When Evelyn and Nightshade finally reached the boarder of their precious land, she felt a wave of peace wash over her. There was a physical sensation as the crossed the boarder, she could feel the hum of magic that blocked out even Sauron's eye as the crossed the threshold that divided her land from what he considered to be his. In truth Evelyn was surprised by that addition of security, she had been half expecting Sauron to find some way to spy on or trick her, but instead she truly was away from the foul taint of Sauron's darkness in her home.

The trees whispered their greeting as she walked past them, hissing a bit in alarm at the unconscious form slung across Nightshade's back. But, she calmed them and explained that this elf was a prisoner, that he couldn't harm her as the others wished to. The trees were rather protective as she had told her story to them when she first explored the beautiful area. They were now very protective of her and thus she knew that even if Sauron managed to find a way to sneak into her sacred place, they would protect her.

She and Nightshade arrived at their new home in the heart of the woods. There was a beautiful cottage made of stone and wood that stood beside a gently trickling waterfall. The water was cool and sweet with a small pool at the bottom that was perfect for bathing in. The house itself had a sturdy base of grey cobble stone, gleaming white walls, and a delightfully shingled roof from which a chimney protruded. Inside the floors were hardwood and the interior consisted of one spacious great room with table and chairs for one, a suitable kitchen, a walk in pantry, and a bed large enough for both her and Nightshade with long drapes along the side. Large windows opened up to the fresh air outside and there was even an attached washroom that had something resembling crude indoor plumbing for the sewage drained to deep underground. There was more luxury than Evelyn had had in years.

Yet, as they entered the house, Evelyn made for the small door off to the side. Upon first seeing it, one might initially assume the door to lead towards a closet or other storage. However, one might also be inclined to notice that the door was not made of wood as most of the furnishings of the house, but instead formed of solid steel. Evelyn withdrew the key from around her neck and opened the heavy door to reveal a small, dimly lit room. There were no windows, the floor was made of cold stone, a small hole was dug into the ground and covered with a wooden lid in one corner of the cell, and against the far wall was a set of rather sturdy looking chains.

Evelyn hesitated a moment before she pulled Glorfindel's still limp form off of Nightshade. She cut off the ropes and began locking him into the chains, but sh paused halfway through. After a bit of deliberation, she decided that the collar around his neck was enough, and that he didn't need the ankle and wrist restraints as they would just cause too many problems. Once he was secured the walked out of her house and took to the sky, flying to the edge of her territory. There, just outside the magical barrier sat a crebain on a low hanging branch. Evelyn handed the key to the bird who took it and flew off to its master.

There, the deal was done.

Evelyn returned and dragged with her a straw sack so that Glorfindel could have something resembling a bed. She then hung a lit oil lamp on the wall and placed a jug of water with a small wooden cup by his side for when the drug wore off. She stepped out of the cell and closed it, locking the door behind her.

"We're home," she said to Nightshade who nodded once before taking off out the door. Evelyn knew that the wolf was hungry and was likely to bring back something for their dinner.

Thus, she set about preparing for whatever Nigthshade would bring, finding the pantry stocked with enough dry goods to make a feast out of whatever meat Nightshade happened to find.

Her home was perfect, whatever Sauron did wouldn't be able to touch her or Nightshade.

The two of them could be happy and safe. All she had to do was keep the traitor locked up.

I can do this... her mind seemed far less confident than she wished for it to be.

"Why do you refuse to admit that she is lost?!"

It was Aule, obviously the Smith had snuck past Yavanna's Istari who were under clear orders to not allow the Valar into her home, yet here he was in her dining room, demanding answers to the same question he asked at every single meeting that they had. A few of Yavanna's dear birds were flitting above in the open rafters and more soon gathered for the ceiling of her Great Room was open to allow access to the Valar's flighted friends. There was an anxious chittering in the air for 'tis true that beasts can sense disturbances of temper.

"She has not killed Laurefindil and she will not. He will draw her back to the light," Yavanna replied with feigned calmness. If Aule didn't leave her house soon then he may very well find a pair of trees breaking through the stone of his entryway.

"She has betrayed us and you know it. She made a second deal and she's proven that she's lost," he sneered back.

Yavanna felt her blood boiling. There was a time when she loved Aule, when they thought that they would join together in an impossible union- Metal and Earth, her warm life and his cool instruments of death... but now that's all she saw him as... a creator of instruments of death. She despised him.

"And who was this deal with? Oh yes, your very own Maiar. And who is aiding Mairon? Oh yes, your other Maiar." Yavanna put her fork down and rose from her seat, walking around the table so she could press one finger against the other Valar's chest. "And tell me, tell me dear Aule the Smith, you worry so much about Laurefindil, an elf who has devoted his House to me... what Eldar ever devoted themselves to you? Oh, was it Feanor? How proud where you to have the 'Greatest of the Noldor' such a student of your craft? What happened to his whole line? I suppose with so much betrayal you think yourself an expert."

"Do you ever tire of moaning of the past?" Aule was grinding his words through his teeth and Yavanna couldn't help but grin. It seemed that she had truly struck a nerve.

"Do you ever tire your favorites betraying you?"

