25th October, Day 43
Looks like I arrived at some sort of visiting week. Pretty many non-natives here. Going to stick around too, after all Elrond and Gandalf made me promise to stay close to the ring in exchange for figuring out what went down.
Yes, I know I could solve this problem way more easily, but I also know I won't do it. These people never hurt me, or harmed me, or were even assholes to me. So I can't.
See, I'm trying to be nice, Dana. Lord, I really wish you were here with me, because this place, Rivendell- I can't describe it without this here becoming a novel in itself and I don't have the space.
Gotta ask Strider to get me another notebook.

"You're writing a journal?"

Alex merely tilted his head to glance into Frodo's direction. Strider had told him about the different races of Middle-Earth, and the Hobbits were apparently stealthy people. Kind of unexpected regarding Merry and Pippin, but Alex had spent enough time with them to know that even the brash Pippin was incredibly sneaky.

At least to normal humans. Alex himself was constantly aware of their current position if they were closer than thirty feet to him. So having Frodo right inside his personal bubble was annoying, but not surprising.

He simply shrugged, turning his attention back to his book. "Good way to keep track of the time."

In Manhattan, he had barely realized how quick the days had passed, but here time was going so slow that one day was just like the other. Forty-Three days. That's nearly two and a half times the number of days he'd been in Manhattan.

(He'd spent more time in Middle-Earth than he'd done in Manhattan now. He didn't know how to feel about this)

Frodo was still peering over his shoulder, frowning at his notebook. Alex cocked an eyebrow. "Anybody tell you it's rude to read another one's personal journal?"

He jumped slightly, grimacing. "I'm sorry. It's just- languages interest me. Bilbo taught me Sindarin, but I like to learn more. Yours I have never seen before." He pointed at the entry. "This word here, you keep repeating it- it means something to you. It is a name?"

Alex glanced at the Hobbit for a moment, before relenting with a sigh. "Dana", he replied, "My sister." Writing as if conversing with her helped him keep his mind from freaking out.

The Hobbit inclined his head. "Is she-?"

Like you he wanted to ask, Alex knew. He grit his teeth and shook his head. "She's human. She-", He sighed, shoulders slumping, "She doesn't deserve to go through the same shit I did."

"But- you are strong. You scared off the Nazgûl, you survived a Morgul Blade to the Heart-"

"Which was highly unpleasant, but hardly the worst thing that happened."

"That's what I meant", Frodo pointed out, "How can it be trouble when you are that powerful?"

Alex really wanted to snap at the Hobbit that it wasn't anything desired (it was something Blackwatch wanted, he couldn't want the same thing). He really wanted to.
He was also the bigger person. (quite literally, heh)

"Everything has a price", he said instead. "And usually, the price only ever goes up the better the reward is."

Frodo's brows drew together. "Then your price-"

"My memories are lost", the Runner replied bluntly, "When I woke up with my powers, my memories had disappeared. Not forgotten, but gone safe for a few flashes. I didn't know where I was, or who I was, couldn't even remember words for everyday things."
He scoffed, glaring at his pale fingers clutching at the book. "I just know what people told me about myself, but that is not who I am." Ironically, Dana was the most unbiased source since she never bothered talking around the subject like Karen did. Blackwatch was good intel too, but asides from McMullen, who blew out his own brain, nobody had ever bothered to get to know Mercer.

He saw Frodo's mortified expression, and shook his head. "Things got worse after that. At some point the price increased to constant hunger."

The Hobbit's eyes snapped to his. He knew what he was talking about- Alex didn't bother pretending that they hadn't noticed his little fit back at the river. He simply took his book and shoved it into his coat pocket, eyes distant as he continued, "Hunger dictates my every action." Hunger for Biomass, for genetic adaptation, for information, "Most of the time I can ignore it because it is always there, just not very noticeable. But sometimes it becomes too loud, and I have to actively fight back against it. Or I lose myself completely."

