Notes, Warnings etc
As of this chapter, Kalya will be referred to as Dídauar within the text. Elrond's household and Aragorn will continue to call her Kalya. Later, once she is back with the Rangers she will be called either Shadow or Dídauar. Everything clear? Right on with the tale…..
Chapter Two – Fate: Sign and Sealed?
The counsel lasted till after noon, Gandalf being required to explain exactly where he had been since the beginning of June. His tale unfortunately confirmed that Saruman was the traitor of rumour, as well as revealing the fact that Gollum had escaped from his Mirkwood captors. Frodo paled considerably at Legolas' news and looked prepared to take back the Ring and turn tail back to the Shire.
Everyone present seemed to have a different opinion on what should happen to the Ring and who should carry out whatever was decided. The Dwarves were cautious about allowing the Elves to hold the future of Middle-Earth in their hands and the Elves were equally disagreeable to letting the Dwarves handle such a task.
Erestor, Glorfindel and Galdor were all in favour of keeping the Ring in hiding, preferably on the west side of the Mountains. Each of their ideas was negated almost immediately, mainly because they would only succeed in postponing the day that Sauron came to claim his prize. Boromir, who was a soldier through and through and ever concerned with the well-being of his own people above all else, was convinced that they could use the Ring against Sauron. This idea was also immediately vetoed.
"The Ring answers to one master only, and that master is Sauron. Should any of the Wise use this ring to over throw the Dark Lord, he will set himself upon his throne and darkness will fall on the land once more," said the Elf Lord.
"Mordor is nothing but a desolate wasteland, the air a poisonous gas. Not with an army of 10,000 stout hearted warriors could you manage this folly," said Boromir, still convinced that the destruction of the Ring was the last thing they should be looking to achieve.
"Do not look for victory through strength of arms," muttered Dídauar.
"The best option is for secrecy," said Gandalf. "It will not enter the mind of Sauron that if this Ring was within our possession that we will seek to destroy it! If this is what we seek then we have an advantage that we must snatch to be ensured any hope of victory."
"It is a dangerous path, and may even be the folly of which Boromir speaks, but it is one that must be trod. But who shall bear this burden?" asked Elrond, resting his elbows on the table before him and inter-lacing his fingers whilst gazing around at those gathered. Bilbo was on his feet the moment Elrond's gaze fell upon him.
"Say no more my Lord," he said. "It is plain what you are saying 'Bilbo the silly Hobbit started this. It is up to him to finish it, or himself!'" Frodo's eyes were in danger of falling out of his head upon hearing Bilbo's passionate declaration, Boromir smirked while the rest of the Counsel gazed at the elderly Hobbit with admiration. Gandalf smiled genially at Bilbo.
"My dear Bilbo, if you had started this affair you would indeed be expected to finish it, but your part in this tale ended seventeen years past," he said. "It is a valiant offer you make but one that is beyond your strength." Bilbo turned to the wizard with confusion written across his face.
"If it is not to be me, then who?" he asked. Silence answered his question. Somewhere in the House, a bell rang to signal noon and still no one moved.
"I will do it," said Frodo, suddenly standing, unable to bare the oppressive silence any longer. The counsel blinked, almost in unison, as the younger of the two Hobbits moved to stand beside his uncle.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor," reiterated Frodo determination shining in his eyes before a small flicker of doubt appeared. "Though, I do not know the way."
"The Halfling forth shall stand," whispered Dídauar, the final piece of the puzzle slipping neatly into place for a majority of the those gathered.
"Once again the quiet people of the Shire rise from their peaceful lives to shake the towers and counsels of the great," said Elrond, gazing calmly at the Hobbit. "But it is a heavy burden, one that no one could lay upon another. Do you take this task upon freely?"
"I do," said Frodo with a curt nod. Suddenly a yelp went up from a shadowy corner where Sam had been sitting unseen during the proceedings. The counsel swung around to face the third Hobbit in surprise.
