CHAPTER SIX: HOMECOMING.
Lord Elrond shifted uneasily in his chair as a heavy escaped his lips. She had been gone nigh on three days - three days of fear, worry and anguish for the father left behind. What perils could have befallen his beloved daughter? Middle Earth was fraught with dangers, with the vilest of Sauron's servants roaming freely across the Misty Mountains and the lands of Eriador. In his dreams, he saw darkness overwhelm Imladris, Sauron's claw stretching into the lands many assumed beyond his abilities.
The elf-lord gave himself a mental slap. Dwelling on the hidden fears within one heart only led to more anguish, which was the last thing that Elrond needed. Right now, more than water and the very air itself, he needed to know that his only daughter was safe.
It was Glorfindel who had informed him of Arwen's flight. After the blond elf had regained consciousness - and his memory, at which point, he uttered several curse-words about horseshoes that Elrond could not believe were coming from his friend's lips - Glorfindel had broken the news to the Lord Of Imladris. The Evenstar had taken her horse, and was presently riding to the aid of her beloved.
Aragorn… Inwardly, Elrond cursed the Man. The elf-lord had taken the fatherless toddler into his home and raised him, safe from the creatures that sought him. And how did Estel chose to repay his kindness? By taking away Elrond's most prized jewel - Arwen Evenstar.
Elrond rested his head in his hands, leaning forward in the chair. Arwen's disappearance had only added to the anxiety gnawing at his heart. As the One Ring drew ever closer to the safe haven of Imladris, Elrond could feel the Eye of Sauron turned towards him, boring a hole into his heart. The weight of his years and burdens were staring to mount.
Then, when he had assumed that his predicament had reached its worst, a new dilemma was thrust upon him. Only last night, the eagle Gwaihir had flown into the city, bearing a badly injured passenger: Mithrandir himself.
Suddenly, he heard a faint cry in the distance. "Noro lim, Asfaloth!"
The elf-lord leapt to his feet, scanning the area. His soul sighed in relief as he saw Arwen and her horse race along the mountain track, headed for Imladris. Then, a sudden stab of anxiety plunged into his heart. She was carrying a Halfling - none other the Ringbearer himself, Frodo Baggins.
* * * * * *
Waiting in the courtyard, a very apprehensive Bilbo by his side, Elrond swallowed his worries. Arwen was safe and unscathed, save perhaps the scar on her cheek, but the injury was minor. The One Ring would soon be out of Sauron's grasp for a time. The magic of Imladris would keep the ring safe from Orcs, Uruk-Hai and goblins - but what of its effect on Men?
Elrond barely had time to contemplate this. The gates were thrust open, and Arwen rode into her father's city, the Ringbearer in her arms, tears pouring from her sapphire eyes.
"Ada!" She gasped, leaping off the horse. "Frodo fîr!" [Frodo is dying!]
Bilbo stopped short, understanding her words. Swallowing, he dived to the boy's side. "Frodo!" Seeing his nephew's ashen skin and clouded eyes was obviously too much for the elderly hobbit, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Sweet Eru!" Elrond snatched the hobbit from his daughter's arms, realising that the lecture he had prepared could wait for now. Together, the two strode up the staircase, Elrond shouting frantic orders to the crowd of elves who had gathered to witness the arrival of the Halfling Ringbearer. "Arwen, go straight to the apothecary and fetch me as much athelas as you can find! Erestor, send scouts into the woods to search for more! Glorfindel, take Bilbo to his chamber and see that he is made comfortable, then inform Mithrandir of his arrival!"
All three elves nodded, hurrying off in their separate directions. Elrond closed his eyes and muttered a prayer to Elbereth to save the dying hobbit in his arms.
* * * * * *
Arwen and Mithrandir watched Elrond apprehensively as he bandaged Frodo's wound. He had spent nearly three hours trying to heal the hobbit, and had finally managed to stabilise his condition.
"Will he be all right, Ada?" Arwen asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"If Frodo survives the night, then he will make a sufficient recovery," Elrond replied curtly. "Although that wound will never fully heal, it will not cause any life-threatening harm to the Halfling. However," he added, "These next few hours are crucial. I must remain at his side at all times. Mithrandir, you are still weak from your… experiences in Isengard. You should rest. The same goes for you, Arwen."
