A/N: Whew! I've been typing like mad lately! Now you know what happens when I get inspired. ;) Just a heads up, although this is a LegolasXOC fanfic (and believe me, it WILL get romantic), that won't come in for several chapters, if I had to guess. But trust me, it will happen. Also, I know that in the book, the Fellowship doesn't leave until a month after the Council. But for the purposes of moving this story along, I'm just gonna say that they left like, a week later instead.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own anything in this fanfic except Íverin. But I do have all 3 movies and all 4 books, which is close enough for me. :D

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor."

I sat on a tall wooden chair, on a balcony in Elrond's House, clothed in pale brown robes with my hair free and flowing. Many other chairs surrounded me, each one occupied by one of those invited to the Secret Council of Elrond.

"Middle-Earth," Elrond said, "stands upon the brink of destruction; none can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall." His gaze caught every person's eye. "Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom!" Now he gestured to a chair on the edge of the semi-circle. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."

A small hobbit with dark hair and blue eyes, the one who had been at the bead of the banquet table, rose from his chair, and placed the Ring of Power upon a pillar of stone for all to see with a shaking hand. Exhaling, he returned to his seat, and my eyes followed him. So this was Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer. I looked at him. He sat next to Gandalf, and he looked quite nervous. He had every right to, seeing the evil that he was made to bear.

Suddenly, another voice softly spoke. "So it is true." I looked to the opposite side of the circle and found the voice's owner: a Man, with reddish hair like that of Pippin's and blue eyes, with a lean face touched with a scruffy red beard, dressed in dark leathers that bore the White Tree of Gondor. An old anger flared up in my heart.

"In a dream," he said quietly, "I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the west, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, "The doom is near at hand, Isildur's Bane is found!" He leaned forward, and reached for the ring. "Isildur's Bane..." he murmured, as if in a trance.

"Boromir!" Estel's sharp voice commanded. In my mind, I scowled. Already he had been seduced by the Ring's power. But a warning sounded deep in my heart, and my gaze flicked to the small golden band. Was I, too, vulnerable because of my blood? Was I weak?

Now a deep, rumbling voice overtook the silence. Instantly I clapped my ears to my head and shut my eyes, but I could still hear the menacing voice in my head. "Ash Nazg Durbatuluk, Ash Nazg Gimbatul, Ash Nazg Thrakatuluk, Agh Burzum-ishi Krimpatul."

And suddenly, the voice ceased, and the darkness was lifted from my heart. When I looked around, I saw that all had been shaken by this mysterious chant.

"Never has anyone dared utter words of that tongue here in Imladris, Gandalf," Elrond said firmly, though I could tell that even he had been disturbed by what had been said.

"I do not ask for pardon, Master Elrond," said Gandalf's elderly voice, "for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west! The Ring is altogether evil."

It was silent for a moment, and then Boromir spoke up once more. "It is a gift...A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this ring?" Then, with a proud smirk, he stood up. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay." I rolled my eyes. "By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe!"

"When last I checked, Gondor had never traveled north to defend the land of Rivendell," I said. The elf beside me chuckled softly.

Boromir glared at me, but continued. "Give Gondor the weapon of the Enemy! Let us use it against him!"

"You cannot wield it! None of us can!" said Estel. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master!"

Now it was he that Boromir scowled at. "And what," he sneered, "would a Ranger know of this matter?"

A tall, blonde elf three chairs away from me stood and stepped towards Boromir. "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir turned to the elf, but he was much shorter, and the look in the elf's eyes told him it would be unwise to talk back. I smirked.

Then Boromir looked back at Aragorn, still cruely, but with suprise. "Aragorn? This...is Isildur's heir?" Several people around the circle looked at Aragorn in suprise. Aragorn...it has been a long time since I called him that.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," said the elf. Anger flickered in Boromir's eyes.

Suddenly, Aragorn raised his hand. In Elvish, he said, "Sit down, Legolas."

Legolas...I looked at him. I had heard that name before. He is the son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood; the prince, I believe.

Boromir glared at Aragorn once more. "Gondor has no king," he said, returning to his seat. "Gondor needs no king."

There was a short silence. "Aragorn is right," I said. "We cannot use it. It will only bring death and destruction to our lands."

"Then what are we to do?" Boromir spoke up again. "Simply throw it away? It is strategy! Sauron will never see it coming!"

I gritted my teeth. "Boromir." He looked up at me. "You are loyal to Gondor, yes?" He nodded proudly. "Then would you risk destroying your entire land? Bringing such a great evil to your country? If Gondor is found to have the One Ring, Sauron will not simply give up. He will strike harder, swifter, and faster than ever. And you will not," Boromir made to cut me off, but I raised my voice and leaned forward in my seat. "you will NOT be able to stop him."

Boromir seethed, but he did not argue. I sat back again.

"You have only one choice," said Elrond quietly. "The Ring must be destroyed."

One of the dwarves, short with a long reddish beard, grabbed his axe and stood up. "Then what are we waiting for?" With a cry he leapt forward and brought his axe down upon the Ring. There was a loud boom and crack, and smoke appeared, and I clapped my hands over my ears again and shut my eyes. When I opened them again, the smoke had lifted, and the dwarf lay on the ground with a look of utter horror on his face. The Ring lay perfectly intact on the pedestal, not a scratch on it, and the shattered remains of his axe blade were scattered across the ground. Several more dwarves jumped up to help their fallen comrade.

