This chapter is mature in nature due to some rather saucy situations, yep, Thrandy is gonna get some… and the enemy is making its first appearance…

Chapter three: Of darkness unbound, of unlight unveiled

The great hall was buzzing with activity and the guests were quickly engaged in conversations with the locals, the silvan elves were fascinated by R'enith and Wougar, their somewhat wild looks reminded the silvan of their own roots and both had to explain a lot about their heritage and belief. Qu'ghan and Abry sat by one of the tables enjoying some wine, both were enjoying themselves. They were fond of partying and liked to relax and they also liked to see if they could shock others. Some elves were dancing and Qu'ghan grinned at Abry, it was a grin filled with challenges. " So, who would you go for?"

Abry frowned. " I beg your pardon?"

Qu'ghan smiled, a very wry smile. " Oh you know what I mean, who would you like to fuck? The father or the son?"

Abry sniggered. " Do I have to choose? They are both gorgeous."

Qu'ghan nodded slowly, his gaze slid through the crowd with a lazy expression, he reminded Abry of a resting cougar. " Yes, but I must say I favor the father, more power, more majesty"

Abry snorted. " And a heck of a lot harder to impress I am sure."

The blue haired elf licked his lips with a very suggestive expression upon his face. " Well then, a challenge. You know I love those."

Abry rested her chin in her hand, her smile a wicked one. " A bet?"

Qu'ghan leaned forward, his eyes glittering. " Why not?"

Abry fished a coin out of her pocket. " Heads or tails?"

Qu'ghan looked like some hungry predator. " Heads, his majesty. Tails, the prince."

Abry giggled. "Well, the loser will have to go for second best but I don't think that matters much in this case, they both look stunning. Do you think we can manage to distract them at all?"

Qu'ghan looked shocked. " Of course we'll distract them, do you think I have lost my touch?"

Abry shook her head, downed what was left of her wine and flipped the coin in the air, they both stared at it as it landed on the table. Abry raised an eyebrow in shock. "Now, that was unexpected? How do we solve that one?`"

The coin stood up and spun, Qu'ghan grinned and shook his head. "Then we'll both go for his majesty, do you think he can resist our united charm?"

Abry sent him a wicked glance. " You have the charm of a battering ram mellon, those you so called charm are usually left in utter confusion feeling as if they have been run over by a pack of trolls."

Qu'ghan shook his head and grasped her hand. " Nonsense, I have a very good reputation and you know it."

Abry got up and made sure that her skirts were hanging right, if they were to dance the socks of everybody she would at least start off looking decent. "You have a reputation for having fucked almost half of the city Qu'ghan, I wouldn't call that a good reputation."

He swung her out into the dancefloor, blinking at her. " Oh listen to the nun, what were you doing with those five ellyn I caught you with in that bathhouse back in the city by the way, teaching them mouth to mouth resuscitation?"

Abry grunted and flashed a sparkling smile to the other dancers. " As a matter of fact I was, to begin with, it just got a little out of hand"

Qu'ghan sniggered and found that the rhythm of the music suited him perfectly." Out of hand? There were no empty hands to be seen, I can assure you of that!"

Abry put out her tongue for a few seconds and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, they were just jesting and both knew it. He continued. " And as a matter of fact, none have complained about me, so far."

Abry let him lead her and she made sure she moved in a way that was both sensual and elegant. "Well. Then let us make sure that his gorgeous majesty over there won't be the first."

Morghian had listened to what the prince told them and she had in fact found it interesting and so she hadn't gotten bored. It was rather apparent that this world had had its problems as well, and that they were grand. The young elf had told them of the great enemy and his servant who had posed a threat to everybody and he had told them of the battles fought and the sacrifices made to survive the onslaught of dark powers. Morghian made a grimace, no wonder the forest was sick, and no wonder at all that these elves were so nervous and filled with fear. If the remnants of those dark forces still lurked in that old fortress she wished she never had to lay eyes upon it. She had no idea of what that monster that had awakened was was but she just hoped that they were able to help.

