Many thanks to Hellsing101 and Clea Lupin for the reviews. It's nice to know what people think and it gives any writer the push to keep writing. To answer your question Clea, it's my understanding that not all the Elves left Middle Earth straight after the end of the Third Age. A few remained and although Legolas was the last to sail to the Undying Lands 120 years after Aragorn/Elessar became king, there were those who remained behind. It's really interesting you should mention it though, because as you will see in this chapter, I've made use of the theory of the remaining Elves in the story.

Anyway, on with the next chapter.

Chapter 2 – Come Fly With Me

Elessar paced the audience chamber restlessly. The information from his Captain had been more than disturbing and the King had dispatched a company of guards to search the cave in the hope some evidence could be found to explain the strange disappearance of the malevolent entity and his minions.

Legolas had remained with his friend when everyone else had retired for the night and now, as the velvet darkness of the night outside was held at bay merely by the glow from the large fire in the hall, he dared to break the silence.

'Elessar, you have not spoken for hours. If you would care to share your thoughts...?'

Elessar smiled slightly;

'Thank you, Legolas. I am afraid my thoughts are too dire to share. Every part of my being tells me there is more at stake here than at first meets the eye. I am consumed with the mystery of the being my captain described. At the mention of his eyes my very soul froze with dread. Did you not feel the same?'

'In truth I felt curiosity,' replied Legolas, 'but until we know more I feel it is pointless to dwell on the dark side of things.'

Elessar was about to counter Legolas' logic when a breathless guard burst into the chamber, bowed hurriedly and hastened to the King.

'My Liege, we are returned from the cave and have found this!'

He held out a sphere. Its surface glinted in the fire-light and faint wisps of smoke appeared to swirl inside it. Elessar took it from his hands and held it up to better appraise it. Legolas neared him and he too gazed into the glass ball.

'I have never seen the likes of this, even though my father is a collector of all things strange and mysterious!' announced Legolas.

'It is indeed a most perplexing object,' replied Elessar. At first glance I thought it to be a palantir but it is much smaller and of quite a different hue. Perhaps Lord Celeborn or Lord Elrond might shed some light upon it.'

Turning to the waiting guard he bid him rouse the Elf Lords and request their presence in the Great Hall. The King then snatched a cloth from a nearby table and covered the ball until such time as the Lords arrived.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

In the country manor house the smoky air cleared to reveal a sight so repulsive to human sensitivities as to cause the strongest heart to falter. As well as the formidable being there stood ten swarthy skinned, inhuman looking creatures that snarled and growled at each other as though they were constantly at odds. Voldemort sat forward in his chair and regarded them all with delight.

'How wonderful that you thought to bring friends,' he said drolly to their leader. I am certain they will find their new surroundings most conducive to their needs.'

'Their needs are few,' replied Sauron. 'Fresh meat and ale are all they require although whether they partake of animal or human flesh they care not.'

On hearing these words, Wormtail drew back even further, his back now pressing into the stout wooden door behind him.

'Wormtail!'

At the sound of his name, the rat-like man gave a start and his little eyes darted to his master.

'Y-yes my lord?' stammered Wormtail, his voice trembling with the fear which coursed through him.

'Bring refreshment for our guests...and then leave us. I have much to discuss with my new...partner.'

'V-very well, m-my lord', managed Wormtail and he hurried from the room, grateful for the brief respite from the site of the vile creatures.

After they had shared several glasses of wine and with the Orcs gathered in a corner fighting over a keg of ale, Voldemort and Sauron began their discussions in earnest.

'You say your greatest adversary is a boy?' enquired Sauron, incredulously.

'Oh, not just any boy...his name is Harry Potter!' Voldemort almost spat the name out making his obvious loathing of the boy quite plain. He continued, 'there is a prophesy which states "either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives." It is therefore necessary for this encumbrance to be destroyed.'

'I care little for prophecies.' announced Sauron. 'And as of yet, I have heard nor seen anything which would be of interest to me.'

Voldemort rose slowly from his chair and walked to the window. Stretching out his arm he made a wide, sweeping gesture to encompass all which lay outside the window.

'This is what you gain!' he announced, grandly. 'A new world. One in which you and I shall reign supreme. One in which we shall make the law and everyone will submit to our will. Now tell me,' he said his voice almost sensuous. 'tell me that this does not appeal to you.'

