Saralitazie: Okay, more, just for you. And Blondy's fine (how did you know?!?) LOL.

As ever, thank's Nea!

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The first week of spring had past, bringing warmer temperatures and another spider attack with it. The elves of Mirkwood were anxious, but every last one had heard, through one unofficial source or another, that the king was doing something. The best of everything were being brought to the palace—the best weapon smiths, the best hunters, blades men, archers, and guards. Word had it that even a specialist on the spiders—which no one had even known existed—was being brought in. That helped ease their hearts and made their normally bright spirits come closer to normal even through their grief for the lost and fear for their uncertain future.

"Father, why do you allow these ridiculous rumors to abound?" Teraien asked with a frown.

Thranduil smiled at his dark-haired eldest child, while lifting a brow. "Ridiculous? You think I do nothing to counter the attacks?"

Teraien frowned harder. "But a spider specialist? No such person exists."

Legolas frowned from his place beside his older brother. "Indeed, I have never heard of such. Great hunters and trackers who excel in the decimation of the beasts, certainly. But a specialist?"

"Many can hunt spiders. It takes little skill to find them when they nest, even less to kill them once you have found them. Such things can be done by any elf confident enough in his skills to travel in the woods," Thranduil murmured, a tilt of his head reminding Legolas of the spiders the young prince had killed in the last hundreds of years. "But these are not the things we need to know. We need to know why they attack, how to stop them from attacking us, how to prevent it from reoccurring again in the future. If the only way is a mass extermination, then that is what we will have to do. In the meantime, we have much to learn, and many things that can be done, including creating a selection of talent for the choices before us."

The princes sighed softly, exchanging irritated glances. Legolas spoke after a while. "Father, you expect us to learn the wisdom you have, yet you do not eagerly impart it."

"Knowledge is the only thing that can be imparted, Legolas. Wisdom must be earned." Thranduil sat back and watched his sons for a moment, not missing their irritation. He was just glad they were getting along for the moment—maybe something good had come from the attacks, after all. He smiled slightly as they leaned back in their seats, resigned to silence as they watched the bustling activity around them.

Elves were moving around rapidly, moving things from some quarters to new ones, cleaning out the old rooms of elves who had passed to the undying lands to make room for those who came in from the outer edges of the realm because of the spiders. It was an elaborate dance of colors and movements, which quickly drew the casual observer into a deeper study. Without much in the way of speech all the elves went about their work, for the business was emotionally wrought, as they often joyfully remembered the owners of the things they moved, and lamented the prompting acts—death and the call of the sea. Still, the promise of a grand dinner kept spirits from falling into the range of depression, as rows of tables were set out and long cloths in bright colors hung around the hall, including the banner of the royal family at the head of the room. As the evening wore on the majority of conversation perked up as the moving being done was too interrupted by the meal preparations to continue until the next day.

Even the most casual of observers would have known the precise moment something changed the fairly content room. Sounds of soft laughter-threaded voices fell off into silence near the great hall doors, and as the elves noticed that they turned to the back of the room to find out why. A figure dressed in the darkest green most had ever seen stood in the door, eyes hidden beneath a hood, but all present could sense the being was very watchful, and wary.

Without a word, the being soaked up the atmosphere, the people, and then the sharp-eyed attention focused intently on the royal family at the far end of the room, not wavering away from them for more than a few seconds after that.

"Father?" Legolas breathed, seeing the large falcon resting on the being's shoulder. The stranger began walking towards them, a surety and grace to the movements that informed all that it was an elf, and beyond a doubt a stranger. There was just something different in the being's air…

"Now you begin to understand," Thranduil murmured in approval, the soft tone seeming loud in the perfectly silent hall. He rose to his feet and dismissed the anxious guards with a motion of his hand. "Welcome," he called to their guest, who had just arrived before the throne.

The being bowed its head slightly, and then extended a gloved hand, which contained the medallion Thranduil had sent with the falcon.

With a nod Thranduil accepted it back. "You have made good time."

"I came when the request was received." The head lifted as the being spoke, and the hall, which had begun buzzing softly with slight, curious conversations, once again went silent. The hood fell away to reveal what every elven ear—from those on the royal platform down to the passing elves carrying serving trays by the far doors—knew from the voice. The stranger was female. A she-elf, who spoke perfectly the tongue of the high elves, which was not common in that part of Middle-Earth any longer. "I hear it was not quickly enough."

"There have been several spider attacks on my kingdom," Thranduil agreed, looking at the youth. Lithe in form, a bit shorter than Legolas but of the same height as his other children, with hair and eyes as black as night. Older than Eirthriel, he knew, but he would not have guessed it to look at her.

Without being told anything more, the elf nodded. "Very well. I shall—"

"You will take five with you."

Legolas watched in fascination as the elf's dark eyes narrowed when his father interrupted. "I am capable—"

"You will take five with you," Thranduil insisted once more, his fist closing tightly over the medallion, his voice hard.

The dark eyes flickered quickly to the hand and the medallion, so quickly that Legolas, despite the fact he was watching intently, almost missed it. Then her lips tightened. "As you wish, Thranduil."

