Updates for this story are going to be slow, but I had this chapter ready to go and I thought you would like to have it early since there wasn't much other than introducing Ricky in the first chapter. Now we're getting into movie territory. The rating will probably need to go up in the near future thanks to Ricky's mouth. Thank you to the two people who have decided to follow this story. I do not own Lord of the Rings, but Ricky is my character. Review!
Ricky quickly got into a routine. He would eat breakfast with Elrond and his family in the dining area where he ate the first day. After breakfast, Elladan and Elrohir would have him practice his archery. They would eat lunch and Ricky would find Bilbo to read to until it was tea time in the Hobbit's opinion. Ricky wouldn't eat, but would continue to read out loud, occasionally sipping at the tea Bilbo gave him. Dinner was afterwards and then Ricky would disappear for some time for himself. No one was sure where he went, but he was always back at the stables when Aragorn came looking for him.
On the third night, Aragorn asked, "Where do you disappear to after dinner?"
"Dere's a gap in da rocks up dere," Ricky said, pointing up to the secret passage into Rivendell. "Reminds me of da tunnels."
Ricky gave a frustrated sigh and shook his head.
"What is it?" asked Aragorn.
"Bilbo has been trying to get me to speak 'properly'. I just can't seem to do it."
"You did just now," Aragorn pointed out.
"Yeah, but I have to think about it."
Aragorn could hear Ricky was right. He was stressing the sounds he tended to drop. He still had his whiny tone, but he no longer sounded ignorant, only that Westron was his second language. He could pronounce some of his R's more when they were in the middle of a word without thinking about them, but the TH sounds he had to think about to say. He was improving quickly in Aragorn's opinion.
"What are you doing there?"
Ricky said nothing for a moment. "Glorfindel says I have a lot of strength in my legs. I've been usin' it."
Aragorn frowned. "How?"
"It's difficult to explain," said Ricky. He smirked. "Maybe it would be better if I show you."
Aragorn began to climb down the loft's ladder. From above him, he saw a dark form jump and twist from the loft. Ricky landed and rolled across the floor and sprang back onto his feet.
Ricky set the pace to their destination at a job, Aragorn's long strides easily keeping up with the boy. However, Ricky didn't stay on the path. He would jump and swing from tree branches that hung over the path and would hop up the low walls instead of taking the stairs.
When they reached the gap in the rocks, the edge of the valley, Ricky ran up to the stone face and took two steps straight up and leaped. His hands caught the lip of a ledge and he pulled himself up so he was sitting on it. There was a smile on his face.
Ricky looked down at Aragorn. "Dat's some of what I can do. I can do a lot more. Used to do dis every day, in da tunnels, in da city. I could put so much distance between me and whoevah was chasin' me. Off a dumpsta, up a fire escape, and across two, maybe three roofs before dey could get up da fire escape."
While Aragorn didn't understand exactly what Ricky was talking about, he could hear how proud the boy was with himself. This was something Ricky was good at, something he liked to do. "Do Elladan and Elrohir know you can do this?"
"Haven't told dem," Ricky replied. "Elrohi' would call it runnin' away."
"Elrohir spoke out of turn," said Aragorn. "If what you showed me was a small portion of your talent, there is a great chance you can use it to your advantage."
"I awready use it to my advantage," said Ricky, wrinkling his nose. "Kick out when you vault an' you can do some serious damage."
Aragorn gave a smile. "Then show my brothers what you are able to do with 'running away.'"
Ricky smirked. "I t'ink I can do dat."
Bilbo's cousin woke the next morning, much to everyone's delight. The twins also learned what Ricky could do when he put his mind to it and wanted to prove someone wrong. Elves would have no trouble keeping up with Ricky, but the average Man would have trouble against him. Elrohir apologized for saying Ricky only knew how to run away.
Gandalf and Elrond were in Elrond's library, watching Frodo and Sam interact below them on the terrace. What they didn't know was that they had an eavesdropper. Ricky had decided to take a shortcut to find Aragorn and tell him what happened during morning training.
"His strength returns," said Elrond.
