Chapter 11

Aragorn stood up on a flat rock, which with his presence became an auditory platform. The leaders had gossiped amongst themselves for hours about the mystery that surrounded the meeting and the volume of their discussion grew as the mystery prolonged. Finally noticing Aragorn's presence, the council took seat wherever they found it suitable. The two comrades, Legolas and Gimli found it their duty to look over Aurora. Aura perceived that Gimli did it out of kindness and Legolas, out of condescendance. The scene amused Aragorn; once again, Aura found a way to be surrounded by admirers, but not by purpose or choice. It was in her nature to be magnetic, whether she wished it or not.

"If you will please milords and milady. It would be a good time to discuss the situation that draws our attention to this meeting. Lord Gimli, Son of Gloin, if you will please arise." Aragorn introduced the dwarf.

Shy Gimli waddled to the center of the circle, unsure whom he should face, and so he continually turned to face everyone. He began by clearing his throat and spoke in his gruff tone.

"I come to you all… that is… um… to inform you of… ugh… disturbing happenings," he stumbled, looking finally at Aura who urged him on with a compassionate smile and nod, "I was touring the lands of the Lonely Mountain when I was intercepted by a band of Uruk-Hai and Orcs and Goblins. There were hundreds of them, and I did not sit there yellow-bellied. No sir! I fought many on my own, and killed many. But there were too many for me alone, and I did not kill them all. Yet, they ignored me. Ran right by! Not caring that I killed their brothers and cousins if there are such things. It was then that I realized that they held a precious cargo with them. My friends, it was Elrond, the keeper of the great council, whom they had." He looked down at his feet with shame as cries of outrage rang through the air. Aurora looked next to her to Legolas' face, torn with murderous rage. She put her own soothing hand on his arm to which he succumbed and looked into her eyes.

"He has not finished. Let us not distract ourselves now when we not yet know our battle." She told him wisely.

He turned from her and back to Gimli, and all seemed to have heard her words as they too turned to the son of Gloin for answers.

"He was barely recognizable. His face was bloodied and gashed. He seemed to be only a copy carved from the Great Elrond that we know. He was thin, and unable to recognize anything he once knew. I was unable to stop the orcs, but I heard a few grunt the words "magoldûri". Gimli finished and sat down, pained. The words "the black sword" were now murmured around the circle and it was now Aragorn's turn to take the stage.

"Before life as we know it, Middle Earth was a blank slate with One Creator, Kaleghk. He sat in his fortress day by day, envisioning what could be, wishing for a world that he may watch over. He decided with much work to create what we see today and all life that touches this land. But to do this, he had bargained with dark powers, a Dark Master named Meranlauhk who eventually agreed to the task, on one condition. "What is created by the hand of Kaleghk must be able to be destroyed by my sword." So, as Kaleghk molded Middle Earth, Meranlaughk forged a Black Sword, able to undo all. Kaleghk, however, not wanting his work to be undone, stole the sword and hid it where it would not be retrievable." Aragorn told the tale that Aura had often heard as a child, in many variations, but never believed to be true.

"Valinor, the undying lands." Someone murmured.

"Yes," Aragorn replied, "but what was unknown was that it is retrievable, for Kaleghk told the highest being how to return from Valinor. The secret had stayed in the bloodline for millenias, and now it appears as if the Dark Master wishes for the return of his sword."

"And that one person who knows how to return from the undying lands is Elrond." Aura whispered unconsciously.

"Yes, Elrond is The One. And if ever his secret were to slip, it would be the end of everything we know." Aragorn replied.

"Elrond would never betray us!" A voice shouted

"Does that mean that you would doom him to an eternal life of torture?" Aragorn's cold eyes became fiery.

Arguments broke out and statements such as "We cannot retrieve him from such a great and dark power!" and "We cannot leave him there either!" resonated in the alcove. It was nightfall when tired Aurora finally spoke up.

"Comrades!" her shouts fell on deaf ears, "Please! I think we all know in our hearts and souls what is right, for Elrond and for our nations. Milord Aragorn, with your permission, I suggest that we end this fighting amongst ourselves for tonight and that we convene in the morning, when we may be more open to ideas."

"I agree. We shall come to a decision in the morning. Contemplate our options tonight." Aragorn dismissed the masses.

Aura was about to go back to her bedding place when Legolas called out her name. She waited as he approached her and said,

"I was astonished that you were able to calm the crowd as you did."

A fury arose in the tired and irritable Aura, as she smelt the insult in his praise.

"Were you surprised because I am a servant or because I am a woman?" she asked him bitterly before she continued to her place by the fire, leaving Legolas questioning his previous judgment of her.