Chapter 7 Council of Elrond
"Where am I?" Asked a delirious Frodo who found himself laid not on a table of Mordor ready for torture but on a soft feather bed in a richly decorated room.
"You are in the house of Elrond. It's ten'o clock in the morning. On October the 24th, if you want to know." said an old and familiar voice.
The young hobbit opens his eyes to see Gandalf sitting next to his bed simply smoking his pipe "Gandalf!" Frodo exclaimed as he tried to rise from the bed but stops as he feels a jolt of pain from his wound.
"Yes I'm here and you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid and transformed into one of the Ringwraiths. But you had a hidden strngth in you, my dear hobbit." the old wizard said smiling to his frind warmly.
Frodo thought about Gandalf's words then looked to his friend "What happened, Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us in Bree?" he asked the wizard who soon frowned in grief and betrayal
"I'm sorry Frodo... I was delayed." he apologized as he remembered about Saruman.
Frodo sees the troubled look on his friend and asks him what was the matter "Nothing Frodo." was the answer he gained. And before he could ask more his best friend Sam ran into his room.
"Frodo? Frodo! Bless you you're awake!" Exclaimed the gardener as he clasped his master's hand joyful to see him alive once more.
"Sam has hardly left your side nor had Spyro and Cynder who waited at the balcony." Gandalf told Frodo
"We were worried about you. Weren't we Mr. Gandalf?" the ginger hobbit said
"By the skills of Lord Elrond you have began to heal." Gandalf said as he looked to an elf in in robes with a silver circlet on his brow who came into the room with an ageless face smiles warmly at the hobbit.
"Welcome to Rivendell Frodo Baggins." The elven king said while Frodo nods in awe.
After getting dressed Frodo and Sam went and explored the hidden city of the elves amazed by the sheer beauty of the place. They soon found Merry and Pippin and laughed joyously knowing they had got the Ring to Rivendell despite the odds, the four look and see Bilbo now much older looking reading and smoking.
"Bilbo!" yelled frodo as he ran to his uncle
"Frodo my dear lad." said the elderly hobbit as he embraced the younger one.
Elsewhere
Spyro and Cynder sat on a cliff overlooking the hidden valley as they enjoyed the rest from their journey when they heard the sounds of battle and orc screams.
"We better check that Cynder." Spyro told his lover
"Let us hope they won't attack us like last time." Cynder grumbled about their entry into Imladris.
Flashback:
The flight to Rivendell from the ford was made in silence as the raced to save Frodo before he truly became a wraith. They soon neared the city and the dragons landed only for them to suddenly be surrounded by the soldiers of the Noldor warriors while the king of the Hidden valley rode out to meet them.
"Arwen bring Frodo here quickly." A golden haired elf told the princess while Odahviing suddenly roared at the elves and charged them only for Aranthis to leap off of his horse and stand infront of the dovah shouting "Joor Zah Frul!" the shout caused the blood red dovah to gasp and convulse in pain while the elves flinched as if someone slapped each of them while the dragonborn drew the akaviri katana Dragonbane and placed it against his Fire's neck.
"How dare you try to attack without my command Odahviing!" Aranthis said to the pain filled demigod.
"The Fahiil threatened you Dovahkiin. they must be punished for their arrogance." the dragon answered his leader as he felt the blade against his throat
The dragonborn sighs in frustration before sheathing his sword. "I am grateful that you will protect me from anything but the elves are more afraid of you dovah than they are of me. I want you and Durnehviir to go into the Grey Mountains and hunt goblins until I call for you." He said to his Fire and Death who nodded tersely before taking off.
The two dragons flew over the mountains that hid Imladris and found a dead horse and next to it was a man with fair bronze hair dressed in a rich traveling tunic and pants with a cloak of a black bears' fur,while on his arms were two gauntlets with the symbols of seven stars and a tree under them. The man used a sword of fine make and a round shield as he fought against twenty orcs.
"We better help this human Cyn." Spyro told his lover before he flew down followed by her as they blasted the orcs with ice spikes and hardened projectiles of poison killing several of the fiends before landing and killing the rest with claws,teeth and tail. As the last orc gave out a final death scream the finely dressed man brought his sword and shield up ready to defend himself when the two dragons stood up and brought their forelegs up in surrender.
