Alyss was sitting in a room, her mind whirring. The past day had been packed with everything! They had finally reached this 'Imladris' at around noon, and after that it was overwhelming to say the least. The girl allowed herself a smirk when she thought of Halt. He never did like being the center of attention, Gilan as well.

At first they were taken to Lord Elrond's study and properly introduced. Then Halt took over and they talked for a long time about their theories and the different worlds. Alyss shuddered, the thought was just too bizarre, even if it was happening to her now.

After that it had been a whirlwind of greetings, food, song, and so many new things Alyss barely had any time to wonder at them anymore. Finally one of the twins, much to her chagrin she could not discern which, showed her to her room, informed her that Halt was across her hall, Gilan next to her and that he, his brother, and legolas were in the same rooms one floor up, and then took his leave of her.

Since then Alyss had been sitting on her bed, trying to sort out all her thoughts. She was bone tired, but knew instinctively that she would get no rest that night; there was simply too much to think about. Standing, she walked out onto the little balcony that was in her room and gazed out into the night.

The moonlit forest stretched before her, and the soft roar of the waterfall filled the air. Alyss sighed, this place was so serene and peaceful, she thought. Looking up she gazed at the innumerable stars, wondering if they were the same or different than the ones in her home. Suddenly extremely sad she dropped her gaze, looking around at the courtyard below her. Smiling softly she saw that there were people still up. A lone figure walked through the lush gardens the starlight caught in her dark hair. Off to the other side two others were pouring over scrolls, enjoying the fresh night air while completing their work. Still further off she could see a group of young looking elves-you never could tell age with these folk-singing in the trees. The song seemed not to be of words, but rather woven from pure emotion, and the lilting sound swirled around Alyss, settling in her soul though she did not understand the words being sung. Breathing in the calm and peace, she sighed deeply, letting go of the worries and fears, at least for tonight.

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Will sighed, looking out at the night. The past day had been a positive whirlwind! He glanced back at the two elves who were sitting with Crowley and Evanlyn on the lawn, still unsure of how he felt about them being elves from a different world. The initial shock had been jarring to say the least, and he was still trying to wrap his head around the fact. A pace or two away Aragorn was sparring with Horace, both delighted to meet a kindred spirit and fairly well matched in skill, though the Gondorian had an edge on the young man through experience and speed. Speaking of kindred spirits, Glorfindel and Crowley had hit it off after the Ranger Commandant got over his skepticism. Both were youthful in spirit and loved a good joke, even if they were occupying a role of leadership and seriousness.

Will watched as Glorfindel, Crowley and Evanlyn exploded into a fit of laughter, the elvenking who Will was beginning to see never laughed much at all, smirking softly. Just then Thranduil rose elegantly, moving back up towards the house. As he did he looked at Will, the wise and searching gaze-Thranduil never bothered to veil his immortal eyes, reasoning that the unsettling effect on mortals was beneficial in his position-making Will drop his own eyes to the floor.

Thranduil paused beside the boy, immediately noticing the way Will avoided his gaze. Smirking softly the elvenking cleared his throat. Will looked up at the tall elf, ill at ease.

"You're brooding." Thranduil said simply, turning to stand beside the young man, and looking out at the moonlit lawn with him.

Will, slightly shocked at the statement struggled to respond. "I'm not," he said quickly.

The king nodded solemnly. "You are. I know the look well enough to recognize it, though I rarely see it in one so young," he said pointedly.

Will struggled for his words, wondering whether or not to confide in the strange elf. "I'm worried." He whispered eventually.

And much to Will's surprise the elvenking answered, "I am worried also." Will blinked at him and Thranduil smirked. "That's not what I'm supposed to say, is it?" He said wryly, glancing at the young man. Will hastily shook his head but Thranduil held up a hand to stop him. He recognized the strength inside the mortal, and knew that he was intelligent and a rather capable leader, even if he didn't see so himself. "I will not hide from you. You are no child in your people, and you have reason to be worried. Do you think I am not? It would be foolish not to be, and I will not tell you to stop worrying."

