Chapter 6: Assistance

            The sun slowly made its ascent in the cloud-covered sky. A light breeze teasing the trees, the sounds of the falls spilling water over the edges of the earth, and the calls of the winged residents of the area combined to create the natural music that was the backdrop of Rivendell. The ravine that cradled the refuge of the Last Homely House was as picturesque as any Middle Earth had to offer, yet the inexorable darkness lay just beyond its borders, only temporarily held at bay by the power granted to the Elves.

            It was this thought that captured Elrond's mind as he gazed out at the ravine that was his home. He could feel the changes taking place in the world, and though he knew that the change was as inevitable as the passing of the seasons, it saddened him nonetheless. So many of his people had already answered the call of the west, and this was just the beginning. Time was rapidly drawing to a close for the Firstborn on this side of the sea. It is an irony, Elrond thought to himself, that even an immortal can feel as if time is running out.

            Sighing, Elrond turned back into his bedchamber and finished preparing for the day. He expected his sons to return today from scouting the areas around the outside of Rivendell's borders and there were some other matters that needed to be handled. He left the room and made his way down the open hallways towards the study that served as an archive for ancient writings and books under Elrond's care and was a haven for the elf.

            A short while later a gentle knock on the door drew his attention from the manuscript on the desk in front of him.

            "Enter."

            "Please excuse the interruption, my lord. There is a guest asking for an audience with you. He is rather...impatient," the messenger said, a twinkle in his eyes. Elrond's brow furrowed in perplexity at the cryptic words.

            "I will be..."

            "Master Elrond!" The door was pulled open fully by the unexpected guest. He swept into the room, removing his hat as he entered.

            "Mithrandir," Elrond said, an expression of surprise gracing his timeless features. "This is an unexpected visit. Come in, my friend. Please, take a seat." He nodded to the messenger who discreetly took his leave, closing the door behind him softly.

            "It is good to see you, Elrond. Tell me, how goes this fine day?" Gandalf asked as he settled himself, characteristic levity in his voice. Elrond raised a gracefully arched eyebrow.

            "I would that you tell me, Wizard," his stern voice made softer by the warmth in his words as well as a knowing smile on his lips. "For as is most times the case, I am sure you know more than I about the goings on of this day...or any day, for that matter. But first, I would be a poor host indeed if we proceeded with the business of this visit without first offering you refreshment."

            "Why do you assume that this is business? Can I not simply visit an old friend?" He asked, feigned expression of affront decorating his features.

            "No, Mithrandir," Elrond said, coming as close to grinning as the wizened elf ever did. "You cannot."

                                    *                       *                       *                       *

            Elrohir and Elladan were heading back to Rivendell, not riding with urgency, but keeping a constant pace. They spoke quietly with each other, and sometimes sat in silence, each lost in his own thoughts. At the request of their father they had expanded their normal patrol of the area surrounding Rivendell to check on the reports of the movements of the enemy. The number of orcs in the area was either growing, or more of them were passing through, and neither possibility was a very comforting thought. The shadow, although not as heavy and dark as it was in other areas of the land, seemed to be growing, tendrils of it reaching into previously untouched areas. It was rare now to find land with unsullied purity, and while the power of the elves had held the shadow at bay successfully for some time, they could feel the darkness gathering power.

            "Elladan," Elrohir whispered suddenly. Elladan immediately pulled himself to attention. "Someone is approaching the area," The twins halted their horses and turned to face the approaching rider. The canting of a horse could be heard on the path behind them, heading in the same direction that they had been. Catching his brother's eye, Elrohir quickly pulled an arrow from his quiver and strung his bow. There was not enough time to hide the horses and simply observe the traveler, but they were not going to meet the individual unprepared. Apparently, however, they were not unnoticed either.

            "I come bearing a message from Mirkwood," an elven voice called, though the elf himself was still out of sight. "It is addressed to Lord Elrond from the human Estel." The twins exchanged glances and lowered their bows.

            "Please, come forward and tell us what news you carry!" Elladan called out. A moment later, a horse bearing a blond-haired elf rounded the bend in the trail they were traveling on and approached the twins. The Mirkwood elf knew of Elrond's twin sons, but he did not know them, nor did he know how to tell them apart. The elf brought his horse to a halt and inclined his head in an imitation of a proper bow.

            "I am Gorisil, a courier of the court of Thranduil. I bear a message that is to be delivered directly to the Lord of Rivendell," he said formally.

            "I am Elrohir and this is Elladan. We are heading back to Rivendell and it would please us greatly if you would accompany us and tell us how things fare in Mirkwood. It has been too long since we have had a chance to visit your home."

            "I would be honored to travel in your company for a while, my lords," Gorisil replied. The three elves rode together, Elrohir beside Gorisil and Elladan slightly behind the two.

"So tell us," Elladan said. "How fares our brother? Has he managed to land himself and the prince in trouble yet?" The question was asked with dry humor, for Aragorn's and Legolas' proclivity for getting themselves in ... difficult situations ... was well known in both realms. Gorisil smiled slightly.

"All is well with the Prince and your brother," Gorisil said. Elrohir heard the unspoken "but" in that sentence. It was not lost on Elladan, either. He raised his eyebrows and urged Gorisil to continue.

"There is more to that statement, is there not?" Elladan asked. Gorisil remained silent for a moment, staring ahead. He wondered briefly if he would be remiss in telling the sons of Elrond what little he knew of the situation in the palace. He was not told that the situation should not be spoken about, but it was not discussed in Thranduil's court. He knew what he knew simply from being present to observe the appearance of the strange visitor in the presence of the Elven Prince and his human friend. After a moment, he decided that since no one was trying to keep anything secret in Mirkwood, it would not hurt to share what he knew with the twins. In all likelihood, they would find out soon enough. They are the brothers of the human, after all, Gorisil decided.

