Chapter 1

"And into the darkness the souls of maiden's go,

To touch a loved one's cheek with tender kisses of hope."

            Awareness began to prick at the back of Katie's mind.  A sliver of light swept across her face, and birds began their morning song.  Beside her, she could hear the slow rhythm of breath.  The night had been good to her.  Katie could feel the tingle of newness and freshness begin at her toes.  An unknown suspense and excitement grew around her stomach.

            First one eye popped open, blinking the light.  Then the other saw the light of dawn.  The sight she found astounded her.  Everything gleamed white and gold, a place of angelic proportion.  She was in a bed, with sheets made of moonbeams dyed the color of the blue bird sky, and beside her was a man.  This was not Esther whom she was sharing a tent with. A glimpse of ear told her that this strange creature was an Elf! A scream found its way into her throat, but she stifled its birth for fear of awakening her companion.

            "Where in the world am I?" she thought, possibilities springing to her mind.  "I think I've finally gone insane! I knew this was coming.  I spent too much time reading poetry and fantasy novels out in the woods! I…"

            Her thoughts were cut short by the elf flipping over in his bed, his arm barely missing Katie's as it was thrown to his side.  She leaped out of bed and onto the floor, amazed at her sudden balance.  Outside the door, she could hear the sound of two men speaking as clearly, as if she were there.  A hand flew to her ears to see if they were her own, but they were not.  Katie had pointed ears, and now that she was standing, she realized that she was wearing a dress of the finest satin like material.  It glowed and shimmered with each breath and movement.

            The scream that she had stifled earlier, voiced itself, reverberating off the walls.  She half expected the elf on the bed to wake up and find her, but he did not.  Minutes later, his eyes began to flutter open.  He must have sensed a disturbance in his sleeping chamber.

            "I'm soooo sorry.  I have no idea how I got here.  I really didn't mean to.  It's not my fault!  I didn't – I'm sorry – Please don't hurt me – I'll leave – (she noticed his sword in a corner while trying not to watch him stretch gracefully) Oh my is that your sword? – It's very very very lovely – Please don't get up – oh my! – I'm not looking – I - I 'm sorry…" Katie stammered, but the elf slowly pulled the sheets off himself and was slowly rising from the side of the bed.

            His chest was bare and his long hair was spilling gracefully over his chiseled chest.  He stretched and gathered his shirt, sword, and bow from the corner of the room where they all rested neatly.

            "Please don't leave, "she pleaded as he opened the door and walked out.  She followed.  "I really didn't mean to come here. I – I – I.  Please forgive me, and don't leave me here.  I DON"T KNOW WHERE I AM!"

            She started to cry, salty tears blemishing the shining marble floors.  "Please – Please say something!  At least acknowledge that I am here.  I didn't mean to.  I don't even know what I did.  I don't know what happened.  I'm scared and confused, and I'm very very sorry!"

            "Katie, it won't help.  I think they're deaf or something," Jenny said looking in disgust at the hobbit beside her.

            "Oh, but … Wait! Why are you so short?  All four of you!" Katie questioned, motioning towards Jenny, Chelli, Paige, and Michelle, all of whom stood by a hobbit.

            "It's seems to me that you've gotten quite a bit taller also, Katie," Michelle spoke looking up to Katie.

            "Anyway," Chelli coughed, "it seems we have to be within thirty feet of whomever we've woken up beside.  Paige tested it."

            "Oh really…Ahhhhhhh!" Katie yelped as she tried to drag her heels into the floor.  But it was to no avail.   Her elf had begun to run to catch up with a friend he had just seen.

            "Did anyone else notice that Katie's elf was entirely edible?" Jenny asked as they saw Katie fly around the corner as if riding water-skis.

            The girls nodded and continued to follow their new companions.

            "Aragorn!" the elf yelled to a mysterious man in black.

            "Esther!" Katie screamed seeing her best friend with that man.

            "Hello, Legolas.  How are you?" Aragorn asked.

