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RIVENDELL
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. ****************************************************************************
In the silence of the dawn they arrived, 5 elven warriors that stood silently awaiting Elrond's orders to enter the audience chamber. They were here from the eastern lands, where the evil dwelt. They were keeping or at least trying to keep the lands safe, elven lands of the people. "Quel amrun" good morning. Elrond greeted them, particularly to one particular elf that he hadn't seen in years. "Quel amrun, Elrond". Each of them responded before taking their seats. You could tell, however, that they weren't at all comfortable with their guards down, too used they were to being at one with nature, to listening to the different sounds of the forest and recognizing if it were friend or foe. Elrond looked at the lead elf. "Elen, it has been many years". The elf he was talking to was in fact an elven maiden. Many of her kind were now warriors; they did not believe that only male elves should have the privilege of traveling and protecting those they loved. The females wanted that too, and had been doing so for over millennia. And now they were a force to be dealt with. Especially Elen. She was of elven descendance after all but never bothered with it as she had no time for such things that came naturally to her. Others, mortals if you will made a big deal of it since they seemed stunned at all an elf could do. It probably fed the mistrust that seemed to run like a disease in their blood. As she bent her head in acknowledgement, Elrond noticed the fairness of her skin and the intensity of her dark green eyes, Unusually keen they were, always quick, always able to spot a foe, no matter how well camouflaged it was. Her hair of silver white, he observed with a trace of wonder, had not mated as yet. Elen looked at Elrond, amused. He had no idea. No idea at all that the moon elves could read minds, and right now he is wondering why I have not mated, word had not reached him of her failed relationship with Thranduil's son. Elrond assumed her to be unwed, willing to spend her life as a ranger, scouring the lands for evil that might dwell.
The others were silent, they were rangers after all. And they were armed, with bows and quivers full of arrows of varying colors of the feathers that decorated the ends. And they also had hunting knives that seconded their defenses. "We are not here on a social capacity, Elrond, why did you call us here?" she asked softly. He sighed. "I am holding council at sunset. Mirkwood elves will be here along with the men from Gondor, dwarves from Moria, and a ranger. The reason for this is that a hobbit has found, and is now in possession of, the one ring of power, and Gandalf is bringing him here". Elrond told her gravely. "You have enough for a company to take the child to Mount Doom to destroy it". Elen countered. Elrond smiled grimly. Child indeed, for to an elf of nearly 3000 years, a hobbit would seem to be one. "He needs protection Elen, and you are among the best". Elrond complimented her. She bent her head. "I have no wish to mix with Mirkwood elves, Elrond; I will not explain my reasons" she said softly. "Because of your past with them I understand Elen, but this has nothing to do with the matter at hand". She stood up as did the other four. Fire in her eyes. "It has everything to do with it, for in the company of the Mirkwood elves rides the Prince Legolas, he is due to be here in one hour, we rode past them". She said angrily.
Elen cocked her head as did the other 4. Before Elrond could tell them who had entered the chamber all 5 had spun around putting out arrows and notching them into their bows aimed at the intruder. Elen recognized him immediately. Legolas. He had arrived earlier than she had predicted. His eyes locked with hers, but he pretended not to recognize her. But she did recognize him, and the pain and anger in his eyes at the sight of her. "Prince Legolas, if you could wait outside while I finish this meeting". Elrond asked the prince of Mirkwood. "Am I to be slain where I stand Lord Elrond?" Legolas asked strongly. "No, they are rangers, quick to defend". At that silent bidding Elen lowered her bow and at that signal so did the others. "I thank you, ranger". Legolas said to her not mentioning her name at all. Then he turned and walked out. Elen turned to Elrond "How many of us are required to protect the child?" "Only one as there will be others going". He told her. "I will go, amin naa tualle" I am your servant. Elen said to him. The others looked at her surprised. "Elen do you think it wise?" one of the rangers asked her in elvish. "What I think is irrelevant, nor is my pride to get in the way", she looked at him, "we have seen the destruction that this evil is causing, and if destroying the ring is the only way, then it shall be the way that Gandalf commands it. My friends, go to the borders and keep watch, report anything back here. I have faith in you". They all said goodbye and wished her a speedy journey, then they left her and Elrond alone. "Thank you, Elen. I knew you would not fail me". Elrond assumed she was doing this for him, for the lord of Rivendell had asked. She looked at Elrond. "Gandalf requires it of me, I would not fail him". She said softly before walking out. Outside the door, Legolas stood waiting to speak to Elrond. When he saw her exit, however, he stood straight. "Mankoi naa lle sinome?" why are you here? He asked her in elvish. She looked at him. "I was requested here by Elrond, he wishes to speak with you now'. With that she turned and kept walking. He watched her go, he still loved her, 1000 years had done nothing to diminish it. He shook his head and entered the chamber.
