Chapter 24

*translations are show next line with asterisk this time

Shuffling out from the cell as Arwen attended to Arri and they left to see Elrond. It was evident by the amount of their noise leaving.

Arwen looked at Arri sadly." Why do men do such things?" Arwen whispered as she began to tend to Arri's marks on her face. She looked back to the bundle she had brought, "I brought you something to clothing."

"Thank you," Arri said trying to hold still under Arwen's gentle touch to heal help her.

A loud bang on the door was followed by a gruff voice, "time to go, elves."

The two females looked at each other with a mixture of feelings and Arri began to dress under her now dirty cloak. She sighed feeling worried and frustrated with the circumstances but pushed ahead.

The banging on the door urged both elves to take notice as they moved to leave. The door was thrust open and the male guards looked at them hatefully grabbing each female by the arm. The clanging of another lock and they could hear more footsteps. Arwen craned her neck until she could see Legolas making his way behind them.

Once they were past the outside set of doors Arwen was set gently free but it was clear by the man's stance in front of Arri and Legolas that she was not permitted to go back.

Arri watched as Arwen was pulled ahead and freed. She could see the questions in Arwen's eyes but nodded for her to leave her. She could hear the footsteps behind her and sighed looking at her own feet willing them to move on.

The men stopped them just outside the courtyard and Arri heard a small scuffling and looked to see Jareth pushing to the elves as he carried a small tray of fruit and the same rations they had earlier.

Jareth glared at the guards as he noticed Arri's hands were still bound, "She cannot eat with out her hands."

The guard narrowed his eyes, "She will try to escape."

"I think if the elves wanted to escape they would have by now," Jareth rolled his eyes as Legolas was pushed to her side.

He could see Legolas' face changing as he saw the marks on Arri and knew she had been beaten. Legolas began to struggle with his own bindings and was free in seconds only to embrace Arri looking at her wounds. Jareth's heart went to the star crossed elves.

Arri watched as Legolas joined her and she felt oddly at peace as he did. His concerned stare and touch to her face reminded her they weren't alone despite Giles efforts. The guards let her arms go seeing they were docile enough and Jareth cleared his throat as he offered them both food.

Legolas shrugged wondering if it was poisoned but noticed no smells to indicate so. He took an apple and bit into it tentatively. He looked to Arri and nodded to let her know it was all right and reached for an apple for her as well.

Arri's stomach growled but the nausea had become worse since the dungeon and she was sure it was just the stress of the situation. She shook her head at the offer but let her fingers entwine in Legolas's.

Legolas watched her carefully, "ua maed?" He asked her quietly in elvish. "manen innas gwinig mad?"

*You will not eat? *How will the child eat?

She considered his words and took the fruit offered with a tentative bite.

Jared understood each word and his eyebrows shot up understanding the levity of the situation, she was with child. He knew Giles wanted her dead and at the very least away, away from Legolas but she was with child. He felt a heavy sigh escape. Was Aine right? Could he end this now?

Jareth took a deep breath and turned to them, "I cannot permit this to go on my friends," He said straightening his shoulders. "Where is Giles?" He met Arri's eyes purposefully, "We need to speak."

Arri tilted her head and gave him a small smile, "What had changed your mind so?"

Jareth looked from her to Legolas, "eg hen. It is but an innocent soul in a hateful time and should not be punished too." He spoke some of his words softly in Elvish so the others guards didn't understand.

*Your child

Legolas gave them both a questioning stare until it made sense, "Hi! Dh tolo ompa?" He said hatefully in elvish as he quickly understood who Jared truly was.

*Now you come forward?

"To see a lady befouled is one thing but one gaiw," Jareth lowered his eyes at Legolas' surprised look, "is quite another."

Legolas' anger became unleashed as he saw Giles move to the small space that had been left open. He had not noticed the friends and family that stood only feet away but he ran for Giles only seeing the man who had created so much pain and hate.

Arri struggled against the guards who held her, "I need to stop him." She pleaded with the guards.

Jareth nodded and ran for Legolas himself, "stay safe, Arri."

