Sorry its taking me so long to update, schools a big bitch right now. Happy Post Halloween everyone!

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"Damn't! I can't believe it! That was my best Dark Maane! Killed off by that stupid brat! Damn't it Erebus! That isn't fair!" Aya growled as she paced her bedroom. Erebus just laughed, shaking his head, and pulled her in his arms.

"Be calm love, sometimes the best way to win is to step back. Don't worry yourself, we have plenty of time." Aya looked up at her husband adoringly. A devilish grin took his face. "And then you'll be the Queen of all Middle- Earth, sitting by my side." Pale pink lips split into a smile as Aya wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" She asked softly. He lifted her and dropped her on the bed.

"Why don't you show me?"

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With a jerk that almost tossed him from the horse, Caleb came to.

"What?" He blinked, looking around in confusion. His head hurt, white spots danced on the edge of his vision.

"Good evening, my lord." Haldir said from behind him. Why was he on Haldir's horse?

"What happened?"

"I was hoping you would tell me. You just fell from your horse." Caleb strained to recall the scene.

"There was a voice...I can't remember quite what it said." He leaned back, then stopped when he realized that it was Haldir behind him. He leaned forward, resting his head on the horse's neck. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He repeated this until his breathing was a regular pattern. He gathered his strength to himself and reached out mentally, searching his mind.

He almost had it... he could almost grasp it-

"What are you doing, my Lord?" Caleb straightened so fast that he slammed into the marchwarden.

"Well, I was about to find out what the hell happened, but now it's gone." He said irritably. Haldir growled.

"Forgive me my Lord, but how was I supposed to know what you were doing?"

"Never mind." Caleb brought his fingers to his lips and whistled. His horse trotted closer and neighed loudly. "No, not dead." Caleb said to him, as if answering a question. Shifting he easily transferred himself to his own horse. He heard Haldir sigh quietly. Caleb looked at the silent marchwarden. "Why do you not like me?"

"It is not my place to say, my Lord."

"I give you leave to." Haldir eyed him wearily.

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Haldir shook his head. This was the most conversation they'd all trip, and the only thing Caleb wanted him to do is tell him why he didn't like him?

"Can you not read minds?"

"I prefer to stay of the minds of others, to respect their privacy. Haldir, if I went in your mind, I would see all that was there, not just what you wished to say. A frightening idea, no?" Haldir's calm mask didn't alter even though he agreed with Caleb. He didn't mind the Lady knowing, but the thought of Caleb seeing all his thoughts made him uneasy. So he cleared his throat and did something he had never done before. He spoke badly of his current Commander.

"Because I think you're an arrogant child with a big stick, so to speak, and you flaunt it everywhere. You're nothing like the lady, you don't hold your power with grace. You're moody, rude and I do not know if I should blame that on your personality or your human raising. You strolled into the Golden Woods and upset everything, and there hasn't been peace since. I have no respect for you." Caleb chuckled softly. Was that all he was going to do? Laugh? He had disrespected Caleb severely. At least, in Haldir's way, he had.

"No peace for the Wood or for you?" Haldir's left hand flexed in annoyance. "No, I am nothing like my Aunt. She is my elder and she sees not what I do." Haldir shoot him a glare. Dare he insult the Lady's power? "And I'm sorry if I don' t want to be social with the elves of Lothlorien."

"You don't have to be social, just treat them like they're not dirt on your boots." Irritated, Caleb ran a hand through his short hair. His beautiful face grew dark.

"You try seeing what I see and be in a good mood for someone."

"What is it that you see? How far forward do you see?" Haldir asked, still watching the Prince.

The voice Caleb answered with was hollow, "I see the end."

Haldir decided not to ask anymore questions.

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The blade sliced through the air as Alex twisted and kicked. The goblin screamed as his arm fell to the ground. Alex's feet hit the wall and he kicked off, his hands forward to throw himself into a roll the moment he hit the ground. He rolled and sliced hard. The goblin screamed as it fell to its knees, armless and bleeding from a stomach gash. Alex stood above him, a grin on his face. The goblin quivered as he stood over him, blade pressed against his throat.

"Who's your master?"

"You, my Lord!" It squealed.

"Who is your leader?"

"Sauron, my Lord!" Alex grinned, his lip curling in a snarl.

"Be sure to tell the ones on the other side that." And then he turned away. "Don't you help him, you pitiful shits!" The goblins that were rushing to their comrade's side halted. "Don't you kill him either. Let him bleed." They nodded. Alex pulled one of them over and wiped his blade off on their back. A chuckling filled the room. The goblins fell to their knees as Sauron entered.

"Well, well, my little general." The dark Lord's blue eyes danced in amusement. "You've grown up quite fine." Alex grinned and took Sauron's hand, kissing it.

"It is all because of you, my Lord." Sauron petted Alex's head.

"Come, my general. I wish to show you something."

"As you wish, my master." Alex answered as he bowed low. He walked to the left of his master, trailing slightly behind in respect. The dark doors of Barad-dûr opened for Sauron passed through them. Dark grey light filled the hall as the final door opened. Sauron stopped before the door.

