“What is the matter, my friend?”

Jack turned around to regard the Dùnadan, marvelling again at his fluency.

“I wish I knew where to start.”

“The beginning is usually a good place,” Legolas commented softly, his fluency was nowhere near Aragorn’s but he was understandable and could follow conversations.

Aragorn inclined his head at some seats close by and Jack gratefully took a seat.

He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair, the nervous gesture from the seasoned warrior not escaping the eyes of the other two.

“Daniel’s dead,” he finally said, unable to think of a way to break it gently.

“How?” Aragorn asked.

“An explosion that released radiation...” Jack trailed off as he saw the confused expressions on their faces. He tried to think of a way to explain to people who had no experience with anything even remotely similar. “Um...it’s something that makes the air...um...damaging to even be in. Daniel braved it to prevent an even larger one that would have killed many.”

“Then he chose to sacrifice his life to save others,” Aragorn stated and Jack nodded.

“We tried to save him. It was a desperate measure and we don’t know if there would have been any side-effects. But...he chose to ascend instead.”

Legolas frowned slightly.

“What is it?” Aragorn questioned his gwador.

“I...may be missing the meaning but that sounds like what the Maiar did several millennia ago.”

“The Ancients did so a long time ago, and Daniel commented after our visit here that the language the wizards used was similar to that of The Ancients.”

“The Istari are a division of the Maiar who were left behind to watch over, guide and protect the other races in Arda,” Legolas commented, sharing a look with Aragorn.

“Sounds like we’re talking about the same thing,” Jack replied.

“What does that mean?” Aragorn questioned.

“It means that he is not truly dead. But he cannot come back under usual circumstances.” Legolas answered. “Similar to when an elf goes to the Halls of Waiting.”

“Like what happened to you?” Jack asked.

“I was a special case; normally an elf is released from the Halls into Valinor. It is only in unusual circumstances that an elf is sent back to Arda, usually when they still have things they must do or when they have died averting grave evil,” Legolas explained. “It is very rare for an adan to have the strength of will to remain in the Halls long before going on, even rarer for one to be sent back. I have only heard of one who came back; Beren.”

“Which is a good thing from my perspective,” Aragorn added, continuing at Jack’s curious look. “If he and Lúthien had not returned I would never have existed.”

“Lúthien?”

“An elf princess who fell in love with Beren; it was his love for her that allowed him to wait in the Halls until she arrived and argued their case. When he died for the final time she chose to join him in mortal death. Their descendants have had to choose at some point in their lives which race they will be counted as; some, like Lord Elrond, have chosen to be counted as elves. Others, like Elros his twin brother, have chosen to be counted as mortals,” Legolas added. “Strider is descended from Elros.”

“So he has to make that choice too?”

Aragorn shook his head. “Only those who are born immortal but with mortal blood can choose. Any descendants born after the choice for mortality are born mortal.”

“Mortality is the gift of Ilúvatar. Immortals are bound to the circles of this life until the destruction of everything. What will become of us afterwards we do not know. Mortals go beyond the circles on their deaths, though none know exactly what they go to,” Legolas explained to the Tau’ri when he looked confused.

“In a way that’s similar to our myths of heaven,” he commented sadly.

“Myths?” Aragorn asked, picking up on the phrasing.

“There are still some who believe in it.”

“But you do not?” Legolas guessed.

Jack shook his head. “There’s no proof it exists outside of ancient daydreams.”

“Then I guess it comes down to whether you trust the word of Ilúvatar or not,” Legolas stated, drawing a surprised look from Jack.