"Tell me Legolas, will Elen's presence bother you?" Elrond asked him. "I have not seen her in a long time, Elrond, but we are civil to each other". "She has suffered much at the hands of Malriel". Legolas nodded remembering the elven courtesan all to clearly in his mind, she had been a beauty yes, but her meanness had showed inself through and Legolas no longer thought of her as beauty. "Malriel has paid dearly for that, Elrond. She will not make the same mistake twice, I understand Elen's anger, and reluctance to see me and though her coldness pains me, this will be put aside for the sake of what lies ahead". Elrond was pleased at the young princes words.. "And so it shall be". The lord of Rivendell nodded. And they talked of other things.
Elen gazed out over the elvish realm. It was beautiful there but she felt incarcerated still, as if someone had the key to her freedom. "Mae govannen". Well met. She turned her head and gazed upon Gandalf. "Cormamin lindua ele lle" my heart sings to see thee. She told him in her tongue. He smiled and touched her face. "You look as beautiful as the day I last saw you, Elen". He told her softly. She looked away. "Much has changed, much has happened since that day, Gandalf". Elen told him sadly. "Yet your heart still belongs to him". Gandalf said quietly. "As does my name". She said, more to herself than to him. "Tell me Gandalf, why you requested an elven ranger to join the fellowship ". He raised his eyebrows. "And how would you know that, young one?". Elen smiled genuinely. "You forget I am of the Ithil'Quessir, we are sometimes granted with the knowledge of the future. I only know of that, Gandalf, I do not know the outcome of such a journey". She looked out away from him. "Council is in a few minutes, child and there is one thing I have to ask of you". She looked at him again. "Do not worry so, Gandalf, my past with Legolas will remain that, that is one thing you should thank elves for, we put aside our differences when it is required of us'. "You sound so militant". He told her. "I am a ranger, Gandalf, and I have grown in many ways". They walked together to council. One thing she could not abide though were the dwarves. And they kept clear of her.
She seated herself beside Gandalf, next to whom sat the hobbit that had carried the ring thus far. Looking around she noticed that the council consisted not only of men and elves but of dwarves, also, which, in her opinion, wasn't necessarily a good thing. Elrond faced the council "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You are summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands on the brink of destruction. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." Elrond looked at the hobbit "Bring forth the ring, Frodo." Frodo put the Ring on the stand in the center of the council, and seemed much relieved to be rid of it. "So it is true." "The Ring of power." "The doom of man." The man who sat beside the dwarves sighed loudly. Elen turned her head in his direction and recognized him to be the heir of Denethor- the Steward of Gondor. Boromir sighed before speaking "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."
Strider (who as Elen knew was a good friend of Gandalf ) looked at him. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir scoffed at him "What would a ranger know of this matter?" Legolas stood up and announced to all "He is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir smiled slightly as if amused "This is Isildur's heir?" Legolas spoke again to the knight "And heir to the throne of Gondor." Strider looked at the young prince of Mirkwood "Havo dad, Legolas." Sit down Legolas. Boromir leant back "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." Gandalf spoke up for the first time "Aragorn is right. We cannot control it, even the elves of ages old know this is true." Gandalf looked at Elen then and she knew it was time to announce her presence. Elen stood up then and faced the council. All heads turned in her direction for her beauty to some seemed to be greater the one Evenstar herself. "I am Elen, of the Ithil'Quessir, a ranger of the eastern lands, and there is an evil growing there, Saruman is growing a new breed of orc, one that can travel by day and cover many miles, it does not know pain, or fear". Boromir looked at her with interest. "And how would you know of this, elven ranger? Have you fought it?". Ignoring him she looked at Elrond. "they will attack Rivendell Elrond, we have held them at bay for as long as we dared". Erestor, elrond's chief advisor looked at her sharply. "you fought them?" he asked her. "some, I lost some good rangers whilst doing so'. She answered. The lord of Rivendell nodded at her and then addressed the council once more, he could not let his thoughts dwell on the safety of Rivendell for now. "We have but one choice. The ring must be destroyed." The Ring murmured its displeasure. Gimli shouted. "What are we waiting for?" Gimli picked up his axe and hit the Ring, (Frodo saw the eye) his actions, however, had no effect on the ring. The dwarven axe, though, was shattered and Gimli fell to the ground. Elrond shook his head at him "The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. It 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 which it came. One of you must do this." Silence. Boromir put a hand to his head as if thinking "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. It is folly. Not with ten thousand men could you do this." Legolas turned to the man, unable to believe that humans could be so naïve. "Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond had said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Gimli looked at the elven prince "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Boromir looked at him also "And what if we fail? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli stood up "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf! Never trust an elf!"
