I know Elrond is needed in Imladris. But he's one of my favorite characters, and with all that has happened, I just don't want to send him home yet!

Yes, Guest. Alasse was referring to Bard! I am not even sure if Bard would actually be alive at this point. This is two years after the War of the Ring. But it's fanfiction. And I really want Bard to still be around! So, yes. I am planning to bring him into the story later on.


Legolas shuffled over to Elrond as the healer rose to his feet from checking on Voronwe. "How is he?" Legolas asked with concern.

"The wound is still weeping a little," Elrond replied, "but he is regaining his strength. I believe he'll pull through just fine, if he listens to my instructions!"

"That's good." Legolas sighed with relief. "Sir?"

"What is it, penneth? Do you need tending?' Elrond asked.

"No, Sir!" Legolas shook his head. "I came to speak to you about Alasse."

"What about your sister?"

"Well...when she was hurting, something odd happened. She sensed...she knew about the wolves coming before our lookouts even did! She was trying to tell me, but I didn't understand. Can you make any sense of it, Sir?"

"I think I might know, Legolas." Elrond nodded. "Let's go speak to her."


Elrond asked Thranduil if he wanted to join them. He quickly agreed. They found Alasse leaning against the tree, with her knees drawn to her chin, keeping watch over Bellethiel, who was sound asleep, her eyes closed from all her emotional turmoil. "Alasse?" Elrond spoke quietly. Alasse barely gave them a glance. Elrond knelt beside her. "We would like to talk with you." Alasse shrugged silently. "Dear, Legolas tells me that you knew we were under attack before even the guards on watch did?" Alasse nodded. "May I ask just how you knew?" Elrond pressed quietly.

Alasse finally faced him. "I do not know, Master Elrond." She shook her head. "I can't explain it. My waist suddenly began hurting very badly, and...I just do not know. Have you heard of the term 'that gut feeling'?"

"I've been around for thousands of years, child. I believe I've come across the phrase now and then, yes." Elrond smiled.

"Most times of peril we live out that theory without even considering it." Thranduil added quietly.

"I call it instinct." Legolas said.

"Well, it was almost as if...the stronger the pain I was in, the clearer my senses and mind intertwined together that great danger was near. I cannot explain it any other way." Alasse said lowly, feeling very self conscious. Elrond patted her shoulder.

"It's alright, Alasse." He said. "This is indeed unusual. I must ask, child: are you still having pain?"

"It's nothing." Alasse shook her head, but he'd noticed how her hand had subconsciously moved protectively around her middle the moment he asked. "You don't need to worry about me."

Elrond gave her 'the look', that he knew she was trying to hide her discomfort. "Alasse, I feel the need to examine it for myself." He said.

"Not in front of Ada, please." She whispered in Elvish so quietly that even Legolas almost didn't catch it. "Can we do it somewhere more private, please?" She asked.

"Certainly, child." Elrond agreed. Alasse slowly rose to her feet.

"But, Bellethiel..."

"I will look after her until you return." Legolas said. Alasse blinked gratefully. As she walked off with Elrond, Legolas sat down next to Bellethiel, one of his best warriors. Even in her deep slumber, her fair face was scrunched with grief. Legolas's heart dropped as he gazed on her, and stroked her hair. Their friends didn't deserve to die! Why did it have to be them? He gripped Bellethiel's shoulder. "We're here for you, mellon-nin." He whispered. "You're not alone."


Thranduil had tried to follow Alasse and Elrond, but Alasse begged him to wait for them at the campfire. She didn't want him to worry any more than he already was, which actually only increased his concern by several notches. Elrond walked with her to another shaded area, underneath an arch of trees. They were within hearing range of the guards but the tree branches served as a privacy screen. "Alasse, I wish to see the wound on your middle." Elrond said seriously. "Can you unclasp your tunic for me?" Alasse obeyed, undoing her belt and laces, so that her bodice opened up. She pulled her tunic up, exposing her torso below her ribs. Elrond gazed pensively at the scar of the wound that had been her undoing so recently. The scar was still a scar, yet it was a dark red right now and it shouldn't have been. And there was something else odd about it: the former divots in it of the slashed muscles and torn flesh were heaving, as if under some great pressure being thrust on them. Elrond watched as the scar visibly throbbed with every intake and exhale of breath that rose and fell on Alasse's torso.

