Author's Note:

Disclaimer: Do not own.

Rating: T for war.

Warning: Kindly note that there will be political situations in this story. This, by any means, does NOT represent my views of the mentioned countries. I hold a great amount of respect for each country, since all countries have good and evil times. Also, please note that since this is a fiction story, some current modern age events have not taken place in this story. Thank you.

Welcome to the Tempest at War trilogy: Part 2 "Stronghold". :)

This is NOT an AU story. It is a futuristic story.

IMPORTANT: Kindly read the prequel Tempest: Modern Age before reading this story. I can guarantee you that you will be immensely confused if you read this part alone.

Also PLEASE heed the rating. This is a war. There WILL be deaths and there WILL be killings and there WILL be conspiracies and such.

HUGE thanks to all the readers out there who accept this story so whole-heartedly. :)

Also, please note that flames are NOT appreciated. If you do not wish to read, I am sure there are other stories that suit your taste.

Enjoy!


PART 2

TEMPEST: STRONGHOLD


Chapter 1

Aeglos,

Pacific Ocean,

It was bitterly cold as the evening drew near. The wind played with his hair, striking against his exposed neck. Thranduil pushed up his collar, zipping on his jacket more fully. The skies were curiously clear and the waters were calm, as if Ulmo had accepted their voyage, the waves splashing against the sides of the ship as she made her path.

He turned his head towards the Elves manning the ship, all of them fully armed. They were the Teleri who followed Círdan to the Hither Shores, and manned the most secret of the ships. At the moment he wondered if Círdan too was a traitor, but his heart simply could not believe it. There had to be something else. One of the Teleri glanced at him when he felt his eyes, and his face morphed into a silent apology. Thranduil turned away, looking into the waters,

His grief had lessened from Mandos' glad tidings of Dawn reuniting with her forefathers but the guilt weighed heavily on him. The Sea called for him to set sail, but he would not do so. There were things to be done and he had a place now, here in Arda. He will not turn his back to it.

He had yet to speak to Riley, he knew. There was no way for him to ignore that fact, but at the moment he did not want to think on it. Dawn's bracelet was still in the pocket of his jacket, making its presence known to him.

He turned his attention to the Ring of Power adorning his first finger and scowled. He had changed, he knew. He had already been warned briefly by Oromë that it might happen. Rings of Power played a small role in altering the wearer's fëa, as the One Ring had done for Gollum and Frodo, as the other Rings had done for their masters. He felt it in his heart, Húro's change upon him. Rings were just not natural, Thranduil thought darkly.

It also brought another thought in his head, one that lay much more heavily on his head and his heart combined. He thought about his wife and his people, the very people that he was meant to trust. And now, he found out that they had been hiding something from him, which, in his position, may have been important for him to know. He did not doubt that in their minds they thought they were doing the best, but it does not escape the fact that he should have known regardless of how 'beneficial' it would have been if he was oblivious.

He heard light footsteps behind him and he turned his head, noting Alice standing behind him, dressed in thick clothing with her hair pulled in a ponytail.

"Do not try to use Húro." She said seriously. She was holding her gun in one hand, loosely though he did not doubt that she would be able to bring it up immediately if she had to. That was another thing, he thought with a slight frown. Alice moved with such ease and the speed at which she had turned and aimed her gun when she had declared she was taking the ship was uncanny. Such speed to surprise even an Elf spoke she was trained by Elves, for he remembered Estel moving with that speed, long ago when he first came upon Isildur's heir long ago when he visited Imladris.

"I think you deserve a traitor's death."

"Just…." She took in a deep breath. "Trust me."

Alice nodded at him and turned away, walking as if she knew he would not harm her, and she was right.

He didn't want to. But the fact that in spite of taking on threatening stances and pointing their guns at them, they had done no further moves. It was most curious. They acted as their enemies and yet they had the conscience enough not to act fully as one.

Evening drew closer, and he heard Alice give a call.

"Cut the engines!"

"What!" Jason called out. "We are in the middle of nowhere."

"Exactly," Alice said. It was evident from the way she moved and spoke that she was the leader here. It made Thranduil wonder what she had done to govern such respect from the Elves. She came to stand beside Thranduil, giving him a strange, small smile. "Not all those who wander are lost."

His brow furrowed briefly, wondering what she meant. But Alice said nothing more and she turned away, leaving him to his thoughts. He turned his attention back to the wide expanse of water in front of him. The waters were darkening in color as the sun began to set on the horizon. The skies split into wide colors of ruby red, pink, purple and sapphire, the ocean changing colors to match it. It was then he noticed a strange movement below the water.

