Halt blinked, looking around him. He, Gilan, and Alyss had been walking for only a few minutes when the ranger heard something. It was faint, but he had definitely heard something. A soft cry, sounding like someone's name, or a place. Another yell, another name, and then a third.

"Did you-" Alyss began but stopped at both Ranger's swift nods, and Halt's gesture for silence.

They waited for a few moments but did not hear the cry again. Halt looked around at the silent forest, sighing internally. "Gilan," he began in a low voice. The young ranger turned to him, a silent question in his eyes. "Go ahead, see what you can see. Go quietly, under no circumstances are you to make contact unless you find someone that you personally know. Be back by dawn, or we'll assume you've been captured and then we'll have to come up with an escape plan."

Gilan nodded once then ghosted away. He placed each foot carefully, moving with practiced ease and natural skill. He went quicker than he might have, only because he could see nothing in the dark forest, and had no idea where his enemies might be.

He swung in wide circles, glad for the task that kept his mind off everything that had happened, and the sheer impossibleness of it all. The thought threatening to overwhelm him once more he lost concentration and a small twig cracked under his boot. Cursing himself internally Gilan refocused, and went on unseen.

After a time he finally spotted something in the distance. A fire. Several fires. Stilling instinctively Gilan stopped, now moving with utmost care. He didn't see anyone moving against the fires, but that didn't mean that no one was there. He drew closer and closer, careful to remain unseen. Soon enough he was close enough to see the details of a camp, that wasn't really a camp at all.

He saw the main fire, a cook fire by the looks of it, and several small torches set around the clearing so that it was illuminated. In the circle there was only a long table, set for seven, and the remains of a meal. Confused, Gilan was tempted to call it a party. His brow furrowed he chanced moving closer. He was behind the fires, but he had seen the horses tethered to the side of the 'camp'. He drew a few meters closer, peering into the clearing.

Then someone emerged.

Gilan held his breath, then managed to force himself to take slow and even breaths. If he held it too long sooner or later he'd have to inhale, and more likely than not that would be rather loud. He shrank back against the tree, wrapping his cloak around him, his face shadowed in the deep cowl as always. Trust the cloak, he said to himself.

The figure was tall and had long raven hair, though he was obviously male. He carried himself with authority, but it was also clear that he was in some amount of stress. The man was pacing the clearing, and peered often into the surrounding trees. He wore a long tunic trimmed with gold and deep red, with nice trousers and thin boots, no so unlike the soft footwear rangers favored. He was some sort of nobility, but the sword buckled at his side showed him as a warrior. His face was young, surprisingly so, Gilan saw when he turned around.

His clothes were foreign, and if anything resembled Araluen's fashion. Yet he was of noble blood, or held some sort of high rank, and he did not resemble anyone that Gilan knew.

He stifled the urge to jump when someone else emerged from the far side of the clearing. This one had long hair as well, though it was a blonde-ish color in contrast to the other's dark shade. He had no sword, but akin to the ranger himself he had a bow strapped to his back, a recurve instead of a longbow, and a knife in his belt, though only one. Gilan amended the statement when he saw the second knife in a sheath on his back, near the quiver, as the figure turned.

The young ranger was reminded of the stress and sense of worry when the two men quickly met. They started discussing things rapidly, and Gilan leaned forward only to be disappointed. They talked in a language that Gilan could neither understand nor identify.

Thoroughly confused, but sensing he would find out no more information, the ranger rose from his concealment stealthily. And he was very quiet, and any man would not have heard him. Unluckily for Gilan, these were no mere men.

The blonde one raised a hand, halting their conversation and peered into the trees where he had heard the sound. Gilan felt a flash of alarm. How had they heard him? Meanwhile he stood stock still, remaining against the tree and majorly concealed by a bush in front of him.

While the strangers seemed to be able to hear him, they still could not see him. That, after all, was Gilan's specialty. At length the odd men seemed to dismiss the noise and turned back to talking urgently. The fire emitted a loud pop as green wood burned and Gilan used that to stand and take a step forward. He saw the blonde turn his head like he had heard him, but he seemed to have more on his mind and dismiss the thought.

