Reflections in the shards of

Narsil
Honourable Halfling hope kindled
While all over Middle-earth it slowly dwindled.
Bright and gay was the Fellowship of nine
Buried were those shadowy doubts of mine.

Stone of Gondor livened and steed of Rohirrim reared its head

When with Mithrandir we set out and the Company he led.
In Imladris, a pact to fight evil was made
For, for too long under the Shadow we had stayed.

Yet, the Evenstar light faded to grey

The snow-tipped, dread-kissed white Redhorn blocked our way.
Crebain of Dunland over us flew
Warmth slowly seeped away, like under the Sun, morning dew.

Over Caradhras, we couldnt pass

So, under it, we decided to go en masse.
Fell thoughts crept back in my mind
More locked doors in my head I started to find.

Khazad-dum was more silently eerie than graveyards some

Little did we know, it was about to become one for someone.
To a more cheerless place, our memories couldnt hark
It was all dread, it was all dark.

In the end, the Bridge came in sight

But impeding Orcs were to be a small fright.

Gandalf had to match himself against a foe of eons gone by
The Balrog dragged him to Shadow even as he told us to fly.

O Grey Pilgrim! Where did you go?

And leave me alone to fight the Foe.
I clutch at wisps of doubt now that the Company I have to lead
For I have but Isildurs blood and his creed.

The hypnotic allure of the One Ring is within my reach

But for that, trust, honour and more than my soul Id have to break and
breach.
Through Lothlorien, Lady Galadriel let us safely pass
The weight of a Shadow on my heart started to fall fast.

Yrch attacked us at the foot of Amon Hen

Darkness arrived faster and swifter than ever from its Dark den.

Boromir fell to the Shadow

The Orcs ravaged slope and meadow.
Merry and Pippin they took away
A Black night was followed by a Red day.

Frodo and Sam left the Company

Even though, to protect them an oath was sworn by me.
I had led the Fellowship from Darrowdelf
But could I promise to protect the Ring-bearer from myself?

The Quest has failed, not least because of me

The Shadow tightens its vice-like grip, as far the eye can see.

There is naught but evil and darkness ahead

I may have sold Middle-earth for dead.

Abhishek Jain
101306005
Team Men
IIIrd Year