If you can tell by the title, its the Council Scene (yay!). I love the fact that this fan fiction gives me an excuse to watch the LotR trilogy over and over :D Most of the lines are from the films and so hopefully pretty accurate.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: Everything but my OCs belong to Tolkien (no matter how much I wished I owned it)
An Important Council
"Do you have any hobbies Rosalie?" Frodo's head shot up at Sam's question and Merry and Pippin's eyes began to sparkle. "Do you like dancing?" "Do you like singing?" "Oh yes, are you any good?" "Can you sing us something?" "Please?" "Please?"
"Guys! One at a time! Jeez..." Rosalie giggled a little at the end. "Errrmmm... I really like music but I'm not a good singer..." Pippin and Merry both opened their mouths and Rosalie's hands shot out, clamping over them and Frodo and Sam giggled under their breaths as Bilbo continued to snooze in the midday sun. "I'm sure that you are a great singer and we only want a few verses." Rosalie was almost surprised by Sam's quiet input and Pippin and Merry turned to him, mouths still covered by Rosalie's hands. "Just one song Rosalie and we will stop pestering you." Rosalie stared at the hobbit silently and Merry and Pippin just looking at each other. Eventually, she sighed and glared at them. "One song, okay, just one." The hobbits managed to nod their heads in sync.
Rosalie sighed again and shut her eyes, quietly singing under her breath. She kept her eyes shut, scared of seeing their faces scrunched up in horror. Slowly, she sung louder, a smile gracing her lips, remembering how Abby and Zeke would sometimes burst into song, almost shouting the lyrics while jumping up and down enthusiastically. When Rosalie stopped, she waited a few moments before peaking at the hobbits from underneath her eyelashes. As she guessed, they were all staring at her, wide mouthed. "What was that song called?" Frodo finally spoke, though they were all still staring at her. Rosalie blushed, "It's called Demons. It's a pretty popular song from where I come from and I like it." The hobbits were all still staring silently and the pause grew awkward. "You're good." Pippin blurted and Rosalie's blush deepened to a deep red colour. "Th- thanks, guess you haven't heard a lot of good singers," Rosalie tried laughing at the end but it sounded more like a cough.
"He was telling the truth." Rosalie turned to see Bilbo wide awake, sat back comfortably, smiling gently at the girl. "I think it was beautiful." Bilbo continued and all of the hobbits nodded. "And I all think we want to hear another song." Rosalie started shaking her head, almost violently and Bilbo sighed. "Rosalie, I'm getting old and I would like to hear you sing another song. Though, I hope that it will be slightly happier than the last one." Rosalie groaned inwardly. Instead this time, Rosalie stared solely at a blade of grass near her shoe and started to sing again, watching Bilbo's eyes slowly close from the corner of her eye, giving her a confidence boost. When that song ended, Rosalie lay back on the grass; her eyes shut and sang a different song. She liked the atmosphere around the little group, it was so relaxed and soothing and Rosalie felt like she was floating- in a good way.
"She is very strange, isn't she?" A man murmured to the elf, his eyes trained on the girl with blue hair. The elf snorted. "The hobbits don't seem to mind her- she can't be that bad." The man rolled his eyes. "The hobbits aren't the best judges of character. I worry for them." Legolas' eyes narrowed before smiling at the man. "Is the great ranger Aragorn scared of what a mortal child could do to him?" He teased and Aragorn shook his head. "My friend, Mithrandir trusts her and so do the Hobbits. I trust Gandalf's judgements and so I do not believe the girl to be evil." Legolas put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let us enjoy our time before tomorrow and not worry about the girl." Aragorn sighed and turned, following elf to the training fields.
"Rosalie... Rosalie..." "Don't wake her up idiot!" "Be quiet the both of you!" "Frodo is right, let her lie." "Is she drooling?!" "PIPPIN!" Rosalie let out a groan and suddenly the conversation stopped. She blinked a couple of times, watching the world slowly come into focus, a few blurry figures crouched over her. "Good, you're awake!" Merry hit Pippin and glared at him. Rosalie shook her head, trying to come to. She sat up quickly, holding her head to stop the swirling. The world started coming into focus, the blurs became the faces of the Hobbits with Pippin and Merry sat near her head bickering while Frodo and Bilbo sat back on the bench while Sam was in a position similar to Rosalie, enjoying the peacefulness of Rivendell.
