A/N: Well here we are. It was nano, and then I went on holiday so there was no chance to post it. This chapter may have some mistakes since it is not read through (the beta went on holiday and still hasn't got around to doing it but I need to post). So, the council. This chapter includes awesome spy skills, hair dying, awkward moments, low opinions of Boromir, subliminal messages and the frying pan of doom. Hope you enjoy.
Discliamer: We only own the OCs.
Kels POV
I sat behind the base of a large statue talking into my iPod, or walkie-talkie as Seph was now referring to them as. We were on a covert mission to infiltrate the meeting, which, might I add, hadn't actually started yet.
"Gold Eagle... Come in Gold Eagle..." Seph's voice could be heard crackling through the ear buds.
"Gold Eagle reporting... What is status Blue Wolf?" Ok, so codenames may seem really childish but all good spies use them! Seph and I insisted that they were needed, much to Fin's displeasure.
"There are bushes, plant pots and statues on the left side for us and the parva to hide behind."
"This is Red Bear... Why are the hobbits called miniatures in Latin?"
"Don't question my genius!"
"And why did you insist that our code names had to be the animals in our weapons?"
"Because otherwise you would have chosen a stupid codename like Glorfindel, who, might I add, is not attending the meeting, he's out on patrol."
"Why? There is no need for him to be."
"I convinced Ada, do you really want him there when you get up and announce you're coming too?"
"...No."
"Exactly, you owe me one... Oh look! It's Barbie; well I need to go. Blue wolf over and out."
"Gold Eagle over and out," I whispered before standing and moving into the corridors, wandering along with an hour to spare. I had already had lunch; there wasn't anything to do. Deciding that I might go and find the hobbits to relay our plan, a figure in my peripheral vision. I turned as the one person that I really did not want to see right now came around the corner. I swiftly turned and pattered down the corridor, away from said person, to the room that the hobbits share. It took me a good five minutes as I got lost twice but I got there eventually. Pushing the oak door open quickly and leaping inside, slamming it behind me, I turned to all the hobbits but Frodo, who was talking with Gandalf and Ada Elrond. Whispering in a hushed voice, in case any elves might walk past, I told them the plan and requested that they get ready. As I left them to change, thinking that I had been in the room long enough, I stepped from the room and saw the person I had been attempting avoid was just there, mere meters away. My heart began thundering in my ears and I flushed slightly red as he walked along head bent over the leather bound book held in his hand, dark hair forming a curtain around it. Aragorn hadn't noticed me yet so I looked down and picked up my pace, hoping to just walk on past...
"Kelly?" Dammit. I glanced up and met the silvery eyes of the ranger, but quickly averted my gaze to the sturdy leather boots on my feet. I was slightly surprised by his appearance in that brief second that I looked at him, he was dressed well, and his hair had been washed... it was a miracle! He actually washed his hair! Giving a slight cough I felt my cheeks warm slightly, as I shifted from foot to foot awkwardly, recalling the letter that I had found in my room.
"Yes," I whispered, finally managing to conjure up an answer, even if it was only one word long.
"Where are you going?" Nosy pants, it's none of his business!
"...Just walking and listening to music," I said, not managing to give him a snarky answer. "anyway, haven't you got something to prepare for?" I questioned, feeling rather proud of myself for making him stare down at me with a slightly shocked expression.
"Yes but-" He was cut off by a loud crashing sound and we both turned to see Seph and the twins pounding their way down the corridor. Seph had her head thrown back in laughter as they shot past us, causing me to topple over onto Aragorn... again! I had already done it once when I had just received the letter; I swear Dan tripped me over. As they turned the corner a raging Mirkwood prince stormed down after them, completely oblivious to Aragorn and I sprawled across the floor. When they had all disappeared from sight, I propped myself up on my elbows and looked down at the ranger and heir to the throne of Gondor. My plait fell over one shoulder and hit the floor by his head. He looked up at me and we stared in silence. A giggle escaped my lips and the two of us burst out laughing as we remembered the red face of Legolas as he had stormed past us, a mysterious streak of blue in his hair.
As our laughter slowly faded I found myself staring at him again, he propped himself up and I sat up, eyes still locked on him. Realising what an awkward position I was in I proceeded to leap up and run.
Seph's POV
Well... it took me almost an entire hour to lose the prince of Barbie land. He only stopped because he had to get ready for the council and attempt to get the berry dye out of his hair. I was currently sat behind a large, well placed statue of an elf, peering through a gap in the bushes and into the gathering. Kelly and Fin were flanking me on either side and the hobbits were behind another bush. Prince big ego was sitting, completely composed despite the faint tint of blue that was still in his hair, Aragorn was lounging on the opposite side, I hadn't seen him since I knocked Kelly on top of him, he looked pretty well despite his previous flustered expression. The twins stood beside Elrond with Erestor and Gandalf sat near me, looking back over his shoulder and catching my eye with a small, comforting smile. I threw a small nut at the back of Di's head, but she remained facing the other way, a hand on Frodo's shoulder. I could almost see her smirking.
