Chapter 19

Eradrin and Legolas spent the rest of the day catching up. They sat around and talked, or took long walks through the beauty of Rivendell's gardens. Now it was night, and they were sitting in a tree, gazing at the stars. Eradrin flicked her hand, spraying lights up into the air. Legolas stared at them, amazed. He said, "Wow, I didn't know you could do that!" Eradrin smiled. "Neither did I, not until a few years ago." She gazed at the last of the fading lights. Crickets chirped in the grass, sending music into the sky. Eradrin sighed peacefully. Legolas whispered, "Hey, Elrond is holding a counsel tomorrow. Are you going? I am." Eradrin nodded. "Me too." She replied, then whispered, "How's Liliana?" "She's fine. She wanted to come to Rivendell, but Thranduil wouldn't let her." He replied. "Why?" Eradrin asked. "I have no idea." Legolas said.

Eradrin leaned her head on Legolas's shoulder. "I still can't believe you're here, yet I'm hoping you won't leave." She whispered. Legolas wrapped his arm around her. They sat silent for a while, listening to the trickling of a river in the distance, the chirping of the crickets, and rustling of leaves above their heads. Finally, they hopped down from the tree, and walked back to Elrond's house. Elrond had given Legolas a room on the opposite side of the house, and Legolas walked Eradrin back to her room first. She said goodbye, closed the door, and jumped in bed, falling asleep to the music of the crickets.

~~~~~~Next Day: Council of Elrond~~~~~~

Yes, I am inserting an author's note in the middle, but I want to say I'm basing the Council off the movie, to make it shorter. Yep. Okay, I'm gone now, back to reading. Thanks to the council of elrond .com for the script!

Eradrin sat in the chair, waiting for the rest of the guests to come. Legolas sat next to her, looking extremely bored, and Eradrin spotted Gandalf just sitting down. Elrond was standing at the front, patiently waiting for everyone to arrive. Eradrin took in her surroundings. Across from her, a group of dwarves sat underneath a tree, grumbling amongst each other. To her left, a group of humans were seated, quit discussing with each other why they were here, is this important, and something about the end of the world. Aragorn was sitting nearby Elrond, casting longing glances at Arwen, who was opposite of him. Frodo was tiredly walking towards Gandalf, and plopped himself right in the chair next to him. Legolas leaned over to whisper in her ear, "He's the last one. We are starting now." And pulled away.

Elrond moved to face everyone. He solemnly stared at the crowd. Then he spoke, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here 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 to this fate–this one doom." He turned to face Frodo. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Frodo slowly rose to his feet, then took out a golden ring from his shirt pocket. He dropped it on a stone pillar in the middle of the crowd, then sat back down with a sigh.

A tall golden haired man whispered, "So it is true…" He slowly stood up. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern side grow dark but in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found." He trudged to the center and slowly reached out for the ring, eyes wide in amazement.

Elrond jumped from his chair, warningly shouting, "Boromir!"

Gandalf suddenly rose from his chair, sky growing dark around him. He yelled, deep voice booming into the sky, "Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul. [One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and, in the darkness, bind them]."

As soon as he stopped speaking, the sky started to clear up, and he sat down, an angry expression on his face. Elrond said, shocked, "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."

Gandalf gruffly replied, "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil."

Boromir was intently watching the scene the whole time. He wonderingly said, "It is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring?" He paced over to Elrond. "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!"

Aragorn, staring at Boromir through slitted eyes, called, "You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

Boromir tauntingly said, "And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Legolas stood up next to Eradrin, eyes narrowed in anger. She followed him, standing up to challenge Boromir. Legolas angrily said, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Eradrin nodded, eyes on fire.

Boromir was shocked. Then, recovering his poise, he asked, "Aragorn? This… is Isildur's heir?"

Eradrin replied challengingly, "And heir to the throne of Gondor." With a glare at Boromir. Frodo looked wide-eyed at Aragorn.

Aragorn glanced at Legolas and Eradrin. "Havo dad Legolas. Havo dad Eradrin. (Sit down Legolas. Sit down Eradrin)." He commanded. Eradrin regretfully plopped in her seat, and Legolas gave Boromir one final glare before sitting down.

Boromir said, "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." And returned to his seat with a huff.

