Of Trust and Treachery
Disclaimer: No, we don't own anything relating to The Lord of the Rings, but if we did, we wouldn't need to be writing a fic, would we? We are not making any profit from this, only for the entertainment of the authors, their friends, and hopefully anyone who wishes to read this.
A/N: Flames will be sent to Killer Biscuit, my kung-fu hamster.
This is written by two people, with their original characters in the story, no more, no less. Can YOU tell when one author stops writing? We hope not. Here is their info:
Name: Reala Firith
Age: 22
Born: 2997
Race: Human (Numenorian)
Height: a little shorter than 5'7"
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Alignment: evil (good later)
Background info: Reala had walked into the Shire from her adoptive home in Rohan as a scout. In truth, it was just the army's way of ridding themselves of a young girl too eager to battle the dark forces of Mordor. Unfortunately, the hobbit Bilbo had uncovered the bane of her blood's existence, and while moving in and out of the Shire, she craved it. She wasn't sure what she craved but she knew she would kill to get it, so she left for Rohan. The Nine had also learned of the Ring's appearance, and was intercepted by Rohan's scout. She was stabbed but made it out alive, but her blood remained poisoned.
Name: Tanthor-Lind - Elvish for "Willow Song"
Age: 20
Born: 2999
Race: Human
Height: 5'5"
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Alignment: good
Background info: Tanthor-Lind is human, and is usually called Lindi by her close friends. Her parents died when she was 2 of an unknown cause. She was found by the elf Glorfindel and taken to Elrond in Rivendell where she was raised. The first person of the Fellowship she met was Gandalf, who visited Rivendell every couple years or so, and has also met Aragorn once. She is very fun and likeable, but also very strong. She is introduced to the (soon-to-be) Fellowship by Elrond when they come to Rivendell and asks to join their quest. Of course, most of the guys in the group don't think she can do much, being human and female, until Gimli tries to pick on her…
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
Peregrin Took wandered the halls of Rivendell, unable to find his way even to the dining hall. He knew that if he didn't find someone or something familiar soon, Gandalf would again complain about the young hobbit's foolishness and stupidity. His heart started to race as he saw less and less familiar landmarks. He looked around in vain. He was just about to give up when…
"Are you lost?" a youthful, feminine voice asked kindly.
Pippin whirled around to see a young woman in the doorway behind him. She had long, blonde hair and blue eyes like an elf, but she didn't have the pointed ears always associated with the immortal race. She smiled kindly at him.
"W-well," Pippin stammered. "I was actually looking for the dining hall. Who are you?"
"My name is Tanthor-Lind," she started, beckoning to the childlike creature to follow her as she spoke. "If you want to know, I'm not an elf, as most assume at first. I'm a human who was raised right here in Rivendell. I've lived here for 18 years. Before that, In know not from where I come. What is your name?" she asked after a brief silence.
Pippin looked in wonder at the young woman a moment before speaking. "My name is Peregrin Took, but most just call me Pippin. I'm a hobbit," he said cheerfully.
Tanthor-Lind smiled in amusement at the hobbit's energy. "Hobbit, eh?" she questioned. Pippin nodded. "Yes, we have another hobbit staying here besides you and your friends who have just arrived. He's from the Shire." Pippin's face lit up.
"May I see him?" Pippin asked eagerly.
Tanthor-Lind laughed. "I thought you wanted to go to the dining hall!" She stopped walking to look at the hobbit.
"Oh, that's right," Pippin said, blushing at his mistake. "Yes, I'd better go to the dining hall first," he smiled.
"All right, the young woman answered. "By the way, you can call me Lindi."
"All right, Lindi." He grinned back up at her. "Call me Pip!" They had not gotten far when…
"Excuse me, but have you seen a halfling running around with a very confused look on his face?"
Lindi turned to meet with a man who towered over her. She stepped back to display: Pippin. "I think so," she said politely, and Pippin waved and smiled sheepishly. "Is this him?"
The man nodded. "Pippin…you just dropped your sword and ran. Why?"
Pippin shrugged. "You scared me."
The man looked at the two of them in puzzlement, then looked to Lindi. "How rude of me. I am Boromir of Gondor, m'lady." He politely kissed her hand.
"Tanthor-Lind," she replied in a light tone. "Tell me, what do you want Pip for?"
"He and I have a little match to settle, isn't that right, Master Peregrin?" He grinned at the hobbit, and Pip stuck out his tongue at Boromir. Lindi laughed.
"Well, we were on our way to the dining hall. Would you like to join us?" she offered. Tanthor-Lind had been raised by elves, thus being fully equipped with manners. Boromir gazed at her for a minute, then shook his head.
"No, I must decline. Lord Elrond wishes to speak with me; I was on the way there when we met." He looked to the side, gray eyes reflecting wonder still lingering from Rivendell's splendor. "Perhaps another more…social occasion." He smiled at them and departed.
Lindi watched him go. He was a young man - not very young, but younger than Aragorn, that was for sure, and his lordly air interested both Lindi and Pippin.
