Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of the Rings: Stargaze ❯ One Ring to Find Them ( Chapter 1 )

One Ring to Find Them

"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree

In joy hast thou lived. Beware of the Sea!

If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,

Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more."

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor."

Elrond's gaze drifted over the gathering before him. The chairs were set up in a half-circle, with their occupants facing the Lord of Rivendell and a stone pedestal.

Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit from the Shire who had been chosen by fate to take up the burden of the Ringbearer sat nearest Elrond on his left.

Next to Frodo was the wise old wizard Gandalf the Grey, a wanderer and longtime friend of the Elves. He favored the breed of Halflings and had been close with Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's uncle.

Beside Gandalf sat an assembly of a few Wood Elves, traveled all the way from the dark Mirkwood Forest. Fair and calm, the Wood Elves gazed serenely at Elrond, absorbing his words with none of their own. They were led by their prince, Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, who rested in the middle of his group.

Against their will, the Dwarves had been seated adjacent to the Mirkwood Elves. Pulled from their underground caverns, they were short and intimidating at once. The youngest was their leader, the red-bearded Gimli, son of Gloin.

Then came the Men of Gondor, renown for their strength and bravery. Hailing from the country bordering Mordor, the Men knew well what it was they were facing. The one who perhaps knew it the best was Boromir, the heir to the Steward of Gondor, who aspired to lead his people to glory and freedom.

Nearing the end was a smaller group of Elves. These were the Night Elves, based in the valley of Lemahna-hai. Dark-haired and pale-skinned, the Night Elves sat motionless and silent, their blue-violet eyes betraying no emotion. Leading them was the youngest Night Elf princess, Arora.

Last of all, closest to Elrond's right, was Aragorn. Known to the Hobbits as Strider, Aragorn was a Ranger in self-inflicted exile. Not only was he a human part of an Elven household, but he was the love of Elrond's beloved daughter Arwen.

"Middle-earth stands upon the brink of destruction," Elrond continued gravely. "None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He turned to the young Hobbit at his left, extending his arm towards the stone pedestal in front of him. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

Taking a deep breath, Frodo stood up and slowly walked to the center of the gathering. He carefully placed a nondescript gold ring on top of the pedestal. A chill passed through the Council, and Frodo returned to his seat. He relaxed as if a large weight had been lifted from his body while the Council members murmured in uncomfortable surprise. Only a few remained silent, including Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Arora. Legolas glanced at Arora and caught her gaze, but only for an instant; she did not react except to return her attention to the Ring.

"So it is true…" Boromir whispered, half to himself.

"The doom of Man," someone growled.

Boromir shook his head, waving his hand absently. "It is a gift…a gift to the foes of Mordor." He stood up and addressed the Council. "Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay." He pointed at the gathered groups for emphasis. "By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"

Aragorn shook his head. "You cannot wield it. None of us can," he told Boromir with slight impatience. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master!"

Boromir froze. He turned to Aragorn with a contemptuous sneer on his face. "And what would a Ranger know if this matter?"

To the surprise of the others, it was Legolas who answered. He stood up and faced Boromir angrily. "This is no mere Ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir's face lifted in surprise. "Aragorn?" he repeated, turning back to the Man in question. "This is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas added vehemently.

Aragorn sighed. He lifted his hand and motioned slightly to the Mirkwood prince. "Sit down, Legolas," he directed in Elvish.

Legolas reluctantly returned to his seat, unaware that Arora was watching him intently from under shaded eyes. The Council members were uneasily silent for a minute, and then Gandalf spoke up.

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."

"You have only one choice," Elrond told them all seriously. "The Ring must be destroyed."

After another moment of quiet, Gimli growled, "What are we waiting for?"

He grabbed his axe and marched forward, swinging the huge weapon down onto the pedestal to break the golden Ring in half. But as soon as the blade connected with the Ring, the axe shattered and Gimli was flung backwards onto the ground. Frodo was instantly hit by a blast of pain in his head, taking the form of the fiery Great Eye. He stared fearfully at the Ring, and the very aura around it seemed to be mocking him. The Council members were shocked and the Dwarves rushed to help Gimli, who got up slowly, justifiably shaken.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess," Elrond told the Dwarf, his eyes passing once again over the Council. "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." He looked around the circle, pausing to let his words sink in. "One of you must do this."

The Council Members remained silent, unwilling to volunteer.

Boromir drew a deep breath, his temple resting against his fist. "One does not simply walk into Mordor," he said darkly, his voice shaking. "Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. 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," he said, shaking his head. "It is folly."

