LOTR: The Last Alliance part 1

[Bilbo]

WOTR presents.........The Lord of the rings: The Last Alliance

Being the 4th part of The Lord of the rings


PROLOGUE

It was at that time the time of fear and despair. Many months ago, the ringbearer and his fellowship of companions set out from Rivendell. In the spring, the fellowship broke off and to mount doom went the most sought after token in all of middle earth......the One ring, the ruling ring that the dark Lord Sauron himself needs to achieve total victory over the divided people of middle earth. So forth set Frodo to the mountain of Fire in the land of shadow, MORDOR. With Frodo went his servant, Samwise Gamgee, also a hobbit of the shire. Their task would soon prove the most dangerous cause of all. Soon, the two hobbits had captured a guide, Gollum who was once a hobbit and the holder of the ruling ring. But they were deceived by Gollum in the pass of Minas Morgul, Shelob's Lair. Frodo was wounded and Samwise fought his way up to the dark tower to rescue frodo. They escaped and made their way to the mountain of fire.....

In Gondor, where a last stand was being prepared, hope and fear spread throughout the land as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of gondor, rode with Gandalf the white, Legolas and Gimli, and the sons of Elrond to the Black gate of Mordor, taking the great eye of Sauron off of the two hobbits. But this all proved in vain, and doom was already at hand as a trap was set.......

Frodo and Sam walked along the path leading up to the door of Mount Doom, Sammath Naur. Destruction of the ring was at hand when from the shadows struck Gollum! The vile Gollum strangled Sam to death and chased Frodo in to the door of the mountain. Gollum seized the ring, killing Frodo by throttling his throat and nearly fell in to the lava in the process. He carried the ring out with him, but the enemy was waiting. Gollum was slain, and a host of a dozen Uruks of Mordor toke the ring, but to take it themselves. They didn't get far because Frodo had slipped on the ring, but lost it to Gollum. The Nazgul, ringwraiths, swooped down and toke the ring of power from the Uruks.

With the ring in Sauron's possesion, all hope was lost. A great host of Orcs surrounded the company at the black gates, and slaying every one of the people who resisted, including the great wizard, Gandalf.

Hope was lost for middle-earth.

First fell Minas Tirith, only a few were able to escape from the city. The rest, who couldn't flee, were taken capture and put to work inside the great stone city. And this happened to many other races: Hobbits, men, Dwarves, Elves, every race was captured or slain, put to work in numerous slave camps. The new ruler of Middle-earth was Sauron, King of Middle-Earth.

The great stone city was now one of the Dark Lord's cities, but it was run by the chief of the Nazgul and the slave drivers who were putting each race to work, sometimes the work not stopping for weeks on end. Outside the city, some people still roamed, but in secret, with no purpose or hope.

This is their story, the hopeless LAST alliance.....

[Bilbo]

ITHILIEN

A green-cloaked figure moves slowly through the deep woodlands of Ithilien. He halts, looking around. All about him are the loud whispers and laughter of Orcs. From the trees creeps another figure cloaked in green.

"Silently. There are Orcs abroad" says the first figure, taller than the second.

The two rangers flip back their hoods, their rugged and dirty hair showing. They are two rangers of Ithilien, JOSHUA son of Yachu and YAMONI, son of Iltimano. By their sides are two sheathed swords, ready to do battle and both have hunting daggers placed behind their waistbands.

"We shall rest here tonight. Keep your hand on the hilt of your sword."

***********************

[Tirithel]

Outside the walls of the White City, a woman walks, stealthy and wary. Her footsteps are silent, and in the dim moonlight, her eyes peer through the hazy air on the lookout for friend or foe.

[Elvenwanderer]

Morwen stood at the top of the former White Tower of Ecthelion, staring out into the air. In her cold heart she felt a sudden pang of pain, as one more elf was wounded against her wishes.

Then, she suddenly felt a cold hand start to massage her shoulder. Morwen quickly moved from the hand.

"Why do you always shrink away, My Dear Morwen?" The King's sinister voice said in her ear. He always sounded inviting, but Morwen knew what Sauron was like in private....

She continued to stare into the mist of the night, when again he came at her, only more forcefully.

This time, Morwen jumped onto the railing, and grew black wings of light from her bracelet. She took off silently and flew over the waste forests and countryside, leaving Sauron staring at her with a lust in his burning eyes.

[Tirithel]

A shadow passed over the moon. Uinen's eyes darted upwards to the flash of darkness floating across the sky.

"What in the name of Varda..." she whispered to herself

[Bilbo]

The sun was only down for a few minutes when Josh and Yamoni reach the outskirts of the Druadan Forest. The forest air is muggy, yet the trees are spread apart.

Josh and Yamoni sit down for the night to rest. Yamoni wants to light a fire but Josh stops him.

"We may be away from the City, but we are not too far. Minas Tirith is just over the Great river, and these lands are inhabitated by Orcs. We should be like Ghosts as we start up again in the morning."


************************


Josh looks up to the sky.

"It'll rain soon."

Morning soon came to the refreshed Rangers. Yamoni awoke to find Josh already awake and dressed, smoking on his pipe and contemplating his thoughts. He wore his cloak, for it was still cold in the Druadan forest. It had rained only a little during the night, enough to make the ground damp.

Yamoni found his breakfast next to him.

"Where shall we fly too? We cannot go to the white city and fight, we'd be alone. We have nowhere to go" said Yamoni while eating the rest of his breakfast.

Josh toke a puff on his pipe and turned to look at his cousin. "We go to Lothlorien. When the city fell, the Elves of Lothlorien could not escape. The lady probably got besieged there as well. I'm sure even the Lord Elrond went there too as soon as the city fell. It'd probably where most of the elves are"

Yamoni's face perked up at the thought of Lothlorien.

"We leave in a few minutes. It's a long journey to Caras Galadhon."

Minutes later they gathered there packs and jogged in to their forest. They had a destination.


*************************************


They ran all that day, trying to get through Gondor. They ran up hills, through grasslands and scorched grass. The leagues between them and Minas Tirith were growing, and they ran in to the night, stopping every once in awhile to catch their breath. They finnaly stopped when they were in sigh of the Firien wood. For the last twenty miles they ran along the "Great West road".

They rested near it, in view of Firien.

"The strength of Gondor was with us. I was only expecting to get half this far by this time" exclaimed Josh.

He sat down, and fell asleep shortly, his cousin Yamoni by his side.

[Ithilraen]

From the Northern borders of Lothlorien Ithilraen peered through the wet boughs of the tree from the talan, and fitted an arrow into her bow. She had a heard a faint rustle from the forest floor. It could be just a squirrel, but these days, it was good to be cautious about everyting.
"Stand down, Ithil, it's just me." Legolas nimbly climbed up the rope ladder and onto the talan. Ithilraen sighed and shoved the arrow back into her quiver.
"How do the borders look?"
Legolas shook his head. "The Western watch just killed off 4 bands of orcs. They come from the Misty Mountains. Thats two more bands from yesterday. They are multiplying. The power of Sauron is helping them grow. How things fare here?"
Ithilraen gave him a grim look and said, "3 bands this morning before the sun rose. All from Mirwood; from Dol Guldor." At the mention of Mirkwood, Legolas' face fell. After the Sauron obtained the ring, Legolas tried to go to his home and help defend against the orcs. All the ways were swarming with orcs, but he still tried. After many tries and almost getting himself killed, he was forced to remain at Lothlorien until he could get home. Ithilraen looked toward the borders again. The sun was setting. The orcs would come soon. Everyday more and more orcs would try to get through the borders of Lothlorien. But the power and grace of the Lady Galadriel and the Galadhrim held them off, for now.

[Tirithel]

Uinen wandered the walls of the City all night. The shadow had been both a fear and a hope to her, but had done nothing to change her course.

But what was her course? She had travelled leagues around the wall and had found none, save only the spies and servants of the Witch King in his tower. All had met there deaths with her, as she quietly slew them at unawares. A chill passed over her heart as with grim realization she thought that she may have to leave Minas Tirith. One wanderer alone on the fences would never bring the Darkness out of the ciyt, though as his messangers continued to disappear, the Captain of the Nazgul may start to wonder what misfortune befell them, and up the guard on the wall, hoping for capture and answers.

She kept thinking, her thoughts pounding to the rhythm of her wary footsteps.

[Elvenwanderer]

Morwen landed in a small clearing, where she watched an innocent leaf float down a stream. A small smile escaped her normal stony contenance. How simple the stream was... just how she wanted her life...

The 'Lady of Sauron' turned and drew her long sword when she heard leaves rustling in the background. A bedraggled elf stood and stared at the dark shadow in the darkness.

Suddenly, Sarvana recognized the shadow as her former friend, Authwen, and started to back away as she remembered what Authwen had become. Morwen.

"Stop," Morwen heard herself say. Sarvana knew it was useless to do anything else, so she dropped to the ground.

"Sarvana? I know that you have escaped, and that I should either kill you or let the orcs find you... But I need you to take this letter to my father in Lothlórien.... go quickly... there is a party of orcs about a minute away..." Morwen said. She surprised herself at what she said.

Sarvana looked up at her old friend, and saw a familiar glint in the unfamliar face. Reluctantly, she took the letter and ran into the forest. She stopped behind a tree when she heard Authwen's smooth voice perfectly execute the rough sounds of the Orcish language. "Thank you..." Sarvava whispered as she stood up and ran into the forest.

ooc: I want to be Sarvana as well as Morwen/Authwen... please!

[Elvenwanderer]

"Go... back to the tower. I will let Sauron punish you for your ignorance." Morwen said. I had picked up a bit of the Orkish language, enough to understand she was trying to help me. I was stupid enough to wonder why, and freezed when one of the Orcs slipped off in my direction.

A black light came straight into the forest, and struck the orc in the back. "I told you to go back, and Sauron will make sure you are paid." "GO" I heard in my head. I stood up and headed in the direction of my home.

I heard and felt many different things in the forest, including a great wind... apparently when Morwen took back off. Also... there were footsteps belonging to no Orc.

[Tirithel]

Leaves crunched softly under her feet as Uinen picked her way into a small grove of fading trees. She had met no one- nothing- for hours, and her thoughts drifted aimlessly through her head.

Suddenly the silence of the night was broken by the harsh curses of orcs, and Uinen slid quickly behind a tree, drawing her father's sword from its sheath. Peeking around the trunk, she looked and saw another, not far off, cowering even as she was. And for good reason- a slanky long armed orc was slinking towards her position. Uinen licked her lips and drew a deep quiet breath, muscles tightening in anticipation. The air stood still...

