I tried not to look at Aragorn, but I couldn't help it. Whenever our gazes locked, we smiled, and I looked away.

Caleniel let out a small laugh, and I glared at her. She froze and looked away.

I lightly nudged her as Legolas walked in. "Here comes your boy toy."

Caleniel froze with a blush and looked down. "I still don't know what that means, but I'm still taking it as not good."

I grinned, letting out a small laugh. 

Elrond stepped forward. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, 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." He gestured for the hobbit to place the ring on a small pedestal.

Frodo hesitantly did so. There were a few gasps and whispers spreading throughout the council. Caleniel's eyes were wide. I looked at the ring, feeling something awful in my stomach.

 Boromir's eyes glued to the ring. "So it is true!" He took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the ring. "A dream: I saw the Eastern sky grow dark, but in the West a pale light lingered. The voices crying of dooms near at hand. A suitor's pain is found."

My brows crashed together as he reached out for the ring.

"Suitor's pain."

"Boromir!" Elrond rose.

Gandalf began cast a spell of darkness as he shook the earth, standing up. I stared at Gandalf with wide eyes. I took a deep breath, hoping he would calm down. Once Boromir sat down, Gandalf made every part of the angry magic disappear.

 My head whirled to Caleniel. "That story you told me sixty years ago."

Caleniel nodded as she looked at the ring with wide eyes. "It's true," she whispered back.

Elrond turned to Gandalf. "Never before had any voice uttered the words of that tongue here and in Imladeris."

"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the black speach of Mordor may have been heard in every corner of the West. The ring is all together evil."

I nodded. "A very evil weapon indeed."

Boromir shook his head. "It is a gift... a gift to the foes of Mordor!" He stood up and began walking around. "Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, held the forces of Mordor at bay. 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 stared at Boromir. "You can not wield it. None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

 Boromir faced Aragorn. "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

I raised a brow and whispered to Caleniel. "I thought you said he was a king."

"Patience!"

 Legolas rose to his feet. "This is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

I paused. I had heard the name Arathorn before. All eyes fell on Aragorn.

Boromir stared at Aragorn. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

Legolas continued. "And heir to the throne of Gondor."

"Told you," Caleniel whispered.

I rolled my eyes.

Aragorn said something to Legolas in Elvish, and Legolas sat down.

Boromir glared at Legolas. "Gondor has no king." He turned to Aragorn as he returned to his seat. "Gondor needs no king."

"Aragorn is right." Gandalf spoke. "We cannot use it."

"You only have one choice," Elrond stood up. "The ring must be destroyed."

Wait. If that was the case why hasn't Elrond destroyed it already? There must be a particular way to destroy it.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli stood up and held his axe above his head.

I jumped forward. "Gimli, wait!" When I saw the axe hit the ring, I instantly covered my eyes and turned away.

Elrond nodded with furrowed brows. "Good observation, Bre." His eyes turned to Gimli. "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 firey chasm from whence it came." He glanced at every one of us. "One of you must do this." 

There were a few beats of silence in the room. Caleniel and I exchanged glances.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir looked at Gandalf. "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 a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."

I glared at Boromir. "But--"

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" Legolas stood up as he intruppted me. "The ring must be destroyed."

Gimli shouted at Legolas. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!?"

I smiled to myself. Yeah, scold that Elf!

Boromir leaped to his feet. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Gimli jumped on his feet. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"

Caleniel rose to her feet. "Pardon me!?"

I laughed, and she turned to me with furrowed brows.

I shrugged. "Your kind isn't as great as you believe."

"And what exactly does that mean?"

I rose to my feet. "Do you not remember what help came from the Elves when the Dwarves needed it? Oh, that's right! There wasn't any!"

"That has nothing to do with EVERY ELF!"

"Never trust an Elf!" I heard Gimli shout.

I gestured at Gimli. "My point exactly."

Caleniel paused. "You forget I helped you when Thorin needed help."

My brows crashed together. "You are one of the people whom is not worthy to mention his name. The lie that you cared for him as a friend was all you could say!"

"I will take it!"

Caleniel and I paused with furrowed brows as we slowly turned our heads to Frodo, who was walking towards the ring. I began to notice the arguments around us dying down.

The hobbit took another step forward. "I will take the ring to Mordor."

I stared at him. I slowly shook my head as I looked into his uncertain eyes.

"Though," Frodo continued, "I do not know the way."

Gandalf walked toward Frodo, placing a hand on the hobbit's shoulder. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn stood up. "If, by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." He quickly knelt in front of Frodo. "You have my sword."

I smiled to myself and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword. "And you have my sword."

Legolas stepped forward with our group. "And you have my bow."

"And my axe." Gimli raised his axe slightly.

Caleniel stepped beside me. She gave me a nod and looked at Frodo. "And my bow." She faced Elrond like the rest of us.

Boromir stepped forward. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"Here!"

My breath stilled, and I rolled my eyes once I saw another hobbit running towards us.

"Mr. Frodo's not gong anywhere without me." The hobbit locked gazes with Frodo.

Elrond seemed to glare at the blond hobbit. "No, Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

"Oi! We're coming too!"

Two hobbits started running toward us. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."

 The second hobbit nodded. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... quest... thing..."

 "Well, that rules you out, Pip."

I let out a small laugh.

Elrond looked us over. "Eleven companions... So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Great." Pip smiled. "Where are we going?"