"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've 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."
They all listened to Lord Elrond's words.
The Council of Elrond had begun. Boromir and Frodo's company had arrived the night before, and Boromir warned Elrond of the threat of Thanos.
"Bring forth the Ring... Frodo."
The Halfling stood up and slowly set the Ring on the table before returning to his seat.
Everyone sat for a moment in silence while taking glances at the Ring.
"So this is what both enemies desire!" exclaimed Boromir as he rose to his feet to speak.
"Long the threat of Sauron has been, but there is another. One from the skies. A being named Thanos. He seeks the extinction of half of all life within Middle Earth. Already he has laid waste to my home, and cut through Gondor as a knife through bread! My father, Steward of Gondor has long kept the forces of Mordor at bay. But he's lost the first Stone. The Stone of Power. The Stone of Men! If Thanos gets the rest, doom will lay ever upon us. But give what remains of Gondor the weapon of the enemies. Let us use it against them!"
"You can not wield it! None of us can," said Aragorn. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" asked Boromir.
"This is no mere ranger!" said Legolas as he rose. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
"Aragorn," said Boromir, in a questioning tone. "This is Isildur's heir? Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king."
Boromir and Legoas sat back in their seats.
"Aragorn is right," noted Gandalf. "We can not use it. It has power far too great for any of us to posess. It would break our minds, and we would descend into madness."
"You have only one choice," stated Elrond. "The Ring must be destroyed."
Silence stood undeniable for a moment.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Gimli as he stood and raised his axe. He swung it down, but it broke. The mere attempt on the Ring sent the Dwarf onto his back, and the axe was in pieces, whereas the Ring was unharmed.
"It cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Glóin, by any craft that we here posess. The Ring was created in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be cast back into the fire from whence it came. One of you... must do this."
Silence lay at the Council once more.
"And what if this Thanos comes for it?" asked Legolas. "What is to be done then?"
"The Stones are all split across Middle Earth. It would take time for him to locate them all," said Gandalf.
"And just what are these Stones?" asked Frodo.
"Ah. It would seem there are ears here that have not beheld the tale of the Infinity Stones," nodded the wizard.
"At the dawn of time," began Elrond, "the Music of the Ainur was so powerful, it created six powerful trinkets. Stones. Each held one ability to tamper the thread of reality. There was that of Power. Time. Mind. Soul. Reality. And Space. When the were found in the Second Age, they came in equals to Men, Dwarves and Elves. But one came to Sauron. That of Mind. He made from it the Ruling Ring. His life force is still bound to it. If what Boromir says is true, then two Stones lay to Elves... and two to Dwarves."
"Though, Master Elrond, it is unwise to keep two Stones so close together," said Gandalf.
Elrond gave a knowing look before nodding and rising to his feet. The lord of Rivendell did a motion with his hands before a necklace was about his throat. The end, which was near his chest, shone a green light.
"So one is in Rivendell," mumbled Gimli.
"The Stone of Time was entrusted to me. As was that of Space to Lórien."
The Dwarves present seemed skeptical about Elrond giving the locations of the Stones. But then again, they were welcomed gladly into the Last Homely House and thus their suspicions disappeared.
"So one task at hand remains," said Aragorn. "The Ring must be destroyed. Without it, Sauron will die and Thanos will not be able to complete his mission."
Elrond nodded. "The question yet remains. Who will carry the burden?"
Once more, silence fell.
"And if Sauron takes back what is his?" asked Boromir. "What then will we do?"
"He and Thanos have a different goal, and are hunting the same thing," said Gandalf. "They too may unite, or both may fall."
The Council nodded in agreement.
"But how will the Ring be carried to Mordor while no one is safe? What will happen if Thanos or Sauron catches us?" asked Frodo.
"That may not yet happen," said Elrond. "The Stone of Space is in Lórien. With it, one may appear directly into Mordor and cast the Ring into the Fire."
"Well. This seems a goal beyond my understanding. But I will carry the burden. I will take the Ring to Mordor!" said Frodo as he stood. "Though, I know not the way."
Gandalf rose from his seat to pat Frodo on his shoulder. "I will help you bare this burden, Frodo. As long as it is yours to bare."
Aragorn stood and walked to Frodo before kneeling to speak.
"Wether by life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
"And you have my bow," said Legolas.
"And my axe!" exclaimed Gimli as he snatched an axe from a nearby Dwarf.
"Gondor will see this task done," said Boromir in a solemn tone.
A voice exclaimed from the bushes. Sam Gamgee ran out from them and next to Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me."
"It would seem hard to separate you. Even when he is elected to a secret Council and you are not," chuckled Elrond.
"And we're coming too!"
Merry and Pippin ran to the group and next to Frodo.
"Anyways, you'll need people of intelligence for this sort of mission. Quest. Thing," said Pippin.
"That rules you out, Pip," said Merry quietly before getting a confused look from his friend.
"Nine companions," said Elrond. "So be it. You will be the Fellowship of the Stone."
"Great!" exclaimed Pippin. "Where are we going?"