Chapter Twenty One
It took several days, but Legolas felt his strength returning. Elrond had removed the splint on his arm and simply wrapped it securely in soft leather. He was allowed to get up and attend meals, or sit by the fire in the main room, but for the most part he was content resting. He tired easily and felt weak and often left the meal or the fire to return to his room early. Fin sat with him frequently, reading to him to practice this newly learned skill.
Estel and the twins also came up often. Estel had brought up a map and together they marked on it all the places where orcs had been spotted. They marked the lake where they had encountered the troll and the village that had been attacked.
Estel also marked where the nomads had been spotted. It may be important to find them, for they probably heard much in their travels. Some bands were friendly and more than willing to share information. There had been a few more troll sightings, but they were unsure where. There was no pattern. The main roadways were marked on this map, and activities they talked of seemed to take place all over, not following the road at all.
The weather stayed pleasant and Gandalf had ridden with Tan to try and find the nomads. Perhaps the wizard would have more luck than the twins had in locating them. He felt that they played an important part in this.
On the fourth day after Legolas awoke, Gandalf and Tan returned. They had not found any nomads, but had met with several rangers who had. Once settled in a room, Gandalf joined the others as they gathered in the dining room to eat and share information.
Gandalf sat and listened intently to all he was told. Estel had brought the map that he and Legolas had marked, and he had spread it out on the table for all to see. Gandalf studied this for a few moments, noting the locations of the nomads, trolls, orcs, and the general lay of the area. He made no comments. Finally the room quieted and everyone looked expectantly at the gray wizard.
"This is very interesting, and I have heard much of the same as I have traveled. I do not know anything for certain, but I have made certain deductions based on these things I have heard, and things I already know to be. What I am going to tell you is not common knowledge. In fact, what I am going to tell you may frighten you."
Legolas and Estel glanced at each other, and then looked back at Elrond. "We wish to know as this has already effected us greatly. Legolas was just almost killed and the orcs roaming near have attacked Estel and Fin and also threatened the safety of my home and kin."
Gandalf began. "There is a book, a Grimoire, and it is evil and contains the dark spells of Mordor. This book was thought to gave been destroyed centuries ago, though with the rumors I have heard, I believe the Grimoire still survives. It is said that in this book is the very spell Sauron used to create the one ring. With the ring lost, the whereabouts of this book has been desperately sought. Evil seeks it to recreate that which is lost. Throughout the centuries, many good men, elves, dwarves, and other beings have risked their lives to hide this book. No one knows where this book is."
"So this is the thing that is being sought?" Estel put his thoughts into words.
"Nay, my friend. This book is useless unless one can unlock its secrets."
"Unlock its secrets?" Legolas looked puzzled. "Why not just destroy it. There may already be one ring out there somewhere that will doom Middle Earth."
"It is a key that is being sought. No one is sure what it looks like, who may have it, or where it may be located. Some say it resides in the same place as the book itself. Others are sure that it was lost. Most who have knowledge of this key believe that it is being kept safe by one who has no knowledge of the item they carry. They believe it to be a harmless trinket. Only with this key can the book be destroyed, for in its very pages lies the spell that when spoken, is the only way to destroy it."
No one spoke for several minutes. Finally, Elrond said, "Then we must learn all we can about this key and this Grimoire."
"My friend, you have books in your library that may help us discover much about this very thing. I have never searched for information about this as we have always believed the Grimoire had been destroyed by Sauron himself in order to prevent another ring from coming into existence. That apparently is not true."
"Then you and I will get this information."
"Information we can gather, but we will not be the ones to take on the quest of the book's destruction."
Everyone looked at Gandalf, puzzled.
"Who." Elrohir voiced it for all.
"That I do not know. That information too I believe will be found in our search."
Estel spoke out then "In the meantime, father, I believe it is our responsibility to make sure our people are safe. We should also find out how far this threat has spread. Lorien and Mirkwood may have also been affected, and at the very least, they have the right to know all that we know."
"We will send out messenger birds, and will increase our patrols. Our warriors are already on alert. Estel, it would be a good idea for you to travel to the nearest edan villages. It would be safer for a man to do so now. They must be warned as well. Are there any other rangers in the area, Gandalf, that may accompany him? I do not wish to risk sending an elf. Things are already dangerous and people are on edge. I do not want to take any chances."
