Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings but if I did.....drool........Legolas.......hot elf...drool.....Elrond.....argh!!!! Elrond get out of my fantasy!!!!! All the new characters are my own creations with a few suggestions from my friend (Gilraen) thrown in.

Chapter 2

The fate of the Ring

It took them five days to reach Rivendell. Frodo was still recovering in the House of Elrond. Sam refused to leave Frodo's side. The travelers were given rooms and clean clothes. All were grateful for this including Strider.

The next day (24th Oct), Frodo woke up and was greeted by his old friend, Gandalf the Grey. He was well enough to get up and explore Rivendell. He found Merry and Pippin again and they showed him his uncle, Bilbo. He and the other Hobbits found Tigerlily in the library, reading a book. She was wearing a white dress but still wore her boots. Her hair and face were clean.

"Hello, Miss Tigerlily," said Frodo. Tigerlily looked up and smiled.

"It is good to see you, Mr. Frodo," she replied.

"I've been meaning to ask you something," said Frodo

"What is it?" she said kindly

"Your name, it's a Hobbit name. How did you come to have it?" asked Frodo. Tigerlily put the book down and walked over to Frodo.

"My mother was born in Bree and had quite a few Hobbit friends. Her best friend was a Hobbit named Tigerlily and my mother said that she would name her first daughter after her. I am my mother's only daughter but like all my brothers I have a Hobbit name," said Tigerlily.

"Where do you come from?" asked Sam, he was always interested in foreign lands.

"A country in the south, which many have not heard of; Enedwaith. I come from a village on the coast. It's a small farming community rather like the Shire. Everyone knows everybody else and nothing is secret," said Tigerlily, fondly, "I loved my home."

"Why did you leave?" asked Pippin. Tigerlily didn't reply but left the room.

"Nice one Pip, you've upset her," said Merry

"I just asked a question," said Pippin. The Hobbits left the library and looked for Tigerlily. They couldn't find her. They were soon distracted by the arrival of visitors to Rivendell. Dwarves, Elves and Men came. Among them was Gimli, a dwarf with red hair and beard. Legolas the elf, the elven Prince of Mirkwood, he was fair of face and had bright blue eyes and long blond hair. Boromir of Gondor, a tall stern man with dark hair and gray eyes. They had arrived in Rivendell for various reasons but looked too intimidating for the Hobbits to speak to.

Strider was the only one to see Tigerlily for the rest of the day. She was stood not far from him in a corridor off the hall he was in. She looked as if she was crying; something Strider rarely saw her do. Boromir entered the hall and looked at the picture showing the defeat of Sauron. He saw Strider watching him.

"You are no elf," he said.

"The men of the South are welcome here," said Strider. Boromir nodded.

"Who are you?" he asked

"I am a friend of Gandalf the Grey," said Strider.

"Then we are here on common purpose," said Boromir. He then turned to see the broken sword opposite the picture.

"The Shards of Narsil," he muttered. He picked up the handle and held it using two hands

"The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand," he continued, unaware that both Strider and Tigerlily were watching him. He ran his hand along the blade and cut his finger.

"It's still sharp," he said. Then he saw Strider looking at him.

"But no more than a broken heirloom," said Boromir, savagely. He put it back and walked away. The shard dropped to the floor but Boromir carried on walking. Strider picked up the shard and put it back. Tigerlily decided she didn't like Boromir very much.

The next day, Elrond called a council. Tigerlily wore a silver tunic and black trousers. Her hair was held back in a braid with some loose strands framing her face. She sat next to Strider, opposite Frodo and Gandalf.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Elrond started, "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. We will unite or fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Frodo stood up and walked forward and placed the Ring on the stone table in the center. He took a quick glance at Tigerlily, who gave him an encouraging smile. Murmurs and whispers went round the council. Someone said, "The doom of Man." Boromir stood up, looking at the ring.

"In a dream," he said, "I saw the eastern sky grow dark but in the west a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found'," he reached towards the Ring, "Isildur's bane."

"Boromir," called Elrond. Gandalf stood up and began to shout in the Black Speech. The sky grew dark. Gimli reached for his ax. Elrond covered his face with one hand. Legolas closed his eyes. Tigerlily closed her eyes with fear. As the Black Speech sounded in her ears, she remembered things from her past. An orc snarling, a sword swinging, then it was stained red with blood and a young man fell to his knees. Gandalf stopped as Boromir sat down. Tigerlily opened her eyes. Gandalf sat down.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," said Elrond.

