Rivendell, Elrond's Council chambers

Samwise Gamgee sat unnoticed at his master's feet, as the great people around him spouted grand plans and daft notions on how to destroy Mr. Bilbo's old ring.

This was not altogether a new experience for the rustic hobbit; oh, not the destroying the ring part, that was a brand-new oddness in his life, but slipping unnoticed by high-minded folk, now that he was practically a master at. It was why Mister Merry, and Mister Pippin had enlisted his assistance in the reconnaissance on Mister Frodo; it was why he'd been able to smuggle the hemlock into his father all those years ago, and it was why he could sit here now at his master's feet, unnoticed by the elves and other fine folk who were yelling so loudly.

'I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an Elf!'

As the yelling grew to such a level that the three hobbits ears began to ring, Mister Frodo rose from his chair. His eyes still firmly closed as they had been since the council had descended into a contest on who could scream the loudest. As he moved to the centre of the room people paused in their arguments to track the small hobbit's progress.

Reaching in to his shirt Frodo pulled the ring out, yanked it off its chain and laid it on the middle of the table in the centre of the room.

'I will take the ring to Mordor.' As he turned back to return to his chair, his eyes now fully open and observant, the noise in the chamber began to start up again. It took Gandalf swearing in the Black speech of Mordor to finally get everyone to shut up and be still at last.

'Yes,' began Elrond. 'The Ringbearer will take the ring to Mordor, of that matter I assume there is no longer room for argument' As he spoke the great Elf eyed Gandalf accusingly, as if remembering an old spat between the two.

'Yes,' said Gandalf unmoved by the glare. 'The Ringbearer has made his choice and we must see it through to the journey's completion.' He turned then to Mister Frodo and took the gentlehobbit's smaller hands in his large ones. 'I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear.'

Strider stood then and with a stride most reminiscent of the kings he was descended from, calmly walked over to Mister Frodo and knelt in front of him.

'If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.'

'And you have my bow.' Said one of the elves that had attended the meeting, he had long golden hair and an air of authority about his person.

'And my axe.' Said the son of Mister Gloin; scowling hard at the elf who had spoken before him. The man from Gondor stood then and began to approach Mister Frodo with a gentle step and the feel of doubt in his voice.

'You carry the fates of us all little one, if this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done.'

Neither Gandalf nor Elrond seemed particularly surprised by this turn of events, as if it had all been planned and all the volunteers were doing now, was acting out the script. That was until the blue haired lad, sitting between two elves of Elrond's house, stood up and began to approach Mister Frodo.

'Fir mony years noo ma people hiv been separate fae the rest o ye. We had oor aen problems tae deal wi, we gave nae thocht tae fit hardships ye might hiv had tae face. Fit wye shid we care? You're under the sky, fit could be wrong there? Bit sittin here today, mon sic bizarre strangers fae distant lands, ah wonder if we were nay mistaken. If ye fail then it won't jis be yer lands that'll suffer, whose bairns will wake tae a spleet new day o' torment, an fa's homes'll burn under the enemy's torches. It'll be everyone's.'*

He followed as the others had done then, and knelt in front of Mister Frodo. 'If ah can help ye, in anyway prevent aat, then it is ma duty as a son o' the Leomhann tae try. Ye hiv ma shield, if ye'll take it.' Frodo smiled at the blue-faced youth and nodded, and the boy rose to his feet again.

'Hey!' Samwise spoke, deciding to make himself heard at last, rising to his feet and folding his arms in a belligerent manner.

'Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me.'

Lord Elrond looked like he was on the verge of bursting out with an outrageous guffaw at that. 'No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.'

'Oy!' Came a very familiar cry from behind Lord Elrond. 'We're coming too!' Two hobbits dashed past the tall elf, causing him to adopt a look of abject puzzlement, as if this had never happened to him before.

'Have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!' Cried Mister Merry.

'Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission…quest…. thing.' Reasoned the youngest of the Hobbits.

'Well that rules you out Pip.' Muttered the young Brandybuck into his cousin's ear.

Having seemingly to have recovered from his shock over the continuously appearing hobbits, Lord Elrond spoke then in a voice suited to the grandeur of the occasion.

'Ten companions so be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring.'

'Right,' declared Pippin Took. 'Where are we going?'

* Doric Translation: 'For many years now my people have been separate from the rest of you. We had are own problems to deal with, we gave no thought to what hardships you might have had to face. Why should we care? You're under the sky, what could be wrong there? But sitting here today, among such bizarre strangers from distant lands, I wonder if we weren't mistaken. If you fail then it won't just be your lands that'll suffer, whose children will wake to a new day of torment, and whose homes will burn under the enemy's torches. It'll be everyone's.