Records from the Red Book

The moon was high overhead in the sky and the stars glittered with a twinkling luminosity that shone upon the leaves of the Forbidden Forest. Albus' dark cloak covered him completely as he stepped quickly over the springy grass. He looked towards Hagrid's shack and anxiously hoped that he couldn't be spotted at all, by ill or by good.

As he came into the safe haven of the thick evergreens, Albus discarded his hood and listened intently.

"Singing," he whispered.

Albus turned toward the voices and sure enough, there were the Wood Elves, singing, dancing, and being the merry folk that they are. Their torches outlined the circle of their festival and gave enough light to make the silver in their garments. Their speech was melodious and made Albus fall into the language that was Sindarin, the Elvish tongue.

"Mae govannen, Mithrandir," a voice said from the treetops. It was a masculine voice, but unlike any other male voice it was quite compelling, maybe even a bit unsettling.

Albus looked around, but only the laughing and singing of the elves in the distance could be heard. However, there was one pine that was disturbing him. Dumbledore glanced upward into the dark cluster of leaves and sure enough the guard, Galdor, was perched in one of the branches. He was spread contentedly on the limb, staring at him with bright eyes and grinning.

"Well," the elf said apathetically, "after fifteen years of disregarding the elven race, do you think it's perfectly all right to just walk back in and say hello?"

Galdor glared at him sternly. Albus didn't know if the elf was being serious or not. Surely fifteen years hadn't been that long by elvish standards.

"Galdor-" Albus began.

Galdor interrupted by giving Albus a warm laugh. "Do not worry, my friend. It was pure jest, forgive me." His face turned from joyous to serious. "A hello would be nice though."

"Mae govannen, Galdor," Dumbledore laughed. "I suppose it has been too long."

"Far too long," he said as he hopped down the branch lightly and plopped onto the forest floor. "I thought you would stay with the mortals until the end of days, and not even dare venture back to the Slytherins' realm, but here you are." A grin played on the elf's fair face. Galdor looked quite young, only about twenty. His tall posture and long hair hid an elf of one hundred years.

"Come," he declared, "you must join us in our merriment."

Galdor led Albus to the glade of the blissful Wood Elves, unnoticed except by one.

"Dear Olorin! Is it you?" a particular elf maid asked, a hint of great surprise in her voice.

"Why yes, child, it is," Albus looked at the maiden intently and shock overcame his face. "Vanimarie? Well, you are no longer a child dear!" Albus laughed.

"Indeed not, Mithrandir," she said, "I turned fifty about four years ago, I am no longer a child." Vanimarie's eyes drifted to Galdor and back to Albus again, before changing the subject. "You never bothered to visit or dance with us for such a long time. I was believing you had forgotten the way to our woods." She teased.

"I don't think dear Gandalf would ever forget the way to Lothlorien." Galdor looked down at Vanimarie and smiled. "I think his place is here," he said honestly.

"I don't want to keep you away from the merriment, milord Galdor," she said after a long pause of silence. Her eyes were led to Galdor for a second time, she gave a quick curtsy as a blush rose a bit in her cheeks. "I must retreat to my lady Celebriel and tell her you're here, Olorin."

Gandalf gave her a smile, which she returned and gave one last meaningful glance at Galdor before departing.

Albus gave Galdor a wry grin. "She has grown into a fine young lady," Dumbledore said, chuckling.

Galdor nodded, his eyes bright and keen.

"Gandalf?"

Albus turned around to find two young elflings running toward him. Unlike most Slytherin elves they had dark hair and brown eyes, much like the elves of the north.

"We thought you were dead, Mithrandir!" the first boy said with a grin.

"I'm afraid I'm still quite alive," Dumbledore laughed. "How are you Golasgil?"

"Fine," the boy said lazily. "Gandalf, Niphredil and I have found a way into your castle." Golasgil indicated to his twin sister by his side and continued faster. "Now, we can sneak in and see you more often."

"No Golasgil," Galdor spoke sternly, causing the child to jump. "No elf is to go near there, what would your mother say?"

"But Sir Galdor, we won't get caught," Golasgil persisted.

"No."

"Please?"

"Do you still have the phoenix, Mithrandir?" Niphredil chirped, ignoring the argument.

"Yes, Fawkes is still with me," Dumbledore smiled. "But Galdor is right, stay away from the castle."

Golasgil sighed and shrugged, "Well, then, just visit more often,"

"We like it when you come," Niphredil smiled bashfully up at him.

"Go on now, children!" Galdor said, "The next dance is starting and I'm sure you two don't want to miss it."

"I don't even like to dance. You're just saying that to get rid of us," the boy mumbled and went off, his sister following.

"Every elf likes to dance Golasgil, you're no different," she said after him.

Dumbledore beamed and turned to Galdor.

"They are quite a pair of trouble makers." Galdor poured a glass of dark wine for himself and set a glass for Albus.

"So, how do things fare at Gûlond, or what did you call it, Hogwarts?" Galdor asked with interest as they sat at the long table set at the side of the festival. Most of the elves were off dancing or singing, and only a few lingered to chat and watch.

Albus searched for the correct words, he didn't want to stir a commotion upon the Woodland realm, but he had no other way to say it.

"Surely the wizards haven't clouded your minds that much," he laughed with mock impatience as he sipped his wine, eyes searching Albus' old face with interest. "But tell, dear friend. I know you have grievous news indeed, for your grim appearance shows that well, but it surely cannot be that ill." Galdor was young for an elf; and his heart was higher than others. He saw things much differently than Dumbledore did.

"I fear my friend, that it is far worse than some can say," Albus' face turned graver.

"Trust me, friend, there are many things the elves can help you with," Galdor continued, "Trust us as you once did, tell me."

Dumbledore looked down and let the words spill out of his mouth quickly with fear and doom emphasized in every single syllable. "Saruman has returned to body and is regaining strength. I am not entirely sure how but I heard that he is quickly gaining orcs further west and the Death Eaters are returning -"

Galdor held up a hand indicating he knew the rest and did not want to hear it, silence followed after. "Your words are indeed ill." Galdor looked at Albus intently and whispered, "Take council with Lord Salazar, he may have knowledge for this matter."

Galdor rose from his seat, and was in deep troubled thought. "We can only hope," Galdor mumbled, "I knew wizards could not be trusted." He cursed in his own tongue and drew his eyes back to Albus, and they gleamed with anger and doubt.

"A Elbereth Gilthoniel," he sighed, "It would be best not to speak of this until our Lord finds out about it first." Galdor searched the crowds and a smile curved on his lips as he continued, "Perhaps you should just be merry, for the time being. I must get back to my watch."

"Thank you Galdor," Albus said. And yet, his heart is still high, thought Albus wearily as the young elf walked back into the dark forest and dangled his quiver of arrows on his back.

The old man examined the table before him; on the table laid many assorted foods and wines. He filled a cup with the wine Galdor provided earlier and let the red substance fill his glass to the brim.

"Mithrandir?"

Albus looked up and saw two guards. They weren't the common guards that Galdor was. They were guards for the Lord and Lady, tall, clad in silvery mail and deep green velvet cloaks as their pale blonde hair fell to their shoulders.

"It is good to see you," the first guard smiled. "Lord Salazar wishes your appearance in the halls, Mithrandir."

Albus smiled, drained his glass, and followed the elves out of the glade and deeper into the Forbidden Forest.