Frodo's brows furrowed again. "Then why don't you eat?" He cocked his head, thinking for a moment before he added, "Come to think of it, I've never seen you eat anything."

Alex's laugh wasn't pleasant, too angry and malicious. "Because that is the third and worst price", He glanced at the Hobbit, letting his eyes flicker red and tendrils squirm across his surface, "I can't eat food. It has no use for me. But I'm also constantly hungry."

For a Hobbit, this was likely the worst form of punishment- at least judging by how Frodo jerked back with a grimace. "Then how-"

Alex mimicked his posture, with his head inclined to the side. "I can grow giant claws. What do you think I do?"

This time, it took him longer to find his voice. "...death", he whispered terrified, "You...kill?"

"I kill other living beings to stave off my hunger", the Runner agreed. "That's what very nearly happened at the river."

To give him credit, Frodo only flinched back and didn't run out of the room screaming. Something flitted over his face. "Yet you hadn't harmed any of us."

Alex glanced at him for a moment. "I wanted to. I was just so hungry."

"But you didn't."

"I didn't."

The Hobbit's face scrunched up. "But why?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you. You don't judge me. You don't want to harm me, not like everybody else I ever met." He cocked his head, mimicking Frodo's earlier question. "I wonder why."

The other grimaced. "I must admit, you are scary- but you protected us. You revealed your true nature to us without a second thought. You would have had the chance to do away with us, yet you didn't- you didn't even attempt to steal the Ring once. That is why we trust you, and nobody here will stab an ally in the back."

"And that is more courtesy than I ever experienced with most other men and women", Alex finished, "That is why I will do everything to not harm you. Including starving myself."

"But-", Frodo cut himself off and his face lit up, "Gandalf is here. Maybe he can help with your hunger?"

Asides from presenting himself on a silver platter, nothing was going to help. Alex shook his head. "Already took care of it. After I left you."

The Hobbit was smarter than he gave him credit for, because his gaze became calculating. "The Nazgûl aren't alive, so you can't kill them", he said slowly. He cocked his head, "But the...their horses?"

The Runner nodded. "They should keep me for a while." Now, he had no experience in how much Biomass he burned when being mostly idle, though he figured it should tide him over until he got back to Manhattan.

Hopefully.

Frodo's face made that scrunched-up grimace again. "Don't tell Sam", he said simply, "Because he loves that pony. I think the simple idea of eating any horse would upset him."

Alex snorted amused. "Don't worry about that one. You are literally the only person here I told." Then he picked up his voice, "Willingly, I don't count the guys that just eavesdrop like a creep, Strider."

Frodo actually jumped when the ranger materialized out of nowhere, looking sheepish. "How long have you known?"

"Long enough to know you got everything."

Strider walked over to them and sat down on a window sill, crossing his arms. "At least now I know what to look out for, I always wondered why you didn't ingest food like we do." He hummed in thought. "Shall I help you find game in the future?"

"If you can point out anything I miss, I'd welcome it." He'd need anything as large or larger than a deer or boar, if it was supposed to make a difference. But he liked making others feel useful. Was about the only reason he never took complete control of the choppers or army convoys he'd infiltrated in the past.

Then he recognized the expression on Strider's face, and he groaned internally. Because it meant Personal Questions, joy.

Strider tried to look as nonchalant as possible once he cleared his throat. "Yesterday you mentioned that your parents were both monsters in human disguise. Yet you seem to think fondly of your sister."

Alex scowled for a moment like the very thought of Dana being anywhere similar to Greene or Mercer was offensive. "It's because she is good." He knew his expression softened, it always did when he could talk about or with Dana. He didn't care. "She is blunt, direct. She is not afraid to speak her mind, no matter who she is talking to. And she is brave, even if she knows she has no chance to win, she still doesn't back down."

Dana hadn't given up when Blackwatch had been in her apartment, she hadn't backed down even when she was terrified of Alex, and she hadn't stopped fighting back when the Leader Hunter had gotten her. That was why she would always be just as strong as him, no matter whether she was a fragile human or not.

