A/N: Once again, thanks to all the reviewers.

Hordak's Pupil: Yes, they do!

Amazing Bluie: The elves have no reason to hide anything at this point. However, they have decided that how they initially knew that Vlad was a half-ghost still isn't his business. That may change. I do apologize for the error in last chapter, and it has been rectified.

Inukagome15: Two reviews again! You get the cyber cookie for guessing the quote's location correctly. I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. We had a ball when Miriam first came up with the idea of using it.

The general vocabulary of formal discussion is natural for us, as Miriam has been to graduate school to become an English teacher and I am nearly done with my undergraduate degree. Secondly, you can do wonders by simply cutting out contractions.

Sauron certainly does not follow the code of honor of the Dúnedain and Elves. Glorfindel's first life ended when Morgoth's forces didn't allow escape from the city of Gondolin, and Sauron is Morgoth's chief student and servant.

Dwarves stand between four and five feet tall. Tolkien's description may have been a little vague, but that is what I got, based on the fact that they are shorter than Men, but taller than Hobbits, who average between three and four feet in height.

It didn't seem credible to us for Elrohir to know English or be able to memorize what Vlad said in an unknown language after hearing it just once. It did take Elrond three nights and two days of intense study to learn English. The archery class is for children, so Vlad would not have been invited to participate, anyway.

It may surprise you, but even Vlad has morals. His base line is far lower than yours, mine, and most society, but he actually does have morals. You will have a chance to see his moral sensibilities later.

Thanks once again. And now, on with the chapter!

Chapter 10: A Walk and Suspicions Confirmed

Disclaimer: I do not own either Danny Phantom or The Lord of the Rings.

The next morning, Vlad decided to walk in the extensive gardens. It was a good way to avoid all of the people who didn't seem to like him, even though he hadn't done anything yet. The grounds were quite large and well tended. Some reminded him of his home in Wisconsin. Beautiful gardens and fields of grain were planted to accommodate the lay of the land and the needs of the plants.

Various designs could be seen, each garden featuring a different layout. Flowers of all kinds could be seen in the flower gardens: roses, tulips, daisies, nasturtians, daffodils, and several varieties Vlad didn't recognize. He knew, of course, that he couldn't recognize all varieties, and this world likely had kinds unique to it. All the same, such strange flowers did catch the eye, and it was frustrating to not be able to identify the species.

Vegetable gardens could also be found. Beans, peppers, carrots, and others grew in abundance. Fruit trees grew here and there all over the place. Apple trees were the most common. Others included plum trees, small strawberry bushes, peach trees, and others. There were also fields of wheat, barley, and oats. Elves worked in these fields, tending the vegetable beds and fields and harvesting ripened fruits and vegetables.

A rather curious plant was growing in between the various gardens. It looked something like a weed, its leaves long and narrow, its scent refreshing, and no flowers bloomed to brighten its appearance. It bore no resemblance to any plant he knew of and Vlad was curious about finding such a humble plant in these bright gardens. Still, the scent was pleasing, and that was doubtlessly the reason it was selected to border the gardens.

Large numbers of people were enjoying the beautiful day. While Vlad was admiring a fountain in one of the gardens, he noticed a woman approaching him with a curious look on her face. She was tall with a regal bearing. Her long grey hair was pulled back in a thick braid down her back. She curtseyed to him in greeting, her curiosity plain in her keen grey eyes. Startled at first, Vlad recovered quickly, bowed in answer, took her hand, and kissed it.

The woman seemed surprised at this, but gave Vlad a pleased smile. Satisfied that his charm had won her over, he offered the lady his arm and she slid her hand in the crook of his elbow. The two walked through the various flower gardens, Vlad showing interest in the strange flowers. Sometimes, his companion would lead him to a particular flower bed containing a flower she thought he would like. All in all, it was a pleasant end to the morning walk.

They were on their way back to the house, when Vlad caught sight of Glorfindel. The elf had seen them and came over. For some reason, Glorfindel seemed vaguely amused by the presence of Vlad's companion. The elf nodded politely to the lady and greeted her. Afterwards, he turned to Vlad. "How was your walk in the gardens this morning?"

Vlad smiled. "I enjoyed it very much. The gardens are beautiful, well-kept, and full of many interesting plants. I was reminded several times of my home in Wisconsin." He turned to the woman beside him. "On the way back, I was greeted by this lovely lady."

Glorfindel's amusement was clear now. "I see you have met the venerable Lassiel."

