Chapter 50 part3—Curious object and prophecies
Aragorn did indeed take a break from his readings. He found the book strangely more fascinating than any of his lessons had ever been. Maybe it was because he was older and he was truly interested now. This was his heritage and he really wanted to find out where he came from.
Aragorn returned to the library about two weeks later. The book he had been reading was exactly where he left it. Aragorn found his page marker and flipped ahead a few more pages and found a section titled Curious Objects and Prophecies. Aragorn had never learned much about the seers that lived in Middle Earth and he definitely had never met one, so this part intrigued him greatly.
Aragorn began to read, "The king of the mountain swore allegiance at the stone of Erech in the beginning of the realm of Gondor. But when Sauron returned and grew in might again, Isildur summoned the men of the mountains to fulfill their oath and they would not; for they had worshipped Sauron in the dark years." At this Aragorn stopped and reread what he just saw. He had never heard of such a thing and he thought he knew everything that had happened to the King Isildur.
Aragorn continued reading, "Then Isildur said to the King, 'Thou shalt be the last king. And if the West proves mightier than thy Black Master, this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk: to rest never until your oath is fulfilled. For this war will last through years uncounted, and you shall be summoned once again ere the end."
Aragorn never realized a king had that type of power. It was hard to imagine that one person's words could have so much sway. He wondered if indeed there were cursed souls haunting Middle Earth.
Aragorn turned the page and found the following prophecy:
Malbeth the seer in the days of Arvedui wrote:
Over the land there lies a long shadow,
Westward reaching wings of darkness.
The Tower trembles; to the tombs of kings
Doom approaches. The Dead awaken;
For the hour is come for the oathbreakers:
At the Stone of Erech they shall stand gain
And hear there a horn in the hills ringing.
Whose horn shall it be? Who shall call them?
From the grey twilight, the forgotten people?
The heir of him to whom the oath they swore.
From the North shall he come, need shall drive him:
He shall pass the Door to the Paths of the Dead.
Aragorn thought to himself, "Is there really a time coming when I could potentially conjure an army to help Gondor? I cannot imagine such darkness." He passed his hand over his eyes and tried to shake the images of the spectral warriors that had floated into his vision. Aragorn decided to take another short break from his reading; he felt the darkness was already taking over even though it was still afternoon outside the walls of the Last Homely House.
He left the book on a table and wandered out of the library. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, but here was where he was the most comfortable. Aragorn hoped it would always stay that way. He may love the outside, but he felt at peace in the house of Elrond. Aragorn wandered over the grounds for a while and suddenly noticed he was very hungry, but it was already passed the time for the noontime meal. Aragorn headed down to the kitchens to see if he could sneak a snack without the cooks noticing. Aragorn looked around and didn't notice anyone; he grabbed a loaf of bread out of the pantry and headed to the training fields and the stables. It had been a few days since he checked on Melian.
Aragorn didn't mind the smell of hay like some did. He found where Melian was stabled and went up to her. He was met with what seemed an angry snort. Aragorn laughed, "I know, I know. It has been too long since I came to check on you. Too much has happened; I can't even begin to tell you my love. But, I do have a treat for you." Melian stuck her nose over the stall door in search of her treats, but had no need because Aragorn's hand reached her nose before she got too far. "Thank you for always being here for me beauty. I love you. Though, I am afraid I left something undone. I will return later."
Aragorn made his way back to the library. He wanted to finish reading what he had found in the book. He was really starting to get cabin fever and felt he was getting close to what he wanted to know.
Aragorn picked up the book again and began to read.
"The Palantir were made by the Elves of Valinor in the Uttermost West, by the Noldor and Fëanor himself. Many were made, but the actual number is not known. Some had power over other Stones. The Master Stone was kept in the tower on Tol Eressëa, but no record has been found of a successful communication between Tol Eressea and Arda. The stones' gaze can pierce anything except darkness and shadow.
During the Second Age, some of the stones were given to the Dùnedain of Numenor as a gift. Elendil took seven with him when he fled Numenor. Once in Middle-Earth, they were distributed among seven places: four in Gondor and three in Arnor.
One Stone was placed in the tower of the Tower Hills, just west of the Shire. It could be used to look along the Straight Road to Tol Eressea and was the only stone to have been known to have such a link.
The palantír of Amon Sûl was placed in the Watchtower. When Arnor was divided into three kingdoms, all of them tried to claim Amon Sûl. The Stone was removed before Amon Sul was destroyed in 1409. It was taken further north.
The last Stone of the North was placed in Annuminas on the shores of Lake Evendim. When Annuminas was abandoned and the Kings moved to Fornost, they took the palantír with them. This stone was lost with the palantir of Amon Sul when the King fled and capsized in the ice flows.
The Stone of Osgilith was the largest stone among the seven, and chief among them. Osgilith held the only Stone that could intercept communications between two other stones. It was lost when it fell into the river Anduin during the Kin-Strife of Gondor.
One Stone was placed at Minas Ithil. The Nazgûl took over Minas Ithil and renamed it Minas Morgul. It is believed that this palantir was relocated to Barad-dûr for Sauron's use.
One Stone was placed at Orthanc, the great tower built by the Dùnedain in the Second Age at the southern end of the Misty Mountains. One Stone was placed at Minas Anor, later renamed Minas Tirith and made the capital of Gondor."
Aragorn was again intrigued by the creations of the Elves. He thought that he would have liked to meet someone as brilliant as Feanor--despite his many wrong-doings.
Aragorn hoped in his heart that all he had been told would truly set him on his proper path and that he would know what to do in the right situations. Despite his memories fading, Aragorn suddenly wished he could have the advice of his father. From what his mother had told him, though, his father had not been ruler for long before he too was slain.
As he stood, Aragorn was surprised to feel a small tear on his cheek. "Help me daddy. Be with me to guide me. I fear I must leave this place of comfort soon."