Chapter Two: The Council of Elrond
Disclaimer: Yes, you know wot I'm gonna bloody well say, I don't own LOTR, that honor belongs to Professor Tolkein, may Varda bless him.
The next few weeks in the House of Elrond passed enjoyably. I spent almost all of my time with Merry and Pippin, or with Adunaciriel. Occasionally I went to the hall of fire at night and sang, my rich, deep voice resonating through the rafters and, Frodo said, making a nice change from the light and lyrical voices of the elves.
Hanging out with Merry and Pippin was quite possibly the most fun I have ever had in my life. All three of us were slightly smashed all the time, and we just talked, and did the most ridiculous things, playing tricks (mostly on Sam, as we hardly dared to do them to anyone else), climbing trees and spending a lot of time at the table. I think the rest of the house was quite surprised at my hobbity-ness. I had even taking up wearing what were essentially oversized hobbit clothes, going barefoot as I always did at home (the soles of my feet were almost as tough as an actual hobbits').
After several weeks of this ideal existence, the day of the Council of Elrond finally came. I was invited to attend, being the only representative of Rohan there.
The day of the council was a crisp day, the kind I love, where the sky is a bright, vivid blue, with clouds scudding across it in the lively wind, and simply to breathe is to be refreshed. When the horn sounded for the council, and Adunaciriel came to fetch me, I had Merry and Pippin hide behind pillars, so they could listen in.
I entered into a room which was neither indoors nor outdoors, as so much of Rivendell was. The pillars supporting the roof on the far side were of a sandy rose-hued stone. A circle of shapely chairs were set up. I sat down, feeling slightly nervous and out of place. The nervous feeling subsided slightly when Gandalf came in and sat next to me with a reassuring smile. I sat up straighter. When it appeared that everyone was present, Elrond stood up and addressed us gravely.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been called here so that we may decide what is to be done with the Ring of Power and the threat of Mordor..."
I saw a man I took to be Boromirs eyes light at the mention of the Ring, and he leaned forward, attentive. He soaked up what Elrond and Gandalf told the council of the history of the Ring, and then stood up.
"I left on this errand on account of a dream. I was standing on the walls of Minas Tirith, and I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered, and a voice spoke, crying 'Seek for the sword that was broken, in Imladris it dwells. There shall be councils taken, stronger than morgul-spells. There shall be show a token that doom is near at hand, for Isildur's bane is woken, and the Halfling forth shall stand. Am I right to believe the ring this Halfling" he gestured toward Frodo "has shown us is indeed the Ring of Power, Isildur's bane?"
"So it would seem." Said Elrond, "But we are not yet decided, let Galdor speak his piece."
He did, and Bilbo and Frodo, and then Gandalf. After he told the council about Saruman, I stood, saying,
"If I have your leave, Master Elrond..." He graciously nodded, so I spoke
"Ere I left my land, I was bidden to ride to Edoras to see if Théoden King had any message I might take to you. I arrived and though I came to the very doors of the Golden Hall of Meduseld, I was not permitted to enter. Instead, one Gríma, son of Galmod, the king's advisor, came and bid me speak to him.
"He had an ill-favored look about him. He was short, and bore no sword. Indeed, he hardly looked capable of it. He was clothed all in black, and had dark, greasy hair and a pale face with heavy-lidded eyes. He did not walk; rather he slunk, as though he had need of secrecy. I asked to see the king, and he denied me, saying that Théoden could not be disturbed. I then drew my sword, for my errand was urgent, and he shrank against the door and gave way.
"The King Théoden, when I saw him, was a decrepit old man, though indeed, he is only in his seventieth year. He did not speak even when I asked if there was no message he would give to the lord of Imladris. Finally Gríma came and whispered in his ear, and he spoke, saying he wanted naught to do with Rivendell or any elves- lathspell, ill news, he said, is all they bear, workers of evil and sorcerers. Bear in mind, m'lord Elrond, those were his very words, not mine.
"I asked Háma, the head of the king's guard of this, and he told me that the king's advisor is known as Wormtongue, and that, save for the king, all shun him. I thought it ill, that this Gríma Wormtongue should have such power over the mind of the king of my land, and thought to ask for your council on this matter."
I bowed and returned to my seat. Gandalf spoke up.
"I too, have heard of this Gríma Wormtongue, and it goes not well with the King Théoden... But that is not our present concern. What to do with the Ring?" When Elrond said nothing, I spoke instead, saying
"Well, if it cannot be used and it cannot be hidden away safe, it must be destroyed. Is there no means? Indeed, Lord Elrond, you make it sound as if it were imperishable."
Then Elrond stood again, and said, very carefully, very deliberately, as if to impress what he was saying upon us,
"It must be thrown into the fiery chasm from whence it came. Orodruin-Mount Doom, in the land of Mordor where was it forged, only there can it be unmade."
