It was still dark outside when Kaysie woke up. She groaned. Waking up this early was starting to become a routine, her elven genes starting to take over. Kaysie rolled out of her larger feather bed and went to her dresser. She flipped through the clothes that hung in it until she finally settled for a silky sky blue dress. She put the dress on and then put her hair up in the common elvish fashion: a half ponytail with the sides braided. Though it was still very early Kaysie decided to go for a walk through the palace. She made for her bedroom door but stopped when a knock came from the other side. Kaysie frowned and glanced out the open balcony. It was still dark out. Kaysie opened the door. Standing there was Legolas.
"Legolas," said Kaysie questioningly.
"Melamin," he replied.
"It's very early," Kaysie replied.
"Yes," Legolas answered. "But you have been awake for awhile now."
"How do you know?"
"I could sense it the moment your eyes opened." Kaysie gave him a questioning look and he continued, "My lady, I have become so attuned to your behavior that I can tell whether or not you are sleeping without even being in the same you as you."
"Is that a good thing?" asked Kaysie a little unnerved.
Legolas gave a small smile. "It is for you to decide."
"Okay… was there something in particular that you wanted?"
"Only to be with you," was Legolas' simple response.
"Well, I was just going to go for a walk but you can join me if you wish to," said Kaysie. Legolas nodded.
Kaysie stepped through the doorframe of her room and shut the door. She took Legolas' hand and together they walked throughout Rivendell until the sun was directly above them. After a while Legolas led Kaysie to a stone bench to sit.
"We have been walking for a long time now," Legolas stated.
"Yeah, but it doesn't feel like it," admitted Kaysie.
"No," agreed Legolas. He did not say anything for a while but then asked, "Are you still angry with me?"
Kaysie looked at him. The bruise that had been on his left cheek and the cut on his lip that he had gotten during the fight with Edro were no longer visible.
"No," Kaysie finally answered. "But I still thin that it was foolish of you to lunge at Edro the way you did."
"I know," sighed Legolas. "I just could not control my hatred towards him any longer."
"Listen," said Kaysie, "I agree that Edro is a bit… mysterious and I don't like him any more than you do but you can't go around fighting him all of the time… even if I do think that he deserved it."
"I do not wish to anger or upset you," Legolas gently told her.
"I know that. But you must hold your temper. My mother has already tried to persuade me into leaving you. She says that you are quick-tempered, dangerous, and that we do not belong together."
"Do you think that she's right?" Legolas asked, his heart rate quickening.
"No," Kaysie simply stated. "Well, except for the quick-tempered bit."
Legolas felt sudden relief and smiled at her. He was going to ay something but a voice interrupted him.
"There you two are!"
Kaysie and Legolas turned their heads to see Ley and Negolas advancing towards them. They both stood up to greet their friends.
"It's nice to see you too," was Kaysie's sarcastic reply.
Ley rolled her eyes and said, "You two weren't at breakfast or lunch. Where have you been?"
"Walking," answered Legolas.
"And talking," Kaysie added.
"Oh, that's interesting," replied Ley. Kaysie shot her a look.
"So what are you two doing then?" asked Legolas.
"Avoiding Sarah and Edro," said Ley.
"Yes," agreed Negolas.
"Good idea," said Kaysie. She remembered the fight that had happened just over a week ago. Everyone else obviously thought back to the fight too for no one said anything. Just then the sound of a horn broke the silence.
"Someone has arrived," stated Negolas.
The four friends rushed to the front entrance of Rivendell to see who it was that had arrived.
When they reached the gate a small group of seven hobbits were speaking with Elrond and Gandalf, who had returned days ago when word had reached him of the letters from Beleganga. Sarah and Edro were also there along with a few other elves that had turned up. Ley and Kaysie grinned happily and ran to the gate to welcome their friends. When Ariel saw them coming towards them she yelled out.
"Took you guys long enough to get here!" she said.
When Kaysie and Ashley reached the group Ley looked at Ariel.
"Ariel! You're back," she said.
"Yup," replied Ariel. "Though I'm kinda surprised that Rivendell is still standing. I figured with you all here alone that this place would be destroyed."
"You think you're so funny," said Kaysie. "But I'll have you know that there were only a couple of mishaps and only one of them turned into a fight."
