Introduction:
The Whereabouts of the Rings, and the Beginning of the Third Age:
Where did the elven rings and the One Ring end up at the end of the second age? The One Ring was lost, at the disaster of Gladden Fields in the 2nd year of the new age, where Isildur and his sons were slain by orcs.
The three elven rings, themselves, were initially given to the three elves considered to be the greatest of the elder; that is, Vilya to Gil- galad, Nenya to Galadriel, and Narya to Círdan. Before Gil-Galad died, he gave Vilya to Elrond. Círdan gave Narya to Mithrandir, seeming to know that he would have an important role in events to come.
In the third year of the 3rd age, Ohtar, one of Isildur's squires, brought the shards of Narsil to Imladris. This is where history ends, and our story begins.
Chapter 1: The Arrival at Imladris
"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Erestor.
Erestor, Elrond, and Ohtar had been in a private meeting ever since Ohtar had arrived with the package. He had come in the early morning hours, just before the rising of the sun, and demanded to see Elrond at once.
Although the night guard was reluctant, he finally agreed to wake Erestor. As soon as Erestor realized what Ohtar carried with him, he awoke Elrond immediately. They had subsequently shut themselves in Elrond's study, and, as of high noon, had not yet emerged. The rumor mill that morning had spread as swiftly as the Anduin flowing into the sea. The tension in Imladris was high. The tension in Elrond's study was close to exploding.
Erestor's question was not new to the meeting. In fact, it was the same question that Ohtar had passed to Elrond when the meeting had begun.
"WHAT do we do?" repeated Erestor, impatiently, as the other two occupants of the room appeared quite impassive on the subject. Ohtar, a Númenorian, and a loyal subject of Isildur, was being hardheaded. He was in the middle of his life, with the dark hair and brownish skin of one who has spent his life wholly outdoors. He refused to see any of the solutions Elrond or Erestor suggested as being appropriate, or worthy enough, for the shards of Narsil. Elrond, for his part, was beginning to loose his patience.
Erestor sighed. They had argued in circles all morning, and he was starting to loose his patience along with his master. Every argument came back around to the same, age-old question: Where should the shards of Narsil be stored?
Finally, after a few tense moments of unbearable silence, Elrond spoke. "We appear to be at a standstill on this matter. We have been arguing since daybreak, and yet, still we have no answer. Therefore, I suggest we bring the shards to Lothlórien, and see what Amroth has to say about the matter." He gestured absentmindedly at the silk wrapped bundle lying prominently on his desk.
"I will agree that this would be a wise course of action, as we have not come to an agreement," said Ohtar. "My only concern is how we will protect the shards on this journey."
"Erestor, your thoughts?" asked Elrond, ignoring Ohtar.
"That sounds like a good plan to me." Erestor paused. "We can bring some of the guard with us. Everyone is still in full battle mode. As soon as we're ready, they will be ready to leave as well."
"But won't a whole host attract more attention then necessary?" asked Ohtar.
Erestor glared at Ohtar. :: Ilúvatar, I think he does it just to be difficult! He most certainly is the reason we haven't gotten anywhere ::, he thought. :: None of our solutions are goon enough for the human. Númenorian or not, he is annoying! :: Erestor took a deep breath, reminded himself to be patient, and instead of giving the reprimand that was at the tip of his tongue, he replied, "I didn't say, Ohtar, that we needed a host. We can have as many-or as few-individuals as we need to protect the shards. After all, you managed to bring it here safely."
Ohtar gave Erestor a look, as if to say, 'Well that's because it was me, and not you'. But wisely, he also did not say this out loud. Erestor glanced at Elrond, silently pleading with him to make a decision before Ohtar could find something else to argue.
Seeming to know Erestor's unspoken thoughts, Elrond spoke. "Very well then, we're settled. I will go to Lothlórien, with handpicked guards, to decide what shall be done concerning the shards. Erestor, you'll stay here and look after Imladris." He paused. "Erestor, peek your head out and call Araquárëiel in here, please?" Elrond refocused his attention onto Ohtar, who looked very red in the face, ready to burst into a million pieces at a moment's notice. "Is something wrong, Ohtar?" asked Elrond, with feigned patience and innocence.
"You think I'm just going to sit here while you just leave with Narsil and give me no say in the matter?" he asked, indignant.
"We will deal with that later. I need to get everything prepared first. We'll discuss your presence later today." Elrond gave him a look that said, 'Don't push it or you won't have any chance of going to Lórien.' Ohtar seemed to get the hint and left, before Elrond could outright refuse to let him travel to Lórien. On his way out, he ran into Erestor, who grabbed one of the guards to keep an eye on the Númenorian while he was in the residence.