The one difference from earlier was Gandalf's tall figure casting shadows on the ground next to her head. Rosalie jumped, staring at Gandalf while Merry and Pippin snickered, until Frodo hit them. "Perhaps you are getting old Rosalie. You seem to have gotten into the habit of midday napping." Gandalf joked and the others chuckled and Rosalie blushed. "I thought the definition of a habit is to do it more than once and this is the first time I've had a nap. You on the other hand," From the corner of her eye, she could see Merry, Pippin and Frodo giggling under their breaths while Bilbo tried not to smile. "Have a very nasty habit of chewing your pipe. So don't get started on my apparent dirty habits when you have one yourself." Rosalie countered triumphantly and the giggles behind her became roars of laughter and Gandalf face turned stony apart from a small twitch in his beard.
"At least your sense of humour hasn't left yet. Neither has your strange sense of fashion." He muttered under his breath, scowling under his beard as Rosalie raised an eyebrow. Gandalf cleared his throat. "I would like you to come a walk with me." He got up, offering a hand to Rosalie who accepted it. The Hobbits waved at Rosalie before she walked away with the wizard. "I wanted more to talk to you in private." Rosalie looked up at him, confused. "There will be a council tomorrow morning. I would like you to be there with me." Rosalie frowned and opened her mouth to speak before Gandalf put a finger to her lips. "No excuses. I would like you to accompany me and I won't take no for an answer. So I shall meet you tomorrow." He strode off, leaving Rosalie in the middle of the corridor. "WAIT!" She shouted and Gandalf froze and turned around and she ran towards him. "Why? Why do you want me there?" She asked and Gandalf's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You offer a unique look at the world and I think that it would be useful." He smiled widely and left, whistling a merry tune, leaving Rosalie in the corridor gobsmacked.
Glamoreth opened the door quietly, and walked inside but stopped suddenly at the sight. Rosalie was already up, still dressed in those clothes she called pyjamas, sat in the chair, tapping her foot impatiently. She turned suddenly when she heard the door open, her neck cracking but turned back when she saw the elf, massaging her neck. Glamoreth walked up to her quietly, putting a hand on her shoulder, willing the girl to calm down. Her foot started to slow and Rosalie let out a sigh. Paper was scattered all over the desk, some of it crumpled but the majority of them intact. They were drawings, some small doodles of people with heads that are far too big for their bodies and flowers and hearts. Others were bigger sketches of people and animals and then there were full page drawings and they enthralled the elf. Rosalie's foot had stopped tapping but her fingers were beginning to twitch. "Did you draw these?" Glamoreth whispered, her fingers brushing the edges delicately, like they would break the moment they were touched. Rosalie nodded. "I couldn't sleep. I'm too nervous about this meeting- thing." She whispered back hoarsely. Glamoreth picked up one of the drawings. It was a couple dancing, man and woman spinning. He was dressed in black and the woman was in red, a clash that drew attention. They were stunning to look at and gazing into each other's eyes, partners in bodies and soul. The dance was a metaphor for their lives and its beauty touched the elf in ways she had never known. Glamoreth gulped. "You need to get dressed. Mithrandir will be here very soon." The elf tore her eyes away from the sketch just in time to hear three loud knocks at the door.
