Aragorn awoke in the night, startled by a loud clash of thunder and lightning that lit up the sky. The room was brightened in a blue tint for only a split second. He laid a hand over his heart, feeling it beat rapidly. The storm was right over Mirkwood. Cold rain fell heavy on the windows. It was a strange thing to see rain, when just yesterday, there was snow. The low temperature had not maintained itself. It was still only the beginning of Winter. It had some time to change the weather.

Calming his heart, Aragorn rose from his bed. He tightened his sleeping robes, and walked to the window. The lightning fought the sky, and thunder boomed through the air shaking the palace. This was indeed, a strong storm. It was a good thing that he hadn't left in a hurry. Looking out, he could see that the dark clouds hovered over a vast portion of the land. Sunlight didn't break out for many miles. Just over the distant mountains, a shred of light peeked through the veil. As he listened, he began to notice that there was music being played somewhere in the palace. It was hard to hear over the rain, but it was there. Such happy, joyful music. Faint Elven voices rang through the halls filled with cheer. For a moment, Aragorn wondered what the the reason for such joy in King Thranduil's Kingdom. Swiftly, he remembered, "The Winter Celebration!" Hurrying to dress, he berrated himself for forgetting it. This was the main reason that Legolas had asked him to stay. Now he would disappoint his closest friend. "Curse me! Curse me! I am such a stupid fool!" He nearly tripped on his way out the door. Bolting down the hall to meet the guards in front of the throne room. He caught his breath before speaking.

"Dear friends, have you but seen Prince Legolas?"

The guards looked at each other for a second before the one on the left replied with, "He is with the rest of the Elves, Sir Elessar. In the Banquet Hall with the King."

Aragorn quickly thanked them before heading back through the palace, and into the Banquet Hall. Once he had arrived, he noticed right away that Legolas was standing next to King Thranduil. Legolas remained quiet, and respectful. Never engaging in the conversation Thranduil held with an Elven woman, and his eyes seemed lost in thought. Aragorn sincerely hoped that he had not been sorely missed, and was only dismissed as temporarily absent. But it proved not to be the case, when Legolas' gaze caught his. He seemed genuinely surprised. But when Thranduil looked in Aragorn's direction, he was not in the least bit, surprised. However, he gave a slight nod of the head. Signaling his gratitude of his staying for the celebration. Only after this, did Legolas make his way through the large crowd of Elves, with wine in hand, to Aragorn's side.

Legolas sighed. "I did not think you would come, mellon-nin."

"Uuma dela, Legolas. I planned to, but I fell fast asleep before I was aware. I had forgotten it was this day. Amin hiraetha." Aragorn hoped his apology would suffice. To his luck, it did.

"Do not apologize, for all is well." He gave a warm smile to his friend. "I should hope that you will enjoy yourself while you are here."

"Yes, of course. Let us have wine, and blessed be the night, mellon-nin."

They did indeed, have wine. Aside from the blaring storm, inside the palace, happiness reigned for hours past midnight. When all were asleep in their beds, the storm did not move on as the time crept by. It was predicted in the eyes of most, that it should have gone in the wee light of the next day. Legolas woke again at sunrise, but the sky was still dark, and the rain still poured from the clouds. He rolled over in his bed, pulling the silken covers up to his chest. Why had the storm not left? His mind wandered, but was pulled back as a bolt of lightning flashed through the sky and thunder followed. It was every bit as powerful as the thunder last night. This gave him an odd sense of discomfort. He felt the shadows in his room as if they were staring at him. It grew stronger as he closed his eyes and did nothing. What was this feeling about? He had no answers for his own question, and attempted to fall back asleep. Sunrise was the usual time he would get up and walk the halls before his daily activities. Yet, he only wanted to rest more, with the eyes of darkness upon him.

Aragorn sat in his bed, as he was unable to sleep anymore. The sun should have been shining through Elven curtains in soft beams by now. But the weather had not changed. He wondered when it would. Four knocks on the door.

"Come in."

One of the guards peeked in, and Aragorn sat up just a little straighter. Perhaps he was needed. It would do him no good to ride in weather like this, so for now, he was stuck in Mirkwood.

"The King would like you to see him, Sir Elessar."

"Five minutes, dear friend."

The guard nodded, and left. Aragorn thought of the storm outside. Perhaps his meeting with Thranduil was about that. Perhaps he wanted his help with another matter. Perhaps not to both. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Thranduil sat high on his throne, watching Aragorn as he entered the room. The King's smooth, elegant features sharpened under the sting of his stare. Upset, yet again.

"Thranduil, you called for my presence."

"Yes, I did." Decending down the carved wooden steps, he slowly came to face him.

"What is it you wished of me, mellon-nin?" He watched as his question cooled any anger that still boiled.

"This storm was said to have ceased during the night. But low, it has not." His voice held some element of uncertainty.

"It will pass in time, as all storms do, no doubt." Aragorn thought this storm only to be a minor problem for minor things. For those who traveled. He was wrong.

"No. Something comes with the storm." Thranduil gazed up to the ceiling, and listened to the roaring winds that had not been there just minutes before. "The storm worsens, Aragorn." His gaze fell back on Aragorn's concerned eyes.

"What do you wish me to do? I have no way of rushing any storm."

"It poses dangers to travelers. Stay for as long as the storm persists."

"Yes, Thranduil." He stopped to watch the towering Elf stand still in his place, looking Aragorn in the eyes, but focusing his attention elsewhere. "Thranduil?"

His eyes narrowed, and he blinked a few times. "The rain is too much. It will drown the crops. There has not been a storm like this in Mirkwood for nearly three thousand years. What force has awoken?" The King whipped his robes out of the way and called to his guards.

"Hammile'! Yilnlas!"

The two guards came over quickly to accept orders.

"Close off all roads, all borders. No one leaves, and no one enters, but I hear of it. Until the storm has gone."

Aragorn could only stand idly as King Thranduil attempted to protect his Kingdom from what he only understood as a little thunder, lightning and rain. He saw no real threats at bay. What was this man going on about?