Post by Admin on Jan 3, 2021 21:05:58 GMT
Author: Gemstarzah
Summary: A ring from the past finds its way back into Elrond's path. A Ring once thought missing long ago.
Many years had passed since Sauron’s demise. Many felt it was certain that he would never again return to bother the people of Middle-Earth; that his time was over and past. Ancient history, some would call the evil that Maia had been. Indeed, Sauron had been the scourge of the Second Age. It had been almost three thousand years since the Last Alliance had cast out Sauron power.
Isildur kept the ring, but now it is lost.
There was no way to know where the One Ring – or Isildur’s Bane, as the race of men called it - was now. It had been lost when it betrayed Isildur at the Gladden Fields. No one had seen the ambush coming, and only the evil of Sauron could have made that possible. Nothing good could come of something made with such ill will as that of Sauron.
Elrond knew there was nothing more to be done about Sauron's menace. Everyone believed that without the ring, he would never return to smite them as once he had.
Yet, there was something that he had felt from time to time. Something powerful was stirring, but he could not name what it was. All he felt was a great deal of unidentifiable power.
"Ada?"
Elrond almost flinched as he heard the word coming from a boy’s mouth.
He turned to look at the dark haired decade old youth.
"Yes, Estel?"
Why didn't I hear him coming?
He was surprised that the boy had been able reach him unnoticed.
“Is something wrong, ada?”
Estel had always been a rather perceptive boy, noticing things that perhaps one his age ought not be able to.
Elrond moved to sit down on one of the seats on the balcony, motioning for the boy to join him.
So like Arathorn, his father.
He couldn’t help but notice the things that linked each generation of the Dúnedain Chieftains.
"Ah penneth, nothing is wrong. I was merely lost in thought, that's all."
Indeed, that had been all that bothered him at the moment. There was no need to burden the boy with the past of his ancestors yet. A time would come when Elrond knew he would have to reveal everything to Estel, but now was not the time.
Estel looked up at him for a few moments, as though he was searching.
For what, Elrond was not sure, but Estel looked away after a few moments.
"Will you be joining Nana and I again tonight?"
Elrond smiled at him.
"As long as something else does not come up, Estel, yes I will."
He did not think anything else would come up though. It seemed unlikely that there was anything coming that he needed to worry about today.
The boy headed off once more, and Elrond turned to head to his study to take care of some paperwork he knew Erestor was waiting for him to look at.
**
Elrond raised an eyebrow when he had heard the words spoken to him.
"You're sure you heard the scout correctly?"
Elrond watched his seneschal’s face as he spoke, though his hands continued to work on grinding herbs. He'd been in the middle of putting some time into helping the Healers Hall.
Most of the day had gone by while he was in the Healers Hall, and now it was mid afternoon.
Glorfindel nodded in answer to the question.
"Orcs and wargs about on the plains. The scouts believe they're searching for something, and while they would have only been watching the orcs, they saw concern in the matter as they're close to the secret way into the valley. If one of those filthy creatures finds that..."
Elrond flinched, stopping what he was doing.
"Say no more. We will hunt them down and destroy them. That or force them to flee the area. I will not allow Rivendell's safety to be compromised, you know this. I will meet you and some of the warriors at the stables in five minutes."
Glorfindel nodded and left.
Elrond hurried to put away what he'd been doing, before heading for his own suite where his burgundy-copper armour would be waiting to be used once more. While it was rare that he wore it these days, there were times like these when even he couldn't resist the chance to hunt orcs.
Ever since his wife had sailed to Valinor because of these monstrosities, even he had not been able to remain home when orcs were near. When his sons were home, however, he often rode out himself to deal with the orcs. That way, his sons could relax for once, since they were rarely home these days.
This was not one of those times, and truth be told he was glad that they were not here. He needed something like this to do, for a time, things had grown dull in Rivendell.
Elrond sent a message to Lindir asking for him to come immediately, before he gathered and donned his armour.
Lindir arrived swiftly.
"You sent for me, my lord?"
Elrond nodded.