"What?!" The two cried in unison.
"Elrond, it is my fault that Frodo carries this burden," the Istar protested. "It is because of me that this happened. I will remain with him through the most crucial moments of this infection!"
Elrond was in no mood to argue. "Fair enough, you may remain."
"What about me, Ada? Surely I should help too. After all, I was the one that brought him to Rivendell! Please, Ada," she begged. "Allow me to remain with Frodo too."
"Arwen Undomiel, you are in no position to argue with me, especially considering your conduct over these past few days," the elf-lord narrowed his eyes. "Which I intend to discuss with you when this matter is over. But right now, you will obey me!"
Hurt by the fury in his eyes, Arwen slipped out of the room, sobbing, barely noticing the world around her as she made her way to her bedchamber.
"Hiril-nin! You are safe!" Gilaina cried, embracing her friend. "I was so worried! Arwen?" She eyed her friend quizzically for a moment. "What happened to your cheek? And why are you crying? Arwen?"
She sank onto the bed. "The Halfling is dying, Gilaina. He is dying, and I am not allowed to care for him, because Ada is furious with me." Tears poured from her eyes as she accepted Gilaina's pristine white handkerchief. "What will I do? I only wanted to help Estel, and look what happened!"
Gilaina bit her lips, green eyes flickering with worry. "Arwen, mellon amin, if only you had seen they worry in your Ada's eyes when he realised that you had gone missing. He was almost in tears, Arwen. I have never seen him so afraid in my life, not even when your mother had been captured. She sat beside her friend, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "He may be mad at you for a time, but it is only because he is under stress."
Arwen nodded, a sigh escaping her lips, followed by an involuntary yawn. "I suppose that you are right," she told her friend. "Perhaps I should take some rest."
"'Quel undome, Arwen," [Good night, Arwen] she replied, slipping out of her friend's bedchamber and disappearing down the corridor.
* * * * * *
Morning light poured into the room as Arwen wiped Frodo's forehead with a damp cloth. Mithrandir sat in an armchair at the Halfling's bedside, smoking his pipe thoughtfully, watching as Elrond re-bandaged the wound. Bilbo was drumming his fingers nervously against the table, looking deathly pale. Although he tired to hide it, the others could see the red rim of tears around his eyes.
Finally, Elrond broke the strained silence. "It appears that, while Frodo's condition has not worsened, it has not improved either. It may be a few days before he awakens. Before then, however, there is little I can tell about the damage that has been inflicted upon him."
"But he will live?" Bilbo asked urgently.
Elrond nodded gravely. "Yes. As to whether or not he will heal, that is an entirely different matter." The elf-lord made to leave the room, but paused, turning to his daughter. "Arwen, come with me," he said firmly. "There are matters we must discuss."
She brushed a kiss to Frodo's forehead before following her father to his study in silence. Elrond was going to reprimand her; she recognised that familiar coldness in his eyes, the aura of superiority he adopted when one of his children had been caught indulging in mischief.
Upon entering his study, Elrond's calm mask slipped to reveal the anger beneath. "What in the name of Iluvater were you thinking? You could have been killed! Valor only knows what else was out there in the Wilds, tracking Aragorn and the Ringbearer! And you willingly rode out into such unknown danger! Do you have any idea how frantic I was? Knowing that my only daughter was within the clutches of the most vile of Sauron's minions? What possessed you to do such a thing?"
Arwen waited until her father had stopped his ranting before she spoke. "Someone who is very dear to my heart was out there amongst such evil, with the Ringbearer under his protection. Estel may be a skilled warrior, but what chance did he have of outrunning the Nazgul on foot? Ada, I know that you are angry and upset about what I have done, but the fact is that I was trying to help the man I love." She turned to her father with haunting eyes. "Surely you would have done the same for Naneth?" [Mother?]
Elrond sighed, knowing in his heart that she was correct. He would have moved the Misty Mountains themselves for his beloved Celebrian. "While I am still very upset, I cannot deny that, if you had not brought the Halfling to Imladris, the One Ring would have been in Sauron's possession by now. And at least you have rid us of the Nazgul, even if it is only temporarily. However, I am still very disappointed in you, not least because of the horseshoe incident."
