Disclaimer: Us owning Lord of the Rings... when that happens the sky will turn purple
A/N: Nerwen Aldarion: I wrote most of this chapter except for the Council of Elrond. My sister begged to write it.
A/N: Tinuviel Undomiel: (creepy Gollum voice) The Council of Elrond scene is mine! My own! My Precious! gollum gollum
Arwen waited outside the healing room, where her father had taken Frodo. He had been inside for over and hour, she silently prayed to the Valar to save the young hobbit from this horrible death. When her father finally came out of the room, she leapt to her feet, fearing the worst.
But Elrond just gave a slightly-tired smile. "He will be fine, Arwen. You brought him just in time. If he had stayed out for a few more hours, I don't know what would have happened."
Arwen sighed in relief. "Thank you, Ada. Now, I must bring horses to Lord Aragorn and the other three Hobbits."
"No, you must not go; I will send other riders after them." Elrond's face was stern.
"But Father..."
"Arwen, you faced all Nine Ring Wraiths on your own. I do not wish for you to do that again."
She sighed and left him alone. It didn't seem to matter that she had defeated them. She mostly stayed in her room as she waited for the other four companions to return. She was making sure Frodo was fine when three Hobbits came charging down the hall and rushed into Frodo's room. They all began speaking at once.
"Is he all right?"
"Will he wake up soon?"
"Is he alive?"
Arwen smiled at them. "Do not worry, he will be fine, but he will probably sleep for awhile yet. He has been through a terrible ordeal."
This seemed to calm them down some and they proceeded to find talk among themselves about how glad they were that he was fine. She quietly left the room and nearly ran into the Ranger in the hall. Now that she finally got a good look at him, she saw that he was quite handsome, with rugged good looks, and dark wavy hair. But it was his eyes that captivated her, a beautiful blue-grey; they seemed to see right into her soul. She stood there staring at this man as her heart thudded in her chest, while he just stared right back.
Neither of them noticed Lord Elrond come up from behind Aragorn. "Aragorn." The Elven Lord called to him, tearing him from his thoughts.
"Oh. Uh. Yes."
"It is good that you have returned. I ask of you to come to the Council that will take place after Frodo awakens."
"Yes, Lord Elrond, I will attend." He proceeded to speak to Arwen, "My Lady Arwen, it is wonderful to see that you are all right, but if you will excuse me, I will see how Frodo is doing." With that he walked into Frodo's room.
Arwen turned her eyes to her father. "Ada, you did not tell me of this Council meeting."
Elrond folded his arms. "The meeting is taking place. As you know, once Frodo wakes up; I have already sent word to our allies to come as soon as possible to discuss what is to be done with the ring."
"Ada, may I attend this meeting?" Her father looked doubtful. Arwen raised an eyebrow and smiled cheekily. "If you do not give me permission, I will hide and watch anyway."
"All right." He said, clearly seeing that he had lost this argument. But he managed a smile for his daughter.
"Why must Lord Aragorn attend?" She asked curiously, "What does a Dunedain Ranger have to do with the Ring?"
"He comes for reasons that you do not know... but you will find out in due time."
The next morning, Frodo finally awakened, much to the delight of everyone. Soon representatives began to arrive to attend the meeting. To Arwen's disappointment, she had rarely seen Aragorn. Whenever she passed him in the halls he was always a gentleman. She did not know why her breath quickened and her heart beat so when she was near him, or why her thoughts were often upon him, or why she hoped that his thoughts were about her. To her delight, before the meeting began she ran into him in a place she was most surprised to find him: in the room where the shards of Narsil were kept. She saw a man leave the room, clutching his hand, and she saw Aragorn humbly pick up the hilt of the sword of kings from the floor. She silently walked up to the man, still captivated by his appearance.
"Surely you have heard the legend of this sword?" She asked him.
Aragorn half-glanced at her as he set the hilt back on the plate with the pieces of the sword. "I know very little of the tale. I had no knowledge that the sword was kept here."
It was a tale as familiar to Arwen as a breath. She recited it slowly, like a song. "Narsil, the sword of Elendil, was carried into the battle of Dagorlad. When victory was near, Sauron came himself and wrecked slaughter upon the armies. When the Dark Lord killed the king of Gondor, his son Isildur took up this sword." She gestured to the broken blade. "This blade cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, and evil would have been defeated." Her voice was now grave for failure was in this legend. "Isildur had a chance to destroy the Ring, but he choice to keep it, and Sauron lay waiting to bring more destruction to Middle earth."
"He had that one chance," Aragorn said darkly, "But he was too weak."
Aragorn then left the room, leaving Arwen to wonder over why his eyes had looked angry.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Elrond began, "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He stood at the head of a large circle of people; Arwen sat at his right. Mirkwood elves, including Arwen's friend Legolas, were present, as well as a handful ofdwarves. Aragorn was seated close to the men of Gondor, including Boromir son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. "Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction," Elrond continued, "None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He looked towards the hobbit. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
Elrond gestured to the stone table in the middle of the circle of those who were gathered. Frodo timidly walked forward and placed the Ring on it. Arwen watched the reactions of the people: Legolas appeared afraid of the awesome power, as did the dwarves. Boromir seemed to stare in awe at the Ring, while Aragorn appeared to hate the thing.
"So it is true," Boromir said placing a hand over his mouth.
"The doom of man," Some one whispered.
Boromir got up from his chair, "In a dream," he began placing a hand on his brow, "I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered." He started walking towards the ring, "A voice cried out 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane has been found.' " His hand was outstretched towards the ring. "Isildur's bane..." Boromir whispered.