By now Araquárëiel had been summoned, and stood just inside the doorway. She waited until Ohtar had left before fully entering the room. Erestor resumed his seat in the office. Elrond rifled through the papers on his desk, looking for some parchment, and completely oblivious to both Araquárëiel and Erestor still existing within his office.
"My Lord?" Araquárëiel asked, tentatively. "You summoned me?" She moved further into the room, so that she stood in front of Elrond's desk. Elrond looked up, startled, first at Araquárëiel, and then at Erestor, as if he had forgotten anyone was in the office with him.
"Yes, yes, I did, I'm sorry, this morning's events have been rather stressful," said Elrond. He turned to Erestor, pausing for a moment from his search of the desk. "Did Ohtar leave?"
"He's still in residence, my Lord. He was escorted to the guest rooms, and a servant assigned to his quarters to help him, should he desire anything."
There was something in Erestor's tone that made him question him. "A servant?"
"Well, Laiyulma, really, from the morning guard. To help him travel around the premises, so he doesn't get," Erestor cleared his throat-"lost."
"Right." Elrond decided that were some things he was better off not knowing. He redirected his attention back to Araquárëiel. "Araquárëiel, could you close the door, and slide the latch? Just so we can be sure we will not be interrupted?"
Araquárëiel nodded an affirmative, and lithely moved to the door, shut, and locked it, and was just as quickly standing in the same spot she'd left just a moment before. Elrond gestured for her to sit down n the chair that had been recently vacated by Ohtar. She sat, and awaited further instructions.
Elrond carefully removed the bundle from his desktop, and placed it in one of the deep drawers on the left side of this desk. This uncovered the parchment that he had been searching for earlier. He pulled out his writing quill, and began to write on the parchment.
Araquárëiel glanced at Erestor, confused. Erestor motioned for her to be quiet and patient. He rolled his eyes. Conveyed in that simple action was the message 'Don't ask questions, when he's ready to talk, he'll talk, and if you make him explode I'm going to kill you."
Needless to say, Araquárëiel remained quiet.
For almost ten minutes, there were no sounds except the scratching of Elrond's pen. Abruptly, Elrond stopped writing and reread his letter. Satisfied, he signed it and folded it. He melted a piece of reddish wax and sealed the letter with it, stamping the mark of Imladris into the hardening wax.
"Araquárëiel, I know this is somewhat below your station, but you are our fastest and most trustworthy rider." He handed her the letter. "This needs to be delivered to Amroth immediately. I have an important package that I will be delivering to him. We will be leaving tomorrow morning at the rising of the sun. I need you to ride ahead of us to let him know we are coming. You must leave this afternoon, as soon as possible. If you can't, I'll understand, as it is extremely short notice." Elrond trailed off, hesitantly extending the letter towards Araquárëiel.
Araquárëiel reached out and accepted the letter. "It's not a problem, my Lord. I can leave in an hour. All I need is to pack and grab a bite to eat."
"Thank you, Araquárëiel; I appreciate your willingness to take this on. You are dismissed."
After Araquárëiel left, Erestor stood up and relocked the door. When he sat back down in his seat, he and Elrond stared at each other for a minute before speaking.
"Obviously, Erestor, I will be leaving with the rising of the sun tomorrow. Now what is your advice on what to do with Ohtar?"
"Out of pure selfishness, Elrond, please take him with you. I don't want to deal with the ruckus he will cause if he is trapped in Imladris while you are traveling to Lothlórien with the shards." Erestor grinned. "And, on the trail to Lórien, there are many opportunities for you to loose him in the wilderness."
Elrond gave his advisor a condescending look. Erestor only grinned in response. "Fine, I'll bring him with me. You may owe me, though, when I return."
"I'm sure I will, Elrond." Erestor stood up and walked towards the door. "Would you like me to go and tell Ohtar he will be leaving at daybreak?"
"Yes, please, if you could. Perhaps we'll be lucky and he'll decide daybreak is too early to leave, and he won't come with us."
Erestor paused as he reached up for the door lock. "I don't think we'd be that lucky, Elrond. Most likely he'd insist you should leave later in the day."
"Erestor, please leave my office before you come up with any more optimistic scenarios."
Erestor smiled. "Yes, Elrond." He turned around, opened the door, and left, shutting the door behind him.
Elrond stood up and relocked the door. He cracked open one of the windows behind his desk.
:: Finally, :: he thought. :: Peace and quiet. Well, at least I have quiet. Peace is far from coming. :: He stared out at the window, looking down at the elves moving about in the courtyard, getting supplies ready for tomorrow's journey. :: Even without Ohtar, this trip would prove to be very interesting. I have avoided going to Lothlórien since. :: Elrond shook his head, to rid himself of his reminiscing. :: There is no time for that now. What is, is. And I must deal with the consequences of my past actions, whatever they may be. It is more important, now, to focus on the current problems. ::
Despite saying this, Elrond did not move from the window for some time, lost in his memories of long ago.
