Have I mentioned how in love with this dumb thing I am? Like, tooting my own horn here, I love how the movie dialogue is still used, just with a bit of twisting around. I just really loVE THIS DUMB STORY OKAY

Prepare for a nice surprise next chapter!

*Translations: penneth - young one; hanon le, hirvuin - thank you, my lord

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns Tolkien, you own you!

The athelas was just what you needed to tide you over until you arrived at Rivendell. Elrond immediately took you to his study to heal you when you arrived.

"I get the feeling that you're mad at me," you say sheepishly as he cleans the wound with a cloudy expression.

"You are reckless, penneth," he answers sternly.

"That is completely true, but this time it was an accident. I was protecting Frodo. He would have gotten it worse, and I wanted to spare him that."

Elrond sighs. "You are also too kind. It may be the death of you one day."

"Yeah, probably."

Thanks to Elrond's ministrations, the pain in your arm slowly ebbs away. You flex your fingers, pleased to have full use of your hand again. "Hanon le, hirvuin."

Elrond smiles. He knows how much you like to speak Elvish around other Elves, and he always found it endearing. He carefully wraps the wound and says, "Go and rest now, and try to stay out of trouble. Your room has been made up for you."

You exit into the dimming day. You're glad to be back at Rivendell; it's become your home away from home. You retire to your room to turn in early. You hadn't realized until now what a toll the wound had taken. You don't mind sleeping for a few days. You want to take advantage of the the safety and security, for you know such things will all too soon be gone once more.

You enjoy your time in the Hidden Valley in the company of the hobbits. They're fascinated by the Elvish home, and their enthusiasm is refreshing; it reminds you of how you felt on your first visit. You show them all your favorite spots and of course spend hours upon hours with Bilbo.

You're thrilled to read There and Back Again. It's a facet of the adventure that you never got to experience, it being from Bilbo's point of view. Each page has you captivated, though it does make you miss Thorin more than usual. You're sure he'd enjoy reading the book and wish he was here with you.

You're milling around aimlessly after breakfast one morning when hoofbeats on stone draw your attention. You're shocked to see Gandalf galloping up and looking slightly worse for the wear. "You're here!" you exclaim, helping him dismount. "Are you alright? No, don't answer that, I know you're not - "

"I am well enough," he replies. "And I owe you an apology."

"It's forgiven. I cooled down ages ago. I wish you hadn't gone, though. You look awful."

"It is repayment for my arrogance and shortsightedness. I must speak with Lord Elrond immediately. Come with me."

The two of you ascend to Elrond's study. He looks up at the footsteps and is taken aback by Gandalf's state. "Mithrandir! What on earth happened to you?"

Gandalf relates the circumstances of Saruman's betrayal. You listen grimly despite having known it all along. Elrond is just as bleak when Gandalf finishes. He paces in circles, looking troubled.

"We have been blind," Gandalf says darkly. "Not all of us, though, thankfully."

Elrond looks at you. "Why did you not tell someone sooner? This would not have been such a blow had we known - "

"I didn't know how to," you say quietly. "Or maybe I thought it would be better not to. See, some things have to be set up, like when we left here so many years ago. We had to stay in that particular cave and get captured by goblins so Bilbo could find the ring. If I would have suggested a different spot, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Saruman's been a rat from way back, but you wouldn't have believed me if I told you because there was no proof yet. But now there's proof, and now everything is right in line."

Gandalf says heavily, "She is right. I should have listened to you, Aniel."

"It's okay, really. I understand why you didn't, and I'm sorry for getting so mad. But I hope you'll trust me from now on."

"Without question. I wish I had not gone. Unwittingly I told Saruman of the ring. By foul craft, he has crossed orcs with goblin men. He is 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."

Elrond looks to be at the end of his rope. "This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard! Gandalf, the ring cannot stay here."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"To have come so far still bearing the ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil..."

"It is a burden he should never have had to bear! 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 has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."

"We have one great one left." Gandalf looks at you. You're surprised by the acknowledgement; you've been listening intently to the conversation and have almost forgotten they can see you. "Aniel, is there anything more you can tell us? Anything at all?"

"I - well, yes, there is, but..."

"But?" Elrond prompts.

"I haven't had much luck with changing things lately," you mutter. "I managed to save Frodo, but everything before that has happened like I never interfered. I can tell you what is supposed to happen initially, but I may not be able to make it better."

"It is not all up to you this time, penneth," Elrond says gently. "We will be able to help."

You summarize a year's worth of events and battles from memory. Elrond transcribes the major details as you speak. You take them all the way through Frodo's destruction of the ring and end with a sigh, "That's how it's supposed to happen, anyway."

Gandalf and Elrond are silent, each of them in their own reveries. You wish one of them would say something. You've had this in the back of your mind for so long, so now that others are aware of it, you're desperate for another point of view.

Finally Elrond murmurs, "I understand what you mean about fixed events. And you knew of this, of all of this, even on the day we spoke sixty years ago? This is what you could not tell us then?"

You nod.

"But perhaps if you had, we could have prevented it."

"I doubt it. Fixed event, remember? No one would have had a chance to destroy the ring any other way."

Elrond rubs his temples. "I am also gifted with foresight, but your amount of knowledge - the complexity, the intricacy - it must be almost torture."

"It was easier the first time around," you mumble. "But it's nice that someone else knows now. You can do something about it, can't you?"

"Can we? If we act and alter too many events to drastically, it may affect other events down the line and make them unpredictable."

"Welcome to my world." You look over the list of events. "It looks like the nearest optional event is Moria. Gandalf, we don't have to go down there. You don't have to fight the Balrog."

"I will do it," Gandalf says quietly but firmly. "It seems to be for the best."

"If you insist. You can change your mind later if you want. Next is Boromir - I intend to save him, and that'll help Frodo and Sam down the road. I'll go with Aragorn to Rohan and see what I can do about Helm's Deep. Then maybe I can keep Theoden alive, and that's all we have to work with."

"This knowledge is a priceless weapon against our enemy," Elrond murmurs. "Thank you, Aniel. We will do what we can. You run along now and relax. Apparently I have a council to convene."