Author's note: I do apologize for such a long wait! I took a sabbatical of sorts from writing. The pressures of school, life, and the death of a friend left me uninspired to write. But I am back now folks! So look for updates more often, and for those reading All That is Gold, look for an update real soon!

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Chapter 12: Anticipation Dawns

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.

~George Bernard Shaw

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"How can this be? You died a long time ago. I watched you fall."

"Yes, I fell, as to whether I died or not, no one bothered to search did they?" Malentuilinn asked bitterly.

"Of course we did! You should know that," Glorfindel answered, passion lacing his voice.

"I once thought I did, but abandonment by your own kin can change that illusion."

"We did search Malen," Glorfindel tried to reassure, "but war is a confusing place…  people are lost.'

"So they are. And for all purposes I did die that day. The Malen you know was lost over time to the brutality of reality, and the consequences one must face to survive."

This idea, this feeling, this whole conversation seemed impossible to Glorfindel. But here, standing in front of him, was Malentuilinn… his Malen, very much alive and real. That revelation, no matter how bittersweet was followed by the very real realization of another thing. She was responsible for this whole mess. The golden-haired elf didn't need to ask for he already knew the answer within his heart.

"Why Malen?" he whispered.

"Why?" Malen laughed.

"Why? For the life you stole from me, for the life everyone stole from Laurelin. We will have our vengeance!"

"No, I don't believe that. Not with all this. Why would you go through so much trouble to assuage your hatred on a few of us after so long?"

"Ever as perceptive as you used to be I see. Very well, yes, I am someone else's pawn as Laurelin is mine. That is the nature of beings, to use each other for their own means. We all must do certain things to survive, and right or wrong it doesn't matter. We are all pieces in some else's game, as they are to someone higher. This game just happens to fit my needs and I couldn't turn it down. As long as I get my revenge I care nothing for what happens to the rest of the pawns."

Glorfindel was speechless to what he just heard. The elf in front of him was right; she was no longer the Malen he once knew. It was hard for him to believe that it was even an elf in front of him at all. She sounded more like a human spouting off about ambition. Her manner of speech no longer held the elvish lilt, her attitude was a very human one, and the amount of anger he felt flowing from her was definitely not becoming on an elf. The golden-haired elf pushed his feeling aside and hardened himself to deal with the situation.

"You are right," he started, his voice growing cooler all the time "you are not the elf I once knew, and your exile has turned you bitter. You stand in front of me as a stranger that is barely elven. What is it you wish of me?"

Although his words stung Malen more than she showed, a coy smile crossed her features. Even after all this time he was still all etiquette. She meant what she had said about not caring for the other pawns and she still had something to finish. This time she would match him in this regard.

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Un denounced to the two golden haired elves, they weren't the only ones at the front entrance. Celaviel, barely within elven hearing range, had come upon the conversation and had heard the whole thing. She didn't want to believe that one of their wards, someone they were focusing energy on healing, was responsible for Master Elrond's condition. Want to believe it or not, it was true and Mithrandir needed to know what was transpiring.

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Minutes after two golden haired beings left the confines of The Last Homely Home, two other fair beings entered by one of the structures side entrances. An aura of radiance followed them down the dark hallways shedding a gentle glow on any of Rivendell's inhabitants that they happened to pass, which was received by a few quiet gasps and looks of wonder at the one responsible for the light.

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Gandalf was thinking of what Celaviel had just told him. Apparently the young ones had run into some major trouble in their search for the antidote and they now knew the cause. The wizard silently grumbled at Glorfindel's choice to go, but in all honesty he knew the elf had no choice really. Before the wizard began to grumble out loud he stopped in mid thought and looked up at the bedroom door. Without knocking, for none was needed, the door swung silently open and the wizard's eyes were greeted with the fair image of the Lady Galadriel and Arwen framed in the doorway.

"Although I had hoped your next trip to Imladris would be more pleasant, I am glad to see you my lady," Gandalf said coming over to stand near Galadriel.

Galadriel managed a smile at Gandalf as they greeted each other.

