AN: Only one review last chapter! (Though thanks for that :)) Please review next time. Thanks for all the favs though! Also, I apologize for my disappearance on ff. Finals has pretty much been my life recently, but I'm back to writing again.

Song for this chapter: Anywhere Is by Enya

Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown

The nights had grown dark and cold leaving the two weavers quite busy and the rest of my people shivering in the halls we still used. Much of the palace had been shut off because many had spoken to me of feeling loss when they traveled into the more empty halls. Of course the newcomers populated quite a bit of the palace now. Several of my elves said they didn't much like the newcomers, they had something dark about them, however Ylyndar reminded me that my word was final, so of course I let Slytherin's people stay.

They were quite powerful, these new elves, and King Salazar appeared almost as powerful as myself. He had a elf who seemed to give him advice, similar to Ylyndar's advice for me. King Salazar seemed to treat him with great respect, not that I didn't do the same with my most trusted elf, however Laerornor seemed the one elf who escaped King Salazar's haughty personality. (And myself, of course)

One day I asked him who Laerornor was to him, and his answer surprised me.

"He was once a great elf lord, but he lost his family many years ago in a great battle. I took him into my kingdom and he got along well. He gives good advice, and he is indebted to me."

"He was a king?" I asked, confused.

"Not quite a king, just a ruler. A king is not a ruler. A king is more powerful."

The way he said this made me change the subject, he still made me uneasy, and we did not speak on the subject again.

"Your training is going quite well."

I nodded to King Salazar, who sat in a sort of throne similar to my own, watching our people train.

"Indeed. Your elves seem quite powerful. I must say I am impressed by a few."

"Of course, only the best elves were allowed to travel the great way to arrive here."

"The best?"

"Yes, the rest stayed behind in my land. They will likely wander into the human world and lose touch with their heritage. I could tell they were restless for a change, so I allowed them leave. Only the best may be trained, or course."

"Are you aware of other eleven kingdoms that might be left? All eleven kingdoms in this realm of the world have dispersed, save my own."

"Oh, there may be some, somewhere, They do not concern me for the moment. What does concern me are the rumors. Have you heard that men are growing fearful of elves? They are more fearful of elves with powers like our own."

"I'm sure it is no worry of ours. They would not be so bold as to come questioning."

"I do not know if you are correct, Lord Thranduil. I have heard that they have become very bold. I am worried. I believe we should construct a barrier against them."

"Nonsense. In fact, I was thinking that, when our people have perfected themselves, we will go out into the human world and begin to remind them of what we are."

"If you think that wise. I too had a proposition. Mightn't it be a good idea to create a sort of place where we might train other elves, should they come along."

"I know little of that. If you wish to, let that be your own concern."

King Salazar inclined his head, turning back to watch as Laerornor's eyes flashed and a pot across the room shattered into a sparkle of glass as fine as rainwater.

It was a little less than a year when I was wondering the grounds just outside my palace with Ylyndar, and I heard movement through the trees. We cautiously approached to see that a small group of horses were standing in a clearing. There were about ten riders looking intently at a map. Ylyndar and I whispered for a moment, before I stepped into the clearing.

"Are you in need of assistance?" Ylyndar spoke, and one rider in a bright red cloak glanced up from his map. He was a man, not an elf, and something about his personality offset me.

"Would you happen to know the way to the kingdom of Lord Thranduil? I have been sent for by an old friend of mine, and two more parties are on the way."

This was beginning to get out of hand. My kingdom could not take in every person that happened along. Perhaps King Salazar had better go about creating a new training ground.

"You have already found my kingdom. In fact you are trespassing in my lands," I spoke coldly. He didn't seem to pick up on the malice in my voice.

"Oh, dear me. Sorry about that, my lord. I was sent for by King Salazar. My name is Godric. I'm an old friend of his and he had hoped I could assist you. It's splendid to meet you. He had said your elven powers are great. Will you be assisting in creating our training ground?"

"I will not," my voice was cold. "And I was unaware that King Salazar was inviting men to join our training."

"Not mere men," Godric grinned stupidly.

"Godric, have you found the kingdom?"

The clearing was suddenly invaded by twenty more horses. Leading the procession was another human, a plump jolly woman, and an elf woman. When the elf woman saw me she immediately got down from her horse and bowed deeply.

"Lord Thranduil," she spoke. "We have been sent for by a fellow elven ruler to help train your people. My name is Rowena, and my traveling companion is named Helga. We travel with a small group of our followers. I was the daughter of an elven king from a far away kingdom, however my father sailed while I did not. I apologize about your son, I had heard he has sailed on."

"Indeed," I nodded. Rowena I was willing to take into my kingdom; I wasn't so sure about the other two uncouth humans.

"Well, lead the way, my good fellow," Godric chuckled, causing me to bristle unhappily.

"We could camp out here if you wish to speak to King Slytherin. We have spent many nights out of doors; one more will do no harm," Rowena spoke carefully, and I nodded.

"I would wish to speak to him. Please excuse me."

With that Ylyndar and I retreated from the clearing and hurried toward my castle.

"He cannot continue to invite every traveler who happens along into my kingdom," I told Ylyndar, who agreed immediately.

Inside, King Slytherin was examining the throne room, and I cleared my throat harshly. He turned and smiled at me.

"Yes, Thranduil?"

"Some friends of yours have arrived," I frowned. "They claim to be invited to join us."

"Ah, good. They are teachers."

