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.
Eldalie Aranel: Whee! What a cool name! So pleased you're enjoying this
Shirebound: Ah, Bilbo has a purpose once more. He won't be left behind, not for anything. "My heart tells me Bilbo has some part to play yet, for good or ill."
ViNguyen: *does native African dance and sings haunting songs* I'm not ruining you! I'm not ruining you! *wails and the spirits rise from the grave* Oh yeah, and I saw your submissions to theonering.net- where did you find it all? :-))
Crazytook: I'm ecstatic that someone liked the Emáten-Frodo bit, because it was so much fun to write. Well, with Boromir, you've actually hit the nail on the head. They want Emáten to be part of something and...well, I'd give too much away if I went on but Boromir does arise later on. Glad the reunion went well!
Alatariel: See? I did it. And I'm not dead! I actually got the Fellowship back together again! *collapses*
Holly Wood: Glad you're feeling better. Colds are miserable... Yes, you spotted my subtle mention of "let him go!" or something. Frodo did attack Emáten but nevertheless, Emáten saved him. It sounds like a formulae now! Fellowship - Boromir + Emáten + Bilbo = really strange story
Bookworm2000: All is forgiven, my friend! I can't expect you to review all the time! You have a life, unlike me. Brilliant! Glad it's making sense now. I didn't mean to make it confusing, honest!
TrueFan: Wahay! The Long Reviews return! Like the li'l rhyme. Oh, *drool* you went to the Dominican Republic? Ahhhhhhh *drools* Never mind- at least you had fun on your snowboarding holiday. Yay for the red lamp! Yay for the red lamp! I should start a cult. Come, all red lamp in TrueFan's house lovers! You know, I'd almost forgotten about Lost in Moria. But when you mentioned it, I went back and read a bit. Man, I so torture hobbits! My evilness returns... But you should see what I've got lined up for this lot!
AshNight: Frightening and cool, what more could I ask for? Thank you! You're not slow. It's just me who's a very surreal writer and likes to write things in dreamy Salvador Dali ways. Don't worry, I will let the whole world know when my book comes back from Oxford- it's being sent up on Monday. Wish me luck!
~ Chapter Thirty-Four ~
North. It was nothing but a cold hard horizon cut slicing through the landscape. Shadowfax bore Gandalf, Frodo and Sam, on the back of the steadfast Brégo sat Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. And poor Celon was forced to carry his master, Emáten, Pippin, Merry and Bilbo. The horses were treated like kings from that day forward. They travelled all morning up the Greenway and crossed the Brandywine at noon. They did not stop for meals or rest. On and on, they rode until the hill of the Shire hove into view. Shadowfax moved as if weighted by leads up its slope, the two other steeds following behind. Just as Celon mounted the brow of the rise and they all looked out across the Shire, a shriek cut through the air. A black shape moulded like the birth of darkness in the sky. Its wings unfolded and the dragon faced them head on, its teeth glittering. The rider saw them all; ten companions standing on the crest, gazing in terror back at him. It dived...
Shadowfax reared and his silver hooves connected with the dragon's face. Pure darkness crashing into pure light. It screeched and soared away but higher up, it turned to lunge again.
"Ride!" Gandalf cried. The horses, blinded with sweat and shaking with fear, galloped down the slope on the opposite side, oblivious to the cries of their masters. They cantered westward, heading for lower and more sheltered ground. The Black Rider wheeled overhead and Frodo felt the wound in his shoulder throb. But then it had gone. With only a faint echoing shriek left hanging in the air. They called the horses to a halt.
"Now where do we go?" gasped Frodo, "Wherever we go, I will draw the rider to me. We will have to face it in the end."
"But not here. And there is nowhere in the Shire we can get to that will not endanger others," Gandalf said.
"Then let us go north!" Aragorn called from where his horse had wandered, "That is my territory and I know many places where Frodo may be safe."
"Why not the Grey Havens?" cried Pippin suddenly. Everyone looked at him. He looked down awkwardly. "Well, no one will get hurt there. We can go up onto the cliffs and...throw the rider off into the sea...?"
They were all silent for a moment as they contemplated this. One by one, they gazed across at Pippin, eyes shining.
