Evil's Point
Chapter 11
A King's Resolve
Yay—a new chappy! Hope you enjoy!
Evening was falling over Hollin. Animals tucked themselves into nooks and crannies, a few stars peeped out of the deep violet sky, and the sun hid her last rays of light behind the Misty Mountains. The land was hushed, awaiting the embrace of night to enfold her. And in the midst of Hollin, a king clutched the hand of an Elven woman, keeping a sad, solemn vigil.
King Aragorn had left Gondor ten days ago with a small company of his guards and Arwen, who was badly ailing from the night a week ago when an ambush had left her with an arrow-wound and a deep slumber that no one could wake her from. They were heading to Rivendell, for Elrond had sent a message that Pippin was hurt and in need of Aragorn's healing abilities. The company had set camp for the night, and Aragorn had insisted on being left alone in a tent with his beloved. Two guards stood silently outside.
"My love," Aragorn murmured sadly into Arwen's ear. Arwen turned toward the voice of her husband. "Please, vanimelda nin," said Aragorn. "Toro dan nan galad! Do not leave me here alone! I need you, my heart—oh, how I need you!" Aragorn's voice choked in his throat as the tears glimmered in his eyes. "Please..." he breathed, laying his head gently on Arwen's chest and closing his eyes. Shortly, the rhythm of the Lady's breathing and the gentle beating of her heart lulled the distraught King into slumber.
************
"Lord of Gondor..."
Aragorn slowly opened his eyes. He blinked once, then twice. Then, he gasped. He was upon the narrow stone span that crossed the river of Rivendell, the bridge where Arwen had given him the Evenstar. In front of him stood a maiden that so closely resembled Arwen that for a moment, Aragorn was transported back to that night when Arwen had proven her wish to become mortal. But, as he looked into "Arwen's" eyes, he recoiled in horror. Her eyes were pure white.
As Aragorn backed away in fear and suspicion, the one on the bridge raised her hand. "Nay, Aragorn, do not fear. I will do no harm to you."
"A—Arwen?" Aragorn breathed uncertainly.
"Nay, lord of Men. I am not she. I am she whom the Elves name Queen of the Stars."
Aragorn's mouth fell open. "By Valar," he breathed. "Elbereth!" Aragorn dropped to his knees and bowed his head before the Valie in humble respect.
The Star-queen's eyes shone like the stars she kindled in the sky. Light surrounded her, spilled from her body. No--she was light. And now she spoke again; her voice echoed as if it was coming across all the eons of time since the World began.
"Yes. I have come, Elessar, to tell you—you are needed. The One who defeated the Evil has need of you. His kin is wounded, like your beloved. You must be his guide once more. For Evil is growing again in Middle- Earth. Evil will win this time, if you do not do this. If you do not do this, your love will be lost, as will two others you love. There is still hope. You can still save her. You must help the One to stop this. You must help the One..."
Her voice was growing fainter. Aragorn looked up. "What must I do, Oh Great Valie? How must I help the One?"
But she was gone...
**********
Finally, they had made it!
Aragorn stood gazing down upon the fair valley where he had grown up. He nearly smiled as the beauty of Rivendell hit him again; oh, it was a valley of light...His smile faded as he turned to the bier of his love, which was borne by two guards. He leaned over and gently touched her cheek. "Hold on, vanimelda," he breathed in her ear. "You're home now. I'm going to save you now. I shan't leave you...I promise. And a King never breaks his promises."
With a nod and a command, the King's company made their way into Rivendell.
**********
Elrond stared at the face of his daughter, his hands gently cradling her cheek. His face held its usual stern expression, but inside, the Elven Lord was screaming. By Valar, this evil will not take Arwen! With a sigh, Elrond glanced up at the King of Men.
"Yes. The evil got to her as well."
Gandalf sighed. "Then must we wait any longer, Lord Elrond? It seems the Fellowship is to re-form. The prophecy was clear: Frodo must save the world again, and we'll be with him every step of the way. We must set out soon if we are to have any hope of saving these people. Let preparations begin for this journey. At best we cannot hope to set out until a week has passed and supplies are gathered."
"Who shall go on this journey, besides Frodo?" Merry piped up.
"You're not leaving us behind," stated Sam. Merry nodded.
"Indeed, we would not dream of it," said Gandalf. "I too shall go with you, for you will have need of me ere the end."
Elrond glanced expectantly at Aragorn. The Man, busy checking Legolas' pulse, said nothing.
"Very well," Elrond acquiesed, after a few moments' pause. "Send the servants to the store-rooms to prepare for a long journey." At his word, several Elves slipped out of the sickroom and hastened down the hall. Gandalf turned and followed the Elves.
Aragorn turned to Elrond from where he had been bending over Legolas. "I do not know how to further your diagnosis or treatment, Elrond," he said. "I do not think they will die—yet."
Elrond looked gravely on his foster son. "You're troubled, Estel."