"Easy we're allies to the Free peoples of Arda." Spyro told the man
"You speak of lies Beast. there are no dragons who would aid us. Only servants of the Enemy." The man said in a rich and cultured voice
"If that was the case then why would we help you kill the orcs then?" Cynder asked sarcastically at the human.
The human falls silent and slowly lowers his weapons as he stares at the purple dragon and then at the ebony dragoness cautiously before Spyro spoke once more.
"I am Spyro legendary purple dragon and Dragon Lord of Avalar. With me is my soon to be mate and queen Cynder. Who are you proud warrior of men?" He asked politely
"Boromir, Son of Denethor and heir to the stewardship of Gondor." he said proudly before sheathing his sword warily. "Now tell me. Why does Avalar come to the aid of Arda now when it has been silent since the First Age?" he asked the two dragons
"We had been in war for nearly a millennia against the fallen dragon Malefor. And our land is blockaded by the dragons of the Withered Heath ever since Gaul Malefor's general murdered the queen of the Heath." Cynder answered the man of Gondor.
"Indeed and it wasn't until recently that Cynder and I learned that there were other lands beyond Avalar." Spyro answered causing Boromir to slowly nod in understanding. "And what brings the Dragonlord of the Valley of dragons and his betrothed to Rivendell?" he asked cautiously
"The same as you gol do sot govoldeim, son of white fortress. To see what we can do about the Hozkii's Prenlon do vulom, the Demon Sauron's ring." Parthurnax said as he landed next to the mortals of the eastern continent with a thundering sound.
"Ah Parthurnax did you tell the greybeards about what's happening?" Spyro asked the elderly demigod
"Geh, Yes young Yoliizkaal. Yol do raghot lost priidah benix joriin do Taazokaan, the fire of anger has spread amongst the people of Tamriel young Dragonlord. Soon the sos, blood will fill the river." the old monk said with a savage grin.
Spyro nodded to the older dragon before looking to Boromir "If you want I can give you a lift to Rivendell." He said to which the steward's son thought for a moment before mounting the purple dragon who took off with Cynder and Parthurnax back into the hidden valley.
Elrond's study
While the hobbits were reunited with their father figure Gandalf and Elrond watched them from the half elven king's balcony.
"So his strength returns?" Elrond asked the grey wizard
"It has but he will carry that wound for the rest of his days." Gandalf answered sadly while Elrond slowly walked into his study.
"And yet he has come so far the Ring...He shows great resilience to it's evil." Elrond said as he stopped
"It's a burden he should of never had to bear. We can not ask more from Frodo." the wizard begged the elf king
Elrond sighs in frustration and quickly turns to face Gandalf.
"Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's eye is fixed on Rivendell. And now you have told me that Saruman has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin." he said while Gandalf looks away in sadness.
"Not thin. Only mistrusted allies." Aranthis said as he steps from the shadows shocking the older warriors
"I thought that I had locked that door..." Elrond said belwildered
"Blood of my Father you should of already known that I was skilled with lockpicking since it was the twins who taught me when I was only eight years old." Aranthis retorted as he lazily sat at his foster father's desk.
"Remind me to berate them again for teaching you that skullduggery." deadpanned the elven king while Gandalf hid his chuckle with a cough
"Now while we may have lost the aid of the White Wizard but we have the aid of two far more powerful mages. Not to mention that Tamriel is gearing up for war." Aranthis said as he opened a map showing the entirety of Ea.
"Now here we are in Arda." Aranthis said showing the main continent to the elf king and wizard then points to a small area north of the grey mountains and west of the Withered Heath. "Here's the land of Avalar. And over here is Tamriel." Aranthis said pointing to the massive continent to the west of Arda.
