#357 - Revisiting the past

"Legolas."

Aragorn waved to greet the guest who had just arrived in Rivendell.

After so long, seeing Legolas again filled Aragorn with many emotions.

This fellow had lied to him when they first met, claiming to be just an ordinary elf.

But in reality, he was the Elven Prince of Mirkwood.

Across from Aragorn, Legolas was also filled with emotion.

This fellow had lied to him when they first met, claiming to be just an ordinary ranger.

But in reality, he was the Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the only one alive with royal bloodlines from both Gondor and Arnor.

"You kept that from me for quite a while."

"You did too."

They exchanged knowing smiles and dropped the subject.

Many years after returning from travels in the East, they met again in Rhovanion, spent a long time together, and were now quite familiar with each other, their friendship deep.

They reminisced, smiles of old friends on their faces.

Boromir frowned beside them, looking at Aragorn. This person, who seemed to be about the same age as himself, gave him a strange premonition.

It was inexplicable.

If he had to describe it, it was 'destiny.' There was a destiny about that man, closely related to himself.

Here, old friends reunited, various forces gathered, each with their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, on a secluded terrace with a direct view of the waterfall, a small meeting began before the main conference.

"To be able to carry the One Ring this far without much change shows that Frodo's resistance to the Ring's evil is extraordinary."

Elrond watched Frodo chatting leisurely with Bilbo, his thoughts unknown.

Gandalf said beside him, "Yes, indeed, but this burden should not be borne by him. He is just a hobbit, one who dislikes adventure and only wishes to live quietly in his own home. A peaceful life is more suited to him."

"But sometimes one has no choice," Elrond slowly shook his head.

"Our long-dormant great enemy has begun to move. His armies are vast, outnumbering the combined forces of elves and men, and his power is gradually recovering. Although he cannot yet take physical form, his spirit is no weaker than it was in the past."

The past… that is, the time of the Last Alliance.

"Saruman mentioned this as well. I learned from Rivina that he was almost tempted by Sauron back then, and he was captured by the Ringwraiths a few days ago and is now imprisoned in Dol Guldur. I wonder what their purpose is in capturing him."

"Whatever the purpose, the restriction of a wizard's actions is a loss to us. We must find a way to rescue him."

"Do you have a way?" Gandalf asked.

Elrond fell silent once more.

After a long while, he said, "Legolas of Mirkwood brought news about Dol Guldur. According to him, it is filled with dark shadows, and a large amount of darkness is breeding within, causing fear."

"I suspect there is a large army lying dormant there, but they are afraid to emerge due to the solid defenses of the surrounding free cities."

"Although they fear the surrounding forces, it is not easy to attack."

"Even if it is not easy, it must be done," Gandalf's attitude was firm.

"Of course, we will do it, and I have already decided on the candidates. Glorfindel will act together. With us and Rivina, it will not be difficult to attack Dol Guldur."

"Then I am relieved."

Gandalf's brow eased slightly.

After the matter of Saruman was discussed, the two began to discuss the more pressing matter at hand, the Ring.

"Whether it is in Bree or Rivendell, the Ring cannot be kept indefinitely. You must understand that as long as the Ring remains, Sauron will have the opportunity to rise again."

"This is something that all the people of Middle-earth must face; no one can stand aside."

"The age of the elves is over. Even with the beacons helping us preserve our strength, some of our people are still leaving day by day to gather with more of our kind in the Undying Lands."

"When all the elves have left, the strength of the free alliance will decrease."

"Then you can only turn to—"

Pa-thump.

A person arrived late, crossing the bridge from afar, intending to join the small meeting.

"Fortunately, there is this emerging force."

Elrond breathed a sigh of relief.

"Humans are too weak. From the Second Age to now, their race has been declining. The blood of Númenor has become increasingly diluted and withered among the people. Neither their strength nor their lifespan is half of what their ancestors had, and the glory and dignity of Númenor no longer exist."

"Fortunately, the Free City has emerged, allowing me to see the glory of mankind in the last age."

"But it also makes me worried."

Taking advantage of the short time it took for Rivina to walk over, Elrond said:

"The Númenor of the past was even stronger than today's Free City. Even the great enemy surrendered without a fight, scared into prostrating at their feet, but in the end, they were tempted and fell, and their destruction was only a moment away."

"Later, during the Last Alliance, their descendants were tempted by the One Ring, allowing it to escape and leading to today's situation."

"I saw it with my own eyes, Gandalf. I was by his side."

This was a true 'on-the-scene' experience.

"When Isildur took the Ring, I witnessed the fragility of human nature."

Not joking, he really had the urge to kick Isildur down back then, but after all, Isildur's ancestors were his blood relatives.

Elven kinslaying was an unforgivable crime. He couldn't do that, nor did he want to do that.

Moreover, even if he endured the great sin of kinslaying and executed Isildur on the spot, this would lead to a direct war between humans and elves, one that would never end.

Because Isildur was the only heir to the human royal bloodline at the time, the only remaining bloodline of the High Kings.

In the end, even if Elrond endured this and still made the move, the Ring would not be destroyed. It would only take the opportunity to attach itself to Elrond the moment he made such a chaotic decision of kinslaying and causing a war, choosing him as its next host.

Making such a decision itself meant that Elrond was no longer clear-headed.

No matter which way you looked at it, Elrond couldn't move at the time. He could only watch helplessly and shout from behind, trying to make Isildur wake up.

At that time, the only one who could truly destroy the One Ring and decide its fate was Isildur himself. No one else could interfere.

But he failed.

"But fortunately, there are many neighboring cities close to us now. Although the humans there are weaker than the Númenóreans and their lifespans are short, that advanced spirit always makes me happy and gives me hope."

"And Rivina, if I count from when we first met until now, it has been eighty years. Although there are still many mysteries about him that I cannot understand, I can say that I understand his character."

"The Northern humans are prosperous because of him, and they will continue to prosper."

"But the other…"

"The other leader who can unite humans is right here in Rivendell. You have been watching him all along."

Elrond and Gandalf turned their heads together.

Rivina said, "Aragorn has been a bit颓废 recently, or rather, he hasn't done anything, but I have been watching his performance. There is a hidden flame of will in his eyes."

After saying his words, Rivina sat down on the chair next to him and took a breath.

Thanks to the Ring of Stars, his senses were not ordinary now. Even from a distance, Gandalf and Elrond's words reached his ears.

These two guys, they really think a lot.