The next few days were spent by Bessimar and Urban in the copious libraries of Rivendell, where they were brought up to speed on topography and the history of Middle-Earth. Bessimar also spent time reading as much as he could about Sauron and the Maiar, while Urban proselytized in Sigmar's name to anyone and everyone who would listen. Which actually included most of Rivendell, as they seemed to have a fascination with this land that was unknown to them.

Gandalf, Elrond, and Aragorn on the other hand spent much of the next few days preparing for the council, and trying to learn as much about the two men as they could. Gandalf received a rude surprise when he told Bessimar that in common Westron those of his order were called "Wizards" and the Witch Hunter almost jumped out of his boots, followed by a mad scramble for his weapon. If Urban had not been there to calm him down then things might have turned very ugly.

Aragorn and Elrond too had a rude surprise, when they found out what it was that a Witch Hunter does. Aragorn very nearly struck Bessimar as he recounted the villages he had to put to the torch and people he had to burn at the stake to keep the Empire safe from the ever-present threat of Chaos.

Though, at least for the inhabitants of Rivendell, the most troubling thing about the two men were their harrowing tales of the Great Enemy, Chaos. They began to whisper that if these men had somehow found their way here then was it possible that this Chaos could follow? Unbeknownst to them, the pair had conversations along a similar vein. Urban in particular lamented at the thought that it could be their intervention that led Chaos to a new world, with new victims. And Bessimar, well he thought that if Chaos followed then it might join with Sauron, and then… well, that would be bad.

Once all the delegates had arrived the council was called. Bessimar and Urban, much to their chagrin, sat beside Gandalf as he sat beside Frodo.

The council was merely formality till Frodo brought forth the Ring, to the pair it appeared to be a simple golden band, nothing special. But then, starting with Urban, they could hear the whispers in their mind. Offers of power beyond their wildest comprehension, if only they would submit. Bessimar, in his mind, told the ring to "Screw off!", while beside him Urban's reciting of the litanies of the Deus Sigmar quieted the words in his mind.

Both were almost to the point of rushing and striking the Ring out of sheer annoyance, when a dwarf whose name had not been told to them said "Well what are we waiting for!?", and charged the ring himself, slamming his axe down upon it.

There was an almighty crack and the axe flew apart in many different shards, the Dwarf thrown on his back upon the ground, shocked.

"The ring" intoned Elrond "cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, 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… one of you must do this."

The entire council was silent, even the two newcomers… and they had faced terrors that would scare many of the council members to the point of wetting themselves.

The silence lasted till a brown-haired man said "One does not simply walk into Mordor, it's gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful." The man curled his fingers into an "O" shape when intoning the word "eye", then continued "Tis a barren wasteland, Riddled with ash, fire, and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume, not with ten-thousand men could you do this, it is folly."

Then a golden-haired elf stood up and said "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said! The ring must be destroyed!"

Then the dwarf named Gimli retorted "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!"

Then the brown-haired man stood and heatedly said "And if we fail what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his!?"

Gimli finished the discussion by saying "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an Elf!"

The council devolved into a massive argument, the newcomers watched with thinly veiled contempt as the council members argued, until something miraculous happened…

"I will take it!" shouted a small voice above the din. A halfling strode forward and said "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way."

Gandalf stood and strode forward saying "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is your burden to bear."

Aragorn now stepped forward saying "If by my life or death I can protect you I will, you have my sword."

The Elf stepped forward and said "And you have my bow!"

Then Gimli stepped forward and said "And my axe!"

The brown-haired man stepped forward last and said "You carry the fate of us all little one, if this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."

Then out of the bushes rushed another halfling, who pledged himself to the cause, then two more appeared and did the same.

Finally, Elrond looked to the newcomers Bessimar and Urban stood and Urban said "By Sigmar's will we shall accompany you, may we serve you well."

"Eleven companions…" said Elrond, "So be it, you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

Then one of the halflings said "Great, where are we going?"

Urban facepalmed and Bessimar rolled his eyes.