Valar only knew how long it had been since I woke up in a bed... my leg propped up on a cushion. I sighed exasperatedly, wrinkling my brow and sitting up. I swung my legs, one still sore and the other in perfect condition on the ground. I stood in the formal Elven robes that clad my body and slipped on my boots. I stepped out of the room that I had awoken in to find myself in Rivendell, one city of Elves... that I had once called my home.
I wandered through the paths of Rivendell, until I came upon a familiar face... or back at least. Aragorn was standing by the gates of Rivendell, watching as visitors came through them, Men, Dwarves, and Elves alike. I came up and put my hand on his shoulder. He turned.
"Rhasslairiel!" he cried, giving me a brief hug. "You're awake." I was not aware of the crowd of Elves coming through the gates, each on a white horse, specked with black.
"If I ever do that again, Aragorn," I said.
"Do what?" he cut me off.
"If I ever pass out again from a little cut like that... I want you to hit me... very, very hard." There was a laugh and I turned to see an Elf, swing down off of his horse and looking at me.
The intensity of his eyes were the first thing I noticed as they pierced my face like white hot knives. They were brilliant blue, his hair long and blonde, braided here and there, though contrasting with his dark eyebrows. He wore silk robes, leggings, and a tunic, all brightly colored. I looked at his smiling face and wondered at the caring smile he had.
"What do you find amusing, Elf of Mirkwood?" I asked sternly, putting one hand on my hip. Aragorn laughed and turned from us, fire in my eyes at being laughed at, and amusement in his.
"Nothing, My Lady." He said, "Only your reaction and manner on loosing too much blood it would seem." I smiled at him slightly.
"You find my outlook peculiar do you?" I asked, trying to hold back a laugh of my own. He smiled back.
"Yes." He said and bowed before turning around my shoulder and leaving. My eyes followed him and a girlish smile came over my face after he left. Aragorn looked at me, a smile on his face.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing."
A thought struck me, "Why are guests here?" I asked him. Aragorn ran his tongue over his lips. I watched with amusement.
"Lord Elrond has called for a Council of all the rulers of the free lands. You and I are to attend as well." He said. I nodded. "That Elf that you just argued with is Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood."
"Oh..." I said, raising my eyebrows, "I seem to have a habit of lashing out upon those with rule." I said. Aragorn laughed.
"That you do." He said and watched as I nodded to him and turned away, walking towards the center of the city, looking for something to occupy myself with.
Night had fallen and all throughout the day I checked on the Hobbits, greeted Bilbo Baggins who I had actually met once, stood by the gate, watching the guests filter in, and occupied myself in the woods, snaking through the woods as I had when I was a Child-Elf. Now I walked through the halls of Rivendell.
Aragorn sat in the room where the pieces of Narsil laid. I glanced at them briefly before approaching him, looking over his shoulder at the book he read.
"There is so much to think about." I whispered. "Too much to wallow in here." I sniffed and Aragorn put his hand on my shoulder, kissing the side of my mouth.
"I know." Aragorn said, "But you must not wallow in them, Rhasslairiel. You must-" Footsteps cut him off and the two of us looked up to see a Man walking into the hall that we sat in.
"Boromir, son of Denethor." I whispered. Boromir looked up for a moment, his hair falling down to his shoulders in reddish blonde hair, a slight beard developing on his face. He wore Gondor's normal armor, chain mail and a short sleeved shirt, and a leather vest and wrist guards.
"The shards of Narsil," he whispered in awe, lifting up the handle of it. Aragorn and I exchanged a glance. "The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand." I looked down at Aragorn. Boromir put his finger to it, pulling away quickly, blood running down his finger... "Still sharp." He looked to the side at Aragorn and I watching him... "But no more than a broken heirloom." He said, slamming it back down on the stone slab that it sat on. The handle fell to the ground and Boromir left the room.
Looking at Aragorn I made to walk after him, my eyes gentle as I grabbed his arm once we were outside of the hall that we were in before.
"Boromir!" I said, turning him around. Boromir turned to face me, avoiding my eyes. "Boromir." He finally looked at me. "Do not feel hopeless in this time." I said slowly, much like Arwen's voice when it is not urgent. "There is hope yet." I made to turn around but Boromir grabbed my arm not roughly, pulling me closer.
"You speak of hope... like it is something everyone carries in their heart. You once told me you loved me... was there hope in that love?" I looked at him, my brow wrinkled in sadness.
"No... only the longing of a young She-Elf for companionship. I love no one now... but hold my friends dear... you are my friend, Boromir and I trust you, remember that. Just like Strider is my friend, and I trust him."
"The Ranger in there?" he asked, "You trust him?"
"You forget, Boromir, that I travel as a Ranger as well. Do you think I could happily live here?" and, leaving him to ponder that question I pulled my arm gently from his grasp and walked away.
Morning peeked over the tops of the mountains but I had not slept, nor even returned to my sleeping quarters. I had spent the night wandering the woods as I so often done... they were my home, stopping for only a moment to bathe in the spring deep enough to clean me... I had no intrusions and spoke nothing.
Now I sat in one chair in the council room of Elrond in the evening as the sun stood just high enough for full light, sitting beside Aragorn, the two Rangers invited to this Council, and friends of Elrond. Elrond waited for all guests to appear before speaking.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old you've been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it." Aragorn and I exchanged glances, "You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He stood. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." He addressed the Hobbit. I twisted in my seat, listening to my stiff back crack. Aragorn looked over, his face wrinkled.
