Chapter V:

Antien was released after making sure there was no lasting effects of his head injury and he tried to go back to the work that had piled up in his absence but as that day went on he realized that it wasn't worth it. He mind kept wondering to the stranger. It didn't make sense that he was a speaker. There were so few of them left and once his family either sailed or died depending on who you talked to, there wouldn't be any left. Even then he thought that at least Legolas and Vayna would know every one of their comrades and as far as he knew they contacted them all only to find out this stranger wasn't any of them. Antien sighed and leaned back into the armchair he was sitting in. None of it made sense. He thought again about the Room of Requirement and just being in the man's presence. Antien shut his eyes and let the images come, things that he failed to notice at the time. Antien had been laying on a low bed, more like a cot than a bed, a stack of pillows under he head, he realized then there had been a cold cloth on his head that had slipped away when he woke. He remembered there was only one candle lit yet there was a fireplace that looked just used. There was another bed in the corner that had looked slept in and a wardrobe open and full of clothes. It seemed that the man lived in the room.

Then Antien turned his attentions to the man himself. He seemed to have an aristocratic air to him yet he was kind and gentle when it came to helping him. His skin of his hands seemed pale and his fingers long and lean. He wore a deep dark cloak similar to the ones he had seen in his father's closet and he knew that they were of elven make. He did not see his face but as he focused on the image in his mind he thought he saw blond hair peek its way out, but he couldn't be sure.

Antien opened his eyes and turned to the fire. Whoever he was he seemed to be looking for something and not out to get him, whether that was good or not remained to be seen.

He turned to the door when he heard it open and saw James and Alexa walk in not realizing he was sitting there.

"Make yourself at home while I go and see if he's in his room." Antien smiled as he chose that moment to prank the prankster. Antien silenced Alexa when he caught her attention by placing his finger to his lips and slid back into the shadow of the chair missing her smirk.

"Huh," James said coming back down stairs. "I don't know where he is."

"We probably just missed him. Maybe he had a sudden library trip for his homework. It is laid out on the table." Alexa said without missing a beat.

"True," James said heading for the kitchen. "You want some tea?"

"Sure," she answered. She heard the water run in the kitchen and took the moment to look around the room. It felt different than the rest of the castle. Of course it may have had to do with who was guarding the rooms. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Antien to the kitchen and decided he needed more of a distraction. "Your brother has a nice place here. It almost makes me wish I wasn't sorted."

"Yeah, but the more of you there are the less of a novelty it becomes."

Antien shot her a quizzical look that asked Where the hell did he get that? before he disappeared through the door. Suddenly she heard a very girlish scream and hysterical laughter before James and Antien came from the kitchen James sopping wet and Antien red from laughing so hard.

They were interrupted by the tapping sound at the window.

"Hedwig?" James asked opening the window to let the owl in.

"Hedwig? I thought she was a snowy owl," Alexa said as she eyed the dark colored owl and dried James off by a flick of her wand making Antien stare.

"She was but this is Hedwig the second. Ada's first owl died a few years back and he let us name this owl. I don't entirely think he was happy with our choice with Hagrid dead and all," Antien said then sighed. "I really do miss that gentle giant."

"When did he die?" Alexa asked knowing about Hagrid from the stories that her father told.

James scratched at his chin thinking. "It had to be close to 10 years now, right, Antien?"

"Yeah, because Lily was almost a year old."

"What was he really like? I only heard one story of him and it didn't paint him in the best of lights."

"He really was what I said," James answered. "A gentle giant."

"The worst cook."

Alexa smiled, remembering the story of the birthday cake. Her father said that he was so hungry that he didn't care how it tasted. It was only in the past couple of years did she see a glint of guilt in his eyes about the cake and his cousin.

"James, what about the letter?" Antien asked suddenly.

"Oh! Yeah." James turned it over and broke the seal. Reading quickly he soon handed the letter over to Antien. 'Ada said that something came up back in Imladris and he and Legolas had to take care of it. Vayna went with them for reasons of her own.'

