Disclaimer: AU Story. My third large LOTR fic. I can't stop! None of the
characters or settings are mine. They all belong to Tolkien. (Apart from
Emáten) I wish I were related to Tolkien, don't you? It would be so cool!
Oh, and the plot here is derived from my own imagination. Hope you enjoy.
AshNight: Aw! How unfair! The second you go down to a beach, the weather gets nasty. Blimey! Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. I took one line out that read "it felt as if two realities were merging together" which kind of explains it. Emáten is in Frodo's mind- seeing what Frodo sees, almost. A sort of trance, yes. Thanks for the words of support- turns out Oxford University Press want to see some of my work!
MagicalRachel: Well, what else did you expect? I am the embodiment of Frodo torture! Mwa ha ha! Olympics bunnies! *froths at the mouth* More, more, MORE!
QTPie-2488: You a fan of Mez and Pipz? Yeah, they rock! Lossa food *does food dance*
Holly Wood: Sorry you've been ill! What was it? Feeling better now? Frodo isn't but he sends his best regards- *glowers at Frodo and Frodo stops waving maniacally* That's no way for a tortured, ringbearing, half-mad hobbit to behave!
Mistoffelees: I wasn't sure about ending the paragraph on that but you got it in one- too good to pass up. Gimli *is* humour. :-))
Koko Kung: What a cool picture! Loved the comment beside it- I think that suits her attitude down the ground! Hopefully not all the chapter was cute. I mean, Frodo attacking Emáten isn't exactly puppy material!
ViNguyen: Lucky you! I went back weeks ago from my break. Now you'll have time to read my work...nah, I'm kidding- relax, man, that's all the holiday is for! *blushes furiously* M'not that good. *blush* I just write a lot of the time. I'm sorry! I don't want to ruin you! Probably you'll write a best- selling cult and end up with bazillions of pounds and I'll die penniless. It's just the story of my life...in a...weird...but...oh, never mind. Bleah!
~ Chapter Thirty- Three ~
"Sam...but...I don't understand," said Merry, holding the hobbit at arm's length. "What happened?"
"Merry, we have to get Mister Frodo somewhere safe."
"Aragorn," Gandalf said, turning to the ranger, "We have to get Frodo somewhere safe. And there is no time to explain. We must take him south, but away from your people. Maybe there, we can decide what to do."
The king was shaking his head as he tended to Emáten.
"Gandalf, we cannot move either of them. I do not know what has happened here but it has almost killed them both. For the time being, we will have to stay here and wait for them to come round. So we have plenty of time to talk and explain. Have all the inhabitants of Valinor suddenly decided to return?"
"No, my dear ranger!" Bilbo laughed, making the two figures jump, "There is a mission at hand. We have not just all decided to come back- you're wrapped up in an intricate net of events and happenings. But things, I believe, are not going to plan for our enemy."
"Not another enemy, surely?" Aragorn could not help sighing, "It seems that we have faced every black or mildly untamed creature in existence!"
"But who is to say you destroyed them?" the wizard replied. Aragorn looked at him and froze.
"Sam said exactly the same thing. He said that something is chasing Frodo- he was too distraught to tell us what- and somewhere he said something about the lord of Valinor and kept shouting about Black Riders. Does that mean anything?"
Just then, Legolas, Gimli and the hobbits came running across to the company. They were all very pale.
"Sam told us," Pippin gasped, "About the rider. Is it all true? Gandalf, what's going on?"
"First Frodo comes back and doesn't remember anything, then he does remember. Sam is captured by a Black Rider and then Gandalf and Bilbo return and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn up too! It's like, we've been drawn together bit by bit. What's happening? It all seems to have happened so fast!"
"The Fellowship have come together," Legolas breathed, "That is what has happened. Can you not see? Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Sam, Merry, Pippin and me. The Fellowship has been reforged."
"And it is only the Fellowship that can save Frodo now," said Gandalf. "Look, the easiest thing to do now is try and explain things from the very beginning. We of Valinor can always see this land. There are many ways of staying with the ones we love. In dreams, perhaps. Or merely in spirit. To watch over. That is how we learned of a Nazgûl's return. It has been living in the Misty Mountains for many years now and only by much work of the elves were we able to see into its mind and discover its intent. It wants Frodo. For he is the key to Valinor. Should the rider carry Frodo with it across the Endless Sea, it would reach Valinor and there become immortal. It would reclaim Middle-Earth and the Undying Lands. Sauron's power would be restored and this time, it could not be quenched. Frodo learned of this and determined to return and warn you all. It was his quest. But I believe it became more than that. From Valinor, I watched his mind, and as memories were stacked aside, I saw that his intent had changed. He was going to face the Nazgûl. And so things have come to this. So little time at all. With the combined efforts of the Fellowship, we will be able to destroy this creature."
