I Have Lost Faith
By TriGemini
Disclaimer: I do not own LotR, or the characters by J.R.R. Tolkein. In addition, the movie script from the LotR Trilogy belongs to Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. Therefore, plz do not sue.
Chapter One
(Elrond's P.O.V.)
As I sit here now in my study. I distinctly remember the conversation I had with Mithrandir. Better yet, it was more like a calm argument. Seeing as how I was telling him that Rivendell no longer had the power it once had to protect itself from evil.
(Flashback before the Council of Elrond)
I looked over to where Gandalf was standing and spoke,
"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard."
Gandalf just sat down in one of the chairs and was lost in deep thought. I continued to look over in his direction and again repeated what I had mentioned earlier, "Gandalf, the Ring cannot stay here."
In hearing, those words Gandalf stood up and walked towards the window. Outside he could see the arrival of Boromir of Gondor, Gimli son of Gloin, and Legolas, the elven prince, of the realm of Mirkwood. All of them were arriving for the council I had called in concern for the present situation.
"This peril belongs to all Middle-Earth. They must decide now how to end it. The time of the Elves is over—my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone? The Dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches—they care nothing for the troubles of others."
With that said Gandalf turned around to look at me and said,
"It is in Men that we must place our hope."
With those words, I knew where Gandalf was going with this and I stood by silently thinking. Again, I was lost in thought.
Men…I scoffed at the very idea of having to trust them. For I had lost my faith in their kind a long time ago.
I felt the need to be honest with Gandalf about my doubts when it came to the race of Men.
"Men? Men are weak. The race of men is failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent. Its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives. I was there Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago…"
'Yes…because of men, this darkness has fallen upon us again,' he thought.
"Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed."
'Because I remember only too well that day,' he thought again. Even as I close my eyes, I can remember that fateful day.
"I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed."
As Isildur and I stood at Sammath Naur, I told him to cast the ring into the fire. He just stood there looking at the ring. I yelled at him again, "Destroy it!"
He just looked at me and said, "No."
Without any comment, without hesitation, Isildur turned around and left. I yelled after him again. Hoping he would listen to reason and yet it was pointless for Isildur would not heed one word.
I opened my eyes slowly to look at Gandalf as I spoke once again, "It should've ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure."
I turned away from Gandalf to continue,
"Isildur kept the Ring. The line of kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless…"
Letting the conversation end seeing as how there was no reason to continue it. For it was a pointless argument. Unfortunately, Gandalf felt there was more to be said on the subject.
"There is one who could unite them, one who could reclaim the throne of Gondor."
I stiffened at the mention of that person. Instead of arguing with Gandalf once more on the matter. I looked at him with a stern expression and answered,
"He turned from that path long time ago. He has chosen exile."
With that last statement, I chose to leave my study. Leaving all that was spoken in that room.
(Flashback ends)
Ever since that incident three thousand years ago, I hard time believing that men could do anything. I honestly believed that men wouldn't be able to deal with what would come. Still Gandalf had faith that men would somehow succeed. He also believed if it was worth fighting for…a person would do whatever is in their power to achieve it. As for what I believe. I'm convinced that until proven wrong or given another reason my faith in men will not be as great as others.
A/N.: Okay, here is the deal. This was kind of spur of the moment. Been entertaining the idea for a while, but I really don't know how good it is. All right! So, please go easy on me.