stood with Gimli and Aragorn not far behind. "If you will excuse us." He left a bewildered and worried Giles, and with good right.

"What duties does Gandalf the Gray have at hand?" He rubbed his chin in wonder.

Jared almost laughed at Giles stupidity, "Gray? He may bear gray clothing but he is certainly a white wizard." He pushed his food on his plate. "Giles don't fight them, this is more than you know, it feels like fate."

Giles raised his cup and laughed, "what has you more upset Jared, that I might take the crown or that that elf witch shall not?"

"Aine's husband was named Jareth or have you forgotten?" Jared held his stare.

"Just as his coward grandson was," Giles seemed to lose his want for this conversation.

"There was never proof of his death only speculation unless you know otherwise," Jared challenged.

"If you were of the family you would know there is proof," Giles gave him a mock sad face. "You have hope that there will be another on the throne don't you?" He shook his head lightly, " Arri will never take this crown but to take it she would have to marry a human and I fear she would not do that," he smiled. "I will have to keep it by default."

Jared knew Arri and Legolas were coupled and he felt ill thinking of Giles as the King, "she might marry a human but how do you know the future?"

"Even if she did, I would contest it or perhaps the jinx of the crown would fall on her as it did her mother." He chuckled not caring who heard as Jared was his audience now.

"Aine's husband fell to the fate as well as Loreth and my dear cousins." He noticed Jared's hard stare, "these elves are comfortable with you so I suggest you do as I told you and watch them."

Jared looked around, "where is your other guard?"

"Xander?" Giles looked around nonchalantly, "he is about somewhere."

Jared nodded and excused himself angered by Giles and running to meet the newcomers.

Legolas watched Arri look better as they sat by the window, "do you need rest?"

Aine looked at her granddaughter and sighed, "the wizard," she looked to Arri, "you think it is the wizard?"

Arri nodded, "yes Aine."

"Nobody else is ill and Arri is the only one," Eosin sighed, "an attack on one." He and the others felt fine and he knew it was not poisoning as they had suspected.

"Wizardry?" Gandalf sighed as he approached. Raising his voice in a tone that rang along the rafters, "if a wizard wanted her ill she would not want from her bed."

Aragorn nodded, "she is not used to traveling or the change from snow to this heat."

Gimli agreed wiping the sweat from his own brow quickly. "Odd to go from snow to such warm weather." He would not admit he had felt the consequences of it but not as strongly as Arri.

Ari waved her hand lightly and looked to Gandalf, "I am fine."

Aragorn crossed his arms, "Maybe you should see what medicine Arwen has to help." He glanced at Gimli, "And you."

He grunted, "ME? I'm as fit as an ox."

Legolas smirked, "fit?"

Arri followed Aragorn and Gimli huffed as he followed them. Legolas took Arri's hand but she shook her head not wanting him to feel he had to sit still. "Aine wants to see the people would you accompany her?"

Aine shook her head, "I will join Legolas and Eosin soon." She followed Arri.

Gandalf watched them leave Legolas and Eosin together, "it might be good to see the reaction of the people to elves."

"What of this wizard?" Legolas wondered quickly.

"He could be a formidable foe," Gandalf sighed.

"Should we send for help here?" Eosin wondered.

"Not yet," Gandalf looked at them closely eyeing the bow Eosin carried. "You have had your weapons returned?"

Both elves nodded and Legolas looked past the small village and to the wooded area beyond. He knew he could not see Arri stuck here either and as interesting the Kingdom it was he felt too enclosed and wanted to be closer to the nature.

"Young elves should not be among so many humans," Gandalf laughed.

Eosin glanced at Gandalf, " Young? I have clothing older than you."

Gandalf looked surprised and laughed at the usually quiet elf. "That was a joke?"

Eosin nodded and Legolas chuckled as Eosin walked away slowly leaving a stunned Gandalf.

Arri watched Aragorn make his way to Arwen in the room they had been given. She had been staring out the window and looked almost bored. She jumped to her feet and met the company with a smile.

"You look like you could wrestle a cave troll," Gimli smiled.

She smiled noticing he looked a bit green and gathered the medicine they had packed from Mirkwood. With fast hands and a stern eye for the craft she began to mix the concoction but all the while the Evenstar was the very reminder of Elrond. In a moment she had a flask ready and offered it to him.

"Arri is ill too," Aragorn said sitting in nearby chair.

Arwen smiled seeing Aine and Aragorn looked fine, "traveling illness?"

Aine watched them lightly as Gimli seemed much better once Arwen had prepared the remedy . He mumbled quite a bit about 'chewing on grass' when he tasted the herbs but looked well again and seemed to have even more fight than usual.

With now bright and alert eyes, Gimli jumped from the chair quickly, "let's find the elf."

Aragorn almost laughed at the change in him and smiled to Arwen as she gave Arri the medicine too.

