"Ravens?!"

"Yes, Gilrael. Let's see, a few are flying toward the Lonely Mountain."

Legolas leaned back from the railing in the tower. "Why couldn't you do that?"

Gilrael flipped wildly through her book. "After all my time in the darkness of my imprisonment, I don't have very good eyesight for an elf. And you are gifted with exceptional far sight. Ah!"

Legolas peered over her shoulder, and read, " 'When the ravens return, the dragon will burn.' How is a dragon going to burn?"

Gilrael jumped up from the bench and slammed the book closed. "I don't know."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "All this studying, and you don't know."

Gilrael glared at him, hugging the book to her chest. "What I mean is, I do not want to make assumptions."

She rushed down the stairwell, Legolas on her heels. "Explain yourself!"

Gilrael refused, but tore through the halls of the woodland realm, and burst into her room. She tossed clothes and books and weapons all over, clearly packing.

Legolas ducked as a sword flew by him and landed on the bed.

"Gilrael, you really must elucidate. Where are you going?"

The elleth slung her bag over her shoulders, cleverly crafted to allow for easy maneuverability and much storage.

"I'm finding Mithrandir."

"Mithrandir."

She nodded. "I need to speak with him."

Legolas crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "You are bringing all that stuff just to speak with Mithrandir who, by the way, just left here a week ago?"

Gilrael glared at him. "The ravens weren't there a week ago. Many things can happen in a week, Legolas."

The prince raised an eyebrow. "I really don't see the need for urgency."

Gilrael threw up her hands in exasperation. "Maybe if you spent more time studying instead of – "

"Archer-ing?"

She glared at him.

Legolas smiled. "So, where are you going?" he asked innocently.

Gilrael made a sound like a growl. "Mithrandir, Imladris, Bree, Shire, home. Satisfied?"

The Sinda patted her shoulder. "Yes. Those are safe places, unlike last time. Will I get to come?"

But he already knew the answer.

"No."

Legolas sighed. Gilrael was a lone traveler, and she hated going in groups. Two or three was her maximum number of companions, and Legolas suspected she didn't like his company because he was annoying. Or so he thought.

"Now, can you be helpful for once and make sure my horse is ready? I need to tell Tauriel."

Legolas followed her out the door. "Yes, your highness. But good luck convincing Ada."

She shrugged. "It'll be fine. I'm not going anywhere dangerous."

They parted ways, and Legolas muttered, "So you say." She was like a magnet for danger.

Tauriel twirled her daggers. "Mithrandir, you say? Where exactly is Mithrandir?"

"Beor's house. Very close. He told me he would spend a week there, so he should be leaving at least tomorrow."

Tauriel frowned. "You cannot get there in a night."

Gilrael smiled. "Oh yes I can. Rohiel is a fast, young horse."

The younger elleth sighed. "Well, then I suppose this is farewell. How long will you be gone?"

"Not more than a month, in all probability."

Tauriel raised an eyebrow. "So if you take longer than a month, we will be allowed to look for you?"

Gilrael glared at her. "No! If it takes longer than a year, then look for me."

Tauriel looked horrified. "It'll be too late by then!"

"My point exactly. Even if you leave immediately after a month, it will be too late to save me in any predicament I am in. Do not worry, Tauriel. I will take good care of myself."

The elleths hugged, and Tauriel promised, "I'll stay safe. Now go to the king. You do not have much time if you want to catch Mithrandir."

Thranduil leaned back in his throne. "Imladris, you say?"

Gilrael nodded. "There are some important books I need there, and I need to speak with Lord Elrond."

She had told him she would be going to Imladris, which was true, but she didn't say anything about the other places. It was best to give the name of a safe one.

The king sighed. "I don't suppose I could stop you if I wanted to."

Gilrael smiled. "Do not worry, my lord. I will be fine."

As she left, Thranduil muttered, "Yes, but it is a question if Legolas will be fine."

Gilrael stroked the mane of her horse while Legolas stood nearby. "Just a month?"

The elleth shrugged. "A few months, at most. That's not the longest I have been away."

The prince murmured, "Years. You have been away for years."

Gilrael smiled. "Now I must say farewell. Fare-" But she was crushed in a hug as Legolas kissed her head. A very typical good-bye.

"Farewell, Gilrael. I will miss you."

She breathed in his scent of fresh pines and cinnamon for the last time, a part of her wishing she could stay in his warm, protective embrace forever.

But she drew away, and allowed him to help her mount Rohiel.

"Please keep an eye on Tauriel, Legolas. She grows skittish, like a wild animal holed up for too long. You know the letter she received all those centuries ago. The times draws very near for the prophecy to be fulfilled."

Legolas murmured the first few words of that letter: "When Esgaroth's prophecy is fulfilled, find the hidden notes leading from the forsaken cave to Gundabad's outlook. Do you really think she will go when the King under the Mountain returns?"

Gilrael looked ahead grimly. "I have no reason why not. The prophecy now makes more sense, with the dragon being Smaug, and the King being Thorin Oakenshield. How he will get here and defeat the dragon, I do not know. But make no mistake, the minute that dwarf is in the vicinity of these lands, Tauriel will be gone."

Legolas nodded. "I will watch her."

"And you will go with her?"

