Hey there…this chapter was actually finished over a week ago, however I have been without internet for just as long. I'm so sorry I couldn't have updated sooner but the next few chapters have already been written and just need a bit more editing before getting posted.
*Disclaimer* I do not own nor am I affiliated with anything pertaining to Lord of the Rings or its extended universe. Also the line comparing the Ring to a sword is taken from A Storm of Swords by George R.R Martin and I do not own that either.
Lilly was unable to ignore the annoyance that crossed Elrond's face upon seeing her sitting with Gandalf in the council circle. He had no chance, however, to voice his displeasure as the other council members began to arrive.
Why the hell am I even here? She looked around at the characters of legend and great renown sitting around her and felt like quite the party crasher. I am surrounded by dusty old men who have studied politics and warfare since childhood. Lilly sat uncomfortably in her chair and concentrated on not fidgeting.
As Lord Elrond welcomed friends and foreign dignitaries alike, Lilly remained sitting rigidly in her chair. She was fully aware that shifting in her would make her look childish and draw more attention to the fact that she was the only female present.
Whatever attention was being divided between her and Lord Elrond was fully turned toward Frodo as he was prompted to bring forth the Ring. Lilly saw that the golden band was as thin and simple as it had been in the movies, the only difference being that one cannot feel its evil through a screen. Looking upon the Ring Lilly felt as if someone had dropped a worm down the back of her shirt.
Home…it could bring you home. The thought that repeated in her mind was not Lilly's own, but she felt herself yearning to agree with it. I could go back to school…I've missed my apartment so much…and my family… The temptation was accompanied by guilt and she shuddered at the feeling of the Ring's power burrowing in her mind like a snake.
Lilly recalled enough of this scene to know every other person was experiencing similar invasive thoughts to her own. And Boromir will fall prey to them.
Murmurs of disbelief echoed around the circle and Lilly was certain her own face held the same uncomfortable look as everyone else there. Lilly felt a cold shiver touch her spine and her heart rise in her chest. The sensation reminded her of her fall all those months ago and gave her an uneasy anxiety about what was about to happen.
Boromir rose slowly, "In a dream…" His eyes moved about the council, but lingered on the Ring as he continued. "I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. In the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, your doom is near at hand." A cold hand gripped Lilly's heart. "Isildur's bane is found," Boromir stretched his hand out toward the Ring. "Isildur's Bane…"
"Boromir!" Elrond cried, effectively breaking whatever enchantment that had taken hold of him. Boromir backed away into his chair as Gandalf rose and said in a booming voice that shook the very ground,
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul!
Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!"
The words thundered in Lilly's ears and echoed in her head. Old magic, powerful and dark. Her mind spun and she gasped, black dots dancing in her vision. Dizzy and disorientated she rubbed her eyes while trying to refocus on the debate at hand.
"The Ring is altogether evil," Gandalf spat as he sat back down. Lilly knew what was to happen in rebuttal and turned toward Boromir who was shaking his head at the old wizard. "It is a gift ...a gift to the foes of Mordor!"
Lilly felt a flush of anger as Boromir continued his madness induced speech. "Why not use this Ring?"
"Use the Ring?" Lilly felt a building of courage she had never experienced before and stood. "It is a sword without a hilt. There is no safe way to grasp it." Shaking her head she continued before anyone could interrupt her.
"Isildur himself could not wield it and you believe that you can? This is no mere trinket, this is a Ring of Power as evil and corrupted as the one who forged it! It answers to Sauron and Sauron alone. Do you not think he would raze Minas Tirith to theground before he let any man of Gondor wield it against him?" Just who in the hell do you think you are? Lilly thought to herself in anger. She had never before experienced such a burning desire for the right thing to be done.
Boromir glared at her, angered and offended at her words. "And what would a woman know of Sauron's Ring?" Had there not been a table between them, Lilly would have broken his nose. An awkward paused fell on the council and Gandalf harrumphed and began to speak, his words preventing Lilly from doing anything she might later regret.
"That woman," Gandalf mocked Boromir's tone of voice, "knows better than you it seems, Boromir son of Denethor." Boromir did not look pleased at the slight. "And she is an oracle, one who knows more than any other what fate the Ring would bring."
Baffled looks went to Lilly who had sat down as Gandalf had begun speaking. Boromir looked suspiciously toward her and retook his chair leaving Elrond to continue the Council debate.
The title of oracle seemed as ridiculous to Lilly at that moment as it had when Gandalf first mentioned it that morning. Oracles speak in prophecies and riddles. She had felt a wide range of emotions from worried to annoyed. Half the time I can't even solve a riddle let alone make one up. When she had sheepishly mentioned these concerns to Gandalf he simply laughed and puffed on his pipe leaving her without a response.
