Chapter 2: Meeting the Council of Elrond.
An excited Claire jumping up and down on her bed waked Sara the next morning. "We're going to meet the fellowship today, we're going to meet the fellowship today!" she screamed.
"Ok, ok don't tell the whole of middle earth about it will you? Don't forget that this is going to be a secret meeting that we are going to, with emphasis on secret!"
"I know, I know but we are going to meet Boromir and Legolas, I mean what could be better than that? I wonder what Boromir will think of me? I wonder what he is like in real life? Do I look ok to you?"
"Nah you look like Gimli on a bad day!" teased Sara.
Claire punched Sara on the arm. "Ow that hurt! You know you are turning into a total Mary Sue!" she laughed.
Claire had been in love with Boromir and Faramir ever since she had first read the books and then when the movies had came out that just made her fantasies even more real. And Sara had taken a huge liking to Legolas 'he's just so damn cute!' was her favourite phrase when it came to talking about him which she did a lot!
"What are you going to wear today? They have filled up our entire wardrobe with Elven clothes now."
Claire pulled open Sara's wardrobe to reveal the most beautiful robes they had ever seen in their entire lives, there were all different colours with little pieces of embroidery everywhere and the most lush fabrics ever.
"I don't know, lets have a look." Said Sara as she reluctantly pulled back the heavy duvet that covered the four poster bed, she was worried that she was going to wake up back in her tiny bed in Ludlow, so far she didn't miss it one bit.
Claire sifted through the robes and pulled out the most amazing dress of Lilac satin, with a plunging neckline, and a dark purple waistband. The dress had tiny little pink flowers embroidered at the cuffs, and at the bottom of the skirt, it was breath taking.
"Now," smiled Claire "he won't be able to resist you in this!"
"What are you wearing?" asked Sara.
"Ooooh I was hoping you would ask that!" Claire went running off into her own room, which was just across the hallway. 5 minutes later she came darting back in fully dressed in this almost Victorian style costume, with a beautiful flowing skirt that trailed behind slightly, and a bodice that clung to her slender figure and bell shaped sleeves.
"Ya know, if you were a bit taller you would look exactly like Arwen!" commented Sara.
Claire smiled the biggest smile in the whole of middle earth, she looked as if she had just been called her majesty or something, "how are you going to do your hair?"
"I thought I would just put half of it up like I had yesterday, what do you think?" Claire asked demonstrating the hairstyle she had just mentioned.
"Yeah it looks fine to me, how do you think I should have mine?" asked Sara, whose hair was not very long.
Claire walked over to the windowsill and opened a small Jewellery box, which had been there since they first came. She opened the box and this little elvish dancer rose up and danced around on thin air, suspended by some sort of magic.
"Wow!" said Claire breathlessly "I didn't read about these in the book!"
Sara walked over to Claire now fully dressed, and stared entranced by this amazing jewellery box. Claire reached inside and pulled out a small hair clip, it had a butterfly on the end encrusted with amethysts and some sort of black jewel, which they had never seen before.
"Here if you do a side parting and clip it over with this it will looking nice, it even matches your dress!" said Claire, just then a bell sounded in their room, they turned around to find an elf servant standing at Sara's door "the meeting will commence in 5 minutes." He said politely.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Screamed both the girls.
Claire dashed off into her room to put the finishing touches to her clothes, and Sara put the clip into her hair, smiled at her reflection in the mirror, Claire was right it did match her dress. Claire was always right when it came to style, 'she has such good fashion sense' thought Sara, who was glad she had such a cool and totally amazing friend.
"You ready?" asked Claire, who was now stood in the doorway with her hair up and just the slightest hint of make up around her eyes and a touch of lip-gloss.
"You look very au naturel." Commented Sara.
"Thank you!" said Claire.
The two girls walked down the long staircase, into the entrance hall, and stood over in the corner stood Boromir, clutching his horn gazing around the room.
"It's him!" squealed Claire down Sara's ear hole.
