Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the languages spoken in the books or movie. I do own Nicole, Susan, Jake, their parents (Howard and Lara Lawson, Tom and Elizabeth Daniels, Fred and Angelina Nox), Matt Thompson, and Bill. I don't own The Princess Bride. I do own the upcoming poem! Don't steal it!
Chapter 7 Gifts
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed," said Elrond in a stern voice. A long pause settled down on the council.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Gimli shouted. He picked up his axe and hit the ring with all his might. Yet despite the great force, the ring was unmarked, the axe in pieces, and Gimli was thrown against the floor. Susan and Gloin went to pick up the bewildered dwarf. Nicole looked up to see Frodo in what looked like extreme pain.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. 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," explained Elrond. "One of you must do this."
"Mount Doom?" questioned Susan as she sat back down, "Well that doesn't sound good."
"No, it doesn't," muttered Boromir, rubbing his head as if he had a migraine. "One does not simply walk into Mordor. 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 that you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."
He looked to Susan with pain and sorrow. That look crept into her heart, and left an everlasting memory. She feared for him, she cared for him, even though she just met him yesterday. For the first time in her life, Susan cared for someone other than her two best friends.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" yelled Legolas, standing up, and facing Boromir and the council. "The Ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli shouted. Legolas glanced at the dwarf, but turned to look up at Nicole as she sat up straight.
"Do you have the courage to enter there?" sneered Nicole. Legolas stepped forward to stare straight into her black eyes.
"I would if asked of me," he whispered. She looked into his eyes, and saw nothing.
"I suppose a cold-hearted person such as you would. You could not feel the fires."
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" questioned Boromir.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" shouted Gimli. "Never trust an elf!" At that moment, all the members of the council stood and began to shout and argue. The only one who didn't rise was Frodo, and he was in distraught. The council was no longer about the ring, but the hatred it represented. Nicole felt the coldness of the voices and the words. A soft, unnamed voice spoke of relief, and it came to the ring.
As if in slow motion, Nicole walked over to the center table. She could hear Gandalf ask for peace among the members, but she could not hear the words. The ring called to her.
She gazed upon the golden band with a glazed over glance. It spoke of peace, love, painless nights, tearless nights. And she believed it.
"Beauty of another world, come forth,
Of the sea, the fire, and the earth,
Of the faith, the passion, and the mirth,
Spill the blood of the virgin sacrifice.
Beauty of another world, take the ring,
Cover the world in night, hear it sing,
Take the powers, do my biding,
Spill the blood of the virgin sacrifice."
She liked the night, singing, and the ring was just in her grasp. Legolas was currently trying to hold back his companions, but looked away from the squabbling dwarves, and turned his head to Nicole. She was reaching for the ring in a trance. He quickly ran to her, snatched both her hands, and pulled her back into his chest.
"What are you doing?" he asked in earnest. Nicole blinked a couple of times, and realized what she almost did. She turned her head slightly and looked up into his dull, blue eyes. Her eyes were deep and black, and their lips only a few centimeters apart. She could feel his hot breath on her moist lips. Legolas looked down to her lips as she licked them, and felt his heart rate increase.
"I will take it! I will take it!" Nicole and Legolas were startled by the tiny voice. Frodo had stood up, as proud as any hobbit. At the realization of how close they were, Legolas released Nicole. She took a couple more steps to Susan and Jake, but kept her eyes on Legolas.
'What just happened?' she asked herself.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor," said Frodo, his courage waning. "Though- though I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," said Gandalf, putting a hand on his shoulder. "As long as it is yours to bear."
Then Aragorn stood and knelt before Frodo. "If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
Legolas then moved to stand next to Frodo. "And you have my bow."
Nicole gave a small gasp. She was still in a trance like state, but knew what was going on. She looked at Legolas as if he was her lover going off to war. Legolas, for the first time, showed an emotion in his eyes: hope. He saw her gasp and he saw the tear in her eye shimmer.
"And my axe," said Gimli, standing proudly next to Legolas, who rolled his eyes. Boromir gave a quick glance to Susan, who returned it, walked over to the collecting group.
"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."
"Here!" shouted a voice from behind the bush. It was Sam, one of the hobbits Frodo had traveled with. Nicole had fully awoken from her trance, and looked again at Legolas. He was still staring at her with that, now, emotionless glance. She scowled and turned her attention back to Sam.
"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me," said Sam.
"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not," criticized Elrond.
"Oi! We're coming too!" Nicole and Susan turned and gasped when they saw the other two hobbits, Merry and Pippin come scurrying forth.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," stated Merry in a matter of fact.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing," confirmed Pippin.
"Well that rules you out, Pip," said Merry as he shook his head.
It was then that Elrond looked at the trio of outsiders, as if her were asking a question. Susan and Jake both looked at Nicole for the answer to Elrond's nameless question. Nicole looked to the nine; each one with a strong and stern face that was full with hope. She looked to the ground, avoiding Elrond's gaze.
"Nine companions. So be it!" stated Elrond. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Great. Where are we going?" asked Pippin. Nicole turned around to Susan and Jake.
"We're going home. Come on," she commanded. They both nodded and followed her to the exit. The Fellowship watched as the trio calmly and silently walked away with their heads held high, but only Elrond followed them.
When they got to Nicole's room, Nicole went straight for her guitar, but Susan and Jake just stood there.
"What are you guys doing? Don't just stand there, grab your stuff! We're leaving this place."
"Where are we going to go, Nicole?" reasoned Susan.
"We'll go back to the hummer and retrace our steps."
"And what? Go back to our old life? I don't think so."
"Fine, we'll live here then, in Middle Earth."
"Where, Nicole? In case you weren't listening just then, there's a lot more out there than elves and midgets. Like those Nine Riders! What the hell are we suppose to do if we come across them?"
