Chapter 3 – Part 1 The Ring of Doom
Chapter 2 – Part 3 Unexpected Surprises
Chapter 2 – Part 2 Unexpected Surprises
Chapter 2 – Part 1 Unexpected Surprises
Chapter 1 – A Staircase of Stars
Author’s note:
Part of sub-creating is awakening far too early, with the impression that The Professor has marked up your papers with “please reconsider your reasoning here” and “Balderdash. Think more carefully about your subjects and their setting. What occurs but is not overtly mentioned, as in ‘Beowulf’ and other tales?” I missed part of the significance in writing and separating story segments, and as part of my rework, expand on it here.
Middle-Earth is a high Christian fantasy setting, where God and His angels can still walk and act among the peoples and places. The Valar (angelic Powers guarding the world) made a decision within their allowed dominion that had unanticipated repercussions: in summoning the First-Born peoples to the Uttermost West and their Undying Lands, the balance of Arda was tipped to allowed the Second-Born dominance over most of the world. The First-Born either traveled west, or faded to secluded woods, hollows, and caves, far from Men and far from their guardians. In the Third and Fourth Ages comes the dawn of the Dominion of Man, when the works of Elves and the Three Houses of Men fade or decay into oddities. Angelic visions and spirits may still walk the land to guide and advise Men as emissaries and deputies of the Almighty, for this is not yet the Age wherein the First Coming occurs.
The First-Born are tied to Arda in way the Second-Born are not. They may be slain, but their spirits are bound into the world, and may be reborn or recovered. They may be counseled, Healed, and forgiven for their errors and transgressions against the Valar. But what, then, of the Second Born? Their fate is not with and of Arda, but goes beyond. One can speculate only. However, we have a case where three Men (or, rather, Halflings) who had answered “yes” to the requests of the Valar, but suffered and fell to temptations beyond their understanding. Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam volunteered to take on tasks beyond their comprehension, or beyond their physical and moral strength (unaided). All are in need of healing and purification from evil before proceeding from Arda. For them as like the First-Born, there is postulated a more visible sign and action of Penance, and Purgatory for the recovery and purification of the soul. Here, as seen dimly through the author’s learning and prayers, is such a glimpse of what might be included in purging body and soul of evil taints.
Chapter 3, Part 2 – The Ring of Doom
by Silent Draco
The Elder King’s faced relaxed as he raised his right hand. “Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, the Doom is set aside for thee, for your lives intertwined into the Lore of the Trees and of the Silmarillii, the fabric of Arda, sea, stone, and sky. You were our instruments in confounding the will of our Enemy, testing you far beyond any normal forge.”
Sam felt a sudden wave of horror and revulsion leap up his throat, and unable to halt it, he hissed uncontrollably “… urgh burzum-ishi…” and screamed venom in the Black Speech,
The Darkness came you fools, blundering in light!
Then fang and blade and venom drained to night!
And hopeless, helpless sat you in your woe;
And so the Dark Lord comes for fatal throw!
Olorin’s head and staff whipped round, and he cast a lambent shield of fire about Sam, head to toe, protecting the holy sward from harm. To his surprise and horror, Frodo and Bilbo both stood and snarled,
Olorin, fool and busybody: Sing
A song of woe; for he had claimed my Ring;
Instead I take this worm and swallow whole
His pride and life and tender, foolish soul!
Manwe loomed like an eagle, talons open and ready to strike. Varda and Nienna glared at the Halflings, like hawks stooping upon a viper, and commanded:
Aiya Simlarilii, Telperi e Laurelie,
Calmae a annoshie!
Faster than Sam could even think Sun, a great flare struck the three insensate with the power of a thunderbolt. The sward and thrones trembled at this, with the outrage of Arda itself added to the wrath of the Valar; a large stone cracked of its own accord with a ringing note. A thin, fading wail burned away on the winds. After a long and echoing pause, Sam stirred once more inside the flames. Slowly, very slowly and painfully, Sam gathered himself and got to his knees. “Mr. Frodo? Mr. Bilbo? Mr. Gandalf, wha’ happened? Did-did the Sun fall on me?” Then he saw the sphere of flames, and recalled what had spit out; he fell on his face in horror. “O Lords an’ Ladies, blast me not if yers’ please! I don’t know what that was, but … whispers, O woe! Nae, not me, not me kin, nay, begone! Help me, can’t abide it no more, doom me not!” he wailed. Nienna spoke unto Varda “We know, but will not speak its name here.”
She rose and stepped to where Sam lay prostrate, as the protective wall of lambent fire thinned for her. “Rise and look at me, Young One.” Her face relaxing into a gentle smile, she knelt and took his hand, continuing. “Something claws its way forth, using you for purchase. Rise now, Bagginses; you three go posthaste to the Halls of Lorien for healing.” Nienna gestured, “Olorin, convey them at great speed to the Halls, to Lorien herself, as the Elder King has pronounced judgement. Their condition troubles me greatly.” With another gesture, Nienna bound the Halflings with adamant, leaving them unable to speak. She comforted them: “Fear not. As you had said, Frodo, he would be whole for many years. He is no longer whole, but frayed and torn, in great need of healing. Something seeks to use all three, tattered and worn. Glad we are that he started the Great Journey, for few remain in Middle-Earth with the ability to heal and sustain him. You, Frodo, suffered more that your uncle, though he held It longer. All are in need of greater healing than was possible in Middle-Earth.”
Manwe gazed in sorrow, “Alas, that once more a dark and evil thing attempted to crawl into our lands. This beingconcealed itself cleverly within him, hiding behind a kind and good heart. We shall send word to our watchers here and in Middle Earth to redouble their efforts.” He turned to Frodo, continuing, “You bore pain and temptation even beyond failure, along with the creature Smeagol, for in no other way could the deceits and power of the Enemy be overthrown than at their very source. All of you shall be healed, and at an acceptable time, you shall be conducted to your journey’s end, beyond the Gates of the World. To each of you we render praise … and for Frodo, offer one other sign of or our thanks.” The Valar rose as one, and bowed to the Halflings, praising them gravely. Frodo felt a sudden warmth at his bosom; reaching into his tunic, he brought forth the Phial. The Mirror’s water was no longer quiescent, but ablaze with light and warmth.
The last figure in the circle removed cloak and hood, revealing Earendil the Mariner, with the Silmaril blazing like a star from his circlet, an elf-stone resplendent on his breast. “Here, young masters,” he spoke, “all stories are known and told, and all the songs come to a fitting close. My son … long have we been parted; long shall be our days of reunion and rejoicing. You Halflings played a stalwart part in the tale of my House, bound into it by your love for my descendant, Elessar. And, Master Bilbo,” he smiled, “I too shall hear your song of my journeys, and ponder on its merits.” Mirth rolled again as Bilbo turned almost garnet in color and sighed, “I can only hope to remember all the couplets. I need sustenance and some quiet – to recall them all.” Olorin could not contain his laughter and warning. “We are in gravest peril indeed, O Lords and Ladies, for nothing comes between a Halfling and his song except perhaps meals, five times a day or more!”
And so the Wise and their friends departed the Ring of Doom in peace, each to their own destination. Olorin gathered the Halflings, taking them back to the carriage, and noted that they would proceed in a moment, at a pace that the great Shadowfax could no rival. “For healing of mind and heart is needed, with great urgency; a poison and venom clung to you and must be removed.”