[the phantom]

Boromir stepped forward to stand next to Phantom. "Wait, earlier you said that Chris Tolkien had the Ring upon his finger. The 'great' Ring. How is that possible? The One Ring was destroyed! It was cast into the fires of Mount Doom."

Glorfindel started at the name of the fiery mountain. "How do you know that name, and of the plan to destroy the Ring?"

"Tolkien wrote all about it," said Boromir. "All about Frodo, and how he brought the Ring to Rivendell, and Elrond and Gandalf determined it should be destroyed, and then Frodo and eight others undertook the quest."

Glorfindel's mouth opened in surprise as Boromir continued giving details about the quest. The attempted passage of the Misty Mountains, the journey through Moria, and on to the Anduin.

"It seems that my old friend did indeed write many tales of this world," said Glorfindel. "Frodo did bring the Ring to Rivendell, and he and eight companions did follow the path you outlined. The Ring, however, was left behind in Rivendell, and it was certainly not destroyed."

"But why didn't you try and take it to the fire?" asked Mira, who had at last recovered her voice.

Glorfindel looked at her incredulously. "What? Take the Ring to Mordor? With Sauron's armies dwelling there, thick as ants, and Sauron himself ever watchful and alert? Surely you jest!"

"So you never decided to destroy the Ring?" asked Phantom.

"We did indeed decide to destroy the Ring," answered Glorfindel, "But we had not the strength to force Sauron from his realm and assure the Ring safe passage to the mountain. We needed first to gain the upper hand."

"But how could you gain the upper hand without destroying his Ring? Sauron's might was too much to contend with," said Boromir.

"Ah, now you have come upon the reason for the Ring being in your world," said Glorfindel. "Elrond and Gandalf both studied the portal and its workings extensively, and it was one of them, or both perhaps, who theorized that if the Ring were to be taken out of this world and into yours, and the portal closed, that Sauron would lose a greater part of his power, no longer being able to draw upon the Ring. Some of us even went so far as to hope it would destroy him completely, but alas, it did not."

"So, it didn't work?" asked Mira.

"It did work," answered Glorfindel. "After Tolkien left with the Ring, Sauron's designs went astray, and he was greatly weakened. He continued to hold the upper hand for many years with his vast armies of orcs and trolls and his alliances with the cruel peoples of the South, but every year we made some headway. As it stands now the dwarves have a firm foothold in Moria, the elves of Mirkwood have taken back most of their forest, and Ithilien has been cleared of evil. Everywhere we are drawing tight the noose, and we hope to begin assaulting the Black Gates and Minas Morgul soon."

"So things are going well?" questioned Mira.

"I would say yes, if not for what has happened here today, for it appears that the Ring has returned to this world, and Sauron's strength is sure to grow quickly. And if he recovers his Ring...." Glorfindel's face fell.

As he stood there in silence, one of the elves under his command approached bearing tidings. The Downers looked back and forth between the two as they traded hushed words. "Any idea what they're saying, Mnem?" whispered Phantom.

"No, it's too soft, and too fast," said Mnem.

Soon the other elf retreated back towards the door in the hillside, and Glorfindel turned his attention back to the Downers on the other side of the portal. "He has escaped," he said. "My scouts have found his trail, but he appears to be moving quickly- too quick to be caught until he stops to rest. Let us hope that he does so soon."