Chapter 7
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Elrond said, "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 to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Lexi watched as Frodo timidly stood up, placing the Ring on the stone table and sitting back down again. A murmur ran through the council, and she glanced around. What was the big deal? She looked at her friends, and Louis leaned towards her.
"It's the 'Doom of Men'," He whispered, "I heard someone say it over there."
"Doom of Men?"
But he wasn't able to answer. A man across the half-circle had stood up, starting to talk.
"In a dream I saw the eastern sky grow dark," He said, "but in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found'."
Slowly, he approached the Ring, stretching his hand out. Lexi stared in alarm; he was going to take it! She looked at Elrond, who stood up, shouting: "Boromir!" His words were cut short though by Gandalf, who stood up with his staff and started saying something in a language she had never heard before. A dark shadow seemed to pass over the circle, and Lexi closed her eyes, wanting him to stop whatever it was. All happiness seemed to drain out of her, and she felt some weird force in the circle, coming from the Ring it seemed like. Allie's hand was gripping hers, and then finally, the wizard finished. The sunlight came back, and she breathed out.
"What was that?" She mouthed to her friends. Looking a little shaken, they shook their heads, showing they didn't know.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," said Elrond to Gandalf, looking a little annoyed.
Lexi listened as Gandalf told the council that the words should be heard in every corner of the West, and hoped he wasn't going to say them again. Thankfully, he sat back down, and watched as the man Elrond called Boromir spoke.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?"
Allie stared at him. Use the Ring? How would they do that? If what Elrond told them was true, it controls people; how could they use it? And why would they want to? She was about to say these questions out loud, but he started to talk again.
"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!"
Allie opened her mouth, but Strider took the words out of her mouth, saying that no one could use it. Lexi tried not to laugh at the annoyed look on her friend's face.
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir sneered, and Lexi decided that she did NOT like this guy.
"He is no mere Ranger!" Legolas spoke up, on his feet, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Lexi stared at Strider, confused. What had Legolas called him? And why was that name so important?
"Aragorn?" Boromir said in surprise, "This is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor!" The elf said
"Sit down, Legolas," Aragorn told him as most eyes were on him. Lexi, Allie, and Louis all stared. He was going to be a king?
"Gondor has no king," Boromir said, almost sulkily, "Gondor needs no king." And he took his seat.
"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it," Gandalf changed the subject quickly.
"You have only one other choice," Elrond said, "It must be destroyed."
This brought up another murmur, and Lexi noticed Boromir looking upset.
"What are we waiting for?" A dwarf growled, standing up and taking his axe. Lexi cringed as he swung and brought it down on the Ring, making her and Allie both jump on impact. The dwarf was thrown backwards though, and they stared in amazement at the shattered axe and untouched Ring.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft that we here posses," Elrond told him, looking slightly amused as the dwarf looked shocked, "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 firey casem from whence it came. One of you must do this."
Everyone fell silent, and Lexi wondered if she should speak up now. She decided to keep quiet though, remembering Elrond had told them they weren't going to take the Ring, just go with.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir explained slowly, his head resting on his hand, "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. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air that you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with 10, 000 men could you do this. It is folly."
Lexi swallowed hard; she was supposed to help take the Ring there? What did Elrond expect of them?
"Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" said Legolas, and she knew he was right.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" the dwarf Gimli snapped at him. Lexi quickly sensed trouble as the two glared at each other.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir said loudly, standing up.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli roared, and the whole council erupted. Lexi and her friends stayed in their seats, along with Frodo as everyone argued and yelled at each other.
"This is crazy!" Louis said to Lexi and Allie, "What's with that Gimli guy? He and the Elves hate each other!"
They watched as the fight continued, until Frodo next to them stood up, shouting that he would take it. Lexi stared at him; he was so little, how was he going to do it? He had to shout again to be heard, and the council quieted down, looking at him.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor," He repeated, his voice much quieter now that everyone was watching him, "Though, I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," Gandalf said, walking next to him, "As long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn stood up, and kneeled down in front of the hobbit.
"By my life or death, if I can protect you, I will," He said, "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." said Legolas, walking over.
"And my axe," Gimli growled in a friendly tone. Allie nudged Lexi, who looked pointedly at Elrond. He was looking at them, as if saying they should go up now.
"We'll help you too!" Allie said, standing up with Lexi and Louis as they walked over.
"Nice speech," Louis whispered, " 'We'll help you too'?"
"I'd like to see you come up with something better!" She shot back.
Boromir slowly walked over, saying something about Gondor seeing the will of the council done. Lexi rolled her eyes at her friends.
"Hey!" A little voice cried out from a bush as Sam raced forward, "Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"
"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not." Elrond said, amused.
"Oy!" Merry also cried out, running forward from a hiding spot, "We're coming too!" He and Pippin joined the group, adding "You'd 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." Pippin stabbed. Lexi, Allie, and Louis all grinned at him, trying not to laugh.
"Well that rules you out, Pip," Merry told him.
"Twelve companions," Elrond pondered, "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
"Great," said Pippin, "Where are we going?"
