Admittedly last night I had drunk myself into a stupor, reclined on a tree trunk for the most of it, rather than using the bed offered to me in my chambers, so it came as a surprise to find that the clothes I had discarded from my lengthy journey, had been gathered, washed, smoothed and displayed on the bed I had otherwise ignored.

An impression clearly had to be made at this meeting and I was glad the elves had picked up the chore I should have completed myself, as I was called to represent the shieldmaidens of Rohan. I silently thanked them and cursed giving in to the will of me sisters last night, but truthfully it did not take much swaying. The wine was too good and freely flowing, our lips loosened with it and we spoke of stories that were our own or were part of Clyro's history as if we were there ourselves. Then you would not think it due to her severity, but Merith was one of our best singer's filling Rivendell with the tone of her voice, she switched with the tune and lyrics from light to guttural when needed to fit the melody. Erin and I joined, letting her lead us along in the songs that we had grown up with in the great hall, bringing us back to home when we were so far away.

I touched the cool metal of my silver chainmail gently, the leather breastplate and matching bracers lying next to it, both that fit to every curve with perfection, to keep me in top form. The detailing was in the Rohirrim artwork embossed on the dark brown leather, intricate filigree swirling around stallions. It was fine armour, which filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride to wear but as always, there was always a shadow of doubt over my worthiness.

Fortunately, there was a bath already drawn to chase away my fears with some relaxation. I sank into its depths, letting the water warm and soothe my limbs, enriched by its floral scent I knew would perfume me for a week. Petals danced on the surface with every ripple my movements made. I could have dwelled there for hours on end, but the morning was dwindling, so I reluctantly stepped out from its comfort a linen sheet wrapped tightly around me as I took a seat at the ornate vanity and staring at its reflection.

I was not like my more common yellow and red headed sisters. My hair would better blend in with the soil, rather than the golden wheat fields or a fires flame. Grown long to my waist, I gathered the thick lustres, the length a symbol of Rohan's long grass seas and our connection to the land. separating it into three, I braided many sections to take the bulk of it off my face, meeting into a high ponytail, where the braids mingled still with the hair left loose.

The shieldmaidens were fond of decorating their hair in such intricate ways like this, as a sign of our oath; strength, duty and honour. It became then a lifelong habit and the more practice we had, the more elaborate the styles became. I would often see the little ones contorting their faces in pure concentration to mimic what they saw in their elders, it helped focus their minds for some and make for nimble fingers.

Once pleased, I rummaged for some kohl in my satchel. Wetting the stick with the tip of my tongue I preferred to keep it neat around my blue eyes, emphasising their shape, removing the glare from the sun and admittedly to add an intimidating factor.

All this time getting ready, I expected a knock at the door summoning me to this meeting. But one never came. Complete in my armour I took to the balcony to gaze at the architectural wonder that was Rivendell. There was magic in its walls and the very air you breathed, expelling wariness and fear. A pearl at the centre of the woodlands and mountain ranges, I wondered if any wrong had happened here, if blood had been shed or even something as simple as a storm. This was a place that children dreamt off, to keep them eternally young at heart, without the threat of danger that I knew, was just beyond the horizon…

I refused to give in to the enchanting site and let it blind me to the shadows which lingered around us. I would be no such fool as battle hardened shieldmaiden whose hands were calloused and flesh scarred by battle already, even as I feared the worse had yet to come. My back turned, I leant on the balcony to face me room, but my keen senses picked up on a presence.

The neighbour I had quite forgotten about. I was startled at first to see him there watching me so intently instead of the view, as he too was turned away from it just as I was. Boromir, he must also be brutalised to the beauty as well.

Acknowledging him with the bow of my head, he returned it since we were too far away to share in a spoken word, but my vision was keen and I could see he had not slept, almost appearing to be plagued by thought, which went further than my own deliberation over the mystery and need for this council. It was as if Boromir carried a heavy weight on his shoulders and I couldn't think what the cause might be, beyond the normal strains of leadership, as he was a significant representative of Gondor. Maybe it was worry for his people, for as much as I had seen Rohan suffer lately at the hands of foul creatures lurking in the dark, Gondor has had the brunt of that force for many years.

A wave of guilt washed over me for being so self-absorbed in my own sorrows. Seeing him there I almost wanted to reach out and offer an encouraging touch.

it was amusing that only now any action was beginning to happen to address it and that it had to reach the point of what I suspected has occurred at all, for anyone to think to band together and acknowledge that our world was on the brink of something terrible.