Arri sighed looking at the window and listening to Arwen and Aine talking as she completed the concoction. Within only moments after taking it she renewed and stood ready to meet with the others.

Arwen smiled at the difference and yes she felt a pride in what her ada had taught her or that she had taken his tutelage to heart. Aragon placed a hand gently on the small of her back with a look of pride, "shall we?" He gave her a peck of a kiss but moved slowly as they made way to the door quietly.

The small but proud village was just beneath them as they emerged from the castle and it was quite a bustle of activity. Legolas and Eosin padded down among the villagers it in slowly, how different from the Elven lands. Legolas was quite used to the men after his travels although Eosin seemed curious of it all.

By and by, if one were to go to one of the Elvish lands they would not hear such commotions and Eosin could only remember the sounds there being of the minstrels or a quiet conversations. Once in a great while there may be reasons for such excitement but that was usually due to strangers from further lands.

Eosin dodged a man who shoved a fish directly in his view with such grace the man seemed forget his sales pitch and just stared at the elf. Remembering they were to inspire goodwill Eosin gave the man a slight smile and a nod then turned back to Legolas who was also denying goods merchants seemed desperate to sell. The smells were of foods they could not place but they were still pleasant enough. Eosin watched Legolas careful not to make mention of his station when he noticed this place was only about stations and seemed that was how they had money. Never had the elves had worry over things like money and they only had rank to keep order not to deny people food or needed things. Judging by how richly some were dressed and how poorly others were he guessed sadness was likely in a place such as this.

Such happenings before them intrigued Eosin and he felt pure in comparison to the people that mulled around the and when he looked to Legolas it all came clear. Following his eye he found eyes wandering to the trees just beyond. Even the marvel of this place could quell their need to be among nature and he took a deep breath moving forward slowly. Perhaps it was that the ground had been trampled until it held no grass and beneath their feet was only dirt and the occasional kicking of dust.

Legolas sighed catching Eosin's longing for the trees again, "I understand."

Eosin turned up the corner of his mouth slowly and then met his eye as they watched the children running in front of them, "this wizard will be the undoing."

"I agree but Gandalf has dealt with worse," he assured him. Watching the children took drew a smile for a moment but it was hard to see how happy they were with sticks pretending to be swords, clothing wrought with holes or enough dirt over them to start their own garden.

"Arri is happy with you," Eosin kept his eyes ahead.

Legolas nodded trying not to trip on the waifs as they moved on, "she cares for you too."

"As a sibling would," Eosin smiled at the child who stopped in front of them and stood there. "Are you lost?"

The female child smiled and ran off quickly as whimsical as wood sprite. Now it was becoming obvious the people gave them hard stares as the little girl ran back to Eosin and stood there.

Legolas bent to her, "do you need help little one?" She shook her head and pointed to the sewn toy in the tree and both elves noticed a doll among the branches.

"My brother threw it up there," she said staring at Legolas hard. She reached to his face and touched his hair and gasped as she pulled her hand back. "What are you?"

Eosin knelt to the little girl too happy to be lower to the ground to avoid the further stares. She looked at him with equal fascination and touched his ear with wide eyes. Despite the intrusion they let her touch them in hopes she would not fear them and truly creatures always fear what they never understood.

Legolas chuckled at her innocence, "elves."

"Elves?" She backed up looking haunted now and both traded a confused look.

"We will not hurt you," Eosin said quietly.

Legolas stood eyeing the doll and with placed his foot along the tree almost walking up the trunk to take the doll to the child. He landed next to the girl without sound as Eosin stayed where he was so not to scare her further. Legolas held the toy to her without word as her mouth hung open amazed.

"How did you do that?" she asked in awe.

Legolas smiled as he bent, "why are you afraid of elves?"

Eosin met her eyes and she looked to the ground dragging her foot on a pebble, "Daddy said elves are bad."

Eosin and Legolas glanced at the other, "why?" Eosin challenged the child.

"They would bring death," her eyes grew wider as she remembered the warning.

They stood and Legolas sighed, "no we do not."

She tilted her head watching them and reached her hand to Legolas's with a small smile.

Eosin felt warning bells, "we should find your parents."

Legolas smiled at the child with a nod and she pulled him toward a small section of housing but before they could reach it they heard shouting.

"Get away from my child," A woman said scooping her daughter away from Legolas. She looked the child over in her arms for signs of injury.

"He got my doll," the child vouched for them pointing to Legolas.

"What Elvish magic did he use?" The woman glared at Legolas.

"He just hopped," the girl wiggled from her mother's arms and looked to the elves and held her doll out and wiggled it, "thank you."

"You are welcome," Legolas bowed to the child.

Eosin was tired of the prejudice stares, "Why do you fear elves?" He asked the woman.

