Back to the Lands You Once Did Know
-An Interlude-

Bilbo dreamed.

A meeting was called in Valinor. Gandalf had left soon after Bilbo had, in a ship headed in the same dircection. Now whispers of a new evil moved through the community of the Elves. Whispers of a darkness rising on Outer Earth.

The council of Elrond was called. The old Fellowship of the Ring came, as did many Elves, including Glorfindel, Elrond's sons and Celebrian. The older Elves, the Noldor, had no interest in the present Earth. They had faded into the very center of Valinor, into the thickest mists and tallest trees, and cared not for the fate of Outer Earth.

Elrond sat at the head of the Council table in a tall chair, beside his wife. He looked around at the Elves, including Thranduil, Galadriel and Celeborn, humble as emissaries at the Council of Elrond. They had given up their titles for this Council meeting, and deferred to the Half-Elven's judgement with a solemn grace. He saw also the two Hobbits and the sole Dwarf of Valinor, who sat beside Legolas, glaring around at the other Elves. Elrond stifled a brief smile; the Dwarf had still not overcome his natural antagonism towards the Elven race. Well, give it time. Though millenia had passed on Outer Earth, scant seasons had gone by in Valinor. Life had passed, for a time, as it always had in the Elven realms. The land was explored, save in the furthest reaches of the mist.

And then it had come. The feeling of darkness, confirmed by Gandalf. He had gone, traveling into Outer Earth to see if he could remedy the matter. He had not returned, but sent word in the form of a hastily scribbled not placed in the returning gray ship.

He asked for aid from Elrond and his Elves.

Now Elrond Half-Elven sat before the Council and spoke. They all quieted and listened to his words.

You have come here today to face a mysterious evil wholly new to us. I ask that a band of Elves, or other races, he nodded at the Hobbits and Gimli,go to the aid of Outer Earth. As you know, the Hobbit and the Wizard are already there, though to what purpose I cannot say. The will of Er u is mysterious, and none can say if this Quest be dire, but in my heart I feel it is so. Who among us here will go to the aid of the Men and Dwarves of Outer Earth?

Dwarves and Men, one Elf muttered, raising an eyebrow.

What of it? asked Legolas lightly, but a hand rested on his bow.

Nothing, Highness, the Elf muttered, subsiding. But his companion, a young Elf of scarce ten centuries, stood.
What concern of it is ours? he asked the assembled council. The Dwarves stay in their mines, the men make their own trouble. They have forced us out of Arda. Why should we help them?

Legolas stood, teeth clenched and a hand on his bow, and Gimli stood beside him. Thranduil pressed a cautionary hand down on his son's shoulder and spoke himself.

I thought similarly, at one time, he said simply. We of Mirkwood were not famed for our courtesy towards the other races. But through my son's friendship with Gimli Gloin-ion, I have seen truth. All races deserve life, as far as it is in our power to grant it to them. We are given immortality; we must help others free from oppression and danger in what little life they are granted.

It will mean the lifes of our people, you old fool! the young Elf exclaimed.

And if we do not help, it will mean the lives of their people. Elrond put it. The stituation is dangerous. We have not much information on this menace, but it is striking hard at the area at the so-called bottom of Outer Earth. We believe the source of the evil is far from the area, but it is there that the evil now plans to attack. There are untold thousands of Men and Dwarves in the area. If you wish to consign them to death, so be it. Retreat into the mist, if you will. But we must go on to more important matters. Who will go?

I will take the part of the Dwarves and Men, Legolas said, standing quickly and slipping Thranduil's hand from his shoulder.

And I too! Gimli growled, hands resting on his axe.

The two members of the old Fellowship looked at the Hobbits Frodo and Sam. Frodo looked down at the ground, rubbing the stump of his finger.

Bilbo, in his bed, thrashed about, muttering the name of his nephew in agonized tones.


Sam stood and spoke.

Beggin' your pardon, good Elves,: he said, I'm not goin' to let Mr. Frodo go on this journey. I've been his friend most of my life, and his gardener for a time. He's been through too much; he's tired. Let him stay, I ask you. His task is done.

Galadriel spoke.
Tha Halfling speaks true. I have seen it. There is only one Hobbit in this new tale-- Bilbo Baggins.

The others were confused at her talk of tales, but nodded, and Sam looked relieved, his hand placed protectively on Frodo's shoulder.

It's all right, Sam, Frodo said, I know I could never make another adventure.

They still tell your tale on Outer Earth, Mr. Frodo, Sam encouraged him, and the Hobbits exchanged a small, worried smile.

Who else will go? queried Elrond.

Elrohir spoke.
I will go.

And I, said Elladan.

No other volunteered.

Will no one else go, then? queried Elrond, looking nervously at his sons. Elladan was married and had his own young son, so the succession of his line was ensured, but he still worried.

No, I will go to, spoke up a voice.
It was the young Elf who had spoken against aiding the Dwarves and Men.

Elrond gave him a stern glance.
You mean this, Antenaear?

Bilbo awoke in a cold sweat, long before dawn, and left his room to pace the hall. Peter was staying in a room nearby, so as to keep an eye on the Hobbit. Though Bilbo made no sound, by some instinct the Man awoke, and went to his door in his robe, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and nobody mentioned here. My left foot ws nice to own, but even nicer was the million of the currency of the Americans which I gained by auctioning it off myself. In other matters, I realize this chapter is somewhat enigmatic. I am not quite sure of it myself; it was an odd dream to have at the time. However, as it turned out... well, I oughn't speak of it yet. Suffice it to say that I shall return to describing the casting and shooting of the initial movie scenes in the next chapter.