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Notes for Chapter 15:  There are lines in this chapter taken directly or adapted from the chapter “Flight to the Ford” in “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien, and some knowledge of that chapter is assumed.  Also, for those who haven’t read “Quarantined”, this chapter references Chapter 16.

BY CHANCE OR PURPOSE

Chapter 15 --- Between Two Worlds

October 18

“Ai na vedui Dúnadan!  Mae govannen!”

As Aragorn ran down the slope and left the hobbits concealed in the bushes growing above the Road, the four hobbits found themselves each reacting very differently to the figure dismounting from the white horse.

Merry was amazed by the beauty and clarity of the stranger’s voice; every word sounded as if it was the opening note of a song.  Even from a distance, he perceived that the Elf’s face was beautiful, his golden hair shimmering as if lit from within.  However, his first glimpse of an Elf was tempered by the grim realization that this person was alone.  Where were the search parties?  If Strider was right, and the wraiths were just biding their time before they attacked again, in full force, it would surely take more than one lone Elf to make a difference.

Pippin, too, was a bit disappointed, as he had been hoping the rider was Gandalf -- but he sighed with relief when Strider greeted the Elf as an old friend.

Sam just gazed, awestruck, at the noble figure below them on the Road.  Every movement, every small gesture seemed graceful and flowing.  Gildor and his folk, back in the Shire, had been jovial, and beautiful, and somewhat ethereal; but this person… Sam somehow knew, in his heart, that this was someone of great majesty and power.  He can help us, he thought.

Frodo’s nighttime vision had grown too weak, after so many days of increasing dimness, to discern either Aragorn or the Road on which he now stood -- but below him was a being of Light.  The radiance wavered -- now fainter, now brighter -- it almost hurt his eyes after so many days and nights of shadowed sight.  He hoped he still had the strength to greet him properly.

“Come sir,” Sam pulled on Frodo’s arm.  “Strider wants us to join them down there.”

Pippin raced down the slope and Merry followed, leading Bill.  Sam came more slowly, helping Frodo to descend.

Aragorn waited until they had all assembled before he made introductions.  “This is Glorfindel, who dwells in the house of Elrond,” he said.

“Meriadoc Brandybuck,” said Merry quietly, bowing low.

“Peregrin Took,” Pippin said.  “Have you seen Gandalf?”

“He had not reached Rivendell when I departed nine days ago, Peregrin,” Glorfindel replied, “but it is possible that he will be there to greet us when we arrive.  Elrond learned of your plight, and that which pursues you, and sent out those whom he felt might be able to stand against the Nine, if it came to that.”

“Samwise Gamgee sir,” Sam spoke up.  “We’re right glad to see you.”

“I greet you all,” the Elf said gravely.  The small figures before him looked exhausted and anxious, but determined.  He smiled at each hobbit, then knelt in front of the pale, dark-haired one.  He could sense a battle raging within this small frame.

“Frodo Baggins, at your service and your family’s,” Frodo said faintly.  He felt suddenly too weak to stand, and was dimly aware of Sam crying out, and someone catching him as he began to sink to the ground.  He was so cold, and the pain in his shoulder was suddenly fiercer than ever.

“Frodo,” Glorfindel said softly, taking the hobbit into his arms, “I was sent from Rivendell to look for you.”  He looked into the hobbit’s face and frowned.  “Aragorn, he is quite ill.”

Aragorn very briefly told Glorfindel what had happened when they were attacked, and he brought out the knife hilt from Weathertop for the Elf to see.

“A Morgul blade,” Glorfindel said grimly.  “It is a thousand years since the Witch-king has been seen in the North.  When I heard that the Nine were abroad, and searching for you…”

Glorfindel sat down in the middle of the Road, Frodo resting weakly against his chest.  “Show me,” he said softly.  The Ranger crouched down next to him, and gently unbuttoned the top of Frodo’s coat, vest, and shirt.  The Elf touched gentle fingers to Frodo’s left shoulder and closed his eyes, frowning.  A vortex of darkness spun in slow, unrelenting circles beneath his fingers.  As he concentrated, he felt the intensity of the Shadow weaken slightly -- but only temporarily, he feared.  He felt a shudder go through the injured hobbit, then Frodo relaxed and began to breathe easier.

“Oh,” Frodo whispered, “thank you.”

“What do you feel, Frodo?” Merry asked curiously.

“It’s warmer,” Frodo murmured, “and the pain grows less.  I…” He looked at his friends.  “I can see all of you more clearly.  Estel…” He reached out his right hand for the Ranger, who clasped it.