"Already armies from Morrowind, Skyrim, Elseweyr and two legions of imperial troops are now being prepared to aid the Free peoples and once they do Sauron's forces will melt like wax to the flame." Aranthis said as a portal suddenly opens within the study and out of it was a dark elf dressed in a royal purple robe with a belt around his waist while on his right pointer finger was a ring with a moon and star intertwined, on his left another ring with a strange elvish script both were of a silver color, a iron ring with a red crystal sat on his left index finger while one with a blood red crystal of a dragon's head sat on his right index and finally a fourth ring was on his left ring finger with a bronze color and a small shield design in the middle. Five amulets were around his neck: one of a gold star with a blood red ruby at it's heart, one of a blood red half crescent moon on it's side with a blue sun at the center of the U of the moon with a stylized eye at it's center, the third a dark green skull with ancient runes underneath it, while the fourth was a blood red gem shaped like a hearth and the fifth was a styllized wheel. On his right hand was a metal gauntlet colored bronze with what looked like wraiths swirling around it. At his belt was a gold colored short sword it's blade of crystal and at the hilt a crescent moon while on his left hip was a gold colored hammer with an unknown insignia on the head of the weapon. Upon his back was a tower shield with a tribal mark on it. And a sword was sheathed above the glass bladed weapon curved and seemed to cast small spouts of fire from it. And with it was another curved sword yet this one was curved backwards and with a blue flame to it.
His face was adorned by sharp and thin cut beard and his eyes were filled with a cold anger for one moment then mischievous joy the next.
"And of course you have a dragonborn and a reincarnated general to aid you." The dark skinned elf said in a rich and cultured voice
"Blood of my father, Gandalf allow me to introduce you to my mentor: Nerevar Indoril the Nevarine Hortator of Morrowind." Aranthis said.
"It's a pleasure to meet the half-elven king of immortals and a being much like the daedra." Nerevar said as he shook their hands
"Indeed it is Nevarine. Now then Elrond, Saruman's treachery runs deeper than you know. Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin men... He's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight and cover great distance. Saruman is coming for the Ring." gandalf continued his report.
Elrond turns and walks away from his friend as he stares at a picture of an ancient stone city before sighing heavily "Gandalf this evil can not be concealed by the power of the Elves... We do not have the power to fight both Mordor and Isengard!" exclaimed Elrond while Gandalf sadly looked out towards the hidden valley.
"Gandalf. The Ring can not stay in Rivendell." Elrond told his friend who saw the arrivals of Legolas and the elf emissaries from the Grey Havens and Lorien,Gimli and his father Gloin along with the dwarf emissaries from the Blue and Grey Mountains and then Spyro lands allowing Boromir to get off of him and thank him for the ride.
The dwarf and elven diplomats readied their weapons to attack the dragons when Parthurnax shouted: "Zun Haal Viik, Joor Stiildus Drm!" the ancient dragon said blasting the bows and axes from their owners while calming them aswell before standing between them and the avalarians. "Save your Sohlas, Bloodlust for the forces of Mordor." He said causing the nonhuman races to disperse to their rooms
"this peril belongs not to just Arda but to all of Middleearth they must decide how to end it. Not just for themselves but for also those will come after." Elrond said as he looked at Gandalf
"The time of the Elves is over. My people are leaving these shores Gandalf
My people are leaving these shores Gandalf, who will you look to for help when we are gone? The Dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches. They care nothing for the needs of others. Or perhaps the dragons of Avalar? Dragons whose fathers once served the Dark Lord and perhaps will do so again?" Elrond asked.
The wizard turns towards his friend and answers "It is in Men that we must place our hope."
"Men? Men are weak. The race of Men is failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent, It's pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men that the Ring survives." the half elven king spat venemously as he remembered of days long past.
"I was there Gandalf...I was there 3000 years ago...When Isildur took the Ring." He said sadly.
Flashback
Elrond stood up slowly after the shockwave from Sauron's death as he sees his friend and kinsman Isildur crush one of the fallen maia's fingers and blew away the ash to reveal the Ring before he stares longingly at the cursed object.
"I was there when the strength of Men fell."
"Isildur with me. Hurry!" He told him as the two ran up into Mnt. Oroduin entering a simple doorway carved into the volcano and a pathway to it's heart where the magma roars and clashes against the stone like a sea of death.