Will blinked at the older elf, strangely grateful for the direct and honest way that he was spoken to. Lately he had noticed a rather patronizing feeling coming from the immortal elves and experienced Aragorn, so this honesty was refreshing. "What are we supposed to do?" Will asked after a moment.

"At this time there is nothing to do." Thranduil held up a hand, forestalling the angry reaction he could already feel forming in the young mortal beside him. "It does not make me any happier than you. We know nothing about this light, whether it is random or induced or natural. But I believe it will play itself out in due time, and if anyone will find the answer my friends in Middle Earth will. For now they are safe, and shall remain so until we find our way back to them." He could sense the boy struggling with his words beside him, and knowing what kind of turmoil he must be going through. He heard a loud sigh and guessed that he had digested at least some portion of the message Thranduil was getting at. "Come now, it does not do to dwell in sorrows."

Will heaved another sigh, following the elf down onto the grass. To his mild surprise he followed him towards Horace and Aragorn, not Crowley Evanlyn and Glorfindel, who were laughing again.

Horace and Aragorn were sparring, their blades streaks of silver as the two swordsmen danced about each other. Both were grinning broadly, the moonlight glinting off of their swords.

At the ranger and king's approach the two paused their match, Aragorn inclining his head to Thranduil. Horace stood straight, leaning on his sword. He looked curiously at Will. You okay? His eyes asked the silent question. Will nodded to reassure his friend, and Horace who was always so straightforward accepted it quickly.

"Do not stop on my account," Thranduil said cooly, waving them on.

Horace nodded once, turning back to face Aragorn. They resumed their match, each of their strokes lightning fast. It was clear that both were master swordsmen, and the sound of ringing steel on steel resounded around the clearing. Thranduil watched analytically. A swordsman himself, he was used to observing and assessing such situations, having overseen the training of his own warriors for centuries.

At a lull in the fight he held up a hand, knowing it would be dangerous for them to keep fighting overlong, though he had no doubt that they could both go on for longer. He studied Horace, the young man had great skill, that was undeniable, but he was young yet, and had things to learn.

"You lean to your right," Thranduil drawled, nodding at Horace.

"I do?"

"You do."

"Oh." Horace hefted his sword leaning experimentally. Without warning Thranduil slipped unsuspecting Will's saxe knife from his scabbard and swung it forwards towards Horace. Instinctively Horace brought his sword up to block the long knife. The blades barely touched before Thranduil turned the knife, slashing at Horace's right side. The elvenking advanced, amazingly fast for wielding only a saxe knife, but never piercing Horace's defense. He slashed continually to the knight's right side, his cold blue eyes constantly scanning assessing and acting within split seconds.

Will watched in amazement, wondering at how the elf could keep Horace at bay with only his own saxe. At length the king straightened, twirling the knife around his hand and pointing it down. Panting slightly, Horace did the same, however eyeing the elf warily.

"Intelligent," Thranduil said, smirking cooly. "Never trust an enemy if he pretends to surrender, especially if he is still holding his sword." Abruptly he turned, holding out the knife to Will. Dumbfounded the ranger took his weapon back, sheathing it at his side. Thranduil smiled at him then turned back to Horace.

"You have natural technique." The elvenking conceded. "But you reach too far. With speed can often come mistakes and clumsiness. Keep your sword closer; you won't lose control of it so easily then."

Horace nodded hesitantly, unaware that he had been making such a mistake. He once more held up the sword experimentally, swiping a few strokes.

"Don't feel badly, Horace," Glorfindel said cheerily, appearing at Thranduil's shoulder. "He could find fault in the technique of the greatest swordsmaster in the world." The tall elf grinned, walking over towards Horace. "He even thinks I have faults sometimes!" He grinned cheekily at the elf king.

"You do," Thranduil said coldly, raising an imperious eyebrow. Glorfindel merely grinned wider. "You flounce about like a glorified squirrel when you fight, doing unnecessary acrobatics and stunts that will have you killed someday." He said with immense dignity.

