I amar prestar aen.
The world is changed.
Han mathon ne nen.
I feel it in the water.
Han mathon ne chae.
I feel it in the Earth.
A han noston ned gwilith.
I smell it in the air.
Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.
The room was quite light and open, but the weight of why we were all here sat on the shoulders of all present here, giving the place where we all sat a dark, gathering darkness. I could feel the tension in those to my right and left; they knew we were called here for an important reason. There were fifteen people around the room including me and the guard my father had sent me with. Two members of the White Council and one's assistant sat adjascent from me. There were also four Hobbits, two men, a Dwarf, and an Elf like myself. There was also another girl; I wasn't sure if she was an Elf or a Dwarf. She had features of both; height like a dwarf but Elvish features.
"Eruvarnë, do you know anything of the woman over there?" I asked my guard in a hushed voice, pointing to the girl with the golden hair. He shook his head, "No, princess."
I let out a small huff of annoyance, running a hand through my ebony black hair. My eyes continued to scan the room until Elrond spoke up. I looked to the Elf with a stoic expression that mirrored his own, and he began to speak to the group of us that had gathered.
"Strangers of distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." His voice was grave and serious, and he looked at all of us carefully as if he was scanning us for any traces of emotion he disapproved of.
"Middle Earth stands from the brink of destruction, none can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall." The male Elf locked glances with one of the men, who in turn looked to the other. But his gaze was locked unwaveringly on Elrond.
"Each race is bound to the fate of this one doom," His voice boomed and echoed around the open space, and then his eyes landed on a young Hobbit, who's eyes were twinkling with fear, "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." Elrond made a sweeping motion with his hand, and Frodo stood up. I couldn't help but be minorly disgusted by the condition of his feet, but that wasn't the point now. He placed the ring on a small pedestal with shaking hands.
"So it's true," one of the men whispered, capturing the attention of the other man and the strange unidentified girl. Frodo sat back into his seat, closing his eyes and breathing out heavily before fixing his eyes once more on Elrond. All was silent, everyone staring at the ring speculating it. I was, too. It was beautiful, and had words engraved in it in Ancient Elf.
The taller of the men drew in a deep, sharp breath, before standing up, "In a dream, 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 said, reaching for the ring, "Isildur's Bane. . ."
"Boromir!" Elrond exclaimed, standing up from his seat. The man, Boromir, stepped back, and a dark voice began to speak the words engraved on the ring.
"Ash Nazg Durbatuluk, Ash Nazg Gimbatul, Ash Nazg Thrakatuluk, Agh Burzum-ishi Krimpatul." The sky began to darken as the words were said. I wrapped my arms around myself, hoping to bring some heat to my frigid skin. My head pounded as I took the words in, and I saw the other Elf close his eyes. The light darkens and the air rumbles. . .
Gandalf finished speaking. The sky lightened and Boromir sat down once more, his mough agape.
"Never before has anyone dared utter words of that tongue here, in Imladris."
"I do not ask for pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil." Gandalf said, looking each of us in the eyes.
"It is a gift." Boromir stood, and Gandalf looked back, "A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring? 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."
"You can not wield it, none of us can." The other man spoke. My eyes drifted from Boromir to the sitting human. The tension was apparent in the air; you could almost wave your arms and feel it, "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Boromir challenged, a smirk on his face. His voice had a venomous bite to it - he wasn't ready to give up his ideals just yet.
"This is no mere Ranger." My head snapped up. The Elf had stood and was now speaking on behalf of the man who sat next to me, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegience."
Boromir looked shocked, "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." The Elf spoke quietly, his brown eyes boring into Boromir.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn spoke, motioning for the Elf to sit down. Boromir turned to glare at the Elf, "Gondor has no King."
He walked slowly back to his seat, and before he sat down muttered, "Gondor needs no King."
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf murmured, tensing a little bit.
"You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed." Elrond said in a low growl.
"Then what are we waiting for." The Dwarf stood, an axe in his hand. I braced myself for the loud sound that would come with the impact. The Dwarf swung the axe, and as it hit the pedastal it shattered, but the Ring remained completely intact.
"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. 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." Elrond spoke in a dark manner, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked straight at the Dwarf.
Boromir pinched the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb, "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. 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. It is folly."
Legolas stood once more, and his voice rung with urgency, "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?" The small Dwarf stood up, glaring at Legolas.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" I looked at Boromir, tilting my head. Why does he care so much? It's not like he would be taking the Ring to Mordor. . .
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf! Never trust an Elf!" Yelling broke out, and everyone, including me, stood up. That was it.
"Everybody be quiet!" I yelled, staring specifically at Gimli. The yelling quieted a little bit, "Who do you think you are insulting Elves so easily like that. That is a blatant disregard to the fact that there are at least five of us in the room! Are you really still holding a grudge over us because of what happened over three hundred years ago? It wasn't our fault your King was power hungry and could only think about gold!"
At this, everyone began yelling again. Then I heard a small voice.
"I will take it! I will take it!" Everyone hushed, "I will take the Ring to Mordor."
We all turned to the Hobbit. Some people looked shocked, others confused. A tiny Hobbit was offering his life to take the Ring into the firey pits that were Mordor.
"Though," he spoke quietly, "I do not know the way."
"I will help you bare this burden, Frodo Baggins." Gandalf spoke, patting the Hobbit on the shoulder, "As long as it's yours to bare."
Aragorn stood from his seat, "If it is my life or death, I can protect you. I will." He walked towards Frodo, and then got on one knee in front of him, "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." Legolas said, walking towards Frodo also.
"And my axe." Gimli walked forward also, much to the obvious dismay of Legolas. Then, Boromir walked forward, a small smile on his lips.
"You carry the fate of us all, Little One. This is indeed, one of the Council. Then Gondor will see it done."
A bush rustled, and then another Hobbit appeared. He almost ran into Frodo, before putting his hand on his shoulder, "Hey. Mister Frodo isn't going anywhere without me."
"No idea it is impossible to seperate you. He is summoned to a secret Council."
"Oi! We're coming, too." Two more Hobbit's ran out from behind pillars, "You'll have to send us home tied in a sack to stop it."
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of. . .mission." One said, the other crossing his arms, "Quest. . .thing."
"Well that rules you out, then." The crossed-arm Hobbit said to his friend, whom shook his head.
"I will come, also." I said, stepping forward. I wiped my hands on my dress to rid them of nervous sweat, "I'm not sure what I'd have to offer, but I know that I was summoned here for a reason. And if this is it, than I will serve it with my life."
"I offer my swordsmanship to accompany you on your quest." The short, golden haired girl stepped forward, a smile on her face.
"Ah, Bryëton Ciryatan," Gandalf said with a smile, "As brave as your mother and father." The girl nodded slightly, "I'm willing to give my life to help the people of Middle Earth stay out of the dark age it was once in."
"Eleven companions. . ." Elrond muttered, "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Right," the smallest Hobbit said, "Where are we going?"