Chapter Three
"My Father the King and the Council of Elrond"
Jesse opened her eyes to realize she must be inside a dream. She found herself surrounded by beautiful silvery trees and an earthly glow that seemed to emanate from everywhere and everything. Looking around she noticed for the first time that she was not alone, on the opposite end of the small glade she was standing in there was a tall handsome and regal ellon. A piece of Jesse's mind was crying out to her, telling her to run into the ellon's arms and never leave. Jesse knew, that this ellon was Ereinion Gil Galad the High King of the Noldorim and her father.
She stood there rooted in her spot; in fear that if she would move he would disappear. With a grace only an elf could have possessed he walked towards her, his eyes looking into her own. As he came to a stop in front of her, he gently raised a hand brushed the side of her face, wiping away tears, which she hadn't even realized she had been crying. With that simple touch the floodgates burst opened and she fell sobbing into the arms of her father.
For a long time he said nothing just held the sobbing girl in his arms and stroked her long ebony hair. "It is alright my beautiful daughter, the Valar have given us this chance to meet. It was they that brought you here in your dream, so that we may have this chance to speak, before you must face a most difficult trial in the war to come," he said still holding her tightly against him.
The tears subsiding enough Jesse finally found her voice and shakily replied, "Ada," she smiled through her tears. A matching smile appeared on her father's face as he took her arm and began to lead her down a path she hadn't noticed before. "Where are we," she asked looking up into his smiling face. "We are in Valinor, in the healing gardens of Lórien," he replied as they walked through the timeless forest. They walked for a time just enjoying the silent company of the other.
"Now my darling Jessica, the time is short, for you will awaken soon, and I have much to tell you about the trials you will be facing in the coming strife," he said leading her to a small gazebo that was hidden in the trees near a small waterfall. Sitting down next to Jesse he pushed a lock of hair behind her delicately pointed ear, before he continued speaking, "I wish that there were a way for me to keep you safe from the things that are to come and the horrible things you will have to witness," he paused taking her hand in his, "The Valar have shown me much since my rebirth, and I fear that your inner strength will truly be tested. There are lives that without your presence will be lost." "Do you know whom I am meant to save? I found some of Gandalf's writings from the War of the Ring and he said that I had been meant to save lives but he never mentioned who they were or how I was meant to save them. If I can save an innocent life I want to," Jesse said looking deeply into her father's kind face.
"There are many lives that by just your presence in the battles to come that will be saved, with the skills you have acquired in your youth in that distant future. However there are two, a man whom you have already met and befriended and one of our own kind who you have yet to meet, they are Boromir son of Denethor and the March Warden of Lothlórien Haldir," he said seeing the recognition in his daughter's eyes. "I see in your eyes that you know of whom I speak," he added wrapping his arm around her, "The elves must go to Helms Deep and Haldir must lead them there, or the kingdom of Rohan will fall and with the Rohirrim, the lives of Prince Legolas, Aragorn son of Arathorn, and Gimli son of Gloin will also be lost. You will not be alone in this battle my child; you will have the help of Lord Boromir and Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower. Now your time of waking is coming, you must speak to Elrond, Glorfindel, and Gandalf of this dream. Give Elrond this message, 'The time is short, remember the old alliances,' he will understand its meaning," he said taking Jesse's hand and helping her to stand.
Pulling his daughter close once more he spoke softly into her hair, "You will see me again, once more in your dreams when the Dark Lord falls, until then my daughter be safe, Namárië." With that he kissed her brow his face faded from her view.
"Ada," the word was a whisper on her lips as came into the waking world. Taking in her surroundings, tears began to fall freely from her eyes; she was back in her bed in Rivendell. Hugging pillow to her chest she cried heart-wrenching sobs for all of the things that Gideon had stolen from her. She never heard the sound of a gentle knock upon her door or the sound of a key turning into a lock as Elrond, Legolas, and Aragorn entered her room.
"Do you know what has made her so distraught Lord Elrond," the elf prince asked, his own heart breaking for the crying elleth. "I do not, but I will do everything in my power to help her," he replied walking to the bed and taking Jesse into his arms, "Would the two of you please ask Glorfindel and Gandalf to come here," he added before turning his attention back to the girl in his arms. "Of course, Ada," Aragorn replied as he and Legolas exited the room and headed in different directions.
