Chapter 15: I choose a mortal life, Arwen's vow to Strider

Gandalf, Lee, and Elrond observe the quintets of Frodo, Sam, Lilly, Clementine, and Duck being together.

"His strength returns," said Elrond.

"That wound," said Gandalf, "will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life."

Then Gandalf looked over to Lee and added, "…as I suspect that Lee will carry his cross-shaped scar for the rest of his life as well."

Lee nodded sadly in agreement, "…indeed."

"And yet," said Elrond as he walked away from the window, "to have come so far, still bearing the ring, the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil."

"It is a burden," informed Gandalf, "he should never have had to bear. We can ask no more of Frodo."

"For what its worth, Lord Elrond," added Lee, "I greatly agree with Gandalf, that I do."

Elrond explains to them, "Gandalf… Lee… the enemy is moving, Sauron's forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you both tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."

"It was just a matter of time, Lord Elrond, "said Lee, darkening his expression, "over any periods of time, anyone is capable of changing their ways and their beliefs. Even when it is people like Saruman, that it is."

Gandalf explained even further, "and his treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft, Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin-men. He's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight, and cover great distance and speed. Saruman is coming for the ring."

"This evil," announced Elrond, "cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard!"

Realizing this, Gandalf muses at the window.

"Gandalf?" spoke Lee, wondering.

Elrond resolved to Gandalf, "Gandalf… the ring cannot stay here."

Gandalf continues musing at the window, realizing also that Elrond was right… the ring cannot stay in Rivendell, despite all of Frodo's efforts to bring it there…

In addition to the Elves and the Dwarves that arrived in Rivendell with Doug, Larry, Katjaa, and Carley, a man from the land of Gondor named Boromir has just arrived in Rivendell…

Elrond also announced, "this peril belongs to all Middle-Earth as much as it belongs to the world Lee comes from, Gandalf. They must decide now how to end it. The time of the Elves is over, my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone… the Dwarves? They hide in their mountains, seeking riches, they care nothing for the troubles of others."

Gandalf turned to face Elrond with his resolve, "it is in men, that we must place our hope."

Elrond wasn't too thrilled to hear this. "Men? Men are weak," he said sadly and started to walk away…

Gandalf, Lee, and Elrond walked further into the building. Lee wanted to hear Elrond's explanation. "Nobody's perfect, Lord Elrond," he started, "but why would you think that all men are weak?"

"Because," Elrond explained, "the race of men is failing, Lee. The blood of Numenor is all but spent. Its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of men the ring survives. I was there, Gandalf… I was there, 3000 years ago…"

Elrond recalls the event that happened 3000 years ago…

He was in the last alliance against Sauron. Elrond saw Isildur slicing the ring off of Sauron's hand… landing right next to him…

"…When Isildur took the ring," continued Elrond, "I was there the day the strength of men failed… "

Elrond recalls himself going to Isildur, "Isildur, hurry, follow me." Isildur followed his instructions and was taken to Mt. Doom's scorching… burning heart…

"…I led Isildur into the heart of Mt. Doom… where the ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed…"

Elrond then ordered Isildur, "cast it into the fire!"

Isildur, however, kept looking at the ring, actually admiring it. Isildur looked up at Elrond with a darkened expression. Elrond gasped with concern at this...

"Destroy it!" Elrond ordered again.

"No," Isildur said maliciously… and walked away.

"ISILDUR!" Elrond yelled out… but Isildur never turned around. Elrond watched helplessly as Isildur left Mt. Doom…

"…It should've ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure," Elrond finished his recalling of the past.

Lee sadly sympathizes with Elrond. "I see," he said, "…I knew that you and your people were immortal… but I had no idea that you were there personally when Isildur refused to destroy the ring. I understand now why you would believe all men to be weak. I was told of this tragic tale of Isildur's weakness long ago. But that doesn't mean that all men are like Isildur, that it most certainly does not."

"…Perhaps, Lee," said a doubtful Elrond. He turned to face them and continued, "…but Isildur kept the ring. The line of kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless."

"There is one, who could unite them," interjected Gandalf, "one who could reclaim the throne of Gondor."

Elrond was even more doubtful as he replied, "he turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile."

"And," inquired Lee, "who is this man who can reclaim Gondor?"

"It is the man who helped Frodo and your friends to get here, Lee," answered Gandalf.