Quickly yet as silent as possible, and never seen, Gilan traced his way back to Halt, his mind buzzing with what he had seen.

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Legolas blinked away the afterimage of the strange cold light. He opened his eyes and shuddered, looking around at the camp that remained as if nothing had happened. His gaze traveled about it then he started, a stone settling in his stomach.

"Aragorn!" the cry was torn from his lips almost involuntarily as he stared at open space where his friend had been moments prior. "Ada..." he trailed weakly, his head spinning. Aragorn, Thranduil, Glorfindel, what had happened to them?

Elrond move swiftly over, staring at the ground. "Elladan," he said quickly, beckoning his eldest son, who of the four of them was best at tracking.

The Peredhel knelt quickly, scanning the ground. He rose, shaking his head with disbelief.

"Where are they?" Legolas asked quickly, anxiety creeping in.

"I do not know," Elladan replied. "There is no sign of their footprints. I can see where they stood but there is no sign to say that they moved at all. It is as if they grew wings and flew away."

"How can this be?" Legolas asked. Instinctively he turned to Elrond. Surely the Lord of Imladris would have the answers?

The lord looked troubled. "There is no way to say. I have never seen anything like that light before." he said slowly. Legolas's heart sunk. Where had they gone? For years he and Aragorn had gotten themselves into all sorts of trouble, often with the twins as well, but whenever the mortal had been in danger Legolas had been there to get him out of it. He always knew what to do and how to help him, but now...Legolas felt positively helpless. Thoughts of his father swirled in the elf prince's head as well. Thranduil...their relationship had been strained for many years, but they had finally begun to bridge that gap, and even with his shortcomings Thranduil had always wanted the best for his son. Legolas could never doubt that.

"We must do something." Legolas said strongly. He wasn't about to let his friends go missing without a trace and do nothing about it.

"We can search around here. They cannot have gone far and I may have missed their tracks..." Elladan said uncertainly. He was deeply troubled. There seemed to be no explanation for the sudden light, cold, and disappearance of their companions.

Legolas walked to the nearest tree, placing his palm flat against it. Gently he asked it to look out for them, and the surrounding trees rustled in an ever growing circle as they vowed to search for their king. Determined, he pulled himself into the branches.

"ADA!" he called into the night, his voice echoing through the trees. No answer met it.

"ESTEL!" Elrohir shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"GLORFINDEL!" Elladan called, turning in a wide circle.

Each call met silence.

"Ada!" Legolas called again, bordering on desperation. He searched in his mind for his father's presence. His search yielded nothing. The place where he could usually find his father in his mind was empty, and he could not feel Thranduil anywhere. It was like he had simply vanished. Panicking slightly Legolas feared the worst. Was this what it felt like when someone died? "I cannot see him. I cannot see him." Legolas whispered, in distress.

"Peace," Elrond said, placing a hand on the young elf's shoulder. "Now tell me, can you feel your bond?"

Legolas shook his head.

"Can you feel him? What is in the space where you find your father?"

Legolas shook his head again. "No, there is nothing." A deep chill touched his heart. "Is he dead, Lord Elrond?" he whispered.

"Nay, penneth, I do not believe so."

Legolas felt a huge wave of relief. "Where is he then? Why can I not feel his presence?"

"I do not know at this time. We shall search for any sign of them, and see what we can see in the morning. Thranduil, Glorfindel, and Aragorn are very capable and I doubt that they have fallen into much trouble."

"Elrohir, stay here in case they find their way back here." Lord Elrond said after a pause, taking control of the situation. "Legolas go east, Elladan go north, look for our lost companions. They cannot have traveled far in such short a time."

The young elves nodded and disappeared in the given directions. Elrond went forward his way, though in his heart he felt that they would not find them. They were somewhere else, and he could not see them in Middle Earth any longer.

