"Elrond, I am glad to know that you recognise me at the very least," Thranduil said in reply to the raven-haired Noldo. "Greetings." The young king inclined his head ever so slightly. He couldn't help but smirk at the surprise moving across the two ellyn's torch-lit faces.

Elrond forced a smile. He was not overly fond of Thranduil to be honest, but he knew better to show any disrespect in front of anyone else. "Of course, it would be difficult to forget the King of Greenwood. I was there on your coronation if you remember."

Thranduil's gaze slid from Elrond and took in Halvorn as he spoke. "Indeed, I remember that occasion. You certainly look much different." The Sindarin king met Halvorn's dark eyes, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Halvorn."

The Nandorin ellon merely nodded. He did not take his eyes off Thranduil's. Elrond cut in as a thin sheen of ice settled between the two ellyn, "I must say it is a surprise to see you here, Thranduil, especially at this time." His voice lost some certainty. "I thought I heard that you were setting out for the northern front with the remnant of your people."

Thranduil's eyes flashed only briefly at the memory that always accompanied the reminder of what was lost. The remnant of his people shouldn't be in this war. He had only stayed fighting for his father. It was all a pointless bloodbath…

"Although, with you being here I can hardly believe that is the case, especially with orders being the way they are," Elrond added as an afterthought. He had noticed the subtle reaction from Thranduil over the passing comment concerning the Sindar. He forgot the Sindar's tendency to treat the slaughter that had happened so long ago as a taboo topic. Indeed, it had been atrocious but so had the rest of the war so far.

Thranduil nodded, nonchalant and once again perfectly in control of his emotions. "Yes, we were ordered to the north." He didn't elaborate any further. "I myself came here to speak with Gil-Galad." Again, the young king only spoke as much as he needed.

"I don't suppose the discussion you had planned with the High King had anything to do with this type of attack?" Halvorn motioned behind him to take in the vestiges of the previous attack, which were now almost completely cleaned up. "These new tactics of the Wargs?" His words were somewhat hopeful and accusing at the same time.

Thranduil didn't give any sign of being annoyed by the tone of voice Halvorn brought to the conversation. "Indeed, that is a subject that I planned on bringing up."

Elrond's eyebrows rose as his curiosity piqued. This was the first time he had seen such an attack in his camp. To know that Thranduil knew something about the anomaly was intriguing. Had this sort of thing been happening in camps closer to the front? It certainly wasn't out of the question. Surveillance and communication was often unreliable in this forsaken land and messengers were in high demand for the sheer number of casualties such an occupation demanded. It seemed every occupation demanded much casualties but as the years had passed even the orcs had learned to target the signal officers and their poorly armed and armoured runners. "This has been seen elsewhere then?" Elrond questioned.

A shadow fell over Thranduil's face. He glanced around at the men and elves attending to their various duties. Many were far too engaged to be listening to the trio of officers, but Thranduil knew soldiers as much as Elrond and Halvorn. They would be eavesdropping on the three.

Elrond and Halvorn noticed the change in Thranduil's posture and immediately filled in the seconds-long gap of silence. "We should take you to an officer's tent… We can discuss this in more comfortable quarters there," Elrond added more quietly.

"Agreed, I have been journeying for some time to get here and I would enjoy a rest. Lead on," Thranduil said regally.

Halvorn hung back for a moment but relented and followed as well. If only for Elrond and curiosity's sake, he would follow and continue to listen. He himself was not keen—

Halvorn looked down at himself, realising he was still stripped down to the waist and barefoot. He cleared his throat, which caused both Elrond and Thranduil to turn.

"What is it?" Elrond asked concern lacing his voice. "Did you get wounded?"

Halvorn shook his head. "I just thought that perhaps we can stop by the bathing chambers and clothe ourselves with something more suitable to a meeting with a king." He met Thranduil's ice blue eyes apologetically.

Incredibly, the young king chuckled. "I had not noticed in the darkness…" He schooled his voice back into something more majestic. "Perhaps you two should do that. I will accompany you then you may show me to Officer's Row."

Elrond, now conscious of his state but far from being as embarrassed as Halvorn, took the lead towards the bathing house. "Of course," he said, musing on that glimpse of warmth he had seen through Thranduil façade.

xXx

It did not take the three ellyn overly long to reach Officer's Row. The night was still young. The alleys were quiet in this side of the camp. Only a few ellyn posted at guard stations here and there or a couple of tired elves chatting wearily about their next moves loitered about. The dark lanes were lit only by a handful of dull torches spaced apart evenly by the yard. The occasional sound of the earth making a deep, angry rumble punctuated the hard, dusty street. Elrond led the way, walking side by side with Thranduil, while Halvorn insisted on staying in the background. There was not much to be said and, for once, neither Halvorn nor Elrond broke the silence. Instead, a curt, male voice interrupted the gentle lull, "My lords."

