Chapter Two
It has been three years today since I have been in Middle-Earth. It was about six months when reality hit me the hardest. No world is free of evil. I, of course, should have known that. Yesterday Arwen had come home with an injured hobbit I now know as Frodo Baggins. I met his uncle when he arrived here a few months ago.
"Elora, Uncle Elrond wishes to see you on the balcony." Thalion says softly from my door.
I have become close with my brother...I'm glad. He's one hundred and ten years older than me but that's not an uncommon thing to happen.
"All right." I reply and put my sketch book down and head out. Walking down the halls I admire than paintings that still captivate me no matter how long I stare at them.
I find Uncle waiting for me and walk up beside him looking out over Imladris admiring the beauty that will forever take my breath away. "You wished to see me uncle?" I ask and he turns to me and I do the same.
"Yes I wish to ask if you would attend a council meeting?"
"Uncle, are you sure you wish for me to attend? I would think that any three of my cousins or my brother would be much more suited." I reply shocked at his request.
"And why do you think that?" Uncle questions and I blush.
"Well do you not think that they are more mature than I?" Uncle smile and places his hand on my back leading me down the hall.
"You implying that is the very reason I think you are well suited to attend, as well as other reasons I hope you discover later on." Uncle answers as we enter the council area.
I look around and see many people, some of which I recognize. Gandalf, Frodo, Aragorn, and Legolas. I take a seat beside Gandalf.
"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. Bring forth the ring Frodo."
I watch as the small hobbit places it in the middle of the pedestal. He takes his seat again and I feel the dark power coming from the ring. I wish to never touch it, I have never felt anything that evil in my entire life.
There are murmurs around the room I catch one man say, "So it is true," and another say, "The doom of men." I look around the room and my eyes meet with bright blue ones. It has not quite been three years since I have seen those eyes but they still send warm shivers down my spine. I turn away and hope my dark blonde hair hides my face enough that he doesn't see my blush.
A man with light brown hair rises. I now recognize the man as Boromir, son of Denethor, steward of Gondor.
"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand.'" Boromir approaches the pedestal. "Isildur's bane is found." He reaches out for the ring and as his fingers hover over it uncle leaps up.
"Boromir!" Uncle calls out sternly. Gandalf rises from his chair and starts chanting what is written on the ring in black speech. "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul." The sky darkens and thunder cracks the wind picks up. Only a portion of the evil power the ring posses is summoned by those words.
As the wind dies away so does the voice of the ring. I look around and everyone is horrified and shocked. I feel disturbed and it also feels like something very important is going to take place in the council….I find myself wondering why uncle thinks I am suitable to attend this council.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!" Uncle states sternly, directly at Gandalf.
"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The ring is altogether evil." Gandalf takes one last glance at Boromir, who does not seemed fazed, then takes his seat. He looks down at me and I look up in return. "I had no intention of disturbing you young one, but it had to be done." Gandalf whispers and I nod and pat his arm giving him a smile to tell him I am okay.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." Boromir speaks up and I put my head in my hand. "Why not use this Ring?" He asks, while getting up and pacing. "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!" Boromir suggests confidently and I literally bite my tongue to keep from saying anything.
"You can not wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answer to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Aragorn says and Boromir turns to him.
"And what would a mere ranger know of this master?" Boromir questions in a doubtful tone.
"This is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Legolas states firmly and Boromir turns back to Aragorn.
"Aragorn..? This...is Isildur's heir?" Disbelief can be heard in Boromir's tone, again I refrain from opening my mouth.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas adds.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn orders gently. In disgust Boromir turns to Aragorn before taking his seat.
"Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King."
"Aragorn is right, we can not use it." Gandalf states turning to uncle.
"You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed." Uncle says, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"Then what are we waiting for?" A dwarf with red hair and a beard to match jumps up. He grabs his axe and walks up to the pedestal and swings down on the ring. "Argh!" The blow from the axe is repelled and the dwarf staggers backwards falling over. I look to see that the axe had broken as pieces of it lie around the ring while not a scratch can be seen on the gold band.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft that 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 back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this." Uncle explains and I look around the council room.
"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!"
"Nice description." I mutter sarcastically and then look down as the entire council turns their heads to me. I look up with my face as red as an apple and see a smirk playing at Aragorn's lips.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas reminds Boromir, sounding annoyed.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli shouts, jumping up from his chair.
Boromir gets up and I decide that maybe I should just tune out everything he says. "And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!" The noise gets significantly louder as I hear Gimli yelling at Legolas.
"I will be dead before I see the rings in the hands of an elf!" More yelling erupts and a giant argument is started. "Never trust an elf!" Gimli yells and that crosses the line for me.
"Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" Gandalf yells, rising from his seat and joining the argument.
"Why can we not all just get along for five minutes?!" I shout but no one hears me.
"I will take it!" Frodo yells and I turn to look at him in shock. The yelling dies down and everyone has turned their attention to Frodo. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though, I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf places a hand on Frodo's shoulder and Aragorn rises.
"If by my life of death I can protect you, I will." Aragorn approaches Frodo and kneels in front of him with his sword laid across his hands. "You have my sword."
"And my bow!" Legolas calls out.
"And my axe!" Gimli shouts joins the group. Boromir approaches Frodo and looks down at him.
"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is the will of the council then Gondor will see it done."
"Eh! Mister Frodo ain't goin anywhere without me!" A hobbit jumps out from the bushes and giggle. I see an amused look on Uncle's face as well.
"Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you two. Even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Uncle states amused and I bright smile finds its way onto my face.
"Wait! We're coming too!" I turn and see two more hobbits run out from behind the pillars. Uncle's bewildered face causes me to start laughing.
"You'd have to send us home tied in a sack to stop us!" The hobbit with curly blonde hair and blue eyes state matter-of-factly.
"Besides you need people of intelligence on this mission….quest...thing." The hobbit with light brown curly hair adds.
"Well I guess that rules you out Pip."
"It seems we have our fellowship...almost." I look at Uncle curiously and he turns to me and my eyes widen.
"Uncle…"
"Elora, you have matured a great deal since you have arrived here and you have skills that will benefit the fellowship." Uncle reasons and I look at the group in front of me.
"I will be the only girl…but if it is to protect my friends and destroy and evil ring then I will accompany the fellowship." I answer and Uncle smiles at me.
"Great, so where are we going?" The hobbit with light brown hair asks and I laugh.