"Just one?" asked Ariel suspiciously.
"Yes, just one," stated Ley. "Between Legolas and Edro."
Ariel looked back and forth between Edro and Legolas, who along with Negolas had joined the group seconds after Kaysie and Ley. After a moment Ariel shook her head not feeling surprised one bit.
"So, what else has been happening?" she asked.
"Well," said Sarah speaking for the first time, "We got letters from Beleganga."
"What?" Ariel asked. She had not been expecting this.
"We shall all discuss this later," cut in Elrond. "Now is the time for catching up and we are still expecting one more guest."
"Who?" asked Legolas.
"The Lord Aragorn," answered Gandalf.
"Oh," said Kaysie, "Is he becoming because of the letters?"
"Yes," said Elrond. "And because Master Samwise is allowing his eldest daughter here…" Elrond placed his hands on Elanor's shoulders while Sam beamed with joy, "Elanor to go into service for the Lady Arwen as her maid-of-honor."
"Congratulations," said Kaysie to Elanor.
"Thank you," replied Elanor barely above a whisper. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment.
"And who is this young hobbit?" asked Negolas looking at Thomas.
"I'm Thomas May," he said.
"He's my twin brother," said Ariel.
"Yes," said Thomas. "But I'm still older." Ariel rolled her eyes as a horse came galloping through the gate. It was Aragorn.
"Hello, everyone," he said dismounting his horse. "I apologize for being late."
"Nonsense," chuckled Gandalf. "I think you have made perfect timing."
Aragorn nodded and pulled a folded piece of paper from his vest pocket and handed it to Elrond.
"From Arwen," he said. "She sends her regrets about not being able to travel in her condition."
"Condition?" questioned Legolas. "You mean to say that you are expecting a child?"
Aragorn smiled widely. "Indeed, I do, Master Elf."
"That is wonderful!" cried Negolas. "If only Gimili were here. I'm sure he would want to hear the news."
"Gimli? Where is he then, if he is not here?" Aragorn asked.
"He went back to the mountains to counsel with his people after the meeting concerning the letters from Beleganga," explained Elrond.
"Then, I shall have to write him," said Aragorn. He then caught a glimpse of Elanor. "And this must be Elanor," he said kneeling in front of her. "My lady, I was told that you were the fairest of hobbits. Now that I have seen you, I believe that those words do you no justice."
"Lord Aragorn," replied Elanor, her former shyness gone, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you and I thank you for your kind words."
Aragorn nodded, stood, and faced Sam. "You have done well, Master Hobbit," he said to him.
"Aye," said Sam. "Though she takes after her mother Rosie."
Aragorn laughed and patted Sam's shoulder. Then he turned and addressed the group.
"I am sorry to cut our welcoming short but I am very hungry and would also like to rest."
"Of course," said Elrond. "Please come inside… and anyone else who would like to refresh themselves."
The group broke up and after everyone who wished to go inside did, only Ariel, Sarah, Ley, and Kaysie remained by the gate. The four friends found a place nearby to sit and there Ariel told her three friends about her stay in the Shire and in turn learned about what the events that had occurred in Rivendell.
"So you didn't get one?" Kaysie asked Ariel referring to the letters.
"No," said Ariel.
"That's strange," stated Sarah.
"I'll bet Gandalf has something to do with it," said Ley.
"Maybe," said Ariel with a shrug.
"You are a sorry excuse for an elf!" came a distant shout.
Ley and Kaysie turned toward the direction of the voice.
"What is it?" asked Ariel.
Kaysie stood up quickly. "Oh no," she said and ran toward the castle closely followed by Sarah as the sound of more shouting reached them.
"What's going on?" asked Ariel standing next to Ley.
"Negolas, Legolas, and Edro," stated Ley as she began to advance toward the castle also. Ariel followed.
When Ariel and Ley reached the castle they found Edro, Sarah, Kaysie, Legolas, Negolas, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin all gathered together forming a circle. Shouting was coming from the center of the circle. It was Kaysie.
"I am sick and tired of this," she was currently yelling to Edro. "You have hit my last nerve. First, you insulted and then pushed Legolas. Then, you insulted him again and blamed him for the letters. And NOW you have the nerve to call Negolas and Legolas dirty orcs…"
"What?" yelled Ley. She moved in between Kaysie and Negolas. "You called them dirty orcs?" she asked Edro.
