Aragorn walked into the boardroom where the others were all assembled.
They sat around a large stone table, with Gandalf sitting at the head. In
any normal situation he would have strode in with such purpose and power
that all of them would instantly have felt a sense of awe around him.
Now he stood in the doorway, a shadow of his former self. His eyes no longer sparkled, his skin was pale and large black bags were visible under his eyes. His hair was unkempt and his clothing looked scruffy. He reminded them of the Aragorn they had seen at the end of the war of the ring, except the fire had gone from his eyes and he looked...older. They couldn't see how he could have aged so much in barely a year, but now the weight of Arwen's death seemed to drag his shoulders down.
"What do you want of me Gandalf?" He asked sadly. "Can I not mourn my life in peace? This is really not a good time for a reunion."
"Oh this is far from a reunion Aragorn." Gandalf said, and although he spoke seriously there was an unusual glimmer in his eye that belied his exterior appearance. "Sit and I shall explain." Grudgingly, Aragorn took a seat at the other end of the table. Gandalf looked each of them in the eye. Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Frodo, Sam, Faramir and Elrond sat before him. Aragorn did not meet his gaze.
"Faramir returned to me today with a letter from Galadriel of Lothlorien." Gandalf explained. "She conveys her sorrow to you Aragorn."
Aragorn grunted. "I do not want any one else's sorrow." He said quietly. "You all give me your deepest sympathy, do any of you give me a way to bring my wife back?" He asked angrily.
"In which case I suggest you consider Galadriel your greatest friend." Gandalf said pointedly. Aragorn looked up at him questioningly.
"Can she bring Arwen back to me?" He asked.
"No." Gandalf said. Aragorn went to get up. "But she does bring us hope Aragorn. And if we have no hope, what do we have?" Aragorn sat again, looking at Gandalf carefully. Gandalf continued.
"She also sent an old tablet." He said, producing a sheet of stone from the box. In tiny letters on it were inscribed some words in elven text. "This is one of the legends of the elves."
"An original legend?" Legolas gasped. Seeing the others look at him in confusion he spoke. "Many years ago, when the elves first came to Middle- earth, the leaders of the elves wrote down the abilities of the elves on stone tablet, for when we came from a different world we had different abilities. Some we kept, our immortality and speed, but most of us lost many abilities. Very few elves can now receive visions of the future, whereas before we all could. And all elves have lost the ability to become invisible at will, we now use elven cloaks to mimic this long lost power." He continued. "But the stone tablets were lost, and they contained some of the greatest legends of the elves in writing."
"Indeed." Gandalf agreed. "Although the text is written in an ancient form of elven now never spoken, I have managed to translate it using my knowledge of Sindarin and its mother languages. It tells of an ability of the elves which was practised long ago. But I shall not explain myself, I shall read it to you in the form that it is in." And he began to translate the script.
"Upon a death bed there can be life, But search ye must through pain and strife. A long lost ritual of the elven past, That death does not have to be the last.
For immortality, when sacrificed by an elf, For the love of another than his or herself, Can never be ended, or not in the sense That the gods of the past cannot recompense.
For if the sacrifice was made for love, Then the departed soul will not rest above, But be harboured in a place where the righteous shall go A place that only the purest may know.
And wait that soul will, until their friends Discover the means that leads to their ends. And uncover the one way to beat even death And restore them to life, and soul and breath.
The path is not easy; no one alone will succeed, But together my friends, together in need. And by the union of friends strongly bond, The answer to life over death is found.
A ritual long, a ritual cruel A ritual governed by unbending rule. A riddle to be solved, and when it is done The quest will be over, the battle is won.
To restore the soul of the one good and true, A sacrifice made by each one of you. Or else a show that you value the dead, A gift, not a forfeit, is made instead.
Nine people must undertake this task And all must do what the riddle does ask. Or else the soul is lost forever So go to it, dear friends, and never say never."
He stopped and looked at the fellowship around him. Most of them looked either very confused or deep in thought.
"But what does it mean Gandalf?" Frodo asked finally.
"It means that there is a way to bring Arwen back." Elrond said. "It seems that when elves gave up their immortality for selfless love, there is a way to bring them back to life, because their immortality never truly ends."
"Then I can get Arwen back?" Aragorn asked.
"Not you." Gandalf said. "But all of us together. At least, most of us."
"What must I do?" Aragorn asked.
"There is some more text inscribed on the back." Gandalf said. "That tells us how to bring Arwen back."
He turned over the tablet and began to read.
"The sword of a friend, who would die for their love. The tear of a relative, gentle as a dove. A gift from an enemy, now a true friend Shall put a stop to this unchanging end.
A symbol from one whose life had been saved By the one who on the deathbed is laid. The prayer of a wise man, truly spoken Should accompany this loving token.