The door swung open to show the wizard in question. He stood in his usual grey robes and stared at Rosalie. "Are you not dressed yet? Hurry!" Rosalie jumped up, grabbing her clothes from Glamoreth and ran to the bathroom, leaving the elf and wizard shocked and silent. They looked at each other, breaking into identical grins and Glamoreth turned back to the messy desk, gathering the papers into a pile when Gandalf wandered over. Glamoreth looked at him curiously and he smiled before flicking through the pile. He stopped at one of a small drawing of a woman with long flowing golden hair that fell in wet ringlets. She was sat by the sea and instead of legs she had a tail like a fish, scales of sea greens, blues, silvers and light pinks. The wizard stared at the woman, leaning closer when suddenly her head moved, tossing her head slightly, though keeping her chest covered. She stared up at the wizard, a smirk gracing her lips before boldly winking at the wizard then freezing becoming the drawing once more. Gandalf drew back, breathing loudly through his nose. Rosalie opened the door, looking up at Gandalf, startled slightly as she saw him looking through her drawings. Glamoreth had given her a light green dress, paired with a dark emerald cloak that was draped around her shoulders, keeping her warm in the early morning breeze. Gandalf looked up and smiled. "You are a vision of beauty Rosalie." Rosalie blushed and Gandalf offered his arm, leading her through Rivendell, murmuring words of strength and comfort in her ear all the way.
There wasn't that many people at this meeting, only a dozen or so. They sat around as a semi-circle with three chairs on the other side. They were the first few there and Rosalie smiled at Frodo who returned it faintly, glad to see a familiar face. There were a few others she recognised, Legolas the elf, sat a few seats down from her with his own kind, looking shocked at her presence and many of the men also seemed shocked and angry she was there. They weren't in a room but an outside courtyard. Slowly, Elrond, Erestor and Glorfindel strolled towards the meeting, taking their places in those three seats, facing the rest of the Council.
Elrond stood, raising his hands. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor," Mordor... Rosalie wondered. The atmosphere around the council changed, the grim faces mimicking each others. "Middle earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." There was silence, letting Elrond's words echo around everyone's minds and Rosalie felt dread sink to the bottom of her stomach. Elrond turned to their end of the semi-circle, focusing on Frodo. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo." His voice was softer then, his eyes seemed almost sad watching Frodo walk to a stone, placing the ring on it before walking back. Rosalie gave him a reassuring smile but Frodo sill seemed shaky, nervous.
A man across the circle was rubbing his chin, his eyes fixated on the ring. "So it is true." He whispered hoarsely, as if he thought no one would hear him but half the circle turned to him, faces hard. He got up, still staring at the ring, "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark but in the west, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found." With each word, his eyes became more glazed, growing closer to the ring, under the beady eyes of Gandalf and Elrond.
"BOROMIR!" They both shouted, getting out of their seats but Gandalf kept speaking. Instead of speaking in English, he was shouting in a language, a horrible one that burned Rosalie's ears, making her hold her head in agony. Around them, the skies turned black, the shadows grew tall and everyone shrunk back in fear of the wizard. When he had stopped, the bleak greys of the world turned back into the colourful nature of Rivendell and Rosalie let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.
Elrond turned to Gandalf, his hands shaking as he pulled them away from his temples. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris." Gandalf sat down heavily, staring down at the ground. "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The ring is all together evil." The man named Boromir was still staring at the ring, an emotion that was similar to lust.
"It is a gift, 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 whispered, circling the ring, like a predator. Another man dressed in black looked up at the other man, shaking his head. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." His words were simple but carried a tone with them, one that the people around the circle responded to, accepting his words over Boromir's.
The man from Gondor scowled at the other man, "And what would a ranger know of this matter?" His smirk was cold, and Rosalie frowned at this attitude and she wasn't the only one. Legolas stood up, glaring at man. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him you allegiance." Everyone turned to Aragorn, who shifted slightly but put on a mask of detachment. Boromir turned back to Aragorn, that arrogant smirk still on his face. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" He sounded almost sarcastic. "And heir to the throne of Gondor." It was Legolas' turn to grow arrogant, holding his head higher than the mortal. Aragorn held out a hand to Legolas, talking softly in the elven language and Legolas sat back down, his eyes never leaving Boromir. The man turned back, scowling at Aragorn, his eyes hard. "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He hissed at Aragorn but the man held his gaze. Gandalf looked up. "Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." He said loud enough for everyone to hear before turning his eyes back to the ground.
