Chapter 2- The Council of Elrond

Chapter 2

It was October 25th, and this was the day that the Council would meet. Aragorn told me that Mr. Frodo had made a full recovery and Sam, Merry and Pippin were with him now. Sam hadn't left Frodo's side since they arrived two days ago. Gandalf was here in for the Council, and word had been sent out shortly after Frodo had arrived, to summon the races and their Ambassadors. The Council would take place at ten o'clock in the morning, and then we would decide what to do with the Ring.

"What happened in Bree?" I whispered. "What happened on your journey?"

Aragorn sighed, "I was in Bree, waiting for Gandalf and I happened to look up from my ale, and there and behold: four Hobbits. Merry and Pippin were laughing- I don't remember where Sam was- but Frodo... He just sat there in the corner, eyes closed and muttering something. Suddenly Pippin smiled and answered "Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins! Right over there is my cousin, Frodo Baggins!" Frodo jumped up and stumbled to the floor- that wasn't what caught my eye though."

"Then what did?" I asked.

"The Ring he fumbled for. It slipped right onto his finger and he was gone. This only confirmed my fears, so I when he reappeared, I grabbed him by his collar and dragged him upstairs. It wasn't long before the other Hobbits found me and threatened me, but I merely introduced myself as Strider and told them I knew what was hunting them."

"The Nazgul?" I whispered quietly.

"Yes, and the Nazgul came and not being able to find the Hobbits, they hurried off into the night. I led the Halflings for many days after this, and then we arrived at Amon Sul for the night. I was foolish and left them for only a short time- and in that time, the Nazgul found us. They surrounded the Hobbits and managed to stab Frodo with a Morgul blade."

I winced.

"We fought off the Wraiths," Aragorn continued. "And made our way to Rivendell, but I met someone in the forest, I did not expect."

I smiled. "How did you find Arwen?"

"I didn't find her, she found me. She brought Frodo here and I followed with the other Hobbits soon after she left."

"You've had quite the adventure," I said, enviously.

"Your time for adventure will come sooner than you think, Rayel. Before the Council, I need to tell you something about the Ring..." Aragorn spoke about the mysterious encounter he had with the Ring, saying that it spoke to him in small whisperings. "If you can avoid it, don't touch it or it will bewitch you." He warned me.

I nodded.

"Now, get dressed, sweetheart. We have a Council to get to."

"Yes sir!" I laughed as he left my room. I slipped into a pair of brown trousers and another of my green cotton blouses. Today however, I wore a leather breastplate over my chest and my curved Ergethian blades, a gift that Aragorn had brought me for my fifty-third birthday this summer. They were the length of my arms, made from a special sort of steel that was light but extremely sharp. The hilts were made from the antler of one of the Mirkwoodian Fallow Deer, and they were engraved with my name. Aragorn had done this for me, and it was the best gift I have ever received. I wore one blade on my hip and the other in its sheath over my shoulder. Around my neck I wore an Evenstar, the symbol of the Elven immortality and one of the only keepsakes I had of my mother's. Arwen had a one just like that had been a gift from her mother, Celebrain.

I quickly braided my hair off to the right side of my shoulder and turned to my reflection in the mirror. I thankful for the Elf-blood in my veins, my eyes were green and they were hidden behind my long, thick eyelashes. I had a rosy tint in my cheeks today, but I figured it was from anxiety more than anything else.

"You look, beautiful, Rayel,"Aragorn smiled.

"Thank you, brother," I smiled.

"Your parents would be proud."

"You think so?" I looked up Aragorn with sad eyes.

Aragorn kissed my forehead softly. "I know so." He gave a small smile, "I'm going to go greet the members of Council. Do you care to join me? Elrond agreed to let you in on the Council- as long as you know your place."

I grinned happily. "Lead the way, Aragorn!"

Aragorn and I entered the courtyard just as a handful of men and Elves dismounted their horses. One of the Elves caught my eye in particular; he was tall and noble-looking. His long, blonde hair was tucked behind his pointed ears, his narrow lips drew into a smile as he discussed something with his companion and they laughed. He had sapphire-colored eyes and being an Elf, he was perfect. He must've sensed me staring because he glanced up and our eyes met.

My face felt hot and immediately I knew I was blushing. I looked down and Aragorn took my hand, squeezing it softly. I was glad I had him with me.