"You mean… " Lee said in shock, "…the ranger known as Strider…?"

Strider, the true heir of the Gondor throne, is in a room, reading a book. Glenn was in the room with him, smoking a cigarette. Footsteps echoed on the stone floor… it was Boromir. Boromir started to enter the room and saw Strider.

"You are no Elf." He spoke to Strider.

"Men of the south are welcome here," replied Strider.

"Who are you?"

"A friend of Gandalf the Grey," answered Strider.

Then Larry interjected, "he's a ranger, calls himself Strider. He helped to bring some of my… 'friends' here."

Larry couldn't say friends in the truest sense because he has a lot of issues with Lee's group. Strider was somewhat a little annoyed with Glenn for giving him away.

"Really?" asked a smiling Boromir, and says to both of them, "then we are all here on a common purpose... friends."

Boromir then wandered over to the picture of the final battle between Isildur and Sauron.

'This looks like it's a picture of a final battle.' thought Larry, as he gazed at the picture with Boromir,'…the creepy looking guy must be the dark lord Sauron, which the Battousai speaks of.'

Larry was definitely right about that. Boromir then turned around and sees the broken sword itself, on display, in front of a statue.

"Shards of Narsil," said Boromir.

He picked up the hilt and grasped it with both hands. Glenn looked over to the picture and it was the same blade that was in the picture.

"The blade that cut the ring from Sauron's hand," stated Boromir.

"So," said Larry, smirking, "this is the great weapon that defeated this Sauron, eh?"

Boromir brightly replied, "indeed, my friend… indeed." Boromir then ran his finger up the blade… and accidentally cuts his finger on it…

"…Ah! Its still sharp…" added Boromir as he slowly turned to look at Strider. Strider stared back at Boromir in return…

"…But no more than a broken heirloom," finished Boromir as he dropped the sword on the display table…

But the blade fell and landed onto the floor instead. Boromir left it where it was and leaves the room.

"Not a nice way," said Larry, "to treat heirlooms now, is it?"

He proceeded to put the blade back but Strider interjected, "it's alright… I'll put it back."

Glenn looked at Strider and decided to respect his decision.

"Fine, as you wish," said Glenn as he also left the room.

Strider picked up the blade and softly put it back on the display table. He backed away as if he were frightened of it.

Arwen appeared slowly into the room and spoke, "…why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate."

"The same blood flows through my veins," Strider sadly countered as he faced Arwen, "…the same weakness."

Arwen went up to him and stated, "your time will come. You will face the same evil and you will defeat it. A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor. Ú or le a ú or nin. (The shadow does not hold sway yet. Not over you… not over me.)"

Evening fell over Rivendell.

Lee walked alone, admiring what the night sky looked in Rivendell, without the pollution of Isengard. Along the way… Lee spots Lilly alone in the twilit gardens of Rivendell. She sat on a bench in one of the gazeboes.

Lilly looked to her side and saw Lee. She smiled very brightly.

Lee came up to her and said, "Lilly, do you enjoy Rivendell, as much as all Middle-Earth so far?"

"Yes Lee," Lilly answered brightly, "I just wish that… we wouldn't have dark servants chase us here and there."

"I know the feeling Lilly," confirmed Lee, "most of my life in Macon, when I wandered throughout Georgia, teaching history class all the time, that they do."

Lilly giggled, "and that's why we have had all kinds of crazy adventures together. And they've all brought us together in more ways than one."

"I know Lilly… but this adventure we're currently having together is altogether dangerous… perhaps even more dangerous that when we fought with the walkera."

"But Lee," Lilly became worried, "we're all in this together, aren't we?"

"Indeed Lilly. I meant what I said about accepting your help. But… that doesn't mean that any of us won't get killed in this battle, that it does not."

Lilly, for a moment… realized what Lee was saying. She, Clementine, Duck, Ben, and Travis have fought extraordinary enemies that cannot be defeated so easily. Clementine did realize that there really was a high risk that either her, Clementine, Duck, Ben, or Travis, or even the others themselves could die instantly in this battle.

Lee took a few steps away from her as he went on, "…it makes me think of how Christa felt about how close I was to death after the fight with walkers. Even though I may have fascinating abilities… that doesn't change the fact that I'm human and that I can die. You can die the same way too Lilly, that you can. I sympathize with you and Christa's concerns for me that my next brush with death… could well be my very last. And the fact is Lilly… that's the same way I feel about you if you're ever in a situation like that."

