Since there are no extremely pressing matters to attend to, I'll just get to the fic. A reminder, the bold font is private conversation between the elemental spirits. Enjoy!
"Now what is your plan?" The wizard asked the Elf. Aragorn had just been crowned king and his people were naming him Elessar, after the first king of the fourth age.
"That is up to Aragorn."
"What would you personally do?"
"After seeing our enemy, I would call a council of the realms. Have them come to Gondor to decide the fate of Middle Earth and Feywen."
"Like Elrond had done in the Third Age at the beginning of the war."
"Yes."
"Something tell me that he is going to do the same. He has never met the woman, but he is determined to save her, even if it means he goes to war alone."
"My Lords!" A voice called from behind them. It was Boromir, the new steward now that his father was dead. "King Elessar asks for your presence in his study. I am to take you."
"Lead the way." Glorfindel said. Boromir turned back the way he had come. Gandalf and Glorfindel followed silently.
"She is so close. We can feel our sisters."Kemen said softly to herself so as to not alert the wizard or steward or the elf.
"That is because we are right here." Alu said bitterly. "She sent us away when Morgoth began his ritual. She didn't want him capturing us and discovering how she had created the shields. She wasn't sure what would happen to them."
"They got stronger." Kemen said. Naur was sleeping as a lit torch would be extremely suspicious in the middle of the day. She would have to tell her everything later. "When Morgoth went through with his ritual, everything went crazy. Fires raged and the rivers flooded. Everything was destroyed and then created anew. But the shields protected everyone. They kept them out of harm's way and then returned them to where they were afterwards."
"She will be pleased to learn that. What are you doing here?"
"Almost fifty years ago, Gandalf took a baby boy from here to Rivendell to be raised when his father died. That boy has now returned and claimed his throne through trial. The King of Gondor knows of Feywen and he fights for her. We don't know what his next step is, but we are certain that it may be to march on Mordor. Once we have finished our duty, we will return to Feywen. She needs all of us more than ever now."
The Wizard and Elf entered the study and bowed formally to the king. Aragorn looked up and dismissed Boromir. The man left without a word. Aragorn gestured to the two chairs and sighed. "Nothing is ever easy. For the past three days, the nobles have been begging me to do this and that. Mostly, I am getting requests to ask Mithrandir to break Feywen's shield."
"I do not have that power."
"I know. And in place of removing the shield, I think it is time to go to war. But the Men of Gondor cannot stand alone against the armies of Morgoth. Gandalf, you told me of the Fellowship and that they were forever bound by their experiences. Of the original Fellowship, you and Legolas are the only ones left. Frodo and his kin have long since passed. As has my namesake, Gimli the Dwarf, and Boromir of Gondor. And they were formed by Elrond's council."
"What are you planning?"
"I am going to call a council of the races. Morgoth is not just the enemy of Gondor, he is the enemy of all of Middle Earth. I need word sent to all the kingdoms of the land. Excluding the Shire. Though they are strong, the Hobbits do not need to be included in this war."
"Aragorn, you must remember, Peregrin Took swore himself to the service of Gondor. Each of his eldest sons have done the same over the years. When you call your men to you, he will come. Just as Meriadoc Brandybuck's sons will go to Rohan. Their fighting in this is inevitable. Though, I am sure that Lord Celeborn will allow them to travel with them." Gandalf said. Aragorn nodded.
"Please, send the word out. Once everyone is here, we shall have the council." Glorfindel and Gandalf nodded and left. Aragorn ran his hand over his brow. "Don't worry, Feywen. I am coming for you. I will free you from Morgoth's control."
He rode into the stable to find a place for his steed. One of the grooms offered to do it for him, but he refused. He wanted to do it. It was one of the few things that gave him comfort since he lost his father when trying to save Feywen. The King of Mirkwood had taken a poisoned arrow meant for his son. He had died almost immediately and Legolas was made king. They had tried scaling the mountain side. But the Dark Elves had found them and had attacked. Once Thranduil had been injured, Legolas had called a retreat, carrying his father from the field of battle. He refused to allow Glorfindel to be right. He knew that if the Elves of Imladris had not kept what they wanted from them, Thranduil would not have died.
