Chapter 5.
Although all of her instincts screamed at her to find Luthien, Arwen knew that she would be required at her father's side. Taking up a satchel full of healing herbs and other things she followed her father into the room he had placed Frodo in.
It was many hours before she left the ailing hobbit's side, pained by his inane shouts and mutterings.
Seeking solace she called Corbe to her, and took Luthien into the gardens with her, the weight gone from her heart now that she knew both the Ringbearer and her daughter were safe.
As Luthien played, building little paddocks for the set of wooden animals Aragorn had brought her when he was last in Rivendell, Arwen sat beside her fountain, reading through accounts of the Rings of Power, including accounts of the One Ring, carried by Frodo Baggins.
Erestor and Glorfindel found them there. Silently, both bowed, before Erestor spoke. "Lord Aragorn and the three remaining hobbits have entered our fair city. They seek audience with you as Lord Elrond is very busy. He cannot speak with them."
"Lihra?" Arwen called to one of her handmaidens. "Take Luthien to her nurse."
"Yes milady." The Elf woman answered, helping Luthien to tidy up her animals.
"Thank the Valar you are safe!" Arwen exclaimed, upon seeing the four.
"Where is Frodo?"
"Is he all right?"
The hobbits peppered her with questions.
"Gentlemen, that is enough." Aragorn told them. Then he turned to Arwen once more. "Greetings to you Lady Undomiel. We thank you for your help."
"Welcome to Rivendell." She answered him. "Walk with me, if you will."
They fell into step around her, and Arwen began to speak once more. "We think Frodo will heal well. He came Rivendell in time and my Father was able to attend to him. I'm taking you to his chamber now."
*************
On the morning of Council of Elrond the sky was clear and the sun cast glittering rays of light over the fair of Rivendell.
Arwen left Luthien safely in the care of her nurse Corbe, and dressed to attend the Council.
On her father's arm Arwen walked into the courtyard where the Council was to be held. All of the guests waited for them.
Everyone ceased their idle chatter at the sight of the Lady of Rivendell.
"I trust that you are all acquainted." Elrond began. "I present to you my daughter, the Lady of Rivendell, Lady Arwen Undomiel."
Politely Arwen bowed to the guests in traditional Elven style.
Elrond lead her into the courtyard, pausing to seat her in the chair beside his own, the only seat in the circle that befitted a Lady of her station.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." Elrond began. "You have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the edge of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." Lord Elrond paused. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Arwen watched as the hobbit laid the One Ring on the table in the center of the group.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." Boromir began. "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 against him!"
"You cannot wield it." Aragorn told him. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"What would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir sneered at him.
Legolas stood. "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir asked.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas told him.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn spoke to him in Elvish. *Sit down Legolas.*
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir announced.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf affirmed.
"The One Ring must be destroyed." Arwen said quietly, forcing everyone to cease their conversations to hear her words. "This must be done before the storm of Sauron breaks upon these lands. I fear that if it breaks, not even peaceful Rivendell, a refuge for my people in Ages past, a place where those who feared him have hidden before, will be safe from the darkness." She stood, allowing her skirts to flow freely around her, rustling slightly in the breeze.
"The Lady is right, you have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond told them.
"What are we waiting for?" Gimli, son of Gloin asked, standing to smash his ax down onto the One Ring.
The ax head shattered leaving fragments on the table. Gimli was knocked off his feet. Using her own powers, Arwen was able to remain on her feet, shielding those in the circle from shrapnel.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, 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." Elrond explained to all. "One of you must do this."
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir told them. "It's 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."
"If the errand is folly." Arwen spoke quietly again. "Then you have already failed, though the quest has not yet begun. Do not assume so much, Man of Gondor."
"How can you tell us all this?" Boromir fired back at her. At once Legolas, her kinsman, and one of her closest friends came to her defense.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond and the Lady have said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas demanded.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli asked.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir asked.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli shouted. "Never trust an Elf!"
As he spoke the rest of the company erupted into anarchy, people shouting and arguing between themselves.
Arwen watched, her heart pained to see such a blatant show of disrespect and distrust between the ones who should have been united under the common goal of saving their Middle Earth.
She watched as Frodo sat silently in his chair, as though he was deep in thought. Then he too leapt to his feet.
"I will take it. I will take the ring to Mordor." Frodo began, "Though, I do not know the way."
Beside him the Istari Gandalf the Grey sighed heavily, as though a great burden had been added to his shoulders. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. For as long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn's eyes lingered on her for a moment before he strode over to stand beside the two. "If by my life or death I can protect you, then so be it. You have my sword."