Kheran had started talking to some of the warriors, it was obvious that they recognized a person with the same lifestyle as themselves and tried to figure out more about him and he was telling them of his life, rather gladly. She saw that Abry and Qu'ghan were dancing, they were putting the other couples on the floor to shame and she had to grin. She knew those two well, their minds were set on seduction, no doubt about it. Apparently they only had eyes for each other but to anyone who paid attention their target was rather obvious. They were dancing for the king, and for him alone.

Morghian chuckled and shook her head, those two. They had no restraints, no sense of propriety and no shame whatsoever. And they loved it! Morghian had always admired Abry's devil may care attitude, she was so free, so uninhibited and Qu'ghan even more so. He was in some ways like Kheran but they were opposites too. Kheran was like a sleeping volcano, peaceful until it suddenly erupted into violence and death and then nobody was safe. Qu'ghan was not sleeping in any way, he was always showing his true colors and there was a surprising naivety about him that was rather strange, considering his past livelihood and history. But Kheran was the most dangerous of the two, no doubt about it. There was darkness also in Qu'ghan but it was shallow, not threatening. Kheran on the other hand was the very night itself and she had witnessed that force first hand and would never forget it.

She took a sip of wine and watched how the blue haired elf seemingly flirted with Abry when it in reality was the beautiful and yet so cold blonde at the head of the table he was targeting. She wondered if he would be in any luck, Qu'ghan and Abry could really be charming and very taunting too and they knew how to play with the desires of others like a maestro handles his instrument. She did notice that the king was watching them rather often now, and she had to smile. It was working, by the dragon's tail, they were really catching his attention. She was sure they would have quite a tale to tell come the morrow.

Yliahr was sitting on her own but she didn't look lonely, her red eyes were eagerly watching everything and she was humming along with the music and her fingers was tapping the rhythm on the edge of the table. She had eaten well, she almost never ate anything except meat and she had gotten her fill and was very content. The elves were a little nervous around her but she was used to that and didn't feel that it was in any way insulting or bad. Wougar and R'enith was talking to the king now and she too noticed how his eyes was getting drawn towards Qu'ghan and Abry more and more often, they were dancing like wild flames and there was such life and energy in their moves. No wonder he found them tantalizing, you had to be made from ice not to respond in some way or the other when seeing those two dance.

Morghian was pulled out into the dance floor by Kheran who had a grin like a wolf and she knew what he was planning on doing. She would not get much sleep that night, that was for darn sure. He still felt that battle fever and she was well aware of its effects on him. Well, at least sleep would be replaced by something equally satisfying, although a bit more vigorous.

While the elves of Mirkwood did party on the moon slowly rose above the hills, the lands to the far north was almost uninhabited and very few ever bothered to visit the wilderness but there were settlements there. Some scattered small human villages and also a few dwarf cities dug into the very bones of the earth. One of those were among the oldest settlements of the Naugrim, it was small and lacked the immensity and glory of the greater realms like Moria or Erebor but it had history and lots of it. Only the Naugrim themselves knew of that place for it was a well-kept secret, a sacred place of sorts. Some believed that this was the place where Aüle first had started creating their people and so it was held in high regard by all the clans. Nobody knew if it was true but the belief was enough for it to be kept hidden.

Not many lived there though, just a small clan of dwarves living almost like a sort of monks and they were all of different clans originally but they had left their names and kin behind to serve their creator. They were master smiths and regarded themselves as blessed, as privileged by the god they served. The Silver beards as they were known as were all rather old, they were not easily persuaded to change anything about their everyday routines and they spent their time making things, praying and sleeping, and of course eating. Dwarves love food and so the kitchen was the most important room of the entire city beside the forges of course. And it was the kitchen that became the first place where the new danger was discovered.

Not all of the inhabitants of the city were old, there were a few servants who were in their prime and then there were also a few young dwarves serving the masters as personal assistants. The master of the kitchen was strict, very much so. He was extremely demanding and every morning before the sun got up he wanted to be served a huge jug of ale, four half boiled eggs and some bread and cheese. The young dwarf responsible for his breakfast had to get up really early in the morning and go to the henhouse to pick eggs and this morning the poor soul once more got out of his warm bed, put on some clothes and staggered along the corridors on unsteady feet to pick those darn eggs.

