The blue troll comes from the 2013 animated film "Frozen". The magic mirror comes from the animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves". The cat reference in one of the magic mirror's riddle comes from the book Eragon.
Chapter Twenty:
The Wall of Memory
ARIA'S POV
I was awakened at dawn's first light by Frodo, who spoke in my ear. As much as I wanted to sleep longer, I figured getting off the ground would do me some good. My muscles hurt and I felt hungry. Merry and Pippin returned with a plate filled with berries. As much as I appreciated the hospitality, I wondered if it was really worth it. However, Merry told me to take a handful, as they needed to eat too. I did as they requested.
When we were ready to set out, with me noticing I was now the same height as Merry, we made our way to the hedge wall. There were red flowers blooming in full on the hedge. As for the hedge itself, it was tall and stretched out to a great distance. We stopped in front of the guards, who let us pass. The guards, however, gave us suspicious looks. After passing through the opening, the four hobbits and I stopped in front of an oval-shaped mirror. Frodo touched the mirror, but stepped back as a face appeared in the mirror. The face had no eyeballs or tongue. I recognized the mirror belonged to the Evil Queen, or Queen Grimhilde.
"You again," said Frodo, stunned.
"Eh?" asked the slave in the mirror.
A blue troll, about our height, approached us. She seemed friendly, "It's a magic mirror that only speaks in riddles."
"I didn't have to do that the last time I encountered him," said Frodo.
The slave in the mirror spoke its riddle, in a way congratulating Frodo:
"Well done you have been
To find the girl you were sent.
The diadem may have been destroyed,
But the torch has yet to be shown its rhyme."
"I think this mirror is talking to you, Frodo," said Sam.
Frodo spoke, "I know, Sam." He told the mirror, "I hear Maleficent has gone soft. Is it true?"
"You have to speak in riddles to the mirror," said the blue troll, putting her hands on her hips.
The slave in the mirror spoke in riddles again to Frodo:
"Maleficent is a mystery to unfold.
It's hard to imagine someone so cold.
Dare you are to find the villains.
Only pain will reveal in tenants."
"Oh. Maybe you don't have to speak in riddles to this mirror. Very odd," said the blue troll.
"Do you speak anything other than riddles, Mr. Mirror?" asked Frodo.
"Eh?" asked the slave in the mirror, confused.
"I guess that's a 'no',' said Frodo.
"Ask it something else?" asked Pippin.
Frodo spoke to the mirror, "We're searching for a way to recover Aria's memories. Can you assist us with this task?"
The slave in the mirror spoke again in riddles:
"Many have ventured for a cure,
But failed to find the right store.
What you seek is before you,
But you must choose the right bottle, or end up entombed.
"Blue can cure any illness, no matter how small or large.
Orange will find you in a direction too slow to merge.
Red will earn you love and redemption in seedless wonder.
White will find the time adequate as a vine.
Green as the setting sun is ripe with wine.
Purple for the lost time found within, caught in a broken line.
And black for the ripples on a lake, pained in sunder."
"I think we have to pick one," said Pippin.
"Blue or white. Which is it?" asked Frodo, looking at the bottles.
"I'm not the best at riddles," I said, feeling my head swarming.
"Bilbo was always good at riddles. I wish he was here," said Frodo.
"Well he's not," I said. "Give me time to think about this."
The slave in the mirror replied:
"Take all the time you need,
But before dusk you must leave.
Yes, I will be here;
But the riddle with change, more than a cat's seer."
I thought long and hard over the riddle. While I asked the mirror for the riddle again, it was tricky to figure out which bottle was the right one for my issue. Although the blue bottle could cure any illness, it could not help with the memory issue. The purple bottle seemed more to fit with my problem, but so did the white bottle. It was a tough decision, but I figured this issue would require more than one bottle. When I tried picking up two, the slave in the mirror spoke again:
"So your problem is the missing time.
The pieces drawn in a vivid, blank sheet.
Request for you for more than one potion, elapsed in a line.
For your problem, only one potion will save you, requirements meet."
"Could you be more specific on which bottle means?" I asked, unsure if the slave in the mirror would help.
The slave in the mirror spoke again, this time clearer:
"I cannot mistake your tough decision remade.
The choices will stand the same.
Only one bottle required for your needs
Stems adrift against the sailing seas.
"Blue to cure most illnesses, but those of physical and mental pain.
Orange to slow you down, it's all the same.
Red to receive love and redemption of what you have lost.
White to draw time out as a readied sauce.
Green to dim the senses, weaken the foe.
Purple to restore a measure of time long since gone, set in stone.
And black to cause pain unmeasured, leave one feeling cold."
"Okay, it's the purple to regain my memories back," I said. As I picked up the bottle, I said, "Here goes nothing." When I drank the liquid in the bottle, my memories started to awaken. From the memory potion, I regained a lot of memories I didn't know I had. I remembered Merry was my father, a hobbit woman named Malinda was my mother, the story Frodo and them told me long ago, and my previous relationship with Frodo that I had forgotten. Other memories returned, but my heart was not yet cured. I looked at Frodo with renewed wonder, "Frodo, I remember."