I could feel my brow furrow deeply and I massaged it away, knowing I would only cause an ache in my head if I kept it going and I didn't need that as a distraction. I wandered off again, never good at waiting as the anticipation built up inside of me, wanting everything to be done and over with so that I could return home, where I was needed. Then at that whilst I was slunk on a chair, the sound if a few gentle taps echoed around the room.

"Lady Sonya?" the soft and polite elf beckoned.

I met it with silence, then stroking the wolf skin cloak I drew the strength from all my predecessors, each who would have worn it during momentous occasions such as this, while hoping I could compare and try to make them proud.

With their actions, the shieldmaidens still stood to this day and thus as I swung it about me shoulders, I swore to live up to their fierce reputation.

It was not lindir, the elf who had received me upon arrival yesterday. Although truthfully, they all looked the same to me. Another tall, pale and haunting figure, dressed in wispy clothing to make them seem lighter than air, so that they did not appear tied to the ground and as lowly as other creatures here on middle earth. I dared not roll my eyes as I beckoned for the elf to lead me where, I needed to go. gladdened to see me sisters were in tow, I spared one glance behind them to find Boromir was following in a similar fashion as we shieldmaidens with his own company. my lips twitched into a smile for him to capture and I just as quickly turned away, as Merith and Erin momentarily mistook it for their benefit before blatantly looking at its true target. My spine tensed from their laughter and it was all I could do not to swing the fist that had locked so tightly at my side.

They were smart not to say anything for the duration of our walk, which ended before an oaken door, which was kept open for me to glimpse at the courtyard where an array of chairs had been positioned into a circle. We were not the first to arrive as we passed through to join them, suddenly encircled by shrubbery and elegant statues. This place was very much separated from the main building, a good location for secrecy as there was none beside the attendees and the birds who could hear the discussion which was about to take place.

I paused to take a calming breath and adjust to the eyes that had landed on me, with Erin and Merith at my back, where I knew they would always be as my greatest supporters and provide the reassurance I needed to do this.

"By Durin! we even have women among us."

My neck nearly snapped, to find the owner if such a low and guttural voice. There were just two eyes peering out from a mane of red hair, which was hard to distinguish where the strands that sprouted from his scalp ended and those on his chin began.

Merith all but growled and leant forwards to bite back at the dwarve, ever proud in disputing that women were merely docile creatures bound to obey the word of man. Only she was beaten by another.

Their chair was stone, kept spaced away from those who flanked him as his distinguished guests making him the authority here, by that obvious difference.

With long dark hair, purple robes of the finest silk and a silver circlet, it could be none other than Elrond, the lord of this great house.

"please Gimli son of Gloin, these are Shieldmaidens and I'd be careful if I were you. They do not take kindly to those who view them inferior due to their sex."

The dwarve groaned, not taking too kindly to being educated by an elf. His defence was not needed however, because by acknowledging it, there was now the impression we cared for the opinion of this oaf.

I lifted my chin, "lord Elrond, I am Sonya of Clyro, head of the shieldmaidens, Rohirrim! and have answered your request for my presence here today."

shoulders squared, the elves were good at gathering intel on a person as though they were mind readers, leaving no stone unturned until they thought they had a taste of your character. My story was plain to tell, so I let him read away at whatever he saw in me until he smiled warmly.

"not who was expected, but you are most welcome nonetheless."

As Gora assumed, word hadn't reached very far of my succeeding her, "if you mean to have expected Gora, she sends her regards, but I am now who has earnt the honour in leadership and servitude over Clyro, my sisters, as well as Rohan itself."

I didn't mean to sound defensive, yet I wasn't going to let them think that in my being so young I did not have a voice or understanding over what my position meant, because the woman they had initially thought was attending, had trained me to well not to be intimidated by such striking figures.

"indeed; if you would-" Elrond lifted an arm to the few remaining seats left. With myself in the middle, Merith and Erin joined, though I had to swiftly swat at Erin's knee before she could lift and cross her legs on the seat, needing more dignity than that among this crowd.

Along with Elrond and the dwarves, another cluster if elves were huddled together, a lone mortal man, a grizzly grey fellow and at his elbow, the strangest presence of all. who I first thought to be a child was in fact a hobbit of all beings, but he wasn't joyful in spirit as many have claimed them to be and was instead sunken into his seat. There was even a flicker of distrust or unease for those around him. it didn't match for such an expression to be worn by someone with such smooth skin, rosy cheeks and beautiful ringlets, however I didn't find it funny like I would with Brianna if she were cross with me, forgetting he was likely a man grown among his kind, but I could tell there was something he was harbouring…

At that, Boromir was the last to arrive making the same introductions as I had with Elrond, then there was a brief pause as we got used to one another, before it all began.

Addressing his audience, Elrond's prior expression of welcoming host hardened to ensure we were all listening, "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..."