Thranduil nodded, not in the least perturbed by this elf, a stranger to everyone present, himself included, calling him by his name instead of a title. Few were ever so bold, and strangers—never. "You may choose them now. Any in the hall."

She nodded and looked around. The eyes, so dark, flashed around the group, dismissing or analyzing in a glance. The entire hall had been studied and cataloged within a matter of mere seconds. Then, with an ease that surprised everyone present, with one possible exception, she pointed at and brought forth Dareklien, then Ertelen, and finally Miranol. No hesitation was apparent as she made her choices, pulling the young elves to stand before the king with a few quick motions of her hands. Then her eyes fell upon Legolas, and she lifted a brow, silently telling him to join the ranks.

Teraien squirmed as Legolas rose and moved to stand beside the others without saying a word. "Wait a moment—"

Her dark eyes fell on him for an instant, silencing him as her eyes flickered back to Thranduil. "Any?"

Slowly he nodded. He had not anticipated her choice would include his second son, but she had a good eye for what was shaping up to be an interesting group. All about the same age, all nearly masters in their chosen fields—a tracker who was one of their finest hunters, a guard with ever growing blade skills, a smith who had shown great promise in the construction of new and novel things, and his son, a budding blades master and already for all practical purposes a master archer—yet all were young enough to know they were not the best. It was a smart move to choose such elves. They would better accept a new leader for a time, even if that leader was female—something that was unheard of in such an adventure as awaited them.

With a sense of growing dread he awaited her final choice. "You," she called, her voice cutting through the hall which had become as still as death at her most recent choice. Elves nervously shifted around, looking at each other and then at her, but her eyes remained focused, and the uncertain elves soon slid away, many closing their eyes in relief when her eyes didn't follow their attempt at escape. "You will join," she stated softly, as the elves moved apart to reveal a rather timid female elf.

"That does it!" Teraien stood up, about to give this stranger a piece of his mind for attempting to order anyone about in the king's halls, but Thranduil laid a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Oleydya," he called. Slowly the young she-elf came forward. "Would you go?"

"Is it true?" she whispered. "Is this the spider specialist?"

The elven king and the younger prince caught a flicker of a smile on the stranger's face, but she said nothing, and the flicker died a swift death. Thranduil answered for her after a moment. "Yes."

"And she goes to stop the slaughter of our people?"

"Yes."

"Then I gladly join." There was suddenly a slight thread of strength in the she-elf before them that had not been apparent since the attack that had left her an orphan.

Thranduil blinked in stunned silence but nodded, accepting that—like her mother before her—the 'spider specialist' certainly had a way of knowing a lot about a person merely by studying them for a few instants. "And the rest of you?" he asked, looking first at Dareklien. The elf nodded, followed by Ertelen. Miranol blinked and the tips of his ears colored as he opened his mouth.

"I don't know what help I can be, my lord, but if I can be of service, I also go gladly." Miranol shifted nervously on his feet, clasping his hands behind him until Thranduil turned his gaze to his son.

Legolas smiled faintly, and bowed his head in a more practiced move than any of the others, his voice strong and sure, instead of the quavering almost-stutter Miranol possessed. "I have been looking for a way to do more than merely helping with the organization of moving and of grand dinners." His voice turned amused as he looked at his father with a knowing smile. "Short of taking a store of arrows and hunting spiders until I am exhausted, this seems the best path. My bow is ready when required." He inclined his head ever so faintly when finished, indicating that was his last word on the subject.

Thranduil smiled slightly as well, knowing his son had not been far from taking the first path he had mentioned when the latest attack had been reported. Waiting impotently in the shadows, unable to do more than sit and wait for the next news report had never suited Legolas very well. He had too much spirit for that, too much concern for his people, too much energy and able strength. "Very well. If any of you have a problem accepting that once you leave the palace you will give the power of command over to this elf, now is the time to state it. You will answer to her, and her alone."

No one spoke, but all five were aware both their king and the strange elf watched them carefully for any signs of dissent, of uncertainty. None came, so the solemnity of the moment wore off.

"Very well. When do you wish to leave, dear lady?"

She blinked and parted her lips as if to speak and then paused, frowning slightly. Her gaze flickered to the long tables set up in the hall, over the elves she had placed beside her. Over his son. Her lips tightened and she closed her eyes for an instant before releasing her breath in a silent sigh. "As soon as you will it, Thranduil," she murmured softly.

He bowed his head slightly, silently thanking her for the extra time given with his son, whom he had not expected to lose to this. He knew she was ready to leave that instant, having wished nothing more when she arrived than to return the stone and assure him she was working to fulfill her mother's promise. "Very well. You shall set out the morning after the coming one. That should be time enough for preparations and farewells." He looked around at the young bunch and dismissed them all, except for the two she-elves and his son. He looked at the clothing she wore, and frowned slightly, before he recalled she had been on the move probably constantly in the last week to reach the palace so quickly. "Oleydya, would you take our guest to your room and see if you can find anything to loan her for the remainder of her stay?"

Oleydya bowed her head and curtsied before walking off. "Follow me," she murmured.

The entire room watched the stranger walk out behind Oleydya, many confused heads being tilted slightly in consideration as they tried to lay their fingers on what was different about her, what it was about her that commanded attention, that made everyone take notice.

Teraien was the first to recover from the oddity that had just left their hall. "Father, you cannot be serious! How can a she-elf be of any use in this matter? Besides, you know Legolas should not—"

"Enough!" Thranduil glared at his still young son. "Do you doubt my wisdom?"

Teraien stood silently for a long moment, aware the entire room was waiting, listening intently though they pretended they were not. "No, Father," he answered after a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly though he lowered them in a subservient manner. "I would just like to understand what has prompted such a drastic decision."

"Drastic?" Thranduil asked, as the three walked into one of the royal rooms where no one else dared enter without being given permission. "When you wish to hunt in the forest, you find a tracker or a hunter to lead you into the best areas, to find the quarry you seek. To go on your own would be an invitation to danger or death, as you are unknowing in the ways and habits of the beings living within the darkness. Why, then, do you think such a guide shouldn't be found in this situation?"

"A female who knows more about the spiders than any hunter or tracker in the kingdom?" Teraien asked in disbelief. "Such is not possible. Where is this stranger from, anyway?"

Thranduil sighed at the apparent thickness of his eldest child. "What do you think on this matter, Legolas?"

"I would also like some answers, but she is a mystery I have a feeling that you cannot entirely give the solution to." Legolas was an archer at best, but he was also a bit of a hunter, and a beginning tracker, often joining Dareklien on his hunts. He recognized what most of the hall had seen without noticing. The she-elf's eyes kept watch on anything and everything, much as an animal would when wary. He just couldn't decide if her watchfulness was for prey or predators. He had also seen the flicker of speculation on his father's face, the surprise in his eyes when their 'guest' had arrived and when she first removed her hood. "After all, this evening is the first time you have seen her."

A slight smile was startled from Thranduil. He nodded his head slightly, a wordless compliment to Legolas for his attentive study of the exchange. "You are correct."

Teraien blinked. "Wait a minute. You never met her before? Then how do you know she can do what she says she can?"

Legolas lifted a brow, one corner of his mouth turning in a slight smile as he turned slightly to face his brother. "I must have missed the part where she claimed to be able to do anything."

Teraien frowned darkly. "It is known she is the spider specialist—Father admitted it to the entire hall. How can she be? Such a young she-elf should hardly know the forest in its dark places. How can she know its darkest, deadliest creatures? She would be slain quickly if she went near any spiders."

Thranduil and Legolas both shook their heads slightly, but it was Legolas who answered. "You are wrong, there, Teraien."

"How so, Leaf?"

Legolas smiled faintly, not letting his brother irritate him, closing his eyes for an instant to recall her walk. "I just think she knows the forest much better than you would allow."

"Indeed she does," Thranduil agreed. "After all, she has lived her entire life deep within the forest."

"What?" Teraien asked, his eyes widening. "Elves actually live deep in the forest in times like these? But the spiders, and orcs, and the river, and wolves, and wild-men… It's dangerous."

"It is dangerous, which is why I have called her here. She will lead the group on their search for the spiders, and for the reason behind these attacks. With her knowledge of the woods and its creatures, their passing shall be much safer within inches of the spiders than it would be for them to merely walk within the edges of the woods on their own."

Teraien fell silent at that, for he could find no coherent way to continue expressing his doubts about having a she-elf guide anything. Thranduil drew a deep breath in, relieved the slight conflict was finished. He hadn't expected his actions would concern his son so deeply, but at the time of his consideration, the intended actions hadn't included his younger son. Which concerned him.

Not because Legolas would be going. No, it irked him that he had never considered she would take him. Legolas had all the characteristics someone intending to hunt spiders and live in the forest would desire in a minion. He was increasing his skill with the bow to beyond the master levels, which required from him only another two hundred years of age before he would be given the title with a mere formality of a test, since he had already out-shot one of the declared masters. He hunted well and regularly, which included the tracking skills Thranduil had pointed out to his elder son would be needed. He was young enough yet that he would bow to the power of a superior in a given situation, despite his royal blood.

All in all, he was a perfect candidate to be chosen by her; a young warrior who would give command of himself over to her without the stigma many older, true masters would have felt because of her gender or youth. But Thranduil hadn't considered she would choose Legolas, because no other elf, of the wood or any other elven realm, would have dared placing his son in potential danger. For her, though, it wasn't a matter of blood, but of skill, and the desire to hunt the darkness threatening their home.

Although in truth, she may have chosen Legolas because he was the prince. By taking him on she accepted the desire to be of use Thranduil could see in the young elf prince's eyes, and at the same time solidified the thinning connection she had to the elves of Mirkwood, and to him. She had come to pay off a debt, and would do so with grace, accepting the wishes of his son while agreeing to do what he had called her to do. In that way the debt would be not only repaid, but overpaid, leaving him in her debt.

Her mother taught her well, Thranduil mused, before he sent his sons to their rooms to prepare for the meal.