The Whereabouts of the Rings, and the Beginning of the Third Age:
Where did the elven rings and the One Ring end up at the end of the second age? The One Ring was lost, at the disaster of Gladden Fields in the 2nd year of the new age, where Isildur and his sons were slain by orcs.
The three elven rings, themselves, were initially given to the three elves considered to be the greatest of the elder; that is, Vilya to Gil- galad, Nenya to Galadriel, and Narya to Círdan. Before Gil-Galad died, he gave Vilya to Elrond. Círdan gave Narya to Mithrandir, seeming to know that he would have an important role in events to come.
In the third year of the 3rd age, Ohtar, one of Isildur's squires, brought the shards of Narsil to Imladris. This is where history ends, and our story begins.
Chapter 1: The Arrival at Imladris
"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Erestor.
Erestor, Elrond, and Ohtar had been in a private meeting ever since Ohtar had arrived with the package. He had come in the early morning hours, just before the rising of the sun, and demanded to see Elrond at once.
Although the night guard was reluctant, he finally agreed to wake Erestor. As soon as Erestor realized what Ohtar carried with him, he awoke Elrond immediately. They had subsequently shut themselves in Elrond's study, and, as of high noon, had not yet emerged. The rumor mill that morning had spread as swiftly as the Anduin flowing into the sea. The tension in Imladris was high. The tension in Elrond's study was close to exploding.
Erestor's question was not new to the meeting. In fact, it was the same question that Ohtar had passed to Elrond when the meeting had begun.
"WHAT do we do?" repeated Erestor, impatiently, as the other two occupants of the room appeared quite impassive on the subject. Ohtar, a Númenorian, and a loyal subject of Isildur, was being hardheaded. He was in the middle of his life, with the dark hair and brownish skin of one who has spent his life wholly outdoors. He refused to see any of the solutions Elrond or Erestor suggested as being appropriate, or worthy enough, for the shards of Narsil. Elrond, for his part, was beginning to loose his patience.
Erestor sighed. They had argued in circles all morning, and he was starting to loose his patience along with his master. Every argument came back around to the same, age-old question: Where should the shards of Narsil be stored?
Finally, after a few tense moments of unbearable silence, Elrond spoke. "We appear to be at a standstill on this matter. We have been arguing since daybreak, and yet, still we have no answer. Therefore, I suggest we bring the shards to Lothlórien, and see what Amroth has to say about the matter." He gestured absentmindedly at the silk wrapped bundle lying prominently on his desk.
"I will agree that this would be a wise course of action, as we have not come to an agreement," said Ohtar. "My only concern is how we will protect the shards on this journey."
"Erestor, your thoughts?" asked Elrond, ignoring Ohtar.
"That sounds like a good plan to me." Erestor paused. "We can bring some of the guard with us. Everyone is still in full battle mode. As soon as we're ready, they will be ready to leave as well."
"But won't a whole host attract more attention then necessary?" asked Ohtar.
Erestor glared at Ohtar. :: Ilúvatar, I think he does it just to be difficult! He most certainly is the reason we haven't gotten anywhere ::, he thought. :: None of our solutions are goon enough for the human. Númenorian or not, he is annoying! :: Erestor took a deep breath, reminded himself to be patient, and instead of giving the reprimand that was at the tip of his tongue, he replied, "I didn't say, Ohtar, that we needed a host. We can have as many-or as few-individuals as we need to protect the shards. After all, you managed to bring it here safely."
Ohtar gave Erestor a look, as if to say, 'Well that's because it was me, and not you'. But wisely, he also did not say this out loud. Erestor glanced at Elrond, silently pleading with him to make a decision before Ohtar could find something else to argue.
Seeming to know Erestor's unspoken thoughts, Elrond spoke. "Very well then, we're settled. I will go to Lothlórien, with handpicked guards, to decide what shall be done concerning the shards. Erestor, you'll stay here and look after Imladris." He paused. "Erestor, peek your head out and call Araquárëiel in here, please?" Elrond refocused his attention onto Ohtar, who looked very red in the face, ready to burst into a million pieces at a moment's notice. "Is something wrong, Ohtar?" asked Elrond, with feigned patience and innocence.
"You think I'm just going to sit here while you just leave with Narsil and give me no say in the matter?" he asked, indignant.
"We will deal with that later. I need to get everything prepared first. We'll discuss your presence later today." Elrond gave him a look that said, 'Don't push it or you won't have any chance of going to Lórien.' Ohtar seemed to get the hint and left, before Elrond could outright refuse to let him travel to Lórien. On his way out, he ran into Erestor, who grabbed one of the guards to keep an eye on the Númenorian while he was in the residence.
By now Araquárëiel had been summoned, and stood just inside the doorway. She waited until Ohtar had left before fully entering the room. Erestor resumed his seat in the office. Elrond rifled through the papers on his desk, looking for some parchment, and completely oblivious to both Araquárëiel and Erestor still existing within his office.
