I awoke the next day, awaiting my father's council, which was assembling at
high noon. I lay in my elvish bed, on that cool October morning.
"Ardonelle!" Aragorn shouted to me as he passed in his best clothes.
"Yes?" I said to him.
"Your father requests you to be at the council", he said to me.
"Oh really, now he wants me to do something", I said.
"Yes. Now, I suggest you dress in your best dress, and put a smile on, and pretend like that you understand everything he says", he said to me.
"Yes. I understand", I went into the bathroom and took a long warm bath, and dressed in my best crimson dress, and had my hair braided.
I slipped on my Rivendell crown, more specifically my mother's, and walked down to the council hall.
"Ardonelle, you may sit next to Aragorn", my father said, and motioned for someone to bring me a chair.
I sat, and all the men of the council looked at me, wide eyed and concerned.
"Sir, do you think it is appropriate for a lady to sit at council with us men?" an elf from Mirkwood said.
"Perfectly respectable, she will eventually inherit this council, and you will have to report to her." He said in my defense.
I smiled, yet, that smile was quickly erased when my father began to speak. I listened to what my father had to say. Finally Boromir got up to speak, and I countered him quickly.
"Let us use it against him", Boromir finished.
"I have seen this all before. You mortal men are so quick to judge, assuming that you can have all the power to yourself. I know I should keep my mouth shut. I know I am just a elvish woman, with my life planned before me, but I will tell you this, you cannot use it against him", I said and sat down.
My father began to get enraged with me.
"The Lady is right, you cannot use it against him, the One Ring answers to Sauron alone", Aragorn said, in my defense.
Boromir and Aragorn began to get into an argument, I could see that coming, but Prince Legolas came to Aragorn's defense.
Gandalf broke the argument, but Gimli, son of Gloin, figured he could destroy the ring by severing it with his axe. The result was unsuccessful. Finally all the men got into an argument, and my father and I stared at each other for the longest time. A voice popped out over the crowd, it was Frodo.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor! I will take the Ring to Mordor", he said and then added, "But I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins", Gandalf said to him.
"By my life or death I will protect you, I will. You have my sword", Aragorn said to Frodo.
"And you have my bow", Prince Legolas said to Frodo.
A smile jumped across my face, I knew something was going to happen that day.
"And my axe", Gimli said. I got up, crossed the room and said to Frodo,
"And you have my love, and my grace." Aragorn, Gandalf and my father
looked surprised.
"You carry the fate of us all little one, if this is the ruling of the council, Gondor will see it done", Boromir said.
The hobbits soon joined us, and we had a good laugh.
My father in all his imperial ways said, "Then this shall be the Fellowship of the Ring".
The Fellowship as we now called for a meeting soon after the council was over, it was regarding my actions.
"Ardonelle, you are a lady, trained only briefly, you will be killed", my father began.
"If that is my fate, then so be it. I will die in honor for my people and my love", I said, figuring that I would not take anything else.
"Lady Ardonelle, you are a mere child", Gandalf said.
"And if I am a mere child, then how can I go along and get engaged, and sit at council. I am already supposed to be married, and then you call me a mere child? I believe that is unfair judgment", I said, and then I turned on my heel and walked off.
"She's a different story, Elrond. She has more fire in her than her mother ever will", Gandalf said, and he too went off.
I hid behind a pillar while the rest of the men decided what they wanted to do with me.
"Frodo do you have any problems with Lady Ardonelle joining you in your quest to destroy the ring?" my father asked Frodo.
"Why would I? She loves me a great deal, and that should be how it is", he said. And they left it at that, I suppose.
We were scheduled to leave on December 25th, Christmas Day. Rivendell was in an uproar while Aragorn and I were prepared for the longest, hardest journey of our lives. I had lost the sword I had received as a present and my clothes were too big, I had gotten them tailored twice. Finally I was all set, and Aragorn was ready to go. Three days before we embarked, my father came to speak to me.
"Ardonelle, I just want you to know you are making this family proud", he began.
