Loving Allegra
Chapter Six: The Council
Allegra's eyes fluttered open to the sound of tip-toeing feet. She turned over to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Sam.
"Oh good, you're awake," he said. "Sorry to be in here so early, but I've been sent up here to tell you that breakfast is ready if you want it."
"'Course I want it, I'm starving," Allegra groaned as she hoisted herself out of bed. "Thanks Sam."
"Don't mention it," he said with half a grin. Sam left Allegra to herself.
"I guess I'd better get dressed, then," said Allegra, she thought aloud. She got up and hopped off the bed. She saw that another dress had already been laid out for her. This one was in two pieces. The first was a dress with no straps or sleeves. Around the top of it there was a forest green border of leaves and vines. The body of the dress was white, with the same border on the bottom. The second piece was a sort of short robe with long sleeves.
"This is nice," said Allegra with a nod. She pulled off her nightgown and gently slipped the dress down over her head. The dress completely covered her feet. Good, now no one can see my poor bald feet...she thought to herself. She pulled on the robe, whose sleeves were so long that only her finger tips stuck out the ends. She gazed at herself in the looking glass and was amazed to discover that her hair was not mussed from hours of sleeping on it. Nor did she feel the need for a bath. These Elves have this stuff down to an art, she thought to herself in complete amazement. She strode out into the hall where a few Elves made their way to various locations. She looked in both directions and regretted that she hadn't paid more attention to the route in which Mithfalien took her to the dining hall. She retraced their steps as well as she could, but got lost a few times and had to ask for directions. The Elves that helped her were more than courteous. When at last she entered the hall, Sam, Merry and Pippin were the only ones seated at the long wooden table. They looked so small sitting in the vast room by themselves.
"Hello," she said in an almost sing-songy voice. Her friends muttered hellos. "Where's Frodo?" asked Allegra as she sat down next to Sam.
"Strider came in and took him away," he said.
"To where?" asked Allegra.
"I'm not sure, he didn't say," said Sam.
"Mithfalien spoke of a council that is being held today...you don't suppose Frodo's gone to it?" said Allegra.
"Could be. I'll bet it's about the Ring," said Sam. An Elf came around the corner with a tray of porridge for them. Sam thanked the Elf, then returned to the conversation.
"I thought it was going to be safe here," said Merry.
"It seems we can't be sure of anything lately," said Allegra, pouring milk into her porridge. "I mean, I was pretty sure that I would see my parents again within a couple of days, but it's been almost two weeks..." There was a note of sadness in her voice, her her friends could tell that she missed the Shire.
"We should find a way in," Pippin suggested between bites of porridge. "To this council thing."
"If I don't know what's going on, it's going to kill me," said Merry, pounding his fist lightly on the table.
"Me too," said Pippin, slamming down his spoon. There was a tiny pause.
"We don't even know where it is," Merry said as if he'd had an epiphany.
"Don't worry, I can find out," said Allegra with a sly smile.
"You don't think Mithfalien would tell you, do you?" asked Sam.
"She might, it's worth a try," said Allegra.
"Let's go ask then," said Sam. They all looked at each other with mischievous grins on their faces.
"After breakfast," said Pippin, breaking the short silence and taking up his spoon. The others muttered an agreement and continued to eat their porridge. After they were done, they covered as much ground as they could in search of Mithfalien. They searched the room in which Allegra was dressed the day before, they searched the area around Legolas's quarters, and they even tried the door to Legolas's quarters, which was locked. They looked down corridors and hallways. They glanced inside vacant rooms, but still she was no where to be found. When at last they gave up hope of ever finding her, a voice rang out in the corridor.
"Can I help you with something?" Mithfalien said. The Hobbits turned around and saw Mithfalien standing nonchalantly in the middle of the hall.
"You're very sneaky," Allegra said grudgingly.
"Perhaps," Mithfalien said thoughtfully. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"We need to get into the council," Merry said bluntly.
"Great, don't try to persuade her, Merry, it's alright," said Allegra sarcastically.
"You weren't invited to the council," Mithfalien pointed out.
"Yes, but Frodo was, and he's our friend," said Pippin.
"How can I look after him if I don't know where he is?" Sam grumbled. After a moment of thought, Mithfalien had made her decision.
"I will help you, but only this once," she said. "Follow me, I will take you to the council." They followed her out of doors and down several flagstone pathways and staircases. They cut through buildings and went across three bridges, under which small streams cascaded down to the river below. She led them into a rather large building, its purpose unknown to the Hobbits. She reached for the door on the opposite side and stopped. She turned to her small companions and looked each of them in the eye.
"Outside this door is where the council is taking place. Please be very careful to be absolutely silent. Should you be caught eavesdropping and you tell them who brought you here, I shall be very upset. You can be sure that if I am punished for this, pain will be inflicted upon each of you. I trust you with this. Do you understand?" said Mithfalien in a stern manner.
"Yes ma'am," they muttered.
