(Author: Jennzah)

Siendar had walked for what seemed like hours when he came upon great gates, barring his way further into the forest of Mirkwood. He stopped, and looked up at the gates in dismay, then sighed.

These gates meant that he had reached the northern borders of the realm that belonged to King Thranduil, though if he still remained here Siendar was uncertain. He was uncertain of many things now that times of past peril were behind him, but now that he felt the new danger rising, he knew he must go through these gates and seek counsel beyond them.

Sighing again, he uttered under his breath a phrase in Elvish for the gates to open, and they began to creak and opened slightly enough for Siendar to pass through. He did so slowly, his eyes ever watchful for a Mirkwood archer to aim an arrow at him any moment, for as he recalled, Thranduil kept his borders protected well.

No arrows came at him, nor any unfriendly word. This was surprising to Siendar as he walked cautiously towards where he remembered the enchanted castle of Thranduil to be. Though, he supposed, in times like these, such precautions weren't needed anymore.

When he had the castle in sight, he stopped and listened carefully for others around him. He sensed them, in and around the castle. But they all seemed benign, so he continued up to the stairs and went up and into the castle, all the while expecting an arrow to his head or his back at any second.

when he was inside the castle, an elf maiden came up to him and smiled. "Hello," she said.

Siendar smiled at her for a moment, for she was fair, and it had been a long time since he had seen an elf maiden. Then he shook himself and looked at her.

"Please," he said. "I need to speak with King Thranduil."

The elf maiden's expression turned to one of confusion, and she looked at Siendar with a look of almost suspicion. She stared at him a long moment before motioning for Siendar to follow her.

He was led into a study of some sorts, where a blonde haired elf was pouring over a leather bound book of some kind. The elf maiden went to him and whispered something into his ear, that Siendar could hear, but it was in the quick tongue of the Silver Elves, that Siendar had not learnt so well. he only caught the name Thranduil once or twice.

The blonde elf looked up at Siendar while the maiden spoke to him, and as she finished, he rose from the chair.

"You have come to speak to King Thranduil?" he asked.

Siendar nodded.

The blonde elf looked at him intently for a long time, then moved from the desk, and motioned for Siendar to follow him.He did as he was told, and followed the elf to a larger room, which was built around large tree roots.

"King Thranduil has been gone over the sea for many years now, Siendar, son of Kudar," the elf said to him. "Why do you come seeking his counsel?"

Siendar didn't stop to wonder how the elf had known his name, nor his father's name.

"If i may ask, who are you?" Siendar asked.

"Forgive me," said the blonde elf. "I am Lumien. The Lady Jairah is my cousin." Lumien reached out his hand and he and Siendar grasped palms in what seemedlike an almost mortal guesture for a moment.

Siendar's ears perked up at the mention of the lady Jairah, and then he felt his blood run cold. "Yes, Legolas, Jairah. Thranduil's children. Where are they? Do they lead the people of Mirkwood now?" Lumien shook his head. "No. Legolas and Jairah dwell in Ithilien, as was last known of them. They led some of the people of Mirkwood down there to rebuild the land. I was appointed to lead here, by Thranduil and Jairah." Lumien looked Siendar up and down again. "Why have you come to Mirkwood, Siendar."

Siendar closed his eyes for a moment, and again felt the uneasiness.

"I have been wandering for a long time now, i am nobody. to mortals i am nobody, to my own kind, i am nobody. but in my heart i feel a great danger rising. I must warn who i can. Mirkwood was not a destination, merely a stop." He rose from where he had now been sitting. "I must be going."

Lumien watched for a moment before speaking. "Where will you go, Siendar?"

But Siendar had already left the room. He knew where he was going. Headed for Ithilien, for the Lady Jairah.He felt danger surrouding her.