The early morning sunrise shone through the stained glass window casting a green light upon a sleeping Victoria. The bed in which she was curled up in was decorated in dark hand carved wood, it was at least twice the size of the one in her small apartment back home. Victoria groaned as she was blinded by the light and eventually sat upright on the bed, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
Looking around the room, she was confused, 'How did I end up here,' her mind raced until she remembered, 'Oh right, I'm in Rivendell…' it still took a while for it to sink in, but there was no time to worry about that, she had a council to attend to.
She scanned the room, finally able to see it in full light; the furniture was large, but not bulky, the carvings intricate, but not overly ornate.
"I could get used to this!" Victoria whispered with a grin.
She spied a small door in the corner of the room, got up from the soft bed and opened it cautiously. 'No way, they have bathrooms here?!' Victoria thought, barely believing her luck. Inside was a metal bathtub, and what she assumed would be called a chamber pot. After immensely enjoying a hot bath, Victoria wrapped herself in one of the towels provided and walked out of the bathroom and across the room in search of a change of clothes.
Victoria found a small wardrobe on the right side of the bed. Hanging inside was a variety of dresses, all made with silky lightweight material in of many different colours and shades. She pulled out a light blue one, and quickly slipped from her towel into the garment.
She walked over to the mirror and studied her reflection.
"Not bad," turning from side to side, trying to see the whole outfit. The dress had long sleeves with white beads along the collar and waist, perfectly matching the pastel colour of the dress. It was loose but fit well against her skin, the length of the outfit was so long that it pooled at her feet.
She took a moment to study herself - Her face had smooth skin with a fair amount of freckles along the nose, her torso was nicely proportioned with her legs, making her look taller. Her hair was a cross between light brown and blonde which grew until half way down her arm. Her eyes, ugh, brown and boring. Lastly her teeth; they had barely begun to straighten themselves out after years of crookedness, and she was still left with that small gap in between her two front teeth.
All in all, she knew she had decent looks, no-one had ever called her beautiful, but then again no-one called her a toad. "I don't look that bad," she said with a smile. Victoria walked towards the door leading out of the room and slipped on her green canvas shoes. She refused to wear heels, it was hard enough to walk with all the extra fabric at her feet, tripping her up numerous times. "I seriously don't know how these women walk in these clothes every day," Victoria said to herself.
She opened the door to feel the fresh breeze on her face, and swiftly walked in the direction of the council, hoping that she wasn't late.
Seated in a circle are all the representatives of Middle Earth, Men, Elves, and Dwarves. Opposite the elves were the men, Legolas could only recognise one of them, a tall dark haired man with a short scruffy beard was sat legs apart, tapping his foot. This was Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Legolas' dear friend. On the right side of the dwarves sat Elrond, Gandalf the wizard, and a young hobbit with dark curly hair. Everyone had gathered and was awaiting the beginning of the meeting, yet one empty chair still remained.
'Crap, I'm late,' Victoria screamed in her head as she ran down the stairs into the courtyard. She quickly took the empty chair in between Lord Elrond and Frodo, trying not to draw attention to herself.
Early morning birdsong and the rustling of trees filled the seconds of silence as Elrond stood to begin the meeting, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. 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 fate, this one doom. Elrond scanned them all and settled his gaze on the hobbit, gesturing to him, "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Frodo cautiously walked over to the stone plinth in the middle of the council circle and carefully placed the Ring down.
Muttering came from all members of the council as Frodo sat back down sighing in what appeared to be a mixture of fatigue and pain. 'The Ring is already taking hold of him,' Victoria thought sadly. The hobbit caught her staring and they exchanged polite smiles before turning their heads back to the council. 'That's Boromir's cue,' she said to herself, knowing the entire scene off by heart.
On the opposite side of the circle, a man with ginger coloured hair and beard, dressed in a red and blue tunic stood up, "In a dream, I saw the Eastern sky grow dark, but in the West a pale light lingered." He started to edge his way over to the plinth, continuing to speak, "A voice was crying, your doom is near at hand when Isildur's bane is found."
Elrond and Gandalf looked at each other with a concerned expression, and when the man stretched out his hand to the Ring, they both jumped to their feet. "Boromir!" Elrond shouted. The sky darkened as Gandalf began to chant the Ring's poem in Black Speech. Boromir jumped back, terrified.
Victoria covered her ears, while Gandalf's booming voice made her go slightly deaf. "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk," Victoria noticed Elrond holding his head in pain and Legolas closing his eyes grimacing as Gandalf's chanting continued, "agh burzum-ishi krimpatul,"
The sky cleared of shadow and the sun reappeared from it's hiding to light up the courtyard once more. Elrond, horrified and angered, spoke, "Never before has anyone uttered words of that tongue here in Imladris!"
"I do not ask your pardon Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West." He turned to stare at Boromir, "the Ring is altogether evil," he snapped and turned to sit back down.
Boromir, still staring at the Ring, shook his head, "Aye it is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" He walked round addressing everyone, "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? Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him!" He finished.
Victoria gazed across the circle to see Aragorn about to speak, "You cannot wield it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."
The auburn haired man fired back scathingly, "and what would a ranger know of this matter?!"