"I led Isildur into the heart of Mnt. Doom, Where the Ring was forged: The one place where it can be destroyed."
Elrond turns to his brother in war as he admires the Ring "Cast it into the fire!" Elrond yelled at his friend who stops looking at the ring and smirked at him.
"Destroy it!" He begged the king of Arnor
"No." he said snidely as he turned his back to the king of Rivendell
"ISILDUR!" Elrond yelled once more only to be ignored by the numenorean as he walks out of the tunnel.
"It should of ended that day but Evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the Ring...the line of Kings was broken. There is no strength left in the world of men, they're scattered,divided,leaderless." Elrond said bitterly before Aranthis stood up and glared at his foster father
"you believe that there is no strength in Men. You are wrong Elrond we will always rise up against those who are evil and if we don't then the next generation will. No matter how many times men fall to despair there will be those who rise up and fight the darkness." Aranthis said while Nerevar nodded.
"And you forget Blessed one that when you and the other blessed leave for the Island of the gods. We mer will aid our younger brothers and sisters so shall the dwarrow, the halflings and all creatures of Magicka." He said sagely while Gandalf turned once more.
"And there is still one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor." Gandalf answered Elrond who sighed
"He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile."Elrond retorted.
Late that night.
Strider sat at a bench reading a old story when Boromir came through the hallway glancing in awe at the ancient murals of the Last Alliance and the victory of Isildur over Sauron. He soon turned feeling watched and sees the mysterious ranger reading, "You're no elf?" He questioned curiously.
"I am a friend of Gandalf the grey." Strider said simply while the more lordly looking man gave a friendly smile.
"Well met then Friend." He replied before looking over to a statue of a woman holding a altar and on that altar were the shards and broken hilt of a once mighty sword that caused the steward to be to inhale sharply. "Shards of Narsil!" He exclaimed to himself as he soon stood at the altar and picked up the hilt of the numenorean blade.
"The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand." He said amazed before putting his finger to the broken blade accidentally cutting it and gasping in surprise and slight pain. "Still sharp?" He said amazed, before turning his head around to see Strider staring at him warily. Embarrassed and sensing a connection between the blade and this stranger he looked back to the hilt and he put it back onto the altar before muttering "Nothing more than a broken heirloom." angrily and left to his room before the hilt falls down with a clang. The young captain of Gondor hesitates for a moment before leaving.
Strider soon stood and walked over to the altar picking up the ancient hilt and reverently puts it with the rest of the shards as he looks down at it with a troubled look on his face unknown to him his brother soon stood behind him with a disappointed glare.
"I heard from Ada that you chose exile." Aranthis said giving a glare to his brother's back while Strider keeps looking at the shards
"Isildur's blood runs through our veins brother...The same weakness." Strider said frightened of his destiny.
His brother smiled sadly before putting his hand on Strider's shoulder "Brother if you stumble ad fall I will do whatever is in my power to save you." He said before seeing Arwen behind Aragorn and then yawned. "Well lil brother I'm off to bed b sure you don't stay up too late." He said cheekily leaving the couple alone for their romance. As Aranthis closed the door to his room he closes his eyes and sighs angrily before opening them. "No need for you to stay quiet Delphine." He said to the shadows when a candle is lit revealing a woman with greying blond hair and cold steel-blue eyes in strange banded armor adorned with dragons sat in a chair near a table with the lit candle on it. The woman looks towards the dunedain prince glaring at him.
"So I see you have made more...Pets." She said referring to the dragons while Aranthis growled lowly at her like a wolf
"they are my friends Delphine just as you and Old man Esbern are." He retorted while the woman shook her head.
"It is your duty and destiny as the dragonborn to be the ultimate dragon slayer..." She said before being cut off by the said dragonborn
"The only destiny that I have Blade is to die at the destined hour that Eru says when it happens. I ave already slain Alduin and ended the dragon threat to Tamriel." Aranthis said angrily
"Yet his brother and many other dragons yet live. They could take up the mantle of leader of the dragons to try to.." Delphine argued before getting cut off by Aranthis once more.
