Disclaimers: See chapter 1.
Author's Note:
Reviews would be most appreciated. I have limited time to write on my parent's computers, therefore I haven't been able to respond to all of you individually, but I would greatly like to have more reviews than what I've been getting. Reviews are your input or ideas, which is my inspiration, which keeps me going. It feels good when you know people are reading your work. Hope you guys enjoy this! Be prepared, very long chapter ahead!
You're My Light in the Dark
Chapter 21
The next morning I went down to the dining hall fairly early for first breakfast, for I didn't know what time the council was exactly. Hardly anyone was there, most probably still hung over from the night before. But to my surprise, I found Lauren already there and stuffing her face, literally.
"Hey, Kat! Watcha doin' down 'ere this early?" she greeted with a mouth full of food.
"Just gonna ask you the same, you're never up at this hour. I thought I was gonna have to wake you."
"Well," she swallowed, "Gandalf woke me up so very rudely this morning. Throwing me out of bed actually, and insisted, no, demanded that I 'get my lazy butt up and be something useful for once.' Though, he never told me what that 'something' was, so because he wouldn't even let me touch my bed with a ten foot pole, I decided to have an early breakfast."
"You're unbelievable."
"So I've been told," she laughed as she popped another raspberry into her mouth.
"I didn't mean that as a compliment," I said. "Do you remember the story at all?" I couldn't believe her. She wasn't even listening to me; she was way too busy enjoying her food to even be bothered by what I had to say! "Lauren!" I snapped my fingers in front of her face, "Were you even listening to me?"
"Hum?"
"Hello?! News flash! Something of great importance is gonna be happening today! Do you even remember what?"
"Um, dunno. The terrible two and I planned to annoy the Elvish guards today, but that was about it," she replied shrugging her shoulders.
I leaned forward and started banging my head on the table. "Are you that thick?! The council's today! You know, the one where Elrond announces the Fellowship!"
She stopped short, and almost choked. "Oh my god! That's today?!"
"Yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell you! You've been spending way too much time with Brandybucks and Tooks if you managed to forget that," I said.
"But why are we going to the council? We're not important! Damn it, Gandalf! You woke me up for no reason!"
"Actually, I guess that we are important. We're the representatives for the Shire."
"WHAT?!"
"We're the Shire reps.," I said simply.
"No, I understood you." She said, "But what I don't understand is why we are. There weren't suppose to be any!"
"No kidding. That's what I've been trying to figure out," I said leaning over closer to her, "But, I think Gandalf knows something."
"Knows what?"
"Knows that we're not from here. I think he's our key to finding out why we were brought here."
"Maybe, but I don't wanna go back anytime soon!" she said.
"Neither do I."
"Don't ask him about it."
"Why? What harm will it do?"
"He might send us back or something, just don't do it. Even if it won't do anything, I'll feel better," she said.
"Alright, I won't," I said as I stood up. "But it's getting late. The council's gonna be starting soon. Have you seen Frodo at all?"
"Nope, haven't seen any of our friends. I think I saw Legolas and Aragorn earlier, and I saw a party of Men arrive right before I came here, though."
"Hum, that must've been Boromir. Well, I best go off and find Frodo. Can you go find out what time the council is, and meet you at my room in a half?" (hour)
"Uh, sure."
I reached his door, and for some odd reason, I felt hesitant to knock, almost nervous. ::Why do I feel like this? Frodo and I are just friends, best of friends sure, but that's all we'll ever be. That's all I'll allow it to be. He has his fate and I have mine. His fate . . . :: I finally got up my nerve and knocked on the door.
"Frodo? Frodo, you there?"
No reply.
I waited a few more moments, no movement inside the room at all. I turned the doorknob, which to my surprise wasn't locked, and pushed the door open. It was a bright room with many windows and a balcony; it had a similar set up as mine. On the bed, which was by all means way too big for hobbitish standards, lay Frodo curled up in a ball with the blankets on the floor.
"Frodo?" I went over and sat down on the side of the bed. No stir whatsoever. I tucked some loose curls behind his ear and started tickling his cheek. He only started to smile at my touch. "Come on, Frodo! You gotta get up!"
"Hum?" he said as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Hey. . . how did I get here? I don't remember coming up here, though actually, I don't recall much from last night."
I chuckled. "Man, what Gandalf said you were gonna be out like a light, he wasn't kidding. Now come on, you gotta get ready. The council's gonna be starting soon."
"Ah! There you are!" Gandalf said as we approached my door. Lauren was leaning against it and biting the inside of her cheek. She looked up and grinned. "Come, follow me. It's time."
Gandalf took the lead, us following close behind. We followed him through all the winding hallways, having to run after him because of his long strides compared to ours. "Come on, come on! Keep up!"
We eventually found ourselves on a big balcony surrounded by beautiful waterfalls. There were a big circle of chairs, in the middle was a large stone pedestal. Many people were already there, most eyeing us as we walked to our seats. I don't know why, maybe because Lauren and I are women and what we are dealing with here are a bunch of sexist assholes, or perhaps it was just the mere fact that the three of us are hobbits and have rarely been seen by them before. I don't really care what their reasons are though, I can feel their eyes on us, staring. I just wanted to take a stick and poke their eyes out. Maybe then they'll learn some manners.