At those words Aule rose his fist as if to strike Yavanna. Several of her most loyal Maiar who had been secretly watching the spectacle made to run forward and help their Lady at their own peril, but she held up a hand to stop them. Instead, she lifted her chin towards the furious smith and leveled a challenging stare.

"Go ahead, prove to me why you know so much of right and wrong by striking me in my home."

Aule dropped his first with a growl of rage and stormed out of Yavanna's Halls, his rage practically emanating from his form.

"Mark my words Yavanna," he called over his shoulder, not looking back but yelling all the same. "She is lost."

Yavanna merely ignored him, sitting back in her chair and slowly returning to her meal. It wasn't as if she needed to eat, but tasting the fruits which she labored so much over creating was always a source of pleasure for her. And, with the way things were going and the constant worrying over Middle Earth, she would take small pleasures wherever she could.

"Glorfindel!" Elrond woke up with a gasp, his close friend's name on the tip of his tongue. He was in bed, panting from exertion and cold sweat running down his back and face- an annoying side effect of his Edain blood.

But, there was nothing odd in his room. He was still in his chambers in Imladris, the open window allowed a mild breeze into the room and his vast bed was as empty as it had been since Celebrian sailed. Elrond slowly slipped out of bed and moved to the pitcher of water on his counter. He poured some into a bowl and used it to splash his face, wiping some of the sweat off his brow. He then poured himself a glass of wine and went out to his balcony, sitting down and watching the stars, looking for where his father and mother sailed in the sky.

This was not a foreign sensation to him. Elrond was born a creature of foresight. The gift however was fickle and never forthcoming with easy answers. This time instead of a vision, all he had was a vague sensation of wrongness. Something dangerous had befallen his friend, and he had no idea what kind of mess he was in.

There was a knock at his door.

"Ada?"

"Come in Elrohir," he called, smiling slightly. His younger son was always a bit more perceptive than his brother. Elrond knew that Elrohir had inherited some of his gift. Though he never received vision... he always had a sense for when someone was in distress. It made him a compassionate leader, but was a great burden on his soul.

"Are you well?" Elrohir asked as he came to stand beside Elrond.

"As well as can be expected in these dark times," Elrond offered his son a glass of wine, and to his surprise, Elrohir accepted it and sat down on the chair beside him. "Did you just come here to ask about my wellbeing?" He prodded gently after some time.

"I-" Elrohir hesitated a moment, fiddling with the stem of his wineglass before he continued. "I felt something... something- I think something is wrong with Raven."

"Raven?" Elrond turned to his son in surprise. He had not realized that his son had formed such a connection with the strange child. It was true that he had never presumed Estel's attraction to Arwen either so it was possible... "You are... attached to-"

"No," Elrohir nearly spat out his wine in shock, his cheeks turning bright red. "No no no... thing like that." Elrond smirked a bit at how flustered his son got, but he graciously withheld his laughter and waited for Elrohir to regain his composure.

"Then?"

"It's just that... she was scared Ada..." in Elrohir's eyes, Elrond could see the compassion of his own twin. "She... was so so scared. I know she tried to shoot Legolas, and I know she said... thinks about everyone... but she was just scared." The then turned to fully face Elrond and put down his wineglass. "You know had Elladan and I trained with her and I saw her shoot. She's fast Ada, faster than most of Mirkwood and just as accurate, if not more." Elrond raised an eyebrow at that, but allowed his son to continue. "If she wanted, if she really really wanted then she could've shot Legolas right there... she could've gotten to her arrows before Elladan and I managed to grab her and then when she... when she threw us back she could've killed him there."

"That is true," Elrond had to admit to himself that his son was correct on that. How she did what she did was still a mystery... but she could've caused significantly more damage than simply knocking everyone back.

"And when she left us she was alone and scared and... and I can just feel that something bad happened to her Ada."

When Elrohir finished his speech, Elrond nodded and took a sip of his wine as he though it over. He trusted his sons, he loved them both dearly and though he was as protective as any father, he knew that they were well past their majority and usually sound in judgment on important matters. He also knew that there was something he was missing about this Raven, an itch at the back of his mind.

It was something with her eyes... he swore that there was something there.

"You had this feeling... just this night?" He questioned Elrohir who nodded in response.

"Stange..." he took another sip and watched how Elrohir had to physically restrain himself from prodding for a quicker response. "I had a similar feeling this night... but about Glorfindel."

"Do you think they're in danger together... do you think she's saving him like before?" The hope in Elrohir's eyes was so pure that Elrond regretted what he had to say next.

"I'm sorry ion-nin, but I worry that it may be more complex than that."

Elrohir nodded once and stood to take his leave, wishing his father goodnight as he did. Elrond wished his son a peaceful rest as well and continued to watch the stars as his son slipped back to his room. For a long while Elrond remained up, observing his birth parents slip across the sky.

"And what now? What happens if he fails to return to us, what happens if he can't fetch the Ringbearer and guide the Halfling to Mount Doom? Will darkness fall on Middle Earth... will we leave these shores to the doom of men?" He asked the question half to himself, and half to his mother and father as they sailed high in the sky.

Eventually, he set down his glass and returned to bed, slipping beneath the covers closing his eyes. One last question however remained...

"Oh Glorfindel, mellon-nin, what trouble have you fallen into now?"