Halt was fletching arrows in his room. After a long day of meetings and discussion and more talking he had been shown to a room by the young, or not so young, blonde lad, and told Alyss and Gilan were across from him. He had nodded his thanks and closed the door behind him.

He now sat in front of the fire, fletching arrows. You never knew when you'd need one, especially in another universe... He paused, sighing as the concept swirled around him. It was unbelievable, yet it was happening.

He glanced around the room which was nice, and pleased the longing for nature he shared with most of the Rangers. It was open and airy, lit by the fireplace and otherwise natural light. The bed took much of the space, but there was a chair in front of the fire, a desk to the side, and a privy attached. Halt's room had a balcony as well, but it overlooked an inner courtyard, rather than the forest side of the buildings Alyss's and Gilan's would.

Always the light poured through open windows, and it was pleasantly serene here, though Halt's mind was plagued by worries for Will and the others in Araluen. He looked up from his painstaking work at a small commotion in the hall. He heard a flurry of movement, and rapid light steps he barely heard, followed by the heavier footfall of someone rather confused.

Narrowing his eyes he stood fluidly, his bow appearing in his hands and slinging his quiver on his back. He crossed the room quickly, opening the door to see the retreating form of Legolas walking purposefully down the hall, Alyss hurrying behind.

Raising an eyebrow the rugged ranger followed them.

They crossed hurriedly through the halls and down into the outer courtyard, observable from Alyss's room. The girl noticed Halt following behind and hung back to walk with him.

"What's happened?" He asked gruffly, both still following the rushing elf, who whisked through the familiar halls like some apparition.

"I don't know. Something, apparently," she replied, at a loss. After they noticed the absence of the music, she and Legolas had heard faint shouting from the forest. The elf uttered a quick apology and hurried from the room, Alyss struggling to keep up.

Soon enough they emerged into the moonlit courtyard, finding a small but growing crowd already gathered.

Surprisingly, Halt met Gilan's confused gaze, the young ranger coming towards them quickly when he saw them.

"What's happened?" He asked.

"That's the question of the day," Halt grumbled, peering around at the elves gathered there. THey seemed agitated, and the air was tense and electrified.

"We thought to ask you that. What are you doing over here anyway?" Alyss asked Gilan, the tall girl looking past him and at the group as well.

"I don't know. I was exploring the house when I saw that Elladan bloke running over here. I followed him and here we are," Gilan offered perplexedly. "Do you think something is going on?"

"Obviously,"Halt said shortly, trying to listen to the conversation.

Legolas was at the center of the group now, and between people Halt could see new elves, clad similarly to the blonde one that were clearly travel worn from riding hard and fast a long way. They were discussing something rather urgently but in their own tongue that Halt could not understand. All of them looked troubled, though, and Halt knew that something bad had occurred. Eventually the crowd began to break up, the new arrivals looking tired and worried, presumably going off to get some rest while others led the weary horses away.

Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir and Elrond, and one of the new elves remained, turning slowly to meet the confused and expectant Araluens.

Halt scanned their faces, the two twins' displaying shock and anger. Legolas was deeply troubled, looking at the ground his eyes darting around. Elrond looked pensive but his brow was furrowed deeply.

"This is distressing news indeed," Elrond said at length in the common tongue.

Halt suppressed his own curiosity, recognizing that as Araluens they had no real right to hear it. However, it seemed as Elrond was going to share, and the ranger was very curious and willing to help out if the need be.

"Hir nin?" The new elf said eventually, sparing the araluens a wary glance before turning to Legolas. "Where is the king? He must be informed, and we must travel back in all haste."

Halt did not know the meaning of the words uttered by the new arrival, but the effect on Legolas was plain. The young elf's fair features were shadowed and twisted in dismay.

"H-he is not here, Tirion." The prince said dejectedly.

In turn the golden-haired elf's words made the other recoil sharply, as if he had been dealt a physical blow. The elf stammered a line of elvish in reply, which lord Elrond's heavy voice answered. He stared dumbfounded at them all, his gaze lingering on the three Araluens.

Halt met the elven gaze, hiding his own confusion. Soon, though, he dropped his eyes, the ageless depth of the other's grey orbs unsettling.

"How?" The elf, named Tirion and an archer in the Mirkwood guard, looked incredulously at the Araluens.