"That wound will never fully heal," Gandalf added. "He will carry it for the rest of his life."
"And yet to have come so far still carrying the Ring, the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil." Elrond walked over to a small table and poured himself a drink.
"It is a burden that he should never have had to bear," said Gandalf. "We can ask no more of Frodo."
"Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the East. His Eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."
"His treachery runs deeper than you know." Gandalf walked closer to Elrond. "A 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 at speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring."
"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," said Elrond. "We do not have the strength to battle both Mordor and Isengard."
There was silence.
"Gandalf, the Ring cannot stay here."
Gandalf looked out over the balcony.
"This peril belongs to all Middle Earth," said Elrond. "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? The hide in their mountains seeking riches. They care nothing for the troubles of others."
"It is in Men that we must place our hope," said Gandalf.
"Men?" Elrond turned away and wandered his library. "Men are weak. The race of Men is failing. 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 three thousand years ago. When Isildur took the Ring, I was there the day the strength of Men failed. I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed. It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the Ring. The line of kings is broken. There's no strength left in the world of Men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless."
"There is one who could unite them," said Gandalf. "One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor."
"He turned from that path a long time ago," said Elrond. "He has chosen exile."
Several Elves were startled when the strange visitor of Rivendell stormed out wearing the clothes he arrived in. His cheeks were flushed and he was muttering angrily under his breath, his accent so thick it was impossible to make out what he was saying. He paid no attention to the travelers who arrived in Rivendell a few minutes ago.
When Ricky did not return for the feast, Elrond checked his room. He found all the clothes that were given to Ricky neatly folded on the bed and the boots sitting next to the foot of the bed. His pack was missing and the clothes he wore when he arrived were gone.
Knowing there was a chance he was out in the stables, Elrond made his way there. The horses were slightly agitated. Elrond placed his hand on one's nose and soothed it.
Above them, there was a thump in the loft.
Elrond quietly climbed the ladder. He could smell alcohol before he reached the top. Ricky was leaning against the wall with his feet out in front of him, his pack beside him, and a bottle of strong Elven wine in one hand. It was clear he was drunk.
Elrond carefully pried the bottle away from Ricky. It was only half full. Ricky was young and small and a Man. The wine would have affected him more strongly.
Ricky moaned and grabbed for the bottle. "Gimme."
"No," Elrond said gently. "You had enough. Elvish wine is strong for Men."
"Whadiya ca'e?" Ricky snatched the bottle back and took a long swig. Perhaps he wasn't as deep in the bottle as Elrond first thought, but he was getting deeper. "Elves leavin'. Don' maddah t'you."
Elrond blinked.
Ricky looked at him blearily. "Hoid you 'n' Gandawf tawkin'. 'Men'r weak.'" He snorted. He reached up and pulled his eye covering off so it hung around his neck with the other covering.
It took a moment for Elrond to understand what Ricky was saying. "You are young and know nothing of the world."
"Bullshit."
Oddly, that word was not slurred at all. Elrond saw a flame of anger in Ricky's green eyes. The boy glared at the Elf lord.
"Sick 'n' tired'v people sayin' I know nut'in' 'cause imma kid. Sick 'n' tired'v naht undastandin'. Sick 'n' tired'v livin' like dis." Ricky rested his head back on the wall.
Elrond could see there were tears in his eyes. Ricky looked so old at that moment.
"Why didn't you do nut'in'? Why didn't you stahp Isildu'?"
"I brought him to Mount Doom," Elrond said. "He needed to cast the Ring into the fire."
Ricky's eyes looked in Elrond's direction. "I know some who'd'v done mo'. Ya could've pushed him."
Elrond was horrified at the thought of him pushing Isildur into the fires of Mount Doom.
Ricky's mouth twitched up in a watery smile. "You loved 'im," he said softly. "'S'why you didn't."
"I never thought to do such a heinous act," Elrond told him bitterly.
"You loved 'im," Ricky said again. "Dat's somethin' I don't rememba." Ricky closed his eyes and his head slumped. "Dat's somethin' I wish I had."
