Elrond stood alone in the blue cast of twilight staring after his daughter and her companions, though they were already far removed from his sight

Well, here's chapter three. Things start getting a little strange, but trust me, you ain't seen nothin' yet! It gets a lot stranger before it gets normal again. Now, let's disclaim: None of the characters in this story belong to me (not even the magnificent Elrond) except Narwen and the one who will be making her appearance very soon. (either in the next chapter or the one after that) Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, that British fellow we all love for creating the wonderful world of Middle Earth.

Rubies and Fire

Elrond stood alone in the blue cast of twilight staring after his daughter and her companions, though they were already far removed from his sight. The mist shaded their footsteps and the trees muted their lively elven voices. He stared toward the mountains, toward the pass he knew Arwen would have to go through to reach Lothlorien. Elrond was lost deep in thought, struggling to hurl something from his heart, a gnawing thought that he'd made the wrong decision.

Don't be a fool. Would you have your child raving like that other poor girl? But, the danger. The mountains are not safe for anyone now. They never have been. Celebrian…. Stop it! She is gone. Glorfindel and two score other elves are with Arwen, she is well protected. Yes, but there were four score elves with Celebrian. Stop it! She is gone. The evil things are gathering to Mordor, they will not heed Arwen. Celebrian did not have Glorfindel. She is well protected…. She is gone….

"Fool!" Elrond whispered viciously to himself. "Letting your fears rule you, you fool." He grew quiet, then sighed deeply and muttered, "It may not matter at all, and you know it. Sending her from one haven to another will not matter if all the havens are destroyed. And even if they are not, I shall still lose her. Either way this war ends, I shall lose her." He lifted his head once more. It was now dark enough to see Elbereth's stars and he vaguely wondered if the Fellowship, now three weeks departed, was looking at the same stars now, or if they'd already been captured and killed. Perhaps the war was already lost. "Being melancholy won't help," he reminded himself. Elrond made his way back to his room, suddenly feeling very old as something mortal and tired stirred in him. Yes, he was descended from mortal man, and therefore felt what none of the Eldar could feel: age. Though he did not grow old, he sometimes felt the weight of his many years and his many griefs weighing upon him, threatening to stoop his timeless elven shoulders.

He did not notice the black crow perched on a branch that watched him with human intensity.

That night, only the watchful moon saw as a red mist spiral silently out from the trees. Only the wakeful eye of night bore witness as this mist crept with all the stealth of a hunting snake to the wall of the last homely house. And no one except the bodies of heaven saw this mist rise like a cobra, creep up the wall like a vine, and slither through the window of master Elrond's room.

Nestled deep in slumber's embrace, the lord of Imladris became aware that he was not alone. He struggled to wake, to open his eyes, but something sat heavy upon his lids. There was a cloud across his comprehension. Sleep was gone, but wakefulness refused to stir. He found himself drifting in that moment, the moment all beings feel when they know they are about to wake, but have not broken sleep's grasp. There was not a coherent thought in his head and he drifted in darkness.

Suddenly, Elrond became aware of a red mist, surrounding him, caressing him, clasping him close. It was a wicked demon's embrace, beckoning his thought into dark corners he hadn't known existed within his own mind. He fought the temptation to bury himself under these beguiling cobwebs, to explore every sick perversion and black moment with zealous desire.

Something that felt like a pleased, gently mocking laugh vibrated against his conscious thought. There was a small sting on the left side of his neck and he knew no more.