Chapter 17: Rivendell
A BRIGHT LIGHT suddenly flares...Ethan squeezes his eyes shut, gasping.
Ethan began speaking slowly, "…where am I?"
"You are in the house of Sensei Kanoi," answered Tommy, "…and it is 10:00 in the morning. On October the 24th, if you want to know."
Ethan wakes up completely…
Ethan's eyes flicker Open He is lying in bed next to an Open Window...Dappled sunlight plays on richly carved timbers...the sound of a nearby waterfall drifts through the Vista of Fir Trees.
Ethan look up at Him and asked, Tommy.
softly puffing on his pipe. He smiles at Ethan
."Yes," replied Tommy, "I'm here. And you're lucky to be here too. A few more hours and you would've been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you… my dear Hobbit."
Ethan then felt a little pain and put his hand on his shoulder where the Wraith stabbed him. He then looks at Tommy, "…what happened Tommy? Why didn't you meet us?" Ethan asked in a perplexed manner.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ethan ," answered Tommy. He took a few moments to explain his absence without alerting Ethan…
"…I was delayed." Tommy answered again…
Tommy silently recalled in his head what really happened to him. He was still on top of Orthanc tower, being Zeltrax's prisoner. Zeltrax didn't react kindly to Tommy's refusal and started throwing him around with his staff again and again and landed with a thump.
"A friendship with Terrance," stated Zeltrax, "is not lightly thrown aside. Argh!"
Zeltrax then waved his staff again, throwing Tommy at the tower's edge, holding him at the tip of his feet…
"One ill turn," added Zeltrax, "deserves another. It is over… "
A moth flutters over Tommy as Zeltrax gave him his final warning, "…embrace the power of the ring, or embrace your own destruction!"
Then the corrupt wizard took Tommy from the edge and threw him to the ground, with his face down.
"There is," said Tommy lifting his head from the ground, "only one Lord of the Ring… "
Tommy then sees a giant eagle…
Tommy continued, "…only one who can bend it to his will… and he does not share power."
the eagle screeched out its beautiful cry. Zeltrax was distracted, allowing Tommy to make his escape as he jumped off the tower…
…And onto the eagle, Gwaihir, the lord of all Eagles! Zeltrax watched as Tommy flew on Gwaihir, with all speed… away from Isengard.
"…So you have chosen death," Zeltrax quietly said his final words to the fleeing wizard.
Gwaihir then flew Tommy high above the Misty Mountains… until He finally reached Rivendell…
Ethan wonders speechlessly at Tommy's response, "Tommy… what is it?"
"…Nothing Ethan," answered Tommy, shaking his head with uncertainty.
Suddenly… a voice of, full of glee, filled the room…
"Ethan! Ethan!" It was Conner. He cried his statement of relief, running to Ethan's bedside.
Conner," replied Ethan.
"Bless you, you're awake!"
Tommy interjected, "Sam has hardly left your side."
"We were that worried about him, weren't we Mr. Tommy?" asked Conner.
"By the skills of Lord Sensei Kanoi," announced Tommy, "you're beginning to mend."
Sensei Kanoi himself comes into the room and speaks, "…welcome to Rivendell, Ethan James Baggins."
