Belegorn was quite cheerful the following morning as we rode further south. He chatted happily to me, about near everything from sword fighting, to wine, to his hatred of history. I responded to him as best I could, but I still lingered in gloom from my encounter with Aiwendil the night before. Unfortunately, I was so despondent and preoccupied that I did not hear the cries until it was too late.

Several orcs burst through the tree line, wielding dark weapons and shouting wildly at us. My horse was swiped at, and I leapt from her back as she screamed. I quickly unsheathed my sword from where it hung on the horse's back. Two black-eyed orcs approached me slowly, growling words that I did not understand, and nor did I want to. Each carried a short blade, rusted and stained with blood, which were swung at me simultaneously as they began to run in my direction. Their speed, even in attack, did not match mine. I ducked underneath the first blade, raising my own to slice through the second orc. It's blood splattered heavily on me, and a few vile-tasting drops made it into my mouth and I grimaced. In the same motion, I swung around and cut through the arm of the first orc. It howled and fell to his knees, and I stabbed it through the back and kicked the corpse to the ground. I took a deep breath and spat, turning to Belegorn, whom I knew was unarmed. He was shouting in fear as he himself was confronted, but his well-trained horse was already trampling his attacker. Our two guards were on foot as well, and soon between the three of us the small band was defeated.

"Are you hurt?" I asked them, sticking my sword in the throat of an orc that was still twitching.

"Ecthel was cut," the one called Rui said, gesturing to the other. "Also my horse was felled."

"Bind him," I said shortly, and made my way to Belegorn, who was shaking and looking at me with wide eyes. "Are you all right?" I addressed him in a low voice, holding onto his horse's bridle and patting his nose to calm him. The attacker that he had trampled was now a sloppy, dark mess beneath his hooves, and I almost pitied the foul creature.

Belegorn was too dazed to speak, but I understood. My mind recalled the day when Thranduil and I had gone riding in the forest, and our escort had been attacked and we had narrowly escaped. I had been quite disturbed, and though I had overcome it quickly, Belegorn was younger and had not the experience.

Ecthel's wound had been bound tightly, and now the two guards stood, awaiting orders.

"Take Belegorn's horse," I nodded towards Rui. "He will ride with me and we will go to the watch post to investigate. The pair of you must return to the king and alert him as to what has transpired."

"You are going without an escort?" Rui asked, aghast. "But, my lady, there might be more –"

"There might be," I interrupted. "But now I am prepared. We will be quite safe."

Belegorn had already climbed atop my now skittish mare, and I examined her nose to tail to make sure that the orcs had not drawn any blood. I mounted behind my son, and turned to the guards. "Be swift," I said in parting. "We will return to the city shortly."

A quick word set my mare off, galloping down the wooded path. I held the reins tightly to keep her from bolting in her residual terror.

"Mother," Belegorn shouted over the wind rushing past us. "Why are there orcs here?"

I was silent as we continued to make our way, and I saw the lights ahead that indicated the post. "I do not know," I responded, and he said no more.

The lights were deceiving. When we rode into the clearing, the flickering lanterns threw into relief piles of orc bodies alongside a few of our own people. The distorted shapes were gruesome, and I hated to image the horror that had taken place. Belegorn took several shuddering breaths before emptying his stomach to the side of my horse, splattering her coat and my boots. I quickly surveyed the scene, and listened intently for any stirring of an enemy in the cover of the trees, but I heard nothing. I dismounted and gave the horse and the boy stern orders to stay put, and to shout for me if anything or anyone appeared. I pressed a spare knife into Belegorn's hand, and he gulped weakly.

I quickly climbed the ladder that led to the overlook of the post, a wooden platform in a sturdy tree several meters from the ground. It was empty. The few stools were overturned from what had been an undoubtedly hasty departure, and a half-finished dice game was left on a table.

Fortunately, centuries of practice had made hardening my heart a very easy task for me, and I breathed deeply to calm myself. I heard clicking from behind me, and in my anxiety turned to see a spider, even larger than the one that had spooked my mare the day before, crawling across a low hanging branch. I did not think, only pulling a dagger automatically from my side and throwing it, stopping the insect's creeping progress.

The malevolent spider made up my mind. I retrieved my knife and kicked the curled shell to the ground below, swallowing convulsively at the crunching noise it made. I retreated back down the ladder.

"Mother?" Belegorn asked as I jumped to the ground.

"The enemy has taken the offense," I said. I climbed up behind him, and soon we were on our way once more, still riding south.

