AN: Okay, I'm officially changing the genre to Humor/Drama, I think it will fit better that way.
Disclaimer (for last chapter too 'cause I forgot it) – Don't own 'em, just playing.
Agnes and the Elves
Chapter 11 – A Choice to Make
Agnes hurried down the corridor at Gandalf's heels. She desperately wanted to know why he had pulled her away, but the pace he set was too fast for her to gather the breath to get the questions out. Agnes spared a moment to wonder how such an old man could walk so damnably fast.
Finally, Gandalf stopped outside a door and, without pausing, opened it and strode in. Agnes followed nervously. It was the same study where she had been questioned by Gandalf, Lord Elrond, Glorfindel, Glóin, and Gimli just the day before. Gandalf shut the door behind Agnes, they were alone in the room.
Gandalf turned to face her and gestured at one of the may chairs scattered about the room. "Please Agnes, take a seat. Lord Elrond and Frodo Baggins will be joining us soon."
Agnes took a chair against the wall facing Gandalf. "But… why?"
Gandalf sat down in a chair near Agnes' with a small sigh. "Agnes, I overheard Gimli telling you of Sauron. He did not tell you everything."
Gandalf launched into a tale of the past, of rings and deception and desperate alliances. Agnes listened with wide eyes, it was a more gripping and epic story than any Agnes had ever hard in Lancre.
It's like this place is made of legends and heroes. Commented Perdita quietly.
Agnes didn't respond, she was distracted by a flickering in the corners of her eyes. Whenever Gandalf mentioned the Rings of Power, something on his finger seemed to flash red, like a ring that had caught the light. After the fourth time this happened, Gandalf seemed to notice her noticing and casually shifted his arm so that his grey robes were covering his hand.
"… And so Isildur kept the Ring for himself, but it betrayed him and slipped off of his finger when he most needed it. It was lost for hundreds of years, until it was found by a small creature that called it his 'birthday present' and took it to roots of the mountains…"
Something vaguely stirred Agnes' memory. When Granny, Nanny, and Magrat had gone to Guena, the mentioned meeting something under the mountains… but the thought was gone. Agnes returned her attention to Gandalf's tale.
"…and a hobbit found it and kept it for many years, but then passed it on to his nephew. But Sauron is growing in power once again, and he knows that it has been found, that it is in this place. He will bend all his will on finding it, and once he has found it there will be nothing stopping him from covering all the world in darkness." Gandalf fell silent, staring at Agnes expectantly.
"But… it's just a ring," Agnes said, falteringly, "Can't you just destroy it and been done with it?"
"It's not that easy Agnes, it can only be destroyed in the place where it was made, in the fires of a volcano." Gandalf said regretfully.
"Oh."
The door suddenly opened, admitting Lord Elrond and the small hobbit that Gimli had identified at dinner as Frodo. Elrond looked stern (as always) and slightly irritated. Frodo looked bewildered; clearly Elrond had brought him here much as Agnes had been brought by Gandalf.
Elrond gestured to Agnes, and spoke to Frodo. Gandalf spoke to Agnes "This is Frodo Baggins, Agnes."
Frodo bowed to Agnes, just like the two other hobbits from yesterday had done. Agnes returned the courtesy. "It's nice to meet you." Frodo murmured something that sounded similar.
Elrond spoke to Gandalf quickly; he and Frodo sat in chairs facing Gandalf and Agnes so that the four of them formed a small circle.
Gandalf smiled a bit, "Lord Elrond would like you to know that he does not think that what I am about to suggest is a very wise choice, but he has consented to let me ask this favor of you." He nodded to Elrond, who leaned back in his chair with an unreadable expression on his face.
Gandalf turned to Frodo and said something. With supreme reluctance, Frodo unchained a silver necklace, drawing out a plain gold ring and laying it on a small table next to him. It seemed to take a monstrous effort for him to withdraw his hand again.
Agnes stared at the ring in fascination. It looked so simple, but Agnes could sense immense power in it, almost like it had a will of its own…
Ooooo, pretty. Perdita remarked.
"Agnes," Gandalf said, drawing her gaze away from the ring, "this is the Ring I spoke to you of. Tomorrow there will be a council to decide its fate, but Lord Elrond and I already know what must be down. Someone must take it to Mt. Doom and throw it into the fire."
Destroy such a beautiful ring? Are they crazy? shouted Perdita in Agnes' head.
Weren't you listening? It's evil.
Oh… Right… Perdita sounded confused. Why did I say that?
Gandalf had started speaking again. "We had thought to send a small group, hardy peoples with the strength and will to bear the ring so far and cast it away, but there may be a better way."
"What way is that?"
"You have… and extraordinary broom Agnes, and powers that no Man should have. You could take the ring, with a guide, and carry it there in a few days, with no one able to stop you." Gandalf looked at her pleadingly, "Agnes, this is danger to everyone in this world. If it's not destroyed, no force in this world will be able to defeat the rising tide. Please Agnes, help us."
AN: No one ever remembers this, but Granny, Nanny, and Magrat meet Gollum in Witches Abroad, I thought it would be fitting for it to get a mention.