Another man caught my eye, he too was tall and noble-looking, but there was hardness in his eyes that I didn't feel comfortable with. This man had shaggy, auburn-colored hair and beard that matched his locks. He was cocky, over-baring and perhaps even slightly egotistical. "That's Boromir son of Denathor the Steward of Gondor." My brother whispered into my ear.

"And who's the Elf?" I whispered back.

"Legolas of Mirkwood."

Before either of us could continue our whispering, four Dwarves entered the courtyard on foot. They all wore heavy-looking armor and carried sharp, long-handled axes. One of the Dwarves had a fiery-red beard that matched his long, tangled hair. He had narrow eyes hidden beneath bushy red eyebrows and deep frown toward the Mirkwood Elves.

The Mirwoodian Elves glared right back.

After all these years, I marveled. They still hold a grudge.

"The Council will be beginning in a few minutes," Elrond announced, a grim smile on his lips.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond." Aragorn nodded, as my Uncle brushed past us and down one of the paths. The path led to a circular courtyard surrounded by strong, tall gates and large columns. There was only one door that led in, and only one door that led out. The place was fortified, designed to keep unwanted eyes and ears out. I had never been back into the meeting area, but there was always a first for everything.

Two figures came bounding over the hill and a smile crossed over Aragorn's face. "Frodo," he smiled.

"Strider!" the young Hobbit exclaimed. Frodo had a mop of curly brown hair, chestnut-colored eyes and a small gap between his two front teeth. He had a bright, cheeky smile and wore a bandage over his chest. I could see the wrappings peeking up under his coat.

Behind Frodo stood a tall, grey-cloaked figure with a matching, pointed hat. He walked with a staff and his long grey beard and hair billowed out from beneath the brim of hit hat. Gandalf had narrow blue eyes, hidden beneath bushy grey eyebrows. So this is why the call him Gandalf the Grey.

"Mithrandir!" I ran forward to embrace the old wizard,

"Ah," Gandalf smiled, somewhat startled. "Hello, Lothrayel." He chuckled, pulling back to see me. "My, my, you have your mother's hair and your father's eyes."

I smiled, "It's wonderful to see you again."

"It's nice to see you too, amin hin (my child)." He grinned down at me with bright eyes.

The four of made our way down the path and into the gated courtyard. There was a circle of chairs surrounding a single short, pillar. The Dwarves sat near the outside of the circle on the far right. Next to them, sat Boromir and his men, to their right sat the elves, and then Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, and myself. Elrond stood near the pillar with a serious, gloomy look plastered across his face.

"Strangers from distant lands," Elrond began his speech. "You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor..." He looked around the room, making eyes contact with everyone. "Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None of you can escape it. You will unite," he glanced between the Elves and Dwarves. "Or you will fail. Each race is bound to this face... this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

The Hobbit beside me shakily, stood to his feet and crossed across the courtyard to the pillar. His footsteps were heavy and his breathing shallow. He placed a plain, gold circular Ring in the center of the marble and returned to his seat. I heard him exhale, his eyes were glassy and he was shaking.

"So it is true," the man from Gondor whispered, thoughtfully placing his hand under his chin.

There was silence in the room, as everyone took in the small Ring that held the fate of everyone.

"In a dream," Boromir said, getting to his feet. "I saw the Eastern sky, voices crying and doom near at hand," he inched closer to the center of the room, a wicked smile on his face. "The soldier's bane is found..." he reached for the Ring. "The soldier's bane is found."

Elrond exchanged a worried look with Gandalf, but the Grey Wizard was one step ahead of us all. He stood to his feet rambling something in a language that I didn't know. The bright autumn sky turn black and the clouds rolled in, hiding the sun. The earth rumbled and the buildings shook. All the while Boromir inched back to his seat. Gandalf finished his spell and the light returned to our Council.

"Never before has that tongue been utterered here, among us." Elrond breathed, sending an accusing look toward the Wizard.

Gandalf took his seat again, "Let the black speech of Mordor never be heard again. The Ring is altogether evil!" he glared at everyone in the room.

"It is a gift!" Boromir whispered, eying the Ring maliciously. "Why not use this Ring?" he stood again, defying Gandalf. "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!"

Aragorn shifted in his seat.

