"Fear cuts deeper than swords." ― George R.R. Martin

The halls of healing were near silent in the deepest hours of the night. Elrohir bent over his twin changing the cloth. A few of the healers were only doors away but Elrohir had insisted on being the one to care for his ailing brother. The moon shone through the large windows bathing everything in an ethereal hue. He wiped away more sweat from his brother's face and neck. This was the third compress and the healers suspected the fever would only intensify with time.

The shoulder was bound well but the dark indents on the bindings were not a pure red but a dark red mixed with traces of black ooze. The moaning didn't help assail his worries either as his twin trashed around in nightmare. It was his fault Elladan was laying there. He should have stopped him! Their mother wouldn't have wanted this. Why? If only he had been more level headed. This was his fault and it wasn't even the first time Elladan was hurt like this! Last time, the last time was the last time Lord Glorfindel had allowed his son to spend time with them. It had been a mere twelve years ago or was it just yesterday? Back then and even now the pain of their mother was, is still fresh. Elladan had a near death encounter and Arrai, he had come the closest of them all! Valar only knows what the orcs did to him! He gnashed his teeth in anger. If it had not been for his father they would have been dead. Dead for his recklessness his desire for the cursed monsters blood. His anger toward the orcs it clouded him like a dark shadow slowly squeezing out his heart. He knew it and yet he could do little to contain the rage he felt toward the hideous creatures. Ai muindor if only I could be the brother and friend you both deserved you wouldn't have had to suffer.

He lifted his brothers head up to give him some water but his brother began trashing about, the water spilling everywhere but his mouth. He held him down and a cup was brought to the ailing man's lips. It was Arrai. His eyes met Elrohir as he eased his brother back on the bed.

"What do the healers say?" Traces of fear and anxiety were palpable in the air.

There was a pause in which sorrowful eyes landed on his brother's form. His grip on his brother tightened involuntarily. "Saes, No!"

A hand landed on his shoulder. "We must take him to Rivendell."

"Why not take some of his blood ?" To journey with his brother when he was in such a state was suicide.

"There is not enough time." Elrohir relented. What else was there to do? All he knew was that if Elladan died he would blame himself for this.

Arrai left the halls of healing making his way to his chambers in the hope of getting an hour's more rest while the elves prepared the horses only to find the Lady Galadriel at his door standing so still she could almost be a sculpture. Tall and fair her keen eyes studied him. He bowed and a thin smile graced her lips in response. "I have heard of what you have seen from the company of elves that was sent forth to our borders. The dark rider and its mount. They have awakened." Her clear voice cut through the gentle breath as she circled slowly around the younger elf.

"We were fortunate if not for the rain…"

"Indeed," The smile faded as she turned to look at him standing opposite him in the halls. "Nine there were each with only one weakness. Only that of one is known. The Witch-king of Angmar Lord of the Nazgûl. Not by the hand of man shall he fall."

He knew of this. Lord Glorfindel had spoken to him of this on several occasions. Warning him against the darkness as he himself had fought this cursed creature in the epic battle of Fornost. If not by men, then perhaps by the gods? Seeing his distress the Lady shook her head eyes gentle as she studied Thranduil's son. "He is not the one who has awakened."

His eyes flashed his mask of fear replaced by fervent hope. "Then he can be killed?"

The white lady smiled at him cryptically once more. "Perhaps, the mirror calls to me, will you deign to peer at things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be?" She extended her hand motioning for him to follow. Reluctantly he did for Elrond had warned him that the future that was foreseen was what would be, for it takes into account that you have seen it.

They emerged in a spacious chamber covered in greenery and Everwhite's strewn here and there were other flwers a brillian hue of violet but most a deep blue blending with the shadows. In the center stood the mirror encircled by a wreath of greenery with white and crimson flowers. The white lady glided to the small fountain dipping the silver pitcher in the water.

His knees suddenly felt weak. Swallowing his parched throat he whispered. "I… I do not wish to look."

Her eyes flashed to his own inscrutable. Such refusal was not custom among the elves. The gift of prophecy was seldom given and seldom offered. He feared he had angered her but she merely smiled, this time it reached her eyes. "You are wise son of Glorfindel to refuse this gift. For in knowledge comes great price. But the pool grows restless. Better it come through the waters then through your dreams for I assure you the dream will find you just as surely as I am a master of this pool."

Slowly he glided to the pool and slowly almost hesitantly he allowed his eyes to rest open the water which was poured into the mirror. At first there was nothing and then darkness. The black breath was palpable in the air as he saw orcs marching to the North Undeep. More orcs then he had thought possible to assemble without fight or quarrel. Then he was in a forest and he felt it more than saw it. His heart convulsed in pain, he gripped weakly at the edges of the basin the darkness whispered into his ear drawing him in to look closer. Hew fought against the urge but suddenly an armored hand dressed in cold metal clamped over his neck pulling him under. He tried to pry it off but its grip was to strong it pulled him deeper into the water as he fought against it. It was dark and cold. The water turned to blood the metallic taste entered his lungs as he choked on it struggling against the deathlike grip. A firm hand pulled him out producing a shriek from the Nazgûl as he fell to his knees choking the images dissolving from the pool but not his mind. Lord Celeborn steadied him a deep seeded fear in his eyes as Arrai coughed out red liquid crimson blood spilling freely from his lungs as he wretched it out onto the soft meadow underfoot neck beaded in cold sweat shuddering from the ordeal. Lord Celeborn was saying something but the blood beat too loudly behind his temples to hear. "Saes, focus on my voice." He shuddered closing his eyes. A sweet herb was broken by the elder elf and the illusion of crimson on his hands dispelled turned to water once more as the air lightened. Celeborn's eyes flickered to his wife who was standing still as a statue.

"Melamin Are you well?"

She nodded gracefully troubled eyes on the slumped elf. "I do not know its meaning."

Arrai allowed Lord Celeborn to grip his arm and assist him to his feet murmuring thanks as he rubbed his neck free of the marks but sore as if the claws of iron had indented on his neck. Lord Celeborn frowned at the action. "Do not fret, all will be revealed in time."

"Perhaps. I apologize for what you witnessed." Lady Galadriels sorrowful eyes were upon him.

"It…I am thankful for the honor. Though it seems the price was high indeed." An involuntary shudder ran down his spine as he left the two elves bowing out. Fear gripping hi heart at what he had seen.

He met a troubled Elrohir at the stables. "Where were you? Did you feel it? I thought the cursed rider had penetrated even Lothlórien wards!"

"It was nothing of the sort." Arrai assured him. It was the mirror. The dawning sat Ellrohir's face in grim understanding. "What have you-"

But Arrai cut him off not wishing to speak of what he had seen nor felt. "We had best focus on getting Elladan to Rivendell."

"Aye." And with that said the two riders took the Ailing elf their sole obsession on getting Elladan to Lord Elrond in time.

Note: When Frodo was around the pool Lady Galadriel had her test or what not so it's not too farfetched that something like what I described is possible as not much is actually known about the mirror and how real the images may be. If you think otherwise then just bear with me.

Next chapter should be up tomorrow! I wrote this in a slight hurry so forgive any lapses in sentence structure. Next Chapter the fight you have been waiting for!