"Indeed I did, Lindir. I'm going with a few of the warriors to deal with an orc problem near the Secret Way. While I do not expect any visitors, if they should happen or someone look for me, tell them I'll be back by this evening. This will not take more than an hour or so I wouldn't think."
Lindir nodded.
"I will do so."
"Thank you, mellon-nin."
Elrond started toward the door of his suite, buckling Hhadafang into place at his waist as he did. Lindir followed him for a few moments before departing off to wherever he'd been when Elrond had sent for him.
Walking briskly down to the stables, he saw Glorfindel and a score of their warriors waiting for him. Glorfindel held Elrond's horses' reins ready for him, which Elrond took before mounting.
Moments later, they were off, heading for the open fields to deal with the pests.
Once they were out of the valley, it wouldn’t take them long to reach the pathway through the little-known rocky pass. All that was on Elrond's mind now, was making sure none of the creatures appeared through that pass.
Why the wargs were closing in on the rocky area, he didn't want to know, considering one of the rocks rested over the Secret Way. Elrond nodded at one of the others and a hunting horn rang out in the air a second later.
Galloping toward the wargs and orcs, aware of arrows already arching through the air around him, Elrond drew his sword, easily killing the first warg that he met. Several of the wargs had already lost riders. All in all the fight only took a few minutes.
Glorfindel turned to look at Elrond once the fighting was over.
"Time to return home. A pity they didn't put up more of a fight."
Elrond sighed as he turned back toward Imladris. He couldn't agree more with Glorfindel now.
**
Several weeks after the last attack from the orcs, and after a disconcerting message regarding hobbit from Mithrandir, Elrond had sent riders out to watch for Aragorn and the hobbits on their journey to Imladris. With the Nine abroad, there could be no chances taken if Gandalf’s words about one of the hobbits bearing Sauron’s ring were true.
Elrond flinched when he saw the injured halfling that was brought in that evening. There was something about him that caused Elrond some discomfort, but he was yet to find out why. Aragorn had told him the halfling’s name was Frodo, which was a familiar name. Bilbo had mentioned his nephew more than once while staying with them in Rivendell.
Elrond also knew what ailed Frodo. Aragorn had told him what he had done, what had happened and how. It was the fact there was something that bothered him, that made him a little wary.
It did not take long to find out what it was that caused him to be concerned. He’d had to take the halfling’s tunic off so he could easily tend to the wound. It was then that something fell out of one of the pockets, causing Elrond to flinch as he spotted it.
To most who hadn’t seen it before, it looked like a plain, common gold ring. Elrond frowned as he looked down at it. So this was what had caused him unease. He knew what he could sense in that ring.
Sauron’s ring!
Quickly, he reached down with a small piece of cloth in his hand to pick the ring up and put it back in the pocket it had fallen from. He couldn’t allow the ring to know who picked it up, considering who he was, and what was his to watch over. Not when Vilya was on that hand. He’d once promised never to let Sauron know where that ring was.
**
It took some time before Frodo was able to walk about around Rivendell. Elrond had his healers seeing to Frodo where they could. He himself did talk to Frodo from time to time, but he never lingered for too long, just in case that vile old ring became aware of him.
Now, he stood on a balcony, having been talking to Gandalf when two of the hobbits had appeared below them. Frodo and Sam, Elrond knew they were. It seemed Frodo was getting much stronger now, returning back to health. It was good to know.
“His strength returns.”
Gandalf looked at him. “That wound will never fully heal, he will carry it for the rest of his life.”
While Elrond was aware that what he’d been able to do would help Frodo in some ways, he knew it was true. The Morgul slither had done some serious damage and had been very deeply embedded when Frodo had arrived in Rivendell.
“And yet to have come so far, still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil.”
Elrond turned to walk over to a stand where there was a carafe of wine.
“It is a burden he should never have had to bear.” Gandalf shook his head. “We can ask no more of Frodo.”
Elrond turned to regard Mithrandir, not amused in the slightest. His voice had turned serious now.
