It had been two months since Sythralen had left Rivendell in search of healing from the Lady of Lorien. What she had gotten instead of healing was an increased sense of evil that threatened to corrupt her forever and an unhealthy dose of desire for the Elf-King she also wanted to kill. Real successful trip. The past week hadn't been so bad. In all honesty, it had been very anticlimactic. No more had happened with Thranduil since their very close meeting on the stairway. She was not entirely sure what her feelings on that were. On the one hand she despised the fact she wanted him as much as she did. Then there was the other hand that wanted to rip his throat out. This was not what love was. She had to keep reminding herself that. It wasn't love for Thranduil that haunted her dreams, only lust, and that was mainly so that the darkness could get close to him. Their relationship wasn't even the biggest issue anymore. She had made the decision to explore deeper into the darkness to discover the name to the evil she had seen in the pool but she could find nothing. The darkness hadn't plagued her with episodes since the party. It was still there, but it had put a wall up that she couldn't get past. It was protecting the information she needed, waiting for the opportune moment to strike perhaps? She sat and meditated, speaking soft words of invitation to it but still there was nothing, not even a slight reaction. Sythralen rolled her eyes, deciding it was best to take a break and put her time into her other hobbies.

She had taken to training Legolas in her ways of archery. With her instruction he had advanced beyond any other Elf in the Greenwood. Haldir, the Elf soldier that had brought her into Lorien had also joined in her lessons. Thanks to her a new form had been invented so that now all the woodland Elves would be the greatest archers in all of Middle-Earth. Today, however, they were practicing with swords. She wanted Legolas to be well-rounded so that when she left she would not have to worry about there ever being an adversary that he couldn't face. The three had gathered in their usual meeting place of practice and Haldir and Legolas began to spar. She would critique their movements as they executed different striking and defense patterns.

"You drop your guard on the left when you strike, Legolas. An unwise decision when you are absent shield. It is not custom for Elves to fight with shields so we have to be prepared to dodge or block with the sword in our possession. Legolas fighting with two blades would benefit you greatly. You have speed to your advantage whereas Haldir has more brutish strength. Both good traits one just has to learn how to use them."

"Wise words. I have often told my son the same thing. I suppose criticism is better received from your tongue."

"Perhaps because I offer more than just criticism. I offer help and the freedom for him to speak his mind. I merely suggest. I do not command."

"An interesting technique." Thranduil turned up his nose at her teachings. There was no point in acknowledging his arrogance. Of course he thought his ways of instructing were better than hers, he had yet to see her skill. 'Fight him." The urge to grab a sword and run it through his gut was almost impossible to ignore. The tingle of her fingers from the flames in her mind became stabs of pain and she she had bite her lip to keep from yelping.

"You are more than welcome to command them, King Thranduil, for I must take me leave." The look he gave her was one of worry but only for a split second then it changed back to the condescending judgmental glare he normally wore. Sythralen went to her room in a hurry. The darkness had spoken to her and she could still feel the heat in her blood. Now was the time. She shut the door behind her then she lit a few candles to help her relax. The scent of freshly budded flowers circled her. She breathed in and let her mind wander.
Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Fire, hotter than 1000 suns. A pitch black sky. Smoke in the air. Every creature enslaved by Orcs. But under whose rule? Dig deeper. An army of 10s of 1000's. No green. Only charred ash. A tower in Mordor... Mordor? No it couldn't be. This evil had been defeated in the Last Alliance. How had it resurfaced? A ring of pure gold. One ring to rule them all. It's current whereabouts unknown. An Eye constructed of flames. Forever opened, piercing the world with it's gaze. Suddenly it looked at her and she felt a pain beyond any she had experienced . Every inch of her skin felt as if it was being branded by that horrible eye. No sound escaped her lips for the muscles were so tense she couldn't bare to move them. It was taking her over, making it's mark in her heart. Sythralen noticed that she was on her knees with her head down on the floor, her hands holding her ears to attempt to block out the Black Speech. Hot tears fell onto the ground.