"She is much younger than I am- I raised her on my own because our father was absent, and our mother didn't care. When I lost my memories, and then heard the men hunting me talking about her, I was devastated that I didn't remember her. So I went to find her, and she helped me without question- which made her just as much of a target as I am. I have to go back."

Strider was watching him with those calculating eyes again, then his hand came down to clasp his shoulder in a firm grip. "I can't help you getting home - this is something in Gandalf's hands- but I can offer a little bit of peace of mind: No matter what others think of you or what you think of yourself, you are a good man Alex. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise."

It...actually surprised him. Nobody ever told him he was a good man. Dana never wasted words, her expression and actions were enough; as did Ragland. Alex was not a good man, but he was trying to be.

He wondered whether Strider knew that, wondered whether Strider would think differently if he knew just what he'd done in Manhattan. (All those people, just in the wrong place at the wrong time)

(He wondered why he cared about what other people thought)

And because Alex was an asshole, his only outwards reaction towards the ranger's claim was a scoff, and him getting up to leave. "You're mistaken, I'm not a good person. I'm just not very willing to drop valuable allies." He stepped towards the derelict door, then turned and glared at the other two. "Also, thank you for crashing my hideout." He'd specifically chosen the most abandoned-looking storage room he could find to just get away from everybody. As much as he craved human contact, spending weeks traveling with four hyperactive Hobbits and one too-keen human made him yearn for some solitude.
Though apparently, hiding at ground level was not the way to go. He wondered whether he should just go and try climbing one of those trees around here, and quickly decided against it- the only branches that were sturdy enough to hold his weight were also sturdy enough to support a whole group of Elves at the same time.

Which was exactly the opposite of being on his own.

Of course, there was still a waterfall near the main building, and there was a ledge just below the top. It was almost impassable, even to Elves, so Alex should be able to stay there without anybody walking in on him. The only reason he hadn't camped out there yet was simply because there was a waterfall next to it.

He huffed out, glaring back at Strider and Frodo. "Am I allowed to leave to look for an actual place you won't disturb me, or was there anything else you wanted asides from invading my personal space?" He figured he could maybe try the underside of a tree branch to lurk around, though figured that it wouldn't stop these nosy Elves from creeping around. (He never tried whether he could actually stick to walls or ceilings, but he'd ingested more than enough insects by accident to be able to pick them apart)

"Actually", Strider began, nodding towards the Hobbit, "I was looking for Frodo."

"Good for you then. You found him", Alex commented dryly, making a shooing motion, "Then you may leave."

The ranger grinned. "I was also looking for you, my friend."

Alex furrowed his brows. "...And why is that?"

"Didn't you notice how strange it is?", Strider pointed out, "So many strangers in Lord Elrond's Halls, at the same time?"

Alex blinked, inclining his head. Frodo, who had been silent until now, perked up. "I noticed", he claimed, "I already asked Bilbo, and he said it is most unusual."

He was sure he was missing something. "And it is unusual how?"

Strider blinked. "Right. I keep forgetting how little you know. Well", he gestured loosely to the East. "The Silvan Elves, though Elves on their own, rarely cross the Misty Mountains to visit the Lord Elrond. They came here because a being in their keeping escaped and they need to report it."
He rolled his wrists slightly. "The Men of Gondor have arrived because they are aware of Sauron's rising might and need all the allies they can get. And last, the Dwarves" He said that in a tone that was probably supposed to mean something, though Alex didn't know what that was. Luckily, Strider then continued to point it out. "Dwarves can't stand the Elves, and the Elves usually don't bother with the Dwarves. Nevertheless, they came here because they too need assistance." His gray eyes were locking on Alex. "And then there is you. You, who came here from a whole different plane of creation. All arrived here, in Rivendell, at roughly the same time. You have to admit it is...suspicious."

