This chapter is so long! I had to work around exams, sorry for the really
long delay.
When Ella awoke the next morning, she felt refreshed and ready for anything. She put a robe on over her grimy clothes, which she hadn't changed out of the night before and opened the door to see if Gandalf was back, since she had been told their rooms would be adjacent. Instead, when she opened the door, she saw Lotheon walking past her door with a pretty elf maiden who was raptly listening to his every word. She shut the door quietly and rolled her eyes. Okay, she thought, ready for anything except him! Realizing she must look hideous, she went back inside her room and peered into the mirror in the connected wash room. Her appearance confirmed her thoughts. Her auburn hair was matted and tangled, and her skin was grimy. She heard a knock at her door, and went to open it. An elf maiden came in bearing a tray, dressed in a simple light green dress with her blonde hair bound in a knot at the back of her head.
"Good morning, Lady Ella. My name is Terathil, and I will be serving you during your stay at Rivendell." She set down the tray on a table and gestured towards it as she said, "I ordered your breakfast when I saw you awake. Is there anything else you need? Please feel free to ask." Terathil said.
"Please," Ella said, "May I have a bath?"
"Certainly." Terathil replied, "Allow me to call for hot water."
Soon, Ella had a warm bath with bubbles waiting for her. Terathil assumed that she was going to help Ella bathe, and followed Ella as she went to the wash room. At Ella's quizzical glance, she explained, "Most elves have their servants help them bathe. If you are uncomfortable, I will withdraw." Ella began to like the idea when she realized she wouldn't have to deal with her thick hair, though she did feel sorry for Terathil. The elves were very sophisticated as far as hair care went. They had great oils for cleaning hair, and other potions so Ella didn't have to worry about her hair frizzing. She stepped out of the bath feeling cleaner than she had ever been. She was wrapped in a thick towel, and sat down at the vanity as Terathil rubbed a potion in her hair that would stop her curls from frizzing.
"What would you like to wear today, Lady?" Terathil asked after she had finished with her hair.
"I would really like a pair of leggings and a tunic," Ella said, "I can still wear my old boots."
"Most women do not wear men's clothing here," Terathil said doubtfully, "Let me go and ask our housekeeper if we have anything."
Terathil left, and Ella started on her breakfast. The pale cheese with nuts, bread, and fruit made it an excellent meal. There was also a strange tasting juice, which, after one taste, Ella downed. Terathil returned, bringing with her a stouter woman, thought she was still thin and graceful. She had pepper grey hair and piercing brown eyes.
"Why in the world would you ever need leggings, my dear?" she asked in a voice that left no doubt in Ella's mind that she was not being a proper young lady, "Most young elves here dress in simple gowns, like the ones found in your wardrobe," she said.
"Pardon me," said a musical voice from the doorway, "I apologize for overhearing but I do believe we can find suitable clothes for Gandalf's apprentice." The speaker was the most beautiful elf Ella had ever seen. Her raven locks waved down her back, and her dark eyes were expressive. She wore a simple but elegant morning dress in pale yellow.
"Yes, Lady Arwen," said the two servants, and they departed.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself," Arwen continued, "I am Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond." She held out her hand, and Ella shook it.
"You seem to know me already," Ella said.
"Yes," Arwen said wryly, "You see, rumor travels quickly here, especially rumors of beautiful apprentices who are powerful enough to incinerate orcs."
"I won't deny that one," Ella said, "But your source neglected to mention that I keeled over afterward." Arwen laughed her melodious laugh.
They talked for a while longer, and found some common interests. Terathil returned with Ella's clothes. Arwen rose to leave and added, "We are holding a ball tonight. Please permit me to come and help you dress with my maid."
"Of course," Ella answered, "I will need all the help I can get." Arwen merely smiled, for she knew that everyone would admire Ella, and bid her goodbye. Ella genuinely liked the beautiful elf, and hoped to talk to her more at the ball. Then she realized she had nothing to wear, but pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She could always create her dress. She dressed in the pale green shirt and added the darker green leggings and v-neck tunic, which showed the underlying color. She pulled on her worn brown boots, bound her curls back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck and strapped on her sword belt. After her battle with orcs, if you can even call it that, she thought disgustedly, she needed some practice. She was sure that there were practice courts somewhere, and since it was early, she hoped that no one would be there to see how poor she was.
