Cloaked in Green

Chp. 12: An Uncle's Query

word count: 2.6k

warning(s): mentions of death of family members

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The White Council, composed of Saurman the White, Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, and Gandalf the Grey sit at the pavilion in the Haven of Orladion. The wizards were seated at the table while Galadriel and Erlond walked about.

"Tell me Gandalf,-" Saurman spoke first, his voice almost dripping with crudeness. "-did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?"

"Unnoticed? No I'm simply doing what I feel to be right-"

"This dragon has long since been on your mind." Galadriel interrupted, turning to glance at him. Sighing, he knew he was caught,though Gandalf tried to save his point. "This is true, my lady.-"

"-Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect."

"What enemy? " scoffing, Saurman slammed a hand on the table. "Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished." He stressed. "He can never regain his full strength."

Rubbing his forehead, Elrond was even more exasperated at the wizard than usual. "Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace. A hardwon, watchful peace. " He stressed

"Are we?! Are we at peace?!" Gandalf accused " Trolls have come down from the mountains. They are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road." Gandalf gestured over at the elf.

"You, yourself had said that the Goblins have started venturing farther and furthering out of Misty-"

"Hardly a prelude to war."

"Always must you meddle?" Saurman shook his head from across the table. "Looking for trouble where none exists. There is a right mind to-"

"Let him speak." the soft tone of her voice carried, Galadriel was stopped behind Gandalf, who nodded added

"There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful." He further stressed "We can remain blind, but it will not be ignoring us, that I can promise you. A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it 'Mirkwood'. and they say-." The grey wizard trailed off. His mind connected a few points that he hadn't considered.

The Ranger that came for Aranea, his urgency and her obvious display of anxiety as they talked...could it truly be unravelling under their noses all this time?

"Your mind is opening" the elf queen spoke to him and his mind only now." You carry something? It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Dol Guldur."

"Yes"

"Show me."

With the voice ringing in the deep mind, Gandalf abruptly moved to pull out Radagast's package.

Saruman rolling his eyes, "..or I'd think I was talking to myself-".

Setting it almost fearfully on the table, letting out a dull thud. Gandalf was almost to quick to draw his hands away.

Even more confused and tired, Elrond was the first to speak. "What is that?"

"A relic of Mordor." Galadriel answered