Ok so this chapter is gonna be divided into two parts: the first part for when the first arrive in Rivendell, involving Frodo's healing, as well as the Fairy Tail wizards exploring the grounds of Rivendell a bit; while the second part involves the Council of Elrond. And again, thanks to TehZach1993 for the help in keeping this story going. :)
Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing.
Chapter 6 part 1 Arrival at Rivendell
Built atop one of the hills was an enormous home carved out of the most gorgeous wood. Arwen leaped off her horse as a tall man with ornate robes and long dark hair approached. "Father, we must hurry he does not have much time." Arwen said.
"Lay him down here." The man ordered as Strider and Arwen obeyed. Opening the hyperventilating hobbit's shirt, the man lay his hand upon the wound and began chanting in Elvish before a long black mist seeped out of the wound and disappeared. Frodo seemed to be calm now, and his eyes had returned to their normal color.
He was asleep now, and the man had two more elves carry the small hobbit inside. "Is he going to be alright?" Merry asked tearfully. "Your friend is fine now, he just shall need some rest." He turned to the rest of the group: "You have had a long journey, I am Lord Elrond, Arwen is my daughter. This place is called Rivendell. I assume you are all hungry and tired, so I shall ask you to join myself and two people whom you may be familiar with, for dinner."
Watching Elrond heal Frodo had suddenly made Wendy wish her own magic was stronger as she now felt her healing magic was limited compared to that of Elrond's, while she now felt as though she had hardly done anything at all after her attempt at healing the ringbearer hobbit.
"Stop fretting over it already, child," Carla gently reprimanded her. "You did your best, and that's what counts. And you heard what Elrond said, Frodo is going to be just fine now."
"I know, but I still wish I could have been able to do more," Wendy replied. "If I were as strong as Natsu and the others, I would have been able to be of more use to them. And not to mention I'd be able to be more use in being able to help heal Frodo faster."
"Now stop that!" Carla firmly told her. "You even heard what Arwen said back there. While you may not have been able to fully heal him, you were at least able to delay the poisons effects before we arrived here. Were it not for your efforts, Frodo might not have had any chance of surviving until then."
"You're right, Carla," Wendy said, as she was now wiping at her tears. "And I'm glad Elrond-san was able to fully heal him when all I could do was only delay it for a while." She then smiled slightly, trying to put on a brave face.
"Now that's the spirit," Carla replied, smiling back in return. "I'm sure Frodo would rather see you happy like this when finally wakes, than seeing you fretting over whether or not you're as strong as Natsu and the others."
"I know," Wendy replied. "You're right, I'm not going to continue worrying over it anymore." With that said, she decided she would go walk around and explore Rivendell.
Meanwhile, Natsu had managed to corner Gandalf to confront him. "Yo, gramps!" he called out, skidding to a halt in front of the old wizard. "What gives? I thought ya said you'd meet us at the Dancing Phony, or whatever it was called! Did ya just up and forget about us or somethin'?! About Frodo! And then all of the sudden you show up outta the blue like that when you coulda been there before Frodo was injured! Talk about bad timing there!"
"Uh Natsu, I think you mean 'Prancing Pony'," Happy corrected him about the name of the inn.
Gandalf frowned and whacked Natsu on the head with his staff. "I fought the Nine on Weathertop, and got more than half of them to follow me! I did what I could to keep Frodo and your friends safe by drawing some of the stronger Wraiths away! I had met Erza and Strider at the Inn shortly before you arrived, I knew you were in good hands with the two of them."
"Besides," Gandalf huffed, "I thought you had more confidence in yourself and your friends than that! I trusted you all to keep Frodo safe, and you have. Your friend Wendy did more than she knows..." Gandalf said.
"Yeah, I already know Erza's the strongest female wizard in our guild! And that Wendy's also just as powerful with her healing magic!" Natsu yelled furiously. "But that still doesn't mean that Frodo wasn't still counting on you as well! And not to mention how was I supposed to even fully help out if I couldn't even use my magic! Let's face it, gramps, I'm about as useless as a Vulcan when using a sword."
"Aye, but Vulcans are strong enough without having to use a sword, Natsu," Happy reminded him. "And how would you even know when you've never even used a sword before to begin with?"
"But it would probably still be useless with a s...Gah! That's totally not the point here, Happy!" Natsu exclaimed to the blue Exceed out of pure frustration.
