Well here is the next chapter, the infamous 'council'! Now I know this is a little weird, but as the story goes on, things will become clearer. I hope I haven't butchered it to much, so enjoy as per usual!
(And remember, you can always read the disclaimer in Chapter 1, if you need a laugh!)
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The Council of Elrond
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Elenya was really uncomfortable. She had snuck out into this meeting room just after the crack of dawn, to make sure she was there before anyone else. She had put on her travelling clothes and nestled herself up a tree, where two boughs jutted out in opposite directions.
She was half on her stomach, half on her side, so she could see what was going on below her. She had been like this for hours and she was beginning to struggle to ignore the pain in her sides and in her behind.
Elenya had watched them all come in, one by one.
Elrond was there of course, as was Gandalf. Legolas was there with some other elves and Boromir with some other men. There were a few dwarves, who shifted uncomfortably in their seats with narrowed eyes. However, Elenya had not expected to see Frodo there, or Strider. Frodo looked guilty and as though he was carrying a great burden. Strider looked calm, but deep in thought.
They were murmuring quietly when Elrond stood up and raised his hand.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old; you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." The murmuring was cut short and Elenya had to fight not to gasp.
For months, Elenya had been hearing talk of a shadow growing in the east. That some dark power was growing. But she had thought these were just stories and rumours, and she knew that Elrond would not hold a council over rumours. There really was a power growing in Mordor, in the Black Lands. But she couldn't think what this had to do with her, was she really the 'she' those elves had referred to the night before? Elrond continued;
"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." Each person glanced around the circle of seats. "Bring forth the ring Frodo." Elrond said, motioning to a low pillar of stone in the centre of the circle.
All eyes were on Frodo as he got up and slowly placed a plain gold ring on the pillar. He sat back down in his seat next to Gandalf, signing with relief. The murmurs broke out again, and among them, Elenya heard Boromir saying softly; "So it is true…"
Elenya could feel a sort of power coming off this piece of metal, and she knew she wasn't the only one. The silence was unbroken, while each person stared at this ring as though it were someone waiting to kill them. Then, at length Boromir spoke in low voice.
"In a dream, I saw the western sky grow dark, but in the east, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying 'the time of doom is at hand: Isildiur's Bane is found'." As he spoke, he had reached forward to pick up the ring. Gandalf stood up and began to speak, but the voice was not his own.
It was deep and rumbling and in a language Elenya had never heard though it sounded like elvish. It was awful to hear, as though the very earth was protesting. The skies went dark and the birds stopped singing in the trees. Elenya clung desperately onto her tree and closed her eyes tight. Eventually Boromir backed away and Gandalf fell silent, leaning on his staff.
"Never before have words of that tongue been spoken here, in Imladris." Said Elrond gravely. Gandalf turned, still breathing heavily.
"I do not beg your pardon Master Elrond. . ." He spoke to the circle, holding onto his staff, with receding anger in every syllable of his voice. Elenya felt guilty herself, as though she was being told off by Gandalf. And Boromir did nothing but look down at the floor at his feet.
". . For the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil." He spoke to Boromir now as he turned and went to his seat. Boromir looked unconvinced.
"Nay, it is a gift; a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring?" He said, shaking his head. Looking around he saw unconvinced and sceptical faces. He spoke louder;
"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!" He went on, looking angrily in turn at the people around him. "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy; let us use it against him!"
But Strider broke in sternly; "You cannot wield it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master!" Boromir turned to face Strider,
"And what would a ranger know of it?" But Legolas stood up and retorted;
"This is no mere ranger; he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance" All eyes were turned now on Aragorn, and he looked calmly back at Boromir.
"So this. . . is Isuildur's heir. . ." Said Boromir, as though he couldn't believe his ears. Elenya couldn't either, she had read about Isuildur and his kingly deed and the legend of his heir, and here he was, sitting in front of her, and yet she never would have guessed that this mysterious stranger was in fact so important. No wonder Boromir disliked him (to say the least). This ranger should be in his fathers place, reigning over Gondor and one of the great kings of men. Legolas spoke again;
". . . And heir to the throne of Gondor."
"Hav-a dent, Legolas" Spoke Aragorn in elvish. Legolas reluctantly sat down.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Said Boromir, glancing at the two of them with so much bitterness in his voice. Elenya was shocked; she had never known Boromir to be anything like this.
"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Spoke Gandalf. "We have only one choice, the ring must be destroyed."
