PART 4
The sweet sounds of elven-voices followed Legolas as he climbed the marble stairs of Elrond's palace in Rivendell. They were singing joyfully of the times before the War of the Ring, the times where Middle-earth was united in its lands and people.
Legolas reached the landing before the watchtowers and stopped short. In the corner, staring out one of the large windows overlooking the city, stood a regal figure. He wore a silver shift, like all of the Elves, but a dark green cloak clasped with a Lorien leaf was slung about his shoulders and the glittering hilt of a sword could be seen at his side. A silver crown, much like the one Elrond wore, topped his head of long dark hair, and his eyes were sad as he stared blankly out onto Rivendell.
Legolas bowed. "My lord Elessar. I did not see you before."
The man startled, then looked around until his eyes fell on the genuflecting Elf. "Get up, Legolas. Elves still hold more power than the greatest men." He walked over to Legolas and drew him to his feet. "I have missed you, friend."
Legolas embraced him. "Aragorn. Arwen mentioned that you were here, but I did not see you at dinner. I have missed you as well." His fair elven-face was troubled. "We are in need of your bravery and armies of Gondor."
"So I have heard. Elrond has told me of the new threat. He told me to meet him at the watchtowers." Aragorn ran a hand through his hair. "It was not long ago that we defeated Sauron; I cannot see him coming to power again. The Great Ring was destroyed. I have managed to protect Gondor from the remaining Uruk-hai that Sauron left behind, as well as destroy the last of the Nazgul. But if there are Uruk-hai that even elvish-arrows will not pierce . . ."
Legolas sighed. "Elrond will tell us what to do. He is yet wise enough to help us with this mission. I believe, in my heart, that Saruman has returned. We never received word that he was completely destroyed after the Great War. And I took to the Sea so quickly . . ."
Aragorn looked concerned. "Do not blame yourself. If it is Saruman, then none of the Fellowship took precautions to make sure that the monster was not a threat. I believe Elrond has called all remaining members of the Fellowship to Rivendell. We will see what comes of this late-night council."
Aragorn and Legolas reached the top of the stairs and regarded, with a bit of nostalgia for olden times, the same chairs and table that had been used for the last Council. But instead of the original twenty-three chairs, there were only seven. Legolas looked surprised. "Where are the rest of the chairs?"
Elrond spoke up behind him. "I have decided to only call the seven strongest and wisest to Rivendell for this mission. It is not as great as the War of the Ring, and the Halflings are left to enjoy the Shire and their lives there uninterrupted. Boromir passed on long ago and we have a new representative of Gondor, King Elessar. Mithrandir has come to help us again, and so have you, Legolas, and my sons Elrohir and Elladan. Then there is myself."
"But that only makes six. Who is the seventh?" asked Legolas.
"I believe he will want to tell you himself." Elrond smiled and stepped aside. A short, squat little man covered in heavy armour stepped out from behind Elrond and ran full tilt at Legolas. The Elf, startled, caught the man before he ran into him and held him off at arm's length. "Gimli?"
"Argh! Did you think, Master Elf, that I would let such gentle beings as yourselves fight another war without the help of the Dwarves? If you did, you are sadly mistaken." Gimli winked from behind his heavy eyebrows and plaited beard. "Never trust an Elf!"
"Gimli! It has been so long!" Legolas bent and embraced the Dwarf. "I thought you had forgotten all about our friendship!"
"Nay! How could I forget about my best friend? And here, I have something for that little elfling of yours. Where is she?"
"I left Ashira in Mirkwood. I thought that she and Elladriel would be safer there in the treetops than with me. Did you bring your family?"
"Not on your life, as long as it is! If that rogue Saruman is behind this, the best place for them to be is in the Glittering Caves." Gimli handed Legolas a small package. "There now, the best for a she-elf that the Glittering Caves can produce!"
Legolas unwrapped the package and held up a shining mobile made of the finest gems, in all colours and shapes. It caught the moonlight and cast its facets over all the men there. "It's beautiful, Gimli."
"Aye, and so it should be! You Elves aren't the only ones that can construct the greatest art!" Gimli smiled. "I hope she enjoys it. Come Elrond, what news? What have you learned of this threat?"
Elrond looked troubled. "I know not much about it, only what Mithrandir has told me. He will come in a moment, and we shall learn all about this."
