Chapter 12

Fated

Author's Note: As is clear here, I've decided to break up the Council of Elrond into three chapters. At least I hope it will be three. I originally intended for two, but with the nature of this rewrite I realized that many more characters would have more to contribute to the Consequences storyline as well as the normal LOTR one. This coupled with adding Brianna's story has made the chapter incredibly long. And she'd also not done speaking. She has yet to explain what she means by "the wall between the worlds" after all :)! I read through this to look for continuity errors and errors for the spelling of names, but I'm sure I missed quite a bit. Anything that looks like it came directly from LOTR by JRR Tolkien is exactly that and I certain don't own it.

As an aside The Council of Elrond was always my least favorite chapter to write because there is always so much to cover in it that I lose patience when it isn't finished. But Enjoy!

Aragorn has believed himself to be unshakable once upon a time, but that was before he began actively fighting the enemy. The Nazgul shook him. The appearance of Brianna unsettled him. Frodo's would had scared him. The clear attraction he held for Brianna unnerved him. Hearing her proclaim herself High Queen of the Elves brought all thoughts to a halt. She looked uncomfortable as she stared at Legolas. Aragorn was surprised. He'd never seen his friend kneel before his father, yet here he was on his knees before Brianna.

"I had not known one of my ancestors walked the lands of Arda once," she said.

There was a brittleness to her tone Aragorn hadn't heard from her before. To admit who and what she was placed her in a vulnerable position to be sure, but was it possible she was afraid of it as he was afraid of his heritage?

"The Queen Laurealasse once knew my father, King Thranduil of the Greenwood as the prince he once was," Legolas replied. "We owe your family a great boon in the conflict between our people and the dragons of the north."

She still seemed thrown. When she looked to him Aragorn saw it in her eyes. All fear he once had melted away and he wished to go to her and offer comfort and support. Wisely he held his seat, but did not look from her. Some tension left her and after a moment she returned her attention to Legolas.

"Rise, Legolas of the Greenwood, there's no need for formality here. It is a pleasure to meet one who knows of my ancestor," she said finally.

That is a half truth. She's not particularly pleased, he thought.

Legolas rose and returned to his seat, but Aragorn noticed an air of reverence in his gaze that hadn't been there before. The other elves seemed to hold the same opinions as they gazed at her with varying looks of awe and appraisal. Lord Elrond and Glorfindel seemed to be the only ones unsurprised by the revelation.

Did they know? He wondered.

Once the initial shock of the revelation died away. Brianna continued her narrative, "I was very young when my family was taken from the physical world. Their bodies were butchered, torn and desecrated by those who would see harm done to the elven royal line. We were betrayed from the inside by those we believed allies. As a result I, and a few others, are all that is left. I am the first born of the direct line and am the Queen. As elven Queen I have abilities many who seek power only dream of. The consequence of this is their lust for that same power as well as my throne. For many millennia my family has been hunted by these people for the purpose of gaining that very power and whatever else we could offer. So far, they have failed, but it seems as though they have concocted a new way of dealing with me though I'm not certain of their particulars nor can I guess who it is that enemies like the one Aragorn, Frodo and I met on the road travelling with the Black Riders cast their lot with. Sauron would never be recognized as their leader He is not from my world. I had thought I destroyed their leader on earth, but I have been since proved wrong and still cannot guess their plan. It involves Sauron and breaking through the… er… wall between our worlds. That wall has been damaged, I am told, and it must be prepared. By Lord Elrond's Council I must journey to a place that will enable me to do so safely, but Council from others will be most welcome. Either way this wall must be repaired and my enemies must be stopped from crossing over. Only then can I deal with the ones here."

Then she told of her coming into Arda. Aragorn listened as unfamiliar terms fell from her lips of places, things, people. As she spoke the light in her eyes dimmed somewhat and Aragorn wanted nothing more than to reach out to her and comfort her from the distress she clearly felt. When she was finished she slowly turned to her seat and lowered herself onto its sturdy wooden frame.

