Fan Fiction ❯ Elves Make For Strange Bedfellows ❯ Bragging Rights For Merry & Pippin ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter: 3 -Bragging Rights For Merry & Pippin

Night fell and Legolas took his post as first watchman of the evening. He slung his bow across his back and tended the fire, which they had made only an hour before. He searched his mind for any regard of the supposed inhabitants of this forest. He knew little of such creatures as interaction between the elves and fairies were somewhat nonexistent despite myths created by mortals, for they had a tendency of grouping all things of immortal decent into one classification.

He was most confident in his inference that they were in a territory controlled by fairies. As soon as they had set foot in the forest he knew that they were being watched. Even now he could sense many eyes upon them although none could be seen. His mind wandered for a moment as he entertained the thought of what it might be like to actually see one? In hearing some of the tales, he knew that they were most exquisite; surely being in the presence of such a creature would be exhilarating! `Ah…the female fairy!' he thought to himself, `Known to be the most beautiful and fairest in all the land!' He tried to envision a woman whose beauty could surpass that of an elleth - Was it even possible?

He dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it had entered his mind, for now was not the time to be thinking of such things! He was involved in one of the most important quests of Middle-earth and life, as they knew it was dependent upon the fellowship and the destruction of the ring of power.

*********

The journey back to their home was unusually slow and quiet. The two fairies trudged along for most of the afternoon, with few words exchanged as reflections of the proceeding morning events consumed them. Kimber looked up to see that the sun was now beginning its decent and nightfall was swiftly upon them.

"Felicity, I think that we should find a place to camp for the night." Kimber called to her sister who was walking ahead of her. "It has been long and grueling day for the both of us and a little rest may do us some good."

Felicity sighed. She too was weary both physically and emotionally.

Kimber glanced around and spotted a large willow not too far off in the distance. "We shall take our rest there," she said motioning ahead.

The two climbed the tree with little effort and perched themselves on a couple of sturdy branches near the top.

Felicity leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes as she tried to clear her mind. She glanced over to where her Kimber was now sleeping soundly, "Must be nice." she mumbled to herself with envy.

After a few moments of tossing and turning, she decided to just give up on the whole `resting' thing and opted for a quick dip in the hot spring that she remembered passing in their travels. She quietly glided down to the ground and stood for a moment trying to remember which direction the springs were in. She was not entirely sure but she figured what harm could come of her wandering about. With that, she trotted along one of the many pathways that lay before her when she noticed a flickering light in the distance.

Curiosity got the better of her and she silently headed in the direction where the light was coming from. Drawing closer, she began to hear faint male voices. `That's odd!' She thought to herself, most do not venture into the Edowine Forest."

For the first time in many years she uttered the words, "koi, nee ha," and in an instant, she had become no bigger than a dragonfly, complete with wings. Pleased with herself for remembering those enchanted words, she fluttered in the direction of the voices.

Felicity blinked a few times to make sure that her eyes were not deceiving her! Alas, they were not! She marveled at the group of eight gathered around a small campfire! This was indeed an eccentric group as it consisted of two mortals, one elf, one dwarf and four halflings. Never before had she seen such creatures and she was particularly amused with the smallish ones.

One in particular caught her eye with the hair that fell in chestnut colored loose curls. He possessed the brightest bluest eyes that she had ever seen. She sat there for a while, almost hypnotized, when she finally decided to go fetch her sister and flew off with lightning speed!

"Kimber wake up! You must wake up!" Felicity exclaimed as she shook her sister, nearly knocking her off the branch.

"I take it that you cannot sleep?" Kimber yawned as Felicity nudged her again.

"No, now come quickly! You must see what I have found!" she spoke hastily as her ebony eyes widened.

Kimber, though a little put out, sat up and stretched. She gazed sleepily at Felicity, "What could you have possibly found at this hour?"

"Just come on!" Felicity was now pulling her by the arm.

Kimber obliged, knowing that if she did not go Felicity would soon give up and go on her own and there was no telling what would become of things!

"Oh, you cannot go like that" Felicity insisted, "Koi nee ha" she exclaimed, becoming small once more.

