Lord of the Rings: An Outlaw's Redemption.

…

A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back to the second chapter of this crossover. First off, I want to apologise to you all; some of you have correctly pointed out that I copied the intro of the first chapter from another Red Dead Redemption crossover with Goblin Slayer titled The Gunslinger by Mugiwara N0 Luffy and I sincerely apologise for that, but I was honestly struggling what to write and I should have contacted the author to get their permission. Mugiwara was willing to let it slide for the moment but has warned me about copying other people's work. And I apologise to all of you for not putting in any actual effort in creating my own intro. If the decision is unanimous that the first chapter should be rewritten or the story itself rewritten, I will do and at least attempt to be more original with the intro.

Now with that out of the way, let's get this show on the road.

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Chapter 2: The Grey Pilgrim and the Gunslinger

Arthur had gotten a couple hours of sleep when the sound of his cell door's lock being released woke him up. Sitting up alert and cautious, Arthur watched as a tall man with long dark flowing hair, pointed ears and wearing long robes with a circlet on his head entered the cell with what Arthur assumed to be a guardsman.

The tall elf looked at Arthur for a long moment, his gaze seeming to penetrate Arthur's soul, before speaking. "Greetings to you, Arthur Morgan, I am Lord Elrond," he spoke in a calm regal voice.

"Eh, howdy," Arthur replied unsure of how to act before nobility. "Would you mind tellin' me why I'm locked up in here?" he asked.

"When Strider and my daughter Arwen spoke of you, I wished to ascertain whether you were an agent of the Enemy," replied Lord Elrond. "But seeing you before me now, I must profess I am curious about you," he said his gaze narrowing slightly. "Your garb is foreign and your accent is different as well. Then there are your weapons, I have not seen such weapons as yours before," he added.

Arthur sighed softly, thinking of what to say to this man; would he believe him if he told him he was from another world? Possible, but nebulously so at best. "I guess you could say I'm not from around here," Arthur slowly said, not quite telling the truth but it wasn't a lie either.

The guardsman spoke up, "Speak the truth, stranger! Lest we be forced to extract it from you!" he threatened. Lord Elrond fixed the guardsman with a stern look before looking at Arthur and saying to him, "Please, Mr Morgan, we wish you no harm. We only wish to know who you are."

"Well, it's a… very long and sad story," Arthur admitted, his eyes distant as memories of back home and his ways with the gang played out in his mind.

"Lord Elrond, he is not forthcoming with the truth. Perhaps he is an agent of the enemy?" the guardsman whispered to Lord Elrond who shook his head and replied, "If he were an agent of the enemy, he would look fairer and feel fouler. No, Mr Morgan is simply a lost soul who has been through much hardship and tiring ordeals," he said.

"That obvious, huh?" Arthur huffed sarcastically.

"I've seen eyes such as yours quite often, Mr Morgan," Lord Elrond said softly. "Now, your weapons; what are they?" he asked.

"They're guns," replied Arthur almost immediately. "They're sorta common hunting and fighting weapons where I'm from," he said.

"And what exactly do they fire? I do not see anything resembling arrows in them," Lord Elrond said.

"They fire bullets," Arthur said. "Pieces of lead encased in brass cylinders filled with gunpowder that when ignited forces the lead outta the barrel at great speed," he explained as best he could.

"Interesting," Lord Elrond murmured in interest. "And how did you acquire such weapons?" he asked.

"I bought three of them and took one from someone who I killed, although he did try to kill me first," replied Arthur. Elrond nodded his head at this before saying, "From what you are saying, you seem to be telling the truth," he said.

"I ain't got any reason to lie."

"Perhaps. And how is it you found yourself in these lands?"

"Well, I… don't rightly know," replied Arthur reluctantly. "I was… fighting someone and he dealt me some pretty bad blows, although he wasn't able to kill me," he said with a half-smile as he remembered how he taunted Micah that he couldn't kill a dying man no matter how hard he tried. "But I fell unconscious and I woke up not far from that ruin where I found those kids being attacked by those guys in black robes."