Edro shifted his icy gaze from Kaysie to Ley. "And if I did?" he asked coldly.
"Then I'm gonna…" Ley took a step forward raising her fist to punch Edro. Sarah jumped in front of him.
"Don't even touch him!" she hollered.
"He deserves it," stated Ley. "Now move, Schitzo."
"No," said Sarah defiantly.
"Fine." Ley made to hit Sarah but was prevented from doing so when Ariel shouted.
"I just got back and already you all are ready to kill each other! I don't care who said what to who but they're just words. It's not like they'll kill you or anything. Can't everyone just get along?"
"No," said Kaysie, her gaze on Edro.
"Why no…" Ariel was cut off by Legolas.
"Take your eyes off of her," he said to Edro who was now staring intently back at Kaysie. Edro looked to Legolas.
"Then tell this umea nis (evil woman) to avert her eyes elsewhere," he said.
Legolas flared with anger and took a step forward and surprisingly enough so did Negolas.
"You will learn to hold your tongue," spat Legolas.
"Or we will teach you to do so," added Negolas.
"You are not my lord, either of you," said Edro to the two menacing elves. "Therefore you hold no power over me. I do not have to listen to you."
"Edro, stop," said Sarah suddenly catching everyone by surprise. "Even I can see why they all want to kill you. You're acting insane. Why are you being like this?"
"I… I am sorry, Sarah. I do not know why I have been acting this way. Perhaps it is the cause of the suspicion you all hold towards me."
"Edro, you never talk," said Ariel. "And you're very secretive. Of course that would cause suspicion."
Edro sighed and then said, "I apologize for my attitude and anything offending that I said. I only ask that you accept my apology and not be so suspicious towards me. I mean no harm."
Kaysie nodded though she did not accept Edro's apology while Ley continued to glare and Negolas and Legolas contemplated ways of torturing the dark haired elf. Edro knew that the elves before him did not believe his words and so far before he lost his temper again he walked away, Sarah following him.
"I do not trust him," said Legolas when Edro and Sarah were a good distance away.
"Nor do I," chided Negolas. Ley and Kaysie shook their heads in agreement.
"Don't you guys think that maybe Edro was being honest?" asked Ariel. She received her answer from the looks she was given. "I guess not," she continued. "But you can't keep fighting."
"I agree," sighed Kaysie. "Eventually we will have to face Beleganga and if we are all not on friendly terms when that time comes then we will never succeed in defeating."
Ley nodded as the remaining members of the fight lapsed into silence.
"So, who's hungry?" asked Pippin.
***
Meanwhile in a deep cavern hidden beneath the Misty Mountains Beleganga watched through his secret palantir, the lives of the ones chosen to destroy him. He let out a cruel laugh.
"You shall not defeat me," he said aloud to himself. "For already your friendship is dwindling and doubt is clouding your minds. No hope is there for you."
Beleganga laughed again and looked back into his palantir. Though the smooth stone he could see everyone in the House of Elrond sitting down to the evening meal all talking merrily and laughing at old tales being told, the hostility between the male elves temporarily forgotten.
"Yes, enjoy yourselves while you can,"
Beleganga sneered. "For the time of war is drawing close and happy times will
only be thought of past memories."
Beleganga turned away from the
palantir and walked out of the small room that he was in and into a very narrow
corridor. He walked the length of the corridor until he came upon the very last
room. He stood in front of the doorway for a moment and then walked inside.
Inside the room torches were lit and cast fierce shadows on the stonewalls. In the center of the room was a large stone table with maps scattered over the surface and next to the table stood a Nazgul. Beleganga moved beside the cloaked thing that was once a man.
"How are the plans coming along?" Beleganga asked. The Nazgul nodded and Beleganga smiled. "Good," he said. "Then alert the others. The armies must be prepared."
The Nazgul nodded and then left the room. Beleganga now alone, glanced at a map on the table. He traced his fingers over the pictures until his index finger hit the spot marked Lothlorien. It had a large red 'x' over it. Beleganga's eyes glinted.
"Soon," he said. "Soon."