Of Futures Past (Legolas)

7

Gandalf had given a detailed explanation of what happened with Saruman to Alana, and then the next few days were spent dreading the time ahead.

Elrond sat before a Council of Men, Elves, and Dwarves, along with Gandalf, Frodo, and Alana, now recovered.

"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." Elrond gestures to the pedestal . "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Frodo stood from his place between Gandalf and Alana, who smiled reassuringly at him, and placed the ring on the pedestal as those in attendance started whispering to one another.

"So it is true." A man of Gondor by the name of Boromir said.

"The Doom of Man." Another man said.

Boromir shook his head. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" He paced in front of the pedestal, using hand gestures to accentuate his words. "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! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"

Aragorn then stood as well. "You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

Boromir rolled his eyes. "And what would a mere Ranger know of this matter?"

Just as Alana was about to stand up, Legolas beat her to it. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." 

"Aragorn? This... is Isildur's heir?" Boromir asked in disbelief. 

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas added.

Alana noticed Frodo's look of awe—so he hadn't known.

"Havo dad, Legolas." (sit down) Aragorn said calmly.

"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir spat, and Alana felt the need to stand and punch him across the face, but managed to restrain herself to only speaking.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it. Any attempts to wield it will only lead to the downfall of us all." She said, glaring at Boromir.

"And what business does a woman have in this Council?" Boromir asked, throwing his hands up angrily.

"I am the princess of Lothlorien, and the daughter of one of the Istari. I possess knowledge vital to the survival of Arda." Alana replied as calmly as she could.

As Boromir opened his mouth to rebut her once more, Legolas interrupted him. "I would not underestimate her were I you. She was a hero in the Battle of the Five Armies and saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives with her gifts."

Boromir was shocked silent, as was Alana, who felt almost as if she were blushing and mouthed a 'thank you' to Legolas before turning her face away. Not hating him was really too confusing.

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond said, returning to the topic at hand.

Gimli, the son of one of Alana's dear friends Gloin, stood and said, "Well, what are we waiting for then?"

"Gimli, no!" Alana yelled as he brought down his axe on the ring.

As his axe shattered, all the elves in the room clutched their heads and Alana cried out in pain, her arm throbbing a little.

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

There was a deadly silence from the Council, until Boromir broke it. "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland. Riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly!"

Legolas stood up then too. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli complained, brandishing his axe handle at Legolas.

From there, the entire Council burst into argument over who should take the Ring while Alana and Frodo remained seated.

Finally, Frodo stood up and said he would take it, though no one heard. Gathering some magic up, Alana yelled, "Quiet!" while silencing the voices of all the arguing men.

"I will take it!" Frodo repeated. "I will take the Ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way."

Gandalf approached Frodo and put his hand on his shoulder. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli then proceeded to volunteer as well, followed by Boromir. Alana then stepped forward, sighing a little to herself as she prepared for what her visions said she would need to do.

"My dear Frodo, I offer you my gift of foresight, and any other abilities I may bring on this journey." Alana said, ruffling Frodo's hair. 

Elrond glanced sadly at Alana, his young niece of whom he was very fond, but could not argue. Legolas seemed as though he would protest, but he was quickly shut up by a glare from Alana. Boromir was not so easily quieted.

"You will be nothing but a distraction. Share your wisdom before we leave, but do not become a burden in battle." Boromir said firmly.

Alana gritted her teeth. "I have seen many possibilities for the future, some where I have joined this quest, others if I have not. Should I not join you, it is guaranteed that one of you shall die, and if I do join you, it is much more likely all may survive, though the odds are still perilous. Would you complain about a greater chance of survival and success?"

Boromir once again had no reply, though he still seemed sceptical, and simply bowed his head. "Apologies, my lady."

Then, the other three hobbits revealed themselves to have been hidden in bushes and behind pillars and also joined the quest.

"Ten companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond declared.