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Chapter 4: The Council of Elrond: Part 1

As the sun rose and twinkled between the golden leafed trees, many beings gathered to an outdoor room. The weather seemed perfect and there was not a cloud in the sky. The Room had many finely crafted chairs of silver, with a vertical rock around them. In front were two chairs, also of silver. The autumn rustled and swayed as the council members took their seats, for this was the council of Elrond, concerning the Ring, the One Ring.

Elrond took his place at one of the head chairs, as Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo and the dwarves filed in. Next came Strider, garbed in elven robes of gray with Glorfindel, Erestor and Lindir. Then came Cirdan the Shipwright and his escort and the elves of Mirkwood. Finally, came the Captain of Gondor. Lastly came Idril with her circlet of silver, sitting at the other head chair.

Upon seeing Idril, the Captain cried out: "What are you doing here?! This matter concerns men not simpering maids! And she is at the head with Elrond no less?! Leave now and go back to your weaving, and let real men like us take care of this matter.

Gandalf, Aragorn and Elrond groaned, placing hands on their faces, muttering; for they all knew of Idril's fiery temper, and had witnessed her quick changes in emotion.

Idril stopped just before her seat and turned to the Captain of Gondor, eyes glowering. Then all of a sudden, the earth rumbled and the sky darkened.

She replied, "Power is not given to you, Boromir of Gondor, to deny me a place in this Council. There are few who can. You speak of that which you do not know, for I am no simpering maid to hide behind "real men" like you! I have walked this earth for thousands of years, and I have traveled many places and fought in glorious battles long ago. Watch your tongue, human, do not take me lightly."

Boromir was left speechless and shocked, as Elrond smirked.

"Well then," said Elrond, "let us begin."

He then pointed out and named the members. There was a younger dwarf at Gloin's side: his son Gimli. Beside Glorfindel was Erestor and Cirdan from the Grey Havens, with his own councilors. There was also the Elves of Mirkwood among them was Legolas, the great archer and Prince of Mirkwood. A little off to the side sat Boromir, cloaked and booted richly, as his cloak was lined with fur but stained. On his belt also was a great horn, tipped with silver, though it was also worn.

"Here is Boromir of Gondor. He arrived seeking council. I have bidden him come, for his questions will be answered." said Elrond.

"And to answer your question, Boromir, this is Idril Calaereth, Queen of Arcadia and High Queen of the Noldor, daughter of Gil-galad. She brings tidings and news of Moria and her wisdom and knowledge of lore are surpassed by few."

Again Boromir looked on in apologetic mouthing an apology which Idril acknowledged and accepted, as he didn't know.

And so, the Council began. Many things were spoken of, such as the recapturing of Osgiliath by Boromir and other news of Gondor. Next Gloin spoke.

"It is now many years ago, that a shadow of darkness fell upon our people. Whence it came we did not at first perceive. Words were whispered in secret: it was said that we were trapped in a narrow place and greater wealth could be found elsewhere. Some spoke of Moria: the mighty works of our fathers had not been forgotten, and some declared that we had the power and arms to reclaim another Dwarf-kingdom."

Gloin sighed. "Moria, Moria!" We dug too deep and woke the nameless fear. Its vast mansions have long lain empty since the dwarves fled. But yet, we still spoke of it with longing, and fear. No dwarf has passed the doors of Khazad-dum since Thor, and he was vanquished." However, Balin, despite all of his wisdom, resolved to go and with him went Ori and Oin and a small number of our folk. It has now been thirty years. For a while all seemed well: messages reported that a great work began in Moria. Then there was silence, and no word has ever come since from Moria. Then about a year ago, a messenger of Mordor came in the night asking for Dain. Dain came and the messenger said that The Lord Sauron the Great, or so he said, wished to be friends. And he asked urgently concerning hobbits, of what kind they were and where they dwelt. At this we were troubled, and gave no answer. And the messenger as said that if this hobbit was found, three of the Rings of Power, belonging to the Dwarf-Lords of old will be returned, and Moria shall belong to the dwarves forever. That was his ultimatum and then Dain delayed for time. Twice this messenger has come, and he says that he will come one more time for our answer before the end of the year. So I have been sent by Dain to warn Bilbo, and to ask of Elrond about this ring. For messengers have also been sent to King Brand in Dale and he is afraid. The Men of Rhun have started war at the southern borders, and the Enemy may move men to assail Dale and Erebor."

