SPY IN RIVENDELL

By JULES

Authors Quick Note – This story explores the idea about what might have happened if somebody was out to thwart the fellowship right from the beginning before they had even left Rivendell.    

I have decided to prolong Frodo’s recovery to the stab wound in his shoulder and allow it to play a different role in how things come to pass as well adding some extra bits into it.  Some of the scenes are from the movie like the secret meeting to decide what is to be done with the ring.  Everything else is made up and concocted in my own twisted sense of reality.

This chapter assumes that the members of the fellowship arrived a day or so before the secret council meeting takes place as too the conversation between Elrond and Gandalf.   I wanted a few things to happen in between Frodo waking up and him meeting up again with Bilbo and his other friends.

All mention of herbs or treatments used in this story or others come about

from a little research I did into some and what their effects were.  Some of them have been around since Egyptian times so I have no problem using in this time frame but still am not sure if they would have been grown near Rivendell.  Just have to suspend reality for a time and humour me on this one.

Please forgive my portrayal of Rivendell and it’s residents – this is just what I thought it might look like from the minimal knowledge I have seen in the movie.  I try and think of it as a place of tranquillity and serenity including gardens, fountains and peaceful places to think throughout.  

Still just trying a put a few brief ideas down before they crowd the dozen or so other stories in there – will update as I can.

The story begins…………………………………

The shadowed figure lurked as close to where they were keeping the young ring-bearer as it dared.   Fortunately, even the wise Elrond was not aware that somebody in his own city was prepared to take the young hobbit’s life.

The figure knew that whatever steps were needed, they would need to be done in absolute secrecy.  The problem mainly was that because the ring-bearer had been brought in close to death, the were only rare occasions that he was left alone while he continued his recovery.

Time was of the essence the spy had been told and he needed to carry out his deadly mission as soon as possible.   Some things were on his side such as access to a lot of areas that others within the city did not.   Even in some of Elrond’s more private domains where he kept some of his healing herbs and recipes. 

This would serve to his benefit later when he decided what method to use to

take Frodo’s life.   The best way was slowly so that the others were unaware of what was going on until it was too late.

First though, the spy wanted to gather as much information about his intended victim as possible.   He planned to creep into the boy’s room later when he was sleeping again and see for himself why this Halfling was so important to Elrond and his friends.

The spy was known as Yarrish – elvan in appearance but he held allegiance to others that were not his own race.   Avarice was his main goal.   He did not

think that Elrond or any of the others in this city knew just how close the

Dark Lord was watching over Rivendell.  

*****************************************************

Gandalf the wizard sat quietly by the edge of a large bed.   Sleeping in it

was Frodo, a young hobbit who had been asked to do a great deed and bring

the One Ring to the city of Rivendell.

That deed had been carried out but with a high cost.  Frodo had been injured

by the blade of a Ring Wraith and had barely arrived alive.  Now the young

Halfling rested as the healing herbs that Elrond prescribed did their job.

Sam had only briefly been dragged from the room by Pippin and Merry to have something to eat.   The younger, fairer hobbit’s loyalty to his master Frodo couldn’t be questioned and it had come to threats and compromises to get him to leave his injured friend’s side.

Frodo felt himself drifting upon a higher plateau that left him confused about

where he was and why.    He tried opening his eyes but the effort was incredibly draining.   He felt as though somebody was forcibly holding him down.

“Where am I?” Frodo asked, not sure if there was anyone around to hear the question. “You are in the house of Elrond and it is ten o’clock in the morning, on October the 24^th if you want to know,” Gandalf replied.

Frodo frowned in confusion.  He recognized the voice but he didn’t quite know why he heard the wizard.

“Gandalf?” he finally said in a voice that sounded very faint and fatigued.   By now his eyes had opened sufficiently for the ring-bearer to see that it was his friend that sat by his side.

The rest of his surroundings were unfamiliar as he looked around.

“Yes I am here.  And you’re lucky to be here too.   A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid, but you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit,” Gandalf said as he looked fondly at the boy.  

Gandalf couldn’t help but note the smudges of fatigue still under the young hobbit’s eyes as he looked back at him, still a little confused as to where he was and why he came to be here.

