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Chapter 4:
Tales Of Old,
And Dark Memories
The words of Lord Elrond rang in their ears, "When the time comes, you must make a choice; either to take the ships to the West and go to the lands beyond to with our fables, or to sail East, back to your homelands. You have only one year to write the books and make your choice. Any longer and it will almost impossible for you to leave Valinor," as they took ink, pen and paper in hand, writing the histories of the Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Halflings. When they did not have enough information on certain houses or people, Legolas and his kinsmen would be sent to find what they needed, and it would often take many days, even for their light, swift feet, before they came back. For six long months, by their reckoning, they were bent over manuscripts and ledgers, scribbling away, recounting everything from the beginning of the world (as they knew it) to the beginnings of the third age.
Then, as the Dreamers and their helpers were coming to the storeroom, which housed the books, they saw that the windows were broken and the door knocked down. They rushed inside to find the rooms ransacked. The pens were broken, the ink spilled on to the floor, and every book, all their papers, were shredded to pieces.
"It's all gone," said Frodo, who had worked the hardest, "All our work for SIX MONTHS is GONE!!" He sat heavily down on the floor, while the others searched for anything that might have survived. Carole, pained to see her friend so disheartened, sat next to him, laying her hand on his.
Out of the corner of her eye, Carole saw a leather book corner, and got back up to look at it. She thought it might just be a piece of an old book, but when she took the paper shreds off of it, she discovered that it was a whole book! And all the pages were blank! She called everyone over, and they began to search along that one wall. They soon found five other large books that had escaped the devastation, and hope rose in their hearts. After that day, they worked twice as long and three times as hard to recover what they had lost before. In less than five months they made it to the end of the Third Age. Then, Frodo, Sam, and Bilbo wrote as Carole, Thoron, Homer, and Tor recounted all the events of the Fourth Age that they knew of. Then, on the Fifth month, Homer and Tor's cousin Thain wrote down stories and songs about boys a who flew to close to the sun, a woman who had been cursed and turned into a tree, and stories of Dwarves who defeated wicked queens to save a young princess. Finally, they all rejoiced as they finished the last word of the last line of the last page of the last book. They had finished with a week to spare.
******************************************
The announcement had gone out quicker than wildfire; The Dreamers have finished! That evening there was a most glorious celebration. All enjoyed good food and drink. Carole spent much of her time with her friends Hope and Gem, while Tor, and Gem's brothers Thain, Dain, and Gwain, talked with Homer, Legolas and Gimli about various axe throwing techniques. But as Carole was taking a sip from her cup, she felt a small hand tug at her sleeve. She turned and saw a small Elf-ling looking up at her.
"Excuse me," said the little Elf, "but we wanted to ask you something."
Carole smiled at the child and said, "Well, alright. How may I help you, little one?"
The Elf-boy looked back to where other children had gathered around, then looked back up at Carole, and said, "Will you tell us one of the stories you wrote?"
Carole looked to her friends, laughing in her heart, and said, "Of course! Now, would you like to hear an Elven tale?" The children shook their heads, sitting down and giving her their undivided attention. "Well, then, I think I may know a good story for you. How about I tell the story of 'The Defeat of The Lord of the Rings' ?"
