The initial gasps passed and now the elves began to argue. The words flowing forth were in quenya. She did not understand any of it. Nor did she understand why they argued. What had she said that would cause such an outburst? Her eyes looked between them all. Elrond was arguing with them all. The only elves that were not arguing were Elthian and Caranthir. Caranthir's eyes were down on her. Now that he knew who she was he had a better understanding of what she was.

He stepped closer then turned so he was blocking her view of the argument as it became rather animated. "My Lady," he said and her eyes lifted to his. "please lets go outside. You should not be witness to such rude behavior. You as well My Lord." He spoke to Elthian who looked shocked at being given such a title but technically Caranthir was correct in using it. Juniper had effectively just made him a King in their eyes.

Elthian nodded and took Junipers hand and tugged gently. "Let's go Melamin. Caranthir is right." The three of them began to depart from the tent Juniper looked back to Elrond who steadfastly was defending them.

She came back into the light. The sun was warm on her flesh and she closed her eyes and just let Elthian guide her. Her grip tightens on his hand.

"If I had known My Lord and My Lady I would have behaved differently." Caranthir said to them. "I still would have defended myself but I feel I was rather rude.." Caranthir's apology was cut off the sound of a familiar voice.

"Elthian, Juniper what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you both be in the meeting."

She opened her eyes and looked towards the voice. It was Gandalf standing near them with a confused look on his face. She for the moment paid no heed to the human that stood next to him wearing a shocked expression. Her hand slipped from Elthian's and she burst into tears and ran for Gandalf. Crying his name as she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his robes.

The wizard passed his staff to his companion and he lowered down and embraced the small fae tenderly. "Shhh Shhh little Queen what has you so upset when you just arrived?" He asked gently.

She clung to him. Her whole body trembled with her sobs. "I... I..." she struggled to speak.

Elthian stepped closer along with Caranthir. "I am afraid that during the introductions she told them I was the King Consort and now they are all arguing over it. " Elthian said.

Gandalf looked up to him with one blue eye.

"They do not understand how The Woodland Realm can have two kings and since he is the King consort should they be treating with him and not her. There were other accusations I will not repeat in her presence. Elrond is alone in there." Caranthir explained.

"I messed everything up." She finally said her words shaking with her tears and muffled by his robes.

Finnola and Narl were storming from the tent now. "Gandalf I may not know what they are saying in there but I do not like the tone." She said rather loudly as she walked towards them. Narl was silent but looked rather agitated by the whole affair and seemed even more angry seeing Juniper in tears.

"FINNOLA! Oh My Godddess." Glorfindel was running through the camp and could not help himself but to call to her when he saw her tall form in the crowd. His excitement began to dwindle when he approach and saw what was happening.

She did gather him into her powerful arms though. Hugging him tightly. "I am afraid our tender reunion will have to wait." She told him and let him go.

Gandalf looked up to the Golden Warrior as Elthian explained what was happening in the tent. Glorfindel began to grind his teeth together and stepped closer to Gandalf and Juniper. He lowered down and pulled her from Gandalf's arms and turned her around. As Gandalf rose he took a hold of his robes and and used them to wipe the tears from her cheeks and eyes. Gandalf sighed in resignation to this.

"Listen to me," He said softly. "Do not cry, You are a Queen. Now let your warriors go and take care of this. These eastern elves will understand I will make them. Now go and get cleaned up. Get some good food and some rest. It will not appear so bad after that, I promise." He rose them and turned to his wife and kissed her firmly. "You as well." He looked to Narl but said nothing he figured he would get this story later. "Come on Mithrandir. Let's go provide some relief to Elrond."

Gandalf took his staff from the human he had been walking with. "Are you with us Adanedhel?" He grumbled.

"I would not miss this." The human said and followed them.

"Adanedhel?" Elthian questioned and looked to Caranthir.

"You and I will speak later." Caranthir said with a small smile. "Now lets get you all settled."

Thranduil dropped the blood splattered helm he rarely ever wore but had now taken to using to the floor of his tent. He sank into the comfort of his throne without even bothering to remove his armor. Gone was the gentle scent of his wife and the softness she provided. It was all replaced with the stench of blood, death and the hard clash of swords.

He drank deeply of the wine that swirled in the goblet his hand lift to his lips. It no longer tasted sweet and no matter how much he drank it never seemed to ease the ache of her absence and now he felt distress from her. Not fear just distress. This distance between them was crushing.

Elrohir entered the tent and sighed seeing him as he sat like that. "My Lord the remainder of the dark forces have now scattered. Though I am sure they will regroup with another force and we will fight them again." He said as he moved closer and lowered down to his knees before the king. His hands beginning to unbuckle the armor plates around the kings legs.

