Chapter 2
After dinner the council was gathered in the council chamber, a chair for each set up in a circle around the chamber. After everyone was seated, Lord Elrond spoke, addressing the group.
"Strangers from different lands," He spoke evenly, addressing the envoys of the dwarves and of the men. "Friends of old." He nodded towards Gandalf and Caladwen, smiling. "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it." Caladwen breathed deeply at her uncle's tone, it was so severe, so final. "You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." The room began to buzz lowly with whispers between the clans. Frodo, the hobbit, looked lost and Caladwen pitied him. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
Frodo stepped forward, walking cautiously towards the stone plinth, which stood before Lord Elrond. The group watched him intently, hawk like and he could feel their eyes upon him. Caladwen smiled at the Halfling as they made eye contact, but he quickly placed a small gold object on the dais and scurried back to his place.
"So it is true!" The son of Denethor, Boromir, gasped, shocked that the one ring truly existed. Caladwen looked at the ring almost fearfully, her eyes wide. How could such a thing truly exist?
"Sauron's ring, the ring of power." Legolas spoke quietly from where he sat next to her. Caladwen glanced at him, his expression complete disbelief. The dwarf, Gimli of Gloin, spoke something of doom under his breath, before Boromir cut him off.
"It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, held the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people your lands are kept safe." Boromir's voice wavered with excitement, which could easily be seen on his face. He was trying to convince the council that the ring could be used for good, could be used against Sauron himself, but Caladwen knew this was untrue. "Give Gondor the weapon if the enemy, Let us use it against him!"
"You cannot wield it," Aragorn interrupted him calmly, matter of factly. "None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
Boromir looked at the ranger coolly, his reply burning at the tip of his tongue.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Boromir's words stung even Caladwen and she flinched as he spoke. Boromir turned away dismissively, seeming to have won.
"This is no mere Ranger, he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." Legolas stood proudly, leaving the son of Denethor dumbfounded. "You owe him your allegiance." He spat at him, causing him to turn around. Caladwen sat incredulous. Isildur's heir has been missing for years, hence why Gondor had a steward and not a king. Could he truly by the heir to Gondor?
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir said quietly, disbelief evident on his face.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas said, adding the final piece to Boromir's puzzle.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn spoke, asking her betrothed to sit down. Legolas did as he was told, not taking his eyes off of Boromir who spoke again.
"Gondor needs no king." The Son of Denethor said, disgusted.
"Aragorn is right," Gandalf interrupted before a full out war could begin. Caladwen felt Legolas bristling beside her and she put a hand on his knee to calm him. "We cannot use it."
"You have only one choice, the ring must be destroyed." Caladwen looked up to her uncle, confused. How would they destroy the ring?
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli boasted. Before Caladwen knew what was happening, Gimli rushed forward, bringing his axe down on the ring. Caladwen shielded her eyes as sparks flew from the ring, sending the axe into splinters all over the floor. Caladwen watched in shock as the ring sat still on the pedestal unharmed, she swore she could hear faint whispers circling the ring.
"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here posses. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, only there can it be made, unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor, and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Her uncle instructed the group. Caladwen nodded her head silently, understanding what he was saying. "One of you must do this."
The council sat silently, none of them making eye contact. A great burden had just been unleashed and none had the courage to attempt it. The road was dark and full of terrors, the likes of which many had never seen in their nightmares. Caladwen shivered involuntarily at the thought.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir said, a sort of amusement causing his voice to waver. "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 br eath is poisonous fume." The way Caladwen heard Boromir describe Mordor sent shivers down her spine and she feared the place, though she has never seen it. "Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly." His doubt caused something to stir within Caladwen. She felt angry and disgusted. How dare he not heed her uncles words?
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" Caladwen could no longer hold her tongue, the more this man spoke, the more angry she became with him.
"The ring must be destroyed!" Legolas came to his betroths aid, his contempt for the man less hidden than hers.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli stood, adamant in his stance.
