DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lord of the Rings. But, as you probably all know, I own Gwen and her horse, Niral.
" I have decided to wait no longer to call the council meeting" stated Lord Elrond. " All the members are here and I see no reason to delay it any longer because a person who may not even exist has not yet arrived."
" Do as you will," replied Gandalf. " I can see no reason why you should wait any longer if you believe that no Angmar elf will be here." Elrond left the room to call the council together. Gandalf remained in the room, refusing to give up hope that at least one Angmar elf would appear.
Gwen rode the last stretch in peace. Nothing disturbed her or hindered her progress. She crossed at the Ford at the same time that the Council of Elrond began. She coaxed Niral into a gallop, though it was difficult because both rider and horse were exhausted. They had ridden all of the day before, through the night, and all that day. She was practically falling off her horse by the time she rode through the entrance to Rivendell. As she slid of her horse, an elf ran up. He had drawn his bow and arrow.
" Who are you and what are you doing her?!" he demanded without lowering his bow.
" Would you like to know, or are you going to shoot me first and ask questions later?" asked Gwen, cocking her eyebrow. The elf let his string go loose.
" Thank you, I think a lot clearer when I am not at the service end of an arrow. As to your first question, I am Gwendolin of Angmar. I am here because I received a summons from Lord Elrond to attend his council." Gwen handed him the summons.
" This summons is for Glindor, the king of Angmar. You are clearly not him," said the elf, looking at her rather quizzically.
" Glindor is my father and was unable to attend." If only you knew, she thought.
The elf, seeing the pain in her eyes, agreed to let her in. " You are a bit late. The council has already been called. Go down this hall and to the left. You can't miss it."
" Thank you so much!" Gwen nodded and then sprinted down the hall. Okay, it should be around here somewhere. Oh, there it is! She entered the courtyard, out of breath and ready to collapse. All talking in the courtyard ceased. Elrond glared up at her.
" Who are you?"
" That is the second time I have been asked that question in the last five minutes," Gwen remarked. " I am Gwendolin of Angmar." Everybody began muttering and whispering amongst themselves. Gwen blushed as she felt them staring at her. I must look a state she thought embarrassed. And she did. What the council saw was a young woman wearing a black tunic, dirty black boots, three blades, and short hair. That was enough to keep them talking for five minutes. Gandalf was very glad to see Gwen there. He had been to Angmar more than once and had enjoyed her father's company. He also knew that they had a large army that would be needed.
" Gwen, sit down my dear!" he said as he beckoned her to the seat next to him.
" Gandalf! I had no idea you would be here!" she hugged him as she sat down. Thank goodness there is actually someone here that I know, she thought happily.
" Where is your father?" he questioned.
" Yes, where is he? The summons was for him, " seconded Elrond. Gwen's face paled visibly. She had really never needed to speak of her father's death to anybody. She was not yet ready, but continued anyway. " He is dead, along with the rest of my people." Gandalf shot a shocked look at Elrond, then turned to Gwen. " How, my child? When did this tragedy happen?" Gandalf asked gently.
" I don't know how, I wasn't there when it happened," Gwen said, her face a cold, numb mask of pain, " I wasn't there. I went out for a ride. I returned late at night. When I entered the city, all were dead. I found some dead Orcs, so my only guess is that Orcs entered the city and the people had no way of getting out. It must have been a massacre."
" But what of your army?" asked Elrond.
" Our army was down to nothing because the council kept sending them out to fight the Orcs. There is no army. The Angmar elves are dead. I am the last of them." No one made a sound for at least a minute. All the dwarves were staring at Gwen. They had heard talk of the elves of Angmar. Now they were actually in the company of one.
" This is a hard blow to us all," Elrond finally said. " Gwen, you may go and rest."
" With all due respect, my Lord, I wish to stay. Do not shun me from this meeting just because my army is dead." Gwen said as she met Lord Elrond's eyes. He sensed a determination in the girl so he agreed to let her stay.
" Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." Frodo stood and walked to the stone stand and set the Ring upon it. Gwen looked at him, thinking so this is Frodo Baggins! I wonder if Sam is here. She sat there in thought until Boromir began going off on how it was folly to attempt to destroy the Ring. This aggravated Gwen. She leapt to her feet, saying " Well, what are we supposed to do? Sit here on our behinds while Sauron wipes out all of Middle Earth? We are the only hope for this world. If we do not try, who will?" she ended and sat down. " She speaks true!" said Aragorn. Boromir's pride was wounded at being told off by a woman, so he pounced upon Aragorn, saying " And what would a Ranger know of these matters?" Legolas leapt to his feet, saying, " This is no mere Ranger! He is Aragorn son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir looks slightly more crestfallen. Both sit down.
" The Ring MUST be destroyed!" proclaimed Elrond. Then the argument broke out on who was going to take the Ring. Gwen just sat there, thinking this is such a typical guy thing! She knew more about the ring of Power than most thought. No way was she volunteering.
She leaned over to Frodo and asked, " Do you happen to know a Samwise Gamgee?"
He looked at her quite surprised. " Why, yes! I know Sam! How do you?"
" Oh, when I was passing through the Shire, I stayed a night at his parent's house!"
Frodo laughed, exclaiming, " He will be glad to know that! You must meet him afterwards!"
" I would be very glad to if he is anything like his parents!" returned Gwen. After a few more moments of arguing, Frodo stood up, saying, " I will take it!" The courtyard went very silent. " I will take the Ring to Mordor!" he continued.
" Though, I do not know the way."
" I will accompany you Frodo Baggins!" said Gandalf. Others began volunteering.
" If by life or death I can protect you, then I will. You have my sword," said Aragorn.
" And you shall have my bow," said Legolas.
" And my axe!" stated Gimli.
" If it is the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done," volunteered Boromir.
" I am coming too!" declared Gwen. All eyes riveted on her. Why do they keep doing that, she wondered?
" I must object to this," said Elrond.
Gwen glared at him, giving him her don't — you — dare — mess — with — me look as she said, " There is no way you can keep me here. I don't have a huge army to contribute, just myself. I want to help in any way that I can."
Elrond backed down and nodded. Suddenly a hobbit popped out of the bushes, declaring " Mr. Frodo isn't going anywhere without me!"
" Clearly it is impossible to separate you two, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not" said Elrond Arching his eyebrow. Ah so he does have a humorous side, Gwen thought, I had no idea a person's eyebrow could go up that high! " Oi, we're going too!" yelled two more hobbits. " You would have to tie us up in a sack to keep us from going," they continued.
" Ten companions. Very well then, you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" proclaimed Elrond.
Gwen hobbled out of the courtyard and ran into an elf woman. " Oh, I am so sorry," she muttered. The woman smiled and said," I am Arwen. Come. I have prepared a room for you." Gwen followed her down the hall. Once she was in the room, she dropped her weapons and fell upon the bed, asleep before she hit the bed.