Kimber was a little shocked with her sister's transformation, since Felicity rarely ever hid herself in such a manner (having said on many occasion that she was much too stealthily to have to resort to such antics). Kimber realizing that something was about, followed suit and flew off after her sister into the darkness.

*********

"Aren't they splendid?" Felicity exclaimed as she peered through mulberry branches.

Kimber was speechless; she could not believe her eyes! She watched as two of the hobbits clapped their hands together and hummed a rather quaint little tune that she had never heard. They observed the group for a while and soon the travelers slowly began to settle in for the night. It was then that Kimber suddenly became intrigued with the elfin male that was traveling with the group.

He was quite handsome with long flowing locks of blonde hair and crystal blue eyes that seemed as though they could see the depths of a person's soul and know their utmost secrets. Kimber felt as though a thousand butterflies were suddenly let loose in her stomach-never before had she been overcome by such an emotion; she felt her cheeks become slightly flush.

Felicity, noticing the pink hue that was slowly appearing on her sister's face turned to see what caused this reaction. She followed the path of her sister's eyes.

"Ah-ha!" she giggled quietly, "I see something has caught your attention!"

"Huh?" Kimber mumbled as she snapped out of her trance, "What do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean? Certainly, you are not saying that I am blind!" Felicity laughed, "I saw you gaping at the elf!"

"I…you…uh" Kimber was at a loss for words.

Felicity snickered at her sister some more, "Huk aya,nin asala," she whispered and in an instant she stood a might 5 feet 2 inches tall.

"It is nothing to be ashamed of!" she paused, letting out a sigh; Kimber really needed to break out of the shell she had managed encase herself in she thought briefly before focusing once again on the group.

"Now what to do about this delicious gaggle of sleeping beauties?" she whispered as mischief danced in her eyes.

Everyone was now nestled on their sleeping mats and slumber was upon them with the exception of that rather keen elf! Felicity knew it would be near impossible to sneak up on him for he was too alert and she knew he would sense her presence as soon as she set foot to the ground. `Maybe this was too risky!' Felicity thought to herself for a few moments and just when she had finally convinced herself to "abort her mission", as it were, things took a turn for the better. She noticed the elf walk over and wake the blonde haired halfling.

`Ah the winds of change," she grinned impishly as she observed the elf lay down on his sleeping mat and the now semi-conscious halfling was now about to take his watch for the night as he lazily slouched against a nearby tree.

"This is going to be too easy!" Felicity giggled under her breath.

Hearing her sister's comment, Kimber shifted her eyes from the elf to the little man by the tree as he fought to stay awake. `Well, this is just great!' she thought to herself, knowing that Felicity was surely not going to let this opportunity pass them by.

Sure enough, she watched as Felicity crept up behind the watchman.

"Pep nase lo", she whispered, waving her hands she released a sweet fragrance around the halfling's head forcing him to succumb to that which his body yearned for-a peaceful sleep.

His torso slowly began to fall forward and Kimber gasped for fear of the worst. Surely if he fell face first the sound alone would wake someone! "Huk aya,nin asala," she whispered, changing her form mid-flight. Her feet touched the ground just in time as she rushed over and quickly grabbed the back of his collar and gently laid him back against the tree.

`Whew', Kimber wiped away the sweat from her brow, "That was too close!" she murmured before noticing that Felicity was motioning for her to come out and explore. Hesitant at first, Kimber tiptoed out from behind the tree. Her heart began to thump loudly, so loud that she thought that it would wake up the entire forest!

Seeing Kimber's nervousness, Felicity smiled trying to comfort her sister's uneasiness. Kimber took a deep breath and exhaled quietly as she began to tiptoe toward Felicity.

Kimber quickly froze in her steps as though she had been stricken with some sort of spell; her face losing all color forced a quizzical look to come upon Felicity.

"What?" she mouthed to Kimber, becoming worried.

She watched as Kimber's eyes slowly looked down at the elf and to her surprise his eyes were wide open!

Cautiously she walked over and knelt down next him.

`Huh?' Kimber looked at the still motionless elf then at Felicity in disbelief as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Figures, you would fancy the odd one who sleeps with his eyes open, elves for make strange bedfellows you know." she whispered before waving her hands once again releasing the sweet smelling aroma which engulfed the fellowship into the deepest of sleeps, "Well, what should we do first?"…

Kimber just stood looking at her sister in disbelief. She was really serious about going through with this…were there no boundaries known to her?