As the council dissolved into arguing, the Ring started chanting, telling its name, and its terrible purpose, in the language of its master. Flames spread across the ring as it fed of their distrust and anger. Frodo held his head, eyeing the ring in distaste "I will take it." But the council did not hear him, so intent were they at what they were fighting at. Frodo shouted finally "I will take it!" Gandalf heard, and it pained him that Frodo were the one who would have to carry the Ring, but the rest of the council has just demonstrated how easily the Ring could influence most people. Silence returned. Frodo let his gaze wander around the group, and then finally rested on Elen. For some unknown reason she gave him trust and faith. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way." Gandalf put his hand on his shoulder "I will help you bear this burden for as long as it is yours to bear." Strider bowed down and, kneeling before the hobbit, said with resolve: "If by my life or my death I can protect you, I will, you have my sword." Legolas nodded and offered his services as well saying simply "And my bow." Gimli making sure that he was not outdone by an elf offered Frodo his axe Boromir smiled grimly looking at Elen before saying anything. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. But if this is truly the will of the council, Gondor will see it done."
Elen knelt in front of Frodo, aware that all eyes were on her now. He looked into her eyes, and there saw a lifetime of pain, grief, but most of all, he saw a light, a glimmer of hope. She took his hand and held it to her heart. "I will guard you always Frodo, I am your servant, mellonamin, I have one piece of advice to give you: be wary of men, the ring tempts them". "And what of you?" he asked the elven ranger. "The Elves cannot be tempted as the ring holds no power over them. Legolas and I are pure, as all elves are". She looked at Boromir before continuing. 'his mind is weak yet his heart is strong, the ring knows his weakness, if need be, call Legolas". She said softly to him. No one had heard her except, of course, Legolas who shared her keen elven hearing, and Gandalf who stood beside her. Elen stood up and faced the wizard. "Why did you say that to him, Elen?" "His heart asked, I answered". With that, she turned and walked away from the group.
Legolas stood on the balcony and watched her leave. His heart went with her. She still carried the pain - he could feel it. He missed her: his mind, his heart and his body missed her. She went to the elven smiths and collected her weapons from them. She put all her arrows in her quiver, her knives in her belt, and slung her bow over her shoulder. She felt someone behind her and spun around notching an arrow and aiming a deadly target at the intruder. The intruder was Boromir, who had his hands up in the air in surrender. "Please maiden, I meant you no harm". He told her. She lowered her arrow and put it back into her quiver. She slung her bow again over her shoulder. "I must apologize, Boromir, I am used to being on guard". She bent her head in apology then looked back at him. "You never answered my question" - he stated "I fought them, but we were few, we had to retreat or be slain, not an option we liked, but we had to do it, regardless, if we were to report back to Lorien". "You hail from Lorien then?" "Lorien is our home yes, some of us hail from Mirkwood, Rivendell and other realms". He nodded somewhat still cautious. He did not fully trust elves, especially ones that hailed from Lorien, for their queen was believed to be dangerous and wicked. For some reason she felt bonded to him. She could not explain why. Since she felt rather than knew that Boromir did not have full faith in her kind. And from her experience, she understood him. "And how is Gondor?" She asked "Last time I visited, it was thriving". He looked at her in surprise. "You visited Gondor?" "Elves do mix at times with other races, Boromir, even though most of us dislike to, we are giving our lands to you for safekeeping after all, we have to know you well to give you the lands we have held since the beginning of all life". He averted his gaze down and away from hers, by now he knew by his instinct maybe that she was as dangerous as any ranger in the land be elf or man. She smiled. His breath was taken away by her natural beauty. He looked away and spotted Legolas. "Even here in Rivendell there are guards always". He commented to her. She knew who he referred to. "Legolas is very protective". She said softly. "You know him well then?" Boromir asked, arching an eyebrow. "Very well, I was once his royal guard, circumstances made me break that arrangement, though". She said softly. Suddenly she faced the knight. "Boromir, I would be honored to call you a friend". That caught him off guard. "I thank you, maiden, I would be honored". He touched his heart to formalize that honor. She reached back and took an arrow from her quiver. She handed it to him with both hands. "It is my custom to give an arrow to a friend, as a pact of our friendship". He took it. Like most elven arrows it was thin yet strong as steel. But unlike them, this one was golden in color, with inscriptions on it. Its feather meant for balance while in flight, was golden in colour. "It is beautiful, maiden." He said earnestly."tell me what does your name mean?' "It means Star Blossom, it was given to me at birth". Boromir nodded and smiled. "I thank you once again for the arrow, yet I have nothing to give you". "Please do not, your friendship is enough, as is your strong sword at my back". She touched his shoulder and he turned and walked to his mount to take his weapons and other things on their journey.
