Chapter 21

Five Days

It was determined that the Fellowship of the Ring would rest in Rivendell for five more days before beginning their journey to Mordor. During these days, much was discussed, and new friendships were formed.

Elrond's message from Galadriel was passed on to Gandalf. Elrond kept the situation vague, merely saying that Galadriel had a "vision" that made her suspicious of Dumbledore. Gandalf took the matter very seriously—unlike Elrond, he valued Galadriel's visions very highly—and promised to keep a careful watch on Dumbledore. Despite this, Gandalf grew to like the old wizard. The two were often found strolling around Rivendell, discussing their lives or magic in their worlds…when they were not working.

Gandalf, Dumbledore and Aragorn spent many hours devising a plan to reach Mordor with maximum expediency. Although Dumbledore knew nothing of the land, his opinion was highly regarded; all issues were carefully explained to him. Dumbledore liked Gandalf, but he tended to side with Aragorn, who was more willing to take risky paths to reach their destination faster. Dumbledore hated to put Harry and his friends in danger, but he feared greatly for Ginny and the amount of power Voldemort was accumulating. He knew the fate of both worlds rested on the Fellowship, and great risks would need to be taken to stop the spreading darkness.

Some of the original company preferred to keep to themselves. Neville continued to spend most of his time with Merry and Pippin. Frodo and Sam mostly remained isolated from the others, spending much of their time with Bilbo. This was partly because the reverence Frodo was treated with as the Ringbearer was discomforting to him. Still, he was very relaxed in the elf haven, and secretly dreaded the moment he would have to leave it.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, on the other hand, attempted mingling with those outside the original company. Hermione became better friends with Arwen, from whom she borrowed various outfits for the journey, and now, to Ron's disgust, she was talking more and more to Legolas. At first Hermione would occasionally casually approach him and ask him a question about elves, but when he actually seemed to enjoy her company, Hermione was encouraged to spend more time with him.

Another odd pair was the result of the after-council feast. Ron had been randomly seated next to Boromir, and the two actually had some very intriguing conversations. Although they weren't exactly friends, Ron considered Boromir the only Middle-earth person in the fellowship worth talking to, except perhaps Gimli, who shared his dislike for the elves (which had grown worse as Hermione's liking for them increased).

Seeing everyone else pairing off, Harry had tried to find someone to talk to other than Ron, but it was difficult. He spent some time with Frodo and Sam, but on the last night before the fellowship's epic departure, Ron was talking to Boromir, Dumbledore to Gandalf, Hermione to Legolas, and the hobbits were nowhere to be seen.

Harry wandered into the bottom floor of the House of Elrond, figuring the wise elf might know a way to get rid of his boredom. At first he thought the area was empty, but then he saw Aragorn sitting on a small wooden bench.

"Str…Aragorn?" Harry said.

Aragorn had had his head bowed; he raised it and looked curiously at Harry. "What are you doing here?"

"Just wandering around," Harry said. He frowned slightly when he realized Aragorn was holding what looked like a dagger.

"It's a piece of a broken sword," Aragorn explained, noticing where Harry's attention was. Aragorn rose and placed it back on a pedestal, with other sword fragments.

"Does it…have blood on it?" Harry asked, thinking he saw something red on the tip of Aragorn's piece.

"Boromir came in here earlier and accidentally cut himself," Aragorn said with a small smile.

Harry smiled back. For some reason, finding out the mysterious ranger Strider was actually king of the entire race of Men made him easier to talk to.

"So," Harry said, glancing around, "this study…it's like…a museum, right? Isn't that man on the wall your ancestor?"

"You were paying attention at the council, I see. Yes…that is Isildur. He stole the ring from Sauron. The sword he used to cut it from Sauron's finger is the sword sitting here now."

Harry looked from the painting to the sword; the hilt did look the same. "But that was hundreds of years ago, right?"

"Yes, a very long time…"

"But…you're directly related to him."

Aragorn nodded. Harry looked from the painting to Aragorn. "He does look sort of like you."

Aragorn smiled again. "It is not exactly a compliment. Isildur represents the failure of Man…his refusal to destroy the ring has caused the darkness we are facing now. He was corrupted by its power…" Aragorn sighed. "I wish I could have been in his place. It may sound arrogant of me, but…I believe I could have made the correct decision."

Harry was looking closely at the painting. "Who painted this?"

"Elrond."

"Elrond's a good painter."

"He certainly is. And that is the most accurate painting you will ever find…because Elrond was present when this event occurred."

Harry suddenly gasped. "The white tree…it's on Isildur's chest!"

