DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of any kind towards the Lord of the Rings

A/N: well there's nothing really to say, so . . . enjoy!!

A/N: actually, there is. Since this is actually my friends penname (she's letting me borrow it, thank goodness : ) I realize some of you have been using her email address. So for her sake, my email address is: RitaBook120aol.com

::The Council::

I rubbed my hands vigorously in the wash basin. Whether it was still wine or blood that stained my hands, I did not know, but still the gash in my flesh bled.

What happened? One minute I was fine, then the next I was holding the shattered remnants of my wine glass clenched in my hand.

--"Kaye are you alright?"

No I wasn't alright. But I couldn't tell them; I couldn't move; I couldn't speak. I was paralyzed with fear and my body shook violently. For within the deep red wine, the Eye of Sauron was watching me with its fiery iris ablaze.

Light Bearer . . .

Go away, I pleaded, trying desperately to break free of its gaze, please go away.

Light Bearer . . . it repeated.

Leave me alone! I don't have your Ring!

I could almost hear it laughing in amusement, No . . . but you do have a ring that I want . . . now give it to me . . .

You will not have Narulin! I will die before I let you have it!

That can be arranged, Light Bearer.

"Kaye!"

Go away! Let me be! GO AWAY!!

Suddenly, there was the sound of shattering glass and my wine was drenching my hand. I blinked and stared wide-eyed- at the stem of my glass and the tiny shards of crystal around it. A sharp pain raced through my palm and I carefully opened my clenched hand. I bit my lip quickly when I saw the rather large piece of glass protruding from my flesh.

The blood had begun to mix with the wince making it look as though my entire hand was bleeding.

"Kaye, are you alright?

I looked up quickly into the face of Lord Elrond himself and the faces to the others at the table. I felt their stares burning into me and I quickly stood as I forced myself to close my hand over my wound.

"Excuse me," I mumbled and quickly made my way out of the hall.

No one fallowed me as I ducked into my chambers and bolted the doors. Hurriedly, I sat at the vanity and reached for my wash basin.

I shut my eyes tightly as I opened my hand once more. Squinting, I carefully removed the shard with a hiss of pain and threw it in the corner without looking at it. I gently placed my hand in the basin only to have the blood billow up like a crimson cloud.

Oh gods, what had happened? Why had Sauron been looking for me?

I shivered and rubbed my palm.

And why on Middle Earth did my glass shatter?

Fearful tears rose into my eyes as I though back on the Dark Lord's horrible voice, the one that called upon my title as if it had control over me . . .

And it felt as thought it had.

Wrapping a nearby towel around my wound, I undressed quickly and stepped into my nightgown. By now the cloth had been drenched with my blood. But as I removed it, I barely noticed a small black stain on Narulin.

Curious, I rewrapped my hand and tried to scrape it off with my fingernail. But to no avail, the mark would not come off. Thinking nothing of it, I let the matter drop.--

Nearly and hour later, a knock came at my door.

"Kaye? Are you there?"

The voice was familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Sighing, I stood and placed the book I was reading on the bedside. I stood at the door for a moment before opening it slightly.

"Legolas!" I exclaimed in surprise.

He smiled gently—oh gods what a wonderful smile!—"I came to see how you were after the incident at dinner."

I blushed and opened the door wider, "I thank you, then, Legolas, but I am fine, there is no need to check on me . . ." I forced a weak smile, "I guess I was just a little tense at the moment, that's all."

"You must have been pretty tense, then, if you were willing to break one of Elrond's glasses," the Mirkwood elf teased lightly.

I smiled a little bit more earnestly now, "Would you like to step inside for a little bit? I'm afraid the tea has gotten a little cold, but the view is decent."

Legolas smiled and nodded. I stepped back as he entered my chambers. There was something about him that seemed to light up the entire room just a little bit more. I quickly gathered up a shawl around my shoulders and gestured towards the balcony.

"Shall we?"

We stepped out onto the terrace next to the railing. I had almost forgotten how beautiful Rivendell was even at night. Candles dimly lit up the open corridors and led the way for some of the elves on their way to retire for the night. Fireflies danced beneath the moonlight and I smiled as I thought of Merry and Pippin and how they would have enjoyed chasing them about. Farther off, a waterfall cascaded into the river Bruinen, but even though I could not see it, it was still just as beautiful to my ears.

"Your hobbit friends were wondering about you," Legolas finally said as he stared off into the distance. No doubt with his keen eyes was he looking towards Mirkwood.

"I hope I didn't frighten them with my curious behavior," I admitted, "They've gone through enough scares without them thinking that I've gone mad," I grinned to let him know that I was joking.

He shook his head; "They just hoped that you are well . . ." he trailed off. I felt as though he wanted to say more, but he chose against this.

There was an awkward silence after that. But for the moment's sake, we both listened to the nightly sounds of the darkness. All had appeared to have gone to their rooms for the night, only to my surprise; a pair of murmuring voices entered my ears. Legolas surely must have heard them, but paid no heed. I on the other hand turned to see who it was.

It was Arwen and Aragorn. I had not seen the ranger at dinner and yet here he was with the lady herself. I sadly smiled to myself. Of course he had not been at dinner, ever since leaving Rivendell; it seemed as if he had all but forsaken his past elfin life.

I suddenly had to blush and turn away as they shared an intimate embrace. She would not have been please if someone had been spying on her like she was but a moment before.

After another moment, I propped myself onto the railing and hung my legs over the edge, "Were you called here by Elrond?" I asked meekly.

He nodded, "I was sent with a few other elves from Mirkwood."

I frowned slightly. He looked preoccupied with something as if his mind was somewhere else entirely. His face was expressionless, however, and made it impossible to tell what he was thinking about.

"They're blessed," he stated shortly.

"Who?" I asked and looked around.

Legolas smiled sadly, "The Lady Arwen and Aragorn . . . they do not care for what others think, but love freely as if that was all that mattered to them . . ." he sighed heavily, "Even if Elrond does not approve, they still keep their relationship ablaze . . ."

Curiosity came over me. What was he doing speaking of love? He seemed so distant and then but a moment ago, he decided to talk and of love, no doubt! I chewed on my lip slightly. Was he trying to indicate something?

"Do you have someone . . . er . . . special back home, Legolas?" I inquired quietly.

He shook his head, "No . . . even though my father does wish me to find someone to marry soon," he put on a rather comical face, "'Now see here, Legolas,'" he said with a mocking tone of authority, "'If you are to take after me, you will have to find a wife soon or I'll have to find someone else to take my place!'"

I laughed at the impression of his father and he grinned too; obviously pleased that he got me to smile.

"Is he really that bad?" I asked.

Legolas smiled, "No, he's not, but sometimes it seems that way."

I smiled genuinely and turned to look over the balcony. Arwen and Aragorn were gone, and all of Rivendell seemed quiet. It was eerie the fact that Legolas and I seemed to be the only ones awake.

Suddenly, I felt the elf's hand on mine. A bright pink blush burned to the roots of my hair and I smiled slightly to myself without looking at him. And without really meaning to, I wrapped my hand around his . . .

And he did not pull away.

-------

I knew it was wrong to spy, but when you're not invited to a council that partially involves you, it's kind of hard not to.

The men's voices carried over to me as I hid carefully in the bushes behind Elrond's throne. Earlier I had seen Sam, Merry and Pippin racing to find their hiding places before the council took place. It caused me to smile, though, as I realized I had sunk to their devious ways.

I saw some friendly faces, but most of those at the council were strangers. Frodo and Gandalf sat at the end of the chairs and Aragorn on the other. A smile reached my lips when I noticed Legolas among them. Thankfully, none of them noticed that I hid within their midst.

". . . Bring forth the Ring, Frodo," Elrond commanded gently to the hobbit.

Briefly, I noticed a flash of fear crossing through Frodo's eyes. But it was gone quickly as he stood and walked towards the pedestal in the center of the council. From his pocket, he withdrew the One Ring.

I watched in near horror as he placed it on the dais and cautiously backed away. A rapid murmur went around the group and some of the men leaned forward for a better look at the Dark Lord's weapon.

"Well what are we waiting for?" a dwarf stood suddenly gripping his axe, "We will destroy it now!"

The dwarf raised his axe above his head as he charged for the ring. Elrond started to cry out, but he was already bringing down the blade.

He was suddenly thrown back by an unseen force and toppled into a group of his fellow dwarves. The elf lord sighed sadly and stood.

"You cannot destroy the Ring with any man-made weapon we hold here, Gimli son of Gloin. The Ring must be taken back from whence it came; it can only be destroyed within the fires of Mount Doom."

There was another wave of murmurs across the council and one man stood. He wore the emblem of Gondor and a sword at his side. His hair and beard were deep reddish brown.

"Why not use this Ring?" he addressed the others, "Give it to Gondor and we can use it against Sauron--!"

"You cannot wield it," Aragorn cut him off sharply, "None of us can."

The man frowned at him angrily, "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

Legolas now stood, "He is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn son of Arathorn; heir of Isildur . . . you owe him your allegiance."

"So this . . . this is Isildur's heir?" he asked; his eyes wide. Then he frowned; his fury building within him, "Gondor has no king," he nearly spat, "Gondor needs no king!"

"Sit down, Boromir," Elrond said dangerously before a fight could break out.

Angrily, he did as he was told, but his blazing eyes would not leave those of Aragorn. I felt a shiver run down my spine at his furious gaze.

"No, it is true no human can wield the One Ring without falling under the power of Sauron," Elrond continued, "But there are some of those, who can resist the pull of the Ring . . ."

I tensed suddenly. I knew where this conversation was heading.

"More than half a century ago, we tried to create a ring that would be able to contain the light of Middle Earth, hoping that it would somehow find a way to weaken the Dark Lord . . . we called this ring Narulin . . ."

I slumped quietly to the ground and closed my eyes, listening.

"It did not occur to us that Sauron would desire this ring so badly. It has been found out that Saruman, the White Wizard, has betrayed us, and in doing so has joined with Sauron," the elf lord sighed before continuing, "The bearer of Narulin was young at the time and was still unaware of the task they had to complete . . . making them vulnerable to the Dark Lord's plans. So we sent the bearer into hiding, hoping beyond hope that they would not be found by Sauron.

"But Saruman had different plans."

This time, I opened my eyes. Saruman had betrayed us? But he was the White Wizard! He couldn't betray us! Was that why Gandalf was late on meeting us at Bree? Had Saruman attacked him?

I shuddered. And what had Elrond meant when he said that Saruman had different plans? Had he been with Sauron all this time? And if so . . . what had happened then, that I did not remember?

". . . While traveling near Isengard, the Bearer's father and his troop members were attacked by the White Wizard's forces. The others were killed, but Saruman kept the father alive and tortured him; trying to learn of the whereabouts of Narulin . . ."

My blood ran cold within me. I felt my heart leap to my throat and my senses pick up.

"But he was strong until the end and did not give away his child. Angered, Saruman killed the soldier . . .

"Ilidas, warrior of Rohan."

-------

A/N: oooo! What will happen now that Kaye knows what happened to her father? Find out next time on "The Star of Narulin"!

Hehe, I always liked doing that. Anyway, another cliffy for ya'll (sorry! I didn't mean to! It just happened!) Hope you all enjoyed!

Ja'ne!