Disclaimer: I bet this gets tiring after a while…anyways…I do not own Lord of the Rings whatsoever. I don't own the Lord of the Rings plot either…DUH!!! Anyways, umm, any characters you do not recognize…belong to me. Good. Done.
Chapter Four: The Council of ElrondMari returned to her room happy and light hearted. She and Arwen had had a great time walking about the gardens. Arwen had been overly amused when Mari had sprinted over to the main garden and had started spinning in circles trying to see everything. Arwen had said something, what was it again? Oh yes.
Flashback*************************
"Long have I wanted to meet you Silmarien Goldeneve," Arwen had said kindly and wistfully. Mari had said,
"You know, my real name is Mari, you can call me that you know. But I like my new nickname, it is so pretty!" Mari had said cheerfully.
End Flashback*********************
Mari plopped upon her bed and stroked Sillaluna fondly. Sillaluna purred and pranced around like a queen. The sun was reflecting off Mari's face giving her an almost alien beauty. Her hair was swirling around her trying to free itself from the braids she had put that morning.
Suddenly, Merry, Pippin, and Sam came bounding through the doorway. They stopped when they saw Mari.
"Hey Mari, you look like you just swallowed glow fluid, what's up? Did you swallow a fire fly again?" asked Pippin innocently. Merry elbowed him forcefully.
"You guys, come on! Mari, there is some kind of secret meeting going on! Frodo's there! So is Gandalf! I was listening for a few minutes and I think they are arguing about that ridiculous ring again! I think we ought to go spy on it. We do not deserve to be left out, right? Good. Let's go!" said Sam determinedly. Mari agreed instantly, she hated being left out when her little brother Frodo got to be included. Merry and Pippin were not going to be left out either. All four of them set out in the direction of Elrond's secret council.
They arrived in time to see Elrond talking.
"The ring was created in Mordor, only there can it be unmade. One of you must do this," Elrond spoke in a grave voice. Mari watched, as there was complete silence. She noticed also some elves that had completely platinum blonde hair. One of them seemed younger than the rest, with clear eyes. She stopped short and stared at him from her small spot in the bushes. He was beautiful. He sat upon the chair gracefully and the breeze was gently picking up his hair. She was hypnotized. Suddenly she broke out of her reverie when a man suddenly spoke, breaking the dead silence.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its gates are guarded by more than just orcs. The very air is a poisonous fume and the great eye is ever watchful. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly," said the man quietly and gravely.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" Said the elf whom had caught Mari's attention forcefully. "The ring must be destroyed!" He cried determinedly, his fair face shining, causing Mari's heart to skip a beat.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it, eh!" A dwarf had sprung out of his seat angrily. "I would rather die than see the ring in the hands of an Elf!" He said angrily. All of the Elves present save for Elrond and his sons had sprung angrily to the defense of their kin. Mari was fascinated. Who knew that a few simple words could get them so worked up? Suddenly she spotted Frodo. He stood up and said something that made her heart go cold.
"I will take the ring," no one heeded him. He said it louder, " I will take the ring!" That silenced everyone. All turned to him and looked down at Frodo's short height. "Though I do not know the way."
"I will help you with this burden Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," said Gandalf in a settled way.
"Upon my life and death I shall protect you. You have my sword," said the one known as Aragorn.
"And you have my bow," said the elf who was known as Legolas who had stolen Mari's attention.
"And my ax," said the dwarf known as Gimli. Suddenly, Mari made a decision then and there. She jumped out of her bush and ran to Frodo's side.
"I don't know where my little brother thinks he's going without me here to protect him," said Mari in a comically commanding voice. People just looked at her as if she was crazy. Elf and hobbit, related? Well that was new. "What?" asked Mari in a confused voice. Suddenly, Sam popped out of his little bush.
"Frodo and Mari are definitely not going anywhere without me," said Sam crossing his arms and lifting his chin.
"Indeed it is hardly possible to separate the three of you even when Frodo is summoned to a secret council and you are not!" said Elrond with a smile obvious in his voice.
"Ai, Ai!! We're coming too!" yelled the forms of Merry and Pippin as they raced out from behind stone pillars. Elrond had a comical look of annoyance on his ageless face. "You'll have to tie us up in a sack to stop us!" said Merry indicating that the decision was settled.
"Besides, you need people of intelligence on this mission…quest…thing." Said Pippin haughtily. Mari snorted.
"Well that rules you out, Pip!" whispered Merry softly. Pippin did a double take, the first time not understanding what Merry had meant.
"Ten companions!" started Elrond in a wise voice. "You shall be the fellowship of the ring!" (Soundtrack from movie.)
"Great! Where are we going?" asked Pippin in an animated voice. Frodo and Mari looked at him exasperatedly.
Author's notes:
So sorry for the long chapter! Please keep reviewing! More reviews, more chapters…hehehe.
Anonymous: Thank you for your praise! I will try to keep adding more every time I hit the computer screen! Thank you for reviewing my story. –CherryBlossom
Lady Celeste: Wow! You really think it is good? Thanks! I will keep writing in that case!!!! I have a cat named Celeste, she is really cute. -CherryBlossom
Brenda: I am glad that you find this interesting. I will probably start revealing her past in the next chapter. Not all the way though. The whole story of her background should come out sometime near Lothlorien. Thanks for the compliment! -CherryBlossom
Leila Winters: Legolas showed up in this chapter! Sorry he didn't get a great part, but I thought I should have ended the chapter there to make it fun. True 'love' should not really come out until way later, but fun things will happen in most chapters. I agree with about your elf comment. -CherryBlossom
Sparkle Faerie: Really? You just saw the movie for the first time? Cool. I read the book first, but I loved the movie! Legolas did show up in this chapter (so there!) I think you ought to tone it down on the sugar. (As CherryBlossom picks up a spoon and starts eating sugar from the bag.) *kekeke* -CherryBlossom
