Chapter 2

By Crystal

*We all know who this belongs to ^^;;*

Indeed, a day later, Frodo awoke.  Now I remember, it was on the twenty-forth that he awoke in the book.  As I walked around Rivendell again, I saw the four hobbits embracing each other tightly and I smiled slightly.

As quietly as possible, I walked away, although my feet still made sounds on the floor.  I would never be able to walk around like an elf.  Even though I had walked in every hallway, around every building, I would always be fascinated by it.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  Suddenly, I felt a hand lightly on my shoulder and I turned around... 

To be met with the face of Boromir.

I gave a slight nod, "Good afternoon to you too."

"Good afternoon, my lady."

This time, I really rolled my eyes, "Will you people refrain yourself from calling me 'My lady' or even just 'Lady'?!  I'm far from a lady, Boromir."

I saw Boromir look at me with amusement in his eyes, "Indeed, you act not like a lady, but you are a lady, my lady.  And it is only the elf that is impolite not to call you a lady."

I growled slightly, "Boromir...  I told Legolas not to call me 'lady' and I'm quite happy with it." 

"Anyways, a Council will take place early tomorrow...  I have heard that Lord Elrond wants you there." 

I looked at Boromir, "Now why in the frigging hell would he want me of all people?!"  I asked Boromir.

He shrugged, "I do not know."

I lifted my brow, "That so helps, Boromir."

"I do not know everything, little one."

* * * * *

I awoke as the sun shone in my eyes, blinking, I sat up.  I sighed, damn it.  I'll be the only one at the Council because women weren't allowed...  With the exception of me.  Damn the sexist.  Standing up, I changed into the thing I dreaded most, a dress.  Although I have been wearing that for quite a few days, I'm still not used to it.  After dressing up, I sat on my bed, not knowing what to do.

As I went in the Council, following Gandalf, I got many disapproving looks, then one man elf finally says, "What is a woman doing here?"

I shot him a glare and sat down, squished in between Gandalf and an elf named Saelbeth.  Elrond glanced at me and nodded and I nodded back.  Then he started his speech that I heard Iris repeat...  I groaned inwardly.  It was going to be a long day.  Although I am glad I came to the Council, I still see no point since I already know the whole Council by heart...  Well, I know Elrond's lines anyways.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old.  You have been summoned 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.  Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."  Frodo walked towards the table and put down his ring.

I glanced at Boromir, knowing what he was going to say, "So it is true."  Bingo.  "It is a gift.  A gift to the foes of Mordor."  He stands up, "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.  Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy.  Let us use it again him!"

My eyes glanced at the man I assumed it be Aragorn now, "You cannot wield it.  None of us can.  The One Ring answers to Sauron along.  It has no other master."

Back at Boromir...  My eyes were getting tiring, "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" 

"This is no mere Ranger."  A voice rang out and I glanced at Legolas, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn.  You own him your allegiance."  Whoa...  Calm down, elf.  Though I have to admit, he did look quite handsome just a second ago.  I smiled inwardly and scolded myself.  I was in a Council, thinking about an elf.  Ridiculous.

"Aragorn?  This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor."  Well, that was certainly not flawless...  An elf losing control!  But then again...  He was defending Aragorn...  Perhaps I'll find a flaw later.

I focused myself on the Council again, "Havo dad, Legolas."  I saw Legolas sit down slowly, I guess 'havo dad' means sit down.  Got to keep that in mind.

"Gondor has no king.  Gondor needs no king."

I heard Gandalf speak up, "Aragorn is right.  We cannot use it."

"We have only one choice.  The Ring must be destroyed."

I glanced at Elrond and his eyes flickered over to mind for a mere second, then I looked over at the dwarf.  "What are we waiting for?!"  He stood up and took his axe and brought it down upon the ring.  The axe exploded and he was thrown backwards.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft that we here possess.  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."  Suddenly, the voice of the Ring takes place...  Of course, I was not exactly frightened since Iris told me all about the Council of Elrond...  "One of you must do this."  His eyes was once again on me.

Boromir closed his eyes, as if in pain, "One does not simply walk into Mordor. 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 and ash and dust. The very air that you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?  The Ring must be destroyed!"

Gimli snorted, "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!"

"And if we fail, what then?  What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"  I groaned.  I never thought it was that bad.  Although now, elves stood up shouting at each other and it was getting me dizzy, "Never trust and Elf!"  Ironic now...  Though I think Legolas and Gimli befriends each other later.

"Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"  Then I once again hear the voice of the Ring...  Speaking in its own language...