No one ventured to contribute. Aragorn wished to. His hands itches to reach out and enfold her into his arms, but he kept them at his side. He could do little but hopelessly watch as the rest of the council began whispering to themselves. Finally Lord Elrond turned to her.

"What do you know if the enemies who are here?" He asked.

"Very little," Brianna replied, "I know of one giving aid to your enemy. His name is Erebus, but as to his allegiances I don't know. The one he had once been sworn to is dead."

Aragorn didn't need to ask what happened to this particular dead enemy. The tilt of her lips told him enough.

"I may be of some assistance here," Boromir said and leaned forward.

Brianna looked at him as if she didn't quite know what to make of his presence before inching her chin into a barely perceptible nod. The man from Gondor stood and towered over her as most in the party would. Aragorn frowned at this. This Boromir seemed to be attempting to establish a dominance he hadn't quite deserved.

"A strange occurrence happened days before I left. A great shadow of terrible power erupted from the gates of Mordor. A black rider stride through the night and brought madness to the peoples. Following him was a power more sinister than I have ever seen. An armored elf with hair as black as night and skin like a specter rode forth from Mordor with a fell army behind him. That army…" Boromir countenance waned and he turned away from the rest of them.

Only Aragorn could see his face. It was pale with a sheen of sweat that broke out along his brow. Brianna stepped forward and laid a hesitant hand on his shoulder. She looked unsettled once again maybe more so than she had when Legolas dropped to his knees before her.

"What did the army do to your people, brave Lord?" She asked.

She knows, Aragorn thought, she wants him to say it.

Boromir swallowed at turned to look meet her gaze. Aragorn, like the others, leaned forward in their seats with collective breaths held.

"Those creatures, Those once men, took my people, soldiers and innocents alike, and drained them of their blood. Some remained dead. Some rose the next evening and began to… bite and drink and rip our people to pieces," he confessed.

Aragorn sat limply back into his chair. What sort of power could bring the dead to life in such a way? One look at Brianna informed him she wasn't surprised by this turn of events. In fact she seemed angry.

"They're called vampires in my world," she said and there was a soft wrath in her tone Aragorn hadn't heard her use before. "Did That elf have a name? Has anyone ever heard it spoken before?"

Boromir seemed to consider his answer for a moment. He was likely just as stunned by her reaction as Aragorn was. Glorfindel and Elrond remained stoic as well, but a crease in their brow told him that they, too, were troubled.

"I believe the reports of one survivor said the creatures called him Prince Hades," he said finally.

Brianna's eyes narrowed, "Hades? Are you sure?"

"No, your grace, but I trust my men and such was their report. I have no reason to doubt it," Boromir replied.

"Do you know if this Hades?" Glorfindel asked.

Brianna nodded stiffly, "I am quite aware of him."

"What do you suppose is his purpose in allying with The Dark Lord?" Elrond asked.

"The same reason I gave you. He likely wishes to displace me from the throne and take it for himself," Brianna replied.

A thin, feral smile spread across her lips, but she didn't say anything more. She merely nodded to Boromir and thanked him for his help in the matter and then returned to her seat. She offered no more information about this Prince Hades.

Boromir did not return to his seat. Instead he looked at Lord Elrond and clasped his hands behind his back.

"If you will, may I speak further of my matter?" He asked.

Lord Elrond waved his hand, "If this was not all, continue."

As he told his tale Boromir began to pace the length of the council floor. Aragorn watched him for a while before turning his gaze to Brianna. She sat as still as a statue, her eyes closed, and lips pressed into a thin line. She was considering something and whatever it was did not settle well in her thoughts.

