I am not making any explanations of any kind so either you will be in the dark for ever or else you'll have ask! ha HA! By the way...this is not the partI mentioned in "Elves Shouldn't Be Allowed" That's in the next (possibly next next) chapter. Enjoy this one! I will all questions later.
Rhov sat in the tree above Bag End his eyes wide with amazement as he watched the little hobbits running around in complete confusion. Bilbo and Gandalf had arrived in Hobbiton only to find Bilbo's house being auctioned off (with everything in it). Few of the hobbits seemed overjoyed to see Bilbo Baggins alive and well, most seemed indignant that he would arrive right in the middle of a good party, and there was a small group that looked downright disappointed.
Most of the hobbits knew who Gandalf was but the appearance of an elf -and a strange elf at that- would've put the whole Shire into a dither for months. So all three companions agreed that once Bree had been passed, Rhov should follow along staying out of sight.
It took all day for Bilbo, Gandalf, and a few sympathetic hobbits to politely, yet firmly, order run everyone off and recover what could be had and move it into Bag End.
When the friendly hobbits left Bag End later that night, Rhov slipped down into the house and joined Gandalf and Bilbo over a cup of tea and cakes. The good hobbit seemed ecstatic to be back in his own home and seemed to be quite recovered from his shock of being thought dead for a whole year.
"My good friends, I must raise my tea cup in honor to you both and retire to my bed. It has been a long day and no doubt an even longer one on the morrow." Bilbo said.
Gandalf and Rhov bade the good fellow good night and then sat in silence for a while, both in deep thought. The wizard became hidden behind a cloud of greenish smoke after a while and began snoring deeply. Rhov grinned and stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air and to just take stock of his new surroundings.
He sat down on the stoop, pulled out a long mahogany pipe, and began blowing gray smoke out of his mouth. Hanging around Aragorn, then Gandalf for long periods of time had given the dark-elf some habits that most elves frowned upon in one of their own kind –however distant the relation-.
"It's a bonny land to be sure. Green everywhere mingled with glowing stars and water; a lovely place." Rhov spoke to himself quite a bit and now he was speaking in his own tongue. "How I do wish I could become a hobbit or even a wizard if I could live here. Strange that there has been little, hardly anything written about this fair land. I must remember to tell mother all about it when I see her next."
Two hours later, Rhov pulled the pipe out of his mouth and dumped the dead ashes into the dirt and stood up. Night was fighting its battle with day as it always has and always will. Day conquered swiftly and the sky slowly faded from its velvety blue-black to a stunning blue.
"Wonder why it wasn't green." Rhov thought then disappeared inside to wake up Gandalf, as he himself had no idea how a hobbit's kitchen worked.
A month later
It was night once again and the stars shone as brightly as they had the night Rhov sat watching the Shire. However, this was not the Shire nor was it as peaceful. The dark woods were full of screams, yells, shouts, and cries of agony as the Rangers battled against the small band of wolves that were on the borders of the Shire.
"Elrohir that one is splitting from the pack! Get it before it reaches the safety of the rocks!" Rhov shouted pointing to the wolf in question that was indeed abandoning its comrades.
A huge paw suddenly hit the dark-elf on the back sending him sprawling face first into the loam. He turned over just in time to see a huge wolf come crashing down on top of him, pushing all the air out of his body with a great whoosh. Jaws full of jagged teeth bit deep into his shoulder as the animal sought the elf's jugular.
Still gasping for air, Rhov struggled to reach his knife just another arm's length away from his grasping hand. Pain lanced through him as the wolf's jaws bit into his collarbone. Forgetting the knife, Rhov made fist with his free hand and slugged the animal in the throat tearing it free from his mangled shoulder.
The wolf howled with rage and pain while Rhov kicked it with his right leg to get if off his left. His grasping hand suddenly found the knife and he plunged it into the animal's matted fur. Fur, blood, hair, skin, and pieces of cloth went flying everywhere as the elf and wolf went at it hammer and tongs, threatening to tear each other to pieces.