“Estel, is it?” Glorfindel asked, surprised to hear the old name.

“You will hear me called many names by these hobbits,” Aragorn smiled, “but Frodo calls me Estel.”

“You have always had ‘many names’,” the Elf grinned.  “I look forward to learning more of them.”

“Thank you, sir,” Frodo said.  “I think I can stand now.”

“Rest for a moment longer,” Glorfindel said softly, continuing to cradle Frodo in his arms, rocking him gently.  Nearly a fortnight had this hobbit been fighting that which seemed determined to enshadow him from within.  “Such strength you have, little one,” he murmured, then looked down at Frodo in surprise.  “Why do you laugh?”

“Estel calls me ‘little one’,” Frodo explained.  “He always has.”

“Has he?”  Glorfindel looked up at the Ranger with a smile.  “How interesting -- that is what I used to call him.”

“Is that right?” Pippin grinned at Aragorn, who looked as if he wanted to toss Glorfindel to the wraiths then and there.

“I watched him grow up,” the Elf continued.  “Perhaps, as we travel, you would enjoy hearing about his childhood?”

“Yes!” chorused the hobbits.

“No,” Aragorn was quick to interrupt.

“What do you mean, ‘as we travel’?” asked Merry with a frown.  “Can’t you take Frodo to Rivendell on that fast horse of yours?  Please, he… he’s not doing too well.”

Glorfindel shook his head.  “I dare not, Meriadoc.  I fear that the Ford may already be held against us; it is the most logical place for the Nine to wait -- either that, or they have split up and may come at us from different directions.  If that is so, Frodo will need all of us to stand with him, each in our own way.  What we can do for him, together, we will do.”

It was the truth, as far as it went.  Glorfindel exchanged a look with Aragorn, and knew that the Ranger understood.  Frodo’s escape, even on such a one as Asfaloth, might come down to a matter of seconds.  Whatever distraction each of them could bring to bear -- even if some or all of them fell at the hands of the Nazgûl -- might buy Frodo, perhaps at the cost of their own lives, those precious seconds.

“Why do you look like that?” Frodo asked suddenly.

Glorfindel looked down again at Frodo, puzzled.  “Like what, Frodo?”

“You look…” Frodo relaxed into the warm comfort of the Elf’s arms.  “…like a star…”

Glorfindel grew most attentive.  “Tell me what you see.”

“Light,” Frodo murmured.  “It’s as if it’s hidden and cloaked, but I can see it.”

“He sees you as you truly appear,” murmured Aragorn in Elvish.  “How is that possible?”

“This one dwells in two worlds, as do I.”  Glorfindel answered in the same tongue.  “He begins to lose sight of this world and perceive that which is not visible to many.”

Frodo tried to understand the Elvish, but they were speaking quickly, and he was too tired.

Glorfindel pressed a hand gently to Frodo’s brow and closed his eyes for a moment.  “He is resisting a fearsome darkness, Aragorn, but his strength is beginning to fail.  We must hurry.”  He helped Frodo to stand, then rose gracefully to his feet.  “You will ride my horse,” he said, speaking once more in the Common Tongue.

“What, alone?” Sam cried.  “Mr. Frodo isn’t too fond of those big horses, sir.”

“He rode Arthad, with me holding him,” Aragorn said to Glorfindel, “but that was many years ago.”

“Come,” Glorfindel said to Frodo, and all the hobbits, “meet Asfaloth.”  He led them the short distance to where the magnificent white horse stood patiently.  The Elf stroked the horse’s nose and spoke softly to him in Elvish.  Without hesitation, Sam held up a hand and Asfaloth bent to nose it gently, but Merry and Pippin kept a respectful distance.

“To the best of his ability, he will not let you fall, Frodo,” Glorfindel said, shortening the stirrups, “and he will carry you smoothly.”  He removed his warm cloak and wrapped it around the fragile hobbit, then lifted him onto the ornate saddle.  “Just sit quietly, and get used to how it feels.”

“Glorfindel, we have traveled all day with little sleep,” Aragorn said.  “We were just seeking a place off the Road to camp.”

The Elf shook his head.  “We must not stop, Aragorn.  Meriadoc is correct -- Frodo must reach Elrond’s care as soon as possible, and we must travel as far as we can this night before resting.”  He smiled at the weary hobbits.  “Perhaps your pony can shoulder a heavier burden so that you can walk lighter?”

While the hobbits were deciding what more Bill could carry, Aragorn took Glorfindel aside.