Boromir finished his small soliloquy about Gondor and continued with the matter he came for:

"The dead and fell elves are not the only things our enemy has made allies with. The Easterlings and the Cruel Haradrim have crossed our borders and have taken most of Ithilien! In June, the time your fell Hades made his appearance in the land, we were outnumbered and overrun by his forces! A power was there that we have not felt before. Some said that it could be seen, like a great black horseman, a dark shadow under the moon. Wherever he came a madness filled our foes, but fear fell on our boldest, so that horse and man gave way and fled. Only a remnant of our eastern force came back, destroying the last bridge that still stood amid the ruins of Osgiliath. I was in the company that held the bridge, until it was cast down behind us. Four only were saved by swimming: my brother and myself and two others. But still we fight on, holding all the west shores of Anduin; and those who shelter behind us give us praise, if ever they hear our name: much praise but little help. Only from Rohan now will any men ride to us when we call. 'In this evil hour I have come on an errand over many dangerous leagues to Elrond: a hundred and ten days I have journeyed all alone. But I do not seek allies in war. The might of Elrond is in wisdom not in weapons, it is said. I come to ask for counsel and the unravelling of hard words. For on the eve of the sudden assault a dream came to my brother in a troubled sleep; and afterwards a like dream came oft to him again, and once to me. In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:"

"Seek for the Sword that was broken:

In Imladris it dwells;

There shall be counsels taken

Stronger than Morgul-spells.

There shall be shown a token

That Doom is near at hand,

For Isildur's Bane shall waken,

And the Halfling forth shall stand."

Aragorn frowned. The sword that was broken rested in the folds of his cloak. He glanced at Brianna. She crossed both arms and legs with a small frown on her lips. He watched her sadly.

Two secrets shall be revealed this day, it seems, he thought.

Boromir continued, "Of these words we could understand little, and we spoke to our father, Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith, wise in the lore of Gondor. This only would he say, that Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale, where Elrond the Halfelven dwelt, greatest of lore-masters. Therefore my brother, seeing how desperate was our need, was eager to heed the dream and seek for Imladris; but since the way was full of doubt and danger, I took the journey upon myself. Loth was my father to give me leave, and long have I wandered by roads forgotten, seeking the house of Elrond, of which many had heard, but few knew where it lay."

Aragorn took this moment to stand and reach into the folds of his cloak where he kept Isildur's broken sword, "You come to Imladris to seek answers. You will find all that you seek here."

He threw the sword onto the table and unlaced it from the cloth that kept the pieces together. From the corner of his eye he saw Brianna solve the riddle in a blink. It was her turn to gape at him, teal eyes wide. A part of him was gratified that she was both impressed and astonished.

"Here is the blade that was broken!" Aragorn said and looked into the astonished gaze of Boromir.

"And who are you and what have you to do with Minas Tirith?" Boromir asked.

"Oh bloody hell," Brianna muttered almost inaudibly.

Her remark almost made him smile.

"This is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn and heir to Isildur," Lord Elrond said.

Boromir's expression was caught between astonishment and disbelief. Aragorn stood waiting patiently for any sort of reply. It was Frodo who piped in first.

"Then it is yours and not mine!" He said and sprang forth from his seat.

Aragorn shook his head, "No, Frodo, it does not belong to either of us."

"It belongs in a fiery pit of molten lava," Brianna deadpanned, "I can make one for you if you'd like."

This conversation confused all those who didn't know about the ring. They leaned towards each other and whispered their mutual confusion. Lord Elrond, Gandalf and Glorfindel were of the few in attendance who knew the true subject of this meeting.

The wizard waved them all down, "Enough of this! The time has come! Frodo, bring out the ring and hold it up so Boromir can see."

Aragorn backed away from Boromir as Frodo stepped forward. The Hobbit's face was white as a sheet and his hands trembled as they reached into his coat to pull out the cursed golden trinket for all to see.

"The halfling," Boromir muttered, "but is there some doom to come to us at last. But why should I seek a broken sword?"

"Rally The people, Maybe?" Brianna piped in timelessly.

Aragorn glanced at her. She looked at Boromir as if he was the biggest idiot in her presence. He cleared his throat and she looked at him. Aragorn raised a dark brow in her direction and she in return. Her lips quirked.