“What happened Gandalf?  Why didn’t you meet us?” came the question.  Not a harsh one, just from a lad who had come to have too much of a burden placed upon him for a reason he had yet to be told.

“I am sorry Frodo…………. I was delayed,” came the reply.  Frodo seemed happy enough with the answer given but he failed to see the look on the wizard’s face as he though back to what had happened to him with Saruman.

Elrond now entered the room, followed quickly behind by Sam.  He had eaten, but only just enough to keep him going for fear of being away from his master too long when he was needed.

“FRODO” Samwise exclaimed, hardly able to believe that his master was at last awake.  “Bless you, you’re awake.”

He had still been sound asleep when he left and showed no sign of waking anytime soon.  Gandalf and Elrond had insisted that Frodo be left to sleep as long as his body required and wake only when he was ready.

“Sam!” Frodo said in greeting, a smile upon his face but his voice somewhat much softer.  

The little Halfling still didn’t feel much like dancing around at the moment

or indeed moving about at all if he didn’t need to.   Even pulling himself into a half-seated position to talk to Gandalf had taxed him much more than he would like to have admitted.

“Sam has hardly left your side,” Gandalf informed Frodo as he watched and smiled at the friendship between the two young hobbits.

“We were that worried about you, weren’t we Mr Gandalf?” Samwise now added, hoping that Frodo wouldn’t learn of just how much concern he had shed over his friend.   He didn’t mind one bit, but had come to know that Frodo might become embarrassed at such statements in front of complete strangers.

“By the skills of Elrond, you’re beginning to mend,” Gandalf now informed Frodo.

The young Halfling had yet to make any mention of the fact that he had been stabbed. The hobbit had reached painfully for the area when he first awoke and the pain was reignited by his movement.   But other than that Frodo had tried to ignore the very reason he was laying in bed.

“Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins,” Elrond said in a formal greeting.

The man’s appearance seemed to command respect and displayed an aura unlike one would find attached to a king or queen.   His voice was almost soothing and calming in effect as the syllables were formed.

“What would you say to some food Mr Baggins?” Elrond now enquired.  He had been informed by all including Sam and Gandalf about the young hobbit’s poor appetite.   That could clearly be seen by his thin frame compared to the other three hobbits that currently resided in Rivendell.  

Still though, the boy needed to eat something to regain his strength.  His recovery was certainly not going to be overnight.

Frodo felt everyone’s eyes upon him and given the hospitality that he had already been afforded, he could scarcely give them a negative answer.

“Maybe just a little,” he said in compromise, much to the relief of his friend Sam who had been worried that his master would refuse such an offer.

“Come with me Samwise Gamgee and you can serve your master his meal here in his bed,” Elrond now instructed.   Sam promised Frodo that he shouldn’t be gone any longer than necessary.

Whilst they were gone, Gandalf did his best to make the boy more comfortable by arranging the pillows behind his back, elevating him slightly.    His efforts seemed to have been rewarded as the boy lay back against the softness and felt his muscles beginning to relax.

By the time Sam came back into the room, laden with a tray of food and drink

for his master, the relaxation was almost complete and Frodo’s eyes had begun to drift closed again.    

“Should we wake him again Gandalf?” Sam asked, a little disappointed that his friend still seemed very weak. 

“Yes Sam, just long enough to have some of that broth I think and maybe some of Elrond’s healing tea.   He still requires a great deal of rest Sam,” Gandalf said.   “He has been through a lot and it will take time for him to regain his strength.

“I will make sure he get’s that rest too,” Sam said in determination.

Gandalf and Sam together gently coaxed Frodo awake long enough for him to

take a few mouthfuls of the broth.   In between Frodo had partaken in a few

sips of tea, although the taste didn’t really appeal to him.

Just as Sam was about to bring the spoon back to Frodo’s mouth though, his

master just couldn’t keep awake anymore and was asleep before the liquid

touched his lips.

“He’s done in I think Sam,” Gandalf said as Sam carefully removed the tray

from Frodo’s lap and then the two of them carefully laid the boy back down

on his bed.   He didn’t stir through any of their administrations.

