After little more discussion of Hogwarts ground security and such things, Arwen and Legolas followed closely behind Gandalf and Dumbledore while McGonnagall, Snape, and Hagrid arranged their schedules for nightly watch.

The elves kept quiet while Gandalf and Dumbledore exchanged a queer conversation.

"The rain has been falling at quite odd of late."

"Has it?"

"Yes, it seems as though the weather has different plans than our school this year."

"How so?"

"Professor Sprout is more passionate on the matter than others, but it seems that we may or may not have an Herbology class in fall."

"A pity."

"It is, isn't it?"

"What seems the be the problem?"

"Well, this rain is quite interfering with the growing season of some of the plants in the forest."

"Is that so?"

"Quite. While precipitation is good for the growth of asphodel, it sometimes it is almost too good for the plant. It tends to overgrow and cover other plants."

"How odd. What sort of other plants?"

"Oh, you know,"

Dumbledore gave him a wink.

"Just the herbal poppycock."

Legolas leaned over to Arwen's ear with a small smile on his lips;

"They really don't think much of us, do they?"

"Subtlety is a finely-honed craft of the elderly Legolas, you know that." she replied simply.

They entered through the main hall as they had when they had first arrived, but now instead of a calm silence, softly conversing voices drifted to their ears from the direction of the dining hall. Dumbledore smiled warmly at the sound of the voices.

"The Professors are reacquainting themselves with each other. It's been a whole two months since they've seen one another."

Arwen and Legolas nodded respectively.

"Oh is that what they're doing? Hmm. I could have sworn it was another one of those blasted teacher's conventions." A loud obnoxious voice came tumbling over the four's heads, and everyone looked up to see whom it belonged.

"Peeves." stated Dumbledore in a calm greeting.

Arwen and Legolas looked up at the ghost in fascination.

"Peeves?" they both inquired simultaneously.

"A mischievous ghost, pay him no alarment, our ghosts tend to thrive off fear. Follow me, and I will introduce you to the rest of the faculty."

Dumbledore and Gandalf began to lead the two elves into the Great Dining Hall, and just as the two wizards entered through the doorway, Peeves suddenly appeared before Legolas and Arwen's path.

"I know something you don't know, I know something you don't know. . . "

Arwen and Legolas exchanged looks.

"Really?" asked Legolas, sounding quite uninterested.

"I, personally, find that very doubtful," Arwen smirked. "But I admit, you do have us curious."

Peeves stuck his transparent tongue out.

"Alex?"

"Yes, 'Sandra?"

"Have you ever encountered a ghost of this nature?"

"I don't believe I have."

"Hmm. Interesting. Tell me, Peeves, where did you originate from?"

"I know something you don't know. . . " Peeves taunted, wafting over to Arwen's side.

"Now really, that is quite a childish thing to say." said Legolas defiantly.

"Humor him, just for now." Arwen said indifferently to Legolas as Peeves spun around in circles above their heads, giggling with delight.

Legolas sighed exasperatedly.

"All right. What is it then, Peeves, is it?"

Peeves floated down to Legolas' eyes.

"You have to ask nicely."

Legolas shot a glance at Arwen and then put on a tight smile.

"What do you know, please?"

Peeves grinned.

"I don't remember. Maybe you should ask him."

"Who is him, if I might ask?" said Arwen patiently.

Peeves began dancing about the floor like a child.

"The old wizard fool in white."

Arwen and Legolas looked at each other, and then on into the dining hall at Gandalf.

Peeves followed their glances and rolled his eyes incredulously.

"Not HIM, the other one. The creepy one."

Arwen and Legolas stole glances at one another and then back at Peeves.

"And. . . where would he be?"

"I last saw him. . . oh, why should I tell you, you're beginning to bore me, anyway."

Arwen approached Peeves sweetly with a small smile on her face.

"Please, Master Peeves?"

Peeves made a ghostly smile at her and raised his eyebrows.

"You," he began with a grin and wafting back down to Legolas.

"He was looking for you."

"Then perhaps I can find him if of course you are willing to tell me where you last saw him?" Legolas quipped.

Peeves sighed.