"That was Bilbo's idea," Arwen said. "I hold no responsibility for that. I only asked him to distract Glorfindel, not attack him; however, I will give my apologies to Glorfindel, if it should please you."
Suddenly, Arwen found herself in Elrond's arms as he pulled her into a grateful embrace. "I am just glad that you have returned to me unharmed! But Arwen," he grasped her chin so that he could look into her eyes, "You must promise me never to do anything so foolhardy ever again."
She smiled. "You have my word, Ada."
"Good," Elrond nodded. "Now let us return to the Halfling."
* * * * * *
"Are we almost there yet?" Pippin asked as the party stopped to rest beside the Ford.
"I haven't walked so much since…" Merry screwed up his face in thought. "Actually, I don't think I've walked this far in my entire life!"
"Not far now," Aragorn replied. Soon, he would be back in Rivendell… Back with his beloved Evenstar. Each second they remained seemed like a torturous eternity to him. He turned to the company. "On your feet. We can reach Rivendell by dusk if we hurry."
"Will Mr. Frodo be all right?" Sam asked, worry evident in his voice.
Aragorn sighed. "I don't know, Sam. I honestly don't know."
* * * * * *
Bilbo squeezed his nephew's hand as Frodo moaned softly in his sleep. "Poor lad," he muttered, ruffling his hair. "But you'll be all right, won't you, my lad?"
Elrond and Arwen felt their hearts break at this tender moment. Bilbo loved Frodo as a father would his own son. The hobbit had stubbornly refused to leave his nephew's bedside, not even at mealtimes, which was most unusual for a hobbit. Even when Arwen brought food to him, the old hobbit could barely manage to eat it, and he had not slept in days.
Arwen sank into the armchair vacated by Gandalf when he decided that he should watch for any sign of Aragorn and the other hobbits. "If I know Samwise Gamgee, he will cause a great deal of havoc until he gets to see Frodo," the Istar had said, eliciting a halfhearted chuckle from Bilbo's lips.
* * * * * *
The three hobbits followed Gandalf and Strider silently through the hallways of Rivendell. Their reunion had been a sombre one, for the wizard had informed them that Frodo was still unconscious, although he was not going to die.
Gandalf stopped before an ornate door, knocking softly, before turning the golden handle. "Master Elrond, they have arrived."
Arwen was on her feet instantly. Elrond eyed her quizzically, but quickly returned his attention to more pressing matters. "Bring them in."
The door was swung open gently. Mithrandir entered the room, followed by the three hobbits from the clearing, who huddled around their friend's bedside. When Frodo awoke, she would ask him to introduce the others. Finally, like a shadow, Estel slipped into the room, closing the door behind him.
It took all Arwen's restraint to prevent her from throwing herself into Aragorn's arms and kissing him passionately. She suspected that such an exchange would not sit very well with her father, so she remained standing over Frodo, smiling softly at her beloved.
The sun had already set beneath the horizon when Elrond declared that the travellers should be shown to their chambers and allowed to rest. Although the hobbits had protested that they were fine - with the one called Sam arguing most vehemently with the elf-lord - eventually they succumbed to the Lord of Imladris' request. "Arwen, would you please show our guests to the guest rooms?"
"Yes, Ada," she replied. "Come along, young hobbits."
They reluctantly followed her along the corridor, until the one called Sam stopped. "Miss, are you the elf-maiden from the troll clearing?"
Smiling, she nodded. "That is correct. My name is Arwen, and I am Lord Elrond's daughter. However, I do not have the pleasure of your names." The hobbits introduced themselves as Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, but expressed their preference to be known as Sam, Pippin and Merry.
Once she had ensured that her guests were settled in their chambers, Arwen knew that it was time to seek out another traveller.
* * * * * *
Aragorn kicked off his mud-caked boots as she sat down, unpinning his cloak and throwing it to the bed. He sighed - he was safe in the confines of his familiar bedchamber in the only place he had ever really called home: Rivendell.
A knock at his door drew the Ranger from his thoughts. "Minno," [Enter] he called, standing.
Arwen threw open the door and ran into his arms, pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss she had been starved of for far too long. His arms snaked around her waist, holding her close.
"Welcome home, meleth-nin," she whispered, knowing that her wait for him was over.