But before she could strike, the orc toppled over in a blast of pain, gave out one final shriek and lay dead in the woods. Barely containing her amazement, Uinen looked back to the figure shrunken in the brush. It had begun to move. With a few steps and a flying leap, Uinen sprang from the tree to overtake it. Whatever it was...

[Elvenwanderer]

OOC: The last post was from Sarvana's POV... and I will post a different reply for both characters (unless of course, they interact!)

IC (Sarvana):
As soon as I started running, a strong figure caught me, apparently the one with the loud footsteps. There was a sword at my throat, and their other arm was wrapped around my shoulders.

"Hey... careful where you swing that thing.... you could put someone's eye out or something!" I said angrily trying to cover up my confusion and fear. "Let me go... you are no orc, neither am I... therefore we are friends..."

Slowly the sword was released and I was pushed strongly forward and onto the ground. The letter for Elrond in my hand went flying to the ground. I reached for it, but the other got to it first.

"That's mine..." I said, helplessly as the person opened it.

A feminine voice sounded angry. "Then why does it say 'to my father, Elrond' on it? I doubt if you are Elrond, much less an elf."

"Morwe... Authwen told me to take it to Lothlórien... that's where I plan to go. The letter is to Lord Elrond... I assume she put a spell on it so only his eyes could read the original message." I said frankly... though I was insulted not being thought of as an elf, I let it go. "Will you help me?"

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

When I returned to the main city, I flew down to the work levels to put down the rebellion caused by a certain she-elf that I had helped.

But, Sauron was already down among the slaves, and gave me a sinister smile as he saw me. I assumed that that was his version of a loving glance.

There were orcs all around working the Hobbits, Men and elves past exhaustion. I knew if I did not handle things cautiously, I would be down here working with them.

A man tripped and fell in front of me, sprawling on the floor. Sauron carefully watched my reactions. Falling back on habit, I took my long sword, and lobbed the mortal's hand off. I smirked happily as he wailed and howled in pain. I kicked him to make him shut up.

"That will teach you to fall in front of me." I said evily, the words easy and sweet on my tongue. I wiped my sword on a nearby hobbit, and not by a total accident, cut her arm. I felt no remorse as I stepped in the pools of blood. Sauron smiled even more sinisterly as I walked near him.

[Tirithel]

"Why should I help you?" Uinen glared at her captive defensively, though in truth she was rather glad to find something, er, someone other than orcs roving the woods at night. "You seem more a thrall of Sauron than a royal herald of Elrond." She continued to scowl down on the elf from inside her dark hood

With a repressed sigh and a smirk, she continued. "Authwen, you say? Ah, but you mean the black queen in her tower. I know Morwen and her many names well." Uinen paused as a look of painful memory washed over her face. "Why should I help the servant of the woman who enslaves my people and killed my family?" She her sword to the elf's neck and raised her chin to look directly into her eyes.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

"First of all, I am not a herald of Elrond... I am his student. I escaped thraldom, and was helped by Authwen." I said matter of factly, not caring that I had a sword at my throat.

"Second, I have known her all my life. She didn't use to be evil, she taught me as much as Elrond did. I am her friend, not her servant. I also refuse to believe she is wholly evil, which she has proven by helping me, and killing that orc... which you so elegantly watched." I paused, and looked away from her eyes.

"I'm sorry about your loss. I will not lie, the only elf she has ever killed was the one I loved." I felt a tear form, and I bit my lip as I remebered watching Magol die... and the look on Authwen's face when she realized what she had done.

[Tirithel]

"You speak bravely for one on the edge of a sword." Uinen paused and watched a silent tear roll down the elven lady's cheek. A hard found feeling of pity moved through her, and her face softened as she withdrew her blade and put it back in its sheath. She had been lied to and tempted by the servants of the Witch kIng before, and had grown accustomed to gleaning the true meanings of their words from what was said. This one hid nothing, or hid it very well.

"I did not say they were elves." Uinen pulled back her hood and revealed her very human face, her blonde curls wafting in the breeze. "But for what it's worth, I believe you. Not so much about the Queen, but that you are no servant to the darkness. What is your name, she elf?"

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I had gathered that she wasn't an elf, from the way she held the sword, and from the sword itself. That was no elven make that I knew of. When she took off her hood, that only reinforced my suspicions.

"I'm Sarvana Manhûniel... an elf of Lórien." I replied, trusting her enough to give her an elven greeting. "And are you known by anything, Lady?"

I thought I heard something in the background, but dismissed it.

[Tirithel]

"I am Uinen, daughter of Earram of the Guard of the City. Where did you say you were going?"

[Bilbo]

As far as the eye can see, Hobbiton has been burnt down to a crisp. The Sandyman mill is totalled, burnt to timbers. Bagshot row has been dug up, and Bag End has been burnt to timbers. But, something stirs in Bag End.

A small figure walks out of Bag End. Then, behind that small hobbit-figure comes several more, all armed with tiny hobbit sized Axes and Bows. Then, from all over tiny spots in Hobbiton many more shapes appear.

The Lead and tallest Hobbit turns to his small army.

"The shire is in ruin. Come, let us go check out Buckland"

The small Hobbit army moves out from Hobbiton and make their way out west. As they leave, they pass a pile of bodies.......ORC BODIES.

[Fairawen]

"What will we do if Buckland is nought?" said a female hobbit as they sat around a fire one night, they were almost to thier destination.
Quite followed for a time, then the tallest hobbit replied,
"Let us hope that is not the case."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana outside of what once was Minas Tirith)

"Well, Uinen, I was planning to go to Lothlórien, my home. That is if you're planning on letting me. I was also going to give Elrond that letter you're so kindly holding for me. See, his name's on it..." I replied with a bit of sarcasm. My name did not mean Bittersweet for nothing.

[Bilbo]

HOBBITON, "THE GREEN DRAGON"

The leaders of the Hobbits and their men pile in to the broken down Inn/Pub, THE GREEN DRAGON. At the head of pack is the first Hobbit to step out of Bag End, and he is a Took, Ferdibrand Took to be exact. He grows misty-eyed as he eyes a figure placed up against the wall behind the bar of the Green Dragon.

A younger looking Hobbit steps up behind him and asks: "Who is that?"

Ferdibrand looks at the dead hobbit body and then looks back at the young Hobbit warrior. "That, my friend, is one of the fairest of the Hobbit women. Her name was Rosie Cotton, fair daughter of Farmer Cotton".

"ROSIE?!" yells a voice from the back of the group. The Hobbit runs from the back to the body. The Hobbit begins to cry over the body of Rosie Cotton.

"Who is that?" asks the young Hobbit.

"That is Rosie's brother, Nicholas Cotton", says Ferdibrand, looking on with sadness.

Many of the Hobbits begin to chant an old beer-drinking song at the body of Rosie Cotton. Even Nicholas Cotton joins in as the Hobbits repeat the song, but much louder, as if the party never stopped:

Ho! ho! ho! to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and and drown my woe
Rain may fall and wind may blow
But there still be
many miles to go
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain
And the stream that falls from hill to plain
Better than rain or rippling book......


FERDIBRAND yells the loudest out of all, finishing the final part and lifting his sword high in to the air:

IS A MUG OF BEER INSIDE THIS TOOK!!!

All the Hobbit warriors cheer their loudest, lifting their weapons high in to the air. They repeat this song, almost as a war chant, as they leave the Green Dragon, and bury the body of Rosie Cotton.

And they repeat the song as they march down the road, off east, to the world of the big folk............


*************

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen in the slave levels of Minas Tirith)

"Where were you?" Sauron asked me in the language we solely shared. I tolerated his arm around my waist and his hand on my lower hip as I stood next to him.

"Away." I replied simply. Sauron knew when to not interrogate me. Especially times like these, when I let him be so close.

Many of the slaves watched us stand there; most cowered away as either the Dark King or I looked at them. But one stared back into my eyes, he had no fear.

Suddenly, I lurched forward as a searing pain went through my skull. I fell onto the ground and tasted my own blood.

[Tirithel]

(UINEN outside walls of MINAS TIRITH)

"What do you mean, Lothlorien? Lorien fell days into the war." Uinen remembered 'overhearing' her dark masters in their halls gloating of the fall of the Elven CIty and the death of the White Lady. Whether she had heard them because of her desire or theirs, she had not thought of.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana w/ Uinen)

"No, no, Lorien has not fallen, or so I have heard. I do not think she would send me there if there was no hope of the message reaching Elrond." I paused for a second. "The power of the Lady and Lords (if it is true Elrond is there) is far beyond that of Sauron and Morwen put together. I doubt that they would have given up that easily."

I saw Uinen's face cloud over in thought.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

As quickly as he appeared, the man disappeared into the multitudes of slaves. Sauron reacted too slowly, and did not kill him.

The Dark King picked me up in his arms, and carried me to a cot. He set me down, and I felt a searing heat on the top of my head as the cut disappeared. Apparently, someone had whacked me in the head with a shovel while the man stared at me.

(It would be nice if someone would come in as the man...)

[Tirithel]

"Then Lorien stands..."

Uinen slipped into deep thoughts. Days of wandering the walls alone had made her cold and nearly unnapproachable. Weeks of repelling the miniscule forces of the Dark Lord had made her irritable and left her feeling small and useless. She had begun to feel that she was the only one left...a star amid infinite blackness, a lonely isle lost upon the sea.

But she could not have been the only one to escape alive. If Lorien stood, then perhaps others had foresaken the White City of Gondor to gather at a place of strength. It would only make sense to go whither hope lead. But to leave the city of her birth was quite a step. A leap into the unknown and a tragic parting. She gazed up to the wall, white and crumbling in the moonlight, encasing the capital of the Realm of Men. Nothing of the interior could she spy, accept for the pinnacle of the White Tower, high off in the distance. But white it was no more; instead, it stood swathed in shadow, dark against the night, with only a single ominous light striking out from a high window. Twas the chamber of the Witch King, from whence he plotted the doom of man and ran his machine of servants. Darkness in the rightful throne of light.

Uinen remembered looking up to that tower as a girl, with its banners flying proud in the breeze and the sun on its face, and the splendour of the King's guard as it marched unhindered through the streets of the City. Her father had marched that course, and fallen in its pride defending the people he loved. She thought of his face and the warmth of his smile as she cuddled young in his lap, and of the smell of leather and armor that followed him wherever he went. Her hand went to the hilt of his sword, passed down in dark times for her keeping, and new resolve took her.

She glared into the lone window high in the dark tower, and then into the face of the bewildered elf before her. "Lothlorien," she uttered. Sarvana nodded slowly, and a light seemed to issue from an unknown source to faint hope kindled in the eyes of the elf. Uinen motioned with her chin for her to get up. "Go," she said solemnly, "I will follow."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I took a deep breath. "I understand what it is like to leave your home... even when it is like this. But, Lothlórien is a wonderful place." I stood up. "Thank you." I put my hand out for the letter, which Uinen rolled up and placed back in my hand. I turned and went off in the direction of the Anduin....

