Abandoning the Ruins of Yesterday
Preview Summary: The War of the Ring is over and the race of Elves is becoming stagnant with complacency. Gandalf's experiment: Bring a 21st century girl to Arda to help progress them into some sense of modernity.
Extended Summary:
With the War of the Ring over, the Silvan Elves of the new Eryn Lasgalen have the chance to rebuild their kingdom in an age of peace. But the promise of progress isn't enough for their plans to come to fruition. Even more discouraging is watching the race of men develop as the elves seem stuck in a perpetual state of complacency. Stressed with the reconstruction of Eryn Lasgalen, the King and Queen look to their son, Legolas to help lead them. His exposure to new ideas, new races of Middle Earth, his experience with the fellowship are qualities the King and Queen see in him that will help shape the new Kingdom. However, having become used to such a lifestyle away from the palace, Legolas is reluctant to confront his destiny and assume his duty as Crown Prince of Eryn Lasgalen.
What's an elven kingdom to do? Look to a wizard, of course. Aware of the risks, Gandalf the White relies on the help of a family he raised away from Middle Earth in 21st century Earth. Tricking his granddaughter, Andy, he hopes that she will be the key to nudging these elves into moving outside their comfort zones to find a reason to move forward.
Disclaimer: Anything and anyone that looks familiar doesn't belong to me…
Chapter 1: Far-off Distance
"Hurry it up! Wring it out!
Though my legs are all tangled, they will surely take me far...
So I'll go far into the distance...
"Haruka Kanata" by Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Andy Eirian fell with a soft thud on a grassy knoll. Strong, wrinkled hands found her own and pulled her up so she could see a pair of not too dissimilar gray eyes twinkling back at her. With a sigh, she let go of the hands and with her own immediately cradled her backside. Now that the shock had worn off, all that remained was a resounding:
"OW! Oh Jesus Christ, did that hurt!" Andy yelled, while she rubbed her backside.
Her companion laughed softly and slowly walked away from her.
"We just broke about 50 different laws of physics and all you can do is laugh at me?" Andy called after him.
"The laws of physics do not apply here. I'm afraid you would find this land devoid of anything magical and mysterious if we focused on the physics of it all," he answered her.
"That didn't answer my question," Andy said, struggling to keep up.
"Did you never take a philosophy class, while you were at school?" her companion said, finally turning to Andy.
"It was required. I even went up to Metaphysics in college. Granted I didn't enjoy it—but the professor was cute…" she said, smiling.
Her companion shot her a look.
"I'm kidding. That was joke. You do have jokes in Middle Earth, yes?" she said, trying to defend herself.
"What do you remember about Metaphysics?" he asked her.
"That it was hard…"
Her companion glared at her.
"Ok, ok. No joking anymore. I got it. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that attempts to speak the strict and literal truth with no intended reference in force," she said robotically.
"Meaning?" her companion goaded her.
"Meaning that Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that tries to discover the truth beyond perception. Metaphysics tries to see beyond what we can naturally see or experience, assuming of course that we can do that," she said, fishing around for the right words.
"And did you ever have the chance to read Nietzsche or Heidegger?"
"Like I said, it was required—but what does this have anything to do with—"
"There is a reason that Nietzsche and Heidegger didn't believe in Metaphysics," her companion interrupted her.
"Because it was too hard?"
"No. Because they asked the question: can the unfathomable ever be fathomed? They never assumed that this was possible. And so, to them the impossible, the unfathomable… it all has its own place in the universe…"
"You're going way over my head…" Andy conceded.
Her companion sighed, "The point I am trying to make is that the unfathomable, the unknown… it should be respected simply because it cannot be known. Or else it wouldn't be unknown, now would it?"
Andy stopped.
"That doesn't make any sense," Andy said, having come to this conclusion after thinking about it.
"That is the point, my dear. The mere fact that it defies logic, is your answer. That's the whole reason why it is special! Within its mysteriousness lies its power!" Her companion said, laughing.
