I do not own LOTR or any character from those stories. All others are mine. (This chapter rated 'G').

" You are impossible"! The scowl on her face, accompanied by her hands on her hips, showed Kalen that her mentor was not pleased by her prank.

" Come on, Calanagariel, you know I only do these things to bring a little excitement into your life. Heaven knows you have far too little in it now! Besides, do you really believe an Orc would make it past ME" the dark elf smirked.

Calanagariel was a beautiful Elven warrior who had taken Kalen under her wing as a child and raised her as her own. She had no children that belonged to her by blood, but Kalen had given her the chance to know the joys (and stresses) of motherhood. Tall and beautiful, as all elves are, she wore her years not on her face, but in her eyes. A Silvan elf, she had long golden hair and her eyes were as blue as the deepest seas. Kalen had always admired her mentor and knew that she had seen many places and many battles with those eyes. The young elf longed for the day when she, too, would venture out and into adventures of her own.

" You are good, but there is always room to become better".

Kalen snorted at the remark. " You say this all the time, but I have yet to meet my equal. If you know of one who can wield the swords better than I, please, send them my way".

Calanagariel chuckled and then spoke. "You are full of confidence. You certainly seem to possess an overly healthy amount of ego, but what of skill? True, you have become a force to be reckoned with, but the minute you begin believing you have reached your full potential, and lose the desire to exceed those capabilities, another will come along and leave you to eat their dust".

Kalen knew she should heed those words. Calanagariel spoke only words of wisdom, and ignoring them would prove to be pure folly. This wise warrior was the only one between them that was truly worthy of being called 'The Best'.

At that moment, another female voice chimed in. "The council calls everyone to the great hall at this moment". Kalen knew this had to be about something very important. The Elders rarely called a meeting of council, and even then, it was only for a chosen few. They would concern themselves with matters of protection for the large forest they called home. She walked along the stone path that led to the great hall. A sense of excitement had been growing inside with every graceful step. When she reached the entrance she stopped and stared at the doors. What would she find waiting inside?

" Come, before we are late and the Elders punish us with Sentry duty for the rest of our days" Calanagariel said, slapping Kalen on the back.

"That is far too long to stand in one spot". Kalen smiled and leaped up the stairs with the giddiness and playfulness of a child. She took a deep breath as she stepped onto the white marble flooring. She had looked inside many times, but now she truly saw its beauty. Windows lined the corridor leading to the great hall, but there was no glass. The sweet air drifted in, and she inhaled deeply. The scent made her want to walk outside among the trees and fragrant flowers, but something inside told her she was about to be a witness to something big.

Calanagariel caught up to her and nodded in her direction as if she had heard and understood Kalen's private thoughts.

"Great things await both of us on the other side of these doors". Calanagariel's long, slender finger pointed to the large, silver doors outlined with Elvish writing.

Kalen closed her eyes and thought "Just breathe, and everything else will fall into place". With that, the doors opened, and the two entered the great hall.