"Something is not right," Glorfindel handed Gandalf's message to Elrond before sitting down in a chair beside him. The others nodded their heads in silent agreement. Glorfindel, the twins, and Erestor (Elrond's chief councilor) had joined Frodo and his companions to help decide their next course of action. "We all know that Glorfindel, but what exactly is it that has us all on edge?" Elrohir asked waiting for an answer. 

"That is the question I keep asking myself Elrohir." Erestor rested his chin on his hand while his dark brown eyes stared ahead. "We all feel that there is something off with Gandalf's message," Gimli spoke up from where he sat between Legolas and Merry, "yet none of seem to know what or why we feel that way." He almost sounded frustrated and if he had to be honest, Frodo was beginning to grow irritated as well.

It wasn't just Gandalf's message that was plaguing his mins however, his encounter with Radagast and the words spoken to him made him feel uneasy, and exposed. How had the brown wizard been able to see what he had managed to hide from even Bilbo, who could read him like a book? Gandalf had told him about Radagast before, but he'd never mentioned anything about him being able to read his mind. It were these thoughts that made Frodo ask, "Can Radagast be trusted?"

All eyes turned to him and the hobbit immediately felt uncomfortable under all the stares. "Radagast can be," Elrond paused as he searched for the right word to use, "odd at times. Yet he is truthful and opposes Sauron just as we do. I do not think he is responsible for this ill-feeling that has settled over us." 

Frodo was about to mention what had happened to him outside when Radagast first arrived but before he could Boromir asked, "What about this Saruman? Can he be trusted? I have heard very little about him other than he is the most powerful of the wizards." It was Elladan who answered, "Saruman is the head of the White Council and is far wiser than any of us. Why would we have any reason to distrust him?"

"So you know him then?" Pippin asked curiously. Elladan shook his head and gestured towards his father. "I have been acquainted with Saruman," Elrond said, "yet only Mihtrandir can claim to know him, he trusts Saruman and goes to him for council." 

"Is that not the reason why he went to Isengard in the first place?" Glorfindel questioned. "Yes, he went to ask what we should do with the Ring." Frodo replied. "In his letter," Erestor spoke up, "Mihtrandir said that it was Saruman's idea to send the Ring to Isengard correct?" It was Aragorn who answered, "From what he said it sounds as if they both agreed that sending the it to Isengard was the best course of action." Legolas (who hadn't said a word since they gathered) brought up something that everyone had been thinking of, but hadn't discussed yet. "Why could Gandalf not fetch us himself? He said that for his own safety he must remain in Isengard, but how would it have been safer for Radagast to travel from there to here?"

Silence fell over the room. Everyone was pondering this new riddle when Sam shifted and suggested timidly, "Perhaps Gandalf sticks out too much and is easy for the enemy to find?" The gardener did not like bringing attention to himself. To his surprise the others seemed to agree with observation. "You may be right Samwise," Aragorn said, "Gandalf has been roaming Middle Earth long before many of were even born. It would make sense that he has caught the attention of the enemy, especially now that the Ring has been found."

"Sauron will want answers," Legolas said suddenly "if he even suspects that Gandalf knows something about the Ring he will be looking for him." That last statement sent a shiver down Frodo's spine. The Ring is not safe in Rivendell, you are putting everyone here in danger! A voice shouted inside Frodo's head. "I think we should do as Gandalf said," Frodo's statement was met with shock and confusion, yet no one spoke and they let Frodo finish. "He said that the Ring isn't safe in Rivendell, and if the Nazgul report to Sauron and say that the It is here, will he not send an army to reclaim it? What would happen to Rivendell and everyone here if that happened?" Frodo was trying to keep his tone calm and breathing even, he didn't want anyone to know how worried he was becoming.

"You are right about the Nine reporting to Sauron," Elrond said, "and that the Ring is not safe here, but you forget that the Ring is not safe anywhere. The moment you leave this valley any of Sauron's spies who roam these lands will be after it." 

Which is why I need to go now! Frodo wanted to scream. As if sensing his unease Merry (who had been taking in everything that was being said and going over it in his head) spoke up and gave his opinion. "Here is what know: The Nine are on their way to Mordor to report to their master about where the Ring is, the north is no longer safe to travel freely, if the Ring stays in Rivendell we will eventually become trapped and It will be taken, both Gandalf and Saruman (who are wise and can be trusted) believe that the Ring should come to Isengard, and if we somehow manage to get it there safely we can decide what to do with it that will guarantee that Sauron won't get it back."

"Yes, your point Master Meriadoc?" Elrohir asked a bit impatiently, albeit impressed that the one he had thought to be daydreaming had actually been paying close attention to their discussion. "My point is," Merry said casting a slightly annoyed glare towards the elf, "that Frodo is right, we should leave Rivendell as soon as we can and get the Ring to Isengard before the north becomes even more dangerous."

Elrond and Glorfindel exchanged a look of uncertainty while Erestor spoke for them, himself, and the twins. "You have a point Meriadoc, but we must be careful with how we deal with this matter. If we make a choice that goes ill-" "Have you all forgotten what happened to us in Bree?!" Merry exclaimed startling Frodo and the other hobbits. They'd never heard Merry shout like this before. "We were almost captured! By men whose "master" clearly has some knowledge about the Ring and who knew that we would be in Bree at the Prancing Pony! If Strider and the others hadn't shown up then who knows where the Ring would be right now?!"

Having shared what was on his mind, Merry relaxed in his chair and waited for someone to speak. Elrond closed his eyes and sighed, Frodo watched and wondered what he was going to say. Finally he opened his eyes and looked directly at Frodo. "Are you certain that this is what you want to do? Take the Ring to Isengard and be responsible for its safety?" Feeling more uncertain than he'd ever been in his life, Frodo stood up and nodded. "Yes, I will take the Ring to Isengard, and be responsible for its safety."

"And we'll be responsible for yours." Sam stood up and was immediately followed by Merry and Pippin who added, "You can count on us Frodo! We'll protect you." A half-smile appeared on Frodo's lips as he shook his head. "Not this time, the three of you will go back to the Shire, you'll be safe there." Merry scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Did you not hear anything I just said? These lands are no longer safe. The moment we take one step out of this valley we'll be exposed to whoever wants to take a bunch of hobbits for questioning. Face it Frodo, we're coming with you and that's that."

His voice left no room for argument, and Frodo knew it would be pointless for him to argue anyway. "We will be responsible for his safety as well." Aragorn came to stand by the hobbits with Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas close behind. "You have already done enough for me," Frodo could already tell that their minds would not be changed, but that wouldn't stop him from trying to convince them to stay. "Already you have been harmed because of me, I can ask no more from you."

Gimli laughed and replied, "Believe me lad, the four of us have suffered through far worse than what you've seen. Besides, Gandalf's message said that the ringbearer must be accompanied, and we were told beforehand to keep you safe, so as our dear friend Merry said earlier; you are in fact stuck with us."

Despite trying as hard as he could not to, Frodo smiled. "It has been decided then," Elrond stood up and gazed at the eight companions, "you Frodo Baggins, will be the ringbearer, and the rest of you will be responsible for keeping him out of the enemy's grasp."

Frodo stood silently beside his friends, they all knew the dangers that awaited them, and when Elrond announced that they would leave at dawn, then left the room without another word, they all knew that it was too late to back out.