"That..." Elrond sighed heavily, speaking in the plain tongue. "I cannot answer you, for we do not yet know it's full purpose either." All eyes now turned to the small trio, and Halt felt a prickle of apprehension.

"Has something happened?" He asked evenly, eyes on Lord Elrond.

"You could say that," Elrohir snorted rather un-elvishly, shifting his weight agitatedly. Elladan seemed to share the sentiment, but stood straight, stoically solid, every muscle tense. Legolas seemed almost to slump under the weight of what was coming, and knowing his father was not there to see them through it.

"My realm had dwelt in the shadow of Dol-Guldur for long years, and ever has the power of the elves been able to protect our borders, though we are havened in the northern forest, fearing to travel south towards the black fortress." Legolas said heavily, staring at the ground, his features twisted in dismay. "It appears the servants of the shadow are launching attacks now, they must have received word that the king and prince had left her undefended." at this a note of self loathing crept into his voice.

"Not undefended, hir nin," Tirion replied quickly, seeking to comfort his prince. "And no fault was it of yours. The servants of the Necromancer are cunning and they struck hard. The elves patrolling that border were too few to counter the attack of a magnitude none could have expected." he hesitated then went on, "We were forced to draw in the borders more, and the shadow has encroached upon the southern realm."

"So you're a king?" Gilan asked, posing the question to Legolas.

The elf laughed shortly, without mirth. "Nay, good sir. My father is king, he was taken in the light and now resides in your world, far from help." The young elf's gaze was fixed on the floor and he looked absolutely miserable.

Halt remained silent, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We will provide what assistance we can," he said at length. "Robbed as you are of your companions we shall try to fill their places."

Legolas looked up quickly. "I cannot ask this of you," he began.

"No," Halt stopped him. "It is because of us, or at least connected to us that your father and friends are not here now. If we may take their place and offer what little assistance we can we will be glad to do so." Gilan nodded beside him and Alyss nodded resolutely.

"Please," she said, "we want to help."

The elf looked at them, his gaze conflicted. Tirion regarded them with a much more skeptical gaze. "I do not know who you are, but the affairs of our kingdom is not of your concern." He said firmly, his brow creased with disapproval.

"Tirion, it would be foolish to reject help at such a time," Elrohir put in, gesturing towards the Araluens.

"Three soldiers will not make the difference of the battle," The elven warrior retorted obstinately in elvish. "It is not their place to interfere with our lands."

"We will need all the help we can get," Legolas said resignedly. He sighed heavily, seeming to make up his mind. "If you would travel with us and endure the battle that follows your help will be appreciated." Tirion looked at his prince in disbelief, but even he would not contradict Legolas.

The prince of Mirkwood looked at Halt seriously, raising his gaze from the floor to the old ranger's. "I cannot guarantee any of yours's safety. Nor do I ask this of you."

"Understood," Halt replied firmly. "This will not be my first battle," he added, a hint of a mirthless smile twitching his lip upwards.

"Then we will be glad of your company." Legolas said with finality, steeling himself. "We will leave at dawn," he said, louder and with more authority. He was beginning to resemble a prince again, shedding the weight and shame as best he could, for his men's sake. Halt couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for the young elf who reminded him so much of another young man he left back home.

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Aragorn woke slowly, stretching and sitting up. He stilled a half second later, remembering he was almost twenty feet up, nestled in the crook of a tree branch. Sighing he grasped a branch close to his head to steady himself, maneuvering himself so that he sat more solidly, long legs hanging off the branch.

Several branches above him and a tree over Thranduil looked down at the mortal, a smirk playing on the king's lips. "I would have though you would be better suited to the trees after traipsing around with my son all these years." He called over in his cooly amused drawl.

Aragorn shot him a rueful glance. "I have climbed many a tree with your son, my lord, but much to his disappointment I remain most comfortable with my own two feet upon solid ground."

Thranduil nodded, the smile fading from his face, as he looked off into the distant tree line. "Legolas was always rather childish. He rejoiced in the green life of the forest, and reveled in the sunlight." The King stood up, dropping lightly to a lower branch, now closer to Aragorn's level. "But he has not been so young, nor so bright in the recent decades."

Aragorn nodded somberly, his thoughts drifting to all of the adventures and perils he and Legolas had endured together. "The world can be a dark and cruel place; I think Legolas has seen that." The man answered at length. "But I see his heart also, and it still lies beneath the green boughs of his forests and in the light of the spring sun."