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It has been hours! Elrohir thought, trudging in his small circle around the camp. He saw the sense in leaving him at their picnic site, but now it didn't help him feel less useless. At least when he circled the camp he felt as if he was doing something.

Grumbling to himself he stepped back into the clearing, under unnoticed observation. Elrohir paced the length of the clearing, crossing to the horses, then to the table and back again. Where were they? Already the moon had slipped past its zenith and was well on its way down to the horizon. Elrohir glanced at the trees sharply, hoping that by some miracle Estel would walk through them, Glorfindel and the king behind him, no worse for the wear. He paused, but of course nothing happened.

Stifling an angry sigh he resumed his pacing, always taking furtive glances at the surrounding forest. "Ai Estel," he whispered to himself. He had always been able to save his little adoptive brother, and yet now he had disappeared someplace far beyond his reach.

To reassure himself he looked inward, searching for his twin. He felt Elladan's reassuring presence and sighed, steeling himself.

The elf whirled quickly as Legolas stepped into the clearing.

"Have you found them?" Elrohir asked quickly in elvish.

"No," Legolas said heavily. Elrohir deflated, shoulders slumping.

"Where could they have gone?" The raven haired elf lamented, peering around into the surrounding trees.

"Lord Elrond will find them and bring them back. From wherever they are."

"There is something strange going on here. It is like magic. I wish Mithrandir would show up unexpectedly as he does." Elladan said quickly, pacing once again. He opened his mouth to say something else but Legolas held up a hand, forestalling him.

The prince peered into the forest, his eyes scanning the trees and ground. He had heard something, he was sure of it. He saw the trees and the bushes, but in the half light of the flickering torches he did not see the mortal crouched behind the bush, his mottled green and grey cloak concealing him from even his eyes. His keen blue eyes raking the treeline he eventually shrugged it off.

"What is it?" Elladan asked in a quiet voice, following Legolas's gaze.

"Nothing. I had thought I heard something. Must have been a squirrel or mouse." Legolas said absently, brow furrowed. He studied the trees for a moment more then mentally shrugged. There were more important things at hand.

"What are we going to do?" Elrohir asked dejectedly. He was pacing again. "If I ever find out who took them..." he trailed off, shaking his head.

"I would pity them. But only for one moment, because in two they shall be dead." The prince said blankly, overcome with worry and anger. The fire emitted a loud pop and Legolas once more heard a sound. His head turned instinctively, but he stilled the movement, assuming it to be some woodland creature.

Dawn had broken when Elladan and Lord Elrond returned. The birds were subdued, and the wind moaned through the trees, as if they knew that a tragedy had befallen the forest. Neither Elladan or the Lord of Imladris had found anything that gave any hint as to where their companions had gone. They had simply, and inexplicably vanished.

Legolas was in despair, unanswered questions flying through him, and feeling rather helpless in the safety of Imladris. How had anything come within the Lord's power and taken them right in front of them?

"We will find them, Legolas," Elladan said, coming up to his friend and laying a strong hand on his shoulder. Legolas nodded gratefully, but was unable to truly believe his words.

Suddenly the trees around them shook their branches, whispering urgently. Legolas sprang away, pressing his palm to the nearest tree and concentrating. The ancient oak whispered the news to their woodland prince.

"Strangers! In the forest. Near here, just north." Legolas relayed the information rapidly in his native tongue. "Come!"

The elf prince led the way, his eyes set coldly. If whoever it was had taken his father and friends there was nothing in this world that could stop him.

Elrond followed apprehensively, the twins plowing ahead determinedly. He knew the look in their eyes, all of theirs. The three of them were infinitely dangerous in such a state, and the lord only hoped that they wouldn't do anything rash.

Meanwhile, not so far away...

Halt listened intently to Gilan's report. The young ranger had arrived just before dawn, much to Halt's relief. It had been a long, stressful, and sleepless night for him and Alyss. He nodded. "You don't know the language?"

Gilan shook his head. "It didn't sound like anything I've ever heard before."

