This is a work in progress (not yet complete). It is the best
combination
of anime and Lord of the Rings that I've seen yet, which is
why I
asked John for permission to post it here. Enjoy. Tim
Seltzer
John's Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni
Kenshin or
Lord of the Rings. RK is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and Lord
of the
Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien. By the way,
this fanfiction
is taken pretty much from the movie directed by Peter Jackson. I,
like
many of you, can't wait when Return of the King comes out. This is
not
for profit, only for entertainment.
Summary: Here it is folks, a crossover between
Rurouni
Kenshin and Lord of the Rings. In this Kenshin & company defend
middle
earth and at the same time help a certain hobbit destroy the ring of
power.
Gandalf, Kenshin, and Elrond observe the trio of Frodo, Sam, and
Kaoru,
being together.
"His strength returns," said Elrond.
"That wound," said Gandalf, "will never fully heal. He will carry
it
the rest of his life."
Then Gandalf looked over to Kenshin and added, "…as I suspect
that Kenshin
will carry his cross-shaped scar for the rest of his life as
well."
Kenshin nodded sadly in agreement, "…indeed."
"And yet," said Elrond as he walked away from the window, "to
have come
so far, still bearing the ring, the Hobbit has shown extraordinary
resilience
to its evil."
"It is a burden," informed Gandalf, "he should never have had to
bear.
We can ask no more of Frodo."
"For what its worth, Lord Elrond," added Kenshin, "I greatly
agree with
Sir Gandalf, that I do."
Elrond explains to them, "Gandalf… Kenshin… the enemy is moving,
Sauron's
forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell. And
Saruman,
you both tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."
"It was just a matter of time, Lord Elrond, "said Kenshin,
darkening
his expression, "over any periods of time, anyone is capable of
changing
their ways and their beliefs. Even when it is people like Saruman,
that
it is."
Gandalf explained even further, "And his treachery runs deeper
than
you know. By foul craft, Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin-men.
He's
breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move
in sunlight,
and cover great distance and speed. Saruman is coming for the
ring."
"This evil," announced Elrond, "cannot be concealed by the power
of
the Elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and
Isengard!"
Realizing this, Gandalf muses at the window.
"Sir Gandalf?" spoke Kenshin, wondering.
Elrond resolved to Gandalf, "Gandalf… the ring cannot stay here."
Gandalf continues musing at the window, realizing also that
Elrond was
right… the ring cannot stay in Rivendell, despite all of Frodo and
Kaoru's
efforts to bring it there…
In addition to the Elves and the Dwarves that arrived in
Rivendell with
Aoshi, Saito, and Misao, a man from the land of Gondor named
Boromir has
just arrived in Rivendell…
Elrond also announced, "This peril belongs to all Middle-Earth as
much
as it belongs to the world Kenshin comes from, Gandalf. 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."
Gandalf turned to face Elrond with his resolve, "It is in men,
that
we must place our hope."
Elrond wasn't too thrilled to hear this. "Men? Men are weak," he
said
sadly and started to walk away…
Gandalf, Kenshin, and Elrond walked further into the building.
Kenshin
wanted to hear Elrond's explanation. "Nobody's perfect, Lord
Elrond," he
started, "but why would you think that all men are weak?"
"Because," Elrond explained, "the race of men is failing,
Kenshin. 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,
3000 years ago…"
Elrond recalls the event that happened 3000 years ago…
He was in the last alliance against Sauron. Elrond saw Isildur
slicing
the ring off of Sauron's hand… landing right next to him…
"…When Isildur took the ring," continued Elrond, "I was there the
day
the strength of men failed… "
Elrond recalls himself going to Isildur, "Isildur, hurry, follow
me."
Isildur followed his instructions and was taken to Mt. Doom's
scorching…
burning heart…
"…I led Isildur into the heart of Mt. Doom… where the ring was
forged,
the one place it could be destroyed…"
Elrond then ordered Isildur, "Cast it into the fire!"
Isildur, however, kept looking at the ring, actually admiring it.
Isildur
looked up at Elrond with a darkened expression. Elrond gasped with
concern
at this...
"Destroy it!" Elrond ordered again.
"No," Isildur said maliciously… and walked away.
"ISILDUR!" Elrond yelled out… but Isildur never turned around.
Elrond
watched helplessly as Isildur left Mt. Doom…
"…It should've ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure,"
Elrond
finished his recalling of the past.
Kenshin sadly sympathizes with Elrond. "I see," he said, "…I knew
that
you and your people were immortal… but I had no idea that you were
there
personally when Isildur refused to destroy the ring. I understand
now why
you would believe all men to be weak. I was told of this tragic
tale of
Isildur's weakness long ago. But that doesn't mean that all men
are like
Isildur, that it most certainly does not."
