"This could be such a beautiful world if we could all care just a little more."
–Rosalind Welcher

"Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give that to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
–Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is not mine.

Chapter 19
Pippin's Plan

"We have to go after them!" Gimli exclaimed. "They're the reason we came here! If they're with Athos, they're in danger!"

"No . . . they're not," Morgan said weakly, her eyes slowly coming open. "He won't hurt them."

"Morgan!" Radagast exclaimed, a little surprised, both that she was awake and that she was defending Athos.

"Do you really think he won't hurt them after what he did to you?" Aragorn asked.

"He could've easily killed them before. He didn't. I saw in him a . . . reluctance to hurt people so innocent."

"Oh, and what does that make you?" Gimli asked.

"A threat to his plan. He doesn't see them as a problem, especially if he can manage to convince them he's right."

"So we have come all this way for nothing?"

Morgan blushed. "Well, we rescued Eomer," she ventured.

"Yes, but now you and Peter and Faramir and Legolas might die instead!" Eomer shouted. "What good is that?"

Morgan closed her eyes a moment and tried to stop the ringing in her ears. Unsuccessful, she decided to try again. "How's Legolas?" she asked.

"Not . . . so good," Avanwë said painfully, struggling to keep the Elf conscious. "What about you three?"

"Could . . . be worse. Gleems . . . gave us a slower . . . kind of poison. More time . . ."

Not much more, Morgan knew, but her friends had enough to worry about without adding her, Peter, and Faramir to the list. Legolas was dying. The Hobbits were missing again and so was Bergil. If they could only get to Rivendell . . .

Elrond was thinking the same thing. He hated to admit it, but he didn't know what he was doing. He looked at Galadriel. She looked at Gandalf. He nodded. "It's worth a try," the Wizard said.

"What is?" Radagast asked, but then realized what they meant. He nodded, holding Peter's hand tight. "Morgan?" he asked. "Can you and Peter handle this."

"Do we have a choice? If we don't, we're dead. Peter's unconscious, but I think I can still reach him, if you three help." She looked up at the Elves and Wizards. If you've never seen an Elf, a Half-Elf, and two Wizards all nodding vigorously at the same time, it's pretty hilarious.

"Let's do it, then," Gandalf said. "Close your eyes."

"What makes you think you can change all this, Athos?" Frodo asked

"I'm the gleems' leader. They have the power and the numbers to change what they want."

"Killing anyone who opposes them I suppose?"

"I'm not a murderer, my young Hobbit. I never kill unless it is absolutely necessary, and I get no pleasure from it."

"Shhh," Pippin cautioned, a little ways off.

"You think this will work?" Bergil asked.

"What could be more convincing?" the young Hobbit asked, cradling a small, fluffy bundle in his arms. "The worst he can do is not listen."

"No, the worst he can do is kill us all," Merry said, as optimistic as ever. "He can't do worse than that."

"I don't know," Bergil said. "You saw what the gleems did to Legolas. That may be worse."

"Open your eyes," Gandalf said. He glanced around quickly. Imladris. Avanwë, Galadriel, Elrond, Glorfindel, Eomer, Eowyn, Radagast, Susan, Samuel, Gimli, Eric, Tandro, Noka, Rona, Balo, Nora, Ronosa, Morgan, Peter, Faramir, and Legolas. Wait. Something was wrong. Aragorn. Latano. Where were they?

Morgan had fainted. The Wizard had expected that. 'The power of the three is waning,' he thought to himself. 'I hope it will be enough.'

"Erestor!" Elrond called. "Erestor?" The Elf came running, and from only the sound of Elrond's voice could tell something was terribly wrong.

"Valar!" he exclaimed when he saw what had happened. "Who did this?"

"A new enemy," Elrond said wearily.

"Where are the Hobbits? Bergil? Aragorn?"

"You don't want to know."

"That bad?"

"That bad."

"You can tell me about it once we get these four to the Healing Wing. Wasn't there another one of those short . . ."

"Elves," Balo finished for him. "My uncle, Latano. "Where is he?"

"I'm afraid we've left him behind," Noka said. "Don't worry, Balo. Latano can take care of himself."

