Legolas was staring.
Cat shot him a look from her seat across the circle, smoothing out the creases in her elven robes. He was probably stunned to see her again, and also in clothes that she obviously hadn't worn often before. She'd taken up a seat next to Boromir, to stop him from getting any closer to the ring. Caleb had wanted to join, but Cat was sure she could handle things and Caleb deserved all the time he could have with Kili.
He'd missed him so much, he deserved it.
One thing she hadn't managed to prevent were Tam and Will being present at the Council of Elrond.
"They are children!" She'd complained...well, more like yelled, at Elrond. "This is so much bigger than them!"
"You've been on a journey just as perilous." Elrond had pointed out.
"But that didn't involve the fate of the bloody world!"
Still, there they were, wearing elven robes themselves. Tam kept picking at hers, uncomfortable, and Will kept scratching at his wrist. At least it was just a meeting, Cat supposed. At least she could prevent them from getting themselves killed.
She took in the other members - Glorfindel and Erestor sat at Elrond's side, the sun and the moon in resplendent beauty. Gandalf and Frodo sat close to the edge of the circle, Frodo's hands fiddling nervously with the hem of his waistcoat. Then there was Legolas, who was still staring, surprisingly accompanied by Ahnir, who dipped his head ever so slightly in greeting. He was wearing a circlet of oak and Cat had to wonder why. His braids were different, too. He was separating the elves gathered from the dwarves, which was probably for the best - he held no love for them, but would not needlessly cause an argument amongst the two races.
Gloin sat next to Ahnir, looking rather put out and next to him was Gimli, hair as red as his father's had once been. Stout and strong, Cat wondered what he had looked like when he was younger, and wished she'd stayed long enough to have seen him.
Then there was Aragorn, who looked unlike the king he would become, the king he didn't want to be. Cat could understand that completely - with the weight of his ancestors mistakes upon his shoulders, even the idea of becoming anything close to them must be horrifying. He wouldn't though, and Cat was sure of that.
"You're uncomfortable." Cat started at Boromir's voice in her ear, and she shot him a look of disdain when he chuckled softly.
"Of course I am. I feel out of place. And Legolas keeps staring at me." Said elf's ears turned pink in embarrassment and he pointedly looked away from Cat. Ahnir snorted and Elrond cleared his throat. Any chatter quieted down at that, and all eyes turned towards the elven lord.
There was talk, then - all had different news to report. The dwarves had been contacted by a servant of Sauron, asking information on a Hobbit. Of course, that information had been given by Gollum, so there was no real need for said servant to return at this point.
The next to speak was Ahnir, surprisingly. Cat had expected Legolas, and it appeared as though the elves from Lothlorien and Rivendell had expected similar. Yet, Ahnir spoke with his head held high and with authority that Cat didn't remember experiencing last time, and she wondered what had changed. He said that Gollum, whom they had captured, had managed to escape the prisons. They had sent out scouts, but they had come back empty handed.
Finally, it was Boromir, who spoke of the dream he and his brother had shared. He spoke of the sword that was broken, Isildur's bane and halflings. Cat still thought that to be derogative term - Hobbits weren't half of anything, she knew that from the one who stood against a dragon.
There was silence, before Elrond called Frodo forward, and asked him to place the ring on the table before him.
Dark whispers were exchanged, but Cat now understood why so many fell for it's power. She could hear it whispering, about how life could be sweet again, about how she could stay here forever, if only she put it on.
She shook herself internally, blocking out the noise. No. She couldn't listen to it. Not when another was more so ensnared by its false promises.
She rose when Boromir did, pulling him back down to his seat. He opened his mouth, as though to argue, but Cat silenced him with a glare.
"My Lady." Aragorn dipped his head slightly, eyes on her when Cat did not return to her seat. "You wish to speak?"
"I do." She replied. "This ring...do not believe its whispers. It tells nothing but lies. Its only desire is to return to its master. We must destroy it."
"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Gimli rose, voice a roar, and Cat had to whistle sharply to be heard amongst the sounds of encouragement from the dwarves. The elves winced, along with Gloin, and Cat was proud she had made such a lasting impression upon him.
"There are two ways to destroy a ring of power." Cat pointed out. "One, dragon fire. Two, throwing it back into the fire where it was made. I don't know about you, but I prefer the second option."
"You would risk Sauron's wrath over that of a dragon?" Boromir stared at her, eyes wide.
