Author's Note: Again, I apologize for the long wait, I have now got everything kinda organized in my life and am able to continue writing. No more long waits from me, I promise. (with reviews, of course) I thank all of you for the kind reviews so far! Here comes chapter 10!! This makes this story my longest yet, and it is not even completed!

Please review!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: This is a Tolkien/Beagle crossover, both are genius, I am not.

Chapter 10: Decisions and Confrontations

"It is a most ancient spell. One that I thought was only legend. I never thought I would look upon its like, and it disturbs me to know that things like this actually do exist."

Gandalf spied the spell laying on the table.  Aragorn had run to him saying he had found a great clue that might unlock this mystery.

"I do not wish to touch it, I do not wish to feel its evil."

"Is this what brought the Elves to the sea? Is this what holds them captive?"

"Yes, Aragorn. It was this spell which caught every Elf in Middle Earth, save our friend."

Gimli stood, trying to get a better look at it.  It seemed so harmless sitting there.  An old piece of parchment with half-faded words on it.  It could not seem possible that this could be what has stolen the First-born from the world.

"Can you reverse it, Gandalf? Can you set the Elves free?"

"I might be able to, Gimli, but I cannot be certain. In all honesty I do not know. I mist do some research, I must know more about the castor.  I must know who it is that has this evil, and how they know how to use it."

Aragorn thought about Gandalf's words.  That one is the big unknown, this person, this frail man who seems to be behind the whole captivity of the Elven people.  This kind of power has never been heard of in all the history of Middle Earth.  His thoughts were running wild when he realized he had not seen Legolas in quite some time.

Legolas stood, still in the room filled with the lore of his people.  He could not deny himself or his heritage any longer.  He could not hold up this façade, for it was crumbling in the presence of so many artifacts.  Many of them reminded him of Mirkwood and his home.  He thought of his strong father and his beautiful mother.  He even thought of his pet hawk, a beautiful red-tailed hawk that would accompany him, keeping watch for any danger and keeping him company when he would play in the treetops. 

He quietly left, returning to where to the others were.  When he arrived, he could not hold himself back any longer.  This duality was driving him insane, and he had come to a decision.

"Gandalf."

The Wizard looked up from a dirty piece of parchment to meet eyes with the Elf.

"I cannot remain like this.  I would rather face the Phoenix and the fate of my kin then live like this any longer.  I can no longer bear it."

Gandalf sighed, looked away again.

"I knew you would not be able to last, very well, Legolas.  I will return you to your true form at sunset.  For I wish to see this bird of flame again.  I wish to know its secrets, but before tonight, I must speak with our host. I must look into his eyes and see if there is anything hidden there, beneath, where mortals eyes cannot see."

The old man looked out at the sea from his huge throne room on the upper most floor of his great stone palace.  Gandalf knew he would find him there, admiring his work.  Admiring the captivity of the rarest and most beautiful creatures ever to walk the Earth. 

"Gandalf the Gray, that's what you used to be called, so long ago."

Gandalf held his position in the doorway, indeed there was more to this man. He would discover it now for the sake of his friend here and his friends in the man's icy grasp.

"I know you are not what you appear to be. I know you are something more, must I try to force the truth out of you?"

"Nay, my old friend. I had wondered when I first saw you approaching my door. I wondered if you would see through my disguise the minute I opened the door to you. You must believe I am shocked you have not seen past my magic yet."

"What lies behind this magic?"

Suddenly the man began to spin in place, a bright glow radiated from the center of him. It happened, quick as a flash of light, then stood someone Gandalf instantly recognized.

"Isanteri!"

"Yes, Gandalf. One of your kind, one banished and believed stripped of its power."

"You should have died long ago from old age.  How have you survived?"

"I guess my power overcame that hideous curse you and Saruman placed upon me all those centuries before."

Gandalf became furious.

"You lie! You could not have survived!"

"Ah, but I did. I owe everything to that spell Aragorn stole from me only hours ago."

Gandalf was confused, "Why have you not try to reclaim it, if you knew that Aragorn took it."

"You are so naïve, Gandalf. I have no more need of it. Its power is cast, it cannot be undone. I kept it for sentimental value, nothing more."

"What does this spell do, Isanteri? What is its purpose? There must be more to this magic than simply capturing the Elvish race."

"You are right, my old friend." Sarcasm dripped from his every word. "There is more, much more. Not only does it bring about the Phoenix to capture the fair folk, but the spell itself does something to them."

"What do you mean?"

"With them held captive in the sea, the spell is able to tap into them. I am able to use their power as my own. It is their magic I wield, Gandalf.  For, as you yourself have said, I have been robbed of my own magic. That is why I am so powerful, that is why I was able to hide from you."

Gandalf could not control is fear, this power is too much for him, he could never defeat the power of the Elven race.

"You are a monster!"

"Am I? You created me, Gandalf. You are responsible for all of this. Of course, you will not take responsibility for your role."

Gandalf could not look at the creature in front of him, he had to leave, he had to straighten this out in his mind.  No matter how long he would ponder his situation, he would not be able to think of a solution, and during this time Legolas would fade into mortality.

Either way, Isanteri knew what Legolas was. He might take it upon himself to change him back to his true self. Now Gandalf knew that Legolas could not remain human.

Legolas needed to confront the evil sent against him, to have the final confrontation between the Phoenix and the spell of the sea versus the last Elf in Middle Earth.