Chapter Three - The Council Meeting
The time had finally come. The time to decide what would happen to the ring of power and what would lie in store for the fate of all Middle-earth.
Lord Elrond sat on a grand chair that faced the members of the council, his face stern, his hands gathered in his lap. The others present were all eagerly awaiting the beginning of his historic moment. Their excitement and nervous energy combined in the circle seeming to crackle through the air like an electrical storm.
Arwen sat gingerly next to her father, fidgeting in her seat more than usual. She had been to plenty of prestigious meetings before, but never one of this magnitude. To her right sat Aragorn and the other men who had positions high in the ranks of Gondor, including Boromir son of Denethor, the caretaker of the throne in Minas Tirith. Next to the men sat many Dwarves, a race that was not so usual within the borders of Rivendell. It was a known fact that Dwarves and Elves were not the respectful to one another. A fact that Arwen was sure would play out further as the hearing progressed.
Alongside the Dwarves sat the Elves from the likes of Lothlorien and Mirkwood. Legolas was sat near the end of them, leaning over to speak to Gandalf who sat with Frodo, the only Hobbit that had been summoned before the others to give an explanation of what had occurred. The other three Hobbits had been told to stay in their rooms, they had initially protested but she knew that her Fathers unwavering gaze could be very persuasive when it needed to be.
Lord Elrond stood up from where he sat and the room immediately fell silent, everyone stopped their conversations to heed what the Lord of Rivendell might have to say.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor," he started enunciating each word, the council members began to settle into their seats as he continued on. It was not long before he instructed Frodo to place the ring of power atop the stone pedestal that stood strong in the centre of the room. When he did it brought forth a staggering amount of whispers and gasps that arose all around as they all talked amongst their own races about how the hobbit had acquired the ring and how they would go about destroying it.
Looking upon the ring made her feel uneasy, like something was staring right back at her. She had seen it around the Hobbits neck when she had rode with him here but now she had a proper look at it, it felt as though it were drawing her in. Like if she were to remove her gaze from it then it might sneak away on its own accord.
"It is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring?" Boromir spoke up, standing from his chair to pace before them . "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."
All studied his face for a moment to see whether he was joking about what he had just proposed. For many knew that the ring would corrupt any who try to use it. Aragorn was the first to protest to this lack of judgement
"You cannot wield the ring none of us can, the ring answers to Sauron alone," the ranger stated trying his best to get through to his kin.
Arwen was proud in that moment that Aragorn had said these words, perhaps now he would realise that anyone could succumb to the rings power. And that it was not just his ancestor who had made a wrong choice. Boromir however became defensive very quickly and gave Aragorn a foul look.
"And what would a mere ranger know of this," he snapped with venom.
It was then that Legolas stood up from his place and turned to face Boromir. "This is no mere ranger, this is Aragorn son of Arathon, you owe him your allegiance," he quipped, relishing the fact that he knew something that the man of Gondor clearly did not.
"Aragorn? This is Isildurs heir?" Boromir said, staring down at the still seated Aragorns, his face questioning.
"An heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas carried on.
Aragorn caught Legolas's attention and motioned for him to stand down with a wave of his hand until the Elf returned to his seat. Boromir also sat, muttering to himself, not that Arwen who was astonished by the whole thing, could hear of what.
"Aragorn is right the ring cannot be wielded, it must be destroyed, one of you must do this," Her father said taking back his place in the centre and trying to move past the altercation.
The dwarves suddenly stirred, raising their voices till they were an inaudible hum. A slightly younger looking fellow from the centre came charging out towards the pedestal screaming. "Well what are we waiting for!?" With this he slammed a metal axe down upon the ring, and for an instant Arwen could have sworn she saw a crack of lighting pierce down and strike the Dwarf where he stood. He was flung back towards his kinsman, and landed on the cold floor with an almighty thud. Frodo lurched to one side grabbing his chest where the ring wraith had stabbed at least 5 days ago.
Although the other members of the council seemed to be rather astonished at the event that had just occurred, Lord Elrond did not seem fazed.