Legolas sat down in one of the carven chairs. Gandalf was the greatest wizard of his order, and could surely defeat Saruman, with help. He sighed and stretched out his long legs, which were sore from riding.
Presently the company heard the stump of heavy boots and a muttering coming up the stairs. A few seconds more and a man in a long white cloak and tall white hat came through, bearing a staff which was glowing slightly. The man coughed, cleared his throat and came up to stand beside Elrond, taking off his hat as he did so.
"Mithrandir!" cried Legolas. "How good it is to see you!"
"And you, Legolas." Gandalf smiled from behind his long grey beard. "I have missed all of your company. But I would rather have seen you all under different circumstances."
"What news, Gandalf?" they all cried.
"I am afraid, my friends, that we are under attack once again. Not by Sauron, or even Saruman, as we all thought at first. Nay, but by a new, awful threat, planning to take over our world and all the lands beyond Middle-earth. This threat makes Sauron's plan pale by comparison."
Elrohir looked horrified. "What is this horrible thing, Mithrandir? What could be worse than Sauron the Dark Lord?"
"She has taken Saruman and his remaining Uruk-hai into her servitude. She wishes - " and here Gandalf looked incredibly sad - "to destroy the race of Elves altogether. Men are easily changed in their ways, begging your pardon, Aragorn. They are not a threat to this creature. Dwarves -" - looking at Gimli - "are a dying race and prefer to delve deeply in their caves. There are only a few left, so they do not pose a threat. It is the wise Elves and wizards that this creature, Zycrah is her name, wish to get rid of, because they hold the Dark Forces at bay and keep the lands of Middle-earth beautiful. Zycrah wishes to see all the lands turn into dark wastelands and the spirit of beauty and good give way to her own evil. She is an ancient creature, born in the youth of the world and in the deepest reaches of evil. She uses no rings or physical methods of power, no." Gandalf cleared his throat. "She uses mental images, illnesses, to drive her servants to madness. This is why your Mirkwood archers, Legolas, could not kill those Uruk-hai. She has bolstered them to think that they are invincible - and if you think, therefore you are. I have seen all this in the palantirs of Middle-earth. She has taken Mordor back and is creating new armies, completely unresistant to her will. She means to take all of Middle-earth in the end."
"So we're finished then. That's it." said Gimli weakly. "How do we fight against something that controls everything with its mind? Physical weapons do not even touch these forms of evil. I am finished. We are all doomed."
"No, Gimli, this is untrue. There is one way to defeat Zycrah. She is not completely invincible. Elrond will tell you of this." Gandalf sat down.
Elrond stood. "Apparently, this creature is resistant to all forms of good except one. This is the stone of Elessar, given to Aragorn by Galadriel of Lothlorien. In this stone is represented the strength, force and power of beauty and good of the Elves. Zycrah wishes to destroy this Stone, this one thing that keeps her from taking over us all. The Elfstone acts as a barrier to her mental orders and wishes in all who bear it or come in contact with it. Aragorn keeps the stone in Gondor, the ruling city, and this is why none of the lands of Middle-earth save Mordor has been bent to Zycrah's will. But Zycrah has sent her creatures to destroy it. In order to stop Zycrah, we must destroy her, using this stone. We must take the stone to Mordor and turn its full power on Zycrah - if she looks upon the Stone, she dies."
"So you are asking all of us to go to Mordor, again, and turn the power of the Stone on Zycrah?" asked Elladan.
Gandalf looked sad. "That is exactly what I am asking you to do. I regret doing so . . . but our lands, and our people, will perish without this task being done."
Legolas stood. "I will go. I have some knowledge of the use of the Stone, and I am resistant to much mental trifling. I have a very good reason to protect my lands."
Aragorn looked at him sympathetically. "Since I possess the Stone, I will go as well."
Gimli stood. "I've never been much for intellectual matters, but those creatures will need killing. I will join this mission."
Elrond said, "I speak for the ruling family of Rivendell when I say that my sons and I, knowing the most besides Mithrandir about the Elfstone, will go to destroy this new threat."
Gandalf nodded. "We leave tomorrow morning. You have tonight to send messages to your families and prepare. Thank you friends."