Alex thought it was hardly suspicious. After all, winter was approaching. If these people had problems to be solved, they likely would schedule their trip to be at the end of harvest and before snow made the usual roads impassable.
As for his own presence here- he arrived in Middle-Earth at roughly the same date he vanished in Manhattan. He'd figured the energy put out by the detonation of a Nuclear Warhead would most likely have been enough to punt him across dimensions. (the scientists inside of him demanded more research)

Just a bunch of coincidences. Not surprising at all, given that Rivendell was one of the only safe havens out here.

But Strider didn't seem to believe so. Neither did Frodo. Alex mentally shook his head, turning his attention to the ranger. "And what do you need me for?" Frodo he could imagine- the Hobbit was carrying the Ring, after all.

"You are just as much a part of this as I am", Strider explained, "And you are a valuable ally. Elrond specifically requested your presence at his Council."

Alex's brow quirked up. A part of him was interested as to what the Elf wanted to say. And anyways, it wasn't like he had anything else to do. So he shrugged in answer. "Well then, lead the way."

Alex had seen the porch already. It was semi-circular, with a single stone pedestal in the middle. The side attached to the main building was shadowed by the Elves' typical tree-like columns, the other side was flanked with statues. Golden foliage above them shielded them from the too harsh rays of the autumn sun.

Chairs were put up in a circle on the pavement, and each was occupied- Frodo and an older Hobbit made up the start of the crowd, then Gandalf and several Silvan Elves. Several humans followed, then Dwarves. Humans again, Elrond's Elves, and Strider was the last. Alex chose to stand besides him, arms crossed behind his back as he scanned the crowd.

Sam was hidden in the shrubbery closest to Frodo, Merry and Pippin were inside the arcades, the twins had taken to the trees, and Arwen was hidden behind a statue.

Not too surprising to see them here- if he hadn't been invited, he'd be stalking the Council too. So he didn't betray their positions, turned his attention back to the invited crowd.

The Elves were obviously alarmed by his presence here, the humans and Dwarves less so. Well, except for the man who'd talked to Strider the night before- he was staring at Alex much like the Elves did, only less subtle.
He didn't care too much, he was used to these kinds of looks (Cross's team glared at him that way, beneath the anger they tried to project)

Alex didn't care too much. Blackwatch hadn't managed to really hurt him, the Wisemen had barely slowed him down. The Elves and Men and Dwarves- they had nothing that would even inconvenience him. They simply would have to deal with his presence here because he wasn't going to leave.

Most of them reluctantly did anyways. Turned their attention on Elrond, who got up from his chair and spread his arms.

"Friends", he began, "Your presence here at this time is no mere coincidence. No, the Spirits guided you here to answer the threat of Mordor." His piercing stare pinned the groups in turn, making them stiffen as he continued, "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."

For the first time since the meeting started, the present crowd was uneasy because of something other than the Runner. Alex didn't know whether he should feel offended or relieved.
A larger part of him was irritated at the unnecessarily dramatic speech Elrond had begun as it was somehow both completely blown out of proportions and incredibly dry and blunt. Even Randall's initial addressing of his men about the Manhattan situation had had more flavor than this and had gotten them riled up so they weren't thinking straight. Hell, even after the first times they met him they had been still on the notion that they would be able to stop him.

That was how good Randall had been with motivating his soldiers.

Elrond's little doomsday speech left a lot to be desired, in Alex's opinion- though apparently it had the effect the Lord wanted because the present crowd had their focus on him. Focus that also included confusion, and it took him a moment to realize that likely that out all of the invited guests here only the five of them- Strider, Frodo, Gandalf, Elrond, and himself- knew what was going on with the Ring.

Elrond waved his hand towards Frodo, who shrunk back as the crowd's attention snapped to him. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo" he ordered with all the authority of a Blackwatch commander. The Hobbit obeyed, eyes shifting from face to face as he slowly shuffled towards the center pedestal to place the Ring on it.