Lilly gasped at Lee's remark, knowing that Lee really does care if she dies.

Lee went on further, "Lilly… in coming to this world, I realized that the situations put me at a disadvantage, that they do. There are many unknown dangers here, as well as unknown beauty and wonder. You, Ben, and Travis have fought against enemies, because you three protect Clementine and Duck that cannot be defeated so easily, even by me. I fear that you may not be able to handle these enemies this time Lilly."

Lee paused before finishing, "…I don't think that I'll be able to protect you this time Lilly, that I do not."

Lilly paused for a moment before stating her peace, "…Lee… why do you worry so much about me? No matter what happens to us Lee… I will always help out any way that I can. I want love you, and I want to be with you forever Lee…"

Lee sadly felt great sympathy for Lilly's longing desire for him…

Lilly went on, "…even though we were separated the moment we arrived in Middle-Earth, I still thought of you Lee… and I still want to be with you even now. So promise me Lee… even if we are separated again in Middle-Earth… promise me that you'll come back to me. And if I am separated from you again Lee…

"…I promise that I'll do everything in my power to come back to you. I told you before that I can take care of myself and that I would not be in your way," Lilly finished passionately.

…Lee then turned around… came up slowly toward Lilly… and sat down with her, putting his arm around her shoulder, consoling her…

"…Then Lilly," Lee resolved, "…I think that this time… I will have no choice but to have faith in you that I will. Just as you had faith in me when I went off to fight the walkers… I will also have faith in you… Lilly."

Lilly smiled brightly.

Lee went on, "you've given me a home at your dojo. You forgave someone who has killed many in the revolution. You even welcomed me back when we returned to Macon from Atlanta. I truly felt happy…

"…I don't want to be anywhere else… except with you Lilly," Lee finished eloquently.

"And I," added Lilly, even more eloquently, "don't want to be anywhere else except for you… Lee."

The couple sat together, holding each other for a few moments… and then…

Lilly looked forward to see another couple on a nearby bridge…

"Lee," said Lilly.

"What is it?" Lee asked.

"Look over there," Lilly replied pointing at the figures on the bridge, holding hands together.

Lee observed for a moment before stating, "that must be Arwen and Strider."

"Yes Lee," Lilly confirmed, "ever since the night that Arwen took Frodo to this place… I saw them holding hands together… as if they meant something to each other. I couldn't understand what they were saying, but it sounded like Strider wanted her to stay behind with us. He must be very worried about her… just like you're very concerned about me, Lee."

Lee smiled, "indeed Lilly. Perhaps… even here in Middle-Earth… we can find people who are like us in so many ways, that we can."

It was a very romantic night for Arwen and Strider as they stood on the bridge in which Lee and Lilly saw before them. Both Arwen and Strider… spoke in Elvish…

"Renech i lu i erui govannem?" asked Arwen.

"Nauthannem i ned ol reniannen," Strider answered softly.

"Gwenwin in enninath...U-arnech in naeth i si celich… " Arwen said… softly and tenderly touching Strider's cheek and asked, "…Renech i beth i pennen?"

Strider slowly ran his fingers across Arwen's beautiful pendant on her neck, the Evenstar, and softly answered, "you said you'd bind yourself to me… forsaking the immortal life of your people."

"And to that I hold," Arwen resolved, "I would rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone…"

Strider was shocked to find the pendant in his hand, given to him by Arwen as she tenderly announced to him, "…I choose a mortal life."

Strider softly countered, "you cannot give me this."

"It is mine to give to whom I will," Arwen softly defended herself, "…like my heart."

With that last statement… Arwen softly enclosed the pendant in his hand. Moments later…

Arwen and Strider both shared a long, breathless kiss that lasted, to them… an entire lifetime…

Lilly and Lee both did shared the same long, breathless kiss that lasted, to them… an entire lifetime…

Disclaimer: I do not own Telltale Series The Walking Dead, or Lord of the Rings. TWD is the property of Darrell Rodriguez and Lord of the Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien

A/n: Spoiler: If you seen the movie, then you should know what Arwen and Strider said to each other. And Strider's identity, like in the movie, will be revealed next chapter.