Elrohir had been his only comfort since she had left. He appreciated him more than he could express. "Indeed." Thranduil said before taking another drink. "They are hammering us Elrohir just as I feared. Our losses are not great each battle but they are beginning to add up. I wish I had the blind faith in Minol and his prophecies that my wife has."

Elrohir smiled slightly as he worked on the leg armor. Removing it and setting it carefully to the side. "Maybe you should have faith in her and not Minol." He said softly before getting to his feet and moving around the king to work on the buckles and hooks of the shoulder and arm plates. "Lets be honest Thranduil, she is remarkable in her own right. Minol may have set it all in motion but it will be her who heals the arda right. It is her you should put your faith in."

Thranduil let out a quick breath. His eye drifted up to look on Elrohir and he realized this elf who was much younger than himself was wise beyond his years. "You are correct mellon, yet you too know how hopeless war can make one think. "

"You need only to focus on the moment stop looking too far into the future. Otherwise, you will become like my adar. I do not want you to be like my adar that would just make things strange." He joked then and made Thranduil chuckle.

As Elrohir was working on removing the breast and back plates Thranduil sat forward. Feren entered the tent and bowed a bit. "My King, with the enemy scattering now should we continue to persue them?"

Thranduil shook his head gently. "No Feren this one was a bit harder won yet I do not believe they thought we would be victorious so quickly. Lets take a a few days to rest while we can. The further we go the harder it will become. Send scouts and I wish to speak with Ryu."

Feren nodded. "Yes my King. Shall I send for her now?"

Elrohir was setting the kings armor to the side knowing that Thranduil insisted on cleaning it himself. Feren watched him from the corner of his eye. This pretty dark haired noldor that had taken to being by the kings side. While he had no reason not to trust him he still held onto some ancient distrust even if this was Elrond's son.

Thranduil knew Feren well. They had grown up together. Fought together, gone through many of the same things together. He gave Feren a look and a small shake of his head before he spoke. "Yes and Feren. Get some rest yourself."

Feren bowed before turning to leave and strode from the tent.

"He does know I am not all Noldor doesn't he?" Elrohir spoke quietly. Making Thranduil realize he was far more attune to things than he thought.

"He just finds it strange that you have become so close to me at this time. Besides we are putting our past prejudices behind us. All things considered Feren is working on it. He is just being protective and I do not believe he thinks you mean me harm but that you have some angle."

"Oh yes I desire to become the next King consort for you My Lord." Elrohir said dripping with sarcasm and even rolled his eyes.

This made Thranduil burst into laughter and rise from his seat. He turned towards his companion and sauntered close and slid his long arm over Elrohir's shoulders. "You could have at least said that some what believably. I get the feeling that you really do not wish to come live under my rule and be second to Elthian."

That made Elrohir duck away and roll his eyes , He began to chuckle softly. "It is good to see your humor returning." He smiled to Thranduil. "While it would be lovely being so close to your enchanting wife, I do not desire to be second to anyone." He smirked then looked to the entrance to see Ryu and Legolas entering. "On that note My Lord I will excuse myself . I need to go see my troops anyway." He walked towards Legolas and Ryu. He bowed his head and smiled to Ryu. "You look lovely Ryu. Come on Legolas come have a drink with my warriors and I." He leaned in a bit and whispered. "I think he intends to speak with Ryu alone."

Legolas' arm slid from around his love and he nodded his head gently before looking to his father. "I will leave her in your care ada. Seems Elrohir wants to get me drunk." He smirked then lowered his lips to kiss the top of Ryu's head. "I will see you later. "He spun around. His sliver hair swishing against his back then sparkled with it's golden highlights as he stepped out into waning sunlight.

"Would you like some wine?" Thranduil asked her as he refilled his goblet.

"Perhaps a small glass. I have never had much of a head for wine until recently." She confessed. She moved closer her petite frame dwarfed by him. He poured a bit of the wine into a goblet for her and offered it to her on a pair of slender fingers. Her small hands lifted to take it from him and he regarded her for several moments. He had looked on this fae many times. Yet he had never really truly studied her countenance.

Naturally she was striking to look at. It seemed perhaps all fae were. They held an other worldly quality about them. Her porcelain skin contrasted by her very dark eyes and hair. Even the shape of her eyes was different, even different than Junipers. He wondered if this was a trait of the Nymph race. Just as wings were a trait of the Pixies. He smiled to her as he moved to his throne and indicated He wished for her to sit in the chair he had moved right in front of his seat and close enough to touch her if he wished it.