Boromir looked up, when he heard their footsteps, Claire had turned around with her back to him, and was whistling as she pretended to be interested in a painting on the wall. Boromir walked over to the two girls.
"Hello, you must be Sara and Claire, Elrond has told me a little about your coming here unexpectedly." He said politely "which of you is Sara and which is Claire?"
"I'm Sara and she's Claire." Said Sara, as Claire was too stunned to even contemplate speaking.
"Hello Claire" said Boromir, he bent down and kissed her gently on the wrist and the two locked eyes.
"H-h-h-hello" she stuttered, she was mesmerised, and so was he! Sara smiled to herself and wondered over to the table were isildors sword lay.
"The meeting is about to begin," said the servant elf.
Sara walked over to where Claire and Boromir were still standing, staring at each other.
"Come on Claire!" said Sara, grabbing Claire's arm and practically dragging her towards the meeting place.
Sara and Claire were the last to arrive at the meeting, and they took their seats next to Sam and Legolas.
"Are here you are, we were afraid you had become lost." Said Elrond "let me introduce you to everyone" he gestured to his left "Gimli"
"Hello" said Gimli in his gruff voice.
"Gloin"
"Hello"
"Glofindel, Erestor and Galdor, who I'm sure you've already met" said Elrond.
"Hello" they chorused.
"The elf lord of the grey havens"
"Hello" he said politely.
"Legolas, elf of Mirkwood.
"Hello" said Legolas, as he gave a gorgeous smile.
"Boromir"
"Hello" said Boromir, still staring at Claire.
"Aragorn."
"Hello"
"Gandalf"
"Hello" said Gandalf apprehensively.
"Bilbo Baggins of the Shire"
"Hello" came the reply of a warm and wise voice.
"And finally Frodo Baggins, a very brave little hobbit."
"Hello"
"We are the council of Elrond and we are here today to answer the threat of Mordor," said Elrond in his most stern voice.
The girls had a sudden urge to run around kissing and hugging everyone there, the fan girls were going to take over again if they weren't careful.
"Lord Elrond, how do we know we can trust these strangers?" asked Aragorn, staring at the two girls, who stared back trying to look composed and innocent.
"I believe they have a purpose here, and although I am not yet sure of what it is, I think they should be allowed to join the council."
All eyes turned to focus on the two girls who were sat on the stone chairs praying that they would be accepted into the fellowship. Claire and Sara exchanged worried glances.
"Claire?"
"Yeah?"
"How are we going to convince them that we are not a threat to them?"
"I have already met with the girls and I don't see them as any threat to us, in fact I think they could be useful." Said Boromir in the girls defence.
"We spent time with them yesterday, and they told us about themselves and their visions could be useful to helping us." Said Glofindel.
The council quarrelled over whether or not the girls should be allowed in and if they should be trusted, there was all the hobbits Boromir, Legolas and Elrond on the girl's side, and Aragorn, Gandalf and the others seemed to be arguing against it.
"Claire, I think you had better use your words of wisdom, and convince them!" Sara whispered urgently to her friend.
"Ok, here goes nothing!"
Claire rose from her seat and the arguing stopped, she looked around at Sara who gave her the thumbs up, to which Legolas frowned not knowing what this gesture meant.
"If it's ok with you I would just like to say a few words." Claire said as she took her position next to the alter.
"I know our presence here is unexpected, but we do not want to cause trouble but to help fight the threat of Sauron in this perilous journey for the freedom and safety of middle earth. We understand your apprehension but do not worry we will fight along side when the time comes, or we will die trying." Claire stopped to observe the effect this had, had upon the group, the looked at Aragorn, his eyes gave nothing away but then his lips curved into a small smile.
"Your pledge is acceptable," he answered coolly.
Claire gave a big whoop, and they all stared "it's a form of celebration where I come from." She replied to their curious stares. Claire returned to the chair at which she had been sitting, and looked at Sara "remind me never to do that again will you."
Sara laughed quietly "ok!"