"It can not be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin by any craft we here possess," he told him. "It was forged within the depths of Mount Doom only here can it be relinquished to the fiery chasm from whence it came, who here will take the ring?" Lord Elrond questioned, scanning the room for any sign of encouragement, instead he faced a number of individuals who preferred not to make any eye contact, for fear of being chosen against their will.
Arwen was surprised that neither Boromir nor Gimli had volunteered themselves to the cause, as they seemed to fancy themselves the bravest of the crowd. Instead, the elves over to the far left began to rise up, talking animatedly among themselves. Obviously something had been said that the dwarves were not impressed with as they soon also rose to their feet, cursing and shouting that 'they would not see the ring in the hands of the elves'. It was not long until the men and in fact Gandalf rose from their places and in-putted or shouted their own thoughts on the matter, until only Aragorn, Frodo and Arwen were left seated, looking rather confused at the whole ordeal.
She could not believe that they were using this time, when they should be coming up with a solution, a plan to battle the enemy. They instead chose to battle one another, allies at each others throats. Arwen noticed that Frodo looked as if he had something important to say for he would try to speak within the gaps where the competitors in front were now screaming at each other.
Suddenly he leapt from his seat and scrabbling through the hordes of people began shouting "I will take it, I will take the ring".
The silence was instant as each member of each race turned to face the Halfling. He who had already done more than was asked of him. Gandalf looked down and smiled, the Hobbit had much more courage than even his wise knowledge could have anticipated. He laid his hand upon Frodo's now trembling shoulder and whispered, although all could hear, "I will help you carry this burden Frodo Baggins, for as long as it is yours to bear." He stood by his side looking out into the parted crowd and waited for those who would also decide to enlist.
Arwen looked around, this was all very tedious, whoever was to go would most likely not return. She studied Aragorns face. He was silent, staring down at the stone floor, then he locked his eyes with hers suddenly, blue on blue and whispered "I am so sorry."
He stood and started across the room, her heart lurching with his every step, her breath hitching in her chest. This could not be happening, she would not allow it, he would die and never return, she would be ….. alone.
He knelt down with his sword in front of him, and told the hobbit something that her brain could not comprehend, too many other thoughts flocking to the forefront of her mind.
From the corner of her eye she glanced that Legolas also stood, as did Gimli, pledging their own allegiances although Arwen did not hear them either. The man had promised her everything, and soon he would likely fall back into the Earth, into a darkness that she could not retrieve him from.
The last member of the council to join was Boromir, who still seemed to be the sly devious being, although he was doing something heroic that deserved the ultimate praise. And so they stood, all six of them facing Lord Elrond, they were indeed heroic and all of them brave, but Arwen could not hold it in any longer.
"I am going too," she declared, getting up from her place and moving swiftly to join the group that had formed in the centre of the council chamber.
The look that her father gave her immediately stated that he was going to protest, and she was right.
"Arwen do not be so ludicrous. This mission is none of your concern, nor is it any place for a Lady of your stature to be present," Elrond argued, coming forward taking her arm in his and beginning to pull her away. She was able to slip her arm from his easily once again returning to her place next to the group.
This time it was Aragorn who took a tight hold of her arm and turned her to face him.
"Arwen, what are you doing?" he whispered, so that no-one else could hear him. "You cannot come, I will not let you".
"I thought out of everyone you would understand why I have to come, why I need to do this," she stated with a sigh.
"Well you are wrong," he told her. "I do not understand. You have to listen to your father, he is right in this."
"I am coming whether you like it or not, and I would prefer that you oblige rather than me coming under awkward terms, But I will still be coming even if you do not" Arwen raised her voice so that the council could hear the line well. "Father, I would also prefer that you give me your consent. After all I am the most qualified and capable to look after Frodo should he need it, and I too am trained with a bow an sword," she reeled off trying to sway his judgement.
Elrond was silent for a moment, mulling over his words carefully and then turned his back on her as she spoke, "You will not be going, and that is final!"