There was a long silence. Around them, the chill wind blustered and swirled, ringing Gandalf's words to the heavens. The clear and evil intent of the wraith echoed in the skies and Sam fancied he could even hear its shriek in the distance. There was a sudden moan from Emáten and they all jumped to life. Aragorn bent over him and gently called him until his eyes flickered open. Emáten screwed up his face, trying to focus on Aragorn.
"Either I am dreaming," he said in a paper-thin voice, "Or the king has woken me from darkness."
"Oh, Emáten!" Sam cried, falling down next to Aragorn, his face wreathed with a smile, "You're alright! We were all so worried."
"Sam? But how...I do, I mean, I... Is it just me or are the Fellowship of the Ring seated about me? I must be dreaming!"
He shut his eyes again and opened them one at a time. Astonishment, then fear tore across his face.
"What I saw. That was no dream. I saw...I saw into Frodo's mind. Where is he? Is he alright?"
"He is alright, if feeling a bit ill," came Frodo's voice from beside him. They all sat back as the hobbit and man embraced warmly. Sam felt a glow inside him to see his master again- still safe. And it truly was his master. With every memory and strength that he had ever possessed. The elvish light burned anew. He and Emáten glanced at one another and smiled. It was up to them to keep that light alive.
When it was mentioned, Frodo nodded sagely.
"Yes. Yes, I remember every bit of it now. Oh, what a fool I've been!"
Gandalf put a hand on his shoulder.
"But you came back, my dear hobbit. You came to warn your companions, although you knew what would happen. You were willing to sacrifice your memories to return."
"Yes..." Frodo said thoughtfully. He paused a moment then nodded to himself. Taking a deep breath, he went on, "We must go north. That is where the rider was seen last and, well, I don't think it will have gone far. How could it have known that I left? And we have three horses so we could all ride there. Come on!" He got shakily to his feet, leaning on Bilbo and smiling round at everyone. "We are a fellowship again. Who can withstand us now?"
AshNight: Aw! How unfair! The second you go down to a beach, the weather gets nasty. Blimey! Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. I took one line out that read "it felt as if two realities were merging together" which kind of explains it. Emáten is in Frodo's mind- seeing what Frodo sees, almost. A sort of trance, yes. Thanks for the words of support- turns out Oxford University Press want to see some of my work!
MagicalRachel: Well, what else did you expect? I am the embodiment of Frodo torture! Mwa ha ha! Olympics bunnies! *froths at the mouth* More, more, MORE!
QTPie-2488: You a fan of Mez and Pipz? Yeah, they rock! Lossa food *does food dance*
Holly Wood: Sorry you've been ill! What was it? Feeling better now? Frodo isn't but he sends his best regards- *glowers at Frodo and Frodo stops waving maniacally* That's no way for a tortured, ringbearing, half-mad hobbit to behave!
Mistoffelees: I wasn't sure about ending the paragraph on that but you got it in one- too good to pass up. Gimli *is* humour. :-))
Koko Kung: What a cool picture! Loved the comment beside it- I think that suits her attitude down the ground! Hopefully not all the chapter was cute. I mean, Frodo attacking Emáten isn't exactly puppy material!
ViNguyen: Lucky you! I went back weeks ago from my break. Now you'll have time to read my work...nah, I'm kidding- relax, man, that's all the holiday is for! *blushes furiously* M'not that good. *blush* I just write a lot of the time. I'm sorry! I don't want to ruin you! Probably you'll write a best- selling cult and end up with bazillions of pounds and I'll die penniless. It's just the story of my life...in a...weird...but...oh, never mind. Bleah!
~ Chapter Thirty- Three ~
"Sam...but...I don't understand," said Merry, holding the hobbit at arm's length. "What happened?"
"Merry, we have to get Mister Frodo somewhere safe."
"Aragorn," Gandalf said, turning to the ranger, "We have to get Frodo somewhere safe. And there is no time to explain. We must take him south, but away from your people. Maybe there, we can decide what to do."
The king was shaking his head as he tended to Emáten.