[Bilbo]

OUTER LOTHLORIEN

It was in the afternoon, yet it was as black as night, no sunlight hitting the golden wood. Josh and Yamoni aproach the outer trees of lothlorien, the place they have been travelling for days on end to reach.

They grow weary yet are met with a warm welcome, "What business do you have here? I know not of your coming and cannot allow you passage." an elf guard says.

As warm a welcome as can be expected in these dark times, Josh steps up and speaks "I am Joshua and this is by good friend Yamoni, we are great warriors and have come for battle against the dark lord.....Sauron"

The elf looks at them suspiciously "be you orc spies... and your great warrior techniques will be needed to stop me from killing you." he motions for 2 other elves to join him "lead these men to the Lady Galandriel, and do it quickly, dawn draws near and our lives are soon to come to an close with the impending battle."

And with that, an elven guide leads the two warriors in to the woods of Lothlorien.....to the city of the golden light

[Ithilraen]

Ithilraen leaned against the trunk of the tree chewing on a piece of lembas thoughtfully. Legolas was standing at the edge of the talan looking outward into the dark. The whistle for the rope ladder to be dropped was heard. One of the Galadhrim dropped it down and before it even touched the ground an elf had climbed up.
"Ithilraen, two men wearing ranger garb have found thier way into the wood. They came in from the western borders, so they are most likey from Gondor."
"Are they being brought before the Lord and Lady?" questioned Ithilraen. The messenger nodded.
"The Lady Galadriel wishes that you both be present." He looked at Ithilraen and Legolas.
"Then we will go. You will stay here until we return."
And with that her and Legolas climbed down the rope and disappeared into the wood.

[Tirithel]

The moon began to sink behind into the western horizon as the pair marched over the fields away from Minas Tirith. As the Tower of Ecthelion faded into the distance, Uinen turned and caught one last glimpse of her home city. WIth a sigh, she turned and followed her elven guide. In an effort to take her mind off her sorrows, she called to Sarvana ahead.

"Tell me of Lorien, and what has befallen the world, for I fear the tiding I've been given are tainted with other purpose than to inform."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

"I am afraid I do not fully understand what you ask... Lorien is...." I paused. "Lorien. There's really no way to describe it." I shrugged slighty, and continued on for a bit to think.

"It is a place where time does not seem to pass, everything is ageless, and... so... light. That's the only way it fits into words, but they still do not seem near enough the truth. You will see what I mean if we meet the Lady and Lords... for I do not know if we shall make it."

My answers did not seem to please her.

[Tirithel]

They marched in silence for a day, and night fell all too soon. Though her heart was heavy, her brooding left Uinen tireless and without concern for eating or sleeping.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

Stupidly, now that I think of it, I lit a fire that night. Not for warmth, but to try to cheer Uinen up. I was worried, and I saw that she was quickly losing weight, and was looking quite like a wraith, she did not sleep.

during my watch that night, my elven ears heard small scrapings around us, and occasionally a shrill cry. It seemed like Uinen was sleeping peacefully, so I decided not to wake her.

I stared into a bush, and my eyes widened as I saw a pair of eyes looking back at me. I gasped, and reached over to wake Uinen, but she was already up and drawing her sword.

[Tirithel]

(UINEN)

Uinen stared hard into the brush, her muscles tightening and her body taking a cat like stance, ready to pounce. She swung her sword around with her wrist, and evened her balance with her other arm.

From the corner of one eye, she glanced at Sarvana, whose eyes were wide with anticipation. She scanned the ground, as if looking for something, and Uinen realized she hadn't any means of defense. WIthout breaking her stare, Uinen reached into her belt and pulled out two short daggers, throwing knives, really, and silently handed them to her companion. What good they would do her, Uinen knew not, but the eyes suddenly vanished and a shrill cry went up. Ten figures stood in the shadows, slowly creeping into the firelight.

[Elvenwanderer]

"Thanks..." I whispered. With ease, I twirled them around in my hands and caught the hilts. They were light, and strange in my hands, but we soon warmed up to each other.

I backed up to Uinen, and threw a one of the knives into an orc's neck. He shreiked and fell to the ground. The other nine immediately rushed in, but I felt a darker prescence lurking in the background....

(ooc: do you think we're anywhere near Lothlorien? I know, I know... I'm supposed to be the guide... but, hey, are we getting close?)

[Tirithel]

OOC: I don't really know...we've only been on the road for a day or so, so I'm thinkin we've got a long way to go yet. :huh:

IC:

Uinen gave a cry and turned her sword into the air, clumsily blocking an enemy blow. SHe turned its arm around and thrust her blade through its neck. The rest of the orcs divided themselves and came at Sarvana and her human companion, but were taken care of soon enough. Uinen wiped her sword on the dirty collar of a fallen foe, and breathing hard, put it back in its sheath. The gleaming edge shone still bright and deadly as it went to rest for the time being.

She turned to Sarvana, as if winding down, but the elf peered off into the darkness as if there was more to come.

[Elvenwanderer]

"I feel a shadow... it is far away, but near enough to cause alarm." I said, as I bent down to grab the knife out of the orc's neck. "I advise we leave... quickly... the sooner we get to Lothlórien, the sooner we shall be somewhat safe." I said, looking back at the winded Uinen. She was red in the face, I had forgotten that mortals get tired more easily than elves....

[Tirithel]

The pair stomped the ashes of their small fire, dragged the bodies of the fallen orcs into a heap and covered it with brush.
Silently and speedily, they took off into the night under the stars.

[Ithilraen]

Legols and Ithilraen ran all night, stopping only at key talan's to tell them about what was going on. They reached the gate of Caras Galadhon and were met by one of the Galadhrim, Gilrond, who bowed as they entered.

"Prince Legolas; Ithilraen. The rangers have arrived, but the Lady and Lord wishs to wait till everyone arrives before she will speak."

Ithilraen looked puzzled, " Everyone? There are more Rangers?"

Gilrond shook his head. "They Lady saw that 2 more will join us. But until then, she wishes that you two stay, and that they cannot spare you from the borders, but they must for when they arrive, it will determine the fate of Middle-Earth and the Free Peoples living on her. I was bidden to tell you that. "

Legolas sighed, "If that is what the Lady wishes. Though my heart tells me to just turn and go back to the watch on the borders. I do not like to leave in the middle of a fight."

Ithilraen placed her hand on his arm. " Do not worry. I will send reinforcements to them." She smiled at him, "With you and your skill here, Caras Galadhon can spare a few." She then turned to Gilrond. " Have 3 go to the West borders and another 2 to the North. That should hold the Orcs off till we return."

Gilrond bowed and walked away. Legolas and Ithilraen walked around the Caras Galadhon, to ensure that they were properly guarded and everyone was placed in a good position. They didn't need to, but it was just something to do until the rest of the Lady's audience arrived.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

Finally, after days of travelling, Uinen and I finally neared the borders of Lothlórien... my home. The wind was blowing from the North, I inhaled the familiar scent of the golden leaves....

Hopefully, the Guards would recognize me. That is, if any guard bothered to talk with us, and not kill two strangers immediately, such as the days commanded.

I still sensed the shadow behind us, but it was either losing our trail, or was pulling back away from the forest. No matter, it remained a constant threat in my mind. Not fun, when you are trying to navigate somewhere to have something following you.

Uinen and I stopped at the very edge of the Wood. We both looked around cautiously, trying to sense any elven guards.... we both knew they were experts at concealing themselves, but I didn't know that they were this good.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

When I woke up, I was in no room I recognised to be of Minas Tirith... My brain realised Sauron had brought me back to Dol-Guldur... supposedly now my 'home.' As a mockery of my other title, he had 'given' me rule over the former lands of Mirkwood, among other places.

I was laying in my bed, with the black sheets and blankets pulled up to my shoulders. My head swam, and as soon as I could concentrate well enough to talk, I called over a servant... a she-elf. "Where is Sauron?"

Her eyes widened, and her face showed much fear. She curtsied, "I... I do not know, Milady. He le... left about an hour ago." The girl quickly covered her face and head, as if expecting a blow from me.

"Get me water, food, and a change of clothes... now." I commanded, not knowing if His spies were listening. I dared not let them hear me be kind to her (after all, she was an elf). I slapped my hand painfully on my leg, and yelled "Go! You heard me... don't make me say it again!" I then winked and put a finger to my lips.

She caught on, gave out a small scream, then ran out the door to get what I asked. I smiled slightly, then winced as I realised I had a bandage on my head, an now my leg hurt also.

[Tirithel]

The Golden head of Lothlorien reared up before Uinen's eyes and she stared in wonder on it. From afar, it seemed to emit a gilded sheen from the trees, and close up, Uinen could feel cool mists threaded with strange magic wafting past her face. Almost, she feared it. There were not a few tales of the strange and perilous spells bound up in the wood, and had she been alone, she would have turned and ran away.

But Sarvana looked fondly on the gleaming trunks of the trees at the edge of the forest, and soon appeared to be searching for something within their borders.

"What is it?" asked Uinen, her hand creeping to the hilt of her sword. The fear of the unknown had not entirely left her, and she was still quite jumpy from the attack a few nights back.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

"Well... I thought I might have time to find something before we are... ahem... found." Putting my hands on my hip and chin, I spun in circles and looked at the trees around me. "Aha!" I scooted over to (sadly) a tree stump, pressed a knot causing the tree to effectively disappear. Uinen came to stand near me.

"How'd you do that?" She asked me suspiciously, her hand still on her sword.

"That was Authwen's magic, I possess very little of my own.... she hid these for me when I went on my honeymoon." I said as I picked up my set of daggers (yes, they were mine). "This sword was my husbands." I muttered quietly as I pulled it out of its sheath to look at the aqua blade of Galrilion gleam in the pale light. In his reflection, I saw a fleeting image of an elf run behind me. "So they don't recognize me." I thought, shaking my head. "They think me a mortal not to see an elf."

(yo... Ithilraen? now would be a good time to 'find' us! :thumbs: )

[Ithilraen]

Three Galadhrim on the East Border Watch followed the two female strangers that had stepped into thier realm. The taller elf, Fillinor, motioned for the other two to stay behind the two females while he went around to the front of them. He watched the one with the magicks carefully. She had slight features of an elf, but she could be half-bred. She could be using some sort of spell to give herself the looks of an elf to pass the borders. These were dark times, and any creature that possesed any type of magicks were suspicious.

