s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ

“ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsʜᴇs ᴀ ғɪʀᴇ sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴡᴏᴋᴇɴ. ᴀ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs sʜᴀʟʟ sᴘʀɪɴɢ. ʀᴇɴᴇᴡᴇᴅ sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ ʙʟᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴʟᴇss ᴀɢᴀɪɴ sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴋɪɴɢ.”

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

- wine which had been prepared and took a long, slow drink.

The rich liquid warmed him inwardly, and he sighed, leaning back slightly in the chair as he looked about the vast open hall.

He was home. And, for a time, he could rest.

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

Long had the Ranger wandered within the Realm of Imladris—so much so that the moon had risen high above the tops of the various trees native to the Valley when he reached the outer courts.

He had been content to take his time, allowing the journey within the sacred and -

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

- Lord Elrond of his presence and sustenance has been prepared. For that he was very grateful.

As the Ranger shed his pack and outer cloak, the worries of the world seemed to fade away as he took his place at the table. He reached forward and took up a chalice of rich red -

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

- aside as he slowly blinked. Rather, he raised his head and continued on, his grey eyes upon the realm, letting the sights of the Realm heal his mind and soul.

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

Sure and steady footfalls land upon hallowed and protected ground within the borders of the Hidden Valley. Ever-watched were these borders and the lands within, yet the Ranger dared not let his guard down. Oft he had patrolled these borders in his youth, learning from the -

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

- forsake her life and her kin for him. In spite of the joy which should be felt at such an honor, he found himself sad and unworthy of such.

Unworthy. The word echoed within the confines of his mind, a common theme of his life and path.

He frowned, pushing the thoughts -

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

Within moments, his worn leather boots splashed within the shallow waters of the River as he made his way across and into the lands watched by the Elves upon the borders of Imladris.

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

All is silent upon the East-West Road as the Ranger continues his journey.

He had kept to the untrodden paths of the Wild, yet his path necessitated his taking to the Road.

[s ᴛ ʀ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ʀ @TheNumenorean]

With movements as swift and quiet as a shadow, he stepped onto the East-West Road and made his way toward the Ford.