Elrond looked over everyone in the council. "You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed." A silence settled on the Council until a dwarf rose, holding the handle of his axe. "Well what are we waiting for?" He asked gruffly. He ran forward, yelling, throwing all his weight into the swing. It hit the ring and Rosalie jumped, watching in frozen horror how the blade shattered and the ring remained. Frodo flinched, rubbing his head and Rosalie shifted uneasily.
Elrond sighed. "The ring cannot be destroyed Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do it." For the second time there was an uncomfortable silence and everyone looked a little scared.
Boromir shook his head. "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. And the great eye is ever watchful. 'Tis 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 got up again, still glaring at the man from Gondor. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" He demanded, "The ring must be destroyed!" Suddenly the dwarf from before, Gimli jumped up. "And I suppose you think you must be the one to do it?" Boromir got up as well, glaring in turn at the elf and dwarf. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Gimli looked straight at Legolas and yelled "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!"
At that, everyone was up in arms, the dwarves shouting at the elves, hatred and disgust in both races eyes. The men got up to join the fight, tossing insults back and forth. Rosalie sighed, putting her head in her hands. I feel like I'm going to choke in the amount of testosterone... Even Gandalf, a man she respected, joined the fight, arguing with Boromir about the ring. Amongst the shouts, she recognised Gimli's voice scream "NEVER TRUST AN ELF!" leading to even more shouting. Elrond sunk down in his chair, defeated.
Suddenly a small voice to her right cried "I will take it!" No one heard him but Rosalie caught his eye and Frodo gave her a sad smile. He got up, holding his head high and for some reason, Rosalie felt proud of him, for him. "I will take it!" His voice was louder and it echoed across the Council, faces turning in horror, shock and sadness. "Though..." His voice was smaller, more fragile. "I do not know the way." Gandalf looked at him, sadness etched into every line of his face. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf put a comforting hand on the Hobbit's shoulder.
Aragorn was looking at Frodo from across the courtyard. "With my life or death, I can protect you." He said softly before making his way towards the Hobbit, and bending down on one knee, looking him in the eye. "I will... You have my sword." Rosalie frowned, struck by the amount of faith these races shared. "And you have my bow." Legolas stepped forward, following Aragorn's footsteps. Gimli snorted but also stepped forward. "And my axe." Boromir looked at Frodo. "You carry the fate of us all, Little One." Frodo seemed to bristle slightly at the term but Boromir took no notice. "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." He took his place with the others behind Frodo and the bushes behind Rosalie started to rustle.
"Hey! Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me." Sam crossed his arms, trying to seem brave and Elrond looked at him, an eyebrow raised and a small smile fighting to get onto his face. "No, indeed it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Sam blushed and looked down at his feet.
"Oi!" There was a shout from the opposite side of the courtyard and Elrond snapped his head so fast his head was a blur. "We're coming too!" Rosalie smirked, recognising Merry's voice. "You'd have to send us home tied in a sack to stop us!" He turned his head slightly and grinned at Rosalie. Both of the Hobbits crossed their arms, "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... quest... thing." Rosalie started to laugh silently at Pippin's words. Merry looked at Pippin in shock and slight annoyance. "Well that rules you out Pip." Rosalie snorted then, grabbing her mouth, giggling, not noticing the looks some of the men and elves were giving her. Pippin smiled though it melted suddenly, looking shocked and a little hurt by Merry's words.
Elrond looked at the group. "Nine companions..." He started and opened his mouth but Gandalf coughed slightly and Elrond turned to him, frowning. "I believe I know someone who could be of use for this quest." He said and Elrond raised an eyebrow before Gandalf turned to Rosalie, who looked down then did a double-take. "What, me?" She asked, her voice getting slightly higher and Gandalf nodded while a few men chuckled, earning dark glared from the wizard. "Do I get a say on this?" She asked, almost sarcastic and Gandalf chuckled a little. "Technically, you have every right to say no." "Technically?" She was now being very sarcastic and Boromir started to mutter under his breath.
"So be it." Elrond's voice boomed and everyone turned to him. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." His piercing gaze fell on Rosalie who met it boldly. "Right." Pippin's little voice rung out. "Where are we going?"