Chap. 11 - The Council of Elrond

As I was making my way down to the courtyard, I ran into Merry and Pippin who were conversing quietly.

"Hello, you two! What.. What are you doing?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

They looked at me and their eyes widened. "Nuhh-- Nothing!" Merry said, and smiled.

I raised my eyebrows. Pippin opened his mouth to say something, but Merry slapped his hand over his mouth.

"We must be going!" Merry said, and pulled Pippin with him.

"Where are we going?" Pippin asked, as they left.

I laughed, and watched them go. Hobbits. Those two always seemed like they were up to no good.

Once I was in the courtyard, I followed some important looking elves. I trailed along behind them into a grand looking building, and walked out to a circular outlook.

Wooden chairs were set in a circle, and were filling up fast. The last couple of seats were nowhere near Strider, but I took a seat between a dwarf and an elf.

Strider looked up at me, and smiled. I smiled back, and looked up at Lord Elrond. He nodded at me in acknowledgement. I smiled lightly, and looked around the circle. Frodo sat next to Gandalf, and there were a whole bunch of elves, a couple of dwarves, and men.

Lord Elrond stood up, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this one fate, this one doom." He gestures to Frodo, "Bring forth the ring. Frodo."

Frodo stood up nervously, and walked forward. He put a golden ring on a stone pedestal. I looked around. Everyone but Gandalf and Strider murmured to each other. I heard strange languages being spoken; much like what the fortune teller was whispering back at home.

The elf and dwarf next to me were both staring at the ring intently. Frodo sat back down, eyeing everyone.

A man stands up, looks at me, and then the ring. "So it is true. In a dream, I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. In the west, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found. Isildur's bane is found."

He walked towards the ring, and reached towards it.

"Boromir!" Lord Elrond yelled. The whispering grew louder. Gandalf stood up, and yelled something in a language I could not comprehend. The sky grew dark, even though there was not a cloud in the sky.

After Gandalf stops talking, the man who must be Boromir sat down; a look of shock glazed on his face.

"Never before has anyone uttered words of that tongue here in Imladris," Elrond boomed furiously.

Gandalf sat back down, "I do not ask for 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."

I looked, astonished at the ring. I didn't think that such a small thing could bring such evil to a world.

A movement to my left made me look over at Boromir; who was standing up, yet again, "Aye, it is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring? Long has my father, 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."

A familiar voice made me turn my head.

Strider was glaring at Boromir, "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

Boromir glared back at Strider, "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

The elf whom I was sitting next to stood up, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

I stared at Strider- no Aragorn in disbelief. He lied about his name. I looked at Frodo, who was also staring at Aragorn in amazement. Aragorn stared back at me, with pain in his eyes.

Boromir glanced at Aragorn in disbelief, "Aragorn! This.. This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor!" the blond elf said.

I glared at Aragorn. He told me about his whole life, practically, but somehow left out that! Why would he do that? I trusted him, and I was completely honest with him. Aragorn held up his hand to the elf, "Havo dad, Legolas." (sit down)

The elf, Legolas, sat down; a look of defeat displayed on his face.

"Gondor has no king." Boromir now turned to Aragorn, and glared, "Gondor needs no king."

Gandalf piped up, wanting to change the subject, "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."

Lord Elrond stood up again, "Then you have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed."

The dwarf who was on my left stood up, "Then what are we waiting for!?"

He took ahold of his axe, and swung it at the ring. His axe shattered, and he flew back, and landed on his back. I winced, and helped him up.

"Thank you, lass," he whispered.

I dipped my head, and looked at the ring. It laid unharmed, and it shone in the afternoon light.

"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. It was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you, must do this," Elrond said, and looked around.

Someone whispered my name. Quickly, I looked around. I suspected someone was trying to bother me, and I ignored it.

"Alex Ethrow," a harsh whisper repeated. I narrowed my eyes, and scanned everyone's face. Then my eyes travelled to the ring. It whispered my name yet again.

A conversation was going on as I stared at the ring; and Boromir stood up and said something. I could not hear a thing but the ring. Abrubtly, everyone stood up but myself, Aragorn, and Frodo.

I blinked, and was enveloped in the midst of a heated argument. A small voice shouted something. I stood up, and saw Frodo trying to say something.

"I will take it! I will take the ring into Mordor!" he yelled louder. Everyone stopped talking, and looked at him with amusement.

"Though I do not know the way," he said quietly.

Gandalf went to Frodo's side, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn stood up, and kneeled in front of Frodo, "If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."

Legolas came, and stood next to Gandalf, "And you have my bow."

Gimli now shuffled over, "And my axe!"

I walked to the group, avoiding Aragorn's glare telling me to stay, "Frodo, I shall accompany you on this journey, and also help you bear this burden." I put my hand onto his shoulder.

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

A rustle in the bushes behind made me flinch. Sam burst through them, and stood next to Frodo, "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"

"No, indeed it is. it is hardly possible to separate you two, even when he is summoned to a secret council meeting and you are not," Elrond said, surprised; but amusement hidden in his eyes.

I heard Merry's voice coming from behind two pillars, and he ran down with Pippin, "Wait! We're coming too!"

They stop next to Frodo, "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"

I now know why they were acting so strange in the courtyard. They were planning to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Anyway, you have to have people of intelligence on this sort of mission.. Quest!.. Thing!" Pippin said. I smiled with amusement.

"Well, that rules you out Pip!" Merry whispered.

Elrond examined the group, "Ten companions! So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

Somehow I was excited and scared. I was going on a journey to save another world. But I was still confused. Was this a dream or.. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Great! Where are we going?" Pippin asked.

I laughed aloud at Pippin's obliviousness.

Woo! Ok, kind of a boring chapter, but I'll make it up in the next few! Please comment or vote or do whatever! Thanks guys! :D