Once she found the courts, she was correct. The courts were deserted. They were sandy and encircled by a sturdy wooden fence. She did some push ups, crunches, and stretched to limber up. Drawing her sword, she entered the court and took a few practice swings. It was heavier than the fencing foils, but she would get used to it. She ran through her drills, and improved as she continued. After about an hour, she turned around to take a break and saw Prince Legolas leaning casually on the fence blonde hair shining in the sun.
"How long have you been watching?" she asked suspiciously, pushing some of her loose hair out of her sweaty face.
"What a nice way to greet your former nurse!" he said mockingly, again observing how attractive she was, "I see you are feeling much better than the last time I saw you. As to your question, I have been watching long enough to know you have a few tricks with your sword I have yet to see. Practice bout?" he invited.
Ella knew she was still a little rusty, but couldn't refuse the competition.
"Bring it on," she said, thinking about her misfortune to have endured that movie, and how long ago that seemed since she had come to Middle-Earth.
They stepped into the practice courts, and raised their swords in salute before beginning. Legolas had a beautiful elven blade, slightly curved, and held it like he knew what he was doing. Ella didn't want to take the first strike; she didn't know her opponent well enough to anticipate his responses. With no warning, Legolas feinted and went for her side. He intended to go easy on her, but her lightening reaction to his strike made him unsure of the level of her ability. Ella immediately struck back and tried to find a weakness as their swords clashed. Legolas was surprised at her strength; she was stronger than she looked, and also very swift. Very good, too! he thought as she almost disarmed him.
Ella realized that he was going easy on her, and was furious. She struck back hard, all timidity banished. She tried one of her many fencing traps, and almost disarmed him. But, he was extremely talented, and was able to avoid her move with his agility. Ella pressed on her advantage, but was forced back. She used every trick she knew to try to attack again, but she was too busy fending off the fierce attack to try anything. Finally, Legolas forced her off balance, and she fell in a cloud of dirt and sand. A strong arm helped her up, and dusted her off.
"You are very good, if a little out of practice," Legolas said, and laughed as Ella glared at him, "Where did you learn that butterfly cut that you used?"
"Oh, I learned that a long time ago," she replied evasively. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't question her further. Ella realized for the first time that a crowd had gathered to witness the fight. She blushed crimson, remembering how she had fallen.
"Do not worry," Legolas said when he saw her blush, "Most she-elves cannot wield a sword." Ella nodded. "Would you care to walk with me in the gardens? You could cool off there."
Ella agreed, and they set off.
"What are you here for?" Ell asked almost rudely. Legolas looked at her, amused. "All right, let's try that again," Ella said, "Pray tell what brings you here, Your Radiant and Distinguished Highness."
Leglas laughed and said, "All right, forget the titles. No Lady Ella or Prince Legolas."
Ella noticed that he didn't answer the question.
"This is a rather random question," he said, "But are you an archer?"
"No," Ella replied, "But I do want to learn. We never needed archery where I come from." Legolas raised a brow, for all settlements across Middle- Earth had archers to defend themselves. "But I am skilled at hand to hand combat," she quickly continued, and stuck a foot out and neatly tripped him. She laughed and sprinted away. Legolas was astonished; no female had ever done that to him. His close friends were enough at ease with him to do something like that, but never a female he had recently met. Once he got over his pride, he realized that Ella was treating him more like a younger brother than like. well, most women treated him. This was a nice change from the females who flung themselves on him, or the ones who expected him to cater to their every whim. He got up and sprinted after her, almost catching her, only to have her stop dead at the last second. He lunged at her, but she heaved him over her hip, casting him on the ground hard.
"I surrender," he gasped.
"Good," she replied, hauling him up and dusting him off as he had done for her earlier. She caught him looking at her with an amused face, and she rolled her eyes and pushed him down again, walking off.
"Lady Ella," he said in a neutral voice, "The gardens are this way."
Embarrassed, she turned and started walking in the direction he gestured to. The gardens were beautiful. Stately trees draped their branches over top the garden, making it a shady haven. There were stone benches and trickling granite fountains, all surrounded by beds bordered with pale blooming vinca and crisp smelling boxwoods. Ella peppered Legolas with questions about elves in general, and he answered her questions in detail. She was able to see his love of the culture as well as his people.
"Do you plan to attend the ball tonight?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Are you attending with anyone?" he asked
"No. Is this leading somewhere?"
He smiled and said, "Yes, it is. Please allow me to escort you there."
"All right." Ella replied.