"Nay, the rangers I have encountered have spread out to search for nomads. They have left this area."
"Then I shall have warriors follow you at a distance as you enter these villages. It will be safer this way."
"But ada, the warriors are all busy with their patrols. Can you spare them?" Estel was willing to travel alone if need be. He felt one traveling in stealth could move about quite safely.
"We can spare a few. It should not take more than a week to travel to the villages and return."
With that, the group broke up. Elladan headed to the stables to prepare the messages that were to be sent. Many messenger birds were kept there, as it was a common way to send messages. Estel went to his room to prepare his pack. He would leave in the morning to travel to the human settlements that were closest to Rivendell. Elrohir, Elrond, and Gandalf headed to the study to begin their search. Rivendell held so many books, scrolls, and documents, many that had not been touched in centuries; it could possibly take days to find any information at all.
Legolas met Estel in the doorway to his room. "I wish to go with you, my friend."
Estel looked at him. Legolas had recovered sufficiently to be up and about, but Estel was unsure if he would be able to travel. He also worried for his friend when they were around humans. Most edan felt some sort of animosity to elvin kind, and several times, they had gotten into trouble over the mere fact that Legolas was an elf.
"You know you should not travel alone. It is not safe."
"You should not travel at all, my friend, and especially not among humans. You have a knack for getting into much trouble among my kind."
Legolas smiled. "Can I help it if they are jealous?"
"And I will not be alone, ada will send warriors."
"Warriors who cannot be spared," he paused, and added in frustration, "Estel I cannot sit by idly while everyone around me has a part in this. I feel useless." He looked pleadingly at his friend.
"I know, I feel the same when I am injured and have to rely on others. It is not a weakness, but it sure feels like it. I have tried not to leave you out."
"Aye, I know this. I wish to go. I will be careful, I promise."
"Hmph. Very well, stubborn elf, I would welcome your company. But we shall have to be careful. I do not wish to carry you home yet again. I think my father will throw us both out."
"We shall leave at first light, then."
Legolas left to prepare for their departure. Estel finished his own packing and made sure he had ample medical supplies. Must be prepared, he thought to himself. He then prepared his weapons.
Later, before he retired for the night, he met with his father. He was still apprehensive about Legolas accompanying him, both because of his injuries, and because of the threat he may face from entering the human villages.
"Do you think you could stop him, nin ion? You know how he is. It is not within him to show weakness. He has suffered more than pain over the past few days. He needs to strengthen his spirit now that his body has begun to mend."
"Alright, ada. You are right. A troll would have to sit on him to keep him here." Both father and son laughed.
"You will watch out for him, and he will watch out for you. Isn't that how it has been?"
"Aye. We are lucky it is that way for us."
"You must rest now, Estel. I do not think you will rest much in the coming days. I will see you at sunrise."
Estel headed back to his room. As he reached the stair, a figure suddenly appeared as if from mid air. He was lost in thought, and the surprise nearly knocked him off his feet.
"I think someone has been needlessly worrying, my friend."
It was Legolas. He had been perched upon the wooden railing of the large staircase in the main hall.
"Nay, not needlessly. You know you are not totally healed. You know the danger for you in the villages."
"And you know that I can handle both. You are a true friend to be so concerned, Estel, but you do not need to cloud your head with worry. It will serve neither of us."
"Well, as long as you do not plan on dancing with any more trolls."
"And as long as you stay out of the lake."
Estel looked at his friend rather indignantly, "Legolas, it was you who always pestered me to bathe regularly!"
"Human, you are fortunate for the patience of elves!"
"Elf, you are fortunate for the understanding of humans!"
They both laughed, then Legolas once again grew serious. He placed his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him.
"Truly, do not worry for me."
"I care, therefore I worry! What more can I say, my friend."
Legolas looked him in the eye. He knew he could not stop his friend from being concerned; he often felt the same way for this man.
"Ah, well. We should retire. As my father said, and I am sure you overhead, we will have little time for rest for the next few days."
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One more chapter to go, and it is short, so I will include a preview for the next story.
