Wow, taken me a long time to update this, huh? Well, I finally did because my friend, timelady1210 kept GETTING ON ME ABOUT NOT UPDATING THIS BLOODY STORY AND IT'S BEEN ON MY BLOODY NERVES! ;) JK, anyway, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 4

The army of elves led the group of travelers through the trees to the courtyard. Much of the blue beauty had long faded away to the normal green of the forest with the passing of Lady Galadriel. Aragorn also noticed a change in Breathien. She seemed more angry being in the company of elves than she was with Aragorn. Something must have happened to have made Breathien bitter towards the elves. Finally, they reached the top of the canopy where the court of Lothlorien dwelled. At the top of the stairs stood Tinaraviel in her previous outfit. Once they had all stood together, Tinaraviel came striding gracefully down the steps. “It has been many years since the Fellowship has come through. Not many ravel this way anymore. So why have you come?” she asked, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

Aragorn stepped forward and replied, “My lady, my name is…”

“I know who you are and who your company is. You are Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You travel with Legolas, son of Thranduil, Gimli, son of Gloin and Princess Breathien of the Northern Kingdom.”

“There would still be a kingdom in the North if you elves came to aid my people,” muttered Breathien beneath her breath.

“Do not blame us for the fall of your kingdom. We were fighting our own battle here in our borders.”

“War? Here? I refuse to believe it.”

“Believe what you will, but the war was all over Middle Earth.”

“We did not come here to quarrel over battles long ago. We came to protect you,” interrupted Aragorn before Breathien could get a word in.

Tinaraviel stared at Aragorn for a moment, and then began to laugh. Aragorn and Legolas exchanged confused glances then stared back at the Lady of Lothlorien, who began to regain her composure. “You, protect me? I knew you were a great man, and I am flattered, but I do not need protection. I have a legion of trained and skilled warriors at my command. I am perfectly safe.”

“It does not matter how many warriors came to your aid. Your…” began Aragorn.

“You mean my talisman? I know exactly the power it has and the danger it brings to whomever bears it. My mother told me all abut it the night she gave it to me.”

“Then you must know that you are being hunted by someone who seeks the power of the talismans,” stated Aragorn.

“And you must know that it is more dangerous to travel with all the talismans together. However, I only see one talisman keeper. Where is the third?”

“She is still in the Shire. We were to head that way after we had convinced you to come," replied Aragorn with a smile.

"And where, my lord, do you plan on taking us for, what you think is, safety?"

"We are to meet Gandalf in Edoras."

"That is far from the Shire, yet closer to here. It would have been wiser to go to the Shire first."

"NO matter where I went first, the length of the journey would still be the same," replied Aragorn.

Tinaraviel smiled. "I have heard of your cunning mind, King Elessar. It got you out of a lot of trouble, did it not?"

Aragorn replied with a simple nod. "Well then, I will come with you, but on one condition…you tell me why you choose now to keep the talismans safe," stated Tinaraviel.

"If you must know, it is Gandalf that knows the plan, not I. He waits for us in Rohan, and it is there that you will get your answer."

"Well then, it is there that I shall hear it. Haldín, prepare my steed and prepare this company for immediate departure."

Haldín placed his hand over his heart and bowed as he walked away. Tinaraviel then turned back to the traveling group. "Go now to your horses. We will leave before dusk."

Everyone, save Breathien, bowed in respect to the fair lady and left. Breathien, however, stayed behind, staring at Tinaraviel with an evil glare. "You bear the talisman of the steed, correct?" asked Tinaraviel.

Breathien didn't even respond to her. "It will be a pleasure riding with you, sister."

Instead of being polite, Breathien walked up to Tinaraviel and stated with a monotone, "I am not your sister, elf."

And with that, Breathien left Tinaraviel by herself. Tinaraviel just smirked as she walked back up the steps towards her quarters. When Breathien arrived back at the ground, she saw Aragorn standing by her horse. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice far from courteous.

"While we travel, I would prefer that you try to be a bit more pleasant towards Lady Tinaraviel."

"She is an elf…the daughter of the man who did not send an army to my kingdom to help defend it. I will be as bitter as I want towards her, and I suggest that you stay out of it."

Breathien pushed past Aragorn to get to her horse as Tinaraviel came gliding down the steps in a silver tunic and a long silver and green skirt. "Shall we be off?" asked Tinaraviel as she mounted her horse.

Aragorn gave a curt nod as he mounted Brego and led on to the far regions of the Shire.

TBC………………..

What do you think? Please R&R!