"I'll meet you at your room before dinner, but now I am afraid I must go. I must make myself more presentable. I will see you tonight." He said, and left the gardens, walking lithely along the stone path.
Ella also left, heading toward her rooms. She met Gandalf in the hallway.
"Change your clothes, Ella. We go to a secret council held by Lord Elrond," he said.
"About what?" she asked.
"You will find out when we arrive," he replied, "And hurry."
Gandalf was more brisk than usual, so Ella figured that something important must be going on. She again had to bathe, and beg a disapproving Terathil for a tunic and leggings. After dressing in the blue outfit, she strapped on her scabbard and raced out of her room, still gathering her wet hair into a ponytail. Gandalf was waiting in the hall, attired in his usual grey robe, holding his gnarled wood staff in one hand. Together, they quickly walked to the open stone patio where the meeting was held.
The patio was made stone, surrounded by shrubbery and trees, and attached to the house of Elrond. There were ancient statues of elves that had green foliage crawling up the bottom along one wall. Awaiting Ella and Gandalf were the other members of the council, all seated in a horseshoe, with a dark-haired elder elf at the open end of the horseshoe, presumably Lord Elrond presiding on the council. Ella was seated next to Gandalf, with Frodo on his other side. On Ella's left side was a blonde elf, next to him was Lotheon, and next to Lotheon was Legolas. He looked dignified, if more solemn, dressed in his flowing chocolate colored elfish robes, and his long blonde hair tied back. Next around the horseshoe came the dwarves, and then the men.
Lord Elrond waited for all gathered to settle.
"Strangers from distant land, 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," he said. He turned to Frodo. "Bring forth the ring," he commanded.
Frodo rose and placed the ring upon the circular stone tablet in the center of the patio. The ring caught the rays of the sun, oblivious to the hushed whisperings of captivation from those gathered. Ella was again surprised that something so tangibly evil could be so simple looking- for she could feel the hate radiating from the tablet. Ella looked Frodo and marveled at his resilience.
A man across from Ella stood. "It is a gift. Why not use this ring?" he asked, "Long has the blood of our people kept the forces of Mordor at bay. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
"You cannot wield it. None of us can," said another man. Ella heartily agreed with him.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" asked the first man to speak, with an undertone of arrogance apparent in his voice.
Legolas stood up, incensed, and snapped back, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn!" So this was Aragorn, Ella thought. She had read of him, Isildur's long lost heir. He seemed to her to be self assured and practical, judging from his comment about the corruption of the ring. The first man was astonished, and a pained Aragorn ordered Legolas to sit.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king," the man declared, with undisguised animosity toward Aragorn, and sat back in his seat.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it," Gandalf said.
"You have only one choice," Lord Elrond said, "The ring must be destroyed."
As Gimli tried to destroy the ring, Ella watched Frodo. He seemed to be suffering from the blow to the ring. Then, Ella could make out the murmuring of a deep voice emanating from the ring.
"The ring must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came," Elrond said. There was a pause, "One of you must do this."
The council stirred, and the man from Gondor warned of the evils of Mordor.
Legolas angrily stood and spoke, "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said? The ring must be destroyed!"
Gimli the Dwarf stood and fired back, "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it! I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"
The council exploded into dissenting voices, bickering back and forth. Legolas was visibly restraining Lotheon from pouncing on Gimli. Ella for once didn't blame him. The council was no place for prejudice. Gandalf joined in the chaos, arguing vociferously with the man from Gondor, Ella found to be named Boromir. Again, she heard the whispers of the ring.
"I will take it," Frodo calmly stated, to the unheeding council, then repeated more loudly, "I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins," Gandalf said, clapping him on the shoulder. Aragorn joined them, "You have my sword."
Legolas also joined the group, "And you have my bow."
"And my ax," Gimli said.
Ella figured she should let them know they weren't going anywhere without her, and added, "You have my magic."
Finally Boromir joined them. Sam raced out of the shrubbery and stood protectively by Frodo with his arms crossed and declared they would go nowhere without him.
"Wait! We're coming, too!"
To everyone's surprise, two hobbits, Merry and Pippin, hopped out of the shrubbery and scrambled to join Frodo and Sam.
"You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission.- quest-. thing." Pippin declared.
"Well, that rules you out," Merry said.
Pippin made as if to nod, then glared at the other hobbit.
"So be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" announced Lord Elrond.
Ella could hold in her mirth no longer at the hobbits' antics, and burst out hysterically laughing.
