Chapter Nine: The Council of Elrond
The crisp wind had picked up a little as they situated themselves on the rooftop. The Council had not yet begun as Elrond was not present. The various visitors whispered amongst themselves so that their conversations were not able to be heard.
"This was a bad idea. I fear the wind has picked up too much for us to eavesdrop on this meeting. We will not be able to hear a thing!" Coran looked to Goldor in disappointment, having almost forgiven him for their argument. Thinking about her sister and inevitably Feredir cleared her mind. She adored both of them to the last of their days and she still worshipped them, loving no one more.
"We could move lower… to those bushes below. But, we would be more easily spotted." Goldor surveyed the land below, trying to find a suitable hiding place.
As they looked, they did not hear the elf approach them from behind. He leapt from a tree and padded softly up to them. "Well," he reached forward, grabbing ahold of Coran as she jolted with surprise, nearly toppling to her death. "I did not expect a dog and a girl to be up on the roof. You know if you want a better hiding place you should have arrived sooner. Those bushes are taken."
"Did Lhûn send you to find us, Telthedir?" She looked between the elf and Goldor, who did not seemed surprised that the elf was before them. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as they settled on Telthedir.
He raised his eyebrows, smirking in triumph. "No, she did not. It was the Lord Elrond who did. He says that you are making too much of a distraction. We are to go to him. Let us go." He offered his hand to her, pulling her to her feet.
Elrond wanted her to be at his council that would influence the fate of the world. She would offer testimony about the day of the Shire attack. This was real progress. This is why she was travelling to find her chieftain, for results.
As they entered the meeting place, Telthedir took her by the arm and walked her to an open seat beside Aragorn who looked at her with tired eyes. He took a cleansing breath and she thought that he was mentally preparing himself for the council. He said not a word to her but continued his deep breathing.
She sat in the chair as Telthedir took his place, standing behind her chair. The other visitors quickly filled their seats, some eyeing her and Goldor, who lay next to her feet, warily. There was a slight and nerve-racking silence that was held in the air as Elrond and his sons, Elladan and Elrohir finally joined the meeting, taking their seats as well. They were seated next to Glorfindel and Erestor, both smiled kindly at her. Politely, she returned one quickly before having her eyes drift down to her lap again.
Elrond continued standing and began to address them all, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He glanced about, making eye contact with all. At first his stare on her was hard but then softened with slight acknowledgement and an inclination of his head. He returned to his grave welcoming. "Middle Earth stands on 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." His eyes were trained on Frodo, eyes dark with worry and hunger. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Coran squirmed as Frodo placed the Ring on the pedestal before the council. A dark voice, a black voice screamed in her head. Its words dug deep into her heart: traitor, murderer, liar; they sounded over and over again. She closed her eyes, trying to mentally barricade her mind from the voice. It worked. But she felt a nasty feeling squirming again within her stomach. It was Feredir's soft voice that came to her. He did not whisper the names, but asked her to take the Ring. Take the Ring, he coaxed, Save me. Love me. Keep me. Bring me back.
A quick hand settled upon her forearm, its fingers snaking about it, holding firm to her. She took a quick breath, completely startled. Opening her eyes, she found Aragorn's hand holding on to her. She nodded her thanks to him, brushing his hand away.
The whole affair had happened quickly, far more quickly than she had thought. Frodo was just now returning to his seat. Only Aragorn had noticed her little episode.
No, that was wrong. She looked across the circle. A tall and broad man stood, his dark hair falling across gray eyes. He had noticed. He refocused his eyes on the Ring. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern sky grow dark, but in the West, a pale light lingered, voices crying, 'Doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found.'" He reached out, daring to touch the Ring. As he neared, he whispered, "Isildur's bane."
Elrond stood quickly with a shout, "Boromir!"
Coran chuckled darkly to herself. So, this is Boromir, Captain of Gondor. Our brothers in the South seem so… eager.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the old wizard who spoke brazenly, speaking the Black Speech of Mordor. The sky clouded and the ground shook, startling all who were present. "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul." She winced at the words, slightly in pain. The voice in her head had spoken the language.