The two of us looked back up to see Frodo, small, humble, and shy come forward and place the ring on the stone table that had been put in the middle of our tight circle. All eyes were on him. There were mumbles.
"So it is true." Boromir said. Aragorn looked over at him slightly, I following suit. I looked upon the Ring, hearing in my heads voices that had never been there before, a deep malice.
"Rhasslairiel... Analas... Queen of Middle Earth... Ruled with justice and kindness... isnt that what you want?"
"No..." I whispered in answer.
"Yes... Rhasslairiel the Brave... the Gentle."
"The doom of Man," one man said, his hair white and wispy around his old face.
"It is a gift!" Boromir said, "A gift to the foes of Mordor." I turned to him, a confused, yet bewildered look on my face. "Why not use this Ring?" Boromir demanded as he stood up. "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." I made to speak but Aragorn put his hand on my arm.
"You cannot wield it. None of us can!" he countered, "The One Ring will answer to Sauron alone." I nodded, "It has no other master!"
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" I fired up at once.
"This is no mere Ranger!" I exclaimed, standing up. The said Legolas of Mirkwood stood as well.
"This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." He interrupted me. "You owe him your allegiance." Boromir looked dumbfounded for a few moments as all eyes turned to Aragorn.
"Aragorn." Boromir said, "This is Isildur's heir?" I looked at him.
"And an heir to the throne of Gondor, Boromir, old friend."
"Havo dad Legolas, Rhasslairiel." (Sit down, Legolas, Rhasslairiel.) I let out my breath in a huff and sat down.
"Gondor has no King..." Boromir growled to the two of us, "Gondor needs no King." Aragorn looked at him emotionlessly as the Son of the Steward sat back down in his chair.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf said, I put my hand on Aragorn's arm. He turned and smiled at my caring look in a reassuring way. I turned my attention now to Elrond.
"You have only one choice." The Lord of Rivendell said, "The Ring must be destroyed."
"What are we waiting for?" one Dwarf cried, standing up and grabbing his ax. I made to stand but decided not to.
With a roar the Dwarf brought his ax over his head and slammed it down at the Ring. It all happened fast.
The ax broke into many pieces, one of them flying and almost hitting us. An image of the Eye flashed in my mind and I ducked and watched as the Dwarf flew to the ground. The Ring lay untouched on the table. A headache was beginning to form in my head.
"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. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this." I looked over at the Ring... I could do that... I thought. Aragorn and I exchanged glances. There was a long pause as no one moved.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir said, taking his hand off of his face. "Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever-watchful." I looked down and put my elbows on my knees, and my head in my hands, my entire head felt like it would split. "It is a barren of 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."
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said?" Legolas challenged, standing up. I looked up. "The Ring must be destroyed."
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli son of Gloin cried, standing up. I jumped to my feet.
"I could do it!" I told him.
"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir asked, standing up. I pushed back my headache painfully.
"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" the Dwarf cried and all of Legolas's men and all others stood of all races, yelling at each other. "Never trust an Elf!"
"And you, Gimli son of Gloin think you can make it up the mountain? Be careful not to roll back down!"
"Do you not understand?" I cried, "While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it, You'll all be destroyed!" I backed up, three fingers on my forehead. Boromir attacked the wizard with words and I fell back into my chair, my hands on my head.
"I will take it!" Frodo's voice cried, standing up. I looked up at him though no one else heard him. "I will take it!" Gandalf looked around, his face sad. I smiled. Everyone turned to him.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor." He said, his jaw set. Aragorn, who still remained in his seat next to me looked at him, smiling in his eyes. "Though..." Frodo said, "I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," Gandalf swore, coming to stand behind him, "as long as it is yours to bear." Frodo smiled. Aragorn stood.
"If by my life or death I can protect you I will." He walked over to Frodo. "You have my sword." I smiled.
"And you have my bow." Legolas said.
"And my ax." Gimli. I looked down briefly...
"You carry the fates of us all, little one." Boromir said, "If this is indeed the will of the Council... Gondor will see it done." I walked over to the group of warriors.
"I offer you my protection Frodo." I said, "However it may be. I will aid you in your journey."
"But you are a woman." Boromir said. I looked at him.
"This fate belongs to all of Middle Earth." I told him, "Man or woman." I smiled at him and stood next to Legolas.
"Hey!" a voice cried and I looked over to see San run out of the bushes and come to stand next to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"
"It is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not." Elrond said, grinning. I smiled.
"Oi! We're coming too!" Merry and Pippin cried and came from behind pillars, coming to stand in front of us. I put my hand on Pippin's head, trying not to laugh at Elrond's stern look.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Merry cried.
"That can be arranged." I mumbled under my breath. Legolas chuckled.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... quest...thing!" Pippin said. I smiled. We all looked at each other, smiling.
"Well that rules you out, Pip." Merry said to Pippin. There was a pause.
"Ten companions..." Elrond whispered, "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." He said. There was a peak of excitement.
"Great!" Pippin said... "Where are we going?" We all looked at him.
"I will go to prepare for the journey. We leave tomorrow morning." I said and walked away from them, limping only slightly and lightly as I made my way to my sleeping quarters, laying out clothes for the next day. I knew that I needed to sleep yet as I laid down in my bed I found that I could not... I hummed childhood Elvish lullabies to myself until finally... drifting off into sleep.