The Uninvited She-Elf

** I do not own any of the characters in this story except Laranei (OC)**


Laranei Greenleaf sat forward watching the ring as it was placed upon the stone by a halfling named Frodo Baggins.

Her brother, Legolas, rolled his eyes, his head motioning as Boromir of Gondor stood. Laranei had a quick intake of breath at the site of him. He was a beautiful man and very strong from the looks of him. A slight blush crept to her cheeks as she glanced to Aragorn and caught him watching her.

"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him." Baramir looked around the council.

Aragorn's frown deepened. "You cannot weild it. None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other Master."

Boromir smirked. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

Legolas and Laranei stood together.

"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathon. You owe him your allegience." Legolas said.

Boromir looked at Legolas in surprise, then passed his gaze to Aragorn.. "Aragorn? This is Isuldir's heir?"

"And heir to the thrown of Gondor." Laranei said, her lips drawn tight in displeasure. This man was beautiful, but stupid none the less.

Aragorn smiled lightly, a gaze passing to the two elves he thought of as family.

"Havo dad, Legolas, Laranei." He motioned them down.

Boromir turned to Laranei his face a mask of rage. "Gondor has no king." He turned to Aragorn as he took his seat. "Gondor needs no King."

Laranei felt Boromir's eyes upon her and she turned meeting his stare with a stare of her own. Boromir was lost in her beauty, and Laranei lost in his. Laranei lost track of what was being said. She saw Bormir's mouth moving, but heard nothing, until Legolas jumped to his feet beside her.


"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The ring must be destroyed."

The pint sized dwarf, Gimli, jumped up snarling at the blond elf. "And I suppose you think your the one to do it?"

Boromir jumped up. "And if we fail? What then? What happened when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Gimli snarled at Legolas. "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"

The fighting continued between council members until a very young hobbit braved the argument saying "I will take it. I will take the ring to Mordor. Though, I do not know the way."

The fighting stilled as the council members looked upon the small child-like being. Gandalf told the hobbit that he would guide him to Mordor. Aragorn knelt before the half-ling, offering his sword on the journey.

Legolas stood. "And you have my bow."

Laranei stood. "And mine." Legolas and Aragorn gave her disapproving looks, but she ignored them. She knew they would not forbid her to go until they were alone, and even if they did, she planned on going without their approval, no matter the consequences. She focused her attention on Boromir and saw his lips pursed in displeasure at her announcement and smiled shyly at him. Boromir knew very little about the girl, simply that she was the sister to the elf prince, but still, he had no wish to entertain the idea of her going on this journey.

The dwarf stood next, offering his axe. Boromir stood next and three more hobbits joined the fray. Lord Elrond called them "The Fellowship of the Ring."

Legolas and Aragorn stood behind Laranei, each one placing a hand on her shoulders. She stiffened slightly as Aragorn whispered in her ear.

" Le u ego lend, Laranei (You are not going on this journey, Laranei.)"

She scowled whispering back. " U turo daur nin, Aragorn. (You can't stop me, Aragorn)"

Legolas hand tightened on her shoulder, making her wince. "Min selma cen, tithen seler." (We will see, little sister.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aragorn and Legolas followed her to her room arguing the entire way.

"It is too dangerous, Laranei. You are not going. " Legolas said.

"Im glenn, Legolas. (I go, Legolas)" Laranei said quietly.

"No you do not, Laranei. We have forbidden it." Aragorn said just as quietly.

Laranei turned anger settling in her jaded blues. "Give me one good reason, Aragorn. Tell me one reason, Legolas, that I cannot argue, and I will concede to stay here with Aragorn's wench."

Aragorn's frown deepened as anger set in his jaw hearing his sister speak of Arwyn, the one he loved. Legolas, hearing Aragorn's growl stepped between the two and narrowed his eyes on Laranei.

"You could get hurt." he said.

"So could you, brother. "

"Aye, but, well, you are...a woman. "

She looked at him increduously exclaiming, " You knew this when you taught me to fight. Really, Legolas, your being somewhat daft about this. You and Aragorn taught me well. Those hobbits have no skill with any weapon. I do. If they go, I go."

Aragorn stepped forward, growling beneath his breath. "The decision is made and is final, sister. Let it go.."

His tone broke no argument, but Laranei had never heeded it before. She was not about to heed it now. She stamped a foot, hands on hip.

" It is the wrong decision, Aragorn!"

His lips thinned as he stepped forward. She inhaled sharply and stepped forward, sealing the hardness in her eyes. As she closed the distance between them, she continued.

