From Wyoming, to Middle-earth

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."