Yes, I have finely whipped up another chapter. I'm sorry if this one doesn't have a little action but I just so dearly wanted to torture Kelly a little bit that it went quite beyond my self-control. Heh, heh, I sure had fun writing this. Next chapter there will be a bit more action, I swear, and maybe even, a kiss? But I'm not entirely sure I can bring myself to that level of mushiness so don't get your hopes up. I'm hoping to get one more chapter done before college revvs up again so keep your fingers crossed on that one. Love ya'll and Merry Christmas. This is my Holiday present for you!

--Dark-Elf (Dark-Sylph) --same thing

Disclaimer

Legolas: Oh great, now I'm the one doing this? What the heck happened to Gandalf?

He ran away and I haven't been able to catch him yet so you're the next in line for humiliation.

Legolas: You know, I think I get plenty of humiliation on this fanfiction place as it is. A little pity once in a while from you would be nice.

Rhov: Oh shut up, Leggs, and hurry up. I'm sure everyone wants to get to the story and you're blocking the road.

You know, Rhov, for someone who isn't cooperating on his own story, you really shouldn't be telling Legolas he's blocking the road.

Rhov: Ha, ha. You know, I think Leggs is a good name for the nancing pretty boy. He does wear tights enough as it is to have a gazillion little eggs scattered around his room.

Heh, sorry folks but it looks like I'll have to do this disclaimer myself. An attempted homicide is taking place as we speak and Rhov just might get the wrong end of that knife. Anyway, I do not own one single thing except for Rhov and Kelly. There are days, by the way, when I wouldn't mind heaving the dark-elf onto someone else but that just sounds so brutal I won't do it.


It's not fair. Not fair at all. Did I suddenly just not have ears anymore or has no one bothered to tell me what went on at the Council. Is it just me, or does everyone enjoy keeping me in the dark. Oh, that darn Legolas, who promised me that he would tell all, has disappeared and the hobbits apparently have taken a sudden dislike in being in my presence. Of course, they have reason considering I scared them all out of their wits with those stories while Frodo was sick but don't blame me for my interest in sad and depressing stories. If I wrote stories, all the characters would be dead just because I like inventing tragic deaths. But that is not the point, the point is… oh bother, it does no good griping.

Yesterday, the Council of Elrond met in the morning and didn't disperse until mid-afternoon. I did find out that Frodo is going to Mordor after all to destroy the Ring but other than that, I have no idea why anyone would sit for eight hours just deciding where to send Frodo, I mean come on. However, considering I had to pester Eladan for news, it is no wonder I have almost nothing to show for my female curiosity. The poor elf has not forgiven me for telling that story about the snake to Elrohir and has decided to punish me for it, meaning, he is withholding information I dearly want. Stupid, prancing, nancing, pretty-boy elf.

What about the tanned, black-haired, dreamy-eyed elf, you ask. Well, I have not seen him since two days ago when I made a fool of myself in front of the stupid git. Wonder what he thinks of me? Probably has decided I'm an idiot and really should try kicking the bucket like the rest of my race before all the elves go barking mad. Since the entire population of Rivendell, visitors, guests and all have decided that Kelly should be absolutely ignorant of the weighty decisions made here yesterday, I just might amuse them and have a heart attack right now or perhaps, I will just jump off a cliff and save them the trouble of burying my body.

Sitting on the edge of a bench in a hallway deserted except for myself, I continued fuming elbows on knees, head in hands, and a deep frown on my face. Jumping off a cliff seemed preferable to just sitting in angry and annoyed silence. Occasionaly, an elf or two would pass me by but averted their gaze in what could only be self-preservation. Sheesh, did I look that dangerous? Hmmm… this could be good actually, I do remember several incidents where my little brother had been intimidated into silence once I got mad at one of his silly pranks and the one time I was in a real rage, my face went scarlet, then pure white, and flashed between the two until I calmed down.

Suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder and I jumped. Whipping my head up in surprise, I saw a brown, grinning face staring down at me from a gargantuan height of about six foot four. For some people that may not be so tall but for me, that's giantish since I'm only five foot five. I suppose you can all guess who frightened the socks off of me was Rhov of the rogues of Mirkwood. I swear, the only reason my heart was pounding so fast was because of the scare, I don't do scare well.

"Pray, what is a fair maid such as yourself doing inside on such a glorious autumn day as this?" The green-eyed wonder asked in that soft brogue. He's the only one, by the way, in Middle-Earth that sounds sort of Scottish. I say sort of because it's really not the same.

"Pouting", I said, "and thinking of accomadating the world by jumping off a cliff." Ok, so, maybe I sounded a bit whiny but don't swear by it.

Rhov blinked several times and I think his cheeks bulged slightly. I had the very distinct feeling that he was willing himself to not laugh out-loud. My theory was confirmed when he suddenly turned away from me and made a kind of grunting cough that did not sound remotely like a cough but I chose to ignore the slight giggle that was hidden in that grunt. The guy has self-control though, I'll give him that. It only took him a couple seconds to regain control of his baser instincts (all of which, I'm sure, were clamoring for him to laugh in my face) and turn back towards me.

"I am very sorry, my lady. This morning I began coughing slightly and it has been plaguing me ever since."

I grinned. "It must have been a very amusing morning, my lord, if you have been plagued with such coughing as to nearly choke yourself."

The dark-elf bowed in that graceful way of his that has me fuming with jealousy. If I ever tried that, I would fall flat on my face and embarrass myself to no end. "You have seen through my faking, my lady. Yes, it has been an amusing morning for the very reason that this house is so depressed, the occupants so depressed, and the news all so mournful, that I cannot help but smile. I am afraid that it is impossible to wipe the smile off my face until I see something cheery."

