"Strangers of distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned
her to answer the threat of Mordor." Lord Elrond stood in the front of a
horseshoe of people. Rumor sat in between Gandalf and Frodo, and tried to
ignore the long stares she got. Although she knew that they were just
curious, it made her mad. Shifting uncomfortably in the wooden chair, she
looked up to the reassuring smile from the man from the meeting with Lord
Elrond. Strider, Sam told her his name was. Even though it was a weird
name, Rumor took an instant liking to it, knowing what it was like to have
an unusual name. "Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can
escape it; you must unite, or you will fall." *Ooo, and with that happy
thought* Rumor thought to herself. "Each race is bound to this one fate,
this one doom."
"Frodo, bring forth the ring." Frodo stood up and walked over to a round stone table. He brought a gold ring from his pocket and placed it gently on the table. As he walked back to his seat, his steps lightened, almost as if a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders. Rumor reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, and smiled down at him when he looked up.
"So it is true," breathed a soft voice from the other side of the horseshoe. Everyone looked over at this new speaker who sat near Strider. He was one of the few from the race of men, and looked a lot like Strider. It was the idiot who tried to dish out on her earlier for being the only woman at this 'council' thingy. "In a dream," he began standing and slowly making his way over the ring. *Moron* thought Rumor, and tuned him out. She was startled out of her daze when Lord Elrond said harshly, "Boromir!" Gandalf stood up, leaning heavily on his staff, and spoke in gibberish. Rumor had no idea what he said, but it had an effect on everyone shitting at the council. "Never before has anyone uttered that tongue here."
"I do not ask for you forgiveness, for it won't be long before the Black Speech is heard in every corner of the world. The ring is all together evil." Gandalf sat, clearly done with his little speech. "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor." Rumor rolled her eyes, *Not this guy again.* "Why not use this ring? Long as 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 them."
Obviously Strider had enough of his ranting too, because he shifted in his chair out of annoyance and spoke out, "You can not wield it, none of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."
"And what would a ranger know this matter?" Boromir stared at this new speaker confused. *Who is this Ranger, and why is he here?* The striking elf-boy from early jumped to Aragorn/Strider's defense immediately. "This is no mere Ranger; he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him you allegiance." Both Frodo and Boromir stared in amazement, while Rumor looked around confused, *Who?* "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" stuttered Boromir, in obvious shock. "And heir to the throne of Gondor," continued the elf. Rumor watched the scene that played out before her with interest. Strider, or Aragorn, spoke to the blonde elf, who in return, reluctantly sat back in his seat. Boromir looked at Strider with dislike clearly written all over his face, "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king."
*King? Heir to the throne?* Rumor's mind swirled with all this new information. *All this over a tiny ring?* "You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed," stated Lord Elrond. "So what are we waiting for?" broke in a gruff voice. From his seat rose a tiny, but bulky man I armor. Raising the axe high in his hands, he brought it down upon the ring. Instead of the ring shattering, like Rumor expected, the man's axe shattered, sending pieces flying in the air. The man landed hard on his ass, and looked shock as hell at what just happened. Rumor stifled back a laugh, but stopped when she saw Frodo wince in pain as the axe hit the ring. Placing her hand protectively over his, she gave it a quick squeeze, worried about the hobbit.
"The ring can not be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The ring was made in he fires of Mt. Doom, only there could it be unmade. It must be taken deep into the lands of Mordor, and cast back into the fires whence it came." Lord Elrond looked around at the silent group. "One of you must do this," he said dramatically.
A sigh came from Boromir, "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more then 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, 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 felt his blood boil at the man's word, *ignorant human* he thought as he jumped up. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said? The ring must be destroyed." An action off to the side caught his attention, and he watched the girl's pretty face twist into a smirk. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" the dwarf cried out. "And what if we fail? What happens if Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir despaired, climbing to his feet. "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" The dwarf jumped up as well, "Never trust an elf." This angered the elves that sat at his side, and they rushed up, yelling and screaming. Legolas held his arms out, trying to calm them down, but there was no succeeding. Others joined in as well, and soon the entire council were on their feet, yelling at each other.
Rumor watched, amused by the sight of a bunch of men yelling at each other over a stupid ring. Beside her, the only one's who did not join was Frodo, Gandalf, Strider, and Lord Elrond. Rumor turned to Gandalf and whispered, "What's with the ring? Why are you guys going mad trying to destroy it?" Gandalf looked at her gravelly from under his bushy eyebrows, "Lady Rumor, if the ring is not destroyed, it could mean the end of Middle Earth, and all it's inhabitants." He looked at her a moment longer then got up and began yelling with Boromir.
Rumor stood up as well, but unlike the others, she didn't begin fighting. Instead, she stood up and yelled, "Excuse me, will ya'll SHUT UP?" Her last words echoed as everyone quieted down and stared at the girl. "Ok than," Rumor said, pushing a piece of hair out of her face. "Now that I have your attention, ya'll might want to sit down and let me talk now." Everyone just stood, shocked at the girl's forceful manner. "Or you can just stand there...Anyway, I don't know anything about this ring thingy here, but I do know that fighting like a bunch of idiots is not going to help. Come on people, your talking about the fuckin end of this fuckin world, and all you guys can do is sit on your asses and fight like little kids. Is that all you people are good for?" She looked around at their silent faces as they pondered what she had said.
Lord Elrond hid a smile as the girl talked. He could read the surprise and shock written on the faces of everyone at the council. Rumor stood, looking defiant at all the men surrounding her. Lord Elrond caught Gandalf's eye, which were twinkling at the girl. A small, uncertain voice shattered the stunned silence, "I will take it." Frodo slipped off his seat and walked towards the men that towered over him. "I will take the ring to Mordor, but I do not know the way."
Gandalf shut his eyes in pain at what he was hearing. In the council, silence rang out louder then their fighting ever could. Rumor lowered her eyes to look at the floor, he was a brace hobbit, braver then she could ever be. "I shall guide you, Frodo Baggins, as long it is your burden to bare." Gandalf walked beside the small Halfling, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "By my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." Strider said, standing from his chair and kneeling in front of Frodo. "You have my sword." another voice broke through as he blonde elf stepped forward. "And my bow." Followed by that, the dwarf, Gimli, walked to the forming group, "And my axe." Rumor smirked as the elf rolled his eyes at the dwarf beside him. "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." Boromir said, walking over to stand with the group.
"Hey! Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me." A small blur came running from the bushes and pushed his way to Frodo's side. "No, indeed it seems hardly possible to separate you two, even when he is invited to a secret council any you are not." Sam blushed under the gaze of Lord Elrond, but stood in his spot next to his master. "Wait! We're coming too!" Two more blurs rushed from the bushes. Rumor snickered to herself as Merry and Pippin took their spots with the group of people. Lord Elrond struggled to keep his composer as the hobbits gave their defense. "Besides, you will need someone of intelligence on this fashion, quest...thing." Pippin stated rather loudly. Merry leaned in, "Well, I guess that rules you out Pip." Pippin stood looking proud for a moment until what Merry said sunk in.
"Nine companions, very well. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Lord Elrond announced to the council, making it official. Pippin smiled, "Great! Where we going?"
"Frodo, bring forth the ring." Frodo stood up and walked over to a round stone table. He brought a gold ring from his pocket and placed it gently on the table. As he walked back to his seat, his steps lightened, almost as if a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders. Rumor reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, and smiled down at him when he looked up.
"So it is true," breathed a soft voice from the other side of the horseshoe. Everyone looked over at this new speaker who sat near Strider. He was one of the few from the race of men, and looked a lot like Strider. It was the idiot who tried to dish out on her earlier for being the only woman at this 'council' thingy. "In a dream," he began standing and slowly making his way over the ring. *Moron* thought Rumor, and tuned him out. She was startled out of her daze when Lord Elrond said harshly, "Boromir!" Gandalf stood up, leaning heavily on his staff, and spoke in gibberish. Rumor had no idea what he said, but it had an effect on everyone shitting at the council. "Never before has anyone uttered that tongue here."
"I do not ask for you forgiveness, for it won't be long before the Black Speech is heard in every corner of the world. The ring is all together evil." Gandalf sat, clearly done with his little speech. "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor." Rumor rolled her eyes, *Not this guy again.* "Why not use this ring? Long as 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 them."
Obviously Strider had enough of his ranting too, because he shifted in his chair out of annoyance and spoke out, "You can not wield it, none of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."
"And what would a ranger know this matter?" Boromir stared at this new speaker confused. *Who is this Ranger, and why is he here?* The striking elf-boy from early jumped to Aragorn/Strider's defense immediately. "This is no mere Ranger; he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him you allegiance." Both Frodo and Boromir stared in amazement, while Rumor looked around confused, *Who?* "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" stuttered Boromir, in obvious shock. "And heir to the throne of Gondor," continued the elf. Rumor watched the scene that played out before her with interest. Strider, or Aragorn, spoke to the blonde elf, who in return, reluctantly sat back in his seat. Boromir looked at Strider with dislike clearly written all over his face, "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king."