"My Lord?" Araquárëiel asked, tentatively. "You summoned me?" She moved further into the room, so that she stood in front of Elrond's desk. Elrond looked up, startled, first at Araquárëiel, and then at Erestor, as if he had forgotten anyone was in the office with him.
"Yes, yes, I did, I'm sorry, this morning's events have been rather stressful," said Elrond. He turned to Erestor, pausing for a moment from his search of the desk. "Did Ohtar leave?"
"He's still in residence, my Lord. He was escorted to the guest rooms, and a servant assigned to his quarters to help him, should he desire anything."
There was something in Erestor's tone that made him question him. "A servant?"
"Well, Laiyulma, really, from the morning guard. To help him travel around the premises, so he doesn't get," Erestor cleared his throat-"lost."
"Right." Elrond decided that were some things he was better off not knowing. He redirected his attention back to Araquárëiel. "Araquárëiel, could you close the door, and slide the latch? Just so we can be sure we will not be interrupted?"
Araquárëiel nodded an affirmative, and lithely moved to the door, shut, and locked it, and was just as quickly standing in the same spot she'd left just a moment before. Elrond gestured for her to sit down n the chair that had been recently vacated by Ohtar. She sat, and awaited further instructions.
Elrond carefully removed the bundle from his desktop, and placed it in one of the deep drawers on the left side of this desk. This uncovered the parchment that he had been searching for earlier. He pulled out his writing quill, and began to write on the parchment.
Araquárëiel glanced at Erestor, confused. Erestor motioned for her to be quiet and patient. He rolled his eyes. Conveyed in that simple action was the message 'Don't ask questions, when he's ready to talk, he'll talk, and if you make him explode I'm going to kill you."
Needless to say, Araquárëiel remained quiet.
For almost ten minutes, there were no sounds except the scratching of Elrond's pen. Abruptly, Elrond stopped writing and reread his letter. Satisfied, he signed it and folded it. He melted a piece of reddish wax and sealed the letter with it, stamping the mark of Imladris into the hardening wax.
"Araquárëiel, I know this is somewhat below your station, but you are our fastest and most trustworthy rider." He handed her the letter. "This needs to be delivered to Amroth immediately. I have an important package that I will be delivering to him. We will be leaving tomorrow morning at the rising of the sun. I need you to ride ahead of us to let him know we are coming. You must leave this afternoon, as soon as possible. If you can't, I'll understand, as it is extremely short notice." Elrond trailed off, hesitantly extending the letter towards Araquárëiel.
Araquárëiel reached out and accepted the letter. "It's not a problem, my Lord. I can leave in an hour. All I need is to pack and grab a bite to eat."
"Thank you, Araquárëiel; I appreciate your willingness to take this on. You are dismissed."
After Araquárëiel left, Erestor stood up and relocked the door. When he sat back down in his seat, he and Elrond stared at each other for a minute before speaking.
"Obviously, Erestor, I will be leaving with the rising of the sun tomorrow. Now what is your advice on what to do with Ohtar?"
"Out of pure selfishness, Elrond, please take him with you. I don't want to deal with the ruckus he will cause if he is trapped in Imladris while you are traveling to Lothlórien with the shards." Erestor grinned. "And, on the trail to Lórien, there are many opportunities for you to loose him in the wilderness."
Elrond gave his advisor a condescending look. Erestor only grinned in response. "Fine, I'll bring him with me. You may owe me, though, when I return."
"I'm sure I will, Elrond." Erestor stood up and walked towards the door. "Would you like me to go and tell Ohtar he will be leaving at daybreak?"
"Yes, please, if you could. Perhaps we'll be lucky and he'll decide daybreak is too early to leave, and he won't come with us."
Erestor paused as he reached up for the door lock. "I don't think we'd be that lucky, Elrond. Most likely he'd insist you should leave later in the day."
"Erestor, please leave my office before you come up with any more optimistic scenarios."
Erestor smiled. "Yes, Elrond." He turned around, opened the door, and left, shutting the door behind him.
Elrond stood up and relocked the door. He cracked open one of the windows behind his desk.
:: Finally, :: he thought. :: Peace and quiet. Well, at least I have quiet. Peace is far from coming. :: He stared out at the window, looking down at the elves moving about in the courtyard, getting supplies ready for tomorrow's journey. :: Even without Ohtar, this trip would prove to be very interesting. I have avoided going to Lothlórien since. :: Elrond shook his head, to rid himself of his reminiscing. :: There is no time for that now. What is, is. And I must deal with the consequences of my past actions, whatever they may be. It is more important, now, to focus on the current problems. ::
Despite saying this, Elrond did not move from the window for some time, lost in his memories of long ago.