Next a gift from unknown ground, Taken from where it can always be found. Then should be brought a gift of gold, Brought by a prince, not a king of old.
The blood of one the dead has not met, But also has ties you could never forget. Finally, from someone unknown a kiss Will bring them to life, and eternal bliss."
They looked at each other for a while. Gimli spoke up after a few moments. "So nine people each give something, and then Arwen is restored?" He asked slowly.
"That is the general idea of it." Gandalf said. "The problem is working out what each one entails, who should give the gift and what they should give."
"Let us concentrate on one point at a time." Faramir said. He had been writing down the translation of the text as Gandalf had been speaking. Now he referred to the list. "Number One, the sword of a relative who would die for their love." He said.
Aragorn stood up. "That is I!" He said excitedly. "I have always told Arwen that I would die for her. This must mean that I must give her my sword." He trailed off. "How can I give her my sword?" He asked glumly, sitting back down and sighing. "We destroyed her body today, it shall be half way out to sea by now."
"This I can answer." Gandalf said. "The father of Lord Celeborn once told me something that I swore to keep secret. But I feel now I must break my oath." He breathed in deeply. "There is a place other than the grey havens where elves go." He said. "Those elves who have a reason not to leave Middle-earth but do not wish to stay either go to a special place. They go to Ered Mithrin, the Grey Mountains."
"I fear not Gandalf." Legolas sighed. "As a young boy my father oft took me to explore the Grey Mountains. He never said anything about this place, nor did we ever see any other elves there."
"Because the place you seek is hidden deep within the mountains and protected by unknown enchantments." Gandalf said. "You would not have found it in your lifetime. You could even have sat on top of the entrance and never seen it, not with your keen elven sight."
"Then I must go to this place." Aragorn said. "And I must take my sword with me."
Gandalf considered for a moment. "This sounds right." He said. "What is the next task Faramir?"
"A tear of a relative, gentle as a dove." Faramir read.
"Elrond!" Aragorn said. "Elrond is a relative. All he has to do is go to this place and cry."
"I am afraid it is not so simple Aragorn." Elrond sighed. "I may be a relative, but I am certainly not gentle as a dove. We can not perform even one task incorrectly, or the enchantment will not work."
"Arwen's brothers are not gentle either." Gandalf said. "And Aragorn can not give two gifts."
They all sat and thought for a few moments, before Elrond spoke. "There is one I can think of." He said quietly. "Eldarion."
"Who?" Aragorn asked.
"Eldarion, your son." Elrond said simply.
"Never!" Aragorn spat. "I swore never to see that thing ever! I shall not!"
"Then you condemn Arwen to certain eternal death!" Legolas interjected.
"Is there no other way?" Aragorn pleaded.
"I believe Elrond is correct." Gandalf said. "What being on earth is more gentle than an infant?"
"Fine." Aragorn said grudgingly. "What else?"
"A gift from an enemy, now a friend." Faramir read. "Who could be Arwen's enemy?"
"She had none, save for Sauron and his dark hordes." Elrond said. "She was a most forgiving person, and never had an enemy that I can think of."
"Would an old enemy of the elves suffice?" Gimli asked softly.
"Gimli?" Gandalf asked questioningly.
"The elves and dwarves were once enemies." Gimli said slowly. "It was a long time ago, too long ago for me to be involved, although I do not know if Arwen could have remembered it." He frowned and continued. "Surely as a member of a race who were once an enemy of the elves, but are not any more, would count as an enemy turned friend?"
Legolas smiled encouragingly at the little dwarf. It had obviously taken great courage for him to put his idea forward, Gimli's ideas were not normally listened to.
"Very good, Gimli son of Gloin." Elrond smiled. "Indeed, elves and dwarves did not used to get along, but now times have changed. You are indeed, the third part of the puzzle."
AN – and you will find out what the other six pieces are next chapter. If you think you know then tell me in a review. Just have a guess, you could be right!
Response to Reviewers
Queen Arwen – glad you like it! Hopefully this answers your question about Arwen's return....is she going to come back? I'm afraid I won't answer that!
Andie – Haha! I often read fanfictions whilst I'm bored in ICT lessons at school, so I know how you feel about reading stuff at work! (Except then the school found out and blocked fanfiction.net so I can't access it!) Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.
Grumpy – Well, this was part of Galadriel's letter, can you work out what the rest meant?
ParaKeet007 – lol, I did actually consider Aragorn throwing himself off the cliff after Arwen, but I need him for the rest of the story! The happiness is coming, I promise! It's just gonna be a while coming, that's all!
Shiloh Duvall – Here was the next chapter, hope you liked it, even though you nearly cried!
