Title: TH Elrond's Secret

Chapter 1: The Gods

Spoiler Alert: The Hobbit, LOTR (books, maps and movies)

Warnings: Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Humor, AU (means not all canon)

Pairing: Elrond/OC…Hints of Thranduil/Alyssa, Legolas/Tauriel

Summary: Ship - Elrond has been alone since his wife left for the Undying Lands hundreds of years ago in need of healing, but most don't know her fate. Now faced with an Ainur envoy with a mutual enemy close at hand, Elrond starts to hope that their lives can intertwine if they don't die first. There be dragons, magical Ainur of legend, angsty fun, romantic situations, and true love.

A/N: Do not expect a Canon Fic. This picks up where my fic TH Thranduil's Visitors left off. Thranduil now has an Elvenqueen, but does not know Legolas and Tauriel are bonded.

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Elrond nudged his horse forward to the tree line to join Elvenking Thranduil and Elvenqueen Alyssa. Elrond remarked, "The two envoys truly ride white horses with massive wings. Do you suppose they are Ainur?"

Thranduil turned to his Elvenqueen.

She shook her head. "Don't look at me. The Hobbit never mentioned gods showing up before the Lord of the Rings movie. I read the books a long time ago too, but I don't think any of them just showed up between Rivendell and Mirkwood announcing who they are. And Legolas never really talked about his family or what happened in Mirkwood. He was too busy."

"Doing what exactly?" Legolas rode up with Tauriel close at his side.

"You know. Stuff." Alyssa smiled knowing that she couldn't answer him without the risk of altering the future. She may have come from a realm where The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were movies and books were talked about openly, but here in Middle Earth she transformed into an Elf and had to keep most of what she knew a secret.

Elrond nodded out at the field before them. "Let us return to the matter at hand. They claim to be envoys for the Ainur, so leaving them waiting would be an insult."

Thranduil started foreword, "Very well."

Elrond let them take the lead. It was Thranduil's army at their back acting as escort after all. As he watched the two pairs of elves riding slightly in front of him, he became painfully aware that he was the only one not riding with the one he loved.

Elrond knew he should focus on what was happening, but his mind wondered over the reason that he was alone. His Lady wife Celebrían had been traveling when she was set upon by Orcs. Their sons Elrohir and Elladan had rescued her, but she never fully recovered. Even with all of Elrond's legendary skills at healing, he was unable to restore her. She left for the Undying Lands for further healing and as far as everyone in Middle Earth knew she arrived safely. A letter had arrived in Rivendell along with a pink ribbon he knew she kept in her hair. It spoke of a water serpent attacking the ship dragging his wife into the depths. It ended with a signature of sorts: The One Who Could Not Save Her.

Elrond then sent his own missive to the Undying Lands. The reply spoke of the attack and a bright light that attacked the water serpent. It eventually blinded the survivors that floated around the overturned ship. When the light left, the ship was righted again, and they climbed back inside as their sight returned. Two Elves that replied spoke of how the serpent swallowed Celebrían whole and how the light followed it into the water. Neither returned. They did not know anything about the letter he received.

Elrond bid those in the Undying Lands not to mention her passing in any form as his sons were still unsteady after her attack. Being Elven twins meant they could fuel each other's emotions. It had been recorded in the past that the death of a mother had sent a set of twins into such a state of despair by feeding off of each other's pain that they killed one another to escape it. He remembered another instance of the death of a female sibling which caused a pair of twins to become crazed berserkers killing anything at random until their family had to dispose of them. Elrond had no intension of ending his own son's lives and so he kept the secret.

When such thoughts consume Elrond's mind, he often remembers the state in which he found Elrohir the full moon after Celebrían left for the Undying Lands. Elrond had saw Elrohir holding a book that belonged to his mother. Elrohir whispered to it as if he were speaking with her. He then pulled out a knife and dragged it across his arm letting blood spill onto the cover. Elrond did not intervene because Elrohir chanted the wound closed, wrapped the book, and put it in a chest. No, Elrond was not going to risk their lives with the truth.

Now riding across the field toward the two envoys, he wondered about the story of the light that drove off the water serpent. It had been over five hundred years ago, but his heart beat with a hope that maybe the Ainur had saved his wife. He wondered if they did then she may live with them. It was known to happen in the First Age. Elves would stay with them from time to time. He told himself that it was not probable, but he determined to find a way to speak with one of the Ainur alone if he could.