"But I did not come here for military help, but to seek the meaning of a riddle," Boromir responded.

"And the meaning of the riddle is for you to bring back the sword along with the man who owns it which would happen to be the man standing in front of you this very moment," she responded sharply.

"I will admit," Boromir responded, "that the sword of Elendil would greatly aid us in these dark times if such a feat could be attempted."

At this moment Bilbo stirred and said:

"All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken:

The crownless again shall be king."

Aragorn felt his cheeks redden slightly as the last few words died into the late morning air. Bilbo has made that up for him upon their meeting many years ago. It always unsettled him a bit to be reminded of it. The prophetic utterance that it was made him wish he never had to think on the subject. Yet his old friend liked to remind him of what he was certain was fated. For he, Aragorn, to become the king of Gondor.

Despite this, Aragorn smiled at his little friend then he turned to Boromir again. The man was watching him with no small amount of doubt.

"For my part I forgive your doubt," he said. "Little do I resemble the figures of Elendil and Isildur as they stand carven in their majesty in the halls of Denethor. I am but the heir of Isildur, not Isildur himself. I have had a hard life and a long; and the leagues that lie between here and Gondor are a small part in the count of my journeys. I have crossed many mountains and many rivers, and trodden many plains, even into the far countries of Rhûn and Harad where the stars are strange. But my home, such as I have, is in the North. For here the heirs of Valandil have ever dwelt in long line unbroken from father unto son for many generations. Our days have darkened, and we have dwindled; but ever the Sword has passed to a new keeper. And this I will say to you, Boromir, ere I end. Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, hunters –but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only. If Gondor, Boromir, has been a stalwart tower, we have played another part. Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords do not stay. You know little of the lands beyond your bounds. Peace and freedom, do you say? The North would have known them little but for us. Fear would have destroyed them. But when dark things come from the houseless hills, or creep from sunless woods, they fly from us. What roads would any dare to tread, what safety would there be in quiet lands, or in the homes of simple men at night, if the Dúnedain were asleep, or were all gone into the grave? And yet less thanks have we than you. Travellers scowl at us, and countrymen give us scornful names. "Strider" I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so. That has been the task of my kindred, while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown. But now the world is changing once again. A new hour comes. Isildur's Bane is found. Battle is at hand. The Sword shall be reforged. I will come to Minas Tirith."

"Isildur's bane is found today, but I only see a bright little ring," Boromir said mistrust still evident in his voice.

He was clearly unsettled by this turn of news and Aragorn wondered at it. Did he find more than he originally wished to?

Brianna stood and nodded to Frodo, "Place the ring on that stone pallet, Frodo."

He did so, but seemed reluctant to do so. Brianna motioned for him to back away and she approached the stone and raised her right palm. It erupted to a ball of angry flames. Boromir gasped and stepped away from her. Other elves in their attendance leaned back in their chairs. She held her hand over the ring and pushed a pillar of that burning anger into it. Frodo winced, as if struck by something, and Aragorn felt concern for him.

After a minute the fire died and Brianna stepped away from it and motioned in its general direction, "That should have turned it into molten lava! Oh, and there are markings! Hadn't expected that, but this was a bit impromptu."

Gandalf snorted, "Such a display wasn't required, your grace."

"But necessary,"'she responded and waved her hand over it again, "there's no doubt now that it is a ring of power."

"But how has it passed through the years only to appear in the hands of so strange a messenger?" Boromir persisted.

"That shall be told,"said Elrond.

"But not yet, I beg, Master!" cried Bilbo. "Already the Sun is climbing to noon, and I feel the need of something to strengthen me."

"I had not named you, Master Bilbo, but I do so now. Come forward and tell us of how you came by the ring," Lord Elrond said.

Aragorn and Boromir took their seats. Brianna waited until Frodo retrieved the ring before returning to her own chair. She smiled at the hobbit who returned that smile with a weak one of his own.