Elrohir (who had dispatched the renegade with ease) now stood in helpless anger as he watched his friend battle with the leader of the pack. The other wolves had been sent packing and now the Rangers and Aragorn stood with bows drawn not daring to fire as the arrow might hit Rhov instead.
Just as swiftly as it had begun, the fight ended with Rhov finally finding the wolf's heart and burying the knife deep inside the disgusting creature. Silence fell over the dark wood as the howling and screaming ended.
"Pull it off him, quickly!" Aragorn shouted and every man bounded forward, eager to release their friend.
"Sure, and that was no picnic I assure you!" Rhov said the moment they had set him upright. His shirt was torn to shreds while blood flowed liberally down his face and chest. However, Rhov was not unduly bothered by his injuries taking them all in his characteristic stride, letting Aragorn fuss over him while Elrohir propped him upright, seemingly very concerned.
The rest of the Rangers were ordered to follow the wolves and see to it that they did no mischief to any in their cowardly flight. None were eager to go while their comrade was so grievously wounded yet none dared to question their leader's authority and melted into the night.
"I'm alright, for pity's sake!" Rhov shouted when Aragorn and Elrohir put his arms around their shoulders and began dragging him toward their main camp. "It's only a few scratches, I'm not a child!"
"Of course you are you great booby! Unfortunately, the kindness of our hearts cannot let some puppy sit unaided." Elrohir said.
"They aren't just scratches, you of all people should know that Rhov." Aragorn muttered grumpily, "You've lost far to much blood and Arwen would have me murdered if you became sick or died."
"No she wouldn't! You heard her before we left Rivendell, did that sound as if she wanted us alive anytime in the near future? I think not!" Rhov said, annoyed at having help.
"I do not deny it." Elrohir sniggered, "I fear we were a tad liberal in the amount of honey we used on her doorknob. But why she was so incredibly furious about the frog in her washbasin is beyond me."
Aragorn sighed and rolled his eyes as the two elves snickered quietly. Oh, how he would love to see the beautiful Undomiel once again. He distinctly remembered her sweet face underneath the gold and silver trees of Cerin Amroth. Rubbing the ring of Barahir on his finger, Aragorn remembered the sweet words said underneath that most lovely of night skies as she gave him the ring. However, Galadriel had sent for Arwen and the Evenstar left Rivendell right after Aragorn had left with Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrohir, and Rhov.
Gandalf had become fast friends with Aragorn and the two were to have many adventures in later years but for now, Aragorn was taking a rest from his travels in the Wild and the rest of Middle Earth.
Suddenly, a long brown finger poked his side jerking his thoughts back to the present. "The others have arrived, we must camp for the night. Let me go!" Rhov whispered into his ear.
"I heard that and I dare say our King would like to do nothing better than to drop your mangled carcass into a ditch. From all I've hard, you are nothing but mischief." Halbarad chuckled. He was Aragorn's second-in-command and had long been the chief of the Dúnedain of the north while Aragorn was gone on his travels.
Before Rhov could answer, Elrohir and Aragorn set him down and the pain that lanced through his entire body took all thought of banter out of his mind. "Aragorn, I begin to agree with you. It must have torn me up more than I thought." His eyes clouded and an orc drum began its monotonous, heavy pounding; all thoughts faded away.
His eyes snapped open with a suddenness that sent the person in front of him shooting backwards with a strangled yell. Without knowing it, his hands closed over the polished wood surface of his knives' handles; a quick and fluid motion whipped them up and around. Voices called a name he did not know did not recognize, begging him to stop and let them help him. Someone grabbed his arm and another yanked the knives out of his hands, yelling for yet another to come and aid him.
Then it all went black and still once more, a soft, velvet black that encompassed his every sense with its sweet, warm embrace. Nevertheless, something was tugging at the black blanket, urging it to come off to reveal the light of day and life to spring forth. He groaned, wishing the tugging would stop hoping he could rest but the black was yanked away with a horrible suddenness that shocked him; light flooded into his mind and he flipped his hand up to cover his eyes to shield them from the unremitting shine.
