Míriel entered the council of Elrond slowly after her uncle. She had gotten changed into a silver dress covered partly by a deep red robe as Arwen insisted it was appropriate for a meeting of this level of severity. Míriel took a seat next to Elladan, between him and Elrond. She drew her gaze over the visitors.

The chairs were placed in a large circle on a platform made of stone outside of the palace. Large pillars surrounded it and a waterfall could be seen not far away. In the middle of the circle of chairs, there was a pedestal, but it was, of course, the visitors that caught Míriel's attention the most. Here there were Men, Dwarves, a Hobbit, a Wizard and of course Elves. The four kins of Middle-earth and a halfling - there truly had to be a higher spirit that wanted them all to unite in Rivendell at the same time.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old," Elrond began as he stood up and glanced over the council. "You have 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. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

When Frodo brought the Ring forward carefully and placed it on the pedestal in the middle of the circle, a not so quiet mumble spread across the council. The ring gained the attention and affection of them all, including Míriel. Míriel had never seen the One Ring with her own eyes and now that she did she realised that nothing was as magnificent and sumptuous as the One. It was tempting, beautiful, precious and it took all of Míriel's will to not stand up and take it for her own. It was incomprehensible that Frodo had managed to withstand its power for days.

Not even five minutes had passed and it had corrupted itself into Míriel's mind already, which only made her realise that it was more powerful than she could have ever imagined. Míriel forced her gaze away from the Ring and glanced at Legolas instead, he made her think of something else even if he too was staring at the Ring. Míriel saw how the strawberry blonde man Boromir stood up from his seat and started speaking to them all of what he thought of the Ring.

"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark," he spoke loudly, glancing at the Ring. "But in the West, a pale light lingered and a voice was crying: Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found." He stepped closer and closer to the Ring as he spoke, stared at it as if it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Míriel wondered if someone ought to stop him since he was getting too close. "Isildur's Bane..."

There was a distance in his voice that did not seem right. He extended his hand towards the Ring slowly to touch it.

"Boromir!" Elrond said and stood up quickly.

As he shouted at him, Boromir withdrew his hand and Gandalf started uttering words in a dark language as the sky grew dark around them. The words were foul, as was the voice that came from the Ring and bored itself into Míriel's mind. She placed her fingers against her forehead to stop the pounding in her head and he saw how Elrond did the same while Legolas closed his eyes. Míriel felt great pressure over her chest and she suddenly felt how difficult it was for her to contain her powers from bursting out.

The light lingered through again and everything went back to normal after only a couple of seconds. But the tension on the council was still very evident - everyone could feel it in the air. Míriel huffed with relief.

"Never before has this tongue been uttered here in Imladris," said Elrond to Gandalf, he was upset that Gandalf had chosen to speak such a foul tongue in his peaceful kingdom. What was Gandalf supposed to do otherwise, though? He had lured that voice away from them and he had seemed to be the only one who knew Black Speech.

"I do not ask your pardon, Lord Elrond," said Gandalf and slowly sat down in his seat again. "For the black speech of Mordor is heard everywhere in the west. The ring is altogether, evil."

Boromir shook his head like he didn't agree with what Gandalf just said. How could he not, though? The Ring was evil, and there was no doubt about it.

"It is a gift," he said as he glared at it still, and Míriel could not understand how he thought so of a ring that had just entered his mind and corrupted it. "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 have your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it."

"You cannot wield it," Aragorn spoke up. He had been quiet this entire time, and he seemed to actually be one of few who were not as affected by the ring as the others had been. He was strong, Míriel knew this, but there was no way he had been completely immune to it. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone."

"And what would a ranger know?" said Boromir with despise in his voice.

This was the moment when Legolas stood up to defend Aragorn, his friend, and show Boromir that he should respect the man he thought was nothing but a ranger.

"This is no mere ranger," Legolas said to Boromir. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Boromir stared astonished at Aragorn, squinting his eyes. And indeed this was Aragorn, the exiled heir of Isildur. He had left his royal duties behind and called himself 'Strider' to hide his real identity out in Middle-earth's wilderness. He could be positioned above Boromir if he wanted, above Boromir's father as well. This must somewhat frighten Boromir since he glared at Aragorn while Legolas spoke for his friend.