"Felicity, we can not," Kimber insisted.

"Oh come on now! How long has it been since we have had any fun? Having been denied by that oaf Haldir already… do not keep me from this!" Felicity whined.

"Felicity! It is just wrong and it goes against everything we have been told!" Kimber whispered in a hurried tone.

"They will be gone tomorrow; we must play tonight! For visitors in this wood are few and far between and at hand we have a dwarf, four little men, an elf, and two mortals! This opportunity I can assure you will never come again so we must seize this moment," she insisted.

"Nothing good can come of this." Kimber sighed as she saw the now determined look on her sister's face.

Felicity ignored her, "Come on!" she whispered as she dragged her sister out of the camping area to a section of berry bushes. She began picking off the different types of berries, making sure to keep them separated by their different colors. Once complete she pulled a few of the larger leaves from the tree nearby and placed the color-coded berries each on their own leaf. Kimber stood there trying to figure what her sister planned on doing with the colorful assortment. Felicity then collected a large rock from the ground and began to quietly, but effectively mash the berries, one leaf after the other. Once complete she sat back on her feet admiring her work as she had now about three different colors of thick berry juice setting before her.

"What are we going to do with this?" Kimber questioned pointing down to her sister's newest and yet strangest creation.

"Kimber, I am surprised!" Felicity shook her head at how clueless Kimber could be.

She picked up one of the leaves and handed it to Kimber, "Here. I feel like being a little creative at the moment!" and with that she stood up and headed back to the camp.

Kimber just shook her head, "You have once again surprised me, though I do have to say I still think you are rather queer at times!"

"So…who's first?" Felicity said as she smiled mischievously, "Oh, I know! I think we shall begin with the elf boy" she taunted Kimber. Stealthy she knelt beside the wide-eyed wonder, "Only the finest allotment for our ocular friend," she snickered as she spread a heaping portion of berry juice on his cheeks and smeared spearmint leaf extract on his eyelids. "There!" she sat back rather impressed with herself. "I do say that certainly brings out the color in his eyes!"

"Felicity?!" Kimber gasped in horror at the spectacle she was making of the group…rogue here, lipstick there.

"Come on," she insisted.

"I will have no part in your cruel prank!" Kimber hissed.

"You will or I will see to it that handsome here grows flippers!" she warned.

"You wouldn't!!" Kimber gasped.

"I will!" Felicity raised her hand for of the two, she was well versed in such things.

"OKAY!!!" Kimber cried out in defeat before heading toward the fellow they called Boromir. She decorated his cheeks brightly with a pinkish hue and dusted his eyelids with pollen. She then moved on quickly to Aragorn and began her work drawing such things as hearts and leaves about his forehead. How nice it would be she thought to herself to put some flowers in his hair. She quickly ran into the forest to fetch some pink roses and dandelions.

Upon her return, she paused and watched as her sister carefully knelt beside the dark haired halfling. Felicity took note in her delicacy as she cupped his face and gently dusted his cheeks with carnation extract.

"You are beautiful," she whispered as she caressed his face, he was more intriguing up close she determined; his skin was smooth and his looks so innocent. She longed to see the color of his eyes again but dared not lift his lids; instead she dusted them ever so gently with pressed lilac powder.

Kimber stared on in wonder as she watched her sister then dust her own lips with berry juice and press them ever so gently to the hobbits. In an instant, the halfling's eyes seem to dance beneath his closed lids as if he were coming out of his slumber. Felicity remained beside him watching as he stirred, secretly longing for him to awaken.

"What have you done?!" Kimber whispered as she hurried over to where her sister was. "Come! We must leave before he awakens!" she insisted grabbing Felicity by the arm and pulling her into the wood.

*********

Legolas awoke suddenly to the rustling sound of many leaves. "Hark?" he whispered looking about quickly, he saw no one. He glanced upon the fellowship to make sure that all were accounted for, to his dismay they were fast asleep; to his alarm each one looked as if they belonged in a brothel.