Gandalf spoke again. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Elrond nodded grimly. "You have only one choice." He paused. "The Ring must be destroyed."

The place went dead silent. Suddenly a red haired dwarf jumped out of his chair. "What are we waiting for?!" He exclaimed, and grabbed his axe. Running towards the pillar, he smashed his axe into the ring. A huge explosion echoed, and then the council was covered with smoke. Eradrin coughed, smoke in her lungs. But then it was gone as fast as it came.

The dwarf was lying in the ground, struggling to get up. His axe lay shattered around the ring, which was still intact.

Elrond bowed his head. He said, "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 back into the fiery chasm from whence it came."

"One of you must do this."

The room fell completely silent. Boromir laid his head in his hands. "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 you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!"

Legolas stood up again, Aragorn glancing at him. The elf exclaimed, "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"

Gimli leaped to his feet. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!"

Boromir rose, saying, "And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli shouted venomously. Eradrin's face twisted in rage. She rose to her feet, planted herself next to Legolas, and started shouting at Gimli. The other elves did the same. Legolas held them back with his hand, as if trying to prevent a fight. The dwarf snarled, "Never trust an elf!"

Gandalf rise to his feet. "Do you not understand that while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it!" The crowd rose, pushing each other around and arguing. Hardly heard, a small voice announced, "I will take it!" The crowd drew back in shock, staring at the small dark haired hobbit who spoke. "I will take the ring to Mordor!" Frodo shouted. Gandalf turned to face Frodo, eyes closed. He said again, "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though.. I do not know the way." Gandalf walked to Frodo. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear." Aragorn rose to his feet, walked over to Frodo, and said, "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." And kneeled before him. "You have my sword."

Legolas jumped out of his chair. "And you have my bow." He vowed. Eradrin sharply drew in her breath. Gimli at once sprang forwards. "And my axe!" He gruffly said, casting a dark look at Legolas.

Boromir slowly approached him. "You carry the fates of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done." He said, though rather dully.

Suddenly a plant behind Frodo's chair moved, and a hobbit jumped out, racing over to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!" Sam exclaimed.

Elrond, slightly amused, replied. "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Sam glanced away, embarrassed. Another voice yelled, "Wait! We are coming too!" Merry and Pippin emerged from in between some pillars. Merry warned, "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Pippin nodded, then cheerfully said, "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing." Merry laughed. "Well that rules you out Pip." Pippin started to protest, but was interrupted by Elrond. "Nine companions… So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" He announced. The crowd cheered, then laughed as Pippin said, "Great! So where are we going?"

The council broke up, and they scattered amongst each other, excitedly chatting about the quest. Eradrin tried to look for Legolas. She moved further into the crowd, where the Fellowship was being interrogated with questions about their thoughts on the trip. Where... Is... He? Eradrin thought, swerving behind someone to avoid being knocked to the floor. There! She caught sight of him talking in the middle of a few elves. Eradrin weaved through a few people, ducked under another, and kept on pushing to the crowd until she reached the group. Legolas turned around to face her. He regretfully looked into her eyes, then turned to his companions. "Excuse me for a while." He said, then grabbed Eradrin's hand and led her out of the crowd.

They walked into the gardens, then out of earshot of the council, turned to face each other. Eradrin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She just stared into his eyes, too lost for words. Legolas uncertainly asked, "Are you... are you mad?" Eradrin shook her head. "No, I'm just shocked." She fearfully thought of the darkness and evil of Mordor, and shuddered at the thought of someone she cared about entering its dark gates. Legolas breathed a sigh of relief. Then he took her hand. "Eradrin, really, what do you think?" He murmured. Eradrin felt sadness well up inside her, until she felt that she would explode. Tears came to her eyes, and over the lump in her throat, she burst out, "I don't know what to think! I don't want you to go to Mordor, and maybe not return!" She let the tears flow, head bowed. Legolas dropped her hand and pulled her in for a hug. "Oh, Eradrin," He whispered, "I never meant for you to feel this way." She buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing. "Please come back. Please." Legolas squeezed her hand. "I promise, I will." He murmured. Then, uncertain of her response, he whispered, "I... I love you." Eradrin lifted her head. The tears stopped. She felt calm. The elf pulled away from the hug, stared right into those big blue eyes, and said, "I love you too."