He had never understood why master Dhagin always wanted eggs, they were disgusting the way he saw it but perhaps there was something true about the effects everybody said eating lots of eggs had on your health for master Dhagin was very old and yet strong as a warrior and very vigorous. Falag was just a servant but he knew that he could increase his rank if he worked hard so he endured and didn't complain even though he failed to remember the last time he had enjoyed a whole night's sleep.

He tumbled into the henhouse and frowned, the hens were not sitting on their perches as they used to, they were gathered in a huge mass of feathers and frightened eyes in a corner of the room. There were no eggs in the nests and they were silent. It was a very eerie silence, hens would normally cluck or chirp and come to him to get their feed, now they just stood there. Like one massive clump of birds not moving, barely breathing.

Falag felt a chill run down his spine, something was wrong, something was terribly wrong. His mother had always told him to look out for the animals, to heed their warnings. If they run away, follow. It was a wise piece of advice and he just knew that the hens knew something he didn't. He took a step forward, to see if he got a reaction and the huge heap of hens just exploded. Suddenly he was surrounded by a desperate heap of birds, hacking at him, running over him, wings were slapping against his skin, feathers flying and panicked screams filled the air. Falag lost his balance and fell backwards into their water through and water splashed everywhere. The door hadn't been properly shut behind him and the hens escaped.

Falag got back onto his feet, spluttering and cursing, covered with feathers and hen droppings and water and he growled as he ran after the birds that seemed as if they had lost their minds completely. They were heading towards a balcony and Falag slowed down, unable to believe his own eyes. Hens are terrible flyers, they usually only fly short distances but these were throwing themselves off the ledge like lemmings of a cliff. The young dwarf walked out onto the balcony, the hens were disappearing into the darkness like white balls of cotton and he blinked and tried to make sense of it all. Most of them probably got killed, it was a long way down to the bottom of the cliff and they had lost most of their feathers in the mad escape. What could make the hens so desperate they committed suicide?!

He lifted his gaze and then he saw, he just froze and stared and felt how his face lost all color, how his future all crumbled into nothing in front of him. "Mahal have mercy!"

He barely managed to whisper the words before he fell to his knees, knowing too well that they were doomed, that they stood no chance. Not even if their creator himself bothered to come to their rescue would they survive, what he saw was impossible, unthinkable. And yet so terribly terribly real.

The ancient city of Dvergadolg didn't see another morning, all that was left when the sun did rise was a ruin, the mountain still stood there seemingly unharmed but there was nothing left alive, not even the ants in the storage rooms had survived and a sour stench of death was rapidly spreading through the corridors and rooms. Everywhere dead dwarves lay where they had fallen or already had lain. All greyish in color with blackened tongues and eyes and dark liquid was oozing from their bodies and spreading a stench so awful not even scavengers would dare to go near the place for some time. The torsos were gaunt looking but no wounds could be seen, and even dwarves who had been what may be described as well fed had that emaciated look.

A raven landed carefully on an open window, the bird was a messenger and it was very intelligent as all members of its species. It knew that something was wrong. Gently the huge black bird hopped in through the window and just a few minutes later it emerged again, cawing out in terror and it flew as fast as it could southwards, this was something the other realms needed to know about. This was something terrible. It caught a good wind and before long it was keeping a steady course towards the next big city. The lonely mountain roomed many a wise dwarf, maybe they would know what to do.

Morghian was right, when Kheran was tired of dancing he more or less pulled her along to their rooms and when they finally fell asleep both were just as sweaty as they had been when they arrived and smelled just as bad if not worse. Kheran had collapsed on top of her and she gently pushed him off and heard him grunt before he dozed off, she just pulled the covers over them before she too was off to dream land.