A ghost of a smile passed over Thranduil's lips. "I know," he said in a whisper, looking down and his mind wandering to images of his son laughing brightly with the young man before him, and the sons of Elrond or his own friends from the Greenwood. The elf's eyes grew sad. "It is that which I fear. I have left Legolas alone, and he is well able to handle himself, but the kingdom...If anything should go awry he will not trust himself to make the right decision."

Feeling a surge of protectiveness for his friend Aragorn frowned. "I believe Legolas is ready to handle whatever may happen in the Greenwood. He is wise enough to do so well."

Thranduil's eyes darted up at him and he gave a short laugh. "I know Legolas well, and he is not me." The King smiled ruefully. "There is not a boastful vein in his body, nor any sense of selfish pride. I would not wish for this to change in him, but he will not think himself worthy to follow in my footsteps." Thranduil stood on the branch, staring downwards at nothing in particular, his hand holding a branch though Aragorn knew he did not do so out of necessity. "Do you think I do not know why he has left his home for so long?"

Aragorn paused, his heart aching for his friend who was stuck worlds away from his, and Thranduil's, reach. "He...is not ready to become prince of Greenwood. He does not wish for that life yet."

The king smiled thinly. "I know this well, Ranger, you do not need to defend my son to me. I had no intention of forcing him to assume his given role, but I fear that in my absence, he may be called upon to do so."

"And he will do so well," Glorfindel's voice cut in, the silver-clad warrior climbing up the tree, settling a branch below Aragorn. "He is strong in ways neither of you understand yet. I believe that, given the expectations, he will rise to them admirably, and find that he is strong."

Thranduil smiled thinly at the warrior's words. "There is much he will be called upon to do. I pray it will be as you say. I fear fate will not be so kind as to leave things quiet until we return." The elf king looked down, ice blue eyes clouded and confusing. Glorfindel watched, his features softening in sympathy for his friend.

"He will be fine, Thranduil," Glorfindel said gently. He glanced up at Aragorn. "They will all be fine."

Thranduil nodded once, holding to those words and willing himself to believe them. He stared with cold eyes at the ground, hoping against hope that they could be reunited with their companions and their home without incident. He wished this, but in the elf king's deepest thought he knew this was not to be.

He looked up suddenly, eyes turning towards the little cabin. "The mortals have awakened." He relayed shortly. Turning he looked back down, judging the distance and dropping from the branch, rolling with the impact and regaining his feet with all the elven grace he possessed, while somehow managing to maintain an air of disdain and impassiveness. Aragorn watched, his eyes sad. He clambered down the tree as Glorfindel hopped down, following Thranduil's footsteps. The ranger jumped the last three or so feet, grabbing his cloak from the branch he had draped it over.

He sighed, looking around the unfamiliar forest and wishing childishly that it would morph into the familiar elven forests of his home. Shaking of those thoughts he followed the two elven lords into the clearing, seeing Will and Horace stretching groggily in front of their tent.

Aragorn sighed, looking at his feet. He narrowed his eye then turned peering curiously at fresh hoof tracks in the dirt his sharp eyes had seen.

"The man, Crowley, left early this morning," Thranduil said, looking at the mortal. Aragorn looked up and nodded.

"You saw him?"

The king nodded. "He was gone long before the sun arose."

"You were awake?" Glorfindel asked gently, peering at Thranduil.

The king showed no reaction to the question other than standing a bit straighter. "I was," he replied softly, looking forward.

Glorfindel' gaze lingered on the elvenking a second longer then he turned, stepping forward to greet the two boys. Aragorn peered curiously at the two Elven lords, smiling faintly and a bit sadly, but turning and following Glorfindel up towards the porch as he called them for breakfast. It was simple bread and honey, but Aragorn was never one to turn up his nose at a bit of bread; he'd subsided on far less before, as it was. The others seemed quite contented with their plain rations for breakfast, though the air was tense and there were several quick glances around the table.

Glorfindel glanced around at them all, leaning back and grinning. "Well we are a sorry lot this morning!" He exclaimed suddenly, breaking the polite silence. All eyes turned towards him, several curious and others abashed. "There is no use ignoring the mountain in the garden so tell me Master Will, where has the man Crowley gone?"

Aragorn raised an eyebrow, peering across the table at the young man who went slightly red about his ears then swallowed hastily and opened his mouth to speak.