Elen went to speak with Aragorn. He had just come back from seeing and saying goodbye to Arwen. They met halfway in the great elven hall, where the smiths had just finished reforging Anuril, it belonged to the heir of Gondor. Elen eyed it and bowed to him. "Please maiden, do not bow before me, I am not king or elven royalty". He told her touching her arm so that she would not bow to him. "I do not understand why Gandalf has asked me to accompany you on this journey Estel, but I do know that danger lurks everywhere". Aragorn nodded.
"Yes, I have felt it on the way here, did you see no orcs or wargs on your way here?" Aragorn asked her. "Apart from Saruman's new breed, I have not, but I feel the darkness and it is closing over us. Rivendell will cease to exist, they will leave these shores soon". She noticed sadness in his eyes. "Aragorn, do not fear, the Evenstar will journey, but not the way you think". With that they walked out together, to join the rest of the group, that were waiting to hear Elrond's last words to them. "Fellowship of the ring, on this journey you will encounter many obstacles, dangers old and new, friendships will be tested, and most of all, you will lead Frodo with your courage, may the light of the elves guide you on this journey, our thoughts are with you always". With that, the group picked up their belongings and one by one made their way to the gates that would mark the border of Rivendell.
RIVENDELL
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. ****************************************************************************
In the silence of the dawn they arrived, 5 elven warriors that stood silently awaiting Elrond's orders to enter the audience chamber. They were here from the eastern lands, where the evil dwelt. They were keeping or at least trying to keep the lands safe, elven lands of the people. "Quel amrun" good morning. Elrond greeted them, particularly to one particular elf that he hadn't seen in years. "Quel amrun, Elrond". Each of them responded before taking their seats. You could tell, however, that they weren't at all comfortable with their guards down, too used they were to being at one with nature, to listening to the different sounds of the forest and recognizing if it were friend or foe. Elrond looked at the lead elf. "Elen, it has been many years". The elf he was talking to was in fact an elven maiden. Many of her kind were now warriors; they did not believe that only male elves should have the privilege of traveling and protecting those they loved. The females wanted that too, and had been doing so for over millennia. And now they were a force to be dealt with. Especially Elen. She was of elven descendance after all but never bothered with it as she had no time for such things that came naturally to her. Others, mortals if you will made a big deal of it since they seemed stunned at all an elf could do. It probably fed the mistrust that seemed to run like a disease in their blood. As she bent her head in acknowledgement, Elrond noticed the fairness of her skin and the intensity of her dark green eyes, Unusually keen they were, always quick, always able to spot a foe, no matter how well camouflaged it was. Her hair of silver white, he observed with a trace of wonder, had not mated as yet. Elen looked at Elrond, amused. He had no idea. No idea at all that the moon elves could read minds, and right now he is wondering why I have not mated, word had not reached him of her failed relationship with Thranduil's son. Elrond assumed her to be unwed, willing to spend her life as a ranger, scouring the lands for evil that might dwell.
