And this chapter hasn't properly been proof-read. Shame on me ...

"So you see, Glorfindel," Elrond tried his best to hide a sheepish grin, pacing the chamber with his hands firmly behind his back. "they went searching for you after your … strange disappearance."

Glorfindel, feeling a light coat of exhaustion, collapsed helplessly into his seat. Even after resting for a few hours the night he returned, the events of yesterday were still catching up. Already the sun was halfway through its journey.

"Ai, you have to believe me though, mellon nin. The realm I was in was not of Arda, nor far across the sea."

"And how much of this 'Araluen' did you discover? Not much of it I believe?" Elrond raised a brow, slowing his pace.

"Do you think me a liar?" Glorfindel retorted.

"No," Elrond's noble face broke into an amused expression. "just curious, is all."

The golden-haired warrior grinned, folding his arms. "You always are. So, what would you like me to do about those sons of yours?"

"Nothing. At the moment. For now I'll just get Talathir to ride out and meet them. They shouldn't be too far."

Glorfindel snorted. "Talathir? That elfling? Sure he won't get lost?"

Elrond merely laughed at his friend's comment. "Talathir may not be the most brightest, but I trust him with this. His tracking skills are brilliant, mind you."

"Yeah. And his skill to stumble is improving." Glorfindel mumbled, absent-mindedly twirling a lock of his hair and staring at the ground.

Thinking about the twins, his mind then turned to the light. And the cold that lingered with it. A pang of guilt started pulling at his heart. What if the twins were lost in it? What if they too ended up in Araluen, or any place for that matter? And not return. It pained him to think of such a fate for them – all because of his reckless travelling.

Looking back up with a jolt, Elrond stood still in front of him. His features set in concentration and deep grey eyes looking into his as if he could read him somehow. They held this gaze for a moment, before Elrond spoke.

"Care to describe the light again for me?"

Glorfindel's eyes shot away instantly. Maybe he had read right through him.

Halt sipped his morning cup of coffee, eager to wake up for the day. He had overslept and wanted to make good use of the morning. The past days, however, were completely blurred.

The mysterious, great white horse. The storm. Riding out by the Tarbus river. Oh, and that faerie Glorfindel.

Whatever happened to the stranger? Why was he not grinning from across the dinner table with that teasing smile of his with his long, golden hair? Why was Halt sitting by himself in the first place? The day had been awfully quiet so far.

Will …

"Will?" Halt called.

As he expected, there was no answer.

With a scowl, he drank the remains of his coffee and went outside.

Was his apprentice out hunting?

"Will!" he called.

Abelard stirred, causing Halt to look at his general direction.

Tug was missing too.

Yes, he's hunting. That has to be it. He can't have followed that elf to who knows where…

And then the past events suddenly all came down upon him at once, giving him a striking pain to his temple. He rubbed his forehead, remembering that light and the two, almost transparent riders in the distance. And Glorfindel's strange disappearance.

Now he really wished Will was just hunting.

Normally Halt was used to being alone. But he sighed and leaned against the outside walls of the cabin. Did the curious boy somehow disappear with Glorfindel?

If that boy doesn't get home soon, then the next person I see who claims to be an elf I'll kill.

Indeed, that the next elf he was destined to collide with was unfortunate.

Will's head was throbbing, pulsing against his skin like an irritating bite. His eyes were slow to come to, and when they did fully widen, he found it was no longer nightfall.

And he was definitely no longer near the cabin.

Arising painfully and slowly, the boy took in his surroundings. At first the world spun, almost as if he were inside a rapidly turned spinning top. And then it instantly stopped.

He was in a foreign forest, with strange trees and not the slightest sound.

How long was he unconscious for?

And where was his beloved Tug?

Answering his mental thoughts, the pony in question nudged the dazed and confused boy's shoulder.

Gripping Tug's familiar mane for balance and comfort, Will struggled to move through this new landscape. He managed to take in the sun's place, and guessed it was just before midday.

Thoughts raced through his mind one by one, each one seeming to bite his head. He then wondered how he hit his head in the first place. Did the light he see have anything to do with it? Or was he seeing things due to this nausea?

What he saw next did not answer his question, but brought him closer to the fact that he was no longer near familiar grounds.

A rider. Long, light brown hair tied back to show pointed ears and a face that almost glowed underneath the sunlight.

An elf. Will thought, unable to move. Was this a trick of the mind?

The elf looked younger and less valiant than Glorfindel, but was an elf nonetheless. He halted his chestnut steed a few meters from the boy, and had his blue eyes fixed on him in wonder.

But aught anything was said between these two from two different lands, the elf was gone. His mouth half-open as if he were forming a question. Gone. In that cursed light.

And from there on, Will fell into darkness again.

Argh! Don't die, Ranger Robbin! Hang in there! ;)

And thanks so much for your awesome review, Little NK! I apologize for this monster of a chapter ...