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Chapter 4

"You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed." Elrond said.

"Then what are we waiting for?" A dwarf asked grabbing his ax, and walking towards the ring. Melda watched as the dwarf raised the ax above his head and swung down upon the ring. There was a sudden spark, the ax splintered and the dwarf was shoved to the ground. His friends came up to him and tried to help him up. Even she knew that not even a mere ax would destroy the ring, if it was that easy it would have been done long before any of them came in contact with it.

"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 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." It was silent. The words of Elrond caused not a single sound to slip. Melda was silent herself, revolted by the duty that was put upon the group of people before her.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. It's black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is always watchful. It is a barren wasteland, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is foully." Boromir explained. Melda knew he was right. She had never been to Mordor, but she was close enough that it made not only her but a lot of the soldier sick. Her kind steered away from that land, they had lost several great men just by the air.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said. The ring must be destroyed." Legolas said standing up.

"And I suppose you believe you're the one to do it." Gimli stated staring up at the elf.

"What happens then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir asked standing up. The dwarf decided that it was his turn again to say something. Getting up he turned towards the elf.

"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli shouted.

All the races stood up, facing off with each other. Shouting was coming from every side, that Melda wasn't quite sure what to think. She couldn't expect a council of every race not to fight, but when it came to a ring that could destroy them all, she expected them to sit and talk things through. She probably wished to hard, because the next thing she knew Gandalf was in the argument. Now would be a good time to show herself, to tell these men that arguing settled nothing in any race. It just led to more wars, and more things to argue about. In the corner of her eye, Melda saw Frodo stand up.

"I will take it! I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor." The voice of the little boy stopped the arguing. Each man turned to Frodo with astonished expressions. She did not know what her face looked like but in her heart she held admiration and honor. To willingly give his life for Middle Earth, and not be afraid of something she would have ran from, there was not a name for what he was. There were only names for people who wouldn't do what he wanted to do. "Though I do not know the way."

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf said walked up to the boy and resting a hand on his shoulder. Aragon stood up from his chair, for he did not take part in the arguing, and walked over. "By my life or death I can protect you I will..." getting down on one knee he grabbed Frodo's hand. "..you have my sword."

"And you have my bow" Legolas said walking over.

"And my ax" Gimli said, though she was sure he only wanted to attend so he wouldn't get upstaged by the elf.

Boromir slowly walked over almost cautiously. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done." He said. Melda smiled and put her arrow away and slid her quiver onto her shoulder. He was partners with Gandalf now, she would have no reason to attack him.

"Ah.." Another boy, just like Frodo came from the shrubs and ran over to Frodo, grabbing onto his arm. "..Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me." He said crossing his arms over his chest to stand his ground.

Elrond turned to the boy and gave a slight smile. "No indeed it's hardly possible to separate you two when he is summoned to a secret council and you were not." Elrond said. She saw two heads pop out behind pillars, they looked at each other before running into the room. "Oi we're coming too. You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."

Standing by Frodo, the other started to speak. "Anyways you need people of intelligence for this sort of mission...quest..thing." Sighing, Melda knew this was going to be a long trip for all of them. She didn't hear what the second one said to the third, for she was paying attention to Elrond who looked at the people in front of him.

"Ten companions, so be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond said.

"Right..where are we going?" The third one asked.

Melda stayed in the tree watching as everyone who wasn't in the fellowship leave. The fellowship would have to depart soon, preferably by tonight. Though she would have to check with Gandalf on his desired time. "Hey Merry did Lord Elrond say ten companions?" She heard the third one whisper.

"Shut up Pippin he can hear us." Merry hushed looking around like Pippin hadn't asked him anything.

"I see Gandalf hasn't told you of your other member." Elrond said, pointing out the he hadn't made a mistake. Each one turned to the wizard who looked over his shoulder. Melda saw him looking at her. Had he wanted her to come down now? Standing up, she pulled her hood on tighter and jumped off the branch. She landed gracefully on the ground, causing a few breaths to stop from her new partners. Standing to her full height, she looked around her. She's never traveled with so many people at once, she wasn't sure how she'd be able to keep track of all of them.

"There is no reason to be afraid. I have asked my friend to accompany us on our journey." Gandalf said motioning her forward. Melda walked over, and once she was by the wizards side, bowed to the others.

"How can we be sure that your friend can be trusted? We know nothing of him."

Melda was quite taken back by his words. Did he not believe in Gandalf's sense of character, and did this human just call her a male? She'd have to show him a thing or two about elves and their gender equality. A hand landed on her back cautioning her. Gandalf must have known her dislike to the man. "I have complete trust. Now we shall leave and meet a dinner, there I will tell you when we will be leaving."

Melda walked into Elrond's study with Gandalf behind her. The doors closed and locked shut. She wouldn't have a way out now that they've locked her in. She'd have to stay in here until they let her out. Elrond walked over to his desk and sat in the chair. He was clam and didn't let his inner emotions leak onto his face. "Gandalf I think an introduction is in progress." He said resting his hands on the surface.

Taking things into her own hands, Melda slipped her hood off and bowed politely. "Thank you for inviting me Lord Elrond, it's an honor to meet you. My name is Melda."

"It a pleasure Melda. I'd like to thank you myself for coming on such short notice. I wasn't sure if your kin was willing to send someone." Melda stood up allowing Elrond to get a better view of her. Gandalf walked up and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Master Elrond I think it's time to decided when we should start our journey."

"I think in all honest that we should leave at dawn. It'll give the others time to rest and gather there things." Melda said to the men.

Elrond quickly agreed to the arrangement but Gandalf seemed to be thinking it over. "I myself believe we should leave at dusk. The faster we get started, the less time Saurman has to devise a plan against us."

Melda turned to wizard causing her hair to fly from her face for a minute before it fell back into place. "Saurman has turned?" She asked surprised.

"Yes, Saurman had joined Sauron." Elrond said.

"So he's betrayed us after everything my kin has done for him. That's why there were Orc's around Isengard." Melda whispered to herself. Her fingernails pressed against her palm in anger. "On the way here, Durion and I ran into some cloaked people. My guess is that they work for Saurman. Gandalf, I think dawn is the perfect time. They'd never suspect it."

Gandalf nodded. "The others will be told. For now I'll leave the two of you." The door closed after him leaving Melda and Elrond. She was sure that this conversation would not be well.