The Valar are the Powers of Arda who shaped and ruled the world that the Elves had come to know. The First Age was the summoning of the Elves, who moved with the Valar to Valinor. There were three hosts who led out to follow the call of the Valar the largest beings were those of the Teleri. The advancement was slow, and would often lose sight of the two other smaller hosts. At the time of reaching the mighty river Anduin, a smaller leader of the host Lenwë did not wish to go further and he and his people began to settle in the forests surrounding the Anduin Vale. The remaining Teleri travelled to Valinor, the descendants becoming the Silvan Elves of Lothlórien and Greenwood the Great. As the Second Age prevailed the many Sindar survivors who did not sail to the West, did not wish to be dominated by the Noldor in Lindon. Travelling eastward they stumbled upon Greenwood the Great, where the Silvan Elves of Nadorin descent lived. The Silvan Elves were Morbin; those of which resided in Beleriand, Nandor, Avari or anybody dwelling outside of Beleriand but they still retained the same Telerin ancestry. Oropher, a Sindar was taken by them as lord and founder of the Woodland Realm following the rustic and natural way of life that the Elves desired.
The age of Sauron saw the resurrection of Barad-dûr in Mordor, whilst the Dwarves of Moria increased in power. Galadriel and Celeborn came to Lórien and out of resentment the Silvan Elves gradually moved from the South of Greenwood to the North to live around the Mountains of Mirkwood. Oropher joined the Last Alliance by summoning a great army in which Amdír's smaller forces joined with the Lórien Elves to create one large host of Silvan Elves. The Silvan Elves were strong and brave but lacked grand armour and weapons in comparison with the Noldor. Amdír and Oropher unwilling submitted to the supreme command of the Gil-galad, as such they sustained heavy loss within the War of the Last Alliance. The first assault on Mordor saw Oropher charge before the signal was given by the Gil-galad ending in himself and 2/3 of the Woodland army to be perished. After the Siege of Barad- dûr the remnants of the Greenwood Army return to their homes were they reside under the command of Oropher's Son, Thranduil, who was crowned as King.
The Third Age became a dangerous time for Southern Greenwood and was renamed Mirkwood. The forest would dwell with creatures like great spiders forcing Thranduil's folk to retreat to the north eastern corner of Mirkwood. One day Thranduil and his people were feasting in the wood where they were repeatedly interrupted by a party of Dwarves. The third disturbance saw the capture of the Dwarves and Thorin their leader. The reason for the Dwarves journey to Mirkwood was not revealed resulting in Thranduil placing the Dwarves under lock and key in the Mirkwood Prisons. However a Hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins helped the Dwarves to escape captivity with the use of a magic ring. Outraged by their escape, Thranduil sent messengers to seek them; who soon returned with news of the death of the Dragon Smaug, who had brutalized the Elves for years. He knew of the riches that lay underneath the mountain and set out towards the Lonely Mountains with a company of Elves with spears and bows. After being approached for aid by Bard in Lake-town, Thranduil became surprised to hear that the Dwarves has survived the onslaught of Smaug and had taken possession of the Lonely Mountain and the treasures that lay beneath the walls.
Bard demanded a share of the treasure for Dale and Lake-town after the destruction of Smaug within the area however Thorin refused to give away part of the treasure leading to the siege of the mountain by Thranduil and Bard. Thorin sent for aid from his cousin Dain II Ironfront confirming the inevitability of a fight for the mountain's treasures. The Arkenstone, a great Jewel Thorin valued above all other treasure was bought to Thranduil and Bard by none other than the Hobbit Bilbo. Thranduil entered negotiation with Thorin who agreed to pay 1/14 share of the treasure in exchange for the stone. The next day Dain arrived with his forces, though Thranduil was reluctant to go to war over gold, the Dwarves proceeded to attack. In the midst of the battle Gandalf intervened and revealed to Thranduil and the others, of Orcs present on the Misty Mountains and Grey Mountains using the opportunity to march against them. The three commanders agreed that the orcs were the enemies of all and previous grievances were to be put on hold to address the greater threat. This signified the beginning of the Battle of Five Armies. Thranduil positioned his host on the southern side of the Mountain and were first to charge. Many Elves were slain but with the aid of the Eagles they turned the tide and the battle was won. The victors divided the treasure.
Years later Aragorn and Gandalf delivered Gollum as a prisoner to Thranduil where he was to be guarded day and night. Pitied by the Elves, Gollum was allowed to climb a lonesome tree in which he refused to climb back down, within this same moment the Elves were attacked by Orcs allowing the chance for Gollum's escape within the confusion. Gollum revealed the secret of the ring to the Orcs, uttering just two words; "Shire, Baggins." This lead to the Nazgûl invading the Shire in which Frodo Baggins; who now obtained the ring from Bilbo, fled Hobbiton with fellow Hobbits Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took where their journey led them to encounter Gandalf and Aragorn who led them to Rivendell. This is where Prince of the Woodland Realm and son of Thranduil, Legolas would encounter the Hobbits and Lord Elrond with the message of Gollum's escape from Mirkwood.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate-this one doom. Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
Elrond gestured towards Frodo to stand and present the ring. His large eyes, glimmering with care and attentiveness to make the Hobbit feel comfortable within his surroundings. Frodo was not the only one called to the Council of Elrond, Gandalf has accompanied Frodo who were further joined by Boromir the Steward of Gondor's son, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli the Dwarf and others who had accompanied their kin. It had been long since a Dwarf and an Elf stood side by side, the tension in the air thickened by the addition of the Ring being placed on the pedestal.