They all dispersed and went their separate ways, each thinking about the mission to come.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
The sweet sounds of elven-voices followed Legolas as he climbed the marble stairs of Elrond's palace in Rivendell. They were singing joyfully of the times before the War of the Ring, the times where Middle-earth was united in its lands and people.
Legolas reached the landing before the watchtowers and stopped short. In the corner, staring out one of the large windows overlooking the city, stood a regal figure. He wore a silver shift, like all of the Elves, but a dark green cloak clasped with a Lorien leaf was slung about his shoulders and the glittering hilt of a sword could be seen at his side. A silver crown, much like the one Elrond wore, topped his head of long dark hair, and his eyes were sad as he stared blankly out onto Rivendell.
Legolas bowed. "My lord Elessar. I did not see you before."
The man startled, then looked around until his eyes fell on the genuflecting Elf. "Get up, Legolas. Elves still hold more power than the greatest men." He walked over to Legolas and drew him to his feet. "I have missed you, friend."
Legolas embraced him. "Aragorn. Arwen mentioned that you were here, but I did not see you at dinner. I have missed you as well." His fair elven-face was troubled. "We are in need of your bravery and armies of Gondor."
"So I have heard. Elrond has told me of the new threat. He told me to meet him at the watchtowers." Aragorn ran a hand through his hair. "It was not long ago that we defeated Sauron; I cannot see him coming to power again. The Great Ring was destroyed. I have managed to protect Gondor from the remaining Uruk-hai that Sauron left behind, as well as destroy the last of the Nazgul. But if there are Uruk-hai that even elvish-arrows will not pierce . . ."
Legolas sighed. "Elrond will tell us what to do. He is yet wise enough to help us with this mission. I believe, in my heart, that Saruman has returned. We never received word that he was completely destroyed after the Great War. And I took to the Sea so quickly . . ."
Aragorn looked concerned. "Do not blame yourself. If it is Saruman, then none of the Fellowship took precautions to make sure that the monster was not a threat. I believe Elrond has called all remaining members of the Fellowship to Rivendell. We will see what comes of this late-night council."
Aragorn and Legolas reached the top of the stairs and regarded, with a bit of nostalgia for olden times, the same chairs and table that had been used for the last Council. But instead of the original twenty-three chairs, there were only seven. Legolas looked surprised. "Where are the rest of the chairs?"
Elrond spoke up behind him. "I have decided to only call the seven strongest and wisest to Rivendell for this mission. It is not as great as the War of the Ring, and the Halflings are left to enjoy the Shire and their lives there uninterrupted. Boromir passed on long ago and we have a new representative of Gondor, King Elessar. Mithrandir has come to help us again, and so have you, Legolas, and my sons Elrohir and Elladan. Then there is myself."
"But that only makes six. Who is the seventh?" asked Legolas.
"I believe he will want to tell you himself." Elrond smiled and stepped aside. A short, squat little man covered in heavy armour stepped out from behind Elrond and ran full tilt at Legolas. The Elf, startled, caught the man before he ran into him and held him off at arm's length. "Gimli?"
"Argh! Did you think, Master Elf, that I would let such gentle beings as yourselves fight another war without the help of the Dwarves? If you did, you are sadly mistaken." Gimli winked from behind his heavy eyebrows and plaited beard. "Never trust an Elf!"
"Gimli! It has been so long!" Legolas bent and embraced the Dwarf. "I thought you had forgotten all about our friendship!"
"Nay! How could I forget about my best friend? And here, I have something for that little elfling of yours. Where is she?"
"I left Ashira in Mirkwood. I thought that she and Elladriel would be safer there in the treetops than with me. Did you bring your family?"
"Not on your life, as long as it is! If that rogue Saruman is behind this, the best place for them to be is in the Glittering Caves." Gimli handed Legolas a small package. "There now, the best for a she-elf that the Glittering Caves can produce!"
Legolas unwrapped the package and held up a shining mobile made of the finest gems, in all colours and shapes. It caught the moonlight and cast its facets over all the men there. "It's beautiful, Gimli."
"Aye, and so it should be! You Elves aren't the only ones that can construct the greatest art!" Gimli smiled. "I hope she enjoys it. Come Elrond, what news? What have you learned of this threat?"
Elrond looked troubled. "I know not much about it, only what Mithrandir has told me. He will come in a moment, and we shall learn all about this."
