Scene Eighteen

(We see the river at the end of the deadly rapids from where we left off in scene sixteen-we see an unconscious Jimagorn floating down the river. Barely alive, he washes upon the bank. He has a great gash upon his shoulder, and he look dreadfully battered)

Jimagorn: (Talking in his sleep) Everything-is-beautiful-but-I'm so-sexy.

(We close in on Jimagorn's face, maybe reading his thoughts. We suddenly see Narwen lying upon a couch in Rivendell, her face etched in concentration as she realizes what must be done. Then, we go back to Jimagorn's body by the river. Then, we see Narwen's face appear over his, smiling peacefully at him)

Narwen: (In a very soft voice) May the grace of the Valar protect you.

Jimagorn: (In a groggy tone) Chicken.

(Ignoring this, Narwen softly kisses Jimagorn upon the lips. Slowly, Narwen's face disappears and is replaced with a horse's. Jimagorn slowly comes awake, still kissing the horse. At first, he gives a muffled cry of disgust, then shrugs his discomfort away, and proceeds to kiss the horse. The horse gives a great whinny of disgust and moves away. Jimagorn fully opens his eyes and slowly sits up. Then, of all the things he could do, he pulls out a mirror and looks at himself)

Jimagorn: (Groggily) Face still sexy-probably more so now that it has a tinge of rugged manliness to it. Must get back to Helm's Deep-must rearrange hair!

(Weakly, Jimagorn grasps the saddle of the horse and pulls himself onto it- only to fall off on the other side)

Jimagorn: (Weakly) I'm okay.

(Eventually, Jimagorn does get on the horse, for we see him riding weakly on the plains towards Helm's Deep, with the sun at his back; he looks very horrible, but alive, nonetheless. Now we see Narwen in Rivendell, resting upon the couch, smiling now that her love is safe; though, somewhat strange. Then, we hear Noelrond speak from the doorframe in Elvish, and Narwen sits bolt upright to look at her father)

Noelrond: (Speaking firmly in Elvish) Narwen, it is time. The ships are sailing to the Valinor! Go now, before it is too late!

Narwen: (In firm English) I've made my choice!

Noelrond: (Stepping into the room, and also speaking in firm English) Now, you listen to me-Jimagorn is not coming back!

Narwen: (Crossing her arms stubbornly) Oh, daddy! Why must you be so pessimistic?

Noelrond: (Angrily) Because it is the truth, Narwen! Jimagorn will not survive out there! You don't understand-!

Narwen: (Angrily) No! You don't understand! I love Jimagorn and always will! What kind of a person would I be if I just got up and left him?

Noelrond: (Sarcastically) Oh-I don't know: a smart one!

Narwen: (Stubbornly) Forget it, daddy! I'm staying here, and there's nothing you can do to change my mind!

(With that, Narwen looks away from her father. Sighing, Noelrond sits next to his daughter, takes her hands, and looks at her desperately)

Noelrond: (In a forlorn tone) I thought I wouldn't have to use this method, but.(Takes a breath before continuing) if you come with us into the West- I'll buy you a lollipop.

Narwen: (Looking at her father with wide, excited eyes) The big ones that taste like pineapples and cherries?

Noelrond: (A smile coming to his lips) Only the best for my girl.

Narwen: (Thinking it over) Well, in that case.(Suddenly shaking her head as she remembers something) I mean, no! No! (Pulls her hands away from her father's and speaks angrily) No! I've decided, father! I'm staying!

Noelrond: (Getting up, moving away from his daughter, and speaking angrily) Why are you being so damned stubborn? Don't you understand what's going on out there? You will not be safe here! Why do you linger here when there is no hope?

Narwen: (Looking at her father and speaking in a whisper) There is still hope.

(Noelrond looks at his daughter, obviously surprised at the determination in his daughter. Narwen sits upon the couch, looking like she's not going to move even if you pried her from the seat. Noelrond realizes that he's not going to be able to sway his daughter so easily-but he is also an Elf, and capable of shrewd cunning. He soon formulates a plan to convince his daughter for what is best-what is best for her, at least)

Noelrond: (Speaking rather blankly, not even looking at her as he moves about the room) And what will happen when all of this is over? What if the world is saved, Jimagorn becomes king, and all that you hope for comes true? Why, everything may be much happier for you, and you and Jimagorn shall live happily ever after, right?

