Daughter of Dragons: A Lord of the Rings Fanfiction

The Council of Elrond

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     Everyone was now gathered for the Council of Elrond. The dwarves sat in one area, the elves in another, and the men in another. Aragorn stood against a pillar. Valadhiel, who was seated next to Elrond, resisted the urge to shift her wings in discomfort. She kept getting stares from everyone, including Frodo, a man named Boromir, and others she didn't know.

     Those she recognized were Legolas, Gloin, Gimli, Aragorn, Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, and Glorfindel. Glorfindel saw her and smiled; she smiled back. Everyone fell silent when Elrond stood.

     "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." Elrond said. "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." He gestured to the pedestal, which stood in the middle of the council. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

     Frodo shyly got up and set the Ring on the pedestal. Many gasps arose among the people, and many began whispering amongst themselves. Valadhiel glanced over at Legolas. He wasn't wearing his crown, neither was he wearing any royal garment. Vala raised an eyebrow. Why did she have to? Perhaps it was because she was the only lady here?

     Valadhiel looked over at one of the men, Boromir, who had now stood. With each word spoken he stepped toward the Ring. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern side grow dark but in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, 'Your doom is at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.'" Boromir reached out for the Ring and Vala glanced at both Gandalf and Elrond, who both glanced at each other in concern.

     "Boromir!" Elrond said warningly.

     Gandalf suddenly rose from his seat, speaking in the Black Speech, the sky darkening as he spoke. Boromir stumbled backwards and fell into his chair.

     "Ash nazg durbatuluk
     Ash nazg gimbatul
     Ash nazh thrakatuluk
     Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!"

     Valadhiel had heard that many times before. When Bilbo possessed the Ring sixty years ago, it would often whisper that in a haunting voice.

     "One Ring to rule them all
     One Ring to find them
     One Ring to bring them all
     And in the darkness bind them."

     The skies cleared and Gandalf sat back down. Elrond looked over at him, seemingly slightly upset.

     "Never before has any voice uttered the words of the tongue here in Imladris." He said.

     "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond," Gandalf began gruffly. "For the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil."

     "It is a gift!" Boromir insisted as he stood back up. "A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring?" He began pacing. "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!"

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

     "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

     Legolas and Valadhiel suddenly leapt to their feet.

     "This is no mere ranger." They said in unison.

     Legolas glanced at Valadhiel, who smiled slightly. He smiled back before turning back to Boromir. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

     Valadhiel looked at Boromir and spoke up, voicing Legolas' next thoughts. "You owe him your allegiance."