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Chapter three: Secrets in the hall

"But father-"

"You are to stay here Eldarion."

"Something is wrong isn't it? Why won't you tell me father?"

Eldarion tried to keep his voice down. Not just out of respect for his father, but also because his youngest sister was sleeping in the same room as him. Yet it was difficult for the young prince knowing that his father was hiding something form him, something that from what he could see could mean a lot more than Aragorn suggested.

"Eldarion, for once do not question what happens." With this the king left towards the hall. Eldarion began to close the door. Everyone kept telling him he had to be a proper man, that he was the heir of the throne of Gondor. Now when he was willing to take his post it was taken away. Suddenly he opened the door again. It seemed he wasn't the only one being left behind.


"We are supposed to be there to! Father complains that I neglect my duties and now he won't let me do them," Said Elboron crossing his arms and pouting, looking down at the stone floor. Form his post in Elboron's bed; Eldarion couldn't agree more with his friend. "Not even Elfwine is with them. What could possibly happen that they don't want us there?"

"Father is hiding something that much I know. And from the looks of his face, it is something big." Eldarion reassured him. For a moment none of the young men spoke.

"We are old enough to join them in battle but not to know why we fight." Said Elboron quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"What else can it be Eldarion? Your father stopped the celebration after a council with all the lords of Middle-earth. When they came back from it even Master Peregrin looked grave! If it's not that something is threatening our world once more than what else could it be?"

Eldarion laid back in the bed. As worry began to overcome him the door to the room opened suddenly. Elfwine stood in the door, his face full of anger.

"Father will not allow me inside the council." He said joining Eldarion in the bed. "All we have worked for could be coming down and he won't tell me."

"So it is true!" Eldarion suddenly bolted up from were he lay. "Did your father tell you what was happening?"

"No, he hasn't even talked since he got back to the feast. But his face said as much."

The three friends went silent once more, only the sounds of Thalion's and Nestaron's soft breathing as they slept interrupted the silence. Eldarion took a deep breath, there had to be something they could do. Suddenly a thought invaded his troubled mind.

"Do you both remember the small crawl space over the main hall? Then one we would use to spy on meetings when we were little?" He said sitting up. Both young men nodded. "Maybe we can use its services once more."

"Its good idea Eldarion, with one fault," answered Elboron after considering. "we won't fit there anymore. Not even you would fit there."

"Maybe we won't, but I know who might."


"No."

"Oh come on Frodo! All were asking you is to listen!" Eldarion pleaded with Frodo Gardner.

"Do any of you have any idea of how much trouble we could get into if anyone knows we are listening?"

"No one will see you Frodo, we used that hiding place many times before and no one ever found us."

"You were little Elboron! Small and not very noticeable!"

"As are you now." Said Elfwine with a smile.

Frodo was going to say something but stopped when Elfwine said the last bit. The three princes smiled and looked pleadingly at the young hobbit.

"I can't leave my brothers alone here-"

"I did." Answered Elboron.

"And we were told not to leave our rooms!"

"Your worst than Master Gardener, you know that right?" said Eldarion.

Frodo narrowed his eyes at the prince of men. He walked out of the room and closed the door silently.

"If anyone sees us, it will be your head."


"A different enemy for each person? How can this be? Is there such a force?"

"The shadows that remain do not have enough power for such an attack Legolas. I agree with Lord Aragorn, it sounds impossible."

"Might I remind you, Eomer King; that not so long ago, a host of at least 10,000 seemed an impossible feat." Answered Legolas, his voice low with a slight tremble. As he had told what the messenger had informed his voice had gotten softer with each word. The forest of Mirkwood had been over run. As if appearing out of thin air, a horde of orcs, wargs, trolls and uruks had attack. The wood elves had tried to fight back, but they seemed helpless. Some just dropped dead where they stood. In the end almost all of the soldiers had been brought down. The message for Legolas had been a summoning from his father, asking him to aid Mirkwood.

"How much did the forest suffer? An attack on that scale must have destroyed much of it…"

"You can rest easy when it comes to the trees of the great wood, Samwise; the forest itself was almost unharmed."

"How is that possible Legolas! You have just told us it was an army of great numbers. How is it that they did no damage to Mirkwood."

"I wish I could answer that Aragorn, yet not even those who saw it can believe it."

"But a force of ruffians and orcs laid complete waste of the shire in a very short time Legolas. Mirkwood would not stand a chance at a force like that one." Said Pippin as if trying to comprehend what the elf was saying.

"What ever attacked Mirkwood had a specific target, its people only." Said Faramir, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the council.

"What ever? You say you don't believe it was an orc raid?"

"No Merry. That was no ordinary orc raid. For Aragorn is right, there is no force strong enough to take down a kingdom that has been fighting them for so long. No matter how little elves there are there. My Lords, I believe we are dealing with something that no matter how hard we fight, we might not win."

All the leaders of Middle-earth suddenly stopped breathing. In the silence of the hall Legolas slowly turned his head towards one of the windows that were at the top of the columns. It seemed they weren't the only ones listening to the council.


"Frodo there's an elf there! If you keep making noises he will see us!" said Eldarion softly. He had gotten into enough trouble with his mother to know how good an elf's was hearing. The crawlspace was just barely big enough for Frodo Gardner. It was a tight fit for the hobbit that now didn't seem so small. His head constantly hit the stone in between he was located.

"I told you I wouldn't fit!"

"Both of you, quiet. What are they saying Frodo?"

"You won't believe what your own father just suggested."

"What?" said Elboron with a note of concern in his voice. Ever since he was young he always admired his father knowledge. He would sit next to Faramir as he read aloud from the legends of old, which he would add bits and pieces that were not in the story but he knew from other readings. No matter how fanciful it might sound to Frodo, Elboron was convinced that it could be real.

"He says it's an unbeatable force...not form this world." he turned to look at his friends expecting to see disbelief but was surprised with three concerned faces.

"The caurënyérë...Fear itself." said Elboron softly.

The boys stood there in silence, it seemed the days of peace were finished.