Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas or anything else from Lord of the Rings. I do however lay claim on Elrond's twin daughters as Tolkien never wrote about any twin elven girls anywhere in his books. Everything else though, as much as I wish it, is not mine and belongs to the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien (a wonderful, wonderful man). Except for a 2-year-old toddler by the name of Estel (forever called tithen min by his siblings) who needs looking after.
Author's Note: I am aware the White Council was not formally formed until 2463 TA, however with the power of evil growing as early as 1000 TA, it seem logical that at least some of the Wise would have met much earlier than that to discuss what might be done; even if they did not form a larger council till later.
The reason neither of the twins appear in the second half of this chapter is because they are hiding in the bushes eavesdropping, ala Sam. The fact that they overhear the entire thing will come out in later chapters.
ROTK, Appendix B; The Tale of Years: In the year 1050 of the Third Age, a shadow fell over the Greenwood, and men began to call it Mirkwood. About 50 years later, the Wise discovered an evil force had inhabited the ruins of Dol Guldur. It was thought to be one of the Nazgûl.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"What is happening?" Rómë whispered fiercely to her brother. Elladan had his ear pressed to their father's study door.
A party from Greenwood had ridden into Imladris that morning, in a great hurry, and everyone had been astonished to see Thranduil among them.
Of Legolas there had been no sign, and Dúnë had retreated to her beloved hideaway to bemoan her fate. Her other four siblings had immediately done what they always did when important guests came to see their father: tried to find a place to eavesdrop.
Whatever was happening in the study, the participants were not overly concerned with how loud they were being, which suited the listeners just fine.
Except for what it seemed they were overhearing.
"Well? Tell Elladan!"
He ignored her for another moment, before straightening from his crouched position on the floor. "Shush," he caution before leading them down the hall.
Once the door was firmly closed to Arwen's room, Elladan adopted a grave look. "Oh no; it's not…it's not Legolas is it?" his youngest sister looked stricken.
"Nay, tis worse, if such a thing is possible. Thranduil has come to seek our father's council and to ask the Wise for their opinion. Greenwood has become dark as of late; as if an evil spreads itself through the wood. The Wood Elves do not know what is causing it, but there are great spiders; minions of Morgoth, now where there was once only trees and life. Adar, he was not certain, but Thranduil demanded to hear his thoughts. He thinks…" The elf paused, unsure if he should speak of such things.
"Please, Elladan, do not we deserve to know? It will affect us as well."
"Yes, of course. Adar thinks perhaps, it is Sauron re-growing his power. And that it is only a matter of time before the evil spreads further than the Greenwood."
The reactions were exactly what he had expected; except the cry that echoed from the doorway. Dúnë stood there, obviously having only caught the last part, with a horrified look on her face.
"Why did Legolas not come?" she gasped out.
"I am not certain," Elladan started, "however I would think Thranduil would not want to leave the kingdom completely devoid of the royal family in his absence. Do not fear for him seler; it is not quite that bad as of yet. But evil is certainly growing, and it's origin is unknown."
"And you, Elladan, are quite old enough to know eavesdropping is forbidden in house," came Glorfindel's disapproving voice from behind Dúnë.
"But, Glor, this affects us as well! It affects all of us."
"Yes it does, and therefore you know quite well your father would have told you all once he and Thranduil finished their council together; but you could not wait it seems."
Elladan looked ashamed. "I am sorry Glorfindel. But you know how impatient we always are."
Glorfindel adopted an exasperated and amused looked. "Yes, I am well aware. Valar know where you get it from. You father was the image of patience at your age, and certainly your mother…well; I can only blame the Edain blood. Men are notoriously impatient."
"Are you insulting my ancestors Glorfindel? I must say, I never expected such from you." Elrond's face bore a look of wary exhaustion and he looked older, if such a thing was possible for an elf. "The children I am sure heard nothing that I would not of told them. They have been doing it since they were of an age to talk; do you really except them to stop now?"
Elladan grinned smugly at the seneschal. The balrog slayer's sharp glance warned him to reconsider.
