Dedication: For Mjg43. Thank you. :)


CHAPTER THREE


"They have increased in number. Elf scouts have reported it, and so have the villages of Anorien and Lebennin. Also, they are moving quickly. Travelling by both night and day. It is as if the sunlight does not affect them," Adassir, the captain of the guard, said as he stood in front of the packed hall. Seated behind him on a raised platform were members of the council, but many others were also present, needing to know what urgency there was to be discussed. "The men are finding it difficult to defend themselves, more than before. Back then, they had the number. They could outnumber the yrch two men to one. Yet now all they can rely on is strength. And let us not forget that these villages have neither swords nor bows. All they have are their pitchforks and hammers, their rakes and wooden shields."

"They need help," an elf from the crowd agreed.

"What has Gondor done?" asked another.

"King Telumetar says he cannot risk the safety of his castle. He has instead given word that the farmers evacuate to the stronghold." Adassir answered. "The people have started to follow his instructions, leaving all gold and life behind. There is no help coming for them from their fellow men."

"Friends," Elrond said, all attention moving to him as he rose from his chair. "Rivendell has sent scouts as soon as we heard of the news. The men needed our help, and we were willing to give it. Also, it was a curious case. The orcs, multiplying? It has been unheard of until today. The scouts we sent would have provided us with an answer. Yet it was there that another problem arose," he paused for a moment, and the gravity of his next words sparked whispers in the hall. "Fortnights have passed, yet they have not yet returned, and none of them had reached Gondor."

Tauriel watched as Thranduil shared a look with Galadriel, it was quick, but she had not failed to see it. She also did not fail to notice the only other elf who witnessed the encounter. She could see him staring at the king, his eyes furrowed slightly. She had not seen him in the glade. Yet the crystal blue of his eyes seemed to her, to stand out from the paleness of the room. A she-elf's next words did not give her time to contemplate, however.

"My son..." she started, her voice hesitating. Tauriel turned to look. She recognized her as the elf who had joined them from Lothlorien. Nídhneth, her name was. The crowd around her moved so that she would be visible to the council.

"I have not seen my son since the Old Ford, where we met our friends from Rivendell," she looked unfazed, but Tauriel noticed the slight quiver in her voice. "I thought he had joined his friends, or that he must have been in the crowd, but he has shown no signs of presence. Even at the glade," here, her face took a pleading expression. "Even then, I did not see him, nor did anyone else."

More whispers erupted, and if possible, the hall was even noisier than before. Here did Galadriel finally speak, and her words cut like a knife through the hall. "There is a darkness brewing about. It is one unheard of, deceiving and swift. But this sickness stems from an enemy of old, and an enemy close to our hearts," she paused, and slowly, closed her eyes. She stayed like that for a moment, and an unbearable silence filled the hall. And then, again she opened them, and she stared at Elrond and Thranduil. "There is danger coming," she said.

What happened next, happened too quickly. Instead of noise, a peace-less silence overtook them all, and Galadriel's words reverberated through the hall. Soon enough, Thranduil had ordered most of the elves to step out of the room. They had to talk, he said. Tauriel would have also exited, if Arwen did not stop her. "We need to listen," she whispered, and Tauriel nodded in silence.

In the corner of her eyes, she could also see the young elf she had noticed earlier. The fact that he stayed behind only meant that he held a place in the council.

"Elves disappearing," Elrond said when only a fourth of the initial population remained. He frowned. "And on the way here."

"Did none of you notice?" asked a loud voiced elf named Duon.

"The horde was too big," Galadriel said patiently. "And there were no incidences. No one had dared attack us. There would have been no way for us to know," she said.

"What are we to do on the journey back?" Another younger elf asked.

"That is moons away. Now, what we have to discuss is what we do with the orcs," continued Duon.

"No," Thranduil said. "Precisely as you have said, it is only moons away. We need to prepare for the journey. There can be no more incidences like this," he said.

"Then what do you propose, oh King?" he asked back.

Thranduil looked at him considering, but he did not answer. Instead, the young elf with blue eyes that she had seen spoke up. "Break up the hordes; we should instead travel by groups. Not too large for us to forego anyone who would be missing, but also not too small to be defenseless."

Elrond nodded slowly. "Legolas speaks truly. But I have to ask, 'we'?"

Legolas. Tauriel looked at him, also waiting for an answer, but instead it was the elf beside him who replied.

"Mirkwood will send guides to accompany you back, Lord Elrond. We will not let our guests arrive home unsafe," he explained.

Elrond looked questioningly at Thranduil, who only nodded. "It is as Aegnir says. It had been set even before this meeting. We would not let any more harm come to our guests," he said.

Other elves were nodding in agreement then. "Then it is arranged," Celeborn spoke for the first time that night, and the other elves nodded to him. "And as for the missing elf..." he began.

"Shall we ride out tomorrow?" Aegnir asked.

"No," Thranduil said firmly. "The reports are caution enough. We need careful planning. And enough training. But we will send out searchers as soon as we are able. Legolas, be sure to call the warriors tomorrow."

"Yes, father," Legolas answered.

Ah, Tauriel realized. The prince of Mirkwood.

"And the orcs?" Duon persisted.

"They will be talked about another night, Duon," Elrond told him. "For now, there is nothing we can do. Sending scouts will stir unnecessary commotion; the seekers will deal with them along with their search for the young elf,"

Thranduil nodded, and so did Galadriel. "The meeting ends."

Tauriel glanced at Arwen, who nodded at her. They moved towards the door, but a voice calling out her friend's name stopped them in their tracks.

"Legolas," Arwen smiled, and Tauriel turned to see the same elf she had been watching walking briskly towards them.

"May I walk you?" he asked giving Tauriel the ghost of a smile, when he finally reached them.

Arwen nodded, and together the three headed out the door. The crowd moved slow, and she had no time to smile back at him, nor did they have time to speak.

"I'm sorry about Gobelion," Legolas said to Arwen, as they stepped out.

Gobelion was Nídhneth's son, Tauriel remembered. He was the missing elf.

"You are not at fault," Arwen said, although there was evident worry in her voice. "I just hope he is safe."

When they had finally reached the outside of the hall, the three faced each other. The noise of the pack dissipated in the open space

Up close, Tauriel again was struck by the coolness of Legolas' gaze. "Before anything else, I believe there is a need for introductions," Arwen said, her pale skin seemingly glowing in the moonlight. But before she could say anything else, Legolas bowed ever so slightly to Tauriel. "Legolas," he said, smiling at her.

Then, finally, Tauriel could return his smile. "My name is Tauriel."

END OF CHAPTER


A/N: And they finally freakin meet! I honestly hope I didn't go OOC with this chapter, and I hope I didn't get the council meeting wrong. I had no other basis than the one in FOTR and we all know how that turned out.

Constructive criticisms are much welcome.

Vee

Edited: 11/14