Category: Lord of the Rings

Rating: M

Couples: None (wait, what?)

Warnings: AU, Blood, Character Death (sorta), Mention of Rape

Chapter: Prologue

Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien, Plot & OC´s © by me

Author's Note: Please do not comment on 'Spelling-mistakes' where s-sounds are written in sss's (LOL) instead of the proper spelling. This is to convey the fact that those sounds are spoken that way. Don't worry, only one of my OC's talks that way, and he is normally quite silent. Hîrlókë means Snake-Lord, derived from Hîr which means Lord and Lókë which means Snake, Serpent.

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Shortly after the Last Alliance

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"Oropher-king has fallen." A man spoke into the darkness of the cave he was in. "Thranduil now will rule this forest."

Heavy slithering could be heard from the shadows. "The babe you ressscued?"

"That very one." The traveling-cloak was old, its' stay in Mordor not having helped preserve it. "Will your oath hold?"

"Sssertainly, my old friend. 'I ssswear on Eru the Great that I will do the bidding of the one who ssshowed me sssuch favor that I can never fully repay him hisss kindnesss. Asss long asss he dwellsss on thessse ssshoresss, I will be hisss vassssal asss will be my children.' Asss you bid, I do." For a moment something flashed in the darkness, before another man stepped from it. "You bid me guard the foressst, ssso I ssshall."

The traveler bowed. "I never considered myself worthy of such an oath."

"But I do." The other man said, pulling at his old and worn robes. "Never did I take oathsss lightly, thisss one included. Othersss would have ssslain me and my wife, but not you. You healed usss, sssaved our children and for that our livesss are yoursss to command."

"As is mine to you." The traveler grasped the others shoulder. "Without you, I would no longer be alive. We both owe the other a great debt."

"Perhapsss. But my oath ssstandsss and ssshall remain ssso. Fëanor isss not unknown to me. I took the oath, and I will fulfill." Both looked up at the sound of horses. "Sssomeone sssearches for you. Three ridersss, one of which your Sssenessschal."

The traveler merely raised his eyebrow at that, silently demanding an elaboration.

"Many yearsss have passssed sssince lassst you visssited. My children have claimed thisss part of the foressst and are my eyesss in it. None can passs here without me knowing."

"Then I better take my leave. I doubt you have formed a liking to two-legged company." The traveler bowed once more. Then he remembered something. "Before I do: your eyes I have need off, soon perhaps. Spread your children over the world, as far as you can. Let them also be my eyes, by your will."

"Asss you command, I ssshall do." The cave-resident bowed too. "Farewell, Hîrlókë."

"Farewell, lókë-adar." The traveler swiftly left the cave, ensuring he was well away from it before revealing himself to the other elves. "You called, Glorfindel?"

"Yes!" The golden-haired elf wheeled his horse around to face his lord. "What possessed you to run off like that? It is still dangerous out here."

"I am a capable warrior, thank you very much." Elrond accepted the hand Glorfindel offered him to seat himself on the horse. "Besides I didn't go that far."

"Far enough for orcs to ambush you and no one near to help you." Glorfindel chastised.

"I am not defenseless, Glorfindel, you would do well to remember that." Elrond said sternly as the horses rode back to camp. "You know much about me, but not everything. Remember that."

His tone of voice left no doubt he was dead-serious.

"I am merely worried. We lost too much already." Glorfindel defended himself. "We cannot afford to lose you too. You would do well to remember that."