My destination came into sight less than an hour later. I spurred the horse to the highest hill I could find, and from that bare mound we saw what had once been Amon Lanc. The towers were crumbling, and the vegetation that had surrounded it was now very, very dead. It was as if dark cloud was being made in the old halls, as they billowed out of windows and between cracks in the stone. I shivered, and remembered the dream I had had years earlier, and of the blackness descending.

"What's that?" Belegorn asked in a small voice.

"Our old city," I said.

He was quiet for a moment before making another inquiry. "Why didn't you send me back with the guards?"

I looked down at him, and saw that his fear had not abated. "You are safer with me," I said. "True, there were two of them, and they were going back into safer territory, but Ecthel was wounded and required the complete attention of Rui. Besides, you have always been curious, and Father shares little of his concerns with you. You cannot now claim ignorance. The forest is in danger."

I had seen enough. I turned my mare around, and we thundered towards home.

We could not have arrived more than a few hours behind Ecthel and Rui, but the areas surrounding the forest were already teaming with scouts and hunters looking for us, or for further danger. Once we were in sight, a cry went up and we were soon followed by several elves, no doubt for protection, though there was nothing to fear this close to our domain.

We rode through the city gate, and I alighted from the horse before helping Belegorn to dismount. His legs were shaking, from stiffness or distress, I did not know. I handed the reins to a waiting groom, and with the same urgency I had felt all day, we half-ran for our rooms. We did not quite make it, for Thranduil was storming down a corridor in our direction.

"Go, quickly, to your bedroom," I hissed to Belegorn, and he made a quick departure. Thranduil's eyes followed the boy as he disappeared from sight, no doubt examining for any obvious hurts, before turning to me.

"You are a fool sometimes, Caradel," he said, and before I could take another step, he pulled me tightly into his arms. "What were you thinking? I have never been so terrified in my life!"

He would not loosen his crushing grip, so I could only speak, muffled into his shoulder, "Mmmfh fuh nnne mnunf."

He ignored my attempted explanation, and let go of me only to hold my face securely in his hands, searching my eyes for injury. "You are to stay put from now on," he said. "No member of family will ever be in that kind of danger again."

"Now you are the fool," I snapped, gripping his arms and removing myself from his grasp. "Keeping us under lock and key does not guarantee our security. If I do not scout for this evil, then it is far more likely to attack us here."

I swept past him, clenching my jaw, and made long strides towards our bedroom. His longer legs had no problem keeping up with me, and soon we were alone. Thranduil slammed the door behind us.

"My report," I said, loudly and coolly, swirling around to face him down. "The post near Amon Lanc has been overrun and the guards massacred. There is none alive in the vicinity, friend or foe. We then went to Amon Lanc. It has been taken over by dark forces, whom no doubt have nefarious plans for the annihilation of our people. And if I might hold your attention for a moment longer before you continue to lecture me, I would advise you to destroy it before it destroys us!"

Thranduil looked taken aback, then a troubled expression crossed his face. "We can contain it," he said, obviously satisfied that nothing was wrong with me. "We will double the watches." I fumed in silence as he stuck his head out the door and barked orders to a nearby guard. He turned back to look at me, and then let out a string of further orders before shutting the door. He approached me and hugged me again, not as violently this time, and crooned into my hair.

"I thought I had lost you, I thought I had lost Belegorn… wandering off into dangerous territory with no protection…when I felt the sudden fear of your horses I thought my heart might cease beating. I cannot lose you, my heart, I cannot live without you…"

I was beginning to compose myself, safe in my husband's arms and breathing deeply his heady scent, which had never failed to calm me before. I wrapped my arms around his neck, tightly, seeking further comfort.

"Poor Belegorn," I said, voice breaking. "He was absolutely terrified, he has never seen such things before. It frightens me that our children live in such an evil world."

A knock sounded at the door, and a washtub and steaming buckets of water were brought in. After they were deposited, their carriers departed and Thranduil and I were alone once more.

"You are a sight," he murmured, tugging at the laces on my dress. "I have never seen you so covered in blood. Your clothes will have to be burned."

I allowed his ministrations, and stood quietly as he disrobed me and left the filthy clothes on the floor. Then he helped me into the tub, and with the gentle hands that he had always reserved for my pleasure, emptied the hot water over my head before beginning to scrub my body with a cake of soap.

"I can do this part," I muttered, still mildly irritable.

"Absolutely not. You have been through an ordeal, and it is my job as your husband to care for you."

I harrumphed. "I have been through such ordeals before."

"That is immaterial to the present situation. Now, relax."

I did as I was ordered.