Yay! new chapter! I've finished my dissertation so I'm spending more time writing stories! We're getting nearer and nearer to finding the truth about Elanors heritage… I've had a few guesses but no ones been right yet!

The sound of rushing water grew louder as the group of elves and rangers climbed upwards over cliff. Elanor gasped as they reached the top, before her where twin waterfalls flowing over the cliffs and into the valley below them. The entire city seemed to be carved out of the wall of the vale itself. Wide arched rooms of white marble glinted as the sun streamed over the cascading water. Never in her life had she seen such wonder. The elves lead them on a rocky path, down into the city. The autumn leaves floated down around them but made no sound as the elves walked upon them. They were led through tall stone archway into a large courtyard. Talin and Elanor dismounted and followed the blond haired elf through wide arched corridors until they reached a door at the end,

"You will wait in here until our lord can meet with you." The elf said, opening the door and standing aside to let them pass. Talin and Elanor entered the room and the door was pulled hurt swiftly behind them. Elanor heard the turning of a key and immediately reached for the handle. It would not turn,

"They've locked us in!" she cried out. Aghast she turned to Talin who had already removed his cloak and bag,

"So much for the fabled hospitality of elves but at least they have provided refreshments" he laughed, indicating to the bowl of fresh fruit and the jug of wine set upon a nearby table.

Elanor let out an unladylike snort, unbuckled her own cloak and threw into in to a chair next to the table. She picked up an apple from the bowl and began to eat not realising how hungry she was. She savoured the taste as the fresh fruit crunched in her mouth; it certainly beat the stale bread she had been eating lately. She looked around the small room. The walls were bare stone with carved pillars in each corner. Upon the walls hung tapestries and in the far corner stood a bookshelf full of old manuscripts and papers.

Talin placed his bag into the table settled down on another chair. Elanor quickly finished the apple and began to reach for another when the door emitted a soft click and silently swung open. Elanor almost dropped her food in delight as the dark figure of their chieftain walked through the door,

"Aragorn!" Elanor called to him, advancing towards him. He no longer wore his rangers' clothes but was dressed shades of grey. His face was clean and his hair was not the tangled mess she so fondly remembered.

She moved to embrace him but haltered as another figure followed Aragorn through the carved doorway. Elanors gazed, wide-eyed at the presence the stranger held, he wore robes of silver and grey, his long hair was as dark as the night and pulled back with intricate braids, away from his face. Elanor glanced up and her stomach lurched when her eyes lay upon his face. He was elf-kind. Of course he was she scolded herself, had she forgotten where she was? The elf was staring at her with dark eyes, his brow was furrowed but his face remained impassive. He learned towards Aragorn and spoke something in elvish. Aragorn nodded and said something else. Elanor stood watching them and folded her arms across her chest,

"Are we to be involved in your conversation or shall we leave?" she asked rudely.

"Elanor!" Aragorn scolded her, taken aback by her brash words. He looked to the elf to apologise but he stopped as he saw the faintest hint of a smile cross his face. The dark haired elf stepped forward towards Elanor,

"Goheno nen, hiril nin" he said, placing a hand on his chest and inclined his head gracefully. Even though she did not understand his language, Elanor was taken aback by the depth of his voice and the elegance of his words,

"I am Lord Elrond, welcome to Rivendell."

"Thank you my lord." She said, bowing her head. Elrond smiled and turned to Talin and greeted him in the same manner.

Elanor turned her head to Aragorn to find him looking at her. She had not spoken to him since the night he had left the rangers encampment and she found herself hesitant to approach him. Aragorn stepped towards her, eyeing the fading bruise on her head, concern clear on his face,

"When we were informed of the arrival of two rangers, I was not expecting to find you as one of them." He said

"Are you disappointed?" she asked softly. The ranger gave a soft laugh and shook his head,

"Of course not," Aragorn smiled, "Just surprised. I am happy to see you Elanor, but why have you come?"

The smile on her face faded as quickly as it had appeared. Elanor dropped her eyes and shook her head sadly. Talin, who had been listening to their conversation, stepped forward and placed a hand on Elanors arm,

"Forgive us for our sudden arrival my lord," he said to Elrond, who had moved beside Aragorn, "But we bring urgent news from the west."

Aragorn looked at Talin, his face suddenly serious,

"What has happened?"

Talin looked at Elanor who remained silent and took a deep breath. Quickly he began to tell Aragorn of the attack on the encampment. He told of the savage battle, Edains injury and their fallen friends. As he spoke Aragorn watched Elanors face tremble as she fought to hold back the tears. He watched as she turned away from them at lowered herself into a chair. The chieftain stood as he listened, his face remaining expressionless, except for his eyes which flickered in anger. His fists clenched at his side as he starting pacing the floor,

"How fairs Edain now?" he asked, his voice wavering in anger.