Now the meeting could finally begin, Elrond stood up to address everyone, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned 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 this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Frodo stood up and walked slowly and almost ceremoniously towards the alter and took the ring out of his pocket and placed it in the middle of the alter. The ring just sat there, they all silence for several minutes whilst they took in the power that lay in front of them.
"Wow" whispered both the girls breathlessly.
Boromir stood up and walked towards the ring, there was obvious tension in the room. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor.
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. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Said Aragorn heatedly.
"And what would a mere ranger like you know?" asked Boromir.
Claire and Sara were watching this argument unfold barely daring to breath, it was strange because they virtually knew every move they were going to make, the only thing that they didn't know was what it felt like to be sat next to all these amazing men, elves, dwarves and Hobbits, until now.
"He is no mere ranger!" said Legolas angrily "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Said Legolas standing up.
The look on the elves face was indescribable; he was defending Aragorn against Boromir although Boromir was by far the least trustworthy of the group.
"I don't know what you see in him," whispered Sara.
"I know he's not the most brave and loyal character at the beginning but in the end he saves Frodo's life by offering his own!" Sara didn't seem to know what to say to this and just turned back to watch what was happening, Claire frequently had that effect on her, because of almost artistic way of speaking.
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" spat Boromir.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Said Legolas defensively.
"God he's cute when he's angry!" Sara whispered to Claire, Legolas briefly turned to look at them as if he had heard what she had said, Sara turned bright red and Claire chuckled.
"Havo dad, Legolas said Aragorn in sindarin Elvish.
"Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." Said Boromir scowling at Aragorn.
"I agree with Aragorn" said Sara standing up to say her piece, "the power of the ring has proved itself to be evil, and only evil more than once."
"what do you know about the ring?" asked Gandalf.
Sara had to now choose her words very carefully, because she knew that if she revealed too much they would become suspicious again. "I know of hat the ring has done to Golem and what it almost did to Bilbo, and I know that the Black riders are drawn to the ring like moths to a.... flame" she was going to say light bulb but they did not have them.
Sara sat back down and both the girls breathed a sigh of relief, Claire cast her gaze to the gorgeous scenery that surrounded them with trees that sprang up out of the ground for miles and the most striking shades of green that she had ever seen hiding different fruits that looked ripe enough to eat, Gandalf's deep voice brought her out of her reverie.
"Aragorn and Sara are right, we cannot use it."
"You only have one choice, the ring must be destroyed." Elrond said gravely.
"what are we waiting for!" Gimli shouted and strode towards the ring and lifted his shiny axe up high and brought it crashing down on the ring, the axe smashed in a thousand pieces and everyone had to duck to avoid being hit my the flying metal.
"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." Said Elrond.
The Black language of the ring sounded out through the council, it was all Claire could do to keep Sara from jumping into Legolas' arms.
"one of you must do this" he said looking at them in turn.
"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." Said Boromir, who had now returned to his chair.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" said Legolas enraged.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" said Gimli staring at Legolas.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" asked Boromir.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" said Gimli.
All the elves were offended by this and stood up along with the dwarves until everyone, except Sara, Claire and Frodo.
"Oh dear sighed Claire" she looked over at Frodo, he looked back at the girls, took a deep breath.
"Oh my God! Here he goes!" Sara squealed. The girls looked on as Frodo was about to accept the biggest burden of his life, and the girls couldn't help but admire him.
"I'll take the ring!" he said trying to make himself heard above the ring with little success, "I'll take the ring to Mordor!" he tried again.
"That's it" said Claire, she stood up on her chair and shouted at the top of her voice, "Oi!!!!!! Frodo is trying to make an important announcement, and all you lot can do is sit around squabbling like a bunch of orcs!" this seemed to have worked, they returned to their seats looking a little sheepish.
"I will take the ring to Mordor" Frodo said giving Claire a thankful smile. "Though I do not know the way"
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins, so long as its yours to bear." Said Gandalf walking over to join Frodo.
"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." Aragorn walked over and knelt in front of Frodo, "You have my sword."
Sara looked at Gandalf and saw wink at Elrond she couldn't help feeling a bubble of excitement, even though they were going to risk their lives.
