Disclaimer ~ Although this is truly unfortunate , I own none of these characters except Teneriel Riverion. But you all knew that already . :) :)
They belong to the lovely J.R.R. Tolkien.
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter I ~ The Council
The Council of Elrond had erupted into minor chaos . An ill-timed comment from Gimli the Dwarf had brought four of the Elves present out of their seats in anger. Now, Elves and Dwarves were standing toe-to-toe in heated debate , bringing up faults and mistakes a thousand years past.
Finally , one small voice , barely audible through the din , spoke softly. "I will take the Ring to Mordor ," said Frodo Baggins the hobbit. "Though I do not know the way."
Gandalf the wizard , heretofore attempting to separate the Elves and Dwarves , heard the voice and winced slightly, a look of sadness and resignation on his ancient and weathered face. He walked over to the hobbit and laid a hand gently on his shoulder, though with a heavy heart. "I will help you bear this burden , Frodo."
Aragorn , son of Arathorn , rose from his seat and kneeled before Frodo. "If by my life or death I can protect you , I will," he vowed , a new fire kindled in his bright blue eyes. "You have my sword."
Legolas rose , his handsome face resolute , and stepped lightly over to Frodo . "You have my bow ," he said firmly , blue eyes showing a wisdom to match his 2,931 years.
"And my axe ," said Gimli , a grim look on his rough features.
Boromir stood as well , nodding. "You carry the fate of all of us , little one."
Samwise Gamgee popped his head up through a nearby window. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" he piped , walking quickly through the assembly to stand by his Mr. Frodo.
Elrond allowed a tiny smile to creep onto his stern features. "You at least shall accompany Frodo , Sam . It is obviously impossible to keep you two apart , even when he is invited to a secret council and you are not." A faint laugh ran through the small assembly.
Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took glanced at each other , shrugged, and ran into the council chamber . Elrond's face turned from amusement to disbelief as they flew past him . "We're coming too ! You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"
Suddenly , a light footstep was heard upon the stair. A tall , beautiful Elf entered the Chamber , her long, braided blonde hair flowing out behind her and a woven crown like that of her father's resting atop her head. Teneriel of Rivendell , daughter of Elrond, knelt before Frodo , her blue eyes piercing deep into his . "And I shall accompany you as well. My bow and swords are yours, Ring-bearer , as is my life, if it may help the Fellowship."
Elrond's own blue eyes darkened nearly to black as he watched his youngest child pledge herself to almost certain death. "So be it then ," he said, "The Fellowship of the Ring shall be ten . With Frodo and Sam , Gandalf the wizard will go . Aragorn and Boromir travel for the men, Gimli son of Gloin for the Dwarves , Legolas Greenleaf and Tenerial Riverion for the Elves , and Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took shall complete the ensemble ." Elrond stood regally , his long robes swirling around his feet. "The Council of Elrond is complete. Your journey begins in two days."
He glanced at his daughter , and motioned for her to precede him out onto a balcony away from the rest of the group. Elrond sighed almost silently and
looked deep into her eyes, fatherly concern plain on his face. "Why, daughter? Why would you leave the relative safety of Rivendell to go on the Quest?"
Teneriel leaned her elbows on the balcony railing and gazed out over the land that she loved, and would one day rule , if her suspicions about Aragorn and Arwen proved to be correct. A silver tear slipped from her eyes to lay against a smooth cheek. "I go because I have to . If I do not go , then Rivendell will no longer be a place of safety." She turned to her father and was startled to see tears in his eyes as well. "I love this place , and I love you ," she whispered , laying her head against his shoulder. "And that love is why I must go."
Elrond laid his head atop his child's . "I understand," he murmured, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill from his own eyes.
"Go with them , then . But never forget this ~ you are my daughter, and I am never so far away that you cannot talk to me ." Elrond cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. "Be careful , Teneriel ." He leaned forward , kissed her forehead , and whispered , " I love you , little one."
Elrond turned and with a swish of his long cloak , strode away from his daughter.
Teneriel sighed as she watched her father leave , and she wondered if she had done the right thing. Her blue eyes darkened sadly as she realized that there was no going back . Teneriel turned back to the balcony and watched the sun set behind the Misty Mountains, bathing the town of Rivendell in a golden light . Teneriel straightened her shoulders and lifted her head, determination firm on her face . " I am an Elf of Rivendell ," she spoke to the approaching darkness, " and I am the daughter of Elrond! And I will not be afraid of you!" she spat.
