Alright, everybody. Let's get started with the next chapter.
Just a quick note. I just started college a few days ago. I'll try and update as often as I can, but understand I may not be able to update too often.
Chapter 2- Rivendell
Jakan groans as he feels consciousness slowly returning to him. It takes him a few more minutes before he is able to open his eyes.
The instant flood of light forces him to closer his eyes almost immediately. As he holds them shut, not sure whether or not to open them again, he realizes something. He's not wearing his armor anymore.
Slowly he opens his eyes. After a second to gather his bearings, and realizing he's looking straight up at the ceiling, Jakan slowly sits up.
He slowly looks around, taking in his surroundings. The room he's in is very…tranquil is the best word he can think off. The walls are crafted of fine wood and stone, with many intricate patterns carved into them. Several potted plants line the walls of the room. And the room is full of light, all coming in from the outside, as it is quickly clear to Jakan that there are no artificial lights in this room. The Mandalorian quickly concludes that either he's being kept in the house of someone who prefers the ways of nature, or he's landed on a planet that is far behind the rest of the galaxy in terms of advancement.
Looking down, Jakan realizes that not only is he not wearing his armor, but he's not even wearing the same clothes he usually wears under his armor for comfort. Rather, he's wearing a rather plain tan tunic and trousers. Jakan feels slightly disturbed at the thought of somebody else dressing him in these new clothes, but also feels rather grateful for these clothes that are far softer and more comfortable than anything he has ever worn.
Jakan slowly slides his legs over the side of the bed and stands up. Taking a moment to steady himself, he takes another look around the room, and starts to feel a slight sense of alarm as he realizes that none of his things are in the room. He feels worried about losing his armor, and more importantly, the Darksaber.
Suddenly, he senses that he's not alone. Jakan whips around towards the door, ready for a fight.
Standing in the doorway is a tall man with long dark hair, and wearing a purple robe. His forehead is ringed with a silver diadem. Not only that, but his ears are pointed!
As Jakan examines this new arrival, he senses an incredible feeling of…light from this man. Of perfect tranquility and great wisdom.
Wanting to know more about what's going on, Jakan eases his posture and cautiously asks, "Who are you?"
The man looks at him before giving a slight smile. "My name is Lindir. I am the steward of Rivendell," he says rather formally.
"The who of the wherenow?" Jakan asks, only really having understood that the man's name is Lindir.
Lindir looks a little confused. "Surely you have heard of Rivendell?" he asks.
Jakan shakes his head. "Never heard of it," he says.
Lindir looks intrigued. "Indeed? I thought that the tales of this place had spread across Middle-Earth. Where do you hail from?" he asks.
Jakan is growing more confused by the moment. Deciding to ignore the statement about "Middle Earth" for now, he still holds out hope that this man knows about the wider galaxy. So, he straightens up, and with pride in his voice, he answers, "I come from Mandalore. My name is Jakan. I am one of the Light Mandalorians."
His hopes that this Lindir knows of the wider galaxy are quickly dashed as Lindir looks intrigued and responds, "Mandalore? I have never heard of it. Is it beyond the sea?"
Jakan wants to sigh, but is able to stop himself. His fear has been realized. He's crashed on a world that is completely isolated from the rest of the galaxy. Perhaps even somewhere in the Unknown Regions.
"Well…not quite. Let's just say it's really far from here and just leave it at that," Jakan says.
Lindir nods. Jakan takes another look at the man's ears and asks curiously, "Forgive me for asking. But are you human?"
Lindir smiles a bit. "No. I am an Elf. I take it you have not heard of Elves in the land you hail from?"
"Yeah," Jakan responds simply. He finds it surprising he's feeling so at ease around Lindir, and sharing so much information with him, but there's just something about him that makes Jakan feel he's someone who can be trusted.
Jakan looks around and asks, "So, where exactly am I again?"
Lindir smiles again. "You are in Rivendell, the house of Lord Elrond, in the land of Eriador, in Middle Earth. I suspect that these terms may be unfamiliar to you. Perhaps my Lord Elrond can help you understand better your location. I will take you to him, if you wish. He is most eager to speak to you," he says.
Jakan nods. "Yes. That would be greatly appreciated. And I assume he can help me get my gear and weapons back?" he asks for clarification.
Lindir nods as he turns to lead Jakan out of the room. "Yes. I must say, your weapons are unlike any I have ever seen. They, along with your strange armor, are in our armory. They will be available for you to reclaim at your earliest convenience. But, for now, my Lord Elrond is waiting for you," he says.
"Well, far be it for me to keep him waiting," Jakan says, feeling the best thing to do is just to go with the flow at the moment.
Lindir leads him out of the room and into the corridor outside. After a short walk down the corridor, they emerge onto a balcony.
