Elfique: I was afraid they were too long, heh oh well, they maybe getting shorter because the story is being told in moments rather than in certain time sequences.

Morning came from behind the mountains that were crowned in mist, and golden flowers opened their faces to the sky, reminders of a noble elf's sacrifice many years ago, a sacrifice that gave hope to the Eldar at the time of their most harrowing defeat. When the noon meal had been eaten, the noble family of Imladris sat in the garden of their home beneath the trees. The elf-maiden sat weaving vines into a wreath to adorn a head, her parents stood in silence pondering thoughts that had plagued their dreams, thoughts that had not yet been revealed to any save those who sat in the garden with them. A small distance from them stood Celebrin, looking up into the trees, dreaming of the homes of the Nandor; homes that sat upon the limbs of a tree and whose silent beauty had yet to be surpassed in his opinion. Beside him at the very trunk of the tree sat an elf with golden-brown hair, plucking a dark wooden harp, humming a soft song, joining the voices of the birds with his own soft tenor. Both wore the silver-gray garb of servants of the Lord and Lady, yet, unlike the many attendants that were ushered day by day by their duties, these twain wore tunics that bore the personal seal of the Lords of Imladris, two trees, one silver, the other gold, whose limbs intertwined and shone in the midst of a sable field, surrounded by countless stars. None questioned the presence of these two servants in the garden, nor would any attempt lest they be of higher presence than the Lord and Lady. The voice of the minstrel ceased to sing the old tune of Gondolin, that was once sung in the fields at the time of harvest, and he spoke to his companion, looking upon the scene of the noble family,

"What do you think they will do Celebrin? They spoke of leaving Imladris on the journey here, yet they tarry now to make their plans known."

"I know not what they choose to decide Alphindil...and to where they decide to go I know not, for it is buried deep in their hearts."

"You will follow them if they go?"

"As will you...you are their personal servant now, a knight beneath their banner."

The two friends laughed at the position they found themselves in now, for once they did not wander aimlessly, free to do their own will, without thought that their actions mattered in the world. Now...now they were privy to the thoughts of they who shaped the fortunes of all that lived as immortal, of all who they used to be. It was not a burdening thought to them, who had known many crafts in the time they lived in Ennor after the Great War that scared the earth. Both watched and listened to the council the two rulers of Imladris gave one another, feeling as if time made them the eyes for this small moment in the history of the world. The Silver Lord paced the ground, deep in thought and questioning of paths for him to take, he spoke to his wife, who stood emersed in her own thought,

"Imladris has proven well in being a refuge from the storm, yet my thoughts ever turn to my kin who live beyond the mountain... they know not of their peril if the Deceiver returns, if he left at all."

"They are not prepared to withstand a full force of orcs...they are divided, scattered...they need one to unite them in preparing for what is to come."

"Are not Oropher and Amdir enough? They are closer to the Nandor and the Lindar than any chieftain of the Noldor."

"Yet neither of them have the skill to mount a defense, nor the knowledge of how to withstand a large scale attack...Oropher may have some skill, but Amdir has never had a military mind, he seeks only to hide until the danger is over, then is comfortable repairing the damage done when it is. The Nandor and Lindar need a leader who can teach them to be..."

"Noldor?"

"To be strong as they once were, able to defend themselves, able to hold the land beneath their feet."

"They have ceased to fight in open battle ever since Denethor was killed, they will take no king, and the Kings they have will not bow down to a usrpur."

"Will not Oropher and Amdir will trust you? You are their kin, surely distrust must not be felt among them for one such as yourself."

"They...may be less than joyous to receive my help...Their respect for me has dwindled I think since I chose to remain in Eregion, rather than follow them."

"It is the only way Celeborn...Erenion will not see that the evil is not diminished, he does not see our hope lies in the East, as a first defense against the forces of Mordor. Without it Imladris will fall, and Eriador will be razed to the ground, and even Mithlond and Lindon will not stand the tide. If the east stands ready, we may be able to hold back the long-defeat, we may be able to survive the storm I feel is to come."

Celebrin's concentration on the conversation was broken by the entrance of a hooded guest, whose gilded armor shone beneath the sun and who stood ready as it were to fight in both manner of tongue and sword. Alphindil rose from his earthen seat to perform his duty as it were and keep the guest at bay while Celebrin told the Lord and Lady of his arrival. As his companion left him with a look of worry on his face, Celebrin strode in the opposite direction to the place where the Lord Celeborn spoke of matters that no stranger should hear, yet. Having interrupted their train of thought the Lord and Lady looked upon their servant with a sense of urgency and annoyance, yet hearing of the visitor's arrival the Lord Celeborn softened his features and said a firm yet soft,

"Thank you Elornion."

