Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. I do own Sarniâ.

Thank you all so much for your reviews. Here is the next chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Part of Sarkáhn's past will be revealed by Elrond in this chapter. So, here we go.

No one knew how to react to the recent information that they had acquired. In order to cease questioning, Elrond began the tale.

"About three thousand years ago, before the final alliance between men and elves, a rumor was started. According to the rumors, a creature, the destroyer of elves, had escaped the darkness and shadows of Mordor, the land of pure evil and malice, and was ordered by Sauron himself. This creature was Sarkáhn. It was said that his mission was to destroy every one of the first-born and create the deadliest army that Arda had ever seen. Orcs, as you know, are elves that were tortured and defaced. Much in the same way, Sarkáhn planned this feat with the intention of making them as evil as the land in which he lived.

"Naturally, I had considered this a rumor when it reached my ears, for I had never heard the tale prior to the occasion, so I had my doubts. Nevertheless, I was wrong.

"Sarniâ, an elf who arrived in Rivendell a year later, became one of my trusted advisors. He was a skilled warrior and he was quite talented in the healing arts. He seemed to be the average elf and a good friend as well. But one day all that changed. Rumors began circulating around Rivendell that Sarniâ had been practicing some forbidden healing methods…or black magic. The story described him chanting some disturbing words in his room, and when the door was cracked open, he was chanting over a wounded bird…it was dead. This turned into rampant chaos when someone made a connection between the names Sarniâ and Sarkáhn, reviving the rumor that was started the year before. The belief spread that he was harboring his powers and waiting for them to develop so that he could carry out his plan of destruction of elven life. The bird was just his test to see how strong his powers were and how much longer he needed to wait.

"I realized that I had to put an end to this commotion or it would all lead to the eventual ruin of my trusted friend. So I investigated the origin of such a rumor. I spent weeks going through old books and asking questions, until I came across one of my older books. Inside described a demon that was accidentally awakened by a little elven boy and his friend who were playing in a cave. It escaped and reeked havoc on their elven city and destroyed them all, down to the last child. No name was mentioned, but the story was so similar to the rumors that even I began to believe some truth in what was said. The puzzling aspect was that there was never any mention about the origins of the creature only that he had been summoned by chance and then later, combined forces with Sauron.

"This knowledge then planted the seed of doubt in my mind about Sarniâ because I had realized that I never knew the land from where he came, for he had never spoken of it. I did not like the feeling of doubt so I decided to go right to the source of the rumor and ask him myself. When I went to his room, Sarniâ was nowhere to be found. He was not anywhere in Rivendell and I became worried that maybe someone had taken the rumors a little too far. I asked around and someone mentioned that he had taken a little elfing boy, about one thousand years or so old, out for a picnic to the place by the river. I decided to pay them a visit because I was worried. At the time I thought I was worried about his well being, but eventually I found that my worry was placed more on the elfling's life.

"So, I followed them right to where they were sitting, but what I saw that day by the river will haunt my memories until I sail for Valinor. Everything was strewn all over the place. The food was thrown all over, the blanket was shredded. And then I saw him leaning over something, chanting, barely moving. I looked down to see what he was leaning over and I saw…I saw the boy. He was injured badly, blood was everywhere. His eyes were wide open in fear. I was in such a state that I could not even move for the longest time. All the rumors had to be true. He was killing him. I finally tackled him to the ground, and in my fury, knocked him out. I put him on my horse and carried the little elfing in my arms…an innocent child, lost."

At this point, Elrond took a deep breath and a long silence ensued. Recounting such a painful time on one's life is exhausting, and Elrond was no exception. This story was deeply affecting Elrond's demeanor. His eyes were glassy from unshed tears, and his shoulders were slumped as if a large amount of guilt was weighing him down.

Each elf in the room was speechless and filled with so many still unanswered questions. They knew the tale was far from over and that Elrond was just getting to the most stressing part of the story. They were impatient to continue, but they knew that he needed a moment to recover his emotions and arrange his thoughts.

Aragorn was exhausted. He was eager to finish the story and finally understood what was happening, but he was not sure his body would allow it. His shoulder was paining him and his broken ribs restricted the breaths that he could take. The pain medication was completely worn off by then and his breathing was becoming more labored and strenuous. Legolas, who was sitting beside him, noticed this first so he lifted Aragorn so that he was sitting against his chest in order to help ease his breathing.

"I think we may need to finish this tale another time. Estel needs dire rest. He is not strong enough to stay awake and control the pain on his own," Legolas said worriedly.

"You are right, mellon nin. He should be resting. I will go prepare him some tea so that his sleep will be undisturbed by pain or nightmares. This will be finished later."

With that said, Elrond left the room to prepare his infamous tea. Elladan and Elrohir were quietly talking to Legolas and Aragorn about their reactions to the story. After about five minutes Elrond returned with a mug of his medicine.

"Ion nin, drink it all down slowly. This will help ease your suffering."

Aragorn did as he was told, but made a face in disgust.

"After all the years of making this tea, you still have not found a way to make it more appealing and flavorful," Aragorn said sarcastically.

"Just drink it. It is good for you," Elrohir said in response. He knew as well how nasty it tasted. Aragorn almost immediately fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. Legolas, who was also not completely healed despite his accelerated elven healing, was also rather tired from the trying day. He decided to retire to his bed as well. Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir were left.

"You should get some rest. I will stay with them tonight," Elrond whispered to his sons.

"No, ada, you need rest yourself. You have not been having the easiest day either," Elladan responded.

"No, I must be here for Aragorn. I do not know what is haunting him so, but this is not the work of Sarkáhn. I am also worried for his health because he is not out of the woods yet. Not to mention, Legolas is also injured. Do not worry, I will stay with them. I assure you, I will be fine."

Elrond's insistence won out in the end. Elladan and Elrohir reluctantly retired to their tents for the night while Elrond prepared himself for a long night. He checked Legolas's condition and changed his bandages. Then he sat next to Aragorn and rewrapped his dressings. While he was doing so, Glorfindel stopped in on the way to his tent.

"How are the young ones doing?" He asked concerned.

"They are doing as well as can be expected. Legolas has managed to get a slight infection in the gash on his leg, but it should be fine in time for it was caught early enough before it could fester. Aragorn, on the other hand, needs more rest than he is willing to admit. His shoulder is healing slowly because of the trauma of having both an arrow wound and a dislocation. His ribs are making his breathing labored and causing him a great deal of pain though he refuses to admit it. I am more worried though that he will not sleep. This contact he has had with that creature is causing him much distress. I can see the strain in his eyes, and the distressing aspect is, is that I have no idea what it is," Elrond responded.

"Are you sure it is not Sarkáhn? He would be capable of such a connection," Glorfindel offered as an explanation.

"No, this is not his style. And there is something strange about its presence, something I cannot quite put my finger on. A sense of…familiarity, for lack of a better word, seems to surface whenever it is near. Whatever it is, I will find out. But I do not believe that it will return this night."

"I hope not. I shall then leave you to watch our injured young ones. I will be retiring for the night. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, mellon nin."

Well, what an ending to such an intriguing story LOL. Thanks again for the reviews and I hope you all like this chapter. Please Review! ; )