Looking down at the girl he realized that although he had only known her for a short time, he already had begun to look upon her as a child of his own. Cradling her close to him, much in the same way he had Arwen when her mother had sailed into the West, he spoke softly," What has made you so distraught child?" The sobs slowing enough for her to speak she replied shakily, "I had a dream," she paused as another sob escaped her lips, "I saw my father. He said that the Valar had given us a chance to speak. He told me who I was meant to save, and he gave me a message for you. He said, 'The time is short, remember the old alliances,' He said you would know what it meant," she said, neither of them noticing the presence of Gandalf and Glorfindel. "Was that all he told you Jessica," Elrond asked, looking up to acknowledge his friend and the wizard. "He said, that I have to save Boromir and Haldir, and that I would not be alone. He said that Glorfindel would help me save Haldir," she replied still not looking up. "And help you I shall," the golden elf lord spoke up for the first time since entering the room. "Did he say where you would have to save Haldir's life," Gandalf asked leaning heavily on his staff. "He said that the elves must fight at Helms Deep or the kingdom of Rohan will fall, and with the Rohirrim Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli," she said still looking a bit stricken as she sat up and looked at the kind faces of Gandalf and Glorfindel for the first time. "We will discuss this further after the council. Now I would like for you to get dressed. The morning meal will begin soon. I will send Idril to help you get ready," he said kissing the side of her head before he stood up and he, Gandalf and Glorfindel left the room.
Walking into the bathroom Jesse walked to the washbasin and splashed some cold water onto her face. "I love you, Ada," she whispered as she walked back into the bedroom. A knock on the door causing her to look up, answering the door she found a kind looking elleth smiling back at her. "Lord Elrond asked me to help you prepare for the day," the elleth said bowing to Jesse. "Thank you," Jesse said with a smile as the elleth walked straight to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. "My name is Idril, my lady and Lord Elrond has asked me to be your maid. Now what color gown would you like to wear today," she paused for a second looking at the assorted colors hanging in front of her, "Oh this one would be lovely with your eyes," she added pulling out a deep rich green brocade gown. "That one will be perfect, thank you Idril, and please call me Jesse. If you are to be helping me then I at least want us to be friends and my friends call me Jesse," Jesse said smiling as Idril helped her into the beautiful gown.
It didn't take Idril long to have Jesse ready for the day and soon she found herself walking down the corridors of Imladris on her way to the dining hall. The sound of the falls and birds chirping were a pleasant change from what she was used to back in San Francisco, there you were lucky if the sounds of garbage trucks and horns didn't wake you. Nearing the doors of the dining hall she took a deep cleansing breath to calm her remaining nerves from her dream the night before stepped through the doors.
Before she even made it completely through the door and into the large hall she was swept up on either side by two very handsome and identical smiling ellons. 'Ahhh, so I finally meet the famed Imladris Twins,' she thought with a slight giggle. "I believe we have found a lady in need of an escort don't you brother," the one on her right said with a wink at his sibling. "I do believe you are correct Elladan, correct indeed," Elrohir replied as they walked her toward the dais. It was all Jesse could do to keep from laughing out right at their antics. 'Boy, I feel for Arwen. I don't think I have ever been so happy about having sisters before,' she thought as she caught a glimpse of a commanding Balrog Slayer making his way to her rescue. "Elladan, Elrohir, your father has asked that I make certain you have finished your kitchen duties for the morning, and to remind you that linens from the Houses of Healing still require washing," the tall blond elf lord said with a slight twitch of his lips, giving away his true amusement, "Now if the Lady Jessica will allow me I will see to it that she actually gets to breakfast before it is time for mid-day meal," he added with a wink. Jesse had to fight hard from bursting out laughing at the identical looks of dread on the faces of the twins.
"I really must apologize I had hoped to be able to head them off sooner, but those two are as fast as a hobbit after a sweet cake when they see a pretty elleth," Glorfindel said as he guided her the rest of the way to the Lord of Imladris's table. "It is alright Glorfindel, I really needed the laugh this morning and did you see the looks on their faces when you reminded them of their washing duty," she giggled in response. "That I did and it was most amusing to see them scurry off like that as well," he laughed lightly as he pulled out her chair for her.
Breakfast was nice though there was an underlying current of tension in everyone that just screamed to Jesse. She tried to keep her mind from drifting to the emotions she was picking up from the other occupants of the room but she was finding it hard. The only true respite she got was from Gandalf, Elrond, Glorfindel and Erestor; they managed to keep their emotions buried deeper than everyone else, she was thankful for that considering all that they must have seen in their long lives. As she looked around the table she noticed many were merely playing with their food. Even the hobbits seemed a bit out of sorts and had barely touched their plates.
