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Chapter 6
LPOV
He stood tall, in front of his chair. He spoke with authority and wisdom. He acted like the Lord he was.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old" he opened with. "You have been summoned here to deal with the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None could escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
As Lord Elrond gestured to the old, stone stand in the middle of the circle. Frodo began to shyly, uncertaintly stand and bring the ring forth. He lowered it to the top of the stand and hesitated before finally letting it go. He once again hesitated before returning to seat. The silence was thick and heavy as we all looked at this trinket. It was so small, so plain and so easy to overlook as important. However, the silence did not last.
"So it is true" could be heard over all the other murmurs. A man had uttered those words. He had chin length brown hair and looked as if he had suddenly aged ten years. He looked burdened, but also held an air of self-importance around him. Almost as if he believed he was better than everyone else her because of his status. One which he must have had to be included on the council. I saw that I wasn't the only to notice this either. The man had caught Aragorn's attention, or at least his words did.
The man stood and it began.
"A dream," he said "I saw the eastern sky draw dark, but in the west a pale light lingered. A voice was crying 'Your Doom Is Near At Hand, Isildur's Bane Is Found'."
He reached. Slowly at first, but his hand went faster the closer it got to the ring. He acted almost as if he was in a trance. A trance that made him want the ring.
"Boromir!" Elrond yelled as the man with the staff stood. He spoke deep and strong in a dark language. One I wish I did not know.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul (One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them)."
The sky grew dark and ground rumbled beneath our feet. The power that emanated from those words were enormous. But the darker the sky grew the more my ears rang from those words. Catching a glance of Elrond as the evil words continued I could see him almost cradling his head, along with almost every elf there. The power of those words, the evil in them contrasted with good of the elves so much it caused physical pain.
As the words ended, all stopped to look at the man with the stick, as he seemed to weigh himself down with weight of the words. Elrond was the first to speak.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue, here in Imladris"
"I do not ask your pardon, blessed Lord," the old man spoke, "for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The Ring is altogether Evil."
As the man spoke the last line he gave a pointed look to Boromir, who at least attempted to look sheepish. He failed miserably. He ruined the attempted image with his next words.
"It is a gift" he said, as if he was invoking knowledge upon us, "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!"
He was interrupted by Aragon before he could continue his tirade.
"You cannot wield it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other Master."
"And what would a mere ranger know of this matter?" questioned Boromir.
Before Aragon could answer Legolas rose to his feet.
"This is no mere ranger. This is Aragon, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance"
He spoke reverently, like he was amazed to be even sharing the same air as one with such lineage. Boromir though, you could see his foolish thoughts clearly on his face. Disgust, hope, disappointment and fear fought for control.
"Aragon" Boromir repeated in disbelief, "this is Isildur's heir?"
Aragon sat straighter as the native Gondorian inspected him. Like he wanted Boromir's unlikely approval.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor" Legolas supplied unnecessarily.
Half the people in the council suddenly started paying attention. Apparently this wasn't a well known fact. The Hobbits were particularly surprised. The shock on all of their faces visible, even if three of them were attempting to hide their presence from Elrond.
"Hava dad (sit down) Legolas" Aragon finally instructed. However before he could Boromir decided to speak.
"Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King"
He spoke spitefully at both Legolas and Aragon and I immediately wanted to have strong words with the Stewards son. I barely held back. Once everyone was once again seated, the older man began again.
"Aragon is right. We cannot use it."
"You have only one choice" Elrond interrupted, "the Ring must be destroyed."
The tension was thick. Everyone knew it must be done but none were brave enough to do it. Or almost no one was brave enough. A dwarf was though. He jumped to his feet, swinging his ax and bringing down upon the ring as he spoke.
"Well what are we waiting for?"
He flew back the moment his ax struck the Ring. A shrieking noise was emitted and the ringing in my ears started again. Everyone jumped as Frodo grabbed his head, as if the blow had physically hurt him. As the dwarf was helped up we observed the broken stone of his blade that surrounded the untouched Ring. It was devastating.