Eleyna looked at Frodo suddenly, as she felt something emanating from the Ring. Frodo was looking at it as though it was whispering in his ear and he didn't want to hear what it was telling him. A dwarf with copper brown hair stood up.
"What are we waiting for?" He said nonchalantly as he strode forwards. He grabbed his axe and brought it down on the Ring, only for his axe to break and for him to fly back onto the floor.
As his axe hit the Ring, Elenya felt something catch in her throat making her gasp. Looking down, she saw Frodo's pained expression, and knew he had felt it too. He put his head in his hand and Gandalf leaned over to him.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom and only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came." There was a long pause, "One of you must do this"
He spoke as though only just realising that this was the answer. Bormoir broke in, speaking of what Mordor was, of the orcs, and evil and of a giant eye, ever watchful. He sounded so grave and spoke with such conviction and almost fear that Elenya knew it was true, even thought she was hearing the description properly for the first time. Boromir spoke the truth, but they had to do something.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" spoke Legloas angrily and standing up, "the Ring must be destroyed!" The dwarf, Gimli snapped incredulously,
"And I suppose you're the one to do it?"
"And what if we fail?" Shouted Boromir, "What will happen when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli ignored him and shouted even louder;
"I WILL BE DEAD BEFORE I SEE THE RING IN THE HANDS OF AN ELF!!!"
At this, the elves and the dwarves stood up and began to yell at each other. Legolas put out his arms to keep the elves back while Gimli bellowed;
"NEVER TRUST AN ELF!!" The dwarves all stood stonily behind him, clutching their axes and swords.
The men stood up; some to try and stop the dwarves and elves, and some to argue among themselves. Gandalf stood and began to roar at Bormir and Elrond sat in his chair leaning his head on his hand, sighing.
Elenya couldn't hear a word that was being said. She and Frodo were the only people not shouting. All she could do was take it all in and try to ignore the sense of darkness coming over her. There were words being spoken but not by any of the people in the circle. They were low and Elenya reviled the sound. It drowned out the shouting until all she saw were elves, men and dwarves gesturing and frowning.
Frodo was staring intently at the Ring and then he stood up. Elenya heard him say something, but no-one was listening to him. She knew no-one would, no matter how loud he shouted.
She leapt out of the tree landing lightly on all fours and unnoticed among the arguments. She stood up.
"QUEIT!!!!" She shrieked, throwing her head back. Her single voice, normally so soft and gentle, cut through the many around her and everything stopped briefly. Everyone froze and turned to see what could be making this clear noise, the only sense at the moment.
They turned and saw a short figure wrapped in a grey travelling cloak with the hood pulled low. The figure pulled up the hood and they saw a young girl, red in the face from shouting and looking sternly at them all.
"I think Frodo has something to say . . . go on Frodo," she said in normal, pleasant tone, gesturing for him to go forward.
Now Frodo suddenly felt smaller, and his words seemed stupid and they caught in his throat. At last he said, looking around;
"I will take it; I will take the Ring to Mordor... " Some looked shocked, some surprised, and Gandalf looked utterly miserable at the thought. Frodo's voice faltered as he tried to go on, looking at the faces around him and trying to find the courage to keep going. Taking deep breaths he went on,
". . . though I do not know the way". Gandalf strode forwards and spoke, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, for as long as it is yours to bear."
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." Aragorn spoke, standing up and kneeling down in front of Frodo. "You will have my sword." Gandalf glanced quickly at Elrond, with something like triumph in his eyes.
"And my bow. . . " Said Legolas, standing next to Aragorn.
". . . And my axe" Added Gimli, stepping forwards, making Legolas look very down in the mouth. Bormir stood, still looking annoyed.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor shall see it done."
Elenya watched them and she too stepped forwards and knelt in front of Frodo. She spoke softly, but with great power in her voice;
"I will come with you, and do whatever I can, for as long as you will have me Frodo." Boromir looked at her out of the corner of his eye and Elrond raised an eyebrow at Gandalf, but no-one noticed.
There was a rustling in the bushes and someone shouted;
"HEY!" They ran forwards and Elenya saw it was Sam! Pushing past Aragorn, he stood next to Frodo and announced,
"Frodo's not goin anywhere without me!"
"Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not" Smiled Elrond, in a bemused way. Elenya beamed at Sam as he looked sheepishly at the floor and saw that Frodo was doing the same.