"And if we fail? What then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli leapt to his feet, staring down the council circle.
"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"
"Your weapon lays on the floor, what good would you be in taking the ring when you can't even keep you axe in one piece!" Caladwen stood, yelling at the dwarf. How dare he belittle her kin?
By this point the room was in an uproar. Boromir spoke something about 'Women speaking out of turn' causing Legolas to step in front of Caladwen, his anger turned towards the son of Denethor. Gimli let fly another slur against her people, causing the rest of the elves in the council to fly off the handle.
Gandalf yelled from his chair, attempting to talk some sense into the council, which were now inches from bloodshed. Caladwen felt her blood cooling as she grabbed Legolas's arm, trying to pull him from the fray.
"I will take it!" A small voice yelled. The group went silent, each head turning to the hobbit who spoke. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though… I do not know the way." The little hobbits bravery stunned Caladwen. Here he was, easily half the size of any man in the room, ready to take on a burden none of them would dare.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf offered his services, though still distancing himself from the evil inside of the golden band.
"If, by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragorn kneeled before the hobbit, shocking the council. "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." Legolas stepped forward. Caladwen watched him proudly.
"And my axe." The son of Gloin was the next to step forward. The unity caused by such a selfless act made Caladwen feel brave and she was the next to step forward.
"I shall accompany you, as an emissary of Rivendell." Caladwen looked to her uncle, who seemed unsure of her actions, but after a moment, the uncertainty passed and he smiled at her, nodding his head. Caladwen walked to the group, making eye contact with Legolas. He did not seem as happy with her decision as Lord Elrond was, but he said nothing. Caladwen was sure this was not the end of it though.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one." Boromir said as he joined the group. "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
There was a rustling of trees from the bushes behind Lord Elrond's chair, where Samwise Gamgee jumped from the foliage.
"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" he said defiantly.
"No, indeed, It is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council meeting and you are not." Lord Elrond said cheekily, eyeing the newest Hobbit.
"Oi! We're coming too! You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Two more hobbits emerged from the bush, these two Caladwen was not nearly as familiar with. She smiled as the Halflings regained their composure.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission… quest… thing." The other spoke failing completely at seeming worldly.
"Well, that rules you out Pip." Elrond shook his head at the banter, eyeing the group thoughtfully, his eyes finally resting on Caladwen.
"Ten companions… So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." He announce proudly. What remained of the council began to clap. Caladwen looked between the members, they were a ragtag bunch of every race. She smiled to herself as Lord Elrond dismissed the group, telling them to rest and prepare for the journey ahead.
Caladwen had returned to her chambers that evening, Arwen had visited her early, before she went to bed, wishing her well on her journey.
"Middle Earth will know the name Caladwen Amdirvaethil." Arwen said before she left, hugging her cousin tightly, as if this was the last time they would see each other.
Caladwen had expected a visit from Legolas before she went to sleep that evening, to reprimand her for offering her services to the Halfling, but he never came, something that surprised her considering how upset he was about it.
It was no matter though, and early Caladwen drifted off into a restless sleep filled with the stuff of nightmares.
Caladwen was surrounded by blank faces, in the darkness she could not tell who from who. Only Legolas stood out amongst them, Legolas and a figure of darkness that seem to lurk in the shadows, never truly seen by any of them.
She tripped over a body of bones, finding herself face to face with a skull. Caladwen screamed in fright as a strong hand plucked her from the floor. Suddenly they were running through a great hall, with wall-to-wall pillars and still to dark to tell friend from foe. Caladwen could feel her lungs about to burst as she crossed a small, yet long bridge.
There was one missing from the group and she looked back to find a shining figure still standing on the bridge.
"You SHALL NOT pass!" It yelled, driving its staff into the floor. The bridge then cracked and the figure was lost, swallowed by the fathoms of darkness below him. Caladwen's heart ached to an extant of which she could not fathom.
