Thanks to the reviewers I wasn't able to reply to via email.

Chapter 8 – Premonitions
Valinor
Weyland-Yutani Research Base

"What do you hear?" asked Dr Oscar Leland.

The young Elf sitting in the seat beside Leland stared through the Plexiglas. The alien on the other side seemed to be staring back, tilting its head from side to side, teeth bared and dripping. Even though the alien was hideous, it didn't frighten the young Elf. "I hear it breathing."

Leland sighed impatiently. "Let me rephrase the question. What is it saying to you?"

The young Elf tilted his face toward Leland. "I do not know what it says to me."

Leland grabbed the young Elf roughly by the arm. "Look at it! Tell me what it's saying!"

The young Elf cowered away from the human man, hiding behind his shoulder length black hair.

"Give it a rest, Leland," said Jordan. "It's obvious he doesn't understand the thing."

Leland pointed a finger in Jordan's direction. "No! I'm not giving up on this. They were able to do it with Ripley. That other Elf they had on Gateway was able to communicate with the alien queen extracted from him. I know I can do it with these Elves." He released the young Elf and ran a hand through his own hair. "Bring me the other one."

Jordan shook her head. "We're wasting our time. This entire line of research is a waste of our time!"

"I said, bring me the other one." Leland gave Jordan a hard look. He was determined to continue this research. The possibilities were endless, if they could only find some way to communicate with the aliens. They could understand them better. Perhaps even train the aliens. Yes, the possibilities were endless and he wasn't going to give up so easily.

Jordan reluctantly went into the other room and returned with another young Elf, identical in looks to the first one. She held him by the hand and guided him to the empty chair beside his twin. The two Elflings turned to look at each other. An instant connection was made between them. As clones, they were only vaguely aware of their previous life. They were still children and didn't quite understand much of what was happening around them.

Before Leland had a chance to confront the other Elfling, Jordan held a hand up. "Let me try." She crouched down in front of both Elflings and looked at each one in turn for several seconds. "My name is Jordan. I know you're probably frightened and don't understand what's happening to you. All we're asking for you to do is to look right over there." Jordan pointed to the alien on the other side of the Plexiglas. "Look at that creature in there and tell us if you understand what it's saying to you."

The young twins both turned to the alien and concentrated. They truly wanted to do what the woman was asking of them. But they understood nothing, if in fact the creature was projecting anything at all. They turned to one another and both shook their heads.

Jordan nodded. "I want you to know that you can trust me and I will do everything in my power to help you through this."

"Don't be giving them false illusions, Messer," interjected Leland.

Jordan stood up and moved to stand practically nose to nose with Leland. "Do you want this to work or not? If so, then I suggest you start treating these children like they were your own."

"These pointy-eared freaks are hopeless. We need new test subjects."

"So let me get this straight. You're going to keep using these people and growing clones? Do you realize how long it might take before you find one that can actually communicate with the aliens?"

"If they can't communicate with the aliens then they're useless to me." Leland walked away, intending on locating Lieutenant Train and instructing him to go out looking for other Elves.

Jordan crouched back down in front of the young Elf twins. "I bet you're wondering what your names are. Since we don't know the names of your originators, I'm going to let you pick your own names. Is that all right?"

The twins turned to each other and the connection was strong again between them. Deep in the recesses of their mind came a small spark of something familiar. Something of their former life. Two names that they associated with.

The first Elfling turned to Jordan. "Elladan."

The second Elfling also turned to Jordan. "Elrohir."

Jordan smiled, wondering where they came up with such elaborate names. Then she wondered if the names had been intentional, as if they knew who they originated from. But then she dismissed the idea that they might possibly know they were clones.

Gondor

Aragorn, son of Arathorn, known to his people as King Elessar, stood on the top most level of Minas Tirith and surveyed the surrounding Pelennor Fields from the very tip of the battlement. He wondered when there would come a time that he would look upon those fields and not think about the brutal battle that took place there. Perhaps never in his lifetime. Putting aside the thoughts of battling Orcs, Uruk-hai and the dreaded Haradim with their mumakil, Aragorn searched the distance for signs of Legolas and his family. They were expected to arrive in the early afternoon and still there was no sign of them as the sun slowly began to set in the west.

"What could be their delay?" he asked to no one in particular, eyes pealed to the northeast, where he knew they would cross the Anduin River via the bridge in Osgiliath.

"Perhaps they take longer rests because of the children?"

Aragorn turned to find himself not alone. Arwen came up and easily slid into his arms. "I truly hope that is the reason and nothing has befallen them."

