Author's Note: See first chapter for all other story information.

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As the sound of orcs suddenly caught his attention, Legolas quickly moved in the direction of the forest. As soon as he reached the edge, the elf agilely swung himself up into the branches of the first tree he came to. All thoughts of his earlier argument with Aragorn were pushed out of his mind as he listened to the not-so-distant cries.

A tremor of worry went through him as he let his mind move over the surrounding land. Even without being able to see, Legolas knew that the orc cries he heard were coming from somewhere very close to where he and Aragorn had parted company. The elven prince let up a quick prayer that his friend was safe before quickly, yet carefully, moving in the opposite direction. He knew very well that he would be of no help in fighting the foul creatures, if it came to that, but he would be able to warn Lord Elrond that they were nearby.

Legolas paused for a moment, a thought suddenly passing through his mind. Why exactly would orcs be there, so near to Rivendell? Surely they weren't planning on attacking--even creatures as dim-witted as they would know better than to attack elves in their own home. But what were they up to then?

As he pondered this, the almost-healed cut on the elf's head suddenly--without warning--felt as if were on fire. Legolas let out a quiet moan as he tried not to let go of the branch he was gripping. Blinking back the tears that had came to his eyes because of the sudden pain, he carefully let himself drop from the low tree limb down to the ground, where he immediately fell to his knees.

Almost as if in a dream, he saw--in his mind--four orcs standing around him. He could hear their cruel words, though they sounded faded, as if they were coming from faraway.

"What is an elf doing here? Maybe they suspect..."

"No, Elrond would have sent more."

"Even if they know, the master will deal with them."

Legolas grimaced slightly as the words echoed through his aching head. This was a memory, he was sure of it. When was it from though? The night that he had lost his sight? Why couldn't he remember?

"...look... into his eyes. The elves... a chance. He will... Rivendell."

Without warning, the pain quickly faded away--leaving Legolas on his knees, breathing heavily and clutching his head. He knelt that way for a moment, his mind racing over what had just came so suddenly back into his memory. Without even realizing it, he quietly whispered the words that still echoed through his mind.

"They must look straight into his eyes. The elves will not stand a chance. He will destroy Rivendell."

Confusion shone in the elven prince's eyes as he struggled to pull his mind back into the present. Legolas was still uncertain about what had just happened, but he knew that he had to let Elrond know what he had heard--and quickly. Even though he didn't understand why, he felt a sense of dark premonition moving swiftly through him. Whatever it was that the orcs had called 'master,' there was one thing that he... it was pure evil.

**********

The first thing that Aragorn noticed as his mind slowly returned to consciousness was the fact that his entire left arm was throbbin with pain. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt as if they were weighted down. After a few failed attempts, however, he managed to force them to open just a crack... and immediately wished that he hadn't.

There were orcs all around him, and, judging by the way the creatures were outfitted, they were preparing for battle. And the young Ranger knew very well that, if they were planning battle, it would be the elves of Rivendell that they would attack. Quietly, trying not to draw attention to himself, he moved slightly so as to check his condition. He left arm was covered in blood, but the arrow that had pierced his shoulder had been removed while he was unconscious. It didn't appear to have been poisoned, but Aragorn had learned long ago that you could never be certain until someone had checked it. For someone to that, however, would require him getting free--which, at the moment, seemed quite unlikely.

After he was certain that his arm wasn't damaged too severely, Aragorn moved his attention on to the rest of his body. His legs were tied together with a course rope, not very tightly though--just enough to give him difficulty. His hands, however, were an entirely different story. They were bound behind him, the ropes cutting into his skin every time that he moved.

He felt something warm and sticky trickle, and a grim expression appeared on his face as he recognized it as blood. Apparently whatever had caused him to fall into unconsciousness hadn't just been a bump on the head. Knowing the orcs, it had probably been a... Aragorn quickly pulled his mind back to the present as a large orc stepped in front of him.

"So, the human is awake."

Aragorn's eyes darted up and down the orc, studying the creature carefully. It was larger than most of the others that were gathered, and--for some reason--it seemed faintly familiar to him. He suddenly caught sight of the broad sword hanging at the creature's side, and his eyes narrowed slightly in recognition.

For just an instant, his mind flashed back to a night a little over a month earlier, when he had seen that same sword. Without meaning to, the memory of Legolas laying barely conscious, blood trickling down his face, flashed in his mind. Aragorn's mind was drawn back to the present though, as the orc let out a low cackle.

"Do you remember me, human?"

Once again, the Ranger's mind flashed back to the night that Legolas had lost his sight. There had been four orcs there, but he had only killed three. The largest of them, which he assumed was the leader, had gotten away because he had been preoccupied with saving his friend's life instead of chasing after it.

"I should have killed you then."

The orc let out another cackle, but Aragorn couldn't help but notice a slight hint of worry in the creature's yellow eyes.

"So the elf died, did it? What a pity. Was it a friend of yours?"

Aragorn bit back a cry of pain as he twisted his sore and aching body so that he was looking straight at the orc.

"Yes, he is my friend. And no, he did not die. It takes more than a mere scratch to..."

He trailed off, confusion shining in his eyes as he stared at the orc in front of him. As soon as the words, "he did not die," had left Aragorn's mouth, a look of fear appeared on the orc's face, and the creature was now letting his gaze drift fearfully around. As the young human watched in surprise, the orc turned and suddenly started heading away from him. It didn't make it very far, however.