"The hobbits and Nazgul you mean," Elrond said.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah, I think that was them. Then Strider showed up and drove those bastards off. They don't like fire too much, I reckon. Then the rest, well, you know the rest," he said.

Elrond nodded and looked at Arthur for a moment and said, "What do you know of the One Ring?" he asked.

"Ring? What ring?" Arthur asked.

"Hmm… you don't know about the Ring then," Elrond remarked. "In any case you have done us a great service by keeping the Ring out of the Enemy's hands. You have my thanks," he said with a regal bow of his head.

"Err… happy to have helped, I guess," Arthur replied, a little confused by what Elrond had said. He vaguely recalled the Stranger telling him to be wary of a golden ring. Perhaps this One Ring Elrond mentioned was the thing the Stranger warned him of.

"I bid you welcome to Rivendell, Arthur Morgan," Elrond then said placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder and leading him out of the cell. Arthur then took in the sight of Rivendell and he was openly awed by the sight of the valley before. His jaw was doing its best to drop to the floor and his eyes were wider with wonder.

"Now this… this a sight," the cowboy said in awe and he suddenly wished he had a picture box so that he could take a picture of this place so that he would have something to remember this place by.

After managing to pull his eyes away from the gorgeous view, Arthur asked, "So, the Hobbits and Strider? Where are they?"

"Frodo is recovering and his friends are waiting by his side. Strider is in the library," replied Elrond. "There is someone who wishes to speak with you at this very moment," he said.

"Really? Don't know a whole lotta people 'round here," Arthur muttered.

"Come this way, please," Elrond said. Leading Arthur through Rivendell, down the many passageways and winding staircases, Arthur marvelled at how everything didn't seem to be constructed the way things back home were. They looked more like they were grown from the ground.

Then coming to a wooden door, Elrond knocked on it three times and the door swung open to reveal elderly looking gentleman wearing rough spun grey robes with a full grey beard and long grey hair.

"Mithrandir, I have brought the stranger who assisted the Ringbearer and his companions," Elrond said to the older gentleman.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond," said the old man before looking at Arthur. "Come inside, please. We have much to discuss," he added.

A tad confused, Arthur entered the room and Elrond closed the door behind him. The room was lit up by the sunlight that streamed in from the large open windows and laying on a bed unconscious or fast asleep was Frodo.

"Is the kid okay?" Arthur asked when he laid eyes on Frodo.

"He has endured much, but he was a strong will," replied the old man as he took a seat on a nearby chair and pulled out a clay pipe, putting some, what Arthur could only assume was tobacco before lighting it with the flame of a candle. Sticking the stem in the corner of his mouth, the old man sucked in a lungful before removing the pipe and blowing out a stream of grey smoke.

"So, what did you wanna talk with me about?" Arthur asked as he remained standing.

"Well, for starters who you are, Mr Morgan," replied the old man. "But where are my manners? I am Gandalf the Grey," he introduced himself.

"Heard that name when I came to the ford with the others," Arthur commented.

"Indeed," Gandalf nodded his head in acknowledgement. "And I'd like to express my gratitude for your intervention at Weathertop when the Nazgul attacked Frodo and his companions," he then said gratefully.

"Wouldn't have happened in the first place if those kids hadn't lighted a cooking fire," Arthur pointed out.

"Yes, I gave Masters Brandybuck, Took and Gamgee a stern talking to about that, but Frodo wasn't aware as he had been asleep at the time when they decided to have a cooking fire," Gandalf said.

Arthur gave a snort. "Dumb kids," he muttered.

"Quite so," Gandalf agreed. "But the question is who you are, Mr Morgan," he said.

"I'm sure Lord Elrond can tell ya bout me," Arthur replied.

"Oh? About your days as an outlaw?" Gandalf asked and Arthur's eyes widened in shock.

"How did you-?" Arthur tried to ask but words then failed him.

Gandalf gave a chuckle and said, "Forgive me. A little magic on my part to glimpse into your memories," he explained. "I don't do it often, and I was hoping you would be more forthcoming with me," he then said.

"Right," Arthur grunted in annoyance before he sighed and said, "Guess the cat's outta the bag. Might as well tell you my story."