"He went to gather news, I think," he said, looking behind them as if he expected to see where Crowley had gone hidden in the trees. "I dunno really, said he was going and that he'd be back before noon."

"It is reasonable," Thranduil's cultured speech cut through Will's sentence, effectively rendering everyone else at the table mute. "From what I can gather Crowley is a man of some importance in this kingdom. I should hardly think he can remain away from his office for days on end." The elvenking folded his napkin several times in his lap, piercing blue eyes looking steadily around the table. "And neither can we. I have passed two nights here and do not wish to wait any longer; a solution for this problem must be found."

"I hear you, mellon-nin ," Glorfindel replied earnestly. "But I must implore your patience once more. We have not the slightest idea what has happened."

"Am I expected to wait forever, Glorfindel," Thranduil replied, his voice perfectly even but with an edge to it.

"Not forever, but there is little that we can do from here. This is not our world, Thranduil, we know nothing of it or how it works."

"We cannot stay here any longer. It is foolish to sit here and while away the time with sword fights and gossip and wait for something to happen," the elvenking returned, glaring at Glorfindel who met his gaze with sympathy.

"We know nothing of this world, any effort that may be made could lead to nothing or a situation worse than this. We are safe here," he argued, the two going on as if none of the rest of them were there. Coincidentally the other four were sitting very still and silent around the table, watching awkwardly. Glorfindel went on, his voice softer. "They are safe there as well."

The elvenking's hand gripped his napkin tighter, carefully covering the mounting anger. "I will not sit here and do nothing."

Glorfindel sighed, lowering his head slightly. "I know, mellon-nin, I know. But I must beg your patience in this; it will all be well in the end, I have no doubts."

Thranduil seethed silently. Aragorn unconsciously shifted backwards in his chair at the rage and grief and confliction radiating off of the stoic king. Beside him Will did the same, while Evanlyn looked on with horror and pity.

"One day, Glorfindel," Thranduil uttered at length, his voice was low but sharp with ice and fire. "Then I will go to find answers, with or without your aid and companionship." He stood from the table, turning with a sweeping of silver and red robes, walking across the lawn and disappearing into the tree line.

The table was stunned for a few moments in the wake of the dissipating emotion and energy, until Will eventually cleared his threat. "Ah, we would, Uhm, of course aid in any way you wish of getting you back to your own country. Our friends are stuck over there too, and we do want them back." He ran a hand through his hair, looking sheepish. "Anything we can do really. We both want to get to the bottom of this problem."

"Many thanks, young ranger," Glorfindel said quietly, holding a hand to his heart and extending it towards Will who just kinda smiled in response, looking awkward. "We will all endeavor to rectify whatever it was that brought us here, but unless you know where to start?" He turned hopeful eyes to Will and Aragorn saw him flush red a bit.

"I, I don't know, I'm sorry. I've never heard of anything like this before."

Glorfindel nodded solemnly. "Of course."

Aragorn leaned back in his chair, taking his pipe from the inside of his coat that he thankfully had at hand when the light came, and puffing on it. Though it was not lit, the mere action of gong through the motions of smoking was comforting and calming to him, and anyway, he had no more leaf to put in it and he had greatly cut down on the habit since joining up with the elves. The ranger sighed, his mind wandering. He wavered on the edge of hope and despair, not so optimistic as Glorfindel might have been, but neither so frustrated nor desperate as Thranduil. He felt well the impatience expressed by the elvenking, but he knew there was little he could do. He, also, trusted firmly in the skills of his father, brothers, and closest friend to recall them back to their world in due time. Of that he held little doubt.

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Thranduil disappeared into the forest, walking with measured and composed strides that hid the raging fires inside. How long? How long was he expected to wait patiently? To wait passively? To sit in the green and lifeless forest and do nothing?

Agitated, he clasped his hands together to keep them from twitching. He glared at this, hating the nervous tick he had always tried so hard to suppress. A king cannot have a tremor in his hands, after all. Taking a deep breath in he closed his eyes, releasing it in a long stream. It did not very much help. His eyes snapped open again and he resumed his paces into the forest, thought not so stupid to go without direction. There existed a small game trail through the woods and he followed that, knowing he could find his way back with ease, even if he tarried long into the night. For minutes or hours he walked; Thranduil did not care which it was, nor whither he was going. His mind a carefully blank slate he pushed all of the worry, all of the anger, all of the fear deep into the recesses of his mind, burying it with all he had.

