Middle-earth is in big trouble. Apparently Bilbo's magic ring was actually more than it seemed. So Gandalf calls Noelle Smith back to Middle-earth for a second time. However, now that the Jedi are gone, Noelle is at war with herself. Horrifying nigh...
Hey all! Very important chapter today. This has where it's all been leading up to from the beginning of Noelle's dreams. Sorry it was such a long wait. Also, I made a quote edit from Book 2 to go with this chapter :)
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"The Light shineth in the Darkness, and the Darkness hath not overcome it." John 1:5
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"Do we have to go down there?" Flash whimpered nervously as Noelle spurred him on down into the dark path.
Noelle sighed, and patted her horse's shoulder. "I'm sorry, buddy," she whispered. "It's the only way we're going to be able to help Gondor."
They had gotten many curious and upset looks from the Rohan soldiers as they trotted out of the camp and into the darkness of the mountains. Whispers of "why does he leave?" and "he's abandoning us," could be heard throughout the valley.
"He leaves because there is no hope," someone had said.
"He leaves because he must," King Théoden had replied.
Noelle had these words echoing in her mind as they trodded through the darkness of the gravelly path. She didn't see any reason to stay behind with the Rohirrim. Either way she was going headfirst into the battle. Might as well stay with Aragorn, as she had always done.
They rode in silence for the most part up until the morning. The closer they got to wherever they were going, the more skittish Flash, Brego, and Arod became.
Noelle became more anxious too, as she could sense the Darkness growing in this region of the mountains. She had an ominous feeling something was waiting down there for her as well. Was this where she would find the answers she was looking for? Gandalf had said she had been "misreading the signs." So maybe she was looking for her answers in the wrong places.
That this place of darkness... perhaps was a step in the right direction?
"There is no Light without the Darkness," Lady Galadriel had said.
And I can't let the Darkness consume the Light, Noelle mused to herself. It's my duty.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked Legolas, interrupting her thoughts.
"One that is cursed," Legolas answered, proceeding to tell him the same story he had told her last night.
Noelle closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his soft, melodic voice. It had always brought her comfort even before she knew she was in love with him, but now... she always wanted to hear him. She wanted to be with him forever. She wanted to wake up every morning with him by her side and forget these awful wars. To maybe even have a child with him, to grow old with him.
Except that last part would never happen no matter how much she wanted it to. She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat.
They would have to figure that part out later- after the Ring was destroyed.