"OI! We're coming too!" Shouted Merry as he ran out, closely followed by Pippin.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry announced as he and Pippin took their place either side of Frodo.
Elenya giggled as she saw Elrond looking outraged at their cheek! One hobbit was fair enough, but this was getting ridiculous!
"Anyway," stated Pippin "you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. . . quest. . thing…"
"Well that rules you out Pip" said Merry firmly (Pippin looked very hurt).
"10 companions," mused Elrond, " So be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
Eleyna smiled proudly, she couldn't have chosen better company. She looked down and saw Merry and Pippin looking ecstatic.
Then Pippin said something which left everyone looking confused, and wondering what they had gotten themselves into with this hobbit. He didn't seem to notice, funnily enough.
"Right. Where are we going?" He asked.
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*Elenya's POV*
I didn't know why they had asked me to stay here. Gandalf, Elrond and Strider (or Aragorn as I reminded myself) had been standing over in the far corner, talking to each other in low tones for a while now. I had been respectfully staring at my feet, but trying my hardest to hear what they were saying- with no luck at all. My thoughts strayed, and I didn't notice they had stopped taking until my name was called.
"Elenya!" Said Elrond. I snapped my head up.
"Oh, sorry. . . " I mumbled, "I got lost. But why did you want to speak to me?" I knew that they probably wouldn't answer me truthfully but I though I might as well try.
Elrond was about to speak when Gandalf interrupted. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He said, quickly and bluntly.
"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" I had been expecting this, I had thought Elrond would refuse to let me go with Frodo but I thought I had gotten away with it.
Aragorn spoke, and he sounded hesitant, as though he was choosing his words carefully. "What we want to say is. . . Do you understand completely what this means? What you would have to go through?"
I struggled not to roll my eyes and tried to answer in a normal tone. "Yes. I do." They looked at me sceptically. "I know that this is dangerous to say the least, I was listening to you all." Aragorn tried again.
"But, the thing is why? Why would you want to do this, to go into such danger, when you could just . . . go home?" I couldn't believe they were saying this.
"I don't want to go home!" I cried. They all moved back a little. "You don't understand what it is like in that town! I can't take it, I don't want to go back, please, if you don't want me to go with Frodo then I won't, but don't make me go home!"
"But why not?" asked Elrond calmly.
"Because . . . because, its, its just. . ." I had thought these things for so long, but I couldn't seem to but it into words now. I know how I felt in my head; it was just getting the thoughts to my mouth that was the problem. Aragorn looked at me closely.
"Because the people there want nothing more that to sit at home and do what their parents did before them. They don't care about anything outside Gwendil. I'm not like them; I'm not one of them. I don't want to sit at home all day, I want to go out and see the world before I die, and I wasn't meant to live like they do."
"But Elenya, this is not like any journey you have been on. We go for a reason, you will not be safe for so long as you go with us, and that is if you ever come to safety again at all." Said Gandalf gravely, now sitting on a chair a little way away. I couldn't believe what was being said to me. How could they do this, did I look stupid?
"Well then what am I meant to do? Just go home and settle down, never knowing whether or not the company failed or not until there are Orcs killing everyone I care about?!!"
Elrond warned me, but I was having none of it. "Elenya. . ."
"NO!" I cried, standing up form my chair. "I don't care if you don't let me go with the company, I shall just follow you wherever you go, until the end. I am not going to give everything up!!" I had walked away from them now.
"But, why do you want to put yourself in so much danger?" Asked Gandalf.
I had stopped shouting now; there was no point. They would decide that I didn't know what was best for me and sigh and nod their heads in agreement and the company would leave without me. I didn't bother trying, I just spoke.
"I love this land I live in so much. I love that I can come and go as I please, travel where I want and have so much to see and to do. And I love the people, because what they are is the only things that survive. Lives pass and kingdoms fall, but throughout it all, only love, hope and faith remains. If darkness wins, then there will be nothing, life will be as death. There won't be any point. And I don't want to see that happen.
And because. . ." I didn't even finish.
I was looking away from them now, and was already getting ready to go back to Gwendil and pretend to care about the pointless things in life. No-one said anything.
". . . Because- because you are like your father." finished Arangorn softly.
I looked up, what had he said? I must be hearing wrong.
"You- did you know my father?" I asked, barely daring to believe.
