Chapter 10!

Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or its wonderful characters! 3

A dwarf with a long, reddish beard stood. "Then what are we waiting for?" He said as he struck the Ring with his large axe. The axe shatters to pieces and the dwarf is thrown back. Frodo winces as if the attempt at destroying the Ring had caused him any pain. A faint whisper from the Ring echoed through his ears.

"Well, that wasn't too smart," Kayla pointed out.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess," Elrond explained.

"That's obvious," Katt stated, wondering how a small ring could break an axe.

"The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom," Elrond went on. "Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came."

Another whisper came from the Ring in a dark language.

"One of you must do this," Elrond added.

The council was completely silent, none stepping forward to take the job.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir protested. "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!"

"Well, he sure knows how to brighten up a room," Lilly muttered sarcastically. At least they were done with their adventure. She sure didn't want to go on this one.

The elf, Legolas stands again. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said?" He asked sharply. "The Ring must be destroyed!"

Gimli, the dwarf, jumps to his feet. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" He asked as if the elf was unqualified for the job.

Boromir rose to his feet. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" He pointed out.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of and elf!" Gimli roared.

The rest of the elves rise along with the other dwarves and an argument breaks out.

"Never trust an elf!" Gimli is heard over the commotion.

"Do you understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?!" Gandalf struggles to be heard. "None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"

"This doesn't look too good," Lily noted.

Frodo seemed oblivious to the chaos around him as he stared at the Ring uneasily. He finally looks to the crowd and stands up.

"What did he say?" Lily whispered to Katt. She could see Frodo's mouth moving, but it was not heard over the arguing.

"No, Frodo. Don't," Katt replied softly.

"I will take it!" Frodo repeated, louder, and the shouting died down.

Gandalf turned around to look at Frodo.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor," Frodo said, his expression determined. "Though..I do not know the way.." He added softer as everyone looked at him.

Gandalf walked to Frodo's side reassuringly. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," He said as he placed his hand gently on Frodo's shoulder.

Aragorn, who had been sitting silently, rose and also approached Frodo. "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will," He kneeled before Frodo. "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow," Legolas joined the others beside Frodo.

"And my axe!" Gimli added, glancing sharply at Legolas before also joining the group.

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

"Hey!" Sam suddenly shouted, jumping up from his seat in the bushes.

"Sam!" Lily also jumped out of the bush, running to Sam's side.

Katt sighed and also stood, brushing the dirt and leaves off her clothes before moving to stand beside Lily.

"Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me!" Sam said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No indeed. It seems hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," Elrond scolded, though he had a hint of a smile.

Kayla ran from her hiding spot. "I'm coming!" She shouted. "I see someone went to the council without bothering to tell me," She looked at Katt and Lily.

"Katt said you'd be too loud!" Lily accused quickly. Without a word, Katt stepped behind Aragorn.

"Then we're coming too!" Pippin and Merry also give up their hiding place to join the group.

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry added.

"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing!" Pippin said confidently.

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

Kayla laughed softly.

"Twelve companions," Elrond said. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," He decided.

"Great!" Pippin grinned. "Where are we going?"

Kayla sighed, shaking her head.

Katt walked through the halls of Rivendell. She started around a corner when she saw Strider-wait, no, Aragorn removing weeds and overbrush from a statue of a woman. Strange characters were written in front of her, probably Elvish. Aragorn touched the woman's face lightly. Katt hid behind a pillar, curious.

Elrond walks up from behind Aragorn, speaking in Elvish.

"In her heart, you're mother knew you'd be hunted all your life. That you'd never escape your fate," Elrond said softly. Aragorn didn't look up from the statue. "The skill of the Elves can reforge the sword of Kings, but only you have the power to wield it."

Aragorn finally looked up at Elrond with uncertainty. "I do not want that power. I never have," He replied quietly.

"You are the last of the bloodline. There is no other," Elrond reminded him.

Never wanted to be a king? Everything about this man is a mystery. The reason he hid his name is now obvious: He didn't want to be known as the king. Isildur. The man, Boromir, said Aragorn was the heir of Isildur.. Aragorn spoke of Isildur at the Prancing Pony when he was explaining the power of the Ring. How he decided to keep it when he should have thrown it in the fire. Maybe Aragorn was ashamed..

Katt quickly turned and left when Aragorn started walking that way. It was bad enough that she had been caught at the council with Aragorn standing right there.

"Katt!"

Katt spun around when she heard Aragorn call her. "Who? Me?" She asked like an idiot.

Aragorn smiled softly. "That is your name, right?" He asked.

"Well, yea. What's yours? Strider or Aragorn?" She teased with a small smile.

Aragorn chuckled. "I want to show you something," He said and walked with her down some halls and up a staircase.

They came upon a stone table. A cloth was laid over it, and, on that, shards of a sword.

"I told you about Isildur. These are the shards of Narsil. The blade he used when he cut the Ring from Sauron's hand," Aragorn explained.

Katt looked at the shards in awe. She stood beside him at the table, then decided to confront him about his nobility.

"Why don't you want to be king? It's not like you're going to make the same mistake Isildur did," She pointed out.

"The same blood runs through my veins. The same weakness," Aragorn replied quietly.

"And my uncle smokes, but that doesn't mean I will," Katt struggled to find a good example.

Aragorn looked at her, wondering how that had anything to do with the topic at hand.

"What I mean is, you're stronger. You know better. Maybe someday you'll face Isildur's same problem, but you can defeat it," Katt said with a soft smile.

I know, I know, I kinda rewrote that little moment with Aragorn and Arwen for Katt... Sorry Aragorn/Arwen fans, but she's probably gonna not be in this story at all... I was thinking maybe I'd do a triangle kinda thing, but I decided it probably wouldn't work. I have good reasons though. 1st: Why would Aragorn choose a human over a flawless elf? 2nd: Arwen gives up her immortality and gives Aragorn her necklace. IF he ended up falling for Katt, then what would he do at the end when she comes all the way to Gondor to be his queen? "Oops, Sorry. I like Katt. So here's your necklace back..Bye!" Yea, it would be hard to get something like that to work.

Annnyway, hope you liked that HOBBIT DAY EVE! Actually, it's 11:43, so if I just wait 20 more min. before posting, it won't be eve anymore. ^.^

Seventeen minutes later: HAPPY HOBBIT DAY EVERYONE! I would like to take this time to wish Frodo and Bilbo Baggins a very happy birthday, wherever they are. Don't forget to go barefoot and eat your breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper!