Images swirled around her. A foreboding vision of the future.

She saw towns lit ablaze, wailing people running away. A black force sweeping over the lands with a steady pound. A palace, dark with intense evil, and two thrones, flames burning above. And one resounding cry, the cry of every being in Middle Earth, dead or alive.

"Hail, Lord Sauron, king of all the lands of Arda, wielder of the One Ring! Hail, Lady Ilweranael, his queen, bearer of the Fourth Ring!"

Something sharp pierced her heart, for the Lady Ilweranael was an Elf, who looked exactly like Gilrael.

"No! That is not me!"

Darkness flew into her face, and Gilrael wondered if there was a bottom, and if it did exist, how it would feel to land on it at the speed she was going. Her limbs flailed as she tried to grasp onto the world of the living and not risk the landing, but all her efforts were of no use, and she kept falling down the endless chasm.

But suddenly, a voice sounded in the deep, an evil, creeping male voice that Gilrael realized, with an intense shudder, was not Sauron.

"So, my brother has given you a second chance, Gilrael. Very kind of him."

"Who are you?" Gilrael cried.

"You do not know?" He chuckled. "I would give you a riddle to solve, but my time with you is short. I am Melkor."

Gilrael gasped in horror and fear. "Morgoth?"

He sighed. "Elves are so stubborn. Feanor comes up with a catchy name, and it sticks. But have you ever considered that I may not like that name? Hmm?"

Gilrael's eyes darted, attempting to find the source of the voice as she demanded, "What is this place? What are you doing with me?"

Morgoth groaned. "We are in the Void, the dullest, most boring place in the universe, where I was cast into after the Valar so-called defeated me."

"So you plot to take over the world because you're bored."

"Well, that's one reason, yes."

"Why am I here?"

Morgoth breathed in deeply, as if savoring her presence. "You are a valuable part of my plan, Gilrael. You and others, but you the most. You have powerful gifts, and I intend to make use of them to free me from this horridly boring prison and emerge ruler of all."

Gilrael frowned. "Why would I do your bidding? I would never obey you!"

"If you succeed, you will rule by my side as queen. Think of the power, glory, and fame! None will dare to cross us!"

Gilrael was horrified. "Your queen? You want a mere elleth as your bride?"

"You are no mere elleth, Gilrael!" Morgoth insisted. "Such a shame you weren't born a Valar, or at least a Maia, but among the Eldar, you are greatest."

"Lies!" Gilrael hissed.

"Well, think about it."

"I have made up my mind, and a thousand years will not change it!"

"Oh, come now," Morgoth said. "Am I that loathsome?"

Gilrael huffed. "Actually, yes, destroyer of the divine Trees, thief of the Silmarils."

Morgoth sighed. "Fine, think what you will. But if you obey me, you will have all your heart desires, if it is not to be my queen and ruler over all the nations."

She froze. "Yes, I know what your desires are, Gilrael. You yearn for the golden memories of your childhood. You wish for the memory of the pain Sauron has inflicted upon you to cease to exist. You crave for the peoples of Middle Earth, whether Man, Dwarf, or Elf, to forgive your crimes, and see you as your true, noble self. And, perhaps above all, you want Legolas to see-"

Gilrael jolted above those dreams at the mention of the ellon's name. She shouted, "I will never obey you, Morgoth, corrupter of all! Get out of my mind, and never return!"

But the wiles of the master deceiver were stronger than she knew. As she faded out of the Nura Dúaith, Morgoth whispered through the Void.

"Find the One Ring. If you refuse, all your loved ones will die, starting with the Sinda. Find the Ring of Power…"

Legolas threw knife after knife into the targets, no longer crying because he had no more tears to spend. But it didn't mean he wasn't angry.

"Why, Gilrael? Why did you die? Why?" With his next hurl, the beat-up target split in two.

The Sinda let out a yell, and sank to his knees, his shoulders heaving. Tauriel, out of all people, had been the one to convince him to live, to not give up his spirit and fade. She had told him Gilrael would have wanted him to continue to help the cause of Middle Earth, and fading would not help anything.

Oh, but how hard it was!

Legolas drooped onto a tree his hands clenched. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to move on? How could he?

Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder. "Do not give up, Legolas of the Woodland Realm."

The prince glanced up, and widened his eyes when he found himself in a wood with golden leaves, sunlight warming his face, and the Lady of Lorien gazing at him with a knowing look.

"Your grief is great, but you must channel it into strength."

"Lady Galadriel, I-"

"Hush, Legolas. You find it unbearable now, but if you do not steady your will, worse things will come to pass."

The Lady suddenly straightened, her white gown shimmering in the light. She smiled. "I do believe the Valar are with you."

The sight gradually faded, and Legolas stood on shaky legs. In a trance, he picked up his knives and sheathed them, but then, he had no idea what to do.

Until Firlowen sprinted up to him, and breathlessly told him, "Gilrael. S-She may be alive!"

The elleth's room was quite crowded. There were Solwen, Iriador, with her husband Rychell, Falluen, Tauriel, Etrielle, and the king, all watching and waiting anxiously.

They parted the way for the incoming prince, who rushed to the side of the bed, fell to his knees, and took Gilrael's hand into his.

It was warm.

"Gilrael!"

The elleth started at his touch, and her eyes flew open at his voice. "I'm…alive."

Everyone burst into clapping and cheers, except the two healers, who yelled for quiet.

"For shame!" Iriador scolded. "The Lady just returned from the dead!"

Gilrael breathed deeply. "Dead? I was really dead?"

Legolas had tears of joy in his eyes, and he swallowed as he stroked her hair. "Yes, Gilrael. Your skin was ghostly pale, and you did not breathe. I do not know how this is, but thank the Valar!"

The others took up the cry, but Thranduil stepped forward. His face was stern, as usual. "Indeed, how is this possible?"

The elves quieted, and Legolas helped Gilrael sit up, and lean back against the pillows. He then sat next to her, refusing to let go of her hand as Tauriel jumped onto the lower end of the bed and Falluen stood next to it.

Gilrael took a deep breath. "I will tell you what happened, but everyone in this room must swear to keep it secret."

Solwen promptly walked out the door, as Iriador explained, "He can't keep secrets. And though Rychell and I can, it's none of our business. Come, Rychell. Don't give me that look."

After the healer and her husband left, one by one, each Elf took an oath not to breathe a word of what Gilrael was about to tell them unless she gave her permission.

Last of all was Tauriel, of whom Gilrael asked, "Are you sure you can stay quiet? Can you keep a secret?"

The elfling nodded solemnly. "I did not break even under Roquen, under fear of being hurt. I won't spill a single word. I swear."

Gilrael smiled, then told the elves of visiting the Halls of Mandos, and Manwe's orders. But she omitted the part about Nura Dúaith, and her audience with Morgoth.

Etrielle frowned. "Someone with great power held your spirit back? Who?"

Thranduil leveled his gaze at his son. "Legolas, apparently."

Falluen clamped his hand onto the prince's shoulder. "Really? Mellon's got power?"

Tauriel laid down, propping herself up on her elbows. "Of course he does. Legolas is the most powerful ellon I know."

Firlowen smiled. "And how many ellons do you know?"

"Lots."

The elves laughed, and even Gilrael smiled, but Legolas didn't think it was funny. "I have power? How? I'm only good with archery, nothing else."

He shot a look to his father, and knew he had struck a nerve. In an angry scolding, the king had once yelled, "You are no good, Legolas! You interfere with everything, and never listen to orders! Maybe you should stay in the archery fields forever, because that is the only thing you're good at! Nothing else."

Thranduil stepped forward with tears in his eyes. "Legolas, I-" But Etrielle laid a hand on his arm, and looked at him pointedly.

"Defending yourself now will only draw him away from you. Wait."

Thranduil gave one final look to Legolas, and nodded to Gilrael. "I am very much relieved you are back with us, my dear."

Etrielle scurried off, but the king glanced at Falluen. "Did you put that thing on my throne?"

The ellon flushed, and Thranduil glared at him. "If Elladan and Elrohir-"

"They didn't teach me! That one," he added. "Firlowen-"

Suddenly, the messenger leapt to his feet. "Manwe's breath, I have so many messages to deliver! Got to run!" He took off, and Thranduil grabbed Falluen's collar.

