Disclaimer: Any recognizable piece of dialogue or character is the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and his heirs and/or of Sir Peter Jackson. I only own my two main OCs Baraz and Fìli, son of Kìli and some secundary characters.


Playlist for this chapter: The Council of Elrond and Evenstar from the Fellowship of the Ring OST.


7. The Council of Elrond


3018 T.A.


October


The following morning, Baraz woke up with the sun. She soon realised she had fallen asleep in her clothes, and hurried to wash and change before she was waited for at the Council.

The previous night, Lord Elrond had indeed sent everyone to bed after Bilbo's song to get a good night's rest, announcing a gathering of great importance early on the following day. And here it was the following day, and Baraz would have felt horrible if she was late to such a thing of importance.

She changed into lighter clothes this time, shedding her riding tunic and slacks aside and instead choosing a light blue linen dress she put a belt around with the usual dagger. She plaited her hair on the side with Fíli's family braids, and threw herself a glance in the mirror. She hated herself in a dress, because she sometimes felt as far from being a woman as could be, but she also felt the usual spike of pleasure when a man looked at her more intently when she passed, her legs almost bare for all to see.

This dress was long and hid her legs to the ankles, while her feet were covered in supple boots, but she still felt as if it was a forbidden thing to do.

And with a sticking tongue to her reflection, Baraz exited her room and hurried down the ivy-covered corridors and towards the dining hall for breakfast.


When she reached it, only a few guests were there, scattered around the long table at the places they had taken the evening prior.

Merry and Pippin both stood and hurried to her side when she climbed the three stairs leading to the scene, and they pulled her to their end of the table with many a 'We have so many things to tell you, Miss Baraz!', so many in fact that she could not refuse.

So she sent an apologetic smile to Aragorn who was sitting alone on his side of the table, but he merely chuckled and gestured them to proceed. She noticed he seemed lighter than the day prior, and she chose to believe it had something to do with the magic of Rivendell.

Frír, who was the only other guest present, grumbled in his beard as she sat with the Halflings instead of him, but she decided not to pay attention.

"What is it you wanted to tell me, then?" she asked while grabbing a pear and slicing it in pieces.

Merry chuckled as Pippin almost choked on a piece of bread in his hurry to speak up, and took upon him to start whatever story they wanted her to know. "We have met such strange people on our way here!"

"Is that so?" she smirked while exchanging yet another glance with Aragorn who chuckled again. She had been made aware of the fact that he had served as guide to the Hobbits on their way to Imladris.

Merry nodded frantically but Pippin tugged on her sleeve to regain her full attention. "Yes, and we were attacked on Weathertop! By Ringwraiths!"

Aragorn hissed under his breath and when Baraz looked his way, she saw he was staring at Frír in worry, and the Dwarf himself was staring at Pippin in utter curiosity.

Baraz had herself felt her blood freeze in her veins at the mention of 'Ringwraiths', although she did not know what and who they were. She felt as if the name in itself was a cause for fear...

Merry cleared his throat as if trying to regain some gaiety in their story. "Yes yes, all that... But most of all, we have seen Wood-Elves!"

Baraz' brow furrowed. "Wood-Elves? Come on, Merry, surely you cannot feel so surprised now that you have arrived here!"

Pippin laughed out loud and again almost choked on a piece of bread, but Merry turned a bright shade of red. "Yes, no, I mean of course no, Miss Baraz! It's just that...you see...hum..."

"The Elves are leaving Middle-Earth." All eyes turned to Aragorn, who was staring at nothing in particular in front of him. "Many of them are journeying to the Grey Havens as we speak. To take a ship into the West..."

Baraz sighed and finished her breakfast. "Well, this is all very sad. Too sad for me, I dare say... I am going to walk a little, before Lord Elrond summons us all." She glanced down at her two youngest companions. "Do not do anything foolish in my absence! Including food fights!"

She noticed with a satisfied nod that Pippin had the decency to avert his eyes, then she bowed the head at Aragorn and walked away and back towards one of the quietest courtyards in the city.

She needed time to assess what little she had learnt.

Four Hobbits and Aragorn, she guessed, had been attacked by Ringwraiths. And if she did not know what a Ringwraith was, she could guess by their names what they were after. Her Uncle Bilbo's old Ring, who she knew was Frodo's now...

And the Elves were leaving Middle-Earth... And if the thought of it was sad enough, it also was worrying. If the Elves were leaving, it only meant one thing: things were really as bad as she had feared. Worse perhaps: as bad as her mother had feared...