"And my bow." Legolas announced, as though expecting the dwarves to object.
"And my ax." Gimli pledged.
Boromir took in the sight of the small hobbit, still weakened from his injury caused by the Morgul blade. "You bear the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." He pledged, joining the others.
"Mr. Frodo isn't going anywhere without me." Sam interrupted from his hiding place. Elrond gave him a light scolding, though Arwen could see that he was pleased to see that the young hobbit would follow his master. After Sam, Merry and Pippin also joined the others, refusing to be left behind.
Boromir began to argue with them.
"Do you doubt their courage?" Arwen asked him, interrupting the Man's tangent. "They do not doubt yours."
"Frodo we can help along the way. The other three..."
Arwen cut him off. "May yet prove to be the only ones who continue on the quest once the One Ring begins to affect you. Do not underestimate their strength of will, mind or body. If you examine them closely you may find yourself lacking on some of the qualities they bring to the group."
"If you fear we are lacking qualities, Lady, why then do you not join us?" Boromir asked.
"Take your leave and apoligise to the Lady Arwen." Aragorn told him sternly. "She is not to be spoken to in such a manner."
"Is that your decree or the Lord of Rivendell's?" Boromir asked.
"Mine, but I'm sure Lord Elrond feels the same way." Aragorn told him.
"Is it that this Lady is important to you in some way?" Boromir asked again.
"This Lady..." Aragorn began.
"I am the Lady of the fair city of Rivendell, and a Lady of the Golden Woods of Lothlorien. I am the mother of the Princess Luthien Tinuviel, who someday may be the Queen of Gondor, who is known only to her mother's people, the Elves, and to her father's, the Dunedain, Rangers of the North." Arwen told him.
"You have already borne a Princess of Gondor?" He asked, shocked.
"She is with her nurse, kept safe from harm in peaceful Rivendell." Aragorn told him.
"Gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the journey to Mordor." Elrond called out.
Arwen placed her hands on Frodo's head, her gaze gentle, almost maternal as she looked down at him. "I cannot go with you on this errand Frodo, but you will be under my grace, and under the light of the Evenstar. May the Valar watch over you on your path under the sky."
Although all of her instincts screamed at her to find Luthien, Arwen knew that she would be required at her father's side. Taking up a satchel full of healing herbs and other things she followed her father into the room he had placed Frodo in.
It was many hours before she left the ailing hobbit's side, pained by his inane shouts and mutterings.
Seeking solace she called Corbe to her, and took Luthien into the gardens with her, the weight gone from her heart now that she knew both the Ringbearer and her daughter were safe.
As Luthien played, building little paddocks for the set of wooden animals Aragorn had brought her when he was last in Rivendell, Arwen sat beside her fountain, reading through accounts of the Rings of Power, including accounts of the One Ring, carried by Frodo Baggins.
Erestor and Glorfindel found them there. Silently, both bowed, before Erestor spoke. "Lord Aragorn and the three remaining hobbits have entered our fair city. They seek audience with you as Lord Elrond is very busy. He cannot speak with them."
"Lihra?" Arwen called to one of her handmaidens. "Take Luthien to her nurse."
"Yes milady." The Elf woman answered, helping Luthien to tidy up her animals.
"Thank the Valar you are safe!" Arwen exclaimed, upon seeing the four.
"Where is Frodo?"
"Is he all right?"
The hobbits peppered her with questions.
"Gentlemen, that is enough." Aragorn told them. Then he turned to Arwen once more. "Greetings to you Lady Undomiel. We thank you for your help."
"Welcome to Rivendell." She answered him. "Walk with me, if you will."
They fell into step around her, and Arwen began to speak once more. "We think Frodo will heal well. He came Rivendell in time and my Father was able to attend to him. I'm taking you to his chamber now."
*************
On the morning of Council of Elrond the sky was clear and the sun cast glittering rays of light over the fair of Rivendell.
Arwen left Luthien safely in the care of her nurse Corbe, and dressed to attend the Council.
On her father's arm Arwen walked into the courtyard where the Council was to be held. All of the guests waited for them.
Everyone ceased their idle chatter at the sight of the Lady of Rivendell.
"I trust that you are all acquainted." Elrond began. "I present to you my daughter, the Lady of Rivendell, Lady Arwen Undomiel."
Politely Arwen bowed to the guests in traditional Elven style.