Over the past day Will had witnessed several of the sibling-like squabbles held between the two adult elves. As such, he knew it could soon escalate into a metaphysical debate over the workings of the universe just as soon as it could grow into a sparring match.

"How did you do that?" Evanlyn asked quickly, obviously thinking along the same lines will was.

"Do what?" Thranduil asked, turning towards the princess.

"How did you fight Horace with only a knife? Aren't you not supposed to fight a swordsman with your knives? Or use both of them?" She asked, directing the last bit to Will. The ranger nodded wordlessly, suddenly intrigued. How did the elf manage to do that indeed?

"I am faster." Thranduil said simply.

"But Horace is plenty fast, isn't he?" Will defended his friend.

"Of course. But a knife is shorter and easier to wield. If I keep him on the defense he cannot use any of the advantages that a sword has over a knife."

Will considered it, drawing his saxe. Thranduil noticed, and waved Will forward.

"Try."

The young ranger stepped up nervously and hefted the saxe knife. Alarm bells rung in his head, warning him not to face a swordsman, especially one as adept as Horace, with only his one knife. Determinedly shutting them off he struck first, Horace's lightning fast reflexes bringing his sword up to block it. Will felt the impact up through his arm but swung around again putting the momentum into it only to meet Horace's waiting sword. The blades crashed together loudly but Horace's sword would not be moved by the long knife.

The knight pushed forward with all his strength, flinging the saxe away and Will's arm with it, leaving his whole body exposed. Horace mimed stabbing forward with his sword, and Will knew that if his friend had put any strength or his usual speed behind the stroke Will would have been dead. He looked dumbfounded at Thranduil. How did the elf do it?

The elvenking was shaking his head, and Will was surprised to find himself feeling disappointed in himself. He felt angry a second after; he had barely known the elf a day and he was already seeking his approval. Well, he conceded to himself, he was rather like Halt in more ways than one.

"You can't force his sword away," Thranduil was saying. "Light strokes, just glancing off of the sword, but enough and fast enough to confuse him. The blade itself will cause damage, not irreparable, but hurt nonetheless even if there is minimal force behind it."

Will's mind was running this information through his head and was already nodding slowly, the pieces clicking together in his mind. He fixed the strategy in his mind, and turned towards Horace again.

He struck. Right, left, right. Trying to move as quickly as possible, Will flit about Horace like a butterfly. He was naturally quick and fine tuned reflexes worked to his advantage. However, the stick on the ground did not. Will hit it in his haste and slipped, losing his balance. This was all Horace needed to quickly revert his defense to offense and he sent Will sprawling with two hard strokes.

"It would be advantageous to not fall on your rear," Thranduil said dryly.

"I hit a stick!" Will grumbled, accepting Horace hand as the knight pulled him up.

"Why did you do a thing like that?" Glorfindel asked, managing to sound completely surprised and genuinely curious.

"I didn't meant to!" Will exclaimed, his face flushing red. Evanlyn smiled sympathetically at him, but her eyes betrayed her amusement. Crowley was openly grinning, Glorfindel as well. Aragorn was rather grim, but the corners of his mouth were turned up. Only Thranduil seemed unfazed, though nothing ever did seem to faze him.

"Well then why did you do it?" Glorfindel asked again.

"It was an accident." Will said tersely, trying to preserve his dignity.

Glorfindel refused to take the hint and plowed on, grinning all the while. "Accidents can be avoided if you try hard enough!"

At this Aragorn huffed softly, making Will think that this was a mantra commonly used by the golden-haired warrior.

"So...I guess I wasn't looking at my feet?"

"No you were not. An expert warrior needs to see everything around him, and be aware of all things happening at once."

"Well how are you expected to do that?" Horace chimed in.

"Practice," Glorfindel grinned. He turned, casting his gaze about. He moved to the woodpile, taking an armful of the smaller pieces and scattering them around the group. Now there was a rough circle littered with the wood pieces. Will thought anyone could easily avoid the wood walking, but while fighting? That would be very difficult indeed. The elf then disappeared into the forest, returning a few moments later with small twigs and strips of bark. These too he scattered on the grass. Now the space resembled a minefield.

