Chapter X

            The hole in the door was only filled with darkness. Toron moved swiftly to the wall, and reached to his side for his sword – it was not there. He looked at the black gape in the door, there was a slight flicker of red light. It slowly grew stronger and brighter as the unknown person moved his way down the winding staircase.

            A bead of sweat found its way to Toron's brow, and soon fell to the ground in a splash. The light had stopped moving. It was not getting brigher, or dimmer.

            Latriel stood, back pressed tightly to the wall, uneasily as he watched the light stop moving. What? He thought. Many moments passed, no sound or movement was heard in the acute ears of Toron but his own quiet breathing, and the quickening breaths of Latriel on the other side of the room.

            Click! Latriel jumped at the sudden sound. He heard the rustling of iron on iron, metal on metal. Click – Click. Someone was opening the door. For the first time in countless years, the door of the Archives of Rivendell was being opened. Toron kept an intense gaze on the door as it creaked open.

            "Hello?" Came a soft voice from behind the thick door.

            "Who are you? What do you want?" Toron yelled back.

            "I am in search of Toron, the great ranger of Mirkwood. Have you seen him? Elmindel told me he was here."

            "I am he – again, what do you want?"

            The person quickly opened the door and rushed inside. He was an Elf, tall and slender. "Toron!" He yelled. "I have been searching desperately for you!"

            Toron stood silently against the wall, looking over the man. He then recognized who he was. "Meilos?"

            "Yes! It is he!" He ran forward and hugged Toron.

            "Meilos! What news of the wood?"

            A dark look came upon Meilos' face. It then once again became happy and cheerful. "We shall speak of that later. Come, we have much to speak about!"

            The two walked out of the room, speaking merrily. Latriel was left behind, standing in the middle of the Archive room, mouth open – not believing what he had just seen. He walked to the door and listened. He heard nothing. "They must have already reached the top," He sighed as he walked to the staircase and began to climb.

            "What am I supposed to do?" He grunted as he walked up the steep steps. " I guess I'm going to have to find something to do.." He continued up the steps, grunting and complaining. "I can't believe he just left! Who is this man? I have never heard of him before…" He approached the top stairs as light began to fill the gloomy stairway. "I can't believe he just got up and left me! This is unbelieve.." He was cut short as he was yanked from the door.

            "Latriel," Toron spoke urgently. "Pack your things."

            "But Toron!"

            "Do it! Now!" Toron turned and ran down the hallway. Latriel ran after him and turned into their room. He hurriedly grabbed his things, and ran out of the door.

            "I have a message from Toron," Elmindel said as Latriel strode out of his room.

            "Where did you come from?" He asked hurriedly.

            "It does not matter. Toron says to meet him at the gate as soon as you can."

            "But why?"

            "Go. All things will be explained in time. But now you must go – and quickly."

            Latriel sighed and ran off down the hallway.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            "Toron!" Latriel yelled as he panted down the street.

            "Latriel, we must leave as soon as possible." Toron said as he put his sword into it's sheath.

            "But why?"

            Meilos soon emerged from a door to their left. He looked up at the massive arch above them, then down the street at the many houses that lined it.

            "Meilos! Are you ready to depart?" Toron asked.

            "Quite ready. Are you ready Latriel?"

            "I suppose.. I still don't understand what is going on." He muttered. Toron turned and faced the city.

            "Farewell Rivendale! Farewell sweet Elven Brothers!" he then turned to his companions. "Let us leave now! To Mirkwood!" He ran out of the open gate. Meilos looked at Latriel, who sighed and ran after him.

            "Here we go." Meilos grunted as he ran off down the path.

            The Misty Mountains loomed overpoweringly on their right as they ran through the pass into Mirkwood. The trip was uneventful, and they soon reached the outskirts of Mirkwood.

            Toron stopped his running and stood, hands on his knees, breathing heavily. "Let's make camp."

            Meilos stopped beside him, and slid off his backpack. "Agreed. We haven't had a single rest yet! It only took us a few hours to get here. Impressive timing!" He paused and looked behind him. "Where's Latriel?"

            "I thought he was behind you, Meilos." He looked at the field behind them, and soon saw a bobbing head appear very far away. "There he is. He never was a good runner."

            They set up camp, and set the fire. They were in the middle of a hearty meal and a song when Latriel jogged up. He was breathless, and could barely stand. He quickly sat down next to Toron, breathing heavily.

            "Glad you could make it!" Meilos joked.

            "Care for some water?" Toron asked casually. Latriel could barely answer. Toron handed him a bowl of water, which he quickly drank. He then devoured some food, and they sat around the fire, talking merrily.

            Latriel rubbed his stomach. "So what is all of this about?"

            "What is what all about?" Toron asked.

            "Us leaving Rivendale so abruptly, the Land of the Sleeping River.."

            "Oh. I will only answer one for now. Latriel, let me ask you a question. What is the only river that runs around a large portion of Mirkwood?"

            "I can't recall the name, but I know of it…"

            "Well, can you recall what happens if any outsider touches that water?"

            "They fall asleep nearly instantly." He then cought on. "The Land of the Sleeping River! Mirkwood.." His face then changed to that of concern and doubt. "What does it mean?"

            Toron looked at him seriously. "Don't you remember Elrond's words? 'Beware the power of the leaderless orcs, for they will be leaderless no more. Beware the power of the orcs, in the land of the sleeping river.'"

            Latriel thought for a moment. "Did Elrond predict that.. Orcs are going to attack Mirkwood?"

            Meilos looked at Latriel. "Yes – and it has already begun. That is why I came to fetch Toron. The King commanded his return to Mirkwood to help in the war."

            "That's why we had to leave!"

            "Yes. So, I answered both of your questions." Toron laughed.

            Meilos looked past Latriel, who was leaning on a rock, and saw the roof of Mirkwood. His eyes then cought a flicker of red on the east side. "Toron." He said and indicated the light. "Fire."

            "Not only that!" Toron yelled. On the horizon, hundreds of tiny red dots were appearing. "Orcs.." The dots suddenly sprang forwards and ran towards Mirkwood.

            "So it has begun." Meilos muttered.

            "Yes." Toron said. "We cannot stay here while this is going on. Let us go now to Mirkwood! They will need us by this time tomorrow!"

            The three ran down the hill and into Mirkwood.