"Three parts of this riddle have already been solved." Gandalf addressed
them. "But I fear that the rest shall not be so simple. The fourth
inscription reads 'A symbol from one whose life had been saved
By the one who on the deathbed is laid.' This part I myself understand."
Gandalf walked around the table and laid his hand on Frodo's shoulder. (AN – I have to take this part of the story from Peter Jackson's film, where Arwen takes Frodo to the safety of Rivendell, not Glorfindel and Asfaloth.)
"Frodo Baggins." Gandalf said kindly. "Am I not mistaken in believing that Lady Arwen carried you in safety to Rivendell in your time of need."
"She did." Frodo said. "Without her I would have surely died in the woods, at the hands of the Ringwraiths or from the wound their leader inflicted on me."
"Then it could be claimed that Arwen saved your life?" Gandalf prompted.
"She played a large part in it." Frodo said slowly. "Do you think that I am the fourth part of the riddle? Arwen saved my life and I survived, so now I can save hers?"
"I believe so indeed." Gandalf said, seating himself back in his place. Faramir wrote down the solution to the fourth part of the puzzle. "And I know that I myself form the fifth part of the puzzle. I must recite this piece of simple looking poetry. But what stumps me is the fifth piece."
They all looked to Faramir, who read. "Next a gift from unknown ground, Taken from where it can always be found."
They sat in silence for a few moments. Moments turned to minutes, minutes in hours, and still none could answer this part of the riddle. They all made suggestions, but they kept coming back to the same idea. What was meant by unknown ground?
"Maybe a place yet to be discovered?" Legolas suggested.
"There are few places of that description in Middle-earth." Elrond sighed, leaning back on his chair. "And even if there were such a place, it would be hard to find."
"Maybe it is ground that has not been chartered yet upon a map?" Faramir said, sucking his quill in deep thought.
"I myself have chartered many areas of my travels." Aragorn sighed. "And how would we know that someone else hadn't drawn the place we found on a map? If we perform even one piece of this enchantment slightly wrong, then Arwen shall not know the light of day again!"
"That's it!" Merry exclaimed, jumping onto the table in excitement. "This place isn't a place that no one knows, it is a place where Arwen has never been. Ground that is unknown to her."
"Indeed!" Gandalf smiled at the young hobbit. "Very well done Merry, now please get off the table!"
Merry blushed and slipped back into his seat, pleased with himself.
"But what about unknown ground?" Aragorn asked. "I don't understand it."
At that moment there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me gentlemen." Said a young female servant as she entered nervously. "I just wanted to speak with Master Sam."
"Go ahead." Aragorn waved impatiently.
"Master Gamgee, I was cleaning your room and unpacking your clothes when I found some rather muddy gloves in your knapsack." The girl said, holding up a pair of gloves caked in mud and wrapped in some old newspaper. "Would you like me to wash them for you?"
"Yes, thank you miss." Sam said, but Gandalf strode over to the girl and took the gloves from her.
"I shall take care of these!" He said, ushering her out of the door and closing it.
"I'm sorry Gandalf." Sam said sadly. "I forgot about those gloves. I had been gardening whilst wearing them, you see. I was digging a hole to plant Master Frodo's new rose bush in. Then the news came about Miss Arwen, and we left straight away, it was only an hour later that I realised I was still wearing those gloves."
"Elrond." Gandalf said, ignoring Sam's apologies. "To your knowledge, did Arwen ever visit the Shire?"
"I do not believe so." Elrond said, frowning in concentration. "I certainly never took her there, and I know her brothers did not. I doubt it very much, the chances of it are slim indeed."
"And Frodo." Gandalf said. "Do you ever remember Arwen being in Hobbiton, more specifically in your garden?"
"No Gandalf." Frodo said. "I never had an elf in my garden, I should have been most excited if I had."
"Arwen never went to Hobbiton." Pippin piped up. "She told me herself when we were in Rivendell, and I said how I should very much like her to come and stay with me, if she so pleased."
Gandalf held the gloves closely to him. "Samwise Gamgee, I have never been so glad that you are so dirty when it comes to your gardening." He said. "You and your gloves are the sixth part. Arwen has never been to Frodo's garden, or to Hobbiton for that matter, so it is 'unknown ground' to her. The mud on Sam's gloves is the piece of unknown ground, 'taken from a place where it can always be found'. It has been taken from Frodo's garden, where it always has been and always will be, and I think you will also find that Sam's gloves are perpetually covered in mud, and you will always find some souvenir from Frodo's garden encrusted on them!"
"I'm part of the puzzle?" Sam asked in amazement. "My old Pa would be proud!"
"We seem to be making good progress here." Gandalf said, smiling. "Perhaps we shall solve this riddle before daybreak, and then we can get some sleep before setting out to revive Arwen."
The others noticed for the first time that the sun had set and the stars were shining in the sky. Soon the hint of sunlight would be seen on the eastern horizon, and a new day would dawn. Except from where they stood now, this day coming looked far brighter and happier than the day that had died with the setting of the sun.
"Come now, the seventh clue." Aragorn said, but Legolas interrupted.
"I can guess that I am the next part." He said. "Gandalf spoke of a gift of gold from a prince. I am the Prince of Greenwood, formerly known as Mirkwood, and therefore must give a gift of gold from my home country."
"Do you have any gold with you?" Aragorn asked. Legolas stood and took a tiny black pouch from his belt. He emptied a small pile of gold onto the table in front of them.
"An elven Prince should not carry so much money with them needlessly." Elrond scolded.
"This amount had a cause to go to." Legolas replied simply.
"What?" Aragorn asked, looking at the familiar inscriptions on the elven coins.
"If you must know. Old friend, it was to be a gift to my Godson." Legolas said, collecting up the money and returning it to the pouch. "But when I heard that he had gone to Lorien I realised that my gift was useless, what use does gold have in the most perfect of all elven dwellings?"
Abashed, Aragorn sat down and handed the coin over to Legolas, who looked at Aragorn but said nothing to rebuke him. None at the table agreed with Aragorn's treatment of his son, and yet they could all understand why he felt that way about the child.
"Moving on." Gandalf said tersely. "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 around. "Well, obviously the next two people are not here." Faramir said finally. "They must be strangers to Arwen."
"The last part is fairly obvious." Gimli said. "A total stranger must give Arwen a kiss, if Aragorn will let him!"
"I will do anything to bring her back." Aragorn whispered, but they chose to ignore him.
"The blood of someone Arwen never met, but yet is somehow tied to?" Legolas muttered to himself.
"Perhaps a relative that Arwen does not know?" Aragorn suggested.
"Indeed." Elrond said. "And you shall find no shortage of those in Lothlorien. However finding one that she has not met will be difficult, yet not impossible."
"I do not believe that the riddle is about a relative." Frodo said. "I mean, we already have a gift from a relative in the tear from Arwen's son. Surely the enchantment would not require two relatives? It seems to simple."
"I am inclined to agree with you Frodo." Gandalf said solemnly. "But I'm sure that when we stop off at Lothlorien to collect the child to accompany us on our journey, we may find someone fitting the description. It should not be too hard to do."
"Then we set out as soon as possible." Aragorn said, standing up and walking towards the door.
"No Aragorn." Faramir said. "Today you must all rest whilst I make preparations for your journey, you shall require horses and supplies. I shall have these readied by first light tomorrow morning. We have a day to prepare, and you all have a day to rest and prepare yourselves for the tasks ahead."
"Agreed." Gandalf said, before Aragorn could object. "The seven of us shall leave tomorrow morning. Faramir must stay and look after Gondor in Aragorn's absence, and I expect Elrond shall wish to return to Rivendell soon."
"I shall remain here for a few more days." Elrond confirmed. "To help those still grieving and to assist Faramir in whatever way I can. I shall most likely return to Rivendell in a week or so, when things have calmed down here."
"Then it is agreed?" Gimli asked. "The fellowship shall complete another quest, a quest for Arwen."
"Agreed!" Legolas put his hand on Gimli's shoulder. "And now we must rest. Tomorrow shall be like old times, and you shall ride behind me on our horse!" Gimli smiled as they left the chamber, heading to their own rooms to sleep and prepare themselves for the task ahead.
As they slept, aided by a weak-sleeping potion in their water administered by Gandalf when they were not looking, plans were underway for their departure. Horses were found, food was collected, weapons readied and clothing packed. Gondor was a hive of activity during that day and night, but the sleeping fellowship barely noticed this difference in mood, they slept so soundly.
AN – what do you think? Is there a little more happiness in this one? I've just written the next two chapters (I will do anything to put off homework!) and they don't get much more cheerful...yet! Promise they will though! ^_^
Response to reviewers
Fay*Evenstar – hmmm, I debate what to do here! If you review twice, do you deserve two responses? I'll get back to that one! Glad you liked my OC, I'm trying not to make her Mary-Sue-ish, but its really hard because I swear elves are perfect! Think about, they are all pretty, don't need to sleep, can run fast, see far.... I rest my case! Anyway, so you like Aragorn? I have to say I prefer Legolas myself, maybe because Orlando Bloom is soooooo fine! Thanks for your reviews!
Grumpy – The Gimli part is quite good, although the rest of the riddle was really hard to work out, that part was quite easy. Thanks for your review!
Voldie on Varsity Track – did you only read chapters 1 and 2, because your reviews came from those chapters? I love popcorn, salted is the best!
Queen Arwen – Arwen MAT come back and Aragorn COULD take Eldarion back...in the meantime read on and see! (Haha, I love cliffhangers!)
Gionareth – wow, I don't think anyone has called my work interesting before. Well, they might have done but I don't remember it and you said it really nicely so I like you for that!
Ainu Laire – Thanks for giving your constructive criticism, I don't like falmes but your thoughts are appreciated because you are nice when you say it!!! Anyway, yeah, I always make grammar mistakes with speech, so much that I hardly bother to correct myself anymore! But if those are the only complaints you have then I'm pretty chuffed! Thank you for reading! (And I'm looking forward to the next chapter of Pirates of the Ring.)
The True Evenstar – Your review had me splitting my sides with laughter! Keep it up. I'm glad you like it. My stories usually start very slowly and people get bored by about the twentieth chapter when all the action starts to happen! Lol!
Jamie Cullum's Pixie Wife – Glad you like it, and I'm not saying anything more about a happy ending, but it is all planned out.
EVERYBODY – Jamie Cullum's Pixie Wife suggested some (Cover your eyes now kids) sex to be included. I have to admit this would fit really really super mega well with my story, but if anyone really really doesn't want it included then please speak now or forever hold your peace. I will have to change the rating of the story I think too, so if you strongly disagree with the inclusion of sex, please let me know now!
Thank you!
Gandalf walked around the table and laid his hand on Frodo's shoulder. (AN – I have to take this part of the story from Peter Jackson's film, where Arwen takes Frodo to the safety of Rivendell, not Glorfindel and Asfaloth.)
"Frodo Baggins." Gandalf said kindly. "Am I not mistaken in believing that Lady Arwen carried you in safety to Rivendell in your time of need."
"She did." Frodo said. "Without her I would have surely died in the woods, at the hands of the Ringwraiths or from the wound their leader inflicted on me."
"Then it could be claimed that Arwen saved your life?" Gandalf prompted.
"She played a large part in it." Frodo said slowly. "Do you think that I am the fourth part of the riddle? Arwen saved my life and I survived, so now I can save hers?"
"I believe so indeed." Gandalf said, seating himself back in his place. Faramir wrote down the solution to the fourth part of the puzzle. "And I know that I myself form the fifth part of the puzzle. I must recite this piece of simple looking poetry. But what stumps me is the fifth piece."
They all looked to Faramir, who read. "Next a gift from unknown ground, Taken from where it can always be found."
They sat in silence for a few moments. Moments turned to minutes, minutes in hours, and still none could answer this part of the riddle. They all made suggestions, but they kept coming back to the same idea. What was meant by unknown ground?
"Maybe a place yet to be discovered?" Legolas suggested.
"There are few places of that description in Middle-earth." Elrond sighed, leaning back on his chair. "And even if there were such a place, it would be hard to find."
"Maybe it is ground that has not been chartered yet upon a map?" Faramir said, sucking his quill in deep thought.
"I myself have chartered many areas of my travels." Aragorn sighed. "And how would we know that someone else hadn't drawn the place we found on a map? If we perform even one piece of this enchantment slightly wrong, then Arwen shall not know the light of day again!"
"That's it!" Merry exclaimed, jumping onto the table in excitement. "This place isn't a place that no one knows, it is a place where Arwen has never been. Ground that is unknown to her."
"Indeed!" Gandalf smiled at the young hobbit. "Very well done Merry, now please get off the table!"
Merry blushed and slipped back into his seat, pleased with himself.
"But what about unknown ground?" Aragorn asked. "I don't understand it."
At that moment there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me gentlemen." Said a young female servant as she entered nervously. "I just wanted to speak with Master Sam."
"Go ahead." Aragorn waved impatiently.
"Master Gamgee, I was cleaning your room and unpacking your clothes when I found some rather muddy gloves in your knapsack." The girl said, holding up a pair of gloves caked in mud and wrapped in some old newspaper. "Would you like me to wash them for you?"
"Yes, thank you miss." Sam said, but Gandalf strode over to the girl and took the gloves from her.
"I shall take care of these!" He said, ushering her out of the door and closing it.
"I'm sorry Gandalf." Sam said sadly. "I forgot about those gloves. I had been gardening whilst wearing them, you see. I was digging a hole to plant Master Frodo's new rose bush in. Then the news came about Miss Arwen, and we left straight away, it was only an hour later that I realised I was still wearing those gloves."
"Elrond." Gandalf said, ignoring Sam's apologies. "To your knowledge, did Arwen ever visit the Shire?"
"I do not believe so." Elrond said, frowning in concentration. "I certainly never took her there, and I know her brothers did not. I doubt it very much, the chances of it are slim indeed."
"And Frodo." Gandalf said. "Do you ever remember Arwen being in Hobbiton, more specifically in your garden?"
"No Gandalf." Frodo said. "I never had an elf in my garden, I should have been most excited if I had."
"Arwen never went to Hobbiton." Pippin piped up. "She told me herself when we were in Rivendell, and I said how I should very much like her to come and stay with me, if she so pleased."
Gandalf held the gloves closely to him. "Samwise Gamgee, I have never been so glad that you are so dirty when it comes to your gardening." He said. "You and your gloves are the sixth part. Arwen has never been to Frodo's garden, or to Hobbiton for that matter, so it is 'unknown ground' to her. The mud on Sam's gloves is the piece of unknown ground, 'taken from a place where it can always be found'. It has been taken from Frodo's garden, where it always has been and always will be, and I think you will also find that Sam's gloves are perpetually covered in mud, and you will always find some souvenir from Frodo's garden encrusted on them!"
"I'm part of the puzzle?" Sam asked in amazement. "My old Pa would be proud!"
"We seem to be making good progress here." Gandalf said, smiling. "Perhaps we shall solve this riddle before daybreak, and then we can get some sleep before setting out to revive Arwen."
The others noticed for the first time that the sun had set and the stars were shining in the sky. Soon the hint of sunlight would be seen on the eastern horizon, and a new day would dawn. Except from where they stood now, this day coming looked far brighter and happier than the day that had died with the setting of the sun.
"Come now, the seventh clue." Aragorn said, but Legolas interrupted.
"I can guess that I am the next part." He said. "Gandalf spoke of a gift of gold from a prince. I am the Prince of Greenwood, formerly known as Mirkwood, and therefore must give a gift of gold from my home country."
"Do you have any gold with you?" Aragorn asked. Legolas stood and took a tiny black pouch from his belt. He emptied a small pile of gold onto the table in front of them.
"An elven Prince should not carry so much money with them needlessly." Elrond scolded.
"This amount had a cause to go to." Legolas replied simply.
"What?" Aragorn asked, looking at the familiar inscriptions on the elven coins.
"If you must know. Old friend, it was to be a gift to my Godson." Legolas said, collecting up the money and returning it to the pouch. "But when I heard that he had gone to Lorien I realised that my gift was useless, what use does gold have in the most perfect of all elven dwellings?"
Abashed, Aragorn sat down and handed the coin over to Legolas, who looked at Aragorn but said nothing to rebuke him. None at the table agreed with Aragorn's treatment of his son, and yet they could all understand why he felt that way about the child.
"Moving on." Gandalf said tersely. "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 around. "Well, obviously the next two people are not here." Faramir said finally. "They must be strangers to Arwen."
"The last part is fairly obvious." Gimli said. "A total stranger must give Arwen a kiss, if Aragorn will let him!"
"I will do anything to bring her back." Aragorn whispered, but they chose to ignore him.
"The blood of someone Arwen never met, but yet is somehow tied to?" Legolas muttered to himself.
"Perhaps a relative that Arwen does not know?" Aragorn suggested.
"Indeed." Elrond said. "And you shall find no shortage of those in Lothlorien. However finding one that she has not met will be difficult, yet not impossible."
"I do not believe that the riddle is about a relative." Frodo said. "I mean, we already have a gift from a relative in the tear from Arwen's son. Surely the enchantment would not require two relatives? It seems to simple."
"I am inclined to agree with you Frodo." Gandalf said solemnly. "But I'm sure that when we stop off at Lothlorien to collect the child to accompany us on our journey, we may find someone fitting the description. It should not be too hard to do."
"Then we set out as soon as possible." Aragorn said, standing up and walking towards the door.
"No Aragorn." Faramir said. "Today you must all rest whilst I make preparations for your journey, you shall require horses and supplies. I shall have these readied by first light tomorrow morning. We have a day to prepare, and you all have a day to rest and prepare yourselves for the tasks ahead."
"Agreed." Gandalf said, before Aragorn could object. "The seven of us shall leave tomorrow morning. Faramir must stay and look after Gondor in Aragorn's absence, and I expect Elrond shall wish to return to Rivendell soon."
"I shall remain here for a few more days." Elrond confirmed. "To help those still grieving and to assist Faramir in whatever way I can. I shall most likely return to Rivendell in a week or so, when things have calmed down here."
"Then it is agreed?" Gimli asked. "The fellowship shall complete another quest, a quest for Arwen."
"Agreed!" Legolas put his hand on Gimli's shoulder. "And now we must rest. Tomorrow shall be like old times, and you shall ride behind me on our horse!" Gimli smiled as they left the chamber, heading to their own rooms to sleep and prepare themselves for the task ahead.
As they slept, aided by a weak-sleeping potion in their water administered by Gandalf when they were not looking, plans were underway for their departure. Horses were found, food was collected, weapons readied and clothing packed. Gondor was a hive of activity during that day and night, but the sleeping fellowship barely noticed this difference in mood, they slept so soundly.
AN – what do you think? Is there a little more happiness in this one? I've just written the next two chapters (I will do anything to put off homework!) and they don't get much more cheerful...yet! Promise they will though! ^_^
Response to reviewers
Fay*Evenstar – hmmm, I debate what to do here! If you review twice, do you deserve two responses? I'll get back to that one! Glad you liked my OC, I'm trying not to make her Mary-Sue-ish, but its really hard because I swear elves are perfect! Think about, they are all pretty, don't need to sleep, can run fast, see far.... I rest my case! Anyway, so you like Aragorn? I have to say I prefer Legolas myself, maybe because Orlando Bloom is soooooo fine! Thanks for your reviews!
Grumpy – The Gimli part is quite good, although the rest of the riddle was really hard to work out, that part was quite easy. Thanks for your review!
Voldie on Varsity Track – did you only read chapters 1 and 2, because your reviews came from those chapters? I love popcorn, salted is the best!
Queen Arwen – Arwen MAT come back and Aragorn COULD take Eldarion back...in the meantime read on and see! (Haha, I love cliffhangers!)
Gionareth – wow, I don't think anyone has called my work interesting before. Well, they might have done but I don't remember it and you said it really nicely so I like you for that!
Ainu Laire – Thanks for giving your constructive criticism, I don't like falmes but your thoughts are appreciated because you are nice when you say it!!! Anyway, yeah, I always make grammar mistakes with speech, so much that I hardly bother to correct myself anymore! But if those are the only complaints you have then I'm pretty chuffed! Thank you for reading! (And I'm looking forward to the next chapter of Pirates of the Ring.)
The True Evenstar – Your review had me splitting my sides with laughter! Keep it up. I'm glad you like it. My stories usually start very slowly and people get bored by about the twentieth chapter when all the action starts to happen! Lol!
Jamie Cullum's Pixie Wife – Glad you like it, and I'm not saying anything more about a happy ending, but it is all planned out.
EVERYBODY – Jamie Cullum's Pixie Wife suggested some (Cover your eyes now kids) sex to be included. I have to admit this would fit really really super mega well with my story, but if anyone really really doesn't want it included then please speak now or forever hold your peace. I will have to change the rating of the story I think too, so if you strongly disagree with the inclusion of sex, please let me know now!
Thank you!