He lowered into his seat and she climbed into hers. He drank deeply of his wine and watched her sip. Then her gaze lifted and she honed in on the light of his eyes. "What is it you wished to speak to me about?" She said with her soft fluttering voice. The gentle tone reminded him so much of Juniper and he felt a pang in his heart from it.

"I assume you can feel her too." He said softly.

"I can."

"I have felt things from her today that are not so good." He said with a tone of worry.

"I have as well. I am guessing you wish to know if I can tell more than you. I am not sure to be honest. I suppose if I really concentrate on it I could. I would need your help to do it but I warn you that doing so will weaken me and Shadow and Shade will need to be brought in closer. I am getting stronger day by day but that being said without Juniper here to commune with it takes more from me and longer for me to recover."

"What is communion?" He asked.

"The sharing of spirits. Not like the bond of marriage. Part of us does not stay with the other so to speak. We mingle I guess. It's something very hard to explain in words. It is something all the fae have I suppose, the ability to commune. I suspect Minol can still do it as well. Even though I can not call him a fae any longer. As much as he says he is. Shadow and Shade are more fae than he." She took another drink. "You hold a large part of her within yourself my Lord. Though your bond is different than the one I have with her. Your bond is very powerful. She gave you so much."

"I understand the consequences if we do this. If you are willing Ryu I just feel like she needs us now." He said as the strong face he always wore began to fall and show the truth if his feelings.

Ryu slides out of the chair and she sets her goblet down on the table by the throne. Her small hands lifted to take his from his hand and she placed it beside hers on the table. He watched and his gaze grew wider as the slight frame of Ryu crawled into his lap and straddled his thighs. He still speckled with the filth of battle which did not seem to bother her at all. Her hands pressed to his cheeks. Soft feminine warm hands held his cheeks as she looked deeply into his eyes. The dark pools of hers seemed to have no pupil as if they were always looking into a dark abyss or even a place between two worlds.

Her head leaned in . Her lips just a breath from his nose as she pressed her forehead against his just as he had seen she and Juniper do many times. "You and I will commune. I will seek out the part of her within you. Then together we will seek her. Close your eyes and focus on what you feel." Her breath was soft and warm as it washed over his cheeks and He closed his eyes.

Juniper sat next to Elthian beside a fire. She was sipping a cup of tea that had been brought to her. She stared into the flames, watching them dance happily and listening to the soothing crackle. To say she was depressed would be an understatement . She was filled with sadness and longing. So far away from Thranduil and her children. Thrust among a people that just did not seem to understand the intense love there was between herself, the King and Elthian. In fact she got the sense that they deemed this relationship and something wrong. How could it be wrong? Love was love and beautiful.

She began to feel something from far away. Something familiar, something she wanted more than anything. Her lips parted in a small gasp, her tea cup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground before her. As she began to fall back Elthian caught her his eyes filled with worried. "Juniper? Juniper?" His voice sounded so distance and blended with the voice of Thranduil.

"He is here with me Elthian." She smiled and her eyes closed. "Thranduil is here." The words whispered from her soft lips.

Elthian pulled her into his lap and cradled her in his arms. His head rested against hers. There was so much he did not understand yet he knew there had to be truth in her words. "Then speak with him Melamin." He whispered into her hair.

It was not words that were spoken. It was just being in each others presence. She surrounded by him and he with her. Unable to manifest within the dream world they floated together in bliss. Their spirits swirling around each other in a sea of color and light. Then they were drawn together into warm loving arms and held against the breast of her. "Mother." She whispered and Elthian stared at her wondering what was actually happening in her vision.

It felt like forever with him in the protective embrace and for the moment nothing else mattered and her mind was filled with the words from the lips of the mother. 'You are me and I am you. Use what you have been given, make them see. You are me and I am you.' those arms released them and she and Thranduil lingered together. Wrapped in peace and love until they drifted slowly apart.

Simultaneously they awoke. Thranduil gasping, he wrapped his arms around Ryu and held her tightly as his face buried against her shoulder. "I saw them I was with them." Ryu caressed the back of his head and embraced him as well. "That was communion." She whispered.

Junipers eyes opened and she was staring into the brilliant blue of Elthian's eyes. There was a smile on her lips and no longer did he feel the despair that had begun to take hold of her. Deep in her lavender gaze he saw that spark. He arched a brow and grinned a bit. "Shall we go back to the meeting my Queen?"

