Line of Namrils [LoTR Aragorn]

ll: The Council of Elrond

The next morning light streamed through the windows illuminating beams of swirling dust particles. I arose and rummaged through my bag before grabbing the simple forest Green dress from my bag and throwing it on, over my trousers and boots.

I then braided my hair, in a slightly different fashion than I normally do, though it was still done in an elvish style, with a central braid that two smaller ones from the front of my face fed into, and in addition two more small ones on each side were left to hang amongst the other strands of hair. Rangers generally had no experience in hair, but two factors that contributed greatly to my skill, one was living with elves as I had been doing for a year or two now and the other was the elvish blood that ran in my veins that additionally provided extended youth, life and agility.

Once I was done I grabbed my bracers and put them back on. I did this because I hated being without a weapon and my bracers each had a small push dagger in them, nearly unrecognisable. Additionally I strapped my knives to my back like I normally did before making my way to the council.

*

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor" Elrond began at the council. I was seated in one of many chairs arranged in a semicircle around a stone table that lay before Elrond's seat. "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 fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring, Frodo" Legolas and I exchanged a brief glance as a dark haired hobbit arose from beside Gandalf and placed a heavy gold ring at the center of the table.

There was a general murmur at the sight of it.

"it is a gift" a man said, and I snapped my head in his direction frowning slightly at his foolishness "a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use it? Long has my father, the steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood if our people, your lands are kept safe! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him!" I now recognized him as Boromir, eldest son of the steward.

"we cannot do that" I said moving to my feet and facing him "that ring is a part of Sauron. We can not kill Sauron, with himself"

"and what would a woman know of the war we fight?" He asked, and at that Aragorn stood

"she is of the Dùnedain, she fights your wars as much as you do" he said, not raising his voice, but still full of potential venom "She is right" he said turning his attention back to the rest of the council "you can not wield it. None of us can. It answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master"

"And what would two rangers know of these matters?" Boromir asked ruefully

"These are no mere rangers" Legolas said standing from beside me "he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, you owe him your allegiance. And she is Alaylyn, the last of the line of Namrils and she is under the protection of the elves, you will show her respect" at that more murmurs ran through the council

"Aragorn...this is Isildur's heir" Boromir said in surprise

"and heir to the throne of Gondor"

"Havo dad, Legolas" [sit down, Legolas] Aragorn said raising a hand

Boromir looked between the three of us before saying

"Gondor has no King, Gondor needs no King" and retaking his place.

"Aragorn and Alaylyn are right" Gandalf said rising to his feet "we cannot use it"

"Then what are we waiting for?" A red haired dwarf said standing and hefting his axe before bringing it down upon the ring. A flash of light erupted from the collision and the dwarf was thrown back, while the ring sat unscathed surrounded by the shattered remains of the axe blade. Elrond stood

"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 into the fire chasm from whence it came. One of you, must do this" he said, eyes scanning the group in the silence that followed his words.

"one does not simply walk into Mordor" Boromir said "it's 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. Tis a barren wasteland riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breath is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It Is folly" at least he wasn't a total fool, though I believed that nothing was impenetrable.

"Did you hear nothing Lord Elrond just said?" Legolas said jumping to his feet "the ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you'll be the one to do it?" Gimli snarled

"What happens when we fail, then?" Boromir said standing again "what happens when Sauron claims what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands if an elf!" Gimli shouted standing as well, soon the entire council had erupted into chaos, shouting, yelling and accusing.

"I will take it!" I heard a voice yell, but no one paid attention "I will take it!" it tried again, the fighting stopped and I Turned to see Frodo, the hobbit standing there "I will take the ring to Mordor! Though, I do not know the way" he said, the second part coming out softer.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, for as long as it is yours to bear" Gandalf said moving to stand behind him. Next Aragorn moved forward

"if by my life or death I can protect you, I will, you have my sword" he promised

"I know you not, Frodo" I said moving to kneel before him "but I will protect you and your cause until my death, you have my knives"

"And my bow" Legolas agreed

"and my axe" Gimli added, lastly Boromir walked forward

"you carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is the will of the council then Gondor will see it through"

"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" a voice yelled and a second hobbit ran out from behind a plant to join them.

"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not" Elrond said, though no anger was displayed on his face or in his voice, if anything he was amused.

"wait!" another voice yelled and two more hobbits ran in "we're coming too!" at this Elrond just looked astonished "you'll have to send us home tied in a bag to stop us" the blonder hobbit said

"besides, you'll need people of intelligence on this mission...quest...thing" the browner haired one said defensively

"well that rules you out, Pip" the other one whispered. Elrond looked at the group assembled before him

"Ten companions, so it be. You will be...the Fellowship of the Ring" he announced

"Great!" The browner haired hobbit said looking around "Where are we going?"