He quickly walked over to where Merry now slept against the tree.

"Merry! Merry!" he spoke angrily as he shook the hobbit. "Wake up!"

"Huh..Wha…What?" exclaimed a startled Merry, now looking into the eyes of the `not so happy' elf standing above him.

Legolas glared at him and was about to scold the hobbit for his heedless ways when suddenly Merry burst into hysterical laughter.

Legolas was un-amused to say the least, "And what may I ask is so funny?

Tears were now beginning to form in his eyes, "My, My Legolas!" he snickered in between laughs, "What rosy cheeks you have!"

"Rosy cheeks??" Legolas mumbled. He brought his hand to his face and felt a rather dried, sticky substance and upon further inspection he realized that it was berry juice. "What in Middle Earth…" He began, but could not finish.

Merry continued laughing, his face almost purple from his lack of oxygen!

The rest of the camp slowly awakened at his resound.

Frodo was the first to wander over to inspect what was happening between his friend and the elf. Once reaching them, his eyes grew wide with amusement taking in the sight at hand.

Merry had started to gain his composure when he noticed Frodo with his faintly dusted pink cheeks and the brightest and reddest lips he had ever seen! Merry pointed his finger at his friend and burst out into laughter again!

"What brings you so much laughter, Merry?" Frodo questioned. He then looked at Legolas, who in return, turned to face him. They both stood staring at one another and in a split second; laughter came upon their mouths as well. Soon, the rest of group had gathered around the `uproarious" threesome and upon their further assessment of everyone's faces, they couldn't help but join in.

After a while, composure came over them and all were questioning how this could have come about, especially since Merry was supposed to be watching over everyone. All eyes then turned to the hobbit at hand.

"I swear! I was awake! I do not remember falling asleep at all!" Merry pleaded to the group.

Aragorn thought for a moment, "I do not think that Merry here, is at fault Legolas. I believe that there is more behind this hoax then we are aware of" he implied looking around at his fellow members

"Well, don't look at me!" Pippin piped up, "I have good hobbit-sense!"

"What are you saying', aye?" Merry replied dipping his brow.

"Enough," Aragorn sighed, "We all were asleep, a very deep sleep, a sleep from which we could not wake," he continued.

"Do you think that we were placed under some spell then?" the dwarf Gimli questioned as he rubbed his head.

"It must have been a spell, for if no one else, certainly the elf would have awakened." Boromir added looking over to Legolas who nodded in agreement.

"I do believe that we were called upon last night by the inhabitants of this forest," Legolas said as he glanced around the camp.

"Are you saying that we were visited by the fairies you spoke about yesterday?" Pippin inquired further.

"Yes. I feel, by the look of things, that it `tis the work of the fairies," Legolas stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh my!" Sam uttered at the thought, for he longed to see a fairy just as he had longed to see a real elf; such things were unheard of in the Shire.

Gimli began to chuckle, "Well by looking at Master Frodo, it appears to me that one has taken a liking to him!"

Frodo began to blush. "Gimli!" he retorted back, "What would have you make such an assumption?"

"Oh, little hobbit, I see that you have not been shown the ways of female affection," Gimli snickered, "Look around Master Frodo! We all have berry juice and leaf marks strewn about our faces; but when looking at your lips, how else would they become shaded so perfectly? Yes, the berry upon your lips most definitely came from the lips of another, my dear Hobbit."

Frodo paused, `Could this be true!' he thought, `Could I have been kissed by a fairy?' He reached up and touched his lips. Though he marveled at the thought; he also felt a little saddened. For if it were true; then he had missed out on a very cherished moment in his life, his very first kiss!

*********

"Have you lost your senses?!" Kimber scolded Felicity as she dragged her through the wood, "And to think you teased me for my affection for the elf!" she continued.

Felicity offered no explanation and put up no struggle as they made their way back into the thick of the forest. She could only muster that of a foolish smirk as images flashed through her mind of the `innocent kiss' that she had given the halfling.

"Are you even listening to me??" Kimber turned her head around to look at her unresponsive sister. "You aren't are you? Why do I bother, I ask myself! Why!" Kimber mumbled.

So engulfed in their own situation they took no notice of the scarlet eyes that followed every move they made.