Legolas brushed his steed and looked around the stables, recognizing the horses from Lórien, Rohan, and even the Shire and a pony from the Dwarves. He did not see any horses from Rivendell and guessed they had been waylaid or else had decided not to come. As he made to leave the stable, he saw a white horse that he knew well enough. "So, he is here. Was he here before or did he arrive just behind I did." He stopped a groom that was passing by. "Tell me, how long has that horse been here?" He demanded, pointing to the white horse.
"Months, my Lord. Ever since King Elessar was crowned." Legolas let the man go and strode purposefully out of the stables.
"Months! How the hell does he know the king! No one knows the king of Gondor! So much mystery has surrounded the man. Unless," the truth dawned on him and he hurried into the Seventh Circle. Sitting beneath the White Tree was the man he sought, "Glorfindel!" He yelled across the courtyard as he stormed up to the tree. Glorfindel looked up at his name and saw Legolas approaching him. He stood up and gave a short bow before taking his seat again. Legolas drew level with him and pulled him up. "You cowardly worm. How dare you think you can come here and seat the king? I know your plans and they are not going to work! You are not going to rule over Gondor using the king as a puppet!"
"Legolas, let me go and I will explain. I am not here to use the king. I have brought him to take his throne back, which he has done."
"And you are the one who called this council! You think that getting Feywen back is going to keep you in good graces with everyone!" Glorfindel had had enough. After telling Kemen and Naur not to interfere, he managed to free himself of Legolas's grasp. The Elf king immediately ran at the other elf. Glorfindel dodged the punch aimed for his face. He responded with a kick that sent the king across the pavement. Consumed by his rage, Glorfindel didn't heed his own thoughts and attacked. Legolas was expecting it and blocked a punch and punched Glorfindel in the gut. The kept exchanging furious blows as the sun rose higher in the sky. By the time the sun was at noon, both Elves were bloodied.
"Damn it! Elladan, help me!" Two sets of arms grabbed Glorfindel's arms and pulled him backwards while another pair held Legolas back. "Glorfindel, listen to me. He's not worth it! Feywen doesn't want him. She wants you!"
"That is enough!" Another voice cut in thunderously. Glorfindel was suddenly aware that two people were holding him while another two were holding Legolas. The ones holding the Elf king were Éomer, King of the Mark, and Elrohir. The ones holding him were Aragorn and Elladan. The king of the Dwarves and Celeborn stood off to the side, having just arrived. Standing between all of them was Gandalf. "This is not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves. Every moment we spend fighting is another moment the Enemy uses to exploit our weaknesses. King Legolas, it was not Lord Glorfindel who called this council, but King Aragorn. But maybe it would be best if everything were discussed behind sealed doors."
"Agreed." The Dwarf said and followed Gandalf into the Citadel. Aragorn and Elladan escorted Glorfindel inside while Éomer and Elrohir guided Legolas in behind them. Celeborn came last with Carolani. He quickly filled her in on what had just happened.
Aragorn looked at everyone gathered in the circle. He took a breath and looked at Gandalf who nodded. "The last time the races were gathered together in such a manner, Lord Elrond had called the secret council and a Fellowship had been formed. Of that Fellowship, only two remain while five of us are only named after the others." He looked at the two Hobbits, the Dwarf, Gimli, and Boromir. "The council had been gathered to answer the threat that Mordor posed to them in that time in which the One Ring was in play. As we all know, it was destroyed by Frodo Baggins of the Shire and his faithful companion, Samwise Gamgee. The rest fought at the Black Gate to give him time to accomplish that feat."
"If you don't mind me asking," Éomer interrupted, "I know you are the king, but where did you come from. Many of us thought the prince had died with his parents long ago."
"I can answer that," Gandalf answered. "Almost fifty years ago, the King of Gondor summoned me from Rivendell. I answered the call and he asked me to take his son to Rivendell to be raised in the manner of King Elessar, First King of Gondor of the Fourth Age. Into my keeping, he placed the boy and Andúril. I took both to Rivendell where the prince grew up with the Dúnedain, ignorant of his heritage and learning the skills that his sire learned thousands of years ago." Legolas looked at the king and noticed how similar the two looked. "Just recently, the Lord Glorfindel told Aragorn, for that is his name," those present stirred in surprise, "of his true heritage and where the Lady Feywen now resides."
