Orophin stepped inside the white and gold tent belonging to the rulers of LothLorien. They were talking with Haldir, Lord Glorfindel and Lord Elrond. He walked over to
them bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart. "My lord, my lady, King Thranduill's party has just arrived." Orophin reported. "Thank you Orophin" Lord
Celeborn replied.
Lord Celeborn stood and took Lady Galadriel's hand to help her stand. Haldir stepped aside to let them lead the way out of the tent. The wardens outside held back
the flaps as the Lorien rulers emerged from the tent followed by Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel with Haldir and Orophin coming out last. All of them moved to where
the Mirkwood emissaries were dismounting.
King Thranduil turned from his horse and seen the group moving towards him. Thranduil walked over and took Celeborn's hand in a warriors grasp. "Mae govannen
Thranduill how was your Journey?" Celeborn inquired. "Fair weather most of the way, ran into a few Orcs but it was nothing my son and guards couldn't handle" King
Thranduill responded. He turned to Lady Galadriel and pulled her next to him "Ahh my lovely Galadriel when are you going to leave this elf and join me in Eryn Lasgalen,
Thranduill smirked jokingly. Lady Galadriel laughed while Celeborn cocked an eyebrow at Thranduill and growled loftily. "Not in any age Thranduil." Everyone
surrounding the group started laughing. "Galadriel looked to Thranduil did you bring Prince Legolas with you my lord." "Yes, He is instructing our people where to place
our tents. Ahh here he comes now" he said as he released Galadriel. Galadriel and Celeborn looked to the prince as he strode up to them "My Lord, My Lady it is good
to see you again" He said as he bowed to them both. Galadriel looked at Legolas and smiled softly at Legolas "Legolas it has been many years since we have
seen you, Come join us for some food and drink while your camp is set up." Thranduil and Legolas both agreed.
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel turned and led the others back to their tent where a meal waited. During the meal Celeborn, Thranduill and Elrond exchanged news
from there respective realms. Shortly after they had finished the meal a messenger came in bent down to whisper in Lord Celeborn's ear and then turned around and
left. Lord Celeborn stood and looked around at those gathered. "Come my friends Lord Cirdan and Mithrandir have arrived and awaits us at the Council Table." he
informed them as he turned back to Galadriel and helped her to rise. Once again he led the group out of the tent and to a large white tent a short distance away. The
banners of each respective realm was placed in front of the tent indicating to everyone that it was the tent of the White Council. A group of warriors stood off to the
side and bowed with hands over there hearts as they passed by. As the Emissaries approached the tent the guards to each side opened and held back the flaps as
each of the Emissaries entered the tent.
As everyone was seated Lord Elrond strode to the front of the tent. He looked at everyone seated in front of him and began to speak. "We are here today to
discuss Arinalce, The Morning Ray of Light's safety and the tasks that we were given to us by Eru Illuvatar and the Valar to ensure her mission is achieved. Until she
reaches her majority she will reside in Imaldris where she will be taught what each elfling learns and about my people. She will also begin her study of Nature Lore with
Mithrandir. Along with Lady Galadriel's help when needed. She will also begin to learn self defense from Haldir and her Guardians when we deem it appropriate for her.
We believe that Lothlorien should be the last realm that she goes to. Elrond looked to Cirdan and Thranduil, When she leaves Imaldris which of you will welcome her
next to your realm?" Thranduill stood and looked to Elrond and Thranduil. "Legolas and I, would be overjoyed to be able to teach her the ways of the woodland realm
at a later time if Cirdan does not mind." Thranduill said. Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel turned to Cirdan as he stood to address the council. "That will be fine the Grey
Havens will rejoice no matter when the Morning Light comes to the Grey Havens." He declared. Elrond nodded in agreement. "Then let it be so. Arinalce will travel to
the Grey Havens next" Elrond stated.
He then gestured for Haldir to join him. Haldir walked up to stand next to Lord Elrond. Haldir turned to look at the Emissaries, "All here know that the Morning Light's
safety falls to Lord Elrond and I. We are to choose one guardian from each of the elven realms including the Grey Havens. We have set up a tent for the warriors
chosen to test for the position of Guardian to the Morning Light. I want the warriors chosen from each realm along with one of the emissaries to report there after this
meeting is over. At dawn tomorrow the testing will begin. The four guardians must be in place before the Morning Lights arrival.
Elrond looked to the emissaries, "We need to decide who will help test the warriors. Haldir trains the Wardens of Lorien and Glorfindel trains all the Border Guards in
Imaldris. So i am sure they could handle the testing on hand to hand and swords for the Chosen Warriors." He looked to Thranduil and Cirdan "If you would like
someone from your realms to help with the testing on hand to hand and sword play that is acceptable also. I am also sure that my sons and some of Haldir's wardens
could also help with this if anyone is needed to spar with the chosen ones. Haldir, Glorfindel and I all agree that Prince Legolas would be the best choice to test the
warriors in Archery since he is the best Archer in all the elven realms. He could also choose others to help test them. Would this be acceptable to the Council?" Elrond
asked.