            "Katie, do you realize that you are attached to a hottie?" Esther questioned following Aragorn and Legolas down the hall.

            "Oh life you're not! Anyway, do you remember that movie that we were watching, Lord of the Rings or whatev…"

            "Shhh.  Listen they're saying something important," Esther whispered.

            "Legolas, I worry much that I will not be able to resist the power of the ring like Isildur could not.  My mind will not give me rest," Aragorn pondered sadly.

            Legolas reached over to put a comforting hand on Aragorn's shoulder.  "Elrond will answer those questions, my friend.  Worry not."

            Katie turned triumphantly to Esther.  She was smiling widely and gave Esther a told-you-so look.  "I do believe we're going to the council of Elrond, Esther! Oh by the way, you have shrunk just like everyone else."

            "No, silly.  You've gotten taller.  Your ears have gone points, and you have auburn Elf hair!" Esther quipped.

            "Well, I'm still taller than you! Hehehehehe!" Katie giggled.

            "Sometimes I think we've gotten you off the naïve girly-girl thing, but then you go and do something like laughing like that.  Sometimes I think you'll never learn!"  Esther sighed, squinting into the sunshine as they walked out the door.

            "I don't know why you even try anymore! By the way, we need to keep up with these two.  Paige, Jenny, Chelli, and Michelle said we had to stay within a thirty-foot radius of these people.  I learned first had.  I never want to go flying around corners like that again!" Kate laughed.

            Esther just shook her head in amused exasperation. "Hmmmm…. Oh, wait! It's Ashley!"

            "Where?" Katie asked standing on tiptoes to see over Legolas's silky blonde locks.

            "Over there! Near the two guys with the bushy beards and the one rolling down the hill.  No wait, a rock caught him," Esther snickered.

            Katie finally gave up and just leaned around Legolas.  Sure enough, there was Ashley, short like the dwarves and wearing a course grey dress.

            "Ashley!" Katie yelled. "Come here!"

            Ashley turned and walked over to them.  "I thought that I was the only one here!  Can you believe there people?  That was Squirfu rolling down the hill.  Can you believe that he is my Gimli's best friend?  He is so silly!"

            "Silly isn't the word I'd use," Esther remarked dryly.

            "Hmmmm," Ashley growled. "Are we the only ones here?"

            "Luckily, no. This is going to be lots of fun.  All of us in Rivendell!" Katie giggled.

            "Arg!  All of us? Here?  Together?  Who knows when this is insanity is going to end!  I'm going to go insane from Jenny and you being so happy and bubbly all the time!" Ashley wailed.

            "This is going to more fun than I thought," Esther laughed maniacally.

            "Not funny!" Ashley fumed, stamping her foot into the ground.  "At least Hannah is not here."

            "What are you talking about?  I'm here.  I've been visiting Lord Elrond.  He's like a second father to me!"  Hannah said, walking around a corner.

            "Ahhhhh!" Ashley bawled.  "I'm going to…going to…roll down the hill, just like Squirfu!"

            And she began to roll, but she had exceeded the thirty-foot limit.  Gimi had begun to walk in the opposite direction.  Ashley was not rolling back up the hill as if in rewind.

            "Here she comes again!" Esther joked.

            Ashley continued to roll, leaving Hannah, Katie, and Esther standing in the garden as Legolas and Aragorn spoke to a group of friends.

            "Well, I have to go home before the council begins in a few minutes.  Whatever happens, I hope you have fun.  Katie, Esther, be very careful.  I know that your deaths would devastate a lot of people.  When I say you, I mean everyone connected to a person – creature – thing."        

            Hannah walked off leaving the Katie and Esther to talk about their new 'friends' and all the things they would miss while in Rivendell.

            "Oh No!" Katie realized, horror dawning on her face, "what about our books?!"  Esther's face went from joyful to aghast in a matter of seconds. They looked at each other and moaned.

