Chapter Twenty: The First Part of the Council of Elrond

Written in story form by Carithawen

Webposter's notes: This is written from the roleplaying that we did, but written in story form by me.

The voice of Halien's father was loud and solemn as he spoke. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old..." He paused as he spotted Halien entering the room. His brow furrowed, and he set his attention towards her, "Halien, this is no place for you."

The eyes of Aragorn and Elfindel, who were seated at the right end of the semicircle also fell upon her, but their glances were nowhere as stern as her father's; they watched silently. Halien stopped midstep, and faced her father.

"My lord, I was doing as I was instructed. Your orders were for me to attend all councils held." She looked around, puzzled. "It is only right that I attend this one."

Elrond closed his eyes, and waved his hands motioning for her to sit down. "If you will then, sit down. I don't want to hear a word from you" Halien took her seat next to her half brothers, and fixed her dress as she sat down. Elfindel nodded once, slowly, as she did so, turning her gaze back to Elrond once more.

Clearing his throat he continued what he had begun earlier. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old... You've 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 one fate, this one doom." His eyes searched around into the room, and he paused, motioning for Frodo to step foward. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."

Eyeing the council sheepishly, Frodo stood up from his large chair, and walked over to the small cylindrical stand in the center of the semicircle, placing the ring directly in the center of it. Halien watched from her seat next to Elladan, as Frodo stepped forward. He was a curious little thing, and her lips curved into a slight smiled. Her hands were entwined into those of Elladan, but she sat tall, her forest green eyes set on Frodo still.

Boromir, who sat along with the other Gondorian Men, slowly stroked his small beard in thought. "So it is true..." Elfindel's slightly-narrowed eyes darted to the Man that she had known from the Narsil memorial the night before; Boromir continued on. "It is a gift... A gift to the foes of Mordor..." He stood up slowly. "Why not use this Ring? ...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...!

Halien turned her head quickly to face the new speaker. Her eyes narrowed, and the smile dissapeared from her face. However, she leaned back, and listened for she was much interested in what he had to say. The Man's eyes then caught Elfindel's, and it took him a while to continue.

"...Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy." He then addressed all. "Let us use it againt him!"

At this, Elfindel spoke. "This Ring will bring you nothing but uttermost chaos and suffering, Man of Gondor. You can not hope for the slightest shred of goodness from this spawn of evil."

Boromir looked at her again, his own eyes narrowing now. "...I did not ask for a Elf woman's comment on this matter--"

Aragorn intervened, protecting his comrade. "Elfindel is correct. You cannot wield it. None of us can! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master!"

Boromir grew more frustrated. "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

Legolas who had been sitting placidly watching everything happened stood studdenly to aid Aragorn. His face was serious, and his tone was on the brink of anger. "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir glanced at Aragorn as if in question. "Aragorn...? This is Isildur's heir...?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas added, his voice still firm, and his eyes set on Boromir.

Aragorn sighed quietly, not wanting to start anything further; he raised his open palm towards the Elf. "Havo dad, Legolas..."

Legolas turned, and sat down taking his place among the elves once more. From his seat he awaited what was to come.

Boromir eyes narrowed once more, turning slightly to Aragorn's Elven protector. "Gondor has no king..." He slowly turned back to Aragorn, his eyes still narrowed. "Gondor needs no king..."

He began to make his way back to his seat when Elfindel spoke, her tone firmer than before. "Gondor would not be Gondor if it was not for Elendil and all the Kings of Gondor!"

Boromir, about to sit down, turned slowly to face the Elf maiden. "Again, I did not ask for your comment on this matter, Elf..."

Aragorn glanced at the Man, nearly shaking his head; Elfindel responded with the same firmness. "Every one on this private Council has a place to stand. And as a Steward of Gondor, I thought you would respect such things."

Boromir narrowed his eyes once more and took a slow step towards her. "You do not know of the meaning of rankage in Gondor...!"

Elfindel's piercing gaze stayed on him. "For I would not like to, for you stain the very name of noblity with your indecencies to other cultures."

it is at this that Aragorn placed a gentle hand on her arm, and Elfindel nodded once, settling back in her seat, calming.

Boromir eyed her once more. "I assure you, Elf, that if my father heard of your tongue towards me and Gondor, he would not have the mercy I have--"

Elfindel interrupted with a calmer yet still firm tone. "I would not call this trait of yours 'mercy', Boromir."

Aragorn glanced at Boromir, awaiting the response from the aghast Steward; he gave none, and only sat back down in his chair, saying nothing further.

Gandalf, who had watched all of this, sighed in calm relief, and addressed the council. "Aragorn and Carithawen are both right. We cannot use it."

Annoyed by the current happenings, Elrond spoke once more to try and move on. "You have only one choice... The ring must be destroyed..."