Lord Elrond shifted uneasily in his chair as a heavy escaped his lips. She had been gone nigh on three days - three days of fear, worry and anguish for the father left behind. What perils could have befallen his beloved daughter? Middle Earth was fraught with dangers, with the vilest of Sauron's servants roaming freely across the Misty Mountains and the lands of Eriador. In his dreams, he saw darkness overwhelm Imladris, Sauron's claw stretching into the lands many assumed beyond his abilities.
The elf-lord gave himself a mental slap. Dwelling on the hidden fears within one heart only led to more anguish, which was the last thing that Elrond needed. Right now, more than water and the very air itself, he needed to know that his only daughter was safe.
It was Glorfindel who had informed him of Arwen's flight. After the blond elf had regained consciousness - and his memory, at which point, he uttered several curse-words about horseshoes that Elrond could not believe were coming from his friend's lips - Glorfindel had broken the news to the Lord Of Imladris. The Evenstar had taken her horse, and was presently riding to the aid of her beloved.
Aragorn… Inwardly, Elrond cursed the Man. The elf-lord had taken the fatherless toddler into his home and raised him, safe from the creatures that sought him. And how did Estel chose to repay his kindness? By taking away Elrond's most prized jewel - Arwen Evenstar.
Elrond rested his head in his hands, leaning forward in the chair. Arwen's disappearance had only added to the anxiety gnawing at his heart. As the One Ring drew ever closer to the safe haven of Imladris, Elrond could feel the Eye of Sauron turned towards him, boring a hole into his heart. The weight of his years and burdens were staring to mount.
Then, when he had assumed that his predicament had reached its worst, a new dilemma was thrust upon him. Only last night, the eagle Gwaihir had flown into the city, bearing a badly injured passenger: Mithrandir himself.
Suddenly, he heard a faint cry in the distance. "Noro lim, Asfaloth!"
The elf-lord leapt to his feet, scanning the area. His soul sighed in relief as he saw Arwen and her horse race along the mountain track, headed for Imladris. Then, a sudden stab of anxiety plunged into his heart. She was carrying a Halfling - none other the Ringbearer himself, Frodo Baggins.
* * * * * *
Waiting in the courtyard, a very apprehensive Bilbo by his side, Elrond swallowed his worries. Arwen was safe and unscathed, save perhaps the scar on her cheek, but the injury was minor. The One Ring would soon be out of Sauron's grasp for a time. The magic of Imladris would keep the ring safe from Orcs, Uruk-Hai and goblins - but what of its effect on Men?
Elrond barely had time to contemplate this. The gates were thrust open, and Arwen rode into her father's city, the Ringbearer in her arms, tears pouring from her sapphire eyes.
"Ada!" She gasped, leaping off the horse. "Frodo fîr!" [Frodo is dying!]
Bilbo stopped short, understanding her words. Swallowing, he dived to the boy's side. "Frodo!" Seeing his nephew's ashen skin and clouded eyes was obviously too much for the elderly hobbit, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Sweet Eru!" Elrond snatched the hobbit from his daughter's arms, realising that the lecture he had prepared could wait for now. Together, the two strode up the staircase, Elrond shouting frantic orders to the crowd of elves who had gathered to witness the arrival of the Halfling Ringbearer. "Arwen, go straight to the apothecary and fetch me as much athelas as you can find! Erestor, send scouts into the woods to search for more! Glorfindel, take Bilbo to his chamber and see that he is made comfortable, then inform Mithrandir of his arrival!"
All three elves nodded, hurrying off in their separate directions. Elrond closed his eyes and muttered a prayer to Elbereth to save the dying hobbit in his arms.
* * * * * *
Arwen and Mithrandir watched Elrond apprehensively as he bandaged Frodo's wound. He had spent nearly three hours trying to heal the hobbit, and had finally managed to stabilise his condition.
"Will he be all right, Ada?" Arwen asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"If Frodo survives the night, then he will make a sufficient recovery," Elrond replied curtly. "Although that wound will never fully heal, it will not cause any life-threatening harm to the Halfling. However," he added, "These next few hours are crucial. I must remain at his side at all times. Mithrandir, you are still weak from your… experiences in Isengard. You should rest. The same goes for you, Arwen."
