Council of Elrond! Please enjoy!
Review responses;
Dinosaur Imperial Soldier - Here is the Council of Elrond. And yes, it is good for Faron to see her kin, friends and love interests again :D
thewolf74 - Believe me, so am I! It's good for Faron to see the people she cared for again!
Farrah (for chapter 1) - I'm glad you did love the prequel, and I really hope you enjoy this, especially for what I have planned for Faron for the future. And yes! Someone who's noticed the Molly Weasley quote! I have to give credit to my wife for suggesting to put that in! Though it is quite amusing to hear Dwaling say it heehee!
0netflixme0 - Next chapter is up!
kionforever89 - Yep! I told you all he as coming back, and here he is! I'm glad he's back as well! Don't worry, she'll soon come to realise her feelings for our elf prince! Mahal, or Aule, is the creator of the dwarves, the one who woke Durin the Deathless from stone and brought him into Middle Earth. Although, he was a bit naughty by doing it as the elves were supposed to come first. . .but there you go ^_^
Council of Elrond
The next day, I sit in between Gloin and Gimli, surprising those who do not know of me as being the only woman there. I know that many of them, especially those of the race of men, would not believe that a mere woman had any place being in such a Council of great importance. I felt it especially from the man of Gondor with light brown hair.
I recognise him as Boromir, son of Denethor, grandson to my old friend Ecthelion. Of course, the first time I met Boromir was when he was still wearing nappies and crawling around his grandfather's feet.
Looking around the balcony we are in, I have to keep myself from laughing as I realise that this is the same balcony the Company took their meal after first arriving in Rivendell, and the pedestal that currently resides in the centre of the semi-circle, was the same one that Bofur had danced on, allowing the others to start causing trouble by throwing food around.
As everyone is walking in, I grin as I lean over and whisper in Gloin's ear; "You do realise the significance of this room and that pedestal, do you not?"
He looks to me in confusion so I quietly sing the first line of 'The Man in the Moon,' causing him to snort in laughter as he realises, making the elves next to us look at us in disapproval and Legolas to look at me curiously.
We stop laughing as Elrond stands to begin once everyone is seated.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. 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 fate - this one doom." He gestures to the pedestal as he's looking at the only hobbit in the room. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo.
Frodo rises and lays the Ring on the pedestal.
"So it is true. . ." I hear Boromir say.
Frodo returns to his seat beside Gandalf. He seems relieved. The other members of the Council stare at the Ring, mesmerised by it.
"The Doom of Men." one of the men says.
Boromir rises to address the Council. "In a dream, 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.'" He approaches the Ring on the plinth, I watch him warily. "Isildur's Bane is found."
Boromir reaches out towards the Ring. Gandalf and Elrond exchange concerned looks. Boromir's fingers hover above the Ring. Elrond leaps up and shouts out his name, just as Gandal stands and begins to chant in the Black Speech. I hear the ring echoing the harsh words as Thunder crackles in the now darkened sky. I hold my head in pain, as does Elrond and a few other elves, Legolas closes his own eyes in pain.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."
Thankfully, the voice of the Ring dies away as Gandalf finishes the chant. Gloin places a hand on my arm as I lift my head up again.
"Are you alright, lass?" he asks worriedly.
I nod as people resume their seats, horrified, Boromir amongst them.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!" Elrond exclaims at the wizard.
Gandalf, his voice now raspy from the force of the words and the language replies; "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil!"
He gives Boromir a final scathing glance and resumes his seat. Boromir is unperturbed as he stands once again, causing me to groan under my breath.
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" he paces. "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!"
"You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Aragorn informs him.
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Boromir replies, in almost a threatening manner.
I glare at the man as he speaks to my brother in that manner. I instantly leap to my feet, causing those around to look at me in surprise.
"This is no mere ranger." Boromir turns to me. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
He looks to me in surprise before turning to the ranger. "Aragorn? This. . .is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor."
I notice Frodo looking wide-eyed at Aragorn, obviously not knowing this. I even sense Gloin and Gimli's surprise from next to me.
"Havo dad, muinthel." Aragorn says to me calmly.
I continue to glare at Boromir as I retake my seat.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir says darkly as he returns to his own seat.
I continue to glare at him until Gandalf speaks. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
Elrond stands once again. "You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
There's a moments pause where no one speaks.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli speaks from my left.
Gimli grabs an axe and approaches the pedestal. With a loud cry, he strikes the Ring with full force but is repelled back, throwing him to the ground. The other dwarves and I immediately stand to help him up and into his seat. Looking at the pedestal, I see the Ring still intact with the shards of the axe around it. Whispers in the black tongue issue forth from the Ring.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. 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. One of you must do this."
Silence.
Boromir speaks up again. "One does not simply walk into Mordor. 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. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!"
This time, Legolas stands and says indignantly; "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli asks gruffly from next to me.
Boromir also rises. "And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"
Gimli leaps up. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
Commotion starts as arguments erupt amongst the council members.
"Never trust an Elf!"
Luckily I don't feel insulted by this as Gimli has always referred to me as more dwarf than elf. Being surrounded by the arguing males, I make my way through them and stand beside Aragorn, feeling more comfortable by his side. He takes my hand as Gandalf stands and gets involved in the arguing also.
I look to the seat ahead of me, where Frodo is sitting, and watch him as he stares at the Ring. He just sits and watches the ring, not seeming to be listening to arguing as it intensifies. I can see small beads of sweat falling down his face, before a look of determination slowly appears on his face. He stands and takes a few steps toward the arguing council, trying to make his voice heard.
"I will take it!"
My heart falls slightly, hoping I didn't hear what I thought I heard. But, he repeats the four same words, causing the argument to fall into silence and everyone looking to the hobbit in astonishment.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though. . .I do not know the way."
Gandalf is the first to speak as he walks towards Frodo "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." he places his hands reassuringly on Frodo's shoulders as he stands behind him.
Aragorn rises. "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." He approaches Frodo and keels before him. "You have my sword."
Legolas also walks over. "And you have my bow."
"And my axe!" Gimli says, walking over and looking grimly at Legolas as he joins the group
I smile as I walk over and kneel in front of him. "Nearly eighty years ago, I vowed to protect your uncle as he helped my kin and I on our quest." I reach out and take one of his small hands into my own. "Today, I make the same vow to protect you as you embark on your own quest. I give you my blades."
He smiles as I rise and stand beside Aragorn as Boromir walks over.
"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."
There's a sudden cry from behind us and we turn to see Sam jumping out from behind the bushes and runs past Aragorn and Gandalf to stand next to Frodo.
"Mister Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!"
I look to Elrond to see him grinning in amusement. "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."
Merry and Pippin suddenly emerge from behind the pillars at the entrance to join us
"Wait! We are coming too!"
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry says, grinning at his friend who grins back.
"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. . .quest. . .thing."
"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry says to him, causing me to bite my lip so I don't laugh aloud.
"Ten companions. . .So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond announces.
"Great! Where are we going?"
I can't help but to laugh at this as the others look to him.
Council of Elrond done and dusted! Hope you all stay tuned for the next chapter! Please keep your lovely reviews coming!
Translations;
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul." - (One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.)
"Havo dad, muinthel." (Sit down, sister.)