"Miril," Elladan shouted happily as she walked in, "Now not only is our brother here but also our little one!"

"Really, guys, I'm not that little any more. I'm 39!"

"Short indeed are the years of men," Elrond said cryptically, walking into the room followed by a man in grey and Aragorn.

"Mithrandir," Miril cried happily.

"Hello Miril," he smiled, but soon his face was replaced with a worn expression.

"How is Frodo," Miril asked quickly of Elrond.

Elrond sighed, "I believe he will recover, but we must wait and see. He is asleep now, surrounded by the other hobbits."

"Bilbo is with him too," Glorfindel added as he, too, entered the greeting room.

Aragorn looked at Miril in disappointment, "You've still not had your wound checked yet have you?"

"No," Miril admitted, "But Gandalf, where were you!"

"All will be made clear in due time," he brushed off the question.

Miril sighed but nodded. Turning to Elrond she bowed.

"My lord."

"It is good to see you, Miril," Elrond smiled slightly.

Over the years that Miril had stayed with Elrond, the girl had left quite an impression. Soon enough, Elrond had grown out of the mistrust and dislike and come to see that Miril was not the kinslayer of her forefathers. In fact, she reminded him of Celebrimbor in that respect. Soon, Elrond had realized that his dislike of Miril had stemmed merely from the part that her fore-father had played in his grand-father (Dior)'s death. Besides, it was hard to dislike a child.

Miril smiled and nodded, "You wished to see us?"

"Ah yes," he nodded, "I am calling together a council that will meet once Frodo is healed. I would like the two of you, Aragorn, Miril, to remain here until that council meets. For you must relay to it what befell the halflings these past few weeks."

Miril agreed quickly, and Aragorn not long after. Of course they would remain.

"Who are you calling," Aragorn asked him.

Elrond sighed, "I am not sure. I do not know of any who could arrive here quickly. I hope that Manwe willing, by some miracle, the delegates will chose themselves."

As they were speaking, a young elf probably in his teenage years walked up to them and bowed, "Pardon, Lord Elrond, but there are some elves of Mirkwood here to see you."

Everyone looked at the porter in surprise. Elves of Mirkwood? What could they be here for?

"Send them in," Elrond nodded.

Soon a small collection of Silvan elves made their way into the room. Fortunately the area was large enough for everyone. Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir instantly recognized their leader as the young Prince of Mirkwood.

"My lords," Legolas bowed to those in the room, for he realized he was in the presence of several elven lords including Glorfindel and Elrond.

"Prince Legolas," Elrond nodded, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I have a message from my father," Legolas told them.

Elrond held up his hand, "I believe it is more than fate that has brought you here, Legolas Greenleaf. I think it best you keep the message to yourself until the council is held."

"Council?"

"I am convening a very important council in two weeks' time. There you shall share your news," Elrond told the elf, "Until then, stay and enjoy yourself."

"Thank you, Lord," Legolas bowed, still rather confused, "May I ask who these are?"

He looked at the two rangers.

"I shall tell you while I escort you to your guest house," Aragorn nodded, "Come, Prince of Mirkwood."

Legolas bowed to Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, and Gandalf. He turned towards Aragorn and followed him out. Miril stayed where she was, unsure if she should accompany her friend or stay with the elves. In the end she decided to stay with the twins.

"Is there anything I can do," Miril asked Elrond and Gandalf.

Elrond considered this, "Actually yes, you should join in the search for the Nazgul."

Miril nodded, "Who else is searching?"

"We are," Elrohir smiled, "Come, let us go!"

Miril followed the half-elven twins out the door and back towards the stables.

"Belegur," Elladan ordered, "Prepare our horses."

"Yes, lord," the stable master nodded quickly and immediately he and the stable hands got to work on the two elf lord's steeds.

"I will prepare Daeroch on my own," Miril insisted as an elf came over.

"As you wish."

Soon the trio had mounted up and they set off down the road to the exit. Miril laughed gaily as the wind flowed through her chocolaty-brown hair. Daeroch whinnied in pleasure at being able to run fast across the ground. His hooves pounded the earth beneath him, reverberating across the land.

Elrohir smiled at her and shook his head. She was a wild girl: smart, but rash. She'd rush headlong into danger at a pin drop. She had a fiery temper, one which she struggled to control when she was truly angry. He'd only seen her like that twice. The first was the most memorable.

"Keep your shoulders up, Mir," Elladan instructed the young teenage girl.

Miril bit her tongue and raised her shoulders as she held the double short-swords up.

"Better," Elrohir nodded.

Elladan ran at her and she parried, blocking his attack easily. Little did she realize, though, that Elrohir was coming up behind her. He poked her in the back.

"Ouch!"

Then it was Elladan's turn to piss her off.

"OUCH!"

"Gotta keep your eyes open, Miril," Elrohir winked and laughed as he poked her again.

She was steaming. Elrohir stopped smiling and stepped back as she gritted her teeth and raised her swords. Miril was only 14 but she was frightening when angry. Her cheeks got all red and her eyes narrow.

Miril ran at Elrohir screaming, "I'll show you open eyes!"

Elrohir shook his head at the memory and laughed. Elladan, who was next to him, asked him what was up.

"Remember that time we got Miril very angry when we were teaching her?"

"How could I forget," Elladan laughed.

They approached the river, and Elrohir and Elladan soon caught up with Miril. They dismounted and led their horses on foot down a small path beside the river.

"The current flows this way," Elrohir nodded as they approached the path. South.

Walking, they watched the path and the water for any signs of the Nazgul. After an hour of walking they came to a small pool that was fed by the river Bruinen. In the pool there were nine horse corpses. They were all black, with open red eyes. But they found only eight sets of clothes.

"There is a chill here," Elladan muttered, "An unnatural chill!"

"Aye," Elrohir nodded.

Miril agreed with them, "I say we get out of here."

"Yes," Elladan agreed with her, "Let us go."

They mounted their horses and swiftly road from the spot. There indeed had been an unnatural chill in the air, almost as if there had been another presence. Galloping from that cursed place, they arrived within the hour at the Last Homely House.