            "We'll just have to learn to read people, I suppose.  Let's start with Legolas and Aragorn. They look like absolutely delightful people to start with," Esther smiled a gleam of apparition in her eye.

            Katie nodded. Both began to listen carefully to the conversation at hand.

            Esther ambled slowly behind Aragorn and Leoglas.  She glared as Katie skipped along a couple of feet behind them.  Esther was getting ready to smack Katie.  She had been woken up too early this morning for Katie to be in such a good mood.  Then again, Katie was now at least part elf.  Esther was very happy though.  She had awoken to find herself wearing pants, a poet's shirt, and boots.  To top it all off, there was a wonderful leather jacket precisely like Aragorn's, which she wore very happily now.  Katie on the other hand, was wearing a white dress that came to her toes.  It was almost see through and the long draping sleeves seemed to get in her way.  Her hair, which was once the length of her shoulders, now came to the bottom of her back in a silky wave of reds, browns, and golds.

            The outdoor counsel room was quite simple.  There was one stone chair where a man with long brown hair sat thinking.  Chairs were placed around him in a semicircle and a pedestal sat in front of him.  They were the first there.

            "Hello, Aragorn.  Hello, Legolas."  Please sit down.  Aragorn you may sit over here, and Legolas, I would like you and your fellow Elves to sit on the other side of the circle."

            The two left to where they were going to sit, but luckily, the area was less then thirty feet.

            "Wow, Esther, I think that's Elrond. Lord of the elves!" Katie smiled amiably at the man with the long brown hair!"

            "Yes… I do believe it…."

            "Ack! There are more. This is highly troublesome," an old withered man in grey-blue robes and a wizard's hat muttered walking into the counsel area.

            "Gandalf, are you quite alright?  You keep muttering strange things underneath your breath," Michelle's hobbit asked gazing worriedly at his tall friend. 

            "I am alright, Frodo," Gandalf said patting Frodo's knee, but under his breath he added, "It's just these girls.  They are everywhere! See here comes the ones that are following us."

            Erika came walking up the steps beside Michelle.  "Gandalf, it's not as if we had a choice to be here. Haven't you figured out what is going on?"
            "You know I haven't.  You've been beside me the whole time," he muttered glaring at his counterpart.

            Legolas, Aragorn, and Elrond turned to look in amazement at him.  Legolas looked as if he was going to say something, but he stopped thinking better of it. Elrond smiled as if her were in on the joke.

            "Ugh, just stop talking to us, Gandalf.  You're drawing attention to yourself," Erika ordered the wizard.

            Katie and Esther turned and began to laugh hysterically.  Erika, much to her annoyment, was wearing a long blue robe and cloak.  Her hair was just an inch shorter than Katie's was and she carried a staff with a flower carved into the top.

            "Don't laugh at me, Elf girl and Ranger Girl!  At least I'm not attached to Boromir!" Erika commanded glaring at the two best friends.

            "It's not just you and your new wardrobe; it's also Michelle's corset dress and hair ringlets!"

            "Hey!" Michelle laughed. Gandalf just rolled his eyes.

            At that moment, a pack of Elves came into the clearing and the girls scrambled to get out of the way.  Erika was pushed back and made to sit in Gandalf's lap while the others stood at the edge of their thirty-foot range.

            Next, the dwarves walked in with Ashley.  Squirfu, Gloin, and Gimli took their seats.

            "Oh no, not another!" Gandalf mumbled.  Erika stepped on his foot.

            Next, Boromir and his entourage of men walked in.  Behind them, all was Jennifer in a beautiful crimson velvet gown, which she had shorn off to make a mini skirted dress with bell sleeves.

            "Jennifer!" all the girls present yelled in unison.  Gandalf was wise enough not to say something this time, but he still rolled his eyes.  Jennifer smiled, waved, and walked over to where the girls had decided to converge at the back of their companion's chair.

            "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 cane escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom.  Bring forth the ring, Frodo," Elrond dictated rising from his chair as everyone settled down.

