*so here is the next chapter everyone!(: thank you all for reviewing who have done so! Next chapter I will start making a list of all the people who reviewed the chapter before so, so anyone on that list can assume they get an extra free cookie! :3 also any questions for that chapter I will happily review in the next chapter! I apologize now if there are any questions from the last chapter and any grammar corrections that needed to be done! I'm in a hurry today but I felt I couldn't leave you guys hanging and needed to put up a new chapter! I should probably get a beta or whatever they are called never used one before lol anyone want explain exactly what they are, please? Anyways you all know the stuff and if you don't look at the author notes from before chapters! Thank you everyone again for the support! Happy reading!(:*
It was the next day and I quietly sat next to Legolas as we waited for the council to begin. Legolas had suggested I should sit next to Aragorn so that the races were still separated but I practically begged him to let me sit with him. I could feel Legolas' eyes on me and I tried to ignore him.
"Why do you not want to sit next to Aragorn?" Legolas inquired quietly and I sighed.
"We were talking in the gallery yesterday," I glanced at Aragorn quickly, I noticed he looked distracted and I furrowed my eyebrows before looking down at my hands. "Aragorn told me he loved me and kissed me." I admitted finally with a sigh and looked at Legolas. I saw his face light up and he smiled widely at me.
"That is wonderful Aria! I am happy for you, I would not think of anyone greater. What troubles you?" Legolas asked, now confused. I glanced at Aragorn once more before biting my lip slightly and smiling.
"Yes, he certainly is, but yesterday, when he kissed me," I hesitated slightly and I began to blush. "I don't know, I felt almost like a shock, I do not know how to describe it. But either way it does not matter, after he kissed me, I pulled away in shock and I ran from him; we have spoken since."
"It will all work out." Was the only the Legolas said before Elrond stood to begin and I sighed, pushing the thoughts away for now.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." Elrond began as everyone quieted down. "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." I glanced around the room and saw Frodo sitting next to Gandalf.
"Bring forth the ring, Frodo." Elrond said and Frodo hesitantly took the ring from his pocket. He took a quick glance around the room but his eyes stopped on me, I gave him an encouraging smile and one quick nod. Frodo slowly stood and placed the Ring on the pedestal in the middle of room, some people quietly gasped as he returned to his seat.
"So it is true!" Boromir said in shock.
"Sauron's Ring, the Ring of power!" Legolas muttered in disbelief and comfortingly patted his knee.
"The doom of man." One dwarf said and I sighed.
"It is a gift!" Boromir retorted and stood, my eyes silently followed him. "A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the steward of Gondor, held 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!"
"You cannot wield it, none of us can." Aragorn began and Boromir narrowed his eyes at him. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir asked, his voice icy. I immediately stood with a glare, angered immensely.
"And why would a man of Gondor know anymore than a Ranger?" I asked, my eyes narrowing even more as Boromir turned towards me.
"This is no mere Ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Legolas said, standing with me. I smirked proudly as Boromir's eyes widened.
"Why, may I ask, is a woman in this council? And this is Isildur's heir? Aragorn?" Boromir demanded, caught by surprise.
"I am not just a woman in this council Lord Boromir, I am also a Ranger, and you will speak to me as such! And yes, he also the heir to the throne of Gondor!" I growled out as Legolas glared at Boromir.
"Sit down Legolas, Aria." Aragorn said quietly. I glanced at Aragorn for a moment before glaring at Boromir, sitting down with my brother.
"Gondor needs no king." Boromir muttered, still glaring at me as he sat down.
"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Gandalf stated and I nodded, agreeing with both Aragorn and Gandalf.
"You have only one choice, the ring must be destroyed." Elrond said and we all sat there thoughtfully. The dwarf that spoke earlier suddenly stood with excitement.
"Then what are we waiting for?" He said happily and began to run towards the Ring.
"No!" I cried out, just as he slammed his axe down onto the Ring. I gasp loudly as the worst pain I had ever felt shot through my heart. I squeezed my eyes shut, clutching the clothes above my heart as I fell out of my chair. My heart still ached even after the pain left and I took another deep gasp of air. The harsh ache soon began to turn into a dull ache.
