Alona had been in Rivendell for two days now since Aragorn rescued her. She had become happier when she was with him, and Aragorn expressed the same happiness. Alona still felt shy towards him, she was not used to having a brother. And one that was to possibly be King of Gondor someday, if he chose to. She had found out that even though they had been away from each other for many years they possessed many of the same interests. Alona was as skilled in swordsmanship as Aragorn was, and they also very much enjoyed reading literature and both spoke fluent Elvish for that's the race they grew up with. They got along very well and were already getting very close and attached to one another.

Alona had met many people in Rivendell for the short time she spent here. She had met Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, and Merry Brandybuck, the four Hobbits. She had never met Hobbits before but had heard tales of them. She very much enjoyed being around them, they were naturally happy people that enjoyed the simple things. Her favourite out of the small Hobbits was Pippin. Something about him, Pippin was adorably clumsy. When she had met once with Pippin they had a conversation about he enjoyed playing his ukulele and just being home where he could eat and be merry. Alona told him of how she used to sing back home with her friends and Pippin made her promise that she would someday sing for him, and promised he would play for her. Alona very much enjoyed his company.

There was one other person she had met whom had been her mind for a long while now. Legolas, the Elf. She had also discovered he was an Elvin Prince, his father was Thranduil, King of the woodland realm. Legolas was very quiet and kept to himself, only talking when needed. She had spent time with him now and then. Legolas had helped her improve her archery skills, he was the best she had ever seen. And if they weren't doing that they would just be sitting and talking. Alona hadn't told Legolas about her life in Lothlorien, she would just tell him did not wish to talk of it. Alona wanted to leave that life behind. Legolas told her all about Mirkwood and his life there. Alona sometimes became jealous when he mentioned his family, all because he actually had one. But then she remembered she now had Aragorn.

She had been wandering the halls and not run into any of the Hobbits, Legolas or Aragorn. Something did not seem right. As she was walking she saw Arwen standing behind a door peering in. What was she up to? Alona walked over to her and tapped her shoulder. Arwen turned quickly shocked, but she calmed down once she saw who it was.

"Sssshhh." Arwen said pointing to the crack in the door. Arwen widened it a bit so Alona could look through as well.

Alona looked through the opening, she saw a circle of people sitting, but a closer look showed they were very different from one another. She saw Frodo Baggins and beside him was Gandalf the Grey. Lord Elrond was there with his sons seated beside him and several others seated about him. Alona saw some Dwarves, her brother seated slightly away from everyone, a group of Elves and a group of Men.

"Here my friends is the Hobbit known as Frodo Baggins. Few have ever come here through greater peril or on an errand more urgent." Elrond said.

Elrond continued to point out and name those whom Alona have not yet heard of. Out of a few dwarves there was a younger one by the name of Gimli. There was a man, he was tall, and stern looking, his name was Boromir. When Elrond mentioned Legolas Alona could not help but stare at him. Legolas, son of Thranduil the King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. Alona had never set her eyes on a more wonderful being. It was his eyes that drew her to him, his deep crystal clear blue eyes, she couldn't turn away.

"Now things shall be openly spoken that have been hidden from all but a few until today. I shall tell you all so you might understand what is at stake. The tale of the Ring shall be told beginning to this present, and I shall start the tale though others shall finish it." Elrond said.

Everyone began to listen as Elrond began to speak of Sauron and the Rings of Power. Some of this was known to some but the full tale known to none. Elrond told of the Elvin - smiths of Eregion and their friendship with Moria and their eagerness for knowledge by which Sauron ensnared them. But in that time he was not evil to behold, and they received his help and grew mighty in craft in which he learned all their secrets. He then betrayed them and secretly in Mount Doom he forged the One Ring to rule them all. But Celebrimbor was aware of him and hid the Three rings, which he had made for the elves, and there was a war and the land was laid to waste and the gate of Moria was shut.

He went on to speak of many other things but made a point of the Battle of Dagorlad. It was there, the last alliance of Elves and Men; Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's hand with the hilt shard of his father's sword and took the Ring for his own. Aragorn and Alona were born from his blood.

"So that is what became of the Ring! If ever a tale was told in South it has been forgotten. I have heard of the Ring but thought it to be destroyed." Boromir said.

"Yes, Isildur took it, which he should not have done. It should have been cast into the fires of Mount Doom but he did not listen, and was later betrayed by the Ring and was brought to his death. Bring forth the Ring Frodo." Elrond said.

Frodo slowly walked over to the table and gently put the Ring down. Frodo moved back to his seat and sat with a sign of relief. There was a hush and all eyes were on the Ring. Everyone around the room felt tempted by the Ring, at least a little.

"It is a gift, a gift from the foes of Mordor, why not use this Ring?" Boromir said somewhat to himself, and then stood up talking louder. "Long has my father, the Stewart 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 Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master." Aaragorn said. Aragorn to many was known as Strider, and many other names. Very few knew his true name.

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir said, completely unaware of who he was talking too. At this Legolas stood up catching the attention of all.

"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your legions." Legolas said.

"Aragorn? This is Isildur's hier?" Boromir said with a slight shocked but amused tone of voice.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas said. Aragorn watched as they bickered to one another, trying to annoy the other with snide remarks. Finally he butted in.

"Havo dad Legolas." He said in Elvish. At that Legolas calmed and sat down.

"Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King." Boromir said and went to sit back down.

"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Gandalf said to lighten the tension.

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond said. After a short silence Gimli snorted.

"Then what are we waiting for!" Gimli said.