Arthur then began to tell the Wizard of his life, from growing up poor, the death of his parents to being found by Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews to the final days of the Van der Linde Gang and his death. Gandalf had a contemplative look on his features; his eyes had some measure of disapproval at some of the things Arthur did as a member of the Van der Linde gang. But there was also sympathy in Gandalf's eyes when Arthur told of how he contracted Tuberculosis and how he tried to do some good before the end and made sure that John and his family got out.

When Arthur finished his tale, Gandalf spoke. "It seems you have had quite a long and difficult journey, Mr Morgan," he said. "You've made mistakes, but you've tried to do some good in the end," he added.

"I dunno about that, Mr Gandalf," said Arthur rubbing his face a little. "I wasn't expecting to get into the pearly gates, but I certainly never expected this!"

"Perhaps Fate saw fit to give you a second chance?" Gandalf suggested. "A chance to make up for your ignoble past?" he added.

"I think Fate mighta made the wrong choice in that regard," Arthur replied recalling his conversation with the Stranger about being given a second chance to earn redemption. "I ain't got any other skills that ain't used for killing and robbing folk," he said.

"Perhaps so," Gandalf said nodding his head. "But I think you try to fool yourself in saying that what skills you have aren't for much good," he added.

"What'chu mean by that?" Arthur asked.

"I don't know how much you know or if Lord Elrond told you, but Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction," said Gandalf, his voice grave and serious. "A great enemy has returned and now seeks to recover what was lost and with it impose his will on all life in Middle-Earth."

"A great enemy?" Arthur parroted. "Is it something to do with a ring by any chance?" he asked.

"Indeed, it is, Mr Morgan," Gandalf replied. "Many millennia ago, Sauron the Deceiver gave nineteen rings to the leaders of the free races of Middle-Earth. Three were given to the Elves. Seven to the Dwarf Lords. And nine were given to the Kings of Men," he said.

"And it was too good to be true," Arthur said rather than asked. Gandalf nodded in confirmation.

"Sauron forged in secret in the fires of Mount Doom a master ring, pouring into it his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life," the Wizard said. "Many lands and people fell to the power of the One Ring, but a last alliance of Men and Elves marched upon Sauron's lands to destroy Sauron and his forces once and for all," he added.

"And they won?" Arthur asked.

Gandalf gave a sigh. "In one way, yes. But when the opportunity to destroy the One Ring and rid Middle-Earth of evil, Isildur, the son of Elendil, who had cut the Ring from Sauron's hand was corrupted by the power of the Ring and took it for his own," he said.

"He got greedy then," Arthur said putting two and two together. "So, has this Isildur become the enemy?" he asked.

"No. The Ring inevitably betrayed Isildur to his death and it was found by the creature Gollum who took it with him into the deep tunnels under the Misty Mountains and there it poisoned his mind for five hundred years, granting him unnatural long life," Gandalf said.

"Did the Ring betray him too?" Arthur asked.

"No, but it did abandon Gollum when rumours of a shadow in the east reached its ears, but something happened the Ring did not intend," said Gandalf. "The Ring was found by the most unlikely creature, a hobbit," he added.

"Frodo found the Ring?" Arthur asked.

"Actually, it was his Uncle Bilbo who had taken on a journey with Thorin Oakenshield's company and I, a little over sixty years ago," replied Gandalf. "It was only until recently that at Bilbo's 111th birthday that I realised the One Ring had been right under my nose the whole time," he said. "And Sauron had been recovering his strength, drawing all manner of dark creatures to him to rebuild his army," he added.

"Hold on there, didn't you say Sauron was dead?" Arthur asked.

"Not entirely," Gandalf shook his head. "When Sauron forged the One Ring, he poured much of his life-force into it, and so long as the Ring endures, Sauron can never truly die," he said.

"Okay… so why hasn't destroyed this Ring then? Shouldn't be too hard to melt it down," Arthur said.

"The One Ring is no ordinary ring, Mr Morgan, even what crafts you or I possess cannot destroy it," replied Gandalf.