“Gandalf! The enemy is moving. Sauron’s forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell… and Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us.” He noted Gandalf’s forlorn expression at the reminder of this. “Our list of allies grows thin!”
He paused, considering his next words.
“This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard.”
Gandalf walked away from him.
“Gandalf! The Ring cannot stay here! This peril belongs to all in Middle Earth, they must decide now how to end. The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we’ve gone? The dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches, the care nothing for the troubles of others.”
Gandalf finally turned back to him.
“It is in men we must place our hope.”
“Men!”
Elrond turned away now.
“Men are weak!”
Elrond walked through his library, aware of the Istari following him as he did so.
“The race of men is failing. The blood of Númenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity all but forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf.”
Elrond remembered fighting in the Battle of the Last Alliance as though it had only been yesterday for him.
“I was there three thousand years ago.”
Narsil’s broken blade in Isildur’s hand slashed out, cutting the ring from Sauron’s hand.
“When Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed.”
**
There was blood and gore everywhere. Everyone was covered in filth from who knew what really.
Elrond hurried toward Isildur knowing, he was looking at the Ring.
“Isildur, hurry! Follow me!”
Quickly he led the way up into the hidden path of Mount Doom, overlooking the burning lava below them. He beckoned to Isildur wanting him to join him.
“Come! Cast it into the fire!”
Isildur rolled the ring in his fingers.
“Destroy it!”
“No.”
Elrond could not believe that Isildur was turning his back on him and walking away.
“Isildur!”
**
“It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure.”
He turned back to face Gandalf.
“Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There’s no strength left in the world of men. They’re scattered, divided, leaderless.”
“There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor.”
Elrond knew it was Aragorn whom Gandalf spoke of. He did not, however, think that was going to happen.
“He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile.”
Never would he force the issue with Aragorn. It wasn’t the way he dealt with such matters, and he never would. Now, it seemed once more, the Ring was within his grasp, and he must guide matters in the direction of Mount Doom once more.
To think I had thought my part in the fate of the Ring over. It seemed he had long been mistaken. What a shame.
Summary: A ring from the past finds its way back into Elrond's path. A Ring once thought missing long ago.
Many years had passed since Sauron’s demise. Many felt it was certain that he would never again return to bother the people of Middle-Earth; that his time was over and past. Ancient history, some would call the evil that Maia had been. Indeed, Sauron had been the scourge of the Second Age. It had been almost three thousand years since the Last Alliance had cast out Sauron power.
Isildur kept the ring, but now it is lost.
There was no way to know where the One Ring – or Isildur’s Bane, as the race of men called it - was now. It had been lost when it betrayed Isildur at the Gladden Fields. No one had seen the ambush coming, and only the evil of Sauron could have made that possible. Nothing good could come of something made with such ill will as that of Sauron.
Elrond knew there was nothing more to be done about Sauron's menace. Everyone believed that without the ring, he would never return to smite them as once he had.
Yet, there was something that he had felt from time to time. Something powerful was stirring, but he could not name what it was. All he felt was a great deal of unidentifiable power.
"Ada?"
Elrond almost flinched as he heard the word coming from a boy’s mouth.
He turned to look at the dark haired decade old youth.
"Yes, Estel?"
Why didn't I hear him coming?
He was surprised that the boy had been able reach him unnoticed.
“Is something wrong, ada?”
Estel had always been a rather perceptive boy, noticing things that perhaps one his age ought not be able to.
Elrond moved to sit down on one of the seats on the balcony, motioning for the boy to join him.
So like Arathorn, his father.
He couldn’t help but notice the things that linked each generation of the Dúnedain Chieftains.
"Ah penneth, nothing is wrong. I was merely lost in thought, that's all."
Indeed, that had been all that bothered him at the moment. There was no need to burden the boy with the past of his ancestors yet. A time would come when Elrond knew he would have to reveal everything to Estel, but now was not the time.
Estel looked up at him for a few moments, as though he was searching.
For what, Elrond was not sure, but Estel looked away after a few moments.