"I last saw him. . . walking down the west third floor hallway. He stayed quite close to the windows and carried a large white stick with him. . . "

Peeves suddenly grinned.

"He was quite fun to surprise."

Arwen and Legolas looked at each other seriously.

"Did you tell the Headmaster of this?" Arwen asked urgently.

"He didn't ask."

"How long ago was it that you saw him then?" she went on.

"How the blazes should I know? Time is frivolous to me. As it is to you!"

There was a dark silence as calmly chaotic thoughts raced through the minds of Legolas and Arwen. Peeves grinned innocently on. He wasn't a threat, but others were. If he knew about them, then others must know-

"How do you know who we are?" Arwen asked lowly and suspiciously.

Peeves giggled with a sick laugh.

"How do you know I know who you are?"

"Lets just say, intuition. How?"

Peeves paused for a moment and then grinned as he began to swivel up to the huge ceiling and through the wall's corner.

The elves sighed and looked at each other.

"All right. We need to talk. If we're supposed to know everything, then why do I have so many damned questions?" Legolas blurted out.

"I agree. We'll talk when we have time, but right now, let's just play along. Besides, we can hunt down that blasphemous ghost and badger him later."

"But Ar- . . . Cassandra, this isn't looking good," he hissed, trying to be furtive and closing in front of her. "We haven't been here two hours, and all ready we have three very evil, very powerful enemies of ours walking on the grounds of a children's school!"

Arwen sighed.

"There has to be some logical explanation-"

"I'm listening!" said Legolas sweetly.

"Ugh, Valar boy, I don't know anymore than you do! Maybe it's some cult derived from the Nazgul, maybe the white wizard was actually. . . a professor, maybe. . ."

Arwen paused.

". . . Or maybe we weren't the only ones recalled to life on this planet. . . maybe. . . maybe. . ."

Arwen stopped dead in her voice, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe just as Legolas came upon the same realization at the same exact moment.

"Oh. . . .!" Legolas began numbly.

"Oh. . . . oh. . . oh shit!"

"You put it quite aptly, my boy. But I must warn you, if Professor McGonnagall hears that sort of language in the halls, you are doomed for an immediate detention."

Legolas whipped around to see Dumbledore and Gandalf, both of them standing behind them. Both of them with their arms neatly folded behind their backs and both of them with the same deathly serious glance on their faces. They couldn't have looked more identical.

"Why. . . why didn't you tell us?" Arwen began, stuttering.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow.

"I assumed you knew."

"That's not funny." Arwen said seriously.

"Indeed it is not," interjected Gandalf. "But the truth of the matter is, nothing about our situation is at all humorous."

"Why don't you follow me to my office. I can introduce you to the Professors later." Dumbledore said, gesturing down the hallway.

Arwen and Legolas sat before Dumbledore in his glorious office room feeling like children. Their eyes wandered carefully around the room to marvel at the hundreds, perhaps thousands of books encircled in the spacious room. Sitting perched on a large birdcage in the corner of the room, a flaming red orange phoenix looked on at Arwen and Legolas with sweet curiosity. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, while Gandalf leaned against a bookshelf comfortably. Funny, even in a new world, Gandalf's posture still suggested that he might leap up any second and jump onto a grey magical horse.

"I understand you have questions, and I will answer them as best as I can."

There was an awkward silence as Arwen and Legolas looked at each other sheepishly for half a second, before;

"Why the hell does everybody keep calling me Mrs.?" Arwen blurted out in a frustrated voice. "I mean, is there something I'm missing here? Because if I remember correctly-"

"My sweet girl, in this world widows are still referred to as 'Mrs.'" said Gandalf kindly.

"Even after over five thousand years of being a widow?"

"Why not?"

"There's something you're still not telling me. If it was such a big deal-"

"Which it isn't. I do believe you have more . . relavent questions for the Professor, eh?"

Arwen sighed, feeling foolish. "My apologies, Headmaster."

"Ah yes," Dumbledore said with a warm smile, leaning forward.

"Let me begin by asking you a question, if I may?"

That raised the eyebrows of the elves, but they shrugged it off.

"Okay. . ."

"Sure. . . "

He paused.

"How old do you think I am?"