Alex's attention instantly zeroed in on it, and his brows furrowed. This was the thing they were all so afraid of? It was just a simple band of gold, and so, so tiny.
However, judging by the way the crowd was whispering amongst themselves, the way Frodo's shoulders slumped in relief when he sat back down, it actually was what made them nervous. (though, to be fair, he started out as something way smaller, so he probably shouldn't judge a book by its cover)

"So it is true", the man from the night before whispered. So silently, it was likely not meant for other's ears.

Alex noticed the way his eyes were glued to the Ring- not just cursory, like most of the others, but really staring at it. He shifted his stance slightly, only watching when the man got up and started rattling down some spiel about a dream he had, all while approaching the Ring with an almost manic expression. He was probably trying to snatch the thing off its pedestal, and Alex was honestly a little curious as to how he intended to get away when the general decision was to not touch the thing.

But then again, it was kind of Elrond's fault for not clarifying that one.

In the end, the Lord himself snapped the man from his approach with a sharp bark of "Boromir!" Likely the man's name. Even as he flinched back, Gandalf got up, voice lowering into a snarl that somehow echoed across the entire valley. At the same time the sky turned black, with lightning twitching through ominous clouds even as the old man spoke. Alex scowled, feeling tendrils skitter across his back- he knew that language. Mordor Speech, Black Tongue, the Elves called it. The Orcs he'd consumed- they knew it in their blood, so he did too.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them
One Ring to bring them all in Darkness and bind them

The crowd shrunk back, eyes wide and fearful as the sky above them rumbled and the trees shook in the sudden storm.
This was not natural. Alex had his teeth bared and his shoulders ducked, and he tried to snarl at everything at the same time. Hadn't been too often that he felt like a cornered animal, but seeing the very weather change just as Gandalf started speaking in Mordor speech made him a little wary.

Then it was over. Just like that.

The sky cleared up, the wind died, and the present crowd made little gasps as they could breathe again.

"Never before", Elrond sounded just as constipated as he looked, "Has anyone dared to utter words in that language here, in Imlandris."

"I do not ask for pardon Master Elrond", Gandalf panted, clearly winded. His hair was disheveled, and he seemed to sway on his feet. He dropped heavily back into his chair, gulping in air before he continued, "For the Black Speech will be heard in every corner in the West if we do not deal with this swiftly. The Ring is altogether evil!"

A Ring...being evil? Alex had never heard of something like that, but then again- the people here were afraid of it, and these Nazgûl had been very much focused on getting it back. So maybe there was a psychological element to it.

The man, Boromir, wasn't having any of it either- because while he too ducked back when the weather got bad, he hadn't sat back down. The somewhat manic glint in his eyes hadn't vanished either. "But it is a gift", he insisted, beginning to pace up and down in front of his companions. "A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use it?" He glanced at the Ring again, then resumed his pacing. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are you kept safe." He turned his attention to Elrond, voice lowering. "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."

"That won't work, you know", Alex immediately cut himself off with a growl. He hadn't intended to actually speak, but now was the attention on him.

"No?" Boromir demanded to know, "What do you mean with 'no'?"

The Runner cocked his head, intend to give the guy a piece of his mind when Strider cut in. "He's right. You cannot use the Ring. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other masters."

The other man eyed them critically. "And what do mere Rangers know of this matter?"

Now it was one of the Elves' turn to get up, eyes blazing. "He is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son or Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Alex cocked one eyebrow, glancing at Strider who was shifting uncomfortable. He frowned- so what if he knew his real name? Wasn't like it meant anything to him.

Apparently, it meant something to Boromir, because his glare became critical. "Aragorn? This is the heir to Isildur?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor", the Elf added, expression stormy. He hesitated briefly, glancing at Alex, though Strider- Aragorn apparently- lifted his hand.