"Of course I'm troubled!" Aragorn burst. "Why would I not be troubled? My wife is lying there, ill, perhaps unto death, and what can I do? Stand and look at her! I don't want to leave her...I don't want to lose her," murmured Aragorn, gently smoothing a stray lock of hair off Arwen's forehead. Elrond sat in a chair by his daughter's bedside and sat staring somberly at her.
"When I saw Gandalf," Aragorn began softly, "I was certain he had the answer. I was so sure he'd know how to save them..."
"As were the hobbits," commented Elrond, with a glance at Frodo, Merry and Sam, who now sat around Pippin's bed, talking softly with each other. "And Gimli."
"What am I to do?" Aragorn whispered, shaking his head slowly back and forth. "Arwen needs me. My people need me. I cannot leave Gondor bereft of her King and her Queen for long. Yet..." Aragorn looked up from Arwen's face into Elrond's eyes. "Elrond...I had a vision last night."
"A vision." Elrond's eyebrows went up, and he waited for the King to continue. Slowly, Aragorn told his foster father of Varda's visit and what she had told him.
"I see. And you are wondering whether you should go with Frodo when your wife is ill and you have a country to lead." stated Elrond.
Aragorn nodded.
"I cannot offer you much advice, Lord Aragorn," stated Elrond plainly. "You are a King. You must make your own decisions. I will offer this: I fear that if you stay behind, Frodo will fail."
"He didn't need me last time," Aragorn muttered. "He completed his mission sufficiently without my aid."
"You know that's not true," said Elrond. "Without your valor, the Ringbearer would not have completed his mission. And that was different. Then, you set out to lose and destroy; now, you set out to find, and to heal."
"How can I leave her?" Aragorn whispered plaintively. "I promised her I wouldn't leave. She needs me, too..."
"I, too, feel the pull of my heart," stated Elrond. "But these ill ones need a cure, not grieving friends and relations sitting by them at all hours of the day. Gondor will be fine without you. Most likely you will not be gone for long." Elrond reached across the bed and placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "You've proven your worthiness a thousand times over," he stated. "Show it again. This mission needs you. It is the only way to save them...the only way to save her."
Aragorn sat there silent for a time, clutching the hand of Arwen. As he sat, it seemed that a strength grew within him as his resolve hardened. Now he looked up, stern gray eyes meeting ageless brown ones.
"If this is the only way to save my beloved, then I will do it. I will go with Frodo."
Chapter 11
A King's Resolve
Yay—a new chappy! Hope you enjoy!
Evening was falling over Hollin. Animals tucked themselves into nooks and crannies, a few stars peeped out of the deep violet sky, and the sun hid her last rays of light behind the Misty Mountains. The land was hushed, awaiting the embrace of night to enfold her. And in the midst of Hollin, a king clutched the hand of an Elven woman, keeping a sad, solemn vigil.
King Aragorn had left Gondor ten days ago with a small company of his guards and Arwen, who was badly ailing from the night a week ago when an ambush had left her with an arrow-wound and a deep slumber that no one could wake her from. They were heading to Rivendell, for Elrond had sent a message that Pippin was hurt and in need of Aragorn's healing abilities. The company had set camp for the night, and Aragorn had insisted on being left alone in a tent with his beloved. Two guards stood silently outside.
"My love," Aragorn murmured sadly into Arwen's ear. Arwen turned toward the voice of her husband. "Please, vanimelda nin," said Aragorn. "Toro dan nan galad! Do not leave me here alone! I need you, my heart—oh, how I need you!" Aragorn's voice choked in his throat as the tears glimmered in his eyes. "Please..." he breathed, laying his head gently on Arwen's chest and closing his eyes. Shortly, the rhythm of the Lady's breathing and the gentle beating of her heart lulled the distraught King into slumber.
************
"Lord of Gondor..."
Aragorn slowly opened his eyes. He blinked once, then twice. Then, he gasped. He was upon the narrow stone span that crossed the river of Rivendell, the bridge where Arwen had given him the Evenstar. In front of him stood a maiden that so closely resembled Arwen that for a moment, Aragorn was transported back to that night when Arwen had proven her wish to become mortal. But, as he looked into "Arwen's" eyes, he recoiled in horror. Her eyes were pure white.
As Aragorn backed away in fear and suspicion, the one on the bridge raised her hand. "Nay, Aragorn, do not fear. I will do no harm to you."
"A—Arwen?" Aragorn breathed uncertainly.
"Nay, lord of Men. I am not she. I am she whom the Elves name Queen of the Stars."
Aragorn's mouth fell open. "By Valar," he breathed. "Elbereth!" Aragorn dropped to his knees and bowed his head before the Valie in humble respect.
The Star-queen's eyes shone like the stars she kindled in the sky. Light surrounded her, spilled from her body. No--she was light. And now she spoke again; her voice echoed as if it was coming across all the eons of time since the World began.
