1Disclaimer: I still own nothing. You would think by chapter four I would own something, but I do not.
Chapter 4 The ?-ship of the Ring
There was a split second of complete silence. Then it came.
"What!?" yelled both Wesley and Gandalf together, one in anger, the other disbelief. Q sheepishly looked at the human and the wizard. Elrond just sighed. If this entity wouldn't stop distracting the council, Sauron might overtake Middle Earth before anyone, including Q, would stop him.
"Q, if you can't get us out, why did you bring us here in the first place?" Wesley demanded. Q anxiously awaited and interruption, but none was to be found. All eyes were turned on him.
"Why, to help a starving world, of course!" Gandalf shook his head at Q's response. Had he been an immoral wizard like Saruman, Gandalf would have strangled him without a second thought.
"I believe you can best help us by not being a distraction," Elrond politely suggested.
"Consider it done," Q said, teleporting beneath Wesley's chair. The young officer seriously considered kicking him in the face.
"Bilbo, before we all lose our senses, would you enlighten us with your tale of the ring?" Elrond requested. Bilbo rose from Wesley's side and approached the center of the courtyard. He proceeded to tell of his adventure with a group of dwarves some years before, and how he had won the ring from Gollum, and his return t the Shire. About halfway through, Wesley was sure he heard Q yawning beneath his chair. Then the chair began inching toward the speaking hobbit. Before Wesley knew what was happening he was in the center of the courtyard.
"Watch him!" Boromir yelled, tackling Wesley, along with the chair, just as Bilbo was speaking of the death of the Dwarven leader, Thorin. Q teleported before he was squashed, but Bilbo found himself at the bottom of a heavy pile.
"If more of us valued food and cheer above piling atop one another . . ." Bilbo continued as Aragorn rushed to help the hobbit up. Boromir was already on his feet, but Wesley did not think the man looked like himself.
"Isildur's bane," the Gondorian whispered in awe, starting toward the ring. Gandalf shouted in a fell tongue, and the sky darkened. A look of fear crossed Bilbo's face, and Wesley realized he too was trembling. Indeed, the entire council seemed to be frozen in terror, save Q, whose face was incapable of expressing fear. Even proud Boromir seemed terrified and backed into his seat. Gandalf finished, and for a long moment all was a hush.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," Elrond said. Wesley was unable to tell whether the elf lord was angry or simply scared, but had little time to ponder the matter.
"Azh nazh durbataluk . . . " a powerful voice echoed as all of Rivendell shook as if in a storm. Lightning split the sky. The wind howled. Frodo clung to Gandalf and Bilbo to Wesley and Aragorn. The voice seemed it would never stop. Gandalf rose again and drew his staff above his head. Instantly a lightning bolt struck nearby, and Imladris breathed in silence.
"Was that really necessary?" inquired a laughing voice. Wesley sighed and Elrond buried his head in his hand.
"Yes," Gandalf replied. "You must be kept under control, it seems."
"That's impossible," Wesley whispered forlornly to Bilbo.
"Gandalf will find a way, although I doubt it will be pleasant," replied the hobbit. As if to prove his point, the wizard rose and tightly clenched his hands about Q's mouth. Magically a substance Wesley recognized as duct tape appeared on the entity's lips while handcuffs surrounded his wrists. Q looked completely miserable by the time Gandalf reseated himself.
"Frodo, talk," he ordered. The younger hobbit spoke of what he knew of the ring and all that had occurred on his journey from the Shire to Rivendell. Bilbo became more alarmed with each word as his heir reaccounted his wait for Gandalf in Bree, the meeting of Strider, and his encounter with the lord of the Nazgul. When he spoke the name of the latter, Frodo seemed to turn pale and Q whimpered desperately.
"Enough already! I will go!" shouted Bilbo, jumping up like a Jack in the box. Frodo reflexively sat down, apparently quite relieved. Gandalf and Q both shook their heads, but a sharp glance from the wizard made the entity reverse the action, nodding vigorously. That made Wesley snicker a bit, but quickly remembered where he was and stopped.
"It has passed beyond you, Bilbo. You gave the ring up of your own free will. It would not be wise to rejuvenate your allegiance with it," Gandalf advised. Frodo's eyes met Bilbo's and as the elder hobbit sat, the younger stood, worry evident in his eyes.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor," he declared fearfully. Then a chain reaction seemed as if it were sett off in the council. First Gandalf volunteered to join Frodo. Soon he was accompanied by Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli the Dwarf, and Boromir. With a shout from the bushes across the courtyard, another hobbit appeared, raced in front of lord Elrond, and dashed to Frodo's side. From inside the building of Rivendell, two more Halflings sprinted to where the elite group of volunteers was assembling.
"Wesley, my lad, go with them and look after Frodo, please," Bilbo whispered. Wesley hesitated a moment, and then joined the rest of the group.
"You have my loyalty, Mister Frodo Baggins, whatever this quest might hold," he promised, kneeling before the Ringbearer. In a flash, Q teleported to Wesley's side, still squirming out of his bonds. Wesley reluctantly removed the duct tape, for the entity obviously had something to say.
"I must insist on coming as well. Who knows what trouble this group will get into," he declared. Elrond sighed, but was aware that Q could be helpful if he was committed to the cause, which he would be, since he was stuck in Middle Earth. The lord of Rivendell sighed and looked over the group, not very impressed. He decided it would have to do.
"So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the Ring."
"Yeah," cheered Q, throwing silly string all over Elrond. This was going to be fun.