"You are the same as he was. He wanted more than anything to live as he chose, and he too loved this world and loved life. I see a lot of him in you. You have his eyes, if nothing else. . ." Aragorn mused. I saw the others silently agreeing. I smiled weakly.
"He was a good person; he would never have wanted to see you left in Gwendil like a caged animal." Elrond added. I knew he meant more than he was saying; the tone of his voice was regretful, as though he had made a mistake.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Elrond looked down regretfully.
"Your father hoped that you could be brought up in Rivendell. After he- after his. ."
"After his death," I filled in, managing to control myself and talk calmly.
Elrond continued; "He had hoped that you would be brought here, to Rivendell. But when we tried to fulfil his wishes, we weren't allowed to bring you here; you were in other people's custody. You are lucky fate brought you here in the end."
"So I was meant to grow up here?" My thoughts began to wander, what would my life be like if had grown up in Rivendell? But Gandalf was already talking again.
"But, you see you are. . . different to others. . .And this might affect things -" I stopped him there, I knew what this was now.
"The dreams don't matter. They won't be as bad as that again, I know that for certain. I can tell, that was just a one off thing, I know it is." I looked up, trying my hardest to believe my own words and look it too. It must have worked because Elrond and Gandalf looked at each other, considering. . .
"Fate has brought her here, perhaps. . ." Aragorn didn't need to finish- they had decided together. I was beaming now.
"Yes," said Elrond, "you shall go with the fellowship."
I didn't know what to say to thank them. I had no idea why I was so happy, this wasn't something to celebrate. I was going into darkness and danger, but somehow I didn't care right now.
So long as I wasn't going home; so long as my life had purpose, I didn't care.
"I suppose you had best go and have some lunch, since you skipped breakfast. Merry and Pippin will need someone who will eat as much as them." Gandalf smiled at me behind his beard.
I beamed back at him and turned quickly to go. I remembered my manners and dropped a curtsey. Well as much as I could, I wasn't exactly dressed appropriately.
Just before I reached the door I turned to Aragorn and said; "I suppose you will have a lot of tales to tell me as we travel. . ."
And smirking, I left to go and eat, Gandalf was right, I was hungry.
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Now I'm sorry if any of you had the urge to puke during that, but I thought it was very from the heart, although this chapter was quite short. Now I would like some reviews but that's not mandatory! Lol
See you all soon
x x x x x x x
(And remember, you can always read the disclaimer in Chapter 1, if you need a laugh!)
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The Council of Elrond
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Elenya was really uncomfortable. She had snuck out into this meeting room just after the crack of dawn, to make sure she was there before anyone else. She had put on her travelling clothes and nestled herself up a tree, where two boughs jutted out in opposite directions.
She was half on her stomach, half on her side, so she could see what was going on below her. She had been like this for hours and she was beginning to struggle to ignore the pain in her sides and in her behind.
Elenya had watched them all come in, one by one.
Elrond was there of course, as was Gandalf. Legolas was there with some other elves and Boromir with some other men. There were a few dwarves, who shifted uncomfortably in their seats with narrowed eyes. However, Elenya had not expected to see Frodo there, or Strider. Frodo looked guilty and as though he was carrying a great burden. Strider looked calm, but deep in thought.
They were murmuring quietly when Elrond stood up and raised his hand.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old; you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." The murmuring was cut short and Elenya had to fight not to gasp.
For months, Elenya had been hearing talk of a shadow growing in the east. That some dark power was growing. But she had thought these were just stories and rumours, and she knew that Elrond would not hold a council over rumours. There really was a power growing in Mordor, in the Black Lands. But she couldn't think what this had to do with her, was she really the 'she' those elves had referred to the night before? Elrond continued;
"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." Each person glanced around the circle of seats. "Bring forth the ring Frodo." Elrond said, motioning to a low pillar of stone in the centre of the circle.
All eyes were on Frodo as he got up and slowly placed a plain gold ring on the pillar. He sat back down in his seat next to Gandalf, signing with relief. The murmurs broke out again, and among them, Elenya heard Boromir saying softly; "So it is true…"
Elenya could feel a sort of power coming off this piece of metal, and she knew she wasn't the only one. The silence was unbroken, while each person stared at this ring as though it were someone waiting to kill them. Then, at length Boromir spoke in low voice.
"In a dream, I saw the western sky grow dark, but in the east, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying 'the time of doom is at hand: Isildiur's Bane is found'." As he spoke, he had reached forward to pick up the ring. Gandalf stood up and began to speak, but the voice was not his own.