Breakfast coming to an end Elrond looked to Jesse, he could see she had been feeling some of the emotions of those in the dining hall, that in combination with her dream earlier had him worried about how she would handle the potentially volatile emotions sure to arise at the council. 'May Elbereth watch and guide her,' he prayed silently before standing and offering the young elleth his arm. "How are you feeling my child," he asked as they walked toward the council chambers. "I was a bit shaken but I think I will be alright, and don't worry so much about me, I already know what is going to happen at the council remember. I am ready for it. Besides worrying gives you wrinkles. At least that is what Grams always said when Phoebe or I came home late," Jesse replied trying to lighten the mood of the elf lord. "I have arranged for you to be seated between Erestor and myself at the council," he stated as they arrived at their destination and he walked her to her seat. Jesse's breath caught in her throat as she took in her surroundings, 'Man, Pete Jackson so got this place right.'
"I have to tell you something before everyone gets here," she said turning so that she could look into his eyes, "If I am going to have any chance to save Boromir I have to start here, so if I say something to him just go along with it okay." "Is there something I should know that will occur here," he asked getting slightly worried about the direction of the conversation, though his exterior radiated nothing but calm. "Boromir will be tempted by the ring, unless I find a way to stop it. His father sent him here to claim the ring for Gondor. You and I both know that can't be allowed to happen for so many reasons. The thing is Boromir really doesn't want the ring; it is the influence of his father and the ring itself that will drive him to try and take it. He is a good man, and I want to save him. I have to save him," she explained trying to get her point across but at the same time trying to avoid those pesky future consequences, Chris was always bitching about. 'I get the point now Chris,' she thought to herself, still missing her friend terribly.
"Do you yet have a plan in which to save the son of the Steward of Gondor," he asked attempting to understand Jesse's motives. "Well it is a rough plan so if you have any ideas please let me know, but I know I have to do two things to make sure it is possible to save him. One I have to try and help him through the damage his father's words have caused in pressuring him to take the ring, and second I am going to have to figure out a way to lessen the affect the rings call has on him. I just hope that second part is possible. I also have to make sure that some things still occur the way they are meant to happen, only without Boromir being the cause," she said slightly winded from her explanation. "I will think on this matter further and we will discuss it again after the council," he said looking up as people began to arrive, "The others are arriving."
Sitting back in her chair Jesse watched as the delegates took their seats around the council chambers. Frodo was the last to take his seat and she watched as he looked around nervously at all of the other delegates. When he glanced in her direction she tried to give him a supportive smile, which he returned bravely. Knowing what that brave little hobbit was going to be forced to face made Jesse feel like crying. She had a whole new respect for the race of hobbits and the hidden strength they possessed.
Once everyone was in their seats, Jesse watched as Elrond stood ready to address the assembled group, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound this fate, this one doom. Bring fourth the ring, Frodo." Jesse watched as the small hobbit walked up and placed a simple gold band in the center of a pedestal at the center of the room. As he walked back to his place beside Gandalf, she noticed that he looked like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"So it is true," he heard Boromir say from his seat across from her. He rubbed at his chin as he stared at the ring. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor," he continued, standing and making his way toward the pedestal, "Why not use this Ring? 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!" Jesse knew this would happen and she knew Aragorn would step in but she also knew she had to act as well. "Boromir, the ring will only bring doom to your people," she said looking into the Gondorian's eyes trying to sever the effect the ring was having on him. "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master," Aragorn said trying to add weight to Jesse's argument. "And what would a mere ranger know of this matter," Boromir replied giving Aragorn a distasteful look. 'Oh great just what I need a testosterone overload and male posturing,' Jesse thought with a sigh.
"This is no mere ranger," Legolas jumped up to defend his friend, "This is Aragorn son of Arathorn, you owe him your allegiance. "Aragorn, this is Isildur's heir?" Boromir asked the look of disdain not leaving his face. "And heir to the throne of Gondor," the Mirkwood prince replied mirroring Boromir's look with one of his own. For a second Jesse saw Boromir look shocked and somewhat bewildered but it was for a fleeting second then he returned to his seat with a final, "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king."
A look of annoyance came over Aragorn's face when he looked at Legolas and spoke, "Havo dad, Legolas." "Aragorn is right we cannot use this. The ring is all together evil," Gandalf said calmly trying to ease some of the tensions. "You have but one choice," Elrond spoke from his seat look out over the assembled delegates, "The ring must destroyed." Jesse tried to send more calming waves in Boromir's direction, though with the tension between him and Aragorn she found it more difficult.
