The next day, Kopa was the first one to step out of the room Elrond had prepared for him and his family. He shook his brown mane before looking at the area. It still couldn't believe a place this beautiful could exist. But then his thoughts returned to the previous night when his parents told them what they learned about the Ring and its actual Bearer ...
/(Flashback)/
Kopa , Vitani, Kovu and Kiara were walking side by side , following an Elf Guard who was escorting them to their fresh-made room. As the four Lions visited Rivendell, they came across Lord Elrond's daughter , Arwen , who happily showed them around. The beautiful She-Elf became a good friend for the four Lions especially to Kiara and Vitani.
At the end of their tour, Arwen had to leave them alone so she wished them good night before disappearing. Then an Elf Guard appeared to escort them to their room. Arrived there, the four young Lions were greeted by Simba and Nala, who were already there.
The Elf who escorted them then saluted the Felines respectfully , wishing them good night before leaving. Nala then looked at her husband gravely and he nodded back at her before inquiring the younger Lions to come around.
Kopa was a bit surprised by the tone in his father's voice but , pushed his thoughts aside to sit in front of him. Vitani sat at his left side while Kovu and his mate sat on his right. They all looked at their King and Queen with interest "As you know, Nala and me discussed with Lord Elrond ..." Simba began to say when he was sure that the young Lions before him were listening.
"We asked him about the One Ring and who discovered it..." Nala added gravely before sighing. "So who is it ?" Kiara asked her mother who looked at Simba as if she expected him to answer.
The Red Maned Lion sighed deeply before saying in a neutral tone " Gandalf the Grey , who was there , told us that the Ring had been with my old friend Bilbo Baggins for 60 years… Before it was given to his nephew Frodo Baggins…" Then Nala then spoke those words "Gandalf went to Saruman for advice but instead, learned that the White Wizard had sided with Sauron..."
"Wait a minute… Sauron is DEAD , isn't he ? Isildur killed him !" Kovu asked them with disbelief but those words caused their monarchs to sigh deeply " No… Sauron is not COMPLETELY dead… His spirit remained because the Ring wasn't destroyed..." Simba explained in a calm tone.
Those news caused the younger Lions to gasp in shock before Vitani growled softy "If Isildur had tossed the Ring in Mount Doom that day, none of this would have happened !" "I know but remember , the Ring corrupted him… He wasn't entirely his fault..." Nala said in a soft one to defend the dead King of Gondor.
"Elrond told us that if Sauron ever got the Ring… He would regain his full power and all creatures of Middle-Earth would be in danger !" Simba then added with a stern look on his face. "That's why Elrond organized this Council… He hope that the persons present would want the destruction of the One Ring...".
Everyone staid silent after Nala said those words. " I wonder who would be stupid enough for wanting to keep the Ring..." Kopa mumbled to himself and everyone muttered their agreement. "We should worry about that tomorrow ! For now let's just rest..." Kovu said with a yawn earning snickers from the others but they agreed with the idea.
Because they usually slept on the ground, none of them used the beds. Nala went to sleep against her mate and King and pretty much all females were doing the same : Kiara went against Kovu while Vitani snuggled against Kopa's side. After wishing each other good nights, all Lions fell asleep.
/(End of Flashback)/
Kopawas still deep in thoughts when an Elf Guard approached him. The Brown Maned Lion greeted the newcomer and the Guard returned it respectfully before saying "Lord Elrond asked me to warn you that the Council will soon begin..." Kopa nodded in understanding before re-entering the room to wake his family.
By instinct, he approached his mate, Vitani, before nudging her with his muzzle "Wake up sleepyhead…." Vitani soon grunted before opening her mouth, yawning. Then she looked at her mate with a smile "Good morning dear… Why did you wake me up ?"
"The Council will begin soon… I was just warned… Can you help me wake the others ?" Kopa asked his mate who nodded before the two approached their sleeping comrades. Vitani went to Kiara and Kovu while Kopa approached his parents.
The Brown maned Lion gently nudged his mother who opened her turquoise eyes to gaze at her son "Kopa ? What is it ?" "Mom the Council will begin soon..." At those words, Nala instantly woke up before nudging her mate who grunted in displeasure before lifting his head to gaze at his son and wife "What's going on ?" the King asked them half-awake.
"The Council..." Kopa began to say but he didn't needed to continue because it seemed that his father got the point as the Red Maned Lion went on his paws soon followed by Nala. Kopa then glanced at his sister and brother-in-law who were both awake , but seemed a bit grumpy.
"Why did you wake us up Vi ?" Kovu asked his sister grumpily while his mate was glaring at her. "Kopa told me the Council was about to start !" Vitani responded with a roll of her eyes. "Oh" was all the auburn male muttered as he and Kiara glanced at each other.
Kopa chuckled to himself before walking out of the room to face the Elf Guard who still stood there "They are coming..." he warned the Guard who nodded in acceptance as the two of them waited patiently for the others to join them. Soon , Simba, Nala, Vitani, Kovu and Kiara stepped out of the room one by one before greeting the Elf who lead them toward where the Council was organized.