The courage she had felt when debating against Boromir waned as she sat. Where the hell did that even come from? Having an outburst was not something she normally did, Lilly being the kind of person who often let her anger simmer off to benign grudge.
But by god these men are testing my patience! The scene reminded her of when her extended family would get together, everyone talking over everyone else.
Lilly felt her anger rise again as the debate turned into a petty argument of what race was best fit to take the ring to Mordor. Even still, she heard Boromir argue against destroying the Ring while the Elves and Dwarves insulted each other.
Frodo sat beside her timid as a mouse with eyes fixed on the Ring. She was well aware of the flames he was seeing as the Ring manipulated them all.
Enough, a voice whispered to her. "Enough," She whispered it at first, standing up mechanically unsure of what force was her movements. She stood and cried, "ENOUGH!" The shouted command had been loud enough to wake the sleeping dead and was unnatural coming from the mouth of the short woman.
"The most important task of this age is set before you all, one that would decide the fate of all of Middle Earth, and yet you stand here squabbling like little boys over a new toy!" The accusation in her voice set shame to the faces of the men there and they begrudgingly returned to their seats. "Destroy the Ring. That is the task at hand, of this there is no debate." She looked harshly toward Boromir.
Shaking her head she continued. "The fate of the entirety of Middle Earth is being called into question, this task cannot be set to just one race." Please, please stand up Frodo. In answer to her thoughts she saw the little Hobbit rise from his chair. "I will take it." Gathering his courage he repeated, "I will take the Ring in Mordor"
A look of sorrow crossed Gandalf's face as Frodo concluded. "Though I do not know the way." One by one the rest of the Fellowship to be rose from their chairs to accept the task at hand. Lilly sighed in relief and thanked every god she knew of that she had not ruined the moment in which the destiny of Middle Earth was decided.
Elrond looked over the group of nine, "So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Lilly sighed in relief, I don't think Gandalf is going to make me go.
The night of the council meeting Lilly had been opted out of any Elven festivities and had chosen instead to eat dinner in her room by herself. The title of oracle did not sit easily on her conscience and though she did not want to admit it, Boromir's comment on her gender combined with those of other council members had struck a chord in her heart.
Girls shouldn't go so far away to school. Her mother had repeated again and again when Lilly had revealed her choice of university. Girls shouldn't go far…well damn, mom, I'm about as far away as you can get. She rested her head in her hand and used the other to pick at the salad Rirosseth had brought her nearly an hour before.
The Elven maid had gone to the Hall of Fire with all the others to play host to the horde of visitors leaving Lilly to stew in her own thoughts. There were things from the meeting that were still were not sitting well in her mind. That voice...whose thoughts were those? Lilly groaned and dropped her head onto the table. I have gone absolutely insane.
She stayed like that for a few long moments, breathing in the cool night air. Half-asleep she did not notice Gandalf as he entered her cautiously entered her chambers. The old wizard had seen her with her face pressed to the table and tried not to startle her as he approached.
"Lilly." He had tried to say her name gently but had only succeeded in surprising her. The sudden shock caused her to smack her head into the table. "Jesus Christ!" Lilly rubbed her reddening forehead. "Ahh…Did you do that on purpose?" I was having a pretty good day too.
"I did not mean to startle you, my dear." Gandalf looked sincere in his apology and Lilly waved him to sit down as she rubbed her head still. "Well, what's up? I assume you have something incredibly important to say if it couldn't wait until tomorrow."
The old man looked slightly offended as he straightened his robes. "You recall that Lord Elrond and myself in agreement that you should be a part of any events surrounding the One Ring?" Lilly raised her eyebrow at him, "I can recall it being a subject of argument between you two."
Gandalf nodded his head, "Yes, yes. It is all quite the same." Oh no…Lilly knew what was going to be requested of her. "Whatever it may be that you were sent here to change, it cannot be done if you remain here in Rivendell."
Lilly shook her head, "I can't…" She rubbed eyes, not wanting to admit that joining the Fellowship was what felt right in her heart. She took a deep breath, "But I have to, don't I?" Gandalf smiled faintly at her realisation.
Of all the reckless decisions in the world…Finally feeling right again she began thinking of joining the great feast that was taking place in the Hall of Fire. Gandalf rose and stole a fig from her plate. "The other council members, Boromir in particular, are much more agreeable away from the influence of the Ring." Understanding the invitation Lilly stood up to follow him to the feast.