Chapter 6: A New Fellowship Is Born
The sun rose slightly under the horizon casting a pink, orange glow on the sky above Rivendell. The gentle breeze Swede the green leaves upon the oaks and the water sparkled clean down by the rocks. All of Rivendell seemed asleep except for Gandalf who smoked his pipe out on the balcony. From behind Elrond arose. His hair, face and clothes appeared the same, new and fresh even after 10 years. "I see you awoke early..." He sat down beside the wizard "... or couldn't sleep." Gandalf turned his head toward the elf. "To many thoughts have been running through my mind for me to get some shut eye." "You come here for answers, you know I can't always give you some. My answers are as good as any ones now Gandalf." "Yes but I trust your judgment." "Then trust what is to come, you can't stop what is happening to that boy." "Well Elrond please enlighten me on what is happening to Frodo."
The elf stared at him long and hard. He wore an expression of serious anger. "Gandalf you knew when you destroyed the ring that their would be great consequences. You saw what it did to the others. The creature Gollum, the greedy hearts of men, Boromir and even Bilbo Baggins ,Frodo's uncle. It runs to far in his blood, the power grows everyday. He hungers for destruction and to rule. You see it in his eyes as well as us elf's. Pretty soon Gandalf he will turn on all of you, leave you in darkness. He will head to the army of orcs, there he will lead them into battle with the races of men, dwarfs, elf's and even the magic kin. His power will be great Gandalf. Many lives will be lost, even those who dwell on us now. "So it has come to this, in all my life I have never had to fight a close friend." "Fighting Frodo is only the beginning Gandalf." He looked at the tired old man who seemed already to stressed to deal. His voice became more stern, more like a whisper. "You must kill the hobbit, it's the only way to save you people and lands." Gandalf seemed to go into a silent shock. "It's you choice Gandalf. Do you want the destruction of all Middle Earth? Or of a friend who will soon turn enemy?"
Elrond got up and looked down upon him who didn't say a word. He turned on his heal and headed back inside. So many thoughts raced through his mind. It had come like a bolt of lightening. He couldn't believe what he had been told. Something was telling him there was another way but what was it? Surely if Elrond hadn't believed it then maybe his thoughts were only hopes. Telling the others would have to be his own burden, bringing bad news upon those who loved and knew Frodo the most but he would have to do it and so he did that afternoon.
On the way to gathering the others to tell them their path a familiar feeling swept over the wizard. "Hmmmmmmm." He stopped outside looking around the buildings and trees. "Something brings me memories of heart times." The wind blew softly but nothing but the trees whispered. He continued walkin on his staff up a staircase of stone toward two tall doors. The sound of air whistling toward him made him freeze. Something was stuck in the door.
An arrow of gold and suddenly Gandalf knew what the feeling was. "Legolas." He said turning around. "I thought I sensed something welcoming." The elf smiled. He was young looking. His blonde hair still the same. Those blue eyes glimmering as he grinned. "I was to quick for you." He replied and ran up the steps and greeted the wizard. "Lord Aragorn told me you called and need some old help by your side." "Yes, old but always good." They both laughed and headed inside. "I had the feeling something was wrong months ago. I just knew you would send word." "And I knew you would come." "I couldn't let down an old partner." "Nor I" replied the wizard as they headed won a long hallway filled with pictures of the battles fought long ago.
They entered a large circular room full of ancient books, sculptures and weapons. All of the group was there except for Frodo who was not invited. "Master LEgolas!" Gimili's eyes grew wide and he ran to the elf and hugged him nearly knocking him over. "Lord Gimili! It has been to long." He said smiling. "Yes, yes it has" The hobbits all greeted him as well. "I see we have a few new warriors Gandalf." Legolas looked around the room and spotted Joden hovering over Sam in the crowd and Amelia way in the back sitting alone on a large stone throne. His lips quivered a little while he stared at the vampire. He could sense the evil within him.
He quickly moved to the witch who had her head down, her hair covering her face. "Legolas this is Joden of Quarry." "Quarry?.... Queer place for someone like you is it not?" "Not entirely" Joden replied with a look of contempt. "that is Amelia of Bellock." "Bellock!? You one of Sindara's people?..." He bowed to her. "Tis a great honor to meet you. I know her well." "then you would be happy to know that the princess was murdered by a swarm of filthy worse less group of orcs who I will get my revenge on when I get the chance!" Her eyes and hair turned black, her finger nails painted themselves ebony also. The elf stared at her long and hard. "You will get you chance my lady and we will help you." "I wish for no help." She muttered. "You think you can take on all thousands of them by yourself!?" The dwarf places a hand on the elf's arm and shook his head. "Leave her be, she can help herself if she says so." The elf clenched his fists and turned away only trying to help. "Please we don't need to get on each others case right now. I do have something very important to tell you." Gimili lifted up his axe ready to hear they were going into battle to save Frodo but they were really going against him. "I'm ready to take them on!" The dwarf spitted. "Now Gimili, please put that down I don;t want you to hurt yourself." Gandalf said as Legolas grinned and Gimili grunted.
