See? I updated sooner this time. I refuse to give up on my fics. I may let them rest for a while but I hate leaving things unfinished. I just don't have much time to write at the moment, since I'll be moving over the weekend to a city 300kms from here. I have to live in e flat my employer assigns to me and… I won't have any internet there….ducks I'll try to pdate evry now and again, though.

Chapter 9

Lindir stood in the middle of the library, watching Erestor and fort he first time really at a loss what to do. He did not know whether to approach the councillor or not. Flicking some unruly strands of hair over his shoulder he decided to settle for attack.

"Erestor?" he asked carefully, taking an almost quavering step into the melancholy gloom that always seemed to emanate from the raven-haired elf these days.

The centre of the depressing gloom was perched on the window sill, unmovingly staring out of the window. Dressed in black robes and with midnight black hair spilling down his back the advisor looked like a gigantic crow, ready to sweep and strike any moment. A pale and tired crow, Lindir reminded himself.

"Erestor?" the minstrel tried again, violet eyes filled with worry. Erestor did not even flex a muscle.

"I am sure that Glorfindel and Bellmaethorion will find a way to locate Elrond," Lindir continued, "And Legolas will surely reappear soon as well."

Without answering Erestor climbed from his seat and poured himself a goblet of wine, slowly sipping the red liquid.

"Elrond always wears Vilya," he said matter-of-factly, "Do you really think that Glorfindel will be strong enough to track and defeat evil that was strong enough to snatch our Lord from the protection of his own borders?"

Lindir did not answer.

Erestor shivered as darkness closed in on him once more. Tomorrow morning Glorfindel would ride. Ride to follow the tracks of a creature the seneschal knew nothing about. Wrapping a cloak around him the advisor stepped onto his balcony, staring up into the cloud-obscured sky.

Tonight not even Ithil had the power to light the dark. The image of tall, black-winged creature suddenly entered his mind. A creature that had once been elven. He wondered how Sadjan had managed to take Elrond and if Glorfindel at least sensed the danger he was determined to ride into.

What could a creature almost as powerful as the Nazgûl had been want with Elrond? Of what use could the lf-lord be to a creature even more ancient than Sauron had been? And if Sadjan had Legolas as well…

Sighing Erestor turned, prepared to settle down for just one more nightmare-haunted rest.

He sighed, almost giving away his presence as he turned into mist once more. It was strange. He felt free and light but at the same time sensed that someone was guiding him, something was controlling his actions. He would have asked but he was unable to.

Slowly he crept through the shadows, approaching the hunched figure at the desk. The elf had noticed him, he was sure of that. Ignoring the elf's whispered question he sneaked closer, expanding behind the alarmed figure's back, ready to suffocate his victim.

The elf was becoming restless, alarmed.

Only seconds later the dark-haired elf lay unconscious on the ground as the mist took solid form once more and an elf in black formal robes stepped forward, curiously staring at the fallen figure at his feet.

"You know this is really all your fault." Gimli hissed as he ducked into the cover of a rock.

"My fault?" Legolas whispered back, "You were the once who wanted to stay from the road just to have a look at some damp caves!"

"You were the one who suggested a short-cut!" the enraged dwarf retorted, carefully scanning the area, "I suppose you expect me to be gratefully that you didn't lead us into a pack of Uruk-hai instead!"

"Ha!" Legolas snorted, "I only meant to help!"

"Well next time kindly refrain from doing so!"
"Stop complaining!" the elf huffed, "How many orcs do you count?"

"You're the elf," Gimli grumbled, "You're supposed to be one with superior eyesight!"

"How many?" came the impatient hiss back.

"Oh, I would have to guess," Gimli squinted around the rocks, "Two or three ten-folds maybe."

"Two or three?" Legolas frowned, soundlessly sneaking closer to the dwarf, "We have to take them out."
"Great," Gimli grinned, "Another suicide mission. You know neither of us will be able to top our 43 from Helm's Deep."

"Not today," Legolas grinned back at his friend, "But I intend to live to fight another day and then I shall kill more than you."

"We will see about that, skinny elf."

"Let's go!"

Screaming they charged, clashing into the pack of orcs.

"Who is there?" Bellmaethorion whispered into the dark, unconsciously holding his breath.

"Hello?" he tried again, breath catching in his throat as the floor creaked under silent steps.

"Reveal yourself!" his trembling hand closed around the silver dagger on his nightstand. The chair next to the window creaked.

"Who goes there?"

"Peace," a sombre voice said, "'tis only me." A candle flickered to life, only inches from Bellmaethorion's face, briefly illuminating a pale face on the other end of the room.

"Chief advisor Erestor?" Bellmaethorion sat up, staring at the shadowy figure, "Why do you come to me at such an hour? Why do you come to me at all?"

"I could not sleep. And I wished to talk to you."

"And what could you wish to talk to me about?"

Erestor sighed. "Do you hate me still then?"

"Still?" the blond asked bemused, "How could I hate you still? I never met you before I came here."

"I see," Erestor said slowly, pushing the image of a green-eyed elfling who had once been his companion from his mind, "Do you still plan to ride with Glorfindel in the morning?"

"I do," Bellmaethorion said decisively, "Why should I not?"

"You do not know what you are up against."

"But you do?" the seneschal asked softly. Staring intently at the barely visible advisor.

"No," Erestor lowered his gaze, "I cannot tell you what it is you're riding towards."
Sheets rustled. "Why don't you want me to ride tomorrow?"

"Actually I had hoped you might be persuaded to convince Glorfindel to stay."

"Why should I do such a thing?"

"Because I would ask you to."

Silently Bellmaethorion stared at the shadowy silhouette, his mind reeling. "You know something," the seneschal said finally, "What is it you know?"

"I have told you all I can, all I know." Erestor corrected himself, restlessly starting to pace through the room.

"All you can perhaps, but not all you know," Bellmaethorion insisted, "Why are you talking to me instead of Glorfindel if it is him who you are worried about?"

"Because I would not be able to lie to him." the raven-haired advisor admitted reluctantly.

"But you are able to lie to me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Aye, I always have been."

"Councillor?"

"Nothing. Just forget I was here. Forget what I said, it was a foolish idea." waving a dismissive hand at Bellmaethorion Erestor paced some more and the left the chamber as quietly as he had come, no more than a shadow drifting through the sleeping house.

Silent tears slid down Erestor's pale cheeks as he entered the relative safety of his rooms again. Talking to Bellmaethorion had been a mistake. Shivering he wrapped his arms around himself. With the first rays of the morning sun Glorfindel would leave and maybe never return. He could not tell the blond what he knew and Bellmaethorion was as stubborn as he always had been. Still trembling he closed the heavy curtains and forced his tears to subside.

"Nienna," he whispered quietly, "Please grant me the strength to do what is necessary. Help me protect Glorfindel every way I can."

The curtains billowed around him in a tender breeze as though they were reaching for him, trying to comfort him in a silent answer. Reluctantly Erestor curled up on the bed, forcing himself to sleep. He would need all his strange come morning.