The trio turned to face the newcomer. He was a lanky young officer with jaded eyes and a stern face. The king's mark was branded onto his leather pauldrons.

"Yes," Thranduil asked.

The officer dipped his head slightly, now directing his voice to Thranduil. A sudden uneasiness was apparent on the ellon's face. "The king wishes to speak with Commander Elrond and you, King Thranduil. He gave orders for me to escort the two of you before him."

Elrond nodded. "Alright, lead the way." He turned to Halvorn. "I will meet you in my tent for conversation afterwards?" He asked hopefully.

Halvorn snorted. "That sounds fine to me, Commander. It would be better than spending the rest of the evening alone in a bivouac. I must write my commanding officer that I arrived while you tend to that. But enough of me. Now go. You are brave, indeed, to keep not one, but two kings waiting." He waved his friend off motioning with his eyes towards Thranduil, who was eager to leave.

Elrond came to himself once again. "Alright," he said. How Halvorn was a distraction for him. Sometimes he felt like a mischievous child again, getting into trouble with his twin brother… He moved to follow Thranduil, who had ordered the officer to lead on.

XxX

Thranduil gracefully ducked into the king's private tent. The large room was furnished well, with many furs settled onto the floor and a large, pelt-draped throne against the back wall. The king, however, was not settled atop his royal seat. Gil-Galad was standing alone at the right-hand wall, where a large map of the Black Land was hung.

This was not the first time Thranduil had been called before the king of the Noldo but he certainly was not accustomed to such meetings. He kept his countenance calm and his posture one of confidence. Thranduil was a king as well, and he could not let his slight nervousness show. He reminded himself of his own heritage and gave a silent prayer for his ancestors' poise. "King Gil-Galad," he greeted with a slight bow. The words slid smoothly off his tongue. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

Gil-Galad turned his attention away from the map and returned Thranduil's bow. "The feeling is mutual, King Thranduil. How do your people fare?"

"The people of Greenwood the Great are doing their duty wholeheartedly," Thranduil said simply.

The Noldorin king dipped his head. "Ah," His eyes jumped to Elrond, who was standing quietly behind the King of the Greenwood. "Good evening, Elrond," he said with a smile.

Elrond gave a sharp bow, bringing his hand swiftly to his heart. "Good evening, my lord."

Gil-Galad watched his officer for a few more moments, not regretting his recent decision to advance Elrond to the title Commander. He then directed himself to business. "I am glad you two have come so quickly." He motioned for the pair to take a seat on the two wooden chairs a servant had brought in while they dealt with the pleasantries.

Thranduil sat, taking the offered glass of wine from another servant, he sipped the fluid before speaking. The other two ellyn in the room also sat. Gil-Galad finally took his seat on his throne and taking up a palpable feeling of power. "Tell me what you wish to discuss," Thranduil said.

"I want to know, first, why the King of Greenwood thought it prudent to come to me. I am curious on what you have to say me. Perhaps it will shed lit on my own questions."

Thranduil's eyebrow lifted only slightly. "Very well. I came to speak with you on the recent orders that have been given to my people. Our stores are too low for such an assault even on the northern front. We must pull back our forces and regroup." He lowered his voice, leaning further back into his chair and setting the glass he held onto the small table between he and Elrond. "Not only that, but there is an evil awakening on the northern flank. We are not certain what type of fell creature or machine this is, for none have returned to tell the tale in full. The only evidence we have yet to discover is the carnage wrought after the battle: burn scars across the earth, nothing living. Survivors nearby report fire and a fierce splitting of rocks. It dwells in the northern crevasse that the men call Gash."

Both Gil-Galad and Elrond listened intently to Thranduil's account of the mystery. The first thought that came to Elrond's mind was a dragon. He had heard enough tales from his stepfathers about such evil and foul creatures. The half-elf could think of no other explanation than this: the enemy had successfully bred a firedrake. The ellon refrained himself from speaking his mind before the two kings but he kept his thoughts at the forefront of his mind whilst Gil-Galad spoke up, revealing none of his own suppositions, "How long do you expect relief will be dire?" The king asked, choosing not to ask about the menace rising on the northern front.

Thranduil's face showed how grave the situation was before he could even say a word. "It is dire at the present moment. We had sent messengers two weeks past. Whether they were killed or captured, we still know not."

Gil-Galad pondered this for a moment, his face taking on a faraway expression. Thranduil waited a handful of breaths before he interjected into the Noldorin king's deliberations. It was time to stress the most important reason he had come here. "If my people are not reinforced with another garrison, I will be forced to pull out of this war."