"Legolas, sit down" he told him in Elvish. The Elf sat back down, huffing. Aragorn turned to Boromir, fixing him with his steely gaze. "Who I am does not matter. It has no sway in this council. What matters is the fate of the One Ring."

Boromir opened his mouth to argue, when Alex finally spoke up. "And no means no. Whether you believe me or not, I don't care. You can't use an enemies' weapon. Especially one as obscure as a fucking ring." Guns or swords or bows were easy. A ring- it didn't have any triggers, or buttons, or anything. He made sure to channel enough Blackwatch commander into his stance to bring his point across at his next part of the conversation. "You have no idea what this thing can do. What it was made to do. Only its creator knows, so if we try to do anything with it, He will know, and laugh at us. And possibly send a few armies after your ass too." He knew how much could go wrong- Hell, his birth was the result of idiots playing with weapons they weren't supposed to have.

"They are both right", Gandalf added, and after that little show he'd put on before, everybody was more or less inclined to listen to him. Boromir grumbled under his breath, but sat down like a scolded child. "We cannot use it."

"Then hide it", a tall blonde Elf chimed in. "Take it to Valinor, let the Valar guard it."

"Throw it into the sea", a Dwarf suggested, "So nobody can ever find it again."

"None of these options would stop Sauron", Elrond declared then before any of the others could get any more ideas, "He would still be alive then. Hiding the One Ring from his gaze would only remove his greatest strength, but not destroy him." He shook his head, "It must be destroyed for we cannot risk him regaining his former strength and return to possess a body."

Tense silence fell upon the crowd for a moment until one of the Dwarves grabbed his ax and got up. "Then why don't we do it right here, right now?"

Before he could do a step to the front, however, Elrond's glare stopped him. "There is no weapon forged in Middle-Earth that can even touch the One Ring, Gimli, son of Gloín. Otherwise, we'd have done it a long time ago."

Alex cleared his throat, "I'm not from this world", he pointed out casually. If there was a way to end this entire mess quickly, then he had no reason to draw this out any longer.

The crowd fell silent, staring at him. He nipped the need to grow Claws and Armor in the bud- he'd revealed himself out of his own free will after all.
Elrond blinked. Gandalf's expression also lit up. "You are not", he realized. "You are not made of the weaves of Arda. Maybe it is enough?"

Oh well, wasn't like it could hurt to try. And it was just a ring. A tiny golden band. Gold was soft, way softer than armor, and he'd torn latter apart like wet tissue.
He scuffed his shoe across the ground as he took a wider stance, thrusting his left arm out. Tendrils instantly skittered from his coat, twisting his entire limb into his giant double-bladed sword. Ignoring the crowd's startled gasps, Alex stepped towards the pedestal and swung the Blade down in one smooth motion.

He...wasn't entirely sure what happened.

The impact was tremendous- the floor cratered and the pedestal simply ceased to exist-

His Blade suffered the same fate.

Briefly overbalancing from the ricochet Alex stumbled back, though corrected his stance within the next heartbeat. He blinked in confusion at the still intact Ring that was sitting at the bottom of the crater, surrounded by scorched remains of Blacklight Biomass.

"What the fuck?" He muttered, twisting his neck to glare at his shoulder- his upper arm had been torn cleanly off, and the edges were smoldering. Around him were the shards of his Blade, sticking from the ground and smoking gently. The Biomass had been burned to a crisp, and the Ring was glowing.

Huh.

He moved more mass from his core to form a new arm even as he knelt down to inspect the band more closely. There were red runes engraved along its sides, shining stronger when he reached closer.
When he actually touched the Ring, the pattern seemed to ignite, and his fingertips started to blacken and burn almost instantly.

So he pulled back, sliding to his feet as casual as somehow possible. "Well, this was interesting." If this thing rejected weapons, then it was entirely possible he too counted as weapon and was just as affected.
He shook his head, picking up his voice. "This proves it, this thing is pretty sturdy." The Runner turned to move his gaze over the present crowd, taking in their petrified expressions. They flinched when he lifted his finger (the newly grown one). "And just that you know- this blow just know was what I usually used to rip through armored vehicles with six-inch reinforced steel plates, and the results were normally more in my favor. Which kind of makes me dread as to what exactly can destroy this thing."