Goldor leapt up from his peaceful spot, barking and growling at Gandalf. In a dangerous voice, he snarled warningly, "You taint the air with that speech, conjurer!"
Elrond was swift to follow with his comment. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."
The smart retort was immediate. "I do not ask your pardon, Lord Elrond, for the Black Speech may yet be heard in every corner of the West. The Ring is all together evil!" He took his seat again, glaring across the way to Aragorn as if he was trying to communicate something to her chieftain.
Again, Boromir was to his feet. "It is a gift!" Coran snorted sardonically, earning a well-deserved look from Aragorn. "A gift to the foes of Mordor!" Coran found some amusement in Boromir's revelation of using the Ring. "Why not use this ring?" It was clear to her that the Ring had great power, though she did not know how. If it was indeed Isildur's Bane then even the Steward's son should understand that it could not be used for such purposes as he was suggesting.
"Long has my 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." The Steward's son was clearly worked up, adrenaline fueling his thoughts and speech.
She was caught off-guard when Aragorn answered logically. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master!" Her chieftain was radiating impatience and anger, which usually were gifts reserved for her alone now that Feredir and Calithil were gone. He was the one who ruined Boromir's childish dreams. And who better than the rightful king?
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" He smirked with a short mocking laugh.
Coran and an elf both rose to their feet, fast to defend him. She shouted, "You address your King!" Her voice almost drowned out the elf's answer, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Boromir looked wildly between them, settling his glare on Coran, who returned his look.
Aragorn waved them off. "Sit down," he said in Sindarin.
Boromir narrowed his eyes at the seated King. In a low voice, he said, "Keep your bitch on a leash."
Coran lunged at Boromir, fumbling for her dagger. Suddenly a large back was in front of her face and a hand holding her hand with the dagger still. Aragorn unleashed his anger. "If you speak in that manner towards her again, I will not hesitate to take action against you."
The Gondorian laughed again. "So this is Isildur's Heir. He can't even rule his wenches let alone a kingdom. Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He sat back down, staring daggers at Aragorn. Coran wished she could have spoken for Aragorn and maybe even fought for him. But she knew deep down that she had neither the heart nor the training to do so. Her temper would get the best of her one day and it would be her downfall.
With renewed vigor, Gandalf continued the conversation. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
"You have only one choice: the Ring must be destroyed." Coran was glad that both Elrond and the wizard were keeping level heads about the matter, unlike the young man from Gondor. Even she, as infantile as she was, could see his childish mannerisms.
One of the dwarves suddenly got to his feet and rushed the Ring and muttered something as he struck down on it with his axe. The weapon shattered, throwing him back. Coran looked by to Elrond to see the elf's features lighten slightly with amused satisfaction. "The Ring cannot be destroyed by any craft we here possess, Gimli son of Glóin. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade."
Elrond's eyes searched the circle once more, stopping only on Frodo and Aragorn briefly. "It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from which it came." He hesitated now, slowing his words. "One of you must do this."
Content in not saying anything for once, she watched as the young Gondorian asserted his opinion again with slight ire. "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is an evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever watchful." A bright flash of a fiery eye flared up in her mind, searing her body with pain as he spoke. That haunting voice, that seducing voice was back. Murderer. Liar. Traitor. Coward! She forced her eyes open, focusing only on Boromir, willing the voice away. "Tis 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 was once again quick to his feet with a retort. "Have you heard nothing the Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed."
His outcry prompted the dwarves to retaliate with: "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?"
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what was his?" With Boromir's added heat, the dwarf felt it necessary to add, "I would be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!"
Like a dam breaking all negotiations stopped as anger burst forth like a flood. Even Aragorn joined the yelling, leaving only Frodo, the sons of Elrond, the Lord himself, Coran and Goldor to remain seated. Staring across the way, Coran tried to catch Frodo's glance.
As he began to softly convulse as he stared at the ring, Coran flew from her seat, trying to come to him. She was caught by Telthedir, whose strong arms circled her shoulders, holding her in place. "Let me go! Frodo! He needs help!"