"Open your eyes," Latano said after a moment of silence. They, as the others had guessed, were still in the forest–just he and Aragorn.

"Well, that's that," the ranger said. "We may never get back to Middle-Earth."

"Part of you sounds . . . relieved."

"Latano, I'm a king back there, but I used to be a ranger out of the wild, someone no one would willingly talk to. I used to have all the time I wanted to roam the wilderness in search of adventure and danger. Did you know I'm eighty-seven?"

"You're young," Latano smiled.

"So the elves here are immortal, too?"

"We are. Strider, I think I understand."

"I was hoping you would. Not too many people do."

"Well, I guess I'm not 'too many people.' I'm just one elf who, like yourself, loves adventure and danger, but doesn't want to put others' lives at risk."

Aragorn smiled. Years of wandering the wild country had almost made him forget that there's usually someone out there who will listen, and try to understand.

Suddenly, there was a high-pitched shriek from above and a low bird call from the trees at the same moment. "Take cover!" Latano called, but it was too late. The gleems and the elves had seen them.

"I'm so sorry, Daëlin," Radagast whispered. "I should've stayed with you."

"Nonsense, Radagast," Peter said weakly. The elves had managed to wake him. "That would've accomplished nothing, save for the battles to continue longer because you weren't there to call the Nightwatchers."

"Elrond and Gandalf have something they need to tell you."

"Well, let them in."

Radagast opened the door. Peter tried hard to smile as his friends entered. "Mae govannen," he said, doing his best at an Elvish accent.

Elrond smiled at the attempt. "Hannon le."

Peter studied his face carefully. "You found something," he said, dropping the accent that hadn't sounded the least bit Elvish.

Gandalf looked at Elrond, who nodded. "We found a Palantir," the Wizard said. "In the cabin on the other side of the forest. Did you know Aramis had it?"

Peter nodded. "He told me once, but he said it could be dangerous, so I didn't try to use it."

"That was wise," Gandalf said. "Others would've known about you."

"As if we don't have enough troubles of our own," Peter smiled. "How're the others?"

"We've found something that will slow the poison, but nothing to stop it," Elrond said, somehow knowing the old man wouldn't believe him if he tried to lie and give him better news.

"Where are they?"

"They're in rooms close to here. Nora, Ronosa, and I are trying our best, but we can't seem to find anything."

Peter nodded understandingly, and gently touched the cross around his neck. "Would you three leave for a moment?" he asked.

Gandalf and Elrond left. Radagast didn't budge. "Daëlin, I know what you're going to do, and I won't let you go alone," he said firmly.

"You can come then," Peter said reluctantly. "Morgan's still unconscious, and none of the others would immediately notice we're gone."

"You're sure about this?'

"He's the only one who can help us. He's an expert."

"But will he help us?"

"I don't know, melon nin, but I'm wiling to give it a try."

"And I'm with you to the end."

"Hannon le."

"Always glad to repay a favor."

"Then hand me my walking stick and close your eyes."

"He'll live, sister," Eomer assured Eowyn.

"How? If Elrond can't find a cure, then who can?"

"He just needs a little time," Noka said. "My sister says they've already made progress."

"But what about my uncle? Where is he?" Balo asked.

"I don't know, Balo," Noka said, putting a comforting arm around the young elf's shoulder. "He and Aragorn will be fine, though. I know that elf, and Aragorn seems like a terrific warrior."

"He is," Eowyn put in, taking Faramir's hand gently. She was amazed at what a strong bond the Woodland Wanderers had, how much they cared about each other, as if they were family. What she didn't know was they recently it had been stretched to the limits, and strengthened by it. Not long ago, they'd thought Athos had killed Morgan. It had taken a supposed death to make them really family, to make them realize they had to stand together.

"Gimli, mellon nin, will you stop pacing?" Avanwë asked impatiently.

"And what, exactly, am I supposed to do?"

"Well, you're shaking the floor."

"I am not."

"You are," Glorfindel confirmed. "Sit down, Gimli." Gimli sat down, mumbling something about Elves.

Tandro came over and sat by the Dwarf. "I know how you feel," he said quietly.

"Do you?"

"I'm only assuming Latano is with Aragorn. Gimli, he's my best friend, though he's far older, and Morgan is close to us like Legolas is to you. So's Peter."