Sauron grinned, his yellowed teeth bared as he replied;

'Indeed, it appeals to me greatly.'

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Elessar carefully uncovered the orb and held it out for Celeborn and Elrond to study. Elrond frowned and touched the surface with his fingertips. Blue sparks appeared at the point his fingers touched the cool crystal and he quickly withdrew his hand. Melpomaen had been observing with great interest and announced, knowingly; 'You see, my Lord...it is as I said...magic is afoot here!'

'I am beginning to agree with you, Melpomaen, and I believe we need to unlock the secrets of this object. If only Mithrandir were here.'

With a sudden gust of wind the great door to the hall flew open. Standing in the entrance-way was a tall figure clothed in white, the glow emanating from him causing them to shield their eyes. The figure walked toward them and as he did so, the glow diminished and they were able to recognise the person who greeted them with a warm smile.

'Why, Mithrandir,' said Elessar, holding his arms wide to greet his new guest amiably. 'We were just talking about you.'

'I know and that is what has brought me here. I believe you need my help?'

Legolas smiled broadly and he too hurried to welcome the wizard.

Once all formal greetings had been exchanged, Mithrandir wasted no time in his appraisal of the crystal globe.

'Hmmmm...' .he said, holding the object in his hands and turning it so as to study it from every angle. 'I have never seen the like of this before but I would wager it is connected to dark magic of some kind. It is vibrating in my hands and I have a feel for these sort of things, you know.'

'Aha!' announced Melpomaen, turning to Erestor with a look which said 'I told you so'

Erestor chose to ignore his young associate.

Suddenly, just as he was about to lay the sphere upon the table again, it began to glow. Pictures of buildings and countryside began to flash across its surface with rapid succession and everyone gathered around it in amazement.

'Why is it doing that, Mithrandir?' inquired Legolas.

'I believe...of course there is a possibility I could be wrong, but it is highly unlikely for I seldom am...that this object...is what is know as a portkey.'

'I think we would all be most grateful if you would be so kind as to expand upon your explanation, dear old friend,' requested Elrond. 'It is obvious you know something we do not.'

'Of course, I would be delighted!' replied Mithrandir, smiling. 'Now to understand this you must allow your minds to imagine a time when all the Elves have left Middle Earth. A time far, far in the distant future when all of our lore and all memory of our being has passed into myth and legend.

Melpomaen's eyes widened in amazement as Mithrandir continued.

'In this time of which I speak there will be those who are considered magical. Even they do not know from whence their magical abilities were derived but...I do. You see, they are the decedents of those Elves who decided to stay here instead of passing to the Undying Lands. Of those Elves who remained, many married humans and through the ages, their decedents have carried with them some of the mystical ways of their ancestors. Now you may think that immortality would have been the thing mortals would have desired to inherit from the Elves, but it was not. Instead they began to yearn for what they perceived as the magic of the Elves. The longing became stronger with each generation until eventually, immortality had been lost in favour of expanding upon the gifts given to all Elves by the Valar.'

'But why would the Valar allow this to happen?' demanded Erestor.

'It is not for us to question the ways of the Valar, Master Erestor and well you know it. It remains that these creatures have abilities far beyond the imagination of ordinary men and they use it for good or evil depending on their character. Now, shall we return to the portkey?

Allow me to explain how it works. When a charm is placed upon an object, it is capable of transporting anyone who touches it at the appointed time. Whoever made those Orcs and the being with them disappear, I feel certain they were transported to a place and time far away from here.'

'Er, how exactly did you know everything which has occurred here so precisely?' enquired Erestor, politely this time.

'How did I know you needed me?' replied Mithrandir, gracing Erestor with a knowing wink.

'Then what now do you suggest, Mithrandir?' asked Celeborn, who until that point had maintained a dignified silence.

'Why, we shall simply use the portkey and follow, of course.' replied the wizard.

The next day, a small crowd was gathered in the Great Hall. Legolas, Gimli, Haldir and his brother Rumil, Lords Celeborn, Lord Elrond and both his advisors Erestor and Melpomaen all stood around the White Wizard watching and waiting for whatever was about to begin . Mithrandir had forbidden Elessar's inclusion in the party because he felt the people of Gondor would not fair well without their King. Suddenly, the door to the hall burst open and his Elven wife, Queen Arwen rushed in, dressed in travelling clothes.

All heads turned to face her as she hurried past them all to stand beside her husband, ignoring the protestations of her father in the process. Lord Elrond appeared quite astonished at his daughter's arrival and the King, was it would seem, just as surprised.