"Pip, that's brilliant!" Frodo exclaimed.
"Onwards then," Gandalf commanded, "Come, Shadowfax, we ride to the Grey Havens. There this affair began and there...it shall end."
The stallion wearily obeyed. He ground his hooves into the earth and bounded into a small gully. His two companions close behind, Shadowfax followed the ravine along and then rode up the embankment and onto a path. Sam looked uneasily back at the skyline. There was no sign of the Nazgûl. But he knew from experience, that you rarely noticed them before it was too late.
--
Night was falling. Shimmering lights appeared in the sky and the moon rose coldly before the clouds. Far below, the hobbits of Michel Delving were travelling home from the inns and from the company of their friends. But, just outside the borders of the little community, a procession of moonlit figures passed phantom-like through the trees.
--
The banners of Osgiliath hung limply from their poles. Confetti strewed the roads and bridges. But it was a dead celebration. The Ringbearer had not returned to them. But the people still steadfastly believed that when he was ready, he would come and they would be able to praise him all they liked.
"I wonder if he will have changed at all," Eowyn murmured, wrapping her arms in her cloak. Faramir looked at her.
"Who?"
"Oh, Faramir, you know!" his wife laughed, "Frodo! Do you think he will have changed?"
"What was there to change? He was strong, courageous and good-hearted. I cannot think why he would have. And I don't suppose he will have changed in appearance. For Valinor preserves your youth."
"Yes. Faramir, it will be just so wonderful to see him again! I miss the hobbits more than I believed possible."
The man put his arms round her and kissed her on the forehead.
"Me too," he said quietly.
--
Night failed at the Grey Havens. The sun was rising at the company's backs and doubt was beginning to tug at Frodo's heart. He knew what he had planned to do. He remembered everything now. And though he now possessed every memory of his life before, so they brought terrible choices for him. To the Nazgûl, he was no more than a necessary tool to access Valinor. Without him, the rider could not enter there. Was that the only way? He contemplated this as the landscape rolled past on either side and the sun's light dipped the cliffs in gold.
The three horses mounted the cliff slopes and galloped up to their summit and gaze down on the sea and Havens far below. The view was astounding. On one side, the earth was patched with melting snow, leaving caps of white on every tree. And on the other stretched the blue wilderness of the ocean, dotted with the white crests of waves. Dew and frost cracked under foot as the friends jumped down from the exhausted steeds.
"What now?" Pippin asked brightly.
"We wait, I suppose," Legolas replied, looking towards Gandalf. The wizard nodded.
"There is nothing else to do."
So they sat and in the bitter cold, they exchanged tales of before. What had passed over the years. Slowly, gaps were filled and secrets shared among the friends. They welcomed Emáten to their circle but he said that it felt wrong. Instead, he stood at Celon's side, stroking his mane and gazing wistfully out to sea.
After dawn had passed, Merry got to his feet and came over to Emáten.
"Why don't you come and sit with us?" he asked, "Do we smell that terrible?"
The man laughed and shook his head.
"No, it...it is not that, Master Meriadoc," he said, "But, I do not think I really belong there. You see, I always dreamed of being part of the Fellowship. And I never once truly believed that I ever would. Yet even now, when I am given the chance to share in it, it just feels wrong."
"Is it because of Boromir?" the hobbit asked gently.
Emáten nodded. "I never want to take anyone's place. He was a member of the Fellowship. And I never will be. I cannot be. What have I done to deserve such an honour? He died to save his friends. I do not want to replace that. Nothing can replace Boromir."
"That's right," Merry said, "Nothing will. That's why you're not. You are Emáten, not Boromir. And you are a hero in your own right. No one will ever take Boromir's place in our hearts. But there are more than nine places in our hearts, you know. The Fellowship is not just nine companions. It does not represent a group of people who went out into the world but it does represent what they did it for. You understand that. I see you as another part of this body. Another face in the Fellowship."
Just then, the whole cliffside rang with the screech of a Nazgûl. It echoed across the fields and the forests and right across the Endless Sea. The black dragon reared up from the trees far below.
~
Nearly done. Only about three more chapters left, I promise!