"You have done well, and you will receive your answers today. Now I turn the tale to Idril, who has news of Moria."replied Elrond.

So Idril began, "Balin and his party came to Arcadia within the first and second year and they were brought to me. I received them gladly and long were they entertained in my halls for I nor my elves have no quarrel with the dwarves unlike the other elves who still have a grudge after the sacking of Doriath and the treachery of Thranduil."

At that Legolas glared at Idril, because he still supported his father and king no matter what. But Idril waved it aside and continued.

"For we get along with all races except the Wild Men and Orcs, whom we hate above all others. And finally, Balin thanked us most kindly and requested to continue. I agreed, for we had become friends, and my folk clothed all of their party warmly and unsparingly, and we also provided provisions and weapons, for the road is dangerous. But I sought out Balin before he left, and I warned of the Balrog, who might be awoken for their purpose was mining and very loud is it. I urged him, even begged him to forsake his quest for even I fear the Balrog of Morgoth of shadow and flame and there will be repercussions if it were to be awoken for all Free People on Middle- Earth."

At that point a shadow appeared over Glorfindel face, and Idril glanced on him with pity and continued: " For there are few who have faced a Balrog, and there are fewer who did so and lived, for none could escape unscathed. For even Feanor with all of his anger and fire was slain by the terrible beasts, who abounded in great numbers in the First Age. Also, I sent an escort of many elves to guide and guard them until all was well. And after two months, the escort returned unscathed reporting all was well and baring many gifts from Balin. And so the trade began, every month I sent elves with provisions to Moria, for the crop of Arcadia is the most bountiful on Middle- Earth. And every time they returned, with many gifts and metals and precious jewels, and we forged weapons and objects worthy of Eregion and Celebrimbor, for I sensed that evil was returning. And we also upgraded the defenses and so Arcadia became a match for the realms of old such as Gondolin and Nargothrond. And for many months this continued and one month, when I sent my elves, they did not return. I was deeply troubled for the escort I sent were great in number, and they were all armed and very skillful. So we started to gather our forces and in order to investigate. And all was ready, and we were about to march in a week's time to Moria, when Elrond's missive came through. So I have suspended the campaign until this business with the Ring is done and when it is done we will investigate what happened to the elves and Balin. And so ends my tale of Moria."

"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." said Elrond.

Then all listened while Elrond spoke of Sauron and the Rings of Power, and their forging in the Second Age of the world long ago. A part of this tale was known to some there, but none knew the full tale but Idril and Cirdan, and many eyes were turned to Elrond in fear and wonder as he told of the Elven-smiths of Eregion and their friendship with Moria, and their eagerness for knowledge, by which Sauron ensnared them. For it that time he was not yet evil to behold, and they received his aid and grew mighty in craft, whereas he learned all their secrets and betrayed them, and forged secretly in the Mountain of Fire the One Ring to be their master. But he was denied by Elrond and Gil-galad and his daughter, who were suspicious.

There Idril cut in and commented," I remember when he came to me, robed in all his glory, as he asked to be friends, but my father had warned me of this Annatar, and though he brought mighty gifts, I did not accept them for I feared that it would tie us to him and we would be in his debt."

Then Elrond continued, and spoke of Celebrimbor, who was aware of them and hid the Four Rings he had made, and there was war, and most of the land was laid waste, and the gate of Moria was shut. Then through all the years that followed, Elrond traced the Ring; but since that history was long ago, only Idril knew, and she took up the tale, from which she recounted from her own great books of lore. Of Numenor Elrond spoke, its glory and its fall, and the return of the King of Men to Middle- Earth out of the deeps of the Sea, borne upon the wings of storm. And Aragorn's eyes shone as the tale of the mighty Elendil and his two sons, Isildur and Anarion, and the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor were established.

Thereupon Elrond paused a while and sighed. "I remember well the splendor of our banners he said. The flags and pennants of Mithlond, Greenwood, and Arcadia, along with Rivendell, beautiful and deadly and a great host we were. And flying highest, the flag of Gil-galad and Arnor, along with Gondor. It reminded me the glory of the Elder Days and the hosts of Beleriand, with so many great princes and captains. When the elves of old rode to battle, none could stop the powerful tide but Morgoth and his fiery Balrogs. And yet not so many, nor so fair, as when Thangorodrim was broken, and the elves deemed that evil was ended forever, and it was not so."