"Jason, did you see that?" Thranduil asked, leaning over the railing. Jason shook his head and looked down with him. Dark shapes swirled below the still ship, and Aeglos rocked gently to and fro. Then they felt a jerk, not powerful but much unexpected. The waters were shifting but in a manner that Thranduil had never seen before. It was swirling about the ship, forcing it to move in one direction only. Something below the water was forcing it to move…. or some things.

He continued to look, until he could discern the watery shapes that oddly looked human, distorted by the constant changing waves. Then one of them surfaced.

It was looked like a human but he also realized it was a female. She was pale-skinned, with long, pale-colored hair that floated about her shoulders like seaweed. She wore some sea-green clothing but her eyes drew him in, sea-green in color, large and inquisitive. Then she went under and he stepped back, shaken.

"What was that?" Jason asked. He stopped and then corrected himself. "Who was she?"

"Water-sprite," Thranduil answered. "They serve Ossë in guarding the waters of Arda. I had never set my eyes upon one before now."

"Mermaids of the Sea," Jason murmured.

"Mermaids are merely a distorted version of what they are. Uinen is their Queen and they are the soldiers in the water. They guide the waves under Ossë's command."

"Where do you think they are taking us?"

"I do not know." Thranduil murmured. He could not forget the fact that Ossë was once a pawn of Melkor until Ulmo returned him to his loyalty. The darkness in Ossë caused the storms in the Sea. What was going on?

But the ride was smooth after the initial jerk in the waves, and Alice and her allies seemed completely unfazed from the appearance of the water-sprites. Whatever was happening, it was something they were familiar with. It did not seem like something to be worried about… yet.

The sun had started to set, the bottom part of it just touching the waters and casting a fiery glow over it. That was all Thranduil could amuse himself with. Húro was surprisingly calm, alert but calm. And it made him realize that whatever Alice and the others were, they were not foes.

"Thranduil," Jason tapped the King's shoulder, gaining his attention. Jason gestured at the sea, and Thranduil recognized why he was so uneasy. What was a clear sky and calm waters was beginning to shift. A mist was gathering about them, enveloping them from all sides and stealing away their vision. Thranduil was instantly on alert, not liking this at all.

"Alice, what is going on?" He asked, turning to the woman standing behind him. She was the only woman among the Elves and she stood out because of her black, fitted garbs.

"Just trust me."

"You are asking far too much." Thranduil said.

"I know." Alice said, pausing. "I know. And I will be asking even more." Catching his look, she added. "I swear to you, it will pass."

He glanced at Jason but said nothing. Already Miranda and Jimmy had been forced below deck because they had been causing trouble. Thranduil hated to admit it but he only complied because he had no wish to go below deck, where he would not know anything that is happening.

The mist had taken them from all sides, but it was beginning to part. As it did, Thranduil first made out the shapes of lights from a distance, until slowly he could see an unfamiliar land. The sun had nearly set completely, and the stars were bright above them. Thranduil looked up with longing. It had been so many years since he had set eyes on such clear skies. NYC entertained no such scenery, and even in the Laurentian Mountains, he had been unable to appreciate the full beauty of a starlit sky. And so the stars above him looked like white gems scattered in abundance on a velvet cloth of black shade, reminding him just why his Race loved the night more.

The next thing he shifted his attention to was the shore they were getting close to. He noticed that the Teleri Elves were still not manning the ship, meaning the water-sprites were leading her to harbor. For it was a harbor indeed. Painted and polished ships drifted in the waters, and there was a lively crowd over there. But what surprised him the most was the sign of the people, who were not from the Race of Men but were Elves. And they moved freely without any care as if Arda had not forgotten them. It became obvious to Thranduil that this was a land that he was not familiar to.

"What is this place?" Jason asked. Thranduil noted it was an island they were coming to. A very large island.

"They call it the Gifted Island." Alice said.

"Who do?"

"The Elves that live here," She answered. He wanted to ask why it was called so but Thranduil's question died in his throat, when he returned his attention back to the harbor. It was manned by unmistakably Teleri Elves, all of whom were dressed in light shirts and trousers, unmindful to the cold wind blowing from the Sea. The ship came closer into the harbor and Jason tapped his shoulder.

"You might want to see this."

