Nothing More

Chapter 14 - The White Council.

Third person point of view
Later in the day Elrond and Gandalf converse as they walk towards a meeting area.

"With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain. They're determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he's answerable to anyone. Nor for that matter am I." Gandalf states.
"But it's not me you must answer to." Elrond answer. At that moment Gandalf notices Galadriel turning to face them.
"Lady Galadriel." Gandalf whispers in a pleasant shock.
"Mithrandir." Galadriel welcomes.
"It has been a long time." Gandalf converses In elvish trying to speak privately to her.
"Age may have changed me, but not so the lady of Lorien." Galadriel replies warmly in elvish a smile gracing her face.
"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you." Gandalf replies audible for both Galadriel and Elrond to hear.
"He didn't. I did." Saruman interferes making his presence known. Gandalf turning in shock to Saruman while trying to hide his displeasure at his arrival.
"Saruman." Galadriel converses.
"You've been busy of late, my friend.Tell me, Gandalf, did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?" Accuses Saruman.
"Unnoticed? No, I...I'm simply doing what I feel to be right." Gandalf stutters as a reply.
"The dragon has long been on your mind." Galadriel diverts the conversation to it focus. Preventing an argument.
"It is true, my Lady. Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, the dragon could be used to terrible effect." Gandalf answers honestly.
"What enemy? Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength." Saruman questions Gandalf.
"Gandalf, for four hundred years we have lived in peace. A hard won watchful peace." Elrond informs engaging with the conversation.
"Are we? Are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains, they are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road." Gandalf pleading his case.
"Hardly a prelude to war." Elrond answers.
"Always you must meddle. Looking for trouble where none exists!" Accuses Saruman ignoring Gandalf's examples.
"Let him speak." Galadriel pleads.
"There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug, something far more powerful. We can remain blind to it, but it will not be ignoring us, that I can promise you. A sickness hides over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it Mirkwook, and...uh, they s...they say..." Gandalf informs trying to get over his point but hesitant to state what the woodsmen say.
"Well, don't stop now, tell us what the woodsmen say?" Saruman states, getting bored of Gandalf's ideas.
"They speak of a Necromancer, living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who can summon the dead." Reveals Gandalf.
"That's absurd. No such power exists in this world. This Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic." Saruman argues having enough of the ridiculous theory.
"And so I though too. But Radagast has seen..." Gandalf desperately trying to finish.
"Radagast? Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown. He's a foolish fellow." Saruman stating his opinion.
"Well, he's odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life." Gandalf replies trying to look out for his friend.
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They've addled his brain, and yellowed his teeth. I warned him. It is unbefitting one of the Istari wandering the wood..." Saruman declares ranting at Gandalf.
"You carry something. It came to you from Radagast, he found it in Dol Guldur. "Galadriel questions through Gandalf's mind.
"Yes." Gandalf replies through his mind while Saruman still rants at him.
"Show me." Galadriel demands. Gandalf brings a wrapped item onto the table stunning Elrond and Saruman into silence.
"What is that?" Elrond questioned the first of the two coming to his senses as he moves forward to unwrap it.
"A relic of Mordor." Galadriel informs instantly. Hearing this Elrond hesitates but then continues with cation. Revealing a sword. "A Morgul blade." Elrond murmurs under his breath in shock.
"Made for the witch-king of Angmar, and buried with him. When Angmar fell, the men of the North took his body, and all that he possessed and sealed it within the high fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried him, in a tomb so dark it would never come to light." Galadriel informs with worry.
"This is not possible. A powerful spell lies upon those tombs, they cannot be opened." Elrond states almost pleading it not to be true.
"What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" Saruman questions in denial.
"I have none." Gandalf reveals with honesty.
"Because there is none. Let us examine what we know. A single orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a by-gone age has been found. And a human sorcerer who calls himself the Necromancer, has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much, after all. The question of this dwarvish company however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they'd come to me, I might have spare them this disappointment. I will not pretend to understand your reasons for raising their hopes..." Saruman rants in denial of the facts presented.
"They are leaving." Galadriel accuses Gandalf through his mind so not to be interrupted.
"Yes." He whispers through his mind in reply.
"You knew." Galadriel answers in shock. While Gandalf gives her a knowing look.
"I'm afraid there's nothing else for it." Saruman continues with his rant.

"My Lord Elrond. The dwarves and Lady Gelli, they've gone." Linder interrupts from the arch way in panic.

Hi all,

Truly sorry it's taken me this long to update.  8k readers amazing, thank you.
Hope you like this chapter. Il try and get another chapter up soon.

Mydragonatemycookie