Alphindil arrived with Elrond Peredhel, just moments later, announcing him to the Lords of Imladris, with a certain reverence that bordered on worship, for Celebrin alone knew how Alphindil admired Elrond, much the same way he admired Celeborn. As the three noble lords entered their own conversation the two companions stood by, first in silence then moving slowly away Alphindil motioned for his friend to follow.

"I like not where this leads...how can any hope for the Eldar remain if all our people continue to be divided by old woes."

"It is not easy to forgive betrayal my friend. Even I carry the scars of these old woes."

"Yet you trust me...and am I not a Noldo?"

"In you it is different."

"No it is not. Long have the Noldor fought the evil of Sauron, while the kingdoms of the east arose in secrecy."

"And long did the Sindar fight Morgoth while the Noldor sat in comfort and safety, forgetting all ties of brotherhood and kinship with those they left behind."

Celebrin's angered tone surprised Alphindil, and indeed Celebrian who sat not but a small distance away from them. Seeking to spare her their quarrel Alphindil took his companion by the arm and walked further away out of the range of hearing.

"And it is that same stubbornness that drives the Eldar apart, weakening our resolve."

"Do not speak to me of stubbornness... though it was by Sindar hands that Gondolin rose, it was the curse of Feanor that had it crash to the ground. Though it was by Sindar knowledge that the Noldor learned to survive, it was the Noldor that brought Ennor to ruin. Long have my people been thanklessly pushed aside by "your" Noldor, who think themselves too high to trust any Sindar."

The tension caused Celebrin to quickly remove himself from the presence of his companion, fearing that the anger boiling inside of him would cause his friend to leave for Mithlond, and part them again after they had just reunited. Alphindil would have followed his friend, yet the voice of the White Lady beckoned him to her presence, and hesitantly he went to his duty as servant of the rulers of Imladris.

The day passed into late evening and Celebrin paced the floor of his residence allowing the darkening sky to permeate the room rather than light a candle. His thoughts would not stray from what he said, some of it untrue, to a friend he new better than to think petty and arrogant. Yet in truth he was not completely sorry that he had said them, such truth lay in the unforgiving bitterness of the Sindar toward the Noldor, such feelings of contempt lay deep within him for the people who had destroyed his home, a culture he knew his companion thought well of, even subscribed to. It had been long years since the two had ever quarreled over differing ideals, yet all those times before had never ended as this, most of the time they came to a mutual decision, or let the argument fall. This time...this time an entire day had past before they spoke, and it was indeed the first time Celebrin ever called his friend a Noldor so contemptuously.

The words he spoke to his friend reverberated in his mind as he was pacing the floor; a knock came from the doorway, silhouetted in the light of the lamps outside stood Alphindil, yet his face was not welcoming, his arms were crossed and he leaned against the doorway, he showed reluctance to be there at that moment, yet he spoke first,

"I came to speak with you, before you heard from anyone else what is to occur."

Celebrin gave him a silent nod, realizing his companion used the voice he normally used when speaking of orders, not of matters of emotion, so stern and cold it seemed then.

"The Lord Elrond has come with direction to remain in Imladris, as vassal of Erenion Gil-galad. The Lordship of this land has been passed from Celeborn to him, this afternoon...the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel have called all who fall under their banner and wish to follow them, to prepare to leave by mid-day tomorrow...I assume you will go with them?"

"I am sorry...for what I said, I did not mean to call you..."

"You dislike the Noldor, for what they did to your family, and your land...I know their evils, but I know their good, I wish you see that."

"I do...in you I see the good, never the evil"

Alphindil walked towards the center of the room, though poorly lit, and touched the scar upon his comrade's right cheek with such care and tenderness one could feel that the cold air about him had left. Both walked to the balcony that lay just outside the room, and looked upon the stars that were within the sphere of the valley.

"The darkness of Mordor cannot defeat everything...not even hope, nor the stars in the sky. Our greatest defeat was when we forgot to trust one another, when our people separated and allowed old enmity and pride to reside in their hearts. I shall not let it be so with us Celebrin, if you ask it of me, I will go beyond the mountains."

"I ask only that you do it of your free will..."

"We shall see when the morning light comes."

Alphindil turned to his friend and looked in the eyes of one he had come to know as more than family in the long years of their mutual fostering, the familiar scar and raven hair that mirrored star-light. His hand rose to touch the scar that his friend bore, something only he had been able to do, and said,

"How old the world has become, yet its beauty cannot diminish."

And he turned and slowly left the room, and the lamp was blown out and nightshade enveloped the Sindar within and dreams floated in the air, and all slept in peace, until the dawning of the morning sun.