Narwen: (Awkwardly) Well-yeah. Noelrond: (Quickly sits next to his daughter and shouts his word) WRONG! (Speaking quite maliciously) Everything will be misery, (Camera comes a little closer to his face) death, (Camera closes in on his narrowing eyes) and cellular phones!

Narwen: (Moves away from her estranged father) Father, that is a horrible thing to say!

Noelrond: (Getting to his feet and speaking seriously) Well, my daughter, that is your fate! Even if everything you hope for comes true, you will have to linger here, and taste the bitterness of mortality.

(We see the camera close in on Narwen's face as she imagines it-we hear Noelrond speak)

Voice of Noelrond: (Seriously) Whether by the end of a sword or the slow decay of time, Jimagorn shall die.and you will be there to witness it.

(We see what Narwen is imagining at this point. We see her future self, dressed in mourning clothes, and she stands near a deceased, severely aged Jimagorn. He is decked out in royalty garments, and he grasps a sword in one hand-while the other clasps his chest. Narwen's future self is crying silently, and we see different mourners walk by her without even acknowledging her)

Voice of Noelrond: (Blankly) .and nobody will be there to comfort you- nobody to assure you that your life will be made full again-(In a matter-of- fact tone) Well, except for the in-laws, and they don't really like you anyways! (Blankly again) Jimagorn will go on to be a legend, his tales and feats etched in stone, ever preserving him for the world to remember.

(We see Jimagorn's deceased body replaced with a stone statue, and nearby, Narwen's future self still lingers, the wind billowing through her black mourning apparel. Narwen's face is devoid of color-all beauty and happiness gone along with the years that have passed)

Voice of Noelrond: (Sympathetically) But you, my daughter, will linger forever. Nobody will remember you-no matter who you are. You will eventually fade from memory-as night in winter comes without a star, you shall wander the world with no hope in finding reprieve from your emotions.

(We see Narwen's future self walking through the forests, the leaves falling upon her black garments as she wanders with no clear idea as to where she goes. And still, the Voice of Noelrond preaches on)

Voice of Noelrond: (Warning) You shall wander aimlessly, seeking comfort that shall not come-hope that cannot exist. Nobody will come to you when you call. You shall wallow in the fields of your own depression until the long years of your life are utterly spent! (We now come back to the present-day Narwen, who has tears running down her face as she imagines the horror of it all. We hear Noelrond speak, and Narwen turns to him)

Noelrond: (In a sympathetic tone) Narwen, there is nothing for you here- only death.

Narwen: (Still crying as she speaks) Oh, daddy! Why did you have to show me that? That was horrible!

Noelrond: (With a scowl) Well, what did you expect your fate to be like, Narwen? Did you think it would be full of gumdrop houses, leprechauns, and rainbows?

Narwen: (Wiping her eyes) No! I'm a practical person-I expected a unicorn to be in there, somewhere!

Noelrond: (Choosing to ignore this) But Narwen, don't you understand it all? Your fate is not a pleasant one. But it does not have to be that way. (He sits next to his daughter) Narwen, come with us into the Valinor- be with your kind and away from the misery that threatens to engulf you.

(Narwen looks at her father, the tears still flowing down her face. Noelrond smiles softly at his daughter)

Noelrond: (In soft Elvish) In the end, do I not also have your love?

Narwen: (Crying, in soft Elvish) You always have my love, father! (She places her head upon Noelrond's shoulder and cries softly for a while before speaking again, rather stubbornly) But I would just like to say that that's a rather unfair question!

Noelrond: (With a shrug) It was necessary.

(Noelrond strokes his daughter's hair, to comfort her and reassure her that this is for the best. Then, we see the fleet of Rivendell Elves leaving Rivendell behind and heading for the ports that will take them to the West. We see Rivendell Elf Man look at his wife, Rivendell Elf Woman)

Rivendell Elf Man: (Whispering) Er-did I turn off the stove before we left?

Rivendell Elf Woman: (Shrugging) Let the insurance take care of it!