"Well, well, that is an oxymoron." I replied cheerfully. Why in the world couldn't I feel mad in this darn elf's presence? "So, since I am feeling quite cheerful, you may wipe that grin right off your smug face and tell me what exactly is going on. You see," I batted my eyelashes, "my depressions is the lack of knowledge of why everyone else is depressed. Not one single, solitary person has bothered to enlighten me." Whoa… did I just say enlighten? I have been hanging around these elves and men beyond men way too long.

"You don't say?" said Rhov and he plunked himself down next to me on the smooth stone bench and leaned back against the white wall. I must admit, those Rivendell robes did not complement him in any way shape or form. The only thing that redeemed him was… eh, I digress, anyway…

"The thing is, nothing was decided at the Council beyond the fact that Frodo, Sam, and Gandalf are all going to Mordor to destroy the Ring, now, here's the problem, six others need to be chosen to represent Middle-Earth. I'm guessing it'll be Gimli son of Gloin, Legolas, Strider…"

"Wait," I interrupted, "who is Strider?"

"Aragorn, or Elessar if that is how you know him in Mirkwood. The folks in Bree (that's close to the Shire) call him Strider and rather like that better than his other titles. He has many, you realize, and all of them sound so very grand and completely the opposite of what he looks like in the Wild." Rhov did not seem bothered that I had interrupted him like so many others but merely smiled.

"I'm sorry." I muttered.

"Oh no, don't be. I wouldn't know half the things that I do if I hadn't interrupted on occasion. It is bad manners I suppose but it's not exactly the law." Said Rhov matter-of-factly.

I shrugged. "Where I come from, it is the law."

"What, bad manners?"

I slugged him in the shoulder and, even though he winced for my benefit, it couldn't have hurt. The man, or elf I should say, was solid muscle. Now don't skew the picture and think of Rhov as some hulking weight lifter dude. On the contrary, you could almost call him skinny but for the way he moved; utter and complete control of his limbs proclaimed a sinewy and strong person. HEY! Don't you DARE even think to insinuate. The only reason I knew this was because I am a very observant person and Legolas had told me enough stories to back up my theory!

Rhov rubbed his shoulder in a babyish way and I swear I think he even was contemplating sticking out his lower lip to heighten the picture of injured innocence but thought better of it. "For a daughter of men, you have a hefty punch." I snorted and he grinned. Dimples, he has dimples.

"Now, should I continue or will have you not finished punishing me?" Rhov asked with a wry grin.

I waved my hand carelessly in the air. "I am finished for now, my lord. Please, continue."

"Alright." To my everlasting astonishment, the long, lean elf swept his legs up under his flowing robs and commenced to sit Indian-style on the bench. Perhaps my jaw had dropped ever so slightly because Rhov gave me an odd look but he didn't say anything about it. "Where was I? Oh yes, Gimli, Strider, Legolas, and Boromir as well I have no doubt as the company's route will be parelell to the road to the White City. Elrond now needs two others and he is having a very hard time figuring out who the two should be. The two little hobbits are quite out of the question for Elrond since he dearly wants messengers sent to the Shire but I'm afraid that neither Merry or Pippin will be left out without a fight."

"Will Elrond chose you?" No, there was no quaver in my voice, I swear. It was merely a curious question.

"Oh no," Rhov looked down at me and those green eyes smiled so nicely. "I do believe that Elrond thinks I am a tad too unpredictable. He's probably right, I don't think it would be a good idea for me to go anyway, considering Mordor is no place for a dark-elf."

"Why not?" Now the eyes had stopped smiling and were looking slightly searching. Suddenly, I realized that Rhov was just about as lonely as I was. He had no one he could really trust with his darkest secrets and no one that would understand them even if he did try to talk of them.

Rhov's voice had abruptly switched to a whisper and he leaned close so I could hear. "What exactly do you know about me? I am not all fun and frivolity you know; no, that is just how my kind have faced immortality." At my blank look he began looking desperate. "What I'm asking is: have you heard strange stories about me that are a bit dark?"

Ah yes, now I knew what he was talking about. I remember Legolas telling me something about a dream he had had and a message from Aragorn explaining something but every time I had asked, Legolas changed the subject. The little I knew, was that Rhov was a bit susceptible to power of evil, far more than any of his cousins. Not much was written about dark-elves and the only books I could find on the subject were written in languages that had long been forgotten.

"I have heard some rumors…" I mumbled. For the record, do not ever, ever sit next to Rhov when he turns moody on you. His eyes are so sad and his face so melancholy that you want to hold his hand, stroke his hair, kiss his… AGH! What did I just SAY? Never mind, slight brain freeze there, bear it no mind.

I was just about ready to PAT HIS HAND (don't even think about mushiness, it's far too grossly romantic for my tastes) when Rhov suddenly stood, grabbed my hand, and hauled me down the hall and toward a door leading outside. I do believe he had suspected something of my motives (why do elves have to be so observant? Why?) and decided that the atmosphere was a little intense so a little exercise would do us both some good. I swear, males are all the same. When in doubt in a situation that is slightly charged, running is the option. Ok, so maybe that's just the good boys but heck, I would much rather have a good boy than an evil one considering all the evil ones are actually and truly evily wicked.

"Where are we going?" I managed to gasp out as I was dragged down steps and onto a grassy sward.

"To a picnic. I just remembered that was why I was supposed to find you. Arwen has been missing you the last couple days and apparently, you have gotten very good at avoiding people. It is a habit that I must learn one of these days."

Humph. There goes an entire page an a half out the window. My theory shot to pieces and the sudden wish that I was back home in Mirkwood, surrounded by my books and knowing Rhov only as a character in a story. I've got to hand it to the Lady of Shalot, she sure takes this unrequited love thing a heck of a lot better than me. Wait… did I just say the L-word? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!