"What is a wolf doing here?"

"Is this the skin-changer?"

Eryssel ignored the whispers among the Men, Elves, and Dwarves that had been summoned as she was to this Council of Elrond. She recognized one of the Men as a Ranger from the North and one of the elves as a friend of his, both of whom she had crossed paths with before. She sat next to him as Elrond addressed the council.

"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." Elrond turned to Frodo. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo." He gestured to the pedestal at the center of the council seats.

Eryssel and the others watched as the Hobbit did as instructed, murmurs that the rumors were true echoing throughout.

"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered."

Eryssel looked at the Man who spoke. He was tall, brown hair and grey-blue eyes. There was something about him that was a bit off putting.

"Voices were crying out, 'Doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.' Isildur's Bane..." the Man continued, reaching out towards the ring. Elrond called out to him as a fell voice began echoing around them, the skies growing dark. Eryssel's fur bristled and she growled. Gandalf spoke out against the voice, forcing it back as the Man stumbled back to his seat. When the skies cleared, Elrond was first to speak.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here, in Imladris."

Gandalf looked at him. "I do not ask your pardon, Lord Elrond, for the black speech of Mordor can be heard in every corner of the West. The ring is altogether evil!"

Eryssel eyed Gandalf, seeing him a bit weary, then her attention was drawn back to the Man who had spoken first after the ring was revealed. She rolled her eyes as he tried to spin things in his favor, saying that the ring was a gift and that they should use it as a weapon against Mordor. The Ranger immediately shut him down.

"You cannot wield it! None of us can! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master!"

Boromir turned towards the Ranger, his voice hardening. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

"This is no mere ranger." The elf she had recognized said, standing in defense of his friend. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir looked from the elf back to Aragorn in disbelief. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor."

Aragorn sighed. "Sit down, Legolas." He told the elf in Sindarin.

Boromir replied with venom in his voice, "Gondor has no king." He glared at Aragorn. "Gondor needs no king." He took a step back when Eryssel growled and sat down in his seat once more.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf said.

Elrond stood. "You have only one choice: the ring must be destroyed."

Everyone remained silent, glancing between each other and the ring until one of the dwarves stood with axe in hand.

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" He asked, bringing his axe down onto the ring only to have it shattered and the recoil send him flying back into his companions.

Eryssel noticed that Frodo had also been affected by the sudden contact with the ring. She trotted over to him and nudge his hand with her nose. "Are you alright, little one?" She looked from the Hobbit to Elrond as eh spoke.

"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. It was made in the fires of Mount Doom; only there can it be unmade. It must be cast back into the fiery depths from whence it came." He looked around at the council. "One of you must do this."

Eryssel ignored the others as they started speaking out against the notion and began bickering among themselves. "Frodo, what happened?"

Frodo nodded, but the bickering was getting to him and Eryssel could hear his heart rate increasing and his breathing growing heavier.

"Keep calm, little one."

Suddenly, Frodo stood and said that he would take the ring to Mordor. Drawing the attention of the council, he mentioned that he did not know the way. Gandalf was first to offer his assistance, then Aragorn, then Legolas, then Gimli. Boromir stepped towards him and offered his assistance as well before the other Hobbits came running out, not wanting to be left out again.

"Eryssel?"

Eryssel looked at Elrond.

"What say you?"

Eryssel looked at Frodo, then back to Elrond and nodded. "I will go as well."


While everyone was gathering together supplies and preparing to depart on the quest, Eryssel spoke with Gandalf and learned that one of the great wizards had turned traitor, allying himself with Sauron.

Down in the courtyard, the others were waiting for everyone to join them. They looked up when an unfamiliar elf came down the stairs towards them.

"Eryssel?"

The young elven woman smiled and bowed. "It's a pleasure to properly introduce myself to you all. I am Eryssel, Wolf of the North."

Everyone stared at Eryssel, seeing not the White Wolf with pierced ears but instead a young elven woman with silvery-blonde hair tied back in a low pony tail, skin as pale as snow, and eyes of icy teal. At her brow she wore a silver headdress with teal gems at its center, at her ears were the same earrings she wore in her wolf form- two small hoops at the crest of each ear and at her lobes dangled silver leaves with the same teal gems as her headdress embedded within. Her outfit consisted of a sleeveless filigree dress colored to match her jewelry, soft brown boots and a soft brown cloak.

"Eryssel?"

Eryssel turned and smiled when Aragorn joined them.

"You took elven form?"

Eryssel nodded. "It would draw too much attention if you were seen travelling in the company of a White Wolf."

"I've never met a skin-changer before." Boromir said, eyeing her. "I thought they were no more than legend."

"She is one of three that remain in the world, though she is the only elf to possess this gift." Gandalf explained as he joined them next. "Eryssel would not be here if I had not asked for her skills. The power a skin-changer wields is something that will prove invaluable to this company."

Elrond and the elves of Rivendell finally joined them, prepared to send them off with their blessings.

"The ring-bearer is setting out on the quest on Mount Doom. And you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell, hold to your purpose, and may the blessings of Elves, Men, and all Free Folk go with you."

"The Fellowship awaits the ring-bearer." Gandalf added.

Frodo turned and looked at his company before taking a deep breath and leading the way out of the town of Rivendell and out onto the road.