*********

"Nosy little wenches!" Epoloven seethed after receiving word from one of his spies of the forest of the two fairies knowing about the fellowship. "Now I have to take care of them as well!" he bellowed slamming his hand down on to a nearby table.

He began pacing the room feverishly, as he knew that with Felicity and Kimber wandering about his plans would need changing. He cursed under his breath as he summoned forth a few of his henchmen. "Go now and capture those two meddling fairies before they are spotted!"

"Yes my lord! And what shall we do with them?" sniveled one of the henchmen.

"Bind them and hide them out of sight until I give you further instruction!" he bellowed in a commanding tone.

"Yes my lord, it shall be done!" The three henchmen bowed quickly and set off on their quest.

Epoloven stared into the depths of his dismal chambers. The thought of Kimber and Felicity brought a fiendish grin to his lips he knew them well, for as long as he had been they had been also. There was a history there, his grinned widened as he turned once again to face his mirror. Rubbing his smooth chin, he gazed upon his own reflection. His looks were tantalizing; many a fairy desired him. The maidens that visited his bedchambers were countless, yet they had never succumbed to his advances. For years he had delighted in their beauty. For years he had desired them and on many occasion he approached them.

Kimber, so shy and quaint. He thought of an instance where he had come upon her sitting down by the stream. He had invited her to join him for a bite to eat and wooed her with chivalry, fed her grapes and offered her sips of wine only to be dismissed with the notion that she was waiting for someone special to love her and all of such nonsense! The thought of her polite words still rang in his ear and sickened him. And then there was Felicity, for she saw him coming; he found her walking about near the borders of Lothlorien. He had taken care to sweep his raven locks to the side in a manner, which she liked, for he knew her and enticed her with his sensuality. He had promised her unimaginable powers, knelt before her and kissed her about the hand and up her arm all the way to her tawny colored cheek! For a moment he thought he had her as she turned to him with such closeness that would make many a fairy blush. She brought her face close as if to offer him a kiss but rather spit upon him in disgust. Oh the rage that seethed within him now, for they had it coming! Years of mockery...and now they would finally belong to him!

********

"I say, I had not realized to which extent berries leave their stain", Aragorn commented as he wearily scrubbed his face. It seemed as though he had been wiping at his forehead for at least half of an hour trying to remove the tulip bestowed upon it, but to no avail.

"I rather fancy a leader who is not ashamed to have a flower upon his head," Samwise declared with a snicker.

"Sam, best to keep such things to yourself." Merry whispered seeing that Aragorn was not amused by the comment.

"Fair to say that Legolas will be on watch tonight for a good portion of our eve," Gimli suggested.

"If we move quickly enough, we will not be needing to spend another eve here," Boromir sounded anxious as he rolled up his sleeping mat and began to gather their supplies.

"Aye, for daybreak is upon us now and if we leave soon we will be out of the forest before night," Legolas declared.

"Oh, I was so hoping to see a fairy today," Merry pouted, refusing to roll up his bag or gather his belongings.

"Don't be sheep-headed!" Samwise spoke bluntly, "Is such a desire weighed more than the task at hand? Now gather your things, lest we leave you behind." Merry soon gave in and along with the others began their journey onward.

*********

Felicity where do you take me?" Kimber insisted as her sister led her blindfolded through the forest. She could scarcely believe that she agreed to such antics.

"We are almost there, I promise you will not be disappointed," she whispered as she guided her swiftly through the woodland…"Behold!" she exclaimed before removing the cloth

"Behold what?" as far as Kimber could see they were now at the same stream they came upon everyday. "What?" she asked once more…surely she could not be referring to the picnic she had prepared, for they ate at the stream every afternoon and today was her turn to bring the repast. "What do you wish to show me, for I see berries, nuts, fruit…"

"Did you not notice that which sits beside you?" Felicity motioned excitedly to the cloth wrapped `gift' placed by the corner of their blanket. Kimber reached for it then paused before putting her hand upon it.

"Well go on and open it! It is a small token of appreciation to not only my sister, but also my mellon in mischief!"

