Nianna's Journey

Chapter 5: Bedtime Stories

The rain that had been threatening for hours now poured freely, soaking the six travelers. Following a long forgotten path in the Ooresorest, Nianna guided them through the mud puddles that were quickly forming.

Nianna was slightly anxious for the Hobbits needed frequent breaks. It seemed for Hobbits, there were several meal times, almost innumerable, during the course of the day. Wanting to keep their spirits up, she allowed rest so long as they were quick and did not build a fire.

At the first of these many breaks, she entrusted Samwise, now called Sam, in the care of FirGael.

“Take care of FirGael for me, Sam, while I scout ahead a short way.” she said before disappearing into the Old Forest.

She ran ahead along the path, using her Elven sight and hearing to search for possible dangers.

On her last scouting excursion for the day, she found an old decrepit cabin, hidden behind a row of large boulders. She quickly checked the integrity of the cabin and deemed it suitable for the night’s stay. There was also enough room for FirGael, to walk through the door, so he too would have a chance to dry. She estimated that it was about two hours worth of travel from where she had left the hobbits to rest.

She quickly ran back to their hidden place. The hobbits had already cleaned up as best they could, and were ready to travel once again.

“I have good news, little hobbits. There is an old hunting cabin about two hours from here. We will rest there for several hours and dry off before continuing.” she smiled.

The drenched hobbits returned her smile in gratitude. They would soon be dry, even if only for a couple of hours.

*****

After the hobbits entered the cabin, Nianna carefully guided FirGael up the two steps and through the door. She gently steered him to one side of the room, and then with help from Sam, proceeded to remove his tack and dry him.

“Nianna, will we be able to build a fire?” asked Frodo.

“Yes, but first cover the windows so the light cannot be seen from the outside. The rain should dampen the smoke that escapes so there will be no worries in giving away our hiding place. But to be sure, only build a small one.” She said without turning around from her task.

As she and Sam continued their work, she could hear the hobbits comply.

Soon, they were all seated in front of the fire, eating a warm meal. Merry and Pn enn entertained them, softly, with stories and songs from the Shire. Sam and Frodo would join in occasionally while Nianna sat back and laughed at their antics.

When they were done with their meal, Sam, Merry and Pippin stood to clean up the remains.

Frodo continued to sit and watch the fire. Nianna could see that his mind was elsewhere and began to worry for the little hobbit that carried so much weight on his shoulders.

“Nianna, tell me about the Ring.” Frodo asked.

The other hobbits, stopped their actions, and turned to face Nianna.

Nianna looked at Frodo, “Are you sure you wish to know?”

“Yes.” Frodo replied solemnly with a slight hint of hesitation in his voice.

Nianna continued to stare at Frodo, trying to determine whether or not he was serious in his regard to know the ring’s past.

“To understand how the ring came into being, you must first learn about its maker, little one, and how he came to be”, she replied.

“Tell me,” Frodo said. The hesitation that was in his eyes a moment ago had been replaced with a resolve to understand.

Merry, Pippin and Sam sat next to Frodo waiting for Nianna to begin the tale. Nianna stared at them from across the fire. She debated on whether or not to tell them the story she had learned so many years ago. She felt that sooner or later they would have to be told of the origins of the Ring; therefore, she began the tale.

AN: This is a quick and dirty version of the history of Sauron and how he came to be. There is like a WHOLE LOT of other stuff that happened that I didn’t even dare go into, mainly because I barely understand it myself. I tried to make it as easy to understand as I could and may have left out some important details in order to do so. So, if you are a Silmarillion expert, please don’t flame me for getting these details wrong or for ignoring other important details. If you’re curious to learn more, I got this information from http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.htm

“There are many lands in this world of ours, little ones, some that can only be reached by a long voyage across great seas. All these lands together are known as Arda. Many eons ago, the Gods, known as the Valareatreated Arda and took physical form to dwell here and give order to these newly created lands. But while the Valar looked to create, Melkor, the first Dark Lord, wished to destroy.” Nianna gazed into the small fire, remembering the stories from her childhood.

Frodo and the others listened intently as she continued, “He sought to bend all things, those living and non-living, to his own hand. The Valar waged war against Melkor and bhed hed him for three millennia.”

“Durine tie time of his imprisonment, the Valar continued their work in creating the peoples of Arda. And with each people they created, they assigned a Maia, a spirit, to inspire and guide them,” she looked at the hobbits to make sure they understood.