The little Elves cheered, clapping and nodding with great excitement and delight. As they settled down Carole began with, "Once there was a Hobbit who lived in a hole," and she proceeded to tell Bilbo's story. As she was describing Bilbo's first meeting with Gandalf, Thoron joined in, taking up the role of the old wizard. Within moments, all the Dreamers had come to take part, Tor's company portraying Thorin Oakenshield and his company, Homer and Hope acting as various Elves, Orcs, Men, Trolls, and Goblins (Homer's impersonation of Beorn was exceptionally good), and Carole taking the role of Bilbo. She doubled up parts only when she came to 'Riddles in The Dark', getting on her knees and crawling and hissing as she spoke Gollum's lines. By the time they had reached Bilbo's confrontation with Smaug (Thoron doing a absolutely frightening imitation of the Dragon) a large throng of Elves had gathered to listen. By the time the nine companions were finished with Bilbo's part in the story, they received a rousing round of applause. Encouraged, they decided to continue on, after taking a few sips of wine and water to drench their parched throats. Once again, Carole was the main narrator, with Thoron reprising his role as Gandalf. They acted out all of the Fellowship, Tor as Gimli, Homer as Legolas and Boromir, Thoron doubling to be Aragorn as well as Gandalf, Thain and Dain as Merry and Pippin, and Carole as Frodo and Sam. Gem joined them as Galadriel, receiving many delighted laughs, and Hope as Lord Celeborn. Everyone was either having so much fun or too engrossed in the story to notice that the last members of the real Fellowship of the Ring, as well as Galadriel and Elrond, had joined them. In fact, they came just in time to hear of how the Three Hunters ran for three days and nights in pursuit of the Uruk- hi soldiers who kidnapped Merry and Pippin. Thoron, being the narrator for this part, stopped when the hunters reached Fangorn Forest. Then, he let Carole take over. She picked up the tale of The Ring Bearer and his loyal servant as they wandered through the maze of rocks in Emin Muil. As she recounted the events of Frodo and Sam's first meeting with Gollum, several audience members screamed with fright at the scene.
But from his place in the crowd, Frodo suddenly became very nervous. He started sweating, and his shoulder began to hurt from a wound that had not bothered him in a long time. Memories of those dark days and nights flooded his mind. Soon he couldn't stand it anymore. He had to get away. He pushed his uncle and friend aside and ran, heading for home.
Carole saw this from the corner of her eye, stopped in the middle of the scene, and ran after Frodo, knowing that she had done something horribly wrong to her dear, dear friend. After a pause, Tor took up where Carole left off, letting Gimli himself take his role.
*************************************************
Carole caught up with Frodo fifteen minutes away from the feasting grounds. He was leaning on a tree, his head in his hands. She approached him quietly, and said meekly, "I'm sorry. If I had known you would object, I would have told them a different story."
"It's not that," Frodo said, frustrated. "It's just, it was horrible, and frightening, and…and I just can't stand to remember too much. My life changed during that journey. I lost so much because of that Ring; my youth, my innocence, my home…I almost lost my soul, Carole. Don't you understand that? I have seen hate and evil at it's strongest, and it nearly consumed me! I can never be who I was before, never! I can't even live a normal life! I can't…." He looked down at the ground, not wanting to hurt this girl, who he wished for so much, and who he cared for so deeply. But he was too late. Carole heard the words he couldn't say.
"I never asked for that," she said, her welling with tears. They looked at one another. Frodo said "I did not ask you for your heart."
"I know," she replied, "but I can't take it back, now,"
"Go back to the Shire, Carole Greendown," he said to her. "Go home."
"As you wish, my lord," she said. With those last words, Carole went to her quarters, and Frodo to his house near the river, and thought neither knew it, they both cried as they fell asleep.
*****************************************
Back at the celebration, Sam sat with Gandalf, worried about his master and Miss Carole. He wanted to find his friend, to help him, but Gandalf stopped him. Now, as he sat thinking, Gandalf turned to him and said, "You cannot help him this time, Master Samwise."
"But Mr. Gandalf, what else can I do? I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"This matter is different, my friend. Your master has suffered many hurts because of the Ring. It took a long time for him to heal as much as he has, but he still has many wounds. In truth, the Ring still holds some power over him."
"But we destroyed it" Sam said, confused and afraid.
"Yes," the wizard replied, "the shadow of its malice and dark powers still lay on his heart. Grief and guilt consume him every day, slowly driving him mad. He cannot forgive himself for almost failing; for not being able to help Boromir or Smeagol. He blames himself for their deaths.
"That is why we must bring Carole and Frodo together. She has a pure heart, and love for him so great that it may help him to let go of his guilt and pain. She may be the only one who can heal him…"
I know I'm leaving you on a bit of a cliff hanger, but I don't care!! *evily* HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Please click the purple button on the left when you finish. TTFN!