It took several days, but Legolas felt his strength returning. Elrond had removed the splint on his arm and simply wrapped it securely in soft leather. He was allowed to get up and attend meals, or sit by the fire in the main room, but for the most part he was content resting. He tired easily and felt weak and often left the meal or the fire to return to his room early. Fin sat with him frequently, reading to him to practice this newly learned skill.
Estel and the twins also came up often. Estel had brought up a map and together they marked on it all the places where orcs had been spotted. They marked the lake where they had encountered the troll and the village that had been attacked.
Estel also marked where the nomads had been spotted. It may be important to find them, for they probably heard much in their travels. Some bands were friendly and more than willing to share information. There had been a few more troll sightings, but they were unsure where. There was no pattern. The main roadways were marked on this map, and activities they talked of seemed to take place all over, not following the road at all.
The weather stayed pleasant and Gandalf had ridden with Tan to try and find the nomads. Perhaps the wizard would have more luck than the twins had in locating them. He felt that they played an important part in this.
On the fourth day after Legolas awoke, Gandalf and Tan returned. They had not found any nomads, but had met with several rangers who had. Once settled in a room, Gandalf joined the others as they gathered in the dining room to eat and share information.
Gandalf sat and listened intently to all he was told. Estel had brought the map that he and Legolas had marked, and he had spread it out on the table for all to see. Gandalf studied this for a few moments, noting the locations of the nomads, trolls, orcs, and the general lay of the area. He made no comments. Finally the room quieted and everyone looked expectantly at the gray wizard.
"This is very interesting, and I have heard much of the same as I have traveled. I do not know anything for certain, but I have made certain deductions based on these things I have heard, and things I already know to be. What I am going to tell you is not common knowledge. In fact, what I am going to tell you may frighten you."
Legolas and Estel glanced at each other, and then looked back at Elrond. "We wish to know as this has already effected us greatly. Legolas was just almost killed and the orcs roaming near have attacked Estel and Fin and also threatened the safety of my home and kin."
Gandalf began. "There is a book, a Grimoire, and it is evil and contains the dark spells of Mordor. This book was thought to gave been destroyed centuries ago, though with the rumors I have heard, I believe the Grimoire still survives. It is said that in this book is the very spell Sauron used to create the one ring. With the ring lost, the whereabouts of this book has been desperately sought. Evil seeks it to recreate that which is lost. Throughout the centuries, many good men, elves, dwarves, and other beings have risked their lives to hide this book. No one knows where this book is."
"So this is the thing that is being sought?" Estel put his thoughts into words.
"Nay, my friend. This book is useless unless one can unlock its secrets."
"Unlock its secrets?" Legolas looked puzzled. "Why not just destroy it. There may already be one ring out there somewhere that will doom Middle Earth."
"It is a key that is being sought. No one is sure what it looks like, who may have it, or where it may be located. Some say it resides in the same place as the book itself. Others are sure that it was lost. Most who have knowledge of this key believe that it is being kept safe by one who has no knowledge of the item they carry. They believe it to be a harmless trinket. Only with this key can the book be destroyed, for in its very pages lies the spell that when spoken, is the only way to destroy it."
No one spoke for several minutes. Finally, Elrond said, "Then we must learn all we can about this key and this Grimoire."
"My friend, you have books in your library that may help us discover much about this very thing. I have never searched for information about this as we have always believed the Grimoire had been destroyed by Sauron himself in order to prevent another ring from coming into existence. That apparently is not true."
"Then you and I will get this information."
"Information we can gather, but we will not be the ones to take on the quest of the book's destruction."
Everyone looked at Gandalf, puzzled.
"Who." Elrohir voiced it for all.
"That I do not know. That information too I believe will be found in our search."
Estel spoke out then "In the meantime, father, I believe it is our responsibility to make sure our people are safe. We should also find out how far this threat has spread. Lorien and Mirkwood may have also been affected, and at the very least, they have the right to know all that we know."
"We will send out messenger birds, and will increase our patrols. Our warriors are already on alert. Estel, it would be a good idea for you to travel to the nearest edan villages. It would be safer for a man to do so now. They must be warned as well. Are there any other rangers in the area, Gandalf, that may accompany him? I do not wish to risk sending an elf. Things are already dangerous and people are on edge. I do not want to take any chances."