"Go look over the balcony. I have a present for you." Bowing, Alex stepped out into the light. A woman leaned against the railing, black hair flying free in the wind, looking out over the training grounds. She turned around and spread her arms out on the railing, a seductive grin passing over her face.

"My Lord?" Alex questioned.

"Her name is Gul. She's an Easterling."

"She is named 'wraith'?"

"I named her that, for she is one of the shadows now. I had Aya search the Easterling's encampments for a suitable one. She is healthy, fairly beautiful and young, only sixteen or so, and she's all yours."

Gul shivered slightly at the smile that spread across the General's face.

"Thank you, Master. I'll make well use of it, I promise." Laughing, Sauron retreated into the darkness.

"I know you will."

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Elladan walked silently through the halls. Caleb was coming, and he finally would have someone to talk to about his conversations.

For as long as he could remember, Elladan had been able to speak to the Valar. Not all, just Manwe, Lord of the Winds and of all Middle-earth. He had long followed Manwe's will from the start, and it separated him from everyone else he had ever met. When he met Caleb, he had been overjoyed. Of course, he recognized who the boy was, his own cousin and a servant of Eru. They had fled the day they met, and enjoyed each other's company. It was a first for them both, meeting someone else who had similar weights placed on them.

And Elladan missed him greatly.

When Caleb arrived, he had much to discuss with him of Jack and Glorfindel, the counsel meeting and of the trees. He could sense their presence getting stronger. Things where finally being set in motion. He rounded the corner and stopped. The laughter of the old filled his ears. He smiled slightly as he saw Michael and Bilbo.

Bilbo had come to them only recently. They had watched the Hobbit age as the ring left him. It was disturbing and sad, since he was greatly loved by all of Elrond's house, and to the children more then any other. But Bilbo was happy with his new age-and his new home. He said that Rivendell drove the shadows of the ring away from his heart, and that his age promised that he need not deal with the pain of being tainted forever. As an elf, Elladan found this hard to understand.

Michael had come to them with Jack. Rivendell's longevity had pressed itself upon him, and by some role of fate, Michael still lived at age one hundred and twenty nine. Unbelievably old for a human that was not of the Dunedain. It was well that he lived so long, for the elves had grown horribly found of him. His friendly demeanor and dry humor had won him many friends almost by the first week; and his stories of his world, which he told only to Glorfindel, Elrond and Elladan, along with his insight on why Jack did some of what she did, was greatly appreciated.

Elladan also knew Michael knew the fate of this world, which was why he had sought him out today.

"Elladan! Perfect timing for tea! Come! Come sit down!" Bilbo greeted him, his face lightening up. "If you say no I will be horribly angry with you." Elladan laughed.

"Alright, my dear friend. I will drink with you."

"Good, good, good! I will go get the tea." Bilbo stood, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

"Here, my friend, allow me to get it." Elladan started to get up. Bilbo smacked him with his stick.

"Nonsense! I am not so old that I cannot walk down to the kitchen and order myself some tea. And don't you tell me otherwise! I get enough lectures about my age from your father!" The Hobbit grumbled as he hobbled down the hallway.

"As you wish, Bilbo. At least get a servant to carry it up." Bilbo waved him off.

"Hello, Elladan." Michael greeted.

"Hello, Michael. How are you?"

"Elladan, enough with formalities. You've come here to ask me if I'm going to interfere tomorrow at the meeting." Elladan nodded, smiling at the man's bluntness.

"Indeed, that is why I am here."

"Then don't worry. It's not my place to tell. I won't tell a soul what I know, not even your father." Elladan nodded. He believed that Michael felt this way but he was still relieved to hear it in words. "Now," Michael scooted the chessboard towards Elladan. "How about a game?"

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"What?" Glorfindel asked, silver eyes flashing.

"Remember that dream we were sent? With the trees? Where we had to choose which tree we wanted? When we choose the tree, it was-I don't know, what did Orome say?- implanted in us."

"No. I would have known. It's been years since I had that dream. I would felt something by now...." His voice faded off as his eyes widened. He knows. I thought sadly. He knows I'm telling the truth. I sighed.

"I'm sorry, Glorfindel." He only nodded and sat down heavily. I squatted in front of him, holding the cloak closed.

"What will happen? Will Telperion try to take me over like Laurelin is to you?" His voice was heavy-and oddly-tired. I could almost hear his thought, 'I'm too old for this.'

"I don't know. But if he does, you have to fight him. Bad things happen, Glorfindel, if you give in." He nodded, his silver eyes watching my downcast face. How can he be so calm about this? I was freaking out when I found out!

"What does it feel like, when they take over?" I got on my knees, fiddling with a blade of grass.

"Scary. Your body just...moves to their will. Whatever they want to do, they can do it, through you." Like the kisses. Glorfindel nodded, resting his forehead on his fist. There was no trace of fear on his face, just exhaustion. I marveled at him. How the hell can he not be scared? Sensing my eyes he looked up. I quickly turned back to the grass.

"Is there a way to fight them?"