"What is it?" Alasse asked.

"It is difficult to say, my dear." Elrond answered, rubbing his nose and concentrating hard in deep thought. "Tell me, Alasse. How bad is the pain now? The same as before? Worse? Better?"

Alasse massaged her stomach and sighed. "It is not as bad as it was before. But the burning ache is still there right now." She said lowly.

"Is it bearable?"

"Yes. But it troubles me. I have never felt like this before. And this is not normal, is it?"

"No, child. It is not normal." Elrond agreed. "And you are sure the pain did not begin until right before we were ambushed?"

"Yes."

"I must touch it for closure." Elrond warned her. Alasse nodded but looked away as he gingerly placed his hand over her scar and felt it. It made his arm tingle. That is strange, he thought. "Does it hurt when I touch it?" He asked cautiously.

"No." Alasse said simply. "It does not hurt from your contact."

"Do you feel anything out of the ordinary from it, when touched?"

"No, Sir." Alasse shook her head.

"All right. You can redress yourself now." Elrond said kindly.

"What is it?" Alasse asked anxiously.

"It is difficult to explain or comprehend even for me, Alasse!" Elrond explained. "Do you recall that a while back, I told you how your scar might flare up during times of extreme fear or distress?"

"Yes. I've been thinking about that very much. It is a little similar to when Adar's dragon scar reveals itself, no?"

"A little similar, yes. But, Alasse...what happened tonight, and the wound is festering even with no infection to induce that, that I cannot fully grasp yet." Elrond admitted.

"You can't? But, you're Lord Elrond. You have the gift of foresight, and you know so many things!" Alasse exclaimed, almost pleadingly.

"Ai, that is true, little one. And while I explained to your father the episodes that could occur from your grievous injury because I saw them, even this did not enter my seeing into the future! I wish I had answers for you, Alasse. I really do. But at this time, I do not. Except that this is your second episode, and you are still in discomfort at the moment because of the grief that surrounds us tonight."

Alasse hung her head. She felt rotten about herself. Her warriors had kept fighting bravely tonight, while she sat back and let fear take over! How weak was that, for an Elven princess? Tears filled her eyes as she thought of their dead friends.

Elrond grasped her hand and touched her shoulder. "Perhaps this may yet be a good thing, dear one." He said encouragingly. "Perhaps, in time, we may come to see it as a blessing of the Valar, not a curse."

"But will it go away? And how could this possibly be a blessing?! No good came out of it!"

"Except that you warned Legolas, to alert him that something was amiss. We do not understand it all yet, dear child. All I can say, is that when you were given back to us, the Valar must have chosen you for this path for some good reason." Elrond said kindly.

Alasse winced. "Please excuse me!" She wept and scurried away.


Elrond made his way back to the campfire after checking on his patients who were being well taken care of by the other elves. Elrond mentioned his theory to Thranduil. Thranduil was less than thrilled about it. He was personally offended. "So, you're saying that my daughter can predict future disasters before they happen, but in order to warn her loved ones, she must go through pain and suffering?" He huffed in an accusing tone.

"I am not saying anything, my friend." Elrond corrected him. "Merely grasping at short blades. Even I have not come across this sort of phenomenon before, Thranduil. And I am trying to understand it. What I am saying, is that it is clear as day that your daughter's death then restoration, was not by chance, nor in vain."


Alasse had run to Legolas, who had faithfully remained with Bellethiel. The unconscious she-elf still slept on. Alasse told her brother all that Elrond had said. Legolas was astonished, but so very confused. And he though he was trying to see the good in it, at the moment he was not pleased about it either, especially when he saw how much it upset his sister. Legolas pulled her to himself and let her cry, but found himself practically lost on words of comfort to offer. "I didn't ask for this!" Alasse cried on his chest. "I didn't ask for any of this!"

"I know, dear muinthel." Legolas agreed solemnly.

"It can't possibly be for good. I shriveled like a coward while my friends kept fighting and died. Is this what Nana meant when she said I had a great purpose to fulfill?! I don't want it! Not this! Not if it will cause more loss of our kindred!" Alasse wailed.

"I cannot say." Legolas sighed. "But you can talk to me, dear sister, if you need someone to share your troubles with."