Many thanks to users...
The better twin— (That's so sweet! I love it when people can relate to my stories!)
Immac— (It's good to hear from you again! I suppose you got your wish!)
And thanks to the random guest! (Glad you thought so!)
xXx
I woke up shivering this morning to find that Duke had slipped into my room at some point last night. Most people have a spouse or a sibling that steals the blankets, but I just happen to have a dog.
You are the most bizarre animal. I should have named you Snoopy.
As I roll out of bed, he raises his head from the nest he has made of blankets.
I shake my head in disbelief as he plops his head back down and lets out a comical moan.
Sitting down at a stool in front of the floor length mirror, I brushed out the snarls in my hair. Tucking a combed strand behind my ears, I noticed the barely perceptible point that had made itself known. As far as appearances go not much has changed, but my hair was growing straighter and my ears had that small point to them.
I dressed in the tunic I had convinced Arwen to have made for less formal occasions. Smiling at my likeness in the mirror, I left to find something to eat.
Why are fellowships formed so early in the morning?
xXx
I rubbed my forehead I as moved to sit in-between Erestor and Aragorn. The council had begun.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Elrond's deep voice stilled any movements as everyone directed their attention to the Lord of Rivendell.
Why would you have a secret council in a place that is not only outdoors, but gives off echoes? Anybody could hear us if they tried.
"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 one fate, this one doom."
As Elrond speaks Strider exchanges a tense glance with a man that sits across the room, and I realize that he wears the symbol of Gondor.
Boromoir.
My eyes sweep across the room to find the rest of the fellowship.Which has not been formed yet.I remind myself.
As I stare into the bushes I can make out the forms of Merry and Pippin looking back at me. Once they noticed that I was staring at them with a raised eyebrow, they both panicked as they moved further back into the brush. I gave a slow wink in their direction to show them that I would not be the one to give them away. Pippin grinned as Merry winked back.
Hobbits are so cute... They're like Middle Earths teddy bears.
"Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
The hobbit slowly stood and placed the ring on a pedestal that had been set in the center of the group. I shivered from the evil I felt as it was brought out. It felt like that lesson in history class where we discussed the methods Hitler used to kill the Jews. But it was worse; it was a constant shadow in your mind, not something that you knew had happened decades ago. Everyone looked upon it with fear or greed.
"So it is true..." Boromoir whispers as Aragorn cast a worried glance in his direction. "It is a gift.', He continued, standing up to pace amidst the council.
"A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring?"
You just opened the wrong can of worms.
The ranger beside me gives an odd look in my direction.
I really need to learn how to control my mouth.
"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."
Aragorn leans tensely into the back of his chair as Boromoir proceeds to speak.
"Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy; let us use it against him."
Oh crap. Here it comes. I'm really not supposed to do this...
"The Ring will answer to no one but it's master. If you take the ring it will betray you as it betrayed Isildur. It will control you, so that you would betray the country you seek to keep safe by wielding it." I said, calmly facing the son of Denethor.
Poor Aragorn. I just took the words right out of his mouth.
"And what would a girl like you know of such matters?" He asks tensely as I mentally roll my eyes.
More than you, obviously.
"Young ladies as yourself would do well to stay away from important councils such as these."
Oh no, he just did not.
Strider lays a hand on my arm to quell my temper as he quickly comes to my defense.
"And you, Lord Boromoir, would do well to heed wisdom no matter the form it comes in."
The steward's son glared at Aragorn before taking a menacing step towards our direction.
"And what would a ranger know of such a matter?" He sneers.
An elf suddenly stands to face the prideful man.
Ooooh look! It's the idol of every fangirl.
"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." He said, his elf eyes both calm and seething at once.
Boromoir turned to Strider with disbelief written across his face.
"Aragorn. This is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." The elf continued.
Frodo looks at Strider with new awe written across his face.
"Havo dad, Legolas."He said sternly.
Boo ya! Elves kick butt!
"Gondor has no king. Nor does it need one." Boromoir turns and sits in his seat once more, sending a glare towards Aragorn and I.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
I mentally say Bilbo's rhyme in my head as Boromoir glares at us.
"Lady Rielásse is right. We cannot use it." This comes from Gandalf.
"Could Bombadil be persuaded to lend us his aid? The ring seems to have no power over him." Erestor mused from beside me.
"Nay.' said Glorfindel.
"He would likely forget and throw it carelessly aside. Bombadil would be a most unsafe guardian. Nor can we cast the ring into the sea, for the lands and oceans change, and there are some of the Dark Lord's servants that dwell in the cold dephts."
"Why not send it over the seas?" Erestor said.
