All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter

or

What Elrond Says

Yellow and red flames burned brightly on their torches, lighting the quiet halls of Rivendell. Arwen lay asleep in her rooms, dreaming of the Ranger who had so recently returned from the wilds. Four Hobbits slept, oblivious to the darkness waiting for them. The woods around it elven haven were silent. Even the leaves seemed to hold their breath. Something was coming, and any elf could sense it. Far away, a single wolf stepped over a fallen branch as it climbed a low hill. Its paws hardly bent the grass it walked upon. Reaching the summit, the grey wolf sat. His dark eyes scanned the woods. A white owl landed on a branch of an ancient oak. The wolf watched it, but not hungrily. The two animals watched each other silently. Then the wolf raised its head to the full moon and howled.

Deep in the library of Imladris, an elf raised his dark haired head, listening to the sound. He must be just as lonely as I am. Erestor sighed, then squinted closer at the faded parchment. Candlelight flicked on the desk, making his task even more difficult. Once black ink was faded to grey. Thousands of years had done its damage to the priceless document, despite Elrond's protection.

Erestor was one of the few people who knew of Vilya, and the power Master Elrond wielded with it. Vilya, or the Ring of Air. Forged in dark times as a false gift from Sauron, before he made the Ring. In fact, it was the Ring of Power that brought Erestor to this parchment.

He peered closer at the faded lines, trying to read between the lines. What had been written about Sauron was little, and those who knew of him did not tell the elves. With the Ring now in Rivendell, it was imperative that the enemy become known.

Sauron is believed by many to be a Maia, and also Melkor's chief lieutenant.

"So he is powerful, much more so than Mithrandir." Erestor muttered to himself. "What Elrond says is true. The Ring must be destroyed." Carefully, with only two fingers, Erestor lifted the yellowed parchment and turned it over. His fingers came away with the faint residue of ink clinging to them. Erestor set them down on the corner of the page as he read.

Since the elves defied him, Sauron was forced to transfer most of his life force until the better part of it was contained within the One Ring.

"What Elrond says is true. The Ring must be destroyed. It is the only way to defeat him. The Eye is powerful, but without his Ring, he will fall." He muttered. Erestor leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. Where his fingers had rested, a faint fingerprint was visible on the yellowed parchment. Normally, this would have troubled the scholarly elf, but it paled in comparison of the threat of Sauron. Erestor glanced out a small window, judging time by the shadows cast by the moon's silver rays. Dawn is quickly approaching.

The faintest swish of fabric drew the elf's gaze. "Erestor, are still examining our history?" Elrond walked silently between the rows of books, grey eyes troubled.

"Yes, my lord. However, I have reached a conclusion."

Elrond drew up a chair to the cluttered desk Erestor was seated at. "Please, tell me what you have learned." He sat and gave Erestor his full attention. They had been friends for many centuries, comforting, encouraging, advising one another. Erestor would never hide something from Elrond.

Erestor took a deep breath. He reached for a book that had been set aside. Slowly, he lifted the tattered green cover. Faded runes haphazardly covered the page. "Most accounts seem to agree that Sauron is indeed of the Maiar. His power is beyond that which exists in Middle-Earth."

"As we know well from past wars." Elrond nodded encouragingly.

"That is the only fact I can tell you for certain. All other accounts of his power are muddled and unclear. But, as you expected, most of his power resides in the One Ring. Sauron himself his not powerful, it is his word that is. With the Ring, he would regain his body. Nobody would be able to stop him."

Elrond stood. And took three steps until he could look out the window. Rivendell sat in all its glory below him, sleeping. Elrond lifted his gaze to beyond the mountains. "It is as I feared. We must destroy the Ring." He turned away from the window and returned to his seat. For a long while, Elrond sat with his head in his hands, taking counsel in himself.

"Elrond, tell me what is on your mind," Erestor said gently. "Are we not friends?"

"We are." Elrond agreed. He looked up at Erestor. "And I will not withhold my thoughts from you." He stood and paced in front of Erestor's desk. The wooden boards were well worn from Erestor's own boots. Countless years of mysteries and puzzles had not been kind to the floor. Elrond's robes and the faint sound of his shoes on the floor were the only sounds.

"I will tell you the truth, for there is nothing that you do not deserve to know. The Hobbit-Frodo- carries The Ring, this you know. If Sauron gains it, all the lands will fall to darkness. I greatly fear for our future. Frodo is strong for carrying it this far, but who will bear it to Mt. Doom? There are few that I believe have the strength for the task. Those that come to mind, we cannot afford to lose. Middle-Earth needs him."

Erestor examined his friend. "Estel?"

Elrond nodded. "Yes. Heir to the throne of Gondor." Elrond sighed and sat again. "Middle-Earth cannot afford for him to die."

Erestor rested the tips of his fingers on his temples and stared down at the desk. His blue eyes were half closed as he thought. "Then perhaps the Valar have a Ring-Bearer in mind," Erestor paused between each word, considering it, tasting it, rolling it around with his tongue. "One who will die, and be missed, but who's death will not leave men in ruins. But perhaps that is Estel's fate. It is not for us decide. Only to guide, and to hope. That has been our task, and that is what we will do. Whoever the Ring-Bearer is, he will need guidance. It is not a light task. We will give him hope- that he will prevail. Wisdom- which is to be given freely, and every other thing we can offer. For if he fails, all that is good and right will fall, forever."

Elrond regarded Erestor. The elf was given to saying only what he felt needed to be said. His speech was unusal. But as Elrond thought about it, he realized that every word was true. He rose and looked kindly down at Erestor. "Get some sleep. The advice you gave me is gold, and now your task is done." Elrond walked away, leaving Erestor alone again.

"Gold..." Erestor whispered. In the forest, the snowy white owl hooted softly. Then it spread its wings and took flight, rising up into the starry sky and vanishing. The wolf howled again, mourning for the evil in the world.

A/N: Having formatting issues. Imagine that the title is centered ;)