In the great hall most of the guests had left by now, just a few sat there talking or rambling in drunken stupor and the prince had retired but the king couldn't do that, he had to be the last one to leave. He had shared a very interesting conversation with the two tha'lar elves but he kept getting very distracted by the two dancers. He had never seen anyone move that way, with such sensual grace and they looked as if they were glued to each other. Wougar and R'enith had bid him a good night and left and he saw that the last elves remaining there were just commoners and he could get up and leave but he felt that he couldn't. He couldn't go without having watched what those two were going to do next.

He felt his heart pounding in his chest and he felt hot, terribly so. There was something about the way that woman was following the lead of the blue haired ellon, would she bow that eagerly to his will too, be as malleable as putty in the hands of a ceramics master? And that gorgeous ellon, such a divine mix of strength and elegance, he had to be a lot stronger than he looked, he was lean but there was a warrior's body underneath the clothing. Would he yield? Would he moan when touched?

He shouldn't have such thoughts, but he couldn't help it. Those two were creating an inferno inside of him and he already knew that they did it on purpose. There was no hiding it and he was glad he wore the long lose robes of court for he was painfully aroused and he didn't know what to do. The sensible thing to do would be to bid them a good night and then go to his rooms and ease himself, by the Valar how he needed that now! But what if…? What if they were willing to…? He didn't dare to hope, they were strangers, why would they want to bed him? He knew how his good looks affected people but he intimidated others too, he was after all a king and some thought that kings didn't have needs like others. That he was some sort of almost godlike creature too pure to have urges like other males. But they were wrong, right now he was burning and he couldn't break the rules of hospitality and order someone who was a visitor to his bed. That wouldn't look good at all, it would be disastrous as a matter of fact.

Such propositions had to come from the other person and freely and he tried to hide his discomfort but anyone who knew him would say that he did squirm in his chair as much as he possibly could without being too obvious. Then the two broke apart, skin flushed and eyes shining, excitement and arousal like a cloud around them and he felt his heart sink within his chest. Don't leave, his inner voice was pleading and yet he knew that they should leave before he did something stupid. He hadn't indulged himself for years, and now he was paying the price. Ignoring your own needs is never wise and he had for a long time, now his body was rebelling against his will and he was helpless to rein it in.

Abry curtsied in front of the king, a very polite move but she bowed a little too low so he could see deep into her very generous décolletage. The sight made him moan ever so slightly, no elleth had breasts like that, like golden tempting oh so tempting half globes much larger than the average small handful he was used to. She cocked her head, looked up at him with a smile that let him spot a pink tongue. It was a naughty smile, a smile that told him that she knew, and that she was willing. " My lord, I hope you have enjoyed the dance? If you like we would very much like to dance for you again, perhaps in private? I see the servants have started cleaning the place already…?"

There was a huskiness in her voice and he saw that Qu'ghans eyes were burning too, he swallowed hard and could barely recognize his own voice as he got up from the chair. " That would be an honor, please, follow me."

Morghian was awakened by Kheran who was pulling gently at her long hair, he was grinning and looked enviably well rested. She felt like she had gone through a grinder though and knew she would have a most impressive collection of new bruises to show off rather soon. But she had never minded it being a bit rough, she could handle that. What she couldn't stand though was being treated as if she was some tender fragile thing, hardly more than a child. Her first lover had sometimes treated her thus, like something that could break under pressure. Kheran would never do that, he saw her as his equal.

To his people gender didn't matter, females were as fierce fighters as the males and when she had realized that she was no human, that she in fact never had been human it felt like doors had opened and showed her a new freedom for which she had secretly hungered her entire life. Female officers were rather common in the dragon city but there was a sort of lid put on top of them, none rose above a certain level career wise. She had been an officer of the second grade, she could perhaps have managed to rise to the fourth grade but probably never higher than that. No female had ever managed to get beyond the fifth grade and gained the title of commander or general.

Kheran smacked her across her ass and she mumbled, she had a head ache and felt sticky all over, she needed a bath, desperately. Kheran had shocked her the first times they had made love, first of all he was capable of coming several times and he didn't even need a break between the rounds. Second of all she had found his size intimidating and also the fact that he had an appetite she never had imagined possible. He never got tired of it, he was ready if she was and she had believed that her friends who had bragged about their elven lovers had been exaggerating a lot. The truth was that they probably had been doing the opposite.