Merith stared at me, thinking the same as I; that this was not news to us. it was just that the elves were now choosing to accept it, having long given up the fight beside us, for they were safely kept within their kingdoms, or sailing off to far off shores, we mortals were not privy too. I could feel my jaw lock to keep from proclaiming that exact thought and allowed Elrond to continue.

"…Bring forth the ring, Frodo."

I shivered at the mention of it, with flashes of the vision repeating itself that I had experienced firstly at the lake, along with that haunting scream of the Nazgul piercing my ears. How is it that a hobbit could possess such an evil relic and not be daunted by images such as mine, as I had just a fleeting connection with a piece of armour. Yet there he went, the gold band between his tiny fingers as he rested it on a stone table for us all to bear witness to, a small object i could feel the weight of from this distance.

As soon as the ring was out in the open, there was a number of gasps and I could not hide my revulsion, having to break my stare away from the damn thing having known the story if it's creation since I was a girl and now, it was no story at all but history.

'So it is true!'

'Sauron's Ring! The ring of power!'

'The doom of man!'

Th air grew cold and I could not bear to waste time in satisfying the ring with our audible fears, needing to accomplish what I had come here to gain and that was the full story as the elves had deemed it appropriate to create this mystery to keep the rest of middle earth in the dark, like we were children needing this protection like we could not handle to truth. My pride was wounded at the notion and that locked fist I had carried since departing my room finally released its tension and slammed down on me arm rest.

"and how come a mere hobbit has this in his possession! I do not think it mere coincidence that then a wizard happened upon him, as I do not consider the actions of wizards to be mere chance. You took your time to inform us of the magnitude things have reached. This ring, it is the decider of all our fates and yet you did not think we were owed knowledge of it until now? I suppose I should be thankful we were told at all. When did it come to light again having been lost for so long?! And by who, did this thingget revealed to our enemies by, for that is why we are here is it not?!"

It was blatantly obvious who the culprit was and I don't know why I toyed with the issue but it was noticeable how protective others were if the hobbit, not just the wizard but Elrond and who I assumed to be a ranger also. I could see they all wanted me to take it easy on the lad, but if he could keep this on is person, his resolve must prove to be stronger than we can ever predict and so he must get used to it being tested.

"you were informed when it was necessary!"

He may have had a thousand years more on my mere twenty and two, but I would not bow down to that being why he would be owed the crown if wisdom and for his word to be golden. Me gaze did not waver from Elrond and I continued on.

"when it was necessary…" I mockingly repeated, "Perhaps you have not seen the villages set ablaze in my homeland, the families torn apart and the innocent blood spilt of the young, old, women and children…the orcs do not care for who they imbed their blades, or whose throats they rip into. maybe if there wasn't such a blind eye to such horrors, action may have been deemed necessarya lot sooner."

I cared not if the impression I was making was good or bad, but I would not be marked as liar nor fabricate around the truth because of the company I kept. What use was a meeting on the future of middle-earth if it was not an honest one. Results were needed by reality being laid out before us and for my people, for me Rohan I would put up a fight until the end so i could at least say I tried. Did no one else think their homes were worth that…

Who I had now learnt to be called Gimli, he nodded some in agreement, or out of admiration over my challenging Elrond, born from the rivalry between elves and dwarves. The rest, they could sympathise I believe, judging by their sombre faces.

I wited for a reply but none cam, not until Boromir rose to his feet and I was gladdened to think i would have another if sound mind to join me in this argument and disapproval for the circumstances which have brought us to this moment, however, I did not expect the words which came out his mouth.

"it is a gift. Why not use the Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, held 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!"

I didn't know disappointment like it. That he could be so stupid, so gullible to power which was not his to wield. I was frozen on the spot, thinking how this could be the same man I had met on the road. his features were almost joyous, as if I would stand and agree with him wearing an eager smile and I admitted to myself that I may have gotten carried away in my words, to think Boromir would interpret them as my being for using the ring to our benefit.

I joined him in standing and took his arm, "you think Sauron would allow for anyone to wield something he had commissioned to obey him and his dark will alone?!"

Earnestly, I pleaded for him to see sense. He was no fool, I knew that as I could suss one out quite quickly and did not suffer them. I believed from what little I already knew of his character that Boromir could be swayed by reason and it was from desperation, that he made this case. I could feel the burden of it tensing his muscles, a restless mind that could find no release from the weight which anchored him to the depths of the ocean due to the duty he had for keeping his people safe. It was a turmoil I could relate to and be willing to sacrifice anything I could in order to succeed, but not at the cost of my own humanity.

