Chapter 9 The Council

Mariell wandered through the halls of Rivendell trying to find Elrond. She had not had a chance to ask him about her pendant before and

her curiosity was driving her mad. She stopped short when she heard Gandalf's voice. It was coming toward her. She quickly ducked

behind a pillar.

"Tis a task he never should have had to bear. We can ask no more of Frodo"

"Gandalf," the voice of Elrond said. "The enemy is moving west. The eye of Sauron is fixed on Rivendell." His voice moved out of her

hearing and then she heard.

"The ring cannot stay here." Mariell felt her spirits drop. She had hoped that once the ring was in Rivendell it would be the end.

Apparently it was not so.

"She still wears the pendant," she heard then. Her breath caught in her throat. They were talking about her.

"She knows nothing of her past?" Elrond asked.

"I cannot keep her at bay much longer. Mariell questions me consistently about her past." So Elrond did know about her past.

"Young Mariell's fate is still unclear. Even elven foresight cannot predict her destiny. She is of the race of man and yet she shows no

desire for the ring"

"I know what it is you are thinking. We cannot ask this of her." What? Mariell was confused.

"Lindela's daughter may be the answer we seek." Wanting to hear no more Mariell turned away and ran down the hall and outside.

Lindela's daughter. That was the name Arwen had mentioned earlier. Her mother, Arwen had known her mother, an elf. Aragorn had

been right. She was elvish. Why hadn't Gandalf told her? What was he protecting her from? She felt like every time she came closer to

the truth she just ran into more secrets. Out of breath from running she dropped to her knees. She bent over gasping for breath. When

she had her breath back she realized she was in a garden. It was very beautiful with flowers of every color. She saw what looked to be a

swing hanging from a low tree branch. She got to her feet to inspect it closer. Indeed, it was a swing made of a white wood and hung by

strong rope. Gingerly, afraid she would break it, she sat down. Her mind wondered as she swung back and forth.

"I had a feeling you would find this place sooner or later," a voice said behind her, startling her. She turned and saw it was Strider. She

was shocked by how different he looked. He was clean and his hair was soft and shiny. His wet muddy clothes were gone and replaced

with a tunic of gray velvet. On his hand was a ring, which she had not noticed before. Silver based with a black stone in the middle. Now

that she saw him in this light she realized he was rather handsome. What struck her most were his intense blue eyes. He was staring at her

with a strange look that made her a little uncomfortable. As soon as she had seen it, it disappeared and he smiled gently at her.

"I used to come out here when I was troubled," he told her. She nodded looking away.

"I guess it serves that purpose a lot." She tensed as she felt him come behind her and felt his hands on her back. But then she relaxed as

he pushed her forward. The only sound in the garden was the soft creak of the swing as Strider pushed her.

"So what troubles you little one?" he asked after awhile. Her heart skipped a beat as he called her that. It made her feel very small and

very safe.

"I've learned more about my past in the last two weeks then I've known in my entire life. So many secrets, I just wonder what I'm going

to find out next," she said softly.

"Sometimes the truth isn't what we want it to be," he said. Mariell wasn't sure but she thought she heard

sadness in his voice. She felt the swing stop as Strider gripped the ropes in his hands. She twisted so she could look at him. She was a bit
intimidated at his closeness. He was looking down at her with that intense blue gaze that she felt she could drown in.

"So how do you like Rivendell?" he asked her.

"It's beautiful. So peaceful and calm, I think I could live here for the rest of my life and be completely happy. It feels almost like I've

come home." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she realized that they could be true. If she was right about her mother, then

this could have been her home at one time. But why would Gandalf take her from here, to the Shire. And where was her mother now?

What about her father? Arwen had said Lindela married a mortal man. Where were they now and why couldn't they keep her with them?
Every question brought more questions. She started as she felt Strider's hand under her chin.

"Do not let yourself be troubled. When the time is right, you will have your answers." She found herself unable to take her eyes from his

face for a long time. He was very close and she could feel the heat from his body washing over her. Suddenly she felt her face grow very

hot. She didn't understand this feeling; it was strange but not unpleasant. She'd never felt this way before.

"Estel!" a voice called from the distance. Strider quickly pulled away from her like a child who'd been caught doing something naughty.