"So it is true…" One voice raised above the silence. Boromir, a valiant warrior well known in Gondor. The eldest son of Denethor II the Steward, his representation for the region was not to be challenged. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use the ring?" At this time the council became uneasy as Boromir raised from his seat and paced around the pedestal. "Long has my father kept the forces of Mordor at bay. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against them!"
Aragorn became unsettled in his seat, thinking carefully before replying to Boromir's plea. "You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?"
The woman sat beside Boromir placed a hand on his shoulder to help calm the man of Gondor. However the calming sensation was quickly over shadowed by the angry expression of the Woodland Elf.
"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance,"
"This… is Islidur's heir?
"And heir to the throne of Gondor."
Frodo's eye bulged as the realisation that 'Strider' was not all that he appeared to be.
"Havo dad Legolas" *Sit down Legolas*
Aragorn cooed towards his friend. Boromir's face supressed the aggravation the outburst that the Elf had caused dismissingly sat down and sighed "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king."
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." The wise words of Gandalf the Grey echoed amongst the council, easing the dismay that the ring had caused between the representatives of the race. Bringing the council back from the digression the conversation has taken, Elrond followed Gandalf's words.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
The Dwarf Gimli had silently been observing the conversation, although small in size, his heart and strength were large and the courage he had within his soul could intimidate any foe that went against him. The deep, rough voice of the Dwarf followed through the air. "What are we waiting for? ARGH!" Gimli launched out of his seat swinging his axe towards the pedestal, where he is thrown back, fallen on the ground. Shards of the axe surrounding the pedestal, the Ring remaining intact without a single blemish. Concurrently Frodo winces in pain, unnoticed by all bar one. The Eye of Sauron present within the Hobbits mind.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft that we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Elrond's words were stern but direct but could not prepare the on lookers for the whispers that escaped the Ring.
"Ash Nazg." Worry spread across the face of the representatives, but curiosity was also fixed upon the face of Legolas.
"One of you must do this."
The silence is deadly within the air. The worried expression exchanged between the races, even Legolas was not prepared for the burden that had forsaken them. Boromir spoke into the silence.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!"
Rivalling Boromir again, Legolas stood with fiercer aggression than before." Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"
The floor erupted with the sound of bickering. The corruption of the ring already too powerful for the innocent to retain, revealing the controversy between the disagreements of the races. Gimli leaping to his feet challenges Legolas. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!"
"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
The Elves of Legolas' company rise to their feet confronting the ill-comment from the Dwarf. Legolas raiseses a hand to stop them from fighting, a gestured that does not go unnoticed by Boromir's companion.
"Never trust an Elf!"
Gandalf rises to his feet trying to calm the situation. "Do you not understand that while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it!"
The onslaught of taunts and bickering proceeds amongst those of the council, Frodo aware of the Ring's calls, stays quiet and surveys the situation. He met a pair of ice blue eyes, they appeared to answer his plea for help. They were comforting but also the intensity brought back the pain of Sauron's eye. He rose to his feet breaking the connection she had held on him.
"I will take it! I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though.. I do not know the way." The convoy quietened, Gandalf's face concealing the dismay he felt before the Hobbit could see. He knew Frodo would be the one to hold the Ring. He was less affected by the pull of Sauron, a pull that would surely corrupt any other.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear."
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragorn's support of Gandalf eased the Hobbit's nerves.
"And you have my bow."
"And my axe!"
Legolas exchanged a dark look with the Dwarf who returned an even darker one. They had all walked over to where Frodo was stood by now, until Boromir's voice joined the new alliance.
"You carry the fates of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
"Heh!" Sam emerged from the bushes behind the pedestal, surprising the other with his presence. "Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!"
The amusement on Elrond's face somewhat lightened the mood despite of the consequences it had aroused from. "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."
"Wait! We are coming too!" Pippin and Merry also appeared from another sector of the council. Surprise no longer lingered on the Lord's face.
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"
"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing."
"Well that rules you out Pip."
Amused looks exchange around the group of the newly formed alliance.
"I will offer you my knowledge, it is but a small gesture but powerful none the less."
The look of dismay, despair and disgust covered the faces of the nine volunteers, as they looked towards the tenth voice that had spoken.
Well this is the first chapter, I thought I'd add some background, please let me know what you think. I would like combine some elements of the book and film into my writing so that input would be helpful. I would also like to mention that I do not own any of Tolkien's characters or the base of the story line. Hopefully there will be a new chapter soon.