Hey guys! So, here's a new chapter again!

Thanks for the nice comments, always appreciated, of course!

I do not own Lord of the Rings nor it characters or places. Only Mÿne is mine.


As Mÿne walked down the corridors with Aragorn her mind flashed to purpose of the meeting: the Ring, and more important, what to do with it. They reached a little courtyard, just outside Elrond's study room. The little courtyard was surrounded by white arches with flowers and slender garlands of leaves. In the middle a circle of chairs were set up, a small marble table in the middle of it. Several people had taken place in the chairs, in the circle. Mÿne was amazed, she thought it would be just a meeting between Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond and maybe even Frodo, since he had the Ring of course.

"There are so many..."she said, while she followed Aragorn up the steps to the little courtyard.

"Yes, what had you expect? This is a matter that concerns all the Free lands, Mÿne." Aragorn said as he took place on a seat on the right side of the circle.

Mÿne silently sat next to him, nodding to a stranger who sat next to her. She quickly glanced his way. It was a man, with shoulder length reddish-brown hair. He leaned to the left in his chair and had a distant look in his eyes, like he didn't want to be here. His clothes were very neat, dark leather blue jacket, chain mail underneath it... Mÿne could tell he was used to battle forces. The man noticed her and she quickly turned away. The man gave her the creeps, a little.

She caught Legolas and a group of elves from the corner of his eye. He was wearing a robe of some sort. His blonde hair swaying in the breeze as he talked to the elf on his left. Suddenly a shuffling sound made her perk up and look at the steps of the courtyard. Small creatures came up the courtyard, carrying axes, chain mails all over their body and rough beards that flowed over their stomachs. Mÿne couldn't help but crooked a grin, she never saw a dwarf actually. Heard of it of course, but she didn't think what she had heard would be so true.


"Dwarves?" a ten year old Mÿne said, brushing her hair before going into her tent.

"Yes," said Aragorn, lit by the fire of their camp they'd set up, "They live in the mountains, digging for silver, gold, mithril..."

"Mithril?" she asked, cocking her head to the side a bit, "What's that?"

Aragorn shrugged, "I don't know. We should ask one when we meet one." he said, turning his attention to the fire. He picked up a stick and jabbed in the lighted blocks at the bottom of the fire with it. A silence fell.

"How do they look like?" Mÿne said, crawling near and looking at him, "Dwarves, I mean."

"Hmmm...Let me think." Aragorn said, while taking out his pipe. He filled his pipe with dry leaves of some sort and enlightened it. Smoke came out of the top and made rare figures in the air.

"They have long, rough beards..." he mused, "dark little eyes..." he laughed a bit, "They're as tall as you are now, and some have enormous belly's, of all the beer and grilled meat."

"So, they're actually little, fat treasure hunters?" she asked, frowning. Her mind tried to make an image of it, but she kept seeing these little, burping, pickaxe-carrying men.

"They're excellent fighters though, armed to their teeth with axes. Guarded by mithril all over themselves."

"Then... Why don't we see them as much as we see elves? They should be out there to fight orcs, or goblins! They're good fighters, right?" Mÿne had asked.

"Dwarves are not that concerned with the affairs of others, Mÿne. They hardly come out of the mountains."

"Oh..." Mÿne said, yawning slightly.

"All right, of to bed with you, little one. Tomorrow we'll start your archery training, you don't want to faint at the first try." Aragorn said, hushing her to her tent.


Aragorn had been right, the dwarves seemed a bit out of place. They pulled themselves on the chairs and glared around. More people gathered at the small courtyard, taking place at the seats and looking around, waiting.

Suddenly Mÿne saw Frodo entering the circle, he sat down on the left side, Gandalf taking place next to him. He gave Aragorn and Mÿne a short nod, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder. Frodo crooked a small smile, nodding also to them.

"He seems fine!" Mÿne said to Aragorn. Guilt filled her stomach, she hadn't visited Frodo once since they came to Rivendell! She decided to take a walk with him around Rivendell when they finished the meeting. She could show him the gardens, she was sure he'd love that.

Lord Elrond entered the circle, everyone stood and bowed. Only some of the dwarves remained on their seats. Elrond looked around the circle and smiled, "Good, many have come." he mused to himself. He sat down and Mÿne fell back in her seat, watching Elrond closely.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," he began, watching the circle again, "You've been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stand on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite of you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, to this one doom." Elrond said.

The words rang in Mÿne's ear and she thought he made it sound like much more worse then she saw it. They could hide the Ring in Rivendell right? Rivendell was a strong fortress, with many secrets. Why not hide the Ring in it? The enemy would never suspect it, right? Her thoughts were interrupted by Elrond, who spoke again.

"Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Mÿne watched as Frodo got up uneasy and took out the Ring of his pocket. He placed it on the marble table in the middle and sat down. Mÿne saw a flash of relief wash over him, like he was glad to let go of it. A silence fell in the circle. Each pair of eyes turned on the Ring. Some surprised, some disbelieved and some even had desire in their eyes.