When Ella awoke the next morning, she felt refreshed and ready for anything. She put a robe on over her grimy clothes, which she hadn't changed out of the night before and opened the door to see if Gandalf was back, since she had been told their rooms would be adjacent. Instead, when she opened the door, she saw Lotheon walking past her door with a pretty elf maiden who was raptly listening to his every word. She shut the door quietly and rolled her eyes. Okay, she thought, ready for anything except him! Realizing she must look hideous, she went back inside her room and peered into the mirror in the connected wash room. Her appearance confirmed her thoughts. Her auburn hair was matted and tangled, and her skin was grimy. She heard a knock at her door, and went to open it. An elf maiden came in bearing a tray, dressed in a simple light green dress with her blonde hair bound in a knot at the back of her head.
"Good morning, Lady Ella. My name is Terathil, and I will be serving you during your stay at Rivendell." She set down the tray on a table and gestured towards it as she said, "I ordered your breakfast when I saw you awake. Is there anything else you need? Please feel free to ask." Terathil said.
"Please," Ella said, "May I have a bath?"
"Certainly." Terathil replied, "Allow me to call for hot water."
Soon, Ella had a warm bath with bubbles waiting for her. Terathil assumed that she was going to help Ella bathe, and followed Ella as she went to the wash room. At Ella's quizzical glance, she explained, "Most elves have their servants help them bathe. If you are uncomfortable, I will withdraw." Ella began to like the idea when she realized she wouldn't have to deal with her thick hair, though she did feel sorry for Terathil. The elves were very sophisticated as far as hair care went. They had great oils for cleaning hair, and other potions so Ella didn't have to worry about her hair frizzing. She stepped out of the bath feeling cleaner than she had ever been. She was wrapped in a thick towel, and sat down at the vanity as Terathil rubbed a potion in her hair that would stop her curls from frizzing.
"What would you like to wear today, Lady?" Terathil asked after she had finished with her hair.
"I would really like a pair of leggings and a tunic," Ella said, "I can still wear my old boots."
"Most women do not wear men's clothing here," Terathil said doubtfully, "Let me go and ask our housekeeper if we have anything."
Terathil left, and Ella started on her breakfast. The pale cheese with nuts, bread, and fruit made it an excellent meal. There was also a strange tasting juice, which, after one taste, Ella downed. Terathil returned, bringing with her a stouter woman, thought she was still thin and graceful. She had pepper grey hair and piercing brown eyes.
"Why in the world would you ever need leggings, my dear?" she asked in a voice that left no doubt in Ella's mind that she was not being a proper young lady, "Most young elves here dress in simple gowns, like the ones found in your wardrobe," she said.
"Pardon me," said a musical voice from the doorway, "I apologize for overhearing but I do believe we can find suitable clothes for Gandalf's apprentice." The speaker was the most beautiful elf Ella had ever seen. Her raven locks waved down her back, and her dark eyes were expressive. She wore a simple but elegant morning dress in pale yellow.
"Yes, Lady Arwen," said the two servants, and they departed.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself," Arwen continued, "I am Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond." She held out her hand, and Ella shook it.
"You seem to know me already," Ella said.
"Yes," Arwen said wryly, "You see, rumor travels quickly here, especially rumors of beautiful apprentices who are powerful enough to incinerate orcs."
"I won't deny that one," Ella said, "But your source neglected to mention that I keeled over afterward." Arwen laughed her melodious laugh.
They talked for a while longer, and found some common interests. Terathil returned with Ella's clothes. Arwen rose to leave and added, "We are holding a ball tonight. Please permit me to come and help you dress with my maid."
"Of course," Ella answered, "I will need all the help I can get." Arwen merely smiled, for she knew that everyone would admire Ella, and bid her goodbye. Ella genuinely liked the beautiful elf, and hoped to talk to her more at the ball. Then she realized she had nothing to wear, but pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She could always create her dress. She dressed in the pale green shirt and added the darker green leggings and v-neck tunic, which showed the underlying color. She pulled on her worn brown boots, bound her curls back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck and strapped on her sword belt. After her battle with orcs, if you can even call it that, she thought disgustedly, she needed some practice. She was sure that there were practice courts somewhere, and since it was early, she hoped that no one would be there to see how poor she was.