Her feet brought her to one of the most beautiful places in Rivendell: a courtyard opening onto an endless field, the river flowing at the end of it, a sea of soft grass and flowers before your eyes as far as you could see. She sat on a stone bench and folded her hands onto her lap, her thoughts going to her mother and to her riddles.

Ariana had once told her that she had thought for a long time before she agreed to return to Middle-Earth from her strange land. When Baraz had enquired on her reasons, she had told her that dark times were ahead and that she did not wish her child to live those times.

She could remember the sheer fear in her otherwise fearless mother's gaze as she spoke those words, and the shiver than ran up her spine at the sight. Ariana had been swift in trying to lift the mood, but her words had stuck.

And then, there had been that time, so long before, when she burnt the red-leathered book. She had not understood the implications of such a gesture, because she knew her mother loved her books dearly, but now, she was beginning to understand.

More than to prevent her from knowing things that had yet to pass, she had not wanted her to fright at the thought of these 'dark times'. She wanted her daughter to remain as carefree as she could be.

Except she had stopped to be carefree the day she had agreed to betroth herself to Fíli.


"Miss Baraz?"

The sound of a soft voice she had not heard a lot made her jump a little. She then realised the light was shadowed by a tall figure, his hands folded in his back, his long brown hair flowing in the quiet breeze. She tried a small smile and bowed the head. "Legolas. Greetings."

He smiled back. "Do you mind if I sat with you for a moment? I am in dire need of company." She nodded and he sat beside her on the bench, his frame hiding hers with his height.

She felt so small compared to all these Elves...

"Can I enquire on why you are here so early?"

She looked at her companion and noticed how it felt natural and easy to be in his presence although she had only officially met him the night prior. No doubt it'd make you feel this way when meeting an old friend of your mother's...or so she thought.

She sighed a little and gazed back onto the scenery before her eyes. "I must admit that I am worried about why we have been called here. Although I am extremely happy to have met some old friends – the Hobbits, of course – I cannot help but wonder, and wondering without knowing makes me restless..."

He nodded gravely. "I believe we will all know for sure why we have been called upon once Lord Elrond summons us. It would not be long now."

She nodded again, then tried a glance at him. "Who did you come here with?"

"No one your mother would have known," he chuckled knowingly, "Tauriel is...well...she does not like to leave Greenwood too often."

Baraz nodded. "I understand. But I would have appreciated to see her once more, for I cannot know when I will have the opportunity again."

He looked down at her, his fair eyes widened in curiosity. "You know Tauriel personally?"

She nodded with a smirk. "When I was younger, I would often sneak off our camp within the forest and leave my father alone in the dead of night to explore. Once I fell onto Tauriel who was watching, I believe. And after that night, I would meet her regularly on my visits to or from the Lonely Mountain. She is a very good friend."

Legolas nodded. "She is." He then looked up as if startled by something. "Another visitor has arrived, it seems." He looked at her and outstretched a hand. "Would you come and see who it is with me?"

Baraz stood and took his hand gratefully, smiling widely. "I would, thank you."

He too stood and both walked calmly towards the main courtyard, the Elf slowing his pace to help her follow.

When they reached the courtyard, Glorfindel was already welcoming the newest addition to the guest-party. It was a Man, to Baraz' surprise. He was tall, with broad shoulders, long dark-brown hair and grey eyes – it seemed most people she met had grey eyes as stormy as a winter sky. He sported a beard and his piercing gaze was darting to each corner of the city as if he was expecting a foe to erupt from a balcony and take aim with his bow.

He was wearing a dark-silver armour and an ivory horn hung at his belt. On his chest, Baraz could see the outlines of a tree.

Legolas sighed. "So this is the emissary from Gondor."

"Gondor?" Baraz' brow furrowed. She did not remember seeing the sign of this tree in the drawings her mother had shown her of the Men of Gondor...but then, she could have been mistaken.

Legolas nodded while pulling her towards a empty hall to leave the new guest settle down. "His sigil is the White Tree of Gondor, the symbol of Minas Tirith." His brow furrowed too. "Their Steward is not the wisest of men... We will probably have to be careful of his...ill words."

Baraz shook her head in fake amusement. "You are far too cynical, Legolas. I am certain this Man will be equally as wise as each of us. And I should know, for I am not really wise."

Legolas did not answer.

