...:: Fellowship of the Ring ::...
Legolas knocked on Haldir's door loudly. He had received word from
Lady Galadriel that he and Buffy were to report at Rivendell in three
days. But he had no idea where to find Buffy. She was the most
unpredictable creature he had ever known and that was what had been
driving him crazy about her. Haldir answered the door, looking
surprised to see Legolas. "Yes?" An eye brow rose slightly. "Haldir, I
cannot find Buffy. I have received word that she and I are supposed to
travel to Rivendell for an important meeting with the council." The
eye brow's arch deepened. "Indeed...." Legolas could see clear
annoyance on the other Elf's face. Moments passed before Haldir said
anything and the two were just staring at each other in silence.
"Well?" It seemed as if, up until that point, Haldir had been dazed in
his own dream. "Oh yes!" He flustered through his own thoughts. "We
shall go find her. She is very unpredictable." Haldir exited his
talan, shutting the door gently. They walked side-by-side. "I've
noticed." Legolas was paying close attention to Haldir's expressions,
trying to read him.
Unlike the other night, today Haldir's expression remained impassive
the way Buffy's always had. But somewhere in his eyes and the
movements of his body, Legolas could see the agitation and jealousy.
"Do you not like me?" The question, he noticed, took Haldir off guard.
The Guardian took his time to answer, wanting to choose his words with
great care. "I like you." Legolas had not expected to hear this
answer, so he decided to open up a different topic. "Would you mind
telling me why every time Buffy is around you, you look so... so...."
Legolas moved his hands to emphasize that he couldn't think of the
word he was looking for. "So upset? So hurt?" Haldir said bluntly,
this too, took Legolas aback. "Legolas, my Princeling, she was a mere
conquest to me." Legolas gave him a shocked look as they walked on,
passing the Galadhrim who were suiting up to go to the West Border.
Turok-Han were attempting to reach the Golden City of Lorien and
Haldir was in charge of the who Army of Galadhrim. The Stargate SG-1
crew had left back to their planet the day before so as not to change
any history. Legolas processed the words that Haldir said in his mind.
Buffy a mere conquest? That did not seem to be the case. The
expressions Haldir conveyed told a different story and he knew his
fellow Elf was masking the pain he held inside.
Buffy smiled, seeing Aragorn waiting for her and Legolas to ride with
him to Rivendell. He waved her over, smiling back. "Hello!" She smiled
and they embraced one another tightly. "So I know you have met
Legolas... what do you think?" She gave him a sly grin and blushed,
seeing that he knew right away what she thought. "Who told you we
met?" She was now overcome with great curiosity. "Haldir." Buffy
nodded. Figured. "Ah." They turned at the sight of Legolas and Haldir
approaching side-by-side. This was very surprising to Buffy. Haldir
came up to greet Aragorn the way warriors do, as Legolas embraced
Buffy and vice versa. "We must arrive at Rivendell in three days
maximum." Aragorn nodded, Buffy paid attention. "Shall we depart now?"
Legolas searched around, seeing if there were any horses of which he
could use. Haldir noticed. "Buffy has a horse." Buffy smiled at the
suggestion and saw that Haldir quickly regretted having said anything.
"You may ride with me, Legolas." She bowed, mockingly. "Or are two
royal Elves too much for one humble horse?" They both laughed, Aragorn
joined in, but Haldir remained at the side rolling his eyes. "My lady,
the humble horse should be ever so grateful to be blessed in the
presence of the two royal beings. But all creatures are by a law,
divine and the royal Elves must take into consideration, maybe tis the
horse which is royalty and not the Elves!" Again the three burst into
laughter. Haldir couldn't see what was so funny.
Rivendell
Buffy rushed off of her horse at the first sight of Elrond. She ran
straight into his arms. "I am pleased to see you're well, daughter!"
He laughed, amused with how his daughter greeted him. "Why have you
called for us to come, father?" Legolas and Aragorn came up behind
Buffy, the same questions lingering on their faces. The journey had
been long indeed. Arwen came down the steps, followed by four little
hobbits and Gandalf the Gray. "We have a dire situation on our hands.
Every race is here to discuss the matter and which it is to be dealt.
You, daughter, are part of the Elven race and as royalty and being a
Galadhrim, are required to attend this meeting." She nodded, watching
the hobbits look to herself and Legolas with wide-eyes. They were
mystified with hers and Legolas's beauty.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned
to answer the treat 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. Bring forth the ring,
Frodo." Frodo walked up to the pedestal and set the ring carefully on
it. "The doom of man." Elrond said, eying the ring. He gave a quick
glance to everyone around the circle, and his eyes fell upon his
daughter. She glared at the ring as if it hurt her just to be in its
presence. "So it is true." Elrond turned his attention to Boromir who
was also eying the ring. But it was an admiring glance, Elrond
noticed. "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.
Isildur's Bane is found." He reached for the ring. "Isildur's Bane."
