I was stifling.
The hot rays of the sun beat down on my back, and I felt warm almost to the point that it was uncomfortable. I was dressed from head to toe in a shimmering black suit that clung to my form like a second skin, with a flowing hooded cloak, also in black, and it was pinned wit a single sapphire stone. The hood completely covered my face with a mesh, so not even the elves could see my features. The rest of the cloak disguised my feminine attributes, so I looked like a shadow.
"My Lady, you are requested to attend the Council. We cannot force you, this you know, but your presence would be appreciated greatly by Lord Elrond." Said the servant elf who had come to inform me of a secret council that was to decide the fate of the one ring.
"You may tell Lord Elrond that I'm disinclined to acquiesce to his request." I said it sharply and the elf looked a little put out.
"I shall deliver the message, My Lady Snowfield, but I doubt he shall be pleased with your answer." And he closed the door to my chambers.
I pulled of my cloak and stepped out onto the balcony. My shoulder-length chestnut hair whipped around in the slight breeze, and I took a deep breath.
Feeling refreshed, I walked inside again, fixing my cloak in place, and pulling the hood over my face. I was a member of the race they talked about in the prophecy. A lost race called the Eldora; I doubt we were ever known, even in the first age of middle earth. No one adventures into the north, where our people dwell, so we have lived out our lives in peace. Until now.
My father heard of the one ring, and the evil Sauron was launching upon the world, and decided that we had to make an appearance, offer our help. He said as shield maiden of our kingdom, I had to accompany him on the journey across the wilderness and into the heart of danger. I sighed and flung myself backwards onto the bed.
"Elanor, are you awake?" I heard my father ask, and I pretended to be asleep. Maybe, just maybe...
"Elanor, you are the worst fake sleeper in middle earth, do not pretend to be in dreamland."
"I'm sorry, Father. I simply do not wish to join this council. You know how I feel about politics." He sat on the bed next to me.
"My daughter, I have something I have been meaning to tell you. In an hour at the latest, I must travel home. The king is ill, and as his advisor, I must go to watch the throne. You must represent Eldora in the council." I stared at the ceiling, shocked.
"Father, I refuse to attend. I am a woman, and I am not even twenty. I have nothing to offer the Lord Elrond." I said angrily.
"You have skill with a sword greater than I, and greater than most of the men in Eldora. You can use a bow, too, albeit shakily. Tell me not that you can offer nothing." He scolded
"Yet I am still a woman, or did you forget that?" I sat up and looked him in the eye. "You send me to a council of men, where if my true identity is discovered I will be mocked, and asked to leave! I have heard tales that the men of Gondor do not take kindly to women trying to stand up for themselves; they prefer maidens who faint at the sight of their own blood!"
"My Elanor, do you not hear what words pour from your mouth? Tales, Elanor, which is all they are. We have been in shadow for too long to know what traits make up the races that belong in this middle earth, except our own. We are too headstrong for out own good, and we say things we do not mean. Elanor, I must take my leave. If you do not attend the council, I will be most displeased, and I shall not be so keen as to take you away from the borders of Eldora. Choose wisely. Farewell." He squeezed my shoulder, and walked out, closing the door.
"Wonderful. I am going to be stuck in a room full of males... aren't I lucky?" I said to no-one in particular. I dropped back down on the bed again, putting a hand to my head. "Wonder what elves take for headaches..." I muttered.
"There is a small vial of medical oil in the second draw down that releases tension if you rub it into your temples, Elanor Snowfield, shield maiden of Eldora."
I sat up so fast that all my blood rushed to my now pounding head. "Ah..." I said sharply, watching the world swim before my eyes. The voice chuckled. "May I be so bold as to ask for your name? After all, it seems you already know who I am." I said, trying to focus.
"Indeed. My name is Elrond, Lord of Rivendell." He said, and I turned to face him, thankful for my hood. I probably looked like I could light a darkened path.
"Oh, that explains it, I apologise for my rudeness, Lord Elrond. I hope you appreciate that I am not in the best of moods at this present moment." I said with a little more force than I intended.
"I trust that you are to attend the council, Lady Elanor. I belief that your father's words have changed your somewhat icy reply to my messenger."
"You have no idea..." I said under my breath. A little louder, I moaned "Where did you say the headache oil was?"
"Second drawer down in the bedside cabinet, Lady Elanor." I nodded, and twisted round to open the drawer. In the back corner there was a jar with a slightly purple tinted liquid in it. I pulled it out, and unscrewed the lid, taking a cautious sniff.
"Lavender, Chamomile, and... Honeysuckle?" I asked.
"You have a keen sense of smell. Dab a little on your temples and it should sooth your headache almost instantly." I pulled my hood out just enough to dab on the oil, and I felt the Elven magic work its way into my pounding mind, easing it.
"Thank you my lord. I might just be able to manage this council without screaming at some unfortunate person."
"Good. Ah, I expect the group is gathering on the terrace. May I escort you, Lady Elanor?" I nodded, and took his arm. I explained a little about Eldora, and about the people who lived there.
"Here we are, My Lady. Are you going to stay with your face hidden?" He asked.
"Of course. I am not going to remove it unless the situation calls for it." I said dryly.
"I understand." He nodded at me then asked "Do you have experience with weapons?" I smiled, though he could not see it.
"I have the best sword skills in Eldora, and I can us a bow reasonably when needed." I said proudly.
"Good..." and he pushed the doors open.