A bell chimed not a moment later, and Legolas stopped in his tracks, his arm leaving Baraz'. "I am sorry, but I have to retrieve my people before heading to the Council." He bowed the head. "It was very nice spending time with you, Pernogoth."

The nickname no longer bothered her, since she had learnt, long prior, what it meant. So she smiled and parted her own way. "Likewise, Legolas Thranduilion."

She found Gloin, Gimli and Frír in the dining hall. Gimli seemed very displeased to leave his breakfast behind, although he had spent a good time the night before complaining about the lack of meat in the Elves' menu.

He hurried to Baraz' side and offered her his arm. After spending so long a moment in Legolas' company, she almost felt guilty. But as she took Gimli's arm, she also felt extremely uneasy. So this was it then... They'd finally learn the real meaning of this...meeting.


Lord Elrond and most his guests were waiting in a beautiful open courtyard with a flowery ceiling that let sunlight in. Elrond stood before a high chair, Glorfindel by his side, as others arrived.

Frodo was already there, sitting next to Gandalf. The other three Hobbits were nowhere to be seen, but Baraz would have been damned if they had not found a way to spy on the meeting. Next to Gandalf sat Legolas and his two silvan companions. Then next again were four chairs, no doubt for the Dwarves who walked to them, Frír's nose upturned as he realised his direct neighbour. He glanced at Baraz and offered her the chair closest to the Elves, and she rolled her eyes before sitting down. Next to the Dwarves came the Man who had arrived earlier, his grey eyes dancing around the company. And finally, next to him, sat Aragorn, who had shed his grey coat and stood in a leather-bound tunic of a dark-purple shade.

As she sat, Baraz once again realised she was the only female present, for even Arwen had not been invited, it seemed. The unknown Man stared at her for a moment before she caught his gaze and he averted his eyes to their host.

Elrond chose that moment to stand, and while Baraz knew everyone present, she guessed some had not had the chance to meet every guest as properly as could be, for he started by introducing every party present.

He first pointed at Frodo, who sat alone and blushing, his little frame so thin and weak no one could possibly guess why he was there at all. Baraz also noticed he was touching his left shoulder from time to time as if sporting an itch. "Welcome, my friends. He is the Hobbit, Frodo, son of Drogo. Few have come here through greater peril or on an errand more urgent." A lot nodded. Apparently, Frodo was one of the few to be known of almost everyone. "Next to him is the wizard Gandalf the Grey, one of the Istarì." Gandalf was obviously known to all. "Legolas Thranduilion and his two companions come from Greenwood, the Elven realm in the East, and next to them are the Dwarves from Erebor. Gloin, his son Gimli and general Frír are accompanied by Miss Baraz, whose mother most of us knew once, Miss Ariana." There was a general nod within the Elves, even Legolas' companions, and Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn. In fact, the only one who had not known Ariana was the Man who was presented next. "Here is Boromir from the South. He arrived this grey morning and seeks for counsel. I have bidden him to be present, for here his questions will be answered." Many bowed the head in greeting and the named Boromir bowed the head back.

Baraz then realised Elrond had not, and did not seem to wish to introduce Aragorn. The Man sat there quietly, as if everyone present knew who he was. But, as his curious gaze soon proved, Boromir did not.

For a long period of time, the Council talked of matters that happened in every realm. Baraz then had confirmation that Boromir indeed dwelt from the White City of Minas Tirith in the South, and that his father the Steward Denethor had sent him to Lord Elrond after he had seen something 'in the omens'. Lord Elrond and Gandalf's brows furrowed at those words, but they did not say more.

Legolas confirmed that Greenwood had once again started to become the forest that people had called Mirkwood once upon a time, and that the great fortress of Dol Guldur was once again alive and buzzing with unwanted life. He said that the great Beorn, the changeling, had died several years prior and that his sons, the Beornings, were the only ones to be safe from such a new threat.

Then there was the tale of Gloin. He chose to tell the Council of the retaking of Moria almost thirty years prior, and how Balin, Ori and Oin had been lost on them after they managed to enter Khazad-dûm again. But it was his next words that managed to make her blood freeze in her veins, for she had ignored such a thing had happened.

"About a year ago a messenger came to our King Dain, but not from Moria – from Mordor." There was a general gasp, and everyone tensed. "'The Lord Sauron the Great', he said, 'wishes for your friendship.' He said he would give us Rings of power for it, but mostly, he asked about Hobbits, what and where they were, because he knew one had once been known to us." Baraz' grip on the arms of her chair became painful, her knuckles deadly white, and she realised Frodo and Aragorn were staring at her.