"I cannot keep taking people into my kingdom, Slytherin. You cannot ask that of me. This is my kingdom, and I will not take in any more stray travelers. Besides, only one of them is an elf, the other two are clearly unruly and would disrupt the peace."

"Oh, I agree completely. It is not my plan for them to come here, Thranduil. They are to help me build the new training ground. I plan to build it next to the Long Lake."

"Near Esgaroth?"

"Esgaroth has disappeared, haven't you heard? They did not rebuild it, it has disappeared into the depths of the lake as the water has risen. So has Dale. Had you not heard how the water of the lake has seemed to multiply and swallow up the ruins?"

"It has been long since I've left my kingdom," I admitted, and Slytherin nodded understandingly.

"I see," he told me. "I think I shall be leaving soon to create the new training ground. You may join us, should you so choose. Perhaps you had best go out to see the world again."

"Perhaps," I shrugged. I wasn't particularly keen on the notion, however if everyone chose to leave, I would follow my people to ensure their safety. "When do you plan to depart?"

"Tomorrow," I was informed. "And any who wish to join me are welcome to do so."

I nodded, prepared to inform my people that, perhaps, we should follow. Now, however, I retired to my chambers to consider this change and whether or not I would tolerate the newcomers.

In the morning I awoke to find my people lining up at the gates. I asked Ylyndar what was occurring, and he seemed surprised.

"Slytherin said we are traveling to a training ground. He said you were enthusiastic about the idea."

"Indeed I am," I nodded. "I was unaware we'd be leaving so early."

Ylyndar merely shrugged, and the followed as the procession began to march out of the door and toward the forest. Eryn Lasgalen, Greenwood, was a lively place now. Birds chirped in the trees and small animals populated little burrows beneath trees. It pleased me to see that my forest had not darkened, despite so many elves abandoning it. It was odd to be traveling so far into the the forest, and when we arrived at the other end of the forest to see the lake, I found myself to be quite surprised. The area was completely unrecognizable. All signs of life had disappeared. Indeed the lake was much higher toward the mountains and Dale was missing. The dwarf kingdom was not covered by water, but it seemed to be completely lifeless.

Good. I thought to myself. Odder still was a castle with pointed spires which was located near the other side of the lake on a rocky hill. It looked half complete.

"It's a lovely sight," Slytherin told me. He sat upon a horse, which he urged around the lake. "We are to meet my friends there. They have been building it. I am to help them. If you so desire, you may assist us."

"No, I think the building will be left to you," I told him. I had little desire to be there in the first place, and so I had equally little desire to help build this very human looking castle. There were few elf qualities about it, save its rather nice pointed roofs.

It took all afternoon to arrive at the castle, but when we did, it was a strange sight that greeted us. Many, many elves whom I did not recognize, a few humans, and a few beings that looked strangely human save their pointed ears, were building a section of the castle not with their hands, but with their elvan powers. I had never seen the like. In the past, I had used my elvan powers simply to heal or to hide the scars which lined my face, this was a very strange sight.

"Salazar, my good friend," the tiresome voice of the red caped Godric rang out, and Slytherin and I turned as one to see the man leaning against a block of stone, a stupid grin spreading across his face.

"Godric," Slytherin nodded once, dismounting. "Where are the other two?"

"Helga is over there collecting flowers," the man gestured to a patch of grass where the woman in yellow was examining something in the grass. "I believe Rowena is up there building something."

"I see. Perhaps Lord Thranduil and I can go up and examine what has yet been built?"

"Of course. Everyone is doing a spectacular job," Godric grinned.

"Come," Slytherin told me, and we made our way toward a courtyard of sorts and then up some stairs. Indeed the dark haired elven woman was instructing workers about something that appeared to be a very long room.

"Rowena," Slytherin spoke, and the elf turned to smile at us.

"Hello, greetings," she proclaimed. "This shall be where the students eat. I trust it is to your liking? Good. We will begin creating our individual rooms quite soon. I wish mine to be in a tower with a nice view of something, perhaps the lake. I want people to be able to see the night sky from my tower. What location would you like, Salazar?"

"Somewhere dark and quiet," was Slytherin's response. "Have the people of neighboring villages caused any trouble?"

"No, I don't believe they mind," Rowena shook her head. "The people in this area are still accustomed to elves and their world, thanks to the woodland elves."

"I told you they would remember us," I smirked at Slytherin, who nodded.

"That's good," he agreed. "You said you wanted to go out to the human world?"

"I believe I will, sometime in the future."

"You may want to think of an easier name for the humans to call you by. I do not use my real name, I have changed it. Salazar was not my elvish name, for that named proved difficult for humans. I have spent some time in that world, it has changed some."

"As I'm sure I'll soon find out," I told him.

"They have new names for where they live. Just as Dale has disappeared, a new world has crept up. They call is Angle Land."

"I see," I smirked. "An uncouth name, however perhaps I will travel there and see what they have to offer. Perhaps I have spent too long in my forest. I will bring Ylyndar of course. I may head out by the end of the week to see what has become of the world."

"Whatever you wish. Will your other people be staying here?"

"If you believe you can teach them."

"Of course, it will be easy."

"Then yes, I entrust you to care for them until I return. Thank you, King Slytherin."

"Of course," the elf told me.

With that, I headed down the small mountain to inform Ylyndar that our new journey would begin in just three days. It was time to say some goodbyes.

AN: Next chapter Thranduil will go out into the human world, and he'll (sort of) start turning into Lucius. Not quite though. That's won't happen for a while. What do you think? Please review!