"Grandmother doesn't know, does she?" I asked him.
"No of course not", he said. I snorted; I knew he would never tell her, so I figured some she would figure it out.
"Thanks Father", I said and went off to find someone to talk to. I found Prince Legolas, whom at this point I called him Legolas.
"You're being really brave, going off and risking your life like this", he said.
"I knew I wasn't sent here to just be a wife to some lord, bear some children and be remembered for their great accomplishments." I said.
.
"It's good you know where you're going. You certainly have a lot to compete with", he said, nodding at my sister and Aragorn who walked the gardens together.
"Thank you for reminding me", I said and turned away. A rider rode up, and dismounted.
As he figured out who was I was, he ambled up to me and said, "Lady Ardonelle, a package from Lady Galadrial."
I took the package, unsuspecting of what was inside.
"Well, open it", my sister said. I opened it; it was a long Lorien bow, strung just for me.
"It is a beauty. Treat that bow with respect and care", Legolas said.
There was more to the package, inside was a mithril skin. Light like my sword, yet strong and true. A gasp went through everyone who stood there.
"My word, it is another beauty. Ardonelle these objects are things some warriors consider treasure", Legolas said.
"Well, yes. The mithril skin stays in Rivendell. I don't want anyone to take it", my father said.
"Wouldn't it be safer if I was wearing it?" I said.
"I suppose so", my father said.
Inside the package, there was a note. It read:
Dear Ardonelle,
Your grandfather insisted I send you something for your journey. My suggestion to you is be on your toes at all time, you may never know when you will be ambushed and tell Gandalf, in case something happens, he may come to us.
Love always,
Lady Galadrial
Lady of the Light
I put the note in my pocket, for safekeeping.
"Arwen may I speak with you?" I asked my sister.
"Yes of course." She said.
"You should go to the Havens, Sauron will assemble armies and he may destroy all of Middle-Earth", I said.
"And if he should attack, Gondor will protect us, will it not?" she countered.
"Of course they will, but what happens when it's all over and the armies are dead?" I said.
"I'm staying here. It will be safe. And besides, don't you want someone to come home to?" she asked me. I knew my father would give one of these attempts too. I couldn't help but cry and my sister came to comfort me. I felt helpless for the next two days, but Aragorn and Legolas and a few other Fellowship members took me out for a couple of drinks the night before we left. We all got drunk, and expected to sleep it off the next morning.
Aragorn was the worst, and I even let him go back to my sister, while Legolas and I came home and collapsed as soon as we touched our pillows. The Fellowship left at dusk, which meant that we'd have all afternoon to recover. Naturally, we two elves recovered the quickest, and we soon were helping pack up Bill and our packs. I packed my things rather quickly, adding Legolas' as well. Interestingly enough, all the elves from Rivendell came to shake our hands.
"Legolas do you have any idea why people will looked to us for assistance?" I said to him.
"We're the elves and as modestly as I can put this, we're the wisest", he said, his cheekbones high and his smile beaming.
"Very funny", I said and went to suit myself up for the trip. The sun was lowering in the sky when my father, sister and Aragorn emerged from the house.
"Ardonelle, I request you retire your Rivendell crown", my father said.
"Yes, let me retrieve it", I said and ran to get it. As the men, and Rhia, Aragorn's twelve-year-old sister assembled, I returned with my crown placed daintily on my head.
"The oldest and fair Lady Ardonelle retires her crown. She will travel with the Fellowship of the Ring, and return to reclaim her place", my father said to our people. I hugged my ladies in waiting, and then my sister and finally my father.
"You be good, and do whatever Gandalf tells you to do", my father said. I rolled my eyes. He then began on Frodo.
"The Ring bearer sets out to destroy the One Ring, and save Middle-Earth", he said.
I sighed, and all the men saw it too, they felt my anxious energy. I took one last look around my home, and waited for Frodo and Gandalf to take our first steps as the Fellowship. As soon as Boromir had left I followed him, and waited for Aragorn to join us. We crossed the bridge and were on our way toward the Misty Mountains. I had never seen such a beautiful thing in my entire life.