Giles looked into the faces of the Elvish Kings and the face of the friends of the couple. He almost sneered at the thought that even the ring bearer would be no help soon. He moved to the dias slowly lavishing the attention of all men at that moment. He even chuckled at Eliza and her father who stood close by.

Eliza stuck her tongue out at him and he turned sharply as if not to notice her. He raised his arms in a grand gesture and before he began to speak he was taken to the ground and he looked to see the blonde elf on top of him. An evil smile took his face as he looked at the angered elf, 'perfect.' He almost chuckled at the sight of the hate in his eyes. 'This makes things much easier.' Giles thought to himself.

Gimli stood wide eyed watching the blonde elf tackle Giles from Gimli's place in the crowd. He raised an eyebrow from next to Aragorn, "And they say dwarves have a temper."

Aragorn shook his head as Gimli began to move to the duo in the open space, "We cannot intercede here."

Elrond moved closer to Aragorn and the sight of Legolas scuffling with Giles, "If we make a move in front of the villagers they would think it an attack."

"It is an attack," Gimli argued, "On us."

"These people will not see it that way," Aragorn sighed tightening his grip on Gimli's shoulder. He watched of all people Jared help pulling Legolas off Giles as Thranduil made his way to the scrimmage as well.

Jared calmed Legolas as he spoke to Legolas in whispers. Legolas looked to Arri still held by guards and Aragorn knew he had carried a message for him. Aragorn sighed at the elf's uncharacteristic display of anger. He had to wonder what had finally got to him.

Jared pulled the elf off of Giles as Legolas was mid swing from connecting with the man's nose. Legolas looked betrayed as he eyed Jared and he seemed to wonder why the man had stopped him.

"Stop this, for your wife if for nothing more," Jared said softly and Legolas looked back to see Arri still standing there with her eyes wide among the guards. Legolas nodded and stood watching his father approach them.

"What do you want with my son?" Thranduil demanded to know coming close to Giles as if to show no fear of the man. Almost as if he dared him to lay upon him.

Giles smiled evilly and cleared his throat, "I don't think he or Arri deserve a place in the royal court."

Thranduil merely nodded but narrowed his eyes knowing there should be no trust for this man.

"We think 'she' does," a voice called from the crowd as the guards pushed Arri towards them.

"Then gaze upon your queen," Giles sneered as they people gasped at the battered elf. He was near laughing at the sight of her.

Thranduil's eyes soften at the sight of Arri and his son's compassionate gaze. She had brought out the Legolas he knew was there. He knew Legolas to be much like his mother and now he saw his son with the same fight he had. Looking at Arri's battered face tugged at him and he looked back to Giles with hate, men could be so cruel.

Eliza's father stood to the small group, "We will accept her but by our laws we cannot except him." He gestured to Arri and Legolas and locked eyes with Arri, "We trust you but the killing of our guards forces us to send him away or put him to death."

Arri looked at her feet as he finished. Despite the sight she was she stood as tall and proud as any queen, "If I refuse the crown and leave?" She held her chin up at them defiantly and narrowed her eyes much like Thranduil did upon challenge. Perhaps that is why she noticed his slight grin.

"We will take the proper measures with his crime," the man said simply. "If you are not queen you will not have the power to prevent his execution."

Arri swallowed hard and stood up straight, "So be it." Arri said with a regal tone that even surprised Giles and Legolas.

Legolas's eyes grew wide, "Arri." He said worried of her fate. The thought of being separate from her was like a kick in the stomach and he felt winded but his father seemed to approve of the idea. To see his beloved apart from him while she carried their child was like a knife to his heart. He looked to his father angrily close to telling him about his unborn grandchild but his attention was on Arri. In moments he was at her side.

Legolas tried to make his voice heard and he could see Jared trying to speak above the din too but everyone had began talking at once and one voice was difficult to hear.

Legolas made his way to Arri and as the guards tried to stop him, Jared waved them aside. Arri fell into his arms and sighed and he could feel her small frame relax against him.

She looked up to him with sad eyes, "Leave this place while you can." She touched his face.

"Al pen dh," He said softly in Elvish grabbing her hand and clenching it tightly within his own. He looked at her eyes but could never explain the emotions that danced there. What frightened him was that she did not look afraid of what was happening. He could see she would do anything to see him safe.