The slave in the mirror spoke again: "You have chosen wisely. You may choose another bottle, for I sense a pain inside you has toppled."
Setting the purple bottle down, I picked up the red bottle. "Love potion." I looked at the bottle for a long while.
Frodo looked at me in concern. "What?"
"I can't drink this," I said, setting the bottle down. "If I drink it, I might forget the pain I had. Sure I have my memories back, but if I want to love again… it is better that it comes naturally."
The slave in the mirror spoke again. "I sense there is another task for you to perform."
The blue troll answered, "Yes, the torch-bearing ring, but legend has it it's just a torch. It can be found in the mountains, not far from this forest, the Ketterwold Forest. Should you retrieve it and return it to us here at the Wall of Memory, we may just reward you with some useful information."
"That's all we need," said Merry.
"All right. We'll go after the torch," said Frodo.
"Does this mean me as well?" I asked.
"First, we may want to return to Glamïre and tell the others," said Pippin.
"Right idea, Mr. Pippin," said Sam.
"What does this mean?" I asked, confused.
"Come on, Aria, before it reaches noon. We have a long way back to the elven city," said Frodo, gesturing me forward.
The slave in the mirror said: "I will be here, awaiting your return."
o-o-o
The walk back to Glamïre took much of the morning to accomplish. After leaving the glen to pick up fresh water from the pool, Rhyme showed us the fastest route back to the main road. We managed to make it past Rhyme's area of the forest. Pippin and I were surprised Rhyme was leading us a faster way back to the elven city. Sam remained suspicious of her, while Merry seemed more talkative. Frodo gave me grins here and there, but he didn't say much to me. Instead, Frodo's attention was fixed on Rhyme's tales.
We made it to the city of Glamïre just minutes before noon. We hadn't stopped to rest, but that didn't stop Merry and Pippin from rushing into the city. Frodo turned to Rhyme after his cousins left the area.
"Thank you for your help. We would have gotten lost if you…"
Rhyme stopped Frodo, "Don't be, Halfling. It wasn't any trouble."
I asked the question that was itching in my mind. "Why are you a hermit?" Sam looked at me in surprise.
Rhyme thought for a moment. "That's a very good question. The truth is, even though I'm a flower guardian, and much cause for why the flowers are so wild, is because I like plants more than I do people. The plants, particularly the flowers, are my livelihood. It's what makes me who I am. There's so much interest in watching flowers grow, blossom, and yes to see them leave, knowing they will return." She snipped. "I don't know why you wanted me to answer that question. I told you, asking too many questions is bad."
"I know and I'm a big-mouth. I was just curious," I said.
Rhyme looked at me quizzically. She told me, Frodo, and Sam, "As for succeeding in your quest, I'm going to make sure the flowers don't interfere in your affairs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer, so be grateful you have it."
"We will take it, and thank you," said Frodo.
Sam told Rhyme in respect, "You and I have something in common. I'm a gardener, myself."
"Then you must be fortunate to have such friends. A gardener's work is never done," said Rhyme.
"Thank you!" I called.
Rhyme shooed at me. "Yeah, whatever!" She walked away. As she did, the flowers obeyed her command.
"She's a little crabby," I said.
"Yes, but be grateful she's given us permission to pass through this forest," said Frodo.
"I am. It just would be nice if she could lighten up," I said.
"Well, you can't change her attitude," said Frodo. "Come on." He led me into the city.
o-o-o
After taking a long bath, I stepped out of the tub and looked at my feet. They were hairy and curly. I pulled on the bathrobe and went into my bedroom, while the servants cleaned up the bathroom and drained the tub. I closed the door to give me some privacy. In the bedroom, on the bed, was a lime green dress with a yellow gown on the inside. I slipped on the dress. It was just the right fit for my height… my height. I looked at the nearest mirror and found I had shrunk again, only this time my height stopped before my eyes. My feet had also become curly and hairy. The door opened to reveal one of the elven servants, who helped me with the lime green ribbon.
"How did I become this height?" I asked the servant.
"It's the wonders of this limbo world. The height you wished is what you became," said the servant, sounding chipper. "Here, let me help you with those curls." She grabbed a brush from the dresser and combed my hair.
Indeed, my hair was curly. So I had to assume this limbo world was doing it… but where was I exactly?
"Um… what limbo world am I at?" I asked, curious.
The elven servant chuckled. "You're at the limbo world Flaminus, where this city dwells. The Halls of Nature, where Father Time lives is outside this limbo world. In fact, the Halls of Nature are at a place that's entirely their own, where time itself does not exist." She finished combing my locks. "There. You look pretty."
"I don't feel pretty, or beautiful," I admitted.
The elven servant giggled. "Well, you look beautiful either way." She added as she set the comb down. "Lunch will be held in the Hall of Wonders. I'm sure you can find your way from here, if you're into exploration."