"What?!" The two cried in unison.
"Elrond, it is my fault that Frodo carries this burden," the Istar protested. "It is because of me that this happened. I will remain with him through the most crucial moments of this infection!"
Elrond was in no mood to argue. "Fair enough, you may remain."
"What about me, Ada? Surely I should help too. After all, I was the one that brought him to Rivendell! Please, Ada," she begged. "Allow me to remain with Frodo too."
"Arwen Undomiel, you are in no position to argue with me, especially considering your conduct over these past few days," the elf-lord narrowed his eyes. "Which I intend to discuss with you when this matter is over. But right now, you will obey me!"
Hurt by the fury in his eyes, Arwen slipped out of the room, sobbing, barely noticing the world around her as she made her way to her bedchamber.
"Hiril-nin! You are safe!" Gilaina cried, embracing her friend. "I was so worried! Arwen?" She eyed her friend quizzically for a moment. "What happened to your cheek? And why are you crying? Arwen?"
She sank onto the bed. "The Halfling is dying, Gilaina. He is dying, and I am not allowed to care for him, because Ada is furious with me." Tears poured from her eyes as she accepted Gilaina's pristine white handkerchief. "What will I do? I only wanted to help Estel, and look what happened!"
Gilaina bit her lips, green eyes flickering with worry. "Arwen, mellon amin, if only you had seen they worry in your Ada's eyes when he realised that you had gone missing. He was almost in tears, Arwen. I have never seen him so afraid in my life, not even when your mother had been captured. She sat beside her friend, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "He may be mad at you for a time, but it is only because he is under stress."
Arwen nodded, a sigh escaping her lips, followed by an involuntary yawn. "I suppose that you are right," she told her friend. "Perhaps I should take some rest."
"'Quel undome, Arwen," [Good night, Arwen] she replied, slipping out of her friend's bedchamber and disappearing down the corridor.
* * * * * *
Morning light poured into the room as Arwen wiped Frodo's forehead with a damp cloth. Mithrandir sat in an armchair at the Halfling's bedside, smoking his pipe thoughtfully, watching as Elrond re-bandaged the wound. Bilbo was drumming his fingers nervously against the table, looking deathly pale. Although he tired to hide it, the others could see the red rim of tears around his eyes.
Finally, Elrond broke the strained silence. "It appears that, while Frodo's condition has not worsened, it has not improved either. It may be a few days before he awakens. Before then, however, there is little I can tell about the damage that has been inflicted upon him."
"But he will live?" Bilbo asked urgently.
Elrond nodded gravely. "Yes. As to whether or not he will heal, that is an entirely different matter." The elf-lord made to leave the room, but paused, turning to his daughter. "Arwen, come with me," he said firmly. "There are matters we must discuss."
She brushed a kiss to Frodo's forehead before following her father to his study in silence. Elrond was going to reprimand her; she recognised that familiar coldness in his eyes, the aura of superiority he adopted when one of his children had been caught indulging in mischief.
Upon entering his study, Elrond's calm mask slipped to reveal the anger beneath. "What in the name of Iluvater were you thinking? You could have been killed! Valor only knows what else was out there in the Wilds, tracking Aragorn and the Ringbearer! And you willingly rode out into such unknown danger! Do you have any idea how frantic I was? Knowing that my only daughter was within the clutches of the most vile of Sauron's minions? What possessed you to do such a thing?"
Arwen waited until her father had stopped his ranting before she spoke. "Someone who is very dear to my heart was out there amongst such evil, with the Ringbearer under his protection. Estel may be a skilled warrior, but what chance did he have of outrunning the Nazgul on foot? Ada, I know that you are angry and upset about what I have done, but the fact is that I was trying to help the man I love." She turned to her father with haunting eyes. "Surely you would have done the same for Naneth?" [Mother?]
Elrond sighed, knowing in his heart that she was correct. He would have moved the Misty Mountains themselves for his beloved Celebrian. "While I am still very upset, I cannot deny that, if you had not brought the Halfling to Imladris, the One Ring would have been in Sauron's possession by now. And at least you have rid us of the Nazgul, even if it is only temporarily. However, I am still very disappointed in you, not least because of the horseshoe incident."
