Chapter 22

Due to comments saying to "speak more Elvish" I put some in. Some I knew and some i had to look up. please let me know if you think better with the Elvish or English saying they are speaking Elvish. Thank you :)

*Translations are at the bottom

In a great commotion did King Thranduil arrive to Loredell aloft his mighty steed that stood higher than those of his Elvish companions. Passed the gate they found no others in the courtyard to receive them and he looked to the other elves questionably and with great distaste. Thranduil shook his head at the lack of greeting as the head of the guards took his horse from him. The guard had seemed cordial enough but with the lack of reception he drew a breath ready to ask of the manners of these men. Until he could see Aine moving to him with Gimli son of Gloin and he felt a little rest assured seeing an old friend. Eyes settled on the dwarf that was seemingly attached to Aine's side and he did remember the rumors of the dwarf's fixation of Galadriel. He sighed, remembering how not that long ago the dwarf had seemed an appendage to his son.

Aine caught his eye with a moment of exchanging pleasantries then his look became serious, "Dui ach, Legolas?" He asked her quickly in Elvish.

Aine bowed to him slightly, "Iorna di deid bess?" She informed him in their tongue.

"Died bess?" He lost his calm demeanor. "Iorna?" He was almost yelling at nobody in particular.

"Wen wera veru iaur ," she watched him look about the courtyard taking in the arch and the tell tale signs of a battle. "Orch tol dagor ab."

Gimli looked from elf to elf very lost but didn't want to interrupt Thranduil. It was rumored far and wide of this king's temper and how quickly it could turn to rage. Also it had been said of his great deeds in battle and how fearless a warrior he had always been. Certainly Legolas had his spirit and skill but not his temper because more than once he had seen Legolas' ire arise only to ebb slowly with logic, as stood true with his interruption not long ago. Truly many others would have began a brawl whereas Legolas and Arri had found the reason and the laughter, eventually. Keeping his tongue out of respect for Legolas and also Thranduil's well known contempt for dwarves seemed wise.

Other elves joined his side as Thranduil joined the dwarf and Aine. "Sive weave orchs." He nodded, "ach Legolas al?"

She nodded, "U ach naise perper athea Elrond ."

"ench dangen?"

"We wanwa neled ," She looked at the castle, "Eosin uin Karnigul nurnen."

Thranduil hung his head slightly as if in a silent prayer.

Jared slowly joined them, "I will show you to your rooms if you are ready milord."

Thranduil nodded sweeping his riding cloak behind him and following slowly, "At least one man has some manners about him," he finally spoke in English. "Where are your courtiers at this hour?"

"I am sorry sire but it would seem our lord Giles is upset over something," Jared tried to apologize for the lack of greeting, "Would you like me to wake your son and tell him of your arrival?"

"No, that will not be….," Thranduil trailed off. "You are aware he sleeps?" Stopping so suddenly the other elves that followed them nearly crashed into them. Thranduil almost seemed upset others knew his son was sleeping or that Jared spoke of it, "This is well known my son's behavior here and habits?

Aine shook her head, "Jared patha edhellen ," she said in but a whisper in to the king.

"Indeed?" Thranduil said looking at the man again. "where did you learn such a thing?" Silently he made note to keep his voice low and not to underestimate these men again.

Jared seemed uncomfortable at the question, "it was not difficult milord." He seemed to move the elves quickly into the castle now as if to urge them faster after Thranduil's questions.

Thranduil looked at Aine with a quizzical stare wondering what this man hid but she merely nodded. He thought of Arri and Legolas as he walked past the arch and exhaled a bit. "I would speak with Lord Elrond if you would." Elrond and Aine would certainly help to explain what had happened with his son in his absence. Jared nodded and began to gesture to other men to take the other elves another direction down a corridor much the same as the others and the only difference seemed to be the statues and art along the walls. As they walked Thranduil took in the look of this place and tried to hide his displeasure of the cold halls of the men which adorned their walls not in beauty but in history of war, battle or strife. Looking at the rusting armor on display he shook his head wondering what his son had gotten himself into this time.

Arri woke feeling Legolas holding her as he too slept. She smiled moving her feet along the coolness of the sheets and the warmth of his body to hers. She touched her still tired eyes and looked to see his face. She had never seen him sleep and was sure it had something to do with his injury. His leg was wrapped protectively around her legs to her abdomen and when she moved she was careful not to disturb him. She took in the beautiful sight he was. He had his eyes completely shut as his chest moved up and down very slowly. His hair neatly behind him against his back and shoulders as if he hadn't moved all night. His lips slightly parted as if he would speak or had been kissing her as he fell off to sleep. Even the light bruising that stood out on the pillow did not take from this prince's beauty. She looked to his shoulder that was slightly exposed as the blanket had seemed to move and she smiled seeing it looked almost completely healed now. She rolled her body into his so that she could look at his face as she lay there. She let her face finally rest on his chest wanting to fall asleep in his arms again. He was so warm and comforting even in his sleep that she sighed pulling them both deep into the covers. She loved the feel of their bodies as one and the sheets and blankets forming their own private world beneath. She wanted him to rest and heal and she knew last night had been too much for him but they had been lost in their sparks of passion.