But she regarded herself as blessed, she was lucky to have him and the fact that they were soulbound was such a wonderful knowledge. Nothing could sever the bond between them, ever. It was a safety in that, a reassurance. They were like fire and flint and together they created quite a lot of sparks.

She got out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom, she wondered if her friends had enjoyed themselves the way she had? Wougar and R'enith had probably slept but she would eat her coat if Abry and Qu'ghan slept alone. The water was like a blessing against her skin and she got some soap and washed her skin with vigor. There was a splash and she gasped and sputtered water, Kheran had dived right into the small pool and now she stared straight into the flint grey eyes and they were filled with flickering flames. " Allow me my sweetest."

He took the washcloth and started rubbing her down like he would groom his horse and Morghian had to gasp. He wasn't planning on leaving the bath for a while, that was rather obvious when he pressed his groin against her bottom. Well, at least they would get rid of the smell in the end.

The raven had flown the entire night, its strong wings had brought it towards the lonely mountain and now it was within sight of the dwarf city. It had been rebuilt and now it was regaining its former glory and wealth. Much of the gold and treasure had been used to fix the damages and to help the people of Dale and Esgaroth, it had been all too obvious that dragon sickness had corrupted each and every coin and so they had preferred to spend as much of it as possible to dilute the disease.

The raven landed on a perch and cawed, a dwarf came walking, the cities used ravens to deliver messages and although they didn't expect any correspondence at the moment it had to be checked out. It could be an emergency of some sort and the guard bowed before the raven. " Tell me oh messenger of Mahal, what news do you bring?"

The raven spoke, its harsh voice giving the sinister message a whole new dimension and the guard turned pale and swung around, ran as if his pants were on fire.

Thranduil woke up slowly, usually he would be awake in a flash but not this morning, he shook his head and blinked, he felt the warmth of two bodies next to him, one on each side and he had to grin, a somewhat embarrassed but also satisfied grin. Eru what a night! He did feel well though, better than well as a matter of fact. He felt wonderful! He was revitalized and felt young again, there was new life surging through his veins. He had forgotten how good it felt to just let go and enjoy himself and these two had in some way set him free. They were so uninhibited and treated him with all due respect and yet naturally. There was nothing artificial or stiff about their approach and he appreciated that honesty. Most people acted as if they had something lodged up their rears when he was near and he knew that they hardly ever told him the whole truth, most things were sugar coated until it became rather disgusting.

It was so wonderful to be treated like an ellon again, not a king. And these two had most certainly made him forget all his worries, he couldn't remember having had so much pleasure in a very long time. They knew what they were doing, by Eru. It felt as though they had been able to read his mind although that was impossible, he knew how to guard his thoughts, but they had somehow knows how he wanted it, what he needed, how he preferred that things were done.

He let his eyes wander along Abry's sleek body, she had kicked the covers off and the sight of her exposed rear made him lick his lips and consider an encore. She had been amazing and Qu'ghan too.

He relaxed and closed his eyes in bliss, he didn't want to get up, he wanted to stay there with these two and just enjoy the intimacy and warmth and the trust, such a rare and precious treasure that was. But he had to get up, he was hungry, he was smelly and if his butler suddenly rushed in now he would get the shock of his lifetime and probably suffer the elven equivalent of a heart attack. He had to grin, a rather wry one. Or perhaps Galion would feel like joining them? You could never now with that one, he was somewhat of an enigma, even for those who knew him.

Abry stirred and yawned and stretched like a great cat and she let out a small mewling sound that sounded very sensual and satisfied. A huge cat indeed, a huge cat with a whole bowl of cream all to itself.

Qu'ghan yawned too and shook his head, the long silky blue hair had been amazing to touch and it was beyond beautiful. The tall ellon had told the king that such strange colors were common in his tribe, he had even seen a young ellon with pink hair once but that one had developed a habit of dying it brown, rather fast. There had been a lot of laughter last night, he remembered that, they had had fun and he didn't remember the last time he had just laughed freely without having to consider who was listening and who might interpret it in a bad way.

