Return to Valinor

The foursome finally continued on with their trek through the shadowy forest. Frodo had once again lit the crystal phial of light, but as his arms began to tremble with his growing weariness its glow would flicker out more and more. He, too, faltered frequently and Figwit stayed close to him to lend a steadying hand when needed.

As they progressed farther into the density of trees, the others behind them grew silent. Frodo could barely hear Elrond and Gandalf in their wake and the light scarcely touched their faces as they slowly dropped back on the path they had chosen.

After they had trudged on for some time, the exhausted hobbit suddenly staggered, falling to his knees and dropping the little bottle. The phial of Galadriel tinkled to the ground and rolled away leaving them in utter darkness yet again.

“Frodo!” called Figwit as he groped for his friend. “Are you all right?”

“My leg…” his friend groaned. “The sword wound is throbbing. I don’t think I can stand on it…”

“The runt makes enough noise for an orc band,” muttered Tellonnion to himself as he shadowed Frodo and his companions. He waited stoically in hiding as they continued to regroup after Frodo’s fall.

Figwit found the phial in the dark and then went back to his friend to offer, “Lean on me then, Frodo. It will ease the stress on your injured leg. Here is your light back…”

“I’m afraid we will have to go forward in the dark for awhile, my friends,” Frodo announced. “I am too worn out to lift my arms.”

“Perhaps we should just rest while we can,” suggested Figwit.

“No! I must go on, my lord. Cara needs me…”

“Very well then, Frodo,” agreed Figwit. “Give me your arm and let’s be off.”

They struggled through the woods in this noisy manner for some long minutes. As Frodo and Figwit paused for a brief respite, the halfling leaned in closely to his friend and whispered, “Do you think Tellonnion fell for it?”

“Most assuredly,” he replied quietly. “He is up ahead of us to the right. He is biding his time until he thinks us at our most vulnerable.”

“Then that is what we shall make him believe.”


While the hobbit and elflord led Tellonnion away, Gandalf and Elrond watched silently from the gloom several hundred yards to their rear. They hardly dared to breathe for fear that the fallen elflord would hear their position and discover their ruse.

When they could no longer hear their noisy friends they allowed themselves a small sigh of relief then moved off in silence to follow their own path in the search for Carantaliel.


Aldananeth halted to listen to the forest and the other Entwives paused in her wake.

“What is it, Nana?” asked Van’alda.

“We are close,” she answered. “I sense our friends nearby. Can you not see them ahead in the gloom?”

The trio listened and searched for several long minutes when Lothalda stretched out a flowery limb and spoke airily, “There… they are closing in on Eregalda, methinks.”

“I see two others not far off in the deepest dark of the forest,” added Van’alda.

The mother tree peered hard into the dense canopy of leaves. “That will be Frodo,” she replied as she saw brilliant light flickering among the branches. “They have split their party and are leading the fallen one away from the Tarsulëwen.”

“Which shall we follow, Nana?” asked Lothalda.

“We will follow the wizard to Eregalda. The Tarsulëwen is in the graver danger and Frodo’s trial is not one he will thank us to interfere in – there is a score to be settled.”

Lothalda asked, “Is the halfling up to the task? Tellonnion is no one to be trifled with…”

“Nor is Frodo Baggins to be trifled with, tithen siler ,” she replied. “He was the Ringbearer. Do not underestimate his strength and courage.” Picking up the trail of Gandalf and Elrond, the Entwife moved on again adding, “Come. Let us lose no more time…”


Hearing a great stir behind them, Elrond stopped to turn back and search the forest for the source of the loud movement. Gandalf drew close and after a moment murmured grumpily, “It’s about time. It is the Entwives come to help us at last.”

Eagerly the pair doubled back to meet them and Elrond greeted the Entwives with a grave salute, “You have come in good time, Aldananeth. We would be grateful for any counsel…”

“Cara is not far now,” she replied without preamble. “Frodo and his companion have Tellonnion occupied. We need to move swiftly while he is gone, but it will not be easy to release your granddaughter, my lord.”

The elflord’s brow furrowed with concern, “What is the obstacle then, Aldananeth? Has Tellonnion found an ally or others to help him?"

“He has, my lord,” answered Van’alda. “But she is our concern. You and the wizard must look to the Tarsulëwen.”

“She?” asked Gandalf anxiously, wondering what other evil could possibly abide in the Blessed Realm.

Leaning down to offer a perch amidst her limbs, Aldananeth replied, “It is one of our sisters. We should not linger, for Cara is in some danger from her. Come, my lords, and we will explain along the way.”


Grunting, Figwit stopped to adjust Frodo over his shoulder. “Who would’ve thought someone so slight could be such a burden?” murmured the elflord.

“Just remember, this was your idea, my friend,” replied Frodo quietly. “I was perfectly happy staggering along on your arm.”

“This is more convincing, don’t you think?”

The hobbit agreed with a small chuckle, “Indeed. You ready to give our friend some incentive?”

“Ready whenever you are…”


Tellonnion watched with disgust from the shadows. How could Carantaliel possibly prefer this weak runt to a virile, imposing elflord such as he was? Perhaps he should just put the pathetic hobbit out of his misery now.

He had realized after a time that the wizard and Elrond had slipped off without Frodo and Figwit. Yet, as the halfling was heading in the general direction of Carantaliel and the Entwife, Tellonnion decided to stick with his original quarry. Eregalda would keep the others at bay as long as necessary should they reach her first.

The elflord carrying Frodo might put up a decent fight, but Tellonnion was not overly concerned about his prowess. He vaguely remembered Lord Figwit, the courtier, from other days. His kinsman Glorfindel had held him in some esteem, but Tellonnion found him to be too ingratiating as he spent more time in the council chamber with Elrond than on horseback with Elladan and Elrohir. He had heard whispers that Figwit pursued Carantaliel for a time. At least he was a proper elf.

The light that the halfling held sputtered back to life again, though it went out almost immediately. Tellonnion then heard scuffling in that direction and he drew closer, peering hard into the inky dark.

“I can’t go on, Figwit,” he heard Frodo whimper. “Go… go to Cara… Curse my weakness!”

“Frodo, I can’t leave you…”

“GO!”

Tellonnion saw the elflord hesitate, but then with a deep breath Figwit turned and ran into the forest.

Frodo was alone.


-end of Chapter Twenty-four-

Nana – Mama
Tithen siler – Little sisters