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inzilbeth The Silvan Elves had dwelt in the
They were suspicious of most strangers, but Aragorn had first come there as a young man with Gandalf many years ago and was accepted for who he was. He found having an elven upbringing was sometimes extremely useful, although he inevitably did not feel as at home around these Elves as he did those of Imladris. However, Thranduil and his son had always been welcoming enough on his rare visits to the Woodland Realm
It was with enormous relief that Aragorn was at last able to rid himself of the presence of Gollum. He held out his hand so one of the Elves could cut the rope from his wrist and, as it fell away, it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Gollum was taken away to the dungeons, squealing in protest. Legolas showed Aragorn to a pleasant room where he was able to bathe before being taken to meet Thranduil. The Silvan Elves had none of the wealth of the Noldor and their quarters were sparse in comparison to the sumptuousness of Rivendell, but after fifty-five days in the company of Gollum and travelling some nine hundred miles with him across difficult terrain, the Elvenking’s halls felt as grand as any palace Aragorn could ever hope to dwell in.
Legolas was a thoughtful host and had food and wine brought up to his guest as he languished in a warm bath. Slowly, he soaked the knots and cramps from his muscles, though the warm, soapy water stung his chapped fingers and toes which still sported many open sores from the relentless cold. He had trodden more paths in his long life than he really cared to remember at that moment, but few of his journeys had been as arduous as this latest one. But for all his weariness, he did feel a certain grim satisfaction at having accomplished his mission. Gollum was securely locked away; even Sauron could not reach him here and that was a most welcome and comforting thought. He stretched out his long legs and lay back as far as his bath would allow and relaxed.
These unburden moments were as treasured jewels in his increasingly uncertain life. He had not made any plans beyond arriving in Thranduil’s realm. Now that he was here, he really should be considering his next movements. He needed to find Gandalf; then they could take counsel together. If Gandalf could solve the riddle of this ring of Bilbo’s, then he might perhaps be able to map out his plans for the coming months. As it was, his immediate future was a blank page and he was far from certain of where the path of his life might lead him in the next year or so.
~oo0oo~
At length, bathed and fed, though still attired in his ragged travelling clothes, Aragorn was escorted to Thranduil in his great hall. He always thought the Elvenking a very regal lord and he found him now, sitting on his wooden throne, his autumn crown of leaves and berries upon his head, scrutinising the ranger as he was bought before him. Not for the first time in his life, Aragorn felt acutely aware of his still very dishevelled, appearance. It would take more than one bath to turn him into a King of Men, he thought, smiling ruefully to himself. He must ask Legolas for a change of clothes. A fine robe or too would have boosted his confidence hugely.
He halted in front of the king and bowed.
“So, Aragorn, Lord of the Dúnedain, you have finally brought this creature here,” said Thranduil. “It is many years since Mithrandir asked me if I could accommodate him within my halls. Has he proved so very difficult to find?”
“He has indeed, my lord king,” said Aragorn. “Mithrandir and I have spent many years searching for him. He was far down in the south, near Mordor, when I at last came across him.”
“You have had a very long journey then. But Mithrandir is not with you now?” asked Thranduil.
“He had another errand, my lord, and had to abandon the hunt.”
“Well, he has told me all about this Gollum and why he believes he should be constrained. Let’s hope you were not too late in achieving your task, and the damage has not already been done.”
“Yes, my lord,” said Aragorn, not really appreciating this blunt appraisal of his long and painful efforts.
“I will send scouts out in the morning to leave messages for Mithrandir beyond the
“Thank you, I’m sure he would greatly appreciate being told of this,” said Aragorn
“And perhaps, now that you are here, you might bring me news of Imladris,” said Thranduil, gesturing to Aragorn to be seated. “How is Elrond Halfelven these days?”
Aragorn obediently sat in front of the king and when he had told him all the news he could, Thranduil at last sent him to his rest.
~oo0oo~
Aragorn slept for nearly a whole day and night, such was his weariness. He awoke feeling ravenous and was grateful to the Elves for their generous hospitality. Thranduil, for all his brusqueness, appreciated what the mortal had been through to achieve his feat and ensured he was more than adequately cared for. A plentiful supply of the finest foods was constantly brought to his room and Aragorn had no compunction about eating his fill. Bread and pastries he consumed by the plateful, though he was less keen on the squirrel, no matter how beautifully prepared and presented.
As he happily tucked into yet another helping of apple pie, he grinned at his own gluttony. ‘I’ve spent too long guarding the Shire,’ he thought, ‘I’m turning into a hobbit.’