"The only way they can take my place is to kill me. And like I've said back at Sky Have Temple: Parthurnax has no interest to take command of the Dovah. And don't even think about demanding that I should kill the Avalarians, Spyro and Cynder had no part of what had happened in Skyrim nor do any of their people." Aranthis told the grandmaster of the Blades who glared at her liegelord before nodding curtly to him.
"As you wish Dragonborn, I will not argue about the dragons anymore. for this night. However I suggest that you persuade your foster father and the council to send this weapon to Tamriel so we can use it against Sauron."Delphine suggested
"Never. the ring is too dangerous in the hands of men even I would never touch it. For if I did the world will face a greater threat than Miraak, the Wolf queen and the King of worms combined." Aranthis said growling at the woman as his eyes flashed dangerously.
"That is hypocritical of you and you know it Numenorean! You have wielded the weapons of the Daedric princes countless of times!" Delphine said
"Compared with the Ring the weapons of the princes are merely that: weapons and tools. If I used them to kill a bandit or a child my soul would not be damned nor would I truly become a monster that all would fear. Yet with the Ring I would be able to combat the combined strength of both Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon." Aranthis told the older woman who simply nodded and left his room.
At the meeting
A few hours after dawn the council of Elrond was soon gathered in a small meeting place outside of the main building, each were seated around a small pedestal with many emissaries from the distant lands including: Legolas Thrandulion the prince of Greenwood, Glorfindel a mighty warrior and hero amongst the elves, Galdor the leader of a group of nomadic elves and emissary to Cirdan the warden of the grey Havens,Nerevar Nevarine and Elrond's twin sons Elladan and Elohir. For the Dwarves it was Gloin one of the member of Thorin's company to reclaim Erebor from Smaug and his son Gimli, and with them was Thror son of Kiftskard the emissary from the Blue Mountains and Grulfkil of the remnant kingdom of the Grey Mountains. For Men there was Halfdor of Rohan a studious man who was sent in the name of Theoden his king, Alfgeir of Dale in the name of his king Brand the son of Bard the dragonslayer, Boromir of Gondor, Aragorn and Aranthis representing the dunedain rangers, and lastly the diplomat Gaius Fabricius from the Empire of Tamriel. While the hobbits Frodo and Bilbo sat with the elves and the dragons Spyro and Cynder sat on the ground near the elves and Gandalf much to the displeasure and disgust of the dwarves.
The half elven king stood up and gravely looked at the members of the council. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor... Middle-Earth stands on the brink of destruction...None can escape, you will unite or you will fall..Each race is tied to this fate..To this one Doom." Elrond began gaining the attention of the members of the council along with the attention of Delphine who hid in the shadows.
"Bring forth the Ring Frodo." The elven king told the dark haired hobbit who slowly stood up and walked to the pedestal before placing the Ring on it. Each of the races soon gazed at the single item with mixed expressions: The elves with the exceptions of the delegate from the Aldmeri Dominion and the Nevarine showed on their faces horror and disgust as they see the foul creation of Sauron in this sacred valley, While the dwarves had a similar look of disgust but not for the Ring being in Rivendell. No they were disgusted at how it looked so simple no jewel or or visible engravings. While the emissaries from the kingdoms of men had mixed expressions, some viewed it with disgust as much as the elves or dwarves while some especially Boromir had a entranced look to them While the diplomat from the Empire looked at the cursed item with calm indifference, but the emissary from the Aldmeri Dominion looked at it and seemed to lust for it greater than those among the human diplomats while the Nevarine looked on it boredly. The dragons however were only a few moments from outright hissing and trying to melt the damned Ring yet kept their hatred and animal instincts to themselves.
"So it's true!" Muttered Boromir as he looked at the Ring
"Sauron's Ring! The ring of power!" Legolas said in disbelief
"The doom of man." Gimli muttered.
Boromir soon stood up and looked at the council "In a dream that my brother Faramir and I had for three days: We found ourselves in a old temple dedicated to the Iluvatar, Valar,the Eight Divines and to a being in golden armor, a helmet or mask, and wielding a great shield and exotic sword. A old man blind from birth sat on a stool in the center held a strange scroll. He opened it and it spoke in a far away yet near voice:
Seek for the sword that was broken;
In Imladris it dwells;
There councils shall be taken;
Stronger than Morgul spells.