"The same woman who has not been seen since the shield were placed?" Boromir asked incredibly. "But she,"
"She is an Elandili, or was." Glorfindel answered the man. "Her mother was Gilraen the Fair and her father was Threndon of the house of Celebrant. She placed the shields before turning to Mordor to confront her enemy. She has been his prisoner these five hundred years."
"Maybe," Gandalf said, "it is time King Legolas recount his tale. Last I saw you, you and your father were searching for a way to rescue the Lady Celebrant."
"Yes. But I will keep the tale brief." Legolas cleared his throat. "After finding that no other feasible way into Mordor existed, my father and I decided to scale the mountains. Our army started the climb. They were a quarter of the way up when the Dark Elves attacked. The battle was long. In the process, my father was wounded by a poisoned arrow meant for me. So much poison was on the tip that he died in my arms. Knowing that we couldn't win, I called a retreat. Once safely back in Mirkwood, I took up my father's throne, much as King Aragorn has done here. But why is my tale important? I failed in what I had set out to do and killed my father in the process."
"It is important because now we know that we cannot scale the mountain to get into Mordor." Aragorn said. "Now that the history has been told,"
"A moment, Majesty." Boromir interrupted. "Lord Glorfindel mentioned that the Lady Celebrant was an Elandili, whatever that is. Are you saying that she is not anymore?"
Glorfindel looked at the sword in his lap. "An Elandili," he began, "is a half-Elf. Meaning that they have both Mortal and Immortal blood. To be free, the Enemy, Morgoth, needed to marry a full-Elf."
"Then there is nothing to worry about." The dirty blonde laughed. "We just need to rescue her."
"You didn't let me finish. The night the shields would not let any see outside them and the ground shook, Morgoth stripped Feywen of her mother's Mortal blood, making her an Elf in full. He has surely forced her to marry him by now." Glorfindel shot Legolas a killing glance before looking at Boromir again. "She is the only one with the strength and the knowledge to destroy him."
"That is why I have called you here." Aragorn picked up when Glorfindel fell silent. "I have called you to ask you to march upon the Black Gate with me."
"There is little chance of victory there, King." Gimli said.
"I know, King Gimli. But we would not be fighting to be victorious through strength of arms. We would be fighting to give Feywen the chance she needs to destroy the bastard, forever. I will take my men with Boromir at my side. But who else will come?" Aragorn declared. Glorfindel stood.
"Feywen is my wife. I should be the first one she sees when she comes out of that damned place. I will fight with you."
Elladan and Elrohir and Celeborn stood. "We will lead the Elves of Imladris to fight with you." Elladan said.
"Feywen is one of us," Celeborn spoke next. "She knows that I will always fight for her." Éomer stood.
"As I understand it, if we cannot give Lady Feywen this chance, then the whole of Middle Earth is doomed. My ancestor, King Théoden died in battle much like this. Rohan will fight with you. Light the beacons and my army shall be here within a fortnight."
Gimli stood. "The Lady Feywen defended Erebor with her own hand when the Dark Elves attacked us. It would be a great dishonor if I did not help her as well. Give me the word and my Dwarves will fight with you when you are ready." Gandalf nodded his ascent and stood, indicating that he, to, would fight. The Hobbits said nothing, having been spoken for. Everyone looked at Legolas, the last of the leaders. He stood.
"If for nothing else, I will fight to avenge my father and free the Lady Celebrant from Morgoth's bonds." Aragorn looked at Glorfindel who nodded.
"Boromir, send word for the signal fires to be lit. We must call the Rohirrim to their king. In a month's time, we shall see each other again at the Black Gate." A bell rang and the Leaders of Middle Earth scattered to do what needed to be done. Glorfindel looked to the east.
"I am coming." He said silently to the one he loved above all things.
Events have been set in motion that cannot be undone. The final battle comes. Can't wait for your reviews. Thanks for reading!