A/N: I hope everyone is having a great year thus far! I'm sorry that I've been unable to write as much as I would like. I promise I will try to find the time in the coming weeks. As always, thank you for your continued encouragement. Reviewers rule! Ok, now I'll stop my blabbering and let you get on with the story, already in progress...

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Uvuk was sniffing the air outside the fortress of Dol Guldur. A foul scent invaded his senses and he tried to determine its origin. He narrowed his black piercing eyes as a sickly looking creature emerged from a nearby bush. The orc unsheathed his large blade and prepared to strike.

Gollum raised his hands in defense and cried out, "No, wait. We must speak with the master!"

Uvuk lowered his blade slightly and asked, "What would Lord Qadir need to hear from you, filthy maggot?"

"The one he seeks," said Gollum speaking quickly, "the elf maiden...my precious found her and the master said he would helps us."

The orc commander let out a laugh that was both guttural and ugly. "I doubt Lord Qadir would help you, maggot, but come and we will see."

Uvuk turned to enter the fortress, but Gollum stopped him. "Wait! We have brought someone with us who wishes to speak with the Dark Master."

Uvuk immediately scanned the area and then grabbed Gollum by the arm. "You aren't trying to trick me, are you? Why didn't your companion show himself right away?"

"No! No! We aren't being tricksy! The elf lord was afraid that you would kill him before he had a chance to speak."

At the utterance of the word "elf", Uvuk released his hold on Gollum and bellowed a war cry. Immediately, the area in front of the fortress was swarming with orcs. After a moment, Qadir himself came down the stairs that led to the entrance of the fortress, unsheathing his blade. He wanted to see what had caused his captain to sound an alarm.

"What is the meaning of…oh, it's you," said Qadir irritated, noticing Gollum.

"He claims to have an elf with him," offered Uvuk.

"An elf? Just one?"

"Yes, yes, my precious. An elf of high status," answered Gollum, bowing and cowering before Qadir. "He wishes an audience with you."

Qadir narrowed his eyes at the creature. Then he turned away and shouted to the surrounding trees, "Tell him that if he wishes an audience with me, he must show himself now or be hunted!"

After a moment, Orlindel leapt from the tree in which he had been hiding and emerged from the dense forest into the clearing. He had hidden his weapons high in the tree and now lifted his hands to show he was unarmed. As he approached Qadir, the orc captain and Gollum, the orcs immediately surrounded them, forming a circle of jagged rows of at least twelve deep. They gnashed there teeth and hit there chests, bellowing and cursing, eagerly awaiting the order from their master to tear into the hated enemy in front of them.

Qadir motioned for Uvuk to check him for weapons. Orlindel shuddered involuntarily at the rough touch of the orc upon his body. When Uvuk was satisfied that Orlindel possessed no hidden weapons, he pushed him violently forward in the Dark Lord's direction.

"You have my undivided attention, elf," said Qadir, sheathing his blade and motioning for him to speak. He really could care less about what the elf had to say, this just broke up the monotony of his morning. It would be a matter of moments before he ordered Uvuk to slice the elf's throat.

Orlindel looked the dark lord in the eyes and said, "I have come to strike a bargain with you."

Qadir laughed darkly. "What makes you think I would bargain with you?" Qadir turned and started to walk away, saying simply, "Kill them."

Gollum curled himself up into a ball as Uvuk raised his blade, but before he could strike, Orlindel shouted, "Wait! I have information regarding your daughter!"

Qadir stopped in his tracks. He raised his hand to halt Uvuk's blade and then turned on his heels. As he walked quickly over to the Orlindel, he spat angrily, "Tell me what you know!"

"I will tell you everything and better still, I will deliver your daughter to you."

The Dark Lord paused. "What do you want in return?"

"With your daughter in your possession, as well as…" Orlindel made a disgusted face and pointed at Gollum, "this creature, there will be no need for aggression against my kingdom."

Qadir pondered this for a moment. There was no way he was going to honor such request. But then again, the elf had no idea of his plans to attack Mirkwood in the spring. If he agreed and several months went by without an attack, the elves would be caught off guard. It would actually work to his benefit to let the elf live and return with the "good" news. Then he replied, "Interesting. I see your point. But tell me, it makes no sense that you would house and protect…," he raised his eyebrows in question at the elf lord.

Orlindel quickly answered, "Linnah."

"Hmmm," Qadir nodded his head thoughtfully and smiled wickedly. "Linnah," he repeated to himself, then continued, "that you would house and protect my Linnah all these years, only to give her up so easily."

Orlindel shifted uncomfortably. He was unsure of how to respond.

Qadir narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the elf as he awaited his answer.

"I did not know of her connection to you until recently. She is of no consequence to me and if handing her over to you protects my kingdom, then so be it."

The Dark Lord could easily sense the anger, grief and rage churning inside his enemy. Like a moth to the flame, he was drawn to these darker emotions. He fed on them. Elves are extremely protective of their own, so it was not unlikely that his daughter was the one who caused these darker feelings inside the elf. Not an easy task, as these emotions were rare among elf kind…He was proud of her already.

Qadir motioned to Uvuk and said, "Bring them to my throne room. We have plans to discuss." He turned and walked toward the stairway that led to the entrance of the fortress, his minion opening a path as he walked.

Sheathing his blade in its holder behind his back, Uvuk snarled "Lucky maggots. The lord saw fit to spare your lives today."