Thranduil turned his head, looking at where Jason was gesturing, and he found a banner flying high in the air, of a six-pointed star. It was familiar, he thought distractedly.

oOo

Gifted Island,

Pacific Ocean.

When they set foot on land, Thranduil looked about him. The buildings were high, with slanted roofs meant to slide the water off them when the violent sea storms struck. The roads were paved, built in a way to remove the water on its own. He noticed the lights were all modern lighting, but the architecture was Teleri in all manners. The walls were smooth, with the designs of waves and ships wherever he looked. He noticed a symbol upon the banners that accompanied the six-pointed star, of silver waves on a blue background. The people looked well-settled, completely at ease, meaning they had been living here for years. Maybe even Ages.

Arodien clutched his hand and he squeezed it in silent assurance. At odds he may be with his family and companions, he was by no means so angry as to turn them away. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her breathe a sigh of relief. Legolas though, looked wary and the father side of him regretted it. He made a silent vow to speak to him later.

"Riley would leave the ship later." Jason spoke in his ear. "I do not think you would fancy a confrontation out here in the open."

Thranduil nodded, looking at him gratefully. The Man nodded and stepped back.

"There is no escape from here." Alice called to them as she got on land. "The waters are guarded by Ossë's troops, and the mists shadow all exits from the island by the blessing of the Valar."

"Where are we?" Thranduil asked, fixing his eyes on the woman.

"It is not for me to say." She answered. "I am nothing but a messenger. I was meant to bring you all here and I did. Do not be afraid." She added. "You will remain here with good comfort. Just… trust me."

Thranduil did not want to, again. But there was a look of pleading in her eyes and there was no malice in her features. Whatever she meant, it was honest. He gripped Arodien's hand tighter in his and nodded.

"Lord Alacon is the Lord presiding over this harbor and all those who dwell in the city here. He will be your host for the night, but he will answer no questions." Thranduil's brows furrowed briefly. The name was familiar, and he remembered barely a mention of such name from King Olwë. Though it had been something about the Elf dying in the Kinslaying-

Arodien tugged on his hand, pulling him out of his thoughts as well as from his stance. He walked with them, noting that only a bare few passed them a glance but otherwise continued to about their business. It was a beautiful, wondrous meld of modern technology with their own heritage, and it was well-planned and thought out.

They were led up the steps made of stones, which led them to a larger building situated at the center of the harbor. The windows were wide, facing the sea in an effort to keep the interior aired, and decorated in the corners with sea waves beaten in silver. Alice led them to the dual doors, which when placed together held the shape of a great ship made of silver. She spoke briefly to the guards, who opened the doors in haste. As he passed them by, they bowed their heads to him, murmuring "Aran".

King… it reminded him immediately of Dawn and a feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.

"Lord Alacon is not in attendance at the moment," Alice said. "But the servants will lead you to your rooms. You will be given baths to refresh yourselves and food to eat and beds to sleep, but remember what I said when I told you there is no escape from here." She paused, before speaking again. "You will have questions that need answering. Wait for tomorrow. You will likely get your explanations then." Much to his surprise, Alice bowed lightly at the waist towards him. "It is an honor to be in your company, King Thranduil." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, speaking quickly with one of the Ellyn who was waiting for her by a side door.

They had taken a brief wash before dinner, and the Elves tending them had told them that baths would be waiting for them once they ate their fill. Dinner itself had been a silent, tense affair, and Thranduil noticed that Jimmy, Jason and Miranda were not present. When he asked after them, he was assured they were safe and well taken care of, as were Riley and his family. The heavy silence made it feel strangely empty, and confusing at the same time. Questions were burning in all of them, but none were able to voice them aloud for it was still too much for them to process. Thranduil, however, had more questions he wanted to ask than all of them. He could not help but soften a bit for Legolas and the others after a while, though he was still very much furious at the fact that they withheld information.

"Do you know anything of this?" he asked.

"Nothing, father," Legolas replied.

"Do you suspect something of this?"

"I do." Legolas answered with a slight pause.

"Wonderful," Thranduil muttered.

"Father-" But Thranduil had lost his appetite, and he excused himself from the table.

