Deana--I hope this explains everything.or maybe it doesn't. Hee, hee. You'll just have to wait until the end, where everything becomes clear. :) Lol, I'm glad you were so excited to find another chapter! :D Yeah, I had to add everyone in for a family reunion :D Hope you like this chapter.

whitewater-spirit--I'm glad you're enjoying it! :) Yeah, I know, poor Legolas. It's weird, he's my favorite character (with Aragorn in second), and I torture him the most :) Thanks for reviewing!

After greetings--and a hug between an overly worried Thranduil and Legolas--were exchanged, the group all walked inside and to Elrond's personal study. Now everyone situated themselves around the room. Elrond sat at his desk so he could overlook the group. Legolas sat on a couch with Thranduil on one side and Aragorn on his other. Elrohir crammed himself beside Aragorn, and Elladan perched on the arm. Lady and Lord of Lorien sat on a cushioned chair for two, leaving Gandalf to stand in the background.

Legolas, with a rather guilty expression, inquired as to how Glorfindel was. Elrond smiled and assured the younger elf that Glorfindel was just fine. He explained that there were some duties Glorfindel had to see to.

Once everyone was settled, Elrond began. "All right. Each of us knows bits and pieces about what is going on, so I think it would be best for Legolas to explain everything that has happened."

Legolas actually gulped when all eyes turned to him. He could not help but be reminded of the council where the Fellowship was formed almost two years ago. Suddenly he wished he had not come to Imladris.

"I know this is hard for you, Legolas. But you need to tell us, or else we cannot help you," Elrond said softly when he saw the panic in Legolas's face.

"Tis all right, my son. We are just trying to help you. Please talk to us," Thranduil pleaded quietly. Aragorn squeezed his wrist in a gesture showing his support.

Legolas lowered his eyes. He remembered his thoughts a couple of days ago when he and Aragorn met up with the twins. Taking a deep breath, Legolas looked back up. "I--"

He did not continue, but, rather, stared at Elrond with wide eyes. Or so they thought, except for Elrond, who could tell that Legolas was actually looking over his shoulder. Elrond frowned. "What is wrong?"

Legolas did not answer. He continued to stare at Haldir. When Haldir smirked, Legolas snapped. "Do you not see him?" he demanded, looking from face to face wildly for some sign that they saw Haldir, too.

"See who?" Celeborn frowned also, gazing around the room.

Elrond turned in his chair, but nothing was behind him. The rest were staring in bewilderment at Legolas, who was becoming more and more upset. When he realized that nobody saw Haldir, his first, resigning thought was, 'This is proof. I am insane.' Legolas jumped to his feet, breathing hard.

"How can you not see him?! He is standing right there!" he yelled.

"Legolas, calm down!" Thranduil stood and tried to calm Legolas, but the prince merely ripped himself from his father's grasp. He started backing away, looking from the laughing Haldir to his friends and family and back again.

"Look! He stands right there! Can you not hear him laughing? I am not crazy; I am not! Why can nobody see him?"

"Who?" Elladan demanded, growing alarmed--as was everybody else--at Legolas's shrill words.

"Haldir!"

Everyone froze, dumbfounded.

"Legolas," Elrohir breathed, "Haldir has been dead for about a year."

"I know! I told him that! But he still comes. He comes and mocks me, and I cannot take it anymore! Make him leave!"

Aragorn stood and marched over to his frenzied best friend. "Legolas, calm down. Something is going on..." he trailed off as Legolas doubled over.

A sharp pain twisted in Legolas's gut. He could not help a cry of anguish from escaping. Aragorn grabbed his shoulders. A pulse beat in Legolas's head.

Suddenly, he stopped moving. Then he straightened and grabbed Aragorn's arm painfully hard. His eyes were growing dark.

"You must stop it, before they all die."

"Who?"

"The Fellowship shall fall," he said, closing his eyes as a new wave of dizziness washed over him. Aragorn yelped as he felt his skin burn.

Now everyone was on their feet. Thranduil wrapped his arms around his son from behind while Elrond pulled Aragorn out of Legolas's grasp. Lady Galadriel walked up to Legolas, her eyes hard. She gripped his chin and forced him to look at her.

"Darkness consumes him. I can see it devouring his mind and soul." Everyone gaped at her except Legolas, whose look was turning to one of misery. Galadriel then moved to Aragorn. Reaching out, she pulled up his sleeve to bare the skin where Legolas had held him. Gasps came from the twins and Aragorn as everyone saw what had been burned there.

On his forearm, the shape of a broken ring was burned, the skin around it red. Haldir's laughter grew in volume until Legolas's ears rang.

Gandalf slapped Legolas, and it stopped.

"Thanks," he gasped.