"I am," I said, leaving my bedroom.
After a calming walk, I stopped before Frodo, who was talking to Sam and an Elf. Frodo had also taken a long bath, as did Sam. Both were in a clean set of clothes. Frodo looked my way, his expression amazed. When I approached him, he said in compliment:
"You look beautiful."
"You look stunning yourself," I said.
"Let's go in," said Frodo, taking me by the hand.
As Frodo led me inside the Hall of Wonders, past the doors, I looked around for several seconds in awe. There were two stories to the hall, but no ladders in this hall to the second story. Above us was a library filled with an assortment of bookshelves littered with books and scrolls. The ceiling was arched and, thanks to the fireplaces, lit in such a way that was stunning. On the floor we were currently on, there were several wooden tables with chairs. Elves and other races were there, but so were a group of talking animals. They were eating a grand assortment of food and drinking to their delight. Frodo led to me a circular table, where Sam, Merry, and Pippin sat. Merry and Pippin were also washed and in clean clothes.
"So, tomorrow we go after that torch," said Pippin.
"Another quest," said Merry, not amused.
"We're heroes, Merry. I thought this is what we did," said Pippin.
"And this is the reason we shouldn't have gone on that excavation to find the Emerald Diadem," said Merry, serious. "Who knew you would be the one excited to go on another dangerous journey."
"It won't be a long journey, Merry," said Pippin. "It shouldn't be. Don't worry. We'll return before the summer solstice comes."
Merry rolled his eyes. "And this is why we shouldn't have looked up all that Earth stuff. You see what it did to you, Pippin."
While Merry and Pippin had their discussion, I overheard Frodo talking to Sam:
"How are you, Sam?" asked Frodo.
"If Merry and Pippin are saying is true and we're going on another quest, I would like to see it return to the Shire. I do miss Rosie," said Sam.
"Yes Sam, my dear Sam, I knew you would think of her," said Frodo.
"But I wouldn't leave you to reach that torch alone. If you're going, then so is your old Sam," said Sam.
"I'm grateful to have you as my closest friend," said Frodo.
"Well, beggin' your pardon, sir, but closest friend might be an understatement," said Sam, blushing.
My mind wandered upon hearing these words. I knew Frodo and Sam were close friends, their friendship the strongest I had yet seen. There was something wrong with this picture, as I was feeling left out again. After being passed the food, thanks to the Elves who knew we were their guests, I took the silence I received to my advantage and dug in. All the while, I couldn't help feeling that Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were going to abandon me. Now that my memories were restored, remembering how much I mattered to them, I wondered why they were still going to take me back to the world I no longer fit in. It's true, I had thoughts of home, but within those thoughts I remembered how I had no real group I fit into. I knew then my home was with people who understood me, who could see me for me and not pick on me because of that. I wanted to belong somewhere. I knew I needed to say something…
Frodo noticed and looked at me. I didn't know whether I should talk or not. I didn't want to interrupt a conversation – of course, I thought no one did.
"Are you all right?" asked Frodo.
"Not in the least," I said. "I know you'll probably want to see me off, return home."
"If that's your choice," said Frodo. He looked saddened. "For reality's sake, I don't want you to leave."
"Frodo, are we taking Aria back to Earth or aren't we?" asked Merry, concerned. "She may not be useful to us on our quest."
"I saved your lives, with Sam's help," I said.
"You saved Sam, but not us," said Merry, correcting me.
"Merry, I'm sure Aria was doing fine all the same," said Frodo.
"She's not very useful getting us out of a jam," said Pippin. "This next quest involves stone-trolls. I don't think Aria's up for that."
I looked at Frodo, but saw him wait for me to answer. I decided to speak up. "Look, I know you four probably find me useless, but I don't want to be. In truth, I would go on adventures, but… I'm kind of missing home."
"You can't go back. They may not let you go," said Frodo. He added, "You're not useless, Aria."
"Merry and Pippin are right. What use have I been?" I asked.
Frodo told me, "Let's make another bargain. You go on this quest with us, to find the torch, and you can go back home."
"You mean that?" I asked, surprised.
Frodo nodded. "I do."
"Mr. Frodo, is this necessary?" asked Sam.
Frodo extended his hand towards me. "Do we have a deal?"
I looked at him as I shook his hand. "Yes, we do."
Frodo asked me, "Why do you want to return home so badly? You have your memories back. You should be able to return with us to the Shire."
"Yet if I go there, I might turn back into a woman, instead of a hobbit lass," I said. "One of the servants told me why I changed, and that's the reason why." I said, depressed, "I might not get back home."
"You don't know that, Aria," said Frodo.
"Maybe we should focus now on how we get to those mountains," said Merry.
Frodo looked at me in concern. I knew I was breaking his heart for even considering returning to my old home, but then what more could I do? There were many tough decisions that day. Suddenly, I was regretting returning home, just because Frodo was here and I didn't want to let him go. This was going to be harder than it looked.