When Aragorn had finally sated himself on food and sleep, he sought Legolas to inquire about Gollum. He still felt the creature was his responsibility and, although he was sure the Elves would care for him well, he wanted to satisfy himself that Gollum was reasonably comfortable.
“He is locked up,” said Legolas, “but, I assure you, we are doing all we can for him.” At Aragorn’s insistence, he led the way through the long passages that were lit only with the red light of many torches until they came to the dungeons. Aragorn found Gollum housed in an agreeable enough cell. It was small and sparse but he was receiving regular meals and the guards were obviously treating him kindly. Yet he was squatting on the floor and seemed very on edge. He jumped as Aragorn approached the bars. Aragorn could only imagine that he was anticipating being tortured.
“Hello, Gollum, there is nothing to fear,” he said with a friendliness he certainly did not feel. “It is I, Strider.”
Gollum raised his head and glared at Aragorn with evident hatred before continuing to mumble to himself. “Poor, Gollum, what’s to become of us, now, precious? We can’t find it again locked in here, can we, oh no. Nasty manses keeps us from it, he does. We hates him, precious, we hates him.”
Aragorn listened to him for a while, but then, with mounting revulsion at the smell he had tolerated for so long, he found he had no desire to endure Gollum’s presence a moment longer.
“I’ve seen enough,” he said to Legolas and, turning on his heel, he strode from the dungeons.
~oo0oo~
The next day, to Aragorn’s great joy, Gandalf arrived, having ridden with great haste through the forest.
“My dear Aragorn, how are you?” said Gandalf, embracing his friend before stepping back to cast a concerned eye over him. “What a time you have had! I am so relieved to see you still in one piece. You must tell me the whole story. I know you have been to Lórien for I received messages from there telling me you had passed that way. I chased after you at once, fearing what deadly perils you had endured on your own. Come sit with me and tell me of your adventures.”
Aragorn recounted his tale from the time he parted from Gandalf far to the south in the Morgul Vale. Gandalf was most concerned to learn of Aragorn’s capture by the orcs and he was particularly disturbed to hear that the Lord of the Nazgfl was wandering in that land. He greatly feared the meaning of it. However, he could not dwell on this problem now, and bringing his thoughts back to Gollum, he asked: “Has he said anything to you that may be helpful to us; has he given any sort of account of himself at all?”
“He has said nothing,” said Aragorn, shaking his head. “He has completely refused to answer any of my questions. I’m afraid I did not start in friendship with him and he has not let me forget that. I do know that he is very fearful of the name of Mordor and I suspect he has been there. I sense great malice within him. I can only hope you have more success with him than I did.”
“Well, I will try, but I can promise nothing. If he was indeed in possession of the One Ring for a great many years, then his heart, I suspect, is black from that time. But we shall see. Perhaps you could take me to him now,” said Gandalf as he got to his feet.
“Of course,” said Aragorn, “but will you not tell me first if your visit to Minas Tirith bore fruit? Did you find anything that might be of use to us in the vaults?”
“Yes, I believe I did,” said Gandalf, sitting back down again. “Denethor was very reluctant to allow me access to the archives, but he agreed in the end. Did you know, Aragorn, there are scrolls there that have been unread for centuries?”
“No, I did not,” said Aragorn, “but it would not surprise me; the archives were much neglected in Ecthelion’s day.”
“Well, it took me a while, but I eventually found Isildur’s own account of the finding of the Ring. It made very interesting reading. I learned of a test I can try to see if this is the One Ring, but I will not be able to do that until I return to the Shire. But let me see what Gollum can tell us first before we jump to too many conclusions.”
Aragorn nodded his agreement and then led the way to the dungeons.
~oo0oo~
Gandalf patiently sat with the creature for days, slowly coaxing his tale out of him. At length, he felt he had learned all he could and so reported back to Aragorn.
“Well, I hope I never have to sit and listen to such a lot of nonsense ever again,” said Gandalf. “He really is enough to try the temper of the most patient man.”
Aragorn laughed: “And you, my dear friend, could hardly be called that.”
Gandalf scowled at him good-humouredly.
“First, I had to get past all the self-pity and the interminable curses, most of which were directed at you, I have to say,” said Gandalf, raising an eyebrow at Aragorn. “Eventually, he started to open up a little. I still had to discount most of what he said, but a few things were quite telling and some very important. For instance, I learned that he found the Ring near the Gladden, not far from where Isildur most likely lost it. Also it would appear that he found it a very long time ago and that possession of the Ring has therefore considerably lengthened his life. His story of how he himself came to lose it also tied in with what Bilbo told me; the later version that is. However most disturbingly, it would seem Gollum was, as we guessed, taken captive in Mordor. There, under torment, he revealed both the names of ‘Baggins’ and ‘the Shire’ to the servants of the Dark Lord.”