'If it wasn't for that professor… I swear… I would have never made it through that class… Granted, I can see why he pushed me into taking Metaphysics,' Andy thought to herself.
After all, was there no other philosophy or idea that could better describe her companion?
Her companion waited for Andy to catch up to him.
"It's just something you should keep in mind, my dear. While we are here of course," he told her in a quieter, gentler voice. "There are things here that will not make sense to you, ever. Do not fight it. Let it instead sink in, so that you come to respect it and acknowledge it for what it is. In time, the answers will come to you, if you let them."
"If that's all true… why am I even here? I don't understand it… and that's not meant as a philosophical-existentialist-metaphysical question. Why did you bring me here?" Andy said, reaching for his arm.
"Because you are needed," he told her simply.
"For what?"
"Because I need you," he answered her.
"… For what?" Andy asked, still confused.
"I will tell you later. This is no time for explanations. You are needed. This is why you are here. I will explain later, when the time calls for it…" he told her, cryptically.
"You know, even with all of that in mind and especially considering all that's written about you… Gandalf the Grey… er… White? Grey-White-Grey-Whi—"
"I prefer Grandfather," he interrupted.
"I'll rephrase the question then. Considering all that's written about you Grandfather… you couldn't have found an easier way for us to get to Mirkwood?" she said with her hands on her hips.
"And how do you suggest I explain to King Thranduil when we suddenly appear in his throne chamber with no warning, with nothing but the clothes on our back and my staff? As if we just fell from the sky, which would be quite a feat if you consider the fact that the Elvenking dwells in a cave…" he said, turning around to look at Andy.
This, of course, was a legitimate problem, Andy conceded.
"You're telling me that this isn't a usual occurrence?"
"What, wizards falling out of the sky, maidens appearing out of nowhere? I think you've been reading too much on that computer of yours…"
"But does a wizard, nay an Istari, really need an explanation for the things he does? You won't even explain to me how we got here or why I'm even here. Shouldn't the 'unexplainable' be respected…" she said, hopefully.
The old man smiled at her. "I'll wager your mother taught you that one," he said, smirking. "And no, to answer your question, an Istari doesn't need an explanation, but does uphold some amount of courtesy for an old friend. It's not a matter of philosophy, but etiquette. And in any case, we are not in Mirkwood."
He continued walking toward the dirt path. Andy raced to catch up to him.
"We're not?"
"No, my dear, we're not. We are, if I have my bearings right—which I do, we are outside of it. But close, mind you. And if we follow this river, we will be in Mirkwood before lunch."
"But then why go through all the trouble to send us here, if we're not even in Mirkwood?"
"I like the scenic route. And after all, this will give us more time to help you get acquainted with everything you have to know."
Andy barely had time to comprehend this sentence as she bumped into him. She smiled apologetically at him and he went back to staring at… well she didn't know what.
"Grandfather…" she whispered. "What are we doing?"
"Waiting."
"For what?"
"For that," he said pointing at the cloud of dust fast approaching them.
Andy squinted her eyes and as her vision adjusted she saw what looked to be two horses and something reminiscent of a wagon galloping toward them. She gave her grandfather a puzzled look.
"What? You didn't think we were going to just walk into Mirkwood, or rather Eryn Lasgalen as it's called now. No… I know that the many of the numerous denizens of Middle Earth think me an old fool, but I'm not that much of a fool… or old." he said, as what looked to be a smaller and uncovered wagon. After patting the horses' necks he climbed into the driver's seat.
"With you I never know…" she said, as he pulled her up to sit next to him.
"Legolas!" Queen Aerlinniel called at the willow tree.
Legolas Greenleaf stopped his whittling and looked down at his mother.
"I seem to recall your father requested, nay demanded, that all of his children make an appearance during the morning meal in the Great Hall. And what do you make of it, that only our second and youngest ones were there at our table?" she said, with one hand on her hip.
