A/N; Here we go, another chapter. PLEASE review! I don't know if anyone likes it or hates it! It only takes a few second...anyway, i own no lotr stuff
Chapter 7: The last Counsel of Elrond
The day of Elrond's counsel, Frodo awoke early. He would have liked to have slept a little longer, but his dreams where making him start. They where a mixed blur of Mystic, Nazgul, and the quest that lay before her. The meeting was rather early, so it didn't bother Frodo all that much. On his way to the counsel, he stopped to see Mystic. She looked a lot better, so Frodo was in very good spirits when he entered the outdoor room, with the massive stone table. In the chairs sat Elrond ( at the head), a much older Gloin, Glorfindell and her counselors, Galdor, Erester, and a few others that Frodo did not recognize. He was greeted very kindly, they praised him for his successful quest. He wondered if they where just trying to butter him up to prepare him for a bitter near future. Elrond held his hands up and everyone sat down in there seats.
" Welcome, friends and companions, we come for my last counsel to discuss a few important matters. Firstly, our guest of honor, Mr. Baggins has brought us another quest to be dealt with." He said. Frodo shifted in his seat uncomfortably, everyone was starring at him. Gloin seemed to have aroused from an apparent stupor.
" Mr. Baggins! you do have a knack for finding Sauron's misplaced evil." He said gruffly. Everyone murmured in agreement. Frodo could feel his face turning red.
" Yes he does, but that's beside the point, we have evil, and its in a beautiful form that MUST be destroyed, who will embark on such a dangerous ordeal?" Elrond looked around. Everyone seemed to be listening, but no one looked particularly giddy to take a job like that. Finally a man spoke.
" What dangers will we encountered, how will we know what to do when it comes, I am a prominent Ranger, but I have no experience with the Mordor lands." He said. He looked at Frodo quite distinctly. frodo could practically read his mind. Frodo was the only one who knew what to do and when.
" I myself, can only see as far as the black gate, and even then, Its hard to tell anything." Said a tall wizard who sat to the right of Glorfindell.
" Well, speak up who ever you may be, we are the best of the best here, if none of you are brave enough to do this, who can? Sauron will over take us in no time, did I not tell you he would try to find another way?" Elrond looked undignified. Frodo knew what he had to do. He had no reason to live other then Mystic.
" I will go." He said in a small voice. Peoples heads turned to look at him. Elrond stood from his chair.
" I will go." He said again, projecting more. Everyone stood in silence.
" Is that how it will be, master Baggins." Asked Elrond. Frodo paused for a second.
" Yes, that is how it shall be." He said. To break the brief moment of silence , the door swung open. In walked Mystic, who looked tired, but well, she was accompanied by the servant who had been watching her and by Gandalf. They had been listening through the crack in the door.
" Hello there Frodo." He said. He looked grave but determined. everyone stood up upon his arrival.
" Gandalf, it is so nice to see you, I am sorry we have to keep meeting at this perils times." Said Elrond, offering . Gandalf declined
" We must be on our way soon, Frodo I understand, has taken up a responsibility. Mystic's eyes lightened, she looked happy, for now.
" I would like to take them back to my lodgings here and explain a few things that Frodo doesn't know." Said Gandalf. Elrond nodded
" Thus the end of my last counsel, I wish you all fair fortune in your later days, especially you, Frodo Baggins and Mystic Erebor." He said. before they could do anything, Gandalf started walking very fast. Knowing they had to follow they left the room with him. The place Gandalf was staying belonged to Legolas's Father, who was off in Mirkwood at the moment. He clearly had been there recently, for there was even dirty food dishes in the sink. Gandalf sat them around the table.
" OK, you have a great quest before you, I will give you all I can." He said.
" Firstly, Frodo, you shouldn't have had to do this again, but you do know the tricks, so here's a few more. There is only one Nazgul left, but the remains of the one that Frodo stabbed has combined its power with the other making a sort of supper wraith, so be careful. Shelob's Lair is now Shelob-free, so I would advise you take that road, but do be careful of the tower of Cirath Ungle, it will be infested. Go through the gap of Rohan instead of Moria, Rohan is friendly now, Sauron won't be able to purge them for a while." He said. They kept talking until nightfall. Frodo was getting ever more tense hearing of all the things he remembered so well. That night Elrond returned for the last time, while Mystic and Frodo where walking back to there lodgings.
" Frodo! I have a few things that you can take with you." He said. He handed a brown bag to Frodo.
" In it is months supply of Lembas bread, the herb made into a juice, it will help when all seems lost. In it also is Sting, you must have forgotten it last time." He said. Frodo dug to the bottom and saw his beloved sword, still glistening with the dry blood of Gollum.
" Thank you." Frodo said. Elrond gave them one last fleeting glance.
" Remember, even the smallest of us can change the course of history." He said.
That night Frodo's dreams where haunted with the quest. He kept picturing Shelob eating Mystic, Mt. Doom exploding before they could move, and pushing Mystic into the fire, which he still didn't know if he could. He was awoken at sunrise and was told to make haste. When he was fully dressed Gandalf and Mystic came into his room and they both looked worried.
" Frodo, we must hurry, the wraith was spotted last night, right over the Mountains!" He said. Frodo was given a fast breakfast. He had expected his departure from Gandalf and the rest would have been long and sad but Gandalf practically pushed them out. He was very shaky, which wasn't normal compared to his normal demeanor.
" You must make haste, they are expected to be around Moria by sundown." he said. He was leading them to Rivendell's back exit.
" Will you be safe, Gandalf?' Asked Mystic. Gandalf gave her a week smile.
" A white wizard is always safe, even during the great times of trouble." He said with a laugh. Mystic did not looked cheered up. He bid them farewell and put a spell on the day so the wraiths couldn't come in the area for a while, until Mystic and Frodo where out of harms way. They walked along in a hurry, not saying much. It hurt Frodo more and more with every step he took, he knew it would get worse. Mystic looked oddly strained. They walked until mystic shoulder wouldn't let her move an inch more. While Mystic sat on the edge of the path, Frodo was in the woods making a little brush shelter, unearthed crown of a uprooted tree.
" Mystic, you can come and lay down." Frodo said as the put the final touches on it. He spread a blanket out so that mystic could lay on it. She crawled over weekly.
" Frodo, how did you do it?' She asked. Frodo sat up from his spot and starred into space.
" I don't know." He said. Mystic shuffled over to him.
" I hope we'll have the same luck you had, and when it's all over you and I could go back to the Shire, and we could see out friends and say, we went on an amazing adventure, and I could say..." She kept talking but Frodo stopped listening . He had a strong throbbing guilt knot in his stomach. She wouldn't be going back to the shire, she'd be dead. The night wore on, neither Frodo or Mystic slept. Mystic was talking about the " adventure" they would be going on and Frodo thought he would die from the pain of guilt. Finally at around 4 o' clock, they both fell asleep.
A/N: Keep reading and review please!