Thranduil stopped his elk at a reasonable distance with Alyssa on her horse at his side. Legolas moved to her other side, and Tauriel calmed her horse stopping by Legolas.

Elrond moved next to Thranduil, but kept his horse back a foot as the other's had; thereby, letting it be visually known that he was deferring to the Elvenking as the leader of the group. He knew Thranduil would appreciate the formal nod, and it would lessen compilations.

Elrond's eyes scanned over the two large horses that had eagle wings then to the riders. The male had long blondish hair that shimmered blue in the sunlight. His skin was a pale white that set off his brilliant sapphire eyes. Peaking out behind his hair were pointed ears that were a lot longer and pointier than an Elves. He wore a deep blue robe over silver armor that appeared to be an alteration of an ancient Elvish design.

Elrond turned to the other envoy seeing that she was obviously a woman. Large green eyes sparkled like emeralds surrounded by long dark lashes. Her skin was as pale as the man's, but her long hair danced with glimpses of purple in the breeze instead of blue. The bronze colored armor did nothing to hide her curvy figure, and from the way it was designed he knew she would be able to maneuver better than her counterpart. His armor appeared to be new with no blemishes, but hers showed signs of vigorous use.

Thranduil determined to give them as little information as possible. "I am Elvenking Thranduil of Mirkwood. And you are?"

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but the man beat her to it. "I am Alarin of Springfield Glen, descendant of…"

Elrond listened to his long recitation while not knowing any of the locations and names he spoke. He found himself unable to stop glancing at the woman. When Alarin first spoke, her eyes had flashed with annoyance. There had been restrained power and passion behind the emerald that Elrond knew he would not forget anytime soon. For hundreds of years, there was little that was different, and he told everyone that he savored peace above all else. One day was much like the last. Study ancient manuscripts, try to divine the future to save Middle Earth, and patrol for Orcs. He wondered what it would be like to have one such as her by his side.

Elrond listened to Alarin wondering when he would stop then he saw a flicker of annoyance in the woman's eyes again.

The female Ainur's voice flowed out in another language with a voice that sounded as smooth as honey. "No one cares about the places and people you speak of. I'm a princess of our realm and even my name and title does not last this long."

Alarin spoke in their own language as she just did. "I'm about half way done. I want them to know with whom they deal."

She tipped her head to Alarin still speaking in her own language and with a sweetness that was forced. "They are from a different realm of existence. They don't know the dozen places or people you just went on about you imbecile."

Elrond had been concentrating to follow along with their foreign words, and he knew no one else in his group could know the words they spoke. Once he fully understood what was said, he had to stifle a chuckle.

Her brilliant eyes flared then focused on his. She was shocked that any of them would know their tongue. After studying the shape of his eyes, hair color, and nose, she was aware of his ancestor, and it made sense to her.

She continued to speak in her own language for Elrond's benefit, but did not peer at him directly. "It would appear that the line of Melian the Maia and Thingol still walks this realm." She watched Alarin turn to inspect Thranduil.

Alarin continued to speak in their language. "How can you tell? They all appear to be the same with different hair colors. I think you're just making things up to try to appear smarter than you are. There are those that call you intelligent, but you truly need a man to rule for you once you are Queen. I think I would make a wonderful choice as I was telling your mother the other day. I pointed out my lineage, and she appeared to agree with me."

She blinked several times in a row feeling annoyed he was there and talking about marriage when there were more important things to discuss. She pursed her lips and pictured loping his head off. Then she reminded herself yet again that she had promised her mother the Queen of Lorantia that she would not kill Alarin. She glanced at him and wondered if she could just maim him a little.

Elrond was grinning ear to ear completely fascinated with her. He pondered that being around such a woman would never be dull. He whispered for Thranduil's benefit in the common tongue wondering if she would hear or understand him. "It would appear they very well may be who they say they are."

Elrond watched the tip of her ear twitch. Yes, he mused, she did hear but did she understand.

She glanced at the group then settled on Thranduil speaking Elvish as Alarin had when he introduced himself. "I am the crown Princess Valintria of Lorantia. We are from a different realm of existence. I told your scouts we are Ainur. That is the closest word you would use for what we are. There are Ainur who create worlds, but we are a kind that sustain one and protect the others."

