I sat beside my brother in the great council chamber, observing my fellows
as they took their seats. Beornings, dwarves from the Iron hills and the
Lonely Mountain, Elves form Mirkwood, Rivendell, and Lórien alike, Elrond's
advisors, and.Aragorn, too? He nodded at me, a slight smile on his normally
serious face. Mithrandir, too, sat here, along with a small creature I
could only assume was a hobbit. I had never seen one before, but had heard
tales from my brother, who had met one Bilbo Baggins some years ago during
the battle of the five armies. And also stood in this midst stood a tall
man of the south, proud and haughty of glance, yet fair of face and
feature. My heart told me his intentions here were not good ones, fraught
with greed, as men so often are. Elrond rose from his chair, and began to
speak.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. 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." He gestured towards the pedestal in the middle of the chamber. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." The hobbit rose, and with some uncertainty, pulled a golden circ from his pocket, and laid it on the plinth. The man of the South spoke.
"So it is true." The entire council could not help but stare at the seemingly harmless trinket. Could it really be the fable ring of doom, the one to rule them all? The Gondorian rose to address the council.
"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: Your doom is near at hand." He was mesmerized by the pull of the circlet, using every ounce of resistance he possessed to keep from touching it. "Isildur's Bane is found." His hand reached out, hovering above the ring. Once more, men had failed their test. "Isildur's Bane."
Elrond leapt up, visibly angered and, in more than one way, fearful. He had seen the ring take its first bearer, and this man was not different.
"Boromir!" he shouted. In all the years I had known the Lord of Imaladris, he had never before shouted, even when time was dire. The ring began to speak, and it seemed as if a sudden storm was being summoned. I looked at my brother, frightened at what might come of this. The rest of the council looked around wildly, wondering if Elrond had caused the storm, as was sometimes his wont. Mithrandir sprang from his chair with vitality I had never seen in him, and started to chant in Adunic, the black speech echoing horrendously in the chamber. I knew the tale of the ring as well as any other, and that was most certainly the inscription on the ring.but why he chose that, I know not. But the ring's chant subsided, and several of the members of the council who had risen took their seats, still fearful of any other mischief the object of these meetings would cause. Elrond was furious.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imaladris!" Gandalf appeared weary, but his answer and purpose were clear.
"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether Evil!" his glance at Boromir left the man from the south untroubled. Clearly, he had never seen the wizard in full strength and complete anger.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" he began to pace, walking the length of the circle, looking each councilman or woman in the eye. I sat, straight-backed and serene, as he passed me, a flick of longing going through his eyes as he looked at me. Had he some woman he would die for in his castles of stone? But he continued. "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!" This man had not the faintest idea of what he was asking. Aragorn spoke, and his serious voice rang out amidst the frightened silence the ring had left.
"You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir turned to look at the Dunadan, affronted that he had been interrupted.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" He knew not the man who would be king? But this was the steward's son.he had been born to rule in Aragorn's stead. My brother took from his chair, all self-preservation gone.
"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Legolas' face was contorted with fury well hidden. Aragorn was a good friend, as well as just and honest man, and to see his good name pushed about in such a contemptuous manner was angering beyond belief. The man of the south seemed not to believe it.
"Aragorn? This... is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." A wise move, brother. You have succeeded in making what would have been an ally an enemy. I looked at Aragorn, a warning in my eyes. He took the hint.
"Havo dad, Legolas". Reluctantly, my brother sat back down, but not without throwing a sneer at Boromir, who gave an equaling quailing look at Aragorn.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He returned to his seat, glowering at this new information. Mithrandir spoke again.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Elrond seemed relived that someone was coming to his or her senses.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." One of the younger dwarves grabbed his axe, impetuous and unthinking, as dwarves most often are.
"Then what are we waiting for?" With a tremendous yell, he brought the axe down on the ring. The axe head exploded, and the dwarf was thrown back. The hobbit put a hand to his head, as if some vision troubled him. Elrond was being tried within an inch of his patience here, and he was doing an admirable job of not striking someone.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, 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." There was an unpleasant silence as he looked at us.
"One of you must do this." The room was unquestionably silent. Boromir looked at Elrond as though he were mad.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its 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 you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!" Legolas, indignant once more, stood again. This man from the south vexed him mightily.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" The dwarf who had previously tried to destroy the ring leapt to his feet.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" my brother has never been good with dwarves. It was under his watch that thirteen dwarves were brought into the dungeons of Mirkwood, and under his watch that they also escaped. They were the blight on his existence. Boromir rose again.