Halt furrowed his brow, thinking on the clothing and descriptions of the two men Gilan had observed. It didn't sound like any country he knew of... Just what had happened and where in the world were they? Little were they to know that they were not, in fact, in their world.

"How odd..." Alyss murmured absently beside him. Her mind was racing, but ran into dead end after dead end. She couldn't make heads nor tails of their situation. However, she had complete faith in Halt and Gilan, sparing only a fleeting worry for her friends back in araluen.

"You said they were warriors, though?" Halt asked after a moment.

"Oh yes," Gilan nodded seriously. "Capable ones, if I'm to judge. There was a swordsman, and an archer. The archer was rather like us, though, with his knives and everything."

"Was the swordsman a knight? Did you see a shield or insignia anywhere?"

"No," Gilan said regrettably. "He wasn't wearing the common armor for a knight, and I didn't see his sign on anything."

The young ranger shook his head. There were too many questions, too many enigmas to make sense of. He looked around at the strange forest. The trees stood tall and green, but Gilan wondered when they would reveal their enemy. As it was, the Araluens didn't have long to wait.

Halt decided it would be best to scout around and look for civilization, and hopefully some answers. They moved efficiently, but still slower than the group of young elves, bent on finding their friend's captors.

So it came to be that only hours later the elves caught up to the small band of Araluens.

Legolas heard them first. Fierce senses attuned to picking up unusual forest sounds he heard the group plodding through the woods. To their credit, the noises were very faint, but to an elf looking out for such sounds it was no hard thing to pick them up. He held up a hand, and the three behind him slowed, taking their steps now with more care.

Elrond was hesitant for a moment, then dismissed the thought. If these people had in fact taken two of his oldest friends, and his adoptive son they deserved every bit of rage the three young elves would unleash upon them. He took a breath, but only if they had indeed done such a thing.

"None of you are to attack until we determine who they are." He whispered firmly, meeting each young gaze to make sure that they understood. After a pause each nodded to him and Elrond nodded back, satisfied.

He gestured them on ahead and Legolas pulled himself soundlessly into a tree, the branches moving slightly to accommodate him, the twins moving forward with virtually no sound. Together, they stalked their prey.

Halt looked around him for the tenth time. Something told him they were being watched. Age old instincts that had kept him alive for so long were setting off alarm bells in his mind. Quickly he whirled, using the old trick to try and catch someone off guard, but for the tenth time he saw nothing.

"Something bothering you, Halt?" Alyss asked, noting the tense way he stood and his constant checks.

"Are you expecting us to be followed?" Gilan asked, looking around at the surrounding trees. The forest seemed quiet enough to the young ranger, but he had grown to respect Halt and would never dismiss anything that he had to say.

Halt's eyes raked the forest, slowly at first, then darting back and forth hoping to catch their stalker off guard. His searching gaze yielded nothing, and he did not see the elf prince who was quietly observing.

Legolas watched from the trees, the branches hiding him. He moved with virtually no sound, but the oldest one, who seemed to be the leader, kept checking. He noted the longbows the two green and grey clad ones carried, as well as their knives and swords. These were warriors no doubt, and very capable assassins, Legolas guessed.

Quiet rage built up in the elf again and he drew his bow, fitting an arrow to the string slowly and deliberately. Only the words of Lord Elrond kept him from sending his arrow into one of their skulls. Slowly and carefully he pushed back his anger, shifting his position slightly so as to get a better shot.

He lifted his bow and sent an arrow very deliberately in front of Halt.

The ranger recoiled swiftly, drawing his own bow in one swift movement, knowing that Gilan would have done the same behind him. He heard the sharp shinng! of Alyss's knife coming out of its scabbard.

"Daro! Mankoi naa lle sinome?" Legolas called, his voice laced with authority and power. His 'prince voice', Aragorn had often teased him.

Halt heard the voice, and tensed, looking around for an adversary he could shoot. The language was unrecognizable to him, but the authority behind it was very real. He paused, perhaps they could find some answers to the questions they had here.

