CHAPTER 2. DISCLOSURE AND DEPARTURE
Legolas' eyes widened in surprise, before he smiled, eyes sparkling with elation.
"Congratulations!" he said instantly, causing Arwen and Aragorn to beam even more joyously.
"My congratulations to you both, but, if I may say so... this is unexpected." Gimli commented in his gruff tone.
"Somewhat." agreed Arwen, laughing. "But we thought - we are at peace! Why wait?"
"Why indeed?" agreed the dwarf in a booming, amused voice.
"So now you see, Gimli, why I was forced to withhold such news from you this morning. I would have had to face Arwen's wrath, a thing even the most courageous of warriors would tremble to confront." Aragorn explained, a smile creeping onto his lips.
Arwen gave her husband a look of feigned severity, before laughing along with the others.
"You, Arwen, will be the most nurturing mother in all of Middle Earth." Legolas declared, causing a blush to creep onto her pale skin.
"And with a Ranger of the North and a King of Gondor for a father, the child will be able to wield a sword before they can walk." Gimli added. Aragorn tilted back his head and laughed to the ceiling, an exuberant sound that buzzed warmly about the room.
"They'll need to have their wits about them, if the Elf is about, the sly tree-dweller." said Gimli, taking the opportunity to provoke him.
"They won't need wit to deal with you, though, Gimli, I wouldn't expect." Legolas teased. "The most intellectual conversation you'll ever get out of a dwarf is about the theory of metalwork and welding."
"And a fine theory it is." Gimli boomed proudly, the gibe going unnoticed.
"As much as I would enjoy to hear your accounts on Dwarfish culture, Gimli, I think that you and Legolas should retire." Aragorn interjected, cutting across the conversation and standing up. "We were so distracted by our conversation that the time has gone quite unnoticed."
"A good point you make; we will need to be well-rested for out travels." Legolas agreed, following Aragorn' suit and getting to his feet, along with Gimli and Arwen.
"Rest well, my friends, and I can assure you I will be at the gates to see you off." Aragorn said, nodding towards the pair in acknowledgement.
"Thank you, once again, for your hospitality." Legolas returned graciously, nodding in turn at the king and queen.
"It is a pleasure to welcome friends into one's home." dismissed Arwen, leading the way towards the door. Legolas and Aragorn were the last to leave.
"And Aragorn," Legolas said, turning to the king and placing a hand on his shoulder. "once again, congratulations. You will be the very best of fathers."
"Thank you." Aragorn muttered quietly, gazing at the Elf with a look of warmth and gratefulness.
Legolas returned a small smile, before following Gimli's tracks upstairs to his quarters.
Gimli and Legolas were awake and alert at first light the next morning. They ate a quick breakfast in the White Tower before taking their packs down to the stables, where the horse Legolas had chosen the day previous was being held. He had chosen a steed built for strength, as opposed to speed; for they had no need to rush, and the terrain near the Glittering Caves was often steep and rocky.
Legolas had requested to borrow a saddle on this occasion, due to the fact that he would be riding with Gimli. Being an Elf, he usually rode bareback, but his friend was unaccustomed to riding as it was, and he thought it best not to overcomplicate matters. Whilst the stablehand fitted the saddle, observed curiously by Gimli, Legolas decided to head back to the White Tower. He had an idea that he wanted to discuss with Aragorn before he left.
"Ah, there you are." Legolas called out after searching the courtyards, only to find Aragorn standing in counsel with one of his stewards in the main hall. The steward slipped out sight as Legolas approached, leaving the pair to talk privately.
"Legolas! I thought you were preparing the horses." Aragorn said in surprise.
"Gimli is seeing to the final preparations." he replied dismissively. "But I wanted to ask something of you, before we leave."
"Of course, of course." Aragorn answered instantly. "What is it that you wish to ask?"
"You are, of course, familiar with the forests of Ithilien, on the easternmost province of Gondor. It was once a noble land, much the admiration of the Elves further north. However, the war saw much of it destroyed." Legolas explained. "The forest was one of the most spectacular in all of Middle Earth, in its day; as soon as Gimli and I return, I would like to begin restoring it to its former glory."
Aragorn frowned in confusion, shaking his head. "You want to do what, precisely?"
"I wish to replant and restore the forests in the Ithilien area, with the assistance of your people." Legolas repeated clearly.
"Legolas, is this really as urgent as you imply?" Aragorn said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I am an Elf, Aragorn." he answered shortly. "I thought you knew enough of my kind to realize that we have a great respect and appreciation for nature. This is an urgent matter."
"Yet I am a King of Gondor, and my people do not care as much for trees as for other matters which need to be resolved urgently. I am afraid I can be of no help to you." Aragorn replied smoothly.
