Chapter 2 : Discussions

The sunlight filled the room, as the girl attached the final elements to her clothing. The dress had been left early that morning, but she had not been awake to see by whom. The beautiful shades of brown, made of a thin material that waved in the air, made her feel like a princess. She had never been one for dresses, but for this occasion, she had a role to play, and to play well. She had been born in to the highs of society, where intrigues and role-playing were daily bread. Choosing the simplest option, she let her hair fall past her shoulders with no ornamentation. She was going to the Council to listen, not to take part, she reminded herself.

Another set of clothing had been laid out for her, travelling clothes that blended into the forest composed of shades of green, brown and black. Comfortable riding boots as well as leather gloves. Everything a person travelling in the wilds would need. Next to the clothes rested two daggers, a sword, bow and arrows. She didn't smile at those. Even with the quick training she had been given, she'd probably shoot herself in the foot… Then again the hobbits had survived their adventure.

The last item, the blue cloak, hung from a perch on the wall. It was made of thin wool, and she admired the hands that had made such a thin thread. She was to take the place of a blue wizard; a messenger from the West. Although she craved the opportunity to prove herself, memories of the other books she had read, of destinies falling to pieces, came to mind. Many times the heroes had not wanted to lead men into war; did that mean that she, looking forward to it, would fail? She breathed deeply and centred herself on her inner music, the cloak held tightly in her arms.

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The girl's back was starting to ache. She was singing to herself within her mind. Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme. Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine, come lift up your glasses… for we might never meet here again.

The Council seemed to have been debating for hours, and her patience was wearing thin. The discussion was stretching into technicalities. Boromir had already tried to claim the ring for Gondor, and Gimli had tried to destroy it with his axe, and the discussion had become very heated indeed.

"Come on Frodo just say you'll be the Ring Bearer!" She thought to herself with impatience. It had become increasingly difficult to keep her mind from wandering. She looked up to the windows of Imladris, where a shadow, or maybe a trick of the light, passed quickly by. And a few seconds later Frodo stood up, to make his heartfelt declaration of carrying the ring to Mordor, and his need for companions. As Elrond announced the nine companions who would form the Fellowship of the Ring, she could only feel Gandalf's angry eyes upon her.

The attendees wandered off at the end of the meeting, the hobbits to finish their packing, Aragorn probably trying to avoid Arwen… All the great heroes were human, after all. She stayed behind, as did Gandalf and Elrond. Gandalf frowned at her as he spoke, almost barking at her, "I suppose you thought that awfully funny" was his reply to her questioning gaze.

"Oh come off it, Master Gandalf. If you mean Frodo taking the ring to Mordor, I was not involved!"

"There is power in words, even in those unspoken. You are a young wizard, but I would have expected you to know this," came his reply. His voice was slow, he seemed more an old man that a person of legends. He motioned to Elrond and her to sit down together. The silence lasted only long enough for Elrond to draw breath.

"Girl, I suppose you know what we will ask you to do." Elrond seemed a tired businessman, after a day of running after clients. There was going to be no space for humour or laughter in this meeting.

"You expect me to run after some guy who showed up before me, not knowing nothing about him. I guess that does sum it up?"

"You're in an insolent mood today," retorted the half elf, "But that is of no consequence to this matter which must be settled today."

"Sorry to contradict you, Master Elrond, but there is a matter that must be solved, even if takes a whole age. You want me to hunt someone for you, but you know more about this person than you would have me believe. That is alright, only because I have figured out the rest about him. He is the man I love, and I believe you were hoping I wouldn't find out?"

Her voice vibrated with a thinly controlled anger. It was risky to face both Gandalf and Elrond at once, and face to face on what was a mere "detail" to them, but there wasn't much choice. Even if they had genuinely not known, things had to be clear.

"We suspected as much, and I'm curious to know how you found out. Sadly we have little time to discuss this matter. If what I believe is true, that this stranger has information that could change the course of the War, and he is heading towards Sauron as we speak. Then he must be stopped."

"I know, Master Elrond, but it will be done my way. I did not ask for this burden, but you have placed it upon me. Therefore, this shall be handled in my fashion, and I will brook no interference from you in this. If this does not suit you, then find another to do undertake your quest. That is my final word."

The girl stood up and walked into the house, and once she past the door she felt the itch of the hunt. A feeling she had not had since she lived in the great outdoors. The rush of adrenaline, knowing that no errors were allowed in the tracking of the prey filled her as she changed into her comfortable clothes. She tied the belt with a hard tug and flung her saddle bag over her shoulder, and headed to the courtyard.

Three stallions, dark brown in colour stood, passively waiting as they trimmed at what little grass was around their feet. They were magnificent animals, all three of them. Then she noticed the two elves.