“Perhaps one of us should ride with Frodo,” the Ranger said quietly, “or even one of the other hobbits, to help steady him.”

Glorfindel shook his head.  “We cannot know what will happen, Aragorn, or when.  Should need arise, Asfaloth will carry Frodo more swiftly if he is alone.”

They set out along the darkened and empty Road, the hobbits trying to ignore their weariness and need for sleep.  As they walked, Glorfindel told them of his long search for them, and about how he had chased three wraiths from the Last Bridge and left the beryl as a sign that it was now safe, should the travellers pass that way.

“You chased away three wraiths?” Merry asked.  “How?”

“They withdrew when they sensed my approach,” Glorfindel said simply.

“You’ll be wantin’ this back, I expect, Mr. Glorfindel,” said Sam, reluctantly pulling the beryl out of his pocket.  He sighed and held it up.

“If ‘mister’ is a title, Samwise, I do not require one.”  Seeing how much the hobbit obviously valued the gem, Glorfindel reached down and closed the hobbit’s small hand around it.  “Keep it,” he said softly.

“We’re glad you’re here, Glorfindel,” Pippin said suddenly.

“And I am very glad I found you, Peregrin.”

The young hobbit looked up at the Elf with a smile.

“You can call me Pippin, you know.”

** TBC **

*~*~*~*~*

Aemilia Rose and Camellia Gamgee-Took and Lady of Ithilien and Lady Wind and Lindelea and sweetie:  It’s rather chilling, when we think ahead to what the characters will be experiencing (like Pippin and the troll).  We want to warn them!

Aiko-chan:  You never babble!  And thank you for the squee!  Those are so much fun to get.  But whatever made you think we’re “nearing the end”?  This reminds me of when Frodo was starting to recover in “Quarantined”, and everyone thought the story was nearly over, and it went on for 11 more chapters.  You just never know…

Ailsa Joy:  You’re back! (waves)  I totally agree -- hobbits are wonderful.

Alysha-sedai:  I’m so glad that the ff.net author alerts are working, since I still get an error message every time I upload.  Life will always be a mystery.  And my goodness, I didn’t think the end of Chapter 14 was a cliffhanger -- sorry!  Sweet little Pippin -- and Aragorn is “nice and cuddly”?  Hee hee.

aprilkat:  I thought that the relationships previously set up in “Quarantined” would have an effect on this journey, but I didn’t realize how much of an effect they would have.  (I won’t be ending the story when they arrive at Rivendell, since I have so much I want to say about what happens in Rivendell!)

Aratlithiel and endymion2 and Gentle Hobbit and Hobbit Lily Baggins and Orangeblossom Took and Zebra Wallpaper:  Thank you so much for highlighting the “climbing up the hill” sequence -- that’s the first part of the chapter that I wrote, and everything else expanded out from there.

Ariel3:  What a compliment, Ariel -- thank you!  It’s a challenge to balance everything that’s involved with this story, and it’s wonderful to hear that it’s working.

Arwen Baggins:  Thanks for sharing so many ideas!  A few of them I’ve already thought about, but one of them I hadn’t even considered.  We’ll have to see how things play out…

AshNight2:  I love how you phrase that -- they “needed a bit of happiness in the darkness”.  Don’t we all.  And don’t worry -- I’ll try to get them all baths when they reach Rivendell!

Azaelia and Elwen and Fliewatuet:  Indeed, Pippin is only slowly realizing that Middle-earth truly contains dangers beyond imagining (besides Ringwraiths, of course!).  It makes his decision to go with Frodo beyond Rivendell even that much more courageous.

Belothien:  You’ve been so patient… After all this time, I hope Glorfindel doesn’t disappoint.

BookHobbit:  Ooh, another opportunity to say how much I loved the LJ drabbles!  And yes, Glorfindel is… here!

Bookworm2000:  I like your speculation!  I haven’t figured out the Ford yet, so I’m not yet sure exactly what Frodo will be thinking… but now you’ve got me thinking!

Budgielover:  All right, you twisted my arm.  More h/c.  Since you insist.

Coriandra:  Hi!  I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying the story so much!

DustyStars:  This is the first LOTR fanfic you’ve ever read??  I’m honored!  (You might want to read “Quarantined” -- the “prequel” -- to fill in the blanks, but if you’re enjoying this story on its own, I’m doubly-honored.)

Elbereth:  Can you imagine what a lovely sound that hobbity laughter must have seemed to Aragorn’s ears?  There is always hope…

Finsarnien and Lady Jaina and sabercrazy:  Glad this is still a fun ride for you!