“Oh no, this is the most evil of tidings!”
“I know, my friend, it could not be worse,” said Gandalf. “Gollum believes he escaped, but I suspect he was released which is far more disturbing. It is all most grievous news. I doubt Sauron had ever heard of the Shire before, though I do not expect it will take him long to find it now. I must return there at once and warn Frodo.”
“This is all just as I feared,” said Aragorn frowning. “I will travel west with you. The Dúnedain should be told at least something of the possible dangers and the guard on the Shire increased accordingly.”
“Yes, yes, that would be as well. There will be much to do.” Gandalf nodded his agreement, but then he became quiet and thoughtful, looking hard at the Ranger. He pulled out his pipeweed and offered some to the
“It’s the finest in the Southfarthing,” he said with a smile. Aragorn accepted the weed with thanks, but he knew Gandalf well enough to immediately understand that his friend probably had something of importance he wished to say to him.
When they had both lit their pipes and taken a drag or two, Gandalf continued.
“Aragorn, I am as certain as I can be, for now, that Gollum’s ring is the One Ring of the Dark Lord, found again after being lost for over three thousand years. You do know what this means don’t you?”
“If you mean, do I know the peril we will all be in should Sauron find it again, then, yes, I know,” said Aragorn, thinking this was surely obvious.
Gandalf smiled at him, fondly.
“No, my dear fellow, I meant for you personally. It has long been Elrond’s belief, has it not, that when the Ring of the Enemy is found then the Sword of Elendil will be reforged. And with that sword you may well be called upon to accomplish the great deeds that Elrond once predicted you might achieve. I foresee a terrible final battle looming before us. If we are successful, you may at last gain all you desire, but if we fail, then those who survive will be condemned to endure life without hope under the rule of Sauron. Your hour is coming Aragorn. Your long labour will soon be over, but much will be asked of you before the end. You must be ready.”
Aragorn said nothing for a while. He knew events were moving rapidly towards that confrontation and that his final trial would soon be upon him. He knew also it would be a test he must not fail, and hearing Gandalf speak of it brought the day that much nearer in his mind. Long had he waited and prepared for this and he did not doubt he would need all his courage and skill to see this through, though there were no sureties that they would be enough. He was very aware that the price of failure would have far reaching implications for all of Middle-earth, as well as being the end of his own hopes and dreams. But in that moment whatever fears and doubts lay within him, by the strength of his will he banished them from his heart and determinedly replaced them with grim resolve.
“I am ready,” he said at last.
And my search would have been in vain, but for the help that I had from a friend: Aragorn, the greatest huntsman and traveler in this age of the world.
The Shadow of the Past
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-07 10:25 pm (UTC)Well written, and I enjoyed the read! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:21 pm (UTC)Thanks for sticking with it.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 04:51 am (UTC)I think you've a typo you might want to fix "These unburden moments".
I just love this story!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:33 pm (UTC)I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the friendship between Legolas and Aragorn only developed during the Ring War. I take the view that if the Mirkwood Elves had lost touch with their cousins in Lothlorien, as Legolas tells us, then they were very unlikely to have had much to do with those in Imladris. Also the only men they seem to have had anything to do with were those in Laketown and Dale, not the Dunedain.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:54 pm (UTC)I'm so pleased to know you're enjoying this story. There is still a lot more to come though I may take a break from posting for a few weeks over Christmas.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 06:58 pm (UTC)And it is good to see that you realize that any friendship with Legolas before the Ring War was rather unlikely XD I believe the same, myself.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-08 07:49 pm (UTC)Yes, I think the Legolas/ Aragorn thing must have its roots in the movies.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-09 09:44 pm (UTC)I liked the idea of him finding some rest in Lothlorien, and with the Beornings because, if he had not, the ordeal might have have been too much even for Aragorn. The encounter with Rumil, Orophin and Grimbeorn provides a much needed and well deserved rest to our exhausted ranger. I loved the bit in which Aragorn laughed aloud with joy at meeting Rumil and Orophin, and I enjoyed the pet joke very much. The bit about the honeycakes reminding him of his childhood and of Gilraen is very touching, as is the scene in which he takes strenght from his memories of Arwen.
And I absolutely loved your ending. Aragorn banishing by the strenght of his will his fears and doubts, and exclaiming I am ready is to my mind perfection itself. When I read it I wanted to shout - Yeeeeeeees that's my Aragorn.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-10 07:31 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for all your comments. I felt this needed to be a pretty harrowing journey to justify the way he talked about it and the description in UT.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-11 04:53 pm (UTC)