An ominous silence fell. The entire council looked awkward, as they shifted, trying to avoid Elrond's gaze. I turned to Frodo, whom I had seen only a few times before, as he was mostly shut up with Bilbo, leaned his head on his hand as if he had a painful headache. It was heart wrenching to see him go through this.
Finally, Boromir spoke up, and everyone turned to him
"Don't you see, this is folly. We cannot send the Ring into Mordor; it would be reclaimed by the Dark Lord without delay. And to cross the Gorgoroth Plains without scathe? Not with ten thousand warriors of Númenór of old could we do this. I tell thee, 'tis madness not to use this Ring! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy; let us use it against him! Gondor wanes, you say, but Gondor stands, and even in the winter of her strength she is still strong. I think it would be well for you to know of Gondor's deeds, so that you may know thy peril should she fall..."
He went on for a while, talking about Gondor, and though I could see the rest of the council cared little for what he said, I could almost see the White City in his eyes; he spoke of it with such pride; I noted that he stood taller, straighter, and more regal.
Talk circled, as the council talked of other deeds that might pertain to the imminent war. Nothing, until Elrond said
"We are but equivocating the matter of the Ring. It must be destroyed. One of you must do this."
I turned back to Frodo, who it seemed, had finally steeled himself for what he felt he must do. He stood up, the rustle of his coat tails breaking the profound silence.
"I will take it." He said "I-I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though... I do not know the way." Everyone turned to him, astonished. Elrond raised those eyebrows again, and said
"If indeed this is your decision, I deem that it is as it should be. Very well, Frodo, son of Drogo, you shall be the Ringbearer. I shall select companions to go with you, and the Nine walkers shall stand against the Nine riders that are evil. There shall be Legolas Thranduilion for the Elves, Gimli son of Gloin for the Dwarves, for Men, there shall Aragorn, and Boromir, son of Defector also, for his way home lies upon that road."
"And me!" Another voice suddenly shouted, and Sam leapt to Frodo's side from where he had been sitting unnoticed just outside the circle of chairs. "Mister Frodo en't goin' nowhere without me!" Elrond smiled at him
"Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Sam suddenly became aware of the thirty-some eyes all resting on him, and blushed furiously and stuck his hands in his pockets.
I stepped forward
"I too will go with the company, at least to my home."
Boromir looked at me oddly "You're naught but a girl!"
"What of it?" I spat, wheeling around to face him, he'd be sorry he'd got me going. "I journeyed hither, did I not, without help, robbed of my weapons. Do you mean to say that I would be but a hindrance to the company?"
He looked ill at ease, and glanced at Elrond, muttering "No. No, milady. It's just... have you any skill with a blade?"
"Some." I answered (truthfully-I had taken lessons) "My father died before he could teach me all he knew. If one here would perhaps school me in more of the art of swordplay, Lord Boromir could judge my fitness to go on the quest." Elrond nodded, and Boromir glanced at me apologetically, though I could see he still doubted my worth
"My apologies, I spoke hastily." I nodded.
Gandalf stood, leaning on his knotty staff. "I shall help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear. I will go with the company, as a guide." Elrond nodded
"For the ninth member of the company, I shell perhaps select one of my own house." Suddenly, there was a cry from behind the pillars
"Oi! What aboot us?"
"Aye, ye can't go'n leave us behind!" Merry and Pippin darted forward
"Anyway," said Pippin, "Ye need someone of intelligence on this kind of mission... quest...thing! We're going, ye'll 'ave to tie us up and send us home in sacks to stop us!" Elrond looked at them incredulously.
"Nay, Master Hobbit. You wish only to go because you cannot imagine the terrible danger."
"No, Lord Elrond." Gandalf said, sanding creakily and unexpectedly supporting the hobbits "It true that they cannot imagine the danger, but then, can any of the rest of us? No, if they could, they would not dare to go, but they would wish that they dared, and be shamed and unhappy. Even if you chose for us an elf lord, such as Glorfindel, he could not open a path to the black land, or bring down the Dark Tower by the power that is in him. No, I think, that in this case, it would be better to trust to their friendship than to great wisdom." Elrond sighed resignedly,
"Perhaps you are right, friend, but it is my judgment that the younger of these two, Peregrin Took, at least should stay behind. I think all may not be well in the Shire, and I thought to send him back to warn them, according to the fashion of his kind."
It took Pippin a moment to register all this, but when he did, he was indignant "Ah'll no' be left behin', Master Elrond, an' if ye try t'make me I'll follow th'company till me feet're worn off!" Elrond furrowed his brow, looking pensive
"Ten companions...? So be it, you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." I looked at Pip and smiled.