A bright flash of light blinded Aragorn for a moment, and he quickly turned his eyes away. An ear-splitting cry of agony cut through the air, and the Ranger turned his gaze back towards the orc as soon as the light faded--and he immediately felt a wave of nausea sweep through him.

The orc was still there--or at least what was left of it was. The creature had been, literally, torn apart. For a moment the other orcs stood still, appearing to be just as surprised as Aragorn was. After several seconds, however, they seemed to get over their shock--or perhaps they just couldn't pass up the chance for a meal.

Aragorn turned away from the scene before him, a grimace crossing his bloodied face. A few moments later though, his curiosity took hold of him, and the young human let his gaze drift over the carnage in search of the source of the light he had seen. He quickly saw what he was searching for, and an expression of terror rapidly appeared on his young face.

**********

Legolas smiled weakly as he gratefully accepted the glass of water that Elrohir had handed him. He had made it back to Rivendell less than a half hour earlier and had only just finished telling Elrond and the twins what had happened. So far, Elrond had not said a word--other than to convince his sons not to go out and try to find the wayward Estel--and that was starting to worry the prince considerably.

He took a few sips of water before putting the glass to the side and letting his eyes drift somewhat in the direction of the lord of Imladris. There was a worried look shining in them, and for a moment Legolas considered breaking the silence that had settled over the room to ask just what the information he had passed on meant. Before he could though, Elladan's voice suddenly sounded, startling him just a bit.

"Do you know what any of this means, Ada?"

Elrond didn't answer for a moment, and the room seemed to gain a feeling of dark foreboding. After a few seconds though, his quiet voice broke the eerie silence.

"I am truly afraid that I do."

**********

"What Legolas has told us brought back memories of a story, a legend, about a creature of darkness. It was merely called Morion, Dark One, and it had a great power over elves, though I am not certain what that power was. In fact, I do not know even what the creature, Morion, itself was."

Elrond paused for a moment, a troubled look on his ageless face. Before he could start speaking again, Elladan gave him a curious look.

"If all you know about this creature is from a legend, Ada, then why are you so certain that it is what is leading the orcs?"

The lord of Rivendell sighed quietly before turning towards Legolas.

"They must look straight into his eyes. That is what you heard the orcs say, is it not?"

The elven prince nodded slightly, a look of confusion shining in his unseeing eyes. At that, Elrond turned towards his older son.

"That is why. Although I do not know why, there was warning... Do not look into his eyes. Still, I truly hope that I am wrong about this, though I feel that we will soon find out."

As soon as those words left his lips, Elrond turned his gaze towards the open balcony. Both Elladan and Elrohir followed suit, and almost immediately grim expressions appeared on their faces. Trying his best to focus his hearing, Legolas closed his eyes for a moment. Several seconds later, however, they were both open, and he was quickly on his feet.

"Orcs."

**********

Aragorn watched in horror and shock as the orcs descended upon his home. How had they found it so quickly? Even as he silently asked that question, a small voice in his head laughed. 'You know very well how they found it so quickly.'

The young human let his gaze drop away from the scene in front of him, and quickly turned his attention to untying the ropes that were bound tightly around his wrists. The orcs had brought him with them until they had reached a place where he would be able to see everything that happened, then they had tightened his bindings and left him here. For now.

A few tears streamed down his face as he listened to the sounds coming from below him. He didn't want to see what was happening--he didn't have to see what was happening. The creature, or demon, or whatever Morion was had made sure that his prisoner knew exactly what was planned for his friends and family.

"These worthless orcs will provide enough of a distraction for me to get close, and then the elves will stand no chance. All they have to do, my naive human, is to look into my eyes--and then they will be mine."

Aragorn shivered slightly as he remembered those horrible red eyes, and he quickly forced his mind to focus on the task at hand. Before he could do a thing, he had to get the blasted ropes off of him.

**********

There was a grim smile on Elrond's face as he tossed swords to both of his sons and then grabbed another one for himself. He would be damned if he let Rivendell fall without a fight. A sudden thought crossed his mind though, and he swiftly turned his attention to Legolas. The elven prince had twin daggers hanging at his sides, and he was gripping his bow tightly. It was obvious that he was willing to fight--even though he knew he would not be of much help. But still...

"Legolas, I assume that my sons have introduced you to the servants' hallways?"

Legolas turned his head towards Elrond, a smoldering look shining in his eyes.

"Yes, they have. However, if you are insinuating that you want me to run..."

Elrond gave the younger elf a reassuring smile--though he knew it wasn't seen--but it didn't quite reach his dark eyes.

"Yes, I am. But not for the reason that you assume. Even if I am wrong, and what we are going against is not Morion, the orcs you heard still said 'they must look straight into his eyes.' For you..."

He trailed off as a look of understanding slowly appeared in Legolas' silvery eyes. The elven prince nodded slightly as he turned his head so that he was looking at the other three beings in the room.

"Tenna enomentiëlva." [i]

Without saying another word, he turned towards the door and was gone. As soon as he had left, Elrond let his eyes close for just a moment. Mere seconds later, however, they were open and shining with alertness. As the sound of orcs suddenly rang in the garden below, he turned towards Elladan and Elrohir.

"Annali len." [ii]

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[i] Until we meet again.

[ii] Good luck.