Glorfindel then held out his hand, asking for Horace's sword. The young man gave it to him, staring critically at the ground. The elf stepped forward, standing light on a patch of clear space. He gestured for Aragorn to join him.

The man shook his head. "I hate this game." He said bluntly. Will looked at him in surprise. He spread his hands apologetically. "You would too if you were made to play it as many times as I have." He looked around at the curious faces of the Araluens. "My brothers loved this game." He explained, "They were elves with centuries of practice. I was a boy with a few years' worth. You can imagine how it went." He grumbled darkly.

"Ah, but I have told you they once struggled as much as you did!" Glorfindel exclaimed. Aragorn grunted noncommittally. "And now you can do it!"

"I can, but I'm not about to. Especially not with you."

Glorfindel shrugged, waving Horace's sword towards Thranduil. "Come on then."

Will turned interestedly. He wanted to see the elvenking's skill.

Thranduil didn't move for a moment or two, stretching the silence before taking Aragorn's sword. There was a small murmur from the others and Glorfindel grinned widely.

The elvenking stepped forward, standing in a clear spot, only a meter away from Glorfindel. The elf glanced around. As soon as his gaze moved Glorfindel struck, jabbing forward. Will gasped, but the elvenking deflected the blow, managing an almost bored air. This all dissolved seconds later and the two were now dancing around each other, their blades streaks of silver.

It may have been clear Aragorn and Horace were master swordsmen, but these two took it to a higher level. Each were now using their full capacities, and neither held back.

Horace was watching critically, nodding now and then and muttering commentary under his breath. Will raised his eyebrows, amazed that his friend could follow the lightning fast battle. He noted the differences in style and technique. Thranduil kept his sword close to him, as he advised Horace to do. His strokes were short, controlled and powerful. He moved minimally and Horace was reminded of a strong tree. In contrast, Glorfindel moved much more, just a bit faster than the elvenking. He used sharp strokes, fast and flourishing. There was an art to the way they both moved, but while Thranduil's was the solid beat of a drum, Glorfindel was the light trill of a flute. Will turned to his other side and saw Aragorn shaking his head. Looking at him quizzically will asked silent question.

"Do you know that I trained with Glorfindel here? And that, when I started training with him, I was around fifteen years old? And he fought me like that." Aragorn inclined his head forward, where Thranduil and Glorfindel were circling each other, impossibly light on their feet and lightning fast. "Suffice to say our battles lasted roughly three seconds. When I grew older I fared better, but then they made me play this game." Aragorn turned to face Will. "Elves are very different from us humans. They have sharper senses, are immortal, and extremely light on their feet. I was a bumbling teenager with a heavy step and trouble holding his sword up for long periods of time." He sighed dejectedly. "Just look now," he gestured in front of them and Will complied.

The two had paused but now went at it again, flitting in and out, countering and attacking. Cut here, swing there, one after the other all lightning fast. He was reminded of watching Horace or Gilan battle, and the same sense of amazement washed over him. Little did he know they all felt much the same when they saw him shoot.

"Look at their feet."

Will did, suddenly reminded of the purpose of this 'game' they played. The ranger's eyes widened. They both moved, dancing forward and back, never touching a single stick. Their footfalls were light, and carefully calculated as they moved with all the grace granted to the elves. He was mesmerized by the deadly grace and speed with which they moved. The silver blue and red in their cloth spinning with the gold of their hair painting a deadly beautiful picture. The music they painted was perfect, running smoothly and seemingly effortlessly.

"Do you understand my peril now?" Aragorn asked heavily. "I played this stupid game with them for years. I hope you'll forgive me if I don't want to play it now."

Will just nodded wordlessly, gaping at them as they came to a stop.

Thranduil offered a rare smile, Glorfindel grinning in response. "Well fought!" He said jubilantly. "That was fun. No fun to play with a wood-elf though."

"You're only sore you lost." Thranduil retorted cooly.