"I just don't like sitting here and doing nothing," Gimli admitted.

"You're not the only one."

Gimli glanced over at Legolas, still motionless on the bed, and at Avanwë, kneeling by his side, eyes closed.

Just then, a young girl was walking by the door, injured and more than a little confused. Tandro's head perked up at the sound of her footsteps. "Is this Imladris?" the girl asked, and she collapsed.

"I'll find Elrond," Tandro said, running off.

"This is a nice place," Samuel said to no one in particular.

"It is," Galadriel agreed, surprising him from behind. "You're Samuel, aren't you? Peter told me about you."

Samuel blushed a little, then realized what the meant. "Peter's been to Laurelindorinan!" he exclaimed.

Galadriel seemed a little surprised. "He said you knew about us," she said quietly. "I don't understand how."

"I'm not exactly sure how to explain it."

"Then don't."

"Where's Susan?"

"With Morgan and Rona. And Eric."

Actually, Eric wasn't with them at all. He was wandering around, feeling very, very out of place. Finally, he decided to check on how Ronosa and Nora were doing.

"Hey, y'all," he said. "Anything?"

"See answer from two minutes ago," Nora answered.

"Still nothing?"

"Yup," Ronosa sighed. "Still getting nowhere."

"How long do we have?" Eric asked.

"As long as what we've found and the delayed effects of time here can give us," the kyte said.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Yeah. Hope and pray that it will be enough."

"I don't feel right leaving them in there alone," Gandalf said worriedly. "I keep getting the feeling something's going to happen."

"We should check and see what's going on," Elrond agreed. He opened the door. No one was there.

"We were too late," Gandalf whispered. "Let's hope those two find what they're looking for."

"What are they looking for?"

"Help. Help of the strangest sort."

Just then, Tandro came running down the hall. "Elrond! Elrond!" he shouted. "There's a girl here! She's wounded. She needs your help!"

"Where is she?" Elrond asked immediately, glad for an easier task.

"This way."

"Athos!" Pippin called. "Athos!"

"What is it?"

"I found . . . a reason why . . . you shouldn't . . . do this," the young Hobbit explained, a little out of breath from running. He held out the small bundle to Athos: a young puppy, small, innocent.

"I don't understand."

"There is still innocence, goodness, in this world. If you do what you plan to, not only those who are doing wrong will suffer. Those close to them will, too. If you plan to punish, for example, the mother here, which you probably do from the way you talk about her, the rest of the family will be hurt, as well."

Frodo stared at his young cousin. Where had he learned this? When did he stop being completely naive, the epitome of innocence?"

"Besides, who wants to fight a war when you can drink a pint of ale at the Green Dragon?" Pippin added. Frodo grinned. The innocence was still there.

xWhit3StaRx -- Well, the cliffhanger wasn't as bad this time. :) I hope.

Kabuki773701 -- That's okay, I only just saw the Matrix about a month ago. There's this really terrible cliffhanger at the end of the second one. :) Yeah, you were the only one who reviewed the whatever-number-it-was chapter, but that's okay. :)

Quen -- Well, the Deep in the Heart of Texas thing is kind of a metaphor, which basically means I had it stuck in my head half the time I was writing this and so I figured out how to kind of weave it into the story, which may or may not have been a good idea. About Galadriel, you kind of have to look at the bigger picture, which means I don't really know what she's doing there, really, but she's there, so I'm dealing with it. I know, I've left a lot of questions and not everything makes sense, but that happens whenever I decide to mix another group with the Woodland Wanderers because I have to explain everything there is to know about the Undiscovered island and gleems and Athos and stuff and still kind of focus on the other people, too, not just explaining background. So what I think may be thoroughly explained someone else might not understand at all, because of background, because of metaphors, because of something I meant to put in, but left out by mistake, all sorts of things. So if you have a question, ask, and I'll try my best to explain what's going on, but there are some things in my mind that even I don't understand, and some things I just throw into stories at random and hope people assume there's some deeper metaphorical meaning even though there realy is none. :) Okay, that was my attempt at total honesty, and this is way too long by now, so I'll just say, Thanks for reviewing and hope it's starting to make more sense.