The bedrooms were fully adorned, the fires burning in the fireplaces, though the lighting was modern. Tapestries hung over the walls of soothing sunset sceneries and of ships leaving the harbor. It had been a long time since Thranduil had set foot in some place full of Elves. It was a feeling he reveled. Arodien had retired to bed with a single word, and he had not been too keen to speak just yet though he knew he would have to address the subject sooner or later. Sooner, would be better, he knew. But for now, he stood at the balcony and he gazed outside. He heard soft singing in Quenya below him, and he looked down, noticing Ellyn and Ellyth sitting there with flutes and harps, singing softly as the night drew on. It was a comforting scene, which almost but not completely made him forget his unsolved troubles and the newness of the place. He knew he could not find any sleep, so he stood there and watched, sometimes going inside and sitting by the fire when his legs and back tired before returning once again to the balcony. Arodien slept fitfully on their bed, tossing and turning, glancing at him every so often before sighing and shifting again.

Just a few hours before dawn, the singing crowd broke apart and departed. But when dawn broke, the harbor was awakening and he heard merry songs wafting in the air as the Elves went about their business. It reminded him of Aman, but here in Arda, it was almost so strange to look upon. Questions began to churn inside him again. And he watched some of the water-sprites approach the harbors. A few playfully came up, tugging on the legs of unsuspecting Elves and making them fall into the water with a cry of surprise. Laughter filled with the air, before the giggling nymphs disappeared into below the sea surface again.

He started when he felt two arms come across him.

"Are you much angry?" Arodien asked softly in his ear.

"No." he answered truthfully. "But I am not happy at the moment."

"I am sorry."

"I know."

"You will come around?"

"Have I not always?"

He turned slightly to catch a small smile on her face as she pulled away.

Breakfast was a much lighter affair than dinner was, in Thranduil's opinion. The harbor did not seem as intimidating as it had done in the night. The cushions they were sitting on were light blue in color with silver tassels and a low table was in between them as they sat on the ground and shared the food from mutual plates in Teleri fashion. He noticed Teleri girls walking about in light dresses, heedless to the cold and chattering away in Quenya. They came to help if they needed any but usually left them be. The guards were not overly vigilant in their company, making Thranduil realize even more that they were not kept here as captives.

So why the abruptness in taking over the ship?

His question was later silently answered after they left the table with much more lighter conversations that Thranduil thought he could muster. They had just gotten up, washed their hands were idly standing in the openly aired room where they had eaten when Thranduil noticed an Elf standing at the doorway.

The Elf in front of him nearly made him choke on air, and it had taken him a great deal of strength and willpower to summon up to hide most of his surprise and suppress the rest.

He was handsome enough, Thranduil deduced. He was tall, broad-shouldered and muscular. His skin was pale, so pale in fact that the Elven glow was bright in him. His hair was pale gold, slightly curled at the tips and bound back with a golden clip, almost setting off a pleasing albino effect, had it not for his grey eyes. The sharp lines of his face spoke Noldorin descent and his clothing, although old-fashioned, spoke nobility and grace. He was dressed in golden and white-colored clothing of shirt, tunic and trousers, with beige boots that reached his knees.

What was remarkable though, was the expression the Elf wore. He looked distinctively uncomfortable, a bit apprehensive, and very much nervous with a small uncertain smile on his lips. The overall look would have made Thranduil laugh had it not been for the fact that he knew very well who this Elf was, and the memories he brought back to him.

"Thranduil Oropherion," the Elf greeted, shifting slightly on his feet as if he had the urge to flee, his hands seeming so empty, devoid of the sword he was obviously far too familiar with.

"Celegorm Fëanorion," Thranduil answered. He was happy to say his voice held no feeling, except perhaps that it was a bit clipped around the edges. "This is a surprise."


Author's Note:

To the guest who asked. Seriously... I really do think I am spoiling you guys. :P

I am excited to know what you think! So leave me a review?

List of Canons And Concepts:

Water-sprites: These are actually canon. They are considered to be troops that govern the waves of Arda, and are defined to be smooth and pale-skinned with flowing pale hair the color of sun and singing wild songs. They have their own language. Another name which Tolkien defined as 'distorted' was mermaids. Uinen, Osse's wife, is their Queen and they serve Osse. I would regard them as inquisitive, wild but with a playful streak to match the varying states of the Sea.

Celegorm: Yeah, yeah, I know about the whole 'Fair' not necessarily being used for describing hair color. But therein lies my own argument. Why call him only fair when all the others were black-haired and fair of face as well? Something had to be different. I know people will think it unlikely given my own description of him, but my reasons are that the House of Finwe was rather known to be very 'deviant'. You have Maedhros who is tall, Mahtan who is burly with an early beard which he got in his youth. You have Feanor who was the Spirit of Fire. You have Fingon called the Valiant. Each one of them had this character or this personality to them. It made them stand apart.