"Lost?" Horace interjected, confused.

"He stepped on this branch," Thranduil explained, nodding towards a twig on the grass.

Horace nodded slowly. In truth he had been mesmerized by the extraordinary example of swordsmanship and was far too busy to look at their feet.

Will looked a bit confusedly at Aragorn. After all the man had said to him he thought they would never end the game. Aragorn noted this and smiled softly.

"They are not infallible, you know," he said quietly to the young ranger. Will looked over at him. "And that was remarkably long for this game."

Will nodded in understanding. His attention was drawn to Evanlyn as the girl stifled a yawn. He was suddenly reminded of how tired he was, and had to do the same, flaring his nostrils oddly and forcing his mouth shut as the yawn tried to break free.

Glorfindel smiled, noticing both yawns in the young man and woman. "Perhaps we shall take our leave of you tonight. The day is old and the stars beckon."

Crowley nodded graciously. "Of course. We shall see you in the morning then," he said, bowing his head to them.

Glorfindel and Aragorn returned the gesture, Thranduil nodding in their direction. "Until sunrise," Glorfindel said.

Will nodded, smiling slightly at the exoctic and rather flowery langauge they always seemed to use. Also, he had noticed it was always Glorfindel speaking for the group. He might have thought Thranduil, as king, would be speaking but the elvenking seemed to have no problem with Glorfindel speaking for him. The young ranger watched as the ranger from the other world retrieved his sword, Horace receiving his as well, and then moved towards the forest, melting into it just as well as Will himself would have. The elves followed him, seeming almost to glow as they left the reach of the firelight and entered the gloom of the trees. Will dismissed it as his eyes playing tricks, but he was again struck with the fact that they were not human, and were another race entirely.

He sighed, turning back to the cabin. He supposed he and Horace would pitch the tents again, and was wondering at how his situation had changed. Not much, it turned out. Sure, in the last day he felt much more at ease with the elves and ranger, but still he had so many questions that begged answers, albeit different questions than he had the previous night. He smiled sadly as he imagined how Halt would tease him for being so curious and asking too many questions. With such thoughts in his head he sighed, wondering how they were going to go on.

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Alyss was still drinking in the calm of Imladris. In truth she couldn't say how long she had been standing on the balcony listening to the mesmerising song of the elves, but she never wanted to move.

"Entrancing, is it not?" a soft voice sad beside her.

Alyss jumped violently, having not heard anyone approach. She turned quickly, meeting the worried blue gaze of Legolas.

"Forgive me, Lady, I forgot that you would not hear me," he said, his voice sincere.

"No no, no harm done. You startled me, is all," Alyss said placatingly. In fact there had been a lot of that going on. These elves stepped so lightly she was reminded of hanging around with all the rangers. Only the elves didn't seem to be trying all that hard to be quiet. While Will's stealth was a learned and carefully perfected trait, the elves were born with the simple ability. This, she was beginning to find out, was not the only place in which they excelled. She turned back to the air, leaning her forearms on the balcony railing. "It's just so serene here."

Legolas joined her, leaning against the rail. "Imladris is perfect no matter what you love best to do. There is place to sing, to talk, to read, to dine, and whichever you love best you can do to your heart's content." Alyss hummed appreciatively.

"Yes, isn't it?"

The elven prince smiled, enjoying the young lady's company. She was intelligent, and had offered important insights during their meeting with Lord Elrond, not fearing to add to the conversation. She seemed bright and sure of herself, and was kind. "How are you adjusting?" he asked gently, knowing it must be quite a shock to be in a different world. He had a fleeting thought about Aragorn, Thranduil and Glorfindel, but dismissed the notion, knowing that if he followed that trail he might descend too deep for return.

"It's different, that's for sure," Alyss said emphatically. "But it's hard not to love this place." It was true, but she confidently left out all the times she'd started involuntarily at the sudden appearance of an elf, or how many times she'd felt a low wave of sorrow wash over her unexpectedly, thoughts of Will swirling in her mind, or how she contemplated the distance between them, and wondered how she'd ever return. "It's different..." she said again, her words growing heavy.