"Ithilien is a province of Gondor, it is your responsibility to protect it!" demanded Legolas.
"Legolas, I do not have time for pursuing the welfare of trees." he said, slowly and almost mockingly.
"If not for the tree's sake, do it for the allegiance with the Elves." Legolas pleaded. "Showing that you have a predisposition and appreciation for the forests will provide a bond between races-"
"Please, Legolas, stop." he interrupted impatiently. "I have not the resources nor the time to be able to do this."
"But having the Elves as allies-"
"The Elves do not have the power and influence they once did." Aragorn snapped.
Legolas recoiled as if he had been struck, before narrowing his eyes dangerously.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he said, in a voice that quaked with anger.
"The Elves are leaving Middle Earth, Legolas, sailing away from these shores for those of the Undying Lands. Few remain now, and those who do choose to hide away in their tree-colonies and ignore the quarrels of the outside world." Aragorn sighed. "Their allegiance is no longer of the value it once was."
"Are you suggesting that you refuse to restore the forests of Ithilien, purely because it bears you no benefit?" Legolas asked furiously. "I would never have expected such selfishness from you!"
"No, Legolas, I did not mean to suggest that-"
"But you did, Aragorn!" Legolas snarled. "You choose to insult my kin, and refuse me the one request I seek of you?"
"I refuse it, because the request is ridiculous!" Aragorn said heatedly.
"Whatever is the matter?" interrupted a concerned Arwen, appearing at the doorway and rushing towards them. "I heard raised voices."
She glanced across at Legolas, who did not reply. He was staring defiantly at Aragorn, straight-backed and formal.
"I thought that you would grant me this, as a favor between friends - but it appears that my friendship is no longer of enough value to you, King Elessar." he snapped, turning towards the door.
These words stabbed sharply at Aragorn's chest: Legolas never called him Elessar. It was a formal name, purely for use by officials, stewards and (it pained him to realize), strangers.
"Legolas, wait." Aragorn called out hastily.
The Elf froze, turning around with an expression of mingled fury and anguish.
"You may be a King of Gondor, but do not forget that I am a Prince of Mirkwood, and I will not allow my people to be insulted like this." Legolas said coldly, and with the speed and agility of the Elvish people, he was gone from the room.
Legolas entered the stables swiftly, and found Gimli in the final stages of their preparations.
"Are you ready?" he asked shortly, scanning the horse to ensure all was in order.
"Yes, I believe so." replied a bewildered Gimli, confused at Legolas' sudden haste. "The packs are secured, and the saddle is fitted - we shall be ready to ride off at dusk, as discussed."
"There has been a slight change of plan." the Elf contradicted, leaping onto the horse with uncanny ease and grace. "We are leaving now."
"What are you talking about?" Gimli grumbled, not moving an inch from where he stood.
"I wish to leave. Now." Legolas repeated, and such was the urgency and determination in his voice that the dwarf shuffled over and allowed himself to be hauled onto the saddle. As soon as he had gained his balance Legolas directed the horse forwards, and set off at speed through the city streets.
Both of the riders were well-known to the people of Minas Tirith, so they attracted far more attention than Legolas would have liked as they travelled to the city's edge. However they reached the gate that pointed westwards, towards their desired location of the Glittering Caves, with reasonable speed, and only slowed to allow the guards time to open the gates.
"Stop, stop! Legolas!" a voice suddenly shouted from behind them, which he immediately recognized as Arwen's. He could not very well ride off and ignore her, and so turned the horse around to face the queen.
"Arwen, what are you doing here?" he asked brusquely.
"I wanted to see you off, but you left with such haste that I had to run to follow." she answered, puffing slightly to regain her breath.
"Arwen, you are a queen, you cannot be seen chasing an elf on a horse through the streets!" Legolas hissed quietly.
"I wanted to see you off." she repeated obstinately.
Legolas sighed, in no mood to see the humor of the situation. "Very well. You have achieved your aim, then."
Arwen shook her head and approached their horse.
"Take care of him for me, Gimli." she requested of the Dwarf, gazing up at the unlikely pair. She stroked the Arod's coat absentmindedly, before stepping back a few paces, allowing Legolas to turn back around to face the western gate.
"And Legolas," Arwen added softly, with words that were meant only for his sharp Elvish hearing. "He meant not what he said. Aragorn would never disregard you or your kin, you know that."
Legolas bowed his head, hiding the mournful expression on his face from Gimli. He reared Arod into action.
The deafening clatter of horseshoes on cobblestone slowly faded away, watched carefully by a figure in the windows of the White Tower. But the horse did not break the canter, and as they disappeared from view, the King of Gondor slumped to the ground in defeat.