"…Perhaps, Kenshin," said a doubtful Elrond. He turned to face
them
and continued, "…but Isildur kept the ring. The line of kings is
broken.
There is no strength left in the world of men. They are scattered,
divided,
leaderless."
"There is one, who could unite them," interjected Gandalf, "One
who
could reclaim the throne of Gondor."
Elrond was even more doubtful as he replied, "He turned from that
path
a long time ago. He has chosen exile."
"And," inquired Kenshin, "who is this man who can reclaim
Gondor?"
"It is the man who helped Frodo and your friends to get here,
Kenshin,"
answered Gandalf.
"You mean… " Kenshin said in shock, "…the ranger known as
Strider…?"
Strider, the true heir of the Gondor throne, is in a room,
reading a
book. Saito was in the room with him, smoking a cigarette.
Footsteps echoed
on the stone floor… it was Boromir. Boromir started to enter the
room and
saw Strider.
"You are no Elf." He spoke to Strider.
"Men of the south are welcome here," replied Strider.
"Who are you?"
"A friend of Gandalf the Grey," answered Strider.
Then Saito interjected, "He's a ranger, calls himself Strider. He
helped
to bring some of my… 'friends' here."
Saito couldn't say friends in the truest sense because he has a
lot
of issues with Kenshin's group. Strider was somewhat a little
annoyed with
Saito for giving him away.
"Really?" asked a smiling Boromir, and says to both of them,
"Then we
are all here on a common purpose... friends."
Boromir then wandered over to the picture of the final battle
between
Isildur and Sauron.
'This looks like it's a picture of a final battle.' thought
Saito, as
he gazed at the picture with Boromir, '…the creepy looking guy
must be
the dark lord Sauron, which the Battousai speaks of.'
Saito was definitely right about that. Boromir then turned around
and
sees the broken sword itself, on display, in front of a statue.
"Shards of Narsil," said Boromir.
He picked up the hilt and grasped it with both hands. Saito
looked over
to the picture and it was the same blade that was in the picture.
"The blade that cut the ring from Sauron's hand," stated Boromir.
"So," said Saito, smirking, "this is the great weapon that
defeated
this Sauron, eh?"
Boromir brightly replied, "Indeed, my friend… indeed." Boromir
then
ran his finger up the blade… and accidentally cuts his finger on
it…
"…Ah! Its still sharp…" added Boromir as he slowly turned to look
at
Strider. Strider stared back at Boromir in return…
"…But no more than a broken heirloom," finished Boromir as he
dropped
the sword on the display table…
But the blade fell and landed onto the floor instead. Boromir
left it
where it was and leaves the room.
"Not a nice way," said Saito, "to treat heirlooms now, is it?"
He proceeded to put the blade back but Strider interjected, "It's
alright…
I'll put it back."
Saito looked at Strider and decided to respect his decision.
"Fine, as you wish," said Saito as he also left the room.
Strider picked up the blade and softly put it back on the display
table.
He backed away as if he were frightened of it.
Arwen appeared slowly into the room and spoke, "…Why do you fear
the
past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not
bound to
his fate."
"The same blood flows through my veins," Strider sadly countered
as
he faced Arwen, "…the same weakness."
Arwen went up to him and stated, "Your time will come. You will
face
the same evil and you will defeat it. A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor.
Ú or le a ú or nin. (The shadow does not hold sway yet. Not
over you… not over me.)"
Evening fell over Rivendell.
Kenshin walked alone, admiring what the night sky looked in
Rivendell,
without the pollution of Isengard. Along the way… Kenshin spots
Kaoru alone
in the twilit gardens of Rivendell. She sat on a bench in one of
the gazeboes.
Kaoru looked to her side and saw Kenshin. She smiled very
brightly.
Kenshin came up to her and said, "Miss Kaoru, do you enjoy
Rivendell,
as much as all Middle-Earth so far?"
"Yes Kenshin," Kaoru answered brightly, "I just wish that… we
wouldn't
have dark servants chase us here and there."
"I know the feeling Miss Kaoru," confirmed Kenshin, "most of my
life
after Battousai the Manslayer, when I wandered throughout Japan,
people
chase me all the time, that they do."
Kaoru giggled, "And that's why we have had all kinds of crazy
adventures
together. And they've all brought us together in more ways than
one."
"I know Miss Kaoru… but this adventure we're currently having
together
is altogether dangerous… perhaps even more dangerous that when we
fought
with Shishio."
"But Kenshin," Kaoru became worried, "we're all in this together,
aren't
we?"
"Indeed Miss Kaoru. I meant what I said about accepting your
help. But…
that doesn't mean that any of us won't get killed in this battle,
that
it does not."
Kaoru, for a moment… realized what Kenshin was saying. She and
Yahiko
have
fought extraordinary enemies that cannot be defeated so easily.
Kaoru did
realize that there really was a high risk that either her or
Yahiko, or
even the others themselves could die instantly in this battle.