She lifted her lips and pressed them to his . A firm sure kiss that made him tremble with the remembrance of Rowena's touch. "Yes I think we must." She then bounced up with vigor. Her golden hair a flurry in the breeze. She shrugged off her cloak and let her wings out into full view. The suns rays being captured by them made them shimmer with gold. With her dirty dress and dirty feet. The smudge of dirt still across her cheek she stood tall and proud, her jaw set like stone as she began to storm towards the tent with Elthian quickly behind her. All those that saw her stepped far out of her path and stared slack jawed at the winged creature among them.

"Glorfindel I hear what you are saying but this is all most unusual. This is not the type of thing we elves have ever encountered. Such relationships do not happen." Fingon said and eyed Glorfindel hard.

Minol was standing back away from everyone with his arms crossed over his chest a smirking smile forming on his lips. One that did not go unnoticed by Elrond nor Gandalf.

"You are all being foolish. All of you, if you will use this as an excuse to not treat with her." Glorfindel's voice rose.

"You would call me a fool?" Thingol asked.

Glorfindel was about to let the king have his uncensored opinion, his hand lifting his jaw twitched and then the flap was thrown back and a blinding golden light filled the tent making all present wince back from it all save for Minol who was now giddy and giggling.

"ENOUGH!" That single word crashed through the tent making them all cover their ears. The light growing brighter for a few moments then dimming as she moved deeper into the tent. Yet she still glowed brightly as they dared to open their eyes and behold what had just entered.

She felt all these ancient elven eyes upon her. Their gaze was filled with shock and even a little fear as sheer and terrible power just flowed from her. Not made from darkness but from light. Her glare sweeps over all gathered. "Fools all of you. You argue about the validity of love. You cling to old ways yet tout that you are a people of second chances shrugging off the old. What did your old ways get? Tell me was it anything good? Nay it was not. It brought about terrible wars where you murdered your own or you died by the hands of your own. You were seduced by pretty words into committing heinous acts or you and your loved ones suffered. The wholesale slaughter of entire cities. A life on the run. Centuries of discourse and violence. Jewels, rings of power, lust, greed and hate swelled between races that should love one another. You are all responsible for the marring of the arda every last one of you. "

She glared at them with a fury that made even the strongest of them tremble from within and her words stung with the truth.

"Now here in this moment You have a chance to truly right the wrongs you have committed. You have the chance to destroy the father of lies and evil. To heal the arda and bring about peace. Yet you will stand here and argue about something as pure as love. Can you not see it? The truth right in front of your noses? I stand before you now . Something that should not exist. A myth made flesh. Open your eyes, look upon me. See me as who and what I am. I am death and life. I am love I am the Queen of The Woodland Realm. Wife of King Thranduil. The one who is fighting the dark forces as we speak. The one suffering great losses as you argue about old ways. It is MY people dying. It is time for you to cast off these old ways and get into the battle. Were you not sent here for this purpose? Who I love who Thranduil loves makes no difference we are here to destroy the true dark lord. Now are you with me or not?"

She looked at all the shocked faces around her. The one Gandalf had called Adanedhel was the first to speak. " I am with you my Lady."

The one with the bright red hair, they called Maedhros now answered as well, "I am with you my Lady."

Inglor who had been undecided during this argument grinned liking the fiery nature of this Queen. "I too am with you my Lady."

Then one by one they all answered even Fingon and finally the King alone stood silent. He looking down on this tiny yet ferocious creature. He moved with a fluid grace that reminded her so much of Thranduil, around the table and now he stood right before her. His grey eyes honing in on hers. Her head was fully back and she refused to look away. She did not step back nor flinch. Then gently she lowered down before her much as he had earlier when greeting her. "Forgive me my Lady for my behavior. You are right. I still feel the sting of your words and the truth within them. I am with you." He took her small hand within his once more and kissed the back of it. "Let us defeat this ancient evil together. Your people and mine."

She smiled as she pulled it all back within herself the weight of her power lifting from the room. The glow from her body dimming a bit more as she lowered her wings. "Thank you." She said then looked to the others. "Thank you all." Her eyes lowered then to into Thingol's. Her hand left his and pressed to his cheek. Her touch sent warm tingles through his flesh. "May we be victorious and blessed in the end." She said softly to him.

Minol quietly slipped out of the tent followed by Elrond. "Did you know this would happen?" Elrond asked Minol's back as they moved away and through the camp.

Minol stopped and turned slowly and looked at Elrond. This elf he had grown to call friend. "The truth?"

Elrond nodded. "The truth."

"I did not see this but I knew she would make it all fall into place. I am not omnipotent Elrond. Not truly. She is the only omnipotent one in all of this." Minol said with a smile.

"You are not speaking about Juniper are you?"

Minol only smiled and gave Elrond a wink. "Well my friend I think you and I should find ourselves a bottle of wine, some food and catch up. I am sure there are stories to be told."