"Then will live here! What's your problem, Susan?" yelled Nicole, slamming her guitar on her bed.
Susan sighed and began to pace, running her hands through her hair. "I think we should go with them," she whispered.
"Ah, hell no! We're not going with them!"
"Why not?"
"You said it yourself, there's a lot more than elves and midgets out there, and I don't want to run into it… Is this cause you like that Boromir guy?"
"I do not like him!" Susan protested with the stomp of her foot.
"Nicole, I think we need to go with them too," said Jake, appearing from the shadows.
"Ugh! Not you too!"
"Nicole, that ring… it spoke to me!"
"Me too," whispered Susan, hugging herself in fright.
"You guys don't think I heard? It talked of some stupid pagan sacrifice! That's why I don't want to go near it!"
"Nicole, what if we were brought here for a reason? What if it wasn't by mistake?" questioned Jake. She looked into his eyes, those eyes that had never lied to her. Nicole sighed and massaged her neck, looking to the ceiling for help.
"We're not warriors!" she yelled, throwing down her hands. "I'm not a fighter like you two! I wouldn't be able to survive!"
"You survived against your dad," commented Susan with her caring eyes. Nicole looked at her with shocked, like she was two and just said a curse word.
"Don't talk about that," she whispered.
"Nicole, you're going to have to face it again…"
"NO!" she shouted, shutting up Susan. "We swore we would never speak of that day… EVER!"
Susan squeezed her eyes shut as two tears fell down her cheeks, and hugged herself tighter. Jake approached Nicole and held her tiny forearms in his large hands.
"We can protect you," he whispered, "Like we always have, Vincini."
Nicole sighed and caressed his cheek. He was a big The Princess Bride fan, and nicknamed her Vincini because she was the brains, Susan was the steel, and he was the strength.
"You shouldn't have too," she whispered back, shaking her head. She pulled away from his arms. "All because of this stupid disease."
Rubbing her arms, she walked to her balcony door. She looked out onto the waterfall and just stood there. The wind blew against her face, cooling her skin. The smell of the sea filled her nose, and she felt a calling: a call to join.
"I'll go…"
Susan heard her words, walked to her, and embraced her. Nicole hugged her back as they looked out onto the waterfall. Jake walked up behind them and wrapped them in his large arms, kissing Susan on the crown of her head.
"Then you have made a decision?"
The three turned around and saw Elrond standing in the doorway with his sons, each carrying a bundle of cloth.
"Yes," said Nicole, stepping forward. "We will join the Fellowship… if that's alright with you."
"Of course," he said, stepping forward, "But you will need weapons of your own. Lady Susan."
Susan gave Nicole and Jake a questioning look, and then approached Elrond. Elladan stepped forward and unwrapped the bundle he was holding. Inside laid a gleaming bow made of what Susan thought to be birch, or maybe a relative. Elrond explained that it was made of brethil, and the golden feathers for the arrows were that of Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles in Arda.
"You are swift and sharp, Lady Susan," said Elrond, looking at her eyes. "May these arrows be as venomous as your words." Susan gave a small laugh, and took the bow and quiver with a small bow.
"Master Jake."
Jake straightened his back and walked to Elrond. Elrohir stepped forward, and gave Jake his bundle. Jake opened it and found a long sword and sheath. The blade was silver and the sheath black leather. He held it to the light, and saw it glimmer.
"That is a newly forged, elvish long sword," explained Lord Elrond. "Light, yet strong. Silent, yet deadly. May it be a protector of innocence."
Jake nodded and stepped back.
"Lady Nicole."
Nicole took a deep breath and stepped forward. Elrond unwrapped his bundle, revealing a beautiful elvish sword. It was not straight like Jake's, but curved, and it had writing all over it.
"This sword has been in my family for many years," said Elrond, handing Nicole the sword and sheath. "It belonged to Arwen, and now I give it to you. Its name is Hadhafang. May you be blessed with it."
Nicole took it in reverence.
"Won't Arwen miss it?" she asked, but Elrond only laughed.
"She was the one that suggested I give it to you."
Nicole made a mental note to thank her.
"What are the names of our weapons?" asked Susan.
"They are new. You may give them names, if you like."
Susan began to ponder a name for hers. The first thing that popped into her head was Boromir. She silently laughed to herself. Man, did she have it bad! Then she thought back to her childhood days, when she and Nicole took riding lessons. Nicole rode a white mare named Golden Star, and she rode black stallion named Nightingale. Unoriginal, yes, but she loved that old horse none the less.
"What's 'nightingale' in elvish?" she asked Elrond.
"Dulinn."
"And what about you, Master Jake?"
Jake swung the sword around, testing it in his hand.
"Lara…" he whispered. Nicole looked at him with saddened eyes. He always seemed so torn about his mother.
"'Lara' in elvish is 'Othronneth.' I think that suits it," said Elrond.
Jake gave a short nod as he sheathed his sword.
"Very well then," said Elrond, "Twelve certainly does outnumber the Nine Riders. You are now apart of the Fellowship. They are leaving early tomorrow morning. Arwen will be in here soon to help the girls pack. And Jake, if you will follow me." Elrond quickly left the room with his sons following him. Jake gave a quick smile to the girls and followed him out.
Susan turned to Nicole, hugging her bow to her chest.
"Well! We certainly got ourselves in a bit of pickle, Lady Nicole."
Nicole quirked an eyebrow at her. "You're starting to sound like one of the hobbits."
"I know! First I'm all happy, and then I'm falling for hot guys in rich clothes! This place is messing with my mind. Who knows what I might do next!"
"All I know is that if you start acting like Richard Simmons, I'm cutting your head off with this sword."