It was deep and rumbling and in a language Elenya had never heard though it sounded like elvish. It was awful to hear, as though the very earth was protesting. The skies went dark and the birds stopped singing in the trees. Elenya clung desperately onto her tree and closed her eyes tight. Eventually Boromir backed away and Gandalf fell silent, leaning on his staff.
"Never before have words of that tongue been spoken here, in Imladris." Said Elrond gravely. Gandalf turned, still breathing heavily.
"I do not beg your pardon Master Elrond. . ." He spoke to the circle, holding onto his staff, with receding anger in every syllable of his voice. Elenya felt guilty herself, as though she was being told off by Gandalf. And Boromir did nothing but look down at the floor at his feet.
". . For the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil." He spoke to Boromir now as he turned and went to his seat. Boromir looked unconvinced.
"Nay, it is a gift; a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring?" He said, shaking his head. Looking around he saw unconvinced and sceptical faces. He spoke louder;
"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!" He went on, looking angrily in turn at the people around him. "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy; let us use it against him!"
But Strider broke in sternly; "You cannot wield it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master!" Boromir turned to face Strider,
"And what would a ranger know of it?" But Legolas stood up and retorted;
"This is no mere ranger; he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance" All eyes were turned now on Aragorn, and he looked calmly back at Boromir.
"So this. . . is Isuildur's heir. . ." Said Boromir, as though he couldn't believe his ears. Elenya couldn't either, she had read about Isuildur and his kingly deed and the legend of his heir, and here he was, sitting in front of her, and yet she never would have guessed that this mysterious stranger was in fact so important. No wonder Boromir disliked him (to say the least). This ranger should be in his fathers place, reigning over Gondor and one of the great kings of men. Legolas spoke again;
". . . And heir to the throne of Gondor."
"Hav-a dent, Legolas" Spoke Aragorn in elvish. Legolas reluctantly sat down.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Said Boromir, glancing at the two of them with so much bitterness in his voice. Elenya was shocked; she had never known Boromir to be anything like this.
"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Spoke Gandalf. "We have only one choice, the ring must be destroyed."
Eleyna looked at Frodo suddenly, as she felt something emanating from the Ring. Frodo was looking at it as though it was whispering in his ear and he didn't want to hear what it was telling him. A dwarf with copper brown hair stood up.
"What are we waiting for?" He said nonchalantly as he strode forwards. He grabbed his axe and brought it down on the Ring, only for his axe to break and for him to fly back onto the floor.
As his axe hit the Ring, Elenya felt something catch in her throat making her gasp. Looking down, she saw Frodo's pained expression, and knew he had felt it too. He put his head in his hand and Gandalf leaned over to him.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom and only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came." There was a long pause, "One of you must do this"
He spoke as though only just realising that this was the answer. Bormoir broke in, speaking of what Mordor was, of the orcs, and evil and of a giant eye, ever watchful. He sounded so grave and spoke with such conviction and almost fear that Elenya knew it was true, even thought she was hearing the description properly for the first time. Boromir spoke the truth, but they had to do something.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" spoke Legloas angrily and standing up, "the Ring must be destroyed!" The dwarf, Gimli snapped incredulously,
"And I suppose you're the one to do it?"
"And what if we fail?" Shouted Boromir, "What will happen when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli ignored him and shouted even louder;
"I WILL BE DEAD BEFORE I SEE THE RING IN THE HANDS OF AN ELF!!!"
At this, the elves and the dwarves stood up and began to yell at each other. Legolas put out his arms to keep the elves back while Gimli bellowed;
"NEVER TRUST AN ELF!!" The dwarves all stood stonily behind him, clutching their axes and swords.
The men stood up; some to try and stop the dwarves and elves, and some to argue among themselves. Gandalf stood and began to roar at Bormir and Elrond sat in his chair leaning his head on his hand, sighing.
Elenya couldn't hear a word that was being said. She and Frodo were the only people not shouting. All she could do was take it all in and try to ignore the sense of darkness coming over her. There were words being spoken but not by any of the people in the circle. They were low and Elenya reviled the sound. It drowned out the shouting until all she saw were elves, men and dwarves gesturing and frowning.
Frodo was staring intently at the Ring and then he stood up. Elenya heard him say something, but no-one was listening to him. She knew no-one would, no matter how loud he shouted.
