The twins were speaking with Glorfindel as Elrond approached. They were dressed in scouting garb and had donned armor underneath their cloaks. Elladan looked up, grimaced, and clearly avoided his father's eyes. Glorfindel turned to assess the health of his friend. Yesterday, Elrond had finished delicate negotiations with representatives from the Havens, Lorien, Mirkwood, and two of the Dwarfen kingdoms regarding the trade of ores necessary for the forging of weapons. The Elves agreed to divulge the nature of the additives they used as well as the specific steps in the smelting process for strengthening the metal, while the dwarves agreed to sharing the design of their kilns, known to run at higher temperatures than the elvish forges were currently able to maintain. No elf, but Elrond, trusted by dwarfs, men and elves alike could have managed the discussion, trusted as an advocate by all sides. Elrond's sons had arrived injured just a few days prior to the beginning of the negotiations and Elrond had given much of himself in their tending and had not had the luxury of rest. The strain was beginning to show in his pale and drained features.

"Elrond, the twins seek to depart this morning? Glorfindel inquired. "They have only just arrived."

"My sons, please." Elrond entreated in a soft voice. "Stay and rest, if only to…."

"Adar!" Elladan cut past him. "We have discussed this. We are joining the Dúnedain to aid them with the influx of orcs."

"Did your Lord and Adar grant you leave of this house?" Glorfindel countered, loosing patience with the disrespect the twins had been displaying towards their father of late. They were single minded in their search for revenge, seeking out and engaging Orcs with no regard for their own safety. Elladan stared defiantly back at him. They did not appreciate the other responsibilities their father had to all residents of Imladris and the greater Elven community. Elrohir looked down at the ground.

"My sons," Elrond continued calmly, "there are at least three groups of orcs. Two groups approach the western boarders. I have warned our guests of the dangers and advised them to remain until we have assessed the nature of this threat. Should the enemy try to cross the Bruinen, the river will flood in our defense and you will be cut off from us until it recedes." Glorfindel drew up. This was new and unwelcome information.

"Elrond, the scouts should be warned." Glorfindel noted. He studied Elrond, whose face betrayed no emotion but was underlined by fatigue. His friend had been under unimaginable stress this past year. Celebrian's departure had cut Elrond to his core. The twin's rage, a lingering consequence of their Naneth's trial and forced departure, was yet further torment for Elrond. Arwen had fled the situation unable to bear her grief at her Mothers absence. At her father's suggestions she traveled to Lorien to seek some semblance of peace with her grandparents. Glorfindel made a mental note to spend the evening with Elrond. "I will make the necessary security arrangements."

"Thank you Glorfindel." He said aloud then added wordlessley to Glorfindel. "I have updated the map with the information."

"I had not heard the scouts report so many." Elladan countered. "This is yet further reason for us to join the Dúnedain."

"We do not yet know their intent." Elrond mused quietly. "Only one group is in range of the Dúnedain village. The others are much closer to us. Will you not aid Imladris?" Elrond willed his sons to meet his eyes. Elladan's glare told him that they would take leave of his house if he demanded their allegiance. He did not want to lose them, but in their rage they might be careless and he could lose them either way. "My sons," he continued, summoning his most benevolent tones, "we are not at odds. United we are strong. Glorfindel has messages for you to deliver to the perimeter guard. Do not carelessly thrust yourselves into danger. You have my leave to aid and guide my brother's kin and return here as you can. Imladris is ever your home and you always have my love." Elrond's voice ended at nearly a whisper prompting Glorfindel to look up in concern. The twins stood silent, stunned to have their father's approval, but they remained rigid, making no move towards their father. Elrond hesitated, releasing a breath then turning and retreating towards the gardens.

Glorfindel watched him leave; puzzled over what interchange with the twins he must obviously have missed. "Elflings!" They winced at the name. "I would have you stay here under these circumstances. Rest and master your anger. Clearly, it should not be directed at your Adar. He too, suffers greatly from your Naneth's departure. You should aid and care for each other."