He heard Alyss and Gilan's sharp intake of breath as a figure suddenly dropped down before them. He landed lightly, rolling with the fall and rose, bringing his bow to full draw in the same motion. His long hair was silvery blonde, and he had a hard edge to his gaze, almost like anger Halt guessed. He carried himself with utter assurance, and an authority that marked him as some kind of leader despite his apparent youth.

"That's him, Halt!" Gilan whispered urgently. "He's one of the men I saw at the campsite!"

"Lle rangwa amin?" Legolas demanded, looking down his arrow at them. The man had his own longbow pointed at the elf now, but Legolas stood strongly. "Do you understand me now?" he asked, using the common tongue. He saw the recognition in their eyes and went on. "Why are you here?"

"We are simple travelers, milord," Halt said, but was unwilling to lower his bow, given the circumstances.

"Travelers who venture forth so armed?" Legolas replied, his voice stone cold. "Come around them. Make yourself be known," Legolas called to the Peredhel in elvish.

Elladan and Elrohir emerged on either side of the small party. Now they were matched one to one, and the twins drew their swords. Legolas saw the younger cloaked man turn to train his bow on Elrohir, while the girl bravely faced Elladan.

"You can shoot me," Legolas began slowly and deliberatively. "And I may die, but you shall fall also. My arrow will fly true, even if I am slain as it is released. If your companion shoots one of mine, his brother will avenge him. Then, even if the lady manages to slay him, she will not get far in these lands, with their blood on her hands."

Halt regarded the blonde-haired man's words. He reserved a little more faith in Gilan, and presumed that he could incapacitate both of the swordsman before either got close enough to use it, and even then they would find themselves against an expert. But it was true that they had no idea how many more men might be waiting in the trees, or in the surrounding area, and even if they did get away from these three it might not end well for them. And here, no casualties were to be accepted. All in all, their situation was not a favorable one.

"We are simple travelers," Halt tried again.

"There are no travelers in these lands that go unnoticed." Legolas refuted coldly. It was true, somehow despite Elrond's power, their friends had gone missing, and these three had entered and gotten deep into his territory without the lord's knowledge.

Halt's mind was racing. Where in the world were they? Little did he know he wasn't in the world he knew.

"Speak now, and say no deceit." Elladan called gravely. Both he and Elrohir took a step inwards, closing in their noose a fraction.

Halt looked grim. "Halt?" Gilan whispered, looking to his mentor for direction. Sucking in a breath and glowering darkly to himself, Halt nodded slowly and lowered his bow.

The man opposite him lowered his bow at the same rate, so that both were now pointed at the ground but still half-drawn. The archer gestured to the ground, indicating them to drop their weapons. Halt hesitated for half a second then laid his longbow on the forest floor, replacing the arrow in its quiver. He heard Gilan's bow and Alyss's dagger hit the ground with soft thuds. Now the archer reached forward, picking Halt's bow up from the ground, slinging his own recurve bow onto his back. The ranger repressed the urge to wrench his weapon from his hands and pierce him with an arrow.

The elf studied the bow for a few seconds. It was well crafted, and made for someone strong. No ametuer could handle such a weapon. However it was a slightly different style from the longbows he'd seen before, and made by no crafted he recognized. He plucked the bowstring experimentally, and turned his blue gaze back to the Araluens.

"Why are you here?" he asked again, his tone of voice allowing for no nonsense.

"We don't know." Halt said tersely, settling for the truth.It sounded far fetched enough to be a lie, and so he saw no reason in not saying it. Besides, if these really were the lords of the land, they might offer help once they realized what had happened.

"You do not know?" Legolas repeated icily. "I hope you remember."

"We woke up here, after a strange light took us from our home." Halt said bluntly, prepared for the scoffs and outrage.

To his surprise the young man before him started in surprise, lowering Halt's bow. "A light?" He repeated.

"A light." Halt said definitively. His mind was racing. Did they know what had happened to them, and where Will and the others were?

"Was it cold?" Elrohir called quickly.