Only a few seats to her left, Legolas, dressed in a brown cloak stood up, "this is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn son of Arathorn, you owe him your allegiance."
Boromir looked from Legolas to Aragorn in disbelief, "Aragorn! This.. is Isildur's heir?!"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor" Legolas continued.
Boromir turned to Legolas, "Gondor has no King," he walked back to his seat, staring at Aragorn disdainfully, "Gondor needs no King."
Gandalf chimed in, "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
Elrond stood up again, "You have only one choice, The Ring must be destroyed."
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Grumbled a red haired dwarf no more than two seats away. He stood up with axe in hand and strode over to the plinth, intending to smash the Ring to pieces. Victoria was torn between staying quiet and stopping him, she subconsciously made her decision as she jumped up from her seat.
"GIMLI!"
The sound echoed throughout the building, and Victoria, not realising the deafining sound of her own voice, had every member of the council's eyes upon her. Gimli held his axe high in the air, and was starting right at her, confused.
She swallowed nervously and began to speak, "um- uh, Gimli, if I were you I wouldn't try to destroy the Ring right now, mainly because you can't and it would break your axe."
The dwarf cautiously lowered his axe and stomped over to where she was standing and looked up at her fiercely. "Are you implying that I am not worthy enough to destroy it? Are you testing the might of the dwarves?!" He asked furiously.
Taken aback by his accusation, Victoria stammered and held her hands out as if the protect herself, "No, no, no, I-I'm not, it's just that, the Ring cannot be destroyed by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, and only there can it be unmade," she said, quoting Elrond.
"You know much about this ring, my lady. How did you come by this information?" Aragorn asked.
"I-I um, read about it in a book." Victoria said finally, not wanting to have to explain the concept of television to the entire council.
"Well, a woman should not meddle in the ways of the world, especially if it concerns the Ring of Power." Boromir declared. Victoria shot him a dirty look as she sank back into her chair, 'What the hell is wrong with men here?! Annoying, stubborn, AND sexist at the same time!' she thought angrily.
Elrond continued talking, "the Ring must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you... must do this."
There was silence. Nobody spoke. No one dared to move, not until Boromir spoke up again, "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. Tis 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!" He said shaking his head.
Legolas jumped to his feet and shouted at Boromir, "have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?! The Ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli said, confronting the elf.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!" Boromir fired back.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli bellowed.
The elves sprung to their feet to back Legolas. The men did the same for Aragorn. They all started shouting and yelling until the conversation was a mere cacophony of deafening arguments. Victoria looked to her left to see Frodo holding his head in pain whilst glancing over at the Ring.
After a few seconds he finally rose from his chair and plodded towards the group, "I will take it!" He yelled, trying to be heard over the racket. He yelled again, "I will take it!" It took a while, but eventually the council members stopped their bickering and gazed at him in awe, "I will take the Ring to Mordor," he said again, "though, I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf said reassuringly as he clapped a hand on the hobbit's shoulder and stood behind him.
Aragorn knelt down to meet Frodo's gaze, "if by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
"And you have my bow," said Legolas, chiming in.
"And my axe," Gimli said proudly, as he walked over to meet the others. He looked at Legolas who grimaced, he was not holding back any feelings discomfort about a dwarf joining the quest.
Boromir reluctantly stood with the group, "You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."
Out of the corner of Victoria's eye, she saw a hobbit peering through the bushes. Smiling at him, she nodded her head towards the group, encouraging him to join.
"Hey! Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me." Sam cried as he took his place by Frodo's side.
"No indeed it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not!" laughed Elrond.
Victoria craned her neck to see two small heads pop out from behind the stone pillars.
Elrond's head whipped around astounded, as the two hobbits ran in eagerly, "Wait! we're coming too!"
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" proclaimed Merry.
Pippin continued, "Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing"
"Well that rules you out Pip!" Merry whispered.
Elrond gazed at the nine stood together, "Nine companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
"Great! Where are we going?" Pippin asked innocently.
Victoria couldn't help but laugh.
Legolas looked around the group as it slowly thinned. He felt confident in his decision to travel with the Fellowship, knowing he would stop at nothing to see the Ring destroyed and peace restored to Middle Earth. The only thing he was unsure of, were his travelling companions. Aragorn he could understand, the man had been a long time friend, and proved himself trustworthy. Frodo seemed destined to carry the ring, and Gandalf would lead the way.
The others he was not as sure about, the three other hobbits seemed a little vulnerable, and the man Boromir he did not trust. But worst of all was the dwarf, Gimli. Legolas would rather it be anyone else but the dwarf.
As he mulled this over in his mind, Elrond strode over, "I am relieved that you will be traveling with the Fellowship," he said proudly, "although there is one thing that troubles me… the girl you found."
Legolas groaned inwardly, "what about her?"
"I had a long discussion with her yesterday, and the way she acted during the council meeting has lead me to believe that she is telling the truth." Elrond looked as surprised as Legolas.
Legolas peered into the elf's eyes, hoping to find some sign that this was some kind of joke.
It was no joke, he was serious.
Elrond spoke at last, "I believe she can help us... she will travel with the Fellowship."