Gandalf's Entry:
October the 24th in the House of Elrond:
Here I am, in the House of Elrond. It has been some time since I last walked these halls, and many dangers ago. To think I had ever trusted that fool, Saruman. But I was blinded by a false sense of security, and he was blinded by greed. Frodo should not have tarried so long in the Shire. I should have gone back, I should have been his guide. At least Aragorn was there for them. But alas, my thoughts wander and jump with no clear path. Perhaps I shall sort out my thoughts and start at the beginning.
It was in the year that the White Council drove the evil presence out of Mirkwood that Bilbo found the ring. It settled ill with me, and was strangely foreboding. I had no base for my suspicions though, so I told Bilbo nothing. Saruman sometimes spoke of the rings, for he had spent many years studying the enemy. He had said the One Ring was lost for good, and we need not worry on it. That was where I first went wrong. Trusting his empty promises. I suppose I didn't want to believe the shadow in the East was growing, and so my mind grabbed at this feeble comfort.
Time passed, and I began to wonder again. Bilbo did not seem to age, and I well knew that Rings of Power kept death at bay. Bilbo said he felt stretched, I began to worry about him. It was the night of his 111st birthday party that I knew I had to do more research. He had been planning this trick for ages, he would hold a huge party and at the end of the speech he would simply, disappear. He of course used the ring to do this. I had agreed to it, but as the time came closer I became anxious. When the time truly came I added some of my own fireworks to make it less suspicious and more like a trivial magic trick. The first time true alarm set in was at Bilbo's parting. He left everything to Frodo, including the ring he said. When the time to hand the ring over had come however, he was not himself. It was as if he were possessed. A niggling of fear and doubt crept to the back of my mind, and there it sat.
For 12 long years I gathered information and tracking Gollum, the ring's former bearer. I stopped in fairly often to see how Frodo was holding up. Then I didn't see him for a few years. During that time is when I knew. Frodo was keeping the One Ring. Back in Hobbiton I explained everything to him. Frodo took it all remarkably well. Hobbits will never cease to amaze me. He's a sturdy fellow, Frodo. We decided that he must leave, the Shire was no longer safe with the Dark Lord now aware of his presence. Sauron would be sending his servants after the ring. I told Frodo that he needn't be hasty, but pretty soon he should be on the move. We devised a scheme as to how he would get away. I promised I would be back in time to go with him, and then I left again.
A while later I was in Bree when I came across Radagast the Brown, another of my order. He told me grave news of the Nazgûl awakening, the Nine were now loose and asking about the Shire. Sauron had learned of Bagginses. Radagast bore a message from Saruman, stating if I was in need of help he could give it, but I must come quickly. The news of the Nine was urgent indeed, and instead of going to see Frodo, I left a message to be sent to him. Except messages don't do much good when not sent. Because of this Frodo did not leave in time, and his journey here to Imladris was haunted every step of the way by the Nine Ringwraiths.
I uncovered Saruman's treason when I made haste to Orthanc, hsi fortress, also called Isengard. That loathsome creature! Just thinking of it makes my blood boil. And he had the audacity to say I was being unwise! He's mad, no one can control the Ring. It will corrupt them, overpower them. It's lucky I told Radagast to speak with his beast-friends to be on the lookout. Otherwise Gwaihir of the Eagles of the Mountains would not have found me and borne me to Edoras, home of the horselords. It seems no one can be trusted these days. My heart despairs when I look on Middle Earth, Age of Men. Men are weak. Rohan is already falling to Saruman's lies. I fear for Middle Earth's fate.
Now here I am, having just seen Frodo for the first time in too long. I followed him when I escaped from Orthanc, but our paths never crossed, for I could not track him in the Wild with a Ranger such as Aragorn guiding them. Frodo seems to be recovering well, which gladdens my heart greatly. He was stabbed by a Morgul blade, made to turn him into a wraith as well. But as I said, hobbits are sturdy fellows. Frodo's made of stronger stuff than he looks. As soon as he woke he kept firing off questions. He shall have all of them answered in due time though, at the Council. Frodo spoke of Bilbo, and wishing to see him again. I am looking forward to seeing his surprise when he discovers Bilbo's in Rivendell.
Elrond does his work well, and after only four nights Frodo is well on his way to recovery. He seemed as if he was glad his journey is over. This worries me. Dark times are upon us, and I fear he may have to play yet a greater part in this tale before it is over. The Council of Elrond shall be soon. There it will be decided what will be done with the ring. I already fear the answer. Nowhere has the power to hide the One Ring. The only path I can foresee is to destroy it. That is where I worry for Frodo. I worry he will take on this task. Let's hope it's not too heavy a burden to bear.