Arwen, stepping into the room, left off formality and went straight to her father's bedside. She sat down on the bed and took up Elrond's hand in both of hers. The image of her father lying motionless and pallid struck deeply into Arwen's heart. Watching her mother leave Arda was awful enough, but to actually see her father so close to death was dreadful for the connection they shared as father and daughter was very close. Uncontrolled tears of sorrow and anger welled up in the maiden's eyes and it took all of her control to not let them fall. She took a ragged breath in an effort to remain calm on the outside and closed her eyes. That action caused the tears on the brim to fall silently down the Evenstar's cheeks and she squeezed her father's hand tighter. A gentle touch came to Arwen's shoulder and she didn't have to look up to know that her grandmother was at her side. Galadriel's warm voice cut through Arwen's thoughts, but she remained where she was as the lady spoke.

"Do not let your heart give up to despair. Where one has failed, two may yet be successful."

Arwen Undomiel took a deep breath in an attempt to quiet the tears and nodded her head. She would not give up on her father, especially with Mithrandir and Galadriel at his side.

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The wind whipped fiercely through the valley jostling the three searching elves. Laurelin, Legolas, and Elladan searched around the collapsed cave entrance and found no sign of a way in, and by the looks of things it would take a group of dwarves to remove the rocky clutter in a short amount of time. Time that they didn't have. Think, Elladan commanded himself. Following the events thus far, the dark-haired elf's head hurt so bad it felt like it would fall off. Something that he imagined wouldn't be a bad thing, but for now they needed to find his two brothers, the antidote, and Malentuilinn. Elladan glanced over at Legolas. The fair-haired elf never complained, but the younger elf's complexion was pale. What he wouldn't give for this whole mess to be over!

"Are you alright?" Laurelin asked.

"What?" Elladan asked in return.

"I know you have received more than one blow to the head this night, and you appeared to grow distant just now," the maiden answered.

Elladan fought the urge to not to smirk as she was exactly the cause of both times he was struck in the head and now she asked if he was alright.

'I am fine. This cave has two other exists that I know of. As Elrohir was unconscious when he was brought here, he most likely will not know which cave he is in. The question is, which entrance will he and Estel come out of?"

"Should we split and scout both entrances?" Legolas asked.

Elladan was already shaking his head before the fair-haired elf finished the suggestion.

"No, mellon nin, with the way this night has went who knows what could happen. I think that we should all stay together."

Legolas merely nodded his head in agreement.

"I hate to suggest this," Laurelin began as the two other elves turned to face her, "but perhaps we should forget Elrohir and Estel for now. The sun is close to rising."

"What has the sunrise to do with anything?" Legolas asked.

"Everything,' Laurelin answered, "if Malen's plan is going smoothly, there is someplace we have to be at sunrise if we are going to stop any further damage."

"What is to happen at sunrise and why did you say nothing before?" Elladan asked with a hint of suspicion.

"I was going to tell you, as I am now, but I had hoped we would find a way into Elrohir first."

Elladan didn't press the issue of why she wanted to get to his brother; he wasn't that slow. The dark haired elf nodded his head for her to go on.

"We will catch up to Malen and all of the men at sunrise on the southern border of Rivendell where the East Road intercepts the Bruinen as for what's going on, I'll explain on the way."

"We are near there already," Legolas commented.

The Mirkwood elf looked over at Elladan with a questioning gaze. He was wondering if they should leave Elrohir and Estel behind.

A thought came to Elladan that almost made him smile… one of those cave entrances was near there. As long as Elrohir and Estel exited that way. According to Laurelin, Elrohir was still alive and he should have been conscious by now. At least he hoped. The elf didn't know whether his brother was or not, or if he could possible feel Elladan out here, but he had to try.

Elladan closed his eyes and brought his hand up to his head in hopes that the she-elf would think it a reaction to pain. The dark-haired elf focused all of his concentration on the area around him. He still couldn't feel his brother, so he focused his thoughts on the entrance he hoped they would exit. Elladan had no idea if this would even work, but he hoped by some chance Elrohir would get the idea. That done the dark-haired elf opened his eyes to see Legolas and Laurelin staring at him, and they both had a hand on each of his arms.

"Are you well?" Legolas asked worriedly.

