Ok, thank you all for the reviews and I will acknowledge them at the end. This chapter doesn't get into Legolas' thoughts until closer to the end when they are many. And, contrary to this chapter, I really don't hate Boromir all that much. LOL.

In the Active Mind of a Quiet Elf

Chapter Two: The Council of Elrond

Legolas and his companions made their way up the steps and into the circle of chairs. There was a platform bathed in midday light, large tree roots falling down to its base on one side, statues on the other and trees stretching on the opposite side of where he stood as far as the eye could see.

There were a few elves from Rivendell already there, in a tight circle to his left, talking in whispers. When they saw Legolas they watched his for a few seconds and then went back to their whispers. Legolas wasn't used to being ignored but didn't let it show as he walked across the platform and took a chair at the far end.

It felt good to be away from Mirkwood and his father but he wasn't really looking forward to the circumstances by which he had been sent. He'd talked to Aragorn earlier that morning and learned there were Dwarves in Rivendell, coming to the meeting. Scowling, he eyed the statues until a few humans arrived, and finally Gandalf and a small person, no doubt Frodo.

"Frodo Baggins, this is Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood." Gandalf said, stepping into the clearing. Legolas stood and bowed his head to the small Hobbit. They took their seats three away from Legolas. Lord Elrond came a few minutes later, accompanied by four Dwarves.

There was an incoherent murmur from his left as one of his companions stared at the Dwarves who had taken their seats, glaring back. The on second to the left was watching him but Legolas paid him no head because, at that moment, Elrod rose.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." He began. Legolas rolled his eyes. Friends? He was definitely not friends with the Dwarves and Legolas hoped he wouldn't expect the other elves to be either. "You have been summoned here 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 fatethis one doom." He looked at the Hobbit beside Gandalf. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."

Legolas watched the Hobbit move forward to a circular plinth in the middle of the clearing. There, on top he set a ring down. Legolas felt a weird jolt come over him, clenching his stomach and freezing his heart as this soft, evil voice called to him. The Hobbit went back to his seat but Legolas didn't notice. He could hear, as though it came from the ring, his name being called over and over again and, by the shifting of everyone around him, they felt it to. So this was the ring of Mordor.

The human on the other side of the clearing from him spoke, his eyes locked on the ring. His voice sent a jolt through the young elf prince, pulling his desire away and the voice ceased. "So it is true…" He said. From Legolas' left he heard someone say something about the doom of men. Men maybe, but not elves…if couldn't be.

The human on the other side spoke again. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor!" Legolas couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was no gift, it was a curse and this man was a fool to this otherwise. "Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay, by the blood of our peopleall your lands kept safe!" Legolas suddenly realized who this was. It was Boromir of Gondor. His people kept nothing safe, Legolas' people had never profited from Boromir. They kept their own lands safe. "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy." 'Give Gondor the weapon pf the enemy'? Legolas would have told Boromir off had not Aragorn stepped in. "Let us use it against him!"

"You cannot wield it!" Aragorn said, desperation in his voice. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir wasn't done, though.

"And what would a Ranger know of such matter?" He asked vehemently. Legolas had enough. Standing in one fluent motion, anger flaring, half controlled inside him, he stared at Boromir in anger.

"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." He let the pompous son of the Steward of Gondor take in that news. Smugly, Legolas continued, "You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir looked at his in surprise. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Legolas was surprised that this wasn't getting through the human's head.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas confirmed, hoping to get through his head. Aragorn stood and held up a hand, calling Legolas' attention.

"Hava dad, Legolas." He said gently. Legolas decided reluctantly to follow his friend's command but wasn't happy about it. If he hadn't respected Aragorn so much he would have told him to stick it up his…

"Gondor has no King." Boromir said. "Gondor needs no King." And he returned to his seat. Legolas glared at him. Well, if that man was the steward's son and next in line to take over the throne in the King's stead, no wonder Gondor was in trouble. Legolas looked around at the circle of people. Did anyone else think Boromir was a major idiot, or was it just him?

Legolas, wrapped up in thoughts on Boromir and what he'd like to him, didn't hear what Gandalf said and only half of what Elrond said. "…The ring must be destroyed." Legolas raised an eyebrow. Duh.

One of the dwarves sprang to his feet. "What are we waiting for?" He growled. Raising his ax, he brought it down sharply on the ring. There was a loud crack that hurt Legolas' keen ears and the ax split into a million little pieces, hurling the Dwarf away from the plinth on which the ring stood. Legolas stared at the small ring which was relatively unharmed and, though he was shocked and amazed, he felt a small bit of warmth to the small circle with the explosive power. If it could hurl a dwarf, it was alright in his mind.

