Back again! What do you think?

Sophia was very deeply asleep when the vague and nagging feeling that someone was calling her name slowly penetrated the warm, syrupy darkness. She sat up on the bed, blinking and yawning. Ordinarily, she might have been disoriented, but with the exception of the blissful interlude in Paradise, she had hardly slept in the same place for more than a night since her mother died. She was growing accustomed to waking up without knowing where she was.

It was dark in the cabin, and Brandon was asleep next to her, still on his back, with one arm curled over his head. She could see several lumpy shapes, dimly outlined in shadow on the floor, and the cabin rasped with the sound of respiration. Everyone was asleep; there was no one in the room calling her.

Good morning, Legolas's voice echoed quietly across her thoughts.

Is it morning, then? She answered.

The sun will rise soon, he responded, pausing to let her wake up fully.

I can hear you really well, she thought, does that mean we're there?

Yes, he agreed, you'll be able to see land at first light. Elrond will use the connection among the rings to help guide the ship to our location, but you should wake Brandon and go up on deck now.

She gave Brandon's shoulder a little shake, suppressing the urge to tell Legolas how much she wanted to see him. She would tell him soon enough in person. Brandon woke up quickly and quietly, and she could see his eyes gleaming at her through the gloom.

Sophia clambered quietly out of the bed and picked her way around the sleeping forms, Brandon following close behind. Out in the soft hush of a breaking dawn, Braichon still held vigil at the wheel. He smiled warmly at them and pointed to a tray sitting on the deck.

Brandon all but pounced on the biscuits, which were still slightly warm and spread with honey. He passed one to his sister.

"We are nearing land," Braichon commented softly.

Sophia peered off into the darkness, chewing thoughtfully. "That's what Legolas just told me, but I can't see anything."

"My night vision is fairly good," Braichon offered, with a slight smile.

"Can elves see in the dark?" Brandon wondered.

"To some degree, I believe so," Braichon answered, "though not as well as I can. Perhaps it is a reflection of the fact that I was reborn out of darkness. And while I do mean that in the figural sense, Uruk Hai are largely nocturnal, though they can withstand light."

"Aren't you tired at all?" Sophia asked him curiously. "I don't think you've slept in three days."

Braichon lifted his shoulders slightly. "I've napped, here and there. But I do not seem to require more than that. I still have much to learn about my own existence."

"You are so lucky," she sighed. "I'm no good without a full night's sleep."

"And you're not all that great even with a full night's sleep, in the mornings, at any rate," Brandon observed. "Though you seem to be in a decent mood this morning, which is kind of weird."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

Braichon chuckled. "Now, now children," he teased. "If you want something hot to drink, I believe the galley has coffee."

A short time later, they were back at the wheel, steam rising off their metal coffee mugs as they watched the sun rise. Sophia felt her pulse quicken.

"This could be an eventful day," she commented.

"That's an understatement," Brandon agreed, staring off at the horizon. He glanced away from the light scrolling up the sky and off to the west. "Look!" he exclaimed, grabbing Sophia's arm and pointing. There was a dark smudge of land due west, clearly visible now in the pale blue light that ringed the sky. "Valinor," he breathed.

The three companions fell silent and stared as the light grew brighter and the black line on the horizon began to take shape.

"We will be there within two hours," Braichon said quietly. "We should wake our passengers so they can prepare themselves. We do not know what awaits us when we land."

"Legolas is there," Sophia reassured him.

Braichon nodded, looking intently at the siblings. "We may not have much time to talk in the coming days," he said in a low voice, "but I want you both to know how grateful I am for the second chance you have given me. I will not waste it, and I will stand by you to the end. To a new beginning. I...I feel great love for you both, as if you were of my own blood."

"And we love you," Brandon said solemnly, grasping the changeling's forearm.

"You are our "wild brother," after all," Sophia smiled at him, though her heart had clenched with apprehension at his words. She came to his other side and leaned her head against his shoulder, as he draped his arm across Brandon's shoulders. They stood there together, until the sun was up.

Braichon gave them both a little squeeze before dropping his arms back to his sides. "That was likely the last moment of peace we will know for awhile," he sighed, blowing his cheeks out comically. "I am afraid it is time to wake the hobbits."