Arwen and Legolas looked at the Headmaster, and then at Gandalf, and then finally at each other before they started laughing.

"What?!" Legolas asked.

"You will do me no offense, take a guess."

Arwen shrugged at him, a large smile still on her face.

"Ninety?"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear." Gandalf muttered loud enough for her to hear.

"A hundred?" poked Legolas.

Dumbledore shook his head.

"Three hundred?" suggested Arwen, calming her chuckles.

He shook his head again.

"Nine hundred?!" boasted Legolas incredulously.

Dumbledore gave another shake.

Suddenly, it wasn't funny anymore.

"A thousand?"

"Three thousand?"

"Closer, but not quite there."

Arwen and Legolas looked at each other, baffled.

"I am twenty thousand years old." he said calmly when they didn't answer.

The elves gaped.

"I am the second oldest wizard on this planet. . . next to him," he motioned to Gandalf. Gandalf grinned.

"I am the Tender of Beasts. I am the Maiar of Yavanna. I am Radagast the Brown, last of the Istari."

Gandalf cleared his throat.

"Next to him, anyway." he added kindly.

Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles and leaned closer to Legolas across the desk, his eyes now vibrantly clear enough to read and be read.

"You are Legolas Greenleaf. A Prince of the Silvan elves. Son of the trees of Mirkwood and of the Great King Thranduil. You are a friend of the dwarves, protector of the Fellowship, and warrior of the Third Age."

He turned to Arwen.

"You are Arwen Evenstar, daughter of Elrond Halfelven and grandaughter of Galadriel of the Galadhrim. You are a lady of the the prominent elven kindreds. You are the Queen of Gondor and wife the King. You too, are a warrior of the third age."

The elves sat before this man. . no, this, this wizard god in complete shock. The only thing that they could clearly think of was what fools they must have appeared to be before him. But apparently, no such thought came to Gandalf or Dumbledore.

"Now," Dumbledore continued. "that we have this all straightened out, let me tell you now our situation. You are aware that there are Black Riders on the grounds. Not just two, but seven more. Hagrid knows nothing of this, and I ask you to keep it in the strictist confidence. Agreed?"

The elves nodded numbly.

"Second, the obvious reason that the Riders have returned is due to the resurfacing of the One Ring, which undoubtedly, you have just recently discovered. This too, is to be held in strict confidence, agreed?"

"Yes." murmured Legolas, becoming vocal again.

"Now, to further this, I will tell you only what you need to know, the rest, you will find out in certain time. Somehow, Voldemort has found a way to . . duplicate the One Ring onto our present time. Now, the only way he could wield such power is if he had obtained blueprints, if you will, from Sauron. Therefore, we believe that since the riders have returned, so has Sauron. However, when Voldemort created this Ring, about seven months ago, it was lost from him, and it is now believed that a child, between the ages of 11 and 17 has the One Ring in his or possession. A wizard or witch to be precise, and a wizard or witch soon to be attending Hogwarts this semester. We do not know who, but whoever it is, is at risk for serious danger from both sides. Now, several days ago, we received information that whatever alliance Voldemort and Sauron had, is now gone, and not only do we have one powerful evil to combat, but two powerful evils to combat."

"You see," said Gandalf, chiming in. "You were not the only creatures brought back. You see, this is all a game of chess. The first move was started by Voldemort, prompting more unseen dark forces to send in Sauron, the riders, and Valar knows who else. These moves and MANY more prompted the Valar to send in you, me, and him," he motioned to Dumbledore, who raised an eybrow .

" . . . although, he's all ready been here for over five thousand years. This game of chess will not be over for some time. Valar and their connections are constantly sending reinforcements from the second and most prominently, third ages. Some familiar some not, some noticable, others so subtle you will never even know they helped you."

"Now, as to what you are to do." continued Dumbledore.

Arwen and Legolas leaned forward, expecting something dangerous, cunning, and bold.

"Arwen, you are to watch, listen and hypothesize."

Arwen nodded understandingly.