"Yes. I have come, Elessar, to tell you—you are needed. The One who defeated the Evil has need of you. His kin is wounded, like your beloved. You must be his guide once more. For Evil is growing again in Middle- Earth. Evil will win this time, if you do not do this. If you do not do this, your love will be lost, as will two others you love. There is still hope. You can still save her. You must help the One to stop this. You must help the One..."
Her voice was growing fainter. Aragorn looked up. "What must I do, Oh Great Valie? How must I help the One?"
But she was gone...
**********
Finally, they had made it!
Aragorn stood gazing down upon the fair valley where he had grown up. He nearly smiled as the beauty of Rivendell hit him again; oh, it was a valley of light...His smile faded as he turned to the bier of his love, which was borne by two guards. He leaned over and gently touched her cheek. "Hold on, vanimelda," he breathed in her ear. "You're home now. I'm going to save you now. I shan't leave you...I promise. And a King never breaks his promises."
With a nod and a command, the King's company made their way into Rivendell.
**********
Elrond stared at the face of his daughter, his hands gently cradling her cheek. His face held its usual stern expression, but inside, the Elven Lord was screaming. By Valar, this evil will not take Arwen! With a sigh, Elrond glanced up at the King of Men.
"Yes. The evil got to her as well."
Gandalf sighed. "Then must we wait any longer, Lord Elrond? It seems the Fellowship is to re-form. The prophecy was clear: Frodo must save the world again, and we'll be with him every step of the way. We must set out soon if we are to have any hope of saving these people. Let preparations begin for this journey. At best we cannot hope to set out until a week has passed and supplies are gathered."
"Who shall go on this journey, besides Frodo?" Merry piped up.
"You're not leaving us behind," stated Sam. Merry nodded.
"Indeed, we would not dream of it," said Gandalf. "I too shall go with you, for you will have need of me ere the end."
Elrond glanced expectantly at Aragorn. The Man, busy checking Legolas' pulse, said nothing.
"Very well," Elrond acquiesed, after a few moments' pause. "Send the servants to the store-rooms to prepare for a long journey." At his word, several Elves slipped out of the sickroom and hastened down the hall. Gandalf turned and followed the Elves.
Aragorn turned to Elrond from where he had been bending over Legolas. "I do not know how to further your diagnosis or treatment, Elrond," he said. "I do not think they will die—yet."
Elrond looked gravely on his foster son. "You're troubled, Estel."
"Of course I'm troubled!" Aragorn burst. "Why would I not be troubled? My wife is lying there, ill, perhaps unto death, and what can I do? Stand and look at her! I don't want to leave her...I don't want to lose her," murmured Aragorn, gently smoothing a stray lock of hair off Arwen's forehead. Elrond sat in a chair by his daughter's bedside and sat staring somberly at her.
"When I saw Gandalf," Aragorn began softly, "I was certain he had the answer. I was so sure he'd know how to save them..."
"As were the hobbits," commented Elrond, with a glance at Frodo, Merry and Sam, who now sat around Pippin's bed, talking softly with each other. "And Gimli."
"What am I to do?" Aragorn whispered, shaking his head slowly back and forth. "Arwen needs me. My people need me. I cannot leave Gondor bereft of her King and her Queen for long. Yet..." Aragorn looked up from Arwen's face into Elrond's eyes. "Elrond...I had a vision last night."
"A vision." Elrond's eyebrows went up, and he waited for the King to continue. Slowly, Aragorn told his foster father of Varda's visit and what she had told him.
"I see. And you are wondering whether you should go with Frodo when your wife is ill and you have a country to lead." stated Elrond.
Aragorn nodded.
"I cannot offer you much advice, Lord Aragorn," stated Elrond plainly. "You are a King. You must make your own decisions. I will offer this: I fear that if you stay behind, Frodo will fail."
"He didn't need me last time," Aragorn muttered. "He completed his mission sufficiently without my aid."
"You know that's not true," said Elrond. "Without your valor, the Ringbearer would not have completed his mission. And that was different. Then, you set out to lose and destroy; now, you set out to find, and to heal."
"How can I leave her?" Aragorn whispered plaintively. "I promised her I wouldn't leave. She needs me, too..."
"I, too, feel the pull of my heart," stated Elrond. "But these ill ones need a cure, not grieving friends and relations sitting by them at all hours of the day. Gondor will be fine without you. Most likely you will not be gone for long." Elrond reached across the bed and placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "You've proven your worthiness a thousand times over," he stated. "Show it again. This mission needs you. It is the only way to save them...the only way to save her."
Aragorn sat there silent for a time, clutching the hand of Arwen. As he sat, it seemed that a strength grew within him as his resolve hardened. Now he looked up, stern gray eyes meeting ageless brown ones.
"If this is the only way to save my beloved, then I will do it. I will go with Frodo."