"He is well. Thanks to Elanors quick healing." Aragorn looked over to her as Talin spoke her name but she would not meet his eye. The elven lord, who had remained silent, listening to Talins report, moved silently over to an open window where Aragorn joined him. Lord Elrond spoke softly to the ranger, in a deep flowing voice,

"They are searching for you Estel. He believes you are the bearer."

Aragorns eyes met with dark elven ones and he gave a long sigh,

"How could he know?"

"The dark lord has many spies. Can you trust those that dwell with you?"

Aragorn frowned angrily and looked towards the two young rangers. Elanor was now sat in the chair, Talins hand resting on her shoulder. Slowly he turned his head back to face Elrond,

"With my life" he answered. Elrond nodded before moving to stare out the window once more.

For Elanor, listening to Talin was like reliving that night all over again. Everything he said brought flashes to her mind. She watched her friends fall at her feet and heard their screams in the night. She stifled a cry as Talin told them of the men they had lost. She looked up to see Aragorn looking back at her. She held his gaze but only for a moment. She could not bear to see his anguish.

Elanor turned from him and sunk down into the nearby chair and there she stayed, lost in her haunted memory. Faint voices came from somewhere nearby and someone approached her. A warm hand touched her arm and she looked up to find Talin smiling back down at her,

"All will be well now." He said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "We have done what father asked. Soon we will return home, all three of us."

Elanor managed a weak smile but looked past Talin to where Aragorn and Elrond stood talking. Their heads were low and they spoke in whispered voices. Aragorn was frowning,

"Somehow I do not think everything is fine, Talin." Elanor said, indicating to their chief. Talin followed her gaze and frowned,

"What are they saying?" he asked. Elanor shook her head,

"I do not know but I bet it is nothing good." Talin nodded grimly and watched as pair stopped talking and Aragorn walked over to them. Elanor rose to meet him and stood beside Talin. Aragorn looked to them both before speaking,

"Lord Elrond has bid that you stay the night here"

"Then we shall leave in the morning?"

"I am sorry Elanor, but I cannot"

"What? Why?"

"I cannot say"

"Cannot or will not?" she snapped,

"Elanor!" Talin chided, appalled by her behaviour. The two men watched as she stormed over to the table and grabbed at something inside Talins bag. She turned, blanket it hand and threw it outwards, holding one end so in unravelled in front of her.

With a loud clatter the handle of the black blade fell of the floor at Aragorns' feet,

"We know what hunts you Aragorn."

Aragorn stared back at her with dark eyes but said nothing. Elanor glared, before turning her back at walking away, across the room. Talin looked from the blade to Aragorn,

"What is it that you have not told us?" he asked. Aragorn looked from him to Elrond before his eyes rested on Elanor, who was now looking at him awaiting his answer. Aragorn sighed heavily and ran a hand through his thick hair,

"Dark times have fallen." He said. Elanors expression dropped when she heard the seriousness of his voice, "The one ring has been found."

Elanor stared at him in shock. Her mind refused to believe what she had heard,

"But he is dead. Sauron is dead."

A deep voice was heard as Lord Elrond spoke from his place by the window,

"His body may be gone from this world but his spirit remains. It is bound to the ring and so, I fear, is our fate." Aragorn looked to the elven lord and nodded,

"The ring was found in the hands of a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. It was I that brought him here under the instruction of Gandalf. It was Frodo who was attacked by the Nazgul, as we speak he lays halfway if life and death. Only the healings of Lord Elrond can save him. A council is to be held tomorrow to decide was is to be done."

Elanor sat quietly and shook her head slowly. She had been told the stories, as had nearly every child whilst growing up, but to her they had always been just that, stories. Tales of a dark lord, fierce battles and a magic ring. Now, suddenly, it was much too real.

"I shall return to the west at first light and gather the other rangers." Elanor was only just aware that Talin had spoken,

"Those of us who remain can be here within a week" he said. Aragorn shook his head,

"Not until something has been decided. The wraiths are still at the borders, you cannot risk the journey."

"But the others must be told."

"And so they shall. We will send word to them from the aviary."

"Come," Lord Elrond said, "I shall show you to the birds." Talin nodded gratefully and glanced over to Elanor before following the elven lord out of the room.

It's all getting a bit heavy now, warning there's angst ahead!

Goheno nen, hiril nin Forgive me, My lady.