Everybody was asleep except Aragorn and Frodo. Frodo had just gotten back to his blankets by the other Hobbits because Galadriel had just shown him some frightening scene of what would happen if the ring was not destroyed. The scene kept replaying in his mind over and over again.
My home, the Shire will burn, slaves, death... The world would change and everything good and green in this world will be gone... Middle Earth...gone, gone, gone...
Aragorn couldn't find sleep either. He looked around and saw the three Hobbits sleeping peacefully on his right. Frodo had his back to him, but he could still tell that he wasn't asleep. He kept moving around and his breathing wasn't slow and steady as if you were asleep. But there was nothing Aragorn could do about that. He wasn't even asleep himself.
To his left side, he saw Boromir and Legolas sleeping soundlessly and then there was Gimli who was snoring so loudly like a freight train's wheels against iron. Boromir had finally drifted off to sleep after some time and Legolas went straight to sleep. He was the most familiar to these elf lands and felt the most comfortable in them. Straight ahead of Aragorn was a faint blue glowing light. He could see that it was coming from down a level.
All of a sudden he heard a female voice in his head saying,
"Come. Follow the light,"
It was the same voice Frodo had encountered earlier in the forest. Aragorn knew it had to be Galadriel. He decided to get out of his warm blankets and walk towards the light. As he walked down the white twirling stairs, he saw that it was the lady in White, Galadriel. Her back was to him and she was talking to Celeborn. But he could tell she wore a long, beautiful, white dress, had a sparkling white crown upon her head, and had her golden hair fell behind her back in waves.
Aragorn reached the bottom step and waited before going any farther. Galadriel turned around at his presence and Celeborn walked away into the shadows of a nearby hallway. Galadriel whispered,
"Come,"
Aragorn walked slowly and curiously over to where she stood. Once Aragorn was in front of her he bowed slightly and then looked at her. Their eyes locked. Her eyes where ice blue with white sparkles in them shining.
"Is there something you need?" Aragorn asked quietly.
Galadriel smiled and then said,
"No. It's something you need,"
Aragorn looked at her confused, but said nothing waiting for her to continue.
"Do you know what path you will be taking to pass into Mordor? There are many dangerous ways..." her voice trailed off as she spoke.
Aragorn said quietly,
"We are entering from the North,"
"I have a safer way... Would you care to hear it?" Galadriel asked.
"An ngell nin," (Please) Aragorn whispered in elvish.
It was now that Aragorn saw a small vanilla colored envelope in Galadriel's hands. Galadriel went on,
"There is a secret way into Mordor. A secret way that only elves know about. We were the ones who made it,"
Her smile faded and Aragorn asked,
"Where is this secret path?"
Galadriel looked down to the envelope in her hands and flipped it around a couple times before saying,
"There is a doorway a little numen (west) of the Black Gate. Legolas will know the way. All elves do,"
"How will we open it?" Aragorn asked.
"You will have to find three golden keys to open the door. In order to find the keys, you will have to solve these two riddles. Sana sina," (take this)
Galadriel handed Aragorn the vanilla colored envelope and he took it. But he still had one more question,
"Why only two riddles if there are three keys?"
Galadriel's smile returned and she held out her other hand. Inside sat a golden shaped object with a green jewel in the center. The first key. It didn't look like a key, but Aragorn supposed it was the first one. He took it and bowed again.
"Whatever you do... don't lose it if you desire to take the secret way," Galadriel said.
"Len Hannon Arwenamin," (Thank you my lady) Aragorn whispered.
"Amin saesa... Quel marth," (My pleasure... Good luck) Galadriel whispered back and then turned away and disappeared into the dark.
The blue glow was gone and Aragorn was left alone in the dark. Aragorn turned away as well and walked back up the white swirly stairs. When he went back to his blankets, he realized somebody else was awake as well... Legolas. He sat awake staring at Aragorn as he came closer. He was probably curious of what business Aragorn had with Galadriel.
Aragorn glanced over at Frodo and saw that he appeared to be asleep, but he wasn't certain.
"I see you've been up too," whispered Legolas as Aragorn sat down next to him in his own blankets, "What is that?" Legolas asked pointing towards the envelope and golden key in Aragorn's hands.
"Do you know of a secret way into Mordor?" Aragorn asked ignoring Legolas' question.
Legolas looked back up to Aragorn and said,
"Yes," he paused and then said, "All elves do,"
Aragorn nodded and said,
"Do you know where the keys are for the door?"
"Did Galadriel tell you about the secret way?"
"Yes,"
"I can honestly say I don't know where the three keys are, but I do know that there are three riddles to find them and..."
Aragorn interrupted as he held up the first key and the envelope. Then he said,
"Galadriel gave me the first key and said there are two more. To find them, we will have to solve these two riddles. In here,"
Legolas looked back at the envelope and then said,
"I don't know what these riddles will say, but I do know that the answer to them will be a place where there once was or is a Palantiri,"
Aragorn thought about that for a moment and then listed all the places in his head.
Osgiliath, Minis Ithil, Linis Anor, Orthanc, Annuminas, Elostrion, and Amon Sul were all the places there once was or is a Palantiri. Seven places, but three keys. Of course! Because four Palantiri have already been destroyed and three remain. The places where the three keys are...
It had gone silent as Legolas and Aragorn sat there thinking of what a crazy and sad day/night they had had.
"Get some sleep. We can read the riddles in the morning. We need our rest now," Legolas eventually said.
Aragorn nodded and knew Legolas was right. He tucked the key and envelope away safely in his pocket and lay down. Surprisingly, sleep took him fast and he drifted off into darkness and dreams.
A/N: i know this is a big twist of the plot using the keys and the secret door... does it make sense? If not, please ask and i will be happy to help the best i can! :-)
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top