'What about classes?'

'She said that she left instructions with Elrohir just to watch over us while we continue with our research,' James answered. 'As for the Practical Defense Classes Legolas said the twins would be alright on their own but if they needed help to ask us.'

'Why didn't he say ask Naneth or Aunt Hermione or Uncle Ron? They are just as proficient.'

James shrugged and turned to a very annoyed looking Alexa. "What was that about?"

"Family stuff," Antien said easily. "Well, family stuff that you don't have to worry about." He amended when Alexa gave him a very pointed look.

… … … … …

Estel didn't know what to think when they received word from the caretakers of Imladris telling them there was a problem that needed their attention. Not the Twins attention as it was their land of inheritance, but Estel and Legolas's. Vayna decided to accompany them though she wouldn't say why. Estel had a feeling that she had seen what had happened and wanted to know and see for herself that it had actually happened.

The groundskeeper and the last remaining "butler" (that really stood for the keeper of the Twins) met them at the door and by the looks on their faces it wasn't good.

'My Lords,' they said solemnly.

'For what reason have you called us?' Legolas asked formally. Estel never really got how to deal with servants. All he had to do was site the incident with Dobby and everyone left him alone.

'It is probably best to show you,' the butler said.

Legolas and Estel shared a puzzled look before following.

… … … … … …

Vayna walked into her private lounge and shut the door signaling to the maid that followed her she wanted to be alone, yet she didn't bat an eye when she saw the figure seeped in shadow.

'How long have you known?' the figure asked.

Vayna wanted to scoff and ask Who me? but then realized it was far to much like the twins, instead answered the question outright. 'About 16 years.'

'You Saw it then?'

'Depends on what you thought I saw,' she countered. The stranger had yet to truly reveal himself yet if he was able to pass beyond the borders of the land he was no threat. Vayna turned when she heard the yell of her husband but was surprised to find that when she turned back around he wasn't there.

… … … … … …

Estel stood in utter disbelief at what was in front of him. The tomb that had laid for so long in peace was in pieces. The wards that he himself had laid so carefully were in shambles and they had no idea why.

'We were doing regular garden clean up when we found it. It looked like it happened just a week prior maybe less. We didn't know what to do beyond calling for you.' The butler had explained everything in hushed tones as if he was afraid to wake the dead.

'And the body?' Legolas asked slowly knowing what the knowledge was going to feel like.

'Gone.'

Legolas nodded his understanding and, as Estel walked forward, dismissed the servants with quiet thanks.

Estel fingered the stone and hissed at the cold feel of the magic that he felt there. 'It's been more than a week, Ada,' he said.

'How do you know?'

'The magic,' Estel answered simply and Legolas understood as best he could. Estel's hand traveled closer to the break and he hissed again, but this time in complete pain. He drew his hand back and saw that he had a burn not unlike he held his hand too close to a fire.

'Estel?'

'It's the magic,' he answered. 'It's too free, too wild to be any wizarding or elven for that matter. It felt destructive.'

'What could it mean?'

'I don't know. I will either ask Naneth or Amariel if they know or can find out.' Estel looked to his Ada and saw that he had a look of complete surprise on his face.

'That reminds me,' Legolas said as he went back to the house. Estel could just hear that he was calling for Vayna.

Estel looked back to the tomb praying to whoever will listen that everything would be all right.

…

…

…

…

…

A/N: With this chapter, the story takes an entirely different turn that originally thought, though I do not know where it will take me. There have been three or four different versions of this chapter this being the only one I typed. I got to a point where I just sat in front of my computer and typed.

Now I don't normally like doing these long Authors notes because I feel like they break up the story and I hate that in my work, but at the same time, when I read them in other stories it gives me insight as to who the author is. My excuse for this one is I thought the need to explain why the long wait.

Anyway, there are a few more clues in this chapter as to the identity of the stranger and I both hope and dread that you will figure it out. If you do, please message me or review so that I know.

I really hope that you like this chapter!

Always,

Vàna