"You remember?" said Frodo, speaking his thoughts aloud in his astonishment. "But I thought," he stammered as Elrond turned his gaze upon him, "I thought the fall of Gil-galad was a long age ago."

"Bilbo has taught you well Frodo." said Idril.

"So it was indeed," answered Elrond gravely. "But my memory reaches back even to the Elder Days, but for Idril, here, even longer. We have seen three ages in the West of the world, and many defeats, and many fruitless victories.

"I was the herald of Gil-galad and marched beside him and Idril and their host. I was at the Battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor, where we had the mastery: for the trio of the Spear of Gil-galad, the Sword of Elendil and the Swords of Idril, Aeglos, Narsil, and Ringil and Silmegil, none could withstand. I saw the last combat on the slopes of Oroduin, where Gil-galad died and Elendil fell, and Idril, who fought Sauron alone after the two kings fell, for a day. For such she is called the Bladedancer and a true swordsmaster. But even she could not keep it up and before she was about to die, Isildur rushed in and cut the Ring from Sauron's hand with the broken sword of Narsil, and took it for his own. But it betrayed him, to his death and so it is called Isildur's Bane. And so the victory was fruitless,though we had won in battle, many had fallen as it was not destroyed and never again shall a force come together which is as great as the Last Alliance. Many songs and tales were sung of that, and still are being sung to this day."

And with that, everyone looked at Idril with awe and wonder, and especially the Prince of Mirkwood, whose blue eyes shone with light. Boromir also, who looked even more embarrassed of calling the Bladedancer "a simpering maid." But Idril looked down, embarrassed, smiling slightly but everyone saw the two tears from Idril's eyes drop onto the carved stone.

Boromir broke in, "So that is what happened to the Ring! None in Gondor know that tale, for it has been long forgotten."

Elrond then continued and spoke of the lessening of the blood of Numenor and Gondor, and the beginning of the reign of the stewards. But Boromir cut in when he finished once more and spoke his tale of the fall of Ithilien and the Witch King- of Angmar.

Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, held the forces of Mordor at bay...by the blood of our people are your lands kept safe! I have traveled many dangerous leagues to Elrond to seek council. A dream came to me and my brother. In that dream the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light, and I heard a voice crying:

Seek for the Banes of Sauron and the Sword that was broken:

In Imladris it dwells;

There shall be counsels taken

Stronger than Morgul-spells

There shall be shown a token

That Doom is near at hand

For Isildur's Bane shall waken

And the Halfing forth shall stand.

"We could not understand it and neither could our father, but he told me to go to Imladris, where Elrond the Halfeven dwelt, second greatest of lore-masters."

"Second greatest?" asked Frodo. "Then who is the greatest lore-master."

"That would appear to be me, Frodo for I am older than he," said Idril, "though I disagree. Master Elrond here, I believe is the wisest among us all."

Idril unsheathed her two swords and put them on the stone. "Here are the Banes of Sauron, Ringil and Silmegil. Three times I smote Sauron on his foot with Ringil and I smote his foot off with Silmegil. several fingers were cut off also by these two swords but I missed the Ring. Ringil was also the of sword of High King Fingolfin who smote Morgoth seven times and sliced his foot off in a duel long ago.

Again the Council members looked at Idril with awe and wonderment until the silence was broken once more.

Then Strider stood up and said, "And here in the house of Elrond more shall be made clear to you." He drew his sword and cast it onto the stone, and the blade was in two pieces. "Here is the Sword that was Broken!" he said.

Boromir sneered and asked "And why does a ranger bear the sword of Elendil?!"

Legolas then stood up furiously and said "This is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.

"This is Isildur's heir? Asked Boromir, suprised.

"The rangers are the last Numenoreans of the North, Boromir." said Idril.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor!" Legolas reminded him.

"Sit down, Legolas" said Aragorn, trying to calm things down.

"Bring forth the Ring, Frodo!" said Gandalf solemnly." "The time has come."

Frodo stood up reluctantly and hesitantly as all eyes turned to him. Idril gave him a small nod and Frodo placed the One Ring onto the stone, trembling.

"Behold Isildur's bane and the doom of men!" cried Elrond.


TO BE CONTINUED IN "The Council of Elrond Part 2: One does not simply walk into Mordor."

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