I couldn't say why, besides obvious reasons, but I wanted my touch to calm him. to see that I could affect a man when they were overcome by such strong emotions. It wasn't something I had wanted to do before. Recalling how Kya could make a man swoon by the mere flutter of her lashes. In the past, I had scolded her for it like she was besmirching the shieldmaiden name, yet a warmth crept into my cheeks when I noticed how rich his scent was in my nose. A woodsy smell mixed with his natural odour and a faint perfume of sandalwood, which I presumed the elves had provided in his own bath this morning as they had with me…

then another spoke making me undecided on whether I wanted to thank or beat them for breaking the spell I was momentarily under.

"The one ring answers to Sauron alone...it has no other master."

The ranger. His disruption triggered Boromir again and I returned to my sisters, weak at the knees and needing swift recovery. I saw no point in persisting to clash horns, as Merith whispered in my ear, "they are going to scrap over ownership of it Sonya."

I shrugged, letting my heart rate settle, "well… can you not feel it luring you in. it is by nature man would seek to use it for their own gain. Fuelled by pain, it would only grow stronger by feeding off the thoughts and feelings we harbour deep inside, until it finds its way back to Sauron."

Without my scrutiny, Erin had lifted a leg to tuck under her bottom on the chair and was picking fervently at her nails, as she grinned at me. Merith was to enthralled by the goings on to care about my display with Boromir, but Erin was seemingly amused that my stony visage had somehow managed to crack.

"You have only one choice…the ring must be destroyed."

If only it were that easy. Had it been then surely the ring would not still exist and I waited on the catch to be revealed but did not expect it to be revealed by a foolish dwarve, who with his axe at hand charged towards the ring.

"Then...what are we waiting for?!"

We all held our breath when as soon as the axes edge met the gold band, it shattered into pieces with the force knocking Gimli backward as if he were hit by a strong gust of wind, we all shielded ourselves from having felt it too. however, the ring remained unharmed.

I could not help it, as the whispers of disbelief lifted, I looked to the hobbit who had possessed the wretched piece if jewellery until now, watching as he winced like the strike had hit him personally, clutching at his forehead. Gandalf was filled with concern and patted the halfling on the back as I recognised a very sad fact…

"The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom," Elrond explained, "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."

Still staring at this Frodo, I muttered "and who shall be that lucky oneindeed…"

Recovering from his fall, the dwarve had someone manged to pick up what I had asked in sarcasm with the answer quite plain if you had eyes, "well, it's not going to be in the hands of a woman!"

My tolerance for such ignorance wared thin, "Do you continue to shout slanders dwarve! Was it not one of your ancestors who was so taken by gold, greed and power, that they destroyed their kingdom with help from a dragon as punishment! Then so did another dwarve come to claim it back an destroyed a town as cost. Seems your kind have yet to come very far in controlling self-indulgence! Your hands would be the last I would entrust the ring to."

Short, he was still thick with muscle like a wild boar charging towards me, "how dare you! I'll have you know that thorin oaken-"

He was cut off however as the wizard stepped forth and put himself between us, blotting the dwarve from sight completely, which didn't go unnoticed by Gimli as he peeped around the grey bearded figure.

Gruff, his voice was ancient and harshened by continuous use of the pipe I expected, "really Sonya instigating arguments is not what Gora would want."

His knowledge was meant to impress, that I should be caught off guard and ask him how he should know this or feel guilty in knowing he was right, only she passed on this wisdom to me when I succeeded her. That I had to cut my own path in leadership and do things how I saw fit.

"…Gora is not here, you have only I!"

Leant on his staff, he grumbled and narrowed his gaze at me, shaking his head slowly. It was a prompt to remind me that we had met before this wizard and I. although memory had failed me to recall the moment, I had the sense he could recall it as though it were only yesterday and from who I was then, to the woman I stood before him now to be, I wasn't sure on what his opinion was of me.

Everyone chipped in with insults to ideas on what to do with the ring, while the wizard and I continued in our stare off, but what broke it was the song if a bird claiming, "I will take it...I will take it...I will take the Ring to Mordor!"

It was what the wizard had wanted to avoid judging by his defeated expression and what I had predicted to come to pass after noticing the connection between the hobbit and the ring, which to anyone else would have been soul destroying.

Yet here he still was, acting without malice or selfish desires, just a want to do the right thing.

I couldn't help it. I gave him one last lifeline to get him out from it, "master hobbit, you seem to have carried it far enough…"

Now that he was closer, I saw the lines around his brilliant blue eyes, the white complexion devoid of a sun kissed complexion or flush of pink. For a hobbit, he had already been privy to too much of the horror this world had offer, that I could see his spirit was fracturing to be awakened to the cold reality.