At those words Legolas looked embarrassed and Thranduil sat up a little taller and got a look of pride on his face. Legolas leaned forward and whispered into his
fathers ear. Thranduil nodded to his son and he looked to Lord Elrond "We agree to Legolas testing them in Archery and I would also like him to be involved in the
testing for the hand to hand and the sword play. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel agreed to the plans. Lord Cirdan looked at Lord Elrond "would it be alright if we
observed the testing?" Celeborn and Thranduil looked at each other and grinned at each other. "We could make this into a tournament" Celeborn stated "We would
just have four winners one from each realm. The prize being the position of Guardian to the Morning Light. That way everyone here could observe in the testing. Lady
Galadriel rolled her eyes at the suggestion. Lord Elrond looked to Haldir and the others, "Is this acceptable to you?" Haldir, Lord Glorfindel and Legolas nodded in
agreement.
"Then it is agreed the tournament will start tomorrow morning after we break our fast. The warriors from each realm will compete against each other. Haldir, Lord
Glorfindel, Prince Legolas, Lord Cirdan and Mitrandir will award the points. Lord Cirdan smiled and nodded. King Thranduil and Lord Celeborn frowned upon hearing
that Cirdan would be one of the Judges. Everyone else in the tent laughed at the expressions on King Thranduil and Lord Celeborn's faces. Elrond smirked and
continued talking "The warrior with the most points will become the Guardian select but remember the final approval will be up to Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar. Arinalce,
The Morning Ray of Light will arrive in the evening three days from now. So the winners of the tournament needs to be decided by that time." Elrond reminded them.
"Tenna' tul're san'."
Haldir, Glorfindel, Legolas, Cirdan and Mithrandir stood outside the tent set aside for the Guardians watching as the emissaries from each realm lead their chosen
warriors to stand before them. Haldir glanced over each group his gaze froze upon one individual for a few seconds before continuing on to the rest. Haldir then
stepped forward and began to speak. "One person from each realm will be chosen to become a Guardian to Arinalce, The Morning Ray of Light. In order for you to join
their ranks you must participate in the tournament that will take place over the next couple of days. There will be four winners one from each realm. Eru Ilúvatar and
The Valar will have final approval over you being the chosen guardians. You will have to take a Blood Oath before the Valar pledging to protect the Morning Light with
your lives. Your only allegiance will be to the Morning Light but you are to also to follow the commands of Lord Elrond and myself. Once you take the Blood Oath you are
no longer bound to the realms that you came from. Is this agreeable to the emissaries and the warriors that were chosen?" He looked to each of the emissaries they
nodded agreement he then looked to each of the warriors they each agreed. Haldir turned to Lord Elrond and bowed. "My Lord will you please present the warriors
from your realm." "The warriors chosen from Imaldris are Sidhon, who is also a Master Healer, Cúnor, and Beleguron all members of our Border Guard." Lord Elrond
announced. As each of the warriors was presented they saluted Haldir and the others with a hand over their hearts.
Haldir then turned to Galdor from the Grey Havens and bowed. "My Lord please present your warriors." Lord Galdor bowed to Haldir and the others. "The warriors
from the Grey Havens are Captain Annúnor, Sargeant Cóvon and Sargeant Lannor. Each of the warriors saluted as they were introduced.
Haldir then turned to King Thranduil and bowed. "Your highness if you would present your warriors." King Thranduil turned to his warriors "I would like to present
Captain Toron, Captain Amathon, and Sargeant Cúon all members of our Army. As each was presented they stood proudly and saluted.
Haldir then turned to Lord Celeborn and bowed. "My lord would you present the chosen warriors from your realm. Lord Celeborn turned stepped over and laid his
hand on the shoulder of the first warrior. "I would like to present Warden Haedron of the Eastern Border." He then stepped over to the next and placed his hand on
his shoulder "This is Sentinel Tirnel of our Personal Guard." Lord Celeborn then stepped over to the last warrior. "The last warrior is Warden Orophin from our
Northern Border and my foster son." Lord Celeborn announced proudly. As Orophin was presented all three of the Galadhrim saluted.
Haldir looked at each of the warriors. "Lord Glorfindel, Prince Legolas, Lord Cirdan, Mithrandir and I would like to welcome you all here and want you all to know that we
are proud of all of you. The Tournament will start tomorrow after you break your fast. Get some rest and may Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar guide your path.
Mae govannen - Well met
Tenna' tul're san' - Until tomorrow then