"And you have my bow." Legolas joined the group.
"And my axe." Said Gimli, who walked to stand over by Legolas, it seemed he had accepted the Elf.
"You carry the fates of us all, little one." Boromir walked over, "if this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done.
Sara and Claire exchanged huge grins, they stood up and said in unison "and you have our sight!" the two girls walked over to Frodo, gave him a hug at the same time which nearly killed Frodo, then they took their place among the small group.
"Wait for it..." Claire whispered.
"Here!" shouted Sam a he came running from behind the hedge fencing, "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me."
"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not." Said Elrond smiling at the loyalty that this unique young hobbit was portraying.
"Oi! We're coming too!" merry and pippin ran out from behind the two stone columns, "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."
"Well that rules you out, Pip."
The girls laughed, along with the rest of the group, that hugging urge was returning.
"Eleven companions, so be it, you shall be the fellowship of the ring"
Sara and Claire didn't know whom to hug so they hugged each other whilst jumping up and down screaming "We're in the Fellowship!"
"Great, where are we going?" asked pippin looking slightly bemused.
The councill was retreating back up the stone steps, to go and rest ready for the next day when they would begin their journey into Mordor. Sara was walking up behind Legolas, she was last, and she was having trouble because some of the thousands of years old stones were loose, "Owwwww!" she had tripped over with her foot caught. Legolas looked behind and came to her rescue.
"Are you alright?" he asked sounding genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, I've just twisted my ankle that's all"
"Let me help you up." He offered her his hand and pulled her up onto her feet. She attempted to walk but the pain was too great.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to make it back up those stone steps."
"Here, give me your arm." Legolas gently pulled her arm over his shoulder so that she could rest her weight on him, and together they hobbled up the stairs.
Claire was watching to see where her friend had gone and when she spotted her walking up with Legolas she smiled, Sara was perfectly fine, no need to worry.
Claire lay awake that night, chatting to Sara between the rooms, although they would not all be going to Mordor they would each play a significant part in saving middle earth, even them...
**END**
An excited Claire jumping up and down on her bed waked Sara the next morning. "We're going to meet the fellowship today, we're going to meet the fellowship today!" she screamed.
"Ok, ok don't tell the whole of middle earth about it will you? Don't forget that this is going to be a secret meeting that we are going to, with emphasis on secret!"
"I know, I know but we are going to meet Boromir and Legolas, I mean what could be better than that? I wonder what Boromir will think of me? I wonder what he is like in real life? Do I look ok to you?"
"Nah you look like Gimli on a bad day!" teased Sara.
Claire punched Sara on the arm. "Ow that hurt! You know you are turning into a total Mary Sue!" she laughed.
Claire had been in love with Boromir and Faramir ever since she had first read the books and then when the movies had came out that just made her fantasies even more real. And Sara had taken a huge liking to Legolas 'he's just so damn cute!' was her favourite phrase when it came to talking about him which she did a lot!
"What are you going to wear today? They have filled up our entire wardrobe with Elven clothes now."
Claire pulled open Sara's wardrobe to reveal the most beautiful robes they had ever seen in their entire lives, there were all different colours with little pieces of embroidery everywhere and the most lush fabrics ever.
"I don't know, lets have a look." Said Sara as she reluctantly pulled back the heavy duvet that covered the four poster bed, she was worried that she was going to wake up back in her tiny bed in Ludlow, so far she didn't miss it one bit.
Claire sifted through the robes and pulled out the most amazing dress of Lilac satin, with a plunging neckline, and a dark purple waistband. The dress had tiny little pink flowers embroidered at the cuffs, and at the bottom of the skirt, it was breath taking.
"Now," smiled Claire "he won't be able to resist you in this!"
"What are you wearing?" asked Sara.
"Ooooh I was hoping you would ask that!" Claire went running off into her own room, which was just across the hallway. 5 minutes later she came darting back in fully dressed in this almost Victorian style costume, with a beautiful flowing skirt that trailed behind slightly, and a bodice that clung to her slender figure and bell shaped sleeves.