"Ardonelle!" Aragorn shouted to me as he passed in his best clothes.
"Yes?" I said to him.
"Your father requests you to be at the council", he said to me.
"Oh really, now he wants me to do something", I said.
"Yes. Now, I suggest you dress in your best dress, and put a smile on, and pretend like that you understand everything he says", he said to me.
"Yes. I understand", I went into the bathroom and took a long warm bath, and dressed in my best crimson dress, and had my hair braided.
I slipped on my Rivendell crown, more specifically my mother's, and walked down to the council hall.
"Ardonelle, you may sit next to Aragorn", my father said, and motioned for someone to bring me a chair.
I sat, and all the men of the council looked at me, wide eyed and concerned.
"Sir, do you think it is appropriate for a lady to sit at council with us men?" an elf from Mirkwood said.
"Perfectly respectable, she will eventually inherit this council, and you will have to report to her." He said in my defense.
I smiled, yet, that smile was quickly erased when my father began to speak. I listened to what my father had to say. Finally Boromir got up to speak, and I countered him quickly.
"Let us use it against him", Boromir finished.
"I have seen this all before. You mortal men are so quick to judge, assuming that you can have all the power to yourself. I know I should keep my mouth shut. I know I am just a elvish woman, with my life planned before me, but I will tell you this, you cannot use it against him", I said and sat down.
My father began to get enraged with me.
"The Lady is right, you cannot use it against him, the One Ring answers to Sauron alone", Aragorn said, in my defense.
Boromir and Aragorn began to get into an argument, I could see that coming, but Prince Legolas came to Aragorn's defense.
Gandalf broke the argument, but Gimli, son of Gloin, figured he could destroy the ring by severing it with his axe. The result was unsuccessful. Finally all the men got into an argument, and my father and I stared at each other for the longest time. A voice popped out over the crowd, it was Frodo.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor! I will take the Ring to Mordor", he said and then added, "But I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins", Gandalf said to him.
"By my life or death I will protect you, I will. You have my sword", Aragorn said to Frodo.
"And you have my bow", Prince Legolas said to Frodo.
A smile jumped across my face, I knew something was going to happen that day.
"And my axe", Gimli said. I got up, crossed the room and said to Frodo,
"And you have my love, and my grace." Aragorn, Gandalf and my father
looked surprised.
"You carry the fate of us all little one, if this is the ruling of the council, Gondor will see it done", Boromir said.
The hobbits soon joined us, and we had a good laugh.
My father in all his imperial ways said, "Then this shall be the Fellowship of the Ring".
The Fellowship as we now called for a meeting soon after the council was over, it was regarding my actions.
"Ardonelle, you are a lady, trained only briefly, you will be killed", my father began.
"If that is my fate, then so be it. I will die in honor for my people and my love", I said, figuring that I would not take anything else.
"Lady Ardonelle, you are a mere child", Gandalf said.
"And if I am a mere child, then how can I go along and get engaged, and sit at council. I am already supposed to be married, and then you call me a mere child? I believe that is unfair judgment", I said, and then I turned on my heel and walked off.
"She's a different story, Elrond. She has more fire in her than her mother ever will", Gandalf said, and he too went off.
I hid behind a pillar while the rest of the men decided what they wanted to do with me.
"Frodo do you have any problems with Lady Ardonelle joining you in your quest to destroy the ring?" my father asked Frodo.
"Why would I? She loves me a great deal, and that should be how it is", he said. And they left it at that, I suppose.
We were scheduled to leave on December 25th, Christmas Day. Rivendell was in an uproar while Aragorn and I were prepared for the longest, hardest journey of our lives. I had lost the sword I had received as a present and my clothes were too big, I had gotten them tailored twice. Finally I was all set, and Aragorn was ready to go. Three days before we embarked, my father came to speak to me.
"Ardonelle, I just want you to know you are making this family proud", he began.
"Grandmother doesn't know, does she?" I asked him.
