The White Armoured Shifter. [The Hobbit FF-ThorinxOcxAragorn Love Story]

7. The Ring Goes South.

Third person's point of view.

A hand traces runes on a pale slab of stone, nestled in the deep forests of Rivendell. 'Gilraen', it reads. 'Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim.' [I gave Hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself]. The hand reaches out, pulling a clump of moss from the grove of a letter, wiping leaf-litter and mud from an edge of the stone, pulling free entwining branches gathering over the smooth, stony hands of a statue. Aragorn, kneeling, lifts his head. 

He gazes into the solemn eyes of the statue, a woman in a cloak and hood. Aragorn touches her face. "Anirne hene beriad i chên în. Ned Imladris nauthant e le beriathar aen." [She wanted to protect her child. She thought that in Rivendell you would be safe.] Elrond says appearing around the corner and walking towards Aragorn through the trees. "In her heart, your mother knew you'd be hunted all your life. That you'd never escape your fate."

"The skill of the Elves can reforge the sword of Kings, but only you have the power to wield it." Elrond said now standing behind Aragorn, "I do not want that power. I have never wanted it." Aragorn said back, "You are the last of that bloodline. There is no other." Elrond countered back, Aragorn said nothing,

***

On a bedside table, a hand folds back a homespun cloth to reveal a short sword in a scabbard. Bilbo picks it up and hands it to Frodo. "My old sword, Sting! Here! Take it, take it!" Bilbo said eagerly handing over his sword, Frodo unsheathes the sword and examines it. It rings as Frodo draws it, glinting. "It's so light!" Frodo comments while admiring the sword, "Yes... yea — made by the Elves, you know. The blade glows blue when Orcs are close. And it's times like that, my lad, when you have to be extra careful!"

Bilbo brings out a mail shirt. It shines, simple, yet beautifully adorned with intricate patterns in the mail. "Here's a pretty thing — Mithril! As light as a feather... and as hard as dragon scales! Let me see you put it on. Come on." Bilbo says excitedly and Frodo starts to unbutton his shirt. As he does, the Ring is revealed. Bilbo sees it. "Oh... M-my old Ring! Oh, I sh-sh-should very much like... to hold it again, one last time." he says motioning to the ring,

Bilbo's eyes light up and he wrings his hands, his eyes focused on the Ring. Frodo begins to cover it up. Bilbo smiles faintly in an almost grandfatherly manner. Suddenly, transformed by the power of the Ring, he lashes out. His eyes grow round, ringed in purple shadows, his teeth are like yellowed fangs in his mouth, stretched open wide as he utters a strangled cry. Frodo, startled, backs away, clutching his hand over the Ring. 

Bilbo returns to normal. Bilbo's eye show surprise at his transformation. He cowers back, his voice strained. "I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my boy... I'm sorry that you must carry this burden." Bilbo sobs, he sits down on the bed, weeping openly now. "I'm sorry for everything!" Frodo places a reassuring hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Bilbo reaches back and puts his own hand on Frodo's. He continues to weep in sorrow.

***

In a glade beneath an old stone arch, the Fellowship gathers to bid farewell to Rivendell. Elrond speaks to them, gazing sternly at the faces before him. Frodo stands, listening, slightly apart from the others; leaves flutter to the earth. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid, to go further than you will." nobody says anything,  

"Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you." Elrond spreads his arms, and Legolas and Aragorn bow their heads, hands upon hearts, while Ayrn adjusts her gauntlet, "The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf calls and Frodo looks to Ayrn knowing she'd give him courage, the two of them sharing a bond over the weight of Ring. Nodding to him he smiled weakly,

Frodo, turns and walks forward, uncertainly. Before him, the path winds away to either side. Ayrn stepping over to Frodo, next to the tall wizard, she heard Frodo whisper to her, "Mordor, Ayrn, is it left or right?" he asked looking both ways, "Left," she said back with a small smile, the Fellowship departs beneath an old arch of lichen-encrusted stone. Aragorn watches Aryn ahead of himself and smiles, 

But he also notices Boromir watching her and a wave of over-protectiveness fills him as the look in the Gondorian's eyes isn't something Aragorn wants to see.