The ship soon clattered with activity, as hundreds of hobbits raced around the deck, pulling together the weapons and other supplies they had gathered in their journeys and at Gray Havens. Even the horses were brought up on the deck, much to Sophia's dismay. The stallion was stamping nervously, and the mare's eyes were rolling wildly. She saw Brandon move swiftly to Tai Nui's side, stroking the huge horse's muzzle. A hobbit offered Attahua an apple, which calmed the nervous horse considerably, and pressed a bunch of carrots into Brandon's hand. Sophia joined them, and the horse nudged her gently as she stood with a hand on the chestnut's withers.

The air buzzed with excitement, and Sophia worried the ship might actually tip into the sea, given how many of the hobbits were crowding at the rails to get a better look at the landscape in front of them. As they drew closer, Sophia could see a beach of white sand, with heavily forested hills swelling behind, and a greasy line of smoke rising beyond the bend in the shoreline.

Are we close? She reached out for Legolas's mind, and he answered with what felt like a mental caress. She blushed, glancing around to see if anyone was looking at her.

Yes, he finally answered. You will be in the cove soon. There is a jetty here you can tie up at. Elrond believes it is safe here, but you should stay alert, in any case.

For those shark things?

Yes.

"Are you talking to Legolas?" Brandon broke in, and Sophia nodded, blushing again slightly. "Yeah, I thought so," he said. "You get this sort of goofy look on your face."

"I do not," she scowled, quickly deciding to change the subject. "How about Elanordis?" she said pointedly. "I bet you're having quite a conversation, yourself."

Brandon frowned. "No, actually," he said shortly. "We aren't able to actually talk like you can, just sort of share impressions. But I can't seem to reach her, anyway. I can feel that she's here, but it's like she's on a different channel or something. The transmission is sort of fuzzy."

Sophia's brows pulled together in concern, and her brother looked away uneasily.

"One plus one equals three," he muttered.

"Huh?"

"It doesn't add up."

"Oh," she said. "Well, I'm sure there's a good explanation. She's probably just asleep or something." Sophia did not remind him that she could apparently communicate with Legolas through dreams.

"Yeah, maybe."

They both fell silent as the ship entered the cove. They could see no one on the beach, but Sophia could sense that Legolas was nearby, and told the others. She clasped her hands tightly together to keep them from shaking, and then stroked the horse again, trying to calm them both. Even the hobbits had grown still as they prepared to tie up at the weathered, gray pier.

Braichon and Andi suddenly tensed, and looked up.

"Something is coming," Andi said urgently.

Just then, Sophia could feel a disturbance in the currents around and under the boat.

"In the water, too!" she cried out, calling on the ring's power, which radiated out from her hand in a filmy, white light. Brandon held his arms up, a red glow rising rapidly above the ship, just as a swarm of drones appeared directly over the ship, buzzing madly and shorting out as they hit the shield. They fell into the water like an angry, hissing rain, pinging off the metal skins of the shark drones. The horses stamped and whinnied, sending hobbits scurrying in all directions.

Sophia caught movement on the beach out of the corner of her eye, and saw Elrond burst through the treeline and sprint toward them in a blast of blue light, which quickly merged with the white and red light to form a bright purple shield all around the boat. She felt dozens of the underwater drones shorting out as the expanded shield engulfed them.

Other elves followed Elrond out of the forest now and fanned out across the small crescent of white sand. Two elves with long, shining hair ran toward the jetty, and Sophia's heart began to pound in her ears. One was unmistakably Legolas, and the other was a woman, who was tall, taller even than Legolas, and she was clad in a bright, silvery armor. As the tall woman approached the ship, Sophia could see her hair actually gleamed like spun gold and her alabaster face was radiant with a cold light.

"You must leave the ship at once," the woman commanded, in a deep voice that carried throughout the small harbor and seemed to soothe the horses. She held her hands out for the ropes and tied the ship off, pulling down the gangway folded up on the deck of the boat.

The nearest passengers cringed away from her, eyes wide in fear, while the other changelings milled uneasily around the deck. Then Andi strode through their midst and held her hand out to the imposing elleth, leaping right off the boat.

"Now!" Andi called out. "Donald, Patty - move!"