"Boromir!" Elrond snapped at the human who represented Gondor. "One
Ring to Rule Them All." Gandalf spoke in the ancient language. Elrond
gave Gandalf an eerie glance, this was becoming very intense. A shadow
hovered over the Council, and the sound of the cracking stone and
thunder came into the air. Boromir drew back in fear, and Gimli
shouted, reaching for his axe. Elrond placed a hand to his forehead,
shielding his eyes full of frustration. Legolas closed his eyes and
Frodo gave a fearful glance at the ring. Buffy, who sat beside
Legolas, placed her hand in his for comfort. "One ring to bind them.
One ring to bring them all and in the Darkness, bind them." Gandalf
finished the poem and the light returned. "Never before has any voice
uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris." Gandalf nodded. "I
do not beg 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."
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." He stood up and everyone
gave him glances of annoyance. "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 him!" Aragorn shook his head,
breathing out a long sigh. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The
One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir
rolled his eyes and sneered. "And what would a Ranger know of this
matter?" Legolas opened his eyes and spoke with clarity. "This is no
mere Ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your
allegiance." Legolas stood when Boromir began to sneer again and let
loose a snicker. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Buffy grasped
Legolas's hand, tugging. But she, too, had something to say. "And heir
to the throne of Gondor." Aragorn held up his hand to silence the two
Elves who defended him. "Havo dad, Legolas." (Sit down.) Boromir,
again, sneered in mockery. Staring directly into Aragorn's eyes now.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Gandalf lifted his staff
to catch Boromir's attention. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
Elrond decided now would be a good time to step in and bring them back
to the subject of destroying the ring.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Legolas took
his seat and grasped Buffy's hand in his, sending Boromir and then the
dwarf annoyed glances. He watched the dwarf stand up and pick up the
axe that stood beside him. "What are we waiting for?" He swung his axe
high in the air and brought it down swift and harsh onto the ring, but
the axe broke and the ring remained. He fell backwards onto the
ground. "The Ring cannot be destroyed Gimli, son of Gloin, by any
craft 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." Everyone's eyes
came back to the ring as they heard the ring's voice speak the Black
Language. "One of you must do this." Boromir shook his head in
objection. "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 that you breathe is a
poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is
folly." Legolas shook his head, anger seeped into him again. Along
with annoyance of this human who obviously paid absolutely no
attention to the things Elrond had been saying to begin with.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be
destroyed!" Legolas's attention was captured by the dwarf who let
loose a loud sigh. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?"
Legolas rolled his eyes but before he could retort, Boromir spoke.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what
is his?" Obviously, though, everyone paid no attention to this except
Elrond because Gimli continued on without failure. "I will be dead
before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Buffy, Legolas, and
Legolas's brothers stood up, followed by the dwarves. Everyone else
followed and began to argue, except Frodo who remained staring at the
ring. "Never trust an Elf!" Gandalf came between the Elves and the
dwarves who were arguing like crazy. "Do you not understand? While you
bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it!
You'll all be destroyed!" Frodo, through all of the bickering, could
hear the ring speak it's mystical words. It recited the poem of The
One Ring. Frodo stood up, yelling at the top of his lungs, trying to
get a word in. "I will take it! I will take it!" It suddenly became
silent, everyone stood, listening to him. "I will take the ring to
Mordor. Though-though I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is
yours to bear." Gandalf walked over to him and placed a hand on his
shoulder. "If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will."
Aragorn stood from his seat and went over to kneel in front of Frodo.
"You have my sword." Gandalf gave a wink to Elrond. "And you have my
bow." Legolas stood up with Buffy and he walked over, alone, to Frodo.
"You have my strength and combat, voice and sight." Buffy followed
Legolas, standing beside him, behind Frodo. "And my axe." Gimli
followed Buffy and squeezed in beside Legolas. Boromir walked up
slowly to Frodo. "You hold the fates of us all, little one." Aragorn
placed his hand on Frodo's other shoulder. "If this is indeed the will
of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." Frodo gave Elrond a
weary smile. "Here!" Sam, Frodo's friend, jumped out from behind some
brush he had been hiding behind and ran up behind the two Elves and
squeezed in to get beside Frodo. "Mr. Frodo is not going anywhere
without me." Elrond glanced at his daughter who gave him a grin, he
let out a bit of laughter. "No, indeed, it is hardly possible to
separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council,
and you are not." The other two hobbits, Merry and Pippin ran up to
join Sam and Frodo. "Oi! We're coming too! You'll have to send us home
tied up in a sack to stop us."
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission.
Quest. Thing." Merry jabbed Pippin in the side. "Well, that rules you
out, Pip." Buffy snickered, along with Legolas, who gave her a quick
smile. The silliness of the two hobbits were quite amusing, even so,
Elrond was laughing. "Ten companions. So be it! You shall be the
Fellowship of the Ring." Pippin nodded, smiling seriously as if he had
the most brilliant idea in his mind. "Great. So where are we going?"
Everyone looked at Pippin.