            Frodo got up, fear running across his features.

            "That guy makes it sound very ominous, doesn't he?" Jennifer asked jokingly.

            "Jennifer, this is no laughing matter.  It is ominous," Katie, replied her features still. "Listen to Elrond."

            "So it is true," Boromir whispered in awe.

            Everyone stared at it as if mesmerized by its shiny gold band. Katie turned, not caring to fall for it, as she knew so many others would.  Esther and Erika did the same.

            "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 those forces 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." Boromir cried rising from his chair.

            "He makes a good point," Jennifer said.  "It's only fair."

            Aragorn had begun to talk, but Esther spoke to Jennifer.  "Are you crazy? He cannot wield.  None of them or us can! The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master!" Esther said.  Jennifer gave her a look of disbelief.

            All the girls began to crack up as they realized that Aragorn and Esther had said almost the same thing at the same time. Gandalf sternly looked at them and they quieted down.

            "What would a ranger know of this matter?" Boromir asked.  Jennifer nodded.

            "This is no mere ranger," Legolas and Katie countered.  "This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."  Once again, giggles erupted in the counsel.  Katie looked aghast at Legolas and shut her mouth.

            Boromir glared at Aragorn. "Aragorn…This is Isildur's heir?" Aragorn and Esther bristled at Boromir's tone of voice.

            "Jennifer, keep your human in line," Esther growled.

            "Seems fair to me.  Doesn't seem like he's much of a king, does he?" Jennifer countered smiling smugly at Esther.

            "And heir throne of Gondor!" Legolas said, anger growing in his countenance.

            "He is the King! He is a great king, Jennifer.  Your boyfriend is only jealous and wants to rule Gondor himself!" Katie cried in admonishment at her friend. "I can't believe you don't see the foolishness of what Boromir suggests! He is not strong enough to withstand the ring already.  He will never be able to control it!"

            "Calm down, Katie.  Jennifer does not understand what is at stake," Esther soothed.

            "I will not let her boyfriend destroy all that Middle-Earth has to offer.  She has not seen the wonders of Rivendell, the streams that flow like crystal through the mountain above us.  She has not stopped to smell the sweet scent of fall flowers blossoming in the October sun."

            "Katie, its alright.  You've read the book.  You know what happens," Erika appeased.

            "You are right.  I just in this morning that we have been here have fallen in love with the wonders and beauty of this world," Katie answered.

            "Wow, Katie.  That's the one of the only times I've ever seen you get mad.  That was kinda scary," Jennifer smiled tentatively.  Everyone laughed as Katie blushed the color of the dying sun.

            "Gondor has no king.  Gondor needs no king," Boromir spit at Legolas and sat down.

            Minutes passed as no one wanted to speak in the uncomfortable silence.  Erika finally nudged Gandalf, whispering something into his ear.

            "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it," Gandalf spoke adamantly.

            "You have only one choice.  The ring must be destroyed," Elrond ordered standing once more.

            "What are we waiting for?" Gimli said, standing up with his axe.

            "Noooooo!" the girls wailed running as far away as they could.

            Gimli's sword was cleaved into thousands of tiny pieces as the ring emitted an evil hiss.  Ashley rolled her eyes as Gimli fell to the ground looking like a turtle on his back.  Michelle noticed Frodo looking pained.

            "Katie, Esther, Ashley, Jennifer, Erika.  There is something wrong with Frodo!" she cried, panicking. 

            The girls rushed over to him each trying to make him feel better.  They patted him on the back and spoke words of comfort.  Jennifer tried to tell him that he wouldn't have to deal with it for very much longer, but Esther and Katie shushed her with glares.

            To Frodo it seemed as if he had found silent invisible guardians.  He was reassured by their comforting hands, and he could almost hear their voices whispering happy thoughts into his ears.  Slowly fear faded from his heart.

            "The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom.  Only there cannot it be unmade.  It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came," Elrond announced. "One of you must do this."