Gil-Galad gathered his musings. He had expected this for a long time. He was beyond grateful to the young king that Thranduil had stayed in the war even with his quickly dwindling army. It was not unfitting for him to wish to pull out of it. They had done as much as they could and were still holding strong, but failing hands could only last for such a while. Uncharacteristically, he felt despair almost overwhelm him.

"That is the crux of my journey here," Thranduil said with finality. "We must have aid on the northern front and it must come soon."

"It is a plea I have heard more times then I care to number," Gil-Galad muttered, still under the heavy hand of desolation. His voice nonetheless carried the same authority but the strength was drained from it. Elrond noticed his lord's change easily and was not lost on the gravity of Thranduil's words. The king of the Noldo met Thranduil's icy blue ones. "I cannot send an entire garrison to support your people, Thranduil King. We simply do not have the forces. We are stretched thin."

Thranduil's face was stone. He said not a word.

"Believe me, I have long thought of our warriors on the north and have discussed it with many advisors. We will not be able to send reinforcements now. If your people can hold on…"

Elrond's tongue moved before he could tame it. His words escaped before he could reign them. "What if we rescheduled our push on the southern?" He blurted.

Both ellyn immediately turned their attention to the officer who was suddenly standing in their midst, the one whom they had forgotten was present. Thranduil raised an eyebrow. Gil-Galad looked somewhat shocked.

Elrond felt his face suddenly burn. How could he do that? He had never disclosed anything so blatantly in his entire life. His lowered his eyes to the ground, unable to overcome his sudden embarrassment and shame. "Forgive me, my lords." That was all Elrond was able to croak out. For seemingly endless seconds he stood under the full scrutiny of two kings debating whether he should say more with his dry tongue. He took the advice of his father, Maedhros, and stayed quiet. Many words ignite a fire.

Thankfully, Thranduil broke through the burning silence first. "You have a garrison ready for an assault." He stated. He turned his attention from Elrond to Gil-Galad in a look of betrayal.

Gil-Galad smoothly transitioned his own gaze back to Thranduil. His face remained meticulously stoic despite the anger and disappointment that coursed through him. Not all of it was directed to his new commander but a healthy chunk was. He weighed his next words carefully, "My commander does have a point. We could postpone certain assaults on the south to give our troops in the north the breath they so desperately need, but it would require time and planning to gear that garrison for deployment." There. Gil-Galad was satisfied with that response. He had his own reasons why he wished to keep the garrison here, reasons that needn't be spoken.

Thranduil did not show the same satisfaction that the High King did. His eyes narrowed slightly. "The north does not have such time. If you wish to keep your forces to your own secret deeds so be it, but the people of the Greenwood must follow their own needs. I see your forces are stretched thin indeed, so much so in fact that perhaps it should be you fighting on the front in the same manner that I myself am forced. The Greenwood needs reinforcements or we will pull out of this war. I think that is sum enough. Make your decision, Gil-Galad. I must retire in preparation for a long journey back north." The silver-haired king stood gracefully and left the tent.

Elrond stood stock still, afraid to even move, yearning to go back to being the wallflower. It was not meant to be. Gil-Galad pierced him with his smouldering gaze. "Forgive me, my lord," Elrond said, raising his eyes to meet his king's.

Gil-Galad's deep stare softened at seeing the shame in his commander's gaze. He sighed heavily. "All these long years of serving under me and you choose that time to speak unhindered," Gil-Galad bemoaned.

Elrond remained silent, letting his superior continue. The berating seemed less harsh then Elrond had expected but he did not let his guard down just yet. Inside, he was chastening himself with more fire.

"Elrond, tell me why did you say that?" Gil-Galad asked firmly.

"I have no excuse, my lord," Elrond confessed.

"Indeed," Gil-Galad looked down at his own boots. "Now, I have to think of a rearrangement for all of our plans. And I think it fit if you help me out of this mess you have put me in," he said glancing at Elrond out of the corner of his eye. He regarded the raven-haired officer for a moment then chuckled quietly. "Come, Elrond, everyone makes mistakes. You have merely had your first one."

Elrond gave a small smile, relieved that his king was not all that furious. The laugh was still somewhat unnerving though. "Thank you, my lord," he said fairly more comfortably. He was still burning but his anxiety was slowly ebbing.

Gil-Galad studied his friend for a moment, clearly reading the conflicting emotions tumbling within Elrond. Finally, he came to a decision. "You are very welcome, Elrond. Now, I suggest you go to your tent to rest and recover. I expect you here at my tent at dawn to discuss what we might do in response to Thranduil's plight and your wild tongue."

Elrond gave a quick bow of respect then left, grateful to no longer be in the High King's presence.

Gil-Galad watched the ellon leave then dismissed his servants for the night. He had never once seen Elrond lose his composure the way he had done tonight. "Please, Elrond, don't make me regret my decision," he whispered softly.