"Yes. Because I think there is a severe lack of dragons here. The last one was killed about sixty years ago. Throwing it into Mount Doom is, currently, our only option unless you want to spend years attempting to find a dragon from the north. Which, personally, I don't."
"One dragon enough for you, lass?" Gloin's eyes twinkled with mirth. Cat flipped him off. Erestor didn't look impressed, especially when Glorfindel laughed openly.
"As a matter of fact, yes. One dragon is definitely enough." She sniffed haughtily, before sitting back down.
Boromir sighed heavily, as though recalling something now Cat was no longer speaking.
"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." He said it with a sort of finality.
"Did you hear none of what was spoken? It must be destroyed!" Legolas spoke up at last.
"And I suppose you think you must be the one to do it?" Gimli retorted sharply, eyes narrowed.
"And what will happen when we fail? When Sauron finally takes back what is his?"
"Here we go." Cat muttered as Gimli let out another stinging comment and hell broke loose. Idiots, the lot of them.
"While you argue, Sauron is just getting stronger! We are losing time!" Tam tried to yell, the first time she had spoken in the council, but her voice was drowned out by Gimli's roar of 'never trust an elf'.
"I will take the ring to Mordor!" The yell of Frodo startled the others into silence and Cat sighed. Frodo...he was so young, so brave and naive and innocent. He didn't deserve this, any of it.
"Then I shall help you shoulder the weight of this burden, Master Baggins, as long as you shall have me." Gandalf rose to stand with the Hobbit.
"I shall defend you with my life if need be. You have my sword."
"And my bow."
"And my axe."
"You hold the fate of us all, little one. If this is what the Council wishes, I shall see it done." As everyone said their piece, Cat rose herself. Boromir stared. Cat ignored him.
"I believe a bit of a woman's intuition will be useful on this quest. I have the utmost faith in you all, but I would not miss this for the world."
"Don't forget us!" Tam called out then and Cat groaned. Her daughter and Will looked offended. "We're coming to!"
"No you are not!" Cat's motherly instincts kicked in and Tam glared.
"I am nineteen, mum! I can come if I want to." She locked her jaw and proceeded to stalk towards the group, Will in tow. He gave Cat an apologetic look. "Besides, he said it was our turn."
"I'm going to kill him." Cat muttered under her breath.
"Wait!" Sam burst into the centre of the circle, standing next to Frodo. "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"
"Indeed, we can't seem to part you." Elrond didn't sound annoyed, though, just highly amused.
"And don't forget us!" That was when Merry and Pippin appeared, joining the group.
"You'd have to tie us down to keep us back." Pippin added. Cat snorted in amusement.
"Hobbits." She was still amazed at the resilience they showed, about how they wouldn't back down from anything.
"Twelve companions…" Elrond murmured. "Very well. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
XoooX
"First off, you will need weapons." Glorfindel was leading Tam and Will to where they kept weapons. "I assume you know your strong points?"
"I can aim pretty well." Will shrugged. "Archery is my strong suit."
"Give me a stick." Tam said and Glorfindel actually laughed.
"Do you stab people through hands with them, like your mother?" He asked, eyes alight with mirth and Tam rolled her eyes.
"No. You wouldn't happen to have a bo staff? Or, if not, a double bladed sword?"
"You've never practiced with a double bladed sword." Will unnecessarily pointed out. "You'll decapitate yourself."
"Have a little faith." She retorted and she guessed Glorfindel rolled his eyes.
When they reached the shed, Will immediately began to look over the bows while Tam weighed the double bladed sword critically.
"It can be split into two if needed." Glorfindel mentioned as Tam nodded in acceptance.
"It'll do." She stated, going through some basic moves with it. "Will, you done?"
"About!" He came out with his own bow, looking smug. "This one's nice."
"It is of elven make, so obviously it is nice." Glorfindel smirked.
"So, we're done?" Tam asked. The golden elf nodded.
"We are."
XoooX
"You look much more like a warrior now." Cat spun, sword still drawn, to face Boromir who looked critical. "You are no longer wearing a dress."
"A dress is a little impractical for fighting and travelling." She retorted. "I figured a change would do me some good. I'm not an idiot."
"And yet you propose walking into Mordor and destroying the ring, when its power could be used for good."
"It can never be used for good." Cat sheathed her sword. "The purpose of the ring is only to serve its master, to make him more powerful. It is unloyal."
"You speak of it as though it has a soul."
"You heard it whispering, just as I did. Just as everyone at the council did. You cannot be swayed by its lies. That is what it speaks - pretty words to tempt you and, one way or another, it will find its way to Sauron and we will all be doomed."