Valintria's attention focused on Alyssa. A faint smile moved across her lips before she continued. "It would appear that you have had visitors from other realms. Your," She glanced down then back up deciding on the closest word. "…aura is a different…color you could say. You are not from here as we are not from here. Do you understand?"

Thranduil nodded. "We understand. What we do not understand is why you are here."

Alarin tipped his head up. "Valintria was the one that came here. I followed her. I'm trying to find out the same answer as you are."

Valintria took a deep breath and let it out as she turned her gaze to Alarin. "You know why I am here. You didn't have to follow me."

"I know why you are officially here, but you did not have to show yourself to them to complete the task. That means you need them for something." Alarin folded is arms then realized his mistake of letting go of the reins while kicking his feet back and forth in the saddle. The Pegasus started moving away. He fumbled with the reins as Valintria stared at the grass waiting for him to move back into place.

A white wing thrashed out. She had to duck down to avoid being slapped in the face. The Pegasus was almost turned completely in the wrong direction when Valintria gave up. "Nersee ignore his commands and just stand by me as you were."

The Pegasus Nersee trotted in a circle and moved back into position. A flustered Alarin would have fallen off his saddle if Nersee did not lift his folded wing and press his leg holding him in place.

Alyssa could not stifle the giggle any more, and Elrond was back to grinning.

Alarin's voice did not even hold the pretense of politeness that Valintria had afforded him. He spoke in his own tongue still having never noticed that Elrond could understand. "It is not going to work."

Valintria froze and her Pegasus turned his head to watch Alarin speak. "None of them will want you either."

Valintria's voice was barely a whisper in her own tongue. "Be quiet. This is not the time to talk of this."

"I will not be quiet. They cannot understand me anyway. I know why you are here. You could have dispatched the filth without letting yourself be seen. It is because of the ancient pact that was made with the Elves so long ago when they first became aware of our existence."

Valintria turned to face him speaking louder, "I said be quiet."

"It stated that if a member of the crown returned here seeking an alliance that one of their kings would be bound to marry the one seeking the alliance." He spit the words out like daggers. "None of our men will have you, so you have come here seeking a husband instead of marrying me. This is low even for you that you would use this ancient pact which no self-respecting Ainur would ever use to seek alliance because we are Ainur, and they are so much lesser than we are."

Valintria felt a flush of deep purple starting to fan out all over her face. Her mount shifted, and she watched as his white as snow coat solidified into a kind of darkened armor. "It's alright Daree. You don't have to change."

But he didn't listen to her either. Daree's skeletal structure shifted closer to that of a massive black panther with marks of dark purple along his now armored body.

Elrond watched the transformation before him knowing his mount did not like the instant addition of a predator to the scene. He still trusted him to hold his ground; he knew the other horses would because they were battle hardened.

Elrond further knew that Thranduil's archers were probably taking aim right about now. With a glance from Thranduil, Elrond held his hand farthest away from him out to the side and lowered it slowly knowing it was the signal for them to wait for further orders.

Alarin continued, but started speaking in Elvish for all to understand. "So Elvenking Rand, will you honor the pact and marry Valintria."

"His name is Thranduil. And Alarin, you need to stop this. That is not why I'm here." Valintria glanced up seeing that he was not even looking at her, but watching Thranduil. She turned to the East taking a few breaths then turned back to the group knowing they did not have much time.

Thranduil reached out taking Alyssa's hand wanting no part in whatever scheme Alarin was playing. "I already have an Elvenqueen. I cannot have two."

Alyssa squeezed his hand remembering all the trouble they went through to be together. There was no way in hell she was giving him up that easily. Pact be damned. "He's mine."

Alarin nodded. "And you are?"

"Legolas. Elvenking Thranduil's son."

"Will you marry Valintria then in your father's place per the blood pact that was signed with our people or will you be forsworn and die?" Alarin questioned.

Tauriel grabbed Legolas by the arm and spoke loudly. "He is already bonded with me."

Legolas spoke next. "Yes and cannot be forced to marry another."

Thranduil slowly turned to Tauriel with death in his eyes. He felt Alyssa tug his hand before she whispered. "It's for the best." Thranduil decided to focus his anger at the man who dared to get his name wrong. He didn't care if he was a god he wanted him to pay for it.

Alarin pointed at Elrond. "What about you?"

Thranduil shook his head. "It would appear that we are all already bonded to another and cannot be expected to honor the pact at this time. Now I must insist that you leave our lands."

