The Edge of Night

A Fellowship is Formed

"Sit down Legolas." Aragorn tells him in Elvish.

Boromir turns to look at Legolas, a sneer on his face. "Gondor has no king." He says before turning back to his seat and facing Aragorn, he continues, "Gondor needs no king."

"That is not for you to decide." Elfwyn says with a commanding huff. "It is not your place to stop the return of the king, nor is it your father's." She makes to continue but Aragorn places a hand on hers, silently asking for her to drop the matter. With one more scathing look to Boromir, which he is all too willing to return, he turns his ire once more on Aragorn.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Gandalf says, bringing everyone's attention back to the original matter for the meeting.

"You have only one choice." Lord Elrond says, standing back up. "The Ring must be destroyed."

"Then what are we waiting for?" One of the dwarves says before rushing the table and throwing his axe down onto it. Sparks fly up and the axe shatters. A dark whisper can be heard, growing louder still and Frodo is clutching his head, as if in pain. The ring was connected to him somehow... It was the only explanation.

"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. One of you must do this." Those that were hesitant to even be in the same garden as the ring looked around nervously, not wanting to volunteer.

She was here with a purpose, to help her country, her people, her father. She could not be distracted by anything, even something as important as the fate of the world... But looking at that little hobbit, and the pain he was suffering, could she in good conscience leave and not help him?

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is an 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 10,000 men could you do this. It is folly."

She was ready to jump up, to disagree, to offer another plan. But Legolas beat her to it. "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 yells. Here lies democracy, a stone tablet should read upon entrance to this courtyard, for this is where it will surely die.

"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir rejoins the argument.

"Does that mean we just leave well enough alone? Hope that this discovery will just fade as it had ages ago? No, something must be done!" She yells, pushing towards the men, trying to get them to see reason.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli shouts. She watches on in annoyance as the fighting intensifies, with the other Mirkwood Elves jumping up to their prince's defense. "Never trust an Elf!"

Turning to Gandalf, she silently begs him to intervene, to recapture the civility of this meeting once more, but his attention is drawn to Frodo, who seems to be looking a little paler, eyes shut as if his head is hurting. "Do you not understand? While you bicker, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" Well that's not exactly what she was hoping for but it would have to do for now. Boromir pushed Gandalf back and she decides to intervene again, knocking him back into his chair, giving them both space.

"Enough! This is madness. Can you not see how evil this is? Can you not see why it must be destroyed?!" 

Through the fighting and the sound of dwarfish axes hitting the ground, she hears Frodo yell out, "I will take it. I will take it." Gandalf hears this as well, and sadness overtakes his features. "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though, I do not know the way."

Gandalf walks to him. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn stands next, kneeling in front of Frodo as he takes his smaller hand in his. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."

"And you have my bow." Legolas says, moving to join them.

"And my ax." Gimli adds, much to Legolas's chagrin.

Boromir moves next and her hand instantly goes to her hip, where a dagger is being hidden by the skirt of her dress. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"As will Rohan." She says with finality, and goes to stand in front of Frodo. "With my sword and my shield, I swear to protect you from all threats." Gandalf nods approvingly.

"You cannot be serious. War is no place for a woman." Boromir argues.

"That has never stopped you." She says, causing the others to choke back their laughter. "It is a good thing we are not riding to war then, isn't it?"

"We cannot ensure her safety as well as the ringbearer's."

"I have not asked you to. My people have seen just as much suffering as yours have. The women of Rohan are not the lofty, soft ladies of the White City. We are fighters, all of us." This seemed enough for everyone else, though Boromir still looked displeased.

"Hey!" someone yells from the bushes and Sam, one of the other halflings from the Shire, runs into the center of the circle, under Aragorn's arm. "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me."

Lord Elrond let's out an exasperated sigh. "No, indeed it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not."

"Oi! We're coming too!" Merry, one of the other two hobbits yell from behind a post. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."

"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of... mission. Quest. Thing." Pippin says as they slide up in front of us.

"Well, that rules you out, Pip." Merry says, and she couldn't stop the laugh that burst out of her.

"Ten companions." Lord Elrond says, looking us all over carefully. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Great! Where are we going?"