"Do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond," said Gandalf, "For the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The Ring is altogether evil."

"It is a gift," said Boromir, "A gift to the foes of Mordor! 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 people, are your lands kept safe Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."

"It is not just Mordor that is against us," said Tigerlily, standing up.

"Tigerlily," said Strider in warning.

"Isengard has turned against us. Orcs and Dunlendings now attack the lands of the south, including my home. It is not just the enemies on our borders we need to watch, it is the enemies within that must be feared the most," said Tigerlily.

"Tigerlily is it?" said Boromir. Tigerlily nodded.

"Well, you certainly have the courage of a tiger, not many peasants were dare speak back to their superiors," said Boromir. Tigerlily was shocked.

"Don't be so shocked. You are from Enedwaith, no?" said Boromir.

"Yes," said Tigerlily.

"All that is there are a few farms and uneducated peasants," said Boromir, "Nothing at all worth protecting." Boromir soon regretted his words. He had insulted Tigerlily's people; something she did not cast aside lightly. Her fist came out of nowhere and got him square between the eyes. He stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. She hadn't hurt him badly; just shocked him.

"You're foolish like a typical woman too," said Boromir. Tigerlily didn't get to hit him this time because Strider stood up and held her back.

"Sit down Tigerlily," said Elrond. Boromir stood up and glared at Tigerlily. Tigerlily and Strider returned to their seats.

"As for the Ring," said Strider, "You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" snarled Boromir.

"This is no mere Ranger," said Legolas, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir looked at Aragorn.

"Aragorn?" he said, "This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," added Legolas.

Aragorn waved his hand and said, "Havo dad, Legolas."

Boromir turned to Legolas and said, "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king." He went back to his seat.

"Aragorn is right," said Gandalf, "We cannot use it." Elrond stood up.

"We have only one choice," he said, "It must be destroyed."

"What are we waiting for?" said Gimli. He stood up and drew his ax. He struck the Ring with it. His ax smashed into a hundred pieces and he was flung backwards. Tigerlily saw Frodo flinched when the ax hit the Ring.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin," said Elrond, "By any craft we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mt. Doom and only there can it be unmade. It must be taken into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this." There was silence until...

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," said Boromir, "Its gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. A great eye that is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland of fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with 10,000 men could you do this. It is folly." Legolas stood up suddenly.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said?" he shouted at Boromir, "The Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it," said Gimli.

"And if we fail, what then?" said Boromir, "What if Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf," roared Gimli.

The Elves jumped to their feet, yelling at the Dwarves. One of them moved to go towards them, but Legolas held out an arm to hold him back. The Men also rose, every one shouting at someone else. Gandalf shook his head and soon joined the argument. Frodo looked around. Only he, Aragorn, and Tigerlily remained seated. Frodo looked at the Ring; he knew what he had to do. He stood up.

"I will take it! I will take it!"

The council went silent and stared at Frodo.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor," he paused, "Though I do not know the way."

"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins," said Gandalf, "As long as it is yours to bear."

"Such a small one cannot bear such a burden even when accompanied by a wizard," said Tigerlily, "I would give my life to protect you, Frodo Baggins," she walked towards Frodo and bowed before him, "Do with me what you will."

"Err, thank you, Tigerlily," said Frodo. Aragorn rose as well.

"If by my life and death, I can protect you, I will," said Aragorn, "You have my sword." He stood next to Tigerlily.

"And you have my bow," said Legolas, he stood on Tigerlily's other side.

"And my ax!" growled Gimli. Tigerlily giggled at Legolas' expression which clearly said, 'not the dwarf!' Boromir approached Frodo.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one," he said, "This indeed is the will of the council and Gondor will see it done."

"Hey!" shouted a voice. Sam came out from behind a bush.

"No way is Mr. Frodo going anywhere without me!" he said.

"No? Indeed it is hardly possible to separate you, when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," said Elrond. He spun around when he heard another shout.

"Oi, we're coming too!" Merry and Pippin came out of their hiding places, "And you'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"

"Besides," said Pippin, "You need people of intelligence on this mission. Quest. Thing."

"Well that rules you out, Pip," said Merry. Pippin nodded, and then realized what Merry had said and stared at him.

"Ten companions!" said Elrond, "Very well then, you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Alright then," said Pippin, "Where are we going?"

Gandalf and the Hobbits groaned at Pippin's ignorance.