Suddenly, the changelings surged forward in a fairly orderly stream, running after Andi down the jetty toward Legolas, who directed them toward the woods. About half had gotten off the boat when an enormous dark cloud suddenly gathered overhead, blotting out the bright morning sun, to the point of near darkness. Almost immediately, there were high-pitched screams coming from the far end of the beach, and the horses began to panic.

"Orcs!" Sophia cried, clinging to Ataahua's bridle as the white light streaming from her wavered.

"They will take care of the orcs!" The elleth answered in her booming voice, which again seemed to calm the frightened horses. "You concentrate on the machines. You must keep the shield in place until you are all off the boat, Sophia." Sophia started and looked across the deck, meeting the eyes of the mysterious elven woman. As soon as their gazes locked, the elleth spoke to her - directly into her mind.

Focus. Melkor thinks by sending orcs, he will distract you with fear. We expected this and are ready for them.

Sophia nodded, somewhat unnerved that an elf she had never met before could communicate with her this way. She thought it was something that was unique to her and Legolas, or at least to couples with a bond.

She could tell the elf was amused, and was annoyed that this woman was apparently eavesdropping on her actual thoughts, as well.

I apologize, came the voice. I did not intend to invade your privacy. We will speak more once the immediate danger is past, but do not be distressed. Thought-speak is very rare, indeed, even in bonded pairs.

"Brandon," the imposing elleth said aloud, "now you and Sophia need to leave. You, too, Braichon," she added. "Do not drop the shield."

They led the horses carefully to the gangplank, Braichon following closely behind them.

"Into the woods," the elleth directed. "Braichon, take the mare."

They jogged up the jetty, glancing at the battle swelling along the beach. Sophia faltered and watched with amazement as the elven warriors carved effortlessly through the band of orcs that continued to pour from the far end of the forest.

Keep moving, she heard, glancing up to see Legolas only about twenty feet away, gesturing to her wildly, his dark gray eyes lancing through her. She shuddered slightly and began moving again, sensing that the scary elleth was close behind her.

"Keep the shield over the changelings and the elves," the elleth cried, as the aerial drone swarm shifted away from the boat and toward the beach. The light surged forward to follow, and then a crunching sound shot out from behind them. Sophia looked back over her shoulder and saw the eyeless sharks savaging the boat, tearing great chunks out of the hull.

"No!" she cried, diverting the white stream of light back to the boat, and causing the purple shield to shimmy.

"Leave it!" the elleth commanded, coming up next to her and suddenly grasping her hand in a cool, firm grip. As she did so, Sophia felt power flowing through their joined palms, into the ring and back out, and the filmy white sheen around her suddenly grew blindingly bright, and pulsed outward in wave after wave. Sophia clenched her eyes closed against the glare.

"You may look now," the elleth said then. When Sophia opened her eyes, she saw a clear, azure sky, with no sign of the dark cloud. Small waves gently lapped up against the beach, the only sign of the furious creatures that had been raging in the water just moments before. Orc carcasses were everywhere, with the lithe forms of elves moving among them, quickly withdrawing to the woods. Looking back over her shoulder, Sophia was dismayed to see the boat swiftly sinking beneath the water.

"Come," the elleth said, letting go of Sophia's hand. "We must leave this place."

"But the boat," Sophia protested.

"We do not need it," she reassured Sophia.

"But we might, someday," Sophia insisted.

"No," the elleth said firmly. "When we leave Valinor, it will not be by boat. Come," she repeated, gesturing for Sophia to move ahead of her to the beach, where Legolas was waiting for them. Sophia stepped onto the sand, gasping as Legolas's hand alit on her back, pressing her forward. His touch set off a small explosion of shivers along her spine, and she could have sworn the very air around them crackled, as if suddenly full of static electricity.

"By the Valar," the elleth murmured, eyes wide.

"What?" Sophia asked, crossing her arms defensively over her chest.

"You have a fea bond," the woman answered. "And a very strong one at that. Why did you not tell me, Legolas?"

He shrugged, eyes downcast.

"Well, no doubt you have your reasons," she said with a slight smile as they reached the treeline. She tilted her head for a moment, and then nodded at them. "Please, continue on. I will be back with you in just a moment." And the remarkable elleth slid through the crowd of hobbits and melted into the trees.