Gandalf sighed. "I'm not even going to question what a 'vulcan' is at the moment. But there was a reason as to why I specifically instructed you not to use your magic, Natsu, and it was only to ensure that you refrained from going 'all-out' by using your full power. I was not in any way trying to completely prohibit your use of magic, but you do need to learn restraint when using it."
"But what's that got to do with protecting Frodo?" Natsu protested.
Gandalf could clearly tell that the boy was frustrated with this whole situation involving the use of his magic, but he knew there had to be a way to make him understand. "Before I answer that, allow me to tell you a story. Just a bit of Middle Earth's history involving wizards going 'all-out' as you would put it, and using their full power, and perhaps then I hope you will have a better understanding of why magic cannot be used so recklessly here. And it is important that your friends know this as well. That includes you as well, Happy," he added to the blue Exceed.
"Aye sir," Happy replied.
They then went and found Gray and Erza sparring out in the courtyard -apparently Gray had wanted to learn how to fight using a sword as well as relying on his magic, and had gone and asked Erza who gladly agreed to help him with that, though that didn't stop her from being super strict as she had then requipped a sword from her inventory for him to practice with, as well as because he felt it might also persuade Natsu to want to do the same as well. They suddenly noticed Gandalf approaching as the old wizard told them that he had some things to discuss with all of them, and also inquired as to where Lucy, Wendy, and Carla were as well.
Gray thought for a moment before responding. "Last I saw Wendy and Carla, they were still sitting outside Frodo's room, and Wendy seemed a bit down. Though I'm not sure if that's where they still are or not. Not sure about where Lucy is though."
"I think she said something about wanting to see if there was a library here or something here," Erza pointed out. "Something about wanting to learn about the histories of Middle Earth, I believe."
Gandalf nodded. "Then we shall proceed there once we go to collect Wendy and Carla," he informed them.
Meanwhile, Wendy and Carla were now exploring the grounds outside and admiring the beauty of Rivendell.
"Wow, it's just all so beautiful here!" Wendy exclaimed in awe, as she now understood why Sam was always so fascinated with elves.
"Yes, and so peaceful after having to deal with those awful wraiths," Carla added, shuddering at the very thought of those horrible creatures.
That was when the rest of their team, along with Gandalf, came across them and Gandalf explained that he needed to have a private word with all of them then proceeded to Rivendell's library where Lucy was -the Celestial wizard was nearly startled by their sudden appearance, though she obliged when Gandalf had explained that he needed to explain some things to all of them about using magic recklessly and the consequences that come with it.
"You mean like wrecking towns and losing reward money for my rent? Yeah, I think we pretty much get that," Lucy said dryly.
"And of course, you still obsess over rent money," Happy teased.
"Shut it, cat!" Lucy told him.
"What I'm about to tell you goes beyond even that, Lucy Heartfilia," Gandalf told her, enough to make her freak out. Though he still gave her a light whack on the head with his staff, but not as hard as the whack Natsu received, for trying to argue her point.
"Wait! You're kidding!" she exclaimed frantically, while rubbing at her head.
"Lucy," Erza said sternly, before nodding at Gandalf to continue.
Gandalf nodded and began to explain to them about the First Age of Middle Earth when wizards used to go all-out against the first Dark Lord known as Morgoth, and of how using their full power had nearly destroyed Middle Earth at the time.
"Man, if that's what you were worried about, then ya shoulda said somethin' earlier," Natsu said once the old wizard had finished explaining. "Ya don't gotta worry, gramps, 'cause we don't even plan on destroying an entire world like that. Whether it's Middle Earth, or Fiore for that matter. Right guys?" He looked over at his friends for a reply, only to end up receiving another whack on the head from Gandalf's staff.
"That was NOT meant for you to make light of, Natsu Dragneel!" Gandalf firmly reprimanded him. "It was meant to teach you about showing restraint when using your magic, and not using it so recklessly! Gray Fullbuster and Erza Scarlet, I assume you two are just as guilty when going all-out as well, correct?"
"Well, I won't try to deny it," Erza admitted sheepishly. "There are times when I too tend to go overboard in a fight."
Gray, however, only muttered something about not being as bad as Natsu until a whack on the head from Gandalf's staff convinced him to admit otherwise.
"And another thing," Gandalf added. "I suggest you also keep that stripping habit of yours under control as well, Gray. Starting now, it would appear."
"Huh? Aw crap, when did that happen?!" Gray exclaimed, realizing that he was in his underwear.