"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft that we here possess." Legolas looked over at the Dwarf who had been thrown so violently and smirked as one of his companions muttered something about a fool. "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 fiery chasm from whence it came." There was silence at this statement and even Legolas had his doubts. "One of you must do this."

One of them? Legolas let his eyes wander over the group. One of them? There were men who would surly fall to it's power, Dwarves which were to stupid and slow…an old wizard a Hobbit and Elves. Well, it would have to be the elves of course but…

"One does not simply walk to Mordor." Oh great, Boromir was talking again. Legolas listened to him, fully aware that what the man was saying was true and surprise that he could fit two words together was bubbling to the surface of his mind. "Its 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 you breathe is a poisonous fume." Vacation! Legolas thought blandly, trying to see this mental Mordor. "Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly." Legolas really couldn't stand this guy. They didn't have a choice.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" He asked, again springing to his feet. The ring must be destroyed."

Gimli or whatever his name was now also up. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it." Legolas stared at the small, fat man in wonder. How dare he? Well, Legolas would do a better job then this Gimli any day.

"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir was continuing but Legolas hardly heard him. He was still watching the ugly Dwarf in mild indignation. This creature was way out of line and his next statement made Legolas seethe.

"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli roared. There was a sudden flurry of motion all around them. Legolas' companions had sprung to their feet and were trying to kill the Dwarf but Legolas held them back. This little creature was his, later, when there were no witnesses. "Never trust an elf!"

Suddenly, above all the jumble of voices, Legolas heard a small but clear voice yelling. "I will take it, I will take it!" Turning, Legolas could not see the small Hobbit above the heads of the people around him but he knew it had been the Hobbit who had spoken. Around them, the chatter died.

"…Though I don't know the way." Gandalf moved forward.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear." He said, taking his place behind Frodo and looking around at the others. Legolas couldn't believe that this little creature would do this…at least though it wasn't a dwarf.

Aragorn suddenly moved forward and Legolas knew, if Aragorn went, he'd have to go. Aragorn never stayed out of trouble for long. He'd need someone to protect him. Oh man, his father was mad enough already but this was going to give him an untimely…and unlikely, death.

"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." Legolas clenched his jaw and moved forward.

"And you have my bow." He said, standing behind the Hobbit as well.

"And my ax." Legolas felt his heart clench. Damn! That little hairy man was coming to! The stupid Dwarf took his place beside Legolas and looked up at him smugly. The elf ignored him and kept his eyes forward as his fingers itched to find a home on the small creature's neck.

Boromir stepped forward. "You carry the fate of us all little one." He said. Legolas rolled his eyes. Frodo was ten times stronger and braver then Boromir ever could be…and probably in some aspects, bigger. With that satisfying insult in his mind, Legolas didn't interrupt the man for once. "If this is indeed the will of the council, Gondor will see it done." Legolas nodded, they needed more then a dwarf for ineptitude. All great quests had at least two…

Suddenly another Hobbit appeared, running into the main ring. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere with out me!" He yelled, taking a spot beside Frodo.

"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond said blandly. Legolas smiled slightly as yet two more Hobbits ran into the circle.

"Wait! We're coming to!" They yelled. "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" One yelled. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest…thing." Legolas mentally nodded. Why didn't Boromir and Gimli listen to that? "That rules you out Pip." One of the Hobbits retorted. Legolas raised his eyebrows. Yes, and it ruled out…

"Nine companions…" Elrond said, eyeing them. Legolas stood straighter and tried not to let any of what he was thinking leak onto his face. "So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

"Great!" One of the Hobbits said enthusiastically. "Where are we going?" Legolas almost laughed. Almost.

TO MY REVIEWERS:

Morph: Hey, thanks for the review and the compliment. I hope you liked this chapter.

Isdule07: Thanks for the review. I really hope you like this chapter and please stick with it.

Orlandochick05: Thanks. I really liked my rivendell to, I was trying to describe the city but we really didn't get to see all that much of it. I'm almost there in the book so, maybe they'll describe it there.

DragonHunter200: Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. LOL. You'll just have to read faster! No, I'm kidding, but I do hope you liked it. Thank you for the compliments. I won't forget my other stories, I'm just so busy lately and kinda stuck…Twice? Holy. LOL. I can keep the movies straight for the most part. Orlando motivated me…lol.

Southern Gaelic: Sorry about the Elvish, but I probably won't have to much more and if I do it will be a small amount. I get nitpicky to, don't worry. Thanks.

And to anyone else I may have forgotten, I'm sorry. To everyone reading and not reviewing, I hope you enjoy it!