"Come with me, young man, and when Firlowen is done, I will give you both a punishment."

He marched out, dragging Falluen after him.

Tauriel swallowed. "The king seems…nice."

Legolas sighed. "This is one of his good days. Gilrael's alive, nobody is too injured, and Falluen played a silly prank with the help of Firlowen. Normal."

Gilrael asked, "Where is Falluen from?"

"His father was from Eryn Lasgalen, but he got killed, and his mother lives in Imladris, but travels a lot to Lorien. So Falluen stays here for a few months, sometimes a year, and bothers my father, then goes to Imladris and bothers Lord Elrond, and goes to Lorien and Lady Galadriel thinks he's a darling." Legolas shrugged. "But us princes get along nicely with him."

Gilrael smiled, and Tauriel laughed. "So he's well-traveled for an elf."

Legolas nodded. "Very. Besides Gilrael, he's the most traveled elf I know."

Tauriel gasped. "Oh yes! Where have you been?

"Most places you can name, and many you cannot." Gilrael looked at Legolas. "But my visits to the North have been quite rare, which is why I would like to take the guise of a Ranger."

"That's great!" Tauriel exclaimed while Legolas stared at her.

"Really. You do know that Roquen is looking for you, right? And traveling alone will make you vulnerable? You will be quite obvious, especially since you are an elleth."

Gilrael crossed her arms, but winced under the pain it produced. "Roquen will never expect me to disguise myself as a Ranger. You do not know me, Legolas. I would never do something like that, travel that roughly."

She shrugged. "But I have done it before, and Roquen does not know that. I am better at hiding my identity than you think. I will be neither Gilrael nor Glurdag. I will be Gilith."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "I see a theme here. Why do you like 'g' so much?"

Tauriel confidently announced, "Because she's great, and she loves green things. Especially green leaves."

Both older elves glared at her, but just then, something floated onto the ground from the window.

Tauriel jumped off the bed and picked it up as Legolas frowned and asked, "What is it?"

The elfling studied it. "A letter, quite nasty, written in…"

"Black Speech. Here, let me read it," Gilrael asked.

Legolas stood. "Not yet. Shh."

He unfastened a throwing knife, and crept to the window. The deliverer had to be out there, and if the note was in Black Speech…

Legolas peered through the glass. If he broke it, the person was sure to hear it and run away. So he scanned the woods outside the window, looking for the shape of an orc.

He didn't find it, but instead saw the distinct figure of an elf. An elf because no man could be disguised against the bushes that well, or tread the earth with such stealth. The elf was remarkably thin, and dressed completely in black.

But suddenly, the elf directed his gaze towards Legolas. The prince gasped and took a step back in surprise, because the elf's eyes were a startling, icy blue, almost identical to his.

The elf bowed his head to the Sinda, and stretched out his hand in a symbol of peace and a warm farewell. Then the elf disappeared into the shadows.

"What is it?" Gilrael asked. "What did you see?"

Legolas swallowed. "It seems I saw a shadow of…me. He looked almost exactly like me."

He told the elleths exactly what he saw, and Gilrael shook her head. "I do not know him. Let us read the letter and see if we can find out."

She glanced at the page and raised an eyebrow.

"Read it aloud!" Tauriel urged her.

Gilrael pursed her lips, but complied.

" 'Tauriel,

When Esgaroth's prophecy is fulfilled, find the hidden notes leading from the forsaken cave to Gundabad's outlook. I love you, I always have, and please forgive me, though I don't deserve it.

You must heed this, to save the lives of many!

A. T. B.' "

Tauriel was stunned. "W-who is A.T.B?"

Gilrael flipped the paper. "Whoever it is, he wrote this in a hurry. And he clearly traveled all the way here from Mordor, just to deliver it, and run off. Probably back to Mordor."

Legolas slowly settled back onto the bed. "So the elf I saw had the initials 'A.T.B'."

Gilrael tilted her head. "That part is very strange. Evidently he didn't want his name to be known by any who might happen upon his letter, but he thought we would know. Tauriel, do you have any ideas?"

The elfling shook her head quickly. In Legolas' opinion, too quickly.