Once she found the courts, she was correct. The courts were deserted. They were sandy and encircled by a sturdy wooden fence. She did some push ups, crunches, and stretched to limber up. Drawing her sword, she entered the court and took a few practice swings. It was heavier than the fencing foils, but she would get used to it. She ran through her drills, and improved as she continued. After about an hour, she turned around to take a break and saw Prince Legolas leaning casually on the fence blonde hair shining in the sun.
"How long have you been watching?" she asked suspiciously, pushing some of her loose hair out of her sweaty face.
"What a nice way to greet your former nurse!" he said mockingly, again observing how attractive she was, "I see you are feeling much better than the last time I saw you. As to your question, I have been watching long enough to know you have a few tricks with your sword I have yet to see. Practice bout?" he invited.
Ella knew she was still a little rusty, but couldn't refuse the competition.
"Bring it on," she said, thinking about her misfortune to have endured that movie, and how long ago that seemed since she had come to Middle-Earth.
They stepped into the practice courts, and raised their swords in salute before beginning. Legolas had a beautiful elven blade, slightly curved, and held it like he knew what he was doing. Ella didn't want to take the first strike; she didn't know her opponent well enough to anticipate his responses. With no warning, Legolas feinted and went for her side. He intended to go easy on her, but her lightening reaction to his strike made him unsure of the level of her ability. Ella immediately struck back and tried to find a weakness as their swords clashed. Legolas was surprised at her strength; she was stronger than she looked, and also very swift. Very good, too! he thought as she almost disarmed him.
Ella realized that he was going easy on her, and was furious. She struck back hard, all timidity banished. She tried one of her many fencing traps, and almost disarmed him. But, he was extremely talented, and was able to avoid her move with his agility. Ella pressed on her advantage, but was forced back. She used every trick she knew to try to attack again, but she was too busy fending off the fierce attack to try anything. Finally, Legolas forced her off balance, and she fell in a cloud of dirt and sand. A strong arm helped her up, and dusted her off.
"You are very good, if a little out of practice," Legolas said, and laughed as Ella glared at him, "Where did you learn that butterfly cut that you used?"
"Oh, I learned that a long time ago," she replied evasively. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't question her further. Ella realized for the first time that a crowd had gathered to witness the fight. She blushed crimson, remembering how she had fallen.
"Do not worry," Legolas said when he saw her blush, "Most she-elves cannot wield a sword." Ella nodded. "Would you care to walk with me in the gardens? You could cool off there."
Ella agreed, and they set off.
"What are you here for?" Ell asked almost rudely. Legolas looked at her, amused. "All right, let's try that again," Ella said, "Pray tell what brings you here, Your Radiant and Distinguished Highness."
Leglas laughed and said, "All right, forget the titles. No Lady Ella or Prince Legolas."
Ella noticed that he didn't answer the question.
"This is a rather random question," he said, "But are you an archer?"
"No," Ella replied, "But I do want to learn. We never needed archery where I come from." Legolas raised a brow, for all settlements across Middle- Earth had archers to defend themselves. "But I am skilled at hand to hand combat," she quickly continued, and stuck a foot out and neatly tripped him. She laughed and sprinted away. Legolas was astonished; no female had ever done that to him. His close friends were enough at ease with him to do something like that, but never a female he had recently met. Once he got over his pride, he realized that Ella was treating him more like a younger brother than like. well, most women treated him. This was a nice change from the females who flung themselves on him, or the ones who expected him to cater to their every whim. He got up and sprinted after her, almost catching her, only to have her stop dead at the last second. He lunged at her, but she heaved him over her hip, casting him on the ground hard.
"I surrender," he gasped.
"Good," she replied, hauling him up and dusting him off as he had done for her earlier. She caught him looking at her with an amused face, and she rolled her eyes and pushed him down again, walking off.
"Lady Ella," he said in a neutral voice, "The gardens are this way."
Embarrassed, she turned and started walking in the direction he gestured to. The gardens were beautiful. Stately trees draped their branches over top the garden, making it a shady haven. There were stone benches and trickling granite fountains, all surrounded by beds bordered with pale blooming vinca and crisp smelling boxwoods. Ella peppered Legolas with questions about elves in general, and he answered her questions in detail. She was able to see his love of the culture as well as his people.
"Do you plan to attend the ball tonight?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Are you attending with anyone?" he asked
"No. Is this leading somewhere?"
He smiled and said, "Yes, it is. Please allow me to escort you there."
"All right." Ella replied.
