Chapter 10

The following morning, Harty and Estel walked to the hall of fire, and sat down on the seats which stand there. Gandalf and Frodo along with a congregation of Men, Elves and Dwarves sit in a semi-circle around a stone pedestal.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Began lord Elrond, "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."

They saw how Frodo raised and laid the Ring on the pedestal.

"So it is true…" said Boromir.

Harry and Estel watched as Frodo returns to his seat beside Gandalf. He seems relieved. All the members of the Council stare at the Ring, mesmerized by it. It appears to start whispering to each of them in turn.

"The Doom of Men." Sais a men, Both Harry and Estel did not know who he was.
"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. " started Boromir, " But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand.'" He approaches the Ring on the plinth. "Isildur's Bane is found."

Boromir reaches out towards the Ring. Gandalf and Elrond exchange concerned looks. Boromir's fingers hover above the Ring.
"Isildur's Bane." Said the unknown man.

Elrond leaps up.
Elrond: "Boromir!"

Gandalf stands and begins to chant in the Black Speech. The ring echoes the harsh words. Thunder crackles as the sky darkens. The Council stare around them in fear and confusion.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."
(One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness and bound them.

The voice of the Ring dies away. People resume their seats, horrified,
Boromir amongst them.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!" Shouted Elrond. Gandalf: (voice raspy from the force of the words and the language): "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West!"

"The Ring is altogether evil!" Said Gandalf.
He gives Boromir a final scathing glance and resumes his seat.
"It is a gift.", said Boromir," A gift to the foes of Mordor."
"Why not use this Ring?" "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!"
"You cannot wield it! None of us can.", said Estel and harry continued, " The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Sais Boromir.

An Elf stands. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

"Aragorn?", asked Boromir, this is Isildur's heir?
heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Said the elf.
Frodo looks wide-eyed at Aragorn.
"Havo dad, Legolas." (Sit down, Legolas.) Said Estel.

"Gondor has no king." Said Boromir," Gondor needs no king." And he returns to his seat.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Said Gandalf.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Said Elrond.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Said Gimli and he grabs an axe and approaches the ring.
He strikes the Ring with full force but is repelled back, throwing him to the ground.

Harry and Estel looked worried at each other. Ring remained intact with the shards of the axe all around it.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, 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 and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Said Elrond.

Ring started whispering again "Ash Nazg."
"One of you must do this." Said Elrond
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. 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.
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!" Said Boromir.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?", said Legolas, "the Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Yelled Gimli.

Boromir rises, "And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf! Yelled Gimli. Commotion started as arguments erupt amongst the council members.
"Never trust an Elf!" Screamed Gimli.

Frodo remains seated, watching the Ring, with the figures of the council
reflected on its surface.

"Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" Sais Gandalf

The ring began to whisper louder, "Ash Nazg Durbatulûk! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul!"

The intensity of the arguments increase. Harry saw the determination dawns on Frodo's face.

Frodo stands and takes a few steps toward the arguing council, trying to make his voice heard.
"I will take it!" Said Frodo, but nobody heard. "I will take it!" He said again.
The argument dies down.
The members of the council slowly turn towards Frodo, astonished.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor." Said frodo, " Though — I do not know the way."

Gandalf walked to Frodo and said: "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." and he placed a hand on his shoulder.

Estel rises "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." He approaches Frodo and keels before him.
"You have my sword." He Said.

"And you have my bow." Said the elf called Legolas while he walks to join them.

"And my axe!" Said Gimli, he looked grimly at Legolas as he joined the group.

Boromir walked over to them, "You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"Heh!" screamed Sam while he jumps from behind the bushes. "Mister Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!"

"No indeed, it is
hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Said Elrond amused.

Pippin and Merry emerges from behind the pillars to join them "Wait! We are coming too!"

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Said Merry and pippin continued, "Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing."
"Well that rules you out Pip." Said Merry.

Estel looked at Harry, "Harry?", said Estel.
Harry walked slowly to the group. He kneeled before Frodo. "I will help you as much I can. I will protect you with my magic."