"Aragorn..." Boromir said, shock in his voice. "This is the heir of Isildur?"

Perhaps he could now see that he shouldn't have spoken so much out of terms and that he had been foolish? But no, Boromir actually seemed a little amused when he watched Aragorn as if he didn't think that Aragorn was enough to be the King of Gondor. He was more than enough, he was the greatest man Míriel ever knew and no one deserved the throne more than him.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas added, which only increased Boromir rage against him. They all knew that Boromir's father was the Steward of Gondor and that he wanted it to stay that way. If Aragorn wanted to he could be King and push Denethor out, but for some reason, that was not what he desired. Míriel had never really understood why to be completely honest.

"Sit down Legolas," Aragorn insisted, humble as he was.

Legolas did as he was told and sat in his chair again, sending a glance towards Míriel who smiled faintly towards him. He did the right thing to clarify to Boromir that he should speak to Aragorn with respect for he was his king in disguise.

"Gondor has no king," Boromir snapped, but at this point, no one was really listening anymore. "Gondor needs no king."

He sat down as well, angered and upset that no one agreed to give the Ring to him and Gondor. Míriel wasn't sure if she liked this man at all, he seemed quite bitter. She had barely spoken to him since he arrived, not that she didn't want to but just because he kept mostly to himself.

Gandalf spoke up and said that Aragorn was true to say that they could not use the ring. This meant that they would just have to somehow get rid of it, and there was only one way... Míriel was not sure it was possible to do what was required of them in times when danger lurked in every corner. They would need thousands and thousands of men to get rid of the ring, and they didn't have all that strength. Not the Elves at least, and would the others help?

"You have now but one choice," Elrond said, probably thinking the same as Míriel. But hopefully, he had a better plan than she did. "The ring must be destroyed." Mumbles spread and Boromir looked very displeased by this since he sighed deeply and shook his head.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli, Glóin's son, said and stood up from his chair.

He grabbed his axe and walked toward the pedestal without anyone stopping him, but Míriel saw that what he was planning was not very wise. Gimli raised his axe and smashed it onto the ring, but he was pushed back and his axe broke into millions of pieces as he fell to the ground, and a pulsating sound came from the Ring which made Míriel's head pound again. The ring didn't have as much as a scratch on it, and the rest of the Dwarves were helping a very shaky Gimli up from the ground. He seemed to be alright, though, just slightly startled.

"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Glóin, by any craft that we here possess," Elrond said and there was a hint of a smile in his voice. In fact, the Elves seemed to have enjoyed Gimli's little show, and some were smiling teasingly at the Dwarves for being so hasty. "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 where it came... One of you must do this."

There were no volunteers to accept this task for no one was foolish enough to walk into Mordor by himself, right into the arms of Sauron and his army of Orcs. They were afraid to accept although none would admit it. Míriel could openly admit that she was scared, though, she wasn't sure she could do it alone. Míriel wanted to help, but she was sure that the ring would corrupt her mind eventually. Men were easily corrupted, Galadriel had told her that once, so maybe it shouldn't be a man taking the ring either?

"One does not simply walk into Mordor," Boromir said after the long moment of silence. "Its 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, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is poisonous fumes. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond said?" Legolas stood up again, obviously annoyed with the lack of enthusiasm from any of the members of the meeting. Míriel understood him, but somehow they needed a better plan than just barge into Mordor. Boromir was right about what he said about it, and they needed to think of this carefully. Perhaps they should sneak in rather than attack it?

"The ring must be destroyed!"

"And I suppose you think you are the one to do it?" Gimli growled toward Legolas.

Míriel could only imagine what Glóin had said to his son about the woodland Elves and if he had made it clear that Legolas was Thranduíl's son. If that was the case, Gimli must have had many prejudices of Legolas and his people. That was why Gimli was opposed to the thought of an Elf destroying the ring and getting all the credit for it, rather than wanting to do it himself.

"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir said and stood up as well since he didn't agree with Legolas. Míriel had a feeling that this was turning into a heated discussion and she didn't like it at all. "What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

"I will be dead before I see the ring of the hands of an Elf!" Gimli said and stood up once again. He couldn't care less about the ring, only of who would carry it. "No one trusts an Elf!"