Elrond almost had a bemused look in his eye. "The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade." His expression became grim again, and his hard gaze swept slowly over all of us. "It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came!" He paused. "One of you must do this."

For awhile, nothing could be heard. And then finally, Boromir spoke again. Frankly, I was getting tired of hearing him speak. "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. The Great Eye...is ever watchful." I glanced over at Frodo; the poor hobbit looked paralyzed with fear. "It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash, and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this." He shook his head. "It is folly."

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said?" cried Legolas, rising again. "The Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli shouted, also standing.

"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir exclaimed. "What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli growled. "Never trust an Elf!"

I sprung to my feet, along with the rest of my Elven comrades. The Dwarves stood also, bickering and arguing. Everyone was agitated and shouting.

I glared down at Gimli. "If someone does not take it," I said, "we will all die! It is good enough that he is volunteering, while you sat and did nothing!"

Gimli frowned. "And what say you, Elf-maiden? Would you walk into Mordor willingly? None of us would! Your kind are always 'volunteering,' as you may say, but I call it showing off! You've had your chance; let others take the opportunity to prove themselves!"

I was about to retort, when the crowd began to quiet down. "I will take it!" a small voice shouted. I stopped and turned to look, as did everyone else. There stood little Frodo, holding the Ring in his palm, looking around at all the big folk surrounding him.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor," he said once all had quieted. "Though...I do not know the way..."

Gandalf smiled and walked over to Frodo, standing beside him. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

Now Aragorn walked up to him. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." He gripped Frodo's shoulder. "You have my sword."

"And mine as well," I said. "for it is not an easy task to travel to Mordor, that much is certain." I took my place behind him, next to Aragorn.

"And you have my bow." Legolas joined us as well.

"And my axe," Gimli said. I glanced down at him as he stood beside Legolas and I. He looked quite uncomfortable.

Boromir also strode up to us. "You carry the fate of us all, little one," he said. "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"HEY!" There came a cry from the nearby bushes, and before any of us could react, Sam came rushing up, pushing between us so that he stood next to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me!"

"No indeed," Elrond said with a smile. "It is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not." Sam blushed.

"Oy! We're coming, too!" And with that, Merry and Pippin rushed up, taking their place in the small group.

"Anyway! You need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing!" Pippin nodded.

"Well that rules you out, Pip," Merry whispered.

"Ten companions..." Elrond said thoughtfully. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

"Great!" Pippin said. "...Where are we going?" And at that, I couldn't help but smile. This would be an interesting journey.

I stood by my bed, and placed the last of my supplies in my pack. After allowing myself a small smile of satisfaction, I dug through the brown leather bag once more, running through a checklist in my head. Extra clothes? Check. Spare blankets? Check. Food? Check. Water?

I frowned. How could I forget water? I turned to leave and head down to the kitchen to grab my flask, but smiled when I saw Elrond standing in the door way. "Hello, Uncle," I said.

"Íverin," he said. "I wanted to speak with you before you and the rest of your comrades set off."

"Of course!"I sat down on my bed, and he next to me. "What would you like to talk about?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure that you want to go through with this?"

"Abosolutely."

"Even though you know you will be the only woman in the group?"

"Should that intimidate me?" I asked. "I am skilled enough with a blade and bow to defend myself. And I am a Wood-elf, don't forget."

"I know, I could not forget," he said with a smile. Then he looked serious again. "But Íverin, you do realize that your job is to remain with the Fellowship, no matter where they may go?"

"Yes," I said, "I know that."

"Even if they should choose to go to Gondor?"

I sighed. "In all honesty, Uncle, I hope it would not come to that. I do not think that will be the case, though. Gandalf and I talked, and he seems to have a path mapped out already. It does not lead us through Gondor, not as far as I know."

"But that may change," Elrond replied, "and it most likely will. Know this, my dear: if you go with them now, you cannot abandon them, no matter what."

"No matter what," I agreed. Then I asked him, "Why do you doubt me?"

"I do not doubt your heart, nor your determination or skill. It is your history that troubles me. You saw how quickly Boromir was affected by the ring. And I fear that because of your bloodline, it would be all too easy for you to fall to the same fate."

An image of the Ring flashed through my mind. I saw Boromir mumbling and reaching out for it. I shuddered. "No," I said. "I will not fall to it, of that you can be sure. You know me. When I make a commitment, I stick to it, through thick and thin. Why would that change now?"

"Well, if you still insist on going with them," Elrond said, "then always remember this. Keep your past hidden. Aragorn and Gandalf are the only two that know of it, besides yourself, of course. It will only bring you trouble to tell them. It would weigh them down, possibly even sway their decisions as to where they will go."

I frowned. "Gandalf is no fool. He would never do such a thing."

"Not intentionally, no," said he, "but I know that he is like a grandfather to you. He would not want to put you in a difficult position. And even if you are right and he would not do such a thing, I still do not want to risk it. Either way, tell no one of your parents, or where you come from. Do not even tell them lies, for that can only lead to trouble as well. You know that."

I nodded. "Of course I do! You raised me well enough." I smiled.

Elrond smiled back. "That is all I will say to you." He reached over and gave me a hug. "You are a strong woman, Íverin. I know that you will succeed in everything you do, but all the same, I wish you luck. And I love you."

"I love you too, Uncle," I said softly.