"Who was that? And what's a fee-er bond?"

"That," Legolas sighed, "was Galadriel." He did not respond to her second question.

"I thought so," Brandon beamed.

"Come," Legolas said, placing a light kiss on Sophia's temple. "We need to move deeper into the forest - we'll be safer there."

Elrond soon joined them, embracing the siblings tightly and kissing them on both cheeks. He then disappeared into the woods ahead of them, looking for Galadriel.

They moved swiftly and silently through the trees, or as silent as nearly three hundred hobbits were capable of being. Sophia felt a hand grasp her elbow and jumped slightly, looking around the see Valdaglerion's enormous blue eyes staring back at her. He smiled broadly.

"We were worried we'd lost you," he said quietly.

"We were pretty worried, ourselves," Brandon responded, clasping hands with the solemn elf.

"Where are the others?" Sophia asked eagerly. Valdeglerion's face fell.

"Galion and Methenniel are in the caves," he said, not meeting her eyes.

"And Maethorian?"

Valdeglerion would not look at her. Finally, he spoke.

"He fell in the battle at Tirion, in the castle." Sophia and Brandon both gasped in dismay.

Legolas interrupted them. "Please," he whispered, "we'll have time to talk when we get to the caves, where it's safer." Valdeglerion nodded hastily, and Sophia noticed a look of gratitude briefly flash across his face. Maybe it was just that he didn't want to talk about Maethorian, but she had a hunch it was something else, and she had a bad feeling about it.

They walked in silence for a time, and finally, Sophia's curiosity overcame her.

"Where are we going?" she whispered, leaning towards Legolas.

"Cyr Eryn," he answered softly. "The forest city of Valinor, my father's realm," He added.

"Your father?" She repeated, feeling heat bloom on her cheeks as she remembered what Glorfindel had said to her about Thranduil.

Legolas looked at Sophia questioningly, and she just shook her head, clamping down on her wayward thoughts. It was best if he thought she was just nervous about meeting his father for the usual reasons.

"I have told him a little of you," he said reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll hit it off."

"Is he like he was in the movies?" she asked, trying to distract him, or at least herself.

Legolas chuckled quietly.

"He seems to have mellowed a bit," he said. "A bit. But don't worry - his bark is worse than his bite. Come, we're nearly there."

Even the hobbits fell silent as the forest grew thick around them. The trees reminded Sophia of the ancient Sequoia and Redwood groves of California, only these were not pine trees. Atop the skyscraper trunks was a canopy of foliage, a riot of broad, spreading leaves that nearly shut out all light. Occasionally, the trill of a bird or scrape of an insect could be heard, but the knobby, dark brown wood seemed to swallow all other sound.

Suddenly, there was movement in the trees, and Sophia was startled to see an elf land next to her on the forest floor. He was clad in some kind of leather harness over a very fine chain mail, the leather encrusted in gemstones that gleamed softly in the dim light. A metal headdress curled around his forehead, his dark brown hair braided away from his face underneath. Sophia stared at him, and he returned her gaze evenly, his dark, expressionless eyes scanning her from head to toe. Legolas said something to the elf in what Sophia assumed was Sindaran, and the elf nodded briefly before disappearing into the crowd of hobbits without a word.

"Sorry about that," Legolas murmured. "That was the captain of my father's guard. He was just curious."

"Oh," Sophia said nervously, wondering exactly what the hard-eyed elf was curious about.

Legolas laughed quietly. "They are all very interested in seeing the keepers of the stones," he told her.

She scowled at him. "Just because you can hear my thoughts does not mean you should comment on them."

"No promises," he said wryly. "We're here," he added, pointing at a pile of rocks that loomed in front of them. Several elves stood guard, also in leather and mail, though without all the gems and the fancy headgear. The sentinels bowed to Legolas, who inclined his head in return, and stood aside as he led the chattering group between the rocks. At first, the path sloped gently, illuminated by torches flickering in sconces along the packed earthen walls. As the rough stone under their feet began to smooth out, the path sloped more steeply.