GirlsDontCri and Idril Telrunya and VercisIsolde:  I couldn’t let the encounter with the trolls just go by without a mention, seeing as they were so integral to “Quarantined”.  I was originally only thinking of Frodo’s reaction, but by the time the group got there, I felt Pippin’s reaction might be even more dramatic.

Grand Theft Author Otaku:  I also loved the part in The Hobbit about the trolls.  And thanks so much for the explanation -- I guess that makes me shirebound nearly-Otaku!

Hai:  If by “almost there” you mean the Ford, yes -- that event takes place on October 20, now only a few days away.  I need to do a lot of thinking about that chapter.

Insane Pineapple from Naboo:  I got a kick out of your “hobbity banter”!

Ivy3:  Welcome, Ivy!  You read all 20 chapters of “Quarantined” at once!!?  I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it.  And you are a simply marvelous writer -- your story is a delight.  (To answer your question, this story won’t end when they arrive at Rivendell, since I have so much I want to say about what happens in Rivendell!)

jodancingtree:  You started reading the story at chapter 14?!!  If you’re moved to go back and read the first 13 chapters, I hope you enjoy them.

Kit5 and Nell-Marie:  It is a bit disconcerting and revelatory to stumble across a piece of history that you always thought of as fanciful or mythical.  (Can you imagine how Aragorn felt, seeing the Argonath for the first time, or Gimli, seeing Khazad-Dûm?)

Lady Eleclya:  Even with everything he goes through, Frodo is lucky, isn’t he?  His friends are with him through it all, no matter what it is, and no matter where it leads them.

Lady Sandry:  It’s a challenge keeping up with all the changing usernames!  My goodness, thank you for such a lovely review!  Believe me, if I could write any faster, I would.  (And oh yes, I’ve read Brave New World -- ‘creepy’ is right.)

LilyBaggins:  Take the story title, Lily -- it’s yours!  And I love resolute Frodo, too -- we definitely haven’t seen the last of him.

liptonrm:  It’s such a compliment to be called ‘hobbit-like’!  I feel that a great deal of the hobbits’ resilience to evil has to be their determination to remain themselves -- which means, to me, balancing the angst with the lightness.

MagicalRachel:  Thanks, Rachel!  I’m glad this review got through.  Poor Merry, I agree -- he’s sitting on quite a burdensome secret.

MaverickGirl and Mysterious Jedi:  Thank you!

Michelle Frodo:  Michelle, you sweetie!  Now how could I (or anyone) ever get “a bit bored” of that? LOL   And thanks for mentioning that line about “William” -- I wanted to show just how much Bilbo’s stories had gotten into Pippin’s imagination.

Nilmandra:  A whole story could be written from your review, Nilmandra!  What a chilling scenario that would be.

overcastday:  You read the whole story at one sitting!  I’m so glad you discovered it, and that you like how I’m writing the hobbits.  (And I hope you’re feeling better!)

Pearl Took:  Oh Pearl, how perfect!  “We love our hobbits.  We know they are real, they are real in our hearts.”  That’s IT!

Rosa Cotton:  We are getting closer to the Ford, aren’t we?  I’m glad the balance of ever-grimmer reality and hobbity resilience is remaining enjoyable for you.

ScifiRogue:  You had quite an adventure!  I know this story will make it at least to the Council of Elrond, but that’s all I know at this point.

Shireling:  Middle-earth certainly has become quite real to many of us, hasn’t it?

Silver Flame of a Phoenix:  Wow, thank you!  As you can imagine, I’m quite bowled over by the response to this story (and “Quarantined”) -- a tender, protective (yet respectful) Aragorn-Frodo relationship, where Frodo may be child-like, but not child-ish, seems to really have struck a chord with folks.  (And as you know, I’m also thoroughly enjoying your story!  What a wonderful world we’ve fallen into.)

SperryDee:  I’ve never had gialetti, either!  Maybe the Elves will let Sam use the Rivendell kitchen.

Strider’s Girl and Sunhawk:  Isn’t it wondrous that there are so many of us out here who love the hobbitses as much as you do?  I’m glad you enjoyed the ‘lighter side’ (however brief) of Chapter 14.

Treehugger:  Ah, you caught it!  Frodo’s remark about “good friends, and a bit of a song now and then” definitely shows that he’s aware of what Pippin is doing for him (although it hasn’t occurred to him that Pippin is also aware of it).