Fillinor quickly manuvered himself to a position where it was best to confront these two females. He silently strung his bow and crept along the forest floor. The other she-mortal was about to speak to the other when he stepped out from behind a tree and pointed the arrow at her. They both turned but were met by the other two Galadhrim.

"Drop your weapons. Do not attempt anything or we will be forced to kill you. Who are you and what is your business here in the Golden Wood? Who do you follow? The Shadow in the east? Talk!!"

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

I looked around at the familiar objects in the room… my chamber. I recognized it from my previous stays in Mirkwood that it was once Legolas Greenleaf’s. I swung my legs around, and stepped on the cold tile floor. My head swam when I tried to stand up, but the nausea quickly passed.

The she-elfling came back into my room carrying a water skin, and a change of my normal black attire.

“What took you so long?” I snapped, pulling the clothes out of her hands, and causing her to drop the water. I threw the clothes on the bed, and caught the girl’s shoulders before she could clean the spill.

She looked fearfully up at me once again. I put my finger to my lips, and then pointed at the water. Trusting that she could read, I spelled out these words magically with the amiable liquid:

[Bilbo]

LOTHLORIEN

Yamoni lies on one of the platforms high above the Lothlorien trees. He rests his head on a lovely feather pillow, and blanket is over him. He talks to himself in his sleep. Next to him is his cousin Josh, who's still awake. His eyes gaze east, watching the growing shadow of mordor.

He turns around to see his cousin Joshua, cousin to Faramir and nephew to Lord Denethor, wide awake and pacing around the elven leaf shaped platform.


dark Dunharrow in the dim morning
with thane and captain rode Thengel's son:
to Edoras he came, the ancient halls
of the Mark-wardens mist-enshrouded;
golden timbers were in gloom mantled.
Farewell he bade to his free people,
hearth and high-seat, and the hallowed places,
where long he had feasted ere the light faded.
Forth rode the king, fear behind him,
fate before him. Fealty kept he;
oaths he had taken, all fulfilled them.
Forth rode Théoden. Five nights and days
east and onward rode the Eorlingas
through Folde and Fenmarch and the Firienwood,
six thousand spears to Sunlending,
Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin,
six thousand spears to Sunlending,
Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin,
Sea-kings' city in the South-kingdom
foe-beleaguered, fire-encircled.
Doom drove them on. Darkness took them,
Horse and horseman; hoofbeats afar
sank into silence: so the songs tell us.


Josh lays down, and sleeps

[Bilbo]

Buckland, THE SHIRE

The small Hobbit army led by Ferdibrand Took crosses over the Brandywine Bridge over the Brandywine river. Right over the bridge infront of them was Brandy Hall, the great hobbit mansion built by the Brandybucks. They all gasped at what they saw.

The great Mansion was half burnt to the ground, it's windows smashed out and the frames turned black from an attempted burning. Bodies of Orcs and hobbits were littered outside and inside the great hobbit mansion. It seemed as if a great battle had been fought around the great hall. The Brandybucks of Buckland against their great invaders. Their must of been hundreds of dead Orcs and Brandybucks alike.

"My god, Brandy Hall......" yelled Ferdibrand Took. Nicholas Cotton stared in horror at the mangled body of the Gatekeeper, hit by Orc Arrows almost as tall as he was.

"We came too late" exclaimed Nicholas.

"We've come too late for everything" said Ferdibrand, a small tear trickling down his eye.

The small Hobbit army looks through the wreckage of the battle, The "Battle of Brandy Hall" which the hobbits would later refer to it as. They all look around, pillage the wreckage, and begin the mass burial of their fellow hobbits.


Inside Brandy Hall

Ferdibrand and Nicholas with a few other braver and stout hobbits walk through the interior of the hobbit-mansion, cautious, their weapons drawn(or with their hands on the hilts of their swords).

THEN, they stop. Noises are brewing inside the house.

"Stop --”

But, before Ferdibrand can finish his sentence, a shadowy figure leaps out from the shadows, and attacks ferdibrand........

Ferdibrand picks himself up. On top of him was not an Orc, not a goblin, but a Hobbit. A brandybuck to be exact. His "attacker" was a hobbit who looked very similar to Meriadoc Brandybuck, one of the nine walkers of the ring.

"Berilac? BERILAC BRANDYBUCK?!"

The hobbit's name was Berilac brandybuck, infact the cousin to Merry. The two(ferdibrand and Berilac) get up and give a great big hug. Nicholas Cotton stood back and would later remark how similar they looked to their cousins Merry and Pippin.

A look of happiness dwindled in Berilac's eyes as he pulled away from Ferdibrand and he looked around the great hall. A great battle had been fought inside the great hall.

"May we leave and stroll up the lane?" asked Berilac, his teeth chattering.

Ferdibrand, the leader of the small hobbit army nodded, and the two left the great hall, and strolled up to Crickhollow together by themselves. They left Nicholas Cotton in charge of the cleanup for the time being.


*************

Moments later, Berilac and Ferdibrand come strolling back down the lane from Crickhollow. They're putting away their pipes. Nicholas comes running up to meet them. the other two-hundred Hobbits are busy salvaging what they can of Brandy Hall. Berilac smiles at the size and sturdiness of the Hobbit army.

"I am impressed, a good sturdy size army you have their. It'd been even better if we brandybucks were all around. Alls I need is a good bath and some nice Ale to fill my stomach"

He then begins to sing an old bath song:

Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!

O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;
but better than rain or rippling streams is
Water Hot that smokes and steams.

O! Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;
but better is Beer, if drink we lack,
and Water Hot poured down the back.

O! Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky;
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet!


He stops, as a little tear rolls down his eye. He turns to Ferdibrand and Nicholas. A look of stearness has rolled across his face.

"Where shall we go now?"


***********************************

[Tirithel]

LOTHLORIEN (Uinen)

Uinen glared hard at the elf with no respect; she hid the fear in her eyes and full of a certain darkened pride called out: "I serve no one but Gondor. And if you be enemies of the darkness than I profess to be your ally, but nobody's servant. I am Uinen, daughter of Earram, and sole heir to his house." She bowed low, but kept her eyes with the elf's and maintained her hand's position on the hilt of her sword.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

"So many questions.... I am Sárvana Mánhunîel, a fellow elf of Lórien. Should I put down my husband's weapons? Nay, I think not. I travel with and vouch for Uinen from Gondor, she is good, and would never join the Shadow. Besides, I do not think the Lady would kill any elf that entered her borders." I paused. "My business: I bring a letter for Elrond from his daughter."

Fillinor (or at least that's what I think his name was... I don't really remember) looked into my eyes, and slowly put his bow down, the other elves followed his lead. I maintained his gaze easily, and he said....

[Ithilraen]

"Forgive me Lady Sarvana. For I did not realize that you were of our kind. With the dark arm of Sauron moving westward it is hard to tell friend from foe these days. Any strangers that come from the west and wander into our borders are brought before the Lady. I will take you before her and Lord Elrond, for you have business with him also."

Fillinor then strode over to the other two elves and instructed them to stay here at the watch while he was going to take the two females to Caras Galadhon. One of the elves whispered to Fillinor, "Watch your back. The she-mortal has a strange look about her."

Fillinor nodded then turned back to the two females, " We must reach the city before nightfall. I know you are travel worn. But we must hurry. I know you have the endurance, Lady Sarvana, but the mortal, will she be able to run with us and keep up?"

[Tirithel]

Uinen raised an annoyed eyebrow at the elf who spoke about her as though she wasn't there. With a slight smirk spreading over her lips and a sracstic, mocking tone, she replied before Sarvana had a chance; "That depends, my good elf- am I to run behind you or swing from the tree branches?" She had heard tales of treehouses and ladders and the like in the City of the Elves and never really thought them feasable.

She cocked her head to one side and rudely awaited a reply.

[Ithilraen]

Fillinor gave the she-mortal a hard look.

"I could care less how you reach Caras Galadhon, just as long as we get there before nightfall. If you feel as if you will last longer by traveling talan to talan, then Lady, go right ahead. Though I would not advise of it. The last Galadhrim who did that missed a branch and broke his leg in two places. I do not have time for childish arguments. We must hurry."

[Elvenwanderer]

For the first time, I turned to glare at Uinen, and I'm sure my eyes flashed in anger. Mortals, always taking offense to everything. Filinor was being especially kind, and he did not have to leave us alive, much less lead us to the city. I waved for him to lead on.

[Ithilraen]

Fillinor nodded at Sarvana and began to run. The two females were right behind him. As he was running many thoughts came to Fillinor's mind. But the one that kept repeating itself was "Why did Lady Sarvana bring a mortal to us? What can she do to help?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile back in Caras Galadhon, Ithilraen and Legolas were sitting at the foot of a great mallorn tree. They both couldn't sleep knowing that thier friends were most likely being assualted by orcs at this very moment and they were just sitting here, doing nothing.

Legolas rested his head against the tree and looked at Ithilraen. He owed her so much. She had saved his life, and healed him back to health. She stopped him twice from walking into death, by knocking him unconsious, but it still worked. And he has never truly thanked her.

Legolas turned and took Ithilraen's hands into his. Ithilraen looked at him with surprise, but was pleased.

"Ithil, I never got a chance to thank you for saving my life. If you had not showed up, those orcs would have killed me. I also want your pardon for hitting you when I tried to leave here to go to Mirkwood. I appreciate everything you have done for me, my life is in your hands."

Ithilraen smiled and said, " You have my pardon, though I do believe that knocking you unconsious makes it even between us. I do not want your life."

Legolas looked into her eyes, " I must offer you something. If you do not want my life, then what do you want? Your heart must desire something that I can do for you?"

Ithilraen smiled, "My heart does greatly desire something. I will not tell you what it is now. Time will allow it to reveal itself."

Legolas nodded and released her hands. "Come, lets go make another round in the city and see how the Galadhrim fare."

[Tirithel]

Uinen was exhausted and famished, but a chilly strength had long taken hold of her heart, and a cold but firey spirit sustained a tired body.

She kept pace near effortlessly with the arrogant elf at the front, and shot him dirty looks at every other step, while Sarvana glared dissapprovingly in her direction. They moved as if on wings, stepping daintily yet with tremendous speed over the leafy path. Uinen's hood flew back with the wind and her blonde curls rushed out grapsing at the air behind her. The moon peeped down occasionally through the golden trees around her, and the air of the wood was cool and refreshing, a far cry from the heats and fowl breezes that had occupied the city of late. The displaced maid breathed deep the free air and felt her muscles relax into their run and let the pleasant breeze blow over her skin.

When they finally reached their destination- the foot of an enormous tree, Uinen felt refreshed and full of vigour. The lights of many candles emitted a soft glow that danced in her cheeks and seemed to bewitch her eyes with beauty. Evidently, not all elven magic was something to fear.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

We had halted below a large tree, and after a bit of searching through his pack, Filinor shoved a small green package at me. He then gestured with it towards Uinen. It took me a moment, then I recognised this as the leaf wrappings of a Lembas cake.