"See there?" Legolas said to Brandon, pointing up into the high corridor above them. The torchlight didn't quite reach all the way to the ceiling, but they could see what looked like shadowy lumps atop a niche along the wall.

"It's a failsafe," he explained. "The forest should offer more than enough protection from Melkor and his creatures, but if they should find a way in, there are rockfalls rigged in several places along the entry way. They can be triggered from inside the caverns."

"Oh," Brandon said weakly, "how...reassuring."

Elrond, who had joined them, coughed out a dry laugh. "And that is not all Thranduil has up his sleeve. Apparently, all the other lords in Valinor thought his extended stay in Middle Earth had driven him mad. They would not heed his words of warning that the end was nigh, and now they have all either perished or been forced on bended knee to seek refuge in his fortress."

"How did he know?" Sophia asked, frowning at Elrond's casually cruel tone. She looked at him closely, noticing that he appeared thinner, with gray circles under his eyes and an unnerving wildness in his gaze.

"Are you alright?" She asked him worriedly.

"Fine," he said shortly, clenching his jaw. Then he shook himself slightly and gave her a half smile. "At least you have been returned safely to us." He patted Brandon on the shoulder, then lowered his head as he shuffled just ahead of them, keeping to himself.

Sophia and Brandon looked at each other.

What was that all about? She thought at Legolas, and could feel the discomfort and regret radiating off of him. What is going on? She thought, growing alarmed

Something has happened, he admitted. Something bad.

"What is it?" Brandon hissed at her. "What are they keeping from us?"

"Let's get all the way inside the caves," Legolas said softly, gripping Brandon's shoulder.

They tramped on in silence. Sophia was running all the bad scenarios she could think of through her mind, and it suddenly hit her. Where was Earendil? He should have been at the beach to meet them with the others. Had he fallen, and the Silmaril with him? Her breath froze in her throat.

"No, Sophia. It is not Earendil. He is in Valmar, waiting for you," Legolas said softly. "Valmar has as many protections as Cyr Eryn; he'll be safe there."

"Isn't that supposed to be where the Valar live?" Brandon asked.

"Not any more," Elrond growled, coming to a halt in front of them, and whirling around to stare at the siblings. "They are gone. What's that human saying? When the going gets tough, the tough get going? Well, when the going got tough here in Valinor, the Valar got going alright. No one has seen any sign of them in years. We are forsaken."

Elrond's eyes glittered, his fists at his sides.

"And why not?" Elrond continued, emitting a strange, high-pitched laugh, "when Eru has so many worlds to choose from? Why should they care what happens on this one? They can just chalk it up to lessons learned."

"Grandfather?" Brandon said tentatively, reaching out for the elf, who stepped back, shaking his head.

"Do not look to me for comfort, human," Elrond bit out, "for I have none to give you. We have brought you here to your doom." Sophia gasped and Brandon froze, his hand immobile in the air.

"You do not believe that," came a calm voice, echoing along the rock walls. Galadriel suddenly appeared by Elrond's side, as though she had materialized from thin air. Sophia, who had not seen the elleth slip past her, recoiled in surprise. Galadriel regarded Elrond intently, albeit with a carefully neutral look on her face. He would not meet her gaze or respond.

"Come," she said softly, holding a hand out to him. "Come with me now, child, and let me ease your pain." When Elrond still refused to look at her and didn't move, she spoke again, with just a whispering edge of iron in her voice. "You are not the only one who suffers, as you well know. Your wife has been waiting for you for 3,000 years, and she waits for you still at Valmar. You must be strong for her, if not for yourself and your family." Neither Galadriel's expression nor her tone changed, but it was clear she was chiding him for how he had spoken to Brandon.

Elrond dropped his head and passed a hand wearily across his forehead. Finally, nodding slightly, he allowed Galadriel to guide him forward by the hand.

Sophia, Brandon, Legolas and the host of hobbits watched them go.

"She said she'll join us shortly and explain," Legolas said, his voice echoing slightly off the polished cavern walls. "Come."

Sophia noticed that Braichon had come up alongside Brandon, giving him a quick squeeze of the shoulder. Brandon swallowed and tried to give the changeling a smile, but it ended up looking more like a grimace. She was so busy watching him that she was caught by surprise when the corridor suddenly spilled into an enormous chamber, brightly lit and full of activity.

