The Forgotten Ring

Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Chapter 34 - The Beginning of the End

Weeks later...(First days of May...)

Haldir watched Eridani walk the Moon Beast out of the Stables. He crossed his arms and turned his back to them so that they could not see the anguish of his heart. Sometime, he knew not when, Eridani and the Beast had discovered each other and formed a deep friendship. Now, hardly a day passed that Eridani and Bruinen did not spend at least an hour together. Eridani had never spoken of it and he had never asked.

It had been nearly a month since her return to Avonea after escaping the Yrch and the dark of Moria, where she had found what was believed to be the fourth ring of power, Amarya, Ring of Earth. A month since their last touch, their last whispered tenderness. Turning to gaze upon Eridani, Haldir looked at her hair as it cascaded down her back in graceful spirals, his heart constricted with pain and for the first time in his life he experienced true despair. Had he lost her? Anguished sapphire blue eyes watched as Eridani walked the Moon Beast away from the Palace and into the open wood. He watched her mount the animal, and realized that they seemed perfectly suited, like the Eagles and the Ryders. He saw the Moon Beast take flight and watched them soar higher until they faded from his sight.

Haldir looked 'round him.

In Avonea and all of Middle Earth, Winter had surrendered its grip, Spring was almost at an end and Summer was anticipating its time. Under normal circumstances this would have been a time of celebration. But not now. As Spring neared its last month, this meant they had precious little time left for final preparations. By now all of the cities in the Uile and Ymlad Yave had been evacuated and the refugees sent to Elrond's realm or the snow cities of the Ered H. Av. Avonea was nearly deserted and only the hardiest remained. He had tried to send Eridani to Alasse Imladris but she had resisted so vehemently that he had been forced to drop the idea completely. He knew she could defend herself but simply didn't like the idea of exposing her to a certain danger. Curiously, Ronihim had also declined to depart for Imladris. And so they waited, for what they knew not. And it was the waiting that was beginning to wear on the nerves of the younger elves for they had little experience in the making of war. Haldir returned his gaze to the sky. High above a lone Eagle watched over Avonea. His eyes glazed over as he pondered the situation. It was an uneasy truce, this knowledge that they sat above Orch pits. The idea revolted him. Shaking his head he walked away from the window and gazed at the last report from Elrond. It had read in part,

"No activity. Destroy it. Melt it down."

He knew what Elrond meant, especially in reference to destroying...he meant the ring, of course. His Commanders agreed with Elrond, only Eridani had proven difficult to bring round to the idea.

And here was the problem. She did not wish to surrender the ring, instead arguing that she knew how to wield it and would do so when the time came. Her declaration had stunned everyone, including Haldir, into an uneasy silence which had erupted into a fierce battle of words between them. It had ended with Eridani storming out of the council chamber and moving all of her clothes into her old apartments where he could not keep an eye on her. He sensed she was in danger and tried to reason with her, asking her, nearly begging her on bended knees, to stay in the more protected wing where his rooms were, but she had been adamant.

Since that day she had begun to spend more time with Ronihim and less with him. Most often, their contact was limited to a nod or a brief greeting. She was still welcome at their planning councils but she seldom came. Each day that passed saw a greater gulf stretch out between them, and Haldir did not know oow or when this estrangement had begun. He cursed and blamed the ring. In his heart he blamed himself, for it was his blasted quest that had brought this to pass. His heart lay heavy and pained in his chest.

Closing his eyes he thought. The Valar would not interfere again. That much he knew without question. And if so, then why was history repeating itself?

Returning to the border reports he noticed Tarmacil approaching. His eyes were troubled.

"My Lord, sector reports are indicating Yrch troops amassing in the South, on the western borders of the Ymlad Yave."

Haldir stood and turned to face him. "How many?"

"Near 20,000 my Lord." He stepped closer to Haldir. His blue eyes bored into Haldir's face. "My Lord, Ebrendir has been slain." Tamarcil's voice was low.

Haldir closed his eyes for a moment. "Then it has begun." His voice was heavy. Suddenly he felt very old, very tired.

Tamarcil came round to Haldir's desk and pointed to a section of Thalion Tirion. "I've appointed Nuarthim to command in Ebrendir's place."

Haldir nodded silently. The elf Commander continued. "Scouts of the Western borders have spotted Yrch. No word from Elrond. We do not think the warriors of Imladris have engaged the creatures yet. There is some activity near the Astoo Nuut but we are not certain."

Strong footsteps echoed in the hall outside. Without looking Haldir knew they were the other Commanders. Soundlessly they entered, news of Ebrendir's death heavy in each heart.

"We must begin to evacuate whoever is left in Avonea." Haldir began. The others silently nodded. "By the grace of the Valar we will have enough time to move the rest of the people out toward Alasse Imladrisis eis eyes were grim. "And it looks as if this time the enemy has the upper hand, for we have no strongholds between Imladris and the Sea."

One voice rang out from the back, "Then we will fight from the sea!"

Haldir smiled a sad smile. So had said his ancestors.

A loud crash suddenly rocked the Palace, shaking it to its very foundations.

The elves looked around with quick eyes, some ran to the windows.

Again, another crash. And this time the distant echoes of drums....drums and the screams. Terrible, hideous screams.

Drawing their swords each elf ran toward the sound of the chaos.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

{To be continued..." :)
Authorote:ote:
Thank you for your feedback and comments. I am sorry I have not addressed them todate. But, here goes:
The Forgotten Ring takes place in the world of the Second Song of the Ainur, after the bent world (aka the Earth) is changed and "reshaped". I have not really included Men in this story because I am concentrating on the theme of the Rings of Power, the original three wielded by the elves, and made by the elves. So, it is a story that "wraps" up the loose ends.
Eridani plays a very important part in this story, but this is Haldir's tale, and what he was destined to be, the reason why the Valar intercepted his "fate" at the Battle of the Hornburg and reimbodied him.
Thank you for following the story thus far, and I hope you enjoy what is to come...there is more yet.
Regards,
Sienna