"Ya know, if you were a bit taller you would look exactly like Arwen!" commented Sara.
Claire smiled the biggest smile in the whole of middle earth, she looked as if she had just been called her majesty or something, "how are you going to do your hair?"
"I thought I would just put half of it up like I had yesterday, what do you think?" Claire asked demonstrating the hairstyle she had just mentioned.
"Yeah it looks fine to me, how do you think I should have mine?" asked Sara, whose hair was not very long.
Claire walked over to the windowsill and opened a small Jewellery box, which had been there since they first came. She opened the box and this little elvish dancer rose up and danced around on thin air, suspended by some sort of magic.
"Wow!" said Claire breathlessly "I didn't read about these in the book!"
Sara walked over to Claire now fully dressed, and stared entranced by this amazing jewellery box. Claire reached inside and pulled out a small hair clip, it had a butterfly on the end encrusted with amethysts and some sort of black jewel, which they had never seen before.
"Here if you do a side parting and clip it over with this it will looking nice, it even matches your dress!" said Claire, just then a bell sounded in their room, they turned around to find an elf servant standing at Sara's door "the meeting will commence in 5 minutes." He said politely.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Screamed both the girls.
Claire dashed off into her room to put the finishing touches to her clothes, and Sara put the clip into her hair, smiled at her reflection in the mirror, Claire was right it did match her dress. Claire was always right when it came to style, 'she has such good fashion sense' thought Sara, who was glad she had such a cool and totally amazing friend.
"You ready?" asked Claire, who was now stood in the doorway with her hair up and just the slightest hint of make up around her eyes and a touch of lip-gloss.
"You look very au naturel." Commented Sara.
"Thank you!" said Claire.
The two girls walked down the long staircase, into the entrance hall, and stood over in the corner stood Boromir, clutching his horn gazing around the room.
"It's him!" squealed Claire down Sara's ear hole.
Boromir looked up, when he heard their footsteps, Claire had turned around with her back to him, and was whistling as she pretended to be interested in a painting on the wall. Boromir walked over to the two girls.
"Hello, you must be Sara and Claire, Elrond has told me a little about your coming here unexpectedly." He said politely "which of you is Sara and which is Claire?"
"I'm Sara and she's Claire." Said Sara, as Claire was too stunned to even contemplate speaking.
"Hello Claire" said Boromir, he bent down and kissed her gently on the wrist and the two locked eyes.
"H-h-h-hello" she stuttered, she was mesmerised, and so was he! Sara smiled to herself and wondered over to the table were isildors sword lay.
"The meeting is about to begin," said the servant elf.
Sara walked over to where Claire and Boromir were still standing, staring at each other.
"Come on Claire!" said Sara, grabbing Claire's arm and practically dragging her towards the meeting place.
Sara and Claire were the last to arrive at the meeting, and they took their seats next to Sam and Legolas.
"Are here you are, we were afraid you had become lost." Said Elrond "let me introduce you to everyone" he gestured to his left "Gimli"
"Hello" said Gimli in his gruff voice.
"Gloin"
"Hello"
"Glofindel, Erestor and Galdor, who I'm sure you've already met" said Elrond.
"Hello" they chorused.
"The elf lord of the grey havens"
"Hello" he said politely.
"Legolas, elf of Mirkwood.
"Hello" said Legolas, as he gave a gorgeous smile.
"Boromir"
"Hello" said Boromir, still staring at Claire.
"Aragorn."
"Hello"
"Gandalf"
"Hello" said Gandalf apprehensively.
"Bilbo Baggins of the Shire"
"Hello" came the reply of a warm and wise voice.
"And finally Frodo Baggins, a very brave little hobbit."
"Hello"
"We are the council of Elrond and we are here today to answer the threat of Mordor," said Elrond in his most stern voice.
The girls had a sudden urge to run around kissing and hugging everyone there, the fan girls were going to take over again if they weren't careful.
"Lord Elrond, how do we know we can trust these strangers?" asked Aragorn, staring at the two girls, who stared back trying to look composed and innocent.