"The flames of a dragon", Strider (Alex guessed he should start calling him Aragorn now?) was the first to find his voice again, "But the only dragon I know of had been slain a long time ago."

And, okay, dragons seemed pretty capable of anything but not available. It also bothered him to learn these things were gone. Would have been a great source of genetic information.

"There is one other way", Elrond finally declared. He seemed still a bit pale, but his eyes were calculating. "The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, and only there it can be unmade." He grimaced briefly. "The only way to destroy the Ring is to take it to Mordor, and cast it into the fiery chasms from where it came." He actually seemed pained now. "One of you must do it." Interestingly, he didn't include himself. But he also probably had a lot to think of if there really was war coming.

There was an agitated murmur that went through the crowd, and Alex noticed Boromir slump in his seat.

"No one simply walks into Mordor", he huffed in defeat. "Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is Evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever watchful." He spread his hands to indicate the size of the undertaking, "It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash, and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten-thousand men could you do this. It is folly."

"We have to try", the Elf Legolas declared.

Gimli scoffed, glaring at the Elf, "And I suppose you think you are the one to do it?"

Boromir scowled. "And what if we fail? What do you think will happen when Sauron gets back what is his?"

And then in an instant, voices rose all at once, talking over the others. Alex blinked when suddenly most of the present crowd was on their feet, yelling. Somewhere in there he heard the Dwarf's angry "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf! Never trust an Elf!"

Bewildered, the Runner turned to Strider, who was rolling his eyes and slumping further in his seat. Elrond seemed kind of paralyzed to see his council of esteemed guests and century-old Elves turn into a kindergarten argument, while Gandalf at least attempted- unsuccessfully- to bring order into the whole situation. Frodo seemed like he was having a headache, while the older Hobbit who'd been with him jumped right into the 'discussion' while waving his walking stick around.

Alex sighed after another few moments, shaking his head. Then he inhaled deeply, sucking air into various pockets inside his Biomass, while red static started crawling along his arms. In the corner of his eye he saw Strider and Frodo both tense, apparently aware what was going to happen.

Good, at least some who had some spatial awareness.

As for everybody else...well, a few bruises certainly won't hurt.

He rolled his shoulders once- and brought his hands together in a clap while displacing vast amounts of air within a very short amount of time.
Usually, this move coupled with his Musclemass allowed him to turn a whole pack of Infected into fine mist, though this time he was aiming for a different type of crowd control- Everybody who was standing was sent hurtling on their asses, while everybody who remained seated was pushed into their chairs (some toppling over, too).

The kindergarten argument was silenced in one swoop. Alex crossed his arms, glaring at the crowd as they scrambled to get back upright, then turn their startled attention on him. "You should be ashamed of yourself", he growled, "Sophisticated men- and here you are, arguing like a bunch of five-year-olds. We're looking for a way to destroy this cursed piece of jewelry, right?"
He waited until they gave a grumbled agreement, then unfolded his arms to spread them and cut off any further re-escalation. "I would say the easiest way was if I were the one to carry this thing to Mordor."

Several voices protested at once. Alex simply shrugged. "Just saying, but Iam ideal for this type of mission. I do not hear Sauron's whispers, I am fast, I do not need rest as much as you do, I do not need sustenance, I do not breathe if I don't have to, and I already faced worse things than Orcs."

