AN: Okay, this needs some explaining.

1. This is a CROSSOVER Fic. It's Lord of the Rings/ Star Wars. If that ain't your cup 'o' joe, turn back now. It is also tentatively rated PG-13, but could potentially turn R at any moment. I promise to warn if an when it does.

2. This story takes place BEFORE Episode 1, when the Republic still functioned, but AFTER Return of the King, when the Elves left Middle-Earth for 'Valinor'. The assumption here is that, after the separation and 'hiding of Valinor' in the Silmarilion, 'Valinor' is no longer an island, but a separate planet. Elves are certainly smart enough and capable of space travel (as we've seen in the story of Earendil and Elwing…).

3. This story reveals that (in this AU anyway,) the elves established the Jedi Order way back when. All elves are force sensitive, but: a) Valinor is not a member of the republic, b) elves are as reclusive in space as they were in ME, and c) when there is dealings with the elves off-world, it is mostly with the Vanyar elves, not the Noldor, Sindar or Teleri. These three stay almost strictly planetside, and are wary of outsiders.

And, finally,

4. Where there are Elves, there are Orcs.

And now our story begins.

White Ranger

Prologue:

"What do you see?"

The question, so simple, and yet so utterly complex, seemed absurd to the bound figure lying on the floor of the cold cell. He assumed it was a cell. He had never actually seen anything, having been born blind. He could see a great deal, but not with his eyes. But then, he had never needed them. And yet-

The cold floor and stale, sterile air suggested that he was in some sort of well-kept facility. If not a prison, then perhaps a hospital or laboratory of some kind. He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the question asked, but there was nothing at all about his situation that was funny. He knew what they had meant by it, and he knew what would happen if he refused to answer.

"Tell me," the cold voice, as sterile as the room he was in, "what you see." The man on the floor sighed, reluctantly stretching out his senses to his surroundings. It was indeed a cell, sealed with a force-impervious field of some kind. He wondered numbly how such a device had been created, much less tested for effectiveness. Most likely in situations similar to the one he himself was presently in. 'Here's to the advancement of scientific knowledge,' he thought wryly.

There were four people in the room- himself, his bland questioner, someone who seemed to be a doctor, and another whose force aura radiated power and control. He turned his attention back to the interrogator.

"I see someone who is going to be in an awful lot of trouble for kidnapping and torturing a Jedi." The accuser didn't even flinch at the insult, but turned to the doctor behind him. He stepped forward and knelt beside the prone Jedi. From his pocket he withdrew a syringe, and before the unfortunate Jedi could react he was shot full of a substance that burned its way through every vein.

The pain was incredible. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He could feel its slow agonizing course through his bloodstream, infecting every cell with whatever evil it was designed to accomplish. He tasted his own blood as he clamped down on his lip to keep from screaming. 'Control your fear,' he remembered his master's words, 'pain can be controlled through the force. Do not give them the satisfaction of your reaction.' But that was three days ago, and he no longer felt his master's presence. He tried desperately to kill the pain as he's been taught, but it was useless. The drug seared every part of him, like a fire raging from within. It felt like dying.

He finally screamed.

Soon after, the pain began to fade, and he could breathe again. His hair and face, now soaked with sweat, felt cold. His limbs trembled with the memory of the intense pain, and he found himself grateful to be still alive.

"Good," the icy voice was back. He felt swift anger that he scrambled to suppress. 'Just what part of that experience was good?' "Now," the voice continued, "what do you see?"

Inwardly he sighed, already weary of this line of questioning. He had answered their question, couldn't they return him to solitary confinement? It had been quiet in there. He had been quite peaceful on his own, practicing his mental exercises, and conversing mentally with his mentor. He had been a source of a great deal of strength, he had been-

"Answer the question," a different, more commanding voice demanded. Suddenly he realized that he guessed where the voice had come from. Cold fear snaked its way up from his belly to grip his heart. He struggled in his bonds, but it was no use. How could this be? It wasn't possible! The one thing that nothing and no one could take from him, and it was gone! Desperately, he reached out again, trying to touch anything- the floor, the walls, himself, that damnable voice in front of him, but nothing. He saw nothing.

The Force was gone. He was blind.