Abry sat up and the kings eyes caressed her breasts, he had been very fond of those last night, she had hardly ever encountered any male so fascinated by them and he had loved to touch lick and suck them, no wonder, the ellith she had seen had been rather flat chested. "Any chance of a breakfast, I am starving!"

Qu'ghan rolled over onto his back, the pale white skin was almost luminescent in the shaded room and he saw that the king threw a rather hungry glance at him. Well, that was promising, if they were to stay there for any length of time then perhaps they could enjoy some more time spent together. "There will be food served in the hall by now I am sure. "

Abry got out of the bed, she moved with such elegance and he had to cock his head and admire her rear once more. " Then lets bathe and get some food, are you guys coming?"

She winked at them and Qu'ghan just grinned and slid out of the bed, the sheets were sticky and there was no doubt about the nature of the activities that had taken place there the last night. Thranduil was blushing slightly, he ripped the soiled sheets off and threw them into a corner. He would have to pay the ones doing the laundry a little extra, just to keep their mouths shut.

Then he joined the two others in his private bath, he too was hungry and it was unusual, he normally had little or no appetite. They had indeed somehow reawakened him and it was something of which he was very grateful. He felt as though he was ready to take anything on, to conquer the most vile of enemies. He had a suspicion that he would need this renewed energy, rather soon.

Legolas was a bit confused later that morning, he had met his father at the breakfast table and he had been smiling. There had been a new light in his eyes and he looked centuries younger, what in the name of heck had happened? Then he remembered the two dancers and the way they had looked at his father and he understood and had to fight the urge to blush violently. So that had been what his usually so strict and controlled ada had spent the night doing, no wonder he looked so happy. It had to have been ages since he allowed himself to get some. But good for him, and thus good for them all, it was obvious that the king's mood was very improved and many looked as if they didn't quite believe that they in fact saw a smile on his face instead of the normal sneer or scowl.

That day became rather silent, the healers were busy healing hang overs and other alcohol related problems and quite a few did wake up somewhere they shouldn't have been. Yliahr had slept on top of a granite tree in one of the huge hallways and she had no idea of how she had gotten up there. Morghian and Kheran emerged from their rooms rather late and Abry giggled when she noticed Morghian's rather peculiar gate and some hickeys on her neck. She pointed at them. "Interesting place to have such a mark my friend, were you playing horse and mare?"

Morghian blushed and tossed back a jug of water almost desperately. " The whole zoo Abry, the whole zoo. Now, I want to check on Bloodjaw and Arazz."

Abry nodded. "Allow me to accompany you. I need some fresh air."

The two walked towards the great doors and the air outside was fresh indeed, it was a chill in it and Abry pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and sighed. " I wonder if we will be able to make any difference at all."

Morghian made a grimace. " I have made the exact same thought Abry, time will show. "

She went over the bridge and whistled and before long Bloodjaw came jogging casually, the huge feline rubbed itself against her and she scratched it behind its ear. " I am glad to see that you are okay, found any food?"

The cat let out a low growl and she grinned. " Of course you have."

There was a cry from above and Arazz came dropping down through the canopy, Morghian looked a bit nervous. It was not like him to land like that, so carelessly. He would be more careful so that he didn't injure his wings. Arazz was folding his wings inn, walked towards them and he was whimpering, there was something very strange about the way he was staring at them, almost as if he was pleading with them. Morghian touched the dragons neck, she felt his heart beating fast, a deep rumble and he felt too hot. He felt as though he was preparing for battle and Morghian felt nervous. " What is the matter boy?"

Arazz wheezed and dug his back feet into the soil, lifted his head and howled, a strangled and very eerie sound she had hardly ever heard from a dragon before. R'enith came out of the doors and she walked across the bridge, she looked pale. The king followed her and he frowned and stared at the trees, he looked puzzled and worried in equal amounts. He stared at Arazz and stopped at a distance. Morghian sent him a quick glance. " It is alright your majesty. He is not dangerous."

