++++++ I do not own the Lord of the Rings or any affiliated characters apart from my OC. All rights belong to Tolkien ++++++

Eight

The following morning when Breya and I came into the council chamber with Gandalf and Frodo one particular set of eyes found their way straight to us. I hadn't met him but I was in the stables with Cedric when Boromir, son of Denethor arrived in Rivendell.

He scoffed as soon as he saw the two of us. "What use are women at a council concerning the affairs of men?"

The corner of Breya's mouth twitched. "Son of a bitch!" she cursed loud enough for everyone to hear.

"What?" I frowned.

"I forgot to bring my skirt!" she hissed with a smirk.

I smothered a laugh and sat down beside Gandalf.

"If you have a problem with us being here I suggest you-" Breya started.

"Hold your tongue!" Elrond whispered in Breya's ear when he came in with his sons. "You were asked here because a wizard's opinion is always valued but two is better."

Boromir smirked but Breya ignored him.

Elrond took his seat and waited until silence fell over the entire room before he spoke. "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."

I looked around the room at the hobbits, dwarves, elves and men and felt a slight touch of pride at the races that were seated here today.

"Bring forth the ring, Frodo," Elrond ordered.

Frodo stood up slowly and made his way towards the stone plinth in the middle of the chamber. He pulled something from his pocket and placed it on the plinth before returning to his seat.

"So it is true!" whispered Boromir.

"The doom of man!" murmured Gimli son of Gloin.

Boromir stood up. With each word he stepped closer to the ring. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern side frown dark, but in the West, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying-your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found." He reached out for the ring.

"Boromir!" Elrond shouted warningly.

Gandalf got to his feet and started chanting. "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!"

The skies above us started to turn dark and all within the council started to wince in pain.

I grabbed the edge of my seat so tightly that my knuckles were starting to turn white. Breya reached out and grabbed my hand, I felt a cool sensation sweep through my body, calming me down. I looked at her and mouthed thank you before turning my attention back to the council.

"Never has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," Elrond scolded.

Gandalf stared at the elf. "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond," he growled gruffly, "for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil!"

"It is a gift," Boromir grinned before he stood up. "A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this ring? 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. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"

Aragorn shook his head. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

Boromir turned to look at him. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

Legolas stood up and stared at Boromir. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir stared at him. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

"An heir to the throne of Gondor," he replied.

Aragorn looked at Legolas. "Sit down, Legolas."

Boromir growled. ''Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king."

Gandalf cleared his throat. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."

"You have only one choice," Elrond spoke with a solemn voice. "The ring must be destroyed."

Gimli stood up with his axe in hand. "Then what are we waiting for?" He swung the axe over his head and slammed it down on the ring.

My entire body seized up when I felt the shockwave flow over me. I closed my eyes as the pain tore through my body and I dug my fingernails into the palms of my hands drawing blood.

"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, 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, as cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." He paused. "One of you must do this."

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir answered calmly. "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."

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

"And I supposed you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli demanded to know.

"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir snapped. "What happens before Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hand of an Elf!" Gimli snapped as everyone jumped up to start shouting and arguing.

I shrank back in my chair and closed my eyes.

I was afraid.

"I will take it!" Frodo announced. "I will take the ring to Mordor!"

A sudden silence fell across the room.

Frodo gulped. "Though…I do not know the way."

Gandalf stood up with a soft smile. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn stood. "If, by my life or death, I can protect you," he knelt down and took Frodo's hand. "You have my sword."

Legolas stepped up. "And you have my bow."

"And my axe," Gimli growled as he stared at Legolas.

Breya got to her feat. "The business of the Ring concerns not only the free people of Middle Earth but also the earth itself. I represent the very earth in this quest so I will go." Breya bowed down in front of Frodo. "I pledge myself to you, for what I am worth."

Boromir looked at Frodo. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is the will of the Council. Then Gondor will see it done."

I got to my feet slowly and slightly shaky. "Indeed you do carry the fate of us all, Frodo. I've been there for most of your life and I will be there for this. My weapons are yours, Master Baggins." I bowed my head in respect and stepped back beside Breya.

"Here!" shouted a Sam as he came out of the trees. "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me."

Elrond raised an eyebrow. "No. Indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

Two more hobbit's emerged from their hiding places.

"Oi! We're coming too!" Merry yelled. "You'll have to send us home in a sack to stop us."

"Anyway," Pippen smirked. "You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission…quest…thing."

"Well that rules you out Pip," Merry teased.

Elrond paused as he surveyed the group. "Eleven companions…so be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."