Disclaimer:I do NOT own the Lord of the Rings or anything in it()

Chapter 1:

Of Darsul and the Council of Elrond

Darsul walked through Rivendell with a satisfied expression on her face. She and her friend and companion Legolas (Prince of Mirkwood) had made it over the Misty Mountains in three days. Of course she would have preferred to get there faster, but she wasn't one to complain! She stopped to examine herself in a mirror. Her long blond hair hung down to her waist. The tips of her pointed ears were just visible. Her ocean blue eyes reflected in the mirrors sheen surface. Her angled eyebrows rose in mild confusion as the ranger named Aragorn walked over to her.

''It is time...'' He said quickly. ''The council of Elrond has begun.

A group of about 15 people were seated around a pedestal on which lay a golden ring. There were 2 dwarves named Gloin and Gimli, numerous elves from various havens including Darsul and Legolas, two men were there also...Boromir the son of the Steward of Gondor and Aragorn a ranger from the north. Gandalf the Gray was there as well. Most curious of all was a small creature, not even 4 feet tall. Darsul knew that his name was Frodo Baggins and he was from the Shire but she did not know why he was here. Everyone was silent as Elrond stood and began to speak.

''You have all been summoned here for a most important reason...the One Ring...weapon of the enemy has been found...''

There was a collective intake of breath as everyone in the council gasped. ''The One Ring?'' Darsul thought to herself...She could not, She would not forget watching her father being struck down in the Battle of the Last Alliance by none other than the One Rings master,the Dark Lord Sauron himself. Elrond looked around at them all and continued.

''If the ring finds it's way back to Sauron...he will use it to plunge the world into a second darkness for all eternity!''

''Then let's destroy it and be done with it!'' roared Gimli. He stood and walked over to the ring on the pedestal. Gimli drew his mighty ax and hefted it at the ring. With a mighty ''clang'' Gimli fell over backwards. The remains of his ax head were strewn all over the ground. The group looked at the ring. It didn't have a scratch on it!

''The ring can not be destroyed by any weapon that we here possess'' Explained Elrond as a grumbling Gimli stood and went back to his seat.

''It must be taken to Mordor and thrown into the fiery chasm from whence it came'' He continued slowly.'' One of you must do this''

''What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?'' Shouted Boromir suddenly.

Legolas stood quickly, a flash of anger passed across his face.

''Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?''he said loudly. The cold tone in his voice could be heard by all gathered there. Darsul grabbed his shoulder.

''Ami Dád!''sit down!she whispered.

''I suppose you think you're the one to do it?''growled Gimli the dwarf.

Legolas rose again.

''I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!''roared Gimli.

Suddenly, everyone jumped up and began to argue violently. Through the inane babble Darsul could hear things such as ''never trust a dwarf'' and ''Men couldn't do it before, they can't do it now!'' Suddenly Darsul heard an inhuman whisper...it muttered slowly. At first she thought it was speaking Dwarfish than she recognized it as the ''Black Speech''. The language Sauron had devised for his evil servants. The whispering slowly got louder, soon everyone could hear it!

''Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk

agh burzum-ishi krimpatul''

Gandalf rose and began to speak back to the whisper in the same language. The change in the wizards voice was instantaneous. It suddenly became menacing...harsher than stone! Soon the whispering ceased and Gandalf sank back into his chair...looking thoroughly exhausted. As everyone got over the shock of hearing the evil language, Frodo rose quietly with a fearful, uncertain look on his face.

''I will take it!...I will take the ring to Mordor...though I do not know the way.''

He said softly. Everyone then turned to look at Frodo. Darsul saw many of them looking uncertain. Gandalf stood once more.

''I will help you bear this burden Frodo of the Shire...so long as it is yours to bear.''

He murmured softly. Then Aragorn stood and walked over to Frodo.

''By my life or death...I will protect you!''Darsul looked over at Aragorn as he said these words. His face was set. He was serious. Darsul was suddenly filled with hope, and courage! Taking a deep breath she stood and said,

''You have my sword Frodo!''

Legolas looked at her with a mixture of anger and fear on his face. He looked at his bow in his hands. It was covered in carvings of trees...He finally choked out.

''And you have my bow...''Legolas rose to stand behind Darsul and Aragorn.

''And you have my ax!''

Everyone looked over to see Gimli walking up to Frodo. Darsul looked up at Legolas. He looked like he wanted to throw up...going to Mordor...with a dwarf...!Darsul made a mental note to tell his father when they returned to Mirkwood.

Finally Boromir stood up. He sauntered over to stand behind Frodo.

''You carry the fate of us all little one!...Gondor will see it done.'' He said gruffly.

There was a moment of total silence as Elrond looked skeptically at the group who had pledged themselves to helping Frodo on his Quest.

''Oi!Mr. Frodo ain't goin' nowhere without me!''

Everyone looked around to see who had shouted. It was Samwise Gamgee. One of the three three Hobbits that had journeyed with Frodo from Hobbiton. He scrambled out from beneath the bush he had been hiding under. He ran over and stood beside Frodo. Lord Elrond was looking slightly confused when all of a sudden...two more hobbits gave a shout and ran out behind a pillar.

''We're comin' too!''said Meriadoc Brandybuck(The taller one)

''You'll have to tie us up in a sack to stop us!''added the smaller one, Peregrin Took. They ran up and squished in behind Sam.

''Anyways...-''continued Pippin.''You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing...''He lost his train of thought and began scratching his head.

''Well then!''Said Merry.''That rules you out!''

Pippin smiled and began to nod until he realized Merry had been making fun of him. They began to quarrel loudly. Elrond finally gave a forced sort of smile and said,

''10 companions...You shall be...The Fellowship...Of The Ring!''

There was a slight break in talking and an ethereal calm came over those gathered.

Then suddenly...

''Where are we going?''

Everybody stared at Pippin.