"We were mere children," Legolas sighed, still holding the letter.
"What happened?" Miredhel asked, "What does the letter mean?"
"It started a long time ago, long before you were born," Legolas began, "You father and I were best friends. Him being the son of a blacksmith had a great interest in combining metal craft and magic. He wanted to model a ring, greatly admiring the one made for Lord Elrond. Even I am not quite sure how he created the ring… He loved this ring, wore it everywhere... When he put it on his finger, he would become invisible for brief periods of time: the same effect as the One Ring, just not as powerful. He used it to pull pranks on our teachers… But I began to see the more he wore it, the more it seemed to well… possess him. He became short- tempered and would snap at his loved ones for no reason. I begged him to destroy it, I told him it was changing him." Legolas blinked back tears. "When he finally realized what was happening, he asked for my help. I promised to help him, to help him destroy the ring…" Both elves stared at the ring Legolas held. "But before I could help him, I was called to Mirkwood. My father sent me on a mission to Lothlorien… When I returned, I couldn't find him… I found his house and searched it, all his belongings were there… with the exception of the ring."
Miredhel silently stared at the ring. Her father had told her nothing of it.
"I suppose he finally came to his senses after a while, but was never able to destroy the ring," Legolas said sadly.
"So… what do we do now?" Miredhel asked.
"Il amin sinta…I don't know" Legolas sighed. "I suppose I shall ask for Gandalf's counsel…"
"Mithrandir?!" Miredhel asked in surprise, "The most powerful of the Istari is here?!" Legolas nodded. "Do you think he can help us?"
"If anyone can it would be Gandalf," Legolas chuckled at the younger elf's enthusiasm.
* * *
Aragorn invited Miredhel to stay and rest in Gondor while they determine what to do.
"What do you think we should do?" Miredhel asked Gandalf after Legolas explained the story to him.
"I only know of one way to destroy a magical ring of that sort…" Gandalf said slowly, "it was the same way we destroyed the One Ring."
"Is it really necessary to destroy it?" Miredhel asked.
"My dear," Gandalf said, "there is rumor of a new evil rising… there are already orcs rebuilding Isengard. If this ring were to come in their hands, they could modify it to be just like the One Ring… The result would be disasterous…"
"What happened?" Miredhel asked, "What does the letter mean?"
"It started a long time ago, long before you were born," Legolas began, "You father and I were best friends. Him being the son of a blacksmith had a great interest in combining metal craft and magic. He wanted to model a ring, greatly admiring the one made for Lord Elrond. Even I am not quite sure how he created the ring… He loved this ring, wore it everywhere... When he put it on his finger, he would become invisible for brief periods of time: the same effect as the One Ring, just not as powerful. He used it to pull pranks on our teachers… But I began to see the more he wore it, the more it seemed to well… possess him. He became short- tempered and would snap at his loved ones for no reason. I begged him to destroy it, I told him it was changing him." Legolas blinked back tears. "When he finally realized what was happening, he asked for my help. I promised to help him, to help him destroy the ring…" Both elves stared at the ring Legolas held. "But before I could help him, I was called to Mirkwood. My father sent me on a mission to Lothlorien… When I returned, I couldn't find him… I found his house and searched it, all his belongings were there… with the exception of the ring."
Miredhel silently stared at the ring. Her father had told her nothing of it.
"I suppose he finally came to his senses after a while, but was never able to destroy the ring," Legolas said sadly.
"So… what do we do now?" Miredhel asked.
"Il amin sinta…I don't know" Legolas sighed. "I suppose I shall ask for Gandalf's counsel…"
"Mithrandir?!" Miredhel asked in surprise, "The most powerful of the Istari is here?!" Legolas nodded. "Do you think he can help us?"
"If anyone can it would be Gandalf," Legolas chuckled at the younger elf's enthusiasm.
* * *
Aragorn invited Miredhel to stay and rest in Gondor while they determine what to do.
"What do you think we should do?" Miredhel asked Gandalf after Legolas explained the story to him.
"I only know of one way to destroy a magical ring of that sort…" Gandalf said slowly, "it was the same way we destroyed the One Ring."
"Is it really necessary to destroy it?" Miredhel asked.
"My dear," Gandalf said, "there is rumor of a new evil rising… there are already orcs rebuilding Isengard. If this ring were to come in their hands, they could modify it to be just like the One Ring… The result would be disasterous…"