Elladan gave the blonde elf a reassuring smile and motioned for them to start moving.

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Elrohir and Aragorn were making their slow way along as they both were still leaning on the wall. Aragorn was still in the lead although he barely knew what he was doing. He just knew he had to keep going, if he kept walking they would exit this cave eventually. They had to because Elrohir didn't do well in caves and through all of his own pain he was worried for his brother. It was a constant struggle for Aragorn to keep his muscles under his command. His body threatened to clench up and all he wanted to do was curl up into a comforting ball.

Elrohir focused on following Estel. He was extremely weary, but after re bandaging the wound, his elven body was already starting to regain a little strength. They eventually came to a split in the tunnel and Estel still holding the cave wall continued to follow it and the path to the right. Elrohir not having any better suggestions followed his brother in that direction. They had only gone a few feet down that path before Elrohir stopped. The dark-haired elf put both hands on the wall to steady himself as he felt a little awkward. His first thought was that the darkness was getting to him, but the feeling didn't bother him.

And for some reason he knew he had to go in the other direction…

"Estel!" Elrohir called.

The ranger stopped and stiffly turned around to face the elf. He looked at Elrohir with worry when he saw his brother leaning against the rock.

"What's wrong brother?" Aragorn asked, his voice rough with pain.

"We need to turn around"

"What?"

"We need to go the other way," Elrohir answered.

Aragorn, had he been more of himself would have said something about the sudden decision, but the ranger merely nodded. The two turned and headed in the opposite direction with Elrohir in the lead this time.

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Elladan, Legolas, and Laurelin just made it to the crossing as the sun was beginning to rise. The wind was persistent and strong slowing their travel. Many a time did the gusts catch one of the elves with no handhold to send them flying into a tree or the brush.

Ahead there was a small clearing of the trees shadowed by a wall of rock on one side. Up the rock face Elladan noted an opening and made a silent prayer to the Valar. Opposite to the mountain face was a drop off that plummeted many feet to the Bruinen.

The three battered elves came upon the place to find Malen's mercenaries already there. Legolas did a quick scan of the area and saw no sign of Vocyn. From the look on his companions' faces he guessed that they had come to the same conclusion. The three waited out of site for a while until they saw two figures enter the small clearing. Although Legolas and Elladan had been prepared for this it was still disturbing to see Glorfindel walking with Malentuilinn. The fair being wasn't bound, but then there really wasn't a reason for it. The two elves entered the clearing and appeared to wait. A short time later, as the sun started to make its lazy way into the sky, they spotted movement through the commotion of the wind. A small group of shadowy figures entered the clearing also.

It was then that the wind stopped.

Everyone else stopped as well at the sudden event.

Elladan sucked in his breath and brought his had up to his chest. Since he had lost his connection to his father before he couldn't tell if this was a good or bad sign. But why had the wind stopped so suddenly? Could it be that…? Elladan couldn't bear to even think it.

I wry grin broke out on Malen's face down in the clearing.

"So much for the great Lord of Rivendell," she said simply.

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Arwen stood patiently in the hallway outside her father's room. She had been instructed to wait outside as Galadriel and Mithrandir tried to help Elrond. The tension was thick in The Last Homely Home right now as everyone seemingly held their breath in anticipation of word on their Lord's outcome. Arwen was definitely tense although on the outside she appeared calm. She wasn't sure how long she had been waiting out here, but she refused to venture anywhere else. The elf maid walked down to the end of the hallway just near enough to the window to see out, but not close enough should something crash in. The sky was brightening enough to shed some light on the battered valley. There were a few trees lying on their side and leaves scattered everywhere. The wind still howled outside and had actually gotten worse than it already was. It was as if the wind itself was wound up in anticipation. The wind howled fiercely along with Galadriel and Mithrandir's efforts. Everything was close to the breaking point now; Arwen felt it… she felt the end was near. Whatever the outcome, is was close and she found herself clinching her fists in anticipation. The maiden closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It would all be over soon.

