"Legolas has already been on the receiving end of that one Elrohir. I shall teach you the other ones if you so desire," Sydney smiled as she picked up her weapons. "As for now, I will be departing back to my home."

            "But Sydney, you promised to stay with us for lunch," Elladan said as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

            "I promised no such thing!" she protested in shock.

            "Lord Glorfindel did wish to see you and it is almost the lunch hour. Have lunch with us and meet Glorfindel and we will let you go free," Elrohir said as Sydney groaned quietly before looking to Elrond.

            "How do you handle these two?"

            "It is an art that took me thousands of years to perfect," he replied with a smile.

            "If you two so insist then at least let me go and change. I will not meet Lord Glorfindel in my sports bra and leggings," she said and slowly limped towards the exit.

            "Is that what you call that piece of clothing?" Elrohir asked as his eyes skimmed over her body.

            "Yes is it, you little perv," Sydney replied and gently pushed him away.

            Slowly, she limped down the intricate path of the stairs and moved towards her family's talan. Finally reaching her home, she tossed her weapons o the bed and carefully slipped out of her leggings. Quickly inspecting the slash, she decided to attempt to fix it. About ten minutes later, she was dressed in a simple dark blue dress that didn't aggravate her injuries. Sighing deeply, she departed and started towards the main buildings again.

            While she was walking she started to think about her parents. They had informed her that they couldn't ignore the call of the sea any longer. They would be leaving in a week leaving Sydney alone. She really didn't mind but it brought up the question about what she would do. She couldn't deny that she missed Charleston and her friends but she was also close to Elladan and Elrohir. She almost laughed out loud at the concept of Elladan or Elrohir wandering around Charleston. Soon after thinking of it, she quickly dismissed the idea. She wouldn't dream or hope that one of them might want to come back with her. They belonged at Imladris, not Charleston. With a sigh, she stood outside of the dining hall and heard the conversations within. Putting a smile in place, Sydney pushed open the door and stepped in.

            Gandalf walked quickly through the stone halls towards the main meeting room. He rode as fast as he could to the meeting and arrived in a few days. The Istari rarely called emergency councils, so when they did it was for something urgent. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, he walked into the circular room and looked at all the other wizards and sorcerers.

            "I believe all of us are here now, so we may begin," Alatar said as Gandalf sat in one of the empty chairs.

            "It is probably safe to say that all of us have sensed a new disturbance in the air of Middle-Earth. We have not evidence that it is something physical that is creating the disturbance. Have any of the other Istar seen or felt it?" Radagast asked, looking around the large table.

            "If it is not in physical form, could it be magic?"

            "There is no one other than the Istari than can conjure up this power."

            "It could be an apprentice that has just begun to exhibit their abilities."

            "What about a Meaji?"

            "There are no fully trained Meajis left," Alatar argued with an exasperated look.

            "There is one that I know of. She has just started her training again," Gandalf said, not willing to reveal just how trained Sydney was.

            "You have been training a Meaji?"

            "When it has been possible; yes, I have been."

            "I would strongly urge you to stop the training. Meajis are not welcomed in any of the realms any longer," Alatar said as the other wizards nodded.

            "I agree with Alatar. All of the races are wary and untrusting of them. Some human towns burn them as witches and elves do not trust their kind."

            "Those fears are unfounded and they are ages old. If this evil that is being sensed is a spirit then a Meaji can help," Gandalf said as he thumped the end of his staff onto the stone floor.

            "And if it is not and the Meaji puts its nose into other peoples' business then it could turn into a disaster. Using a Meaji would be too risky," Radagast said logically as the others nodded.

            Realizing he was outnumbered, Gandalf nodded in compliance but remained silent. He knew Sydney would not be happy about the council's decision and in reality, he wasn't very happy about it either. All of the other Meajis had departed from the shores of Middle-Earth and only a few true ones remained. Sydney was a partial Meaji and had a limit on her ability.

            With a slight mental shake, he turned his thoughts to the foreboding feeling that had everyone on edge.

            Elrohir sighed silently in boredom as Elrond and Glorfindel continued to talk and discuss whatever it was they were talking about. Normally he would find it interesting and participate in the conversation but this time he was bored out of this mind. Everyone at the table except the two lords looked bored also. Elladan was drawing imaginary figures on the table with his fingers. Legolas was shooting grapes into his empty wine goblet and missing badly. Sydney looked like she was spirit traveling and finding nothing interesting. Sighing again, he picked up his goblet and drank the last bit of wine.

            A soft gasp brought his attention to Sydney who was blinking a few times to clear his vision. She stood up which caused the conversation to end and everyone to look at her.

            "My lord, an elf rider is coming quickly towards the main gate."

            "Is he wounded?" Elrond asked as he stood up with the others.

            "No, but he has been riding hard and is exhausted," she said as everyone walked out of the room quickly.

            Everyone followed Elrond as they hurried down the hall and outside. Just as Sydney said, a rider was galloping through the open gates atop a frothing horse.