"There is something that has came to my enlightenment given by Elrond. It is about our quest" All stood silent, Amelia placed her head back down already knowing what was to come. "It is about Frodo also." Sam's ears perked up at the sound of the hobbits names. "There ...." His eyes roamed around looking at each of them. "Well, what about Mr. Frodo sir?" Asked Sam anxious to know about his friend. "there is no hope for Frodo Mr. Gamgee, it's to late for him but if your with me it's not to late for us." They all gasped with shock around the room. "What....what do you mean no hope Gandalf sir?" "I mean Mr. Gamgee that we cannot save Frodo from his fate." Tears came down Sam's cheek. "I don't believe what I'm hearing Gandalf sir, I don't believe it." "I'm sorry Mr. Gamgee, I am only honest. but the worst hasn't come so hold in your emotions." The hobbit sucked in his lip and wiped his tears.
"Don't start feeling bad for Frodo he will soon turn enemy on us all. His features and behavior will start to change as they are now. He will head to the orcs. We will face a battle of friend or foe, good and evil. Don't let him get to you, from this point on he is not our friend nor our rival but an acquaintance. He will come with us to Mordor although I do not now when his thoughts will change he may already be hostile. Please keep your feelings to the best interest in what I am about to tell you." Sam covered his ears not wanting to know. "Sam," said Pippin who took the hobbits hands off his face and held them. "You must listen to Gandalf, it's to save our people and Frodo as well." "How is helping Frodo got to do anything with fighting him!" "That isn't Frodo out there Sam, how do you think the real Frodo would want us to act?" Said Merry. "With courage and bravery and to save the shire and the rest of us hobbits." "I know Pip" Sam replied. "Then lets act like it, we may be small but we saved the world once right?" Sam smiled at Merry. "There is another thing I haven't mentioned." The wizard stared at Sam who already was holding so much grief. "We must kill Frodo in order to save Middle Earth completely." The hobbits lowered their heads hiding the sadness that over took them. Sam nearly fainted but Amelia led him to a near by chair. "We must come together in these times Elrond will send word to the others we have created alliances with. You mustn't tell Frodo about this meeting or anything that was said in this room. He is sleeping peacefully, lets keep it that way for now."
They filed out heading to eat breakfast. There was no conversation, silence fell upon them as their footsteps echoed through the stone. As they entered the room Frodo sat at the large marble table. The room was vastly. 12 black stone chairs lined the table. The sun seeped through the windows reflecting off of a crystal chandelier. "Where were you? I went to wake up Sam and I saw that he was gone. I went to get Gandalf and saw that he and the others were missing also. I thought something had happened to you" Said Frodo as he ate some bread with fruit. The others sat down trying to keep their eyes off the hobbits face. "We were just talking together, you looked so tired and comfortable we didn't have the means to wake you." Gandalf spoke up as the others slowly dug into their own fruit. "Oh." He said and he drank a glass of wine. "So what are out plans for today?" "I believe we should start setting out. The sooner we get there..." His eyes roamed the table...."The sooner it's over" A tear slid down Sam's face and he sniffed but no one seemed to notice. "You look worn out." Said Legolas as Frodo turned and looked at him. "Legolas! I didn't see you there my sight is a bit fuzzy today." "understandable..." He said oddly with a lifted eyebrow as he sensed he was changing rapidly already. Amelia looked close at the hobbit , something caught her eye as to why his vision was blurry. A gold ring with scripting was inscribed around his pupil. She hadn't notice it before, she felt it had always been there but only now was it becoming clear as day. She dared not to speak of it in front of him. She would have a word with the wizard after breakfast.
They finished their meal and proceeded to gather their belongings. Amelia stayed behind as the others headed to their rooms. "Gandalf I fear Frodo isn't going to make it very far once we leave this place." The wizard walked by the witch as they stepped outside into the cool breeze. He sighed. "I know Amelia. His strength is fading, his mind is no longer his own." "Nor his eyes." The wizard lifted his brow wondering what the witch was talking about. "You have not seen it?" "Seen what?" "Look closely at him Gandalf. The ring is clouding his vision. It circles around the blackness that exists inside of him. It's words in scripted in his eyes." "It has begun. We must keep a very close watch on him." "Haven't we been doing that all along?" "Not like this we won't. In days or hours the evil will possess him. Tell the others to keep guard of him. Make sure they don't say the wrong thing around him. There is no telling what will set him off." Amelia nodded and headed back inside. The journey was about to take place and there was no telling what path they were headed too.