AUTHOR'S NOTE I am so so SO sorry for the delay! Things have been so crazy since the end of October – I took over one class for a month so I had grading and stuff to do, then I got a new job, not to mention the holidays…but I'm sorry! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

DISCLAIMER I don't own anyone.

…

Elrond called Glorfindel, Erestor, and Gandalf to him early the next morning before Obi-Wan awoke. "We must decide what is to be the next step," he said.

"Next step regarding what?" Erestor asked.

"Regarding our guest, Hyarion," Elrond replied.

Glorfindel spoke up. "Not only does he possess the Power of the Elves, but he also wields it with more precision and power than we could ever hope to."

Unconsciously, Elrond ran his thumb over the band of Vilya where it adorned his right hand. Even with the Elven Ring, he knew Glorfindel was right.

"If I may," Gandalf said. "It appears that I have already taken the next step." He paused. Elrond and his advisors waited expectantly. Gandalf cleared his throat. "Last night, Hyarion entrusted me with certain facts about his life."

When he saw Glorfindel's eyes darken and Elrond's mouth turning into a frown, he quickly added, "He is of no danger to anyone in Imladris, I guarantee. But after hearing of these things, I have suggested that Hyarion journey to see Lady Galadriel."

He was met with contemplative silence. Then Glorfindel said, "Do you think it wise to send him on so arduous a journey?"

"He has journeyed far to get here, has he not?" Gandalf retorted.

Elrond smiled privately. "As usual you make a worthy point, Mithrandir. I think that your suggestion is a wise one. I shall speak with Hyarion about it at first chance."

Now it was Gandalf who suppressed a grin. "I believe he plans to speak with you on the subject this morning."

Elrond nodded. "Very well. I will discuss with him the safest route to Lórien."

"It is not wise to spend Hyarion to any route to Lórien by himself," Glorfindel said. "He is unfamiliar with the land. Perhaps someone who has a better awareness of the dangers should accompany him."

"I agree," Erestor said.

"As do I," added Gandalf. "But I cannot take the length of time that the journey would take out of my current quest. I wish that I could."

The three Rivendell Elves wondered what the wizard's current quest was, but they did not ask. The affairs of wizards were often best left alone.

An idea came to Elrond and he smiled. "We shall send Aragorn with him."

Erestor frowned. "Estel knows the way to Lórien?"

"Estel and Hyarion have become good friends," Elrond replied. "And Estel knows the dangers that prowl the forests and mountain passes. He will see our guest safely to Caras Galadhon."

Gandalf, Erestor, and Glorfindel nodded in agreement. "It's a shame that Legolas just arrived," Glorfindel said. "He and Estel have hardly had any time to see each other."

Gandalf smirked. "I'm sure Thranduilion will be kept properly amused by the young twin lords of Rivendell."

Elrond closed his eyes and groaned. "What my sons did to poor Hyarion last night – I'm surprised they did not weave ceremonial braids into his hair as well."

"It was not long enough."

The three Elves and Gandalf turned to see Obi-Wan standing in the door. "Which is not to say they didn't try," he added, then bowed. "Forgive my intrusion."

Glorfindel, Erestor, and Gandalf stood as Elrond said, "It is no intrusion at all. I wish to speak with you."

Glorfindel and Erestor bowed and left the room. Gandalf remained a moment longer. "Lord Elrond, I wonder if I may make one final suggestion."

"Of course. The wisdom of the Istari is always welcome."

Gandalf and Obi-Wan shared a look. "It seems that Hyarion is a lover of the stars," Gandalf said. "Perhaps he might be interested in hearing about the Elves' relationship with the Heavens."

Obi-Wan frowned, but Elrond nodded. "Thank you, Gandalf. Would you please tell my mortal son that I would like to see him?"

"Of course." With a nod, Gandalf left.

Elrond gestured to the seat abandoned by Glorfindel. "Please, sit down."

Obi-Wan did so. "Has Gandalf spoken to you?"

Elrond nodded. "He tells me that you wish to speak with Lady Galadriel."

"She has looked upon the Valar," Obi-Wan said uncomfortably. "Gandalf told me that I cannot speak with them myself – "

"No," Elrond agreed. "You most certainly cannot." He frowned. "I have never met a mortal man who desired to speak with the Valar."