Caladwen woke with a start, dripping with sweat. It was middle of the night, not sure exactly what time it was, but there was a candle lit by her bed, one she must have forgotten to blow out before she fell asleep.
Caladwen however was unsure, but all the same she climbed out of bed to blow out the candle. She shivered, pulling her nightdress closer, and climbed back into the warmth of her sheets, a warmth she knew she wouldn't feel again for a while.
She stared into the darkness above her bed telling herself it was all a dream, she was just anxious about the upcoming journey, but she had had dreams of such caliber before and she knew that it was more than a nightmare. Just as she had felt when her parents were killed, she knew someone was going to die.
The next morning Caladwen was up early, still yawning from being racked with the same dream, only less detailed, over and over again that night. All she could remember when she woke the next morning was a bright white figure, it seared into her brain. She packed her belongings in a haze, having to double and triple check, just to make sure she packed what was necessary.
Caladwen decided to wear her riding tunic and trousers. The tunic itself was a light blue, with dark blue accents and silver filigree embroidery, typical of Rivendell Rangers. Her trousers were a pale gray, with a deep brown hooded cloak. She decided it best to wear her thick leather boots and gauntlets', considering how long the journey was that she was to be on. Attached to her leather belt was a leather flask and small sheath to carry her father's short sword.
Caladwen took on last look at herself after braiding her hair back and out of the way. She decided she looked quest worthy. Pleased with herself, she smiled, crossing to her wardrobe for her Bow and Quiver.
There was a knock at the door, which opened soon after, not giving her a chance to acknowledge the one who did the knocking. Caladwen spun on her heels, finding herself face to face with Legolas for the first time since she'd offered her services. She smiled at him, one which he did not return.
"My father is expecting you in Mirkwood by weeks end, how should you like me to explain to him that you wont be arriving because you will be journeying to Mount Doom?" Legolas's tone held no amusement. Caladwen blinked at him before replying.
"The same way you will explain to him that his only heir will be going on the same journey."
"It is expected of me. As Heir to the Western Woods it is my duty to see this through and see the beginning of peace in this world. Its is your duty to return to Mirkwood." Caladwen looked at him, shocked by his words. She pursed her lips thinking of something to say that wasn't disrespectful.
"My duty? My duty is to my people as well, I am of Imladris still." Caladwen took three brave steps towards him, effectively closing the gap between them. "And until we are married it will continue to be this way"
"You are my betrothed and will not allow it."
"I will go anyways." Caladwen challenged, sounding like a petulant child. How dare he tell me how it is going to be. Legolas glared at the woman in front of him, he knew that he could not make her go to Mirkwood, she was stubborn. Legolas remained quiet for one moment longer before speaking again.
"I cannot force you to leave for Mirkwood, but you must do as I say. This world is dangerous and it is no place for a Lady. There will be danger everywhere."
"I can handle myself. I've had training, I know how to carry myself-"
"I don't doubt it, but I'd rather not see you dead." Then Legolas did something Caladwen did not expect. He grabbed her hands, bringing them to his mouth, kissing them gently. "You are my friend before you are anything else, as you have been for many years." He paused thoughtfully before continuing. "I know our situation is not what either of us want, but I am glad it was you, over anyone else." His words left Caladwen speechless, but the sound of running footsteps brought Caladwen from her thoughts.
"My lady!" The servant said, bustling through the door. The servant stopped immediately, clearly not expecting Legolas to be in Caladwen's bedchambers. The couple parted quickly, Caladwen's face growing hot with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, I've interrupted-"
"Oh, no, you are fine. We were just talking." Caladwen corrected the servant. Legolas cleared his throat uncomfortably, and the servant looked between the two of them.
"The Fellowship is waiting at the gates for your arrival." The servant had finally recovered, and now bowed at the both of them before dismissing herself quickly.
"Shall we?' Legolas gestured in the direction of the door in a "ladies first" manner. Caladwen obliged him, grabbing her pack and throwing it over her shoulders, with her bow and arrows.