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond just said?" Legolas snapped, shooting out of his chair again. "The Ring must be destroyed!" His gaze once again flashed to Arora, but she did not meet it this time.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli sneered at the Mirkwood Elf prince, who glared at the Dwarf threateningly.

Boromir stood up, angrily facing them. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli growled furiously, jumping to his feet. "Never trust an Elf!"

The Mirkwood Elves were instantly beside their prince, extremely offended by the Dwarf's statement. The other Dwarves rose to support Gimli, and Legolas had to restrain his fellow Wood Elves as they all began to argue. The Men of Gondor also joined in the fight.

Elrond closed his eyes in despair as Gandalf rose up, shouting angrily at the arguing Council members. "Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"

Aragorn sighed as he listened to the senseless fighting of the distrusting representatives. He refused to become involved in it. Next to him, the Night Elves were also quiet, despite the heat that stirred their blood at Gimli's comment. They had been silent the whole time, and the seemed to be almost ignoring the Council entirely.

Throughout all of this confusion, Frodo stared at the Ring without moving. He heard it calling to him…he felt the fire that would burn Middle-earth if something was not done quickly. He agonized in silence, and finally made his decision. He stood up.

"I will take it!"

The voice of the small Hobbit was drowned out in the tumult of insults and angry statements. The Council members continued to argue, not noticing Frodo at all.

Frodo moved to position himself beside the pedestal. "I will take it!" he said louder.

Every voice that had previously been deep in disagreement fell silent. All eyes, fair and dark, turned to see Frodo standing so resolutely by the stone pillar that held the One Ring. Gandalf's eyes closed as if something had pained him; then he opened them slowly to rest his gaze on his beloved Hobbit.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor," Frodo said decisively. Then his determination faltered and his voice fell to a whisper. "Though…I do not know the way."

Gandalf smiled and placed himself next to Frodo. He touched the young Hobbit's shoulder reassuringly. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins…as long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn then stood up. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." The Ranger that had been formerly known to the Hobbits as Strider approached Frodo and kneeled before him. "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow," Legolas added, also moving to stand beside Frodo.

Gimli snorted. "And my axe." He positioned himself next to Legolas, who didn't seem too happy about the arrangement.

Boromir had been quiet. He inspected Frodo carefully. "You carry the fates of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council…" he walked to the others "…then Gondor will see it done."

Elrond's gaze flitted to the representatives from the Valley of the Night Elves. "What is Lemahna-hai's opinion?" he asked softly. "Do the Night Elves have nothing to say?"

The two lesser Night Elves turned to their princess, murmuring something in their own sub-Elven language. Arora's eyes were shaded by her dark lashes, but she could feel Legolas's intent gaze on her, almost pleading with her. She knew what he wanted. She knew what would suit her purpose.

The lovely Night Elf rose to her feet and made a light bow in Elrond's direction. "I will honor the wishes of the Council and journey with the warriors toward Mordor. However, my own assistance will only serve as far as Lemahna-hai. Once the quest has reached the valley, I am afraid my service must end."

A murmur of shock ran through the Council. Did the Night Elves not understand the danger they were facing? Legolas's blue eyes showed a strange mixture of elation and disappointment. Aragorn and Gandalf seemed merely regretful. Frodo blinked in confusion, and Boromir and Gimli frowned as if insulted. Elrond, however, held his reaction to a simple nod.

"You have my bow as well, Ringbearer, and any simple magic at my command," Arora finished in a soft, bell-like voice. She approached the group and stood quietly, avoiding looking at Legolas.

Suddenly a shout came from the bushes behind the Council Ring. Samwise Gamgee, another Hobbit and Frodo's close friend, ran into the middle of the group, pushing past other members in the way. He stood beside Frodo and folded his arms.

"Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me," Sam said stubbornly, blushing a little as he felt the others staring.

Elrond could barely help smiling. His voice held faint amusement. "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

"Wait! We're coming too!"

The Council members turned their heads to see two more Hobbits burst out from where they had been hiding behind two columns. Elrond gave a start in shock as Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took ran by him to bounce by Frodo.

"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," Merry said with a proud grin to Frodo.

Pippin nodded and drew himself up, looking important. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing."

Gandalf glanced at Elrond with a sigh.

Merry glared at his friend. "Well, that rules you out, Pip."

Elrond's gaze took in those before him one last time. "Ten companions…" he muttered, speaking almost to himself. "So be it!" he stated strongly. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

Pippin nodded and smiled. "Great!...Where are we going?"