"Oh," she inhaled sharply, stopping so suddenly that Andi ran right into her.

"What...oh," Andi echoed, looking around at the cavern, mouth open. The hobbits chattered excitedly.

The stone walls curved away and up so high, they could not even see the ceiling. In fact, Sophia wasn't even sure there was a ceiling, wondering if perhaps this cavern were open to the sky. Indeed, the upper reaches of the room were dark, and there appeared to be small, twinkling lights in the distance.

"Sun sprites," Legolas murmured, "they are like fireflies. They are always there."

"Hmm," she answered, still staring. The cavern looked very much like a forest, though lighter and more open than the one they had just been in. There was bright green, mossy grass carpeting the ground, and a small brook winding around the floor. There were trees, too, and when Sophia walked to one and reached out a fingertip to touch one, it was cold and hard. The glittering leaves were made of gemstones and polished jewels.

"It's stone," Brandon said admiringly. "Trees, carved out of stone."

Legolas smiled at them and beckoned them forward.

"I am told this is what Menegroth looked like, back when Melian was queen," Legolas noted. "I was born after it fell, but my father has told me many stories of his youth there. I know he tried to make Mirkwood's caves like it, too, but they were nothing like this. Elven magic is stronger here, so much more is possible."

"It's spectacular," Sophia said firmly. "Where is the light coming from?"

"It's some kind of enchantment, I think," Legolas shrugged. "It diverts sunlight down into the caverns. It will grow dark at night and look like the night sky, and torches are lit then. We're almost to the throne room," he noted.

Sophia clasped her hands together nervously. Just then, a cluster of dark-haired elleths, clad in flowing, filmy silks, tripped past, all giggling and blushing and calling out greetings to Legolas in an unrecognizable language. Sophia bit her lip.

"Your people must be glad to have you back," she finally observed.

He shrugged, tugging at his collar.

"Of course they are glad," came a booming voice, with a crisp English accent, "and why should they not be? Their crown prince has returned at long last to fulfill his destiny." A tall elf with the same long, silvery hair as Legolas and obsidian eyes, strode toward them, his royal blue and silver-edged robes billowing around him as though he had his own personal wind machine.

"My Lord," Legolas said formally, "allow me to introduce..."

Thranduil waved at Legolas impatiently. "There is no need of introduction, my son. We have waited many years for you, Dunedain. It gladdens my soul that you have finally come."

Thranduil examined them both from head to toe, and Sophia tried not to squirm. He resembled Legolas, but it was almost as if someone had pressed harder on the pencil that drew him; he was broader through the shoulders and chest, his jaw was squarer, his brows darker, his lips fuller, and tilting upward at the moment. She glanced up to see what had amused him and flushed when she realized he was watching her basically ogle him.

"You are both as comely as your illustrious forbears, just as Glorfindel promised," he commented, winking at Brandon and patting Sophia solicitously on the back when she choked at the word "Glorfindel." What had Glorfindel said?

"Are you well?" he inquired, a roguish glint in his eye.

"Yes," she said, sure that her face was tomato red, fire engine red, hot poker in the fire red, "fine. Fine, thank you, your majesty."

"Please," he said easily, tucking her arm into the crook of his left arm, and Brandon's into his right, and turning to guide them to the far end of the chamber, "you may call me Thranduil." He looked over at Brandon. "We are soon to face the enemy together, so we may as well be on friendly terms, no?"

What happened to his bark being worse than his bite? Sophia thought.

He can be very charming when he wants to be, Legolas answered dryly.

Apparently, she agreed.

"How is it that you speak English, my lord?" Brandon asked, sketching a small bow.

"Thranduil," he corrected. "I left Middle Earth not so very long ago, and while humans did not yet speak English then, the roots were planted. Some of the more recently arrived members of our kingdom have schooled me in the modern tongue, and Galadriel, as well. It was my wish that you would be able to understand me when you came, and I hope that in this, I am successful."

Legolas rolled his eyes. "They understand you just fine, father. I told you your English is impeccable. You sound as though you went to a British public school."

"Ah, yes," he smiled. "I understand this is considered the most cultured way to speak the language. And that it will, what was the phrase? Drive the ladies wild? And the gentlemen too, presumably?"

