Chapter 9
The Elven Fellowship
Valinor
September 25, 4
The 4th Age
All the Elves on Valinor plus the Halfling, Bilbo, gathered in the great hall for council. Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel walked forward.
"We bring news of great doom to you all!" Galadriel proclaimed.
Bilbo, who had been snoozing, woke up with a shout at this.
"What? Am I late for second breakfast?" he said in a sleepy voice.
Lord Elrond just rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"No, Master Baggins, you are not late for second breakfast! But, if I were you I would try not to snooze in a council! It is quite rude!" he joked.
Bilbo chuckled.
"Alright Master Elrond, I get the hint! I'll go back to bed!" he said.
But before he could get up, Elrond put a hand out to stop him.
"That is not necessary Bilbo! You can stay here and if you do fall asleep I'll fill you in later!" he said.
Bilbo just shrugged his shoulders. All the elves just laughed with merriment. Lady Galadriel then raised a hand for silence.
"As you all know, Sauron has returned! But what you don't know is that the young Halfling Frodo Baggins, had a hand in this!" she announced with a high voice for all to hear, even the now snoring Bilbo.
Bilbo woke up again with an alarmed look on his face.
"That's preposterous! My nephew would never willingly help the Dark Lord! You're out of your mind!" he yelled in shock.
"Master Bilbo, please just hear me out! The Wizard, Olorin, found this out on his travel to Coruscant with the young Hobbit." Galadriel said in clarification.
"Well as a matter of fact, Frodo himself confessed to the heinous act by accident in one of their councils!" Galadriel chuckled.
"It happened like this, when Frodo seemingly destroyed the Ring in Mount Doom it was not so! He destroyed a counterfeit and kept the real one for himself! And, now we have a massive war in Middle Earth to deal with! All because of the foolishness of a Halfling!" she finished.
Lord Celeborn then stepped forward.
"When the Great Eagle, Gwaihir, had told us of this treachery, we asked for his advice, and he told us to send out an army of elves to Middle Earth! Well, since we all know the time of the elves is over and it is now the age of men, we decided to send out another 'fellowship' to Middle Earth. But we are at a loss at who should be in that fellowship. We have agreed that Master Elrond should go but he needs companions to aid him in this most important and crucial quest. Who will join him?" he finished.
There was a moment of silence before the old Halfling, Bilbo, spoke up.
"Well since I was the one who started this whole mess I think it is my responsibility to aid Master Elrond in this quest." He said.
Elrond just rolled his eyes once again.
"Bilbo, my dear Halfling! Didn't we already have this conversation?" he laughed. "I told you in Imladris that you couldn't join the Fellowship of the Ring, what makes you think now is any different? Anyways, you make too bold a claim that you were the one who started this! If anyone is to make such a claim it is the Dark Lord Sauron! The answer is no!" he finally concluded.
And at that everybody burst into laughter.
"I suppose you are right after all, Master Elrond." Bilbo finally conceded.
After another moment of silence, Lady Galadriel spoke up.
"I will join Elrond in this quest. I feel it is my duty to finally see to the destruction of this foul device!" she said as she joined Elrond.
Then there was another moment of silence before Glorfindel stepped forward.
"I, Glorfindel, will aid Master Elrond in this crucial quest. You have my sword!" he said as he too joined Elrond.
Suddenly Master Celeborn stepped forward.
"I, too, will join this fellowship! Lord Elrond, you have my wisdom!" he said as he joined the fellowship of elves.
Then Elrond's two sons, Elrohir and Elladan, stepped forward.
"Father you have our bows!" they said proudly as they too joined the fellowship. Haldir then strode forward.
"Master Elrond, I, Haldir, offer my service to this fellowship of elves!" he said as he too joined Elrond.
"We now have seven; we need at least two more to join." Elrond announced.
All of a sudden Cirdan, the ship wright strode forward.
"Master Elrond, you have my services, if indeed they come in handy." He said solemnly as he joined the fellowship.
The Great Elven King, Thranduil stood up next.
"Lord Elrond, you have my skills as a master bowman! I will join this Fellowship!" he announced as he too joined the ranks of elves around Elrond.
Finally Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod walked forward.
"I Gildor Inglorion of the Exiles will join this fellowship of elves. Lord Elrond, you have my guidance as a hunter!" he said as he joined the Fellowship of Elves.
Then there was a slight rustling by the door as a strange woman in light green and brown raiment strode forward. Lo! It was indeed Goldberry! The Lady from the Old Forest!
"I, Lady Goldberry, will join this fellowship! You have my songs Master Elrond!" She sang as she too joined the Fellowship.
"Well we now have Eleven Elves in the Fellowship!" Lord Elrond announced. "So be it you are the Fellowship of the Elves!" One of the Valor announced. "May the strength of the Eldar go with you! Farewell!" The Valor said.