"He gave us leave to go. Did you not hear?" Elrohir reminded him quickly before Elladan could make another outburst. "We will deliver your messages to the outer guards and other scouts."

"Elrohir, did you pack a medical kit and supplies?"

"Glorfindel, we are no longer elflings." Elladan muttered.

"You will always be my elflings!" he laughed. "Come, let's check the map to see the last reports of Orc activity." Together they walked towards the guardhouse.

It was well past noon when Glorfindel had finished briefing the archers and scouts. He had tabulated a new roster with increased security details. "I'll be back after lunch." He told Amatheir. He left the station and walked towards the house. The weather was miserable, a gray dull sky, a cool drizzle and breeze. He disliked such days. As he past the stables and climbed up the path to the kitchen, the drizzle changed to a steady rain.

The Cook greeted him as he entered. "A little late for lunch, Lord Glorfindel. I trust there isn't anything too dire? Both Elves, Dwarfs and Edain inhabitants seem anxious." He fixed Glorfindel a plate and pointed him towards the garden balcony. "There are a few stragglers including Silsilalda and Erestor." Silsi as she was often called, was the animated chief healer under Elrond. In fact, she had been instrumental in founding the valley's now reknown school for healers. Glorfindel walked toward his friends. The two were discussing something important. Silsi's arms waved in exaggerated motions, which the slight she-elf only did when she was riled or anxious.

"I didn't see him at the breakfast. Cook said he didn't come for lunch yet either." Silsilalda was saying. "It's unusual for him not to make a round through the healing wing. It's only been a few months since he was laid up with illness and grief following our Lady's departure. I fear for him."

"I have not seen him since he went down to the stables this morning. I'll take something up to him. He is distracted by his grief and his concerns for his sons. Lately, he forgets to eat." Erestor said as he looked up to greet Glorfindel.

"The Lord of Imladris left us shortly after nine this morning. He conferred with the guards prior to that and agreed to let his sons depart again for the Dúnedains." Glorfindel smirked.

"They left already? I'm sure our Lord had no say in that." Erestor rolled his eyes. "Elladan was nearly shouting at him this morning. I would almost have been fearful for his safety had I not known Elrohir was there to restrain his brother. I doubt their father would raise his hand towards his sons even in his own defense." The comment made Glorfindel uneasy.

"What were they discussing?" Silsi asked curiously.

"I was not trying to eavesdrop." Erestor paused. "Only Elladan's voice was quite forceful. I could hear him clearly in my study. He demanded that the Lord of Imladris send our entire force to protect the Dúnedain. He described what he viewed as his Adar's inactions in words I dare not repeat. "

"And Elrond?" Glorfindel inquired before taking a bite of the quiche.

"I've never figured out how his calm, soft voice carries so well. He was trying his best to sooth and reason with them but it seemed to have the opposite effect. He noted that his first responsibility was to protect Imladris and all who seek sanctuary here including the Dúnedain. He would do what he could to help protect there village, but he could not sacrifice the safety of those in the valley. There were more heated words from Elladan. I was attending to other things. But the doors burst open shortly after and the twins departed slamming it behind them. I brought Elrond some strawberries a little while later. He thanked me, but didn't seem tempted to eat. He looked tired and was sipping tea."

"I will go and talk to Elrond and …" Glorfindel began.

"Lord Glorfindel!" His scout Taral interrupted. "An urgent dispatch for you." Glorfindel quickly rose.

"Taral, alert the Lord of Imladris and return to the guard house." Glorfindel commanded. He nodded to Erestor and Silsilalda. By the time he reached the guard house a group of twenty-five warriors was standing at ready. Amatheir handed him the dispatch and he read it quickly.

"Well over a hundred orcs were spotted by scouts from the lower outpost." Amatheir reported. They stepped inside and over to the maps of their defenses. "This group of orcs were at the northern end of the Bruinen." Amatheir pointed to the location. No path existed on the Imladris side, as it was situated at the bottom of a steep slope of the mountain that protected the valley.