Elrond stood and all sound ceased, the faint rustle of the wind in the trees and the song of a lark the only noise.
"Friends of old," he began, looking out across the congregation. "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He rolled the 'r' in Mordor and I could faintly hear Kelly copying him under her breath. I had seen this scene so many times before and yet here, before my eyes I was watching the real thing. It was an incredible feeling.
"Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction." As a joke I stared at Legolas and I watched amused as he looked around, clearly uncomfortable by that strange sensation of being watched. He met Aragorn's eye and they shared a very serious look, it was a bit ominous to say the least. Elrond continued in the background but I was too preoccupied causing people to feel uncomfortable.
"Bring forth the ring Frodo." My head snapped back towards Elrond as he gestured gracefully towards the stone pedestal. Diana gave Frodo's shoulder a comforting squeeze before he stood, knowing full well that I would kill her if she did not help my poor brother in any way. All eyes were trained on his small form as he slowly walked forward, placing the golden ring upon the pedestal. People of all races leaned forward, all except the four of us, the Beni elves. We were apparently unaffected by the pull of the ring, unlike all the others here. The most reactive was Boromir, leaning fully forward with a slightly creepy look of longing on his face. Frodo sat back down and heaved a sigh, looking over at Diana who gave him a tiny smile, quite an achievement for her I must say, I can never tell if she just has a really good poker face or if she is actually emotionally stifled.
I watched as Boromir stood and began his speech, something which Fin was quoting off by heart simultaneously with him. I, however, was only resisting the urge to go over there and whack him around the head with a frying pan for being a susceptible douche. His speech might actually have been very charismatic but in my mind it was simply translated as...
'Yada yada yada... I'm a creep... Yada yada yada... I want the ring... Yada yada yada... someone should hit me with a frying pan... Yada yada yada...'
Suddenly Gandalf rose as Boromir's fingers came within millimeters of the ring. Out of his mouth poured a foul, dark language, painful to both the ears and soul. Kelly clung to me like a frightened lemur and whimpered, staring up at the dark clouds that rolled in from above. The ground itself seemed to shake and Boromir stumbled back. The red haired dwarf I identified as Gimli made a startled sound, looking around him violently for the enemy. I closed my eyes and placed a hand to my forehead, trying to ignore the pounding headache that the language caused. As he stopped, light filtered back in through the trees and the emerald leaves, some floating down to the ground. Boromir practically collapsed into his chair and Kels' vice like grip on my arm began to loosen slightly.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris." And I can honestly see why they haven't, it appears to cause elves a considerable amount of pain.
"I do not ask your pardon Master Elrond," said the grey wizard, "For the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West. The ring is altogether evil."
'Damn straight!'
"It is a gift," objected Boromir, I wanted to hit him so badly! "a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring?"
'Do you really want an answer to that?'
And off he went again with one of his speeches...
'Yada yada yada... my dad is awesome... Yada yada yada... he wants the ring... Yada yada yada...' I watched Aragorn give him the universal look for 'seriously?' and I couldn't help but giggle quietly under my breath.
"You cannot wield it! None of us can!"
"Go Aragorn!" I hissed under my breath and I saw Kelly blush red, causing a self satisfied smirk to make its way across my face.
"The One Ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master!"
"What would a ranger know of this matter?"
'Someone needs to stand up to this insulting man!'
"This is no mere ranger!"
'Ok, when I said someone I meant anyone but him.'
"He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." His smooth velvety voice annoyed me to no end, no one should be able to sound like that! "You owe him your allegiance." I could almost hear the dramatic music of the movie changing key as Gondor's theme played and contentedly hummed along, causing Di to shoot a glare over her shoulder at me.
"Aragorn?" Boromir said in mild disbelief. I suddenly felt very supportive of Boromir, compared to earlier. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. "This is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor!"
'Captain Obvious strikes again.'
"Havo dad Legolas. (sit down)" I nodded my approval at the statement causing a snicker from Fin, who was lounged casually, like the whole event was no big deal. Kels was in a bit of a state due to Aragorn and his kingly voice, she looked like she might faint!
"Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king."
"Debatable." I muttered causing Fin to snicker again.
"With Denethor's ruling system I'm surprised the place is still standing," she commented, sharing a quick high five and receiving a glare from Kelly I grinned, running my fingers through my smooth, yet untameable, caramel curls.
Fin's POV
"Aragorn is right," Gandalf stated, "we cannot use it."