(Within the group, we see Narwen-in her traveling cloak, the hood drawn- walking slowly with the group. She looks grim that she must leave Middle Earth-but also torn at the prospect of what awaits her in Valinor and what misery and woe awaits her in Middle Earth if she stays behind. To reassure herself, Narwen looks towards her old house, and sees Noelrond standing upon the balcony. He nods at his daughter, seeing the hesitation in her eyes. Narwen turns away and proceeds with the group. Satisfied, Noelrond walks into his house and makes to grab his stuff and join the group, but stops as he hears Lady Ashdriel speak to him from Loríen; she is speaking the words of the dreaded hymn of the One Movie of Power)

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: The times are changing.the Elves fade away like the leaves upon the trees-leaving behind a world of misery and pain, hoping to find a better way of life. But consider this, Noelrond of Rivendell.

(We see Andraman waving one hand over the Palantir while the other one holds a tuna sandwich, which he munches on occasionally. Pretty soon, we see the Eye of Jauron in Mordor)

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: Jauron shall use his puppet Andraman to build him an army that will annihilate all of the Men of Rohan; without Rohan, the arm of strength for Man shall perish. Jauron is making his plans to take over Middle Earth.

(We see the Eye of Jauron singing stupidly in his tower of Barad-dûr)

Eye of Jauron: Hum-dee-hum! Hum-dee-hum! Coverin' the world in sha-dow! La-la-la! Lo-lo-lo! Eat some chicken and hope for snow!

(We then see the Eye of Jauron turn towards Gondor)

Eye of Jauron: Hello, hello.

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: Jauron now turns his eye to Gondor, (Practically) Which isn't that hard to do, on account that it's just a huge eyeball and all he-well, I'll get into that later. (Dramatically) He senses that the Movie is close.

(We now see Lizzo Baggins & Kram Gamgee-blindfolded-being led by Maramir's Army. The hobbits are bound by their hands, and they seem rather uncomfortable, which isn't so much of a surprise, considering their blindfolds are practically smothering them)

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: The Movie struggles to free itself from its bearer.

Lizzo Baggins: (In a muffled voice) I-can't-BREATHE!

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: (Sadly) This quest shall take her life.you know this, Noelrond. You have foreseen it.

(We see Noelrond nod curtly; he's seen it, but he doesn't wish to believe it. Then, we go back to Maramir's Army, and eventually see Maramir himself, looking about the forest as if expecting to jump out and attack them. We hear Lady Ashdriel speak again)

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: The Movie of Power has but to put itself in the hands of Men-who are so easily seduced by its power.(In an annoyed tone) I swear! What is it with Men and shiny things? When Jimagorn came over, he couldn't keep his eyes off my silver spoons! Gees! Anyways, (Resuming dramatic tone) it is Men who are easily fooled by the Movie's power-filled with hopes and fantasies they believe shall be provided by the object-only to be surprised and led to their untimely end.

(As Lady Ashdriel speaks, we see Men of Maramir's Army pick up Lizzo Baggins and pass her into the forbidden fortress that is their domain. Soldier of Maramir#7 makes to pick up Kram Gamgee easily, but to no avail- he is pretty skinny, after all. He strains after a while, but finally heaves the hobbit over his shoulder)

Soldier of Maramir#7: (Huffing and puffing) Sorry guys-this one's rather heavy, after all.

Kram Gamgee: (In a muffled voice through her blindfold) Hey! It's rotund to you, buddy!

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: All we can hope for is that Lizzo Baggins is successful in her mission to destroy the Movie of Power; for if she fails, Jauron shall gain control over all of Middle Earth, covering everything in darkness. He shall own everything upon Middle Earth-even unto the ending of the world.(Practically) which is a pretty long time, if you think about it.

(We see Noelrond in Rivendell, leaning against a chair in worriment. Of all the Councils he has had, of all the thoughts he has pondered, he had never thought of failure. Now it is as apparent to him as if it were really happening. Then, he realizes the horrible truth-it could happen, if everything he hoped for were to fall like dominos)

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: The time of the Elves is over.do we leave the rest of Middle Earth to stand alone?

Noelrond: (After contemplating the thought for a while) You know, I'd love to help, but I've got this ship to catch! And if I miss it, well, it'll be pretty strange-!

Voice of Lady Ashdriel: (Snippy) Oh, just send reinforcements you freakin' ninny! You're about the fifth Elven colony to give me that pitiful excuse about "fleeing to the West"!

Noelrond: (Angrily) Fine! Fine! Keep your top on! Gees!