Thranduil gathered his courage and stepped forth, he had encountered dragons before with disastrous results and it did take quite a lot of strength of will to overcome his initial reaction, which was to flee. But this animal was nothing like the fire drakes of the north and he even dared to touch Arazz. The dragon rumbled and shook its head. " Is he unwell?"

Thranduil was good at reading animals, something was bothering this dragon and he did in fact pity it. He felt that it wanted to tell them something but he was unable to speak, it had to be frustrating.

Morghian tried to link her mind up to the dragon's, she sensed fear, something approaching, a danger. She swallowed. " He has sensed something, something dark and terrible. He is scared."

Thranduil took a deep breath. " The monster!"

Morghian nodded slowly. " Most likely yes."

The king sighed and pulled at his braid, his eyes distant. " Our scouts will not return for days, we'll have to wait."

Morghian shook her head. " No, we don't. I can ride him, and we can fly up north and see for ourselves"

Thranduil held his breath. " Are you willing to do that? Will he carry you in spite of such danger?"

Morghian nodded. " Arazz is brave, there is nothing he isn't willing to do for me. He won't hesitate. But it is too late today, the sun is already passed beyond its midday height, tomorrow. I will leave tomorrow."

Thranduil bowed his head. " Then be it, but be careful."

Morghian made a grimace. " That is a promise I cannot promise that I'll be able to keep. I have a reputation for being reckless."

The king had to grin for a second. " No doubt about that, I see the fire in you young one, it is rather untamed."

Morghian petted Arazz again. "Absolutely, I will rest and prepare. Worry not, soon we'll know what we are up against"

Morghian returned to the palace and Arazz took off and flew south to get something to eat, the king stared at the dragon and felt a bit in awe. A tame dragon, one which gladly obeyed its masters call. If they had owned beasts like that in ages past much would have been different. Perhaps it was for the best that they hadn't.

R'enith stood by the king and she touched the bark of one of the huge beeches with reverence. "The forest fears as much as Arazz did, it senses that something is wrong."

Thranduil smiled swiftly. " You are of the forest mellon, like the Silvan and Avari. I bet they too sense its unease."

R'enith nodded. " Yes, I am of the forest, my people were of the first, of the original tribes. But time corrupted some of them, made them haughty and proud and rather racist too towards the other tribes."

Thranduil made a grimace. " Sounds a bit like the Noldor of our world, blessed with pride and skills yes but unable to see that they too were a part of the great song. They were enslaving other tribes for a while, treating them as inferior since they hadn't been to Valinor and witnessed the light of the two trees."

R'enith smiled and her eyes were distant. " As could have been said for my tribe too, they sought light and purity and were so pious and devoted to our gods they failed to see that their beliefs had turned against them and became chains that were binding their souls and a disease festering within their minds."

Thranduil sighed, his gaze distant. " Too much innocence is never a good thing, I know what it did to the Laiquendi that entered these coasts from Valinor. If you are unaware of the true nature of evil you are unable to detect it and thus also unable to fight it off whence it infests your own mind. Too many fell because of their ignorance and false belief in own righteousness."

R'enith caressed the bark, her long elegant hands seemed to almost glide through the substance, as if she was more spirit than flesh. " Those who had stayed were hardened, they were stronger than their cousins from across the sea right?"

Thranduil nodded slowly, she was very wise. " Yes, they were suspicious and wary and knew the land. And yet many were treated like dirt by the Noldorin lords who believed that they had some right to rule due to their past."

R'enith cocked her head. " And now?"

Thranduil made a grimace. " Most of the Noldor has left, returned to Valinor, as we all must sooner or later, or fade away. But the land is more peaceful now, although the age of mankind has arrived."

R'enith sighed and hid her gaze from the king. " Peaceful for now my lord, but not forever, mankind will not treat this land kindly, I can feel it. This earth will suffer."

Thranduil bit his lower lip, his eyes sad. " Are you sure?"