The others were silent, they were rangers after all. And they were armed, with bows and quivers full of arrows of varying colors of the feathers that decorated the ends. And they also had hunting knives that seconded their defenses. "We are not here on a social capacity, Elrond, why did you call us here?" she asked softly. He sighed. "I am holding council at sunset. Mirkwood elves will be here along with the men from Gondor, dwarves from Moria, and a ranger. The reason for this is that a hobbit has found, and is now in possession of, the one ring of power, and Gandalf is bringing him here". Elrond told her gravely. "You have enough for a company to take the child to Mount Doom to destroy it". Elen countered. Elrond smiled grimly. Child indeed, for to an elf of nearly 3000 years, a hobbit would seem to be one. "He needs protection Elen, and you are among the best". Elrond complimented her. She bent her head. "I have no wish to mix with Mirkwood elves, Elrond; I will not explain my reasons" she said softly. "Because of your past with them I understand Elen, but this has nothing to do with the matter at hand". She stood up as did the other four. Fire in her eyes. "It has everything to do with it, for in the company of the Mirkwood elves rides the Prince Legolas, he is due to be here in one hour, we rode past them". She said angrily.
Elen cocked her head as did the other 4. Before Elrond could tell them who had entered the chamber all 5 had spun around putting out arrows and notching them into their bows aimed at the intruder. Elen recognized him immediately. Legolas. He had arrived earlier than she had predicted. His eyes locked with hers, but he pretended not to recognize her. But she did recognize him, and the pain and anger in his eyes at the sight of her. "Prince Legolas, if you could wait outside while I finish this meeting". Elrond asked the prince of Mirkwood. "Am I to be slain where I stand Lord Elrond?" Legolas asked strongly. "No, they are rangers, quick to defend". At that silent bidding Elen lowered her bow and at that signal so did the others. "I thank you, ranger". Legolas said to her not mentioning her name at all. Then he turned and walked out. Elen turned to Elrond "How many of us are required to protect the child?" "Only one as there will be others going". He told her. "I will go, amin naa tualle" I am your servant. Elen said to him. The others looked at her surprised. "Elen do you think it wise?" one of the rangers asked her in elvish. "What I think is irrelevant, nor is my pride to get in the way", she looked at him, "we have seen the destruction that this evil is causing, and if destroying the ring is the only way, then it shall be the way that Gandalf commands it. My friends, go to the borders and keep watch, report anything back here. I have faith in you". They all said goodbye and wished her a speedy journey, then they left her and Elrond alone. "Thank you, Elen. I knew you would not fail me". Elrond assumed she was doing this for him, for the lord of Rivendell had asked. She looked at Elrond. "Gandalf requires it of me, I would not fail him". She said softly before walking out. Outside the door, Legolas stood waiting to speak to Elrond. When he saw her exit, however, he stood straight. "Mankoi naa lle sinome?" why are you here? He asked her in elvish. She looked at him. "I was requested here by Elrond, he wishes to speak with you now'. With that she turned and kept walking. He watched her go, he still loved her, 1000 years had done nothing to diminish it. He shook his head and entered the chamber.
"Tell me Legolas, will Elen's presence bother you?" Elrond asked him. "I have not seen her in a long time, Elrond, but we are civil to each other". "She has suffered much at the hands of Malriel". Legolas nodded remembering the elven courtesan all to clearly in his mind, she had been a beauty yes, but her meanness had showed inself through and Legolas no longer thought of her as beauty. "Malriel has paid dearly for that, Elrond. She will not make the same mistake twice, I understand Elen's anger, and reluctance to see me and though her coldness pains me, this will be put aside for the sake of what lies ahead". Elrond was pleased at the young princes words.. "And so it shall be". The lord of Rivendell nodded. And they talked of other things.
Elen gazed out over the elvish realm. It was beautiful there but she felt incarcerated still, as if someone had the key to her freedom. "Mae govannen". Well met. She turned her head and gazed upon Gandalf. "Cormamin lindua ele lle" my heart sings to see thee. She told him in her tongue. He smiled and touched her face. "You look as beautiful as the day I last saw you, Elen". He told her softly. She looked away. "Much has changed, much has happened since that day, Gandalf". Elen told him sadly. "Yet your heart still belongs to him". Gandalf said quietly. "As does my name". She said, more to herself than to him. "Tell me Gandalf, why you requested an elven ranger to join the fellowship ". He raised his eyebrows. "And how would you know that, young one?". Elen smiled genuinely. "You forget I am of the Ithil'Quessir, we are sometimes granted with the knowledge of the future. I only know of that, Gandalf, I do not know the outcome of such a journey". She looked out away from him. "Council is in a few minutes, child and there is one thing I have to ask of you". She looked at him again. "Do not worry so, Gandalf, my past with Legolas will remain that, that is one thing you should thank elves for, we put aside our differences when it is required of us'. "You sound so militant". He told her. "I am a ranger, Gandalf, and I have grown in many ways". They walked together to council. One thing she could not abide though were the dwarves. And they kept clear of her.