Arwen slowly pulled away when she noticed a movement down below. Then she pointed. "Look there."

Aragorn looked to where Arwen pointed and he spotted the familiar white form of his pet tiger, Cail. The large feline was running away from the white city and headed out into the plains. He squinted his eyes and suddenly saw small pinpoints of light approaching. They were torches. If danger approached then Cail would not have rushed into it alone. He quickly deduced that Cail's sibling, Rhovan was near and he was running out to greet him. What Aragorn found curious was that he saw torches. Elves never needed any light to see in the dark. Torches meant only one thing, that Elves were not all that made up Legolas's traveling party.

"Legolas and his family finally approach," stated Arwen. "Come, let us greet them at the Great Gates."

Aragorn and Arwen headed down the streets of the seven levels of Minas Tirith. It took some time, not only because of the distance, but also because of the delays in greeting the people they crossed paths with on their way down. By the time they reached the main level and the Great Gates, the party was more than halfway through the fields within Rammas Echor, the Great-wall Circle.

"Who rides with Legolas?" asked Aragorn.

Arwen scanned the group with her Elven eyes, seeing further than Aragorn. "King Éomer and Lothíriel," she replied with excitement. "I have not seen the queen of Rohan for many years. Oh, and do my eyes deceive me, for I am certain I see King Thranduil himself."

Aragorn frowned. "Tis quite a surprise that he travels here to Gondor."

Arwen gave him a crooked smile. "And why a surprise? Did you not invite him to our son's birthday?"

"Aye, but rarely does Thranduil leave the confines of his realm for such trivial matters."

"Perhaps he has changed his ways." Arwen doubted it, knowing that Aragorn was right when he commented on Thranduil never attending trivial things, such as birthdays. But she ignored the matter, not wanting to spoil her good mood. Seeing Ariedel and Lothíriel would be great fun. Not often did the three of them get together. She turned her attention to Ariedel, with Elril riding traditionally at the front of her saddle. "Elril has grown since last we saw him. I believe he will learn to walk during his time here."

Aragorn wrapped an arm around Arwen's waist and leaned toward her ear. "Perhaps you say such things because of your desire to have another child. A girl, perhaps?"

Arwen giggled as Aragorn kissed the sensitive space behind her ear. "Perhaps." Her eyes then turned to Legolas and what she saw made her smile quickly fade. "Aragorn, something ails, Legolas."

Upon hearing her words, Aragorn quickly detached himself from Arwen and moved several steps forward, desperately trying to see what his half-Elven wife saw. "What makes you think that?"

"You will see with your own eyes when he approaches."

This worried Aragorn. Not often did Elves fall ill, unless they suffered from heartache or a physical wound to their body. He found himself holding his breath, waiting for the party to finally reach a place where he could actually see their faces. Long minutes passed before they finally were close enough for him to see. His eyes found Legolas and a dreadful gasp escaped his throat. "Dear Elbereth, he is ill."

His long-time friend was paler than he had ever seen him before, with dark circles beneath his eyes. His usually pristine hair was disheveled and matted. Aragorn could have sworn that the Elf looked as if he had not bathed in days. When Legolas's eyes finally came up to meet his, Aragorn saw great concern in them and…fear.

"Their silence is somber," said Arwen. In past times, whenever Legolas and his family came to visit, the Elves always approached singing festive songs, their laughter echoing in the valley. There was no singing and no laughter. Arwen quickly glanced about, finding both Anwar and Brendan looking healthy. Even Elfwine, the son of Éomer and Lothíriel, was fine. What could be causing such somberness?

Gondor
(Legolas's POV)

I could tell by the look on Aragorn and Arwen's faces that they knew something was wrong. I tried to appear more positive, had even told those in my company to sing and laugh. But none felt the desire to sing or to laugh. Ariedel was concerned for me. She knew I kept myself active to avoid reverie, which I knew would force me to sleep. I felt that if I did not sleep then nothing bad would happen to those I knew in Valinor. And if bad things continued to happen to them, then I did not want to see it. I could not bear to see it. My heart was wounded enough and to see others perish would only bring me closer to fading.

But during sleep was not the only time I saw things in my mind's eye. Quite often the visions would come to me…luring me into an ominous oblivion that only promised disaster for those I knew. Some I knew not, but their cruel deaths still pained me. These creatures were heartless in every sense. The sorrowful pleas of their victims went unanswered. More were birthed from the chests of those unsuspecting victims. Such a brutal death nearly claimed me so many years ago before the embryo was cut from my chest, thus preventing the creature from bursting through my ribs. I could have been dead…if not for Ariedel.