Eldalie Aranel: Whee! What a cool name! So pleased you're enjoying this
Shirebound: Ah, Bilbo has a purpose once more. He won't be left behind, not for anything. "My heart tells me Bilbo has some part to play yet, for good or ill."
ViNguyen: *does native African dance and sings haunting songs* I'm not ruining you! I'm not ruining you! *wails and the spirits rise from the grave* Oh yeah, and I saw your submissions to theonering.net- where did you find it all? :-))
Crazytook: I'm ecstatic that someone liked the Emáten-Frodo bit, because it was so much fun to write. Well, with Boromir, you've actually hit the nail on the head. They want Emáten to be part of something and...well, I'd give too much away if I went on but Boromir does arise later on. Glad the reunion went well!
Alatariel: See? I did it. And I'm not dead! I actually got the Fellowship back together again! *collapses*
Holly Wood: Glad you're feeling better. Colds are miserable... Yes, you spotted my subtle mention of "let him go!" or something. Frodo did attack Emáten but nevertheless, Emáten saved him. It sounds like a formulae now! Fellowship - Boromir + Emáten + Bilbo = really strange story
Bookworm2000: All is forgiven, my friend! I can't expect you to review all the time! You have a life, unlike me. Brilliant! Glad it's making sense now. I didn't mean to make it confusing, honest!
TrueFan: Wahay! The Long Reviews return! Like the li'l rhyme. Oh, *drool* you went to the Dominican Republic? Ahhhhhhh *drools* Never mind- at least you had fun on your snowboarding holiday. Yay for the red lamp! Yay for the red lamp! I should start a cult. Come, all red lamp in TrueFan's house lovers! You know, I'd almost forgotten about Lost in Moria. But when you mentioned it, I went back and read a bit. Man, I so torture hobbits! My evilness returns... But you should see what I've got lined up for this lot!
AshNight: Frightening and cool, what more could I ask for? Thank you! You're not slow. It's just me who's a very surreal writer and likes to write things in dreamy Salvador Dali ways. Don't worry, I will let the whole world know when my book comes back from Oxford- it's being sent up on Monday. Wish me luck!
~ Chapter Thirty-Four ~
North. It was nothing but a cold hard horizon cut slicing through the landscape. Shadowfax bore Gandalf, Frodo and Sam, on the back of the steadfast Brégo sat Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. And poor Celon was forced to carry his master, Emáten, Pippin, Merry and Bilbo. The horses were treated like kings from that day forward. They travelled all morning up the Greenway and crossed the Brandywine at noon. They did not stop for meals or rest. On and on, they rode until the hill of the Shire hove into view. Shadowfax moved as if weighted by leads up its slope, the two other steeds following behind. Just as Celon mounted the brow of the rise and they all looked out across the Shire, a shriek cut through the air. A black shape moulded like the birth of darkness in the sky. Its wings unfolded and the dragon faced them head on, its teeth glittering. The rider saw them all; ten companions standing on the crest, gazing in terror back at him. It dived...
Shadowfax reared and his silver hooves connected with the dragon's face. Pure darkness crashing into pure light. It screeched and soared away but higher up, it turned to lunge again.
"Ride!" Gandalf cried. The horses, blinded with sweat and shaking with fear, galloped down the slope on the opposite side, oblivious to the cries of their masters. They cantered westward, heading for lower and more sheltered ground. The Black Rider wheeled overhead and Frodo felt the wound in his shoulder throb. But then it had gone. With only a faint echoing shriek left hanging in the air. They called the horses to a halt.
"Now where do we go?" gasped Frodo, "Wherever we go, I will draw the rider to me. We will have to face it in the end."
"But not here. And there is nowhere in the Shire we can get to that will not endanger others," Gandalf said.
"Then let us go north!" Aragorn called from where his horse had wandered, "That is my territory and I know many places where Frodo may be safe."
"Why not the Grey Havens?" cried Pippin suddenly. Everyone looked at him. He looked down awkwardly. "Well, no one will get hurt there. We can go up onto the cliffs and...throw the rider off into the sea...?"
They were all silent for a moment as they contemplated this. One by one, they gazed across at Pippin, eyes shining.