"Where is he from again?" Pip asked as they entered the dining hall. "Gondor. Where and what is Gondor?"
"A…" Lindi searched for hobbit words, "a land of 'Big People.' Aragorn is King of Gondor, you know…did you know?"
"I heard," said Pippin. "But if he's king why isn't he there?"
"Oh, the Numenorians were divided some centuries ago," Lindi explained. "They scattered and became Rangers and Gondor was left without a King." She smiled. "And Aragorn is King of Gondor." She took a seat at a beautifully made Elven table. "What do you think Boromir is going to talk with Elrond about?"
"The council."
The two turned in their chairs to face the one who spoke. Pippin suddenly jumped from his chair in glee.
"Frodo!" he exclaimed joyously, hugging his friend. "I'm so glad you're feeling better! We were all worried about you."
Frodo smiled. "I feel much better, Pippin, I'm just very hungry." He then looked up to Lindi, who bowed to the hobbit.
"Master Baggins." She smiled at the reaction of Frodo when she bowed. "My name is Tanthor-Lind. I have heard much of your adventure since you came here to Rivendell. I guided your friend Pip here to the dining hall when he…ran into an unfamiliar place," she said, trying her best to cover Pippin's mistake. Frodo suppressed a chuckle.
"I see," he said kindly, nodding at Lindi.
"So what's this council you were talking about?" Pippin questioned.
"Well actually, I'm not supposed to tell you," Frodo said watching his cousin's face fall. "But Tanthor-Lind - "
"Lindi," she corrected him, smiling.
"Alright. Lindi, I'm glad I found you. Elrond wanted me to tell you that you are summoned to attend the council in the morning. He said it would be a good idea if you were there. And I'm not sure, but I think you may be the only woman."
"Not a problem," the young woman said. "I get that a lot around here. Most of the elves have gotten used to me."
"Well, let's eat, and then in the morning we can go to the council.," Frodo suggested.
Lindi smiled and nodded.
Pippin just looked confused, but said nothing. He had to be sure to tell Merry about this 'council'…
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(A/N: This part is VERY closely related to the movie, so please bear with us!)
Frodo looked round and about him to see that the council was packed with tall folk. Strider sat a little way across from him while Gandalf was next to him and Elves crowded his other side (one of them was particularly fair and also quiet, and he had heard his name was Legolas, youngest son of King Thranduil in Mirkwood) with Dwarves and Men. Boromir, the one that had been hailed down so many times for a fencing match by his cousins, was sitting among them and looking very grim. Lindi was seat by the Elves, in between Legolas and Glorfindel.
She seemed to feel his eyes on her and returned his gaze with a very warm smile and he very faintly lifted one of the corners of his mouth at her. She looked concerned for a moment, but turned back to Glorfindel and continued to speak quietly with him. He scanned the circle of Middle Earth's representatives and saw that Lindi was not the only woman in the council after all. Seated next to two older men was a girl much younger than himself with a long brown braid that hung down her back and matched the oak hue of the chair she sat in.
When her brown eyes met his there was no warmth in them as there had been in Lindi's. She seemed alert and very uncomfortable, and her uneasiness spread to him.
The talking quieted as Lord Elrond entered and took a position at the head of the circle but did not sit down in his chair. He wore a robe of Rivendell and his dark hair spilled over his shoulder, contradicting his fair complexion and putting emphasis on his ageless but grim face. He began to speak slowly.
"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." At that moment his pale eyes moved directly onto Frodo, and the Hobbit's heart beat faster. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
He forced his legs to move toward the small column in the center of the circle and shakily placed the ring on its surface, then turned back and took his seat next to Gandalf. The wizard's warm hand came to rest on his shoulder, and he looked up to meet Gandalf's blue eyes. The wizard smiled reassuringly but Frodo only looked forward. Gandalf had forced the smile, and he knew it. There was nothing to smile about today.
Whispering seemed to fall on the council and all eyes fell on the One ring. He saw Lindi sit up in her seat and her smile faded, the girl's eyes now sparkling with troubled thoughts.
Boromir tapped his chin and gazed at it intently, murmuring, "So it is true.." a million ideas whirled in his head and he pulled himself out of his seat, taking steady steps toward the column and then turning to face the eyes of the council. "It is a gift." he said at first, and his voice rose with his words. "A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay, by the blood of our people—" he paused for a moment and made sure to give them all a meaningful stare." - are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
Frodo covered his eyes with one of his small hands, but jumped when he heard Strider's voice reply, "You cannot wield it." when those words left his mouth Boromir turned and the spark of his temper could be seen in the flash of his eyes. Strider saw this and immediately continued, "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone." he met Boromir's fierce gaze with a challenge of his own, but no where near as hostile as the other man had been. "It has no other master." he finished gravely, and Boromir stepped forward. His voice was low with anger and disrespect.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" his very tone was a challenge, but from behind him Legolas quickly stood at Strider's defense.
"This is no mere Ranger." he hissed, and his voice forced Boromir to meet his blue eyes. "He his Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
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A/N: There you have it, folks! Did you like? Please R & R, I'll love you forever! ^.~