"I believe they have a purpose here, and although I am not yet sure of what it is, I think they should be allowed to join the council."
All eyes turned to focus on the two girls who were sat on the stone chairs praying that they would be accepted into the fellowship. Claire and Sara exchanged worried glances.
"Claire?"
"Yeah?"
"How are we going to convince them that we are not a threat to them?"
"I have already met with the girls and I don't see them as any threat to us, in fact I think they could be useful." Said Boromir in the girls defence.
"We spent time with them yesterday, and they told us about themselves and their visions could be useful to helping us." Said Glofindel.
The council quarrelled over whether or not the girls should be allowed in and if they should be trusted, there was all the hobbits Boromir, Legolas and Elrond on the girl's side, and Aragorn, Gandalf and the others seemed to be arguing against it.
"Claire, I think you had better use your words of wisdom, and convince them!" Sara whispered urgently to her friend.
"Ok, here goes nothing!"
Claire rose from her seat and the arguing stopped, she looked around at Sara who gave her the thumbs up, to which Legolas frowned not knowing what this gesture meant.
"If it's ok with you I would just like to say a few words." Claire said as she took her position next to the alter.
"I know our presence here is unexpected, but we do not want to cause trouble but to help fight the threat of Sauron in this perilous journey for the freedom and safety of middle earth. We understand your apprehension but do not worry we will fight along side when the time comes, or we will die trying." Claire stopped to observe the effect this had, had upon the group, the looked at Aragorn, his eyes gave nothing away but then his lips curved into a small smile.
"Your pledge is acceptable," he answered coolly.
Claire gave a big whoop, and they all stared "it's a form of celebration where I come from." She replied to their curious stares. Claire returned to the chair at which she had been sitting, and looked at Sara "remind me never to do that again will you."
Sara laughed quietly "ok!"
Now the meeting could finally begin, Elrond stood up to address everyone, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned 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 this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Frodo stood up and walked slowly and almost ceremoniously towards the alter and took the ring out of his pocket and placed it in the middle of the alter. The ring just sat there, they all silence for several minutes whilst they took in the power that lay in front of them.
"Wow" whispered both the girls breathlessly.
Boromir stood up and walked towards the ring, there was obvious tension in the room. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor.
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. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Said Aragorn heatedly.
"And what would a mere ranger like you know?" asked Boromir.
Claire and Sara were watching this argument unfold barely daring to breath, it was strange because they virtually knew every move they were going to make, the only thing that they didn't know was what it felt like to be sat next to all these amazing men, elves, dwarves and Hobbits, until now.
"He is no mere ranger!" said Legolas angrily "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Said Legolas standing up.
The look on the elves face was indescribable; he was defending Aragorn against Boromir although Boromir was by far the least trustworthy of the group.
"I don't know what you see in him," whispered Sara.
"I know he's not the most brave and loyal character at the beginning but in the end he saves Frodo's life by offering his own!" Sara didn't seem to know what to say to this and just turned back to watch what was happening, Claire frequently had that effect on her, because of almost artistic way of speaking.
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" spat Boromir.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Said Legolas defensively.
"God he's cute when he's angry!" Sara whispered to Claire, Legolas briefly turned to look at them as if he had heard what she had said, Sara turned bright red and Claire chuckled.
"Havo dad, Legolas said Aragorn in sindarin Elvish.
"Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." Said Boromir scowling at Aragorn.
"I agree with Aragorn" said Sara standing up to say her piece, "the power of the ring has proved itself to be evil, and only evil more than once."
"what do you know about the ring?" asked Gandalf.
Sara had to now choose her words very carefully, because she knew that if she revealed too much they would become suspicious again. "I know of hat the ring has done to Golem and what it almost did to Bilbo, and I know that the Black riders are drawn to the ring like moths to a.... flame" she was going to say light bulb but they did not have them.