When she noticed the slight frown on Frodo’s and Merry’s face, Nianna smiled and attempted to explain, “For example, the Maia of the sea is known as Osse, and was responsible for the now extinct people that dwelled along the great waters of Arda. The Maia of rock and metal belonged to a long ago people of the Aule. His name…was Sauron.”

“Sauron was the mightiest of all the Maia. When Melkor was finally released from his prison and returned to his dark ways, he seduced Sauron with promises of even greater power and took him into his fold. Sauron soon became one of Melkor’s greatest and most trusted of his followers.”

“But the Valar returned, and once again defeated Melkor. They removed him permanently from the lands of Arda. However, Sauron escaped their wrath and fled to the east.”

“One thousand years passed before Sauron returned and under the guise of the Lord of Gifts, he tricked the Elves…teaching them the secret on how to wield metal and stone and imbue their creations with magic. With the belief that they were doing good for all of Arda, the Elves created nineteen Rings of Power.”

“Seven of these rings went to the Dwarf-lords. Nine were given to the ruling kings of Man. And three for the Elves that helped create them; one of these rings went to Lady Galadriel, who still resides and rules in Lorien. The other two were given to Elves that no longer roam Middle Earth. Prior to their leaving to the Grey Havens, these rings were passed on. One of these rings was passed on to Lord Elrond of Rivendell while the other was passed to Mithrandir himself.”

All four of the hobbits were slightly shocked that Gandalf had carried one of the Rings of Power.

Nianna never saw their startled looks. The flickering flames of the fire had hypnotized her. She was lost in the memory of childhood bedtimes when she was told the very same tale.

“What the Elves didn’t know at that time was that in the fires of Mount Doom, Sauron forged his own ring. He filled this ring with all of his dark powers and created it for the sole purpose; to enslave the owners of the other Rings of Power.”

Nianna looked upo tho the wide-eyed faces of the hobbits and gave a little smile. She looked at each one individually, “Sauron was foiled in his plans. He was unable to lure the Dwarves. They were too stout and hardy to succumb to their magical rings. For all the rings powers, it only heightened the Dwarves love for precious metals such as gold and mithril.”

“And when Sauron put on the One Ring for the first time, the three Elves quickly became aware of the shift in power and took their own rings off. That is when they realized that they had been fooled by the so-called, Lord of Gifts. Sauron was defeated in his goal to enslave the races of Arda.”

The smile died from Nianna’s lips, “Only the nine lords of Man succumbed to Sauron’s power and they became his slaves.”

“Centuries passed while Sauron attempted, once again, to cover Arda with his dark power. This time, he used the brute force of countless orcs and other dark creatures to do his bidding. But an alliance between Elves and Man, and even some Dwarves, marched to the boarders of Mordor. And Sauron met them with his own armies. Against all hopes and odds, the armies of Man and Elves defeated Sauron.” she finished, still staring into the red-orange flames that were slowly dwindling.

“If Sauron was defeated and no longer possesses his ring, how is it that he has returned?” Sam asked.

“Though Sauron can no longer return to Arda in a corporeal form and is greatly weakened, he is still able to wield what little power he has in the form of The Lidless Eye,” she answered. She gestured, by holding up her hand and forming a circle with her delicate fingers, “This eye sits on top of a tall tower which stands within the boarders of Mordor. There, he is able to glance at all the lands that sit east of the Misty Mountains, including the lands of Gondor and Rohan.”

She looked at the four who sat across from her. Their wide eyes showed the beginnings of fear. “He now attempts to reclaim his ring, for it will restore all of his power. If he was to succeed, there will be no hope for Arda.”

The hobbits seemed to draw closer together as their fear made them seek each others comfort. Nianna stood up and crossed the room. She kneeled between the hobbits and placed her arms around all four. Smiling she said, “No worries, little ones, for there are many allies that will aid in the quest to stop Sauron’s pursuit to rule Arda.”

She gentle kissed each one on the forehead, offering what little comfort she could. Feeling safe within her embrace, the hobbits seemed to relax.

“Dawn soon approaches; we will only rest for a few more hours before setting off to Bree once more. Sleep while you can, little ones,” she said. Nianna stood and returned to her own spot, across the fire.

The hobbits quickly laid down, and with the knowledge that Nianna would watch over them, they succumbed to a deep sleep.

Nianna continued to watch the dying flames. There was much to the tale that still remained untold but she did not want to frighten the little ones overmuch. There will be time enough, in the future, to explain the past.

Nianna rose from her spot and silently walked to the door. Quietly, she opened the door and walked through. Closing the door behind, she stood just under the eaves, keeping dry from the still falling rain. Using her Elven senses, she looked out into the darkness. She kept watch for danger, while the four hobbits slept inside.