Elrond thought about his secret that his wife was most likely dead these past five hundred years. He thought about his son's mental states and remained silent.

Alarin grinned wickedly. "See. You show up and magically every man in the army is bonded. Even that servant does not want you. I cannot give you away. Not even to servants."

Elrond watched him wave a hand in his direction. Elrond glanced down at his brown robe and hair knowing he did not dress as elaborate and shinny as Thranduil, but he didn't think that made him appear to be a servant. He blinked and forgot about his own pride when he saw the flash of pain on Valintria's face. He guessed this was not the first time that the idiot had belittled her with an audience watching. Elrond's hand moved to his sword of its own accord.

Alarin blundered on. "You should take my offer and be done with your deviousness. No one wants a woman that dresses and acts like a man. No man in this realm or any other would tolerate your other shortcomings and weaknesses, but I will suffer through if you will learn your place."

Alarin finally turned to Valintria seeing that her steed had transformed and so had she. He jerked back as if slapped. Instead of the massive Pegasus he expected, there was a black winged jungle cat with sharp teeth which snapped in his direction.

In place of the goddess princess with words of honey, he beheld her in her warrior form. Her hair had changed into dark purple and black that flowed from surges of power instead of wind. Her deep emerald eyes were lighter, fangs protruded from her mouth, and talons were extended from her fingertips. Black runes formed over her skin like tattooed vines.

Alarin saw his death in her eyes. He jerked the reins, but his Pegasus would not budge. "You cannot kill me. Your mother forbade it! He said for us to leave, so change back to yourself instead of this freakish display and lets leave."

Valintria touched her tongue to a fang. "This is who I am. You usually spout orders from a throne and thousands run to do your bidding. But you are not my King to presume to order me about. And, when you are in someone else's realm, you do as they wish. You have invaded their land. They can kill you if they wish, and I will not stop them. I'm tempted to help them with it."

Thranduil felt the emotions of his Elvenqueen flow across their bond; he knew her desires. He changed what he was about to say. "I said for you to leave, and not her. I suggest you return to your realm. Now." The last word was spoken with a deadly coldness that chilled the air momentarily.

Alarin fell backwards flailing off his Pegasus who kicked in his direction when he did not move fast enough. "I am not strong enough to go back on my own. You know that. You have to take me back. We can announce our engagement since no one else will have you."

"No we won't, but I'll help you leave." Her eyes sparkled back to their darker green color then the rest of her changed back. "And so you know, I will never marry you. Not even if you were the last man in existence in any realm. Not even if my life depended on it."

Valintria extended a hand and chanted out melodic words.

The ground under Alarin glowed blue as he spoke. "Are you so sure about that last part?"

Valintria stopped chanting and swung her hand to the side. The ground under him ripped open. He fell into it with a high pitched scream.

Valintria rubbed her hands together to extinguish the magic. She remembered she had an audience so she subdued the wicked smile on her face. She turned to them while fully in the original state they saw her. "He's alright. Although I may have landed him in the marshes by his Glen instead of a field. He'll no doubt be bathing the rest of the day trying to rid himself of the stench." She slid down off her Pegasus.

"Serves him right. He was pushing his luck." Alyssa slowly rode forward toward her.

Thranduil tried to grab her arm.

"Stop that." Alyssa smacked her hand out without looking.

Elrond dismounted and walked over watching Valintria's amusement at the way Thranduil and Alyssa interacted. He saw it fade as he knew his had when he had watched them before. He didn't know what she needed assistance with, but he was determined that he be part of the solution.

Alyssa questioned Valintria. "Are you alright?"

Valintria blinked at her as if she didn't understand the question then she shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I actually need to help you, but I need you to let me help you."

Elrond stepped forward getting her attention. "With what my Lady?"

Valintria rubbed her forehead and spoke. "It moved between the temporal barriers when it was weakened. Usually, I phase in undetected and tag them. That lets me take them with me as I leave then I finish them when I get back. This time, he's too big to do that with, so I knew there was no way I could remain invisible. That means I'll have to kill it then tag it; I'll need to chant a larger portal to send it back to my realm."

Thranduil moved closer towering over the group. "What exactly is the it that you need to kill that found a way into our realm?"

Valintria raised her head to him. "An ancient dragon."

A/N: Please take a few moments to let me know what you think. Your reviews and messages help me write.