With those angry words , Teneriel whipped around and walked off of the balcony , through the Council chamber , and up the stone steps into the hallway beyond. The bustle and chatter of Elven voices suddenly stopped as Teneriel made her appearance and walked past.
An Elven woman who bore some small resemblance to Teneriel stepped through the mass and took Teneriel's hand , leading her away. "Little sister," Arwen Undomiel began, concern radiating from her.
"Stop, Arwen !" Teneriel commanded , holding up a slim hand. " I know what you are going to say . 'It is far too dangerous , Eriel . You should remain here, where it is safe'. Is that not it ,sister?"
Arwen smiled , laying a hand on her younger sister's shoulder . "Yes, that was what I was going to say . But I see in your eyes determination that none, least of all me, could deter. I want you to take care of yourself." Arwen narrowed her eyes slightly and scrutinized Teneriel. "Do not go looking for trouble, Eriel . It will find you."
Teneriel's eyebrows raised . "Do I ever go looking for trouble, dear Arwen? If trouble finds me , as I am sure that it will , it will see that I am naught to be trifled with."
Arwen nodded , and a flash of worry spread across her beautiful face. Teneriel knew that this new fear of Arwen's was not for her sister , but for Aragorn.
"I will watch out for him ," Teneriel whispered . "But as you well know , Aragorn , heir to the throne of Gondor, can look after himself. After all, did he not look after me ?"
"I know," Arwen said quietly , "but that does not help to ease the pain in my heart." A hand strayed to her neck , where the amulet that she had worn all her life no longer hung. "I must go . Take care, little one," Arwen said , giving Teneriel a quick hug and then running away.
Teneriel watched her sister leave , and sighed. Her suspicions had indeed been proven correct. If the Fellowship succeeded ,and Teneriel survived , she would rule Rivendell. Arwen would be Queen of Gondor , sitting at the side of Aragorn in Minas Tirith. A stab of irony shot through her. "Little one?" Teneriel thought , with a touch of sarcasm . " I am , after all , only one hundred years younger than Arwen herself!"
They belong to the lovely J.R.R. Tolkien.
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter I ~ The Council
The Council of Elrond had erupted into minor chaos . An ill-timed comment from Gimli the Dwarf had brought four of the Elves present out of their seats in anger. Now, Elves and Dwarves were standing toe-to-toe in heated debate , bringing up faults and mistakes a thousand years past.
Finally , one small voice , barely audible through the din , spoke softly. "I will take the Ring to Mordor ," said Frodo Baggins the hobbit. "Though I do not know the way."
Gandalf the wizard , heretofore attempting to separate the Elves and Dwarves , heard the voice and winced slightly, a look of sadness and resignation on his ancient and weathered face. He walked over to the hobbit and laid a hand gently on his shoulder, though with a heavy heart. "I will help you bear this burden , Frodo."
Aragorn , son of Arathorn , rose from his seat and kneeled before Frodo. "If by my life or death I can protect you , I will," he vowed , a new fire kindled in his bright blue eyes. "You have my sword."
Legolas rose , his handsome face resolute , and stepped lightly over to Frodo . "You have my bow ," he said firmly , blue eyes showing a wisdom to match his 2,931 years.
"And my axe ," said Gimli , a grim look on his rough features.
Boromir stood as well , nodding. "You carry the fate of all of us , little one."
Samwise Gamgee popped his head up through a nearby window. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" he piped , walking quickly through the assembly to stand by his Mr. Frodo.
Elrond allowed a tiny smile to creep onto his stern features. "You at least shall accompany Frodo , Sam . It is obviously impossible to keep you two apart , even when he is invited to a secret council and you are not." A faint laugh ran through the small assembly.
Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took glanced at each other , shrugged, and ran into the council chamber . Elrond's face turned from amusement to disbelief as they flew past him . "We're coming too ! You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"
Suddenly , a light footstep was heard upon the stair. A tall , beautiful Elf entered the Chamber , her long, braided blonde hair flowing out behind her and a woven crown like that of her father's resting atop her head. Teneriel of Rivendell , daughter of Elrond, knelt before Frodo , her blue eyes piercing deep into his . "And I shall accompany you as well. My bow and swords are yours, Ring-bearer , as is my life, if it may help the Fellowship."