"Surely you won't send him off on his own, Master Elrond?" squeaked the Hobbit, blushing as he realised that he was caught sneaking again! Elrond chuckled.
"No indeed," said the Elf Lord. "You at least shall go with him, it being almost impossible to separate the two of you, even when he is summoned to a secret counsel and you were not!"
Sam blushed an even deeper red as he sat back down. "It's a nice pickle we've landed ourselves in Mister Frodo."
Upon the ending of the counsel, it was agreed that Frodo and Sam would set out on the Quest to destroy the Ring and that they would not travel alone. What wasn't decided was who and how many would make up the remainder of the company.
While Elrond, Erestor and Gandalf discussed the matter of who was to accompany Frodo and Sam, Aragorn and Dídauar had both joined scouting patrols along with several of their Rangers and the Imladrian Elves, extending as far west as Tharbar, east to Mirkwood, south to the Gladden Fields and north to the Ettenmoors. It appeared that the Black Riders had retreated along with the other servants of the Enemy and that Gollum was still evading their detection, much to Aragorn's disgust.
"The company will equal nine," declared Elrond when he had gathered all together once more, a morning in mid December. "The Nine Walkers of good, match the Nine Riders of evil. Frodo, with you and your companion shall go Gandalf, for he had toiled long in this endeavour and desires to see its conclusion. As to the rest, they will represent the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. For the Elves, Legolas shall travel with you and Gimli for the Dwarves. For Men, you shall have Aragorn, the subject of Isildur's Bane concerning him closely."
Frodo's eyes lit up at the mention of the Ranger. "Strider!" he exclaimed in delight. Aragorn smiled at him.
"Yes, I have been given leave to travel with you once more Frodo," he said.
"I would have begged you to come but I thought you were going to Gondor with Boromir!" replied Frodo grinning with delight, the actual subject for their Quest apparently forgotten.
"I am," confirmed Aragorn, "But our paths lie together for several hundred miles so Boromir will also be one of our company."
"Two more remain to be decided," continued Elrond. "Of my household they might be found…."
"But that leaves no room for Merry and me!" protested Pippin in indignation.
"Or Dídauar," commented Sam. Dídauar smiled at the sandy hobbit.
"It is not my fate to set out with the company. My place is in the north for now," she said.
"We don't want to be left behind. We want to go with Frodo!" continued Pippin. Elrond raised an eyebrow at the gall of the youngest Hobbit. When Merry had lost his ability to either speak or think for himself, it was unclear but Pippin was determined that both of them would be going.
"That is because you do not understand the danger," he said gently.
"Nor do any of the others who are setting out," said Gandalf. "You could send someone like Glorfindel, yet to have him storm the Black Tower would not bring us the victory we desire."
"Friendship and trust will hold them truer to their path than any number of swords and arrows," agreed Dídauar. "Not even the Wise can tell where this path will end." Elrond considered the two.
"Your words are grave, yet I have doubts. In any case I would suggest that you, Peregrin Took, should remain. My heart is against your going."
"Then you will have to lock me in a cell or send me home tied in a sack," replied Pippin, folding his arms in defiance. Dídauar and Aragorn exchanged an amused look while Gandalf was preparing to clip the young Hobbit about the ear for his cheek. His fellows were embarrassed on his behalf and looked apologetically at Elrond. "Otherwise I will follow the company."
Elrond sighed and shared a look with Gandalf who nodded once. "Very well, you shall go. In seven days the company will depart. The road will be long and hard and is shrouded mostly in shadow. I suggest that you use the time you have left to prepare for your journey."
So it was done. The fate of the Ring had been decided (at least as far as those of the West were concerned) the company had been declared and the Sword of Elendil was re-forged. In the proceeding days, Aragorn and Gandalf were often caught discussing plans and travel routes, the Hobbits spent as much time with Bilbo as they could and each vowed to remember as much as possible so that Bilbo would be able to record their journey upon their return. Legolas and Gimli spent time with their people while Boromir was chomping at the bit to return to his people. Dídauar was regularly found in deep discussion with Elladan and Elrohir and her Rangers over the recent scout missions to the Ettenmoors. The wolves it appeared, were making their way west and their presence was beginning to impact on the Shire, though as of yet, none had actually entered the country.