"Very well," said the Hobbit, "I will tell this tale in its entirety. I must apologize to those who had heard a variation of it and ask that they forget it and forgive me. I had only wished to claim a treasure I viewed as mine and wipe the stain of the name thief from me."

And a tale he told with precision. Aragorn has heard variations of it, of course, and listened with growing astonishment as Bilbo recounted the journey from Hobbiton to The Lonely Mountain in the company of Thorin Oakenshield. Gloin looked the most interested in the bits Aragorn was certain Bilbo had glossed over, lies about, or never mentioned at all. When he was finished the council sat in silence for several long moments as they considered all that they had heard.

"Am I to understand that Arda has little to do with dragons?" Brianna asked.

"In this age, yes," Gandalf replied.

Aragorn wasn't the only one to cast curious glances at her. She stared at Bilbo thoughtfully with one forefinger pressed against the corner of her lips.

"Just curious," she said.

Frodo was called forth just then to give his version of events which included the unforeseen arrival of Brianna from the realm of Earth and the dealings with her enemies. Once finished he sat down once again and exchanged a few words with Bilbo. Then Gandalf was finally asked to speak and speak he did of past and recent tidings.

"At first I was lulled by the words of Saruman that the ring had long washed itself down the Anduin never to return. But then seventeen years ago I began to hold a suspicion of where the ring might be and I first set about in finding Gollum its last keeper. I commissioned the help of Aragorn and poured my heart on the matter into his confidence," Gandalf began.

"Aye, and I counseled we search for Gollum anyway despite how late the search would begin," Aragorn offered.

"Yes and we chased him through myth and rumor of the creature, but we never managed to find him. Then I thought of a test, a test that our elven Queen instinctually performed in your very presence. If the ring is tossed into flames markings would reveal themselves along its band - not so for the other rings. The nine, the seven and the three each had their proper gem, yet the one does not. With that thought I forsook the chase and passed swiftly into Gondor to begin researching the subject. Lord Denethor was less welcoming than he was of old, but he allowed me to search through the ancient texts and scrolls. He was quite certain I wouldn't find anything that Saruman had not already poured through. I did not completely reveal my task, but explained that I wished to research into the beginnings of the city. I will tell you now that I have, Indeed, found a treasure, Boromir. A scroll, unread by most save Saruman and myself, write. By the hand of Isildur," Gandalf said, "For he did not go straight north as once thought by so many."

"This we know," Boromir broke in, "those in the north may not, but all in Gondor heard told to them for generations that Isildur went to Minas Arnor before riding north. He placed his nephew on the throne of Anor and planted the last of the white trees in memory of his brother."

Brianna stirred again and interjected, "Its one thing to know something told through oral tradition later written down hundreds of years later. It's another thing to have direct historical confirmation to said oral tradition."

"And what would a queen know of these matters?" Boromir asked.

She smiled and clasped her hands in her lap, "I wasn't always a queen, my lord. In earlier days I did extensive study on history and the ways to differentiate said history from mere storytelling."

He bowed and Gandalf flared at them, "If you two are quite finished I shall continue my tale."

Without missing a moment Brianna imperiously waved her hand and then winked at the wizard. Gandalf grumbled something under his breath that Aragorn couldn't quite make out. It made Brianna chuckle just a bit.

"Isildur also made this scroll, Boromir, and I was able to read it. I have committed its contents to memory as it were and shall tell them to you presently:

"The Great Ring shall go now to be an heirloom of the North Kingdom; but records of it shall be left in Gondor, where also dwell the heirs of Elendil, lest a time come when the memory of these great matters shall grow dim."

"And after these words Isildur described the Ring, such as he found it.

