Moving On

Chapter 4

Samantha looked around at everyone sitting in the half circle. Men, elves, and the three dwarves she had talked to the previous day were there. She had been surprised when Penneth told her she would be attending the Council. Even though she didn't know what would happen she felt a heavy and unsettling feeling twisting inside her gut.

When she first sat down in her chair, Gandalf introduced her to the hobbit Frodo who sat between them. He seemed like a kind and gentle person. He was much different than everyone else here, but not because of his race. He seemed to be very quiet and docile. Samantha couldn't help but think they were both a little out of place there.

Samantha looked around at the others, Legolas sat with the elves, Gloin and Gimli with the other dwarves, and then her eyes settled on the drunk from last night. Their eyes met and she could clearly see the shame and embarrassment on his face before he looked away, pretending to be overly interested in the pedestal in the middle of the circle. It was clear that he must have remembered her and regretted his previous actions. 'Maybe he's not so bad...' Samantha was quick to give second chances depending on the circumstance. Alcohol can do a lot to a person, she would know.

Once everyone had seated, Elrond took his place behind the stone-like table, and began to speak, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've 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." Elrond spoke with passion, trying to get everyone in the group to understand the importance this meeting held. Samantha could feel the deja vu plain as day. Elrond looked to Frodo who sat between Samantha and Gandalf. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Frodo reluctantly stood and made his way to the stone. There was a small voice in his mind that told him to not let it go, don't let them have it. It was small though and he ignored it. From his hand he placed a ring on the center of the pedestal.

Everyone was talking in hushed tones of surprise and awe. Most everyone was staring at the Ring. A relic thought lost or destroyed many years ago. When Frodo sat down he let out a sigh, as if a burden had been lifted from him. Samantha took notice of this and placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a reassuring smile. She couldn't remember much but she knew that the ring was a heavy burden for Frodo. Even she could tell there was something ominous about the ring, a dark and malevolent presence resided there. Frodo gave a small smile in return, but their attention was quickly caught by a familiar voice.

The drunk from the night before stood and spoke, looking to the ring, "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered." He walked a little closer to the ring. "A voice was crying, 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.'" Elrond and Gandalf shared a look as they watched him get closer and closer to the Ring, hand outstretched to grab it, "Isildur's Bane..." he said just above a whisper, now entranced by the Ring.

Elrond shot to his feet, "Boromir!"

Just as Elrond shot up Gandalf did was well, but instead of calling out to the man he chanted a dark language. Gandalf chanted the inscription of the Ring and the council fell dark and it felt as if the world itself were shaking. Samantha felt as though she could hardly breathe, it was as if a presence prevented her from moving. She could see the other members of the council were also uncomfortable and shaking.

When Gandalf finished everyone looked around in shock and a little fear at the Wizard. Boromir looked at him, now out of the mental cloud he had been in.

Elrond's sharp eyes fell upon the wizard, "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris." He could not believe Gandalf could have been so foolish to invite such darkness to this place.