Halt nodded gravely. "Yes. The temperature plummeted and a white light filled the air. We were at a cabin, having a gathering in Redmont and we three woke up here. Do you know where our friends are?"

"Friends?" legolas said, overwhelmed with this new news. "No, have you not found ours?"

It was halt's turn to be surprised. "Yours?"

"Our friends. Three of them have gone missing. The air turned to ice and the light filled our vision. Moments later they were gone." Legolas said urgently, his blue eyes boring into Halt's.

The ranger only shook his head. "I don't know what's happened to your friends," he said.

Elrond stepped forward out of the trees for the first time, looking at the surrounded group. Halt looked up at the fourth member of the odd assembly. He was tall and regal looking, but not haughty. He seemed fair and wise. He wore a long robe of autumn colors and an outer cloak edged with silver. His brown hair was long and braided intricately on the sides, alike and yet unlike to the plaits worn by the blonde archer.

"You said you were in 'Redmont'?" Elrond asked, coming to stand beside Legolas and looking at Halt as the leader of the group. Halt nodded assent. "Where is this?" Elrond asked. He was beginning to see what might have happened, and putting the pieces together.

"Redmont Fief, of Araluen," Halt replied. He noted confusedly the blank look he saw in the archer's eyes.

The archer then looked to the dark haired one, a question in his gaze.

"Let me see if I can shed some light." Elrond began. "Tell me of some countries that are where you came from."

Halt considered the strange question for a moment then supplied a short list, very confused at what was happening. He didn't like not knowing. "Ah, Araluen, Hibernia, Skandia, Celtica, Nihon-Ja," he listed a few.

The dark haired man nodded slowly. He had never heard of any of those places in all the years he had spent gathering wisdom. "And inversely you have never heard of Gondor, Rohan, the Shire, Mirkwood, Erebor, or Lothlorien?"

Halt shook his head, even more at a loss. He growled frustratedly. "Tell us what's going on," he muttered impatiently.

"Well, it is my belief that this cold light took you away from your world, and brought you to ours. Accordingly, it took our friends and brought them to your world."

He saw understanding dawn on the younger of the two's face. Halt was a little more skeptical.

"What? How?" Alyss' confusion made her voice her thoughts.

"That I do not know." Elrond replied simply. The answer seemed to satisfy the lord's companion, but was nowhere near enough for the Araluens.

"So where exactly are we?" Gilan asked, shifting his footing slightly.

"You are in Imladris, or very near it." Elladan answered him, both of the twins moving to stand beside their father and Legolas, while sheathing their swords.

Halt got a look at them for the first time, noting with mild surprise that they were twins. He saw the ease with which they moved their weapons, and guessed they could probably give even Gilan a run for his money.

"Imladris?" Alyss asked, still confused, though the pieces were beginning to fall into place in her mind.

Legolas nodded. "Imladris, or Rivendell as it is known to man. Home to the Lord Elrond and his people."

"Lord Elrond?" Halt said almost to himself. Perhaps they could find help with this lord. "Where is he? May we meet with him?"

"You have already met him," Elrond said, amusement lacing his rich tone. Halt turned. Of course, he thought, this was lord Elrond. "Shall we continue such conversation in more comfort?" He said, posing it as a question, but already moving away, back towards the house.

The Araluens stood still for a moment, hesitant. At length Halt nodded and stepped forward. Gilan paused, looking down at his discarded bow. He was not going to just leave it there, but he didn't know how these people would react.

"My apologies," the blonde archer said, gesturing to the bow. "Retrieve your weapons; just do not use them. We have no wish of war, and I pray you do not either." He returned the longbow to Halt and bowed to them.

Halt accepted his weapon back, wondering at this newfound kindliness in the men who had been willing to kill them moments ago. He shrugged. Oftentimes, this was how things went in an unfamiliar country.

"Shouldn't we follow?" Alyss asked quietly, gesturing to where Elrond had moved off into the trees.

"He will not mind if we get to know each other before coming, and he will go to the house; we know the way well." one of the twins said. Now the three elves stood facing the two rangers and courier.