Elrond leapt to his feet, "Boromir!"
Gandalf seemed to have a better idea, "Ash Nazg durbatulûk!" The wizard cried, and the sky suddenly grew darker, "Ash Nazg gimbatul!" The ground began to shake and thunder shook the air. Boromir stepped back in fear, and many were anxious to know what was happening. Elrond placed a hand on his head as he listened to Gandalf's words. "Ash Nazg thrakatulûk agh Burzum- ishi krimpatul!"
When the chant was over, peace seemed to ease it way back into the council. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," Elrond stated sternly
"I do not beg you pardon, Master Elrond," Gandalf appeared out of breath, but his voice was raised, "For the Black Speech of Mordor may be heard in every corner of the West!" He gestured to the spectators, "The Ring is altogether evil!"
"It is a gift," Boromir said, making Gandalf turn and look at him. "A gift to the foes of Mordor!" The man once again left his seat to pace in a circle. "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!"
"You cannot wield it," Aragorn spoke up, "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter," Boromir inquired, somewhat snidely.
"This is no mere Ranger!" Legolas yelled, jumping from his chair, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Arwen stared at Aragorn in shock. This was the secret her father had not told her? Aragorn, son of Arathorn? Why couldn't Elrond tell her? What a fool she had been, telling the Heir of Isildur about the Shards of Narsil. Aragorn probably knew the tale better than she did.
"Aragorn," Boromir uttered in disbelief, "This... is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas stated.
"Havo-dad, Legolas," Aragorn murmured. Legolas quietly took his seat.
"Gondor has no king," Boromir said, moving back to his seat, glaring at Aragorn, "Gondor needs no king."
Arwen glared at Boromir, while he glared at Aragorn. She knew that it was untrue. Gondor desperately needed Denethor out of power and a king on the throne. The whole land called for it.
"Aragorn is right." Gandalf said. "We cannot use it."
Elrond stood before them all. "You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
"What are we waiting for?" A red haired and bearded dwarf asked and grabbed his axe
Arwen saw him move towards the Ring, "Wait! It cannot—", but the dwarf had already struck the Ring with a blow from his axe. It shattered, and shards of the dwarf's weapon clattered to the ground.The dwarf himself was flung through the air, and landed hard by his companions. But the Ring was untouched, angd glinted golden deception from where it lay.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft we here posses." Elrond said, trying to hide his amusement at this outburst. "It was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came."
A strange whisper seemed fill the air, and all eyes fell to the Ring.
"One of you," Elrond continued, "must do this." There was a silence a moment.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir said with despair, "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." Arwen saw fear in several eyes as Boromir continued, "It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten-thousand men could you do this. It is folly!"
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" Legolas threw at Boromir, "The Ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you are the one to do it!" Gimli yelled at Legolas.
"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir stood again, "What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"
Gimli leapt from his chair, brandishing another axe, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
Legolas shot a look at the dwarf. At Gimli's words, the Elves and Dwarfs all rose to their feet to argue passionately.
"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli cried.
Arwen watched, not surprised about the battle of words.
Gandalf stalked over to the argument, waving his arms and his staff, "Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" Boromir argued with the old man; everyone was arguing, arguing...
Only Elrond, Frodo, Aragorn and Arwen remained seated. Arwen saw Frodo stare at the Ring as if in some sort of trance. She wondered what he was doing. when he left his chair. She hadn't expected this.
"I will take it!" He yelled above the chaos. His voice affected only Gandalf, who turned. "I will take it!" Frodo repeated. Now everyone turned and stared at the hobbit. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." Frodo then sighed, and looked from face to face, "Though... though I do not know the way."
Gandalf smiled, walked over to the hobbit, and placed his hands on Frodo's shoulders, "I will help you bear this burden, as long it is yours to bear."
Aragorn now rose from his chair, "Whether by my life of death if I can protect you, I will." He walked over and kneeled before the hobbit, "You have my sword."
Arwen saw Gandalf wink at her father, and she could not help but believe that this was truly a noble deed.
"And you have my bow." Legolas said, joining them.
"And my axe." Gimli said.
Boromir now walked towards the group, "You carry the fates of us all little one," He turned towards Elrond, "If this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done." He folded his arms, as though he would not be dissuaded.
Arwen now left her chair, "I, too, will go."
"Arwen!" Elrond cried at his daughter.
"Ada, I must." She told him, standing beside Aragorn. Elrond gave his daughter a hard look that clearly said that they would discuss this later.
"Here!" A voice cried from the bushes, and Sam pushed through the group to stand beside Frodo, "Mr. Frodo's goin' nowhere without me!"
"No, indeed," Elrond said, wryly amused, "For it is impossible to separate you from him, even when he is invited to a secret council and you are not."
"Oi! We're going too!" Merry cried, as he and Pippin raced to join their friends, "You'll have to send us tied home in a sack to stop us." Elrond's exasperation threatened to makehis eyes pop out; Arwen choked back a laugh.
"Anyway," Pippin said, "You'll need people of intelligence on this mission... quest ...thing!" Arwen gave a small smile.
"Well, that rules you out, Pip." Merry told his friend.
"Ten companions," Elrond said, looking at them all, "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" All ten of the companions smiled at his words.
"Great!" Pippin said. He paused a moment, then added, "Where are we going?"
A/N Nerwen Aldarion: All in favor of saying that my sister is crazy say aye. He He He, please review.
A/N Tinuviel Undomiel: I could really use Shelob's lair right now, then I can throw Jennifer in it. Next chapters coming soon, review and it may come faster.
-edit- ICRep: Fixin' up the grammar in the mornin', mornin'.