"Will you be joining Nana and I again tonight?"
Elrond smiled at him.
"As long as something else does not come up, Estel, yes I will."
He did not think anything else would come up though. It seemed unlikely that there was anything coming that he needed to worry about today.
The boy headed off once more, and Elrond turned to head to his study to take care of some paperwork he knew Erestor was waiting for him to look at.
**
Elrond raised an eyebrow when he had heard the words spoken to him.
"You're sure you heard the scout correctly?"
Elrond watched his seneschal’s face as he spoke, though his hands continued to work on grinding herbs. He'd been in the middle of putting some time into helping the Healers Hall.
Most of the day had gone by while he was in the Healers Hall, and now it was mid afternoon.
Glorfindel nodded in answer to the question.
"Orcs and wargs about on the plains. The scouts believe they're searching for something, and while they would have only been watching the orcs, they saw concern in the matter as they're close to the secret way into the valley. If one of those filthy creatures finds that..."
Elrond flinched, stopping what he was doing.
"Say no more. We will hunt them down and destroy them. That or force them to flee the area. I will not allow Rivendell's safety to be compromised, you know this. I will meet you and some of the warriors at the stables in five minutes."
Glorfindel nodded and left.
Elrond hurried to put away what he'd been doing, before heading for his own suite where his burgundy-copper armour would be waiting to be used once more. While it was rare that he wore it these days, there were times like these when even he couldn't resist the chance to hunt orcs.
Ever since his wife had sailed to Valinor because of these monstrosities, even he had not been able to remain home when orcs were near. When his sons were home, however, he often rode out himself to deal with the orcs. That way, his sons could relax for once, since they were rarely home these days.
This was not one of those times, and truth be told he was glad that they were not here. He needed something like this to do, for a time, things had grown dull in Rivendell.
Elrond sent a message to Lindir asking for him to come immediately, before he gathered and donned his armour.
Lindir arrived swiftly.
"You sent for me, my lord?"
Elrond nodded.
"Indeed I did, Lindir. I'm going with a few of the warriors to deal with an orc problem near the Secret Way. While I do not expect any visitors, if they should happen or someone look for me, tell them I'll be back by this evening. This will not take more than an hour or so I wouldn't think."
Lindir nodded.
"I will do so."
"Thank you, mellon-nin."
Elrond started toward the door of his suite, buckling Hhadafang into place at his waist as he did. Lindir followed him for a few moments before departing off to wherever he'd been when Elrond had sent for him.
Walking briskly down to the stables, he saw Glorfindel and a score of their warriors waiting for him. Glorfindel held Elrond's horses' reins ready for him, which Elrond took before mounting.
Moments later, they were off, heading for the open fields to deal with the pests.
Once they were out of the valley, it wouldn’t take them long to reach the pathway through the little-known rocky pass. All that was on Elrond's mind now, was making sure none of the creatures appeared through that pass.
Why the wargs were closing in on the rocky area, he didn't want to know, considering one of the rocks rested over the Secret Way. Elrond nodded at one of the others and a hunting horn rang out in the air a second later.
Galloping toward the wargs and orcs, aware of arrows already arching through the air around him, Elrond drew his sword, easily killing the first warg that he met. Several of the wargs had already lost riders. All in all the fight only took a few minutes.
Glorfindel turned to look at Elrond once the fighting was over.
"Time to return home. A pity they didn't put up more of a fight."
Elrond sighed as he turned back toward Imladris. He couldn't agree more with Glorfindel now.
**
Several weeks after the last attack from the orcs, and after a disconcerting message regarding hobbit from Mithrandir, Elrond had sent riders out to watch for Aragorn and the hobbits on their journey to Imladris. With the Nine abroad, there could be no chances taken if Gandalf’s words about one of the hobbits bearing Sauron’s ring were true.
Elrond flinched when he saw the injured halfling that was brought in that evening. There was something about him that caused Elrond some discomfort, but he was yet to find out why. Aragorn had told him the halfling’s name was Frodo, which was a familiar name. Bilbo had mentioned his nephew more than once while staying with them in Rivendell.