"Pip, that's brilliant!" Frodo exclaimed.
"Onwards then," Gandalf commanded, "Come, Shadowfax, we ride to the Grey Havens. There this affair began and there...it shall end."
The stallion wearily obeyed. He ground his hooves into the earth and bounded into a small gully. His two companions close behind, Shadowfax followed the ravine along and then rode up the embankment and onto a path. Sam looked uneasily back at the skyline. There was no sign of the Nazgûl. But he knew from experience, that you rarely noticed them before it was too late.
--
Night was falling. Shimmering lights appeared in the sky and the moon rose coldly before the clouds. Far below, the hobbits of Michel Delving were travelling home from the inns and from the company of their friends. But, just outside the borders of the little community, a procession of moonlit figures passed phantom-like through the trees.
--
The banners of Osgiliath hung limply from their poles. Confetti strewed the roads and bridges. But it was a dead celebration. The Ringbearer had not returned to them. But the people still steadfastly believed that when he was ready, he would come and they would be able to praise him all they liked.
"I wonder if he will have changed at all," Eowyn murmured, wrapping her arms in her cloak. Faramir looked at her.
"Who?"
"Oh, Faramir, you know!" his wife laughed, "Frodo! Do you think he will have changed?"
"What was there to change? He was strong, courageous and good-hearted. I cannot think why he would have. And I don't suppose he will have changed in appearance. For Valinor preserves your youth."
"Yes. Faramir, it will be just so wonderful to see him again! I miss the hobbits more than I believed possible."
The man put his arms round her and kissed her on the forehead.
"Me too," he said quietly.
--
Night failed at the Grey Havens. The sun was rising at the company's backs and doubt was beginning to tug at Frodo's heart. He knew what he had planned to do. He remembered everything now. And though he now possessed every memory of his life before, so they brought terrible choices for him. To the Nazgûl, he was no more than a necessary tool to access Valinor. Without him, the rider could not enter there. Was that the only way? He contemplated this as the landscape rolled past on either side and the sun's light dipped the cliffs in gold.
The three horses mounted the cliff slopes and galloped up to their summit and gaze down on the sea and Havens far below. The view was astounding. On one side, the earth was patched with melting snow, leaving caps of white on every tree. And on the other stretched the blue wilderness of the ocean, dotted with the white crests of waves. Dew and frost cracked under foot as the friends jumped down from the exhausted steeds.
"What now?" Pippin asked brightly.
"We wait, I suppose," Legolas replied, looking towards Gandalf. The wizard nodded.
"There is nothing else to do."
So they sat and in the bitter cold, they exchanged tales of before. What had passed over the years. Slowly, gaps were filled and secrets shared among the friends. They welcomed Emáten to their circle but he said that it felt wrong. Instead, he stood at Celon's side, stroking his mane and gazing wistfully out to sea.
After dawn had passed, Merry got to his feet and came over to Emáten.
"Why don't you come and sit with us?" he asked, "Do we smell that terrible?"
The man laughed and shook his head.
"No, it...it is not that, Master Meriadoc," he said, "But, I do not think I really belong there. You see, I always dreamed of being part of the Fellowship. And I never once truly believed that I ever would. Yet even now, when I am given the chance to share in it, it just feels wrong."
"Is it because of Boromir?" the hobbit asked gently.
Emáten nodded. "I never want to take anyone's place. He was a member of the Fellowship. And I never will be. I cannot be. What have I done to deserve such an honour? He died to save his friends. I do not want to replace that. Nothing can replace Boromir."
"That's right," Merry said, "Nothing will. That's why you're not. You are Emáten, not Boromir. And you are a hero in your own right. No one will ever take Boromir's place in our hearts. But there are more than nine places in our hearts, you know. The Fellowship is not just nine companions. It does not represent a group of people who went out into the world but it does represent what they did it for. You understand that. I see you as another part of this body. Another face in the Fellowship."
Just then, the whole cliffside rang with the screech of a Nazgûl. It echoed across the fields and the forests and right across the Endless Sea. The black dragon reared up from the trees far below.
~
Nearly done. Only about three more chapters left, I promise!
