Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.

Author's Notes: 01/17/06 - Wee, good-bye lengthy author's notes.

The Imperfect One
By: JDArc

Chapter Five: The Council of Elrond

Elenmírë was again at her mirror early the next morning, critically analyzing her body, which was clad in a tunic and leggings. Annaril had been beyond pleased that morning when she had been allowed to plait her hair once more. However, Elenmírë refused to endure another minute in a heavy gown, settling for her familiar attire, but staring at her reflection, it dismayed her to see her usual heavy bottom and the tiny bulge of belly near her belt. Annaril stood several feet behind her, shaking her head in disapproval at Elenmírë's constant worrying over her body and her looks.

"Arwenamin, I don't mean to be rude, but you will be late for the council if you do not hurry," Annaril warned, grabbing a cloak out of Elenmírë's closet and handing it to her. "You must wear this; it is a bit chilly outside today."

"Thank you," she replied, automatically putting it on, and she sighed with relief as it covered her entire body. Annaril ran a comb through Elenmírë's long tresses one last time before giving her a gentle push to the door.

As she walked down the long terraces, she paused a moment to admire the beautiful sun who had risen in all her glory, spreading her enlightened fingertips to caress the land below, reaching from the far peaks of the Misty Mountains to the dew that rested on the golden yellow leaves of the birch trees that surrounded Rivendell. She tilted her head and closed her eyes, relishing the trickle of warmth that stroked her cheeks, and uttered a silent prayer to the Valar for that quiet moment of peace for she knew that the day's Council would not be a happy one.

Her mind began to drift as she stood there, and in her thoughts, events from the night before launched into replay, moving in slow motion as she recalled her last dance with Prince Legolas. She remembered the smile that softly lifted the corners of his lips as his deep-sea blue eyes pierced hers, and almost instantly, her heart twitched with pleasure at reliving the reassuring pressure of his arm snaking around her waist to hold her ever so closer to himself. Then a coldness ensnared her happy memories when the vision of Mary Sue pulling Legolas away crammed her head, and her eyes popped open, a frown deepening on her face. Legolas was not hers, nor would he ever be hers, especially with Mary Sue lurking everywhere, and she was well aware that compared to Mary Sue's obvious beauty, Elenmírë was nothing more than an Elf that took up space. Last night was merely a dream, and now that she was well awake in reality, she could not dwell on a simple dream alone, not when other pressing issues demanded her attention. With that in mind, she pulled herself away from the scenic terrace and earnestly headed to the meeting place of the Council of Elrond, hurrying her steps as she heard the warning bell toll once.

She arrived on time, scurrying right behind Gandalf, Bilbo, and Frodo. She paused next to them, looking at Lord Elrond for direction, and he bid them to sit by him, Elenmírë being the closest to his side, and Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf following respectively. Her expression remained cool and neutral, but inside, she felt sick as she gazed over the stern countenances of those present, the importance of the meeting finally sinking in. Aragorn sat to the side, alone and isolated, and his grey eyes met hers, twinkling with greeting. She gave him a slight nod, ignoring the tumultuous response her heart emitted, and continued to observe the rest. Farther along the circle, there was Glorfindel, and beside him, her father's chief advisor, Erestor, along with the rest of the advising cabinet members. Included was Galdor, an Elf sent as a messenger by Círdan the Shipwright from the Grey Havens, whom Elenmírë calmly greeted with the nod of her head. Next was the Man of Gondor, Boromir, and he affectionately welcomed her with a smile. Her lips twitched instinctively into an awkward grin before shifting her gaze uncomfortably to the Master Dwarf Gloin, and his son, Gimli. There was a slight gap after the Dwarves before her eyes landed on an Elf from the company of Mirkwood. Her heart hammered in anticipation as she slowly continued to look down the line at a leisurely pace until her eyes fell on the face that she had emblazoned forever in her memory, a face that had been patiently waiting for her stare, waiting for her eyes to meet his. But she did not pause. In fact, she casually looked to the person sitting next to him, stubbornly refusing to dwell on his face no longer than she had to, and although the person sitting next to Legolas was Mary Sue, she gave no sign, no indication nor any reaction at all to who the girl was or why she was allowed to sit with the Council, though the last question was burning to be asked. Appearing indifferent, she looked to her Father, waiting for the Council to begin and hoping that Legolas would take her hints and leave her alone. She did not want to have him weaken her at a time such as this, nor at any time for that matter, for she did not want to become too emotionally involved with a person whom she felt would never want such an imperfect one as she, especially when a most beautiful creature, Mary Sue, doted on him. She clenched her jaw, her heart and soul firmly resolved now to only one thing: to save her home and her family from the doom that threatened to overpower them all. Despite the night before, the harsh realities of their world snatched her flimsy hopes away, and she decided at that moment, no matter what, Legolas was not going to be a priority.