I turned to my left, to gaze upon the simple beauty of my wife. There was never a moment that I thought of myself alone, without her in my life. For all the millennia I had lived, the times I knew she had not been there, I still felt as if she had been. Through the mines of Moria where we thought we had lost Gandalf, during the attack of the Uruk-hai at Amon Hen and the brutal death of Boromir. She had been fighting beside me at Helm's Deep and on the very valley where we currently rode, during the battle of Pelennor Fields. She had been with me when I fought against the alien queen and her alpha drone, where I had suffered such injuries as I had never known. In truth she had not been with me at all, for any of that…but to imagine that she had been was comforting to me.

Without her I never would have had the three children that depended on me to be their father. Without her I would have shunned my responsibilities as prince to the realm of my father and grandfather. Without her I would have continued the pointless and irrelevant quests that left me void of any desire to seek the companionship of a female. Without her I never would have known a love that literally brought me to my knees. Without her I would die…

Ariedel drew her horse closer to mine and reached for my hand. "I think we'll finally get a chance to be alone tonight, Legolas." She referred to the fact that my father had taken up permanent residence in our tent during our journey to Minas Tirith. Then she reached up to caress my cheek. "I'll make sure you don't have any nightmares tonight. I promise."

I tried to smile, but I knew it was a weak attempt. The slight downward tilt of her brow told me she was concerned. I had not the heart to tell her that I cared not to sleep, under any circumstance.

After a moment I turned my gaze forward again. We were quickly approaching the main gates of Minas Tirith. Too quickly as far as I was concerned. The inevitable awaited me. I had the grave responsibility of informing Arwen that her brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, were dead. That they had been torn to pieces by the very creatures that now threatened every Elf in Valinor. That her father, Elrond, might also be in danger of losing his life. That the infestation would not simply end in Valinor, but would then spread across the seas to inflict its perilous malice on the lands of Middle Earth. Not to mention the other threat I continued to sense, but had no ability to identify. What of it? Would that prove to be a far worse nemesis than the aliens?

Arwen would undoubtedly be able to sense my turmoil. She would recognize the battle that raged within me, to my wit's end, the lunacy that slowly crept in, threatening to destroy my sanity and all that I held precious to me. There was no way to hide from my kin's special senses. Of any Elf I had known in my long life, Arwen probably knew me the best. But she would never know of the dark premonition that something terrible would happen to me soon. No one would know it. Not even Ariedel. To tell anyone would tempt fate into bringing them down with me…To my personal hell. If fate dealt me a killing blow, then I wanted no one that I cherished to be near me when the time came. My fate would be mine alone.

Before I realized it, we had reached the Great Gates of Minas Tirith and Ariedel managed to coax me off Arod's back. What I had wanted to do was spin him around and cry out for him to take me away from there, so I would not have to tell Arwen the news of her brothers. I wanted Arod to take me to the Grey Havens where I would board a ship…alone. I would sail to Valinor and I would kill every alien in my sites, until they were all dead…or until I was.

Aragorn was the first to greet me. "Legolas, mellon nin, I am so glad to see you." (my friend)

I avoided looking into Aragorn's eyes. "Aye, tis always good to be back here."

The greetings continued for several minutes and then we were headed up to the sixth level of Minas Tirith, where we left our horses with the stableboys. The rest of the way was on foot. The walk was not so far to the King's House where Arwen would have no doubt prepared the usual rooms assigned to us whenever we visited. I remained silent as Ariedel, Arwen and Lothíriel casually chatted about insignificant things. The subject of the aliens would not immediately be brought up. The hour was late and everyone needed rest. My father told me that there truly was no best time for such news, but the subject would be broached in the morning.

§

Ariedel promised me solace during the night and she did not disappoint. We made love for many hours, as if we had been starved of it for years. It had felt that way the moment we kissed, when our hands roamed each other with familiarity, finding our weaknesses and points of pleasure without abandon. Her joyous cries of fulfillment momentarily erased my worries and I let her take me to the place where the threat of no alien could reach. Panting and releasing the raw desire between me and the woman I loved, body and soul. My own cries of fulfillment echoed loudly in the large bed chamber. When the sensation was over, I discovered Ariedel giggling to herself.

I allowed myself the luxury of a brief laugh, as her laughter was contagious. "What do you find so funny, meleth nin?" (my love)

"They're going to make fun of us in the morning, I know it."

I knew she referred to our vocal proceedings. But I did not mind being ridiculed for such reasons. It would keep the mood light in the morning, until the inevitable subject of the aliens was brought up.