I was sat next to a man with dark hair on one side, with a gap at the other. I surveyed the people who were there. Men, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, I counted. Elrond cleared his throat.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth is on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
I watched the little Halfling place the small gold band on the table. I felt an unfounded sense of longing, a pull. One of the men from Gondor was staring at it, and said in a hushed tone "So it is true..." And I swear I heard a voice breathe in my ear "the doom of man."
The man spoke again "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." He stood. "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 are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!" The man sat next to me spoke.
"You cannot wield it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master!" I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath.
"Doesn't take a genius to figure that out..." Everyone ignored me.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" A blonde elf stood. An extremely handsome blonde elf. I felt a fluttering in my stomach. O looked over him, assessing.
"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." I let out a low whistle and looked at the man. So this was the man who was supposed to take the throne of Gondor? I would not have not guessed him to be the so-called king.
The other man looked disgusted. "Aragorn? THIS is Isuildur's heir?" I was itching to yell at someone, He was being incredibly stupid.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." The man almost blushed.
"Havo dad, Legolas." He said something I could not understand.
The blondish man stepped up to Aragorn. "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." I tutted, and murmured again under my breath.
"One would think that a realm such as Gondor would need a king, just like every other kingdom..." Aragorn turned to me, looking a mixture of confusion and anger.
"And what of you? You sit there in shadow, muttering, and yet you voice no opinions except to yourself."
"Oh, be quiet, Lord Aragorn. I simply wonder at the fact that this Man before me has only the ability to repeat what others have said, and has made a habit of stating the blatantly obvious. If it was not I that was getting irritated with him, then surely someone else would have." I said coolly, and I heard light chuckles, while the man who I had been identifying faults about had a face like thunder.
"I do not take kindly to such insults, especially from a woman." The man said, and I smirked behind my veil.
"What I said my Lord was not an insult, merely an observation." I said clearly.
"May I enquire as to your name, as I would like to be able to know what to call the woman who so rudely insults me." I rolled my eyes.
"If you tell me yours, then I shall give you my own." I said dryly.
"I am Lord Boromir son of Denethor, captain of Gondor. And you?" I stood and faced him. Here came the big show of who I was. I hoped they did not recognise my lands.
"I am Elanor Snowfield, shield-maiden of Eldora." I heard a few intakes of breath.
Boromir was speechless. "Eldora? Those lands were long ago destroyed, their people all dead..." I Smiled. Ah well.
"No, we lived. My forefathers and wives managed to escape before the last battle, and fled into the mountains. They returned a year later to see Eldora destroyed. But Eldorans are strong people, and together they rebuilt and re-populated Eldora, as well as a few people who were possibly on the run from lands such as Rohan or Gondor." I told the tale proudly.
Something about Boromir changed, and he brought my hand, kissing it. "I apologise for my harshness, My Lady."
"You are forgiven. Now let us continue this meeting, as I believe the wizard has something to say." I sat down again, crossing my legs.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." I held in my comments.
"Then you have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." I saw one of the Dwarves speak.
"What are we waiting for?" He jumped up, and tried to smash the ring with his axe. The only thing that smashed was his axe, and Elrond spoke loudly.
"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft 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 into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this."
Boromir looked like he was about to be ill. "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."
The blond elf who was named Legolas spoke angrily. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Mmmmm, he looked even more stunning when he was angry.
The Dwarf yelled back "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?" Boromir spoke, almost to himself.
The dwarf raged on. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" All the elves stood, as did the dwarves, and they began to argue fiercely. "Never trust an Elf!" This caused the arguments to rage louder. Gandalf stood, and attempted to bellow over the noise "Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows..." Soon everyone was standing and fighting except the Halfling Frodo, and I looked over at him and rolled my eyes when I caught his gaze, mouthing; immature, all of them. He smiled briefly, then his face contorted in pain. I was about to ask if he was alright when he stood and shouted at the group.
"I will take it! I will take it!" Everyone stopped and looked down on him. "I will take the Ring to Mordor- Though...though I do not know the way."
The wizard smiled, and walked to stand beside him. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." Aragorn stood, and joined Gandalf.
"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." He knelt down. "You have my sword." Gandalf issued a wink to Elrond.
The elf Legolas joined the slowly forming group. "And you have my bow."
The dwarf, obviously still anti-elf, said "And my axe." The elf looked most displeased. I did not blame him. The dwarf looked very... irritating.
Finally, Boromir stood. "You carry the fate of us all, little one." Aragorn placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder. He continued "If this indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
Something inside me told me to get out of that room. I felt Someone's eyes on me as I started to rise.
"I have attended just as my father asked me to, so I shall now take my leave..." I turned to go.
"Elanor Snowfield, you will not run and cower. I have seen that you have something larger to play in this. You shall join the fellowship." I turned sharply.
"I am sorry, did I hear you correctly? What do I have to offer these brave warriors? I am a female, an easy target. I am sure these people will tell you the same." I said, waving a hand at them.
Legolas frowned. "Because you are a woman, you are an easy target? Why would that make you an easy target?" Aw, he was defending me...
"Did you not say to me earlier that you were one of the best with a sword in Eldora?" Elrond asked.
"I am, but what does that have to do with..." He cut me off.
"And do you or do you not have skill with a bow?" I saw where he was going with this.
"No. Nonononono! I am not skilled enough for this. I am not fit enough, not strong enough, not brave enough!" I cried, and pulled of my hood so sharply that my broach came undone, showing my face. "Does this face look like one of a warrior? I think not!" I turned on my heel and fled, my cloak falling behind me.