"Aria, Aria! Are you alright?" I slowly slid my eyes open to see Aragorn, Legolas, and some other elves hovered over me. I pushed Aragorn aside slightly as I sat up, my heart beat going back to normal.
"Yes, I am fine." I mumbled as Legolas helped me back into my chair, everyone else returning to their seats. I noticed the dwarf was now back in his seat, his axe shattered all over the ground, the Ring sat on the pedestal, untouched.
"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. One of you must do this." Everyone remained silently as we all glanced at each other, wondering who would go.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir began, his voice in disbelief. "Its black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil that does not sleep and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland that is 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!"
"And what would you have us do? Just sit here and wait for doom to come to us? Someone must do this!" I said, shocked by his doubtfulness.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it? A woman, or better yet you expect one of your elf friends to do it!" I narrowed my eyes at Gimli.
"I'm sorry Master Gimli, is there a problem?" I asked, daring him to retort. Gimli began to open his mouth but Boromir cut him off.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir yells and I glare standing up.
"At least we can say then that we had try!" I yelled back, now feeling back to normal, Gimli then jumped out of his seat as well.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of woman or an Elf!" Gimli shouted and I stared at him in disbelief. "Never trust an Elf!" Gimli shouts again as all the elves angrily stood, Legolas holding them back. The tension in the room started to bother me again, as the dull ache began in my heart again.
"I will take it!" I heard someone yell and I gasped slightly, I knew that voice. "I will take it!" Frodo yelled once more and I shut my eyes as everyone quieted down. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." Frodo said now in a normal tone of voice. Everyone sat there in shock as Frodo looked at all of them. "Though I do not know the way." He admitted sheepishly and Gandalf rises to his feet.
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo, as long as it's your burden to bear." Gandalf says as he walks over to Frodo and I immediately stand after him. I quickly walk over to him before Legolas or Aragorn could protest, I knew both of them wanted to. I slowly kneel before Frodo with a light smile on my face.
"For many years I have known you Frodo Baggins and I have never wished for harm to befall you. I will protect you on this journey Frodo even if it is the death of me." I said quietly before standing and placing my hand on his shoulder. Then Aragorn stood, walking to Frodo and standing before him.
"If, by my life or death, I can protect you, I will, you have my sword." Aragorn said and went to stand next to me, I felt him glance at me but I ignored it. Then Legolas stood and so did Gimli, trailing behind Legolas.
"And you have my bow." Legolas said shortly before standing in front of me, I knew the biggest reason he was going on this journey was because of me.
"And my axe." Gimli states, purposefully standing next to Legolas to irritate him. Boromir then slowly stands, walking over to our group.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one." He states with a casual smile and I narrow my eyes at him. He was up to something, he was so against taking the Ring to Mordor but now he was offering his services? "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." He then stood next to Gandalf, it was then I heard the rustling of a bush and quickly looked over to see Sam running towards the council.
"Here!" He cried out as he ran faster. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" Sam stops next to Frodo and I could not help but smile in amusement.
"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond says with a quirk of his eyebrow and an amused smile.
"Oi! We're coming too!" I heard Merry and Pippin cry out, it was then I began to chuckle. Out of all the great warriors and fighters in the council not one heard the three little hobbits hiding behind some bushes. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry says as they stand next Sam.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission…quest…" Pippin pauses, not sure exactly what to call it. "Thing." He says in a final tone and I smile lightly.
"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry mumbles and Frodo snorts lightly as Pippin glares at Merry.
"Ten companions, so be it," Elrond murmurs thoughtfully and then addressing everyone. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" He announces and I smile proudly, glad to be going on another adventure.
"Great!" Pippin cries out happily and then slightly turns to the fellowship. "Where are we going?" He asks as an afterthought and I slap him on the back of his head, rolling my eyes. "Oi! That hurt!"
"Well pay attention Pippin!" I scold quietly and I can lightly hear chuckling next to me. I look to my right and see Aragorn looking at me with amusement in his eyes. I begin to blush and quickly turn my head towards Elrond.