*King? Heir to the throne?* Rumor's mind swirled with all this new information. *All this over a tiny ring?* "You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed," stated Lord Elrond. "So what are we waiting for?" broke in a gruff voice. From his seat rose a tiny, but bulky man I armor. Raising the axe high in his hands, he brought it down upon the ring. Instead of the ring shattering, like Rumor expected, the man's axe shattered, sending pieces flying in the air. The man landed hard on his ass, and looked shock as hell at what just happened. Rumor stifled back a laugh, but stopped when she saw Frodo wince in pain as the axe hit the ring. Placing her hand protectively over his, she gave it a quick squeeze, worried about the hobbit.
"The ring can not be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The ring was made in he fires of Mt. Doom, only there could it be unmade. It must be taken deep into the lands of Mordor, and cast back into the fires whence it came." Lord Elrond looked around at the silent group. "One of you must do this," he said dramatically.
A sigh came from Boromir, "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more then 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, 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 felt his blood boil at the man's word, *ignorant human* he thought as he jumped up. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said? The ring must be destroyed." An action off to the side caught his attention, and he watched the girl's pretty face twist into a smirk. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" the dwarf cried out. "And what if we fail? What happens if Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir despaired, climbing to his feet. "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" The dwarf jumped up as well, "Never trust an elf." This angered the elves that sat at his side, and they rushed up, yelling and screaming. Legolas held his arms out, trying to calm them down, but there was no succeeding. Others joined in as well, and soon the entire council were on their feet, yelling at each other.
Rumor watched, amused by the sight of a bunch of men yelling at each other over a stupid ring. Beside her, the only one's who did not join was Frodo, Gandalf, Strider, and Lord Elrond. Rumor turned to Gandalf and whispered, "What's with the ring? Why are you guys going mad trying to destroy it?" Gandalf looked at her gravelly from under his bushy eyebrows, "Lady Rumor, if the ring is not destroyed, it could mean the end of Middle Earth, and all it's inhabitants." He looked at her a moment longer then got up and began yelling with Boromir.
Rumor stood up as well, but unlike the others, she didn't begin fighting. Instead, she stood up and yelled, "Excuse me, will ya'll SHUT UP?" Her last words echoed as everyone quieted down and stared at the girl. "Ok than," Rumor said, pushing a piece of hair out of her face. "Now that I have your attention, ya'll might want to sit down and let me talk now." Everyone just stood, shocked at the girl's forceful manner. "Or you can just stand there...Anyway, I don't know anything about this ring thingy here, but I do know that fighting like a bunch of idiots is not going to help. Come on people, your talking about the fuckin end of this fuckin world, and all you guys can do is sit on your asses and fight like little kids. Is that all you people are good for?" She looked around at their silent faces as they pondered what she had said.
Lord Elrond hid a smile as the girl talked. He could read the surprise and shock written on the faces of everyone at the council. Rumor stood, looking defiant at all the men surrounding her. Lord Elrond caught Gandalf's eye, which were twinkling at the girl. A small, uncertain voice shattered the stunned silence, "I will take it." Frodo slipped off his seat and walked towards the men that towered over him. "I will take the ring to Mordor, but I do not know the way."
Gandalf shut his eyes in pain at what he was hearing. In the council, silence rang out louder then their fighting ever could. Rumor lowered her eyes to look at the floor, he was a brace hobbit, braver then she could ever be. "I shall guide you, Frodo Baggins, as long it is your burden to bare." Gandalf walked beside the small Halfling, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "By my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." Strider said, standing from his chair and kneeling in front of Frodo. "You have my sword." another voice broke through as he blonde elf stepped forward. "And my bow." Followed by that, the dwarf, Gimli, walked to the forming group, "And my axe." Rumor smirked as the elf rolled his eyes at the dwarf beside him. "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." Boromir said, walking over to stand with the group.
"Hey! Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me." A small blur came running from the bushes and pushed his way to Frodo's side. "No, indeed it seems hardly possible to separate you two, even when he is invited to a secret council any you are not." Sam blushed under the gaze of Lord Elrond, but stood in his spot next to his master. "Wait! We're coming too!" Two more blurs rushed from the bushes. Rumor snickered to herself as Merry and Pippin took their spots with the group of people. Lord Elrond struggled to keep his composer as the hobbits gave their defense. "Besides, you will need someone of intelligence on this fashion, quest...thing." Pippin stated rather loudly. Merry leaned in, "Well, I guess that rules you out Pip." Pippin stood looking proud for a moment until what Merry said sunk in.
"Nine companions, very well. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Lord Elrond announced to the council, making it official. Pippin smiled, "Great! Where we going?"