Chapter Eight

~ Boromir ~
"Enough!"

A cold, commanding voice cut through the tension. We all stopped arguing to see a lone, cloaked figure rise. "This is why the Ring must be destroyed," said the person. The tone brooked no argument. It startled me how commanding the voice was, to silence three arguing people in a matter of seconds. "All you can do is argue and bicker amongst yourselves when it is brought before you. How can you defeat Sauron if all you do is fight?"

"Who are you?" I demanded, finished with politeness and formality.

The figure reached up and pushed down the hood. In that moment, my eyes widened with the most surprise I'd felt that day. For there was a woman. Dark brown hair cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. Steely grey-blue eyes challenged me, possessed of an inner fire that startled me. I'd never met a woman with such force in her personality.

It was actually very . . . attractive.

But then the woman turned her attention to the Dwarf. "In answer to you, Dwarf, no. All races will help with the destruction of the Ring, not one. And the Ring has already chosen its bearer. Now, of course, the question becomes – can you all tolerate the blow to your dignity? Can you actually bear to work with each other, or would you rather rip each other to shreds and do Sauron a favor?"

Lord Elrond gestured shortly to her, but his expression was devoid of emotion. "Sit down, Elena," he said softly. But his tone carried an authority that even she did not challenge.

The woman sat, inclining her head respectively toward the Elf-lord. Lord Elrond returned to gazing at each of us in turn, challenging us to see which of us would be brave enough to take on the challenge of bearing the Ring.

"I will take it."

The Hobbit from before suddenly stood. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." Then embarrassment seemed to catch up with him, and he looked down, saying shyly, "Although . . . I do not know the way."

The wizard stood slowly and went to stand behind him. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

The Ranger that was Isildur's heir also stood. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will," he vowed. "You have my sword."

The Elf strode over. "And you have my bow."

The Dwarf. "And my axe."

I stood. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council . . . then Gondor will see it done."

Three more of the Hobbits then joined the Fellowship. I forced down a smile. I highly doubted that the Hobbits would be of too much use, but, ah, what was the point in pointing that out?

Then, to my joy, the woman rose slowly. "Well, Peregrin Took, if you feel that intelligence is needed, then I believe I should join you. You males sometimes need someone to knock common sense in your head, as this Council probably was a good example of such a situation."

~ Mithrandir ~
I stared at Elrond. "Elrond, you can't be serious?" I stammered, amazed. "You're letting her go with us?"

Elrond eyed me calmly, leaning back in his chair. He had not yet changed out of his robes, and looked every inch the Lord of Imladris. "You disagree?" he asked calmly.

"She's still a child!"

"But an able one. And she has a point. Someone may need to knock some sense into the heads of the others."

"Thank you for the compliment," I said dryly, momentarily distracted by his words. "I am glad that my head is counted among those free to be knocked on."

Then I returned to my earlier argument. "Elrond, what's wrong with you? Why have you suddenly changed your mind? Only a few days ago you barely let Estel out of your sight. Now you're allowing her to go tramping of on a quest that will probably take her into the heart of Mordor itself!"

"Well, to address one thing at a time: no, I have not gone crazy. And no, I have not suddenly changed my mind. I had in mind for her to go along ever since I learned the truth about her. Yes, I barely let her out of my sight, but that was because I wanted to make sure that her soul would heal from the damage it has sustained. As for the quest, I doubt that it will in its entirety go to Mordor."

"How do you know this?" I felt a sense of déjà vu. I had, after all, just had a similar experience with Saruman.

Elrond sighed. "I haven't told you yet, have I?" Then he proceeded to explain who Estel was in terms of where she was from and who was descended from.

By the end, I was certain that if this year continued in the same fashion, I'd stop being able to feel surprise. "First we find the One Ring after 2,500 years of searching, then I find that Saruman has betrayed us, and now I find that the Valar have sent someone from our future back to help," I remarked. "At this rate I'll stop feeling surprise."

Elrond chuckled. "You might feel even more yet. Estel has the Elessar. She says that she got it when her grandmother, Lady Galadriel, died. Her father was called Lord Elessar of Gondor, and her older brother Eldarion. And her sister's name was Tinúviel."

"All Elven names," I observed, partially distracted and intrigued. But then I got back to business. "But this makes me want her on this quest even less, Elrond. It's bad enough that Aragorn is going; must we also have another heir go as well? Estel has already experienced so much heartache and damage to her fëa."

"She needs to find herself," Elrond said quietly. "Estel doubts herself. And she doesn't yet know that Strider and Aragorn are one and the same."

"Ah. I see. Well, then, I suppose I can tolerate her presence."

"One more thing, Mithrandir," Elrond called as I turned away. I turned back. Cold fire burned in Elrond's grey eyes.

"Make sure that Estel is returned to me safely," he said softly, but steel was in his voice.

I may have been a Maia, but I knew without question that Elrond meant what he said.

"Of course," I assured the Elf-lord.

~ Estel ~
I threw my arms around the Elf-lord. "Thank you!" I cried. I had thought that he was coming to tell me off for speaking up in the Council, but it seemed that he merely was coming to offer his approval.

Lord Elrond appeared startled by my reaction, and I let go, blushing furiously. Then he laughed softly. "You're very welcome, Estel, although know that I didn't consider for a moment stopping you," he said, his tone warm. "You're a grown woman by the standards of Men, and you're quite old enough to make your own decisions."

He sat down. "Anyway, that was not the reason I came. Here." Lord Elrond drew out a dagger and passed it to me.

I took it, admiring the fancy Elvish lettering. "Thank you," I murmured.

"It served me well during the Second Age," Lord Elrond said. "It saved my life once. Hopefully it can safeguard you as well."

I smiled, tying the dagger onto the belt at my waist. "You amaze me with your generosity, Lord Elrond, as always," I said, bowing my head to him.

He captured me in a tight embrace. "Then come home safe, and you'll repay me three times over," he replied.