Legolas sat down in one of the carven chairs. Gandalf was the greatest wizard of his order, and could surely defeat Saruman, with help. He sighed and stretched out his long legs, which were sore from riding.
Presently the company heard the stump of heavy boots and a muttering coming up the stairs. A few seconds more and a man in a long white cloak and tall white hat came through, bearing a staff which was glowing slightly. The man coughed, cleared his throat and came up to stand beside Elrond, taking off his hat as he did so.
"Mithrandir!" cried Legolas. "How good it is to see you!"
"And you, Legolas." Gandalf smiled from behind his long grey beard. "I have missed all of your company. But I would rather have seen you all under different circumstances."
"What news, Gandalf?" they all cried.
"I am afraid, my friends, that we are under attack once again. Not by Sauron, or even Saruman, as we all thought at first. Nay, but by a new, awful threat, planning to take over our world and all the lands beyond Middle-earth. This threat makes Sauron's plan pale by comparison."
Elrohir looked horrified. "What is this horrible thing, Mithrandir? What could be worse than Sauron the Dark Lord?"
"She has taken Saruman and his remaining Uruk-hai into her servitude. She wishes - " and here Gandalf looked incredibly sad - "to destroy the race of Elves altogether. Men are easily changed in their ways, begging your pardon, Aragorn. They are not a threat to this creature. Dwarves -" - looking at Gimli - "are a dying race and prefer to delve deeply in their caves. There are only a few left, so they do not pose a threat. It is the wise Elves and wizards that this creature, Zycrah is her name, wish to get rid of, because they hold the Dark Forces at bay and keep the lands of Middle-earth beautiful. Zycrah wishes to see all the lands turn into dark wastelands and the spirit of beauty and good give way to her own evil. She is an ancient creature, born in the youth of the world and in the deepest reaches of evil. She uses no rings or physical methods of power, no." Gandalf cleared his throat. "She uses mental images, illnesses, to drive her servants to madness. This is why your Mirkwood archers, Legolas, could not kill those Uruk-hai. She has bolstered them to think that they are invincible - and if you think, therefore you are. I have seen all this in the palantirs of Middle-earth. She has taken Mordor back and is creating new armies, completely unresistant to her will. She means to take all of Middle-earth in the end."
"So we're finished then. That's it." said Gimli weakly. "How do we fight against something that controls everything with its mind? Physical weapons do not even touch these forms of evil. I am finished. We are all doomed."
"No, Gimli, this is untrue. There is one way to defeat Zycrah. She is not completely invincible. Elrond will tell you of this." Gandalf sat down.
Elrond stood. "Apparently, this creature is resistant to all forms of good except one. This is the stone of Elessar, given to Aragorn by Galadriel of Lothlorien. In this stone is represented the strength, force and power of beauty and good of the Elves. Zycrah wishes to destroy this Stone, this one thing that keeps her from taking over us all. The Elfstone acts as a barrier to her mental orders and wishes in all who bear it or come in contact with it. Aragorn keeps the stone in Gondor, the ruling city, and this is why none of the lands of Middle-earth save Mordor has been bent to Zycrah's will. But Zycrah has sent her creatures to destroy it. In order to stop Zycrah, we must destroy her, using this stone. We must take the stone to Mordor and turn its full power on Zycrah - if she looks upon the Stone, she dies."
"So you are asking all of us to go to Mordor, again, and turn the power of the Stone on Zycrah?" asked Elladan.
Gandalf looked sad. "That is exactly what I am asking you to do. I regret doing so . . . but our lands, and our people, will perish without this task being done."
Legolas stood. "I will go. I have some knowledge of the use of the Stone, and I am resistant to much mental trifling. I have a very good reason to protect my lands."
Aragorn looked at him sympathetically. "Since I possess the Stone, I will go as well."
Gimli stood. "I've never been much for intellectual matters, but those creatures will need killing. I will join this mission."
Elrond said, "I speak for the ruling family of Rivendell when I say that my sons and I, knowing the most besides Mithrandir about the Elfstone, will go to destroy this new threat."
Gandalf nodded. "We leave tomorrow morning. You have tonight to send messages to your families and prepare. Thank you friends."
They all dispersed and went their separate ways, each thinking about the mission to come.
~TO BE CONTINUED~