Black Moon Part Two: Gwain Ithil

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Elrohir saw Legolas' pleading look as he approached. Sam was following the blonde, much to the latter's vexation. The little Hobbit seemed intent on informing Legolas of everything that had ever happened in the Shire that concerned a garden.

"Now, the ladybugs had eaten away at-"

"Excuse me, Master Samwise," Elrohir interupted, catching Legolas' grateful smile. "I am afraid that Legolas is required elsewhere at the moment."

Sam blinked, "Oh. Well, I'm sure Mister Frodo has need of company now. I'll be seeing you, Mister Legolas."

Legolas politely waved, forcing a smile onto his lips. As soon as the Hobbit was out of sight and earshot, Legolas practically collapsed against Elrohir. "I thought he would never leave me be!"

Elrohir chuckled and wrapped his arms around Legolas' waist. The blonde grinned and looked up.

"So, where was it that I needed to be?"

Elrohir kissed Legolas, "Hmmm, I cannot seem to recall."

"As long as it was no where important," Legolas returned the kiss, moving to nuzzle Elrohir's neck. "I should thank you. I was almost certain that Samwise would end my life with his chatter."

"I think I just remembered where you should have been," the darker-haired Elf said softly, gently pushing Legolas against a wall and kissing him again. "You should have met me for lunch, an hour ago."

Legolas laughed, "Oh? It slipped my mind."

"You were supposed to meet me in my room."

Legolas grinned again, "There is still time."

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"You are brooding again, my love," Arwen said, moving to sit next to Aragorn on the warmed stone floor of the Hall of Fire. The ever-burning flames causing the Man's shadow to dance behind him.

Aragorn smiled when Arwen placed her head on his shoulder. "It is almost time for the Fellowship to leave. All have been chosen, and only a week remains until old Bilbo's birthday."

"That is not all that troubles your mind."

"I fear this journey," Aragorn admitted. "I do not, cannot, trust the Man, Boromir. He desires too much. The Ring...Legolas..."

Arwen smiled, "Legolas is a competent warrior. He will let no man touch him without his consent."

"I still fear for him. He seems so different from other Elves. I do not understand how he can be so strong, or how his senses can be so much sharper."

"You should not concern yourself with such things," Arwen gently brushed away a few strands of the Man's hair. "Be grateful for such skills. You will come to use and count on them in the future."

Aragorn nodded, turning slightly to place a quick kiss on his betrothed's lips. "I do not think I can protect the Ringbearer. I feel the call of the Ring, and I do not know for how long I can resist it."

"You will resist it, Aragorn. Little do you desire power. It is only Adar's silly traditions that claim that you need to be a King before we may wed."

"I am almost positive this is the long deserved punishment that I escaped when I was younger," Aragorn mused light-heartedly. "I should have left the twins to their own devices, rather than join them."

Arwen giggled, "But that was half your charm."

Aragorn smiled, "I suppose it was just to vex Elrond as well, your interest in me."

"Of course."

The two laughed and Aragorn pulled Arwen onto his lap. "I love you, my dear 'Luthien.'"

"You exagerate," Arwen said, but blushed. "But I love you, my 'Beren'."

They sat in contented silence for a few minutes, staring into the dancing flames.

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Glorfindel spared a glance at the maid that brought him a plate of whatever had been served for lunch before returning his gaze to the book that rested on the table before him. The library was empty, the Hobbits having vacated to a map room with another Elf happy to play guide not long ago. This left the blonde ancient in relative peace to continue his search through Elrond's volumes and tomes and texts.

He sighed, flipping through a few pages at a time. He knew Elrond or Erestor would be in soon, preparing to take the old works they were set on creating copies of or restoring. A word caught his eye, and he went back to it, letting his eyes take in the full phrase.

"'The Wolves and Blood Rites'..." Glorfindel smiled and grabbed a scrap of paper to mark his place, remembering the last time he had simply folded the tip of the page and Elrond's reaction. Glancing at the plate of food and deciding that it was rude to just leave it sit, Glorfindel grabbed a piece of the bread and left with the book in hand.

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Good a place to end as any, I suppose.