The Sinda shrugged. "Possibly. You know how stubborn she is. And besides, both of us haven't left the Woodland Realm in decades. No wonder she wants to leave."

Gilrael glanced down at him. "Well, I must be off. Say good-bye to Falluen and Firlowen for me. Be careful, Legolas. The days grow more dangerous by the minute."

The prince lifted a hand in farewell as the elleth galloped out of the stables and into the woods. He noticed she wore her royal elven garments, not the ones that she usually wore to disguise herself as a Ranger. That must mean she wished for people to know that she was Gilrael, the king's lieutenant, top general of Mirkwood, as Eryn Lasgalen was then called.

Legolas sighed. He would miss her company, but fortunately this excursion would only be a month. Or so she said.

Mirkwood was dangerous, with an increasing number of giant spiders each day, and a growing darkness spreading over it. Rohiel was not thrilled to be galloping precariously through the densely tangled woods, but she knew her mistress was a skilled rider who would lead them both safely, and that at the end of the journey, her mistress would reward her greatly.

Gilrael spent so much energy focusing on avoiding spider webs and thick tree roots that by the time they galloped through the safe plains west of Mirkwood, her head throbbed.

Dawn was breaking when exhausted horse and excited elf arrived at the cozy, welcoming home of Beor.

The owner was nowhere to be seen, but the Grey Wizard was leading his horse out, staff in hand and pointy hat on head.

He did a double take when the elleth slipped off her horse and ran toward him, calling out cheerfully, "Mithrandir! Mithrandir! Mae govannen!"

The wizard stopped his horse and smiled, his eyes twinkling in pleasant surprise at the sight of the young elf.

"Why, Gilrael! I did not expect to see you again so soon! What brings you here?"

The elleth grew serious. "I need to speak to you of matters of great importance, but not here. Not with so many eyes and ears." A guilty looking bee buzzed past quickly.

Mithrandir shifted his weight back. "So where do you propose?"

"Imladris," Gilrael answered without hesitation. "I have business there anyways, and though things are now stirring for the worse, Imladris remains a safe place."

The wizard raised an eyebrow. Gilrael had never told him, or any other Elven lord, of her imprisonment thus far, but she knew he suspected something of the sort. How else would she know the ways of the enemy so well?

"Actually, I find that quite agreeable. I have an errand in Bree, and travelling with you will provide me free protection from orcs."

Gilrael glared at him as he chuckled. "You wouldn't abandon an old man in a time of trouble now, would you? Skilled young warrior like yourself?"

The elleth smiled, and turned her horse. "I cannot ride, because Rohiel is very tired, but perhaps we can find a place to rest her for a few hours."

Mithrandir frowned. "I am surprised she's already tired. It's not a long distance from the palace to here."

"Ah, but I pushed her hard, since we left just yesterday evening."

The wizard was left gaping as Gilrael glided forward, grinning.

"Elves and their horses," Mithrandir muttered as he led his horse.

It was the first time the Grey Pilgrim had traveled with Gilrael, and it hadn't been an hour when he was already impressed.

She had found a secluded cave under a cliff and had a rabbit roasting over crackling flames faster than he could say By Manwe!

Mithrandir settled against soft blankets, fingering his pipe but not daring to smoke for fear of igniting Gilrael's anger. Especially since she had been so good to him.

But by Eru did she travel in comfort and style. All the blankets were the same color as her cloak, a dark, velvet blue, hemmed with sapphires. Her hair was tied back with a shining crystal, matching the one pinned to her cloak.

"Do you always travel this fashionably?"

The elleth gave him an annoyed look. "No."

Mithrandir raised an eyebrow. "So all this is just for me?"

"No."

"Won't people recognize you as the king's lieutenant?"

"No."

Mithrandir gave an irritated huff. He stopped asking yes or no questions.

"And why not?"

Gilrael sighed dramatically. "People in these parts, and the west, are not well-educated about things east of the Misty Mountains. They would assume I was from Imladris."

She turned the rabbit, and sprinkled something on it from a pocket.

"You bring seasoning with you?"

"Yes."

"Can I smoke?"

"No."

"It blends in with the smoke from the rabbit."

"The smoke from the rabbit is a healthy aroma. The smoke from your pipe is a noxious fume."

Mithrandir sighed. She gave the exact same answer Legolas had given the last time the prince had traveled with him.

Gilrael handed a slice of the rabbit to him. "I trust you have a drink?"

Mithrandir glanced at his flask of water, filled from Beor's well. "I have water."

The elleth promptly handed him another flask. "Drink this. A treat. I insist."

Mithrandir still refused, saying, "I was sent to Middle Earth as an old man to struggle with weakness like a man, not to be pampered like an elf."

But Gilrael shrugged, and faster than he could see, switched the flasks. She flounced away with his, calling back, "Besides, I have another one!"

Mithrandir glared at her. Yes, he very much appreciated her help, but he did not want to be totally dependent on her.

The wizard took a sip from her ermine-furred flask, and found a delicious fruit juice inside. Half-way between wine and juice. Delicious.

"Hannon le, Gilrael!" he shouted as the elleth disappeared behind the rocks. Then he frowned.

"Where are you going?"

But suddenly, an icy hand pressed onto his mouth from behind, muffling Mithrandir's surprised yell. Within seconds, he passed out from that poisonous touch.