Elrond lead her into the courtyard, pausing to seat her in the chair beside his own, the only seat in the circle that befitted a Lady of her station.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." Elrond began. "You have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the edge of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." Lord Elrond paused. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Arwen watched as the hobbit laid the One Ring on the table in the center of the group.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." Boromir began. "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 against him!"
"You cannot wield it." Aragorn told him. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"What would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir sneered at him.
Legolas stood. "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir asked.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas told him.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn spoke to him in Elvish. *Sit down Legolas.*
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir announced.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf affirmed.
"The One Ring must be destroyed." Arwen said quietly, forcing everyone to cease their conversations to hear her words. "This must be done before the storm of Sauron breaks upon these lands. I fear that if it breaks, not even peaceful Rivendell, a refuge for my people in Ages past, a place where those who feared him have hidden before, will be safe from the darkness." She stood, allowing her skirts to flow freely around her, rustling slightly in the breeze.
"The Lady is right, you have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond told them.
"What are we waiting for?" Gimli, son of Gloin asked, standing to smash his ax down onto the One Ring.
The ax head shattered leaving fragments on the table. Gimli was knocked off his feet. Using her own powers, Arwen was able to remain on her feet, shielding those in the circle from shrapnel.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, 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." Elrond explained to all. "One of you must do this."
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir told them. "It's 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."
"If the errand is folly." Arwen spoke quietly again. "Then you have already failed, though the quest has not yet begun. Do not assume so much, Man of Gondor."
"How can you tell us all this?" Boromir fired back at her. At once Legolas, her kinsman, and one of her closest friends came to her defense.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond and the Lady have said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas demanded.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli asked.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir asked.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli shouted. "Never trust an Elf!"
As he spoke the rest of the company erupted into anarchy, people shouting and arguing between themselves.
Arwen watched, her heart pained to see such a blatant show of disrespect and distrust between the ones who should have been united under the common goal of saving their Middle Earth.
She watched as Frodo sat silently in his chair, as though he was deep in thought. Then he too leapt to his feet.
"I will take it. I will take the ring to Mordor." Frodo began, "Though, I do not know the way."
Beside him the Istari Gandalf the Grey sighed heavily, as though a great burden had been added to his shoulders. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. For as long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn's eyes lingered on her for a moment before he strode over to stand beside the two. "If by my life or death I can protect you, then so be it. You have my sword."
"And my bow." Legolas announced, as though expecting the dwarves to object.
"And my ax." Gimli pledged.
Boromir took in the sight of the small hobbit, still weakened from his injury caused by the Morgul blade. "You bear the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." He pledged, joining the others.
"Mr. Frodo isn't going anywhere without me." Sam interrupted from his hiding place. Elrond gave him a light scolding, though Arwen could see that he was pleased to see that the young hobbit would follow his master. After Sam, Merry and Pippin also joined the others, refusing to be left behind.
Boromir began to argue with them.
"Do you doubt their courage?" Arwen asked him, interrupting the Man's tangent. "They do not doubt yours."
"Frodo we can help along the way. The other three..."
Arwen cut him off. "May yet prove to be the only ones who continue on the quest once the One Ring begins to affect you. Do not underestimate their strength of will, mind or body. If you examine them closely you may find yourself lacking on some of the qualities they bring to the group."
"If you fear we are lacking qualities, Lady, why then do you not join us?" Boromir asked.
"Take your leave and apoligise to the Lady Arwen." Aragorn told him sternly. "She is not to be spoken to in such a manner."
"Is that your decree or the Lord of Rivendell's?" Boromir asked.
"Mine, but I'm sure Lord Elrond feels the same way." Aragorn told him.
"Is it that this Lady is important to you in some way?" Boromir asked again.
"This Lady..." Aragorn began.
"I am the Lady of the fair city of Rivendell, and a Lady of the Golden Woods of Lothlorien. I am the mother of the Princess Luthien Tinuviel, who someday may be the Queen of Gondor, who is known only to her mother's people, the Elves, and to her father's, the Dunedain, Rangers of the North." Arwen told him.
"You have already borne a Princess of Gondor?" He asked, shocked.
"She is with her nurse, kept safe from harm in peaceful Rivendell." Aragorn told him.
"Gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the journey to Mordor." Elrond called out.
Arwen placed her hands on Frodo's head, her gaze gentle, almost maternal as she looked down at him. "I cannot go with you on this errand Frodo, but you will be under my grace, and under the light of the Evenstar. May the Valar watch over you on your path under the sky."