She seated herself beside Gandalf, next to whom sat the hobbit that had carried the ring thus far. Looking around she noticed that the council consisted not only of men and elves but of dwarves, also, which, in her opinion, wasn't necessarily a good thing. Elrond faced the council "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You are summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands on the brink of destruction. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." Elrond looked at the hobbit "Bring forth the ring, Frodo." Frodo put the Ring on the stand in the center of the council, and seemed much relieved to be rid of it. "So it is true." "The Ring of power." "The doom of man." The man who sat beside the dwarves sighed loudly. Elen turned her head in his direction and recognized him to be the heir of Denethor- the Steward of Gondor. Boromir sighed before speaking "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."
Strider (who as Elen knew was a good friend of Gandalf ) looked at him. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir scoffed at him "What would a ranger know of this matter?" Legolas stood up and announced to all "He is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir smiled slightly as if amused "This is Isildur's heir?" Legolas spoke again to the knight "And heir to the throne of Gondor." Strider looked at the young prince of Mirkwood "Havo dad, Legolas." Sit down Legolas. Boromir leant back "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." Gandalf spoke up for the first time "Aragorn is right. We cannot control it, even the elves of ages old know this is true." Gandalf looked at Elen then and she knew it was time to announce her presence. Elen stood up then and faced the council. All heads turned in her direction for her beauty to some seemed to be greater the one Evenstar herself. "I am Elen, of the Ithil'Quessir, a ranger of the eastern lands, and there is an evil growing there, Saruman is growing a new breed of orc, one that can travel by day and cover many miles, it does not know pain, or fear". Boromir looked at her with interest. "And how would you know of this, elven ranger? Have you fought it?". Ignoring him she looked at Elrond. "they will attack Rivendell Elrond, we have held them at bay for as long as we dared". Erestor, elrond's chief advisor looked at her sharply. "you fought them?" he asked her. "some, I lost some good rangers whilst doing so'. She answered. The lord of Rivendell nodded at her and then addressed the council once more, he could not let his thoughts dwell on the safety of Rivendell for now. "We have but one choice. The ring must be destroyed." The Ring murmured its displeasure. Gimli shouted. "What are we waiting for?" Gimli picked up his axe and hit the Ring, (Frodo saw the eye) his actions, however, had no effect on the ring. The dwarven axe, though, was shattered and Gimli fell to the ground. Elrond shook his head at him "The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. It 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 which it came. One of you must do this." Silence. Boromir put a hand to his head as if thinking "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. It is folly. Not with ten thousand men could you do this." Legolas turned to the man, unable to believe that humans could be so naïve. "Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond had said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Gimli looked at the elven prince "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Boromir looked at him also "And what if we fail? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli stood up "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf! Never trust an elf!"
As the council dissolved into arguing, the Ring started chanting, telling its name, and its terrible purpose, in the language of its master. Flames spread across the ring as it fed of their distrust and anger. Frodo held his head, eyeing the ring in distaste "I will take it." But the council did not hear him, so intent were they at what they were fighting at. Frodo shouted finally "I will take it!" Gandalf heard, and it pained him that Frodo were the one who would have to carry the Ring, but the rest of the council has just demonstrated how easily the Ring could influence most people. Silence returned. Frodo let his gaze wander around the group, and then finally rested on Elen. For some unknown reason she gave him trust and faith. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way." Gandalf put his hand on his shoulder "I will help you bear this burden for as long as it is yours to bear." Strider bowed down and, kneeling before the hobbit, said with resolve: "If by my life or my death I can protect you, I will, you have my sword." Legolas nodded and offered his services as well saying simply "And my bow." Gimli making sure that he was not outdone by an elf offered Frodo his axe Boromir smiled grimly looking at Elen before saying anything. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. But if this is truly the will of the council, Gondor will see it done."
Elen knelt in front of Frodo, aware that all eyes were on her now. He looked into her eyes, and there saw a lifetime of pain, grief, but most of all, he saw a light, a glimmer of hope. She took his hand and held it to her heart. "I will guard you always Frodo, I am your servant, mellonamin, I have one piece of advice to give you: be wary of men, the ring tempts them". "And what of you?" he asked the elven ranger. "The Elves cannot be tempted as the ring holds no power over them. Legolas and I are pure, as all elves are". She looked at Boromir before continuing. 'his mind is weak yet his heart is strong, the ring knows his weakness, if need be, call Legolas". She said softly to him. No one had heard her except, of course, Legolas who shared her keen elven hearing, and Gandalf who stood beside her. Elen stood up and faced the wizard. "Why did you say that to him, Elen?" "His heart asked, I answered". With that, she turned and walked away from the group.