*******************************************************

Frodo’s sleep had been undisturbed for the best part of two hours.   By now

everyone else had also retired to their own quarters and the ring-bearer had

been left in the capable hands of his companion Sam for the remainder of

the night.

Elrond had come and checked on the bandaged wound as the hobbit slept.

With tender and gentle hands, the Elf healer had been able to examine the

area without waking Frodo or causing him any undue distress.

Frodo had mumbled something in his slumber that was incoherent.  He had

even frowned slightly as he relived something nobody else could see.

Sam had remained by his master’s side as Elrond carried out his checking.

He was a little intimidated by the leader of the elves but still sought to serve

his master to the best of his abilities, no matter who stood before them.

“The wound is healing slightly Master Gamgee,” Elrond informed the inquisitive hobbit as he felt the younger Halfling watching his every movement.

“How long before Mr Frodo will have no pain or discomfort Lord Elrond?”

Sam now asked.

Elrond paused slightly before giving his answer.   He wasn’t quite prepared to

come right out and tell the worried hobbit that Frodo’s wound would never

fully heal.   Such matters could be explained much later when more important

issues had been discussed.

“I would think that he will still feel quite weakened for a number of days to come.  He used almost every ounce of strength he had within him to make it here to Rivendell with the Ring Wraiths so close behind,” Elrond explained.

“For a while there his friends and I were afraid he wouldn’t make it at all.  Mr

Strider said that he was turning into one of those creatures when we were back in the forest,” Sam replied, reliving the images of his master laying on the ground, so cold that the fire beside him seemed of little aid.

“I’ll have a spare bed brought here for you Mr Gamgee where you can still watch over your master but also get some much needed rest yourself.   You too have just arrived after a very harrowing journey.  Your younger hobbit friends are already wrapped warming in their beds and sleeping,” Elrond now said.

Sam sighed in relief at the Elfish Lord’s words.   Although he had shown that he was not about to leave Frodo’s side for any reason up until now, he was a little concerned that others would be ordered to take over the constant vigil over his master.

Elrond had seen the loyalty afforded to the ring-bearer by the other hobbits.  This one in particular seemed to display a stubborn streak that urged him to reconsider his choice of assistants for Frodo.

From conversations Elrond had with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf, it had been made clear that Frodo was a lad who thrived on his own independence and often sought solitude where other hobbits were known to seek each other for company.

Elrond thought that there was much benefit to be gained by allowing those closest to the boy to remain so and watch over him as his recovery took place.  Frodo seemed to withdraw and step back a little with strangers nearby.  The same might occur if strangers were asked to attend the young hobbit during the healing process.

Elrond knew that part of the healing process was coming to terms with what had happened and becoming stronger because of it.  If Frodo wished to have solitude to allow time to heal and think then that’s what would happen.  

Sam now watched intently as the healer gazed upon the array of jars and bottles that lined the top of a small table adjacent to Frodo’s bed.    When Elrond had first begun treating the ill hobbit, Sam had taken careful note of which bottle was used or which pinch of herbs from which particular jar. 

There were many different herbs and healing ointments that came from the Elvan world, most of them indeed had been heard of even back in the Shire for all sorts of ailments.

Sam knew with an edge of disappointment that he didn’t know much about the medicinal usages of many herbs and plants.  Some he knew could be dried and crush up and infused in hot water to be taken as a healing tea.   

For some herbs, their purpose altered if the juice was used from freshly picked leaves or stems. Sometimes remedies were derived from the flowers of certain plants or the seeds that formed afterwards.

Elrond was just checking what his assistant Yarrish had left and what would need replenishing by morning in order to continue with treatment.   He was satisfied to see that his assistant seemed to be a few steps ahead and taken the liberty of already refilling some of the earthenware jars and glass bottles.

“Beggin’ your pardon Sir, but what do some of those bottles and jars contain?” Sam asked, nervously playing with the cuff of his shirt sleeve as he asked the question.   Maybe healers as profound as Elrond didn’t like somebody questioning their methods or recipes.

To the hobbit’s relief though, Elrond saw an enquiring mind rather than just

asking a question for the sake of asking.

Instead of just answering, the healer reached one of the larger jars that were

sitting on the table and shook a few of the crushed leaves inside onto the palm of his hand.   He now held his arm out for Sam to have a closer inspection of the medicine.

