Chapter Six

Elrond looked down at the ring on his finger. Vilya often gave him the ability to sense things other elves could not, but right now, he could not even understand what his ring-enhanced senses were telling him . He knew that the situation in Anganor was rapidly heading toward a crisis, but there was an undercurrent of something more personal and painful.

Thranduil had pulled most of his warriors back to the palace, leaving the barest minimum of his forces watching the borders and Dol Guldur. Yet he seemed reluctant to make any firm move to fight the threat to the north-east of his realm.

Elrond listened half-heartedly as Thranduil argued with his daughter and his captain. He closed his eyes as deep foreboding filled his heart. It hurt his heart to know that his two younger sons were in danger and nothing was being done to help them. Then he heard it. The pain-filled cry seemed to come from many miles away. Elrond listened closely, hoping to hear what it meant. It came again, this time carrying words that brought both relief and new concern to the peredhil's heart: "They are safe now, and I would rather die that change that!"

Elrond rose to his feet and walked over to his kinsman. "Thranduil, mellon nin," he said quietly. "It is time. Elrohir and Legolas, at least, are safe for now, but Estel was taken." He gazed sadly in Thranduil's bewildered eyes. "They need us now."

Thranduil shook his head. "How do you know this?" he asked. "I know there is no palantir in my realm, old friend." The elven king smiled at that idea in spite of the grave situation.

"Nay, I did not see it," Elrond replied. "I heard it -- from my son's lips."

Thranduil frowned. "How--" he began. He stopped as he and Elrond both looked at Vilya. "Oh," he finished. "I understand." The king hesitated for one more moment, then nodded his head decidedly. "We will leave at first light tomorrow."

Thranduil was awakened at before dawn by one of his guards. "Sire, someone is at the gate," the guard explained hurriedly. The elven king threw on his robe and followed the guard to the palace gate. When he released the gate, a blond-haired elf walked toward him. "Celeborn!" the king cried, running to his cousin.

"Thranduil," the other replied, smiling. "It is good to see you again, although I wish it were a happier occasion. Galadriel said you leave at dawn?"

"Yes," the younger elf replied. "Galadriel said? Oh, the mirror. Your wife and Elrond." Thranduil chuckled. "They both have great foresight unaided, and they both have elven rings to increase it!" Celeborn chuckled at that as well. "Yes, we're heading to Anganor at dawn. Elrond said the boys need us now."