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin," Elrond informed us, "by any craft we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount of Doom and only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor, and cast back into the fiery chasm in whence it came. One of you must do this"
The silence was deafening. The birds stopped singing, the wind was still. Barely a breath could be heard.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir, unsurprisingly, started" Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland 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!"
Legolas is quick to jump to his feet again. he nearly spits at Boromir in outrage.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"
But Legolas wasn't the only one outraged at Boromir. The whole council descended into madness as Gimli got to his feet.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!"
"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!" was heard from Boromir.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" could be heard from Gimli.
By this point Legolas and Gimli weren't the only ones on there feet. Almost everyone had rose as they bickered back and forth. I sighed as I noticed one wo had not joined the fray. Frodo sat in is chair, staring at the Ring and rubbing his forehead as if it pained him.
"Never trust an Elf!"
The noise increased as more people got involved. Man, elf, dwarf and wizard all united in their disagreement.
"Do you not understand that while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it!"
"You'll all be destroyed"
The anger and noise increase again as the Council argue. They scream and yell and nearly come to blows, as if that will solve all their problems in the world. It won't. I can see Frodo becoming more and more disturbed as the arguing continues. But then it all stops as I see Frodo's mouth moving but the words indistinguishable. He tries again.
"I will take it! I will take it!"
The old man and I closed our eyes in unison as his big words entered our minds. One so small should never carry such a burden.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor" continues Frodo,"Though... I do not know the way."
The old man walks toward Bilbo and looks upon him fondly. He gently lays his hand upon his shoulder and speaks.
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bare."
Aragon gets up with the grace of his nobility and kneels before Frodo.
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
Not interrupting for once, Legolas stood and walked over to Frodo.
"And you have my bow" he spoke.
"And my axe" Gimli exclaimed as he looked darkly at Legolas. I wonder what bad blood was between them, or if it was specifically between them at all.
Surprisingly, Bormir was the next to speak.
"You carry the fates of us all little one" he said"If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
"HEY" Sam yelled as he finally decided to come out of hiding "Mr. Frodo is not going anywhere without me!"
Looking around at the stunned faces of the council as I giggled.
"No indeed," Elrond responded amused "it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."
"Wait!" was heard from two voices in unison,"We are coming too!"
My giggles rose a little in volume as Pippin and Merry ran out from between the pillars leading out of the secret council.
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" informed Merry.
"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing" continued Pippin.
"Well that rules you out Pip" bantered Merry.
Elrond opened his mouth to announce this band completed but I interrupted him first.
"I have sat and observed" I began. "I have listened and pondered. I am inclined to offer my services Master Frodo. I fear that with all the help you are receiving you will still need more. Let my skills help you complete your task and finish this quest. You have my skills."
Before Frodo could accept or decline my help, a scoff was heard.
"A woman" Boromir stated. "A woman believes herself skilled enough, capable enough, strong enough to contest with orcs and goblins when many men stronger than her have been felled. I think not. Go home little girl and save us the trouble of declining your so called... help"
The last word was squeaked as I held a knife to his throat.
"I am Queen Lucy the Valiant! I have made armies stronger than you have ever seen! I have fought more battles than years you have been alive! Do not besmirch my name and spit in my face as if you are nobler than me because you are a Stewards son. You are not. Get off your high horse Boromir and learn that appearances are deceiving. Learn that you are not infallible. You are man and have no right to judge me, only Aslan alone can do that!"
Silence met my speech as the Council gaped in shock. I don't know if it was because of how fast I moved or how strongly my words were spoken. Either way the silence was broken by a small voice.
"I accept you skills m'lady" Frodo spoke softly but confidently, "I am sure we will meet many challenges on this quest and I appreciate any help I will get. Especially from one of your station."
"If that is all?" questions Elrond. At our nods he continues, "Ten companions… So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring"
"Great!" exclaimed Pippin, "Where are we going?"
In unison everyone looked at him as I burst into giggles.
"Oh Pippin"
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