Elrond also knew what ailed Frodo. Aragorn had told him what he had done, what had happened and how. It was the fact there was something that bothered him, that made him a little wary.
It did not take long to find out what it was that caused him to be concerned. He’d had to take the halfling’s tunic off so he could easily tend to the wound. It was then that something fell out of one of the pockets, causing Elrond to flinch as he spotted it.
To most who hadn’t seen it before, it looked like a plain, common gold ring. Elrond frowned as he looked down at it. So this was what had caused him unease. He knew what he could sense in that ring.
Sauron’s ring!
Quickly, he reached down with a small piece of cloth in his hand to pick the ring up and put it back in the pocket it had fallen from. He couldn’t allow the ring to know who picked it up, considering who he was, and what was his to watch over. Not when Vilya was on that hand. He’d once promised never to let Sauron know where that ring was.
**
It took some time before Frodo was able to walk about around Rivendell. Elrond had his healers seeing to Frodo where they could. He himself did talk to Frodo from time to time, but he never lingered for too long, just in case that vile old ring became aware of him.
Now, he stood on a balcony, having been talking to Gandalf when two of the hobbits had appeared below them. Frodo and Sam, Elrond knew they were. It seemed Frodo was getting much stronger now, returning back to health. It was good to know.
“His strength returns.”
Gandalf looked at him. “That wound will never fully heal, he will carry it for the rest of his life.”
While Elrond was aware that what he’d been able to do would help Frodo in some ways, he knew it was true. The Morgul slither had done some serious damage and had been very deeply embedded when Frodo had arrived in Rivendell.
“And yet to have come so far, still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil.”
Elrond turned to walk over to a stand where there was a carafe of wine.
“It is a burden he should never have had to bear.” Gandalf shook his head. “We can ask no more of Frodo.”
Elrond turned to regard Mithrandir, not amused in the slightest. His voice had turned serious now.
“Gandalf! The enemy is moving. Sauron’s forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell… and Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us.” He noted Gandalf’s forlorn expression at the reminder of this. “Our list of allies grows thin!”
He paused, considering his next words.
“This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard.”
Gandalf walked away from him.
“Gandalf! The Ring cannot stay here! This peril belongs to all in Middle Earth, they must decide now how to end. The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we’ve gone? The dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches, the care nothing for the troubles of others.”
Gandalf finally turned back to him.
“It is in men we must place our hope.”
“Men!”
Elrond turned away now.
“Men are weak!”
Elrond walked through his library, aware of the Istari following him as he did so.
“The race of men is failing. The blood of Númenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity all but forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf.”
Elrond remembered fighting in the Battle of the Last Alliance as though it had only been yesterday for him.
“I was there three thousand years ago.”
Narsil’s broken blade in Isildur’s hand slashed out, cutting the ring from Sauron’s hand.
“When Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed.”
**
There was blood and gore everywhere. Everyone was covered in filth from who knew what really.
Elrond hurried toward Isildur knowing, he was looking at the Ring.
“Isildur, hurry! Follow me!”
Quickly he led the way up into the hidden path of Mount Doom, overlooking the burning lava below them. He beckoned to Isildur wanting him to join him.
“Come! Cast it into the fire!”
Isildur rolled the ring in his fingers.
“Destroy it!”
“No.”
Elrond could not believe that Isildur was turning his back on him and walking away.
“Isildur!”
**
“It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure.”
He turned back to face Gandalf.
“Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There’s no strength left in the world of men. They’re scattered, divided, leaderless.”
“There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor.”
Elrond knew it was Aragorn whom Gandalf spoke of. He did not, however, think that was going to happen.
“He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile.”
Never would he force the issue with Aragorn. It wasn’t the way he dealt with such matters, and he never would. Now, it seemed once more, the Ring was within his grasp, and he must guide matters in the direction of Mount Doom once more.
To think I had thought my part in the fate of the Ring over. It seemed he had long been mistaken. What a shame.