Chapter 4:
Tales Of Old,
And Dark Memories
The words of Lord Elrond rang in their ears, "When the time comes, you must make a choice; either to take the ships to the West and go to the lands beyond to with our fables, or to sail East, back to your homelands. You have only one year to write the books and make your choice. Any longer and it will almost impossible for you to leave Valinor," as they took ink, pen and paper in hand, writing the histories of the Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Halflings. When they did not have enough information on certain houses or people, Legolas and his kinsmen would be sent to find what they needed, and it would often take many days, even for their light, swift feet, before they came back. For six long months, by their reckoning, they were bent over manuscripts and ledgers, scribbling away, recounting everything from the beginning of the world (as they knew it) to the beginnings of the third age.
Then, as the Dreamers and their helpers were coming to the storeroom, which housed the books, they saw that the windows were broken and the door knocked down. They rushed inside to find the rooms ransacked. The pens were broken, the ink spilled on to the floor, and every book, all their papers, were shredded to pieces.
"It's all gone," said Frodo, who had worked the hardest, "All our work for SIX MONTHS is GONE!!" He sat heavily down on the floor, while the others searched for anything that might have survived. Carole, pained to see her friend so disheartened, sat next to him, laying her hand on his.
Out of the corner of her eye, Carole saw a leather book corner, and got back up to look at it. She thought it might just be a piece of an old book, but when she took the paper shreds off of it, she discovered that it was a whole book! And all the pages were blank! She called everyone over, and they began to search along that one wall. They soon found five other large books that had escaped the devastation, and hope rose in their hearts. After that day, they worked twice as long and three times as hard to recover what they had lost before. In less than five months they made it to the end of the Third Age. Then, Frodo, Sam, and Bilbo wrote as Carole, Thoron, Homer, and Tor recounted all the events of the Fourth Age that they knew of. Then, on the Fifth month, Homer and Tor's cousin Thain wrote down stories and songs about boys a who flew to close to the sun, a woman who had been cursed and turned into a tree, and stories of Dwarves who defeated wicked queens to save a young princess. Finally, they all rejoiced as they finished the last word of the last line of the last page of the last book. They had finished with a week to spare.
******************************************
The announcement had gone out quicker than wildfire; The Dreamers have finished! That evening there was a most glorious celebration. All enjoyed good food and drink. Carole spent much of her time with her friends Hope and Gem, while Tor, and Gem's brothers Thain, Dain, and Gwain, talked with Homer, Legolas and Gimli about various axe throwing techniques. But as Carole was taking a sip from her cup, she felt a small hand tug at her sleeve. She turned and saw a small Elf-ling looking up at her.
"Excuse me," said the little Elf, "but we wanted to ask you something."
Carole smiled at the child and said, "Well, alright. How may I help you, little one?"
The Elf-boy looked back to where other children had gathered around, then looked back up at Carole, and said, "Will you tell us one of the stories you wrote?"
Carole looked to her friends, laughing in her heart, and said, "Of course! Now, would you like to hear an Elven tale?" The children shook their heads, sitting down and giving her their undivided attention. "Well, then, I think I may know a good story for you. How about I tell the story of 'The Defeat of The Lord of the Rings' ?"