The six Lions soon found Elrond standing before many people who were sitting on some chairs which formed a semi-circle around the Lord Elf. In the middle of this assembly was a stone pedestal. On the chairs, were a congregation of Men, Elves and Dwarves. Among them, Simba could see Gandalf, the Grey Wizard, sitting next to someone who looked like a Dwarf but with bigger feet.
The moment the group of Felines appeared, all eyes were turned toward them. Some were showing sign of shock and amazement while others showed confusion on their faces. " Our last guests are finally arrived ! Please take your seats..." Elrond greeted them respectfully until someone asked " Lord Elrond forgive me but who are those Lions and what are they doing here among us ?"
Kopa looked at the one who talked : it was was a tall man with a fair and noble face with ligh-brown hair and stern blue eyes . His garments were rich, and his cloak was lined with fur and he had a collar of silver in which a single white stone was set; his locks were shorn about his shoulders. On a baldric he wore a great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees.
" Those Lions have all right to be here among us Boromir , son of Denethor !" Elrond responded gravely before nodding his head toward Simba who understood what this mean. He stepped forward before looking at everyone present "I am Simba… King of the Pridelands ! And this is my family !" the Red Maned Lion gestured with his head toward his companions.
At the moment, Boromir paled as he realized he was in the presence of royalty and he apologized before staying silent for a moment. The other members of the congregation greeted them respectfully before everyone looked back at the Lord Elf who was wearing a stern and grave look on his face.
When he was sure that everyone was listening, Elrond started to talk in a serious tone who showed the gravity of the situation " Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. 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."
Elrond interrupted himself as he looked at the little figure who sat next to Gandalf "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." he inquired him as he gestured to the pedestal before him. The figure, who was known now as Frodo stepped forward before deposing something on the stone pedestal. "So this is the Ring Bearer..." Kopa thought to himself as he watched the Hobbit returning to his seat. The brown Maned Lion noticed that Frodo seemed relieved about not having the Ring on him anymore . Then his attention went on the pedestal and particularly , what was on it.
All Lions' eyes widened when they saw it : the One Ring… The one the Dark Lord, Sauron , forged a long time ago to enslave the Free People and take over Middle-Earth. But the Felines weren't the only ones shocked by the tiny golden thing. Everyone present in the congregation were staring at the Ring , just like if they were mesmerized by it before whispering to one another.
Kopa could hear someone in the assistance whispering out look "The Doom of Men" before everyone looked at Boromir who rose to his feet as he said those words "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark...but in the West a pale light lingered... A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand' "
Then the son of Denethor approached the Ring whispering "Isildur's Bane is found" before reaching out of it. Kopa and all Lions present tensed as they saw this while Gandalf and Elrond shared a concerned look as Boromir's finger hovered above the One Ring.
The Lord of Rivendell then leap up shouting "BOROMIR !"
Sadly, Denethor's son ignored as he still reached out for the Ring. Kopa was about to intervene but Gandalf beat him to it as the Grey Wizard stood up. Then to everyone's shock, he sang in the Dark Speech and the Ring echoed those harsh words. Thunder crackled as the sky darkened. The Council stared 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 bind them.)
When Gandalf finally stopped his dark chant, the voice of the Ring died away. People were still on their seats, horrified by what just happened and , among them, was Boromir. Elrond then looked at the Grey Wizard with an angry glare " Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!".
"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West!" Gandalf responded in a raspy voice due to the force of the words he used. Before adding " The Ring is altogether evil !" Then the Grey Wizard shot Boromir a scathing glance before sitting again. Sadly, the Gondor Soldier was unperturbed as he spoke " It is a gift... A gift to the foes of Mordor..."
Then he got up , pacing as he looked at everyone "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 !"
Then a lean, tall man with shaggy head of dark hair and keen grey eyes , who was sitting not too far from Boromir , spoke for the first time "You cannot wield it! None of us can ! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master !"
The Lions of the Pridelands, just like everyone present, looked at the talking Man with agreement. Boromir , however, was looking at him with disdain before saying in the same tone " And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" At those words, an Elf with long blond hair rose from his seat "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance !"
Boromir seemed shocked by the Elf's words and looked at the man , now known as Aragorn, with disbelief. The Lions of the Pridelands were wondering what was important in the Man's name. "Aragorn? This… is Isildur's heir?" " And heir to the throne of Gondor " The Blond Elf added in a calm tone.
Kopa's eyes widened in shock at the revelation and his family looked just as shocked. None of them knew that Isildur, the Man who defeated Sauron, had a descendant ! Frodo seemed to think the same because he was looked at Isildur's heir with wide eyes.
Aragorn seemed embarrassed by the attention he was receiving and looked at the Blond Elf "Havo dad, Legolas (Sit down, Legolas.)" he inquired the Elf who nodded as he sat back on his seat. Boromir then made his way back to his own seat but not before saying haughtily " Gondor has no king ! Gondor needs no king !"