Knowing what was about to happen next she then turned her attention to the small hobbit sitting quietly next to Gandalf, sending her reassuring presence into his mind. "Then what are we waiting for," Gimli shouted as he jumped from his seat and struck the ring on it's pedestal, shattering his axe and being thrown onto his back with the force of evil in the ring. Jesse saw Frodo flinch a bit from the force of evil that was housed inside the simple gold band.
"The ring can not be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess," the elf lord stated calmly, as if nothing had happened, "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 fiery chasm from whence it came," he paused looking around again, "One of you must do this."
Knowing that Boromir was about to speak, Jesse looked in his direction and sure enough he had stood, "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. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air that you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has just said," Legolas said standing, looking at Boromir as though he were a spoiled child, who didn't know the meaning of the word 'NO', "The Ring must be destroyed!" Standing before Gimli could open his mouth Jesse looked pleadingly at Boromir, "Lord Elrond is right, Boromir, that ring only knows how to destroy. I know you want to save your people but this is not the way. That ring can only corrupt and destroy all that come in contact with it. It would be the final doom of your people if it went to Minas Tirith. You have to believe me Boromir; I don't want to see any one hurt. The only way to stop Sauron, and save your people and everyone else is to destroy this damn ring." With one final look into the eyes of her Gondorian friend, Jesse retook her seat, she knew her words would not stop the argument that was going to start, but at least she had to try and help Boromir see the truth.
"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf," Gimli shouted as he stood as quickly as his short frame would allow. Then the argument really started. The only ones that remained in their seats were Jesse and Frodo. She could tell that the Ring was calling to Frodo, and it was making him very uncomfortable, as she watched him began to fidget in his seat. Giving him a reassuring nod of her head she watched as he stood from his seat.
"I will take the Ring," he said his little voice not being heard over the den of confusion. Having quite enough of the yelling and wanting to make things easier on the hobbit Jesse screamed at the top of her lungs, "Would you all please shut the hell up," then more calmly when she looked at the little hobbit, "Go ahead Sweetie." "I will take the Ring to Mordor... Though…Though I do not know the way," he said again more clearly, yet still very unsure. Placing a gentle hand on Frodo's shoulder Gandalf announced, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear"
Jesse watched as from there the building of the Fellowship of the Ring began. Stepping forward, Aragorn bent to one knee and took the hobbits small shaking hand and pledged, "If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." "And you have my bow," Legolas said walking over to stand next to a now standing Aragorn, behind the nervous Frodo. "And my axe," Gimli said walking to stand next to the group and shooting Legolas a look that could have killed, that nearly sent Jesse into hysterical laughter. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done," Boromir said walking up to Frodo and smiling down at him. Jesse felt a sense of relief when she looked into his thoughts and realized that her words had helped him fight the effects of the One Ring and he really meant to help Frodo on his journey. Walking up to kneel in front of the little hobbit that had bravely offered to carry the ring, "I know that what you are doing is scary Frodo. You have come so far from you beloved Shire and yet you will still go further to see this task to the end, and for that bravery I offer you my knives and what magic is in me to help you complete this task," Jesse said standing and taking her place next to Boromir. She could tell that some in the room were a bit shocked by her actions but she didn't care, she just wanted to help Frodo and save the people of Middle Earth.
Thinking that everyone that was going to step forward had, Lord Elrond opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by the sound of leaves rustling loudly, as Sam jumped from behind a bush. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me," Sam said as he pushed his way in to stand between Frodo and Aragorn. "No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not," Elrond said, and Jesse could tell that he was having a hard time keeping a straight face. She couldn't help the giggle that popped out when she saw two small heads pop out from behind to potted plants near the entrance of the room. "Oi! We're coming too! You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," Merry said as he and Pippin ran to stand on the opposite side of Frodo as Sam. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing," the young Took said trying to sound as though indeed intelligent. Jesse laughed again when she saw the look on Elrond's face, 'Oh yeah there is the eyebrow thing,' she was still giggling when she heard Merry comment dryly; "Well that rules you out, Pip."
"Ten companions. So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond stated looking at the ragtag group. "Great. Where are we going," Pippin said rubbing his hands together, ready to set to work. That is when she heard it a soft laugh that seemed to come from nowhere. Looking up she saw that Lord Elrond's Chief Advisor, Erestor was trying to contain his laughter and appear unflappable.