We held each other tight during the night and I allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

§

I sensed the presence of others and when I opened my eyes, I found two beings standing beside my bed. I quickly glanced to Ariedel, but she was still asleep.

"She will not awaken, Legolas Thranduilion," said the woman. (son of Thranduil)

I turned back to the man and woman whom I quickly sensed to be no threat to me or my wife. My only concern was that they had easily managed to enter my bed chamber without my knowledge. Had I been sleeping so soundly? In the deep recesses of my mind, I felt that I knew who they were, but consciously I did not.

"Have no fear. I am Nienna."

"And I am Irmo."

The names rang in my head like the bells announcing the arrival of my father in the Great Hall back home. Nienna and Irmo. These names belonged to two of the Valar. But could it truly be them? What made me so special as to be allowed such an audience?

Nienna smiled graciously, reminding me so much of Lady Galadriel. "You have many questions, young Legolas."

"Ask what you desire to know," added Irmo.

I stared with my mouth open, unable to think of what to ask them. But I needed to reassure myself that I had not yet lost my mind completely. "Are you truly the Valar?"

Nienna nodded her head in affirmation.

"Why do I deserve this honor?"

"You know the reason, Legolas," said Irmo. "Search your feelings."

I was awed by their presence, yet I suddenly knew why they had come. "You are here to confirm my visions, that Valinor is indeed in peril."

"Tis true," Nienna confirmed. "Day by day, the creatures multiply. The Elves that were taken have been hosts to birth the treacherous young. You have seen this before. You know what they are capable of."

"Aye, I have seen it before and now I am living it. The images come to me at random."

"There is a connection between you and the creatures," said Irmo. "We wish to understand it."

I frowned and sighed. "I, myself, do not understand it. This connection, it should not be. I have no physical ties with any of them as I did to the creature that had been extracted from me long ago. That creature has long since been destroyed. Tis a foul deed to be sure, but I know not why I have this connection."

"Do you sense their presence?" asked Irmo.

"I feel no physical presence, but I can feel the evil in the air. And when the visions come to me, they are full of suffering and death. I know not how much more I can bear before I lose all sense of reason."

Nienna sat beside me on the bed and placed a comforting arm around my shoulder. "Have faith in yourself, Legolas. You have family and friends who love you. They will never allow such a thing to happen. You have endured in the past and will continue to do so."

I wanted to blurt out my premonition, that I felt as if my days among the living were numbered. Soon I would have neither family nor friends to comfort me. The thought brought tears to my eyes, tears that I could not prevent.

Irmo knelt down before me and I found it difficult to comprehend that the Vala could belittle himself so by such an act. I was no one to him. Why would one of such high status genuflect before someone as inconsequential as me? "Do not despair, Legolas. We have come with a special message from Manwë."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words would form. Manwë was the most powerful of the Valar and I always assumed he was somewhat in charge. For him to be sending me a special message…I could not comprehend the magnitude of such an honor. With tears still falling from my eyes, I stared open-mouthed at Irmo, waiting to hear the message.

"Manwë seeks aid from any in Middle Earth that are willing to risk their lives. He asks that you bring weapons. These creatures cannot be killed otherwise."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, thinking of the blasters I used to easily kill the aliens on Gateway Station and knowing the impossibility of obtaining them. "The weapons required are not available to us."

Irmo smiled and nodded. "Tis not an easy task with the weapons available in Middle Earth, but you managed it once before. You slew them with bow and arrow before. Surely you must recall."

"I recall it every single day of my life since then." I wiped at the tears on my cheeks and pulled away from Nienna. Not that I was not comforted by her, but because I suddenly felt guilty and ashamed. Overcoming my fear of the aliens was never an option for me. But I knew that I could make a difference if I was given the opportunity to bring aid to those in Valinor. What kind of Elf was I to reveal my weakness to the Valar before me? "I will bring as big of a legion as I can gather."

Irmo gave a nod and then tilted his head. "I sense you have other questions."

The questions seemed to flash in my mind readily enough. "How did this happen? How could such a creature be allowed to land upon the shores of Valinor?"

"As you know, the origin of these creatures is not of our universe. We have no power against them." Irmo frowned and closed his eyes. "A single creature came by ship. By the time it neared Valinor, it had killed all those aboard. Ulmo was unable to send it away using the power of the Sundering Seas. He churned the waters so violently that nothing could have survived such a deluge of force. Nonetheless, the creature continued to swim to shore."