Gimli charged at the Ring with his axe, and quickly brought it down upon the Ring. As the axe connected with it Frodo held his head in pain. The axe shattered upon impact and sent Gimli flying back, he sat up with a shocked expression on his face.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, only there can it be un-made. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fire from whence it came. One of you, must do this."

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. It's 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!" Boromir said.

"Have you not listened to anything Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas said standing.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli yelled.

"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir shouted.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli yelled standing up, trying to look imposing, yet his height made it difficult.

Everyone stood up and began to argue except Frodo and Elrond. They sat and watched on as the bickering got worse and worse. Insults were flying around everywhere. Frodo had enough and stood up, he walked slowly towards the group.

"I will take it." Frodo said quietly. No one heard him because they were yelling so Frodo tried again. "I will take it!" Frodo said a bit louder. "Though...I do not know the way." After a short shocked pause Gandalf spoke.

"I will help you bare this burden Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bare." Gandalf said. Aragorn walked over to Frodo and kneeled so the two of them were face to face.

"By my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." Aragorn said.

"And you have my bow." Legolas said walking beside Aragorn.

"And my axe." Said Gimli standing to the other side of Aragorn. Boromir stood up and slowly walked over to Frodo.

"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the rule of the Council, Gondor will see it done." Boromir said.

"Ere!" Sam came dashing into the room from behind a bush. "Mr Frodo isn't goin' anywhere without me!" Sam said crossing his arms as if to make it final.

"Yes, for it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond said with a slight amused smirk on his face.

At this Merry and Pippin ran out from their hiding places as well. It seemed almost everyone knew about this secret meeting.

"We're going to! You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry said.

"Yea! Besides, you'll need people of intelligence on this sort of journey...quest...thing!" Said Pippin finally.

Merry lightly smacked Pippin upside the head.

"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry said.

"Nine companions… so be it. You shall be known as the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond said.

"Right! So...where we goin'?" Asked Pippin.

Alona walked slowly down the halls with Arwen. Alona sighed, why did everyone have to leave? She would admit she knew the importance of the matter. Many times had she heard of the tale of the One Ring and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves. That did not make her any less saddened to hear of Aragorn's departure.

"Arwen, do you know where Aragorn is?" Alona asked.

"He would most likely be is his room, preparing for the journey." Arwen replied.

"Thank you, I must go see him again. I will meet with you later, is that alright?" Alona said.

Arwen nodded her head as a reply and Alona smiled. Alona headed off in the other direction towards her brother's room. She was hoping he'd be in there. On the way her mind kept going else where, not to Aragorn but someone else. Legolas, she had been thinking of him since she literally first ran into him. She knew she shouldn't bother, he was an Elf after all, but she couldn't help it. She was drawn to him, somehow. She finally reached Aragorn's room and knocked twice. She waited in silence until the door opened to reveal Aragorn.

"May I come in?" Alona asked.

"Of course, but you'll have to excuse me. I'm getting ready." Aragorn said.

He moved away from the door allowing her to come inside. She looked around, he had made it quite messy in here, trying to re-arrange things for when he was to leave.

"I'll be with you in a short while, make yourself at home." He said.

Alona nodded at him with a smile. She walked out onto the balcony and leaned on it. She looked over Rivendell, it was so beautiful. But something else caught her eye. It was him, Legolas was outside below the balcony. She smiled gently, he must have been practicing his archery skills.

"By the looks of things he needs no practice what so ever. He's a natural. He's so beautiful, and very introverted. I wonder if he thinks of me as well?" Alona thought to herself.

Aragorn came out to the balcony and was about to call her to come in when he noticed she was staring at something. He looked over her shoulder to see the object of her eye was Legolas. He smiled slightly but sighed, this was ill news. He decided to wait a bit more, so he stood by the entrance way.

Alona sighed, why must she do this to herself? Hoping for things that will never be. Her mind told her to turn away now and forget about him, but her heart kept her focus on Legolas. That's when he looked up and saw her. He smiled gently at her and waved. Alona's cheeks went crimson red over her pale skin. She took a step back, right into Aragorn. She turned to see her brother there, which made her blush even more.

"Do not get mixed up with him Alona. T'is not wise." Aragorn said.

Alona was shocked by his words at first. He and Legolas were supposed to be friends. How could he say such things when he was in love with Arwen, half Elvin? He noticed the confusion in her eyes, and he led her back inside.

"I know what you would say, yes I am in love with Arwen. But she is immortal, if she was to be with me she must give up everything she holds dear to her. I don't want that for her, but she will not listen. Loving a creature such as an Elf is like a double edged sword." Aragorn said.

Alona stood there in a stunned silence for Arwen had not told her that. Alona knew they were in love, Arwen had talked about that many times with her. Why hadn't she told her?

"Just be careful Alona, I do not want to see you hurt. Or Legolas for that matter, he is a dear friend to me. Legolas has also had many Elvish women ask for his heart, all he has denied. I know he is beautiful and appealing because he is a prince of Mirkwood forest. Please do not give your heart to him, for I fear it will be broken." Aragorn said.

"Aragorn, I am sorry." Alona said slowly. "But I am not that conceited. I feel this way for Legolas because he treats me like no other man ever has, something about him draws me to him. T'is not his beauty or noble blood that makes me feel this way, though I will not deny those qualities. I was not even aware of his lineage when we first met, when I first started to feel this way. Aragorn you cannot simply will yourself to stop loving someone. I think about him everyday and I know he could never return this feeling. It's as if two different things are pulling me in two different directions, until it rips me apart!" Alona shouted and left the room.

Aragorn was about to go after her but knew she needed to be alone. Trying to speak with her would only anger her even more. He would find her later, so he went back into his room.

"Oh Alona, why must you love him?" Aragorn thought with a sigh.