Elrond took the bottle from Ricky and let him sleep where he lounged. He would not envy the headache the boy would wake with in the morning.
The horses were not very pleased at the sound of retching outside of the stable in the morning.
Ricky braced himself against the side of the building, all the farther he had gotten after he fell out of the loft. "Fuck," he muttered. He brought the back of his hand to his mouth. "Dat was a dumb idea."
He threw up again. "Dammit! Damn goggles." He removed the goggles from around his neck. They would need a good washing out before he even put them around his neck.
After cleaning himself up to the best of his ability, Ricky wandered over to the kitchens. Apparently Elrond had told some of the other Elves that Ricky would wake up with a hangover and they gave him a special concoction to help with the pains. Ricky also got himself a cup of water to drink.
He started walking around Rivendell, trying to think of anything but the hangover. He managed to climb onto the roofs of several buildings and make his way across them. He hated that the Elves like domed roofs because it made everything much harder to navigate.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Ricky heard Elrond say. He turned in the direction of the voice and walked across the roof. Thankfully, this roof was flat.
Ricky got low so they wouldn't notice him. There was a group of Men, Elves, and Dwarves, along with Gandalf, Strider, and the little Hobbit that had been hurt, Frodo, if Ricky remembered right. Elrond stood under the shade of a large tree while the others sat in a semi-circle under the shade of other trees and the building.
"You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor," continued Elrond.
Ricky checked that he wasn't casting a shadow. He was confident he was high enough that someone would have to intentionally look up to spot him.
"Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom."
Ricky's nose scrunched in annoyance. The Elves were leaving. Why should they bother with this?
Elrond turned to the Hobbit. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Frodo stood up and walked to the plinth. He placed something small on it.
"So it is true," said a man with light brown hair. He had one hand to his mouth.
Frodo returned to his seat and closed his eyes.
Several of the group eyed it suspiciously.
"I can give you your heart's desire," a soft whisper said in Ricky's mind. "Claim my power as your own and you will want for nothing. I will give you everything you've dreamt of."
Ricky set his mouth in a hard line. "Fuck off," he whispered, staring at the small gold ring on the plinth. He casually sipped at his water.
The man with the light brown hair got to his feet. Ricky took a real good look at him, but it was hard to see him from behind. His clothes were very clean and looked expensive for the world Ricky was now in. Ricky figured he was an ambassador of sorts.
"In a dream I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. In the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, 'Your doom is near at hand.'" He reached out to touch the Ring. "Isildur's Bane."
Elrond jumped to his feet. "Boromir!"
The sky darkened as Gandalf began to speak.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."
Ricky ducked and covered his ears, his water spilling everywhere. "What da fuck?" he breathed in terror.
Ricky saw he hadn't been the only one to be affected by whatever Gandalf said. A few had cried out and the man, Boromir, was back at his chair. A few of the Elves, including Elrond, looked like they had migraines. Gandalf was on his feet.
The sky cleared and Boromir sat back down.
Elrond turned to Gandalf in horror and anger. "Never before has anyone uttered words of that tongue here in Imladris."
"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West." Gandalf looked at everyone. "The Ring is altogether evil." He sat down.
"It is a gift!" Boromir stood up. "A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?"
Ricky rolled his eyes.
Boromir walked around addressing everyone. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy; let us use it against him."
"You cannot wield it," said Strider. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
Boromir turned to Strider. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?" he asked scathingly.
Ricky had the sudden urge to throw his water cup at Boromir's head.
It was a blonde Elf that stood. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Boromir stared at Strider in disbelief. "Aragorn! This . . . is Isildur's heir."
"And heir to the throne of Gondor," the Elf finished.
"Havo dad, Legolas," Strider, Aragorn, placated.
Boromir turned to the Elf. "Gondor has no king." He walked back to his seat and stared at Aragorn disdainfully. "Gondor needs no king."
"Aragorn is right," said Gandalf. "We cannot use it."
Elrond stood up. "You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
The Dwarf with auburn hair and beard spoke up. "Then what are we waiting for?" He stood up and grabbed his axe. He swung it down on the Ring. The axe shattered and the Dwarf was knocked back. The Ring was unscathed.