Legolas's brow furrowed with worry. "Are you sure you're alright?" He asked gently.

"Yes, of course," Alyss said quickly, shaking off the heavy thoughts.

"How long have you been out here?" he asked her. He wasn't sure if anything was different about these humans than Aragorn, and had no idea how they worked. And anyway, Aragorn was a male, Alyss was female and they might've had different needs or preferences than Aragorn did. Aragorn got hypothermia once when he was a child by standing on the balcony all night. He wondered if all humans suffered the same. "Did you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you," Alyss replied kindly. She paused to think. "I'm not entirely sure how long...a long while I should think." The courier glanced down, surprised to find the courtyard below her empty. "There were people when i first came out."

Legolas nodded knowingly, smiling a bit. "One often loses track of time in an elvish house, especially one as this. For us, time can take it's time. It does not hold the same urgency in our life that it does for you."

Alyss nodded, understanding. The idea was still bizzare, but she didn't want to dwell on it. Not tonight. Tomorrow she would tackle the world shaking problems and questions, but tonight she wanted to just rest and get away from it all, even if only for a few hours. They did for a few minutes, standing quietly and enjoying each other's company while listening to the encahnting song of the elves. After a while, Alyss broke the silence. She was too curious for her own good.

"How are things here?" she asked. "I mean to say, how is life in Imladris?"

"You should not ask me," Legolas replied, slightly to Alyss's surprise. "I do not live here." the elven prince went on , noticing her confused glance.

"Oh, I see. Where do you live?"

"Far from here, across the mountains. In the Greenwood I make my home. There is a king there and he rules well, but my friends are here and I journey often hither with them." he faded off, thinking of the king and his friend who were now trapped somewhere in Alyss's world. He marveled at the thought, but the wonder and amazement was tempered with worry and fear. What if they never came back? He banished the thought soon after it came; it would not do to become depressed and sad, and it would not help Aragorn or GLorfindel or THranduil get back home, nor Alyss and her companions.

The courier noted with concern the sad look that overcame the elf's features as he spoke of his friends. "Are there many places like Imladris?" She asked gently, swiftly changing the subject.

Legolas smiled slightly at her, grateful for her consideration, then turned his gaze back to the calm night. "There are three elvish settlements that are most known. Here in Imladris, the Last Homely House, and in the Greenwood where I reside, and the Golden Woods of Lothlorien."

Alyss nodded, fascinated. She glanced quickly at the elf, happy that the sad look had left him, then turned back to the night, watching the trees sway in the breeze that carried the sweet elvish song. "Do you have family in Greenwood?"

"My father lives there, but it remains the two of us. I have friends like family, but by blood he is my only kin alive," Legolas told her.

"Oh," Alyss said softly, reading between the lines.

"Do you have kin across the worlds?" Legolas asked, not wanting her pity or sympathy. "How is life in Araluen?"

The trees bent slightly in the wind, and if one was listening closely, a soft cry or creak could be heard. But the two on the balcony were not listening closely, and the elves in The Valley were no wood elves, and so they did not receive the message until some hours later.

The two talked for a long time passing the hours in the peaceful night, gaining insights about each other's worlds. Alice has been speaking when suddenly she noticed something. It was not sudden or apparent at first but as she listened she realized it wasn't something she had heard but something she had stopped hearing. She looked over at the elf to see that he was standing alert and looking off into the distance. It dawned on her that the constant peaceful music that had permeated the night was no longer playing.

The elves had stopped singing their lilting song, and at the borders of Imladris someone crossed over. Legolas watched the trees closely, his eyes narrowed and brow creased.

"What's wrong?" Alyss whispered, the silence of the night suddenly oppressing. The trees were rustling almost frantically, and in the dark skies the stars twinkled dangerously. After hours of peaceful song the silence was jarring and the very air felt uneasy.

"Something's happened."

A/N so sorry for the long wait! And I'm not 100% loving where this ended, but I thought I'd better get it out to you guys! Hope you liked it!