"I will be going Aragorn. Whether I leave with you or not makes no difference to me. I will not be left behind and watched over by your toy."

Aragorn's reaction was swift and immediate. His hand landed open and flat upon her cheek. Legolas growled and stepped between Aragorn and Laranei, facing his brother. He knew Laranei's open display of dislike for Arwyn bothered Aragorn, but never had his sister been struck and Legolas would not permit it again, no matter how much it was deserved. This was not how his family dealt with things of this nature.

"Aragorn...deri. Li ruth na limb. (stop. Your anger is too much)" he whispered quietly. Aragorn looked at Legolas, his eyes wide at what he had done. Legolas waited until Aragorn stepped back before turning to look at his sister. Her face was turned to the side and Legolas could see a handprint on her reddened cheek. He lifted a finger and tilted her chin back to look at him. His eyes softened and his heart constricted as he saw her eyes grow blank.

"Laranei, teli at na nin. (come back to me)" He waited until he saw Laranei's eyes look to him and he saw tears stinging with hurt in the sky blue orbs.

His voice was so quiet she barely heard his words.

"Laranei, you will apologise to Aragorn and then you will drop the subject of you going on this journey. My decision is final."

Laranei took a few deep breaths before speaking softly to Legolas. "No."

Legolas took a calming breath and tried again. "One last chance, Laranei. Heed my words. Please."

Looking up at Aragorn, she took a breath as a tear rolled down her cheek. "No."

Aragorn met her gaze, obvious distress filled them.

Legolas gently took her wrist and led her to the bed, sat down upon it and drew her over his lap. Laranei's hands held onto Legolas calf as the spanking began. The first few minutes did not penetrate her senses overly much, but with each minute passed, Legolas increased his speed and force. Soon it was too much for even her and she thrashed about in pain, gasping for Legolas to stop.

"Legolas stop!!" She cried. SMACK SMACK SMACK!!!!!!!!!!!

She wiggled trying to break free of her brothers grip with little success. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes as she started regretting her outburst.

"Laranei, I have never allowed you to tell us no and I will not start to do so now. Aragorn and I both are responsible for you. His word is as final as mine. When we say you are not going, you are not going, end of argument. Do you understand?."

Laranei cried, sobbing into his thigh as she nodded her head. "Yes yes yes yes, sorry! stop"

Legolas continued. "And you will keep your selfish and impolite comments to yourself. If you have nothing kind to say, you simply will not speak. And you will apologise to Aragorn for the hurt your thoughtless words caused him tonight. Arwyn is not a toy, sister. Aragorn loves her and for this reason only you must be cordial to her. Do I make myself clear?"

"YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! " Laranei hung limp over his lap, sobbing as tears streamed down her cheeks. Legolas added a few more smacks to her sit-spot then stopped. He rubbed her back in slow circles letting her cry it out and only when her sobs turned to sniffled did he gather her in his arms and tucked her under his chin. A glance around the room found Aragorn by the window, looking out into the fast fading sun. Legolas bit back a sigh, then tilted Lara's face towards his and whispered into her ear.

"When Ada left, he entrusted your care and raising to both Aragorn and myself, Laranei. This decision is from both of us. It stands." He pressed a brotherly kiss to her forehead.

She wiped her eyes whispering "I know Legolas. I am sorry."

He nodded. "I know you are, little one, but Aragorn still needs to hear it."

Slowly, Laranei moved to her feet wincing slightly at the pain in her backside. She glanced at Aragorn, then at Legolas, who gave her an encouraging smile. Turning back to Aragorn, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, not knowing what to say to him. Aragorn spoke first.

"Why do you dislike her so much, poppet?"

Laranei hesitated at the nickname Aragorn had given her as a child. She did not know if she should tell the truth or simply lie. She decided on the truth.

"I have always hated sharing you Aragorn, even with Legolas. You have little time left before your world will change and I will be but a shadow in the back of your thoughts. I do not want to share you with anyone."

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged glances then turned to Laranei.

"Laranei, you will always hold a special place in my heart, even after I have passed this world. Do not ever doubt that. But I do love Arwyn. It would be nice if you two became friends. "

"Very well. I will try. " She gave Legolas and Aragorn a small hug and turned to depart. Aragorn stopped her with a hand and turned her to face him.

"No one could take me from you, not even Arwyn."

Laranei gave a small sad smile, uttered three words then fled into the cold night air.

"She already has."