Disclaimer: I only own my original elves, humans and horses. The rest, she is Tolkien's.

Chapter 21: A Fearful Start

Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.

-Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

And I have lived that kind of day

When one of your sorrows will go away

It goes down and down and hit the floor

Down and down and down some more

Depression

But I now there'll be some way

When I can swing everything back my way

- The Clash, I'm Not Down

Imladris, TA 1050
"Councilor Morwen, a letter has arrived for you from Greenwood the Great, as have packages from Lords Glorfindel and Elladan."

Morwen smiled at Cannith, once a page and now a scribe and yet, still eager to please.

"Thank you, Cannith, you did not have to bring them to me."

"It was not a burden, I wanted to do it for you." Cannith gave her a quick bow, laid her letters and packages on the desk and hurried out of the room.

"I never seen an elf so eager to please." A soft voice murmured from behind Morwen.

She turned and gave a look to the dark-haired she-elf, "Eluialeth, I am certain I heard your mother tell you to join Lady Celebrian and her circle for a sewing lesson."

Eluialeth, acting like the young elf she was, rolled her eyes, "That may be a fitting task for my sister, but I am not Galueth and I do not care for such things."

"No, Eluialeth, you are certainly not your sister." Morwen laughed.

Morwen studied Eluialeth, so like her father Erestor in temperament but so much like her mother in looks, except for hey eyes. Eluialeth's twilight colored eyes were a mystery, Eluialeth had yet to realize what a treasure eyes like hers were, something Erestor was most grateful for.

Her sister Galueth, she was a different elf entirely. While Erestor would never say he was disappointed in his eldest, Galueth was not a she-elf looking to be the next great mind of Imladris. She was a good friend of Arwen and close to many ladies of the court, but she was far from the type of elf her father usually surrounded himself with.

Eluialeth, well, she had also inherited Erestor's' keen wit and sharp tongue and had no interests in dresses or ribbons. Morwen smiled, reminded of her own youth. She looked at the obviously bored elf.

"Well, you can stay here and watch me as I go over my letters and write some more correspondence, or you can go down to the stables for me and see how much progress is being made with Glorfindel's new horse."

Eluialeth, never able to pass up the chance to test her observation skills quickly said, "I shall be at the stables!"

Morwen watched her go, trying desperately to hold back her laughter.

Putting aside what she could only guess was Tirnion's letter, she reached for the package from Glorfindel, not surprised to see more figurines. She studied them, "Ah, so I see we now have the rest of the House of Swallow. I guess the Heavenly Arch must be next."

She gave his letter a cursory glance, knowing this one was merely for show, insurance in case the package fell into the wrong hands.

Morwen then opened Elladan's package, wondering what he had sent and knowing Glorfindel's true letter would be contained within. While those close to Glorfindel and Morwen knew of the slight change in their relationship it was not common knowledge. With so many unknowns about the future, one Glorfindel and Morwen both knew would not be easy, they had mutually agreed to not publicly announce the change, both to protect Morwen and lessen Glorfindel's worry.

That did not mean Morwen had to like it. That she was not occasionally frustrated by the fact she was betrothed to someone, but in truth there was little change in their relationship, and that she only received letters containing Glorfindel's true thoughts and worries when he could hide them in letters from the twins. Occasionally these letters would contain orders to be taken to Erestor , knowing that if the letter ever fell into enemy hands, the hidden orders to Morwen would make little sense to any save those who knew the true intent.

The package from Elladan contained a book of lore he had found at some shop in the North, a handful of Elrohir's sketches to be added to the collection, a letter and a gift for Rian (who, even after near on six centuries, was still not yet in an official relationship with Elladan), two hair claps for Erestor's daughter and a rock to add to Elladan's "I was at this place and have a rock to prove it" collection. Morwen smiled as she pondered how some things never changed. His letter contained nothing but brief ramblings and occasional observations of the men and women of the North.

Not finding Glorfindel's letter at the bottom of the package she turned back to the items. The book would be far too obvious and even Glorfindel could not find a way to push a note inside a rock. She checked the hair clasps, but there was nothing hidden there. Her eyes darted between the gifts for Rian and the stack of Elrohir's drawings.

Between two sheaves of sketches a small pocket had been made and gently shaking the pile, Glorfindel's letter fell out.

She opened the letter, almost screaming in frustration when she saw it was written in Glorfindel's own unique code. Putting it aside for the time being, she reached over to open Tirnion's letter.

Reading the first few lines she hastily grabbed Glorfindel's coded letter and ran towards Erestor's study.