"I suppose we should let it... her... eat. It wouldn't be exactly courteous for her stomach to be growling while in the presence of the Lords and Lady. Though, of course, it wouldn't be a long stretch from her current, crude, mannerisms." Filinor said mentally to me. I smiled in return at his joke on Uinen... which was rather mean, I admit, as she was at a disadvantage not to be able to hear what was said.

Nonetheless, I took the Lembas and had to get her attention. Uinen's eyes seemed to shine in a different manner than I had before seen.

"Here, this is called Lembas.. it's an elvish waybread of sorts made by Lady Galadriel. Only take a single mouthful though, otherwise the occurring indigestion is quite horrid." I broke off a corner and ate it, proving it edible.

We all looked up at the high branches of the tree, when.....

(help... someone? is anyone out there? lol)

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

How long have I been here? The water formed into wobbly letters on the adamant floor.

With a bit of help from my magic to reword the water, the girl managed to reply: About three days. I've taken care of you since He brought you.

Does this place have a stables?

Yes.

Thank you... do not tell anyone of this, all right? I command you.

The girl nodded and left the room. I slowly stepped out of the nightgown, and waited as another wave of nausea blew over me. Just as I had gotten into the change of clothes, Sauron appeared at my door. I looked at him in the mirror, his reflection more appealing to the eyes than the real thing. <Another ploy to get me to **shudder** > I would not let myself finish that thought.

[Ithilraen]

"Fillinor!" Gilrond ran over to the trio. "It's good to see you."

Fillinor nodded in return. " You too Gilrond. How are things in Caras Galadhon?"

Gilron gave him a grim look, "It's been tense." Then motioned toward the females, "who are they? I hope they are the rest of the people the Lady is expecting."

Sarvana stepped forward and said, "I am Lady Sarvana. You might not recognize me. I have not returned and dwelt in Lorien for some time now. This is a she-mortal. Uinen, from Gondor."

Gilron nodded. "I will tell the Lady and Lord that you have arrived. Please come into Caras Galadhon and wait till the Lady and Lord wish to recieve you." He then turned toward Fillinor.

" I will take charge of them now. You may go back to the border watches."

Fillinor gave a nod and disappeared into the wood.

They arrived at the gates an hour after midnight and were greeted by Ithilraen and Legolas. Ithilraen smiled warmly at the two females, then gave a startled look on her face.

"In the name of Eru..... Lady Sarvana....." Ithilraen whispered. " I....I...where.... welcome back."

[Tirithel]

Uinen was still dazzled in the lights of the city, but followed the elves to their destination, munching quietly on a small piece of lembas. For once, she shut her mouth and let Sarvana do the talking. She just wished that the elves would stop referring to her as "that she-mortal." It was getting irritating. Elves could be soooo arrogant.

Already she was missing her own fair city again, and the company of those of her own kind. Her head bounced this way and that, looking for other signs of life besides her current companions, and was glad when Filinor took off back into the bush.

They had halted in front of a great silver gate, and two more elves stepped out to greet them, apparently most surprised at Sarvana's appearance, moreso even than Uinen's. Sarvana introduced them and Uinen bowed her head in reverant greeting. But still she missed her home and her brothers and parents, and longed for the glimmer of the White Tower through her bedroom window.

[Elvenwanderer]

I bowed to Ithilraen and Prince Legolas. "Thank you, Lady. It is relaxing to be home at last... I would like to introduce to you Uinen from Gondor." I swept my hand back at her. Though it was obvious I was talking about Uinen, who still had a glassy look in her eyes, I decided to throw in the hand motion anyway. "How has Lothlórien fared recently?"

[Tirithel]

Sarvana slipped into conversation in her own tongue with the two elves, and Uinen was left to entertain herself. Her eyes strayed around the landscape, and suddenly became fixed on a single light that shown high up in the trees, like the sun against ordinary stars.

Its beauty enamored her, and without thinking, she began to walk in its direction, until she reached the foot of the mighty silver barked tree it perched in. She circled the trunk until she found a well camoflaged staircase sank deep into the green around the base. She pushed her way through its velvety leaves and began to climb the stairs.

Sarvana and the other two elves had not even noticed she was gone yet. The stairs wound on near endlessly, and her legs began to wobble slightly underneath her, when she finally approached a roof over her head at the top of the stairs. After some searching, she found a trapdoor in the 'ceiling,' and pushed it upwards and open.

She pulled herself onto the platform and was near blinded by the brilliance of the inhabitants.

[Ithilraen]

"No Lady Sarvana, we have not talked with the Lord and Lady yet. They were expecting two more to join us and the Rangers. I'm guessing that you two are it." Ithilraen said.

Legolas then quickly looked around, "Where did that she-mortal go??"

The elves quickly looked around and then Gilrond cursed under his breath. Everyone looked at him and followed his gaze up. They saw the feet of Uinen disappearing into the flet of the Lord and Lady. She some how found the hidden stairway that only the Lord and Lady uses.

The four elves quickly followed suit. The Galadhrim who guarded the talan might see Uinen as an intruder and kill her. That was the last thing they needed.

Ithilraen then turned to Gilrond, "Gilrond, looks like we might have our council early. Go find my father, he is talking with the Rangers at this moment near the glade. Bring the Rangers too."

Legolas nodded in agreement, "It's best that we have the council now, with everyone here. The sooner the better."

They three remaining elves then quickly climbed the set of stairs that everyone else uses. It was shorter and they didn't want to give the guards any more surprises and reason to kill.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I shook my head the entire time I was climbing the stairs. Don't get me wrong, Uinen seems like a really good person. But she is a bit nosy and.... ummmm... disrespectful at times. It gets to be more often that I think I should have left her somewhere between here and Minas Tirith. It might have been a better idea for me to have slipped off while she was sleeping....

Anyway, when Legolas, Ithilraen and I reached the flet, we found Uinen effectively plastered on the trunk of a tree. She had her hand covering her eyes, and her other hand was reaching for her hood to pull over her face. From below I could hear guards climbing to the flet, no doubt to 'handle' the intruder who used the Lord and Lady's private stairs.

I looked over on my left to see the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel standing there watching us. Sometime in my youth, I had heard that they gave off a signature white light, but I believe that only mortals were greatly affected by it. Which meant Uinen (obviously).

I turned and bowed to the Lord and Lady, only to find that Legolas and Ithilraen already had. While on my knees, I managed to pull Uinen down next to me. Apparently the Golden Pair 'turned off' the light, as Uinen was able to pry her hands away from her face.

"It is an honour to see you again, Lord and Lady." I said quietly. Authwen had introduced us when I was about ten, but I was quite shy then and hadn't had the courage to talk much with them. I looked over, and saw Lord Elrond walk over a bridge to our flet with Gilrond in tow. I slightly stood, then bowed again to Elrond.

OOC: (BTW... who is talking for Elrond? I will do that if no one else wants to... )

[Ithilraen]

OOC: go right ahead EW!! i hope Dawn comes in soon)

Ithilraen and Legolas knelt down as soon as they noticed the Lord and Lady.

Lady Galadriel was about to speak when the guards burst in. Ithilraen immediately stood up to stop them from accidentally shooting anyone. When the guards realized that the Lord and Lady were in no danger them immediately along with the others dropped to kneel.

[Tirithel]

I was struck dumb. Elves were appearing one by one and numerously on the platform, but their hustle and bustle had no effect on me. The brilliance and the beauty of the pair standing before me captivated my eyes, and it was all I could do to pull my hood up and bow my head before the light of their beings pierced my soul. Though others were scraming and shouting at eachother, I remained in reverent silence, eyes fixed on the White Lady before me.

Sarvana appeared and pulled me to my knees, but I took no notice.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

{Here I am! }

I looked at my surrogate mother and sighed.

'There is nothing I can do?' I asked quietly, knowing the answer that would come.

'Must I answer it again?' My mother replied patiently. 'They chose their fate. There is nothing we can do.' I inhaled slowly and turned to leave.

Then I heard the loud footsteps on the stairway only we used. I looked at my father in confusion and then nodded to the gaurds.

We headed for the stairs as a she-mortal entered. As she threw her hand over her face in obvious pain I creased my eyebrows in confusion and motioned the gaurds back.

Then Ithilraen and Prince Legolas appeared, followed by Sarvana. 'She hasn't been here for years.' I thought to myself as the four knelt.

'No, she hasn't Feldor.' I heard my father's voice say as I walked to his side. 'Yet she is still welcome.' Mother's voice added. I swallowed slightly and nodded.

'Of course she is.' I replied to them mentally as Elrond entered.

'We have some business that must be attended to immediately.' Galadriel said as the guards stood and left the chamber.

Elrond nodded and I sat at my father's feet.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I stood, and walked over to Lord Elrond to hand him the letter from Authwen... Morwen... I have yet to chose one name and stick with it.

"Sarvana, it is good to see you again. Who is that?" Elrond tilted his head in Uinen's direction after he put his hand on my shoulder in greeting.

"That is Uinen from Gondor... she came with me here, when I escaped Minas Tirith...." I paused, and handed him the letter. "This is from your elder daughter, she helped me."

He took the letter but did not unroll it, as if he had some idea of what it would say.

I turned around to see Fildor... no that's not it... Feldor sitting near Lord Celeborn, and watching me. I raised my eyebrows, but he didn't look away. Neither of us really liked each other (at least so I thought), mostly because we didn't move in the same social circles. I preferred to talk mostly with Rivendell and Mirkwood elves, whereas he spoke almost exclusively with those from Lothlórien.

[Ithilraen]

While Ithilraen went over to her foster-father to talk to him about what had happend with Uinen, Legolas walked over to the guards and Gilrond to tell them that everything was alright and that they could leave now.

"Ada, I don't know how she found the stairwell. She was there one minute and the next we saw her feet going through the door. I hope the Lady isn't angry with me or Legolas. Is that Arwens letter? What does it say?"

Elrond smiled at Ithilraen. " I will tell you later what Arwen says. Do not worry about Galadriel. She isnt' angry. If she was we would've felt her wrath. Though you probably do not know how that feels like. She hasn't unleashed it in years." Elrond grimaced at the thought of Lady Galadriel unleashing her wrath. "Be a good girl. Go sit. The Council of the Lord and Lady of Caras Galadhon will begin."

Ithilraen nodded and sat next to legolas in a chair that faced Galadriel and Celeborn.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Morwen)

Sauron walked over to me and started rubbing my shoulders. Apparently he noticed the travel bag by the door. "You want to leave so soon? Morwen, you just awoke, don't you want to spend some time together? I know of this comfortable cottage hidden in the trees...."