“Borage,” Elrond said, stating the name of the plant.   “It has very special

properties than most other medicinal herbs in that it cleanses the blood.”

“Is that what you used on Frodo?” Sam asked as he picked up a pinch of the

leaves and felt the texture for himself.

“Yes, and will continue to do so for some time to come Mr Gamgee,” Elrond

responded.  “The blade that caused that wound on your master’s shoulder

was no ordinary blade.  Therefore it is no ordinary wound which you may

already have come to know.”

“Come now Mr Gamgee, the hour is very late and you need to rest,” Elrond

now instructed the hobbit.  “I am appreciative of your concern for Mr Baggins,

and the treatments which I have used to heal him.   Of them I will speak to you more about another time.”

Elrond now bid Sam good night and left the room so both hobbits could gather their strength.

The Elvan leader had yet to know about the threat that existed in his own city

and thus had not considered the need for further security for the ring-bearer

other than those watching over Frodo.

***************************************************

In Frodo’s room, the main entrance door was secured, but a second door that

lead out onto a large expanse of balcony remained unlocked.  

A gentle breeze ruffled the hem of the Frodo’s cloak that was currently resting over the back of a chair in the room, but it was not enough to alter the even and constant temperature.

A hooded figure had scrambled up and over a small wall that edged the balcony. There was a small square of green grass which was trimmed to immaculate perfection.  The vast majority of the area was constructed of a pale sandstone that was both hard wearing to the outside elements and pleasing to the eye. 

There were many such balconies that adjoined rooms on higher and lower levels of the city.   Most were used as areas for relaxation and contemplation.  

Yarrish crept silently into the room containing the two Halflings.   He paused

momentarily at the table containing Elrond’s jars and bottles of herbs.  He picked up the one of the small jars that contained a root extract.   It could be used as a sedative if the hobbit’s sleep became disturbed or troubled.  

The jar he replaced it with was identical in size, shape and colour, inside it though, the contents were different.   Yarrish had replaced the root extract with a plant that was commonly called ‘Lemon Verbena’. 

It too was known as a sedative, most likely even better than the root powder.  But the assistant knew that Lemon Verbena could only be used in minute quantities for a short period of time.  Any prolonged usage of this substance and the ring-bearer would be suffering from a whole range of symptoms that would weaken him.  

With that task now complete, the elf now moved to get closer to the ring-bearer himself.   He could see the other hobbit on the smaller bed, only a few feet further away.   That hobbit’s sleep seemed to be somewhat deeper than his master.

Yarrish had already heard Frodo mumble a few words in his sleep since entering the room.  He had not understood what the boy said.   His intent on this occasion was only to take a closer look at the one that everybody held in such high regard and had delivered the One Ring to the city.

Yarrish knew all the history there was to know about the ring itself.  He had even recorded quite a lot of it’s ancient legend in elvan text that was still held in the city.  

The small hobbit curled asleep on his right side moved his hand slightly from

underneath the folds of the blankets on his bed.    The hand then settled on top and ceased moving as the boy drifted back to sleep.

The hobbit himself seemed of no such significance to Yarrish.  The boy was

but a Halfling and would scarcely reach the shoulder of some.  The hobbit had

a full head of very dark curly hair and a paler than expected complexion from the much rounder one that slept a few feet away.  

The blankets encircling the hobbit had become displaced somewhat from his

movement during the night.   It was now possible for Yarrish to see the chain

that the One Ring had been placed upon for easier carrying.  

The clothes that Frodo had arrived in were long discarded and so to the small

pocket which had been the ring’s hiding place up until now.  Another method

had been discussed for it’s well-being and safe keeping.   The chain around the boy’s neck had been the result of those discussions.

Even now though, Yarrish couldn’t help but be slightly hypnotised by the

power of the ring that seemed to draw one in before they were even aware of it.

There was only a small amount of light in the room, but even that seemed enough to make the ring stand out to Yarrish.  His eyes seemed transfixed on it as the ring rested innocently upon the fold of Frodo’s shirt.

Yarrish couldn’t deny that he heard the ring talking to him.   Without even thinking about it, the elf found his hand reaching out in an attempt to touch the one thing that he dared not to.