Thranduil raised an eyebrow in an elegant arch and smiled down at Sophia, patting her hand.

She just looked back at him, blinking.

I can't believe my father is flirting with you, Legolas grumbled. Both of you.

She smiled at Thranduil.

It's a little weird, she agreed. But very flattering.

Thranduil came to an abrupt stop, dropping his smile. He peered at Sophia closely and then at Legolas. His face hardened, and a veil seemed to drop over his eyes, but not before Sophia could see a flash of something dangerous in their darkness.

"You should have told me," was all he said to Legolas, marching forward again and all but dragging Sophia and Brandon across the room.

You didn't tell him about the bond?

Not in so many words.

Sophia snorted out loud. Like in no words, maybe?

You and I did not exactly leave on good terms, he reminded her. I wasn't sure where I stood.

She narrowed her eyes and shot a look at him.

And I'm still not, apparently.

"Children," Thranduil snapped, "it is rude to carry on a conversation only the two of you can hear when we are right here. Do you not agree, Brandon?"

"Um..." he started.

"He agrees," Thranduil interrupted. "So please, if you have something to say, say it out loud."

"It's a fea bond, father," Legolas said evenly.

Thranduil paused on the threshold of the throne room, staring straight ahead. "I see." Then he yanked them forward. He disengaged his arms from Brandon's and Sophia's and gestured at the soldiers near the doors to the chamber, who promptly exited, closing the doors behind them.

"Galadriel will be here in a moment," he said. "So, tell me: do you have the Silmarils with you?"

"Yes," Brandon answered gravely. "Would you like to see them?"

"No," Thranduil answered immediately. "I would not."

The uneasy minutes ticked by.

"If I may ask," Brandon finally said, clearing his throat, "how did you know you needed to build a fortress?"

"Because Manwe told me to," Thranduil answered calmly.

"Manwe?" Legolas repeated slowly.

"Yes," Thranduil said. "I was not to tell anyone, but as the events are now in motion, I may speak of it. He came to me in a dream in Eryn Lasgalen, or rather, he brought my fea to his throne room in Valmar. He told me that it was time for me to sail to the blessed realm, that I would have a crucial role to play in preparing for Dagor Dagorath. His instructions were to build an impregnable cavern in the most ancient forest in Valinor and to begin training an army. He did warn me that the lords here would not believe me about the coming threat, that I would be alone in this." Thranduil shrugged. "I found I had little in common with them, in any case; the ones who stayed here and have never known the rigors of Arda Marred are quite boring. Those who made the return before me long ago grew soft in their extravagance. I stayed but a week in their glittering palaces before I could no longer stand it."

"You did not even look for my mother?" Legolas asked softly, to Sophia's surprise. She could feel that Legolas was angry, but his face showed no trace of emotion.

Thranduil shrugged again. "You know there was nothing between us, Legolas, beyond the fact that we produced you. She was free to find another mate, and she has. I wish her well. She survived the fall of Tirion and fled to Valmar - you will have a chance to see her there, as we have already discussed."

Legolas pressed his lips together.

"And what of your bond?" Thranduil drawled. "When do you intend to complete it?"

They were saved from answering by the entrance of Galadriel. She smiled slightly at Sophia, who wondered if the powerful elleth had timed her arrival on purpose. Galadriel's smile broadened and she inclined her head.

"Where is Elanordis?" Brandon abruptly asked her, and the smile disappeared completely from her face. She regarded Brandon sadly for a moment.

"I think you already know the answer to that question," Galadriel finally said, her deep voice whispering through every corner of the cavern.

"Tell me," Brandon insisted, much to Sophia's surprise.

"She fell at Tirion, along with her father. I am sorry, sorrier than I can say."

Brandon leapt to his feet, shaking his head. "No." It started as a whisper and quickly escalated o a shout, "no! You are wrong! I can still feel her! She is not dead."

"Brandon," Legolas said gently, reaching out for the distressed youth, who backed away from him, "I was there. I saw it happen. Elladan was mortally wounded, and she was killed, trying to protect him. Liriel was seriously wounded; she still hasn't regained consciousness."

