A/N: I don't The Lord of the Rings or any of it's characters. I do own Leûra, Raaka, Undûme, Cassiopeia and Raana-Nie--so no stealing. Also, I don't own Cuiviénen. That place belongs to J. R. R. Tolkien, but the stories of it in Chapter 1 and 2 are all mine.

Sleeping Refuge

Chapter 1: Old Friends

"Undûme, I warn you!" Lord Elrond shouted with pleading in his voice as he followed the dark King, who could've past for his twin had his hair not been so light, down the halls of Cuiviénen. I had to cover my ears just to keep the truth I already knew out. "Listen to me now or you will perish!"

"No, you listen, Lord Elrond!" He spat back at the Elf who was desperate and weary from the war. He carried black blood of Orcs and Goblins on his armor, and ash on his face and within his flowing earthly hair. "I will not be fooled into joining an alliance with Men! Men are weak and they are greedy thieves!"

"You are misguided, my old friend. Your vision of the truth is hazy." He wasn't wrong; I recently found a Seeing-stone of the enemy within my father's possession. How he found it, I know not, but I know that he has not been the same since he brought it within our walls. His eyes are glassy and no longer hold joy orstormy grey that I carry now. His skin grows pale and cold to the touch; he's cruel and punishes our people without a second thought or trial.

"My vision is fine. I see the truth well, old friend and I know that you are only trying to betray me." Elrond sighed disgustedly at this, it was abvious now that my father was gone if he thought his dearest and most trusted friend would betray him. "Yes, I know that you conspired with the other races. You betrayed me, Elrond! You wish to see me dead, and my bloodline fall!"

"You speak nonsense! Sauron's army will destory you, Undûme! He will kill you, and your family! Your city will be destroyed, why don't you see that?" A hand rests on my shoulder and I whip around with my hand clutched firmly on my sword. My heart rests peacefully as my mother's smile graces me. She too must have heard the argument between the once brotherly men. But she shouldn't be here, not when she is so close to birth of my younger sibling.

"Sauron is more powerful than you realize, Elrond. He is strong. He will protect me; shelter my race from the coming darkness. I have seen it." He whispered that last part while leaning into Elrond's right ear. If I could see Lord Elrond's face, I bet his eyes would be wide with terror as my father backed away and gave a thin smile.

"Undûme, please, tell me you didn't join with him?" He sighed with his head hanging low. He wasn't angry, he was disappointed with my father...and so was I.

"I have, and it will be my cities greatest accomplishment!" He ranted with joy as he turned to face his throne, but his eyes were directed to our lengthy family tree engraved in the wall above it.

"You fool!" He shouted, grabbing Undûme's arm and forcing him to look him in his eyes. "He will kill you when he has finished with you!"

"Maybe so, but at least then my legacy will be safe." He stated poudly. I could take it no longer, I had to do something. I turned my weary mother away and once I was sure she was out of sight, I made my way to the two Lords.

"No, Cassiopeia, Raaka andyour unborn child will all die when he's finished with you." But Undûme didn't seem to be listening, he turn to face the tree again smiling absent mindedly. "Then you leave me no choice, old friend." Elrond unsheathed his sword and raised it above his own head, he was going to decapitate my father. My slow pace quickly transformed into a run as I unsheathed my own sword, clashing with his just before his stroke fell.

"I think you should leave now, Lord Elrond." I say with conviction yet desperate for his own safety.

"Raaka, you know not what you do." He tried to warn me as we pushed our swords from one another.

"No, he does. My son knows exactly where his loyalties lie." My father said placing a hand around my shoulder as I quickly sheathed my sword. "And they are not with you. Leave, Elrond. Leave myrealm or die." Elrond sighed, shaking his head and turned away from us.

My heart went out to the man that was a second father to me. I loved him dearly and it pained me to turn him away; he didn't even bow his head to us as he left. My father soon left my side, wandering to his private study where I'm sure the Stone awaits him. With nothing else to do, I decide to find my mother and maybe apologize to Elrond in the process. I seehim step out into the light of the flourishing city, now ruled by a heartless dictator. But, before I even get a chance to speak, he his joined by another.

"Why must you come at such dark times, Elrond?" He looked to his left and saw my mother, looking out onto the city not at him.

"Why must you stay here when you know that you could come with me to Rivendell and be safe?" He questioned walking over to her, so I was respectful and kept out of sight and listened to them. My mother's hands rested on her fully grown stomach as Elrond's gaze burned into her. "You know this truth, you know your husband is corrupt and that Sauron will betray him. Why do you sit aside and do nothing?"

"Nothing?" She gasped wisely, turning to look at him. "Who do you think summoned you here?" He bowed his head and understood her now; she was just as worried and fearful as he. "Elrond, I wish I could go with you...but my place is here with my husband, my son and my home."

"Cassiopeia, you are as wise as Galadriel. Surely you must know the dangers of staying here?"

"I do, but I must stay just as you must go." She smiled up at him and caressed his cheek, some of the ash moving to her hand. "Go, before it is too late." Retracting her hand, she left him to come back inside. As she passed me, I saw tears fall from her eyes and when I looked outside I saw Elrond hurry out of the city. Our Drakes roared overhead, a sign of respect, as he left our gates. That would be the last time I saw him for years to come, but I did not know that next we met would be in times of war as well.