"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"
Gimli shouted, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" at his, the carefully put together peace exploded. In the midst of the argument I was having with my brother over why he should keep his anger to himself, I heard Gimli say,
"Never trust an Elf!" The hobbit still sat, looking at the ring as if he were ill and his entire survival depended on it. Gandalf tried to make himself heard above the din.
"Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" His cries fell on deaf ears. Still arguing, I heard a small voice. "I will take it! I will take it!" I stopped speaking, and turned to look at Frodo. Beside me, everyone else did the same, astonished at the courage of the small hobbit.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though-- I do not know the way."
There was silence as Gandalf walked towards the halfling to put a reassuring arm around his small shoulders.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." Aragorn rose, some fragment of the wanderlust still living in his bones after sixty years appealing to the warrior in his blood.
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." He knelt before the hobbit, a hand on his heart. "You have my sword." Legolas looked to get up, but instead, I stood.
"And my bow." My brother gave me an odd look, and in his heart I knew he would have gone had I not stood. But we would have words later. I walked to join then, those elves that knew me smiling at my action. But the dwarf, not to be upstaged by some 'pointy ear' stood, as I had known he would.
"And my axe!" Had I let my brother go in my stead, tempers would be on constant flare through the whole trip. The steward's son rose as well.
"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." There was a rustle in the bushes, and from the greenery came another hobbit, with a sandy hair and a determined look on his face.
"Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!" Elrond seemed amused.
"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." There was a shout, and two more hobbits emerged from behind pillars. Elrond was beginning to become miffed.
"Wait! We are coming too!" The older one crossed his arms. "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" The younger nodded vigorously.
" Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest... thing." I sincerely doubted his wisdom, but if his heart were with us in this endeavor, then I would stand by his decision. I could hear the elder whisper,
"Well, that rules you out Pip." Elrond, having gotten over the interruptions, mused as he looked us over.
"Nine companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
"Great!" the younger hobbit exclaimed, "Where are we going?" I frowned inwardly. A journey of this size would take quite a while.
Thank heaven that's over. I apologize for all the Legolas fan girls who just had their part stomped on. But he's free for the next year. I will loan the elf to the first person that promises not to abuse him! Any who, I will be starting the first part of their quest soon. My plan is not to rewrite the whole damn thing, just bits. Next up-brother sister talk on motives and mindfulness.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. 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." He gestured towards the pedestal in the middle of the chamber. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." The hobbit rose, and with some uncertainty, pulled a golden circ from his pocket, and laid it on the plinth. The man of the South spoke.
"So it is true." The entire council could not help but stare at the seemingly harmless trinket. Could it really be the fable ring of doom, the one to rule them all? The Gondorian rose to address the council.
"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: Your doom is near at hand." He was mesmerized by the pull of the circlet, using every ounce of resistance he possessed to keep from touching it. "Isildur's Bane is found." His hand reached out, hovering above the ring. Once more, men had failed their test. "Isildur's Bane."
Elrond leapt up, visibly angered and, in more than one way, fearful. He had seen the ring take its first bearer, and this man was not different.
"Boromir!" he shouted. In all the years I had known the Lord of Imaladris, he had never before shouted, even when time was dire. The ring began to speak, and it seemed as if a sudden storm was being summoned. I looked at my brother, frightened at what might come of this. The rest of the council looked around wildly, wondering if Elrond had caused the storm, as was sometimes his wont. Mithrandir sprang from his chair with vitality I had never seen in him, and started to chant in Adunic, the black speech echoing horrendously in the chamber. I knew the tale of the ring as well as any other, and that was most certainly the inscription on the ring.but why he chose that, I know not. But the ring's chant subsided, and several of the members of the council who had risen took their seats, still fearful of any other mischief the object of these meetings would cause. Elrond was furious.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imaladris!" Gandalf appeared weary, but his answer and purpose were clear.
"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether Evil!" his glance at Boromir left the man from the south untroubled. Clearly, he had never seen the wizard in full strength and complete anger.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" he began to pace, walking the length of the circle, looking each councilman or woman in the eye. I sat, straight-backed and serene, as he passed me, a flick of longing going through his eyes as he looked at me. Had he some woman he would die for in his castles of stone? But he continued. "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!" This man had not the faintest idea of what he was asking. Aragorn spoke, and his serious voice rang out amidst the frightened silence the ring had left.