I was currently quite content with just watching Seph, I could almost see the insults and sarcastic comments dancing through her mind. I had learnt to do so, over the years, anyone else would just see what she wanted them to. She ran a thin hand through her hair and glanced at a rather flushed Kelly, whose eyes appeared to be trained on Aragorn.
"You have only one choice." Elrond stood, once again addressing the gathering and once again giving them his hard stare. "The ring must be destroyed." Seph began to hum the dramatic music and I had to bite back my laughter at the cute, innocent and childlike look of glee that crossed her features, it was so rare to see her look like that, even back when we were younger.
"What are we waiting for?" cried the red bearded dwarf, who was quite obviously Gimli, before he charged forward and smashed his axe down upon the ring, shattering it into a million pieces, made all the more dramatic by the quiet sound effects that Seph was making in the background. The eye of Sauron flashed across our vision and Seph collapsed in a weird, practically silent, fit of giggles.
"Subliminal messages!" she giggled. She suddenly froze, smile sliding from her face and she sat up, composed once again. Her ability to change emotion at will like that always astounded me, though it must be useful if you want to trick people, that is why it was always so hard for other people to tell what she was thinking.
Elrond gave Gimli the epic eyebrows look and cocked his head about two degrees to the side.
"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mt. Doom, only there can it be unmade."
"Not at all foreboding," Kelly muttered to no one in particular, having finally calmed down.
"It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you, must do this."
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." I fangirled slightly, I couldn't help it. "It's black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep."
"Mordor, the city that never sleeps... sounds awfully familiar." Seph mumbled over the top of Boromir, not bothered as to what the Gondorian man was talking about.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" yelled Legolas, standing once again. Seph's fist closed around a small rock and I put my hand over hers to stop her throwing it, knowing that she would if given the chance. "The ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli cried angrily.
"And if we fail what then?" Sauron will take back what is his!" continued Boromir, though no one was actually paying attention to him now, his part in the argument had become obsolete.
"I will die before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"
Then all hell broke loose. The dwarves and elves began to bicker, Legolas and Gimli at their heads, Seph silently cheering on Gimli, while the men desperately tried to plead their cases, though no one listened to them. Gandalf shook his head, at a loss as to what he could do. Our eyes all turned to Frodo, silently encouraging him, cheering him on. Gandalf stood, joining the fray and leaving Di with Frodo, helping him.
Frodo stood suddenly, looking out.
"I will take it!" His soft voice was lost among the yells of all the others.
"A little louder brother." I heard Kelly mutter and bobbed my head in agreement.
"I will take it," he said louder, striding forwards on his short legs. The noise quickly died down as people stood and stared. "I will take the ring to Mordor." His voice and resolve were both strong, stunning most into complete silence. "Though I do not know the way." his voice wavered slightly and he looked down.
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins." Gandalf stepped forward, placing a wrinkled hand on his shoulder. "As long as it is yours to bear."
Aragorn stood, being one of the few who had remained seated previously.
"By my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." He strode forward and went down on one knee, declaring, "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow!"
"Piss off Barbie!" hissed Seph and I smiled at her.
"And my axe!" yelled Gimli, his thoughts clearly on the same line as Seph's. Legolas sighed in annoyance.
"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done!" Boromir proclaimed.
"Hey!" Sam leapt up and ran forwards. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"
"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Sam looked mildly embarrassed and began kicking at invisible stones.
"Oi! We're coming to!" Merry ran in, followed closely by Pippin. "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." I stood with the other two and walked up beside Di, who also stood, though no one noticed us.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission-quest-thing!" Gandalf looked highly amused at Pippin.
"Well that rules you out Pip!"
"But it does not rule us out." The entire council turned to look at the four of us, Seph stepped forward and went down on one knee before Frodo.
"Brother, I swore to protect you to the last breath in my body, I do not intend on breaking that oath now," she said, using her soft but firm persuasive voice.
"And we cannot exactly let Seph go alone without supervision," stated Diana, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"We swear to you the oath that Seph swore," I said, going down on one knee at the same time as the other two. "your sisters are with you." We stood and joined the group in the middle, I was going to be in such deep crap when Glorfindel returned.
"Thirteen companions... So be it! You shall be the fellowship of the ring!" Seph performed a fist punch and gave Kels a high five.
"Great! Where are we going?" asked Pippin, much to the amusement of everyone. However, Boromir could not hold himself back any longer.
"Women!" he practically yelled. "They will just slow us."
"Are the hobbits any better than us." He looked at me, angry that I had outsmarted him.
"Yes," he replied derisively. Seph consequently grabbed Sam's frying pan and knocked him out cold. He wouldn't be insulting women again any time soon.
A/N: Dun Dun Dun! Hope you enjoyed this rather late chapter, I will try to update the next one soon (but no promises). The next one has a bit more Glorfin before they finally set off on their journey. It is their 'celebration dinner' before they leave.
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