She leapt out of the tree landing lightly on all fours and unnoticed among the arguments. She stood up.
"QUEIT!!!!" She shrieked, throwing her head back. Her single voice, normally so soft and gentle, cut through the many around her and everything stopped briefly. Everyone froze and turned to see what could be making this clear noise, the only sense at the moment.
They turned and saw a short figure wrapped in a grey travelling cloak with the hood pulled low. The figure pulled up the hood and they saw a young girl, red in the face from shouting and looking sternly at them all.
"I think Frodo has something to say . . . go on Frodo," she said in normal, pleasant tone, gesturing for him to go forward.
Now Frodo suddenly felt smaller, and his words seemed stupid and they caught in his throat. At last he said, looking around;
"I will take it; I will take the Ring to Mordor... " Some looked shocked, some surprised, and Gandalf looked utterly miserable at the thought. Frodo's voice faltered as he tried to go on, looking at the faces around him and trying to find the courage to keep going. Taking deep breaths he went on,
". . . though I do not know the way". Gandalf strode forwards and spoke, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, for as long as it is yours to bear."
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." Aragorn spoke, standing up and kneeling down in front of Frodo. "You will have my sword." Gandalf glanced quickly at Elrond, with something like triumph in his eyes.
"And my bow. . . " Said Legolas, standing next to Aragorn.
". . . And my axe" Added Gimli, stepping forwards, making Legolas look very down in the mouth. Bormir stood, still looking annoyed.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor shall see it done."
Elenya watched them and she too stepped forwards and knelt in front of Frodo. She spoke softly, but with great power in her voice;
"I will come with you, and do whatever I can, for as long as you will have me Frodo." Boromir looked at her out of the corner of his eye and Elrond raised an eyebrow at Gandalf, but no-one noticed.
There was a rustling in the bushes and someone shouted;
"HEY!" They ran forwards and Elenya saw it was Sam! Pushing past Aragorn, he stood next to Frodo and announced,
"Frodo's not goin anywhere without me!"
"Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not" Smiled Elrond, in a bemused way. Elenya beamed at Sam as he looked sheepishly at the floor and saw that Frodo was doing the same.
"OI! We're coming too!" Shouted Merry as he ran out, closely followed by Pippin.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry announced as he and Pippin took their place either side of Frodo.
Elenya giggled as she saw Elrond looking outraged at their cheek! One hobbit was fair enough, but this was getting ridiculous!
"Anyway," stated Pippin "you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. . . quest. . thing…"
"Well that rules you out Pip" said Merry firmly (Pippin looked very hurt).
"10 companions," mused Elrond, " So be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
Eleyna smiled proudly, she couldn't have chosen better company. She looked down and saw Merry and Pippin looking ecstatic.
Then Pippin said something which left everyone looking confused, and wondering what they had gotten themselves into with this hobbit. He didn't seem to notice, funnily enough.
"Right. Where are we going?" He asked.
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*Elenya's POV*
I didn't know why they had asked me to stay here. Gandalf, Elrond and Strider (or Aragorn as I reminded myself) had been standing over in the far corner, talking to each other in low tones for a while now. I had been respectfully staring at my feet, but trying my hardest to hear what they were saying- with no luck at all. My thoughts strayed, and I didn't notice they had stopped taking until my name was called.
"Elenya!" Said Elrond. I snapped my head up.
"Oh, sorry. . . " I mumbled, "I got lost. But why did you want to speak to me?" I knew that they probably wouldn't answer me truthfully but I though I might as well try.
Elrond was about to speak when Gandalf interrupted. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He said, quickly and bluntly.
"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" I had been expecting this, I had thought Elrond would refuse to let me go with Frodo but I thought I had gotten away with it.
Aragorn spoke, and he sounded hesitant, as though he was choosing his words carefully. "What we want to say is. . . Do you understand completely what this means? What you would have to go through?"
I struggled not to roll my eyes and tried to answer in a normal tone. "Yes. I do." They looked at me sceptically. "I know that this is dangerous to say the least, I was listening to you all." Aragorn tried again.
"But, the thing is why? Why would you want to do this, to go into such danger, when you could just . . . go home?" I couldn't believe they were saying this.
"I don't want to go home!" I cried. They all moved back a little. "You don't understand what it is like in that town! I can't take it, I don't want to go back, please, if you don't want me to go with Frodo then I won't, but don't make me go home!"