"They are looking for the valley."

"That is our assessment as well."

"Why now?" Glorfindel mused. "Situate archers at the stations, pull the defenses back to this side of the Bruinen. Call all available warriors to ready status. The river will flood if the enemy attempts to breech it."

Xxxxxxxxx

Elrond walked, his heart heavy and his eyes unseeing. He felt his cheeks wet, with …. rain? Yes, definitely rain. His cloak and tunic were soaked through but he did not feel the chill. He blinked and focused on his surroundings. He was near the top of the cliff overlooking the waterfall. He vaguely recalled the climb. He could continue and made it up to the peak, the highest point in Imladris. A dull throb returned to his side. Perhaps ribs were broken. He was too numb to care. Somehow the physical pain was easier to deal with than the pain in his heart. His family was all scattered. He was alone. The pain from the newest and most damaging void in his soul, the spot reserved for Celebrian, overwhelmed all else. The absence of his children, Arwen by distance and his sons through their uncontrolled anger riveted though him. So many losses! He felt the unease of the inhabitants of the valley and the whisper warnings of the trees. The song of the waterfall grew to a roar as he approached. It numbed his heart. It was not long before he reached his destination and sank down against the rocks, slightly winded from the climb. The roaring water chased all thoughts away and he closed his eyes.

He felt the evil nearing and he focused on finding it. Suddenly he saw a fiery eye searching. He gasped and pulled back, but its hatred resonated through his being. It struck him that the evil was clearly searching for Imladris. He pulled behind all his protections, drawing a curtain around him. He focused out on the orcs. At least two hundred were in the nearest group and they were closing in on the river. Their malice was an icy dagger piercing him. The two smaller groups were riding towards each other as if they had spread out in a search part and had proposed to meet again. They would converge close to the lower guard outpost forming a group of nearly fifty. He focused there. His sons were present and perhaps twenty warriors. He felt for his bonds with his sons and felt a wall rise between them, cold and unyielding. They continued to shut him out. He could not warn them of the danger. The larger group of orcs was intent on crossing the river. He felt the river rebel against their entry and he poured Vilya's strength into it.

"Lasto beth nîn, rimmo nîn Bruinen!" The power flowed through him like a fire burning the scars on his soul yet again. He added all his inner strength to it. The river swept down violently towards the orcs, splintering, raging, and protecting his people. Many were swept away. Would it be enough? He sent the water rising, as high as he was capable. With his last remaining strength he turned his thoughts to his sons. They were beyond his aid now. They were leading their warriors into the second group. He felt their fury and wept, hoping that they would be victorious. He pulled Vilya from his finger and felt blackness engulf him.

Xxxxxxxxx

Glorfindel watched as the river raged. His scouts reported that the larger orc force had counted nearly two hundred. It was the largest number to assault Imladris in many yeni. A great number of the orcs were swept downstream, drowning in the surge of the river. Its fury was awesome. The archers were efficiently targeting those that remained. Guard carefully watched for any enemies that emerged from the river. Arrows flew in a heated exchange across the Bruinen.

The valley shimmered; its calm disturbed. It was subtle, but Glorfindel knew immediately that the protections of the Valley were altered. The natural barrier of the Bruinen would remain at least a week before returning to its banks. Elrond must have removed Vilya – something he hadn't done in Yeni. Why? The defenses behind the river should be suitably strengthened, wolves and other potentially dangerous wild animals would no longer be barred from the valley in the time the protection was down. Elrond must be sorely taxed. Probably collapsed at or under his desk he smirked. It was nearly dark when Glorfindel was satisfied that the valley was well defended and the threat averted. The guards were stationed vigilantly keeping watch. No words from his warriors caught below the Bruinen. He tensed slightly. He would have to wait and trust in their abilities. Erestor was standing at the door when he arrived. The councilor's face was tensed and worried.