"Holy shit," muttered Ricky.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft that we here possess," said Elrond. "The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this."
No one spoke.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir said. "Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep and the Great Eye is ever watchful. Tis a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this."
Ricky knew when it came to staying out of sight, bigger was not better. Ten thousand men wouldn't do a thing.
Boromir shook his head. "It is folly."
The Elf with blonde hair who had spoken before jumped to his feet. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed."
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it," Gimli sneered at the Elf.
"And if we fail, what then?" asked Boromir, getting to his feet. "What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"
Gimli jumped up. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
It was only seconds before everyone was jumping to their feet and arguing.
"Never trust an Elf!" Ricky heard Gimli yell from his place on the roof.
Gandalf shook his head and got to his feet to try to join the argument. "Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?" he yelled. "None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"
"Oh, God," Ricky said exasperatedly. He drained the rest of his water and got to his feet.
A loud, shrill whistle echoed and a cup was bounced off of Gimli's helmet. "Hey! Whadiya doin'?" Ricky yelled.
They all looked up at Ricky.
"This is a secret council," Elrond reprimanded.
"Wo'k on yo' security," Ricky snapped back, assessing what was below him.
There was a ruined tower in front of him about halfway to the ground. He took a few steps back and jumped to the tower with a running start. He balanced himself on his feet for a second and then jumped backwards about a foot. His hands caught the tower where he originally landed and he let himself slide down the rest of the way.
"I am surprised you are awake and lucid, Master Weiss," Elrond commented.
"I'm surprised, too," Ricky said, getting up on the patio.
"Perhaps you can offer us a solution, Master Weiss," said Gandalf, extending his hand in Ricky's direction.
Ricky was surprised. "Me?"
"Him?" asked Boromir. "He's a child!"
"Yes," replied Gandalf, ignoring Boromir's remark. "You are not of this world, Master Weiss. You may have some insight of how to handle situations like this."
Ricky scoffed. "You serious?"
Gandalf gave a small nod and grunt.
Ricky sighed. "Elves wanna destroy the Ring, the Dwarves don't want dem to take it, and da humans are wussin' out 'cause the problem seems too big fo' dem. Might as well find some shovels 'cause we're screwed six ways from Sunday at dis rate."
"Do you truly believe this is hopeless?" asked the blonde Elf.
Ricky turned to him. "Yo' standin' hea bitchin' about what should and shouldn't be done wit' da Ring, but I haven't hoid one of you nut up and voluntea."
"You make it sound like a simple decision, laddie," said the Dwarf.
Ricky barked a humorless laugh. "Dude, wuh dead eitha way."
Frodo jumped up. "I will take the Ring to Mordor," he said in a strong voice.
Everyone turned to him.
Quietly he added, "Though I don't know the way."
Gandalf moved to stand beside Frodo. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn stood up. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." He walked up to Frodo and knelt before him. "You have my sword." He moved to stand behind Frodo with Gandalf.
"And you have my bow," said the blonde Elf, stepping to Frodo.
"And my axe," Gimli added.
Boromir walked over to Frodo. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
"Here!" One of Frodo's Hobbit friends popped out of the bushes. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me."
"No, indeed," said Elrond. "It is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."
The other two Hobbits ran out from behind some columns.
"Oi! We're coming too!"
Elrond turned to the Hobbits joining their companions, an astounded look on his face.
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest, thing," said the other.
"Well, that rules you out, Pip."
They heard a snort and turned to Ricky.
"If you guys are goin', I betta come along," he said. "Somebody's gotta keep you from killin' each otha."
Elrond looked at them thoughtfully. "Ten companions. So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Great," chirped one Hobbit. "Where are we going?"
Ricky face-palmed, forgetting about how bad his head still hurt from his hangover.
So the Fellowship has been created. Tell me what you think about Ricky's character and his interactions with the characters so far. I was hoping for some feedback from last chapter, but I had nothing. I guess I have to ask for reviews if I want feedback from you guys. So leave a comment in that box below and let me know what you think of Ricky so far.