"It's not true!" Brandon exclaimed, clenching his fists. "I'm telling you, I can feel that she's still alive!" All the elves looked at him with sympathy in their gazes, and he whirled away from them, turning desperately to his sister.

"You believe me, don't you? I swear, Soph. It's really faint, as though she's far away, but she's out there somewhere." His hands were open and out to his sides, his eyes pleading with her.

"I believe you," she said quietly, pulling him into an embrace. "What do you want to do?" she murmured into his ear.

"Go find her," he declared, pushing back from her. "Right away."

"No," Thranduil cut in, his voice nearly vibrating in Sophia's jaw. "It is far too dangerous."

"And you have a mission," Galadriel said more gently. "The fate of everyone who lives in Ea, who has ever lived, depends on your carrying the stones to Ezehollar now. There is no time for anything else; Melkor's forces are growing stronger by the minute. You must not deviate from this task, or we are all lost."

Brandon pulled the stone from his pocket and held it out. "You take it then," he commanded. "Because I'm going to find Elanordis."

Galadriel shrank away from his outstretched hand, and Thranduil gripped the arms of his throne tightly.

"I cannot," she breathed. "It must be the two of you."

"Don't you even care about her?" Brandon demanded. "Don't you care that she's out there, wounded, hurt, and alone, where she might be captured by orcs?"

Galadriel drew herself up to her considerable, full height, her eyes flashing pure white. "Mortal, do not presume to lecture me. She is mine own flesh and blood."

"Then come with me," Brandon insisted, standing so close to Sophia their shoulders were touching. "Because I am not going anywhere else until I find her."

Sophia held her breath, watching Galadriel. And while the furious elleth did not relax her rigid posture, her eyes faded to their normal silvery gray and the hardness around her mouth softened slightly. They all stood for a few minutes, Brandon glaring defiantly at them each in turn.

"Even if she lives, it is very likely a trap," Thranduil warned, and Sophia recognized the capitulation in his words.

"I don't care," Brandon insisted, crossing his arms.

"Do you not?" Galadriel whispered, looking down at the young mortal. "There will be a price - and it will be dear."

Brandon returned her stare, crossing his arms.

Thranduil nodded. "Very well," he said, ignoring a sharp look from Galadriel. "You should bathe, change your clothes, and eat something, and then we will set out when the moon is fully risen." He held up his hand as Brandon started to protest. "If we leave immediately, we will arrive at Tirion in the middle of the night, and that would be most unwise. They are at their strongest in the dark."

Brandon nodded slowly.

"You will find," Thranduil drawled, "that I have had mithril garments woven for you both. I suggest you wait to put those on until it is time to leave. They are not heavy, mind you, but can be a bit scratchy to the uninitiated. I will see you all for dinner in four hours, and we will leave soon after." He softened his tone, turning to Brandon. "I suggest you get some rest, if you can. There are difficult days ahead."

Galadriel left the room without a word or a backward glance.

"I will take my leave of you now, as well," Thranduil murmured, uncurling from his chair with feline grace. "I must send word to Valmar that we will be delayed. "

"Well," Sophia sighed, once he had gone. "That went well." She turned to Legolas. "Please tell me Glorfindel isn't here. I'm sure he'll try to bludgeon us into going straight to Valmar."

Legolas looked down at his fingertips.

"What?" she demanded.

"He was killed two days ago."

There was a shocked silence.

"How?" Brandon asked quietly.

Legolas closed his eyes. "A Balrog," he finally answered. "It seems to be his destiny. We split the force after the battle at Tirion, half coming back here and half going on to Valmar, and they were ambushed on the way. Glorfindel killed one, but another cut him down before Melian and Celeborn could help him. Celeborn was gravely injured, as well. It is likely that only Elrond can heal him, which is part of the reason for Galadriel's sense of urgency."

Brandon slid his hand into Sophia's, and they stood there, unable to speak.

"How is it possible that so much has happened?" Sophia finally whispered. "We've only been apart for four days."

"Time moves differently here," Legolas said gently, watching her closely. "A side effect of the separation from the rest of Arda. Come, I will show you to your rooms."

"Can we see Liriel first?" Brandon asked.

Legolas nodded, leading them from the hall.