"That is well. Goodbye for now, little Hobbits," she said as she turned and exited the building. The Hobbits were rather stunned at this display. They were not prepared to be threatened by an Elf, much less a female Elf. They faced the door and opened it as quietly as they could just enough for them to slip through it. Two great pillars held up the eve of the building. Merry hid behind one while Pippin and Allegra hid behind the other. Sam crouched down and looked on through the bushes that surrounded the council area. A few small steps lead down to a flagstone path. This ended in a paved, circular area, in the middle of which a small pillar-like platform was situated. Atop it were the Ring and several shards of metal. More shards littered the area around the platform. Chairs were arranged around the outside of this circular area in which sat a variety of peoples from Middle Earth. There were the Elves of course, a few Men, and the small group of Dwarves Allegra had spotted the night before. Allegra spotted Frodo sitting next to Gandalf on the very end. The Hobbits had apparently entered during a tense moment, for as soon as they were hidden and listening, Allegra could hear the sound of chair legs scraping and someone getting to their feet.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" she heard Legolas cry.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" cried a new voice. Allegra peeked around the corner for a second and saw that it was one of the Dwarves. "I'll be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" This rather offensive remark sent everyone to their feet, arguing over the Ring. Allegra could hear the Elves and Dwarves above all the other voices, and reminded herself that the Elves and Dwarves had been at odds for centuries. A new, very familiar voice rang out above the din.
"I will take it!" Frodo cried. No one seemed to hear him. She heard him shout it a second time. The arguers calmed down and directed their attention to Frodo. "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though...I'm afraid that I do not know the way."
"I will help you bare this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bare," said Gandalf in a sympathetic tone.
"If by my life or death, you have my sword," said Strider.
"And you have my bow," Legolas added.
"And my axe!" growled the Dwarf who had caused the uproar. A new voice then spoke.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one," he said. "But if this is truly the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
"Oi!" cried Sam from his hiding place. He darted out and stood at Frodo's side. "Mr. Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me."
"Indeed it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a private council and you are not," said Elrond. Merry, Allegra and Pippin looked at each other.
"Hey!" cried Merry, running out from his spot behind the pillar. "We're coming too!" Pippin seized Allegra's hand and led her behind him as he hurried after Merry. Elrond looked surprised that there were more eavesdroppers than he had originally suspected. "You'd have to have to tie us up in a sack to get rid of us!"
"Besides, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing," said Pippin, puffing out his chest slightly, making an attempt to look tough.
"Well that rules you out, Pip," Merry teased. Pippin began to nod in agreement before what was said truly connected in his mind. Elrond looked down upon Allegra.
"You as well?" he asked with an amused expression.
"Well, someone's going to have to keep these two under control," said Allegra.
"We shall see," he said a little skeptically.
"Allegra has to come!" cried Merry.
"Yes, I'm not going anywhere without her!" agreed Pippin.
"She's about ten times more brave than Pippin anyway," Merry added. Pippin glared at Merry, who just grinned at him as if to say 'I was only joking.' Elrond looked amused.
"So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," announced Elrond.
"Right," grinned Pippin happily. "Where are we going?"
"To Mordor, O Hobbit of Extraordinary Intelligence," Allegra told him in an exasperated voice with a small flourish.
"I knew that," said Pippin. Allegra looked at him skeptically. "I did!" After a few minutes, most of the council had filtered out of the courtyard, attending to personal business. Elrond pulled Allegra aside for a moment. He got down on one knee so he could be level with her.
"I have spoken with Gandalf, and we have agreed that you may come on this journey if that is your wish," he said. "Because you are so far from your home, there are not many alternatives. Gandalf believes that you would find some way of catching up, should they leave without you."
"That sounds about right," agreed Allegra.
"Know this: there is a high probability that the Fellowship may break due to casualties. You are up against seemingly impossible odds, and it would be nearly unrealistic to say that you all may live through this. I know how you feel about the young Took, and I do not wish to see you left behind because the one you love is slain in battle," he said. Allegra looked back at Pippin. She accidentally caught his eye, and he smiled and gave her a small wave. She returned the smile and nodded slightly. She had never even stopped to think that there was any possibility that he might someday not be around. Pippin might die... she thought. She fought the tears that threatened to spill from the rims of her eye lids. "A broken heart can be a destructive thing, Allegra," Elrond continued. "That is one of the only causes of Elvish deaths."
"I understand. But my decision remains. I feel that it is my duty to go. Why should I stay and be spared when my friends are sent to their doom?" she asked. She looked over at her chatting friends, patting each other on the back for a scheme well executed. She smiled out of fondness. "I would rather fight to the end with them than stay behind."
"You have a valiant spirit," Elrond said, "I do not doubt your strength. Especially since you have survived the Ringwraiths and traveled so far from your homeland in such a short amount of time." Allegra smiled, not being able to think of anything else to do. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, your friends anxiously await your return." Allegra smiled once more and headed back to her friends.
"What did he say?" asked Pippin.
"He and Gandalf talked it over, and they say I can go," said Allegra.
"Great!" said Pippin happily. "I heard my name in there. What did he say?"
"He said you're a fool of a Took, and that you should stay here," said Allegra.
"Oh, I believe that," he said rolling his eyes. "Come on, what did he say?"
"Nothing really important," Allegra lied.
"Well I hope you put in a good word for me, just the same," he said.
"I agreed that you should stay here," Allegra said with a grin.
"Hey, now!" he cried. "There's no way I'd be left here while you go off on a journey."
"I can do whatever I want, Peregrin Took, and not even you can stop me," said Allegra.