Legolas, however, sat in shock at her obvious dismissal and lack of interest, but tried to appear unaffected. 'What is she trying to do!' his mind yelled insanely in his head. 'She nodded at everyone else, and Boromir even received a smile! Does she not care at all about last night?' Then he remembered with a jolt. 'Of course she would dare not think of it at such times.' But a fear took root within him. 'The look in her eyes seemed so set, so determined, as if to push me away, but, surely she could not want that, especially not after what we shared?' What astonished him the most was her indifferent glance over Mary Sue, whom she had always before greeted with a cold, challenging, steely stare, but today, she merely looked through the girl as if she had not existed at all. He waited calmly for Lord Elrond to address the Council, silently scolding himself for his selfishness, but he could not stop the disturbing battle that continued to rage within himself.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Elrond began, his eyes piercing into every face as he studied the lot. "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. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He turned to Frodo and gestured to a circular, flat-surfaced stand in the center of the council. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." Frodo fearfully glanced at Gandalf and at Elenmírë before he timidly stepped down and placed the Ring on the stand with a loud thump. Almost immediately, murmurs ran through the council as all leaned forward in amazement, staring at it, and even Elenmírë felt a selfish tug in her heart as she admired its shiny exterior.

"So it is true," Boromir muttered, his eyes growing wide, but whispers ran along the the circle.

"The doom of man…"

Suddenly, Boromir stood and a fiery expression covered his face as he pointed his finger accusingly along the circle. "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this gift? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!" Elenmírë's eyes widened at the one who had been once so kind but was now so vicious and demanding in his words. 'Is he mad?' she thought, forcing her tongue to lay still.

"You cannot wield it!" Aragorn argued, voicing Elenmírë's very thoughts. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone! It has no other master." She nodded in agreement, silently cheering Aragorn on.

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir sneered, taking a step towards him. Elenmírë's mouth fell open in surprise and stood up, shaking with disbelief. 'Does he not know?' her mind questioned. 'The fool!' To ask for the Ring was pure naïveté, but she could no longer hold her tongue, especially with the insult he threw to his very King.

"This is no mere Ranger!" she snapped. "He is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn!" Astonishment crossed the Man's face as he turned in her direction. "You owe him your allegiance." The revelation of the Ranger's true identity froze the Steward's son in his tracks.

"Aragorn?" he repeated. "This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas cut in, standing up as well. Aragorn waved his hand in protest.

"Havo dad, Legolas, Elenmírë (Sit down, Legolas, Elenmírë)," he ordered, his grey eyes pleading with hers. She softened immediately and bowed her head as she took her seat, but inside she was seething. 'Damn you, Aragorn,' she cursed silently. 'Accept the title that is rightfully yours!' Boromir was also angry, but not for the same reason.

"Gondor has no King," he scoffed. "Gondor needs no King." He settled back into his seat, his eyes giving Elenmírë a glimpse of an apology, but it quickly disappeared as he stared into the power of the Ring.

"Aragorn is right," Gandalf concluded. "We cannot use it."

"You have only one choice," Elrond said gravely, sighing. "The Ring must be destroyed." A soft murmur escaped from the Ring, and the tension of the council mounted at the words. A wave a despair washed over Elenmírë, and she looked desperately at her father for reassurance, but he would not meet her eyes.

"Then what are we waiting for?" boomed Gimli as he approached the stand with ax in hand. To everyone's complete horror, he swung his ax hard at the ring, and in a flash, Gimli was flung to the floor, the blade of his ax shattered to pieces. Immediately, his father Gloin was at his side, pulling the stunned Dwarf to his feet.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli Son of Gloin by any craft that we here possess," Elrond informed, his voice firm. "The Ring 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 whence it came. One of you must do this." A silence once again took ahold of the council and they stared at each other uneasily.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir sighed, his voice tired. "Its black gates are guarded by more than just 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. Not with ten thousand men can you do this! It is folly!" Elenmírë felt a rage course through her veins, not only because of Boromir's lack of faith in her father's conclusion, but because of his ignorance of what would happen if they did not risk their lives to destroy the Ring. Once again she was at her feet, as was Legolas, who felt exactly the same way.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" she cried out angrily, and Legolas cut in before she could speak another word.

"The Ring must be destroyed!" he roared fervently. They stood side by side, both fuming with impatience at the Man from Gondor when suddenly, Gimli Son of Gloin was also on his feet, his eyes challenging the two Elves.

"And I supposed you two think you're the ones to do it?" he accused, marching straight to Legolas, his stubby, gloved fists shaking at them both. 'Does he not understand?' Elenmírë's mind cried out. Boromir also could not take all this sitting down and rose to his feet as well, walking until he was face-to-face with Elenmírë.