"So, what can destroy it then?" asked Arthur and before Gandalf could give an answer, Frodo stirred mumbling.

"Where am I?" the Hobbit asked tiredly.

"You are in the House of Elrond, and it is ten o'clock in the morning, on October the twenty-fourth if you want to know," Gandalf said to the Hobbit.

Frodo opened his eyes and looked at Gandalf. "Gandalf?"

Gandalf smiled at the hobbit and said, "Yes. I am here. And you're lucky to be here. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid, but you have some strength in you, young hobbit."

Frodo sat up higher in the bed, wincing and holding the shoulder that had been stabbed before looking at Gandalf. "What happened, Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us?" he asked softly.

"I am sorry, Frodo," Gandalf said regretfully. "I was delayed," he added, his eyes saddened and full of regret.

"Gandalf, what is it?" Frodo asked upon seeing the look in Gandalf's eyes.

"Nothing, Frodo," Gandalf replied quickly.

Frodo then saw Arthur in the room. The Hobbit looked at Gandalf in askance. "Ah, yes. Frodo Baggins, meet Arthur Morgan. He helped you and your friends against the Nazgul at Weathertop. If he hadn't been there, who knows what would've happened?" the Grey Wizard said.

"Howdy. Ya feeling alright?" Arthur greeted the hobbit.

"I am now," replied Frodo. "My thanks for saving me and my kin," he said gratefully.

"Don't mention it, kid," Arthur gave a friendly grin.

"Frodo!" And rushing into the room was Samwise Gamgee.

"Sam!?" Frodo exclaimed in surprise and relief.

"Bless you! You're awake!" Samwise said joyously.

"Sam has hardly left your side since he arrived here," Gandalf mentioned.

"We were that worried about you, weren't we, Mr Gandalf" Samwise said.

"By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're on the mend," Gandalf said to Frodo.

Samwise then looked at Arthur and said to him, "I forgot to say thank you to you, Mr Morgan," he said a little ashamedly.

"Ah, don't mention it, kid," Arthur replied waving a hand in dismissal. "Just remember not to light a cooking fire at night next time, alright?" he said sternly.

Samwise hung his head in embarrassment and said, "Y-Yes, Mr Morgan sir. I'll try to remember that next time."

"I suppose we'll talk later then?" Arthur said to Gandalf who nodded in reply. "Alright then, catch you later." Arthur then left the room and wandered over to the balcony overlooking the valley.

"Jesus… magic rings, elves, dwarves and tiny little people," Arthur muttered to himself quietly. "What's next?" he asked himself sarcastically.

"Guess, I'll just deal with it as I go."

Deciding if he could ask for his weapons back, Arthur then searched for the nearest servant who could give him some directions. After enquiring about his weapons, an accommodating elf told Arthur that his weapons were in the armoury and gave him directions to the armoury. Thanking the elf, Arthur then headed to his destination to reacquire his arsenal lest some unfortunate soul decided to play around with one of them.

…

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: there! The second chapter of this done and dusted, not much of a chapter I will admit that much, but hopefully in the next chapter we'll get into the meat of the story. I'm thinking that for the start of the next chapter, Arthur takes his guns out to the ranger or what passes for one in Rivendell and more than a few people will be curious about Arthur's guns, then we'll get to the meeting of the races and formation of the Fellowship.

And again, I wish to apologise to everyone for copying Mugiwara's intro of his Goblin Slayer/RDR story The Gunslinger. I am deeply sorry about that and I realise now that I should not have taken the easy way out. If it is unanimous that you all want the intro/first chapter rewritten, I will do so. But other than that, what's done is done, and all I can say is that I'm sorry for what I have done and we all move on from there.

And that's about the sum total of things, so I'll just leave this here.

Oh, and before I forget, for some additions to Arthur's weaponry/arsenal, what weapons would you all like to see Arthur use? He has enough guns and I won't give him any more guns than what he's already got, but in terms of things like melee/close quarter combat, what weapons could Arthur use? Let me know in the reviews or PM them to me, feedback and suggestions are appreciated.

Be kind to one another,

Angry lil' elf.