"I'll meet you at your room before dinner, but now I am afraid I must go. I must make myself more presentable. I will see you tonight." He said, and left the gardens, walking lithely along the stone path.
Ella also left, heading toward her rooms. She met Gandalf in the hallway.
"Change your clothes, Ella. We go to a secret council held by Lord Elrond," he said.
"About what?" she asked.
"You will find out when we arrive," he replied, "And hurry."
Gandalf was more brisk than usual, so Ella figured that something important must be going on. She again had to bathe, and beg a disapproving Terathil for a tunic and leggings. After dressing in the blue outfit, she strapped on her scabbard and raced out of her room, still gathering her wet hair into a ponytail. Gandalf was waiting in the hall, attired in his usual grey robe, holding his gnarled wood staff in one hand. Together, they quickly walked to the open stone patio where the meeting was held.
The patio was made stone, surrounded by shrubbery and trees, and attached to the house of Elrond. There were ancient statues of elves that had green foliage crawling up the bottom along one wall. Awaiting Ella and Gandalf were the other members of the council, all seated in a horseshoe, with a dark-haired elder elf at the open end of the horseshoe, presumably Lord Elrond presiding on the council. Ella was seated next to Gandalf, with Frodo on his other side. On Ella's left side was a blonde elf, next to him was Lotheon, and next to Lotheon was Legolas. He looked dignified, if more solemn, dressed in his flowing chocolate colored elfish robes, and his long blonde hair tied back. Next around the horseshoe came the dwarves, and then the men.
Lord Elrond waited for all gathered to settle.
"Strangers from distant land, 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," he said. He turned to Frodo. "Bring forth the ring," he commanded.
Frodo rose and placed the ring upon the circular stone tablet in the center of the patio. The ring caught the rays of the sun, oblivious to the hushed whisperings of captivation from those gathered. Ella was again surprised that something so tangibly evil could be so simple looking- for she could feel the hate radiating from the tablet. Ella looked Frodo and marveled at his resilience.
A man across from Ella stood. "It is a gift. Why not use this ring?" he asked, "Long has the blood of our people kept the forces of Mordor at bay. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
"You cannot wield it. None of us can," said another man. Ella heartily agreed with him.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" asked the first man to speak, with an undertone of arrogance apparent in his voice.
Legolas stood up, incensed, and snapped back, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn!" So this was Aragorn, Ella thought. She had read of him, Isildur's long lost heir. He seemed to her to be self assured and practical, judging from his comment about the corruption of the ring. The first man was astonished, and a pained Aragorn ordered Legolas to sit.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king," the man declared, with undisguised animosity toward Aragorn, and sat back in his seat.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it," Gandalf said.
"You have only one choice," Lord Elrond said, "The ring must be destroyed."
As Gimli tried to destroy the ring, Ella watched Frodo. He seemed to be suffering from the blow to the ring. Then, Ella could make out the murmuring of a deep voice emanating from the ring.
"The ring must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came," Elrond said. There was a pause, "One of you must do this."
The council stirred, and the man from Gondor warned of the evils of Mordor.
Legolas angrily stood and spoke, "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said? The ring must be destroyed!"
Gimli the Dwarf stood and fired back, "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it! I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"
The council exploded into dissenting voices, bickering back and forth. Legolas was visibly restraining Lotheon from pouncing on Gimli. Ella for once didn't blame him. The council was no place for prejudice. Gandalf joined in the chaos, arguing vociferously with the man from Gondor, Ella found to be named Boromir. Again, she heard the whispers of the ring.
"I will take it," Frodo calmly stated, to the unheeding council, then repeated more loudly, "I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins," Gandalf said, clapping him on the shoulder. Aragorn joined them, "You have my sword."
Legolas also joined the group, "And you have my bow."
"And my ax," Gimli said.
Ella figured she should let them know they weren't going anywhere without her, and added, "You have my magic."
Finally Boromir joined them. Sam raced out of the shrubbery and stood protectively by Frodo with his arms crossed and declared they would go nowhere without him.
"Wait! We're coming, too!"
To everyone's surprise, two hobbits, Merry and Pippin, hopped out of the shrubbery and scrambled to join Frodo and Sam.
"You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission.- quest-. thing." Pippin declared.
"Well, that rules you out," Merry said.
Pippin made as if to nod, then glared at the other hobbit.
"So be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" announced Lord Elrond.
Ella could hold in her mirth no longer at the hobbits' antics, and burst out hysterically laughing.