*Not without you

A small voice fought to be heard as the hobbits pushed forward as Frodo and Sam made themselves known.

"Don't you know who this elf is?" Sam almost screamed. "He fought to save middle earth from Sauron!" All stopped and looked at Sam with curious expressions. "He helped to save all of you!"

"As we, he was one of the fellowship and fought for you," Frodo said meekly and stepped forward with his huge feet scuffling the floor lightly. "If anything were to happen to him then we would go straight to the shire about it," he said louder, "and when you get hobbits enraged they can be quite the fighters." He thought of, "Bilbo was just a hobbit but who had saved all the dwarves from the spiders, faced Smaug the dragon or fought in the great battle to give the mountain back to the dwarves!"

Eliza smiled and walked up, "I thought you were children."

Frodo hid a frown. Many had thought they were children but it was the simple people of Loredell who had kept him with the children insisting he would hurt himself and keeping him from his friends.

Gimli jumped at the opportunity. "If something happens to that elf, I will see to it the dwarves will be here too."

Aragorn sighed and looked to Elrond who simply nodded and Aragorn went forward, "I will not see harm come to Legolas," Aragorn pointed to elf. "I will see Gondor's will done here if he is harmed."

Elrond moved next to Thranduil, "We shall not see our own kin treated in such a manner. Release them. We would rather stay in peace with Loredell but if our kin is harmed it can mean a war from Rivendell and Mirkwood," He traded looks Thranduil who simply inclined his head in agreement.

"I have the last say in Loredell," Giles argued.

"No, it is the people," Eliza's father insisted. "Please take your friend Legolas to his home but we need our ruler."

Everyone began to shout over the other as the leaders began to try to make their land's wishes known.

Suddenly a loud boom sounded and everyone turned to see Gandalf making his way to the crowd. Everyone's face held mixed emotions. Frodo smiled from ear to ear as did Sam. The elves and Aragorn seemed to expect the elderly wizard to return.

Gandalf had rid himself of his darker robes and donned his white robes as he walked to them with quick meaningful strides. He stopped to Jared. "I believe there is one who can settle this," Gandalf cocked his head in question at Jareth.

"But….." Jared started to stumble. He had wanted to wait for the chance to speak but it would see that Gandalf thought he needed to do so now.

"Are you or are you not the Prince that should have taken the throne, Jareth?" Gandalf's voice boomed. Jareth lowered his head as he nodded slightly. The gasp of the crowd became a violent hush to the entire kingdom.

Gandalf turned to the other people, "do not be too eager to cast judgment." He looked to Legolas and Jareth. "It was well known that Xander would have killed Legolas and Arri if they had not defended themselves." Everyone seemed to listen to the wizard as he moved around the small open space. Gandalf's eyes fell on Jareth. "Will you take your place then?"

Giles sneered and jumped forward, "There is no proof he is my cousin."

Jareth moved silently forward and reached into his shirt to produce a necklace identical to the one Arri had given Legolas. "I have the same crest you have Giles but I am of direct lineage." He held his head high and walked to the center of the attention now. "If you will have me," he beseeched the people, "I would take the crown."

"The coward?" A loud voice screamed among the people and other began to murmur in agreement.

Jareth reddened in embarrassment but Arri pushed away from Legolas and joined Jareth's side. Showing that she stood beside him but suddenly she felt another hand on hers and looked to see Elladan beside her. On the other side of Jareth was Elrohir and the cousins seemed between bookends as the twins stood up.

"Your coward ran into a battle to save us when all others thought us safe," Elrohir said loudly pulling Jareth's hand to the air, "Risking his own life to save somebody not of his own kin or people."

"To hide among such a violent ruler," Elladan looked at Giles, "would see strategic and hardly actions of a coward. Elladan squeezed her hand hoping she would speak forth as well.

"Coward?" Arri furrowed her brow. "He fought bravely against the orcs did he not?" The murmur subsided slowly listening to them and Arri squared her shoulders, "Had none of you thought of why I had not came forward before this month?" She squeezed Jareth's and Elladan's hand reassuringly. "I had not known of my lineage. It was hidden from me to protect me from the same dangers that fell upon my mother and my cousins." She took a deep breath to go on. "He is the rightful heir and should not be thought ill of because of the threats that will now face him life long." She watched as both twins joined Elrond slowly and began to encourage the people to accept Jareth with calls of encouragement, much to their father's dismay.