I gently slid his hands off of my shoulders and stood up. I grabbed my daggers off of a table, and tied my sword around my waist, which had previously hung on a bedpost. I also slipped a small trinket into my pocket, which hopefully he didn't see.

Without much trouble I found the stables and ordered the boy to find me a black stallion. When he stupidly returned with a dark blue mare, I picked him up and threw him at a wall. He slid down and fell into a pile of broken bones on the ground.

"No decent help these days..." I personally hunted down a black stallion, but settled for grey, as the boy was right: there was no black stallion. I rode off towards the West.

(Elrond in Lothlórien… 3rd person)

Elrond shifted the letter in his hands once again and sat down near Sárvana. Reluctantly, he unrolled the cream-colored parchment, and silently read the words that appeared in Authwen’s hand.

Ada,
I expect you are reading this in Lothlórien, as that is in fact where I told Sárvana to go, so I hope this met you there. I want to talk to you, as well as to my grandparents, and written correspondence will not work for this purpose. I will appear on the Eastern borders of that land two days after the first reading of this letter. I know to expect that I will not be trusted… all I ask is for the guards not to try to kill me.
Your daughter,
Authwen Randirel

Elrond passed the letter to Sárvana to read, she then got up and walked across the circle to hand the letter to Galadriel and Celeborn who seemed to converse with each other about the letter’s contents.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'Unbelievable.' I thought as Mother and Father conversed.

'That it is my son.' I heard Father's voice say. I looked up at him and he smiled softly.

I smiled back and looked at Mother. 'What do you think?' I asked as she looked at Father.

'I trust her.' Mother said. 'How can you?' Father asked suddenly.

'She's lied to us before.' He finished. 'She's our grandaughter.' Mother replied quietly.

Father sighed and Mother looked at Elrond.

'What shall we do?'

[Elvenwanderer]

Instead of looking back at Galadriel, Elrond's eyes searched through the flet, and landed on the Rangers, who were just entering. He then looked at Sarvana, who was staring strangely at Feldor. The Rivendell lord's vision finally settled at the letter the Golden Pair were holding. He shrugged.

"It doesn't look like there is anything we can do. As her father, I will fall for anything to once again be able to rightly place my trust in her. That is what any father would do. She knows she will not be trusted here, so Authwen is resigned to the fact that she will not be treated as my daughter, but as a traitor, and a very dangerous traitor at that." He stopped for a second, thinking. "But, there is no avoiding the fact that she will arrive here in two days, whether we trust her or not."

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'But as a traitor, and a very dangerous traitor at that.' Echoed through my mind as I felt Sarvana's gaze.

'I want to meet her.' I blurted suddenly and without thought. I felt the gaze of those in the room and my eyes sought the floor.

'Idiot. What are you thinking?' I asked myself as the flet remained silent.

[Tirithel]

OOC: I was going to reply to this last night, but got cut off, so this may appear a bit out of order, but oh well! This is getting good! I'm going to post a bit for Galadriel if no one minds...

IC: Galadriel had bent her gaze on me momentarily, and it seemed that I heard her voice inside my head. An hour's worth of conversation took place within a minute, and the Lady understood as only she could the unique combination of what I felt: true and complete loneliness combined with unimaginable grief. To this she replied: "Cast not your thoughts into the shadows. Hope remains, and though you may feel it, you are not alone in the world. Look to the stars over the sea, as I have done for ages, and harden not your heart."

My eyes were let free of their bonds of the light, and I tuned into the present conversation. I caught only the tail end of what the elves were discussing, and the name Authwen smacked me across the face with the cruelty of a leather belt.

"Authwen?" I questioned rather harshly, "You mean Morwen. Do you mean to tell me that the Dark Queen perched in the tower next to the Enemy is your daughter?!" The chestnut haired elf in the middle nodded solemnly. All I could think of were the Queen's harsh dealings with me and the rest of her servants in the short time I had spent in her service, and the way that Sauron looked at her. It made me sick to my stomach.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I looked away from Feldor (what a strange comment he made, by the way), and I glared at Uinen once again. I could feel my face growing hot in anger, and my eyes must have been flashing light like usual when I was angry. "I thought we went through that already back in Minas Tirith."

Elrond laid a cool hand gently on my arm saying I was overstepping my bounds. I gripped the birds' heads that ended the arms of the chairs with such ferocity and strength that I was sure they would break. Mortals.... I shuddered.

(Morwen)

In leaving the Palace, I could feel a change already. Sauron called out to me, asking where I was going (his voice was weak in my head). I told him that I was going to put down a rebellion of hobbits in the Shire, but (what I would not tell him) I was really going to Lothlórien, the last free city of my people whom I so disloyaly betrayed.

Near the borders of Mirkwood Forest, my bracelet started to flash a putrid greenish-bluish-blackish light. I looked behind me as small specks of dust began to fly away from my hair and patches of a chestnut brown began to reappear. The same brown hair as my father....

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I looked at Elrond, concern on my face as he nodded in response to Uinen.

'Authwen made her choice long ago.' I heard Mother say gently as Sarvana gripped her chair.

My thoughts wondered back to my earliest memories of Imladris and I saw a young, happy and beautiful Authwen. I shook my head.

'Uinen is right to speak her doubts. Authwen has commited several atrocities in her life time.'

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I would not give up hope that Authwen (dare I say it, Morwen) was still good somewhere in her deep soul. "Cannot everyone try to fix the mistakes of their past? Do not the laws of the elves - laws she, as our Queen, put in effect - allow forgiveness and retribution?" It was obvious I was fighting an uphill battle.

Elrond looked at me. He removed his hand from my arm to place his chin in his fingers, taking up his classic meditational position. "Does she see the mistakes is the question, young Sárvana. This whole thing might be a ploy. I know the three of us have no small price on our heads; our death would be valuable to them, not to mention to her." He of course meant himself, Galadriel and Celeborn.

I moved back in my chair away from his strong eyes, and looked feebly for help from the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. My wits and conversational battle skills were drips of water compared to their oceans of wisdom. I knew help in this fight would not come.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'I cannot help but feel the Authwen is coming for help.' Father said quietly. Mother nodded and looked at Elrond searchingly.

I leaned back into the stairs and patiently waited for the conversation to continue.

[Elvenwanderer]

"Help with what?" Elrond muttered as if to himself. His eyes searched the floorboards.

Galadriel was implying he had some secret knowledge about Authwen's reason for departure from her new life with Sauron. If the Rivendell Lord did have any other information, it would take some soul searching.

[Tirithel]

"Hear hear, Sarvana," Uinen broke in as Sarvana shot silent yet effective curses in her direction. "Whatever service you paid the dark queen was obviously more tenderly accepted than my own. As perceptive as your kind might be, I've noticed you are also rather self-concerned, so perhaps you did not see the way she was with those outside the Elven bloodline. My people were treated tenfold worse than those that shared her roots, and my entire family died at her will. If I hate her, it is not without reason. My house was wiped from the Earth by her hand, all but me, by luck alone, and much more than luck guards me now." She moved her hand to the hilt of her sword.

Suddenly, a cloud passed from her face and she spoke again, "But a daughter is a daughter, whatever measure of good or evil she may possess, and a father's love is not easily cast aside." She looked to Elrond, speaking as one of the wise and far beyond the youth of her face. "Not for all the stars of Varda would you utterly forsake her, though I daresay you would consider it a fair trade."

A pause. "I will add one more riddle: should the Dark Queen turn back to the light, she could be a valuable asset in this war, one not to be trifled with and perhaps embody the winning stroke and our final hope. If you love her, let her in. If you do not trust her, turn her away. But if you want to win this war you must chance your trust and trust your love.

"I will love her not, but I may trust her by the end. I may have to. We all may."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

"I will not say that I directly served her or what serving her embodies, but would you not have followed a King (or Queen) anywhere, and given trust to their actions?" I defended weakly. It was true... I had helped her. Once, only once. I stood by and watched as Uinen's family was killed, and I did nothing. Although I saw Uinen escape death, I said nothing to Morwen, but I did not help Uinen flee.

Elrond tried to meet my eyes to see what truth he could extract, but I would not look back at him. He stood up and spoke to the council. "Uinen is right in two points. It seems we all have made mistakes in our past that we wish to recind, some graver than others, but still mistakes. And, Authwen could be a valuable asset to our side." He looked to all of the members of the Council, posing a silent question: Should we trust her, or will she betray us once again?

[Tirithel]

(UINEN)

"I follow no one that stands for the killing of innocents." I shot Sarvana a hard but not angry look, somewhat understanding her plight but sympathizing not at all.

Addressing the rest of the group, I continued. "This war has gone ill indeed. Not many chances for victory have we, and to throw away this chance out of fear would be dearest folly. Should we let her [Morwen] in, we may hasten the end, be it good or evil. But what is the use in delaying the imminent? If she betrays us, sooner do we fall. But if she truly means well, she may be our last hope."

I do not know where the words came from, but in my heart I understood them. I no longer feared Morwen Authwen, and, however false it may have been, trusted my own meager strength as defense against her. To look on her without fear was a great advantage in tactical thinking, but the Elves surrounding me had too many past dealings and betrayals with her to forget the lingering fear in their hearts and see the truth. We needed her.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I remained silent as the she-mortal spoke, yet my soul was doubtful.

'Elrond asks if we can trust her again.' I said suddenly.

'This I do not know.' I paused for a moment before continuing.

'But, I think we should be careful around her until we know she can be trusted.'

[Tirithel]

I fingered the hilt of my sword uneasily as Fildor spoke, my eyes jumping to each member of the assembled party in turn. Sarvana looked hopeful and Elrond doubtful, but the White Lady, alone of all of them, returned my stare. She had a thoughtful smirk on her face, and I realized where the words had come from. Why she hadn't spoken them herself, I couldn't say, but truly I understood her thinking, and spoke again, this time from my own heart.

"I will watch her."

[Elvenwanderer]

Sarvana nervously fingered at a hole in the coarse dirt-encrusted cloth of her dress.

-------------------
(Morwen)

My father... that thought echoed in my mind. Throughout my whole life I could withstand the cold, hard stares of Sauron and easily lie to the truthful eyes of Galadriel, my maternal grandmother, but against my father I was helpless. Even now, I knew I could not look into his hurt filled eyes very long without seeing and regretting my mistakes…. I started hardening my heart against his eyes when I remembered I had to go through with my plan, which would depend on their trust of me. Authwen.... That name did not seem to fit me anymore... neither did 'Morwen Naereth' when I was like this...

On the horse, I flew by the goblins that feebly and uselessly guarded the borders of Mirkwood, the evil that dwelt there needed no protection.