"But why not?" asked Elrond calmly.
"Because . . . because, its, its just. . ." I had thought these things for so long, but I couldn't seem to but it into words now. I know how I felt in my head; it was just getting the thoughts to my mouth that was the problem. Aragorn looked at me closely.
"Because the people there want nothing more that to sit at home and do what their parents did before them. They don't care about anything outside Gwendil. I'm not like them; I'm not one of them. I don't want to sit at home all day, I want to go out and see the world before I die, and I wasn't meant to live like they do."
"But Elenya, this is not like any journey you have been on. We go for a reason, you will not be safe for so long as you go with us, and that is if you ever come to safety again at all." Said Gandalf gravely, now sitting on a chair a little way away. I couldn't believe what was being said to me. How could they do this, did I look stupid?
"Well then what am I meant to do? Just go home and settle down, never knowing whether or not the company failed or not until there are Orcs killing everyone I care about?!!"
Elrond warned me, but I was having none of it. "Elenya. . ."
"NO!" I cried, standing up form my chair. "I don't care if you don't let me go with the company, I shall just follow you wherever you go, until the end. I am not going to give everything up!!" I had walked away from them now.
"But, why do you want to put yourself in so much danger?" Asked Gandalf.
I had stopped shouting now; there was no point. They would decide that I didn't know what was best for me and sigh and nod their heads in agreement and the company would leave without me. I didn't bother trying, I just spoke.
"I love this land I live in so much. I love that I can come and go as I please, travel where I want and have so much to see and to do. And I love the people, because what they are is the only things that survive. Lives pass and kingdoms fall, but throughout it all, only love, hope and faith remains. If darkness wins, then there will be nothing, life will be as death. There won't be any point. And I don't want to see that happen.
And because. . ." I didn't even finish.
I was looking away from them now, and was already getting ready to go back to Gwendil and pretend to care about the pointless things in life. No-one said anything.
". . . Because- because you are like your father." finished Arangorn softly.
I looked up, what had he said? I must be hearing wrong.
"You- did you know my father?" I asked, barely daring to believe.
"You are the same as he was. He wanted more than anything to live as he chose, and he too loved this world and loved life. I see a lot of him in you. You have his eyes, if nothing else. . ." Aragorn mused. I saw the others silently agreeing. I smiled weakly.
"He was a good person; he would never have wanted to see you left in Gwendil like a caged animal." Elrond added. I knew he meant more than he was saying; the tone of his voice was regretful, as though he had made a mistake.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Elrond looked down regretfully.
"Your father hoped that you could be brought up in Rivendell. After he- after his. ."
"After his death," I filled in, managing to control myself and talk calmly.
Elrond continued; "He had hoped that you would be brought here, to Rivendell. But when we tried to fulfil his wishes, we weren't allowed to bring you here; you were in other people's custody. You are lucky fate brought you here in the end."
"So I was meant to grow up here?" My thoughts began to wander, what would my life be like if had grown up in Rivendell? But Gandalf was already talking again.
"But, you see you are. . . different to others. . .And this might affect things -" I stopped him there, I knew what this was now.
"The dreams don't matter. They won't be as bad as that again, I know that for certain. I can tell, that was just a one off thing, I know it is." I looked up, trying my hardest to believe my own words and look it too. It must have worked because Elrond and Gandalf looked at each other, considering. . .
"Fate has brought her here, perhaps. . ." Aragorn didn't need to finish- they had decided together. I was beaming now.
"Yes," said Elrond, "you shall go with the fellowship."
I didn't know what to say to thank them. I had no idea why I was so happy, this wasn't something to celebrate. I was going into darkness and danger, but somehow I didn't care right now.
So long as I wasn't going home; so long as my life had purpose, I didn't care.
"I suppose you had best go and have some lunch, since you skipped breakfast. Merry and Pippin will need someone who will eat as much as them." Gandalf smiled at me behind his beard.
I beamed back at him and turned quickly to go. I remembered my manners and dropped a curtsey. Well as much as I could, I wasn't exactly dressed appropriately.
Just before I reached the door I turned to Aragorn and said; "I suppose you will have a lot of tales to tell me as we travel. . ."
And smirking, I left to go and eat, Gandalf was right, I was hungry.
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Now I'm sorry if any of you had the urge to puke during that, but I thought it was very from the heart, although this chapter was quite short. Now I would like some reviews but that's not mandatory! Lol
See you all soon
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