EPIC: A Demigod's Tale by Frodo Baggins

Chapter 14

And so it was, indeed, a long night. Still, Gandalf managed to steal a few snatches of sleep before Ezra Bridger shook him roughly awake. "Hey, we're here," he announced, with a sweeping gesture towards the transparisteel windows of the ship. 

"Thank goodness," Gandalf breathed, as he clambered to peer out of the cockpit windows. He had never been so happy to see Rivendell. Feeling suddenly gleeful that he had managed to make it safely, he stared at the valley of Rivendell, filled with waterfalls, buildings of tasteful architecture, and morning sunlight. Ezra maneuvered the ship to a landing pad, where a small group of people were awaiting their arrival. 

"I commed ahead to let Lord Elrond know you were coming," Ezra explained. "You were still asleep, though. You seemed pretty tired."

"Yes, yes, thank you," Gandalf said, waving the kid off. Ezra opened the ship's cockpit and Gandalf immediately hopped out to be greeted by Lord Elrond, Toshinori Yagi, Ahsoka Tano, and Sasuke Uchiha. 

"Greetings, Gandalf the Grey," Lord Elrond said in welcome, inclining his head slightly as a sign of respect.

"I have urgent news!" Gandalf said frantically. "We need to call a meeting of the League of Heroes! And another thing, we have to find Frodo Baggins as soon as possible! He is in extreme danger!"

"Frodo? Wasn't that the name of the kid we just helped rescue?" Toshinori asked. 

"It is," Lord Elrond confirmed. 

"Do you know Frodo personally?" queried Ahsoka, tilting her head as she looked at Gandalf. 

Gandalf felt his heart calm at this news. "Frodo is here?" he asked, hoping beyond hope at this lucky turn of events. He looked at each of the people assembled before him, feeling happy, yet confused. "How...?"

"We just returned from the rescue, so we don't know the full details yet either," Toshinori said. Known to most as the buff and cheery hero All Might, he had been severely injured a while ago by one of his many enemies, and was currently in his diminished state, a weak and sickly form. Blond hair hung limply over his skeletal face, and blue eyes sunken in his face stared at Gandalf. 

"I need to speak with Frodo right away!" Gandalf said, starting down a random path, because he hadn't the slightest clue where Frodo was. 

"Hold on," Sasuke said. "Frodo was injured in the battle. Naruto and Kurama are working to heal him. It's best if you don't interrupt."

Gandalf felt frantic and on edge again. "What happened to Frodo?"

"He was injured by You-Know-Who," said Elrond. 

"Fortunately, Headmaster Snape seemed familiar with the nature of the spell, and he was able to provide Frodo aid as soon as we arrived," Ahsoka explained. 

"Even if we didn't have Headmaster Snape and Lord Hokage looking after Frodo, I can assure you that several of the waterbenders here, including myself, are skilled healers," said Elrond. "Do not be concerned over the fate of the demigod, Gandalf. He is in good hands."

Just then, Ezra popped out from the ship. "Oh, hey, Ahsoka. Long time no see."

Ahsoka smiled at Ezra. "It's good to see you again, Ezra."

Lord Elrond looked irritated at the arrival of the young Jedi. "Ezra, could you please...." Elrond fished around for something Ezra could do that would keep him out from underfoot. It wasn't that Elrond disliked the Jedi, though he didn't particularly like Ezra either. Whenever Ezra was around, he couldn't think as clearly, as if Ezra's mere presence lowered one's intelligence. "Could you please....um....uh....tell Mr. Bilbo Baggins that Gandalf has arrived?"

"Sure. No problem," Ezra said, saluting the elf before heading down one of the stone pathways.

Gandalf turned to Elrond. "I would like to be there when Frodo wakes up. Could you tell me where he's being kept?"

"Of course. But Gandalf, are you alright? What happened to you?"

"I'll be fine," Gandalf said, waving away Elrond's concern, and then wincing at the movement.

"We have skilled healers here. You will need to see one, and then you can see Frodo." Elrond commanded. As he spoke, an elf appeared at his elbow to escort Gandalf away. Feeling beat after his thrashing at the hands of Saruman, Gandalf knew he couldn't refuse Elrond's offer.

"Thank you." He followed the elf down the path, hoping he wasn't limping.

"He's a stubborn one," Ahsoka commented after the wizard departed.

"Indeed. But his determination has served the galaxy well in the past, and I am sure it will continue to serve us well in the future," Elrond said. "We will need to call a meeting of the League of Heroes."

"It has been done," Toshinori said. "We'll be meeting at The Dog in Cloud Cuckoo Land in a couple of days."

"That's an interesting location," Sasuke commented.

"Cloud Cuckoo Land is a planet on an outlying system. It should be relatively easy for the League of Heroes to meet there undetected. The chaotic atmosphere allows any unusual activity to seem, well, normal," Ahsoka said.

"Let us hope you are right," Lord Elrond said, though privately he thought the League of Heroes could choose a more professional location.