It was about this moment that the wound in Frodo’s shoulder seemed to reignited with a sharp stabbing of pain.   The young hobbit had been awoken from his sleep and now tried to open his eyes at the sudden pain that he was experiencing.  

Frodo held back the moan that was in his throat, but it was quickly replaced by a whole new sense of fear as his confused eyes meet those of somebody else leaning over him.   The eyes at first seemed to be in a trance but then they moved and met with the frightened blue ones.   

The shadow over Frodo’s face somehow told him that the figure was too big to be his friend Sam.   The figure’s hand was reaching for the ring he wore around his neck.  His assailant’s face was shrouded by the hood of a cloak he wore and was not revealed to the boy.

Yarrish was just as startled as the boy and knew that he must get out of the room for fear of being identified.  He was fairly certain that no fresh image of his features had been left behind that Frodo would remember when later questioned.

Frodo did not know if this person meant him harm or was only after the ring itself.  He quickly reached up his hand and tried to shield it away from the prying fingers as they moved forward.  

“SAM !!” the hobbit screamed, trying to flee across the bed in case the attacker decided to physically grab him or restrain him in some way. 

In his haste though, Frodo found his feet his undoing and he became entangled in the blankets and bed clothes, only to fall into an uncomfortable heap on the floor, still covered by the sheer amount of fabric to see the figure disappear through the door through which he had entered.

Samwise had heard the frightened cry of his master and was up on his feet ready to defend him as necessary.   But as he looked towards the bed where he had known Frodo to be, there was now an empty space.  

“HELP ME PLEASE!” Frodo cried out, but his voice was suppressed by the blankets so that only a soft plea could be heard.

“I’m coming Mr Frodo, hold on Frodo,” Sam now said in alarm, still trying to search for his master.  He determined that his friend must still be in the room somewhere because he could hear him calling out.

“ARAGORN” Sam yelled as loud as he could, whilst still trying to find Frodo.

The shouts of Sam soon brought Gandalf and Aragorn into the room through the front entrance.  Aragorn had a small sword in his hand, ready to defend the ring-bearer and his companion.  

“HELP ME PLEASSSSE,” came the plea one final time, but Frodo’s energy levels were quickly waning.  He had tried to use both arms to remove the blankets from on top of him.  This action only seemed to make the stab wound in his shoulder hurt more terribly.  By the time the words left his mouth, they could scarcely be heard by the others in the room.

Sam by now had spotted the moving mound on the other side of the bed and

quickly went forth to try and free his master.

Aragorn went over to help Sam free Frodo as Gandalf went to lighten the room

so they could see what was happening.    Aragorn put his sword down momentarily and did see that the young hobbit was indeed entangled.   It would have almost been worth a grin had he not seen Frodo’s face once the covers were lifted from him.

The young ring-bearer was clearly in distress, his eyes squeezed shut as his right hand wrapped itself protectively around his left upper arm, trying to wait for the pain to abate some.

“Mr Frodo, are you alright?” Sam asked in a worried voice, though anybody could plainly see that his master was far from being alright.  “Mr Gandalf maybe we need to summon the healer for Mr Frodo,” he added, looking back at the wizard for advice on how they should handle the situation.

“Probably a wise decision Mr Gamgee,” Gandalf agreed as he watched Aragorn lift the injured hobbit from the floor and place him gently back on the bed from where he had fallen.

Up until this moment, Aragorn and Gandalf were under the impression that

Frodo’s misadventure with the bed sheets were mostly to blame for his

state, that coupled with the pain that he no doubt still felt from the stab wound. 

It was plain for all to see that the young hobbit was favouring his shoulder

and would not let anybody to take a look at it.

“There now Frodo, nobody here is going to hurt you,” Gandalf began to say

in reassurance……. his words were interrupted by Frodo suddenly looking

up at the wizard’s comment and looking around the room as though looking

for something.

“Somebody here…….” Frodo managed to say as the pain in his shoulder still

didn’t ease.  “Somebody here……… wanted to take the ring……….wouldn’t

let him………reaching out for me…………….,” the boy repeated, indicating

to the others just what had taken place.

