I am so very sorry this chapter took so long. I am in Texas and as you know the past couple of weeks have been terrible here. We lost power when it was about 4 degrees outside. It got very cold very quickly. My house froze. We had brust pipes everywhere. We ended up at the familes house because they had power. There were 7 of us there and all of our pets. Needless to say writing was just not something I could do. However, we survived. I am home now and the plumbing is fixed. Today it was 80 degrees. Go figure.

"Orome," Juniper said a bit of a slur to her voice. She leaned against his arm and felt the effects of his wine rather nicely. Though she was no where near how she had been after drinking Haldir's wine.

"hmm?"

"Tell me about your wife." She said and took another sip from her goblet.

"Her name is Vana, You and she would become fast friends should you meet. You are both very similar. She gained my attention when she wandered into my woods and began to make flowers blossom. " He cast an eye down on her to see her smiling.

"I see, If I was a Vala I would be Vana."

"More or less. I could not imagine you any other way. Yet I know there is a ferocious side to you that she does not possess. That is the side of you I do not wish to see however, I know I will." He reached over the smoothed a bit of her silver hair behind one of her high pointed ears.

The sound of a clearing throat at the entrance made them both look over. "Please forgive me My Lord, I have brought the package you wished."

She lifted her head from the arm of Orome and looked hard on this dark haired elf. There was something very familiar about him, yet she could not recall how. He had eye's of silver and flesh that held an olive tone. His hair was very dark and all of this made those silver eyes stand out even more.

Orome watched as they almost stared each other down. He grinned and slowly rose from his seat and positioned himself between them as he walked towards his attendant. Now Junipers heart began to race and she did not understand why.

The sound of his voice made her look towards him again. "Yes my Lord the preparations have been made. Those that will join us are packing." His voice trailed off a bit as Orome moved a bit and she was back in his line of sight. "Is, is there anything else my Lord?" He forced himself to look to the Lord and not the fae.

"Just a moment you can wait outside though I am almost done."

Orome spoke and turned away . The package in his hands. An angelic smile on his lips. She watched this curious elf leave. Her attention drawn once more to Orome he placed the package down before her. It was wrapped in a large sheet of parchment. Which was expensive in its own right. Her small hands slowly lifted and ran over the fine parchment.

"I am not sure if I am worthy of a such a gift . To wrap it in parchment is rather unique." She almost whispered.

"It is a gift from Vaire, woven by her hands for you." He watched as she untied the string then unwrapped a light green cloak from its hiding place. When she lifted it she found it was rather light weight and simply beautiful. He grinned and watched her sense of wonder kick in and how she touched every little detail on the cloth. "This cloak will keep you hidden from even the most prying of eyes. It will also keep you warm and dry. You see My dear fae you are on our minds. Now I must take my leave Curufinwe waits for me and we have much to do."

"Please tell Vaire I said thank you. " She said then looked at the cloak. Something pricked at her thoughts. It was that name. She knew that name. It was almost like ... "Curufin's." She turned to see the back of Orome slip past the flap with the cloak in her hands she ran from the tent and looked for them. They were just down the path.

"Wait, Please wait I do not want to say your name so loudly so please wait." She watched as the elf with the dark hair turned. She felt herself smile widely as she watched his brows lift. "Will I be seeing you at the end?"

Now he grinned and canted his head back to the left and his pale cold eyes locked on hers. "Perhaps my Lady after all, That would be a sight to be seen." He nodded his head to her politely before spinning around to catch up with his Lord.

She often felt surprised by the intricate layers of this whole plan of Minol's. That little touch was the cherry on top to say the least. Then just as she was letting her thoughts drift towards him he was there beside her on the path. He looking on the back of a god. His arms crossed over his chest and he squinted a bit. "Huh, so that is a god." He shrugged a bit. "I saw them once, from a great distance as they fought. "

"You mean to tell me you have looked on the face of the enemy who, is one of them and you never felt in awe?" She asked him confused.

"Not once." Minol shifted his eyes down to her. "He is a damaged flawed creation Juniper. That one is not so much." His gaze shifted back to Orome before he disappeared around a corner. "I have been doing some preparing of my own Little Flower. It seems we will depart with a larger party than expected but they will take a different path up ahead."

"I see and this party might include a certain set of brothers?" She asked.

He nodded in answer and guided her around to head back the way they had came.

Elthian stood there with the ever growing party. In fact it was 2 parties that would travel together for a while. Vorondil was coming as well and he was making sure Elthian was supplied for two. "You look extra worried mellon, You should know we will be just fine."

"I still have misgivings about the brothers." He sighed. "I am working on that Vorondil, please do not find me at fault." Elthian looked to the pouch she would occupy for a time once more. It dangled from his belt. "The message I carry is dangerous."