R'enith nodded. " When the time comes do sail my lord, do not linger here. It will become the undoing of your very soul if you are to witness what is to come, remember this land as it was, and keep that memory until the end of all time."

The king stared at her, she had the gift of foresight like Galadriel, but probably a lot stronger than the lady of light. " I will."

R'enith just turned and walked towards the palace again. " Good!"

Thranduil stared after her, he opened his mind to the forest and hidden within its song he could sense a distant lament, a tone of deep sorrow and also of acceptance and grief. It would come, there was no stopping it and he sighed and rested his hand against the very spot where hers had lain. The tree was healthy and vigorous, it had many good years ahead of it, all was not lost, not yet.

That evening a rider left Erebor, the young dwarf carried a message to the king of the forest and he wasn't that happy about the mission but there was no way they could hope to face this alone. If it came to it they would have to work together and the dwarfs hoped that the elves this time would come to their aid. Times had changed, old grudges were buried, but if the raven was right this enemy was probably beyond them all. He rode a rather tall pony and looked a bit ridiculous on top of the tall animal but it was faster than the usual stubby legged dwarf ponies and right now speed was needed. He pushed the animal without mercy, they had to get there fast, they just had to.

The scouts Thranduil had sent out were stopped by a flooded river, only one of the groups had managed to get across before it got too bad and they were moving forth with determination but also a sense of foreboding. They sensed that something was wrong, it lay in the very air itself, like a stench unlike none they had ever encountered and they were very brave for they didn't hesitate but pressed on. They crossed over a range of ragged hills when they caught the first glance of the problem. Ahead was a huge area that was rather flat and it had been covered by forest. Now most of it was dead, and the elves stared at the sight with wide eyes, filled with disbelief and confusion. "What has happened here? A forest fire?"

The leader was hoarse and his voice cracking, he was an Avari and the sight made his insides scream in denial, this couldn't be true. One of the others pointed at the area. " No, it looks more as if everything has just died and rotted, rapidly."

The elves were gathering close to each other, pale and scared. The leader sighed. " Whatever it is, it is just days away from our forests. What are we to do?"

The others stared at each other, they were brave warriors but this was something they couldn't fight. " We must return, the king must be informed of this."

They turned around and suddenly they heard a strange sound, they spun around to see a herd of boar that came running out of the thicket, in wild panic. The animals were squealing in shock and the elves gasped when they saw that some of them were wounded, huge sores that looked as of pieces of the meat and hide had just fallen off, an awful stench filled the air and the elves reacted immediately. Arrows flew through the air swiftly like a diving peregrine falcon and found their targets. These animals were in agony and it was their duty to end the suffering.

The leader walked over to one of the dead pigs, he touched the wound on the beasts belly with a twig and saw to his horror that the twig too started to dissolve, he tossed it away with a shout of disbelief and disgust. "Nuath! They are partly dissolved?!"

He turned to his men and had to force himself to remain calm. " We return now, and fast. We make sure we rendezvous with the other groups too and tell them to come with us. There is nothing we can do."

The scouts stared out at the destroyed land, they eyes were filled with tears, and one pointed at the horizon. "Look, is that clouds?"

The leader lifted a hand, stared at the distance. " No, it is no cloud, that is the enemy, whatever it is! That is unlight mellon, like that Ungoliant used to hide herself, It is darkness unbound."

The other elves were shivering. " Is the mother of spiders returned?!"

The leader swallowed hard, it would be hard to get across the swollen river but they had to, there had to be a way. They could perhaps shoot a rope across and run over on it. To a wood elf that would be easy enough. " No, I fear that this is something even worse that the old dark one."

The younger elves started running, all felt the earth shiver underneath their feet, felt her disgust and terror. What was awakened was beyond terrible, it was something of which the very creation itself felt disgusted.

Now they just had to return home, safely. It wasn't much they could tell but getting closer was suicide, and they knew it. No elf gives up an eternal life lightly. They ran as fast as hey swift feet could carry them and they all felt the pale hand of death reaching for them, for that was what this thing was, death and darkness and unending evil.