Aragorn was suddenly reaching once again for his sword and started searching the room for any sign of an intruder.  The implications of something like this happening to the ring-bearer were enormous.

Gandalf too was attempting to see if somebody else was in the room, half of his attention though was still focused on Frodo as the boy was now laying back down on the bed.  

“Reaching out for me………..” came the mumbled sentence from Frodo as he

started to fall back into a restless sleep.  The image of the hand coming forth

was still too fresh in his memory to enable him a peaceful rest.

“Sam did you see anybody enter this room tonight?” Aragorn asked, not trying to scold the hobbit but wanting to get as many answers as possible to solving why there had been another in the room.   When he looked at the doorway leading to the balcony and found it unlocked, it was clear that this had been the intruder’s chosen entry point.

“Pray no Mr Strider,” Sam answered, it was hard for him to mask the self

reproach he felt for not being more vigilant in carrying for his master.  “I nay

hear nothing but Mr Frodo’s cry for help.  There was nobody to be found

as I scrambled from my bed,” he added.

Although the information was very forthcoming, what was said did leave a few

clues to go on.   If the intruder was gone between trying to attack Frodo and

Sam hearing his startled scream for help, then whoever it was must have

been quite agile in his entering and leaving of the room.

It also meant that the intruder was very stealth like in moving across the room

to his intended victim, for neither hobbit had been aware of the danger until

it presented itself.   Aragorn could only be thankful that something had awoken Frodo in time to see his assailant before he carried out his deed.

Aragorn walked about the room, trying to see if there was anything else

out of place.   He walked by the medicine table but noted the same number

of jars and bottles that had been there earlier in the day. 

“What had gone on here tonight Gandalf?” Elrond asked as he came into

Frodo’s room.  He was quickly followed by his assistant Yarrish.   Nobody

was to suspect of what the assistant had been up to.  

Yarrish smiled inwardly to himself as he gazed around the faces in the room,

knowing that nobody suspected him of any ill-doing.  He could see them hovering over the young hobbit as he slept again.  

“It would appear that somebody entered this room tonight that should have not have been here,” Gandalf informed the healer.  “Aragorn and Sam found him on the floor, tangled in the bed sheets as a result of him trying to flee too quickly it would appear.”

Elrond decided it best to examine the ring-bearer for himself rather than ask

whether or not he was no worse for wear.  With gentle hands that barely touched Frodo’s prone, sleeping form, he carefully inspected the bandages that he had carefully put in place.  He did note that the boy still made small whimpering sounds as he slept, indicating that there was still some amount of pain being felt.

“Our young friend has pulled a few of the stitches that help to bind his wound.

I suspect that he did this trying to get away from what he thought was a threat of some sort,” Elrond informed the group. 

“No sign of who the intruder might have been,” Aragorn now said.

“Pardon my Lord, but perhaps a little of this for the young ring-bearer will

allow him to rest easier for the remainder of the night,” Yarrish now suggested, handing Elrond a long thin bottle.

Elrond accepted the bottle and read the label on the outside “Lavender water”.

“An excellent choice as usual Yarrish, thank you,” he replied and now very

carefully placed a few drops of the lilac scented mixture onto the very edge

of Frodo’s pillow.  The aroma would be inhaled as the hobbit rested, hopefully allowing his sleep to remain undisturbed.

“Sam I think it wise at this stage to allow Aragorn to remain in these quarters

with you and your master until a more suitable security arrangement can be

made whilst Frodo recovers,” Elrond informed the hobbit.  A nod of agreement

could be seen from Gandalf at the suggestion.

Aragorn had nodded his co-operation and willingness to watch over Frodo until morning.  His protectiveness towards the ring-bearer grew stronger now that he felt that the boy was threatened in the very place he had been brought to in order to find respite and safety from evil.

UNTIL MORNING……………..

I apologize for the chapter being a little shorter than I would have liked – still trying to test my feet in the water so to speak to see if people like it still – going to add to the other one as soon as I can as well.

Please let me know what you think.    The part about Sam calling Aragorn Strider again was just something I added – just for calling him something different than Aragorn.   My thought was that Sam would revert to calling the Ranger by the name they had come to know him before getting to Rivendell.

JULES