"Watch the students. Pick up on any paranoia, fear, irrational fears, obsession, weight loss, lack of sleep, anything that could elude to suspicion of carrying the Ring. Use Legolas as well, he knows the effects almost as well as Gandalf, and he will be with you at all times. Listen to the voices inside their heads, their conscience, their fears, their masks of uncertainty. Granted, you haven't the development of telepathy that your foremother has, but you're quite good at it. Finally, hypothesize. One of the reasons you were selected by Valar, my dear, was because of your uncanny awareness. Whoever you trust or do not trust will be taken into mind by me without question."

Arwen took a moment to think about the responsibility, and then nodded at Dumbledore, accepting her title.

"As for you, Young Alexander," Dumbledore turned to Legolas.

"You protect. Arwen, the blissfully ignorant faculty, and above all, the students. You are to use your elven awareness as well, but not on the same level as Arwen. Help each other, though. If one of you feels unsafe, then chances are the other one of you knows why or feels the same. Trust only Arwen, me, my staff, and Gandalf. If for some reason, you do not trust one of my staff, you are to come directly to me. Now, I understand I spoke to you this afternoon about 'resources'. I also understand that it is impossible for you to do your job here without those resources. So,"

Dumbledore leaned under his desk and pulled out two long white knives, a bow, and a quiver full of arrows.

"Here they are."

Legolas heard himself sigh as Dumbledore passed his old companions to him with the utmost care and touch. As soon as his hands touched the sheath of his knife, Legolas felt whole again. Upon closer inspection, Legolas discovered that these arrows were actually his! The bow was his bow! The knives were his knives! But where on earth had he gotten these when they had been a complete plane of existence away!?

"How did you. . . ?" he began, eyes wide, hands stroking his quiver.

Gandalf smiled.

"It is all part of the game of chess, my boy."

"And for the lady. . ."

Arwen's eyes widened as Dumbledore reached again under his desk and pulled out a long curved blade and a bow and quiver of arrows.

He handed the weapons to her not as if she could be hurt by them, but as if she could merely throw her power unto them and hurt others!

Arwen took up the sword and smiled softly with remembrance.

"Gwemegil." she murmured warmly, admiring the beauty of the sword in the sunlight.

"Just in case Legolas is too busy thwarting off dangerous creatures. . ." Dumbledore said, planning on prompting a reaction out of Arwen.

Arwen looked up at him and smirked.

"Or showing off." she said sourly with humor.

Legolas merely flickered his eyes back at her with a raised eyebrow.

At this little show of character, Dumbledore and Gandalf looked at one another.

"Well, Radagast, it seems the clever Undomiel and the ever charming Greenleaf have returned at last. Perhaps it had something to do with their questions being answered."

"Though some of them yet remain." Legolas said softly.

"Then you know that whatever those questions may be, they will be answered in short time." replied Dumbledore.

There was a silence in Dumbledore's office before Gandalf spoke once again.

"I will not be here when the term starts in two weeks. I leave you to each other's guidance and trust."

"But, where are you going?" asked Legolas, concerned.

"Journeys, my friend. Journeys. But I will return. On Halloween, Christmas, and ides of March. Expect me then, and no other time."

Dumbledore stood up and the elves mimicked him respectfully.

"I suppose we ought to return down to the Dining Hall. Professor Snape and I need to have a chat as well. But remember when you return and introduce yourselves-"

"Mrs. Cassandra Averill-"

"-and Mr. Alexander Harrison."

Dumbledore smiled at them, and then began to exit with the elves.

"Oh, I almost forgot. The last of your resources is somewhere in the stables, Gandalf will show you."

He then exited.


Arwen, Legolas, and Gandalf grinned at each other, and then looked back at the horses with the utmost happiness.

"Asfaloth." Arwen said, patting her old friend on the nose, while he nuzzled at her, welcoming her back.

"Shadowfax." Gandalf nodded in the direction of his majestic grey horse, and the horse in turn nodded at him.

Legolas raised an eyebrow at his horse.

"Arod."

The horse snorted at him.

"Ah, remember, it was Gimli, not I that gave you the trouble."

Arod paused, before nibbling Legolas's robe tenderly, forgiving him for their last encounter.

Arwen smiled at Legolas again as she mussed Asfaloth's pure silky mane.

"This is going to be a very, very interesting semester, don't you agree, Professor Harrison?"

"I quite agree, Professor Averill."