Small whispers stroke Mÿne's ears as she was the only one trying not to look. If she'd cast a long stare on it, it might hold her in it's power again, and that was what she was trying to avoid. The whispers grew a bit louder, now talking to her in a language she did not know.

The creepy man next to her moved in his seat and spoke first, "So it is true..." he mused. Gandalf gave him a quick wary glare. The man apparently took that as an encouragement and he stood up from his seat, looking around the circle. Stares were broken and the attention was fixed on him.

"In a dream...I saw the eastern sky grow dark..." he said. Mÿne watched as Aragorn and gandalf exchanged looks. Did they knew him?

"But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: your doom is near at hand," and the man stepped closer to the table, as in trance.

Mÿne watched him closely, wishing she had her sword with her so she could strike him down when he would touch the Ring. But she left her swords and other belongings at her room. Unfortunately. The man still continued.

"Isildur's Bane is found..." He stretched out his hand, ready to grab the Ring, "Isildur's Bane..."

"Boromir!" Elrond said loudly, jumping up.

Gandalf also started to say...things. He got up, saying dark words. They must've been wizard's words because Mÿne could not understand them. She jumped up though, scared for what the words could mean. An ominous feeling washed over the gathering, as dark clouds seemed to gather. The hairs on the back of her neck rose fast, goosebumps covering her arms and legs. Every part of Rivendell seemed to shake. One of the dwarves fetched his axe, ready to throw it at whatever came out of the enclosing darkness.

Mÿne clutched the arms of her chair, looking at Gandalf. He seemed to gain a darker expression, his words feeling heavy on Mÿne's mind. She glanced at Legolas who was closing his eyes, seemingly trying to ban the words from his mind. As soon as it came, it went.

The light shone again, birds tweeting softly in the distant. Mÿne relaxed, looking around. Her breath returned to a normal speed (which had raised without her noticing). The man fell back in his seat, shocked by the mayhem.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here, in Imladris." Elrond said stern and he looked like he wanted to hit Gandalf on his head.

Gandalf leaned on his staff and said slightly panting:"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 gave a last look on the man next to Mÿne, Boromir, before sitting back in his seat.

Boromir came up again, "It is a gift." he mused. Mÿne looked at him alarmed.

"A gift to the foes of Mordor!" he said and Gandalf turned around, annoyed this time. Mÿne frowned as he began to speech what he and his land had done for them.

"Why not use this Ring? 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!" he glanced around proudly at the circle, as if to say: 'you owe me.' "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."

Mÿne thought he was getting dangerous thoughts. Gondor was too close to Mordor to keep the Ring safe. If they'd keep it here, in Rivendell, it would have a fair change of being undiscovered. She wondered how long Gondor would pay resistance to the dark forces. At some point it had to collapse, they're forces were already weakening. She'd seen it the last time she'd visited the White City with Aragorn. Still, Boromir's idea about 'using the Ring' reminded her of her own idea... Back at Bree. But she also remembered Aragorn and his warning. No, the Ring was too treacherous. It should be hidden, for the better. However tempting Boromir's idea was.

Mÿne hadn't noticed that Aragorn had moved in his seat, bended forward and an angry look in his eyes.

"You cannot wield it! None of us can!" he said growling at him, "The Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other Master."

Boromir turned around, annoyed and a disgusted look on his face, "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" he spat.

To everyone's surprise Mÿne stood up from her seat, glaring at Boromir, "He is not a mere Ranger. He's Aragorn, son of Arathorn." she spat back. Boromir raised his brows in surprise.

"Aragorn?" he said, wondering, "This is Isildur's heir?" Still, with that disgusted look on his face. Mÿne dared to take a step further, although she might felt regret about it afterwards. But she was angry now and did not care about what would possibly happen later.

"And heir to the Throne of Gondor." she said, crossing her arms. Boromir's disgusted look turned into something angry. He glared at her, paced back to his seat and bumped her shoulder in progress.

"Gondor as no king. Gondor needs no king." he spat again.

Aragorn pulled Mÿne back at the tip of her dress, "Sit down." he mumbled. He glared at Boromir. Mÿne fell into her seat and turned her attention to Gandalf.

"Aragorn is right, we cannot wield it." he said, rubbing his forehead in exhaustion.

"Then what about hiding it?" Mÿne said, feeling like speaking her mind, the attentions was drawn to her and suddenly she felt a bit nervous."We cannot hide it in Gondor,"she continued, "but Rivendell is a safe and strong fortress. And far from his forces. By the time they would ever get here, they would be slaughtered by the forces of the Free lands they have passed." she said, looking at Elrond.

He shook his head, "The eye of the enemy is already fixed on Rivendell. His forces are stirring. No...Rivendell can not withstand so much evil." he said, glancing at Gandalf, "There is only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."

Another silence fell and Mÿne felt her heart sink. Destroy the Ring? It was true that the Ring was all together evil, but to destroy such a thing...How did you destroy such an evil thing anyway?

One of the Dwarves answered that for her, he picked up his axe, mused: "Then what are we waiting for?" and slammed his axe on the Ring on the marble table.

