note from LadyErestor: this is Crackers chapter...the next chapter should be up next week...
CHAPTER 29
Such-and-such mason planned to build an extension onto the... For once, Imladris' master found himself losing focus already. Elrond had just sat down at his desk and was beginning to read through some contract or other when a rapping sounded at his office-door, jerking him out of the reverie he had barely slipped into.
"Come in," he called, placing the stack of papers back onto the surface of his desk and doing his best to sit up a little straighter as he rubbed his eyes. After his lateness in getting to sleep last night due to Celeborn and Galadriel's arrival, he found himself in a bit of a haze even having breakfasted and been awake over an hour.
The door silently opened, admitting a messenger looking somewhat distraught; the young ner's eyes were even more bloodshot than Elrond's.
"My lord," he said quietly, as if he had only recently regained breath long lost, "a party of Orcs approaches from the Mountains. They are not as many as they could be- no more than five hundred, as we counted them from a distance- but they still remain an enemy to be dealt with."
Elrond sighed; it was never pleasant to send men out of Imladris for war. If there was ever a good time to make an attack on a group of Orcs, however, it was now, when the Galadhrim accompanying his in-laws would enable him to send enough of his own people to ensure a swift and painless victory.
"Thank you, Morochir," he replied, rubbing his temples. "Would you mind informing Lords Erestor and Glorfindel of this as well? They will lead our forces; Glorfindel has the register of soldiers and will know whom and how many to muster."
"Yes, lord," Morochir responded, bowing his head and swiftly turning to exit the office. The ellon shut the door gently behind him, leaving Elrond with his contract once again.
TBC...