"It is not your time to contribute," the elf whispered. They watched Frodo battle with some mental demon, twitching with agony.
"He hears the voice, Telthedir." Coran relaxed slightly in his arms as he led her back to her chair, calming herself. "Frodo!" She tried to snap him out of it. His eyes widened and as she yelled his name one last time, he looked to her with a tired smile. He gave her a quick, regretful look and stood.
"I will take it." His soft voice was only heard by those not arguing. Coran could only stare at him, horror flooding her mind. "I will take it," he repeated a little louder, coming to the crowd. It was then they finally heard him, dying down. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." All eyes were on him, it was then he realized the severity of his decision. Looking down at his feet in solemnity, he mumbled, "Though I do not know the way."
He began to look around, searching for some comfort. The old wizard was the first to offer any. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins." Gandalf stood behind Frodo, placing a gentle, consoling hand on his small shoulders. "For as long as it is yours to bear."
From beside her, she saw movement as Aragorn stood. Immediately she took his hand, shaking her head. "No," she whispered. He gave a quick squeeze and told Frodo, "By my life or death, I can protect you, I will."
Telthedir strengthened his hold on her shoulder, keeping her firmly in place as she let her King leave her behind. Aragorn would die completing this task, they all would. It was a suicide mission with a small chance of success. If he died, the line of the King would die and the prophecy would be broken. The coming of the King would be nothing but a fairy tale and the wound of the heirless throne would give way to the infection of politics and tyrannies.
Her King's next words were almost lost on her ears as she worried. "You have my sword." He knelt as he pledged his fealty to Frodo. She nearly missed Gandalf giving a slight wink to Elrond as they exchanged glances. The elf who had defend her King stood and gave his allegiance too: "And you have my bow."
They both moved to stand behind Frodo as the dwarf pledged his axe in a proud manner. The last to swear was Boromir. She watched him saunter towards them, a smirk on his face. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this indeed is the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
A shout from the bushes startled all gathered as little, brave Samwise Gamgee stumbled into the clearing. Telthedir had told the truth; that spot was indeed taken. "Mister Frodo is not going anywhere without me."
"No, it is hardly possible to separate you two even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," Elrond said with slight humor, arching his brow.
"Oi! We're coming too," Merry and Pippin ran to their friends, daring anyone to stop them. "You'd have to send us home in a sack to stop us!" "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest, thing…"
Merry muttered to Pippin as Coran made her decision. Frodo looked to Coran. She could not make out if he wanted her to join him or not. Pushing Telthedir's hands aside, she stood. "With me, Little Brother," she murmured. Goldor jumped up, snarling at Telthedir, keeping him at bay.
Coran approached, her head low. She addressed none but Frodo. It was him who had kept her strong in the days after her husband's death. It was for him that she now lived her life. She would protect him in any way possible, whether it be at his side or not. That was her decision. She knelt in front of him too, collapsing on both knees before the hobbit. She grasped his hands within her own, smooth cool hands running over his battered features.
She choose Sindarin to convey her message to him. "Forever, I shall be in your debt, my beloved friend. I ask you to use me as you will. I pledge my life to you for eternity, my friend." With that, she sealed herself to him. There were only two others who had received her life oath and they were her king and her love. She kissed his forehead, wishing her blessing upon him. "You are not alone. You are never alone. Remember that." She kissed each of his cheeks. Her mouth lingered next to his ear and she whispered so that only he could hear her. "I heard the voice too. The Ring will seduce you. Stay strong."
She released him, standing. Moving to each of the hobbits she told them to be brave and then stood before her King. Reciting an ancient Dúnedain verse, she said, "'For he was lost and so was hope. Where was the banner and flute? Where were the soft ground and the hard stones? For he died in a foreign land with no love. Foolish was he to take on such a task. For none remain to honor him; they only remember his name.'" She took the Ring of Barahir from around her neck, passing it to him. "So I may be able to find you," she told him as he looked questioningly at her.