"Gandalf, we cannot move either of them. I do not know what has happened here but it has almost killed them both. For the time being, we will have to stay here and wait for them to come round. So we have plenty of time to talk and explain. Have all the inhabitants of Valinor suddenly decided to return?"
"No, my dear ranger!" Bilbo laughed, making the two figures jump, "There is a mission at hand. We have not just all decided to come back- you're wrapped up in an intricate net of events and happenings. But things, I believe, are not going to plan for our enemy."
"Not another enemy, surely?" Aragorn could not help sighing, "It seems that we have faced every black or mildly untamed creature in existence!"
"But who is to say you destroyed them?" the wizard replied. Aragorn looked at him and froze.
"Sam said exactly the same thing. He said that something is chasing Frodo- he was too distraught to tell us what- and somewhere he said something about the lord of Valinor and kept shouting about Black Riders. Does that mean anything?"
Just then, Legolas, Gimli and the hobbits came running across to the company. They were all very pale.
"Sam told us," Pippin gasped, "About the rider. Is it all true? Gandalf, what's going on?"
"First Frodo comes back and doesn't remember anything, then he does remember. Sam is captured by a Black Rider and then Gandalf and Bilbo return and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn up too! It's like, we've been drawn together bit by bit. What's happening? It all seems to have happened so fast!"
"The Fellowship have come together," Legolas breathed, "That is what has happened. Can you not see? Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Sam, Merry, Pippin and me. The Fellowship has been reforged."
"And it is only the Fellowship that can save Frodo now," said Gandalf. "Look, the easiest thing to do now is try and explain things from the very beginning. We of Valinor can always see this land. There are many ways of staying with the ones we love. In dreams, perhaps. Or merely in spirit. To watch over. That is how we learned of a Nazgûl's return. It has been living in the Misty Mountains for many years now and only by much work of the elves were we able to see into its mind and discover its intent. It wants Frodo. For he is the key to Valinor. Should the rider carry Frodo with it across the Endless Sea, it would reach Valinor and there become immortal. It would reclaim Middle-Earth and the Undying Lands. Sauron's power would be restored and this time, it could not be quenched. Frodo learned of this and determined to return and warn you all. It was his quest. But I believe it became more than that. From Valinor, I watched his mind, and as memories were stacked aside, I saw that his intent had changed. He was going to face the Nazgûl. And so things have come to this. So little time at all. With the combined efforts of the Fellowship, we will be able to destroy this creature."
There was a long silence. Around them, the chill wind blustered and swirled, ringing Gandalf's words to the heavens. The clear and evil intent of the wraith echoed in the skies and Sam fancied he could even hear its shriek in the distance. There was a sudden moan from Emáten and they all jumped to life. Aragorn bent over him and gently called him until his eyes flickered open. Emáten screwed up his face, trying to focus on Aragorn.
"Either I am dreaming," he said in a paper-thin voice, "Or the king has woken me from darkness."
"Oh, Emáten!" Sam cried, falling down next to Aragorn, his face wreathed with a smile, "You're alright! We were all so worried."
"Sam? But how...I do, I mean, I... Is it just me or are the Fellowship of the Ring seated about me? I must be dreaming!"
He shut his eyes again and opened them one at a time. Astonishment, then fear tore across his face.
"What I saw. That was no dream. I saw...I saw into Frodo's mind. Where is he? Is he alright?"
"He is alright, if feeling a bit ill," came Frodo's voice from beside him. They all sat back as the hobbit and man embraced warmly. Sam felt a glow inside him to see his master again- still safe. And it truly was his master. With every memory and strength that he had ever possessed. The elvish light burned anew. He and Emáten glanced at one another and smiled. It was up to them to keep that light alive.
When it was mentioned, Frodo nodded sagely.
"Yes. Yes, I remember every bit of it now. Oh, what a fool I've been!"
Gandalf put a hand on his shoulder.
"But you came back, my dear hobbit. You came to warn your companions, although you knew what would happen. You were willing to sacrifice your memories to return."
"Yes..." Frodo said thoughtfully. He paused a moment then nodded to himself. Taking a deep breath, he went on, "We must go north. That is where the rider was seen last and, well, I don't think it will have gone far. How could it have known that I left? And we have three horses so we could all ride there. Come on!" He got shakily to his feet, leaning on Bilbo and smiling round at everyone. "We are a fellowship again. Who can withstand us now?"