Fay*Evenstar – you didn't submit a review to this chapter??? Where is my best reviewer??? Are you out there??? I miss you!
Now he stood in the doorway, a shadow of his former self. His eyes no longer sparkled, his skin was pale and large black bags were visible under his eyes. His hair was unkempt and his clothing looked scruffy. He reminded them of the Aragorn they had seen at the end of the war of the ring, except the fire had gone from his eyes and he looked...older. They couldn't see how he could have aged so much in barely a year, but now the weight of Arwen's death seemed to drag his shoulders down.
"What do you want of me Gandalf?" He asked sadly. "Can I not mourn my life in peace? This is really not a good time for a reunion."
"Oh this is far from a reunion Aragorn." Gandalf said, and although he spoke seriously there was an unusual glimmer in his eye that belied his exterior appearance. "Sit and I shall explain." Grudgingly, Aragorn took a seat at the other end of the table. Gandalf looked each of them in the eye. Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Frodo, Sam, Faramir and Elrond sat before him. Aragorn did not meet his gaze.
"Faramir returned to me today with a letter from Galadriel of Lothlorien." Gandalf explained. "She conveys her sorrow to you Aragorn."
Aragorn grunted. "I do not want any one else's sorrow." He said quietly. "You all give me your deepest sympathy, do any of you give me a way to bring my wife back?" He asked angrily.
"In which case I suggest you consider Galadriel your greatest friend." Gandalf said pointedly. Aragorn looked up at him questioningly.
"Can she bring Arwen back to me?" He asked.
"No." Gandalf said. Aragorn went to get up. "But she does bring us hope Aragorn. And if we have no hope, what do we have?" Aragorn sat again, looking at Gandalf carefully. Gandalf continued.
"She also sent an old tablet." He said, producing a sheet of stone from the box. In tiny letters on it were inscribed some words in elven text. "This is one of the legends of the elves."
"An original legend?" Legolas gasped. Seeing the others look at him in confusion he spoke. "Many years ago, when the elves first came to Middle- earth, the leaders of the elves wrote down the abilities of the elves on stone tablet, for when we came from a different world we had different abilities. Some we kept, our immortality and speed, but most of us lost many abilities. Very few elves can now receive visions of the future, whereas before we all could. And all elves have lost the ability to become invisible at will, we now use elven cloaks to mimic this long lost power." He continued. "But the stone tablets were lost, and they contained some of the greatest legends of the elves in writing."
"Indeed." Gandalf agreed. "Although the text is written in an ancient form of elven now never spoken, I have managed to translate it using my knowledge of Sindarin and its mother languages. It tells of an ability of the elves which was practised long ago. But I shall not explain myself, I shall read it to you in the form that it is in." And he began to translate the script.
"Upon a death bed there can be life, But search ye must through pain and strife. A long lost ritual of the elven past, That death does not have to be the last.
For immortality, when sacrificed by an elf, For the love of another than his or herself, Can never be ended, or not in the sense That the gods of the past cannot recompense.
For if the sacrifice was made for love, Then the departed soul will not rest above, But be harboured in a place where the righteous shall go A place that only the purest may know.
And wait that soul will, until their friends Discover the means that leads to their ends. And uncover the one way to beat even death And restore them to life, and soul and breath.
The path is not easy; no one alone will succeed, But together my friends, together in need. And by the union of friends strongly bond, The answer to life over death is found.
A ritual long, a ritual cruel A ritual governed by unbending rule. A riddle to be solved, and when it is done The quest will be over, the battle is won.
To restore the soul of the one good and true, A sacrifice made by each one of you. Or else a show that you value the dead, A gift, not a forfeit, is made instead.
Nine people must undertake this task And all must do what the riddle does ask. Or else the soul is lost forever So go to it, dear friends, and never say never."
He stopped and looked at the fellowship around him. Most of them looked either very confused or deep in thought.
"But what does it mean Gandalf?" Frodo asked finally.
"It means that there is a way to bring Arwen back." Elrond said. "It seems that when elves gave up their immortality for selfless love, there is a way to bring them back to life, because their immortality never truly ends."
"Then I can get Arwen back?" Aragorn asked.
"Not you." Gandalf said. "But all of us together. At least, most of us."
"What must I do?" Aragorn asked.
"There is some more text inscribed on the back." Gandalf said. "That tells us how to bring Arwen back."
He turned over the tablet and began to read.
"The sword of a friend, who would die for their love. The tear of a relative, gentle as a dove. A gift from an enemy, now a true friend Shall put a stop to this unchanging end.
A symbol from one whose life had been saved By the one who on the deathbed is laid. The prayer of a wise man, truly spoken Should accompany this loving token.
Next a gift from unknown ground, Taken from where it can always be found. Then should be brought a gift of gold, Brought by a prince, not a king of old.
The blood of one the dead has not met, But also has ties you could never forget. Finally, from someone unknown a kiss Will bring them to life, and eternal bliss."
They looked at each other for a while. Gimli spoke up after a few moments. "So nine people each give something, and then Arwen is restored?" He asked slowly.
"That is the general idea of it." Gandalf said. "The problem is working out what each one entails, who should give the gift and what they should give."
"Let us concentrate on one point at a time." Faramir said. He had been writing down the translation of the text as Gandalf had been speaking. Now he referred to the list. "Number One, the sword of a relative who would die for their love." He said.
Aragorn stood up. "That is I!" He said excitedly. "I have always told Arwen that I would die for her. This must mean that I must give her my sword." He trailed off. "How can I give her my sword?" He asked glumly, sitting back down and sighing. "We destroyed her body today, it shall be half way out to sea by now."
"This I can answer." Gandalf said. "The father of Lord Celeborn once told me something that I swore to keep secret. But I feel now I must break my oath." He breathed in deeply. "There is a place other than the grey havens where elves go." He said. "Those elves who have a reason not to leave Middle-earth but do not wish to stay either go to a special place. They go to Ered Mithrin, the Grey Mountains."
"I fear not Gandalf." Legolas sighed. "As a young boy my father oft took me to explore the Grey Mountains. He never said anything about this place, nor did we ever see any other elves there."
"Because the place you seek is hidden deep within the mountains and protected by unknown enchantments." Gandalf said. "You would not have found it in your lifetime. You could even have sat on top of the entrance and never seen it, not with your keen elven sight."
"Then I must go to this place." Aragorn said. "And I must take my sword with me."
Gandalf considered for a moment. "This sounds right." He said. "What is the next task Faramir?"
"A tear of a relative, gentle as a dove." Faramir read.
"Elrond!" Aragorn said. "Elrond is a relative. All he has to do is go to this place and cry."
"I am afraid it is not so simple Aragorn." Elrond sighed. "I may be a relative, but I am certainly not gentle as a dove. We can not perform even one task incorrectly, or the enchantment will not work."
"Arwen's brothers are not gentle either." Gandalf said. "And Aragorn can not give two gifts."
They all sat and thought for a few moments, before Elrond spoke. "There is one I can think of." He said quietly. "Eldarion."
"Who?" Aragorn asked.
"Eldarion, your son." Elrond said simply.
"Never!" Aragorn spat. "I swore never to see that thing ever! I shall not!"
"Then you condemn Arwen to certain eternal death!" Legolas interjected.
"Is there no other way?" Aragorn pleaded.
"I believe Elrond is correct." Gandalf said. "What being on earth is more gentle than an infant?"
"Fine." Aragorn said grudgingly. "What else?"
"A gift from an enemy, now a friend." Faramir read. "Who could be Arwen's enemy?"
"She had none, save for Sauron and his dark hordes." Elrond said. "She was a most forgiving person, and never had an enemy that I can think of."
"Would an old enemy of the elves suffice?" Gimli asked softly.
"Gimli?" Gandalf asked questioningly.
"The elves and dwarves were once enemies." Gimli said slowly. "It was a long time ago, too long ago for me to be involved, although I do not know if Arwen could have remembered it." He frowned and continued. "Surely as a member of a race who were once an enemy of the elves, but are not any more, would count as an enemy turned friend?"
Legolas smiled encouragingly at the little dwarf. It had obviously taken great courage for him to put his idea forward, Gimli's ideas were not normally listened to.
"Very good, Gimli son of Gloin." Elrond smiled. "Indeed, elves and dwarves did not used to get along, but now times have changed. You are indeed, the third part of the puzzle."
AN – and you will find out what the other six pieces are next chapter. If you think you know then tell me in a review. Just have a guess, you could be right!
Response to Reviewers
Queen Arwen – glad you like it! Hopefully this answers your question about Arwen's return....is she going to come back? I'm afraid I won't answer that!
Andie – Haha! I often read fanfictions whilst I'm bored in ICT lessons at school, so I know how you feel about reading stuff at work! (Except then the school found out and blocked fanfiction.net so I can't access it!) Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.
Grumpy – Well, this was part of Galadriel's letter, can you work out what the rest meant?
ParaKeet007 – lol, I did actually consider Aragorn throwing himself off the cliff after Arwen, but I need him for the rest of the story! The happiness is coming, I promise! It's just gonna be a while coming, that's all!
Shiloh Duvall – Here was the next chapter, hope you liked it, even though you nearly cried!
Fay*Evenstar – you didn't submit a review to this chapter??? Where is my best reviewer??? Are you out there??? I miss you!