"That was Bilbo's idea," Arwen said. "I hold no responsibility for that. I only asked him to distract Glorfindel, not attack him; however, I will give my apologies to Glorfindel, if it should please you."
Suddenly, Arwen found herself in Elrond's arms as he pulled her into a grateful embrace. "I am just glad that you have returned to me unharmed! But Arwen," he grasped her chin so that he could look into her eyes, "You must promise me never to do anything so foolhardy ever again."
She smiled. "You have my word, Ada."
"Good," Elrond nodded. "Now let us return to the Halfling."
* * * * * *
"Are we almost there yet?" Pippin asked as the party stopped to rest beside the Ford.
"I haven't walked so much since…" Merry screwed up his face in thought. "Actually, I don't think I've walked this far in my entire life!"
"Not far now," Aragorn replied. Soon, he would be back in Rivendell… Back with his beloved Evenstar. Each second they remained seemed like a torturous eternity to him. He turned to the company. "On your feet. We can reach Rivendell by dusk if we hurry."
"Will Mr. Frodo be all right?" Sam asked, worry evident in his voice.
Aragorn sighed. "I don't know, Sam. I honestly don't know."
* * * * * *
Bilbo squeezed his nephew's hand as Frodo moaned softly in his sleep. "Poor lad," he muttered, ruffling his hair. "But you'll be all right, won't you, my lad?"
Elrond and Arwen felt their hearts break at this tender moment. Bilbo loved Frodo as a father would his own son. The hobbit had stubbornly refused to leave his nephew's bedside, not even at mealtimes, which was most unusual for a hobbit. Even when Arwen brought food to him, the old hobbit could barely manage to eat it, and he had not slept in days.
Arwen sank into the armchair vacated by Gandalf when he decided that he should watch for any sign of Aragorn and the other hobbits. "If I know Samwise Gamgee, he will cause a great deal of havoc until he gets to see Frodo," the Istar had said, eliciting a halfhearted chuckle from Bilbo's lips.
* * * * * *
The three hobbits followed Gandalf and Strider silently through the hallways of Rivendell. Their reunion had been a sombre one, for the wizard had informed them that Frodo was still unconscious, although he was not going to die.
Gandalf stopped before an ornate door, knocking softly, before turning the golden handle. "Master Elrond, they have arrived."
Arwen was on her feet instantly. Elrond eyed her quizzically, but quickly returned his attention to more pressing matters. "Bring them in."
The door was swung open gently. Mithrandir entered the room, followed by the three hobbits from the clearing, who huddled around their friend's bedside. When Frodo awoke, she would ask him to introduce the others. Finally, like a shadow, Estel slipped into the room, closing the door behind him.
It took all Arwen's restraint to prevent her from throwing herself into Aragorn's arms and kissing him passionately. She suspected that such an exchange would not sit very well with her father, so she remained standing over Frodo, smiling softly at her beloved.
The sun had already set beneath the horizon when Elrond declared that the travellers should be shown to their chambers and allowed to rest. Although the hobbits had protested that they were fine - with the one called Sam arguing most vehemently with the elf-lord - eventually they succumbed to the Lord of Imladris' request. "Arwen, would you please show our guests to the guest rooms?"
"Yes, Ada," she replied. "Come along, young hobbits."
They reluctantly followed her along the corridor, until the one called Sam stopped. "Miss, are you the elf-maiden from the troll clearing?"
Smiling, she nodded. "That is correct. My name is Arwen, and I am Lord Elrond's daughter. However, I do not have the pleasure of your names." The hobbits introduced themselves as Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, but expressed their preference to be known as Sam, Pippin and Merry.
Once she had ensured that her guests were settled in their chambers, Arwen knew that it was time to seek out another traveller.
* * * * * *
Aragorn kicked off his mud-caked boots as she sat down, unpinning his cloak and throwing it to the bed. He sighed - he was safe in the confines of his familiar bedchamber in the only place he had ever really called home: Rivendell.
A knock at his door drew the Ranger from his thoughts. "Minno," [Enter] he called, standing.
Arwen threw open the door and ran into his arms, pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss she had been starved of for far too long. His arms snaked around her waist, holding her close.
"Welcome home, meleth-nin," she whispered, knowing that her wait for him was over.