"I'll bet you that you thought nothing of it?'" he said, jumping down in front of her.
"Close," she said sarcastically, "Your father yelled at just about everyone, scared all of the maids half out of their wits, barely touched any of his meal, then stormed off and locked himself in his study."
Legolas winced at her.
"You didn't think that possibly I wasn't hungry?" he said meekly.
Queen Aerlinniel raised an eyebrow at this.
"Mother, can you blame me? I just arrived back from a tour of the Glittering Caves with Gimli. I'm just trying to adjust back into this kind of lifestyle…"
"And what kind of lifestyle would that be, ionin?"
"This… This whole royalty business—with duties and formalities…" he fumbled for the right words.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, ionin. But have you not always been the Crown Prince of Mirkwood?"
"Yes…"
"Then I don't see how travel weariness can be any excuse for your so-called forgetfulness! You've already been here a week!"
"I was just—" he started.
"You know, my son, it's quite amazing how easily you've forgotten your home. You've spent so much time away from it, I suppose it's easy to see that… but not as easy to forgive it," she said, walking back towards the palace.
Legolas sighed, not sure of what he should say.
"Mother! Mother, please." he said, following after her. His mother, of course, did not slow down or even acknowledge her son. Legolas sighed again and ran to catch up.
Legolas ran in front of her and knelt down. "Mother, forgive me, I—I did not mean to be so insolent and inconsiderate." he said, taking her hand and kissing it.
His mother looked down at him, "Legolas, you cannot forget who you are simply because you want to. You are the Crown Prince, for Valar's sake. You cannot escape who you will become. It's time you started acting like the Crown Prince…"
Legolas frowned. Queen Aerlinniel sighed and kissed his forehead.
"Just be lucky I found you first." she said, smiling as she helped pick her son up.
"He's not very happy with me, is he?"
"Fear not, my son, with any luck, he's calmed down to a dull roar." she said, patting his head. He rolled his eyes at her and took her arm.
"You forgot this, by the way" she said, handing him an ornately carved circlet, made of mithril and decorated with tiny golden and green cinquefoil leaves.
Legolas sighed and reluctantly took it, placing it awkwardly on his head.
"This isn't a time to dither around, ionin, or we will miss Mithrandir's arrival!" she said, grabbing her son's hand and leading him inside the palace.
"Mithrandir?" he asked, stopping.
His mother sighed, "Yes! This is exactly why it was urgent that you be present at the morning meal. Did you forget?"
"Gandalf's coming here? Why?" he hurriedly put in.
"Why ever not? After all, Eryn Lasgalen is still coming into its own and recovering from its great loss during the War of the Ring, and even before then. Your father thought Mithrandir's advice would be invaluable in overseeing the rebuilding of Eryn Lasgalen."
"Is he traveling alone—or rather, I suppose that is a stupid question, considering his name of course."
His mother laughed, "He brought along his granddaughter."
"Granddaughter?"
"Yes, a granddaughter."
"I never knew he—but this means that he had a wife? And children?"
"Mithrandir has walked Middle Earth for longer than you have been born. Surely you didn't expect him to live his life alone."
"Well of course not. But why the secrecy? And when and why and how?"
"Well, as to how it happened, I'm sure you can figure that one out for yourself."
Legolas pulled a face.
"Why and when, all before your time, perhaps even before my time. But as I said, wandering only leads you nowhere if you do not have someone to share it with. I would think you a lot more joyous at this news," his mother continued.
"I am joyous… just more curious than joyous."
"He wasn't always that old, ionin. No, he used to be quite the charming one, or so the stories go. He's had his reasons for not telling us. Truth be told, if I were in his position, I'd have done the same… protect those I love the most from any sort of harm that could befall them. But, I digress. See, aren't you glad I found you? To think you could have missed all of this." she said, patting his arm.
Legolas smiled at her and found that his step had grown quicker. Leave it to Gandalf to stir his heart, of course with him, one never knew.