Elrond's own blue eyes darkened nearly to black as he watched his youngest child pledge herself to almost certain death. "So be it then ," he said, "The Fellowship of the Ring shall be ten . With Frodo and Sam , Gandalf the wizard will go . Aragorn and Boromir travel for the men, Gimli son of Gloin for the Dwarves , Legolas Greenleaf and Tenerial Riverion for the Elves , and Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took shall complete the ensemble ." Elrond stood regally , his long robes swirling around his feet. "The Council of Elrond is complete. Your journey begins in two days."
He glanced at his daughter , and motioned for her to precede him out onto a balcony away from the rest of the group. Elrond sighed almost silently and
looked deep into her eyes, fatherly concern plain on his face. "Why, daughter? Why would you leave the relative safety of Rivendell to go on the Quest?"
Teneriel leaned her elbows on the balcony railing and gazed out over the land that she loved, and would one day rule , if her suspicions about Aragorn and Arwen proved to be correct. A silver tear slipped from her eyes to lay against a smooth cheek. "I go because I have to . If I do not go , then Rivendell will no longer be a place of safety." She turned to her father and was startled to see tears in his eyes as well. "I love this place , and I love you ," she whispered , laying her head against his shoulder. "And that love is why I must go."
Elrond laid his head atop his child's . "I understand," he murmured, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill from his own eyes.
"Go with them , then . But never forget this ~ you are my daughter, and I am never so far away that you cannot talk to me ." Elrond cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. "Be careful , Teneriel ." He leaned forward , kissed her forehead , and whispered , " I love you , little one."
Elrond turned and with a swish of his long cloak , strode away from his daughter.
Teneriel sighed as she watched her father leave , and she wondered if she had done the right thing. Her blue eyes darkened sadly as she realized that there was no going back . Teneriel turned back to the balcony and watched the sun set behind the Misty Mountains, bathing the town of Rivendell in a golden light . Teneriel straightened her shoulders and lifted her head, determination firm on her face . " I am an Elf of Rivendell ," she spoke to the approaching darkness, " and I am the daughter of Elrond! And I will not be afraid of you!" she spat.
With those angry words , Teneriel whipped around and walked off of the balcony , through the Council chamber , and up the stone steps into the hallway beyond. The bustle and chatter of Elven voices suddenly stopped as Teneriel made her appearance and walked past.
An Elven woman who bore some small resemblance to Teneriel stepped through the mass and took Teneriel's hand , leading her away. "Little sister," Arwen Undomiel began, concern radiating from her.
"Stop, Arwen !" Teneriel commanded , holding up a slim hand. " I know what you are going to say . 'It is far too dangerous , Eriel . You should remain here, where it is safe'. Is that not it ,sister?"
Arwen smiled , laying a hand on her younger sister's shoulder . "Yes, that was what I was going to say . But I see in your eyes determination that none, least of all me, could deter. I want you to take care of yourself." Arwen narrowed her eyes slightly and scrutinized Teneriel. "Do not go looking for trouble, Eriel . It will find you."
Teneriel's eyebrows raised . "Do I ever go looking for trouble, dear Arwen? If trouble finds me , as I am sure that it will , it will see that I am naught to be trifled with."
Arwen nodded , and a flash of worry spread across her beautiful face. Teneriel knew that this new fear of Arwen's was not for her sister , but for Aragorn.
"I will watch out for him ," Teneriel whispered . "But as you well know , Aragorn , heir to the throne of Gondor, can look after himself. After all, did he not look after me ?"
"I know," Arwen said quietly , "but that does not help to ease the pain in my heart." A hand strayed to her neck , where the amulet that she had worn all her life no longer hung. "I must go . Take care, little one," Arwen said , giving Teneriel a quick hug and then running away.
Teneriel watched her sister leave , and sighed. Her suspicions had indeed been proven correct. If the Fellowship succeeded ,and Teneriel survived , she would rule Rivendell. Arwen would be Queen of Gondor , sitting at the side of Aragorn in Minas Tirith. A stab of irony shot through her. "Little one?" Teneriel thought , with a touch of sarcasm . " I am , after all , only one hundred years younger than Arwen herself!"