Boromir inhaled to counter, but Alex hissed, "I was not finished", and the man fell silent. The Runner regarded them coldly for another moment, daring them to speak up, but they wisely did not. "Good. You can relax on that note, because I won't carry the Ring. Oh, it's nothing as insubstantial as me not being trusting." He wisely did not mention that there was a chance he'd lose the thing while maneuvering around, or him actually giving it back to Sauron to kill him face-to-face. "It's simply because I physically can't." He snatched the Ring off the floor, and his hand started smoldering almost immediately. The crowd inhaled in surprise. Alex clenched his fist around the golden band, feeling his mass crumble away beneath.

"I will, however, protect the person who actually goes through with carrying it to Mordor. The less people that try to sneak in, the more likely they will succeed, since a few people can easily slip through surveillance."

"Then I will take it" Alex blinked, not having expected a reply that fast (and fully prepared to waste some more Biomass to bring his point across), and turned his attention to Frodo. The Hobbit seemed just as uncomfortable as he figured he would, but there was a certain determination in his voice. "I said I will carry it. To Mordor."

"Frodo my lad!" The old Hobbit gasped, "You are so young, and I already carried it in the past-"

"He's right, Bilbo", Gandalf cut in, "It is no burden I want to wish on anybody, but you have already protected it for so long. It is not my desire to demand more of you, my friend."

Bilbo frowned, but eventually saw reason.

Alex inclined his head as he approached Frodo. "You would really do that? It's a long way."

The Hobbit eyed him warily. "And I trust you'll keep me safe." He held out his palm and Alex, after a short moment, dropped the Ring into it. Then healed his hand back up as he took a step back. "Are you really sure about that one?"

Frodo swallowed. "I am scared. I would rather wish to be home, but I know I can't. It is my decision to take the Ring to be destroyed."

He held his gaze for another moment, then the Runner nodded. "If this is your decision, who am I to argue against it? I'm with you, and I will make sure nothing touches you."

There was the sound of a throat clearing when Gandalf stood next. "Well said. Then allow me to speak next." He went to stand in front of Frodo, laying his hand on his shoulder. "This is no burden you should carry alone. I will accompany you, and help you carry the burden. As long it is your burden to carry."

Frodo's face lit up, and he briefly hugged the Wizard, turning away the moment Aragorn got up with an exhale."If by my life or death I can protect you, you'll have my sword then too."

"And my bow", the Elf Legolas added, hurriedly stepping towards them.

Gimli scoffed, also scurrying forwards. "I don't trust this fancy long-eared brat to do this right. You need anything, I'll let my ax speak for myself."

Boromir was eying the scene and chewing on his lower lip ever since Strider had gotten up. Eventually, he too got up, frowning. "You carry the fate of all of us, Little One", he pointed out, "If this is the Will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

Elrond was nodding sagely, opening his arms to deliver another speech when a loud "Hey!" Stopped him cold in his tracks. Sam burst from the bushes he'd been hiding behind and dashed towards Frodo to grab his shoulder and glare at the Elf. "Mister Frodo won't be going anywhere without me!"

The Lord arched one eyebrow. "Indeed he won't. Not even when he's been summoned by a Secret Council and you weren't."

Sam had the decency to blush, at least. Alex cleared his throat pointedly, and stepped to the side.
Just as Merry and Pippin rushed onto the scene themselves to place themselves right besides Frodo. "We are coming too!"

The Runner tilted his head as Elrond was desperately trying to get his act back together, and turned to stare into the direction Arwen and her brothers were hiding. All three of them were visibly shaking their heads in answer to his unspoken question.
Alex shrugged then and returned his attention to Elrond, who finally managed to go back to his script (if visibly at the end of his patience) "Ten companions then. So be it, you will be the Fellowship of the Ring", he declared in a tone that sounded suspiciously like 'I need a drink'. "Prepare yourselves, for the way is long and treacherous. We will supply you with anything you'll need."

"Great!" Pippin grinned. Then he blinked and turned to Merry. "Where are we going?"

A little more bonding, and Alex demonstrates that he is one of the few people who actually got their shit together. Which says a lot in my opinion, since he's the mentally unstable virus-person and not a thousand-year-old esteemed Elf Lord.