Chapter 7

Later that evening, the gathering began.

Starting with Perci in the middle on her throne, as she faced the stone pedestal, to her left was Frodo. Next to him was Gandalf. Then the dwarves. Gimli, Gloin, Oin, Ori, Bifur, Thorin, Kli, Fili, Bofur, and Dwalin. The men of Dale, Gondor, and Rohan: Boromir and Faramir from Gondor, Theodred and Eomer from Rohan, and Barton from Dale. Then the elves of Lorien and the Grey Havens: Lord Celeborn, Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, and Lord Cirdan. The elves of Mirkwood were next: Legolas and Tauriel. And then the last group, the elves of Rivendell: Glorfindel, Elrohir, Elladan, Aragorn joined in with the elves that raised him, and Lord Elrond was the last in the circle.

Perci stood. "Thank you all for making the journey to Atlantis so that we may gather a response to the uncovering of the Ring."

"I hope you don't mind me asking, my lady, but I haven't ever heard of this kingdom in my thirty years of life. You have all types of creatures, including dragons, as well as things in the waters, the statues move, you have dwarves, hobbits, man, and elves living together in peace. And yet I've never heard of this place."

"That is true, Master Faramir. Not many have heard of this place. The few that have, have heard of it from my friends I've made throughout the centuries I've been here. I'm friends with the Line of Durin and the people of Dale, as well as the elves of Rivendell and the hobbits of the Shire. In fact, no one but myself and my creatures had been on this island until sixty years ago when a certain company of dwarves had to come visit me. And then before that, the Istari visited me only a few times throughout the centuries. This place was created by my father before I came here, as well as most, if not all, by him and his brothers. The Valar granted me this area and blessed it with the same energy that the Undying Lands have. No one but the one that Sauron calls master can touch this place with its evil. Now, if we can get back to the matter at hand? Good. Lord Elrond, if you will?"

The elven lord stood, the queen of Atlantis sitting back, feeling the gaze of a certain someone on her but she didn't look. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old you've 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. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Frodo took a deep breath and slid off his seat and took the ring out of his pocket and set it on the stone pedestal before settling back on his chair. Those that had had doubts shifted uneasily. They all felt the vileness of the ring but some did not understand the true threat of the ring.

"So it is true. The doom of Man. It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has our father, the Steward of Gondor kept 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." Boromir had stood and had begun to walk around as he spoke his case.

Aragorn and Perci exchanged looks. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." His voice sent a shiver down Perci's spine. She had nearly forgotten what his voice sounded like it had been so long.

"Aragorn. This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Perci said, surprising Aragorn and some of the others. Perci sent a small smile to Aragorn. "It might have been sixty years since I've seen you last, young one. But I remember faces, especially if they become a companion to one of my pegasus. Havo dad, Legolas." Perci commanded, knowing the elf was still standing and staring at her. But she didn't even look at him as she was still looking at the future king of Gondor.

"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir muttered, taking a sit back by his younger brother.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it. You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Lord Elrond said, breaking the awkward silence.

"What are we waiting for?" Gimli moved forward with his axe and raised it over his head, bringing it down only for the axe to shatter and the shards scattering onto the floor.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin nor by any craft that we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom."

The were interrupted by the Ranger Athos bursting in. "My Queen!"

Perci stood up at the ranger. "Athos, what is it?"

"There are three humans on the beach unconscious." Silence. "They just appeared there less then a minute ago out of thin air."

Perci began to follow Athos out. "Elrond, continue the meeting it seems that something requires my attention at the moment."

They all murmured amongst themselves for a moment. "Dwalin, Bofur, go with her." Thorin commanded, not wanting his friend to get hurt, even if she was a powerful demigoddess with several powerful creatures on her side that would destroy anything that was a threat to her. Dwalin and Bofur immediately got up and followed after her, not wanting anything to happen to their friend either.

Perci just touched the sand on the beach when she seemed to see something of the three figures that alarmed her, causing her to sprint towards them.

She fell to her knees beside them, drawing the water from the ocean to her hands and beginning to heal whatever ailed the three.

"My queen, what is it?" Athos panted having sprinted after her with the two dwarves following.

"Get three chambers ready near my own." She choked out even as she moved a piece of dark hair away from the dark brown hair's face.

She shook one of the men's shoulders, trying to wake them. Finally, they began to groan. Perci found herself looking down into a pair of sea green eyes that matched her own perfectly.

"Perci?" The man choked out. She smiled tearfully.

"Hey dad." She looked up and met the electric blue gaze of the blonde haired man and the dark brown of the black haired man. "Hello Uncles. Welcome to Atlantis."