Vorondil stopped what he was doing and looked forwards the sons of Feanor. Then shifted his eyes back to Elthian. "You mean this time it's not the kin slaying but the kidnapping?" He asked with a half grin. Elthian was silent, his gaze slowly turning to look Vorondil right in the eye. "Yeah I agree on that one Elthian. That was on another level of messed up. That had nothing to do with an Oath and everything to do with wanting powerful allies. Tell me something though. Do you believe any of them are seeking power? You have spent time with Curufin and Maedhros. Even Caranthir and Celegorm, do they seem particularly greedy in some way? Lustful? Arrogant perhaps?"

"What are you getting at mellon?" Elthian suddenly blurted out and turned his attention onto the buckles of the saddle.

"Elthian, I can assure you that their part in all of this is honorable. None of them would try and force themselves upon her or steal her away to wife. It offers them in no part anything honorable nor would it help their status. Truly mellon they are remorseful and do not want to repeat their mistakes." Vorondil smiled a bit at him as he finished speaking. "It was not so long ago you saw me as nothing more than a filthy kin slayer. Now I hope you see me as a friend."

"I do," Elthian spoke lowly. "and you are the reason that I am giving them the chance."

Minol arrived then. Vorondil's attention turned to the demon. "What of him Elthian? How does your trust fair with your very own demon? He might as well be a balrog in pretty makeup."

Elthian watched the beautiful faced demon making sure that he was packed with supplies as well. His eyes followed the lines of leathery wings as they folded tightly against his back. "Strangely enough, I have had the time to learn to trust him. She saw to that and even whipped me verbally several times over him and my distrust. The last time ended up in a strange argument and ending. Her point was made however. I trust him Vorondil and you should as well. Where this mission is concerned anyway."

Vondoril smiled a bit to himself as Elthian spoke of hard lessons learned, his attention then on his own horse. He ran his hand down her flank then pat the mare affectionately on the side. "I would like to hear that long story about your relationship while we are on this long ride. If you are so inclined to tell me."

Elthian chuckled. "Feh, fine I suppose I could tell you all the sordid details, they might make you blush though." His words were light hearted and made Vondoril laugh as well.

"You forget mellon I am considerably older than you even if I have a fresh face." The powerful presence of his King was felt and he turned to look towards the looming large figure of the elf. Upon his shoulder stat the silvery glow of the fae queen. The sight was a strange and alluring. She seemed natural upon the kings shoulder. Deep in his counsel. He was telling her something rather important. She was leaning in against cheek and hung on every word he spoke.

Elthian smiled seeing her getting away with breaking protocol every chance she got. In fact she hated it. "I know what it's like. When you are so new to her presence. You want to stare and let your mind drift off into that peace she promises. I remember the first time I saw her. My King was sneaking away for a day and I did not know why. It felt wrong to not follow the King I am sworn to protect. So despite my not supposing to know about his day trip I followed anyway. Then there she was, something that was not supposed to exist stood but a few feet away and was in the company of my king."

He sighed then. "Keeping quiet was easy. I wanted to keep her my secret for as long as I could." His gazed leveled on the fair haired elf to his side. His eyes still on Juniper and Thingol. His expression told all that needed to be known. That he too was drawn to her much the same as Elthian.

The glowing happy ball of pixie was quickly approaching, She had spotted Elthian and was eager to be near. Vondoril watched her closely as the form moved between he and Elthian. She was perfect even so small. Her lips curled into a wide smile just for him before she turned to Elthian and landed with ease upon his shoulder.

"Well Melamin, it appears that we are ready to go. I am a bit nervous though. Understandably so I would hope." She chimed as she lowered to sit .

Thingol turned towards them and spoke, "Vondoril, if you do not keep them safe I shall have your hide for breakfast. "

"Of course my Lord, no pressure." He responded.

Elthian bowed his head before turning to Loratha and mounting up. Juniper watching the others that would be the second party gathering.

"Vondoril, who is Adanedhel? That is not his name. I can see a bit of deception every time someone speaks that name." Her attention was on a slightly flustered Vonordil.

"He is just a human my Lady."

"He is more than that. They call him Elf Man. That means he is more than just a human Vorondil and I will have you be as forthcoming as possible."

"I am sorry my Lady I can not be more forthcoming than I have been. However, if you find displeasure in this you can always take me to task." Vorondil grinned at the idea.

Juniper gasped and found herself blushing and looking away.

"Hey Hey Hey now. We will have none of that." Elthian scooped her from his shoulder and held her on his flattened hand. "You should get comfortable. We will ride straight through most of the day."

She sighed as she slides down his chest and with a little flutters made it to the saddle and walked along it towards the pouch at his belt.

Thranduil was dug in on a hilly plain. The force they battled now was stronger and they had been fighting day and night for a week now. This was where Thranduil shone brighter than all the rest. His mind for battle was unequaled and when he and Ferren worked together like this it was devastating for their foes.

That night he stood around the war table with all the leaders including Ryu. She stood to the back and listened. Legolas more involved than she, yet every detail was observed and saved to share later.

"Well then we can all agree that it is odd, We have been having heavy night raids for a week and now they stop?" Elrohir said and looked to them all.