"Give Gondor the weapon of the Enemy!" Bormomir continued. "We can wield it against him!"

"You cannot wield it!" Aragorn hissed. "None of us can! The one Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

"And what would a Ranger now of this matter?" Boromir shifted his gaze to Aragorn, who stared right back.

"This is no mere Ranger!" exclaimed Legolas, jumping to his feet to defend my brother. "This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." His voice was as smooth as marble and softer than any amount of feather pillows; I could listen to him all day.

Boromir looked at Aragorn with a new curiosity and questionably. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas continued a fire in his eyes.

"Gondor has no King," Boromir sneered at Legolas. "Gondor needs no King," he shot at Aragorn as he sauntered back to his seat.

"Hava dad, Legolas. (Sit down)," Aragorn gestured to the Elf.

Legolas glared at the man from Gondor, but obeyed my brother and sat back into his seat. Legolas looked over at Aragorn with a small nod and for a moment, just a moment, our eyes met again.

"Aragorn is right," Gandalf confessed. "We cannot use it."

"You have only one choice..." Elrond's voice drifted off.

"The Ring must be destroyed," I finished for him, speaking for the first time.

The firey-haired dwarf leapt to his feet. "Well what are we waiting for?" he approached the center pillar and brought his axe down upon the Ring. The axe shattered, sending airborne pieces of steel everywhere and the dwarf was thrown backward and onto the ground, where his friends came and pulled him back to his chair.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, Son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The Ring was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, and 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, searching the room. "One of you must do this."

Everyone sat in silence, processing the task at hand.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir spoke again. "It's black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There evil there that does not sleep and the Great Eye is ever watchful. 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 can you do this. It is folly." Boromir spoke as if he had seen the land firsthand and maybe he had, but there was one thing you can be sure of, I was going to help destroy the Ring.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" Legolas exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "The Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli yelled, pointing accusingly at the fair-hair Mirkwoodian.

Legolas said nothing, but glared at the dwarf.

"And if we fail? What then?" Boromir questioned. "What happens if Sauron takes back what is his?"

Gimli leapt to his feet. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" he yelled.

Suddenly everyone was on their feet, yelling at one another and arguing bitterly. I watched from my seat and grumbled under my breath, "Men."

"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli shouted, he was standing on his chair, gaining some height in doing so.

"Do you not understand?" Gandalf joined in the argument. "That while we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows! No one will escape it! You will be destroyed, your homes burnt and your families put to the sword!"

Beside me, Frodo's breathing increased rapidly, he was shaking.

"Frodo," I whispered, turning to him worryingly. "What's wrong?"

"I will take it..." he whispered, his voice soft and inaudible.

The argument raged on, they couldn't hear him.

"Listen! Would you all just be quiet for a moment!" I yelled, gaining their attention. "Frodo," I gestured to the small lad who now stood beside me. "Has something to say."

He looked up at me greatfully. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." He said again, louder.

There was silence and the Council processed what was happening.

"Though..." Frodo's voice drifted off. "I do not know the way."

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

"If by life or death I can protect you, I will," Aragorn promised, kneeling before Frodo. "You have my sword."

"And my bow," Legolas smiled.

"And my axe," Gimli added.

The man from Gondor spoke again, approaching the group that had formed around the Halfling. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

I smiled softly, maybe Boromir wasn't so awful after all. Perhaps he even had a heart.

There was a rustling noise off to the side, near the gate and a familiar voice called out: "Here! Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" Sam came rushing forward, taking his place next to his friend.

"No indeed," Elrond chuckled. "It is hardly possible to separate you two, even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not."

Merry and Pippin came bounding from the doorway. "Oi!" Merry shouted. "We're coming too!"

Elrond rolled his eyes; he so loathed spying.

"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us" One of them added.

"Anyway, you need people of intelligent sorts on the sort of mission... quest... thing." Pippin said smugly.

Merry shot him a look. "Well that rules you out, Pip."

I chuckled and turned to the Ring Bearer. "Frodo, you have my loyalty and protection wherever and whenever it may be required."

My Uncle shot a look in my direction and nodded. "Ten companions..." he marveled. "So be it. You shall be the "Fellowship of the Ring'." He announced.

"Great!" Pippin smiled and then frowned. "So where are we going?"