Lady Hope of Middle Earth

Chapter 4: The Secret Meeting

Hope's POV:

The next morning I wake up to sun streaming through my window. Smiling I have a feeling today is going to be a good day. I get up and get dressed rather quickly before heading towards the dining room. I am almost there when Elrond stops me. "Hope I have a request." He says.

"Of course, anything." I say. "There is a meeting in five minutes, I would like you to join. Now there are going to be people there who do not want the presence of a woman in their midst, but I assure you that they will get over it." He says. I smile kindly at the elf.

"Of course, lead the way." I say. He nods and we walk off together. When we get to where the meeting is to be held everyone turns to look at me. However, I don't let it bother me as I go and sit next to Aragorn. I even notice Frodo awake and looking healthy.

I smile at him and he smiles back. "What are you doing?" Aragorn asks me. "Lord Elrond has requested my presence." He nods, accepting my answer. Despite the glares I am receiving no one says anything. Finally it is time to start. Elrond stands up to begin.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've 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 fate. This one doom. Bring forth the Ring Frodo." He says.

The small Hobbit shakily stands to his feet and places a gold ring on the table the middle of the circle. Everyone around me gasps. Frodo hurriedly goes to sit down next to Gandalf. I stare at the rings and I can feel the pull towards it. To take it as my own, but I resist.

Suddenly Boromir stands up. "In a dream, I saw the Eastern sky go dark and 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." He mutters, reaching for the ring. This throws everyone into chaos.

"Boromir!" Gandalf yells. He then proceeds to say words in elvish that I do not know. The sky grows dark for a moment. My head pulses in pain. I hear a voice speaking over Gandalf. Suddenly everything stops and light is seen. Boromir is now back in his chair, looking confused.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris." Elrond says. "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 says, sitting down.

"It is a gift." Boromir says. I stare at him like he is stupid. "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." He says. Idiot. I could hex him. No, too public.

"Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him." He finishes. "You cannot weird it, none of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Aragorn reasons. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Boromir asks, snarling at Aragorn.

Legolas stands now. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn. Son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." The blonde elf defends. "Aragorn. This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir asks. "And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas adds. I smile at my friend.

"Havo dad(sit down) Legolas." Aragon says. I place my hand on his in comfort. He smiles sadly at me. "Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King." Boromir says, sitting down. "Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Gandalf says.

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond says. There is a silence before one of the dwarfs speaks up. "Then what are we waiting for?" He says, he stands, raises his axe and swings down on the Ring on my for a wave of power to cause him to fly backwards.

It breaks the axe, leaving the ring intact. A shard of the axe flies towards Aragorn. "Projectium deflecto." I mutter, causing it to miss him. He looks at me and nods his appreciation. I smile back.

"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 back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this."

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. It's 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 riddle with fire, ash, and dust. The very air you breath is a poisonous fuel." Boromir says.

The weight of his words hit me. "Not with 10,000 men can you do this. It is folly." He says. Legolas stands again. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said? The Ring must be destroyed." He says, emphasizing the need.

"And I suppose you think you are the one to do it." Gimli pipes up. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir says, standing up. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf." Gimli snarls. This throws everyone into chaos again.

I look utterly baffled at the fight group. Are they all children? We all want the same thing! I glance at Aragorn and he looks a second away from joining the fight. Everything is getting out of hand, I can't think! Just make it stop. Please!