All too soon the company's final evening in Imladris had arrived leaving Aragorn and Dídauar with the task of letting each other go for what was most likely to be for the final time. They both knew that they could not go together. Placing the heir apparent to Gondor's throne in danger was bad enough but to also place the 'spare' in front of that danger would be sheer stupidity. Still, that did not make saying goodbye any easier.
"Promise me that we will meet again," whispered Aragorn, resting his forehead against Dídauar's as they sat before the memorial of their late mother. The pair felt ridiculous, this was not the first time that they were to be parted. While they had been on patrol with the Ranger's they had managed to remain together, even journeying to Rohan together but they been separated for several years when Aragorn left Rohan for Gondor while Dídauar stayed in King Thengel's service. They had of course met up on occasion, Denethor and Théoden having had a stable friendship during their earlier years. Following Aragorn betrothal to Arwen, Dídauar had vanished for five years, but even then the dangers they had faced were not as great as this one.
"I promise," replied Dídauar. "When you reach the east of the Mountains, look for me there."
Aragorn inhaled sharply. "No, Kalya its not safe for you!"
"Nor is it for you," said Dídauar. Aragorn pulled her to him and pressed an impassioned kiss to his sister's temple.
"I don't want to lose you," he whispered. This side of the Mountains, and with her proximity to Imladris, Aragorn was convinced that Dídauar would be safe and he was more than confident that the Elven twins, Halbarad and his sons would keep an eye on Dídauar during his absence. If she travelled east, there was no knowing what would happen, especially if her visions continued to increase in frequency.
"You won't lose me," replied Dídauar before pulling away. "You knew this would happen. Ever since you set out to find the Halflings, you knew that your path would turn this way."
Aragorn smiled weakly and withdrew. "I always had this dream that you would be with me as I trod that path," he said, fingering one of the braids of Dídauar's hair; one of Arwen's latest designs. Dídauar smiled.
"I had that dream as well, but the Valar are known to change their minds," she said.
"It is all in the song of Ilúvatar," said Elrond as he came upon his foster-twins. The two turned to face the dark-haired Elf that was strolling gracefully towards them.
"That does not make it any easier to accept," said Aragorn. Elrond gave his foster-son a gentle smile before glancing at the memorial of Gilraen.
"She knew this day would come," he said quietly. "She brought you to Imladris with the hope that you would be safe, but she knew in her heart that you would reach this crossroads eventually. You promised Boromir the Sword of Elendil, does the heir return to the White City as well?"
"I do not go on this Quest as heir of Isildur," said Aragorn, almost savagely.
"That did not answer my question Estel," said Elrond.
"If I survive, and the people want me, I will return. But I will not force a King upon a people who have begun to lose hope in a dream," said Aragorn, folding his arms, still defiant in his decision not to become King. It wasn't like he had lack of opportunity, after all he had spent at least a decade in Gondor serving Ecthelion, the then Steward. It would have been fairly easy to claim the Kingship and remove Ecthelion from his position of power, but to do so was to completely accept his lineage and Aragorn was terrified that the weakness of Isildur had past down the generations to him. This was a challenge that none of their ancestors had had to face.
"As long as there is one person who hopes, all is not lost," said Elrond. He slipped a hand inside his outer tunic and withdrew two chains. He held them out to the twins.
"These were originally made for Elros and myself and were returned to me upon his death," he explained. "The vines represent the troubles which life has in store for us all and the jewelled flower shows that something wonderful can come out of hardship and it is even more rewarding. I wish for you to have them."
"What about your sons?" asked Dídauar. Elrond smiled at her.
"They have other gifts," he said. "I wish for you and Estel to have these."
Taking a chain each, Dídauar and Aragorn slipped them over their sibling's neck before embracing the Elf Lord that they had long ago learnt to call Father.