No, Bilbo had not been the one to take part in the Quest. But her mother had told her of a tale, of riddles in the dark of the Misty Mountains. Of how she had introduced herself as 'Ari Baggins of the Shire'. Why she had said such things, Ariana never said. But now Baraz understood the whole implications of her words. She exchanged a glance with Aragorn who seemed to understand her thoughts and nodded quietly as Gloin continued his tale.

"The messenger offered us invaluable gifts if we told the Lord Sauron of this thief's whereabouts, and threatened Dain of dark times ahead if he refused. Dain dismissed it by saying he'd talk about it with his counsellors, and the messenger left. It left us all very weary, for we did not know much about what the hobbit had apparently stolen, but Sauron had offered us great gifts, one of which was the retaking of Moria for indefinite times." He paused, his gaze darkening. "Twice the messenger has come back for an answer, and twice he left unanswered. His third – and last, so he says – visit will be soon in the end of the year, and we came here also to seek counsel, for we do not know what to do and why Sauron seeks a Hobbit – one we know had nothing to do with the Quest at all. We also know that messengers went to King Brand of Dale, and we fear he might yield."

Elrond nodded gravely. "You have done well to come then. For our meeting has everything to do with this...messenger seeking Bilbo Baggins."

Some guests exchanged confused glances. Others stared at Baraz who felt like disappearing in her chair. Glorfindel was the only one to smile at her, and this small smile gave her the strength to survive what was to come.

"I am sorry to ask, Lord Elrond, but why should the Dark Lord Sauron seek Bilbo Baggins?" Legolas asked, his brown brows lifted in confusion. "He has not accomplished the Quest, as our Master Dwarf said earlier."

Elrond nodded and glanced at Baraz. "Would you care to enlighten our guests, Miss Baraz? After all, you and Mister Frodo here are the only ones to know the tale."

She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, her temples beginning to throb faintly. "My mother... Ariana..." she opened her eyes again to find all eyes on her. "She accomplished the Quest in place of Frodo's uncle, Bilbo. She was a daughter of Men but her size helped her pass for a Hobbit when needed. She knew not many among the foes she encountered knew what a Hobbit was and believed it safer to claim she was one. Among those foes was...a Ring-bearer."

Gandalf nodded. "Yes, the creature named Gollum." To Baraz' surprise, Legolas and Aragorn nodded. "We have apprehended him and we know he has been tortured by the Enemy into telling what he knew of the Ring of power."

Baraz felt her blood freeze again in dread. "Well then, he must have said his beloved Ring had gone to my mother, for she found it in the goblin caves of the Misty Mountains." There was a general gasp again. "But she did not keep it. When the Quest was over, she and my father left Erebor with the distinct wish never to come back. They met with Bilbo Baggins one last time, or so they thought, and she gave him the tokens she had acquired: the Ring, and her elven sword, Sting."

She saw Frodo's blue eyes widening. Had he never heard that part of the tale? But he knew his uncle had not been the one to help on the Quest, didn't he?

She ended her own tale. "My parents left Middle-Earth for three years, after which they decided to return. My mother was pregnant and gave birth to me a few months later. They settled in the Shire, but she never asked the Ring or Sting back to Bilbo."

"And now, the One Ring has come to Bilbo's heir..." Elrond looked at Frodo who was soon the object of all attentions. He gulped noisily, then stood, his thin fingers going to a pocket in his waistcoat. He walked to the plinth in the middle of the hall, and placed upon it a heavy-looking golden ring.

Baraz felt all colour leaving her face. This ring made her very uneasy. There was something about it that made her heart race and the hair on the back of her neck rise.


Elrond stood then, turning around to face away from the company, his long fingers entwined before him. "It is time, I believe, to tell each of you the tale of the One Ring. For if many know how it began, only a few know how it came to us..."

He started a tale that Baraz knew a few about, for her mother had been keen to tell her of the great days of the Second Age when the Rings of power were forged in Eregion. Instinctively, she passed a hand over her chest and felt the familiar bump of her mother's ring under her dress. Ariana had told her never to speak of its sister, the real Nenya, for it was in the possession of the Lady Galadriel, and her copy was but a trinket she kept in memory of this great lady of Elves who had once given her her friendship.

