I liiiiiiveeee! I had my operation for carpal tunnel, and am just now starting to be able to type again, which is why this chapter took so freaken long for me to write. Well, enjoy! ::hands cookies to all::

------------------------------------------

Alex groaned in his sleep, burying his face further into his pillow. Sweat slicked his face and his hair clung lifelessly to his head.

"Jack...understand...don't...I..." With a strangled cry he shot up, his hand clasping his knife out in front of him.

"Nightmares again, Master?" Gul sat up next to him, stroking his abs. "Let me heal your dreams." She whispered, slipping her hands down further. With a slight flex of muscle Gul was flying off the bed.

"Not now." Alex stood and stretched. He stalked to his window and threw it open, slamming it shut roughly behind him. The cold wind struck his body and ravaged it, turning the flesh a soft pink. Alex ignored it and swung himself into a sitting position on the railing. Below him he could see all of Mordor. Alex let the frown slip from his face. It was replaced with a look of confusion. Leaning forward, resting his arms on his knees, he rocked comfortably back and forward.

Why did he keep dreaming about Jack? Why couldn't he remember it? All that ever survived the waking process was her face. Emotionless and staring at him with dull golden eyes. Those damned eyes! They were even starting to haunt his waking hours! Staring at him from the back of his memory. Alex ran a hand through his hair.

Alex had learned long ago to listen to his instincts, and right now they were telling him something was wrong. And for the life of him he couldn't figure out what.

----------------------------------------

I wandered the halls of Rivendell for the ump-teenth time. I was bored out of my mind. It was still hours before dawn, so only the servants and the earliest of the elves strolled about the covered walkways. I trailed my fingers against the stone of the wall, taking in the beauty of Rivendell.

In the end, there was truly no place like it in Middle-earth. Just being here made me feel younger, more alive, less burdened.

The mornings were my time. As I grew older I found that there was a magic about seeing the world before the first of dawn's light broke over it. Rivendell definitely looked its best at this time. It amazed me to no end, how this place hadn't aged in my absence. I reached up and tugged at my hair. Then again, I hadn't either. I definitely didn't feel like I was in the golden years of my life. I guess I should thank Orome for that.

I sighed and pulled my hood down, glancing up at the stars. I had to leave soon. I had to defeat this tree inside of me. My lips perked up. A tree inside of me. Sounds so strange. I had to leave so soon...but all those I knew to be traveling companions were Rinvil, Glorfindel, Saelbeth, Caleb and Haldir. That left two unknowns. I grit my teeth in frustration. Naturally the gods couldn't give me a damn hint.

Speaking of Saelbeth, I should probably go find out what room he's in and pay him a visit. But how the hell does one explain this to someone?

------------------------

Silently Glorfindel watched Jack. He had been on his way to return books he had borrowed to Elrond's library when he had found the warrior staring upwards. Silver eyes took her in. Hair as dark as the night grazed her shoulders, playing with the starlight to make Jack's skin seemed paler then it already was. Her hands clutched her hood as her golden eyes seemed to seek the stars for answers.

An emotion overtook him and the elven King suddenly found it terribly hard to swallow.

Then the warrior pulled her hood up and turned. Glorfindel disappeared into the shadows and watched her walk past him. Even after she'd turned the corner Glorfindel stayed where he was, his silver eyes staring blankly at the back of the statue he'd hidden behind.

He ran a hand through his hair, displacing the golden strings. What in the Valar's name was wrong with him?

----------------------------

Jack's feet made little sound as they tread down the elven pathways, yet still an elven ear caught the sound and backed into the night. Jack approached from the shadows, darkness clinging at her cloak like fingers. Her steps faltered as she looked around in confusion. She tugged her cloak hood down, golden eyes staring down the hallway and at the doors on each side.

"Now. Which one is his?" Saelbeth watched her curiously as she began wandering down the hall. "Where the hell are those damn Maane when you want them?" She muttered. Saelbeth took in Jack Aldaron for the second time that day, but once again, he was not able to recognize what drew him to her. "Where the hell is that damnable room?" She cursed.

