Hope you like this chapter too. Grammatical errors are on purpose! Of course using the LOTR books for all these poems. I don't own LOTR, though I wish with all my heart that I did…
Please review this, I beg you. I will faint in happiness if you do
Chapter 5
" Estel! We have to speak of this!" Elrond called.
Aragorn's shoulders dropped in dismay as he reluctantly returned to the circle of elves by the fire.
" Listen to this, my brother", Elladan murmured.
Gandalf took a dust-covered book from a shelf and opened it. With slight difficulty, he translated the elvish scribbles into English.
" All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not whither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be the blade that was broken;
The crownless again shall be king."
Aragorn swallowed hard, gripping the wooden armrest. His knuckles slowly turning white as Gandalf placed the ancient book back and searched for another.
" I do not wish to be a king", he finally said, breaking the silence.
Lord Elrond raised an eyebrow, " You are Middle-Earth's last hope, Estel. Sauron's only fear is that Isildur's line has not been broken yet. Without your coming forth, darkness will overtake Middle-Earth, and light will be no more!".
To this Aragorn remained as silent as a stone.
" Where is the broken sword, Ada?" Elrohir asked.
" Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand."
Gandalf finished, turning the page before looking up.
" The token is the ring", Lord Elrond stated, " And we now know where the ring is. From Lady Arwen's vision, the ring of doom is said to be in the Shire"
When Arwen was mentioned, Aragorn glanced at the sky. Hadn't they agreed to meet sometime soon? Aragorn brought himself back to reality as Elrond finished his sentence.
" And there it must remain for a time", Gandalf replied.
" For how long?", Aragorn asked, " We must reach it before Sauron does. Who will go?"
" In April of 3018 I will go", Gandalf murmured solemnly, " Frodo will be turning 33, I believe, and it will be Bilbo's one hundred and eleventh birthday. 111. Beautiful number"
" Aye", Aragorn agreed, smiling.
The elves stared at them and laughed.
" We were all once that age except for our friend here", Gandalf smiled brightly, glancing at Aragorn.
" I'll never reach that age", Aragorn sighed, a small smile playing on his lips.
" Don't be too sure of that, Aragorn".
Lord Elrond stood, shaking his head, " We will adjourn for now. I have another council of war that I must attend immediately".
Arwen sank to the carpeted floor of her father's library. Leaning her back against the wall, she wandered where Estel was. She fingered the Athelas flower Aragorn had given her last night. The leaf Aragorn had used to heal the little bird's wound was gone. She glanced at the evenstar necklace hanging delicately round her neck. Arwen Undomiel, Lady of Rivendell, Evenstar of her people…that's what they called her. Only those close to her knew whom she was really an Evenstar for. Estel...why did she love him so? She knew little about his inner thoughts and feelings about things. Yes, she did know things no one else knew about him, but still, there was more…
" Arwen?"
She looked up into a set of grayish-blue eyes and quickly stood.
" Estel! Nae saian lumme (it has been too long)", she whispered.
" Cormamin lindua ele lle ( My heart sings to see thee)", he murmured, placing a hand over hers.
Arwen smiled, " Lle maa quel, Oio naa elealla alasse ( You look well, ever is thy sight a joy)
" Diola lle ( Thank you) ", Aragorn smiled back and grasped her hand, leading her out of the library and past the elven trees swinging in the breeze.
" Manke naa lye autien? (Where are we going?)", Arwen asked as they crossed one of the many bridges.
Aragorn stopped and turned, " Arwen, close your eyes"
Arwen blinked in surprise, " Mankoi, Mellonamin? (Why, my friend?)", she asked, closing her eyes. Her eyelashes gently brushed her blushing cheeks.
Aragorn gazed at her in wonder, longing to know the real Arwen.
" Khila amin (Follow me) ", he replied. Aragorn led her down a dark corridor, and out into the sunlight. Leading her past the house of Elrond, over a hill, past the gardens, and behind a waterfall.
Arwen heard the sound of rushing water crashing against the rocks and she gripped Aragorn's hand with renewed energy. Aragorn brought her behind the waterfall and a little further on, he stopped.
" Manke naa lye? (Where are we?)", she asked.
" Lle aa' en sii' (You may look now)", he told her, uncovering her eyes.
Arwen opened her eyes and gasped in delight.
" Oh, Estel! How beautiful!", Arwen cried, throwing her arms round him.
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