((A/N Well, I hope this chapter answers a few questions for you :) As
before, none of the characters belong to me apart from Cariana, and the
spirit of the Ring. If anyone else wants to write a story with this idea,
please feel free. It's a good idea (thanks CJ!), but I'm not sure if my
writing is good enough to convey it.))
Cariana stood watching as the view across the skies changed. Beside her the physical form of the Ring's spirit stood. They both scanned the skies, but for different reasons.
Frodo was at the Council of Elrond, and Cariana could feel the power of the Ring reaching out as Frodo laid it on the stone pillar at the centre of the circle of chairs.
"I have you now." the Ring gloated, and snaky black tendrils extended from its hands to the image of Boromir in the sky, in whose eyes avarice gleamed.
Cariana could only watch as the dignified Council disintegrated into something resembling a bar brawl, all over the simple band of gold that lay in the centre. The Ring gloated as its power increased over those there. She could not stand it any longer. She yanked free her sword and swung a stroke that was full of her rage at the incarnation of the Ring. It sliced deep into the body of the host, and the tendrils linking it to those at the Council wavered, turning misty and grey.
"Frodo!" Cariana shrieked imploringly to the sky, as she pulled free her sword, and readied it for another stroke.
"I will take it. I will take the Ring to Mordor." she heard from the view overhead as Frodo stood and took on the task of destroying the Ring. The incarnation snarled at her, ignoring the wound that disfigured its body, which healed as she watched.
Cariana looked down at her hands now. Golden light trailed in thin strands from them, and connected her to all of those present at the Council.
Then complete understanding dawned. She was the force for good within the Ring, as the Ring itself was the force for evil. As it tried to corrupt the Fellowship, she would fight it, and try to overcome its power with her own.
The golden light that flowed from her hands was now like a river in spate, washing the whole Council in its glow.
"You shall be, the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond declared. And Cariana nodded. This was how things were to be. The fellowship would be nine, but in the Ring there were two contending powers.
"And which one of us will triumph." She whispered. If life followed the same path as the books she had read, then good would triumph. But would things be different in this real universe?
Cariana stood watching as the view across the skies changed. Beside her the physical form of the Ring's spirit stood. They both scanned the skies, but for different reasons.
Frodo was at the Council of Elrond, and Cariana could feel the power of the Ring reaching out as Frodo laid it on the stone pillar at the centre of the circle of chairs.
"I have you now." the Ring gloated, and snaky black tendrils extended from its hands to the image of Boromir in the sky, in whose eyes avarice gleamed.
Cariana could only watch as the dignified Council disintegrated into something resembling a bar brawl, all over the simple band of gold that lay in the centre. The Ring gloated as its power increased over those there. She could not stand it any longer. She yanked free her sword and swung a stroke that was full of her rage at the incarnation of the Ring. It sliced deep into the body of the host, and the tendrils linking it to those at the Council wavered, turning misty and grey.
"Frodo!" Cariana shrieked imploringly to the sky, as she pulled free her sword, and readied it for another stroke.
"I will take it. I will take the Ring to Mordor." she heard from the view overhead as Frodo stood and took on the task of destroying the Ring. The incarnation snarled at her, ignoring the wound that disfigured its body, which healed as she watched.
Cariana looked down at her hands now. Golden light trailed in thin strands from them, and connected her to all of those present at the Council.
Then complete understanding dawned. She was the force for good within the Ring, as the Ring itself was the force for evil. As it tried to corrupt the Fellowship, she would fight it, and try to overcome its power with her own.
The golden light that flowed from her hands was now like a river in spate, washing the whole Council in its glow.
"You shall be, the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond declared. And Cariana nodded. This was how things were to be. The fellowship would be nine, but in the Ring there were two contending powers.
"And which one of us will triumph." She whispered. If life followed the same path as the books she had read, then good would triumph. But would things be different in this real universe?