The Half-Blood Prince Chapter 9
After that disaster of a sparring match in the training yard the Dwarves, Agathon, and Maerwen made a point of keeping their distance from each other. No one wanted a repeat of what went on there or the close call it was sure to be brought with it the next time.
As a parent Maerwen wouldn't risk losing her son to the grudge Thorin had against his father. It was completely unfair and unjust for someone who had no hand in tragedies that befell the Durin line before he was even born. Her maternal instincts would never allow it.
From the emotions she'd displayed Maerwen didn't have so say anything for Thorin to know that if he even stepped in her sons direction after that he would be signing his death warrant. Thorin despised Elves and Orc's with a deep contempt, but even he wasn't stupid enough to cross an angry mother a second time.
Maerwen and Agathon were unable to remain out of the public eye for very long. For that very same day in the evening they were both summoned to a meeting in the Citadel.
Maerwen initially wanted to refuse, but Gandalf insisted that they attend. So Maerwen was left with no choice. She and her son went to the Citadel at the anointed time to join Lord Elrond and Gandalf there. Much to Maerwen and Agathon's shock when they got there that it wasn't just those two who were there. Without even having been notified of their arrival Lady Galadriel of Lorien and Saruman the White had entered Rivendell at Lord Elrond's behest.
Those four had been patiently waiting for them to arrive. After proper introductions and greetings were exchanged the meeting commenced. Here Maerwen and Agathon soon learned the reason as to why this session of the White Council had been called into order.
Gandalf was at its center as his superior Saruman berated him.
"Tell me, Gandalf. Did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed," said Saruman.
Saruman was seated at the table with Gandalf opposite. Maerwen was in the middle, Agathon behind her. Lady Galadriel was slowly walking in a large circle around the group. Lord Elrond across from Maerwen and Agathon.
"Unnoticed? No. I'm simply doing what I feel to be right," said Gandalf, defending his actions thus far.
"The Dragon has long been on your mind," said Lady Galadriel, the early morning sun shining on her hair made her look even more radiant.
Nodding at her, Gandalf admitted "That is true, My Lady. Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy…a Dragon could to be used to terrible effect."
"What enemy," said Saruman, cross. "Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never again regain his full strength."
Gandalf held a difference of opinion with his old friend. Unlike how many others wished it to be Gandalf did not fully believe the enemy to be truly gone. There are remnants everywhere as the journey with the Dwarves has proven so far in his eyes. He just now had to try and overcome the resistance of those surrounding him.
"Does it not worry you that the last of the Dwarf Rings should simply vanish, along with its bearer? Of the Seven Dwarf Rings, four were consumed by Dragons, two were taken by Sauron before he fell in Mordor. The fate of the last Dwarf Rings remains unknown," said Gandalf. "The ring that was worn by Thrain."
Agathon's head perked up a bit at that, though it was barely noticeable. He knew that name, as did his mother. Thrain is the father of Thorin Oakenshield. All of the Rings of Power are priceless treasures. The Nine Rings of Men had turned their bearers into monsters that served Sauron. Gandalf had just listed the fates to the majority of the Dwarf Rings and all of the ones that were gifted to the Elves are all accounted for. So one of these Rings missing without anyone having a clue of where it might be is unheard of.
"Without the Ruling Ring of Power, the Seven are of no value to the enemy," said Saruman, continuing to think of this logically and speaking around any suggestion of the enemy rising.
Gandalf sighed as his friends denial of what was right in front of them.
"To control the other Rings, he needs The One," said Saruman. "And that Ring was lost long, long ago. It was swept out to sea by the waters of the Anduin."
Putting in his say, siding with Saruman's view of all this, Lord Elrond said "Gandalf, for hundreds of years we have lived in peace. A hard won, watchful peace."
Frowning, Gandalf challenged "Are we? Are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains. They are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road."
"Hardly a prelude to war," said Lord Elrond.
Eye brows raised to the tip of his hairline, Gandalf said "Oh really? I should think it has already been declared."
Gandalf turned his head towards mother and son at this. It then clicked and Maerwen then realized why he had been so insistent on their presence there, for this very purpose.
Gesturing at the scars on Maerwen's face and at Agathon, Gandalf said "Not to long ago Azog attacked Maerwen, a princess of the Woodland Realm. Young Agathon here is proof of what occurred that day. Surely that is shows that the darkness might be making a move to strike back at us."
Maerwen had no problem with making her displeasure known.
Angrily, Maerwen said "I'll thank you to keep my son out of this, Gandalf!"
