Colours

You want to do what?

I move to sit next to Aragorn as I arrive at the council meeting place, the hood of my cloak is pulled over my head to protect my eyes. Looking around the space I spot the groups of men, elves, and dwarves.

As everyone finishes arriving and getting settled, Lord Elrond stands up to begin the meeting. "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... Bring forth the ring Frodo."

Frodo walks slowly up to the little, stone stand in the middle of the circle and lets the ring slide out of his hand onto it. He then walks back to his chair as the circle stairs in wonder at the powerful object that now sits in front of them.

"So it is true!" one of the men from Gondor exclaims in wonder.

Legolas gazes at the ring too, in disbelief he states, "Sauron's Ring! The Ring of Power!"

One of the younger dwarves present speaks next, "The doom of man!"

I hear a faint hum growing louder in the background, and look around for the source before finally realizing it comes from the ring. Looking at the others in the circle I can see on their faces that they have come to the same realization as me.

A Gondorian man stands up and begins to slowly approach the ring. He speaks with a sense of wonder in his voice, "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.' " His hand reaches out towards the ring as he finishes his speech, "Isildur's Bane."

"Boromir!" Elrond cries out, standing up in warning.

Gandalf too stands up and raises his staff as he speaks in the Black Speech. The ring responds to Gandalf and it cause Boromir to stumble back to his chair as thunder rolls and the sky darkens. A tremble in the ground threatens to make me fall out of my seat but it stops as Gandalf finishes.

Shocked by Gandalf's actions Elrond turns to reprimand the wizard. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."

"I do not ask 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," Gandalf replies before returning back to his seat.

Boromir stands up to make his case to the council, "It is a gift ... a gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring? 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!"

No, I think to myself, It would not work out as you expect it. The ring would tempt you to do its bidding as you think you are doing the right thing.

Of course its not like I would ever actually say this out loud to him. Thankfully Aragorn seems to be thinking the same thing as me as he speaks up, "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone ... it has no other master."

Boromir turns to look at Aragorn, seeming almost offended that he would even deem to speak against him. He responds, frostily, "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

I giggle under my breath a little, well he's in for a bit of a shock.

As Boromir turns away from Aragorn with a dismissive gesture, I see Legolas stand up. He speaks in Aragorn's defence, "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Frodo looks at Aragorn confused by the name change and Boromir turns to stare sharply at his would be king. In soft disbelief he mumbles to himself, "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

Proudly Legolas continues, "And heir to the throne of Gondor."

Aragorn raises his hand to gesture to the elf, "Havo dad, Legolas."

Finally seeming to come to a decision Boromir sits down with a huff. "Gondor needs no king," he grunts out.

"Aragorn is right," Gandalf speaks out in affirmation, "We cannot use it."

"You have but one choice. The ring must be destroyed," Elrond states.

The young dwarf from before stands up excitedly. Oh no, I think. Sure enough he grabs his axe and approaches the ring, "Then ... what are we waiting for?" He swings the axe and hits the ring. Instantly the axe shatters and I bring my hands up to protect my face from the flying shards.

Elrond glares at the dwarf, "The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, 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."

A stunned silence falls, and I mean who can blame them? He wants us to do what? No one would survive that.

Speaking what seems to be most people's thoughts, Boromir is the first to speak. He holds his head with one hand as he warns us, "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 speaks in defence, "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed."

Does the elf have a death wish?

"And I suppose you think you are the one to do it?" Gimli asks.

Taking on a bit of a whiny tone, Boromir continues, "And what if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Gimli leaps to his feet, still talking to Legolas, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"

The circle erupts in to argument as the hum of the ring grows louder. I shrink into my seat trying to hide from the noise and not be noticed. I tune back into the argument as I see Frodo standing up. Oh no, please not him.

"I will take it," Frodo whispers before getting louder, "I will take it," fully confident now he squares his shoulders, "I will take the ring to Mordor."

The room grows silent as they all turn to look at the small, brave hobbit in front of them. A stupid, selfless idiot of a hobbit!

Quietly again, Frodo mumbles, "Although I do not know the way."

Gandalf stands and places his hand on Frodo's shoulder, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

I should help too, I think as Aragorn stands up pledging his swords.

I'm going to do it, I can help. Legolas steps up next offering his bow.

I square my shoulders, wait. What should I say? Gimli offers his axe.

Oh no. Everyone will look at me if I stand up, I'll trip. I can feel my hands start to shake as Boromir stands up to pledge his service.

I need to do this, I brush a tear from the corner of my eye, I can help, I pledged myself to follow Aragorn wherever he goes. I turn at a rustling and see Sam come running out of the bushes.

Even Sam can do it and he wasn't even invited. What is stopping you? I begin to get frustrated with myself.

Merry and Pippin come out from behind columns to join the group surrounding Frodo. Finally steeling myself, I begin to get out of my seat trying to hide my shaking hands. Okay, you can do th..

Elrond looks at the group spreading his hands open wide, "Nine companions, so be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring."

I sigh having lost my chance.

"Great where are we going?"