The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 16: Doubts

Chapter 16: Doubts

I sat away from the rest of the group, in a bench that overlooked the valley, deep in thought about what had been said between Legolas and I. It was now early morning of the day the fellowship would be leaving Lothlorien and the sun was beginning to come up over the horizon.

I had barely slept that night and was etching designs into my bow with my knife when I heard the soft cracking of leaves behind me, Frodo was walking away from the group carefully.

I raised an eyebrow and set my bow down on the bench before silently following Frodo. Another figure was ahead of him, a tall figure that I couldn't quite make out but was clothed in all white and the sun reflected brightly off the dress or cloak.

I followed Frodo until he began walking down a steep set of stairs in a glade where a small waterfall trickled into a pool of water, I ducked behind a large root of a mallorn tree. I was close enough to hear conversation, I peaked over the root and my eyes widened as I saw Galadriel standing in the center of the glade with a urn filled with water.

Galadriel was standing beside a tall ornate stone pillar in the center of the glade and on top of the pillar was a silver basin.

"Will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel's voice rolled as she walked closer to the pillar, Frodo narrowed his eyes as he stepped softly off the last stair and onto the soft grass of the glade, Galadriel smiled at the corner of her mouth and lifted the urn over the basin.

"Even the wisest cannot tell. For the mirror.. shows all things.." Her voice trailed off as she eyed Frodo who was staring at the basin and she began pouring the water into the basin. "Things that were.. things that are.. and some things... that have not yet come to pass." She said as she took a step away from the basin.

Frodo sends a wary glance in her direction and steps up to the stone pillar and looks slowly down at the water rippling in the basin. 

I narrowed my eyes as I see his expression change quickly, pain shoots over his face and he winces. Smoke begins rising out of the basin and a chain emerges from Frodo's neck, the Ring dangled over the basin and suddenly I understand, Frodo sees Sauron.

Frodo winced again and quickly grabbed the Ring in his fist and was flung backwards away from the pillar and slammed onto the ground, he looked up at Galadriel with worry, surprise, and confusion all plastered onto his features.

"I know what it is you saw, for it is also in my mind." Galadriel eyes Frodo who looks at the basin again before looking back up at the elegant elf standing tall in front of him. "It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking: it is already begun. He will try to take the Ringm you know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all." Galadriel walked towards Frodo who looked around frantically.

"If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring." Frodo held his hand out to Galadriel who raised her eyebrow. "You offer it to me freely. I will not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." She held her hand out shakily and her expression suddenly changed to something fierce.

"For in place of a Dark Lord, you would have a Queen!" Her arms flung back and she towered over Frodo, a cold fast wind blew suddenly through the valley and the sun that had been shining into the glade now clouded and darkness hung in the area, Galadriel's appearance appeared to change, she was now wearing a breastplate and her dress who now ragged and the wind blew around her causing her hair to billow around her.

"Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea!" Her voice began darker and deeper, Frodo stepped backwards. "Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!" She lowered her head and glared down at Frodo, "All shall love me and despair!" 

The warm light now flooded back into the glade and Galadriel lowered her arms, her white dress now back, she puffed out air and smiled. "I pass the test!" She said almost to herself but loud enough to hear, "I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel." She said softly and closed her eyes.

"I cannot do this alone." Frodo called to Galadriel who opened her eyes and turned back to him, grimacing. "You are a Ring Bearer, Frodo." She said sternly, "To bear a ring of power is to be alone." She said more softly. 

"This task was appointed to you, Frodo Baggins, and if you do not find a way.. No one will." She smiled weakly. Frodo lowered his gaze and looked around, "Then I know what I must do. It's just.. I'm afraid to do it." His gaze went back up to Galadriel who bent down to eye level. 

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." 

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