"I'm not sure. It's only happened twice to me. Galen's light broke the control the first time, and then I thought of the spider in Galadriel's well the second time. A wiry grin spread over Glorfindel's face.

"The baby Ungoliant. Very clever, Jack. I'm impressed, I didn't think you were that bright." How could he be making jokes at a time like this? "There is more?" I laughed dryly.

"Of course there is more. Think we'd get off that easy? Naw, no way. Do you- " The bitterness left my voice, "Do you want to know what happens, if you fail to get back control?" Glorfindel nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought, still focused in full on my face. "If we can't regain control, we get stuck in this limbo, forever. It's all black, like you can't see, or hear or speak. We just sort of exist there, able to think but that's the only thing we'd be able to do, 'till like the end of the world or something." My voice was shaking by the end of it.

"I can not think of a more horrible fate." He said softly. I snorted in agreement.

"How can you be so calm about this? I was freaking out when Orome first told me."

"I guess....because I expected something like this. You and Aragorn didn't take me seriously, when I said that the blood bond makes you the tools of the Gods, or else you would not have brought Rinvil into the pack. The blood bond does not just open you to the Valar, but to fate. It makes you more open to the will of fate, which means you'll always be important to the future of this world, one way of another. Look at me. I've been fate's tool for a long time." I stared at him. More open to fate? Suddenly a thought attacked me.

"Fuck! Rinvil! Where is he? I was with him when Laurelin took over!" I took towards the gate door, but Glory gripped my hand. The result was a throwing off of balance for both of us and we hit the ground with a thud. Glory held me down.

"He's alright. He's with Elrond." Panic filled me.

"Oh god, what did I do? I'll kill myself I swear-"

'Rinvil? Rinvil can you-'

"Don't try to contact him mentally. He's fine. Laurelin hit him over the head with a poker from your fireplace. Elrond is working on him. Rinvil's going to have a bad headache and trust me, mental voice hurts after head wounds."

"I want go in his room."

"No. Elrond wouldn't let Estel in and he won't let you. Don't try, he's frightening when he's in healer mode." I sighed in defeat. Oh, Rinvil, I'm sorry.

'Josh?' I reached out slightly. I winced and started to pull away. He was with Arwen.

'Jack?' Josh asked silently. 'You are back.'

Yeah, I was. He should be looking for me, or waiting out side of Rinvil's room, not with Arwen-

'Arwen and I are waiting outside of Rinvil's room. Will you be here soon?' Guilt filled me for my earlier thoughts.

'Yeah. I will.'

'Good. I'm happy you're safe, Jack.'

'So am I.'

I sighed. Josh was growing further away from me. This was all too much, Josh's coldness towards Rinvil and I, the trees and now this damn quest. Why was Aragorn being so cold?

"What makes you so sad?" I blinked and looked up at Glorfindel. Silver eyes stared down at me inquisitively. Glory laid to my side, stretched out on his side. It was amazing. Somehow, someway, this dumb elf had defused the situation. The panic and dread that had consumed me had lessened, just by being near his calmness. Glory, oddly enough, had a sense of normalcy around him. It was easier to fall back into the old Jack, the one of sixty- five years ago. Had he always had this effect on me? I couldn't remember...

"How is it you always make me feel better?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbow. A grin passed over his face.

"I make you feel better?"

"Oddly enough."

"It is odd, isn't it." I rose an eyebrow in confusion. "I would have thought I would have made you feel worse, once you saw, and realized you never could be as utterly perfect as I." I shook my head.

"Elrond told me a secret about you." Glorfindel looked startled.

"He did, did he?"

"Yes. He said you were a genetic mutation." Glory cocked his head to the side.

"What is 'genetic'?" I sighed.

"Never mind. Where are we anyway?"

"My garden. You've been here before." The memory of the night in question rose.

"Yeah, that. Man, that seems like it was centuries ago. Immortality is weird." Glorfindel chuckled.

"I suppose to you it would be."

"Do you think...do you think I'll go mad from it? Since man isn't suppose to live forever and all?"

"I think you'll be fine, if you do what we do."

"And that is?"

"Surround yourself with those that make you happy: Your friends, family, and lovers. They take some of the weight off of immortality. It's like, they make you feel younger, almost." I nodded. I guess that made sense.

"I know. I'll live here forever in Rivendell."

"Not forever. One day the elves will go across the sea, to Valinor." Seeing the disturbed look on my face he quickly added, "I'm sure you'll be more then welcome to join us."

"Fine then, I'll just follow you everywhere."

"Oh, please don't do that. I'll end up taking my own life." I punched him in the shoulder.

"You're an asshole. Do you think Elrond's done with Rinvil yet?"

"I think," Glorfindel's hand reached towards the me. I blushed when I realized at some part of the conversation my right thigh had become uncovered. His fingers brushed against the skin as they pulled the cloak down over it. "That is time for you to find some clothes."

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'a big stick'- Lorien slang for a lot of power. Arrogant child with a big stick- Arrogant child with a lot of power.

Gul-Usualy with a upside v over the u. Means wraith.

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A little bit of Jack/Glory flirtation. Next chapter: Glory learns more of the trees and we have the council meeting.