There shall be a token
That doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the halfling forth shall stand.
Side by side with sons of Numenor and Atmora,
His kin three shall they be one to fire two to forest in green
Eldest child and foster child of the One shall go with them rivalry shall be erased from minds.
And dragons forgiven of father's old sins shall aid
With grey beard wizard shall thirteen walk.
Isildur's Bane..." The son of Gondor whispered as he bent to pick it up seemingly under it's control.
"Boromir!" Elrond exclaimed as he tried to stand up only to b forced to sit down as Gandalf and Aranthis began to speak in tongues one in Dovahzul while the other in the Black Tongue:
"Ash Nazg Durbatuluk,"
"Gein Prenlon Wah Rel Niin Pah."
"Ash Nazg Gimbatul"
"Gein Prenlon Wah Siiv Niin."
"Ash Nazg Thrakatuluk"
"Gein Prenlon Wah Drun Niin Pah."
"Agh Burzum-ishi Krimpatul!"
"Ahrk Ko Vulom Gron Niin!"
The Maia and Dovahkiin said causing the sky to darken and a vision to appear in the minds of the diplomats and above the pedestal where the Ring sat: One Ring to Rule them all... A being of great and terrible power sat upon a throne made out of the swords of the defeated high above the lands as countless crowds of Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Beastfolk,the Island Beings, Halflings and even the mighty dragons were bound and whipped with scorpion tailed whips while the Being looked at them with disgust. One Ring to Find them... Throughout the world the Being sent forth his armies through very forest and ruin, into every cavern and fortress his forces break down every door to reveal the huddled forms of frightened families. One Ring to Bring them All. And in the Darkness Bind them! All are captured and brought before the malevolent Being a shadowy like hands wrapped around them and with final screams they disappear into the void. Even the dead are captured and brought to Mordor their spirits rise from the graves of war and peace all go to the Land where the shadows lie. Long dead kings upon the bones of their once noble steeds old men and women carrying their staffs seemingly flying through the dead air. Before Oroduin the mountain of fire erupts in a deadly storm of ash and fire as the spirits of the dead are given back their bones before they were transformed into nightmarish monsters who danced and worshipped the Dark Lord, Before the skies opened to reveal a second more powerful Dark Lord break from his chains and the vision ends in the diplomats minds.
"Never before has anyone dared to utter that tongue or those words here Gandalf, Aranthis." Elrond said sternly while the grey robed wizard panted slightly and the ranger glared at those of his race that had looked on the Ring to covet it.
"I require neither your permission nor forgiveness. For let this be heard throughout all corners of the West. The Ring is all together evil." Gandalf said angrily before sitting down.
"And here this emissaries of Tamriel I shall not touch that damned trinket, Not for the Dragon Throne nor the Ruby throne of the Thalmor if you had offered them to me. For if I use it then the world shall see a greater evil than it has seen or will ever see, My debase practices shall make Mannimarco's experiments look like they were a child playing with his toys. Potema the wolf Queen's cruelty like that of a child tormenting a cat. The stars and moons shall burn and die if I use the Ring." The dragonborn declard causing the other diplomats to whisper amongst themselves while Boromir still gazed at it longingly.
"But it is a gift...A gift to the foes of Mordor, why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, held the forces of Mordor at bay...by the blood of our people have your lands been kept safe. give Gondor the weapon of the Enemy let us use it against him." The young prince said confidently causing some to nod at his suggestion.
"You can not wield it. None of us can. The On Ring answer to Sauron alone. It has no other master..." Strider argued causing the prince to turn around and look at him and his brother cooly.
"And what do two rangers even if one can use magic know of this matter?" He asked dismissively as the prince of greenwood, Legolas stood up quickly and glared at the red haired human.
"These are no mere rangers. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You ow him your allegiance." Lgolas said rebuking Boromir as Gaius stood up calmly and as straight as a tree.