Yet I gave him respect where it was owed. I had not won favour with him, as he straightened his back and answered back bravely, "and have faced awful foes and still stand same as you!"

I scoffed, pretending to entertain the idea since my judgement was based on what I knew about his kind. The sorts that live in the ground like frightened shrews when startled. In his smart dress coat and button up shirt, he looked better suited to going to the market than battle, yet he would have me put the fate if the world in his hands.

"...though I do not know the way."

The wizard had not released me from his sights. I could not say for definite how Gora would have responded to this situation if she was still the leader, the one they had seemingly hoped for, but surely, they would not think that this meeting inspired confidence. If they had her friendship it could not mask the charade at play here. I knew her well enough myself and I could envision her mouth filled with the same distaste to harshen her words the same as mine.

Erin patted my shoulder, not having done anything differently than what she would have done or acted in a way that did not properly represent her feelings, while Merith remained stiff as a board, arms crossed and brooding. I did not have a moment to enquire as the gathering were coming to their decision, one by one starting with the cursed wizard.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

I expected nothing else, a wizard wasn't going to let this go without further meddling and the chance to show off with clever little sayings we were meant to take as wisdom.

"If, by my life or death, I can protect you, I will"

Merith whispered, "did you catch that key bit of information earlier while you were sulking earlier, that ranger is isuldur's heir."

I didn't miss it. I just did not care. What did a forgotten king have to do with me? had he any want to reclaim the title his ancestors tarnished he would have done so, or perhaps this was his efforts now as he did have quite the heroic charisma, even right down to kneeling before the hobbit to take his hands in his, "...you have my sword!"

The elf followed soon after and what an elf was willing to do, a dwarve was not going to let them show him up.

"and you have my bow."

"And my axe!"

Gimli cosied in next to this Legolas, to further ruffle his feathers with an amused look as the elf turned his nose up from the stench of ale, tobacco, sweat and leather I imagined. Thankfully the light breeze had been in our favour to blow it in the opposite direction.

Lastly, Boromir joined them slow in his step. I could not guess which way he was going to go as he seemed adamant that the ring be given to Gondor, a proposal I would be steadfast in refusing with the disappointment still raw that he had suggested it earlier. In fact, he should ask Aragorn how the last human faired in keeping the ring for his own personal gain. It was why his family crumbled for Boromir's to rise as stewards over the same kingdom. He should take heed if that and not fall victim to the same misfortune.

History should not be ignored; it teaches valuable lessons for the future to be shaped and provide us with insights. If this was a second chance to correct a mistake committed long before our time, excluding the wizard and Elrond's I'd wager, I could not allow failure to transpire again…

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

He did not appear a man defeated by rejection or humbled by it. it was clear Boromir still lived-in hope we would follow in his belief and we would realise it when this mission became a shambles, that his is the only true course of action which would produce results.

I had not felt it, but my hands shook with the stress of a thousand thoughts and scenarios flittering through my head. I did not become leader for any other reason than to prove I was the best shieldmaiden, the rest I learned to accept as my duty. Mistakes were made along the way, as there weren't any instructions in how to be successful. Life was not that easy, and I have paid great costs to adapt, grow and become better with the years that have passed.

But I have never enjoyed it. Not satisfied in this cloak or the title I bared. My focus strayed from the now and drifted to the views I could envision anywhere of snow topped mountains, sprouting from a land of pastures and lush tall grass. there is my treasure, my satisfaction. If I could turn back time my voice would not have challenged Gora. My blade would not have seized that victorious blow. I would have instead taken Greta and stormed the lands upon her back.

That way, my life would have been mine and I would not feel so old, so weak, so tired and cold…

I would not be held responsible to the legacy of a great many things I could never have predicted.

"And what say you, lady Sonya."

Elrond broke me free from the web I was tangling myself into, with every thread filled with doubt and regret.

I could not leave here and live wondering over their success or demise. I could not return to Clyro and count the days until Rohan was claimed by darkness, knowing I could have played a part in preserving the light to bless middle earth. If I die in the process, so be it, but I must put my country above all else. There was no choice, I had lost that liberty long ago.

I dismissed them all and wandered to Frodo at a distance where I did not loom over him like this imposing figure and tried to stare at him on equal grounds.

"Seems I must reacquaint myself with hope. Tell me young hobbit, do you think you can rekindle it?"

Still so solemn, it earnt more confidence from me, because it was telling of the understanding he had over the magnitude this mission represented and I had a secret to share with him.

"I have long lived by the notion that a warrior does not need to be able to wield steel, nor are they born... but made. It will be a difficult road, but I will stand with you."