"You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir turned to look at the Dunadan, affronted that he had been interrupted.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" He knew not the man who would be king? But this was the steward's son.he had been born to rule in Aragorn's stead. My brother took from his chair, all self-preservation gone.
"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Legolas' face was contorted with fury well hidden. Aragorn was a good friend, as well as just and honest man, and to see his good name pushed about in such a contemptuous manner was angering beyond belief. The man of the south seemed not to believe it.
"Aragorn? This... is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." A wise move, brother. You have succeeded in making what would have been an ally an enemy. I looked at Aragorn, a warning in my eyes. He took the hint.
"Havo dad, Legolas". Reluctantly, my brother sat back down, but not without throwing a sneer at Boromir, who gave an equaling quailing look at Aragorn.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He returned to his seat, glowering at this new information. Mithrandir spoke again.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Elrond seemed relived that someone was coming to his or her senses.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." One of the younger dwarves grabbed his axe, impetuous and unthinking, as dwarves most often are.
"Then what are we waiting for?" With a tremendous yell, he brought the axe down on the ring. The axe head exploded, and the dwarf was thrown back. The hobbit put a hand to his head, as if some vision troubled him. Elrond was being tried within an inch of his patience here, and he was doing an admirable job of not striking someone.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, 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." There was an unpleasant silence as he looked at us.
"One of you must do this." The room was unquestionably silent. Boromir looked at Elrond as though he were mad.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its 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 you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!" Legolas, indignant once more, stood again. This man from the south vexed him mightily.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" The dwarf who had previously tried to destroy the ring leapt to his feet.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" my brother has never been good with dwarves. It was under his watch that thirteen dwarves were brought into the dungeons of Mirkwood, and under his watch that they also escaped. They were the blight on his existence. Boromir rose again.
"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"
Gimli shouted, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" at his, the carefully put together peace exploded. In the midst of the argument I was having with my brother over why he should keep his anger to himself, I heard Gimli say,
"Never trust an Elf!" The hobbit still sat, looking at the ring as if he were ill and his entire survival depended on it. Gandalf tried to make himself heard above the din.
"Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" His cries fell on deaf ears. Still arguing, I heard a small voice. "I will take it! I will take it!" I stopped speaking, and turned to look at Frodo. Beside me, everyone else did the same, astonished at the courage of the small hobbit.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though-- I do not know the way."
There was silence as Gandalf walked towards the halfling to put a reassuring arm around his small shoulders.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." Aragorn rose, some fragment of the wanderlust still living in his bones after sixty years appealing to the warrior in his blood.
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." He knelt before the hobbit, a hand on his heart. "You have my sword." Legolas looked to get up, but instead, I stood.
"And my bow." My brother gave me an odd look, and in his heart I knew he would have gone had I not stood. But we would have words later. I walked to join then, those elves that knew me smiling at my action. But the dwarf, not to be upstaged by some 'pointy ear' stood, as I had known he would.
"And my axe!" Had I let my brother go in my stead, tempers would be on constant flare through the whole trip. The steward's son rose as well.
"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." There was a rustle in the bushes, and from the greenery came another hobbit, with a sandy hair and a determined look on his face.
"Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!" Elrond seemed amused.
"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." There was a shout, and two more hobbits emerged from behind pillars. Elrond was beginning to become miffed.
"Wait! We are coming too!" The older one crossed his arms. "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" The younger nodded vigorously.
" Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest... thing." I sincerely doubted his wisdom, but if his heart were with us in this endeavor, then I would stand by his decision. I could hear the elder whisper,
"Well, that rules you out Pip." Elrond, having gotten over the interruptions, mused as he looked us over.
"Nine companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
"Great!" the younger hobbit exclaimed, "Where are we going?" I frowned inwardly. A journey of this size would take quite a while.
Thank heaven that's over. I apologize for all the Legolas fan girls who just had their part stomped on. But he's free for the next year. I will loan the elf to the first person that promises not to abuse him! Any who, I will be starting the first part of their quest soon. My plan is not to rewrite the whole damn thing, just bits. Next up-brother sister talk on motives and mindfulness.