Sara sat back down and both the girls breathed a sigh of relief, Claire cast her gaze to the gorgeous scenery that surrounded them with trees that sprang up out of the ground for miles and the most striking shades of green that she had ever seen hiding different fruits that looked ripe enough to eat, Gandalf's deep voice brought her out of her reverie.
"Aragorn and Sara are right, we cannot use it."
"You only have one choice, the ring must be destroyed." Elrond said gravely.
"what are we waiting for!" Gimli shouted and strode towards the ring and lifted his shiny axe up high and brought it crashing down on the ring, the axe smashed in a thousand pieces and everyone had to duck to avoid being hit my the flying metal.
"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." Said Elrond.
The Black language of the ring sounded out through the council, it was all Claire could do to keep Sara from jumping into Legolas' arms.
"one of you must do this" he said looking at them in turn.
"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." Said Boromir, who had now returned to his chair.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" said Legolas enraged.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" said Gimli staring at Legolas.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" asked Boromir.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" said Gimli.
All the elves were offended by this and stood up along with the dwarves until everyone, except Sara, Claire and Frodo.
"Oh dear sighed Claire" she looked over at Frodo, he looked back at the girls, took a deep breath.
"Oh my God! Here he goes!" Sara squealed. The girls looked on as Frodo was about to accept the biggest burden of his life, and the girls couldn't help but admire him.
"I'll take the ring!" he said trying to make himself heard above the ring with little success, "I'll take the ring to Mordor!" he tried again.
"That's it" said Claire, she stood up on her chair and shouted at the top of her voice, "Oi!!!!!! Frodo is trying to make an important announcement, and all you lot can do is sit around squabbling like a bunch of orcs!" this seemed to have worked, they returned to their seats looking a little sheepish.
"I will take the ring to Mordor" Frodo said giving Claire a thankful smile. "Though I do not know the way"
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins, so long as its yours to bear." Said Gandalf walking over to join Frodo.
"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." Aragorn walked over and knelt in front of Frodo, "You have my sword."
Sara looked at Gandalf and saw wink at Elrond she couldn't help feeling a bubble of excitement, even though they were going to risk their lives.
"And you have my bow." Legolas joined the group.
"And my axe." Said Gimli, who walked to stand over by Legolas, it seemed he had accepted the Elf.
"You carry the fates of us all, little one." Boromir walked over, "if this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done.
Sara and Claire exchanged huge grins, they stood up and said in unison "and you have our sight!" the two girls walked over to Frodo, gave him a hug at the same time which nearly killed Frodo, then they took their place among the small group.
"Wait for it..." Claire whispered.
"Here!" shouted Sam a he came running from behind the hedge fencing, "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me."
"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not." Said Elrond smiling at the loyalty that this unique young hobbit was portraying.
"Oi! We're coming too!" merry and pippin ran out from behind the two stone columns, "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."
"Well that rules you out, Pip."
The girls laughed, along with the rest of the group, that hugging urge was returning.
"Eleven companions, so be it, you shall be the fellowship of the ring"
Sara and Claire didn't know whom to hug so they hugged each other whilst jumping up and down screaming "We're in the Fellowship!"
"Great, where are we going?" asked pippin looking slightly bemused.
The councill was retreating back up the stone steps, to go and rest ready for the next day when they would begin their journey into Mordor. Sara was walking up behind Legolas, she was last, and she was having trouble because some of the thousands of years old stones were loose, "Owwwww!" she had tripped over with her foot caught. Legolas looked behind and came to her rescue.
"Are you alright?" he asked sounding genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, I've just twisted my ankle that's all"
"Let me help you up." He offered her his hand and pulled her up onto her feet. She attempted to walk but the pain was too great.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to make it back up those stone steps."
"Here, give me your arm." Legolas gently pulled her arm over his shoulder so that she could rest her weight on him, and together they hobbled up the stairs.
Claire was watching to see where her friend had gone and when she spotted her walking up with Legolas she smiled, Sara was perfectly fine, no need to worry.
Claire lay awake that night, chatting to Sara between the rooms, although they would not all be going to Mordor they would each play a significant part in saving middle earth, even them...
**END**