'Arwen, what are you doing here?' he demanded although not unkindly.

'I heard the servants talking and they said Mithrandir had been strongly opposed to your inclusion in the party. Therefore I intend to go as your representative!'

'That is quite unnecessary,' began Lord Elrond. 'I can think of no useful purpose you could possibly fulfil by your inclusion.'

'On the contrary,' said Mithrandir. 'I believe we will have to communicate with not a few young people and a female touch may be more welcome on times.'

Lord Elrond and King Elessar gazed at the wizard in exasperation. However, Legolas took pity on Arwen and offering his arm he said;

'My Lady, I would be honoured to count you amongst our number.'

'Then it is settled!' announced Mithrandir and turning so as not to catch the eye of the queen's husband or father, he turned his attention to the portkey.

'Now then,' he mused. 'It is my understanding that with the right words, this object will show us the place for which we are destined.'

So saying, he raised his staff and said in a powerful, booming voice;

'Specialis Revelio!'

The orb glowed brilliantly for a moment and then dimmed. Everyone crowded around the object and stared at the picture on it's surface.

'Er, what exactly is that?' inquired Haldir, pointing at the picture of what appeared to be a framed plaque with an unknown script written upon it.

'That, my dear marchwarden,' replied the wizard, is a language known as English. It is the common tongue where we are going. Fortunately, I have the ability to confer upon all of you the gift of being able to read and speak this language temporarily whilst we go about our quest.

With that he raised his staff again but this time wrote the forms of Elven runes in the air. As soon as he had finished, he urged everyone to look once more into the orb and to their amazement, all could understand the words on the plaque.

It read, 'Ministry of Magic' and below, preceded by the relevant number were listed various floor levels together with the names of the departments of magic on each floor .

'Level 2, Department of Magical Law Enforcement' read Legolas. 'Does that sound correct?'

'Or what about Level3, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes?' offered Erestor. 'For all we know that could be exactly what we will face when we arrive.'

Haldir leant over Legolas' shoulder and smirked. Looking directly at Gimli he announced;

'Since we are taking a Dwarf with us, I feel confident I know exactly which department we require - that one right there!' and he pointed to the listing for level 4.

Melpomaen read it aloud;

'Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures - oh dear,' he added almost at once. I wish I had not said that,'

Gimli turned red with rage and tried to launch himself at the now snickering marchwarden but Legolas held him back.

'No Gimli, violence will not solve anything!'

Maybe not,' replied the Dwarf, angrily, 'but it will give me a great sense of satisfaction to see that smarmy Elf flat on his back with a bloody nose!'

Mithrandir held both hands aloft;

Enough!' he bellowed and everyone fell silent.

'Now if you children have had enough time to play, perhaps we might commence this quest to locate whatever it was that passed into that place and whatever went with it in and return them from the place in which they should not be!'

Melpomaen glanced at Erestor who returned his puzzled gaze. With the exception of Lord Celeborn, no-one seemed to quite understand what the wizard had just said but since he was now urging them to lay their hands on the portkey and telling them, excitedly,

'It is almost time! Hurry!'

they decided perhaps they should pay attention to the matter in hand.

King Elessar hurriedly hugged his wife and bestowed a swift kiss to her lips when suddenly, her hand was grasped by Mithrandir and she was yanked out of the arms of the King.

Everyone felt as though they had been snagged by a hook in their belts and suddenly snatched into a tornado. Round and round they spiralled as familiar surroundings faded and other, unknown vistas came into sight.

As one they found themselves flung to the ground in a most undignified heap, just as a rather officious little man opened the door to his office and looked down to find them sprawled at his feet.

'Ah, good-day!' announced Mithrandir, managing to raise his head slightly amidst the tangle of arms and legs which partially covered him.

The man, who was rather sharply dressed in a lime green suit with canary-yellow tie and matching shirt, regarded the wizard in amazement. Then suddenly, a flash of recognition came to his face and he stammered;

'Dumbledore…..is it you?'

Dragging himself from the scrum of bodies, Mithrandir dragged himself up to his full height and announced,

'Indeed sir, I am not Dumbledore - I am the White Wizard!' adding as an afterthought, 'Although Dumbledore is a very close acquaintance!'

Tbc

Hope this new chapter meets your approval. Please feel free to let me know.

More soon.