"Aragorn is right ! We cannot it !" Gandalf said to change the subject. "You have only one choice... The Ring must be destroyed ! " Elrond said gravely as he looked seriously at everyone present. Boromir sighed in disagreement and Kopa glanced at him with a frown. Then a Dwarf rose from his seat with an axe in his hands "Then what are we waiting for?" he asked them as he lifted his weapon to destroy the Ring.
He strike it with full force but , to everyone's shock, he was repelled back by a invisible force which caused the Dwarf to land on his back. All of them didn't noticed Frodo wincing in pain when the Axe clashed against the Ring.
Speaking of the One Ring, it was still laying on the pedestal , intact , and surrounded by what remained of the axe : shards. The Lions faintly heard whispers of Black Tongue coming from the Cursed Golden Object. The Dwarf looked at his weapon with astonishment before looking up at Elrond who said " 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 ! "
Then the Lord Elf made a short pause as he gazed at everyone present " One of you… must do this". Silence met those words. But it was quickly broken by Boromir who remarked " 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 ! 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!"
When the Gondor Man stopped talking, Legolas rose from his seat before speaking with indignation "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" " And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli snarled at him from his place. "And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?! Boromir shouted loudly after standing on his feet.
Gimli ignored him as he stood up before looking at Legolas with anger "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
Those words caused all Elves , except Elrond, to rose from their seats in anger. The Dwarves stood next to their comrade looking at the Elves with the same look of anger that Gimli who added "Never trust an Elf!"
Soon an argument broke the silence as everyone was arguing with each other. Even Gandalf joined in "Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" he shouted loudly to the assistance but no one paid attention to him. The only ones still calm were the Lions, Elrond , Frodo and Aragorn who had his hand covering his face as if he was starting to face a headache.
As the argument went on, Vitani looked at them with exasperation clear on his face as she whispered "I'm surrounded by idiots..." Kopa looked at with with amusement and Kovu then mumbled " Arguing won't solve anything !" "Yes they should stay unite ! Alone we are weak, united we are strong !" Kiara nodded in agreement to her mate's words.
Simba and Nala were glancing at each other but then a voice caught their attention " I will take it!" The King and Queen of the Pridelands looked over at Frodo who was standing on his feet.
Soon the others Lions' eyes locked on the Hobbit who shouted again "I will take it!"
Sadly, no one (except the Lions) heard him as they were still arguing with each other. Simba noticed the Hobbit's defeated behavior and opened his mouth to let out a thunderous 'ROOOAAARRR' which caused everyone to look at him with fear on their faces "SILENCE ! Someone want to talk !" Nala said loudly before looking at the Hobbit who stared back at her with wide eyes.
The Queen of the Pridelands nodded at him with a soft smile and Frodo shot him a grateful smile on his own before facing the assistance " I will take the Ring to Mordor ! Though... I do not know the way.." Everyone was looking at the Hobbit with astonishment even the Lions.
After a moment of silence, Gandalf walked toward Frodo before placing his hand on the Hobbit's shoulder reassuringly "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear..." Soon after the Grey Wizard finished talking, Aragorn rose from his seat " If by my life or death, I can protect you...I will !" the Isildur's heir approached Frodo before kneeling in front of him " You have my sword !"
"And you have my bow !" Legolas said as he joined them " And my axe !" Gimli said as he joined the group before looking up grimly at the Blond Elf who returned it. Then Boromir approached the Hobbit before saying calmly "You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council...then Gondor will see it done ! "
Kopa looked at everyone present before saying in a calm and neutral "The Ring is a threat for everyone in Middle-Earth… even for the Pridelands… I will come with you !" The Brown Maned Lion rose from his place before joining the group. Then he looked at his parents who looked back at him proudly.
"Don't think you are going on an adventure without me Kopa ! I'm going with you !" Vitani said as she approached her mate who chuckled in amusement as she made her way to sit beside him. " I would have come but the Pridelands need us..." Kiara remarked as she looked at her parents who nodded back at her. "As future rulers… its our duty to protect our kingdom…. Even if we want to join you..." Kovu added calmly as he looked at his sister and brother-in-law.
"Are you sure you want to do this son ?" Simba asked Kopa with a concerned look on his face "Yes father" The King of the Pridelands hesitated for a moment but soon nodded in acceptance before saying "Alright then..." Everyone could tell he was reluctant to let the two go but he knew he couldn't stop his son and his mate if they want to do this journey.
"Hey !" a new voice echoed out of nowhere and everyone turned their heads to see another Hobbit stopping near Frodo "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 !" Elrond remarked with amusement clear in his voice.
"Wait! We are coming too!" two voices echoed and two other Hobbits emerged from pillars to join the group "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" one of them inquired as he took his place at Frodo's left side before his comrade added " Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing"
His comrade looked at him sternly before whispering" Well that rules you out Pip !" Vitani and Kopa snorted in amusement at the Hobbits' antics before looking at Elrond who was gazing at the whole group with a neutral expression even if the amazement was seen in his eyes.
"Eleven companions… So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring !" The Lord of Rivendell conclued proudly until one of the Hobbits , Pippin, said joyously "Great ! Where are we going ?"
A chorus of laughs from the members of the now , Fellowship, answered his question.
(To be continued…)