Aragorn was standing in one of Minas Tirith's white balconys. He surveyed his realm below. Anduin twisted through the Pelennor Fields and flowed on to the sea. In the distance, the jagged line of the Ephel Duath lay. It was no longer shadowed by ominous black clouds. Sunlight now poured freely onto the Plains of Gorgoroth.

Legolas approached and sniffed the air looking troubled.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked the elf.

"I know not. The wind that blows the smell of the sea from the south now comes from the north. It smells as if a great burning is taking place there." Legolas turned his eyes to the northern boundary of Gondor. "Look!" he cried. "A great cloud of smoke arises in the distance. The wind sweeps it away south to us."

Aragorn saw a smudge of black smoke on the horizon. "It may be some mischievous orcs. I hope they are not burning any wood from Lothlorien."

"Nay Aragorn, the Lady Galadriel would never allow them to do such a thing."

"I have had tidings though that she and many of her household are traveling to Minas Tirith. Lorien may be unprotected."

"I doubt she would leave her land open to the orc's plundering. I imagine the fire is in the woods by Tol Brandir."

Merry and Pippin came up behind them. "Is someone having a barbeque?" Pippin asked.

"Fire!" cried Celeborn. Arrows flew into the air at the approaching enemy. They bounced harmlessly off the heavy metal shields carried by the Uruks who we coming closer and closer.

"Fire again." He yelled. The elves released even more arrows but it was useless. The Galadrim were used to shooting their enemies down from trees they weren't trained for open field combat.

The orcs suddenly sprang forward and soon all the elves were tied together with dirty rope. Arwen was sitting miserably on the ground squished between her father and grandmother.

"I will not endure you foul creatures." Galadriel told Grishnakh. "I am warning you, this is your last chance. Release us now or face the consequences."

"What consequences?" Grishnakh sneered. "You seem unable to do anything right now."

Galadriel stared hard into his face. She pierced his blood-shot eyes with her bright blue ones. "I know what you desire Orc." She said softly. "Now that your master is gone I can help you. Release us and I will give you my ring. You can become even more powerful than Sauron ever was with it. You could become the most powerful dark lord ever to set foot in Middle-Earth."

"Ha!" Grishnakh spat at her. "I'll have your magic ring in the end anyways." He smiled gesturing to orcs who were stacking faggots of wood in a pile."

"Father." Arwen whispered. "Is there any hope of escape?"

"I do not know." Elrond said. "Hope comes unlooked for in the direst situations. It is an evil chance that has befallen us, but perhaps we shall live to see it through. A chance may come, or it may not. We must accept the situation we find ourselves in and adapt to it as best we can."

"Why can't you ever answer yes or no?" Arwen muttered under her breath.