In this way, 5 months (earth time) passed. The
four of them resolved to stay. There wasn't much else they could
do especially because they didn't know how to get back. Gracy
eventually forgave Elrond for the interrogation incident and he became like
a second father to them. Life went on as usual, until one day. Gracy
was strolling through one of the libraries after a small meal and was reading
some of the books when Elrond came hurrying in. But he wasn't alone.
Next to him was a tall wizened man. "Gandalf?" Gracy whispered
to herself. Elrond looked around, appearing to check if they were
alone. Gracy moved back into the shadows in the corner wedging herself
as far in as possible so she could listen. She knew if Elrond saw her
there he would ask her to leave. Whatever was going on was obviously
very important judging by the serious and urgent expressions Elrond and Gandalf
wore.
"Of course he has been corrupted. I told you of the reason for my delay."
Gandalf was saying, "I've sent Strider to Bree to assist the Hobbits."
"Does Bilbo know of the ring?" Elrond looked anxious.
"No," Gandalf admitted, "but the night of his birthday, I went to say a goodbye before he took his leave. He has left everything to young Frodo including the ring. But I could see how it him in a clutch. He became cold when I even mentioned leaving the ring."
"And the Nazgul?" Elrond looked like his last hopes were ready to fade.
"They are on their way to the Shire. They are coming for the ring. Sauron has returned."
Gracy couldn't suppress a sharp intake of breath. Elrond's keen elven hearing caused him to immediately turn. But Gracy had done well in hiding herself. She stood in a corner they could not see from where they stood. Elrond seemed to dismiss the sound because he turned back to Gandalf and said, "We had better inform Bilbo. We had also better be sure Arwen will be safe."
Gracy's stomach dropped about two feet. She'd completely forgotten about Arwen! She'd left about a week ago. What if she ran into the Nazgul? Would she be able to defend herself? Gracy knew Arwen was strong and very able to handle self defense, but all the same... Gracy searched her memory of the Tolkein books and the New Line Cinema movies. Nothing had happened to Arwen in either of those, but some things were different in the real place. Gracy stayed still waiting for more, but about thirty seconds later she heard the door shut. She listened carefully but heard nothing. Gracy stepped out of her hiding place, her legs shaking, and her stomach turning. This was definitely not better news than what it could have been.
~*~*~*~
Over the next few days, Gracy slept very little. When she did manage to doze she tossed and turned fitfully, waking up from horrible dreams of things to come. She was tired of looking all the time and jumped when someone spoke to her or she heard the smallest noise. Finally, Elrond summoned her to his study. He bid her to sit, but she felt restless so she wandered as though in a trance, to look outside and feel the air on her face.
"Gracy? Have you been well?" Elrond moved to stand beside her.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You have not been yourself of late. What ails you? And do not say it it nothing. I perceive your heart is troubled," Elrond stood watching her for a long time. Since Gracy had her face turned away he couldn't tell or perceive what she was thinking as well. But when she turned to face him, she looked more exhausted then ever and her eyes were bloodshot.
"Were you planning to tell me about the ring?"
Elrond looked taken aback, "Should I even ask how you found out?"
Gracy shook her head and replied, "We had a right to know. And what of Arwen?"
"What of her?"
"Will she be all right?"
"She can defend herself in a time of need."
"Do you know that for sure? You knew what would happen if the so-called threat you talked of when we first got here, found out about me and my friends. What is happening at the moment concerns us too." Then Gracy turned her heel and left. She felt sad and exhausted, but at the same time she was glad she'd told him everything she knew. She walked in a trance like state back to her chambers and collapsed onto the bed, falling into the first restful sleep she'd had in a while.
"Of course he has been corrupted. I told you of the reason for my delay."
Gandalf was saying, "I've sent Strider to Bree to assist the Hobbits."
"Does Bilbo know of the ring?" Elrond looked anxious.
"No," Gandalf admitted, "but the night of his birthday, I went to say a goodbye before he took his leave. He has left everything to young Frodo including the ring. But I could see how it him in a clutch. He became cold when I even mentioned leaving the ring."
"And the Nazgul?" Elrond looked like his last hopes were ready to fade.
"They are on their way to the Shire. They are coming for the ring. Sauron has returned."
Gracy couldn't suppress a sharp intake of breath. Elrond's keen elven hearing caused him to immediately turn. But Gracy had done well in hiding herself. She stood in a corner they could not see from where they stood. Elrond seemed to dismiss the sound because he turned back to Gandalf and said, "We had better inform Bilbo. We had also better be sure Arwen will be safe."
Gracy's stomach dropped about two feet. She'd completely forgotten about Arwen! She'd left about a week ago. What if she ran into the Nazgul? Would she be able to defend herself? Gracy knew Arwen was strong and very able to handle self defense, but all the same... Gracy searched her memory of the Tolkein books and the New Line Cinema movies. Nothing had happened to Arwen in either of those, but some things were different in the real place. Gracy stayed still waiting for more, but about thirty seconds later she heard the door shut. She listened carefully but heard nothing. Gracy stepped out of her hiding place, her legs shaking, and her stomach turning. This was definitely not better news than what it could have been.
~*~*~*~
Over the next few days, Gracy slept very little. When she did manage to doze she tossed and turned fitfully, waking up from horrible dreams of things to come. She was tired of looking all the time and jumped when someone spoke to her or she heard the smallest noise. Finally, Elrond summoned her to his study. He bid her to sit, but she felt restless so she wandered as though in a trance, to look outside and feel the air on her face.
"Gracy? Have you been well?" Elrond moved to stand beside her.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You have not been yourself of late. What ails you? And do not say it it nothing. I perceive your heart is troubled," Elrond stood watching her for a long time. Since Gracy had her face turned away he couldn't tell or perceive what she was thinking as well. But when she turned to face him, she looked more exhausted then ever and her eyes were bloodshot.
"Were you planning to tell me about the ring?"
Elrond looked taken aback, "Should I even ask how you found out?"
Gracy shook her head and replied, "We had a right to know. And what of Arwen?"
"What of her?"
"Will she be all right?"
"She can defend herself in a time of need."
"Do you know that for sure? You knew what would happen if the so-called threat you talked of when we first got here, found out about me and my friends. What is happening at the moment concerns us too." Then Gracy turned her heel and left. She felt sad and exhausted, but at the same time she was glad she'd told him everything she knew. She walked in a trance like state back to her chambers and collapsed onto the bed, falling into the first restful sleep she'd had in a while.