I was always pale with fear in the presence of the Master Elf. Made
even more acute in my half wakeful state. I knew that Elrond was
usually a late sleeper. What could possibly have roused him out of bed at this hour,
and why would he have called upon me?
As I entered the Hall, Elrond glanced up from a pile of maps and scrolls that were
littered about a massive table in the center of the room. "Ah, good,
you've come at last. As you know Bozo Baggins [for that is my
name], you are one of the laziest and most inept hobbits that I
know."
I nodded in agreement.
"And you also know", he said, " I
would not dream of sending you on a task more difficult than, let's say,
emptying my spittoon."
"Yes, sir", I said, still shaking
with fear and fatigue.
He looked fiercely
in my direction and said, "As you know, every elf, man, dwarf, and hobbit
of any worth has either been sent on a quest, or is leaving for the Grayhavens.
Thus, I must turn to you to perform a task of such importance, that
failure would mean the destruction of us all."
I gulped in
anticipation of his dread command.
His features softened into a hideous
smile, "Now Bozo, I want you to listen very
carefully to my instructions, and follow every detail to the letter. You are aware that the Fellowship left this morning."
I nodded with
understanding, but to be quite frank, my mind was beginning to wander due to
fatigue and hunger.
Elrond went on, "Unfortunately, Aragorn left in
such haste, that he forgot to wait for me to reforge the sword of Elendil for
him. You must make all speed and retrieve the Shards of Narsil
for me so that I can remake the sword and hopefully get it too him before the
Fellowship reaches Mordor." Elrond reached into his pocket and
brought forth a parchment scroll, "At the coordinates written on this
scroll you'll find the first fragment of Narsil....."
Well, at this point, I was so faint with hunger that I did not attend to
Elrond's words very much. I remember him saying something about brushing
up on my Elvish Alphabet,
particularly the numbers, and to be careful of Orcs, because the area is filled
with them coming and going on foot and on bicycles. Elrond also said that
if I wanted to take a picture of Narsil, that would be fine. Just
try to avoid getting any of the background in the picture that would give away
the hiding place.
I left the parchment scroll at the coordinates above. There are three
fragments to recover and assemble. At each fragment you will be given the
coordinates to the next piece. Please rehide the fragments exactly as
you found them when you're done. The cache is a small container that will accommodate
small trade items. Please bring your own pen to sign the log.