She was taken back slightly seeing Legolas with her child as the little girl babbled on, "it was said there was a female elf who cast her magic over King Jareth and since then all of our kings have been few and far."

"King Jareth?" Eosin looked to Legolas, "he was not William's brother?"

"That Jareth is the King's grandson and namesake," she still seemed leery of the two elves.

"This King Jareth was married to an elf?" Eosin asked.

The little girl looked at the clothing on the two elves and began to touch them lightly from their jerkins to their tunics, "Momma everything is real soft."

"Yes," the woman answered. "We heard there were female elves here again and it would start over Giles reign."

"You trust Giles?" Legolas asked astounded as the child ran her hand over his marveling at his pale skin and the difference of her olive tones.

"Yes, he took the rule when the William died and his brother ran off," she watched her daughter bothering the elf but he did not lose patience.

"Then you say that Jareth, the namesake, is alive?" Legolas tilted his head.

"Yes, we all know it but he was young when he ran," she scoffed. "He's probably livin' in Gondor by now."

"Why do so many think he is dead?" Eosin wondered aloud.

"Who would care?" she laughed, "or would want a coward?"

Legolas shook his head, "Elves are not bad luck or responsible for the loss of rule."

The little girl tried to drag Legolas to the fountain, "Come play with me."

Eosin grinned at the child's enthrallment of Legolas but the mother smiled politely now and moved her daughter from Legolas but grazed his hand as she did. She gasped and looked at him in sheer amazement.

"How are you so soft?" the woman demanded.

"Feel his hair, Momma," the girl offered.

Legolas turned a little red as the woman looked dubious but he picked up a few tresses and offered them for her to touch and she ran her hand his hair lightly amazed.

Eosin would have broke out into full laughter if he hadn't been afraid to draw attention to them but found Legolas' embarrassed stare and looks as the woman eyed him over, as her child did, hysterical.

The woman shook her head, "are you a woman 'cause no man's that soft."

Eosin cleared his throat amused but could see Arri watching from the window above, "She is a female."

The woman looked up at Arri as if she had seen a ghost and gasped as Arwen joined her, "I see."

Legolas looked up at Arri with a small pride wondering why the woman would seem upset.

The woman watched her and then looked to the them, "you mean there is a female elf here?"

Legolas kept her even stare, "yes."

The woman looked horrified, "she's bad luck."

Eosin chuckled, "only to herself so far."

Legolas rolled his eyes, "we bear no ill will."

The woman looked dubious and backed away slowly as her daughter waved at Arwen and Arri in the window. Her mother pulled her away quickly, "prove it." She sneered.

Her child was more polite and broke free of her mother and ran to Legolas gesturing for him to bend to her which he did and the child kissed his cheek.

"Thank you," she smiled, "I'm Eliza."

He held his hand out to her cordially, "I am Legolas."

She shook his hand with a giggle, "that's a weird name." Then she heard her mother calling to her. She gave them both a curtesy and ran off, giggling all the way.

Legolas stood and exhaled loudly, "I think we have learned something."

Eosin shook his head, "Only that these people are narrow minded fools." He yammered in Elvish so the people around him would not gather from what they said.

Legolas wanted to argue but knew he was correct to a extent. Suddenly forgotten as they noticed made Arri and Arwen coming to them.

Aine and Gimli grew the most attention with her statuesque stance and with Gimli's short stature only reaching her bout to her waist. Aine looked about the village with a sigh pulling her cloak over her ears. She did not recognize a single face of anybody she had known during her husband's rule but so many years ago, she was certain they would have passed.

Arri looked excited with her eyes dancing from smells she could not place but pulled her to her younger years. Many things seemed to feel so familiar but still so far from understanding Taking everything in slowly as children ran past and she looked to the both selling jewelry by pushing items in front of her. It was wondrous how this place felt nearly native to her but at the same time she could feel the sweet winds brought by the evergreens and sighed missing home.

Arwen laughed slowing her step for feat of hurting one of the younglings that kept running before them crying out 'tag' to and fro, "certainly enough children under foot."

Eosin looked at them and how out of control they were compared to Elven children. He had never seen Elven children without guidance.

Gimli grumbled, "and me without my axe."

Jared caught them with a smile, "if you see anything feel free the castle's courtesy." He handed them each a small paper, "show people this and they will be paid at the castle door."

Gimli's eyes grew larger looking at the food there, "sounds good."

Eosin shook his head, "I liked him better when he was ill."

Legolas watched Arri who looked a bit green again and Arri managed a weak smile.

Arwen noticed, "I thought you were better?"

Arri fought the dizziness and nodded, "I was."

Legolas watched as Gimli began to stuff his face with pastries and Arri remained ill.

Arri moved back to the castle and her bed as Legolas met her side, "I can make it alone."

Legolas looked uncertain but Aine joined Arri's side and they left the others to the busy market place as Aragorn walked past them with a inquiring stare.