Chapter 10

Decisions

Elrond sat straight up in bed, clutching his blanket to his chest, trembling like a frightened elfling, his heart beating fast and hard in his chest. He looked around his chambers, trying to see what might have frightened him, what might have frightened a mighty Noldor Elf Lord, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. He was already having trouble recalling his dream but whatever it had been, it had been bad enough to leave him frightened, trembling and in a cold sweat. Getting out of bed, he poured himself a glass of cool water and drank it, then, pulling on his robe, he walked out onto the balcony adjoining his chambers to think.

He found himself staring off into the distance, towards where the tiny town of Nen existed - the town where his foster-daughter would soon be. It was when he looked toward Nen that he remembered his dream and realized it had not been just a dream, but also a precognitive warning. In his vision, he had seen a town engulfed in flames, and people fleeing mindlessly, their bodies burning - he saw all this and his heart told him that there would be no survivors.

Then the realization hit him that he could not see Anayah or her guards anywhere and that what was unfolding before his far-seeing eyes would reach its conclusion before any help arrived.

Then the thought occurred to him that the town he saw in his vision was not Nen, rather, it was a town named Naur and that was why Anayah was not there - Naur was not her town! Though still somewhat confused by his vision, Elrond did know that the people of Naur desperately needed someone's help and that, realistically, his daughter and the Thurin Tirith could not be in two places at the same time. As he was turning away from his balcony to do what he knew he must, he staggered as the final part of his vision came to him. There was no doubt as to the interpretation of what he saw though he was again frightened by its meaning, for his vision revealed disturbing red eyes overlooking the small town, red eyes that could only mean one thing - Naur was where the demon was going to be.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Elrond quickly summoned Elurin and when the sleepy butler arrived, he asked the elf to summon his sons as well as the Mirkwood Prince to the Sitting Room. By the time he had reached that room himself, all four of the disheveled and sleepy eyed youths were there waiting for him and all four could clearly see the lines of stress on the Elf Lord's face and were worried for him because of it.

"Ada, are you not well?" Elladan, a competent healer himself, worried that his father had become ill. And considering all the strange things that had been occurring lately, it could very well be that the Noldor Lord was feeling the ill affects of these happenings.

"Be at peace, Elladan, for I am well."

"Then what is it, Ada?" Aragorn looked at the Noldor Lord with worried, silver eyes. "Tell us so that we can understand what has disturbed you and caused you such distress."

He smiled at the young human sitting before him trying to put him at ease.

"Thank you all for your concern, but I am well. However, I fear that the town of Naur is not."

"Naur?" The four young ones spoke simultaneously.

"Yes, I am speaking of the town of Naur. I have foreseen the doom of this town as it is engulfed in flames and have also seen an evil presence that lurks nearby, closely watching over the fruits of its labors. You know of what I speak and also know why I cannot be more clear on the matter at this time. Suffice it to say that intervention is required or an entire town and all who live there will be destroyed by the fire. Exactly when this will occur I know not although judging by the placement of the stars in the heavens and the moon, as well, I believe that it will be very soon."

He looked at each of each of them carefully before he spoke again, trying to impress on each of them the seriousness of the impending disaster.

"As you know, Anayah and her Guard are en route to another town that is in the same approximate area. However, she cannot be in two places at the same time, even if there was a way to reach her with a message."

Elrond took the parchment with a map drawn on it and, unrolling it, placed it on the table in front of everyone.

"This is the location of Naur. Estel, are any of your Rangers in the vicinity?"

"No, Ada. They are all northwest of there."

Elrond thought for a moment before he spoke again.

"Then I see no other option - I must ask the four of you to go and give what aid you can, to see if there is any way to save these people from this holocaust. Will you do this thing?"

Seeing that the oldest twin was about to speak, Lord Elrond held up his hand.

"I must tell you that you do have a choice in this matter and if you decide that it would be unwise for you to go, that no ill-feelings will be harbored against you for your decision."

The twins, Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other then Aragorn spoke for all of them.

"Ada, of course we will go and not only because you ask this thing of us, although your request would be sufficient for us to say aye. We will go because it needs to be done and many lives will be lost if we do not."

Elrond nodded and smiled at the unselfishness of the response.

"Now, before you go I will speak to you of things you may encounter on your journey. There might be some, or many, strange occurrences - things might happen that you cannot explain. These things will be a sore trial for you though I must remind all of you that you will have one another for support - rely on that when at need."

When they all began to talk at once, the Noldor Lord held up his hand for silence.

"I must also tell you this. The nature of a vision is a strange one and though it may be total in its intent and meaning, it may also be nothing more than a warning of an impending event, or it may not even happen at all. The events could be as bad as what the vision indicates or they could be worse than anything you could possibly imagine. I say this to you so you will be alert for anything that might happen."

"When do you want us to leave?"

"I believe that you should leave as soon as you can prepare yourselves, Elladan."

Each of the four, rose from their seats to go prepare themselves for their trip, but before they left, Lord Elrond spoke one more time.

"I am very proud of all of you and I wish you success on your journey. But please, know that it is also my wish for all of you to come back to me - and in approximately the same condition as you were in when you left!"

They all laughed as they exited the room.

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"Well, Estel, here we go on another grand adventure. What do you think our chances are of the two of us making it home not half dead or poisoned or wounded?"

"If the twins are coming with us - zero to none!"

The two started to laugh.

"Hey, we heard that." Elladan entered Aragorn's room with a pack slung over his shoulder. He ruffled his little brother's unruly brown hair before he plopped himself down on Aragorn's bed. Elrohir, following closely behind his twin, also ruffled Aragorn's hair as he passed him by before he sat on the bed next to his twin.

"Are you two girls about ready?"

"Elladan, Legolas and I have been ready for hours. We were just waiting for you two!"

"You were not!"

"Were to."

"Not."

The sounds of the friendly bantering could be heard even after the heavy door of the front hall closed behind the four. The Last Homely House would be a lonely place indeed until all of her children were under its roof once again.

TBC
DesolateAznVamp: I want to thank you again for your insight. I liked the way you opened my eyes to something about my character that I had not seen. Thank you!