Elrond spoke of the Battle of Dagorlad and the believed fall of Sauron by the end of Isildur of Gondor. When he spoke of how he remembered these days well, Frodo enquired on his age, and Elrond told him he was the direct descendant of Luthien and Doriath, one of the few Half-Elves to remain. Baraz, of course, knew this, for Luthien's tale was one of her favourites. But to hear how Elrond remembered the fall of Gil-galad, his sire, in the Battle of Dagorlad, was still disturbing. For Baraz could almost count the deaths in Elrond's voice. So many had fallen and so few had survived...

Then Elrond told of Isildur's Bane, how the King of Gondor had taken the Ring for himself and refused to destroy it to end the bad in the world. Boromir listened to this intently, for he said he had never heard that part of the story, but Baraz kept her eyes locked onto Aragorn's frame. He was sitting tense on his chair, his hands two fists on his lap, and his eyes almost closed as if he was trying not to listen to something painful. She wondered why he looked to...pained by this part of the tale, but promised herself to enquire on this later.

By then Boromir too stood and talked about Minas Tirith with such passion that his gaze was ablaze. In his words, many understood he meant for the Ring to go to his father the Steward, in hope that it would help Men fight the impending war against the forces of Sauron.

Aragorn then stood too. "The Ring will not go to Gondor!"

Boromir looked at him, trying to stand taller, but Aragorn was of taller stature and was so naturally charismatic that it was to no avail. "And what right do you have over my land, Ranger?"

Elrond huffed. "He is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, descendant of Isildur Elendil's son. He is the Chief of the Dunedain in the North, and he is your rightful King."

Boromir huffed too. "Minas Tirith does not have a King, and certainly not a Dunedain at that."

But Frodo had stood as well, but he was so small none had noticed until he spoke up, his blue eyes going to Aragorn before him. "Then the Ring has to go to you!"

Aragorn shook his head. "It does not belong to any of us. It has to be destroyed, and that's the end of it." He glared at Boromir as he said those last words, and the Man sat back down in his chair.

Glorfindel, who had remained silent since the very beginning, cleared his throat softly, and all turned their eyes to him. He then started to chant what seemed like a prophecy to Baraz' ears:

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renowed shall be blade that was broken:

The crownless again shall be king.

A silence followed these words, but it had the power to cease Boromir's harsh words.

Elrond turned back to his guests. "Time has come to take a decision. The Ring has to be destroyed, but the only place it can be so is in the depths of Orodruin, Mount Doom in the land of Mordor."

There was a long silence during which many seemed to ponder his words, then a small silhouette stood back up. "Then I shall bring the Ring to the Mountain."

All eyes went to Frodo, and all eyes widened at the determination in his gaze. Such a bravery was not often seen in a Hobbit, or so they thought.

Gandalf stood too and placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Then I shall go with you."

"And I." Aragorn walked to Frodo and bowed his head to him. "You shall have my sword."

"And my bow!" Legolas stood and went behind the Hobbit. His companions nodded their agreement.

Among the Dwarves, there was a certain doubt, before Gimli cursed in his beard and stood as well. "And my axe!" Verily, it was his father's, but his offer was genuine.

Boromir stood as well, albeit uneasy. "If you will have me, I shall too assist you in your dangerous deed."

No one stood again and Elrond prepared himself to announced the company, but then there was a ruffle and a sandy-blonde head appeared from behind the railing. "Master Frodo will not leave without me!"

Sam took a place next to his master and crossed his arms. Elrond chuckled. "No indeed, for there is no separating you, even when he is invited to a meeting and you are not!"

Then there was another ruffle and two other figures emerged from the other side of the hall from behind a shrubbery. Merry and Pippin took their places beside Frodo and too crossed their arms. "We are going as well!" Merry's tone was trying to make sure to be obeyed, and Baraz, although she could have laughed, felt her blood run colder in her veins upon seeing those young – too young – Hobbits ready to embark on the most dangerous of adventure.

So she could not help herself when she stood as well. "Where these two are going, there shall I go. For I fear they will need protection." She took a place next to Gimli who was shaking his head.

But none addressed her sex or young age or possible lack of experience in the lore of war when she asked to be part of this.

Instead, Elrond nodded and smiled. "Then you shall be the ten members of the Fellowship of the Ring!"

And something heavy downed on Baraz' shoulders. As if she had just signed up for her death...


A/N: I wanted to address the end of this chapter. It might appear as though I've chosen to write one of those numerous fanfics where the OC joins the Fellowship. Baraz is joining at first...but she will not stay. You'll see, but don't cringe, and understand her motives. For now, she wants to make sure Merry and especially Pippin - who she thinks of as a younger brother, if not a son - are safe.