A moment later, at Legolas's insistence, everyone sat down. The only changes were that Thranduil had his arm around his son's shoulders, and Aragorn rested a hand on Legolas's arm in a symbol of friendship and reassurance.

Once Legolas started his story, it was as if a dam inside of him erupted. The words tumbled out of him as he told his tale, starting from his first nightmare up to him seeing Haldir behind Elrond. Legolas told every detail, leaving nothing out. Although, he did keep the conversations he had with Haldir vague as possible.

By the time he was done, the prince felt completely drained and a heavy weight taken off of him. No one said anything right away. They all sat and let the words sink in before voicing any opinions.

Gandalf stepped forward and carefully gazed each person in the eyes. "I have heard some ill news from my traveling. There has only been quiet rumors, snatches of murmurs, but I fear they may be true." He paused and then announced gravely, "Traemire has come back."

Elrond's eyebrows shot up at the mention of the name. "I thought he was dead."

"Aye," Thranduil agreed. "I have heard naught of him or his doings for a few thousand years now."

"But there was no proof of his demise," Celeborn pointed out.

"Mayhap with the rising of Sauron and his forces, he has come out of hiding," Gandalf suggested, running a hand through his beard thoughtfully.

"Wait!" the twins cried out. They had been trying to follow the conversation. "Who is this Traemire?" Elrohir asked.

Legolas and Aragorn were as lost as they were. Elrond sighed. "Traemire is a dark elf. He also is quite fluent in the dark arts," Elrond explained.

"A dark elf?"

"What happened to him?"

"Why did no one make sure he was dead?"

Elrond held up a hand to silence his three boys. "His is a long story, one that cannot all be told right now. A long time ago, some things occurred, and his family was killed. He declared his hatred for elves in general, but especially the elven rulers because we could not save his family."

"Know this: Traemire is highly dangerous. And if he has come out of hiding and is after the Fellowship, then it is time to stop him once and for all. He had been linked to the deaths of many elves," Celeborn informed them. "It was thousands of years ago, when you, Elladan and Elrohir, were very young, and you, Legolas, were not yet born.

And, of course, neither were you, Aragorn."

"How did he kill them?" Legolas asked quietly.

"Traemire knows magic quite well. He was able to slither into elves' minds and dreams," Gandalf picked up.

Galadriel's melodious voice rang out. "He knew exactly what forms to take and what nightmares to enact to drive his victims insane. He now wishes to do so again."

"But what does he seek to do?" Elladan asked.

"To isolate the Fellowship; to separate them until there is no Fellowship, and kill you off one by one. He picked the form of Haldir to come to you, Legolas, because he knew of your friendship and grief. Now he tries to lure you to--"

"Aeterna Forest," Legolas finished.

"Yes," she agreed, raising a slender hand to her forehead as her vision subsided and faded.

"He was in allegiance with Sauron. After you succeeded in destroying the One Ring, Traemire swore revenge for destroying his plans," Gandalf added.

"So what do we do?" Aragorn looked up at his foster father.

"We confront him," Elrond answered evenly.

"We are going with you," Elladan piped up. Elrohir was nodding in agreement.

Elrond looked like he wanted to argue. Gandalf said, "We will need whoever will go."

"I am going also," Aragorn announced in a tone that left no room for disagreement.

"Celeborn and Galadriel," Elrond addressed the Lorien elves, "your help is greatly appreciated. I know you are needed back in Lorien. In fact, it would be better that way."

"The Aeterna Forest lies between Mirkwood and my own lands." Celeborn stood. "I will return to Lorien. If you are in need of back up, come to us. I will have my elves prepared."

Words of thanks and farewells and good lucks were spoken. The Lord walked out. Lady Galadriel stopped in front of Legolas. She smiled at him kindly and leaned close so only he could hear her words.

"I apologize for scaring you earlier, Greenleaf. It is true Traemire has a hold of you, but his curse can be broken. Have faith in yourself and the power of friendship. Know that you will never be alone. Power comes in numbers, not isolation. And falls come from over confidence and impatience. Never lose your hope."

Legolas bowed to her while his mind mulled over her words of wisdom. She touched his cheek before following her husband.

"We set out in the morn. I suggest everyone prepare themselves and get lots of rest," Elrond instructed.

Legolas experience a sinking feeling at those words. He knew Traemire would not be happy at this turn of events and seek to terrorize him more. Gandalf drew his attention.

"Go with the twins and Estel. I believe Elrond and I will be able to conjure something to put you in a state of sleep so deep Traemire will have difficulties penetrating it."

"Thank you."

Elrond ushered the younger ones out so he and Gandalf could get to work.

I am sorry to say it bears resemblances to what Gandalf did to Denethor in The Return of the Kings, but I swear I wrote this long before I saw the movie! Anyway, at least Glorfindel was gone for a real reason this time around, lol. If you read the original, you know what I mean.