Legolas began, inclining his head to them. "I am Legolas, of the Woodland Realm." he announced, leaving out his title as prince. "These are Elladan and Elrohir, Lords in Imladris."

"I thought that bloke Elrond was lord there," Halt said gruffly.

Legolas smiled at him. "He is," the elf said simply. He gestured to the twins, "These are his sons."

Halt nodded his understanding, then cleared his throat. "My name is Halt, this is Gilan, King's Rangers. This is Alyss, courier for Araluen."

"Rangers?" Elrohir said in amazement. "In your country? What is is king that you serve?"

"King Duncan, king of Araluen," Gilan said a bit warily, wondering at the surprise the people seemed to have shown.

Elladan nodded, understanding. "This is interesting. There may yet be parallels in our worlds we do not know of."

Alyss was watching the conversation attentively, but now gave a little gasp. The man's ears, they came to a delicate point! Previously, they had not been close enough to notice such a detail, and thy had been covered by their oddly long hair. Now she could see Elladan's elven ears, and when she looked for it she could see it in the other two as well.

"Alyss?" Halt asked, turning back to look at the girl.

"Their ears!" She exclaimed, unable to make more come out of her mouth. Belatedly she realized how callous it must have sounded, and berated herself for blurting such a thing out. You're a diplomat, for pity's sake! She thought to herself. Although, the men in question didn't seem to be offended, only slightly puzzled.

"Yes?" Legolas said at length. He was not offended, only confused. Of course, his ears were pointed because he was an elf, and he didn't think it a cause of concern or shock.

"They're pointed!" Gilan exclaimed in the same shocked manner, having looked for himself.

The elves hesitated for a moment. "Yes?" Elladan said after a pause, his brow furrowing.

"My apologies!" Alyss blurted out quickly, angry at herself for being so callous. "I did not mean to say such a thing so brashly, it's just..." she trailed off, totally unsure of how to conduct herself.

"No need for remorse, Lady Alyss," Legolas said graciously. "What is it that startled you?"

"You're-" she stopped herself from saying 'you're ears' again, and thought about it. Now she was looking, she could see many small things that were off about them. The pointed ears, long hair that seemed to be the norm, their impossibly light step, and those eyes! Their eyes that looked so youthful and bright on the surface, but into which one could dive and never find the bottom. They spoke of years that the outward body surely could not contain. Amazed, she opened her mouth again. "You're...not human, are you?" She asked quietly.

Beside her she felt Gilan stiffen, and Halt shifted his weight.

Legolas nodded happily. "No indeed." He turned curious eyes to the Araluens. "You seem surprised."

"What...does that even mean?" Gilan asked weakly, involuntarily taking a half step back.

"Well, we are elves." Elladan said simply.

"And I'd advise you not to react this way every time you meet an elf, for I am afraid you would not get anywhere in Imladris if you took such time to stare in awe and wonder," Elrohir smiled, amusement dancing in his eye.

"Elves?" alyss said, intrigued. Elves were only told in children's tales, and they were tiny creatures, more like garden sprites than the tall and strong warriors that stood before her.

Legolas grinned, enjoying the flabbergasted expressions on his friend's faces, for he already considered then friends. "We shall tarry no longer, we may talk on the road." He promptly turned, moving away into the forest with an ease and familiarity Alyss was used to seeing in rangers. Elladan and Elrohir grinned at them, then turned as well.

Halt, who had been quiet throughout the strange reveal remained so, mulling things over in his mind. The three stood there hesitantly, and might've stayed there if Alyss had not stepped forward to follow. The men-or elves-seemed nothing but friendly, now they knew who they were. They were dangerous, sure, but Alyss saw a lot of dangerous people, and that never deterred her before.

Tolkein's elvish*
Halt/Stop! Why are you here?
Do you understand me?

A/N, I don't really like where this ended, but it was getting long and the next part would've been long too, so... anyways, here's the third chapter! Please don't hesitate to review :)