The window showed tiny shards of light breaking through to morning and she wondered how long they had slept. She could hear the sounds of the servants as they moved at what they must have thought to be noiselessly. She jumped as dread crept over her and she heard loud forceful footsteps moving to their room.

She pushed Legolas's shoulder trying to wake him but the door was tossed open before Legolas could open his eyes and react. Legolas shot up in bed reaching the sword he kept by the headboard now and pulling Arri to him. "What is this?" He looked at Giles and the guards that were entering his room coming closer to the bed.

"I could ask you the same thing, could I not?" Giles spat. "Is this how you greet a guest in your room?" Giles gestured to the sword and looked to Arri's wide eyes wondering if she was reading his mind because of her fearful expression.

"When they bust in? Yes," Legolas was now fully awake and could feel Arri squeezing his arm tightly as if to keep him to her but he needed a bit of distance between the two in case he needed to fight.

"Replace your weapon," Giles ordered, "I would like to speak with you, Legolas." Giles smiled evilly, "As I am sure you father would too."

Legolas looked at Arri knowing they both had doubts about why he would bust into their room. In the moment's hesitation he saw a guard snatching Arri from the bed with a dagger to her throat. She began to struggle but Giles looked to her nakedness and took his cousin slowly.

Legolas began to spring for the guards but found many of the men with bows and arrows upon him and two grabbing for the sword itself. A few contained Arri and held a knife to her in silent threat but Legolas felt they could overtake them. How complacent would they have to be to make peace here. He knew of the want to stay neutral and they had for so long but his patience was wearing thin.

Giles moved to Arri with a superior sneer on his face, "Stop moving, prince." He pulled his own dagger from it's sheath and moved to Arri. Legolas held still watching Arri seem to tremble as Giles came to her with his dagger pointedly at her abdomen.

"It would be a shame if one of the guards struck her the wrong way wouldn't it?" Giles took pride in seeing Legolas freeze at the threat and the guards secured him from behind quickly.

Arri's eyes became wide, "Run, they know." She said quickly but low enough for his ears and the men looked at her wondering about the noises she made, "They do not want me."

Legolas shook his head slowly as they began to bind his wrists. "nin ava ti hyan dh." He turned his face to Giles. "What is this madness?" He demanded in English. "Give Arri her clothing."

"My cousin is rather becoming this way don't you think?" Giles laughed looking at how the guards seemed to stare at her bare form. "She almost looks human."

Jared ran to the room with the look of sleep still upon him and he became wide eyed as he took in the scene. "Are you mad?" He looked to Giles. "Gondor, Mirkwood and Rivendell will see your head roll."

"Still sleeping after your valiant battle?" Giles's attention now on Jared. His poisoned tongue seemed to hold jealousy as he spoke to him. "Too bad you were not awake to discover Xander's body this morning." He looked to Legolas. "The arrow that of an elf, PRINCE." Giles walked over to the quiver that sat on the floor, "Let us see if the archer's arrows match." Giles's produced a blood covered arrow and compared it to Legolas's arrows showing the match. "You killed Xander!" Giles was now angrier than he had been. "You tried to rid of the body after killing one of my guards."

Jared started to intervene as he moved further into the room but found a sword at his own throat as well. "There must be a mistake."

"No mistake and he is under arrest to be put to death," Giles hissed not taking his eyes off Legolas who refused to give Giles an answer one way or the other.

Legolas looked to the ground pointedly, "Uthra cara gad! grith deid la." His comment was in Elvish and was directed to Jared but Legolas did not indicate who the message was for.

Arri began to struggle slightly embarrassed but very upset, "Xander would have killed me, Giles. Is that what you intended?" She said loudly in English.

Legolas met her eyes, "Aen mapa nin, ada ava al aen naegra nin."

Arri's eyes welled with tears she refused to let flow, "Noor Lav Nin."

"Giles if you are to arrest him give his father notice of such a thing," Jared insisted. He slowly reached to the Elvish cloak and threw it to a guard for Legolas. He hoped they would show some decency despite Giles orders.

The guard instinctively let it fall to the ground looking at Giles for a clue. Once Giles nodded the guard let it fall over Legolas's head and covering him including the bindings they held him by.

"Take that murderer to the dungeon," Giles said as the other guards made room for Legolas to pass. Arri began to kick wildly seeing him led away and the guard who had not secured her found her so wild that she jumped from his grip.