As the father of two relatively excitable she-elves Erestor had become used to his door violently bursting open. What he had not expected was to see Morwen on the other side of the threshold.

"Morwen?"

"I have a letter from Tirnion and a letter from Glorfindel in code, I have not had the time to decipher it yet."

"Has it…" Erestor trailed off, ever since the coming of the Istari, or as the other called them wizards, he had waited for and feared this day.

Morwen nodded sadly, "From Tirnion's letter, I would say it has. Five elves have died suspiciously since the last time he wrote."

"Erestor!"

Elrond came storming into Erestor's studying, a missive in his hand with the wax seal of King Thranduil on the back.

Broken. Like so many other things of that realm.

Erestor eyed the letter with sadness, they all knew this was coming, had felt it. But now, now it was truly here.

"Elrond, what has Thranduil said?"

"There are suspicious death for which he cannot account, he had increased his patrols by three and is still unable to control whatever vile thing is coming. Some of the livestock have fallen ill. He is requesting some of our trackers, if we have any to spare. He is deeply distraught. Something dark and evil has fallen on Greenwood the Great."

"Yes, evil is a horrible…" Erestor started.

"No, Erestor," Morwen interrupted, "a literal darkness has fallen on Greenwood the Great, it is worse in the south of the wood. Tirnion has been sent out on many missions to gather the people up and move them closer to the King's home."

"Thranduil is expanding the palace to go deeper into the rock, for protection." Elrond said.

Erestor held out his hand, "Morwen, let me see Glorfindel's letter to read if he has any knowledge of this."

She handed it to him, silently marveling at how quickly he deciphered its contents, "Glorfindel has also heard whispers of the this evil. He feels we should send aid to the Green Wood. He also has orders telling Balanauth to start training the recruits here for active battle. Glorfindel and the twins are coming home much sooner than expected."

Erestor put the letter down and rubbed his forehead, "The humans have given Greenwood the Great a new name."

"What is that?" Elrond asked.

Erestor looked up, his eyes full of sadness, "Mirkwood."

Many curious elves crowded the entrance plaza to Imladris as the party containing Glorfindel and the Twins returned, months ahead of schedule.

Rian and Morwen watched from above as the party rode in, all looking tired, some even wounded. The twins, the twins had an air of sadness around them.

Morwen studied them and finally, though she did not want to, she looked at their eyes. Biting back a gasp at what she saw there. It was in Glorfindel's eyes, Erestor's, Elrond's, all the old warriors, all elves who had killed another living being and seen a battlefield full of dead.

Morwen put a hand over her mouth, a single tear falling from each eye.

"Morwen, what is it?" Rian asked, her voice tense.

"They have killed." Morwen said.

In all their years on patrol, the twins themselves had never seen a true battle, never had to take another life, save an animal when in need of food.

And even after that patrol, they had been saddened.

This….this was much more than that.

Glorfindel rode in last, bypassing the greeting party and hurrying his horse over to the stables, his voice already calling for Balanauth.

"Should we go down there?" Rian asked.

Morwen studied the gathered elves.

"No, go down to the healing rooms and offer help there. I will go to Erestor and see if he has any need of me."

Rian nodded, hurrying off to help deal with the few wounded. Morwen gave one last look at the twins, watching their father and mother embrace their sons, Arwen standing beside them, placing a soothing hand on both of their backs.

She turned to go to Erestor's office nearly colliding with Glorfindel.

"How did you get up here so…"

"Did Tirnion contact you?" Glorfindel asked.

"Yes, I received his letter on the same day…"

"What did he say? Did he have anything of importance to report?" Glorfindel asked.

"Suspicious deaths and he has been asked to round-up and escort the small elven populations in the south of the Green Wood."

Glorfindel nodded sadly, "I fear it shall never be called Greenwood the Great again. We passed its borders on the way back and were waylaid by a small band of orcs." Glorfindel let out a sad laugh, "We were not prepared. Even with what we have seen hints of in the past, we were not prepared."

"Glorfindel, what happened?" Morwen asked.

He looked towards the sky, shaking his head. "We heard their screams, a small village of humans. We tried to save as many as we could, urging them to go seek refuge in Thranduil's realm. I do not know if we sent them to safety or death. The orcs came soon after that."

"The twins?" Morwen asked.

Glorfindel suddenly pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head, holding her to him as if reassuring himself she was alive and well.

"I did not wish for any one of you to see such things, to have to live through them. All that hope and….the twins are not even a thousand years old. We were supposed to have peace and now, I am not sure what we have." He whispered in a quick hush.