"Nope, none at all. The only thing I can think of is, 'Awesome Turkey Breakfast.' May I leave to eat something?"

Gilrael and Legolas exchanged glances. Why did Tauriel want to leave so quickly?

"And I suppose you would like to keep the letter?"

Tauriel nodded. "If I could, yes."

Gilrael handed it to her. "Go."

After the elfling left, Legolas asked, "Why did you give it to her?"

"Why not? We got all we can out of the letter, and I memorized it."

Legolas smiled. Gilrael always had a good memory for words and places.

"One thing I'm worried about though, Legolas, is if the letter is a trap. Gundabad's outlook, it said. That's a very vulnerable place, so high up on the cliff, with a perfect view of the evil fortress."

Legolas nodded. "But he said he loved Tauriel, and to forgive him."

Gilrael sighed. "That's why it's so confusing. And Esgaroth's prophecy is also strange."

"What is it?"

Gilrael closed her eyes, and summoned the ancient passage from her mind.

"The King beneath the mountains,
The King of carven stone,
The lord of silver fountains
Shall come into his own!
His crown shall be upholden,
His harp shall be restrung,
His halls shall echo golden
To songs of yore re-sung.
The woods shall wave on mountains
And grass beneath the sun;
His wealth shall flow in fountains
And the rivers golden run.
The streams shall run in gladness,
The lakes shall shine and burn,
And sorrow fail and sadness
At the Mountain-king's return!"

Legolas frowned. "And who is this…king beneath the mountain who will, um, return?"

Gilrael shook her head. "I don't know. The only mountain associated with Esgaroth is, of course, Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, but I don't see the significance of it."

Legolas asked, "What do you know about it?"

Gilrael shrugged. "Some dwarves mine in it. A small colony of little importance. I don't understand the 'king' part."

"Are you sure that's the prophecy?"

"It seems more like a song, but yes, I'm sure that's what the letter meant."

Legolas sighed. "So you mean to become a Ranger to find out more information."

"And help the peoples of Middle Earth without being known, yes. Don't give me that look, Legolas. I will convince Thranduil and I will set out once I am fully recovered."

Tauriel breathed heavily, the door to her room locked. She clutched the letter to her chest, and caught her breath.

Slowly, she peeled herself from the wall, and smoothed the paper on a desk.

"I love you, I always have," she murmured.

With shaking fingers, Tauriel unclasped the necklace hidden under her tunic. It was silver, with a tear drop shaped pendant in which a single diamond-shaped star was placed. Elegant but small, the diamond could open, like a locket, to reveal two small paintings.

One was a much younger version of her parents, side by side. The other was of a smiling, handsome ellon, with icy blue eyes and neat, reddish brown hair.

Tauriel had found the drawing hidden away in her little cave, and she had stuck it in her necklace in the hopes that one day, she would find out who he was.

That day was the closest clue she had gotten, and Tauriel fingered both the note and the picture nervously.

Was it wrong to hide it from Legolas and Gilrael, though she trusted them both so much? Maybe they could help her decipher the message.

But Tauriel decided against it. They would not understand the pain of her past, the feeling of growing up alone, uncared for. Yes, Gilrael had a terrible life, but her childhood was golden. Legolas' relationship with his father was clearly strained, to say the least, but he, too, had a wonderful youth.

The same could not be said for Tauriel, but she was convinced that if she could find the blue-eyed ellon who had always loved her, she would get answers. Why her parents had abandoned her to the point of depression.

A/N: Voila! My first fanfiction is complete! It has been a joy getting all my ideas written down, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it!

I hate to sound like a comercial, but here goes:

Coming soon!

The Stirring, Book 2 in The Redeemed One series.

Summary:

"Ever since the attack of Smaug, Gilrael has begun to get dark visions of the enemy's plans, an invitation to join the black force emerging ever so slightly. Meanwhile, Tauriel follows a set of clues, hoping that they will lead her to the mysterious ellon depicted in her necklace. Will the two elleths learn to accept the help of their prince in order to fulfill their goals?"

Well, thank-you so much for reading and for taking the time to review! Both are much appreciated.

Have a wonderful day! :)

Elluviel