"And he is Aranthis, son of Arathorn. Dragonborn and Emperor Elect." He said calmly and defiantly while Boromir looked at the two in quiet disbelief.
"Aragorn and Aranthis? These are Isildur's heirs?" He asked in mild shock
"And heirs to the thrones of Gondor and Arnor." Legolas said goading the Prince of gondor before Aragorn stopped him.
"Havo dad, Legolas" Aragorn told his friend who nodded and sat down while Boromir sneered at the golden haired prince "Gondor has no king...Gondor needs no king." He muttered before angrily sitting down.
"Aragorn is right. We can not use it." Gandalf said as he held his staff as a disgusted grunt was heard behind them causing the council to turn and see three more elves walk in: Two were armor in gold colored armor that looked like rays of the sun mixed in with the feathered wings of a phoenix while the third was dressed in dark blue robes and had a look of superiority and arrogance as he sat down in a empty seat.
"All I've heard from you is talk of fighting this Sauron. Not one word of instead suing for peace and allying with this new power." He said as he looked in barely concealed disgust at the humans and other races that were there.
"And who are you?" Elrond asked warily as he beheld the elf
"I am Vanus Ancanio: emissary from the Aldmeri Dominion. Our spies within the Empire heard word of this meeting and I must say it was quite intriguing that the Dominion was not invited although from the multitude of barbaric humans and...things here. It would seem that you merely forgotten of the High Elves." Vanus said as he glared at the humans and other races as if they were mere insects that ruined his food.
"That was because of this reason thalmor scum." Nerevar said as he stood up glaring at the three altmer
"You and all of your political cult think that we the elder children deserve everything under the sky yet let me tell you this. It is men that shall inherit this world not the elf for the true High elves: The Eldar are leaving these shores for Valinor, the sacred island to rest and heal their long gained sorrows along with much of their kin the Sindar, and Teleri." Nerevar told the pompous elf who looked shocked.
"Nerevar you are Mer! A ashborn daedra worshipping prisoner but still part of the Mer why are you defending these barbarians and beasts instead of your kin?" the elf asked before Aranthis stood up and stood next to his mentor.
"Leave now Thalmor or you shall taste the blade of Wuuthrad." Aranthis said as the power of the Dovahsul glowed in his eyes as the eldest of the dragons Parthurnax landed on a building and growled.
"Leave now Nikriin, Coward before I taste your flesh." He threatened causing the thalmor agent to sputter in anger and fear before leaving the council.
"Don't think you have won this Blade Pet the Aldmeri Dominion shall hear of this Heretic!" He exclaimed as he left with his guards allowing everyone to sigh in relief that the tension was gone.
"Now then We only have one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond said as Boromir gives a dismayed look while the dwarf Gimli glares at the Ring.
Then what are we waiting for?" He said as he suddenly stands up picking up his axe and brings it down on it yet causing Frodo to see the Eye of Sauron in his mind and feel as if the dwarf slammed his weapon on his head. The axe head shatters as if it was made of crystal and Gimli is thrown back while the Ring bared no dents or scratches on it's golden surface.
"The Ring can not be destroyed Gimli son of Gloin by any tool nor spell that we 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 firey chasm from whence it came." Elrond said as he then looked at the council while Frodo hears the whispers from the Ring begging him to take the item for himself.
"One of you must do this." Elrond said as the captain of Gondor looks up to the council.
"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." He said as he shook his head sadly as the emissary Gaius made a cough.
"Spare me the despair monologue Numenorean. Even in it's divided and cold war state all of races of Tamriel would unite and march on Mordor in order to get rid of this Daedra slime." He said as Legolas stood up angrily and glared at the princely human.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed" The young prince said while Gimli slowly turned his head and raised his voice to the elf
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it." He asked in a demanding tone when suddenly as if being controlled like a puppet on strings Boromir also stood up to argue.
"And if we fail what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" He asked while Gimli leapt to his feet holding the shattered axe and pointing it at Legolas
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" He exclaimed causing the elves excluding Elrond, his sons and the Nevarine to also stand up and send arguments and insults at their mortal associates while Gimli yells "Never trust an elf!" as the human and dwarf diplomats join into the shouting match.