It wasn't very smart of him to say when he was staying in an Elven city and the Dwarf would have to choose his words more wisely in the future if he wanted to avoid making enemies. His words had brought everyone out of their quiet mood and a huge discussion erupted and everyone stood from their seats to tell their opinion.

Míriel sighed with annoyance at men - they could never have a calm discussion for more than ten minutes. The council were arguing, talking over each other's voices to be heard. One of the Mirkwood Elves wanted to attack Gimli for saying such unpleasant things about his kin but Legolas stopped him since he knew better, even if she could see the anger in his eyes.

Míriel saw how Frodo grew paler. Frodo and herself were the only ones who were still sitting in their chairs without getting involved in the discussion. Frodo seemed as though he didn't even notice the brawl in front of him, he glared at the ring as if it was his worst enemy - it might as well have been. As Gandalf tried to calm everyone, Frodo started breathing heavier and Míriel watched him with worry.

"I will take it," his little voice said and he stood up from his seat, although it did not make much difference since he was so small and short. Míriel had heard it, though, and she was too shocked to say anything. Frodo could not go alone, it simply was not right. No matter the strength of Hobbits it was too much of a burden to lay on a single person.

"I will take it!" Everyone gradually grew silent and stared at him, listening to his small voice. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though... I do not know the way."

Everyone stared at the little creature with great admiration for he was very brave for being so small. After everything he had been through to even get to Rivendell, he still wanted to do good for them all and continue to carry the ring that had already left him with such injuries. Míriel admired him greatly, and she no longer doubted that he was much like his uncle. Frodo was going on an adventure that would be even more dangerous than Bilbo's and he was thinking of doing it alone.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," Gandalf said, stepped closer to him with a smile. "As long as it is yours to bear."

He looked very proud, yet a little saddened by what Frodo had just said. He cared for the young Hobbit, and he already felt guilty for putting him in danger. Now the least Gandalf could do was to go with him, so he stopped behind Frodo and patted his shoulder to show that he was with him in this.

"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will," said Aragorn and drew his sword as he neared Frodo. He had been very quiet during the discussion, but now he was just as taken by Frodo as everyone else. He kneeled to Frodo's height and smiled faintly with a nod. There were three of them now and Aragorn was very skilled at both tracking and fighting so they would be quite alright. "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow," Legolas said and stepped forward.

Míriel watched him, not feeling surprised at all that he was joining this journey. She had known deep inside that he would leave again soon, and if his heart called for this then Míriel was proud. It felt only right that he was there to represent Elves during this quest, though Míriel felt a burning desire inside to join him and help in this quest.

"And my axe," Gimli said and stepped forward as well. A Dwarf to represent his people too.

Legolas looked more than a little displeased that he was to travel with a Dwarf. There was no doubt that Gimli disliked the Elf as well, but the feeling was mutual which would make the journey a little more interesting for all the companions. There was more than one brawl waiting for them in the future.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one," Boromir said and stepped toward Frodo as well. "If this is indeed the will of the council... Then Gondor will see it done."

Elrond glanced at Míriel and at once she knew what he wanted from her. A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind as she realised she would be stuck in the same company as Legolas. A bliss it would be, but a painful one. This wasn't about her, though, but about Middle-earth and helping Frodo. Therefore she nodded slowly to her uncle, telling him that she would go.

"For your quest, I offer you one of my best fighter and most trusted ally," Elrond said and glanced at Míriel. "Míriel will join you."

"Oi!" Sam came running and joined next to Frodo with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Mr Frodo is not going anywhere without me."

Both Merry and Pippin came running to join their two friends as well. Míriel chuckled and glanced at Legolas who smiled back at her. Elrond accepted the Hobbits to join as well, to Míriel's surprise since she thought he would not. It would be nice to get to know them all better and hopefully, they were all like Frodo and Bilbo - brave.

"Ten companions," said Elrond and smiled. He nodded slowly as if he had decided that these were the right people to accomplish this mission. "So be it. You will be the Fellowship of the ring."

A sense of pride spread across them all - they were the Fellowship of the ring, they would destroy the Ring of power together and stand by the ringbearer through it all. Nothing would tear them apart until the mission was accomplished and they had saved Middle-earth from Sauron's ruin.

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