Puzzled at the word Glorfindel used to describe the lady, Vlad answered, "Yes. She was delightful company. After a fair stroll through this exquisitely tended valley, meeting her just gave the perfect morning a glorious crown."

The blond elf smiled. "Lassiel is very well thought of. She is a great-grandmother."

Vlad's eyes widened. "How could she be? She looks only as old as I am."

Glorfindel's smile broadened. "Vlad, she is 136 years old. How old are you?"

Vlad's cheeks colored. "I'm forty-two years old."

Seeing the man's red face, Glorfindel tried to ease his embarrassment. "But I am glad you had a lovely time with a lovely woman."

Vlad looked at him, suddenly curious. "May I ask how old you are?"

Glorfindel's expression showed barely concealed mirth. "Gladly. I am over 9000 years old, give or take a few decades."

Vlad didn't know what to say about this.

Glorfindel was amused by Vlad's expression of surprise and disbelief. "I remind you that Elves live far longer than humans. And I am quite a bit older than Elrond." Vlad nodded, still unnerved, bowed once more to the lady, and headed inside.

Once he was alone, Vlad was able to think over the conversation with Glorfindel. "If I were of a religious bent, I would have to say that karma has come to roost for all the times I tormented that boy. It seems to be coming in spades today." In spite of this, he still enjoyed his time with the woman. She was indeed delightful company, considering neither one could understand the other.

That afternoon, Aranarth brought responses that had come by messenger birds from the Halflings of the Shire and the Elves of the Wandering Companies. The Halflings offered no opinion, but reassured the "Big People" present that they would offer their fifty best archers. Twelve messenger birds came back from the Wandering Companies of Elves, who all strongly agreed with Elrond's sentiment.

This last was reported by Voronwë. Aratan turned to the council and said, "It seems to be the majority opinion that Vlad's plan is, indeed, brilliant and extraordinarily thorough. But, the majority is also of the mind that a lack of a path of retreat is too cruel. Let us go with the majority of Vlad's plan, leaving a path of escape towards Angmar."

Glorfindel nodded with approval as he translated for Vlad. The strategist's proponents looked grim, but nodded their acceptance. Vlad clucked his tongue and muttered, "Very well." I guess tonight will be the last chance I have to make a difference in the general's mind.

Glorfindel took note of Vlad's expression as he narrowed his eyes in concentration. 'I'd better keep a closer eye on him tonight. I do not like the hungry look in his eye.' the elf thought.

The meeting broke up, and later that night, Vlad once again overshadowed the general's dreams. He quickly realized that he would not be able to do as he had planned. Vlad did not know enough Westron to speak as smoothly as he did in English. He would just have to accept the decision of the council. This was a bitter pill to swallow for Vlad.

He returned to his room, reverted to human again, and suddenly turned to see a fuming Glorfindel emerge from the shadows shrouding the area behind the door. His eyes were blazing, his body glowing brightly and superimposed over him was a shining white figure that moved as he moved.

Glorfindel had gone to Vlad's room to speak with him privately about the council meeting. He had arrived to find the room empty and left immediately to search for him. The blond elf conducted his search mainly by seeking the sense of Vlad's spirit presence. He found it in Voronwë's room.

When the knock on the door elicited no response, Glorfindel opened the door slightly. The general was asleep, but Vlad's spirit presence was quite strong. The blond elf was furious when he realized that Vlad was overshadowing the sleeping Dúnadan. Glorfindel remembered what Elrond had told him about human overshadowing when he met Danny. They were immediate and total, but they were also temporary. He turned on his heel and went back to Vlad's room, where he concealed himself in the shadows behind the door.

As predicted, Vlad returned, phasing through the wall. Even through his anger, he noticed the details of Vlad's ghost form. He had blue skin, glowing red eyes, and fangs! In place of his normal white hair in a ponytail, his hair was black, and formed into what appeared to be horns. Wearing white breeches, an almost familiar styled white tunic, and a sinister white cape with a red underside, Vlad cut the form of as evil a creature as Glorfindel sensed him to be.

Vlad landed on the floor, and two black rings appeared around his waist. They moved in opposite directions, changing the man back to his normal human appearance. Glorfindel stepped out from behind the door, revealing his presence to a surprised, and vaguely shocked, half-ghost.