One word and she knew what it all was. The pain ceased as she heard, 'Sauron'. The Lord of Mordor that had almost destroyed everything with more cruelty and hate than anyone thought possible since the days of Morgoth. In the Last Alliance of Elves and Men he was struck down by Isildur and the Ring of Power was taken into the world of Men. It was said to be kept safe and eventually faded out of memory. But it wasn't safe at all. It had betrayed Isildur and left him disappearing into the unknown. Someone or something had found it she knew that much. It was shrouded in a dark cloak so she could not make out where it was or who had it. Still this was the information Galadriel wanted and she had discovered it. Sythralen blew out the candles and for a moment everything went dark even though it was midday. It was strange. Something else was using her body to see.

"Oh no." She barely got the words out for fear gripped her throat. It had happened. The darkness had found its way in. It moved her to the mirror. Her eyes had become nothing but one large black pupil. The darkness realized that it could not let her leave this way for then it would be revealed to the Elves that Sythralen was corrupted. Then she could see again. Never before had light been so appreciated and now she knew what her life would be like once the corruption took permanent hold. She would be a prisoner in her own body, forced to watch all the deeds the darkness would commit in her name. 'Soon, but not yet.' It hissed to her. It couldn't take full hold of her until she was alone with Thranduil. That was its foul purpose and it was holding to it. She would have to forbid herself from allowing her desire for him to influence her in any way. But now there was something that had to be done. She found Galadriel who was thankfully alone, simply looking over her people, watching to make sure all was in order. As soon as Sythralen entered the Lady turned.

"You have peered into the darkness and uncovered something."

"Yes. I know what this evil is. Sauron will return." Galadriel's face did not waiver from it's smooth look of calm control. "But you already knew that didn't you?"

"Sythralen."

"No, you knew exactly what you were asking me to dive into and you didn't even warn me of what could happen."

"What? What has happened?" She took a step closer but Sythralen took one step back.

"Don't come near me. This was my chance to be free forever and now it's gone."

"Sythralen what has happened? Are you all right?

"Why didn't you tell me?" The eyes of the Lady hit the floor. She was ashamed?

"I needed to be sure that it was the dark lord. Raising such alarm for a threat that could have been something far less dangerous would only cause unnecessary panic. Besides what you saw was not in this time-"

"No it is what is to come if the Ring is returned to him."

"You saw the Ring?" Her eyes raised once more, searching Sythralen's face for answers but instead she found one of cold indifference.

"I know it is far from anyone's reach. Sauron's spirit has not yet awoken so therefore it is nowhere near him."
Galadriel let out a sigh of relief at the news. "But he will rise again. The Ring will resurface. There is your information. Never ask anything of me again."

"Please wait-"

"No. You have asked too much of me now leave me be." At that she turned away from the Lady of Light, knowing that it would be many years before she ever saw her again. On her way back to her room she saw that Legolas, Haldir and Thranduil were still practicing with the swords. She had to stay away. It wasn't safe for anyone to be around her anymore especially with swords. Her feet would not take her to her room. They began to move towards the Elves. She fought it with all her strength but no chants could help her now. It was too late.

"Are they fit for battle?" She asked the King, but it wasn't her. Sythralen could hear the words fall from her lips, but she could not control the content.

"I am not one to admit that there is a form better than mine...but they seem to have been taught well."

"Still you doubt me?" Her tone was challenging. The darkness had a plan. "Was I not the most feared Assassin in all of the Elven kingdoms? I killed more of our kind then any Orc and yet you still think my skill is beneath yours. I believe your legends inflated, King Thranduil, Elf-Warrior."

"Then let us test the myths that surround both of our tales. Hand over your swords." He commanded Legolas and Haldir. Legolas looked at her with a warning in his light eyes, but she was no longer in control of her actions. The darkness grasped the steel tightly, enjoying the idea of using it to murder it's target that so willingly presented itself. "Do not hold back, Elf-Assassin."

"Holding back isn't in my nature.