"Tamal, Elladan," he called. One of the dark haired elves she'd seen earlier appeared. He began speaking in elvish. Though she could not
understand all his words, the general idea was that Strider was needed at a secret meeting.

"I will be right there," Strider said. Elladan nodded and left. Strider looked down at her.

"I must go. Will you be all right?" She nodded. After he had gone she sat for a while thinking. She did not understand her reaction to the

man earlier. How could his nearness make her feel that way? Shaking her head she stood up and started to walk back toward the palace.
She saw Merry and Pippin standing behind two pillars. She wasn't sure but they seemed to be hiding. "What are you two up to?" she

said softly.

"Shh," they said. Merry seized her wrist and pulled her down.

"Frodo's been called to a secret meeting. There's elves, dwarves, men, all of middle earth. They're going to decide the ring's fate." This

must be the same meeting that Strider had been called to. Gazing at the circle where Elrond was speaking, she could see Frodo sitting

next to Gandalf. She also saw the blonde elf from earlier, Legolas sitting among them. She saw Strider also and wondered why a ranger

was among these important beings. "Bring forth the ring Frodo," she heard Elrond say. She saw Frodo move to the center of the circle

and place the ring on the table. Mariell smiled as she saw Frodo's step lighten as he backed away from the ring. Finally, someone else

could bear this burden other than Frodo. She saw a tall man with longish blonde hair dressed in fancy clothes stand and approach the

table.

"Tis a gift," he said. "A gift to the foes of Mordor." Mariell's lip curled at the man. A gift? This man was seriously delusional if he thought

the ring was a gift.

"Long has my father kept the enemy at bay. By the strength of my people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the ring of the enemy.

Let us use it against him." Now Mariell was frightened. Use the ring against Sauron? It couldn't be done.

"You cannot wield it," Strider's voice spoke out. "None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." "And what
does a Ranger know about such things?" the other man challenged him.

"This is no ordinary ranger," Legolas said standing up. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." This seemed to make the other man's

expression change.

"This is Isildur's heir"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas said. "You owe him your allegiance." Mariell was stunned. Strider was Isildur's heir. He

was royalty. She couldn't believe it. He'd been keeping secrets from her from the moment she'd met him. Anger flowed through her and

a stab of betrayal filled her heart.

"Aragorn is right," Gandalf's voice said. "We cannot use it"

"You have only one choice," said Elrond, "the ring must be destroyed"

"What are we waiting for?" a gruff dwarf with a red beard said. He jumped up and swung his ax onto the ring. With a blinding light the

dwarf was thrown back and his ax shattered. Mariell saw Frodo wince in pain and resisted the urge to run to him and wrap her arms

around him.

"The ring cannot be destroyed Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft we possess. The ring was created in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there

can it be unmade. It must be cast into the fires from which it came. One of you must do this task." Mariell felt her heart tighten. She did

not think Elrond was going to get any volunteers.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. The black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The

very air you breathe is a poisonous gas. Not with a hundred men could you do this"

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

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it," the dwarf Gimli grunted. "I will be dead before I will see the ring in the hands of an elf.
Never trust an elf." Mariell turned away as the council erupted in loud shouts. It was hopeless. How was this world going to survive

Sauron if all the beings of the earth could do was argue? Suddenly she heard a voice call out.

"I will take it!" It was Frodo. Mariell turned in astonishment. What was Frodo doing? After all they had been through, how could Frodo

volunteer to go on this quest?

"I will take the ring to Mordor," he said again. All beings had stopped to stare at the hobbit. "But I do not know the way." Gandalf came

forward.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo. As long as it is yours to bear." Strider, or Aragorn rather, stood before Frodo.

"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." Mariell watched as Legolas, Gimli, and the man who had spoken

before also pledged themselves to Frodo.

"Hey!" a voice from the bushes said. Mariell managed to smile as Sam ran to Frodo's side.

"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me"

"Indeed it is hardly possible to separate you two even when he is summoned to a secret meeting and you are not.

"We're coming too," Merry said as he and Pippin jumped up from their hiding place behind the pillars and ran to Frodo's side.

"You have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Frodo met her eyes at that moment. In his eyes she could see the hope that she

would join them also. She stared at his companions who had pledged themselves to him. Strong capable beings. Her brother was in good
hands. He did not need her anymore. No, she thought, my part of this tale is over. With a sad look at Frodo she turned away.