When everyone had arrived, Elrond stood. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction. You will unite or you will fall," he said, "Bring forth the ring, Frodo." He motioned toward the pedestal.
Frodo went up, placed the ring down, and sat back down with a sigh. Whispers spread throughout the council like rapidfire. One voice raised above all others.
"So it is true . . ." a man, I supposed to Boromir said as he stood. "It is a gift, a gift from the very fires of Mordor! Why not use this ring?" he started pacing about, "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, and let us use it against him!"
"You cannot use it!" Strider interupted and when Boromir glared he continued, "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?" he questioned mockingly.
At this a tall blonde haired elf jumped up angrily. "This is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your alligence."
"This . . .is Isildur's heir?" he stammered.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor."
Frodo's eyes widened in shock. He turned and looked at me with a questioning look; I returned it with a smile.
"Havo dad, Legolas," Aragorn said. (Sit down.) "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king," Boromir muttered while taking his seat.
To prevent any more arguments Gandalf said quickly, "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
"You have but one choice. The ring must be destroyed," Elrond said simply. A dwarf rose impatiently.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked, then grabbed an axe from one of his companions, and with a cry and all his might he struck the ring. There was a loud bang and Frodo jumped in his seat, grabbed his head, and started breathing heavily. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" I whispered. He had his head in his hands and was stealing glances of horror at the ring. He nodded slowly, closed his eyes, and sighed. On his other side, Lauren sat looking at him worriedly, and then gave me a weak smile.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft that we here possess." Gimli was several feet away from the pedestal, on his back surrounded by his companions. The axe lay shattered in pieces atop the pedestal and on the floor around it. "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."
Evil whispers in the black speech could be heard. "Ash nazg . . ." (one ring) I could hear it inside my head, the same freighting voice that plagued my dreams only but less then a month ago in the comforts of my room at Bag End. It had seemed so behind us, like it was years, not just a couple of weeks ago.
Elrond snapped me out of my thoughts. "One of you must do this." The council fell silent for several moments. "One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir stated. "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!"
Legolas stood. "Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond just said? The ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think that you're the one to do it?!" Gimli said while he leapt to his feet. Boromir then rose as well.
"And what 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!" Gimli spat. The other elves stood and began shouting at Gimli and the dwarves. "Never trust an elf!" Legolas had to hold his companions back to prevent a full out brawl.
Gandalf stood and began shouting at them. "Do you not understand that while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it!" However, no one was heeding his words; they were too consumed in insulting each other.
Frodo sat up straight and watched everyone arguing. He shook his head. "And to think, they're all at each others throats over a blasted ring." I smiled at his words. ::I think he's been spending a little too much time with me, I think I rubbed off on him.:: He stood up and tried to get their attention, to get his voice heard over all theirs, but to no avail.
Lauren and I exchanged glances, yup, we were thinking the same thing. We both climbed on top of our chairs and stood. Lauren counted on her fingers 1, 2, 3 . . . and we both yelled, "Yo! Will you dudes just chill out?!" Everyone immediately stopped and just stared at us. Well, what have we learned today kids? The only way to get a hobbit even acknowledged at a council like this is to speak all "ghetto." Strange, I know, but hey, at least it worked.
"I believe Frodo has something important to say," I said.
"I will take the ring to Mordor," he said as all eyes were on him, "Though . . . I do not know the way."
Gandalf smiled, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." He stood behind Frodo and placed a hand on his shoulder. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will," Aragorn said then kneeled before Frodo. "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow," Legolas said, then stood beside the hobbit.
"And my axe!" Gimli chipped in while he and Legolas glared at each other.
Boromir approached him slowly. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
Sam then came running out from behind some pillars near the edge of the balcony. "Heh!" he said as he pushed his way to Frodo's side. "Mr. Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me!"
"No indeed," Elrond said slightly amused, "It's hard enough to separate you two, even when he's summoned to a secret council and you are not."
Hearing this, Merry and Pippin came running out of their hiding spots shouting, "Hey, wait! We're coming too!" and placed themselves in the middle of the group.
"And you're gonna have to send us home in a sack to stop us!" Merry said to a now irritated Elrond.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission . . . quest . . . thing!" Pippin said.
"Well, I guess that rules you out, Pip," Lauren laughed as we came over to the group.
"Nine companions . . . so be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond declared.
"Great! Now, uh, where are we going?" questioned Pippin, resulting in Merry hitting him along side the head. "Ow!"
Frodo and Sam had realized something that Pippin and Merry did not; Lauren and I weren't part of the Fellowship. However, we had already made up a plan of our own.
Alrighty! I finally finished that! Whew! Hope you guys liked that long chappy, 2,420 words, to be exact. Now since it is late, I am off to bed. Please review!
Rocky