Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 2: The Council
Aragorn encountered no trouble on the way to Helm's Deep and rode swiftly
making the journey in only a day and a half. Aragorn made his way through
the gates and into the dinning hall. Aragorn sat on one of the benches that
had replaced those used as barriers during the battle. There he waited
until the door opened to reveal Legolas.
"Mellon-nin! It is good to see you. Sadly it has to be under such dying circumstances but-"
He was interrupted by the entry of Eomer, King of Rohan. Soon there was around a hundred people within the fortress walls. The hobbits arrived on the last day and nearly knocked Aragorn over with a hug.
Aragorn announced to the group that the council would be held at dawn the next day and settled down to rest.
The hobbits immediately joined him as well as Gimli and Legolas.
"How is Arwen and Eldarion?" Gimli asked Aragorn who was trying to keep the hobbits away from his sleeping area.
Aragorn froze at his son's name. "Not good Master Dwarf. Not too good at all." Aragorn answered holding back the tears at the thought of his son.
"What ever do you mean Strider?" Pippin asked finally growing serious. "They aren't ill are they?"
"Nay young hobbit. Eldarion has gone missing but the search has been postponed because the council must be held. Arwen cannot look for him on her own for now she has to fulfill her duties and mine as well. Faramir and Ewoyn try to help but there are some things only royalty can do."
Legolas put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder comfortingly. "The Valar will protect the son of the King of Gondor and the Evenstar. We will find him."
Aragorn took what comfort he could from the wise elf's words. "We should rest. We have a long day tomorrow."
Dawn came all too quickly for the men called to council. Aragorn was up before the sun thinking about the new threat to Middle Earth. They would need to take a small task force in to destroy the leader before he became as powerful as Sauron.
At Dawn the others began to rise and Aragorn called the meeting to order.
"One week ago I received a message that Gondor's borders had been attacked. Normally I wouldn't think much about such an event but then I learned that 10,000 of my men had been killed in the process. The attack came from the forbidden lands of Gondor and the army that attacked consisted of many evil creatures of which I will not speak for fear of the valar striking me down. This enemy has the power to rival that of Sauron if given the chance. It must be defeated before it gets too powerful." Aragorn announced to the group.
Gasps were heard all around. Questions were yelled about plans of action and soon it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying over the shouting. Finally Aragorn yelled for quiet.
"My current plan of action will require the help of all. I need all the men I can get to defend the borders and protect the land while a small group ventures into the heart of Mordor to take out this new leader. Who will volunteer to follow me into the heart of Mordor?"
The group was silent for a while before Legolas stepped forward. "You led us through Helm's Deep, I followed you into the Paths of the Dead, I fought under your command at the black gates against the whole of Sauron's army as well as at Pallenor fields, I shall follow you once more, Aragorn Elessar, Hope of men."
"I won't have the elf go without me not will you succeed without me lad." Gimli announced as he stepped forward.
"You weren't thinking of going without us were you Mr. Strider?" Pippin said as he stepped forward with Merry.
"And me. Mr. Frodo would come too if he were here." Sam said as he stepped forward.
"You have my allegiance." Eomer started as he stepped forward.
"You aided my kin so I shall Aid you." An Istari stepped forward.
"Glad to have you."
"My Lord I shall accompany you as well if you will have me." A young woman stated as she stepped forward.
"What is a woman doing at the council?" someone yelled in outrage.
"Explain why you are here instead of a man and I will consider your requst." Aragorn said with authority not to be questioned.
"My name is Kyata. My father is the ruler of our small kingdom at the base of the mountains. He has fallen ill and before we could find someone to rule in his absence this council was called. My father bade me to come on his behalf and I obeyed. I am very skilled in archery, my swordsmanship is excellent and I was trained by rangers in skills for the wild.
Aragorn stroked his beard. "The best solution to this would be to test your abilities. Who will test her?" Aragorn looked at the assembly.
"You are the best swordsman abroad, Lord Aragorn." Kyata stated withdrawing a sword from a sheath on her back.
"You wish to challenge me?" Aragorn looked shocked.
"You wish to see my skills."
"She has a point Aragorn." Legolas said from his position on the floor.
"Legolas. You be the judge. If you think she is skilled enough to stand a chance in Mordor."
"Aragorn it is not necessary to test her for long. If the hobbits can survive she can I'm sure."
Aragorn jumped off the chair he was standing on and withdrew the Flame of the West. "The hobbits have already proven themselves. She has not."
Kyata lunged at Aragorn and they battled for about ten minutes before Aragorn disarmed her. Kyata looked up from where she had ended up sprawled on the floor.
"I am not as good as I thought my Lord." She said simply as he helped her up.
"As you said I am known as the best swordsman in Middle Earth. You will be an asset for this fellowship." Aragorn looked at the assembled group.
"Don't forget us brother!" a voice yelled.
Aragorn turned to the voice and spotted none other than Elrond's twin sons.
"You honestly didn't think Arwen would let you go into Mordor without someone she trusts to take care of you, did you?" Elrohir asked with an innocent look.
"We were visiting and she told me that its either us or Eowyn so we decided to come. Oh and I believe Faramir is leading the search for your son in your absence." Elladan explained.