"And if we fail?" he questioned her, his eyes shooting daggers into hers. His hot breath warmed her cheeks and his nose was flaring. "What then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Gimli now had another ax on his side, his hand ready on its handle as he glared hatefully up at Legolas. "I will be DEAD before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" At this, all Elves, save Elrond and Glorfindel, were on their feet, shouting curses in Elvish toward the little dwarves, who shouted in spite, "No one trust an Elf!" But Elenmírë stared in quiet disbelief at Boromir, who also could not take his eyes from her face. She could see the battle within his eyes; there was a selfish desire to behold the One Ring in his possession, but there was also another sort of desire, but she knew not what…Elrond's voice loomed over the commotion, and the din diminished at the sound of his voice. They all turned and looked at him, and for the first time, he looked weary, the lines of worry crossing his brow.

"The road must be trod, and it will be very hard," he started. "And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong." Bilbo sighed with understanding and stood up before bowing low from his waist to the Lord of Rivendell.

"Very well, very well, Master Elrond," he said quite suddenly. "It is plain enough what you are pointing at. Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it or himself. When ought I to start?" They all gaped at him in utter astonishment, but Gloin smiled, remembering his adventures with the little hobbit sixty years ago, and said naught but knew that he was one that they could trust.

"Of course, my dear Bilbo," Gandalf said, surprisingly calm, "but you cannot take the thing back. It has been passed on, dear friend." At his words, a realization dawned on the entire council as they each took their seats, all keeping their eyes downcast as the noon-bell rang. Elenmírë could hear the labored breathing of the tiny hobbit Frodo who sat next to her, twisting his hands. His small voice called out quietly, piercing Elenmírë's heart with its melancholic tone.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor," he declared, "though I do not know the way." Gandalf turned and looked to his little friend with encouragement as well as sadness written plain across his face.

"And I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," he proclaimed, "as long as it is yours to bear." He lifted a reassuring hand and gave his tiny shoulder a squeeze. Aragorn walked calmly in front of the hobbit, and went down on bended knees.

"By my life or death, I can protect you, I will," he stated. "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow!" Legolas announced, walking to his side.

"And my ax!" Gimli followed.

"And my blade!" Elenmírë cried out, turning in her seat to smile upon Frodo.

"No, Elenmírë, you will not go," Elrond protested, rising from his seat. "I will not allow it!"

"But father," she protested, "it is my duty as a warrior to protect the one who will bear the greatest burden of us all! I will not stay home like a helpless maiden when my help will be needed. I am a warrior, father," she emphasized, her eyes imploring. "If my services are needed to help save Middle Earth, then I will not decline." Elrond's face was impassive, but his eyes betrayed the fear he felt in the thought of losing his foster daughter to war. But he knew she was right; she would not allow herself to sit when others were in dire need, especially if the others were all the free peoples of Middle Earth. And Legolas…Elrond knew in his heart that her heart had already succumbed itself to Legolas' care, whether she denied it or not, and if Legolas was to go on this journey without her, her spirit would only fade faster. To detain her to Rivendell would be a death sentence, and Elrond would rather have his daughter die free in battle than to have her slowly ebb away at home.

After a silent moment, he slowly nodded his head in approval, despite the distress he felt in his heart. She ran to him, and he embraced her hard, his arms shaking with grief as he held onto her. Tears sprung to her eyes and she choked out, "Worry not, father. I can take care of myself easily enough." He could not reply but gently rocked her back and forth as if she were but a babe. They reluctantly let each other go, and she wiped the tears that had fallen from her eyes. When she looked across the council, she was surprised to see tears also upon Mary Sue's face as she studied the interlude between the Lord of Rivendell and his daughter. 'But why does she cry?' Elenmírë's mind mused, amazed that Mary Sue was looking at her, not with contempt nor utter dislike, but with mutual understanding and sympathy. However, she could not dwell any further on Mary Sue for Boromir had begun to speak.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one," he started, nodding his head at Frodo. Glancing around the circle for confirmation, he continued. "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."

"Eh!" a manic voice called out from the bushes behind Frodo's chair, and Elenmírë immediately withdrew her sword at the sound. However, it was only Frodo's faithful companion, Samwise Gamgee, and he ran in and stood defiantly next to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo isn't going anywhere without me!"

"No, indeed," Elrond chuckled lightly, "it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Another cry of displeasure called out, this time from the terrace on the opposite side and in ran two other hobbits, Elenmírë's very own admirers, Merry and Pippin.

"Oi!" Merry cried out. "We're coming, too!" They both ran to Elenmírë's side. "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"

"Anyway," Pippin interjected, his hand clasping tightly to Elenmírë's, "you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission…quest…thing!"

"Well, that rules you out, Pip," Merry muttered underneath his breath, and Elenmírë gave out a jolly laugh as Pippin shot him a look of bewilderment. She looked up at her father, her eyebrows raised, and he smiled.

"Ten companions," he pondered. "So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

"Great!" Pippin called out happily. "Where are we going?"

TBC