            Silence penetrated the air and banged loudly against Katie's ears.

            "I hate these things.  Even silence is loud now!" Katie complained.

            The girls giggled, but the sound was also lost in the silence.

            "One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir said.  Gandalf rolled his eyes.  "It's black gates are guarded by more than just orcs.  There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful.  'Tis a barren wasteland filled with fire, ash, and dust, and the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."

            "See this is pointless," Jennifer reasoned.

            "Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond has said?" Katie and Legolas asked, Legolas a little more angry than Katie's mere question. "The ring must be destroyed!" Katie sighed exasperated when she realized she and Legolas had spoken the same thing again.

            "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli yelled.

            "And suppose we fail.  What then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir asked angrily.

            "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli shouted.

            Michelle, Katie, Ashley, Jennifer, and Esther looked on in terror as the whole counsel save Aragorn, Frodo, and Elrond arose from their seats and began to yell at each other. Ashley could not believe that Katie's poor harmless looking Legolas had gotten Gimli so riled up.  Jennifer was thinking that she had better keep her mouth shut about Boromir, because Gandalf might fly of that handle at her.  Michelle, Katie, and Esther were still soothing poor Frodo who looked about ready to faint.

            Frodo stood up from his chair.  "I will take it," he spoke quietly.

            "Noo, Frodo!" Michelle yelled in anguish.

            No one heard Frodo's words.  Loudly he yelled, "I will take the ring to Mordor."  The counsel became suddenly quiet and Gandalf's face fell into a look of great sadness.  "Though I do not know the way," Frodo added quietly.

            "Well I guess you're going along, Michelle," Erika said sadly.

            "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," Gandalf answered.

            "What?" Erika yelped.

            Aragorn stood and walked over to Frodo and knelt.

            "If by my life or my death I can protect you, I will.  You have my sword," Aragorn added.

            "Mine too! I think I know how to use this thing," Esther spoke, showing everyone the sword she had sheathed in her belt.  Gandalf winked at Elrond who looked at Legolas.

            "And you have my bow," Legolas put in confidently.

            "Mine, also.  I actually know how to use this thing.  Remind me when we get home to thank my grandfather," Katie smiled at Gandalf when she caught him looking at her in amazement.

            "And my axe!" Gimli shouted. Legolas rolled his eyes, looking resigned to Gimli's joining the group.

            "I suppose you can have mine, though it scares me. Did you now this thing is really sharp?" Ashley asked.

            "You carry the face of Isoor, little one.  If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done," Boromir said. Jennifer just waved her hand in agreement.

            Suddenly bushes moved and Sam's voice yelling "Hey!" could be heard.  Paige came following him out of the bushes looking embarrassed. Frodo looked behind in amazement as Sam ran to his side.  Elrond looked amused in a perturbed sort of way.

            "Mr. Frodo is not going anywhere without me," Sam told Elrond.

            "No indeed.  Nor is possible to separate you, even he is summoned to a secret counsel and you are not," Elrond laughed.

            From behind two pillars peeked Merry and Pippin.  Jenny ran ahead of Pippin who almost bowled her over in his haste to enter into the discussion.  Chelli kept giving Merry looks of pure loathing.

            "Oi, we're coming too!" Pippin shouted.

            Elrond looked as if he were going to say, 'Why are there hobbits in my council?"  The girls were laughing at the two pairs.  Gandalf could be heard muttering, "That makes nine girls in all."

            "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on the mission – quest – thing,"

Pippin piped in. Jenny smacked him on the head. Gandalf and Erika rolled their eyes at the same time.

            "Well, I that rules you out, Pip," Merry quipped.

            "Nine companions.  So be it!  You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond ordered triumphantly.

            "Great!" Pippin and Jenny spoke at the same time, though Jenny was sarcastic and Pippin was joyful. "Where are we going?" They both asked suddenly wanting to know.

            The Fellowship, both those seen and unseen turned to look at the two who had made such a silly remark.