"Interesting," Aragorn said. "I did not realize it was a symbol for Gondor that early…in fact…I had thought Isildur himself made it a symbol during his rule, after this incident. Perhaps it was a personal symbol for him before it ever became important for all of Gondor."

"What exactly is the whole myth about the white trees, anyway? I mean…it can't be a coincidence that we came through one, and it just happens to be the symbol of Gondor."

"I do not think it is a coincidence, but I do not see how it is significant. I had a talk with Dumbledore about it, when he first mentioned the tree to me…the white trees were…well…it is a fairly complicated history, but…I can try to explain it briefly. You see, the gods created trees, and…they used them to create the moon and stars…"

Harry's eyebrows were raised.

"All right, I will move on to Gondor," Aragorn said. "A tree was given to the Numenoreans, and…Sauron burned it, but Isildur stole a fruit from it, and preserved the line in Gondor. The trees represent the line of kings…and the one in Gondor withers in the absence of a king. When I take my rightful place, it is said that the tree will blossom."

"But what about the portal? Is there one in Gondor…or was there, before the tree started dying?"

"I do not know. The trees were never known to contain any type of portal…and it was believed that the white tree has been in Gondor ever since Isildur planted it there. It surprises me that there is one in a forest in the west…perhaps the one in Gondor did have portal qualities…perhaps the gods…"

"You are speaking of the trees?" a voice said.

Harry and Aragorn turned. Elrond was approaching them.

"He can answer your questions," Aragorn said. "I must be off anyway…"

"Where must you be off so, at so late an hour?" Elrond asked, looking suspicious.

Aragorn straightened and seemed a little nervous. "I…I wanted to talk to Gandalf," he explained quickly. "I told him I would speak to him, about…the Moria situation…he's still arguing about it…"

"He is right upstairs, actually," Elrond said, with an almost smug look. "You can see him now."

Aragorn looked slightly disappointed as he went up the stairs. Harry tried to hide a smile as he realized Aragorn had probably intended to see Arwen instead.

Elrond now turned to Harry. "You seem very interested in the history of this world."

"I am…and…I find it amazing that there are people…like you…who can actually remember these ancient events."

"The white tree," Elrond said, looking at the painting of Isildur. "He was very pleased to have it. He loved that tree…made it a symbol for his people…" Elrond paused and looked back at Harry. "I saw it. I watched it grow. I've even touched it. It was not a portal. There was nothing magical about it, other than its radiance…a blessing of the gods."

"Then what about the tree we came in through?" Harry asked.

"Did it exist as a white tree in your world also?"

"Well…yes…"

"Then I imagine it must be from your world, not ours."

"But my world doesn't have magical white trees, and yours…"

"Perhaps it is a creation of both worlds, but…it is not like the white tree of Gondor."

"Okay," Harry said, annoyed that Elrond seemed so snappy. He wondered if it had something to do with Aragorn and Arwen.

"You are a bright boy," Elrond said. "Dumbledore speaks very highly of you…and Dumbledore is a brilliant man. I wish you well on your journey."

Elrond left. Harry looked around the museum, stopping to stare at the painting one more time, before leaving himself.

Nothing particularly exciting happened to any of the others during this period. Lupin continued to heal, and became more friendly with Nurza, who would give him updates on the attacks against Uruk-Hai groups across Rohan; although the main camp never moved, troops were often sent out in different directions, returning once their missions were complete.

Throughout these days Zendar showed no interest in speaking to the two guests. Tonks, who was also becoming more familiar with Nurza, asked him why Zendar didn't seem to care about 

her and Lupin anymore; Nurza explained rather reluctantly that Zendar was insulted by what he considered to be trickery on Tonks' part, even though Nurza expressed that he himself respected she didn't understand Zendar's intentions. Tonks did not like Zendar's stubbornness, but started to feel bad for what she realized was a misunderstanding caused by her ignorance. She decided that, as soon as there was a break in the orc attacks and Zendar was less busy, she would try speaking to him.

Sirius, like Lupin, was continuing to heal, under Éowyn's care. He finally got used to her calling him "Sirius," and began to like her more and more. He wished circumstances could be different; he knew they could easily be friends if he could only speak to her. But he couldn't risk revealing his power, and he had to find his friends. They were likely separated; Sirius had no idea if Lupin could recover without care, and he was certain Tonks wouldn't survive very long in Middle-earth by herself. Both probably thought he was dead. As much as he liked being taken care of by Éowyn in Edoras, he knew the longer he spent in comfort the more danger his friends could be in. Sirius decided that, as soon as he had the chance, he would attempt an escape.