"You cannot know that. If someone with a strong mind -"
"I have seen what power gold can hold over strong minds." Cat snapped. "They forget themselves, forget those around them, all for the love of some treasure. They will start a war over it, kill innocent people for it. I have seen blood spilled over much more than a ring, yet this ring is much bigger than all the treasure in the halls of Erebor." Boromir snorted, derisive.
"That was over sixty years ago - you could not have been there. You are younger than me."
"I am." Cat replied simply. "And I was there. If I told you how, you would not believe me. You must trust me."
"You said the ring spoke to you." Boromir murmured. "What did it say?" Cat flinched.
"That is a rather personal question."
"You do not trust me?"
"You haven't given me reason to trust you as of yet."
Boromir let out a laugh that sounded slightly hysterical.
"I haven't given you a reason to distrust me!" He retorted. Cat rolled her eyes. "What?"
"It is the fact you hold no regard for my boundaries. That is why I am not telling you, Boromir. Because I am allowed to have secrets, things I would rather not speak of."
"Like the fact that you have a daughter, yet are not married?"
"Exactly." Cat scowled. "Now if you -"
"It makes you no less a lady." His voice had gone soft, as though he knew he'd hit a sore subject and was genuinely sorry for bringing it up. "You are spirited and wise, you have shown that. Whoever it was...how did he die?"
"He didn't. He left me." Cat answered and was annoyed at herself at how quiet her voice had grown. "When I told him. The coward ran."
"Come." Boromir drew his own sword. "We should train, make sure you aren't rusty." His eyes twinkled in jest and Cat smirked, drawing her own once more.
"I assure you, I am not in the least rusty. I can beat you."
"That, I will enjoy seeing."
XoooX
Ahnir was saying his goodbyes to Legolas, gnawing his lips in worry.
"Ahnir, mellon nin, if you keep doing that you'll make them bleed." Legolas said, voice tinged with amusement. "I'll be fine."
"Your father is going to pitch a fit and drink enough to kill an Oliphant." Ahnir sighed, absently reaching out to straighten the young prince's tunic, like a worried parent. Legolas batted his hands away.
"I know, I know. But I am old now. Ada will be fine - he has you to keep him in line." Ahnir sighed, moving to rest his forehead against Legolas'.
"Stay safe, come home." Legolas' eyes softened at that.
"Of course I will." The prince knew very well that he couldn't guarantee his safe return, but he would try. For Ahnir and his father. Besides, he was travelling with Catherine and Aragorn and Gandalf. He would be fine.
He didn't know enough about Boromir to trust him completely, as well as the fact the ring seemed to gain a hold on him easily enough. But Cat seemed to bring him back to himself, so he would put his faith in her.
The youngest two of the group, Will and Tammith - Tam - seemed inexperienced, but he had seen them practice with Glorfindel the day before, and they were good. They could improve, of course they could, but still.
Then, there was the dwarf.
Legolas never particularly liked dwarves, despite the fact he had fought alongside them sixty years ago. They were small and stayed underground and held no love for the beauty of nature. They were greedy and valued treasure more than anything else.
"You look annoyed." Legolas started at Glorfindel's comment as the golden haired elf handed over a pack.
"I can't help it. I'm travelling with a relative of one of the dwarves who reclaimed Erebor. I hold no love of them."
"But you cannot let grudges get in the way of the future of Arda." Glorfindel replied. His eyes flitted over the group - where the dwarf was saying goodbye to his father, where Cat and Caleb shared an embrace, murmuring assurances under their breath. "You must put such things in the past. Where they belong."
"I...I don't think I can. They helped destroy a city."
"Not him." Glorfindel corrected. "Catherine played a larger role in that than Master Gimli, and you hold no grudge towards her. I have found that some dwarves, after time, are quite good companions. Friends. You are a good elf, Legolas, better than your father was."
"My father is a great king."
"Yet he holds grudges that are hundreds of years old." Glorfindel put a hand on his shoulder. "Just try to let go, mellon nin. And stay safe." Legolas dipped his head.
"I will try." Glorfindel offered a smile.
"Thank you. I wish you luck. May we see each other soon."
XoOoX
Hahaha I can't write.
I like hate most of this but yeah an update was needed so here you go!
I got addicted to AC so that's why I've been inactive. Follow me on Tumblr (brackenfrond) to possibly get an insight into why I'm awful at updating and when I am trying to finish up chapters.
Read, review and all that jazz! ~ Jazz xx