Kimber carefully unwrapped the gift and stared in disbelief at its contents. She was elated at the sight of what appeared to be a doll made in the likeness of the elf whom she had gazed upon yesterday. The craftsmanship was splendid; no doubt the work of magic. She smiled at her sister, just when she thought she could take no more of her antics…

"The hair feels of silk", Kimber commented tousling it.

"I would imagine that is what elf hair feels like," Felicity stated as a matter-of-factly "since it came from his head," she continued…

"What?!" Kimber bellowed dropping the doll.

"You do not like it?" Felicity scowled.

"Of course I do!" Kimber replied picking the doll back up carefully. "It's just that I can't believe that you…" Kimber began before she spotted the two halflings that were now heading towards them.

"Kimber?" Felicity questioned.

"Shhh!" she raised her fingers to her lips, "Quickly" she muttered pulling Felicity behind a bilberry tree…"look, over there," she motioned as two hobbits came up upon the stream…

**********

Aragorn seems a might concerned," Merry began.

"Can't say I blame him," Pippin nodded, "He had hoped to be out of the forest and well on our way by now."

"He must have been pretty desperate to suggest that we split up and go looking for a way out of this maze," Merry continued.

"We may never know the burden he bears with Gandolf gone." Pippin sighed sitting down upon the evergreen feeling the grief hit him once again.

*********

"Did you hear that? What keeps them here?" Kimber whispered, "They are lost!"

"Perhaps we should aid them in their journey," Felicity stood up but not before Kimber snatched her by the shoulder and pulled her back down, "You do not suggest we simply go up to them as we are, take them by the hand and simply lead them through the forest?"

"Now that would be a no no!" came a sinister voice from behind, startling the two fairies. Feeling a cold hand placed on each of their shoulders, they sat unable to move as they heard the voice speak in a tongue that had never been uttered before in their forest; the black speech, "Jovien, lore` numer tuvia"

Two goblins then appeared from behind a sycamore tree with faces twisted like those of demons. They wasted no time in hurrying over to where the fairies were and began to gag them and bind their hands and feet to the vast oak tree.

"Now that should hold you," whispered Guile, a well-known henchman of Epoloven, in a snake-like tone. His eyes burned a fiery red, "Til the task at hand is complete." He turned to leave but not before uttering the following "lokien tyre id buliuene`" and tossed a dead foal by way of the goblins; which they quickly devoured before taking their post near the great oak.

*********

"Come," Pippin stretched a hand for his friend to grasp, "For we are doin' no one any good by simply sitting here."

Merry took a hold and hoisted himself up, "Ay," he conceded as they now headed back to the wood.

Merry began to think to himself for a moment before breaking out in a song.

"This forest offers us no rest

While upon our noble quest

The borders no longer can be seen

The powers at hand must be awful…" he paused for a moment… "mean?"

They walked for only a few moments when Pippin stopped short "Merry?!" he gasped.

"What? I know I may not be as good at singing such tales as Bilbo or Frodo for that matter, but I figure I would have a go at it for if nothing more than to lift traveling spirits…"

"No, no…look over there," Pippin whispered pointing to the tree where the two were bound.

"Now what do you suppose has become of those fair maidens?" Merry wondered as he followed closely behind Pippin who was steadfastly making his way toward the tree. Stopping short, their hearts raced with fear at the sight of the beasts guarding them.

"Come, we must help them!" Pippin insisted.

"Goblins? Pippin?" Merry gasped.

"Are these beast's any greater than the Orcs we have come upon in our journey thus far?" he replied, drawing his sword from his sheath. Merry followed suit as they came full upon the beasts. The battle was of no great length and the beasts fell with much blood loss. Only Merry had sustained a hefty scratch on his forearm. "Do not be alarmed Pippin. I am fine. Let us help them," he said hurrying toward the tree.

"You take that one and I this one," Merry stood before Kimber.

"Take them where?" Pippin questioned.

"Do you lack even the slightest hobbit sense? By that I mean unite her!" he motioned to Felicity. Pippin, following his friend's orders, began to undo the bindings around the maiden's feet.

"Shhh!" Merry stopped short and looked about.

"What now!" Pippin exclaimed.

"No, be quiet!" Merry whispered, "Do you hear that?"