Eliza ran up and hugged Arri's waist as Eliza's father made her way to Arri with a nod.

"A king?" He smiled at Jareth. "A rightful heir?" He looked at the crest Jareth had around his neck and smiled bigger as he watched Arri. "You would have made a fine queen but he a mortal should be the king of men."

Arri nodded stepping back to Legolas. "It is with a heavy heart I relent this crown but I Jareth's rule will surpass all." Elrond watched Thranduil's face as Arri seemed to impress him with her actions and words. As he noticed the smile for a second on his face he looked back to Jareth and Arri.

Giles's eyes became angrier and angrier, "No, I am to be King!" He insisted as a spoiled child would. "It was promised to me," He pouted and then a very stern look to it's place, "I have taken care of Loredell." He almost seemed to cry now. "This is my reward for my work?"

"This is the rightful heir, Giles," Gandalf said simply with an expressionless face.

Thranduil watched his son and sighed, "Bring yourself to me." He gestured to Arri to move to him as she left Legolas's side to be weighed and measured by his father.

Thranduil looked over his daughter in law with a loud exhale. He pushed his hand under her chin and began to examine the welts, bruises and cuts on her, "she will need some medical attention Elrond." He sighed looking to the Rivendell lord who merely nodded at his side. "That is, if she is to be bound to my son properly this time."

Arri tried to hold her smile but it crept to her face as Thranduil gave her a hint of a smile in return but then kept his stone cold glare at his son. "This is your beloved?"

Legolas nodded looking a little more at ease, "I leave it to you to teach her," Arri looked at him with wonder. "After all you will be part of my house now and again." He relented his hold on her chin and she turned to Legolas with a smile.

Elrond took a deep breath and met her eyes with a nod. She knew Elrond approved of her but Thranduil had only know her in her youth and she was a different person now. Elrond gave her a ghost a smile as his lips turned slightly up. She still felt the dread and wanted into Legolas's arms more than anything so that she could feel reassured and peaceful again. She turned so she could sprint to him but she saw an odd look on Legolas' face and she stopped, hesitated. Soon she could see other people moving to her but the sharp pressure and pain that went though her back knocked her to her knees before she could take notice.

Legolas smiled at the final approval of his father and sighed to himself. Now, they could go home and start their own home. His heart felt light and he was sure they would return home as if on the wings of a fairy.

He noticed the shadow that passed over Giles face and how he gritted his teeth watching Arri. Legolas looked to find a guard or a friend close enough with a weapon but the guards had left them to speak to the people and his friend's weapons had been taken.

He watched Giles's face transform from mildly upset to hatred as he grabbed the nearest guard's bow and snatched an arrow from his quiver. He lined it up as expertly and aimed it at Arri as was ran for him. He could find no words but he was sure that she must have seen the frightened look in his eyes for she stopped giving Giles a perfect target.

Legolas ran for her, to even take her out of harm's way but before he could get half way to her Giles let the arrow go sheathing it in Arri's back.

Legolas slowly felt his world fall apart as things seemed to move in slow motion. He was moving for her but could not get to her quickly enough to even catch her. He could see the disbelief in her face and the pain as she fell to her knees.

Giles had another arrow ready for Jareth who saw the shot coming and ran for Giles. Jareth grabbed his own sword and ran for Giles but as Giles pulled his arm back to release the arrow Jareth realized his own mistake and braced himself for the impact of the arrow from Giles. What he saw was an arrow that hit Giles dead in the chest by another arrow before anybody else could reach the angered man.

Jareth watched Giles who had the arrow protruding from his upper chest very near his heart and Giles grabbed it almost accusingly letting the bow he held fall to the ground. Jareth turned to see Thranduil letting his arm return to his side after letting the arrow go and he lowered the bow non-threateningly. He looked to Jareth and met his eyes with a silent question but Jareth turned back to Giles to see him fall to the ground quickly.

Chapter 25 should be soon