That being said, Gandalf then took his leave of them, leaving the Fairy Tail wizards to ponder over what he had just explained to them.
Frodo would soon be awake by dinner, and they all shared a meal at the long table as Elrond's guests. Later Bilbo would take them back to his room where his book lay on a table next to a quill in an ink bottle.
"I would like you to have something, Frodo. A few somethings in fact." Bilbo said as he opened a chest and revealed a small hobbit-sized sword in a scabbard. "I hardly have any use for Sting anymore...I've had my adventures." Bilbo said with a hint of sadness, "It's your turn now, Frodo." Frodo took the sword and examined the blade, "Be careful...it's still sharp. And the blade will glow blue when orcs or goblins are close." Bilbo said.
"Thank you, Bilbo..." Frodo said, overcome with awe before Bilbo held up a shirt of mail that seemed to be made out of shiny metal rings. "Mithril. It's light as a feather, and as hard as a dragon's hide. It's practically impenetrable to normal blades."
"Cool," Natsu commented to the two hobbits, grinning as he had heard the word dragon mentioned, though he didn't really have much of an understanding as to what mithril was.
Lucy, meanwhile, found herself suddenly drawn to Bilbo's book. She was tempted to pick it up and read it, though she felt she shouldn't do so without asking permission first. She knew better than that. But she was soon unable to control the urge as she ended up going ahead and reading it anyway, hoping the old hobbit wouldn't mind if she did.
Erza, Gray, and Wendy also had their curiosity piqued by the many things Bilbo had from his adventures, and even Happy and Carla were deeply intrigued as well.
"Go on ahead, Lucy. It's not finished yet, so don't blame me if you are left hanging." Bilbo said to Lucy as Frodo went to put the shirt of mithril mail on...the ring dangled from the chain around his neck...for all to see. "Oh...th-the ring!" Bilbo seemed startled to see it, and meekly reached out to touch it..."I would...like to hold it just once more." When Frodo covered the ring up by buttoning his shirt, Bilbo seemed to reach violently for it...before realizing what he had done.
Bilbo seemed horrified at the look on everyone's faces and slumped down onto the bed nearby. "I-I'm sorry Frodo...I'm sorry that you're in this mess...because of me..." Bilbo was starting to cry before he soon felt Frodo's hand on his shoulder and said through his sobs: "I'm sorr-ry for everythi-ing!"
The Fairy Tail wizards suddenly felt bad for the old hobbit after what he's been through all because of the stupid ring. Bilbo's reaction to seeing it again nearly caused Lucy to jump out of her skin as she was reading, and Wendy squeaked in fear. Natsu and Gray were slightly startled, though being boys they didn't tend to show it as much. While Happy and Carla were just as equally fearful.
Erza then went over and placed a comforting hand on his other shoulder. "I'm sure nobody here blames you for any of that," she gently reassured him. "I know Frodo doesn't." She nodded towards Frodo as she said that. Though she was also thinking of Jellal, and how he too still continues to blame himself for his own past mistakes. "Though it was slightly different in Jellal's case," she suddenly found herself musing her thoughts out loud by accident.
Natsu tilted his head in confusion. "I'm not exactly sure what Jellal has to do with any of this."
"She loooooooooves him!" Happy said.
"Honestly tomcat, I hardly think that comment is necessary at a time like this," Carla reprimanded the blue Exceed. "Even if you were referring to Erza and Jellal with it, don't just go making unnecessary comments like that in this sort of situation."
Erza blinked from her thoughts. "Right, sorry, I didn't realize I had said that out loud," she confessed, though she chose to ignore Happy's comment as Carla had already reprimanded him for it.
"Actually, going off of Erza's thought of Jellal, it just made me think of how Loke used to always blame himself for being indirectly responsible for the death of his previous key-holder, Karen," Lucy added. "But since becoming contracted with me as his wizard, he's actually gotten over it."
Gray smirked coolly from across the room. "Yeah, Loke's been doin' pretty ok for himself now as Lucy's spirit. But I think the point she was trying to make there was that we all still have things we tend to beat ourselves up over sometimes."
"What? You still beatin' yourself up over your teacher sacrificing herself to seal Deliora, or something?" Natsu asked somewhat snarkily.
"Shut up, Natsu! And you know I'm already way over that!" Gray told him, though he wouldn't ever admit that he did still have a slight fear of Deliora despite that all being in the past.
