Chapter 20: At the edges of Rivendell
He lay dying, my hobbit child, Stung with a vipers kiss, a bite from a morgul blade, and from his fight at the ford. It would be long moments before Elrond could reach his side. Moments that Frodo could ill afford. I yelled for my sister Estë to come, to keep him from drawing ever closer to death. She came quickly, and in a space between Arda and Middle earth she held him in her arms, staying back the black breath of Death, for just a little while, At least until help could reach Frodo.
Aragorn, Glorifindel and the Hobbits would not reach this place for many more hours. Sam and the others would not be happy with what they saw. They would not like to see this terrible state that Frodo was in.
Soon, in what seemed like an eternity to me. Elrond arrived with Olorion. With them, they had brought a litter, to carry Frodo to the house of healing. Elrond thought that they were too late and that Frodo was gone, until he caught just a whisper of Frodo's breath. They placed him gently on the litter and very slowly started the Journey to Rivendell. Both Elrond and Gandalf poured their strength into the lad, and then, and only then did I bid Estë to release him from her gentle embrace.
It would be days, until it was known whether he would live or die. For much was dependent on Elrond's ability to stay the progress of the shard of the Morgul blade, that was still within Frodo. As they carried him to Rivendell, I whispered to him. Go not quietly into the dark night Frodo, fight Frodo fight, fight for all that you love and for all that love you. It is not your time.
And in his pain clouded mind he heard me, and I could feel a small fight for life begin in him. Gandalf and Elrond felt the subtle difference in Frodo and for a moment it almost startled them. But they did not miss a beat they only quickened their pace.
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The hobbits, Aragorn and Glorifindel were not far from the Ford. They were on alert, but the closer they got to Rivendell, the more the woods around them seemed to feel freedom. Freedom of the evil that had been at their backs for days. When they got to the river, the water was still running high. It seemed to them as if there had been a flood. However, they could see that the waters were beginning to subside. And were far from the flooded stage they must have been in earlier. What had happened here? Aragorn and Glorifindel read the signs, and they could see Asfoloth's hoof prints, and then the prints of nine horses, the nine riders. The hobbits stayed on the far shore, and Aragorn went across to see what sign he could see. There he saw the prints of Asfoloth, but none of the black riders. Then he saw that something had lain in the grass. Whoever it was had lain there long enough to make an indentation. Then there were the footprints of many elven feet and the prints of one man. When the elven feet had left the spot, they were carrying something that did not weigh as much as a man or an elf.
When Aragorn came back to the hobbits, he told them what he had seen. He also told them that the Black Riders had never crossed over to the Rivendell side of the shore. And that there were elves and they were carrying something, which was undoubtedly Frodo.
When Sam heard this he started to run across the river, but he quickly could see that it was too deep for him and Sam did not swim. Aragorn stopped him near the waters edge. Long before he could drown. Aragorn and Glorifindel decided to carry the hobbits across the water, for it would be quicker than waiting for the water to subside. One by one, they carried Merry and Pippin, carrying Sam last. Aragorn carried him and Glorifindel led Bill the pony across. It was very wise of them to bring Sam last. I think that they suspected that Sam would try to run ahead, and get himself lost. It was not easy to find the paths of Rivendell unless you knew the way.
Once they reached the other side they made their way swiftly to Rivendell. Aragorn could see the almost panicked look that was on the face of Sam. He went to him and put his hand on Sam's shoulder to comfort him. "It will be alright Sam. There are no better hands to help him, than are here in Rivendell, for Elrond is a Master healer." Sam looked at Aragorn and Aragorn could tell that Sam did not have much faith in any hands other than his, to take care of Frodo. And at the very least Sam wanted to see for himself.
Aragorn watched the two younger hobbits for they were almost asleep on their feet, which Aragorn and Glorifindel expected. They had traveled far and fast. Merry and Pippin were by Glorifindel's side. He was supporting their movements, keeping them from falling down in exhaustion. When they reached the top of the Valley where Rivendell lay, Glorifindel brought them out of their sleepy daze, when he said, "Behold the land of Elrond Half Elven."