At length the trail ended near a small stream of water. The elf heard the trickle of the little brook and he followed it, standing by the banks. The water flowed the same way the river that cut through his homeland did. The leaves blew the same way the leaves that blessed the realm of Imladris blew. The grass was the same vibrant green the grass in the Great Plains of Rohan were. But this was not home. The trees were cold and lifeless, bitter shells of spirits that were absent and asleep. The earth was dry and brittle, devoid of the living magic the imbued the land back home. And the sky that lay above him, the stars that decorated it were different, and no ancestors of his looked down to bless the time on earth.

A yellow bird flit around the edge of his vision and Thranduil turned, following its path. His eye caught something, some movement in the trees and he looked, apprehension prickling his neck. His eye snapped back as he saw more movement, the figure of Will appearing shortly after as the boy moved and cast off the hood of his cloak. He smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry if I disturbed you," he began, but Thranduil shook his head, the adrenaline draining from his limbs. He felt not the anger nor frustration he had earlier, and now he only drooped, the strength sucked from him and a sense of helplessness consuming the king. It was not a feeling he was particularly well acquainted with and he frowned. Will continued, "you looked like you were in pretty deep thought. Would it be inappropriate of me to ask of what?"

Thranduil hesitated for a moment then lifted his chin slightly. "I am in another world that prior to two days ago, we did not know existed. I have met men who've forgotten the greenwood, and lost ties to all that I know and should have known for long years yet, without interruption. A great number of impossible things have occurred in the last 24 hours alone, and those that I left behind are undoubtedly experiencing the same turmoil that we here experience." He stopped, steely eyes flashing up towards Will's. "Shall I go on?"

Will took a breath, weighing his words carefully. "Sometimes things happen that are out of our control." Thranduil smiled a ghost of a smile. Out of our control...he had never been very good with 'out of our control'. The young ranger went on, "We just have to make the best of our situation and use what is there to our advantage."

The elvenking considered the words carefully. "You remind me of someone," he said after a few moments. Judging by the look on Will's face the ranger had expected some other answer.

"I do?" He said, looking down at himself automatically. "Who?"

Thranduil's breath caught, but he coughed annoyedly, his eyes flashing quickly at his own weakness then answered Will's query. "My son," he said.

"You have a son?" Will exclaimed in surprise, his eyebrows raising.

Thranduil looked at him critically. "Yes," he responded slowly.

"Ah, that's cool," Will said quickly, moving towards the stream. He looked at it and Thranduil smiled slightly, contemplating the wise and strong young man before him. "We will try to get you back to your world," Will said over his shoulder.

Thranduil sighed, moving to stand beside him and watching the water move past their boots. "I know, and I am thankful for your hospitality. I understand it has been an impossible few days for you and your companions as well."

Will smiled ruggedly at the ground, watching the water with the elf. "Yeah," he agreed appreciatively. "Pretty rough." His smile flickered and faded. He glanced up at Thranduil, who raised a questioning eyebrow in response.  Will hesitated then opened his mouth to speak. "You...said to me the other day that 'it does not do to dwell in sorrows'. You said there was nothing we can do."

The question was plain and Thranduil frowned, looking down. "It is a lesson I have yet to learn, if I am to be honest with you," the king said at length, turning his eyes towards the horizon and the sun making her way towards her zenith. "I spoke thus, I do not disagree, yet even then they were words my heart had not accepted. I know them to be truthful in nature, but much harder to implement in oneself than to say in counsel to another."

Will nodded slowly beside him. "I get it." He sighed softly, crossing his arms over his chest. "But it's not much fun to wait, is it?"

The elvenking cast a glance towards the young man. "No," he agreed softly. "No it is not."

A/N I was gonna end it somewhere else, but thought this might be acceptable...? Gosh I seem to have a real problem with ending chapters! And also with writing and publishing in general but let's not get into that! Sorry, guys I had a bit of a problem with accidentally hitting publish earlier when I wasn't done with the chapter, so sorry if you got all those notifications and they annoyed you....I'm sorry.
Anyway, I hope those of you that have expressed interest are still reading and that it was a good waste of maybe ten minutes :) Thank you for bearing with me through the painfully slow updates... <3 Please don't hesitate to leave comments with what you liked, or what you thought, it really helps me improve my writing, and motivate me to keep writing in the first place!