A Quest

"Lord Elrond wishes to see you," an Elf-maiden said. Anduin looked up from where he was sitting with Eliohad and Higgen. He stood up and Eliohad made to go with him but the woman shook her head. "Only Labadal," she said.

Anduin looked back over his shoulder and gestured to Eliohad, "Havo dad." (Sit down).

Eliohad sat slowly. Anduin turned back to the Elf maiden, "Amin am desiel" (I am ready).

She led him through the halls of Rivendell and into the study of Elrond. Most rooms in Rivendell had no walls, only slender columns supporting lofty ceilings, but this rooms had walls of books.

"Lord Elrond," Anduin said, bowing.

"Come in, we have much to discuss." Anduin bowed again and entered the room. The Elf maiden smiled at him and left. "My scout says you did everything you could to lose him."

"Your scout?" Anduin said, coming to a realization. "Why would you have me followed?"

"Because you were bringing this to Rivendell," Elrond said, and he picked up the piece of metal Anduin had brought.

"Do you know what this is?" Elrond asked. He was wearing gloves and turning the piece of metal over in his hand.

"Only that it is of great evil," Anduin replied, leaning back against the bookshelves.

"It is a piece of the shield of Morgoth." Anduin froze, staring in sudden fear at the lump of metal.

"That shield was destroyed," he said at length.

"Destroyed? No," Elrond frowned, placing the metal on the table. "No, it was broken apart and taken to the ends of the world, but not destroyed:

Ar' iire danath-Morgoth And when Morgoth was fallen

Ro sanca mor tinechor They broke apart his black shield

Ar naia roquen aut et And commanded horsemen to go forth

Ilye norcyll methid en-amar Each rider to the ends of the Earth

Caul duath awartha Abandoned their burden of darkness

Rhun, Forven, Harad, Dun To the East, the North, the South, and the West

Fhach tinechor nadoltha ten'oio Let the cursed shield be hidden forever

"And they thought the Shire was the end of the world?" Anduin asked, incredulous.

"You must remember, Anduin," Elrond said. "That all of this occurred before the Shire was settled. And I do not know how or why this piece came into the Halfling's land."

"But why now?" Anduin asked. "Why out of nowhere would the shield's malice awaken?"

"There are rumors in the South," Elrond said slowly, his back to the ranger. "Whispers of a Nameless Fear."

"I would not believe that Sauron's strength would awaken the shield until the Nazgul themselves rode forth," Anduin scoffed.

"The dragon Smaug is in the East," Elrond replied. "I am told he has taken up a residence on the Lonely Mountain."

"Smaug? Well, his father was Glaurung, vile dragon that hosted the spirit of Morgoth," Anduin admitted. "But why should a dragon care of the Shire, especially when he dwells in the far East? The hobbits own no wealth."

"Golwen lle eithel." (I have taught you well) Elrond said, turning with a smile. "But still you do not see what is in front of you. Who would have the most direct connection with the shield? Who would be able to summon its powers?"

"Morgoth is dead."

"You cannot kill the Valar," Elrond said, shaking his head. "No, not even Morgoth who took a mortal body. They can be banished and bound, but not killed. I fear Morgoth might try and use the shield as his bodily presence."

"If the Shadow rises again," Anduin said slowly. "Then Middle-Earth will fall. The Eldar race could not withstand him, and Men will be overcome more swiftly than they."

"If the shield was destroyed..." Elrond began. When Anduin said nothing he continued, "but first it must be bound together again."

"If the shield is whole, Morgoth will seize the opportunity to rise," Anduin argued.

"It must be done swiftly," Elrond warned. "The four pieces must be brought from the ends of the world and united in the place they were rent asunder. If the piece from the Shire is this strong, then no doubt the others will have gathered their own great evil."

"You wish me to unite the pieces?" Anduin asked, suddenly understanding.

"Yes, I wish that."

"I have never left the West," Anduin said. "How can I go to the ends of the Earth? My lord," Anduin hesitated, "there are many other bolder, braver Men and any Elf would be better suited..."

"I wish you to go," Elrond said forcefully. Anduin stopped and considered Elrond for a moment.

"Man cenich?" (What did you see?) He demanded suddenly.

"What?"

"You have looked into my future with your foresight," Anduin insisted. "What did you see there?"

"I saw you leading a company of Elves," Elrond said. "I saw you uniting the pieces."

"There is more," Anduin demanded, but Elrond hesitated.

"There was no more," the Elf said at length. "Anduin, Hen Adanedhel, this is the path before you. You must walk it." Anduin started when Elrond called him by his childhood name.

"How can I walk a path obscured by Shadow?" he asked finally. "How can a Man thwart the evil devices of Morgoth?"

"He must bring a light with him."