Kenshin took a few steps away from her as he went on, "…it makes
me
think of how Megumi felt about how close I was to death after the
fight
with Shishio. Even though I may have fascinating abilities… that
doesn't
change the fact that I'm human and that I can die. You can die the
same
way too Miss Kaoru, that you can. I sympathize with you and Miss
Megumi's
concerns for me that my next brush with death… could well be my
very last.
And the fact is Miss Kaoru… that's the same way I feel about you
if you're
ever in a situation like that."
Kaoru gasped at Kenshin's remark, knowing that Kenshin really
does care
if she dies.
Kenshin went on further, "Miss Kaoru… in coming to this world, I
realized
that the situations put me at a disadvantage, that they do. There
are many
unknown dangers here, as well as unknown beauty and wonder. You
and Yahiko
have fought against enemies that cannot be defeated so easily,
even by
me. I fear that you may not be able to handle these enemies this
time Miss
Kaoru."
Kenshin paused before finishing, "…I don't think that I'll be
able to
protect you this time Miss Kaoru, that I do not."
Kaoru paused for a moment before stating her peace, "…Kenshin…
why do
you worry so much about me? No matter what happens to us Kenshin…
I will
always help out any way that I can. I want to be with you forever
Kenshin…"
Kenshin sadly felt great sympathy for Kaoru's longing desire for
him…
Kaoru went on, "…even though we were separated the moment we
arrived
in Middle-Earth, I still thought of you Kenshin… and I still want
to be
with you even now. So promise me Kenshin… even if we are separated
again
in Middle-Earth… promise me that you'll come back to me. And if I
am separated
from you again Kenshin…
"…I promise that I'll do everything in my power to come back to
you.
I told you before that I can take care of myself and that I would
not be
in your way," Kaoru finished passionately.
…Kenshin then turned around… came up slowly toward Kaoru… and sat
down
with her, putting his arm around her shoulder, consoling her…
"…Then Miss Kaoru," Kenshin resolved, "…I think that this time… I
will
have no choice but to have faith in you that I will. Just as you
had faith
in me when I went off to fight Shishio… I will also have faith in
you…
Miss Kaoru."
Kaoru smiled brightly.
Kenshin went on, "You've given me a home at your dojo. You
forgave someone
who has killed many in the revolution. You even welcomed me back
when we
returned to Tokyo from the battle with Shishio. I truly felt
happy…
"…I don't want to be anywhere else… except with you and the dojo
Miss
Kaoru," Kenshin finished eloquently.
"And I," added Kaoru, even more eloquently, "don't want to be
anywhere
else except with you… Kenshin."
The couple sat together, holding each other for a few moments…
and then…
Kaoru looked forward to see another couple on a nearby bridge…
"Kenshin," said Kaoru.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"Look over there," Kaoru replied pointing at the figures on the
bridge,
holding hands together.
Kenshin observed for a moment before stating, "That must be Miss
Arwen
and Strider."
"Yes Kenshin," Kaoru confirmed, "ever since the night that Arwen
took
Frodo to this place… I saw them holding hands together… as if they
meant
something to each other. I couldn't understand what they were
saying, but
it sounded like Strider wanted her to stay behind with us. He must
be very
worried about her… just like you're very concerned about me,
Kenshin."
Kenshin smiled, "indeed Miss Kaoru. Perhaps… even here in
Middle-Earth…
we can find people who are like us in so many ways, that we can."
It was a very romantic night for Arwen and Strider as they stood
on
the bridge in which Kenshin and Kaoru saw before them. Both Arwen
and Strider…
spoke in Elvish…
"Renech i lu i erui govannem?" asked Arwen.
"Nauthannem i ned ol reniannen," Strider answered softly.
"Gwenwin in enninath...U-arnech in naeth i si celich… " Arwen
said…
softly and tenderly touching Strider's cheek and asked, "…Renech i
beth
i pennen?"
Strider slowly ran his fingers across Arwen's beautiful pendant
on her
neck, the Evenstar, and softly answered, "You said you'd bind
yourself
to me… forsaking the immortal life of your people."
"And to that I hold," Arwen resolved, "I would rather share one
lifetime
with you, than face all the ages of this world alone…"
Strider was shocked to find the pendant in his hand, given to him
by
Arwen as she tenderly announced to him, "…I choose a mortal life."
Strider softly countered, "You cannot give me this."
"It is mine to give to whom I will," Arwen softly defended
herself,
"…like my heart."
With that last statement… Arwen softly enclosed the pendant in
his hand.
Moments later…
Arwen and Strider both shared a long, breathless kiss that
lasted, to
them… an entire lifetime…
A/n: Spoiler: If you seen the movie, then you should know what
Arwen
and Strider said to each other. And Strider's identity, like in
the movie,
will be revealed next chapter.
