The Lord of Rivendell rubbed his hands slowly back and forth as he stood by a table next to a bookshelf in his library in the Last Homely House. The library was decorated in the style of the elves with highly polished woods, gold, jade, other precious metals and elegant benches and desks. Across the white marble floor in front of him stood a woman speaking in a low, sure tone. She had been speaking for a quarter of an hour already, with only a couple of interruptions from Elrond.
The situation was almost as bad as Elrond had feared, but he did not show any emotion. His large eyes were calm and his manner characteristic of a great elven Lord who had known great losses and great pains over the yéni.
The woman stopped speaking and waited for Elrond to respond. She held her hands in front of her in a relaxed manner, keeping her back straight and chin up. Her light eyes changed color in the glowing half-light of the library, reflecting the light of the moon and the stars.
”Laureanis”, Elrond began. ”It would seem that I am greatly in your debt.”
Laureanis stared at him but did not show any emotion. ”My Lord”, was all she said.
”Do you have the vial with you?” Elrond asked.
”I do, my Lord.” Laureanis took the small black vial from a pocket of her dress and handed it over to the Lord of Rivendell, who grasped it almost reluctantly, with a slight sneer of distaste like he was handling a dead shrew. Elrond removed the stopper from the vial and sniffed it, frowned and put it away. For a moment Elrond studied the backs of the books on the shelf next to him.
”I must continue my work, my Lord”, Laureanis said. ”I must go back to them, find out exactly what they want. I must find out who is behind all this.”
”No, Laureanis, that is exactly what you must not do. You have done quite enough already. You have done more for me, Imladris and the Free Peoples than I or anyone has a right to ask. I am forever in your debt.” Elrond cast a sharp glance at Laureanis. ”I know how much you have suffered, how unfairly you have been treated, even by your own kin here. I can see in your eyes that this favor has not come without a terrible cost to your fëa. How could I ever even begin to repay you for all you have suffered? But it is over now, Laureanis. It is time to call a hunt and purge the Trollshaws of Sauron’s vile agents.”
”But I haven’t uncovered the whole plot yet”, Laureanis protested. ”We know that they want to kill you, but we don’t know exactly why. And there are more players lurking in the shadows that we don’t know about yet. I’m sure of it.”
”That does not matter”, Elrond countered. ”We will cut down the agents of Mordor you have already uncovered. Let the remaining servants of Sauron crawl back to Mordor to report to their master what happened here. That should send Sauron a clear message to stay away from Imladris from now on. You have been courageous, Laureanis. You have served me and you have served Imladris. Perhaps you have served peace as well.”
Laureanis smiled sadly at that, but did not speak to him further. Elrond turned and clapped his hands. In a moment an elegantly dressed elf-maiden appeared.
”Have Laerdan, Elladan and Elrohir arrived?” Elrond asked. ”Good. Get them here.”
After a few minutes three elves descended the stairs and walked across the marble floor towards Elrond and Laureanis. All three were dressed in tunics and cloaks adorned with the kind of fine embroidery indicating a high rank in elven society. They were Elladan and Elrohir, Elrond’s sons, and Laerdan, an Elf-Lord of great reputation and one of Elrond’s most trusted advisors. Laerdan seemed startled to see Laureanis there. She barely glanced at him.
”Mellyn”, Elrond said. ”This is Laureanis, who has worked for me in secret for nearly two years to uncover a plot most sinister hatched right here in the Trollshaws. She has much to tell you, and when she has finished her tale, you will have much work to do. Laureanis will give you the names, descriptions and known locations of a number of people hiding in the Trollshaws region. Those individuals must be hunted down and dispatched in a most severe manner. I ask you to gather your most trusted friends and associates to assist you in this grim task. Show no mercy to the enemy – I assure you, they would not show any to us. And please keep a low profile – there is no need for the residents of Imladris to be concerned about what is happening outside the valley. Let us conclude this matter swiftly and quietly. Laureanis, the stage is yours.”
Laureanis bowed and started talking. She talked for a long time. Laerdan looked puzzled, but nodded in agreement. Elrond’s sons appeared calm and expressionless. When they had left the library, Elrond turned to Laureanis again.
”Laureanis”, he said, his large and clear eyes staring directly into the eyes of the woman before him. ”You have served me for a long time without any reward, and there will be none this time either. Only my gratitude, and that too must be offered in secret. The residents of Imladris, who so fear and scorn you because of your past, because they do not know your heart, will never know how much they owe you. Yet I sense a heavy burden weighing down your heart. Isn’t there anything more I could do for you?”
Laureanis looked down at the tips of her shoes and did not say anything for a moment. Then she shook her head.
”No, my Lord”, she said in a quiet voice. ”There is nothing anyone can do for me anymore.”