She rushed to Legolas very quickly cupping his head in her hands before the guards could stop her and kissed him hard until the guards pulled the two elves apart and breaking their kiss. She kept her stare into his eyes and only his eyes worried of her love.

Legolas watched her with sad eyes and did not move his eyes from her as he realized the shadow had now become the dread he had feared. This was it. "La hir din hammad," he said looking at Arri but he spoke knowing only two understood him. They were careful not to let Giles or the guards pick up on who they were speaking about by not mentioning names and not to look anybody directly in the face when they spoke.

"Enough," Giles said agitated. "Get him out of here." He smiled as the two elves were separated and he sighed watching Legolas removed by the guards from the room. Giles smiled evilly as he approached Arri. "You are also under arrest."

Arri looked as surprised as Jared but Giles approached. "Don't tell me that Legolas killed all those guards alone." Giles looked at Arri's body and her soft skin appreciatively as he moved closer to her. She turned her head quickly not wanting to face him.

Jared dared not move for fear of being arrested as well. He knew full well he could help both elves more from the outside of a cell. "I will take her to her cell," Jared offered. "Let her dress as well."

Giles continued to smile at Arri's embarrassment, "I rather like her like this and so may the men who guard her. He moved inches from her face and looked to her pale skin breathing right down her neck. Letting his hot breath well up on her skin made him smile when she shrank away, "Think you will see him again, cousin?" He let his hand move slowly down her ribs to her abdomen and settled it there. "Do you carry his child?"

Giles groaned lightly as his hand moved to her private area. "This is what you shall become, a mere toy." He felt her shrink back as he let his fingers probe but she did not move in response. As he pushed his finger to find what he had suspected. Legolas had been with her last night. "You husband tried to consummate your union?" She turned to him with hate in her eyes and before he realized it she used both guards as leverage to pull her feet to her abdomen and kick Giles dead in the chest sending him off of her and onto the bed.

The guards kept their hold on her arms drawing their swords quickly.

Giles laughed as he stood, "I forget how agile these elves are." He became angry again and slapped Arri hard against the face with the back of his hand watching her spill to the floor spitting blood slightly.

More footsteps were heard as Aragorn ran to the doorway and Jared looked o him almost mournfully. Aragorn was still pulling his clothing on as he looked to Arri laying naked beneath Gile's feet. He began to move to her but the Jared grabbed his shoulder lightly.

"She is under arrest," Jared said plainly trying not to show a side.

"Get her off that floor," Aragorn said quickly. "Even prisoners get a better treatment."

Arwen rushed in watching the guards haul Arri back to her feet. She moved to Arri touching her friend's face lightly but Arri seemed unable to meet her eye after a man had touched her.

"Enough!" Giles said pushing Arwen aside and pushing another cloak over Arri, "get the murderer out of here."

Arwen looked around, "What?" She looked to Jared and Aragorn for help but they did not offer any information. "Where is Legolas?"

"The dungeons," Jared said watching Arri don the cloak to be pulled away.

"Giles there had better be good reason for this," Aragorn growled. Arwen followed as Arri was pulled from the room.

Arri's feet hit the cold stone's and she was miserable. Moments ago she had awoke in her love's arm and now they were to be put to death. As they pushed her into he hallway she could hear Arwen following her and doors opened to reveal Elrond and Aine. Another elf opened a get door that she did not recognize but began to call in Elvish to get Thranduil.

Aine cuddled her face as Arri was pushed past and Aine whispered something in Elvish about getting her free but Arri did not hear it, as everything became a blur.

Jared felt like he was pushing a ghost as he and the other guards escorted Arri to the dungeon. She never look at them but her gaze was on her feet and she moved silently as if she was floating. Jared could hear Giles foot falls behind them and he knew Giles wanted to be sure that she was locked in.

Giles pointed to the second hard wooden door from the end that held Legolas, "in there."

Jared sighed as he watched Giles instruct the other guards to let him inside of the other barred door. Jared began to wonder what Giles wanted with Legolas now as he moved Arri into the cell.

* Translations:

Dui ach, Legolas - where is Legolas

Iorna di deid bess - asleep with his wife

Iorna - sleep

Dui bess - his wife

ench dangen - our losses

Wen wera veru iaur - they were married yesterday

Orch tol dagor ab - orcs attacked after

Sive weave orchs - we expected the orcs

We wanwa neled - We lost 3

Eosin uin Karnigul nurnen - Eosin of Rivendell fell

nin ava ti hyan dh - I will not let them hurt you

Uthra cara gad! grith deid la - Do not get caught and care for her

Aen mapa nin, ada ava al aen naegra nin - Let them take me. My father will not let them hurt me.

Nor lav nin - Nor can I

la hir din hammad - please find her clothing