The powers of the Valar were limited in these times. Not as they used to be in the days of old. They rarely involved themselves in the dealings of the Elves, much less the other races that comprised Arda, especially those that dwelled in Middle Earth. Their only involvement was to send the Maiar, in the form of the Istari, of which Gandalf was one. And even then, the wizards were not allowed to use their powers to their full extent in order to vanquish any evil. Their role was to advise and occasionally fight, without the use of any special powers. The fact that the Valar were involved now with the aliens only added to the severity of the situation. If all life on Arda was to be extinguished, then only the aliens would roam the world.

"What of the Elves that were slain? Do they currently reside in the Halls of Mandos?" I truly wanted to believe that Elladan and Elrohir still had a chance to be restored in Valinor as they once were.

Irmo shook his head. "Not all the spirits of those slain have found their way to the Halls of Mandos. Only with the help of Galadriel and Varda have some made it. But there are so many. Tis a difficult task Galadriel and Varda face. Yet there is hope that someday all the spirits will be returned."

I felt little comfort from the news. But if Irmo had hope, then so would I. And yet I still felt an incredible void, knowing that the souls of my friends were lost.

Nienna touched my arm and drew my attention to her. "There is something else, Legolas. Manwë feels that you can sense it."

I was surprised that Manwë knew I sensed the presence of another evil besides the aliens. "Aye, I sense it, but am unable to understand it."

"The creatures are not all that threaten the lives of those in Valinor. There is another threat. Mortals have come from the stars."

From the stars…of course. I had lived enough in Ariedel's other world to understand what this meant. Ships did not only travel on water. They also traveled in space. Someone had come to Arda from the stars and happened to land in Valinor. I knew better than to think that they could be there to rid Valinor of the aliens. They were there for other reasons. I recalled my brief encounter with a man named Warner on Gateway Station. He had wanted to use me in his experiments, to see how it was possible for me to communicate with the alien queen that had been extracted from me. I imagined whoever had come from the stars was undoubtedly thinking of similar schemes. "Perhaps Ariedel knows who they might be. I will ask her when she awakens." I had no doubt that the Valar knew the true origin of Ariedel. They knew everything that occurred in Arda.

Nienna nodded. "You have suffered greatly, Legolas and regretfully, I fear that your suffering will continue. Such burdens laid upon you are unnatural. Is there something you might request for yourself when you have succeeded this quest?"

The Vala was confident that I would succeed. It gave me a renewed sense of hope. "A request of what nature?"

"A special request from the Valar. Is there a wish you would want granted?"

I turned to my sleeping wife, lying peacefully beside me. Tears formed in my eyes again at the thought of losing her someday. "I would ask…" My voice sounded strange to me between tears. "I would ask that my wife be allowed to spend eternity with me, that she not die of sickness or old age as mortals do."

"You request immortality for Ariedel. You ask nothing for yourself? Such an unselfish request," said Nienna.

I turned to her and no longer felt shame for the tears in my eyes. "You misunderstand. This request is pure selfishness. I ask this because without her I have no desire to live."

Nienna smiled faintly, her eyes twinkling in the darkness of the chamber. "I will speak to Manwë of your request." Then she stood up and moved to stand beside Irmo.

Irmo added, "You will find most of the Elves are in Ilmarin, home of Manwë, on top of Mount Taniquetil. Others may be found in Valmar. We anticipate your arrival, young Legolas and wish you great luck in your journey to rid Valinor of this threat."

Both Nienna and Irmo bowed before me and I was awed that they would do such a thing. Thus I bowed my head before them in return.

§

I woke with a start, sitting up and scanning the chamber for the presence of others. No one was there. Had Nienna and Irmo truly been there or had I dreamt the encounter? I closed my eyes and frowned to myself. Was I that desperate? Then I recalled a fact about Irmo. He was afterall the master of visions and dreams. If he were to communicate with me, then it would have been in my dreams. But I felt some disappointment that I did not actually witness their departure.

The skies outside the window reflected faint lights of purple and blue. Dawn was near. I turned to Ariedel and laid down again, moving as close to her as possible and enfolding her in my arms. She stirred and mumbled several incomprehensible words before she was silent and still again. Recalling my special request to Nienna, I wondered if such a favor had ever been granted. Immortality was not something bestowed. One was born with it, as an Elf. My children were half-Elf, they were immortal and also had the right to choose a mortal life, as Arwen had. Ariedel was my life. Without her I would die…

Phew, that was a tough chapter, I have to say. The Valar are very difficult to write about because they're supposed to be like…hmm, well, like Gods. It's difficult trying to stay within canon when my whole story plot is totally non-canon. Aliens in Valinor, whoever heard of such a thing? But I hope all you readers out there are still curious as to what will happen next.