Frodo looks on with the elves and the Dunedain brothers fearing that things will escalate as Gandalf soon joins in arguing for them to stop but gaining no results.
Delphine shakes her head in exasperation of the childishness and pride of these so called "Free Peoples" before she gets signalled by Gaius who calmly sat as the shouting match continued to look up onto a nearby ridge. She does and sees a Thalmor mage sending waves of fury spells into the crowd of yelling men and she grinds her teeth at this sabotage.
"So the Thalmor decided to try and cause a world war?" She thought as she summoned a ice spear and subtly shoots it from her hand killing the mage yet sees that it had not helped with the problem.
Frodo soon looks at the ring and the reflection of the councillors arguing with eachother as flames devoured them before he too stands up and says: "I shall take it!". twice more he yells but his voice was too quiet causing Paarthurnax, Spyro and Cynder to roar loudly at the diplomats.
"Enough! Look at you arguing and insulting eachother. Dividing your hopes to fight Sauron and give him victory over us all. Now then frodo has something to say." Spyro said as he glared at the diplomats daring them to continue their shouting match.
Frodo looks bravely at the taller beings and in a stern voice he says: "I shall take the Ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way." He said causing the emissaries to not only feel ashamed of their selves seeing that the Purple dragon's words were true but also in amazement seeing that one of the smallest and in many cases weakest of the races of Ea,Nirn to take up a daring and perhaps fatal task stayed silent for a few moments before Gandalf humbly and subdued steps to his friend and looks down.
"I shall help you with this burden Frodo Baggins. As long as it's yours to bear." He said as he places his hand on his shoulder when Aragorn soon stands up and walks to his friend.
"By my life or death, if I can protect you I will." He said as he soon kneels at the hobbit's feet looking up at him "You will have my sword." He swore as Legolas joined with the three
"And you will have my bow." He said as he to joined this group of heroes while Gimli not liking the idea of being one upped by a elf also joined them. "And my axe." He proudly proclaimed as he stood next to his rival each giving slight glares to one another while Boromir soon walks slowly to the hobbit Admiring his decision. "You carry the fate of us all Little one. If this indeed the will of the Council then Gondor will see it through." He said when the moment was interrupted by a lud voice as Sam soon joins the group from his hiding place.
"Mr. Frodo is not going anywhere without me!" He exclaimed as Elrond raised a eyebrow.
"No indeed it is hardly possible to separate you two even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not!" He said in an amused tone when suddenly Merry and Pippin also ran to join their friends.
"Wait we're coming too!" Merry exclaimed causing the half elven king to look astounded as he sees the two scoundrels run right pass him.
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Merry continued as he looked at his cousin and friend while Pippin looked to the Lord of Rivendell.
Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission ...quest ...thing" The youngest of the hobbits said causing his cousin to glare at him knowing that he's not helping their cause.
"Well that rules you out Pip." He playfully said while Gandalf shook his head with a begging look to Elrond to not let them join.
Aranthis soon joined up and looked to the heroes that joined together his brother included and grinned proudly.
"Sauron will rue the day when he thought he could crush the Spirit of the free people of Arda. But he will fear the day when Tamriel knocks on his gates. I too shall join you Frodo and like the Tongues of old our story shall be one of great song and joy that all shall sing it." He proclaimed as he stood next to his kin while Spyro and Cynder looked at eachother having a silent agreement before they too joined the group.
"As we have told you before Frodo we shall follow you to the very end!" Cynder said as she and her lover joined the group.
"Thirteen companions." Elrond said as he smiled proudly at them gaining hope for the future. "So be it you shall be...The Fellowship of the Ring." He said as the thirteen stood proudly.
"great!...Where are we going?" Pippin asked enthusiastically causing his comrades to give embarrassed looks a him while the council members laughed even Delphine cracked a smile at the hobbit's naivety.
(Whew Chapter 7 is now complete and now onto the next one. I thank you my readers and followers for being patient with me and hope that you will enjoy this and my other stories. Remember like and review!)