Obi-Wan was not accustomed to feeling ill at ease around dignitaries, even difficult ones. He was known to be one of the Jedi's best negotiators, nearly as good as Qui-Gon Jinn had once been. But there was an air of disapproving authority about Lord Elrond of Rivendell that made Obi-Wan feel like a hapless Padawan again. "I know that it is an unusual request," he said. "But I believe that the Valar hold the key to my means of returning home."

Elrond studied him silently for a few minutes, then said, "Gandalf said you are a lover of the stars."

Obi-Wan's heart ached at the thought of his home and said, "Yes."

"The Elves have a special kinship with the stars," Elrond said.

"In what way?"

"They guide us. On some still nights, we can hear their song."

The Jedi frowned. "What do they sing?"

"Songs about exotic worlds," Elrond replied. "About a war that is being fought between good and evil. About a Chosen One who offers balance and an end to the conflict."

His thoughts racing, Obi-Wan was silent. Elrond's words were too close to the prophecy to be coincidence. But Anakin as the Chosen One was just a story to the Elves. They had no idea that such things were actually happening.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan had an idea. "What have they been singing of late?"

Elrond fixed his unreadable gaze on Obi-Wan. "Since your arrival, they have been quiet."

Of course. Obi-Wan sighed. He figured that it was the Force from distant worlds that actually sang to Elrond and his brethren, but his presence was disturbing the natural flow. His strength in the Force was overpowering the weak tendrils that came down from other planets.

"What do you call your stars?" Obi-Wan asked.

Elrond pulled out a chart of the sky from his deep brown desk. He pointed to one. "This we call Calima," he said.

Obi-Wan looked at the drawing, trying to judge whether he was looking in at the Core of the galaxy or out toward the Unknown Regions. Eventually, he decided that Calima was the star around which orbited Coruscant.

Elrond pointed to another two stars close together. "There are known as Galad and Mornië, light and darkness."

He would have to wait until he saw them in the night sky, but Obi-Wan suspected that Galad and Mornië were much closer than Calima. His heart leapt when he realized that they might be the twin suns of Tatooine. It was possible that he was on the galactic next-door neighbor of Anakin's home planet.

Finally, Elrond pointed to a brightly drawn star that hung low in the sky. "This is the Silmaril that is borne on the brow of my father, Eärendil the Mariner, as he sails through the night."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Gandalf told me the story."

There was a soft tap on the door. Obi-Wan turned and smiled when he saw Aragorn in the doorway. "Ah, Estel," Elrond said. "Good."

Aragorn raised an eyebrow when he saw the star chart. "Are we having an astronomy lesson?" he asked.

"Lord Elrond was just teaching me of the names you have given the stars," Obi-Wan replied. "They are very different from ours."

"From what you have told me, there is a lot about your home that is different from ours," Aragorn said with a smile. "Perhaps one day you will take me there."

Obi-Wan smiled back, despite the impossibility of Aragorn's thought and said, "Perhaps one day."

The charge of the moment was not lost on Elrond, but there were far more pressing issues at hand. "Estel, I asked you to join us so that I may ask you a favor."

Aragorn looked at his foster father. "Anything, of course."

"Hyarion wishes to speak with Lady Galadriel of Lórien. He needs a companion who knows the path and dangers that lurk along the way."

Aragorn bowed his head, his eyes shining. "I would be honored to travel with our guest to the Golden Wood."

Elrond nodded. "Then it is settled. You will leave tomorrow." Then he dismissed them both from his study.

Alone, he contemplated the morning's decision. He was not blind to the looks that passed in secret between his foster son and their guest. Perhaps this arrangement would lead to complications.

However, Glorfindel and Erestor were too important to Rivendell and Gandalf could not spare the time. Elrond dreaded the thought of leaving Hyarion in Elladan and Elrohir's care for an extended period of time and he himself could not leave Rivendell without putting the Home at risk. There was Legolas, but Hyarion has only met him the previous night. Elrond felt that Hyarion should be with someone with whom he felt comfortable. He just hoped it did not lead to pain for anyone.