"That is not an option either; those who dwell in the Blessed Realm would not accept it." As Elrond's advisors finished mulling over the situation Elrond spoke again.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
Bormoir looked defeated, and Frodo swallowed nervously.
"What are we waiting for?"
That must be Gimli. Remember to duck for this next part.
The dwarf stands up and brings out his axe while Gandalf shoots a concerned glance in Elrond's direction. The Lord of Rivendell stood as if to stop the bearded figure.
"Aggg!"
He yells out a dwarfish battle cry as he brought his axe down on top of the Ring. The weapon shatters as soon as it comes into contact with the golden band. Pieces of sharp metal fly in all directions and one of them grazes past my forehead, taking a lock of brown hair with it.
A small trickle of blood makes its way down my cheek, and I gladly accept Aragorn's handkerchief to staunch the small cut that had appeared.
I'm glad I got that tetanus shot. Stupid dwarf! Put that thing away before you hurt somebody. Well, put away what's left of it. If my hair looks like its been cut with a chainsaw, I am going to hack off that beard to match the new style you gave me.
Glóin helped his son up from where he had been lying on the ground as Elrond began to speak again.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed by any craft we here possess, Gimli, son of Glóin. 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."
The place went so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromoir says as he makes a fist with his hand. "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."
That's not exactly true. You cannot do it with any number of men, only two hobbits, and they do simply walk into Mordor. What are you trying to do? Scare the poor halfling to death? He has to take that thing to Mordor!
Legolas leapt up from his seat once more.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose that you think you're the one to do it!' spat out Gimli.
Legolas stared at the dwarf.
"And if we fail? What then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"
Boromoir rises as he says this, along with Gimli who shouts out at the top of his lungs, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!"
Aragorn looks heavenward with a pained expression.
"Never trust an elf!" The dwarf yelled again.
And I thought I had a problem with speaking my mind.
The room erupts into chaos as the elves stand to their feet and glare at the short being. Legolas restrains some of his kinsmen as they take a step towards the offending dwarf. Gandalf shakes his head at the ruckus while Frodo glances at the subject of the argument.
"Do you not understand?" The wizard's voice bellows. "While you bicker amongst yourselves Sauron's power grows! None can escape it. You'll all be destroyed!" Elrond's hand rests beneath the silver wrought leaves that sit upon his brow.
I can't imagine how loud this fighting would be to an elf. I hope elves do not get headaches, else he will get a migraine.
I glance at Frodo and see the inner struggle written across his face as he pants with fear at the ring. The arguing grows louder as he too gets out of his chair. "I will take it." Though I do not hear the words over the noise I know that they are being spoken.
"HEY! SHUT YOUR WINE GUZZLERS! THE HOBBIT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!" I yell as loudly as I can. Everyone looks at me with open mouths before turning to Frodo expectantly.
Nothing like an American football game to teach you how to yell.
"I will take the Ring into Mordor. Though, I do not know the way."
Gandalf smiles at the courageous little hobbit.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear." The wizard states as he pats Frodo's shoulder.
Aragorn, who had remained sitting through the disorder, now stood and came to kneel at the halfling's side.
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
Gandalf sends a glance to Elrond that is a "I told you so" if there ever was one. Elrond only nods solemnly.
"You have my bow." Legolas said.
"And my axe!" Said Gimli as he tried to one-up the elf. Legolas glared at him with annoyance.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is truly the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." Boromoir states as he comes to join the group.
I come softly to Frodo's side and kneel so that I am at eye level with the curly haired hobbit.
"Courage shall not be easily found, but I shall be by your side to help you find it,mellon nin." I stand to see Elrond giving me a sad smile and I smile back in reassurance.
Don't know where all that came from. I'm hardly the one to go all deep on someone.
I can almost feel Boromoir glaring at my back and it's hard for me to stifle a giggle. He must hate the fact that Elrond is allowing a woman— a girl — to go on this quest with men of renown such as himself.
Sorry buddy, but you're stuck with me. The least you can do is stop looking like someone stuffed pepper up your nose.
Sam suddenly burst from the bushes and came to stand by his master.
"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me." He stated in a voice that meant he wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Indeed. It is impossible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council, and you are not." Elrond said with the slightest hint of humor in his voice.
"We're coming, too." Elrond whips his head around to see Merry and Pippin also emerge from the bushes.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us. Family sticks together.' stated Merry.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... quest... thing." Pippin stated.
Gandalf gives the mischievous hobbit a disbelieving glance.
"That rules you out, Pip." Merry stated.
Would laughing be inappropriate right now?