"Gandalf, Azog the Defilier died long ago. He died from wounds he sustained in the Battle for Moria," reminded Lord Elrond.
Disappointed in his comrade, Saruman said "Always you must meddle. Looking for trouble where none exists."
"Let him speak," implored Lady Galadriel.
The other two partially withdrew.
Encouraged by Lady Galadriel's support, Gandalf said "There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind to it, but it will not be ignoring us. That I can promise you. A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it Mirkwood."
Stiffening in concern for her old home, Maerwen said "What do you mean?"
A somber expression on his face, Gandalf said "Well…"
"Don't stop now," said Saruman, sarcastically. "Tell us what the woodsmen say."
"They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldor. A sorcerer who can summon the dead and he his dark magic is spreading over the Woodland Realm."
Maerwen inhaled a shaky breath causing Agathon to place a comforting hand on his mothers shoulder.
"That's absurd," declared Saruman, dismissing it. "No such power exists in this world. This Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic."
"And so I thought it too. But Radagast has seen-," said Gandalf.
"Radagast," scoffed Saruman, contemptuously. "Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown. He's a foolish fellow."
Smiling, Gandalf said "Well, he's odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life."
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth. I've warned him. It is unbefitting one of the Istari to be wandering the woods-."
Saruman was abruptly cut off in his rant as Gandalf withdrew a wrapped bundle from his robes, setting it on the table. Immediately the atmosphere in the Citadel shifted, a dark aura sensed from underneath the folds.
"What is that," said Lord Elrond, reaching for the fabric covering it.
Visibly shaken by what she was sensing from it, Lady Galadriel said "A relic of Mordor."
Pushing passed his own misgivings Lord Elrond unveiled what Gandalf had brought. The discovery shook them all.
"A Morgul Blade," said Lord Elrond.
"Made for the Witch-King of Angmar. And buried with him," said Lady Galadriel, bewildered to see this artifact here when it should've been locked away deep beneath the ground far from this place.
Maerwen instantly rose from her chair moving back from it. This blade is pure evil. She didn't want to be anywhere in proximity to it. Agathon reached out to touch the blade, but Maerwen slapped his hand away. She didn't want her son to taint himself with the darkness lying on it.
"When Angmar fell, the men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried him. In a tomb so dark it would never come to light," said Lady Galadriel, hauntingly.
In disbelief, Lord Elrond said "This is not possible. A powerful spell lies upon those tombs. They cannot be opened."
Dead set on still firmly believing this all to be mere coincidence, Saruman said "What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?"
"I have none," said Gandalf.
"Because there is none," argued Saruman, annoyed that the other members of the White Council were beginning to doubt. "Let us examine what we know. A single Orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a bygone age has been found. And a human sorcerer who calls himself 'The Necromancer' has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much after all. The question of the Dwarfish Company, however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they'd come to me, I might have spared them this disappointment. I do not pretend to understand your reason for raising their hopes. No, I'm afraid there is nothing else for it."
Suddenly Lindir appeared at the top of the steps leading into the Citadel, interrupting this gathering.
A great deal of alarm spread over his face, Lindir announced "My Lord Elrond. The Dwarves, they've gone."
It seems that while all of these key players had been occupied discussing the fate of the Company, Bilbo and the Dwarves had snuck out when they knew no one was keeping too close a watch on their whereabouts.
Thorin wasn't about to risk being forced to have to turn back by those he did not think should have any say in what he and his own people did. In the eyes of the Dwarves this isn't anyone else's business. No one had the right to tell them not to.
By the time anyone in Rivendell realized they were gone it would be too late. This was the plan the Dwarves had come up to with Gandalf before the meeting of the White Council had even started. He'd be rejoining them later. The old man had been in charge of the distraction and it worked like a charm.
As the White Council dispersed Agathon stood there a contemplative look on his face.
Could darkness truly be rising again? If so, then what can he do to help stop it?
Agathon had a strong incline that he already knew the answer to this. The question he was mulling over is whether or not he'd have the courage to take the step needed to do what must be done.
Authors Note:
Agathon has a pretty big choice to make.
A very dirty trick for Gandalf to use Maerwen and Agathon as an example to prove his point like that, I'd say.
I was always very suspicious of Saruman in the Hobbit series. Still am. I thought that his attempt to dissuade his fellow White Council members from seeing the truth may have been because he'd already been in league with Sauron then. To keep them blind while Sauron was advancing unnoticed to every one else. That's my theory at the very least. A very strong one that Saruman must've been a traitor from start to finish.
Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving!