Chapter 33
Will you find the answerIn you?
Many stared in wonder at the Ranger; others in fear. Aragorn's eyes flickered to the side as the young hobbit jumped to his feet.
" Then it belongs to you, not I," Frodo cried, no doubt speaking of the Ring.
Aragorn shook his head, his eyes warily gazing at the small man.
" It belongs to neither of us. You have been chosen to hold it for a while."
Gandalf stood, leaning heavily on his staff.
" Bring forth the Ring, Frodo. Hold it up so that we all can see it."
A hush fell and every eye was on the hobbit as he drew the simple gold ring from his pocket. Aragorn gazed at the Ring warily as it glimmered in the light.
*Aragorn…
He could feel it calling to him; calling for him to snatch it from the weak hobbit's hands and disappear into the night. Elrond's hand tightened on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn glanced back and could see the wariness in his foster father's eyes also.
*Does it call to you also, Ada?
Elrond's eyes flickered down.
*Aye, Estel, it does; and more strongly than any could imagine.
*But you know of its evil. Why does it call to you?
*Because I too am a ringbearer. Speak not of it, Estel. I shall have a word with you later. Beware of the Ring. It will call to you when you least expect it.
Aragorn found Bilbo telling his story of the finding of the Ring; and then Frodo spoke also of his experiences. Gildor, an Elf of the Gray Havens, began questioning Gandalf and Aragorn slunk back into the shadows, replacing Narsil at his side.
" Ash nazg duatulûk…" Gandalf began.
Aragorn watched with wide-eyes as the gray wizard transformed into a menacing figure as the chant went on. His eyes fell on his foster father and Aragorn hastened to Elrond's side. Elrond swallowed slowly, his eyes veiled in pain.
" Never before has anyone dared to utter that tongue here in Imladris," Elrond's voice came sharply.
" I do not beg your pardon, Master Elrond. For the Black language may still be heard, in every corner of the West."
Silence reigned for a while. Boromir cast his gray eyes up from the floor.
" To what doom did you put this creature, Gollum?"
Aragorn shifted his position, allowing one knee to rest on a stair, while the other fell on the next stair below it.
" He is in the prison of Mirkwood," Aragorn lifted a hand towards the suddenly guilty-looking Legolas, " In the care of Legolas there. I doubt that the Elves of Mirkwood would allow him to escape."
At that Legolas shifted and sighed in a mournful tone. He looked up, beginning in a soft, low voice, much akin to the song of a cooing dove.
" Alas, the watch of Mirkwood has never ceased upon the creature, Gollum, but he is no longer in our care." Legolas stood. " I was sent not to attend this council, but to bring ill tidings from my father."
" Escaped?" Aragorn was also on his feet in near anger. " When did the Elves of Thranduil fall so lax against their struggle with evil?"
*It took me eight years to find that creature and now they have lost him?
Legolas' eyes met Aragorn's
*Do not take your anger out on me, son of Arathorn. You will find it unwise.
Elrond's eyes darted between the two, glancing also at his sons before waving a hand.
" Sit down, Estel. Legolas, tell your tale so that we may be able to clear this fault from your name."
Legolas turned, scanning each person in the council before speaking.
" The Elves of Mirkwood have never ceased their watch upon the creature." Legolas sent a pointed glance Aragorn's way. " Our fault was overkindlyness. And we fear that he had aid in his great escape and that more is known of our doings that we would wish any to know." Legolas clasped his hands behind his back. " Yes, the creature was put in my care and yes, we guarded this creature day and night. But we sought to cure Gollum from his evil ways. We had not the heart to keep him locked away in a dungeon all the time."
A dwarf made a snide remark, but Aragorn was too busy seething.
*I have been betrayed. I put him into-
*Estel, be not hasty with your judgment. Mirkwood creeps with more dangers than you could see in your lifetime.
Aragorn looked up at Elrond. Elrond simply motioned for him to listen. Aragorn nodded with a slight sigh.
" In the days of fair weather, we led Gollum through the woods. There was a high tree above the others that he enjoyed climbing." Legolas looked down. " One night he refused to come down. There were three of us that night; I was one. We remained there long into the night. Orcs came at us when we least expected an attack. When the dust cleared, Gollum and my comrades were gone. I summoned other guards and we followed their trail, but never did we recover Gollum. The orcs went straight to Dol Guldur. We Elves do not trek near that place unless we wish death."
Legolas sat back down, keeping his eyes on the floor. Gandalf stood and began speaking of Saruman's treachery. Legolas slowly lifted his head, catching Aragorn's eyes. Aragorn just turned his eyes away. Legolas shook his head regretfully.
*Men have quick tempers and the memories of elephants.
~*~
Elrond and Glorfindel were busily in a conversation of what to do. Aragorn watched faces fall when even the venerable Elrond said that he had not the power to conceal the Ring. Elrond looked at Aragorn gravely and then stood.
" It seems clear to me now of what road we must take. The Westward road seems too easy, so it must be shunned. We must take the hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our-" his eyes drifted to Aragorn-" Hope-" and those eyes flitted away as fast as they had landed-" If hope it be. To walk into Mordor- into the very heart of Sauron's lair and cast the Ring from whence it came."
" What of the Rings, the Rings of power?" Glóin the dwarf asked. "What of the Three? I see Elf-lords here. Will they give me no answer?"
Elrond even was silent, his eyes fixed on the ground. He slowly lifted his eyes, catching Gandalf's eyes so quickly that no one detected it.
" They were never touched by Sauron's hand, but of them, I cannot speak. If they openly tried to assail Sauron, it would be Arda's undoing. Sauron would read their hearts and minds if he regained the One. It would be better if the Three had never been."
Aragorn became bored with the talk of the Three. He glanced at Elrond, and then Gandalf, seeing that they were the two most knowledgeable when it came to the rings.
*Elrond bears one, but Gandalf is no Elf. He would not have one…would he?
The conversation drifted on without him. Bilbo was now speaking in his usual impertinent manner. Aragorn smiled slightly. He had always liked the feisty hobbit.
" And who is this they?" Bilbo had inquired.
" Why the messengers that are to be sent with the ringbearer," Gandalf answered easily.
Bilbo snorted.
" Exactly! And who are they to be? That seems to me to be what this council needs to decide."
The council was silent. A loud bell tolled resounding in the valley. Aragorn lifted his head slightly. He caught Elrond's eyes.
*Who will it be, Elrond?
Elrond simply turned his eyes to the front. The young hobbit looked up fearfully, slumping into his seat.
" I will take the Ring," he said softly, " Though I do not know the way."
Elrond raised his eyes to the hobbit, his mind perceiving the nature of the bearer.
" This task has been appointed to you then, Frodo Baggins. It is a heavy burden. So heavy that none could lay it upon another. I do not lay this upon you. But if you take it freely, then I say that your choice is right."
A rustle came and loud clambering. On instinct, Glorfindel had already leapt up, sword drawn awaiting what intruded upon them. Aragorn nearly chuckled when the sandy haired hobbit, Sam, exited the bush. Glorfindel relaxed, sending the hobbit a careful glance.
*Glorfindel has always been loyal to Elrond, just as Sam is to Frodo. I guess war will do that to you.
A titter went around the council and Aragorn jerked from his thoughts. Even Glorfindel was smiling, so the joke had not been upon the Seneschal. Elrond rose, releasing them all to lunch. He caught Aragorn's eye and motioned the man over.
" Elladan and Elrohir leave today for Lórien. I ask that you remain here. I would like the hobbits to grow to trust you."
Aragorn lifted an eyebrow.
" May I inquire why, Ada?"
Elrond gave a barely perceivable shrug.
" My sight shows what I must do and I am lax to do it." He lifted his eyes. " I have lost too many friends and family members to the cause against Morgoth and Sauron. I am disinclined to choose hastily the messengers to go with the ringbearer." Elrond laid a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. " Though it is most clear that you will be one of them."
Aragorn put a hand over Elrond's.
" I am ready to die if that be my fate."
Elrond shook his head.
" I am not sure I could allow you to follow that fate be it death."
Aragorn shrugged.
" I could die in my sleep tonight, Ada. I would rather die protecting my…" Aragorn trailed off.
Elrond was smiling knowingly.
" The blood of kings runs through your blood."
" And it ends in mine also."
Aragorn sharply turned away. Elrond watched him go with a sigh and the shake of a head.
*You will find it as hard to evade destiny, as it is to evade a raindrop.