Elrond addressed all of them. "Thranduil will leave at first light; he cannot afford to linger here. I will send messengers out immediately to Lórien and the Havens, and seek the advice of their rulers. We must decide what is to be done, for we can ill afford to let such an evil spread. Elladan, Elrohir; I would like you to go West. I will have a letter drawn up for Círdan. I would ask you return swiftly as soon as you receive a reply. Glorfindel, would you bear a formal message to Galadriel in the Golden Wood?"
"Of course hér nin," he bowed. I will leave as soon as the message is ready. First light tomorrow, if that is your wish."
"First light shall do. We must hope the mountain pass is open and safe at present. Hannon le, mellon nin. Children, I believe you have things you should be doing. Dúnë," he stopped her as she left the room. "Thranduil has asked to speak with you before he leaves. He awaits you in my study."
Rómë saw her twin pale and nod silently. She winced inwardly, glad it was not she who sought the marriage of such a high born elf; and from the kingdom of Greenwood as well.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
Celeborn was frowning in contemplation as he glanced back and forth between his wife and son-in-law. Elrond and the Lady of Lórien were in a heated conversation, or so the expressions of their faces seemed. Celeborn was not certain, as they were speaking mind to mind, and Galadriel was not allowing him to eavesdrop. He glanced across the circle to see Círdan deep in thought as well. Gandalf and Saruman were speaking in quiet whispers, but Gandalf seem terribly worried by whatever the White Wizard was saying.
The Lord of the Golden Wood sighed. They had been here three days already, and were only now beginning to come to agreement over the intended issue. The infestation of spiders and a spreading evil within the Greenwood seemed to have been just the beginning when it had first come to the attention of the Wise fifty years before. Since then, the evil had spread at a rapid rate, and there was no doubt in anyone's mind now; the source was Dol Guldur in the southern reaches of the Greenwood.
The problem, thought Celeborn, was what was causing it, and how to stop it. It was this they were currently debating. Gandalf had offered the thought that one of the Nazgûl might now inhabit the ruins. It would certainly explain what was happening to Thranduil's fair wood.
However, if was also an evil that even the Wise were not certain they could destroy. The Úlairi were after all tied to Sauron's power, a power that even now still existed in the world as long as the Ring existed. And as far as the council could tell, the Ring must still lie somewhere on the bottom of the Anduin where Isildur had lost it.
"Elrond and I believe Gandalf to be correct." Galadriel's sudden statement nearly caused her husband to jump in his chair. She smiled knowingly at him. "We have discussed it in depth, and we believe this to be the most reasonable explanation for what has happened to Thranduil's realm.
Círdan was nodding in wary agreement; although, Celeborn noticed, Saruman did not seem quite as pleased.
"Do you have another answer for us Saruman?" Galadriel has seen the same look.
"I cannot say that I have, as yet. However, I hardly think we should simply accept such a drastic conclusion. If the Úlairi have grown so power, surely we would have know something sooner."
"Not necessarily. The Úlairi have always been secretive in their movements, even during the last Age. It would be unwise of us to simply dismiss them in this. If it is indeed one of the Nine who is even now spreading its evil across Middle-earth, then something must be done. We cannot simply allow this to happen, or it shall be too late, as it was last time."
Elrond was in lecture mode, Celeborn noted. He had to admire his son-in-law for all but informing the Wizard he was wrong. But Saruman had always preferred caution, even more than the Eldar. But caution had nearly caused their destruction in the Second Age. Úlairi or not, they could not afford to wait this time.
"An admiral thought, but there is nothing we can do. Even the Wise do not how the power to destroy one of the Úlairi, for their power comes from Sauron, and he cannot be destroyed unless the Ring be found. And I for one do not wish to search for it," Gandalf admitted.
"Gandalf speaks rightly," the Lady said, ignoring Elrond's look of warning. "We can do nothing, except wait. As we have always done. Greenwood must be protected, but it will have to be a defensive protection rather than offensive."
"Then we are decided?" Elrond questioned the council.
Galadriel looked sharply at Celeborn until he nodded. Círdan bowed his head in acceptance as did Gandalf. Saruman seemed content on staring at nothing, but finally, he too inclined his head.
"I shall send a message to Thranduil immediately. He will not be pleased I fear, but he will understand. This council is ended." He rose from his place to converse with the Lord of the Havens, but watched Saruman's retreating back with a frown.