A hush came over the two for a moment as they listened to a rustling sound coming from behind them. Slowly they turned to see a bush shuffling about as something drew near. Merry and Pippin quickly unsheathed their blades yet again.

"Well now, what have we stumbled upon?" came a gruff voice from the thicket. Both Merry and Pippin let out a sigh of relief as they saw a rather disheveled Gimli come bounding out of the foliage.

"Gimli!" they said in unison. The dwarf stopped short and looked around at the scene before him.

"Did you two hobbits do all of this?" he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Why yes we did," Merry replied puffing out his chest.

"Aye, not bad for two halflings," he offered his adoration. "And what do we have here?" he motioned to the two beauties who stood still gagged and bound to the tree. "Now that is indeed a find!" he continued as he hobbled over to inspect the two lovelies.

"Where is everyone?" Pippin inquired seeing Gimli's reaction, he now was anxious to see what the others would say.

"Ah, I almost forgot about that pointy-eared elf," he smiled "Legolas! I have found them!" he bellowed.

Kimber looked anxiously at her sister…and though gagged she was well aware of her sister's laughter for she could see it in her eyes.

"Gimli?" came Legolas' reply. Kimber's heart seemed to skip a beat as she watched the tall elf advance over the clearing.

"What have you done?" he inquired looking at Merry and Pippin. "For I have turned my back but for a moment and I come to find that you have roped two women!" he smiled.

"We rescued them!" Pippin announced proudly. "They were bound to a tree and we fought off two tremendous goblins and freed them!" Merry added.

"That was a might brave of you two, however they are not yet free," Legolas looked upon them, "for the least you could have done is remove the cloth from their mouths," he commented as he began to untie the shrouds from around their mouths.

"Well it's about time!" Felicity sounded rather annoyed as she stretched her mouth.

"Ah, maybe you should've left hers on!" Gimli laughed heartily.

"Should we unbind their hands?" Pippin inquired.

"No," Legolas replied sharply walking slowly around the two rubbing his chin as he wondered how they ended up tied to a tree.

"Yes?" Felicity eyeballed the elf sharply.

"Felicity?! Do not be rude," Kimber blurted out. In embarrassment she could feel her face redden as the elf was now standing before them.

"Rude?! Am I the one being rude? We stand here with our hands bound and at the mercy of four men and I am the one you deem as being rude!" she huffed.

"My lady, we mean you no harm…" Legolas began.

"Then release us at once!" Felicity insisted.

"I cannot," Legolas conceded.

Felicity opened her mouth to speak once more when Kimber kicked her in the shin. "Felicity we are without capabilities right now," she whispered, "Keep quiet!"

"Oh you be quiet! Just because your little elf here is calling the shots now!" she hissed. Kimber kicked her once more. Felicity pierced her lips shut and they looked on as the four now huddled together in council.

"I do not know what has happened here," Legolas surveyed the blood-splattered scene.

"We came upon the maidens tied to this tree here," Merry interceded, stepping over one of the lifeless goblins.

"Yes, I figured that much, but we do not know what preceded those events. It disturbs me deeply, for I knew that fairies might be about, but we have now stumbled upon two maidens and goblins?" a worried look came upon his face.

"So what do we do with them?" Gimli inquired as he rubbed his beard.

"It would seem wise to bring them along, for we cannot leave them here to fend for themselves that is obvious in given the manner in which they were found." he replied glancing over his shoulder at the two, "I suggest that we seek the council of Aragorn, he will know what to do with them."

"Right then," Merry approached Kimber and Felicity once more, "Seems as though we will be getting on our way. You both will be coming along of course!" Felicity rolled her eyes then looked over at Kimber who stood there staring at Legolas.

"Merry you take that one, I will take this one," Pippin announced as he began to undo the ties which bound Felicity to the tree. He could not wait to see the expression that Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship would have to say when they saw this!

Once free from the tree, Felicity began to whisper to herself "Koi nee ha."

"Don't bother," Kimber interceded. "What do you think I meant when I said we were without our `capabilities'," Kimber sighed, "I have been trying that one since we were ambushed! Our powers are void at the moment though I don't readily know why." For the first time in their lives their fate now lay in the hands of others.