Amystika

AFF.net replies:

giggle: Hmmmm... I like twists... Lotsa fun.... ;)

FF.net replies:

Legolas19: Uhm. Not that I don't appreciate the support. But being told to 'update ASAP', or anything ASAP, is getting a little tiring. Please refrain from just telling me to update, it kind of kills the mood I try to get in while writing.

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"Daddy!" Eldarion cried in joy at seeing his father coming into the nursery. "Look!"

Aragorn smiled as he picked up the miniature Lorien leaf brooch his son had been holding up to him. "Pretty," Eldarion chirped before taking it back and bringing it to his mother so she could pin it to his shirt.

Arwen smiled and watched her son pick up a toy before he ran off to play. She looked up at her husband while he went to check on the little princesses. "You have just missed their waking time, Estel. You should come out of your study more often."

The King smiled at his wife's playful chiding. "Then, as of this moment, I vow to spend less time as a king."

Arwen chuckled, "Though that would please me greatly, I fear it is not yet possible. My dear brothers have returned, and they have brought Haldir of Lorien, and Prince Nimelen of Eryn Lasgalen."

"And where are they now?"

"Resting. It was a long journey and a trying time. We may speak with them at dinner."

Sighing, Aragorn took a seat near his wife. "You are far too wise, my love."

"Someone must care for you."

Seeing her husband's concerned look as he watched the birds beyond the window, Arwen sighed. "You miss him."

"Legolas is my closest friend," Aragorn answered. "Just as much a brother as Elladan and Elrohir."

"And just as much a warrior."

"I know this," the King said. "But he has been gone for so long, and no one can seem to find a trace of him."

Arwen smiled gently and stood. "I know. I love him as well, but we must believe that he is well, or we will go mad. Now, dinner will be in a few hours, we should go prepare ourselves."

Aragorn smiled and nodded, calling in the wetnurse to watch the children.

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Dinner was not so eventful, and no conversations were held in the company of the advisors. Rather, Aragorn had his guests meet him in his study so they could speak in private. Arwen joined the group as well.

Prince Nimelen bowed in greeting to the King of Men, though Aragorn dismissed the guesture and insisted that they remain informal. Nimelen sighed, "All of Eryn Lasgalen has agreed to do what they can to help search for my brother. And my recent trip to South Ithilien reveals the same."

"And yet nothing has been found?" Aragorn asked.

Nimelen shook his head, "There are rumours among some that Legolas may have ventured into the dark of the mountains. But I do not hold them in truth."

Haldir spoke up, "I have heard similar rumours in Ln. Bn. But like Prince Nimelen, I do not hold them to be truth. Legolas would have onle ventured into Gimli's caves, and that was where he was meant to be going."

Elrohir nodded, "It seems that he has vanished."

"How can that be possible?" Arwen asked. "An Elf, or Man, or Hobbit, or Dwarf, cannot simply vanish from Middle-Earth..."

Arwen's comment was meant with a series of frustrated looks.

Aragorn looked around at the gathered, "So, what can we do?"

No one ared.red.

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"Do you think he has been injured?" Haldir asked Elladan, as he came up to the elder twin.

Elladan shook his head, "I cannot allow myself to lose faith in his abilities as a warrior," the dark-haired Elf smiled; "I did help train him, after all."

Haldir sighed, "We rode for a month to get to Minas Tirith, with the hope that good news would be waiting for us. Legolas is my friend, yet I can do nothing but wait for news of his health."

The elder twin nodded, "It is odd, this feeling of simply 'not knowing'... I've felt it only once before, and it heralded the torment of my mother..."

"There are no orcs or fell beasts to torment Legolas..." Haldir tried, sounding like he was trying to reassure himself.

Elladan did not say anything, choosing to watch the rising moon instead.

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Yeah, fairly short, but I felt like I needed to make sure it was understood just ~why~ no one in Tolkien's Middel-Earth was doing anything. Really, they can't do anything, and they all have other duties to attend to.