Then a tiny voice pierces through, "I will take it!  I will take the Ring to Mordor...  Though I do not know the way."

I smiled at the brave hobbit, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins.  As long as it is yours to bear."  Gandalf went to Frodo and put his hands on his shoulder reassuringly.

"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will."  Aragorn got up from his seat and kneels in front of Fordo.  "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow."  I glanced at the handsome elf.

"And my axe."

Boromir walked slowly towards Frodo, "You carry the fates of us all, little one."  He placed his hand on Frodo and patted him on the head.  "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"Here!"  I heard a hobbit, which I assumed it to be Sam call.  He jumped up from behind a bush and runs beside Frodo.  "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me."

"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not."  I saw Elrond with a faint smile on his face and I smiled too.

Two hobbits, Merry and Pippin jumps out, "Oi!  We're coming too!  You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."

Then Pippin spoke up, "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission.  Quest.  Thing."  I rolled my eyes.

"Well that rules you out, Pip."  I saw Pippin smile gratefully, then finally understand what Merry meant, he glared.  I chuckled slightly.

"Nine companions..."  I frowned, wasn't it suppose to be Nine companions.  So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring.  It seems like he wants to say something else...  "I would also like another person to join this journey along with the nine companions...  Jessica Hanson."

...Wait...  What the hell?  "WHAT?!"  I shouted, "Nah uh...  I am not joining the Fello...  I mean, I'm not going on the journey."

"Lady Jessica...  You know of this journey.  You know someone will die, though you have not told me who.  I want you to try to save him at all cost."

"No, Lord Elrond.  I'm not doing that."  I heard gasps from everywhere, then I gave my reason, "If I do that...  The story line will change...  And we may not win this war."

"I shall talk to you later, Lady Jessica."  He turned around to the ground, "Nine companions.  So be it!  You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Great.  Where are we going?"  If other times I had heard this, I would have laughed, but my mind was on other things...  Elrond...  He wanted me to journey to Mordor and save Boromir...  But what if that changes the whole story?

* * * * *

"Lady Jessica..." 

I looked up at Elrond and shook my head, "No, Lord Elrond.  If I join the Fellowship, then I will ruin the storyline.  And if I ruin the storyline, then I won't know who's going to win or not...  And it might change the whole ending.  And second of all, I don't know how to fight, heal and I have the smallest stamina..."

He looked up, "But you would not go and save that someone that dies then?"

I looked down in shame, "I will not save him, even if I got with the Fellowship.  That does sound cold-hearted now...  But I'm doing it for Middle-Earth.  I love him as a friend too, and it hurts more than you ever think to lose him, although I have only known him for two days."

"So you will not save him?"

"I rather if I don't...  Lord Elrond.  It's...  Too risky."

"But what if we are willing to take the risk?"

I looked up in shock, "W-wha?!"

"You have already arrived in our world, Young one.  The second you arrived in our world, you have changed the future already.  We no longer knows what will happen anymore, so would it not be better if the Fellowship has someone that knows what will happen and will prevent it?"

I shook my head, "Then...  Then..."

"Are you going, or not?"

I looked up, half wanting to go, half not wanting to go.  The pros and cons...  I would be able to see the War of the Ring...  Or...  I will screw up the whole plot.  Hell...  I looked at him with determination in my eyes, "Fine, I'll go."

"Good.  I will announce it tonight at dinner."

I nodded and bowed before I left, "Thank you, Lord Elrond."

"No..."  I looked up, "I should thank you."

* * * * *

Ithnoa – Woohoo!  I'll keep on going!

Kat Tru – Of course I'm letting her go!  Or else there wouldn't be a Legolas romance, now would there?  Hope you enjoyed!

Meldavane – LoL, I've read plenty about girls falling into Middle-Earth.  I just had to write one, they're fun ^^

Cassie-bear01 – Woohoo!  I like the last chapter too ^^  A little bit of character development =\  Hope you like this too!

melee – You love it, love it, love it, love it, love it?!  Yay!  I'm so flattered now!  *cheers*

melisa-malfoy – Interesting story ^^  *grins*  Jessica's one of the coolest character I have right now ^^  her character's going to change dramatically later, me thinks ^^

Scourge Of Middle Earth – Hehe...  We all love to write those.  And yeah, I did see the mistake and thanks for pointing it out!  It's due to rewriting the whole chapter and I forgot about the earlier dates...  *smacks self*  I'm half a perfectionist =\  Anyways, see ya and hope you enjoyed!