            "There is," Gorisil said after a brief silence. "Prince Legolas and Estel did not find trouble, exactly. They did, however, find something else." 

                                    *                       *                       *                       *

            Elrond stared unseeingly ahead of him. He was lost in his ponderings of his discussion with the wizard. Mithrandir did not stay long, as was his custom, before remounting and continuing his on his way to Thranduil's realm. He had explained that he was on his way to Mirkwood to lend his aid to a situation that had "appeared out of nowhere." Elrond sighed in frustration at the wizard's cryptic words. Elrond and Mithrandir had been friends and allies since time immemorial, yet Elrond still could not decipher the riddles the wizard spoke in. To compound the situation without really telling Elrond anything, Mithrandir had managed to convey a sense of importance and urgency in his mission. When Elrond questioned Mithrandir further, the wizard had brushed him off, saying there was not time enough to explain everything right now, but that further explanation was not far off and would come to him shortly.

            "I would ask, my friend, that you ready yourself to join me in Mirkwood. I will send word within a fortnight," Mithrandir had said as he led his horse to the gates of Rivendell. Elrond had acquiesced, not completely understanding, but trusting the Istari enough to agree to his request.

            Elrond heard the voices of his sons in the hallway approaching his study, and he heard that they were joined by a third individual. Elladan knocked softly on the open door and pushed it open further.

            "Father?" Elladan said quietly. "We bring news from outside our borders." Elrond rose and met his sons as they entered the study.

            "Come in, and tell me what you have learned," Elrond said, his eyes landing on the blond-haired elf. "And who you have met." Gorisil stepped forward and bowed to the elf lord.

            "Greetings, Master Elrond. I am Gorisil of King Thranduil's court. I bring a message from Mirkwood, written by Estel to be delivered directly to your hands." He held out a folded parchment, sealed with wax bearing the mark of the King's house.

            He observed the younger elf carefully as he accepted the paper. "You have rode without rest to deliver this." It was not a question. Elrond could see the barely perceptible signs of weariness and strain in the face and posture of the younger elf. Gorisil acknowledged the truth of his words with a slight nod of his head.

            "The message was to be delivered with all haste," he said, by way of explanation. Elrond smiled slightly.

            "I thank you for your determination and attention to the matter. Elladan, Elrohir, please show Gorisil to guest quarters so that he may rest and refresh himself." Elrond turned back to the messenger. "Please, stay and fortify your strength before making the return trip." Gorisil bowed.

            "Thank you, Master Elrond. Your hospitality is most appreciated," he answered. He turned to follow the twins out of the study.

            "My sons, please return here when our guest has been settled," Elrond said as they left.

            "Yes, Father. We will be back shortly," Elrohir answered. He followed his brother and Gorisil out of the room, trying not to appear hurried. The strange story Gorisil had conveyed to the twins during the ride back had piqued his interest, and when the stable attendant told them that they had just missed Mithrandir, his interest was transformed into a burning curiosity. He was impatient to know what business brought the wizard to Rivendell. He knew that Elladan felt the same way, but he had always been the more patient of the two.

            A short while later, the brothers made their way back to the study where their father awaited them.

            "I trust our guest is settled?" Elrond said as his sons entered the room.

            "Yes," Elladan answered. "Gorisil is planning on leaving at first light tomorrow, and he was grateful for a night to rest in ease." Elrond nodded.

            "Your brother has managed to involve himself in yet another unusual situation," Elrond said.

            "Yes, Gorisil told us what he knew as we rode in," Elrohir said. "But that was very little. What has transpired?" In response, Elrond handed Elrohir the letter from Estel and Elladan leaned over his brother's shoulder to read the message.

            Father,

                 Greetings from Mirkwood. I write this letter at the request of

            King Thranduil, for Legolas and I have come across a most

            interesting turn of events. Just outside the borders of the palace,

            a young girl appeared out of nowhere. She does not come from

            anywhere near here, and as impossible at it may seem, she does

            not appear to come from this land at all. Her abrupt appearance,

            which she could not explain, seemed likely to have been brought

            about by some means of magic. As such, the King feels that the

            wizard Gandalf may be able to explain and help with the situation.

            It is the King's request that you attempt to contact Gandalf and

            request his presence here.

                 There is something strange about the girl, Father. At first glance

            she appears to be nothing more than a lost child, but there is some-

                        thing more to her, of this I am certain. I have not spoken of this with

            Legolas, for I cannot put this feeling into accurate words, but my

            heart tells me that the child is here for a reason. I am tempted to ask

            you to join us here, but as nothing is certain, I will refrain from doing

            so and instead ask that you send word when you have contacted

            Gandalf. I will keep you appraised of the situation here.

            "Mithrandir was just here, was he not?" Elladan asked, puzzled. Elrond smiled. The choice of the wizard's words to him earlier was obviously not chance.

            "Yes he was. As a matter of fact, he told me he was on his way to Mirkwood to assist with a situation that had 'appeared out of nowhere'." Elrohir glanced up from rereading the letter, a look of surprise on his face.

            "That was what he said?" Elrohir asked, amusement in his voice.

            "His very words," Elrond said dryly.

            "Well, it appears as if Mithrandir is a step ahead of all of us," Elladan commented.

            "A step?" His brother repeated. "More likely a whole staircase. What are we going to do Father?"

            "Do? There is nothing for us to do. Mithrandir is already on his way, and any reply I send will arrive after he does. We must trust that Mithrandir will call on us if our assistance is needed. In the meantime, what news do you have of the movement of the enemy outside our borders?"

            "But, Father..." Elrohir began, unwilling to leave off this new, interesting development. Elrond raised his hand to stop his son.

            "Have patience, Elrohir. We must see what time brings."