As he became accustomed to the light, he began to see figures, like shadows but immobile. He found he could walk, so he strode to the figures wondering who and what they were. The light was swiftly becoming softer and quieter, almost as if the sun was beginning to set.
"My child."
A strange creature had appeared out of the light that had become extremely misty, it stood in front of him with two hands outstretched. He had no idea why it would approach him, why it would smile at him with such a look of… something that he could not identify.
"You can only be here with me for a little while. Your father is not here because he is not allowed in the sacred Halls of Mandos but no doubt, the Valar will let him speak with you." The creature stepped forward and took his hands, smiling gently. "Oh, my lovely child, how I have longed to hold you." With this, the creature took him into her arms and held him, saying strange yet familiar words into his ear, stroking his hair gently.
"Mother." He whispered, knowing with a startlingly realization that this creature was no creature but an elf.
As suddenly as she had appeared, his mother pulled away, a river of tears sliding down her lovely cheeks. Stroking his cheek, she whispered a few more words in his ear and disappeared.
Black once again enveloped his sense instead showing him places he had never been before, people he did not know. A tall, kingly man lay on the ground, three arrows buried in his chest. The vision shifted to a stooped gray-haired old man as he fell into bottomless depths, while a screaming child yelling unintelligibly. The same man Rhov had seen before gripped the child around the waist.
Again, the image shifted to a forest one that seemed to have been beautiful in the spring of the world but now lay in its winter. A figure glided between the deathly gray tree trunks while blackness seemed to surround it.
Then it all disappeared and a voice spoke, floating in Rhov's mind like an evil wraith, mocking quietly, "Who now enters my domain? The Dark Lord has need of you; Morohtar, come and you will be thrice welcomed. Enter the shadows and no longer will your power be dormant, come!"
Rhov saw an ancient king of old hold forth his hand and gleaming in the palm of his hand was a ring. "Do you see this, Morohtar?"
"Take it, Morohtar."
"Nay, I dare not." Rhov muttered in reply.
Incensed by the repeated denials of the dark-elf, the king strode forward and grasped Rhov by the arm.
The dark-elf's eyes gleamed in his dark face as he reached out. The king pulled his hand back and gazed at Rhov with evil pleasure. "It calls to you, this I see. Take it and you will become more powerful than any elf or man. Take it, take it…"
Three people woke as a scream of agony echoed in their heads. Galadriel wept in fear for her Rilien, as the bright light seemed to darken in the small pendant she wore. Nothing could she do to help her beloved child but comfort him from afar.
Legolas and Gandalf were both torn from their sleep but they did not know what the reason for it was, only Legolas could guess and the thought kept him awake for four days.
The agonized scream woke the entire camp and now the Dúnedain gathered around their King as he did his best to keep Rhov alive. Halbarad was aghast at the sight of what had been a laughing, joking elf brimming with life just hours before. Now his face was deathly white, unlike the rest of his body that was turning black as ebony. His eyes were no longer green but red and sunk deep into his skull.
"By the Valar…" one of the rangers breathed in horror.
"Get them back, Halbarad, get them back!" Aragorn roared. "Elrohir, you stay with me and keep his hands away from anything sharp, he's nearly got me several times now."
Through the night, the Dúnedain did not get any rest as they waited for whatever would happen. Many of them had taken to the dark-elf with startling speed. Not particularly cheerful men nor given to humor of any kind, they had been surprised at his irrepressible nature. They had discovered laughter and Halbarad (a natural) became a very close friend.
The Ranger sat outside the tent tears streaming down his face as he ground his teeth, furious at being helpless as his friend struggled for his life.
Galadriel's necklace had darkened even more and now Celeborn stood with her in their throne room, wordlessly watching the light grow dimmer.
Legolas strode his room, agitated beyond words while Gandalf hid himself behind a dense cloud of black smoke in the southern reaches of Mirkwood.