He pulled himself back from her, silently reaching up to her cheek to wipe off some of the grime that had transferred from his clothes to her, "I am sorry about that."

Morwen shook her hand, taking his hands within her own, clasping them tightly. She studied them, hands covered with dirt and calluses, as weary as the elf they belonged to.

"It is fine, Glorfindel. For me, it will wash off. It will just wash off."

Glorfindel nodded, choking back a hysterical laugh, "I fear that is all I can ask for now."

The tension in Elrond's office was thick, all those gathered on edge.

There were a few guests, for with the news Glorfindel brought home with him and the news from Thranduil, missives had been sent to Gildor Inglornion and Galdor in the Havens, not knowing both elves were already on their way to Imladris. LothLorien had not yet responded to their own missive, most likely busy tightening their own borders in preparation for what was to come.

"We are already preparing a party to go to…" Elrond had to force the word out, "Mirkwood. There will be trackers and archers, along with a few councilors to ease the fear. Rian is being sent, since she is known to the elves of the realm."

Elrond's eyes traveled over to his son who had, upon initially hearing the news of Rian's eminent departure, not hesitated to make his opinion known.

"I must ask you, Galdor, Gildor, have there been any attacks on your people? Any hints at all?"

Galdor spoke first, "None at all. We have not had much activity since the Istari came to our shores. Cirdan must have heard something, he has been ordering many ships to be built. We will offer any aid we can, but I fear being coast-dwelling elves we are not so suited to the deep woods. Cirdan is willing to send a group here to be trained."

Elrond nodded, "Thank you, Galdor. If Cirdan is still willing, I will be glad to have the elves housed and trained here. Gildor, has your Wandering Party heard anything?"

Gildor shook his head, "Not much, Lord Elrond, and what we have is not of evil beings at all. Between Imladris and the Havens we have seen a new settlement of beings pop up, they are small, half the size of humans. They are merry folk who delight in plant life and the simpler pleasures. We have tried to approach them, but they seem fearful of us. They are peaceful beings, Lord Elrond."

Elrond smiled, "Yes, Mithrandir made mention of the creatures you described. I doubt greatly that they will be a worry to us."

Elrond looked at all gathered in the room, "We must get started, I am afraid we have little time to waste.

Glorfindel prepared his pack for travel, yet again, knowing it was something he would have to get used to, the constant traveling.

Elladan had made him promise to guard Rian with his life and Glorfindel would do his best to hold to that promise.

He stopped, pressing a hand to his forehead and took a deep breath, willing calmness into his soul. His other hand twirled the necklace he usually wore hidden under his garb, caressing the symbol used by the House of the Golden Flower for their battle shields, the spectacularly sun shaped golden flower. He absent-mindedly counted how many times he had carried such a shield into battle.

It was far too many.

Even under the sadness there was a sick sense of excitement. He was, after all, first and foremost a warrior. It was the occupation he had held in both of his lives and Glorfindel knew he performed his task well. But the price for such things was always far too high.

He heard the soft knock at his door, knowing who stood on the other side.

If what was to come cost him that, something he held most dear, Glorfindel was not sure what he would do.

"Come in." He bid, his tone soft.

Morwen slipped inside, his eyes tired, having spent the past few nights switching off with Celebrian and Arwen in soothing the twin's restless sleep, she had not had much time to rest herself.

"Is Galdor well?" He asked.

"Quite. He has already left, hurrying at once to the Havens."

Glorfindel nodded, "Do you have any last requests before I am off?"

She nodded, holding out three thick letters to him.

"I know one is for Tirnion, the others?" he asked.

"Merileth, and the other is for you. It is a long detailed list of Imladris' most humorous moments, in order to bring you some light-heartedness when you will need it."

Glorfindel took the letters, his fingers caressing the writing.

"Thank you, I am sure I will need it."

"It was Elladan's idea. I was merely the scribe." She said.

"Yes, but I am sure while it was Elladan's idea you were the one to sit down alone and write it." He said.

Morwen dropped her eyes to the ground, her stance indicating Glorfindel was correct.

"They have a new horse for you named Glossien. I have seen them train him and he is a worthy horse. Spirited, to be sure, but a fighting soul." she said.

Glorfindel smiled, "Good. I have been anxious to get another worthy companion. While the one I rode out into the North wasn't bad, she was awfully skittish around the battle and we cannot have that."

"I do not think you will have to worry with this one. He is one of those descended from Uilos." Morwen said.

"Oh, then I will not have to worry at all." Glorfindel said.

Glorfindel watched her as she nervously twirled the ring on her finger that marked her as a Councilor of the Realm.

"You are nervous." He stated.

"Of course I am. People I care about are riding off into uncertainty, I think that warrants a nervous reaction. Not to mention people I care about are already living under a dark shade."

"Ah, I see it now, you only worry for your dear, sweet, Tirnion." Glorfindel murmured slyly.

"Oh, will you let it go! How many times must Tirnion and I put up with this?"

"I think I am justified, I did find you two sleeping in a tent together and he was shirtless."

"He was injured!" Morwen protested, "And he would not let me sleep outside on the ground and I would not let him do the same because of the wound and…" she narrowed her eyes at him, "Well, at least I know your good humor is not failing you."

"Never. I hope that moment was on the list." Glorfindel said.

"It is not, since I do not think you wanted to be reminded of how you almost attacked him."

"He had his arm around you."

"We were sleeping."

"Yes," Glorfindel said tenderly, "You two looked quite peaceful. You gave us all a scare when you did not come back."

"Well, that is what happens when one takes a mighty tumble due to crumbling rock. The first concern is survival, the next seeing to medical needs, and then resting."

Glorfindel held out his hand to her, pulling her to his side once she accepted it.

"Be careful, while I am gone." He murmured into her hair.

"I am not the one…"

"Morwen."

"I know, be careful what I put in writing and what I say to people. Do not share my concerns and fears with any but the select few. Be wary of strangers passing through the realm."

"Very good. I have one more to add."

"Yes?"

"Do not going out riding or walking alone."

"Glorfindel!"

"Morwen, we do not know yet what is out there and how far it has spread. Stay to the gardens if you need to be outside alone. Please, Morwen, it will put my mind at ease if I have your promise to heed my words."

Morwen sighed, "I promise. I do not enjoy the decree, but for the safety of all concerned, I promise."

He placed a kiss on her forehead, "Very good." He pulled back from her, gesturing for her to sit in a chair. "Now, tell me of what has happened in Imladris while I have been away, and what news Galdor brings from the Havens."

Elladan watched the party set out, already sick with worry.

"I fear some of them may not return." He said to his twin.

"They will try their hardest to return, you know that Elladan." Elrohir said.

"And," Morwen added from his other side, "Rian will be inside Thranduil's palace, more safe there than anywhere else."

"Yes," Elladan agreed, "but they have to get there first."

"They will, Elladan, you shall see. They will get there and help Thranduil, attempt to assess the situation, and they will return to us." Elrohir said, giving Morwen a look over his twin's head. She nodded at him, as they both moved to embrace Elladan.

Elrohir's head turned towards the West, "It sounds like a rider is coming."

"Father said he was expecting Mithrandir some time this year, he just did not know when." Elladan said.

"I think Lord Elrond will soon have his answer." Morwen said.

"One of us should go tell someone to make a room ready." Elrohir said.

While Morwen and Elladan agreed, neither moved from the embrace. They all stood on the balcony, clinging to each other. Unaware they were being watched.

"Elrohir makes a good point, you should ask for a room to be prepared." Erestor said to Elrond.

"Mithrandir is showing up unexpected, he can wait." Elrond said. "I would much rather watch the comfort and closeness of friends."

Erestor looked down on the little triumvirate, "Yes, though, they stand lesser than usual now. Tirnion, Rian, and Thalion should be among their ranks. Galdor as well."

"Yes, but that," Elrond gestured to the group below, "is the base. The strongest I have seen in a group of friends for some time."

"They will need each other to survive this." Erestor said.

"And we will need to see them like this to survive it. To know that despite it all, there is a reason why these things are worth fighting for." Elrond said.

Erestor clasped a hand on his friend's shoulder, marveling at the silent strength of the younger generation below. He did not know when he had been more proud of the young elflings he had helped raise.

A/N 1: No, this is not my normal update pace, at all. I just really want to get this part of the series finished before Thanksgiving (in the USA which is in Nov). And when I said we would be time jumping from now on, I did not lie. It's the only way to get from the beginning of this story to TA 2510 when this segment of the series ends.

A/N 2: Renna, I am thisclose to demanding an e-mail addy just so I can give you the nice long I-am-so-verbose replies I give everyone else, but to answer your question….it is complicated. Does he have genuine affection for her? oh yes, very much so. Does he trust her? Oh yes, very much so. Is he slightly terrified? Oh, yes, indeed, very much so, but the terror goes two ways, both for his own self and in concern of her own safety. But rest assured, he did not do what he did just to make her happy. Even I, angst half-deity I can sometimes be, am not that cruel.