An hour passed and I reached the Great Anduin about sixty miles north of the Gladden Fields. I would follow the river south for a day and a half before I reached the borders of the Golden Wood.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'A she-mortal against the most dangerous Elf in Middle-Earth?' I asked sarcastically.

I caught Mother's disapproving glance and said no more.

'Feldor asks a worthy question.' Elrond said thoughfully. I nearly smirked, but contained myself.

'Feldor has also volunteered to meet Authwen.' Father said. I nodded slightly and half-smiled at Mother.

[Elvenwanderer]

Sarvana's hands left the hole in her skirt, and she again looked at Feldor, this time with mild annoyance.

"Do not discredit what you have not seen, Feldor Gilrond. I alone here have watched Uinen fight (though we were on the same side), and she is not someone you would want to have as an enemy. From the times I practiced swordplay against Authwen, I would say that she and Uinen are almost rivals, with a single mistake as an equalizer in a fight. Uinen would be worthy to be Authwen's guard. Besides, any elf that would guard her would be too afraid of Authwen to do anything against her." She paused, and her voice fell. "If indeed it came to that... which I hope for both parties' sake it does not." Sarvana looked again to the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim for either a nod of acceptance or a frown of disapproval.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I scowled at Sarvana and threw a stony gaze to the she-mortal.

'Authwen has improved since she left.' Mother said quietly as Father remained silent.

Elrond leaned back into his seat and Father shifted slightly.

'Could we send both of them?' Asked a Ranger hesitantly.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I glared back at Feldor, but answered the Ranger. "That sounds like the best plan to me. Though how 'I-want-to-meet-a-known-mass-murderer-Feldor' could be of any help to Uinen if Authwen became hostile I can see not."

Elrond shot me a look of anger, and quietly threatened to make me leave.

"If the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim, not the Lord of Rivendell, wish for me to go, then I will gladly take leave of this council." I replied coldly.

(OOC: will you kick Sarvana out please Dawn?)

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

(OOC: My pleasure :evil: )

I gasped at Sarvana's remark and angrily stood.

'I'd be careful whom you insult around here!' I said, my voice strangely calm.

'Calm down Feldor.' I heard Mother's voice say gently as I noticed two guards escort Sarvana from the council.

I smirked at her as she threw a icy look at me and slowly returned to my seat at my father's feet.

[Tirithel]

(UINEN)

I hadn't a chance to speak in the brief pauses of the conversation that followed, and watched helplessly as two guards pulled Sarvana from the court. In the dead silence that followed, I spoke for myself once again.

"Frail as you may feel the words of the elf-maid are, they are the truth. I neither fear, nor trust Authwen, and will not let her stray from my sight while she is a guest in this city- whether she knows it or not. Let me offer this: that Feldor and I should guard her from a distance, watching and waiting, espying her every move, and reporting back to you in intervals. If her motives are truly treacherous, then she will do her best to make it seem otherwise, betraying our eyes and our minds in our presense. But left alone, and she assuming so, we can see what she is really up to, and stop any malicious activity before it creates a real problem. If she means well, then her days may be as peaceful as those of a gamebird who knows not that the hunter watches it."

The Elves pondered my words again, still doubting in their minds if my strength dared to match that of the Dark Queen encroaching on the borders.

To this unspoken doubt, I replied: "And as for fighting ability, Sarvana's words ring still true. I am capable. But if you do not believe me, believe this: watching Morwen from a distance will 'inhibit' her hostile intentions and make her less apt to strike out, lessening the need for strength. Besides, I believe that away from her master's stronghold, her dark powers will lessen."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Elrond... 3rd person pov)

"Authwen is very powerful, Dark or good, here or there. It is probable, in fact I would not doubt that she does not need Sauron’s backing to remain that strong.” Elrond replied. He looked into Uinen’s eyes and she stared calmly back.

“Though there is another issue that we here must also consider. You said yourself, Lady; that you served her, as did Sarvana. How do we know that either of you won't do so and betray us again? How can we be assured it will not be one (or both) of her former servants doing her bidding against us and blaming it on her? Do not misunderstand, I mean this as no insult if you are truly on this side, but just as a viable possibility. We must also judge Sarvana now in that same manner, be she Lórien elf or mortal."

(Sarvana.... 1st person pov)

I stared at Feldor with malice in my eyes, he stared back at me. He wasn't afraid, but neither was I of him.

"Let go of me!" I yelled pulled my arms from the two guards' grasps. "I know where my own flet is, thank you very much." Nonetheless, they followed me to my talan and only disappeared into the trees when I climbed the ladder.

In my flet I realised as I plopped down in a dusty chair, that even though I remembered much of this place, there was much I did not remember. I quickly stood up; I had sat too much today, and I was too angry to remain in one place very long. I started pacing across the flet, kicking up dust and fallen leaves as I went.

Feldor... I'm glad we never moved in the same social circles, I don't think I could ever stand talking to him... he makes me sooo angry... always crawling to Celeborn and Galadriel when he's in a pinch, thinking they're his parents when he knows he's just as much an orphan as I. (insert your favorite embarrassing Feldor dialogue here...)

Anyway, I went into our (my and my husband's) old bedroom, and fell over onto the still-mussed sheets of our bed. I stared at the moving leaves of the ceiling in deep thought about many things before I fell asleep.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I heard Sarvana protest and smiled slightly.

We had never understood each other. She was a grovelling she-elf, running to her husband when I hurt her.

I was much stronger.

I kept my hurt to myself, yet I'm sure she thinks I ran to my parents.

I know I'm adopted, but their the only parents I've known. I treat them as such, because they have told me to.

'Watching her from a distance will do no good. Authwen will know we are watching.' I said as I fixed my grey eyes on the she-mortal.

'Authwen knows Lórien, and she knows she will be watched.'

[Tirithel]

(UINEN)

"As to your comments of my possible betrayal, I understand your doubts. But rest assured that I serve no one but Gondor, least of all the one who gave me this." I turned around and let my cloak drop to the floor. After much shuffling of clothes and poking and proding, the right section of ribs on my side was revealed. A long, ragged slash was slowly healing itself, and dark spots of blood had clotted all around it. Where the fabric of my undershirt had ripped away fromt he skin, new blood had begun to seep out, and as the crowd stared in a combination of amazement and disgust, I pulled my gear back into place and looked them in the eyes once more. "Besides, Feldor will be watching me as well as Morwen."

I paused for a moment. "And if you are sure that secrecy of observation will be no avail, then only one of us shall remain secret while the other stays at her side. However you want to arrange it, it will work. Should one of us fall, the other can fetch help. At any rate, I do not think it wise to let her wander all alone, creating mischief wherever she may please."

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'I will be watching you.' I answered Uinen as I examined her wound with my eyes.

'And, if it helps, I somewhat trust you.' I added hesitantly, even though in my short life I had learned to trust no one.

Especially those you loved.

Father nodded and looked at Uinen gently.

'Your suggestion is sound. We will accept your help. Authwen will be under total supervision once she passes the borders of these lands.'

[Elvenwanderer]

"Which means we have about a day and a half to prepare for her arrival." Elrond said, agreeing with Celeborn. "Will you also send a normal guard out when Authwen arrives? She expects it, I would believe. Are there any other issues that we must cover here?"

[Ithilraen]

Ithilraen spoke up, "If the council will allow, Legolas and I would like to intercept and escort Authwen when she comes in. I don't believe that a normal guard would be sufficient for her. Also she might not be that hostile if she sees a friendly face."

Legolas nodded in agreement. "Though I have not seen Authwen for many years, we still have a good friendship. I agree with Ithilraen. We should go to escort Authwen to Caras Galadhon, if the Lord and Lady and Lord Elrond will allow."

[Tirithel]

Other issues? Uinen thought. Yeah, that and the takeover of the Dark forces and what to do about it. But she said nothing; elves were arrogant and presumptuous, and would more than likely chide her rather than take her comment seriously. Besides, the arrival of this single enemy (or ally) seemed to be enough on the hands of the Lorien occupants for now.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I woke up and again stared at the ceiling for a few minutes while I worked out a plan of action.... I got up and grabbed a Border Guard outfit of my husband's and gladly put the pants and shirt on. The clothes still smelled like him, and the shirt was a bit baggy, but it would work.

I grabbed Magol's long bow (not the one he normally used, but the one for special occasions) and sped down the stairs to the ground.

Elrond and Galadriel would certainly not let me meet Authwen at the borders with Uinen and the Unspeakable, so I would find her first.

(Authwen... a day and a half later)

I had about five miles left before the edge of the forest, so I dismounted and let the horse return to... I don't know *shrug*... wherever. After all, I still had working feet; I could walk the rest of the way through the long grass to the trees.

Before I sent the horse off though, I pulled a black cloth from his saddlebag and wrapped it around the trinket I took from Legolas' room. I would give it to him there... if Legolas was there. I slipped the small black encased object into my pocket while I was walking.

Soon (with about a mile to go), I felt many pairs of eyes watching me but I passed them off as outer guards of the forest. I knew they would be on orders to kill any suspicious person (me... hem hem) that made any sign of a threat, so I did not put my hands near my sword or daggers. Even I don't want to be killed, I'm not that crazy... I'm just crazy enough to betray the Dark King Sauron. Yep, I must be reallly sane. I shook my head from the irony.

The guards. I had never known the wary Galadhrim to place elves so far outside the protection of the trees... But they were not causing me harm, so I decided not to do anything.

Dark days like these coupled with dodgy visitors like me called for extra precaution... right?

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I jumped from my bed and chided myself for sleeping past sunrise as I pulled a finely carved bow from its holder on the wall.

'It's been too long, my love.' I whispered as I walked to the edge of my private flet and jumped from the edge. I landed gently and walked to the gates of the city.

'Authwen arrives today!' I reminded the gatekeepers as I caught a distant glimspe of her. Sarvana.

'The ungrateful wretch.' I said in my mind, though in my heart I was calling her worse names.

'I'll return with Authwen.' I said as I pushed the gate open. The gatekeepers nodded and pulled the gate shut behind me.

I secrued my weapons and began tracking Sarvana with a comfortable, yet speedy, loping stride.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

I reached the last trees, and suddenly felt a searing pain course through my lower leg. I looked down to see a black arrow sticking through to the other side of my leg.

I whipped around and saw her, Authwen, striding towards the forest dressed in black. How could she...she brought them... I hobbled backwards, and my vision began to degrade.

(Authwen)

Just as I stepped inside the borders of the forest I heard a whistling noise and an arrow went shooting past my head. I turned around and ducked just in time as another two arrows pierced a tree where my head had been. I reached forward and pulled one of them out of the tree.