Mÿne jumped up to see if it had done any damage, but the Ring was still there, in one piece and without a scratch. She looked back at Aragorn but didn't catch his look, he was staring at Frodo. Mÿne turned and saw Frodo rub his forehead, his brows knitted together in pain. Elrond shook his head again.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloín, by any craft that we here possess." he said. Mÿne felt panic raise in her stomach. Then, how would they destroy it?

"The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom...Only there can it be unmade..." Elrond mused loudly enough for them to hear it. It must be taken deep into the lands of Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came."

Mordor? Mÿne had never gone further than the safe side of Gondor. On the top of the White City, at the Citadel, she'd seen the tips of the mountain chain that glowed orange and blood-red in the dark clouds. That was Mordor. The land of evil.

"One of you must do this." Elrond said last, looking at the people in the circle. Mÿne held her breath, she wasn't going to volunteer, that's for sure. No, she preferred the quiet green forests and the muddy hills she walked on.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir said, next to her.

He looked tired too, his hand on his face and rubbing the bridge between his nose and forehead, "It's Black Gates are guarded by more then just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep and the Great Eye is always watching. It's a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breath is a poisonous fume. " he said. Mÿne felt her stomach drop more, Boromir spoke her thoughts: "Not with 10 000 men could you do this. It is folly." he concluded after his description.

Legolas jumped up this time,"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" he said, looking around.

"And I suppose you think you are the one to do it!" the dwarf, Gimli, who earlier scattered his axe on the Ring said, glaring at Legolas.

Boromir also raised from his seat. Again. "And if we fail," he said, "what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Mÿne glared at all of them, they made her brain go fuzzy. Unable to hear her own thoughts, she saw several people rise to their feet, starting to argue with one another. Insults, glares, offences where thrown at every one.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli yelled, angry, "No one trusts an elf!"

Mÿne rose to her feet too and started to argue with Boromir and the dwarf. Anger builded up inside of her. It made her feel heavy. She needed to loose this weight she felt inside, so she started to snarl at the dwarf and Boromir, who both had been very unhelpful until now in her opinion.

"This isn't helping!" she yelled at Gimli, "You're only predicting one's death and the impossibleness of this all!" she then yelled at Boromir.

She stepped closer, looked him in the eye and whispered, "You are discarding every plan to make seem the only possibility is to take the Ring to Gondor... You want the Ring for yourself!" she growled. A

round her Gandalf's low voices mingled with the rest of the voices. Mÿne hadn't heard Frodo the first time yelling. Only when Aragorn pulled on the back of her dress again, she let go of her anger. Mÿne frowned, she blinked a few times. She didn't even know why she was angry anyway. She heard Frodo's little voice say: "I will take the Ring to Mordor." he said, and he sounded so sure. Everybody who had been arguing stared at the hobbit in disbelieve. "Though I do not know the way..." he said, looking at Gandalf.

He nodded and placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long it is yours to bear..." he mused, smiling slightly. He stood behind him, waiting and looking at the rest, daring anyone to stand next to him. To Mÿne's surprise Aragorn rose from his seat.

"If by my life of death I can protect you... I will." he stated, walking over to Frodo and kneeling. "You have my sword."

Legolas joined him, "And you have my bow." and he took place behind Frodo, next to Aragorn.

"And my axe." Gimli said. A bit awkwardly he took place next to Legolas, glancing up at him and mumbling quietly.

Mÿne looked at Aragorn, her mentor. He had taken her in when she had been at her lowest. She had followed him in many roads and over many hills. This was going to be another greater adventure. One she might not see through the end but she was ready to take the risk. This was an opportunity to improve herself and skills in away she had not yet imagined. She walked over to Frodo and crouched to his height.

"I have been told to protect you from Bree on. That agreement is not over yet, I'd be more happy to guide and to protect you to wherever we might end. You have my protection, Frodo Baggins." she said and he gave a little nod. She got up and nudged Aragorn in the side.

"I knew you'd join..." he grinned silently.

"A good pupil goes wherever her mentor goes." she stated smiling.

Also Boromir joined, "You carry the fates of us all, little one." he said, "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." Mÿne glared at him and decided to keep an eye on him. He wasn't to be trusted.

Mÿne jumped up when a loud yelling voice was heard. Sam jumped out of the plants and ran to an astonished Frodo.

"Mister Frodo is not going anywhere without me." he stated, crossing his arms and glaring at Elrond. He crooked a smile.

"No indeed," Elrond said, amused, "It's hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret coucil and you're not." But that wasn't the only surprise. With a shout Merry and Pippin came out of the shadows and butted into the group.

"We're coming too!" Merry said, crossing his arms, like Sam, "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." he said.

"Anyway," Pippin said, taking over, "You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing."

Merry shook his head, "Well that rules you out, Pip."

Mÿne couldn't help but smile. Elrond didn't argue further so he counted the ones around Frodo.

"Ten companions." he mused and nodded. "So be it. You will be the Fellowship of the Ring."

Mÿne could see Merry and Pippin laugh in front of them, obviously celebrating their victory.

"Great!" Pippin then said, "Where are we going?"

It would be a long journey...