The Ring of Power

Chapter 7

Aragorn did not know why, but the sound of birds chirping leased him. It made him feel at peace, which was very different from being in war. The peace reminded him of Arwen, Elysium's younger sister whom he happened to fall in love with.

Aragorn walked through Rivendell, marveling at the green grass, the flowing waters, the smooth stone, when he heard very angry voices. Aragorn walked closer and hid behind a statue. He peered over to see Lord Elrond and Elysium. It seemed as though they were arguing in Sindarin.

"Father, it is my fate!" Elysium shouted. What is her fate, Aragorn thought? Elrond threw his book to the ground. "Your fate will bring you pain. I cannot allow you to proceed on this quest." Elrond touched his daughter's cheek.

"Father, I am only elandili. I will soon die." Elrond winced. That is a price by being half mortal and half elven kind. "I'd rather die in battle, then sickness or old age. I do not want you to have to watch, as I grow old and whither away, Father. I do not want Arwen to have to burry her withered and wrinkled sister. It is better to die this way."

"I do not want to burry my daughter at all. There is a way I will not have to." Elrond took his daughter's hands in his. "Our people leave for the Grey Havens in months time. Come with us." Elysium shook off her father.

"I will not abandon the Fellowship. We need every fighter we can manage."

"You are not just a warrior!" Both Aragorn and Elysium were taken aback by Lord Elrond's out burst. "You are an elven woman. You must marry and birth children. You must mother your children. You allegiance stands with you people."

"What do my people need me for? Must I remind you, Father, I am not just an Elf, but also a mortal. My allegiance also lies with the race of man. And the race of man needs me." Elysium gathered her bow and daggers.

"I will continue with the Fellowship until my last breath." With that she strode out of the shrine and into her room. She was right, though. The Fellowship will need every fighter they can manage.

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Frodo gazed at the sword Bilbo had given him. It was very light; unlike the sword Aragorn had given him, with details engraved into the blade. It was shaped like a leaf. "It's so light."

Bilbo nodded, "Yes, made by the Elves, you know. Particularly the half elf, Elysium." Bilbo smoothed his hands over the flat side of the blade. "The blade glows blue when Orcs are near. And it's times like that, my lad, that you have to be extra careful." Bilbo pulled another thing out of his bag.

This time is was armor. The 'metal used glowed white and sent off the aura of protection and power. The neckline was laces in gold carvings. "Here's a pretty thing. Mithril." He said holding it out to Frodo. "As light as a feather and as hard as dragon scales."

"Let me see you put it on. Go on." Frodo began to unbutton his shirt showing his bare skin and the Ring hanging from a silver chain by his neck. "Oh!" Bilbo said as he caught sight of it. He pointed at Frodo's chest. "My old ring." if only Bilbo knew how mush trouble his 'old ring' has been causing.

Bilbo wringed his hands. "I sh-should very much like to hold it again, one last time." Frodo was tempted to let his uncle hold the Ring, but remembering what it did to him he refused and buttoned his shirt back up.

Bilbo, seeing this, was enraged. This was his ring! His own, his precious. The temptation and anger took hold of Bilbo's mind. At one moment Frodo was seeing his uncle's pale distraught face, then he was seeing a demon. Around Bilbo's eyes and lips turned dark. His eyes went dilated and murderous. He tried to grab at Frodo's chest where the Ring lay. Frodo recoiled as did Bilbo, and watched his uncle put his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my boy." Frodo's face grew soft from the terror. "I'm sorry that you must carry this burden." Bilbo slumped down and sobbed. "I'm sorry for everything." Frodo placed a gentle hand on Bilbo's shoulder. His uncle grasped it as if his life depended on it. He was truly sorry. He did not think he would see his nephew ever again.

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Elysium was feeling something she had never felt before. It was strange. Her stomach rolled and she fingers fidgeted. She has heard people call this emotion fear. Of course she has felt fear once or twice, but this fear seemed foreign. She had felt fear when she had first picked up a bow and arrow when she was 2 years aged. But of course that was 2000 years ago. She had felt fear when she saved Arwen from drowning in the river below their home when they were small. But she had most recently felt fear when she had felt the least bit tempted by the Ring. She had felt so deeply ashamed that she let herself get out of control. She felt weak.

Her father stepped into the sunlight with his hands calmly set on the sword on his belt. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest to Mount Doom." Lord Elrond tried to make eye contact with Elysium as though he was trying to say goodbye. "And you who travel with him, no oath nor bond his laid to go further than you will." Elrond pointedly looked at his eldest daughter. Arwen gave her a pleading her look. "Farewell I hold you to your purpose. And may the blessings of the Elves and Men and Free Folk go with you." Elysium took one last look at her little seler, remembering the talk they had had last night.

Flashback

Elysium sat on her cot in her shared room with her seler (sister), fumbling with a stone. Arwen tapped her foot impatiently. "Why are you doing this?" she asked in Sindarin. Elysium raised an eyebrow.

"Doing what?" she asked, not taking her eyes of the stone. Arwen knows her bigger seler doesn't desire to go on this quest. Arwen knows that Elysium is growing tired and aged, although she was only 22 years aged.

"You know what I speak of, seler." Elysium sighed an put down the stone on her table. "Arwen, I must go. We need everyone to fight. Or else it is useless."

"You are sick and dying, I must not let you go." Arwen crossed her arms, pouting. "Seler, if I make promise to you will you let me go?" Arwen nodded.

"I promise you I will look after your dear Aragorn." Arwen looked at her as if mentally telling her to go on. "And I promise I shall return, my dear seler. Both of us shall return."

End of Flashback

And I will keep thy promise, Elysium though.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf said, holding out a hand for Frodo. The hobbit walked through the leaves looking for which way to go.

"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right." He whispered.

Gandalf gave a quite chuckle, "Left." Elysium gave her home and family one last look and went through the gates, not knowing if she will ever return.