Arwen's heart had just calmed down when the wind came to a sudden halt. The maiden's eyes snapped open to be greeted by the site of still trees. Rivendell went deafeningly silent as the valley held its breath. The only sound available was the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears as Arwen drew a tentative breath. She turned back to face her father's room almost afraid to move and break the silence. As if that would shatter her hope. But whatever the outcome… it was over…

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TBC…

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This chapter is a little shorter than I usually make them, but it was a good place to stop, as the final confrontations are coming up in the next one. So there's a good chance it will be a long one. ^_^ Which, I promise the wait won't be as long as last time!! Shandrial's back! And I think this will be the final two chapters coming up, so for anyone who's read Choices, you know to hang on!

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tycon347 – Haha, thank you so much! Glad you like it and hope you still do.

Blossom – It's alright you don't have to beg. I'm here! Sorry about the length of the wait though, but Shann'y back!

White Wolf – Yeah, you're here!! And it's understandable. It happens, lol. I just wanted to say that I loved your story! And, gah!! You need to write a squeal right now!! Assuming you haven't already started in my absence. Glad you like the beginning, and I think I almost made myself sick as well, lol. Ahh, and Shadows… well, as soon as I finish this one I will resume work on Shadows. ^_^

Kedi – Thanks so much! ^_^ haha, I missed you. And thanks for stopping by my shout box. I was quite excited to see your message. It was one of the things that inspired me to work of this chapter as a matter of fact! Hope you liked!

Mystic Girl – I did spare our favorite elf in this chapter, hmm… actually I spared them all I guess. It's temporary, as the final battle is coming up, he he he. And well, Elrohir needs some torture too. And I never mind you emailing me!! I am only sorry it has been so long. And if you read this when I post it, I plan on emailing you tomorrow to explain my absence. Life hasn't been to good as of late. But I will tell all in the email.

Karri – Good way of putting it! Haha! And yes it is! In the next chapter to be precise. And ya never know, there may be hope for some of them yet! I do hope Bitterness is coming along fine. I have so much reading to catch up on, on ff.net… and you're one of them! ^_^ But Shanny is back!

Barbara Kennedy – Boring, yes I've never been accused of that, hehe. Complicate maybe, but not boring. I'm glad you like all the excitement! Because there is more coming up! A chart? Haha! Yes, my stories tend to revolve around a large number of people. I have a tendency to put all of Arda into them. And I apologize that the update wasn't very swift. The next one won't be as long, I promise.

Cagephoenix – Thanks and I'm glad you like it. I hope you liked the update, although I'm sure I don't get the five stars for swiftness this time, lol. But there won't be another such wait for this story.

Tithen Min – What can I say? It's been so long since I've conversed with you through our stories. I missed you. ^_^ You should know I like lopping off ledges! It one of my favorite hobbies, hehe. I'm sorry for the absence mellon nin, but Shanny is back!

MaverickGirl – Thanks! And Emlin might be trying, we'll just have to see how she holds out. Thanks for reviewing!

HaloGatomon – Sorry to make you wait so long dangling on that cliff. I hope you didn't hurt yourself falling backward. The next wait won't be so agonizingly long.

Leggylover03 – Thanks! Yes, I know you like sharing in the evilness, hehe. And you may just have your Aragorn and Elrohir suffering coming up.

Goblz – Why thank you! Yeah, poor Aragorn's mind is a little off... poor boy. Muahah! Glad you liked that part. And poor Glorfindel, no? We will learn how Malen fits in later, I promise.

Gwyn – Well the next chapter didn't come out so soon did it? I apologize about that. I took a sabbatical from LotR's writing. Hopefully your questions will get answered in the next chapter or two.

Haldir's Heart and Soul – We shall hope Laurelin is past her demons. As for Malen we'll have to wait also… evil I know. But the end is coming up real soon! Nice name change by the way. ^_^

LalaithoftheBruinen – Thanks!! I apologize the update wasn't soon though. But I'm back!

Nilbrethilial – TRISH!! Where have you been?! Are you dead?!?! I've missed you!! I was going to send this to you to beta, but I wasn't sure what you're doing. If you are reading this email me or something! And I will send it to you and repost it with your thanks. That said, I do not hate Ro and Estel! You should know I like to torture everyone! Muahah! Especially the elfsies. I hope you are doing well. And I'm still waiting on more Darkness.