CHAPTER 4 – RIVENDELL
Frodo awoke and looked around. He was in a room filled with light.
"Where me?"
"In Rivendell. It is ten o clock in the morning," said the Arbiter.
Frodo looked over with certain surprise at the Arbiter. He was puzzled.
"Why you no meet us?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was delayed."
In truth, he was more than just delayed. He had awoken on the roof of Orthanc, and had been forced to watch as Tartarus gathered all manner of Brutes, Jackals, and Drones to his service. They had then proceeded to dig out enormous underground workshops in which to create an army for Mordor. Only with the help of the legendary Yellow Banshee had he been able to escape.
A meeting had been called by the High Council member Elrond. His standings within the Elite hierarchy granted him enormous power, and he felt it necessary to gather members of every benevolent race to discuss the fate of the index.
And so the meeting began. There were representatives from every race, in addition to the Arbiter and Frodo. Half Jaw, of the woodland Elites was present. In addition to him, there was Gimli, the Hunter. Sergeant McKinsey of Gondor was there as well, representing the humans.
Elrond, with a grim but clear disposition, proceeded to explain all that had happened. Eventually, the council came to the conclusion that the index must be destroyed. Gimli, in his hastiness, proceeded to try bringing his massive shield down upon the index to obliterate it. As soon as his shield had struck, it cracked, flinging the massive hunter backward.
The image of Gravemind flashed across Frodo's vision, frightening him. Gimli proceeded to struggle to his feet, dumbstruck at the fact that something had cracked his shield (for a hunter's shield is nearly impenetrable.)
"The index cannot be destroyed by anything we possess," said Elrond, "The only place in which that cursed icon can be unmade is in the Library. The place it was forged. One of you must carry this into the heart of Mordor."
McKinsey, however, objected, "Why not use this index. Use it against Gravemind. Long has our country kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Why not use the index to destroy Gravemind?"
The Master Chief retorted, "It can't be used against Gravemind. It has no other master!"
Half Jaw then spoke up, "We must all take heed to this Spartan. The Index must be destroyed."
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" exclaimed Gimli.
"And what if we fail? What shall we do when Gravemind takes back what is his?" asked McKinsey.
"I will be dead before I see the index in the hands of an Elite!" Gimli added.
That was all it took to ignite the tempers of all present. The council chamber erupted into a frenzy of raised voices as each one asserted their right to bear the index into Mordor, and ultimately the Library. Frodo, unable to bear such arguing, finally got up, walked to the center of the frenzy, and gave his words.
"Me take index to Mordor."
At that, all the voices were silenced out of total surprise. A grunt had no hope of doing such an act himself.
"I will help you to bear this burden," added the Arbiter.
Sam, who was watching from a distance, immediately ran to his side and exclaimed, "Frodo no go without me!"
Elrond was rather amused, "It is not very easy to separate you two is it?"
Merry and Pippin also appeared suddenly.
"We come too!" declared Merry.
Elrond was now rather irritated that such an inefficient company was to go to Mordor. The others must have sensed this as well, as they began volunteering.
"I won't let you get yourself killed needlessly," stated McKinsey.
Master Chief then joined himself, "You have my sword."
"You have my shield," added Gimli.
"And my cruiser," finished Half Jaw.
Everyone averted their attention to him, giving him a surprised stare.
"What?" he asked.