I brought it to my mouth and I cautiously licked the tip. I spat after I tasted the foul poison that the orcs carefully dip the arrows points in. I had long been immunized to the poison, but for the other elves I could not say.

There was a border guard coming toward me, and behind her was another elf... I shook my head to clear my vision.

Him… please let it not be him, I pleaded with my heart. He can’t be the one elf that I could not see without afterwards regretting it… he just can’t.

[Tirithel]

Morwen's expression kept steely as ever, but I saw a gleam of either pain or rear behind those dark eyes. In my short service of Sauron's mistress, I had quickly noticed that where harsh words and cruelty proved quite a convincing visad, Authwen's eyes betrayed her instantly.

But Morwen was not quavering at me; her gaze flickered to Feldor behind me. I didn't know why and I didn't care. My voice was hard and emotionless as I spoke to her; "Drop your weapons- sword, daggers and all. Leave them here and come farther into the trees." I raised my sword, holding it straight out from my arm with the point inches from her face. "Now," I demanded, my eyes still fixed on hers and my face unflinching.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sárvana)

I could no longer discern my feet from the forest floor, and I was wobbling so badly that I fell over at the foot of a tree. Little whizzy things (birds, maybe? They had feathers...) were coming through the trees, but I was too delirious to care. Someone stooped over me and pulled something... my leg, I think… I’m sure there was a reason….

(Authwen)

I glared down at this... mortal... that dared order me about. But I slowly untied my sword and daggers anyway, saying nothing about the small knife hidden in my boot. I handed them to her and I backed away a few feet.

“I hate to remind you, Lady, that there are orcs attacking the forest… and that there is already a wounded elf." I tilted my head toward Sárvana who was lying and twitching on the ground. "I also know that neither elves nor men have developed an antidote for that poison (I cultivated it myself)… so I may be the only one that can help her….”

I looked over at Feldor to see if he approved for me to heal Sarvana. Actually, I didn't care what he thought, I was going to heal her anyway.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'You realize of course that I do not care whether she survives or not. But, you may as well go ahead.' I said quietly as my eyes feasted on her face.

Authwen had returned.

Yet I was ever mindful of the orcs attacking.

'Why in the name of Elbereth did you bring them?' I asked Authwen as I stepped aside and let an arrow meant for my head literaly bite the dust.

[Elvenwanderer]

"I didn't. You seem to forget, Feldor, I am just as much a target in attacks like this as you. Besides, these orcs are outcasts... deserters... abusers of the Darkness. They do not hold allegiance to Sauron, and they want me dead for hunting them."

After glancing at the she-mortal, I leaned down over Sarvana and clamped my hands around the arrow. I pulled it out and as a result she seemed to twitch harder than earlier. As I worked to clear the poison, my mind repeated what Feldor's sweet voice had said. "I do not care whether she survives or not..." I paused and looked up at him to meet his strong and unwavering yet beautiful and powerful eyes.

"You are taking a bad example from me if you do not have a preference for the life of an elf. I don't want to believe you said that." I commented quietly to him and looked down... could I really think his eyes beautiful?

[Tirithel]

I moved my head from one elf to the other following their conversation. It didn't take long to pick up on a certain air of feeling between them, and I rolled my eyes as another black feathered shaft whizzed thorugh the air and stuck the ground behind me.

"Enough with this lovers' quarrel!" I interrupted coarsely. "Into the trees, or you'll have more than one poisoned wound on your hands." I gave Feldor a quick shove and picked Sarvana up under the arms and dragged her farther into the trees, before motioning for Morwen to follow.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'I do care about Elves.' I said, defending myself as Uinen shoved me towards the trees.

'Just not this particular one.' I finished as I pulled my bow and turned, trying to pinpoint an archer. I spotted one behind a tree and released one of my arrows in that direction.

I heard a scream of pain and saw another orc replace the wounded one.

'There are to many.' I said as I turned to the she-mortal.

'I know of a flet near-by.'

[Tirithel]

"Well we'd best find it soon," I replied with a hint of obviousness in my voice, as I hauled Sarvana's weight up by her arm, which I drew around my shoulder. An arrow whizzed by Morwen's head, and she flinched slightly. "That means you too." I looked at her. She did not approve of my tone.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Authwen)

Being now slightly angry I opened my mouth to say something quite nasty to the girl (I still couldn't recall her name... she seemed familiar somehow though). But, right before my words had voice, I felt a gentle hand touch my arm. I glanced nervously over at Feldor as he removed his hand and shook his head a fraction of an inch to either side. I shut my mouth and stared down at the ground where an arrow had just skidded past Sarvana's twitching feet.

I looked up from a nearby tree root as Sarvana started moaning deliriously and her head began rolling about her shoulders.

"Let me take her." I volunteered suddenly, suprising even myself. I put my hands out to pick up and carry the she-elf to the flet that Feldor spoke of. "Then you two can fight if need be and I'll be preoccupied and less likely to do something... err... not to your liking."

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I smiled slightly at Authwen's words and nodded.

'Follow me.' I said, somewhat roughly as I turned to my left, shooting an very unkind look at Uinen in the process.

I scanned the ground at my feet and looked up a majestic mallorn.

'Stay here. I'll lower a ladder soon.' I said to Authwen as I walked to the tree.

'You can't climb that.' Uinen said suddenly as I circled the base of the mallorn.

'Watch and learn.' I said as I pushed on a small black dot.

A ladder appeared, but I was the only one that could see it. I began climbing and as I made my way up, I thought of how we had built the flet.

Oh yes, it had taken effort. But we finished it. And then Mother added the ladder.

I emerged on the flet and spotted the conventional ladder, exactly where I had left it, almost fifty years ago.

I picked the ladder up and dropped one end of it down the trunck, seccuring the other end around a limb.

'Quickly climb up.'

[Elvenwanderer]

(Authwen)

I watched Feldor climb something up the tree and then he put a long wooden ladder down for us. The girl motioned impatiently for me to climb up first, she wouldn't leave me on the ground alone. I shrugged.

Sarvana groaned again... she was waking up. I shifted her weight to my left arm to use my right to climb with.

Testingly, I put my foot on the first rung and pulled myself up to the second. And the third... finally, at almost the top of the ladder, she woke up.

Sarvana jumped in surprise at being suspended twenty feet in the air, and I almost dropped her from the extra strain on my tired arm. I even felt like her mother (I'm not... I assure you) when I tried to get her to stop jabbering nonsense. At last, I got to the flet and dropped Sarvana on the floor.

"Where am I...? Authwen? Is that you?"

I nodded, and quickly turned my head as the three of us heard a loud clatter coming from the ladder. The graceful she-mortal had tripped.

I let out a huff of breath, trying (not too hard, mind you) to make it look like I wasn't laughing. I walked back over and put my hand down to help the girl up.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I watched Authwen emerge onto the flet with a delirous Sarvana on her arm as I sat down at a small wooden desk near the small sleeping cot.

A loud clatter met my ears and I made no attempt to disguise my pleasure as Authwen reached down to help Uinen into the flet.

'Sarvana, lay down on the cot. Authwen will attend to you soon.' I commanded harshly as Uinen's unhappy face appeared.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Sarvana)

Feldor. Perfect. So he gets to join this little party too. And he's laughing... at me again most likely.

I reluctantly crawled towards the cot. My one leg was virtually useless. It felt like it had fallen asleep and it tingled painfully, but I didn't know why.

As I sat down, I saw Uinen's angry face pop through a hole in the floor of the flet (aha.. so that's what he's laughing at!).

I pulled my leg up and looked at it. There was a hole clean through my calf; the edges of the hole were a sickly putrid green and dark blue... ew.

(Authwen)

"Don't touch it!" I called as Sarvana's fingers strayed a bit too close to the wound for comfort.

The girl's face appeared and she roughly pushed away my hand.

"I'm just trying to be nice...." But I wasn't at all offended by her show of independence.

"Not that I want to touch her either..." I added to Feldor and Sarvana with a grin.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'I understand perfectly.' I responded to Authwen as Uinen collasped near the enterance hole of the flet.

'If you need water, there's a fountain over here.' I explained as I pointed to a small marble statue near my desk.

Uinen shot me a very impolite look and I turned back to my desk.

[Togo Bleecker]

(OOC: okay so i've caught up and from what i can tell the hobbits are all at Brandy Hall so i will make my intro there)

Sitting far up in a tree, was a small scrawney hobbit, he could be plainly seen if someone was looking, his clothes, shades of brown clashed with the green leaves of the tree. In his small childlike hands held a book bound in blue leather. Indeed he did look very peaceful until he heard the noise. It was almost like thunder..no...it wasnt loud enough but it was banging, moving and clashing. Leaning over to try and tell where the sound was coming from the small hobbit, whose name was Togo fell and with a loud THUD landed on the not so soft ground below him, his book still lodged between two branches in the tree above him. He arches his neck glaring at it..but decides to return later. Right now he was more interested in what was going on in town.

Not being very social he was hesitant to approach the large mass of hobbits he saw gathered around a very shocking burned Brandy Hall and the mass of dead a sudden churning began in his stomach and he held back the overwhelming desire to loose his lunch. He had heard, of course, that dark times were among them but never did he expect them to reach the shire. When they eventually did it was like someone had chucked a rock at his head forcing him to come out of his dream land. The air still fresh with the smell of burnt wood tickled his nose as he approached a hobbit he reconized at one of the Cotton children "come now...what is this all about??" he asks his voice, graced with a shire accent is quiet and shaky, he didnt like conversation, only with friends and he did not have many hobbit friends. He places his hands down into the pockets of his tan trousers and hangs his head full of messy brown curls down to look at the oh so interesting ground, awaiting an answer patiently.

[Tirithel]

"Quite gracious," I bowed half in mocking, half in gratitude to Feldor's offer, and walked to the fountain. A silver basin sat near its edge and a few small goblets. I poured myself a glass and sat down to watch Morwen tend to Sarvana.

We were far from the cries and arrows of the orcs now. Starlight mingled in the golden leaves overhead, casting a bluish haze on every face in the flet. Fireflies flickered in the background and there was a cool breeze, but I somehow could not get totally comfortable.

My eyes were fastened on Morwen, and I studied her every move. Memories of her treatment of me flickered through my mind; images of cold stone walls and red firelight on fresh blood, and the cold stare of the Dark Queen's eyes filled my head, and so with silent vigilance I watched for the old Authwen to emerge.

But it never came. She poured over Sarvana's leg with a tenderness in her face and a gentle hand. This manner was completely opposite the Morwen that I knew. Even her hair color seemed less black. Feldor sat nearby and they gabbed in Elvish words I could only guess at, seemingly about me. They shot knowing looks and secret sniggers my direction ever