"Nay, the rangers I have encountered have spread out to search for nomads. They have left this area."
"Then I shall have warriors follow you at a distance as you enter these villages. It will be safer this way."
"But ada, the warriors are all busy with their patrols. Can you spare them?" Estel was willing to travel alone if need be. He felt one traveling in stealth could move about quite safely.
"We can spare a few. It should not take more than a week to travel to the villages and return."
With that, the group broke up. Elladan headed to the stables to prepare the messages that were to be sent. Many messenger birds were kept there, as it was a common way to send messages. Estel went to his room to prepare his pack. He would leave in the morning to travel to the human settlements that were closest to Rivendell. Elrohir, Elrond, and Gandalf headed to the study to begin their search. Rivendell held so many books, scrolls, and documents, many that had not been touched in centuries; it could possibly take days to find any information at all.
Legolas met Estel in the doorway to his room. "I wish to go with you, my friend."
Estel looked at him. Legolas had recovered sufficiently to be up and about, but Estel was unsure if he would be able to travel. He also worried for his friend when they were around humans. Most edan felt some sort of animosity to elvin kind, and several times, they had gotten into trouble over the mere fact that Legolas was an elf.
"You know you should not travel alone. It is not safe."
"You should not travel at all, my friend, and especially not among humans. You have a knack for getting into much trouble among my kind."
Legolas smiled. "Can I help it if they are jealous?"
"And I will not be alone, ada will send warriors."
"Warriors who cannot be spared," he paused, and added in frustration, "Estel I cannot sit by idly while everyone around me has a part in this. I feel useless." He looked pleadingly at his friend.
"I know, I feel the same when I am injured and have to rely on others. It is not a weakness, but it sure feels like it. I have tried not to leave you out."
"Aye, I know this. I wish to go. I will be careful, I promise."
"Hmph. Very well, stubborn elf, I would welcome your company. But we shall have to be careful. I do not wish to carry you home yet again. I think my father will throw us both out."
"We shall leave at first light, then."
Legolas left to prepare for their departure. Estel finished his own packing and made sure he had ample medical supplies. Must be prepared, he thought to himself. He then prepared his weapons.
Later, before he retired for the night, he met with his father. He was still apprehensive about Legolas accompanying him, both because of his injuries, and because of the threat he may face from entering the human villages.
"Do you think you could stop him, nin ion? You know how he is. It is not within him to show weakness. He has suffered more than pain over the past few days. He needs to strengthen his spirit now that his body has begun to mend."
"Alright, ada. You are right. A troll would have to sit on him to keep him here." Both father and son laughed.
"You will watch out for him, and he will watch out for you. Isn't that how it has been?"
"Aye. We are lucky it is that way for us."
"You must rest now, Estel. I do not think you will rest much in the coming days. I will see you at sunrise."
Estel headed back to his room. As he reached the stair, a figure suddenly appeared as if from mid air. He was lost in thought, and the surprise nearly knocked him off his feet.
"I think someone has been needlessly worrying, my friend."
It was Legolas. He had been perched upon the wooden railing of the large staircase in the main hall.
"Nay, not needlessly. You know you are not totally healed. You know the danger for you in the villages."
"And you know that I can handle both. You are a true friend to be so concerned, Estel, but you do not need to cloud your head with worry. It will serve neither of us."
"Well, as long as you do not plan on dancing with any more trolls."
"And as long as you stay out of the lake."
Estel looked at his friend rather indignantly, "Legolas, it was you who always pestered me to bathe regularly!"
"Human, you are fortunate for the patience of elves!"
"Elf, you are fortunate for the understanding of humans!"
They both laughed, then Legolas once again grew serious. He placed his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him.
"Truly, do not worry for me."
"I care, therefore I worry! What more can I say, my friend."
Legolas looked him in the eye. He knew he could not stop his friend from being concerned; he often felt the same way for this man.
"Ah, well. We should retire. As my father said, and I am sure you overhead, we will have little time for rest for the next few days."
_______________________________________
One more chapter to go, and it is short, so I will include a preview for the next story.