Legolas stood on the balcony and watched her leave. His heart went with her. She still carried the pain - he could feel it. He missed her: his mind, his heart and his body missed her. She went to the elven smiths and collected her weapons from them. She put all her arrows in her quiver, her knives in her belt, and slung her bow over her shoulder. She felt someone behind her and spun around notching an arrow and aiming a deadly target at the intruder. The intruder was Boromir, who had his hands up in the air in surrender. "Please maiden, I meant you no harm". He told her. She lowered her arrow and put it back into her quiver. She slung her bow again over her shoulder. "I must apologize, Boromir, I am used to being on guard". She bent her head in apology then looked back at him. "You never answered my question" - he stated "I fought them, but we were few, we had to retreat or be slain, not an option we liked, but we had to do it, regardless, if we were to report back to Lorien". "You hail from Lorien then?" "Lorien is our home yes, some of us hail from Mirkwood, Rivendell and other realms". He nodded somewhat still cautious. He did not fully trust elves, especially ones that hailed from Lorien, for their queen was believed to be dangerous and wicked. For some reason she felt bonded to him. She could not explain why. Since she felt rather than knew that Boromir did not have full faith in her kind. And from her experience, she understood him. "And how is Gondor?" She asked "Last time I visited, it was thriving". He looked at her in surprise. "You visited Gondor?" "Elves do mix at times with other races, Boromir, even though most of us dislike to, we are giving our lands to you for safekeeping after all, we have to know you well to give you the lands we have held since the beginning of all life". He averted his gaze down and away from hers, by now he knew by his instinct maybe that she was as dangerous as any ranger in the land be elf or man. She smiled. His breath was taken away by her natural beauty. He looked away and spotted Legolas. "Even here in Rivendell there are guards always". He commented to her. She knew who he referred to. "Legolas is very protective". She said softly. "You know him well then?" Boromir asked, arching an eyebrow. "Very well, I was once his royal guard, circumstances made me break that arrangement, though". She said softly. Suddenly she faced the knight. "Boromir, I would be honored to call you a friend". That caught him off guard. "I thank you, maiden, I would be honored". He touched his heart to formalize that honor. She reached back and took an arrow from her quiver. She handed it to him with both hands. "It is my custom to give an arrow to a friend, as a pact of our friendship". He took it. Like most elven arrows it was thin yet strong as steel. But unlike them, this one was golden in color, with inscriptions on it. Its feather meant for balance while in flight, was golden in colour. "It is beautiful, maiden." He said earnestly."tell me what does your name mean?' "It means Star Blossom, it was given to me at birth". Boromir nodded and smiled. "I thank you once again for the arrow, yet I have nothing to give you". "Please do not, your friendship is enough, as is your strong sword at my back". She touched his shoulder and he turned and walked to his mount to take his weapons and other things on their journey.
Elen went to speak with Aragorn. He had just come back from seeing and saying goodbye to Arwen. They met halfway in the great elven hall, where the smiths had just finished reforging Anuril, it belonged to the heir of Gondor. Elen eyed it and bowed to him. "Please maiden, do not bow before me, I am not king or elven royalty". He told her touching her arm so that she would not bow to him. "I do not understand why Gandalf has asked me to accompany you on this journey Estel, but I do know that danger lurks everywhere". Aragorn nodded.
"Yes, I have felt it on the way here, did you see no orcs or wargs on your way here?" Aragorn asked her. "Apart from Saruman's new breed, I have not, but I feel the darkness and it is closing over us. Rivendell will cease to exist, they will leave these shores soon". She noticed sadness in his eyes. "Aragorn, do not fear, the Evenstar will journey, but not the way you think". With that they walked out together, to join the rest of the group, that were waiting to hear Elrond's last words to them. "Fellowship of the ring, on this journey you will encounter many obstacles, dangers old and new, friendships will be tested, and most of all, you will lead Frodo with your courage, may the light of the elves guide you on this journey, our thoughts are with you always". With that, the group picked up their belongings and one by one made their way to the gates that would mark the border of Rivendell.