Chapter 6: Two Parties Meet

Lassalanta followed Gandalf and Folcred on her horse, StarMyst. Gandalf rode Shadowfax swiftly, but Folcred's Fireheart led, for he was pursuing a fleeing steed named Opaleye.

Gandalf called out, "Hold, Aignor! We bring help. Hold your steed!"

And the one named Aignor halted, Opaleye snorting in anticipation. The Elf dismounted, and Folcred spoke to him:

"You have seen a tilionthule." It was not a question, but a statement.

The Elf called Aignor nodded. "It told me many things..."

Lassalanta began to feel slightly nervous. The tone of the Elf was haunting, but she noticed even then it was melodic; it was as if he was singing a sad song.

Now Glorfindel Folcred's brother rode up. "What did the horned spirit warn?"

Aignor looked slightly surprised. "How did you know it was a warning?"

It was Gandalf who responded: "Tilionthule never report news of happiness, nor of the past nor present. It speaks only of the future, and in slight riddles."

The Elf stared at his feet. "It warned me about a mini-giant..."

Lassalanta tilted her head. "How can anyone be a mini-giant?"

"Someone who is great in size but not in deeds..." Folcred explained.

"Or small in size but done great things..." Glorfindel added.

Lassalanta looked quickly at Glorfindel. His words made her think of Frodo...

Gandalf must have been realizing the same thing. "What else did it warn you?" he asked very quietly.

"Fear him and his death..." Aignor whispered.

Lassalanta jerked. Fear him and his death... she thought. That cannot be right! For how can we kill him if his death is to be feared? She clicked her tongue against her teeth, nervously.

All were silent. Finally Lassalanta asked, "The tilionthule...did it say anything else?"

Here Aignor hesitated. This was when the tilionthule had transformed into a horned beast, from which it received its name. It had told him to heed this warning, else he would die and his death would bring the destruction of all. "It said naught but to heed the warning..." he at last answered Lassalanta.

Glorfindel now cried, "Come with us! For we must have a council. The appearance of a tilionthule is no ordinary happening; nor is its warning." And he spurred his horse away, and his brother Folcred followed.

Aignor murmured something to Opaleye, who sprang away at once. Shadowfax and StarMyst, however, trotted slowly, for their riders were conversing.

"The riddle undoubtedly refers to Frodo Baggins," said Lassalanta firmly.

Gandalf sighed wearily. "He has Evenstar, a gift from the Lady Arwen," he began feebly.

"Evenstar..." she considered it. "So the corruption of the Ring is fighting Evenstar?"

"That is correct," he confirmed. "But it is hard to tell which is the stronger force. I believe many times Evenstar has actually won, and Frodo was in control. Yet it acts more as a defense than and offense; the only thing it can do is attempt to prevent his corruption form growing stronger."

Lassalanta rode in silence. Only she and the Three would understand what the tilionthule was telling everyone. "Evenstar is weaker," she stated, "Eventually the corruption will take over him, and he will be pure evil."

"Not pure evil," Gandalf replied. "Like Gollum...only the thing he lusts for is gone. So he will be driven mad, although will be clever enough to conceal it."

"Soon he will be driven mad." Lassalanta corrected herself.

Gandalf sighed. Lassalanta looked at him, and he said, "It is going to be hard to take...poor Bilbo..."

Only then did Lassalanta realize that getting rid of Frodo—however they were going to do it—was not going to be as easy as she'd thought.