"May I be of some help, my Lady?" Saelbeth stepped forward, clearing his throat. Aldaron flew around, dagger drawn and cloak pushed back. She relaxed when she saw his face.

"Ah. Saelbeth." Aldaron sheathed her dagger, a lopsided grinning gracing her face. She pushed her hair from her face. "Just the elf I was looking for."

"You were seeking me?" Now Saelbeth was truly interested. Aldaron cleared her throat, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Yes. Saelbeth...have you...I mean have you felt...I don't know," Aldaron raised her hands into the air and extend her forefingers and middle fingers, bending them down twice as she spoke, "drawn to me at all?"

"It is strange that you would ask that, Lady-" Aldaron held up a rough hand to silence him.

"Jack. Just Jack." Saelbeth nodded. He had heard that Aldaron had not enjoyed being called by her title. He wondered what other rumors about her were true.

"Since the meeting, when I first saw you, I have not been able to dismiss you from my thoughts." Saelbeth felt confusion fill him and tugged absent mindedly at his braid to show his displeasure at the emotion. "It's almost like a call to arms."

Jack took a steady breath and let out a weak grin.

"Want to take a seat? I've got something I think you need to know."

------------------------------------------

I watched as Saelbeth absorbed the information. His blue eyes had clouded over and taken on a dark shade of gray. I observed him quietly. You could all but see the wheels in his head turning. He tugged repeatedly at the long braid that curved down from below his ear. His lips twisted in frustration.

I let out a chuckle. Even in utter confusion, when any one else would look dumb, elves still manage to remain cute.

Saelbeth looked up and dropped the braid, rubbing his hands together instead.

"I know. It's kind of a lot take in isn't it? To be honest-" I ran my hand through my own hair, grunting as I enountered tangles and pulling it out when it became too tangled to continue. "-I didn't quite know how to tell you all of this. Is it totally strange for you?"

"Not really. Since I first heard of your existence, since the first time I saw you at the Great Hunt, I've been attracted to you." A slight blush out lined his jaw. "I simply wrote it off as some form of admiration and was able to forget it. But when I saw you again at the Council Meeting, it was as if every inch of me was being pulled to you. It makes more sense to me then not, that I am to serve you."

"Whoa, there, buddy." I patted his hand. "No said anything about serving me. I want you to accompanying me. That's all." Saelbeth glanced at me and I noticed that his eyes were slowly retreating back to their original shocking blue.

"Long have I trusted my instincts, and they tell me now that I am to serve you. To be your warrior, your counselor, your guide. And so I shall." I blinked at the intensity of his voice. Well...he's taking that a lot better then I thought he would. "When I was young...I dreamt of you." My head snapped up.

"What?"

"It does sound mad, does it not? But I swear I did. I used to have this dream every night." He stood and turned to look over the mountains.

"How so?"

"I used to see this woman figure. I could never make out her features except her eyes. These strange, golden eyes that seemed also to glow. The light it produced was so...so beautiful." He turned to look at me. "She'd put her hand on my shoulder and say to me, 'Sael it's your destiny'. I'd forgotten about it; for over a thousand years I did not give it a thought, not even after I heard rumors of you. But seeing your eyes in person..." He sat down again, leaning in close and staring into my eyes. "I've remembered. I think this is what she meant."

I blinked at him, leaning back against the pillar behind me. Sure, it was possible. Irmo was known to be slightly obsessive about dropping omens and random signs on those he knew to be important to this world's future. I felt a grin erupt. If everyone was like Saelbeth, then perhaps I didn't even have to go looking for them. They'd come to me.

I stood and smiled down at him, noticing his eyes were crystal blue now.

"Sael." I clasped his shoulder tightly. "I think this is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship." A hesitant smile grew on his face. I pulled him up. "Come on, I've got to introduce you to the others in our little quest. You know Rinvil of Lothlorien? No? Well, we'll just have to go fix that. He's going on it too."

--------------------------

'Aldaron raised her hands into the air and extend her forefinger and middle fingers, bending them down twice as she spoke' - Aka, Bunny Ears

-------------------------

Sorry it took so long! I'll be quicker I promise! Read and Review please!