"No of course not", he said. I snorted; I knew he would never tell her, so I figured some she would figure it out.
"Thanks Father", I said and went off to find someone to talk to. I found Prince Legolas, whom at this point I called him Legolas.
"You're being really brave, going off and risking your life like this", he said.
"I knew I wasn't sent here to just be a wife to some lord, bear some children and be remembered for their great accomplishments." I said.
.
"It's good you know where you're going. You certainly have a lot to compete with", he said, nodding at my sister and Aragorn who walked the gardens together.
"Thank you for reminding me", I said and turned away. A rider rode up, and dismounted.
As he figured out who was I was, he ambled up to me and said, "Lady Ardonelle, a package from Lady Galadrial."
I took the package, unsuspecting of what was inside.
"Well, open it", my sister said. I opened it; it was a long Lorien bow, strung just for me.
"It is a beauty. Treat that bow with respect and care", Legolas said.
There was more to the package, inside was a mithril skin. Light like my sword, yet strong and true. A gasp went through everyone who stood there.
"My word, it is another beauty. Ardonelle these objects are things some warriors consider treasure", Legolas said.
"Well, yes. The mithril skin stays in Rivendell. I don't want anyone to take it", my father said.
"Wouldn't it be safer if I was wearing it?" I said.
"I suppose so", my father said.
Inside the package, there was a note. It read:
Dear Ardonelle,
Your grandfather insisted I send you something for your journey. My suggestion to you is be on your toes at all time, you may never know when you will be ambushed and tell Gandalf, in case something happens, he may come to us.
Love always,
Lady Galadrial
Lady of the Light
I put the note in my pocket, for safekeeping.
"Arwen may I speak with you?" I asked my sister.
"Yes of course." She said.
"You should go to the Havens, Sauron will assemble armies and he may destroy all of Middle-Earth", I said.
"And if he should attack, Gondor will protect us, will it not?" she countered.
"Of course they will, but what happens when it's all over and the armies are dead?" I said.
"I'm staying here. It will be safe. And besides, don't you want someone to come home to?" she asked me. I knew my father would give one of these attempts too. I couldn't help but cry and my sister came to comfort me. I felt helpless for the next two days, but Aragorn and Legolas and a few other Fellowship members took me out for a couple of drinks the night before we left. We all got drunk, and expected to sleep it off the next morning.
Aragorn was the worst, and I even let him go back to my sister, while Legolas and I came home and collapsed as soon as we touched our pillows. The Fellowship left at dusk, which meant that we'd have all afternoon to recover. Naturally, we two elves recovered the quickest, and we soon were helping pack up Bill and our packs. I packed my things rather quickly, adding Legolas' as well. Interestingly enough, all the elves from Rivendell came to shake our hands.
"Legolas do you have any idea why people will looked to us for assistance?" I said to him.
"We're the elves and as modestly as I can put this, we're the wisest", he said, his cheekbones high and his smile beaming.
"Very funny", I said and went to suit myself up for the trip. The sun was lowering in the sky when my father, sister and Aragorn emerged from the house.
"Ardonelle, I request you retire your Rivendell crown", my father said.
"Yes, let me retrieve it", I said and ran to get it. As the men, and Rhia, Aragorn's twelve-year-old sister assembled, I returned with my crown placed daintily on my head.
"The oldest and fair Lady Ardonelle retires her crown. She will travel with the Fellowship of the Ring, and return to reclaim her place", my father said to our people. I hugged my ladies in waiting, and then my sister and finally my father.
"You be good, and do whatever Gandalf tells you to do", my father said. I rolled my eyes. He then began on Frodo.
"The Ring bearer sets out to destroy the One Ring, and save Middle-Earth", he said.
I sighed, and all the men saw it too, they felt my anxious energy. I took one last look around my home, and waited for Frodo and Gandalf to take our first steps as the Fellowship. As soon as Boromir had left I followed him, and waited for Aragorn to join us. We crossed the bridge and were on our way toward the Misty Mountains. I had never seen such a beautiful thing in my entire life.