MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Ally

Summary
A day, maybe two, after the Council. Boromir seeks out Gandalf.

'Hail, Mithrandir.'

Gandalf turned. A Man stood by the pillar, tall and proud. 'Hail, Captain of Gondor.'

'May I request your guidance while we abide Master Elrond’s counsel?'

A bushy brow raised as Gandalf wondered at his sudden humility.

'Waste not the resources on hand.' Boromir’s gaze shifted. ‘In the Wanderer’s words truth may be found, though not all welcome their wisdom, and not many have the patience to find it.’ He gestured, taking in Imladris. ‘I am,’ he announced, ‘ in need of both.' He waited, prideful, yet stiffly also, as Gandalf eyed him.

At last, Gandalf nodded. ‘Come.'

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Bidden

Summary
Immediately after the Council, Gandalf finds Legolas.

At the council's end, Gandalf found Legolas. 'How fares the Woodland realm?'

'Shadows stirring, trees slumbering,' Legolas said. '---- As it always has.'

Gandalf considered him. 'What are Thranduil’s orders?' He guided Legolas toward the Hall.

'My errand is twofold, Mithrandir,' said Legolas. '"Give what aid you can," my father bad me.'

Nodding, Gandalf said, 'Thranduil is wise. Yet, the counsel of Elrond must needs be heard ere any decisions are made. I fear you may have to abide the ponderings of the Wise.' Legolas frowned. He smiled, 'Be glad, for maybe you need not endure a winter Hithaeglir crossing.'

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Tally

Summary
During a closeted meeting, Elrond discusses a fellowship candidate with Glorfindel.

‘Nay,’ said Glorfindel, leaning over the table. ‘An ill-choice. Over-proud and unaware of peril. The ring seems as a trifle, he knows not Power.’

‘Well do I know it.’ Elrond stood up, ‘And yet, he has a part to play.’

Shaking his head, Glorfindel said, ‘More a danger than aid.’ He stared to a faraway place and a dark memory. ‘Send me.’

Elrond smiled, ‘It is not for you to go through Fire again.’

Glorfindel paced. ‘Yet, will you not send at least one Elf, that Men know they stand not alone?’

‘Perhaps the tale may yet make itself up.’

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Discord

Summary
After the Council, the Dwarves convene for a meeting.

‘But the Three, they have kept safe!’ Red-faced, he sat down heavily, then stood up again. ‘In secret!'

The clamour rose anew. 'Deceitful Elves!’

‘Quiet!’ Glóin stood up. ‘Quiet!'

The murmurings died.

‘The Three’s safekeeping is the least of our concerns. I would send away to warn Dain,’ he spread his hands around the room full of Dwarves, ‘but there is none I dare spare----'

Another shouted: ‘If we leave, we shall all leave together -- there is none in this place I would trust even with coal dust!’

Gimli pounded the table. ‘Nor I!’ Again, the angry din surged.

---

‘…The Seven are lost to us…’

‘Alas, alas,’ cried Glóin. ‘…What of the Three Rings of the Elves?…’

‘Did you not hear me, Glóin?’ said Elrond. ‘… But of them it is not permitted to speak…’

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Recruit

Summary
Sam goes about one of the journey’s most important logistics.

‘And this is Brego,’ said the stable-master.

‘Hullo, Brego.’ Sam turned. ‘Begging your pardon, but he’s too fine for bearing burdens, if you get my meaning.’

‘So you’ve said of every horse.’

Sam turned red. Quickly, he ran to the last stall lest he lost his courage again. ‘How about Bill?’ He put out a hand to indicate the match in their heights. ‘I can handle him. And he told me ----’

‘He did?’ Shyly Sam nodded. He smiled, ‘Well, then. So be it!’

Bill neighed, nuzzling Sam. ‘Aye,’ said Sam, grateful and yet less sure than the pony.

---

… It was Sam who had insisted on choosing him, declaring that Bill (as he called him) would pine, if he did not come.

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Report

Summary
Elladan and Elrohir return from their errand.

‘How fare the Lord and Lady?’

‘They are well,’ Elladan placed a letter into his father’s hand.

Only a faint rustle filled the air while Elrond read it. Then he looked up.

By the window, Elrohir seemed in a pensive mood, studying the swaying birches beyond. At his side, Elladan watched his father.

Elrond frowned, reading the words again. ‘Grave news indeed.’

‘It is beginning, Father’ said Elladan sadly, ‘The Mellyrn... ’

Elrohir turned, ‘And bitterness laces the sweet draught.’

Tenderly, Elrond smiled, ‘Perhaps you are tasting the sadness in your minds. But come, there is still much to do.’

---

The sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir, were the last to return; they had made a great journey, passing down the Silverlode into a strange country, but of their errand they would not speak to any save Elrond.

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Aflame

Summary
Aragorn at the re-forging of the Sword that was Broken.

With the shards, the smith strode to the forge, quickly swallowed by fiery red light.

Amid thundering bellows, a measured ring of hammer on blade, and the deep pounding echo on the anvil rose.

Softly he sang:

Fire and water,
melting and melding:
Un-sundered shall be the Broken

Searing flame of sunlight,
Shard of moonbright cold
rebirthed as the rekindling Hope

Blood-drenched fury binds
grief unforgotten,
ravelled in tears of long years past

Awaken! ancient bane
Glow with life anew
Burn away bonds of silent lament

Eastward speed this fire,
Sever nightmare’s quest
Andúril, hew the dark again to light!

---

The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths…. the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold…. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame of the West.

MEETINGS AND COUNSEL: DRABBLING THE AFTERMATH OF THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

by Wayfarer
(closetwayfarer at yahoo dot com)

Writer's Notes

"The Council of Elrond" has intrigued me with the gaps it left. But I never had the guts to try filling them, until Avallon goaded me into drabbles, which is a heaven-sent on a project of this scale, especially for an amateur with a bad case of chronic verbiage junkism.

As always, my approach is rather stylised - even when I try to avoid stylising! But it has been fun to try to write the different characters. MaC is an awesome break from "Into The Dark Again", ITDA ( http://storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=2933 ) ... Precious, the Old Fogey and the Scruffy One can be quite annoying when they put their minds to it.

I hope readers find MaC as fun to read as I feel writing them.

~W

Jan 06