"There is movement to the rear. They are moving some of this army away. As if they need to defend somewhere else as well." Eomer said with a bit of a grin.

Thranduil looked down at the map and narrowed his eyes. "They are moving north east. I suspect Juniper has done something. We have allies there. I am guessing this is a surprise to Him."

As his words faded he looked to Ryu. They must commune soon. He had to know for sure.

"It has to be her. They are coming from the direction she went. Whatever this boon is from the Valar must be something special. It has him scrambling troops." Ellesar said and sighed. "Now what should we do?"

"We keep driving straight towards him. We are taking the fight to him once more. Let him know fear again." Elladan said with a bit of venom to his tone.

Celeborn was very quiet. His attention drawn to Thranduil and Ryu. There was something there that had not been there before, yet it was not romantic she clung to Legolas for dear life and He comforted her. No there was something else going on there. He suspected what it was, Minol had told him about communion. He was shaken from his thoughts by the ending of the meeting. Thranduil left quickly as did Legolas and Ryu. He noted that Elrohir stayed behind.

Thranduil was first to enter his tent followed by Legolas and Ryu. "What do you feel Ryu?" He asked without even turning about. He hand were on the wine flask and he was pouring himself a glass.

"I get a sense that she feel secure and safe yet nervous about the future." She said softly.

He nodded gently, "Yesterday it was much different. I felt excited and energetic. I wanted to fight and I did so quite happily. I think she was in battle. Can you commune Ryu?"

She nodded and stepped away from Legolas. He decided he too needed a drink and turned to get himself a glass. Ryu was always so drained when they do this. It takes her time to recover. They did not do it often but he hated it every time. She was precious to him and his father knew that.

Lightly she crawled into the Kings lap. Her touch to his cheeks was warm and soft. She held the scent of a spring breeze about her. Something uniquely fae. As their foreheads touched and the communion began Legolas sat down and watched.

They saw it together, the bits and pieces she could send to them. Trolls and orc, they fell dead all around her and then a light brighter than any they had even witnessed and inside of it was a god. They both gasp and released each other. Legolas rose to his feet and looked at them both wide eyed and shocked.

"What did you see?" He asked them.

Thranduil stormed from the tent with Legolas following him. Ryu held in his arms. Celeborn had only need to step to his left to be right in Thranduil's path. Stopping his cousin who looked deeply into his eyes and in those depths he found sheer awe and wonder.

They found themselves in a smaller tent having droughts of brandy wine. "I am telling you what I saw cousin. She was fighting troll and then one of the Lords arrived. I think it was Orome." Thranduil took a long drink from the tankard. All sense of propriety tossed out the window.

"So she went and did it. She went and summoned the Valar to the cause? I can not wait to hear this story." Celeborn muttered.

"Gandalf said there was a boon sent by the Valar and he had to go get it in the east. The Valar had been preparing all along Minol knew that. He had to have. He probably orchestrated it. Now they are involved. No wonder he is scrambling his army." Elrohir said with a grin.

"That wife of yours is quite something my Lord." Ellesar chuckled.

Ryu was all smiles despite her weakened state. Legolas left to tend to her. Finding her to be rather fine with being held in his arms.

He paced back and forth. Anger seething deeply within him. How could he not see this coming. Naturally they were angry that he had slipped from his cage. Drannor sat in the large comfortable chair and watched the emotions play out on the face of his Master. He smirked to himself and adjusted how he sat. Each sound and movement getting a bit more attention from the looming dark force near by.

"My Lord, might I make a suggestion. I mean I am the general of your armies." He grinned as Melkor looked to him with fury in his light eyes. "Send death on the wing to meet Thranduil and send me to meet this army from the east. Is this not what I am so prepared for? Is this not why You made me how I am?"

"Are you so eager for the battlefield my pet?" He asked a bit of levity in his tone.

"I have been sitting here for weeks with nothing to do but watch you pace. I am ready for anything." He mocked his Master which caused him to react harshly. The blow across his cheek snapped his head to the side and he tasted blood in his mouth before Melkor was set upon him. His lips crushing to his and his tongue took the confines of his warm mouth immediately. He tasted the blood of his pet and almost purred into the kiss.

His hands caressed the cheeks of Sauron's son, created just for him to do with as he pleased. The kiss was broken and he held Drannor's face so he could look him right in the eye. "Very well I shall send Thranduil what he fears the most and I will send you to meet those in the east. I warn you though, They have powerful monsters of their own now."

He held his pet in sway. His hands never leaving his soft cheeks. His eyes never leaving the golden depths of the half maia. "Strange it is how the power that was your fathers is even more so in you. I do not think they fully understand just how dangerous you really are." He cooed to Drannor who soaked it all up while he was enthralled.

Finally the moment was broken when Melkor unceremoniously pushed Drannor to the side and walked past him towards one of the guards. "Tell Grish Kragor to make ready, He will be leaving tomorrow with an army lead by Drannor."

"Grish?" He sighed and wiggled down into the chair. "You just want to ruin all my fun."