Jakan is blown away by the sight before him. A collection of buildings expand across both sides of a pristine river valley. Jakan is greatly impressed by the way that the place is built around the environment, rather than over it. He sees where the river flows through Rivendell, waterfalls and pristine pools in several locations, and several gardens. All in all, this place is just to him the picture of natural beauty. He remembers when he made a brief trip to Naboo about two years ago, and visited the lake country. But, Rivendell is even more beautiful and peaceful than that place. There is something more than just the natural peaceful environment. There is something about this place that magnifies everything good about this place. Jakan can just feel himself instantly relaxing. In his mind, he thinks to himself, "Oh, yeah. I could see myself living here."
"Wait here. I will go fetch my Lord Elrond and inform him you are awake," Lindir says before walking off.
Jakan stands there, just taking in the beautiful sight that is Rivendell. He starts to notice things he hadn't at first. Like how clear the water is. How the trees, which are starting to change to their fall colors, seem particularly bright. And how the flowers yet seem to be prospering despite the onset of fall.
"Beautiful, is it not?" a regal voice asks from behind him. Jakan turns his head around and sees another elf walking up beside him, wearing dark red robes over a tan tunic, and wearing a gold diadem around his forehead.
Jakan watches him walk up and stop beside him. There's an air of nobility and wisdom about this Elf that he did not sense with Lindir, and this leaves him with little doubt about who this must be.
"I'm guessing you are Lord Elrond?" Jakan asks.
The Elf looks at him with a slight smile and says, "Indeed, I am. Jakan of Mandalore."
"Lindir told you my name and homeland I assume," Jakan says with a slight smile. Elrond nods with the same smile.
"He also tells me that your home is far from here. Far enough that you have not heard of my people," he says simply.
Jakan nods before he says, "That only covers a part of it."
Elrond nods. "Tell me your tale," he says. Jakan looks at him, and just like with Lindir, feels Elrond can be trusted. He begins talking, first explaining the true nature of where Mandalore is. If Elrond was surprised by this, he didn't show it.
Jakan continued, telling the story of the Republic and how it became the Empire. He then explained the Alliance of Free Mandalorians and how they came to be, as well as their mission to fight the Empire. He then finished by explaining his mission to steal the Darksaber, including a description of what it was, and how he ended up on this world.
When he finished his story, Elrond was quiet for several moments. Then he simply said, "I see. While I find the tale extraordinary, I see no lie in your lies. I believe you are telling the truth."
Jakan nods his appreciation. Then, Elrond says, "Follow me." He turns and walks off the balcony. Jakan follows.
Elrond leads him to another room in the same building Jakan's been in so far, which by appearances is a study of sorts. Elrond leads him over to a table where a map is laid out.
The two bend over the desk to get a better look at the map. "This map is of Middle-Earth," Elrond says.
Jakan examines the map. Middle Earth seems to be the name for a vast continent. He sees large names of different lands in Middle-Earth such as "Shire", "Rohan", and "Gondor". He sees multiple mountain ranges and forests.
Elrond then plaves his fingers a little to the west of the center of the map and says, "Here is Rivendell."
Jakan looks closer and sees the marker for Rivendell, right next to a long mountain range named the "Misty Mountains".
Jakan's eyes continue to wander over the map. Then, his eyes fall on a land to the east. He points to it and asks, "What is this land? Mordor?"
Elrond looks at where Jakan is pointing, and his expression darkens.
"That, as it says, is Mordor. The land of shadows. The realm of the enemy. It is a fell place. Pray you never have to go anywhere near it, Jakan," Elrond says.
Jakan looks at Elrond for a few moments. He can tell there's something else about this Mordor that is a sensitive topic with him, but decides not to press the matter.
After a few more minutes, Jakan asks, "Lord Elrond, I would like to take the opportunity to go and inspect my ship I arrived in. And when I return, where can I find my armor and weapons?"
Elrond smiles. "Of course you may go. Take as long as you need. When you return you will find your armor and weapons in a store room un the bottom floor of this building, right under the balcony where we first spoke," he says.
Jakan bows his head respectfully, then turns and leaves the room.
Jakan lies back in his new bed. It's now dark, and the sounds of the night ring through his ears.
His trip to the wreckage of his ship had yielded the results he expected, but not what he wanted. The ship was completely unflyable. Luckily, some of its systems were still working, and R5 was still intact. Jakan rigged the distress signal to continuously broadcast to the Alliance back on Mandalore, and he brought R5 back to Rivendell. He got his armor and weapons, all cleaned and shiny, and he left R5 in the same storeroom where they had been, and switched him off. Elrond promised to keep R5 in the storeroom as long as necessary.
Now, as he lies in this rather comfortable bed, he sighs. Both with frustration and content. He feels frustrated that he is cut off from his comrades and friends. And he wants to return to his duties as one of the Light Mandalorians. And yet, he knows this is one of the best places to be stuck. If he can't return to Mandalore, this is very nice place to be. Elrond has already offered him the choice to stay in Rivendell. And even if he's found by the Light Mandalorians, he's feeling somewhat tempted to choose to remain here. A place untouched by the evil of the Empire. A place he can live in total peace for the rest of his life.
And, there we go. I'll end there. Next chapter will feature him meeting at least some of our heroes, and possibly also include the Council of Elrond.
Please, please review and tell me what you think so far.