"It was hot when I first took it, hot as a glede, and my hand was scorched, so that I doubt if ever again I shall be free of the pain of it. Yet even as I write it is cooled, and it seemeth to shrink, though it loseth neither its beauty nor its shape. Already the writing upon it, which at first was as clear as red flame, fadeth and is now only barely to be read. It is fashioned in an elven-script of Eregion, for they have no letters in Mordor for such subtle work; but the language is unknown to me. I deem it to be a tongue of the Black Land, since it is foul and uncouth. What evil it saith I do not know; but I trace here a copy of it, lest it fade beyond recall. The Ring misseth, maybe, the heat of Sauron's hand, which was black and yet burned like fire, and so Gil-galad was destroyed; and maybe were the gold made hot again, the writing would be refreshed. But for my part I will risk no hurt to this thing: of all the works of Sauron the only fair. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain."

"Once I read this my quest was over and I took my leave of Denethor and journeyed north. As I did so news from the north came to me from Aragorn that he found the wretched creature, Gollum. I went first there to meet him and hear his tale, though through what dangers Aragorn went through to fetch this creature I could not say," Gandalf said.

All eyes shifted to Aragorn and they waited for him to continue the tale. For his part he wished he need not have bothered, but the necessity of it was there.

"I had journeyed close to Mordor and was met with the dangers of doing so though not one fiend from the Black Gate, outworlder or no, saw me and knew my name. This was the first occasion I, myself, beheld these vampires and a myriad of other foul beasts. I confess to have erroneously thought them of Sauron and did not think to report them at the time," he cast an apologetic look to Brianna, "but I, too, despaired of finding Gollum and journeyed homeward. Yet, luck did I have for I discovered him in a muddy pool just outside of the Dead Marshes. There I apprehended him and stole him away to Mirkwood and Thranduil's court for safe keeping. Gandalf came shortly after and had long words with him."

"Long Words they were," said the old wizard, "long and weary, but not without profit. For one, the tale he told of losing the ring agrees with that which Bilbo has now told openly for the first time; but that mattered little, since I had already guessed it. But I learned then first that Gollum's ring came out of the Great River nigh to the Gladden Fields. And I learned also that he had possessed it long. Many lives of his small kind. The power of the ring had lengthened his years far beyond their span; but that power only the Great Rings wield. 'And if that is not proof enough, Galdor, there is the other test that I spoke of. Upon this very ring which you have here seen held aloft, round and unadorned, the letters that Isildur reported may still be read, if one has the strength of will to set the golden thing in the fire a while. That I have done, and this I have read: Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."

Those words left Aragorn disquieted as well as the rest of those in attendance. Even Brianna looked alarmed but also contemplative. She leaned forward and Gandalf looked at her eyes raised. They didn't speak like he expected them to; however, and continued to stare at each other in silence. By a twitch of a brow, a stirring of a hand, and finally a quirk of Gandalf's mouth Aragorn understood it. Brianna had questions she wanted answering, but didn't wish to voice aloud with others in the room. She resorted to asking in Gandalf's own mind.

What stranger things will I discover the longer she remains among us? Aragorn wondered.

"The words of Mordor have never been spoken in the halls of Imladris, Mithrandir," Lord Elrond said barely concealing his disquiet.

"I know," Gandalf replied as if waking from a trance.

Aragorn observed Brianna and noted she looked far more concerned than she had at first. She glanced at Frodo, looked as if to speak, then glanced away again as if deciding not to.

"Let us hope I will never need to again, but I do not beg pardon for this. I will; however, translate them for those present: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

Aragorn felt a chill run through his veins. Such intent was there long ago, it seemed. One could almost wonder if the rings, even the elven rings not forged by Sauron, had been intended to one day feed the power of the One. If that was such the case then what did it mean for them?

"Know also, my friends," Gandalf continued. "that I learned more yet from Gollum. He was loth to speak and his tale was unclear, but it is beyond all doubt that he went to Mordor, and there all that he knew was forced from him. Thus the Enemy knows now that the One is found, that it was long in the Shire; and since his servants have pursued it almost to our door, he soon will know, already he may know, even as I speak, that we have it here."