A/N I was finally able to drag myself from the darkness of the end-of-semester madness to finish up this chapter. I wish I could tell you when the next chapter is, but it's going to have to wait until the end of the semester. Though just between you and me, I'd much rather be writing this than all the research papers I'm procrastinating on. Anyway, tell me what you think!

o0o

"Something happened," Elrond remarked.

Thranduil looked over from where he sat beside him on a bench. They were both sitting in the garden watching the comings and goings of the castle. "It would seem something is always happening around here. Including us...and the Orcs."

Elrond paused, "Well yes, but something else has happened."

Thranduil shifted his gaze to the west, "Yes, I feel it. A malice lies to the west. It is familiar." Discontentment drew his brows together.

"Perhaps we should offer our assistance. There is a chance we could help."

"Or we could let them run their kingdom as they see fit and put our effort into getting home."

"You yourself said it was familiar. Perhaps it is a way for us to return."

Thranduil was silent for a few breaths, until at last with a small sigh he said, "Alright. Let us go insert ourselves where we do not belong."

o0o

There was no intensity in the castle. No creatures running hither and fro with overflowing necessity. Instead, all was calm and the only trace that all was not well was a feeling in the atmosphere there for those sensitive enough to notice. Not all noticed, but those of another world did.

"How do you suppose we approach them?" Thranduil asked as they walked through a palace hall. "Perhaps we go to their private quarters and inform them that we know of things we should not know of…and while we are about it, we stand still so their over-eager general can chop off our heads."

Elrond rolled his eyes, "I wonder if anyone has ever informed you that you are overdramatic."

"I have never heard that term before," Thranduil deadpanned.

"Where is it that you two are heading with such focus?" a third, new voice asked.

"What makes you think that we are focused on anything, Celeborn?"

"I am not sure. Perhaps it is that you are walking as if you have a war to get to and it might end before you arrive." Celeborn let a small smile grace his lips. "Or perhaps you are on your way to start one."

Thranduil let out a huff of air, "You may not be too far off with that."

"You are both being ridiculous," Elrond said, "Come now, Celeborn, can you not feel it?"

Celeborn became serious, "Yes, I feel it. It is a familiar darkness."

They fell into silence.

o0o

Finding the Royals wasn't an easy thing, and in the end, they only found one. It was mostly by accident, as the three elves stopped in the library after wandering the vast halls of Cair Paravel. King Edmund sat in a solitary corner deeply entrenched in a thick book.

"Good afternoon, your Majesty," Elrond said.

Edmund looked up and gave them a small smile, "Good afternoon, what brings you three to the library?"

"No great reason. It was one of our stops in our search for your Majesties," Elrond answered.

"Oh?"

"We were…" Elrond began to carefully speak.

"We wish to help," Thranduil interjected to a glare from Elrond

Edmund's eyebrow rose, though that was his only reaction, "And what do you wish to help with?"

"There has been a shift. We feel it and it is familiar to us," Celeborn said.

"What sort of shift?" Edmund asked guardedly.

"It is to the west," Thranduil said as he turned to look out a window. "A darkness is encroaching on your realm."

"And you believe it is the same as in your land?"

"Yes."

"Your Majesty, we would greatly appreciate it if you would allow us to speak to you and your siblings," Elrond said.

Edmund sat back in his chair and slowly brought his fingers to his chin in thought, "If this darkness is familiar to you," he said at last, "then it stands to reason that it is from your world and may hold answers." He stood abruptly, "Let us go speak to my brother and sisters. There are preparations to be made." And then he was up and walking out of the library on silent feet.

The three elves exchanged glances before following him

o0o

Celeborn was impressed with this kingdom. And he knew its success rested on the young shoulders of the Royals before him, though the Queens were not present, he knew they too carried the burden. High King Peter had not interjected as they once again gave their reasons for seeking the Kings out.

King Peter had remained silent until the very end where he simply said, "Since you are aware of this situation we find ourselves in, what is it you wish to do?"

"We wish to help and understand why we and this darkness is here, and to do that, we wish to go to it," Elrond responded.

Celeborn and Thranduil had let Elrond do most of the talking. Humans usually felt more at ease in his presence than they ever did with the other elven Lord and King. It was most likely due to his human heritage, as well as the fact that Celeborn and Thranduil did not care to be approachable to men. They were who they were and if a lesser leader could not look them in the eyes then they would not soften their gazes for them. But these were no lesser leaders, and none of the royals had any trouble holding the elven gazes. Celeborn respected them.

"My brother is leaving for the Western Wood in the morning. One of you may join him," With that, High King Peter rose and bid them farewell.

"You may decide who shall go among yourself. I will be in the courtyard at sunrise. Good day," King Edmund then followed his brother.

Silence hung in their wake until first Thranduil followed by Celeborn and Elrond left the deserted meeting room. They walked through the halls in silence until they were in the parlor between Elrond and Thranduil's rooms.

"I am going," Thranduil said quietly, though there was a force behind the words.

"Come now, let us talk about it," Elrond said reasonably.

Celeborn looked at Thranduil. He knew this elf, they were kin, but beyond that Celeborn knew the strength of the last elven king in Middle Earth. He was as nature, destroying and growing as necessary. Thranduil did not enjoy war or violence, though he was a master of them. But so was Celeborn.

Celeborn looked at Thranduil and the quiet statement that he made, and tried to decide whether he should meet force with force. He was a good judge of knowing the right approach. Thousands of years of being married to the Lady of the Golden Wood taught him when it was best to be the cliff that the waves break upon or the tree that bends under their onslaught. He took a breath.

"Why Thranduil?" He asked quietly.

Thranduil looked at him and Celeborn saw some of the force leave his gaze, "This darkness is beyond familiar. It taunts me. Can you not feel it? I must see it. I must go."

Celeborn saw the truth in the blue eyes that now held a hint of vulnerability, "All right Thranduil, you will go."

Thranduil gave a grateful nod and then left for his room.

Elrond let out a heavy breath as he sat down on the couch, "I am glad we talked about it."

Celeborn laughed, "Come now Elrond, sarcasm does not suit you."

"Really?" Elrond looked up at him, "Who informed you of that?"