The little Elves cheered, clapping and nodding with great excitement and delight. As they settled down Carole began with, "Once there was a Hobbit who lived in a hole," and she proceeded to tell Bilbo's story. As she was describing Bilbo's first meeting with Gandalf, Thoron joined in, taking up the role of the old wizard. Within moments, all the Dreamers had come to take part, Tor's company portraying Thorin Oakenshield and his company, Homer and Hope acting as various Elves, Orcs, Men, Trolls, and Goblins (Homer's impersonation of Beorn was exceptionally good), and Carole taking the role of Bilbo. She doubled up parts only when she came to 'Riddles in The Dark', getting on her knees and crawling and hissing as she spoke Gollum's lines. By the time they had reached Bilbo's confrontation with Smaug (Thoron doing a absolutely frightening imitation of the Dragon) a large throng of Elves had gathered to listen. By the time the nine companions were finished with Bilbo's part in the story, they received a rousing round of applause. Encouraged, they decided to continue on, after taking a few sips of wine and water to drench their parched throats. Once again, Carole was the main narrator, with Thoron reprising his role as Gandalf. They acted out all of the Fellowship, Tor as Gimli, Homer as Legolas and Boromir, Thoron doubling to be Aragorn as well as Gandalf, Thain and Dain as Merry and Pippin, and Carole as Frodo and Sam. Gem joined them as Galadriel, receiving many delighted laughs, and Hope as Lord Celeborn. Everyone was either having so much fun or too engrossed in the story to notice that the last members of the real Fellowship of the Ring, as well as Galadriel and Elrond, had joined them. In fact, they came just in time to hear of how the Three Hunters ran for three days and nights in pursuit of the Uruk- hi soldiers who kidnapped Merry and Pippin. Thoron, being the narrator for this part, stopped when the hunters reached Fangorn Forest. Then, he let Carole take over. She picked up the tale of The Ring Bearer and his loyal servant as they wandered through the maze of rocks in Emin Muil. As she recounted the events of Frodo and Sam's first meeting with Gollum, several audience members screamed with fright at the scene.
But from his place in the crowd, Frodo suddenly became very nervous. He started sweating, and his shoulder began to hurt from a wound that had not bothered him in a long time. Memories of those dark days and nights flooded his mind. Soon he couldn't stand it anymore. He had to get away. He pushed his uncle and friend aside and ran, heading for home.
Carole saw this from the corner of her eye, stopped in the middle of the scene, and ran after Frodo, knowing that she had done something horribly wrong to her dear, dear friend. After a pause, Tor took up where Carole left off, letting Gimli himself take his role.
*************************************************
Carole caught up with Frodo fifteen minutes away from the feasting grounds. He was leaning on a tree, his head in his hands. She approached him quietly, and said meekly, "I'm sorry. If I had known you would object, I would have told them a different story."
"It's not that," Frodo said, frustrated. "It's just, it was horrible, and frightening, and…and I just can't stand to remember too much. My life changed during that journey. I lost so much because of that Ring; my youth, my innocence, my home…I almost lost my soul, Carole. Don't you understand that? I have seen hate and evil at it's strongest, and it nearly consumed me! I can never be who I was before, never! I can't even live a normal life! I can't…." He looked down at the ground, not wanting to hurt this girl, who he wished for so much, and who he cared for so deeply. But he was too late. Carole heard the words he couldn't say.
"I never asked for that," she said, her welling with tears. They looked at one another. Frodo said "I did not ask you for your heart."
"I know," she replied, "but I can't take it back, now,"
"Go back to the Shire, Carole Greendown," he said to her. "Go home."
"As you wish, my lord," she said. With those last words, Carole went to her quarters, and Frodo to his house near the river, and thought neither knew it, they both cried as they fell asleep.
*****************************************
Back at the celebration, Sam sat with Gandalf, worried about his master and Miss Carole. He wanted to find his friend, to help him, but Gandalf stopped him. Now, as he sat thinking, Gandalf turned to him and said, "You cannot help him this time, Master Samwise."
"But Mr. Gandalf, what else can I do? I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"This matter is different, my friend. Your master has suffered many hurts because of the Ring. It took a long time for him to heal as much as he has, but he still has many wounds. In truth, the Ring still holds some power over him."
"But we destroyed it" Sam said, confused and afraid.
"Yes," the wizard replied, "the shadow of its malice and dark powers still lay on his heart. Grief and guilt consume him every day, slowly driving him mad. He cannot forgive himself for almost failing; for not being able to help Boromir or Smeagol. He blames himself for their deaths.
"That is why we must bring Carole and Frodo together. She has a pure heart, and love for him so great that it may help him to let go of his guilt and pain. She may be the only one who can heal him…"
I know I'm leaving you on a bit of a cliff hanger, but I don't care!! *evily* HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Please click the purple button on the left when you finish. TTFN!