Glowering and glowing, Glorfindel said dangerously, "Vlad Masters, I knew you were not to be trusted. A spirit has not tried to take over a living being near, and among, Elves since the Houseless attack Danny saved us from thousands of years ago. He said it was different, Houseless taking over Elves and," he paused, "ghosts taking over humans. But what you did was undeniably vile. You invaded the body and mind of a human powerless to stop you. At least an elf could attempt to fight back."

Vlad took a step back as the elf's eyes glowed a color he wasn't sure he could actually describe. He trembled a bit, noticing the power radiating from the furious elf. "How did you know?" Vlad asked simply. He was in trouble, and he didn't know how to play this yet.

"You had a suspicious look in your eyes towards the end of the meeting," Glorfindel accused. "I came to your room to discuss privately whatever was troubling you. When you were not in your room, I sought out your spirit presence. It led me to the general's door. When I knocked and heard no conversation, I was afraid I knew what I would see. And I was right. Your spirit presence was inside Voronwë.

"You will come with me to Elrond immediately. Do not try to avoid me by turning intangible, as I know you can. It will be worse for you if you do."

Vlad's eyes went wide with the discovery of a creature that seemed to have a ghost sense that wasn't a half-ghost. He had nothing to say. His intentions for overshadowing the general were, indeed, to be as manipulative and controlling as accused. He was unsettled by the casual mention of his ghostly powers and how 'it would be worse for him' if he used them. He was sure they didn't have any Fenton or his own anti-ghost products, but the certainty of the elf of the ability for him to be harmed scared him.

He remembered his first encounter with an angry Elrond who saw through the web of deceit he was about to lay before he had planned it! Life was a game of chess, and he had just lost. Hanging his head in defeat, he allowed Glorfindel to handle him roughly as he was brought to the elven lord of this realm.

Elrond was in his study, working late. His wife, Celebrìan, had gone to bed some time ago, but the half-elf had a lot of paperwork to deal with. He looked up from the document he was perusing at the sound of footsteps out in the hall. One set belonged to an elf, walking unusually loudly, and the second set belonged to a human, half stumbling to keep up with the rapid footsteps of the elf.

The loud knock on the door told him why someone would be on this corridor so late. "Come in." The door swung open, banging into the wall behind it, to reveal Glorfindel and Vlad. Elrond's friend dragged the man roughly into the room, eyes blazing in anger. The blond elf's fëa was shining brightly from the intensity of his rage. What was going on here? Vlad wasn't even resisting the rough treatment, but looked as though he felt he deserved to be treated this way.

Glorfindel closed the study door and turned to the seated elf lord. "My apologies for interrupting," he said in Sindarin, "but this cannot wait. This man," the blond elf gestured to Vlad, "invaded the body of Voronwë. I went to speak with Vlad about the council meeting and discovered his spirit presence in the general's room."

Elrond turned to Vlad and demanded, "What were you doing in the general's room?"

Vlad felt the power emanating from the two beings in front of him, and he trembled in fear of retribution. Even though he did not understand the language they spoke, he was sure that Glorfindel told Elrond of his overshadowing of the general. "Guilty as charged," he said quietly.

Elrond understood his friend's anger. He himself was furious at this man for doing something so vile. He still remembered the Houseless attack so many years ago. That a Man would do such a thing, for any reason, was frightening. He stood, his own eyes beginning to glow in fury. "From your first utterance about Danny blasting you through that portal," Elrond said, "you gave us cause for suspicion against you. But you were a man in need, and Rivendell is a haven for all who are in need.

"Your spirit presence marked you as a half-ghost, which was not a problem in and of itself. But you radiated a menacing presence of evil. Despite our better judgment, we gave you the benefit of the doubt. By your abuse of your power to take over a Man, you have proven the unworthiness we suspected you had.

"As a place of refuge, this valley is always open. But as a place to visit as a guest, your welcome has officially run out. If you value your safety, you will depart this place after dawn. You will be woken and given provisions. This audience is at an end."

Elrond spoke with such finality that the Power behind his words shone forth. Further, Vlad felt a sense of danger, as if the valley itself would back up the elf. Vlad hung his head in acceptance of his sentence. The elf had been more than fair, and far more kind than he ever would have been. Glorfindel escorted him back to his room, and stood guard for the remainder of the night.

A/N: The lady, Lassiel, is an original character. Her name comes from genuine Sindarin name elements.

The sweet-smelling, weed-looking plant that was used as borders all over the gardens and fields were athelas, which is also known as kingsfoil. It can be used like a primitive aspirin, but the Elves and kings of the Dúnedain can use it in healing for far more serious physical and spiritual ailments.