Aragorn looked at the twins with disbelief. "She sends you two? Of all the people she could send and she sends you?!" Aragorn shook his head. "Those who do not travel with us into Mordor must fight to defend the borders. This council is adjourned."
"Mellon-nin! It is good to see you. Sadly it has to be under such dying circumstances but-"
He was interrupted by the entry of Eomer, King of Rohan. Soon there was around a hundred people within the fortress walls. The hobbits arrived on the last day and nearly knocked Aragorn over with a hug.
Aragorn announced to the group that the council would be held at dawn the next day and settled down to rest.
The hobbits immediately joined him as well as Gimli and Legolas.
"How is Arwen and Eldarion?" Gimli asked Aragorn who was trying to keep the hobbits away from his sleeping area.
Aragorn froze at his son's name. "Not good Master Dwarf. Not too good at all." Aragorn answered holding back the tears at the thought of his son.
"What ever do you mean Strider?" Pippin asked finally growing serious. "They aren't ill are they?"
"Nay young hobbit. Eldarion has gone missing but the search has been postponed because the council must be held. Arwen cannot look for him on her own for now she has to fulfill her duties and mine as well. Faramir and Ewoyn try to help but there are some things only royalty can do."
Legolas put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder comfortingly. "The Valar will protect the son of the King of Gondor and the Evenstar. We will find him."
Aragorn took what comfort he could from the wise elf's words. "We should rest. We have a long day tomorrow."
Dawn came all too quickly for the men called to council. Aragorn was up before the sun thinking about the new threat to Middle Earth. They would need to take a small task force in to destroy the leader before he became as powerful as Sauron.
At Dawn the others began to rise and Aragorn called the meeting to order.
"One week ago I received a message that Gondor's borders had been attacked. Normally I wouldn't think much about such an event but then I learned that 10,000 of my men had been killed in the process. The attack came from the forbidden lands of Gondor and the army that attacked consisted of many evil creatures of which I will not speak for fear of the valar striking me down. This enemy has the power to rival that of Sauron if given the chance. It must be defeated before it gets too powerful." Aragorn announced to the group.
Gasps were heard all around. Questions were yelled about plans of action and soon it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying over the shouting. Finally Aragorn yelled for quiet.
"My current plan of action will require the help of all. I need all the men I can get to defend the borders and protect the land while a small group ventures into the heart of Mordor to take out this new leader. Who will volunteer to follow me into the heart of Mordor?"
The group was silent for a while before Legolas stepped forward. "You led us through Helm's Deep, I followed you into the Paths of the Dead, I fought under your command at the black gates against the whole of Sauron's army as well as at Pallenor fields, I shall follow you once more, Aragorn Elessar, Hope of men."
"I won't have the elf go without me not will you succeed without me lad." Gimli announced as he stepped forward.
"You weren't thinking of going without us were you Mr. Strider?" Pippin said as he stepped forward with Merry.
"And me. Mr. Frodo would come too if he were here." Sam said as he stepped forward.
"You have my allegiance." Eomer started as he stepped forward.
"You aided my kin so I shall Aid you." An Istari stepped forward.
"Glad to have you."
"My Lord I shall accompany you as well if you will have me." A young woman stated as she stepped forward.
"What is a woman doing at the council?" someone yelled in outrage.
"Explain why you are here instead of a man and I will consider your requst." Aragorn said with authority not to be questioned.
"My name is Kyata. My father is the ruler of our small kingdom at the base of the mountains. He has fallen ill and before we could find someone to rule in his absence this council was called. My father bade me to come on his behalf and I obeyed. I am very skilled in archery, my swordsmanship is excellent and I was trained by rangers in skills for the wild.
Aragorn stroked his beard. "The best solution to this would be to test your abilities. Who will test her?" Aragorn looked at the assembly.
"You are the best swordsman abroad, Lord Aragorn." Kyata stated withdrawing a sword from a sheath on her back.
"You wish to challenge me?" Aragorn looked shocked.
"You wish to see my skills."
"She has a point Aragorn." Legolas said from his position on the floor.
"Legolas. You be the judge. If you think she is skilled enough to stand a chance in Mordor."
"Aragorn it is not necessary to test her for long. If the hobbits can survive she can I'm sure."
Aragorn jumped off the chair he was standing on and withdrew the Flame of the West. "The hobbits have already proven themselves. She has not."
Kyata lunged at Aragorn and they battled for about ten minutes before Aragorn disarmed her. Kyata looked up from where she had ended up sprawled on the floor.
"I am not as good as I thought my Lord." She said simply as he helped her up.
"As you said I am known as the best swordsman in Middle Earth. You will be an asset for this fellowship." Aragorn looked at the assembled group.
"Don't forget us brother!" a voice yelled.
Aragorn turned to the voice and spotted none other than Elrond's twin sons.
"You honestly didn't think Arwen would let you go into Mordor without someone she trusts to take care of you, did you?" Elrohir asked with an innocent look.
"We were visiting and she told me that its either us or Eowyn so we decided to come. Oh and I believe Faramir is leading the search for your son in your absence." Elladan explained.
Aragorn looked at the twins with disbelief. "She sends you two? Of all the people she could send and she sends you?!" Aragorn shook his head. "Those who do not travel with us into Mordor must fight to defend the borders. This council is adjourned."