(Y/n) ignored the man from Gondor, as she took her seat at the Council. The princess choosing to take a place between Gandalf and poor Frodo, instead of sitting with her uncle Legolas and the other elves, or Gimli, Glóin and the other dwarves; for given that she had promised Bilbo that she would watch over him, it seemed the right thing to do. The princess smiling softly at the little hobbit, as he pushed his hand into hers; (Y/n) giving it a reassuring squeeze, until Lord Elrond began to speak.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Lord Elrond announced, as he looked around those that had journeyed to the elven realm. Men, elf and dwarf, along with a very little hobbit and a princess of two worlds, sitting and listening to the words of the high elf.

"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." The peredhel continued, before turning his attention to the hobbit; gesturing for him to place the ring on the stone plinth before him. Frodo reluctantly letting (Y/n)'s hand go, before slowly getting to his feet and moving into the centre of the circle, placing the seemingly innocuous band of gold on the stone.

"So, it is true." Boromir said. His eyes lingering on the Ring, as Frodo retook his seat at her side, and let out a sigh. (Y/n) and the others looking up, as the son of Gondor got to his feet.

"In a dream. I saw the eastern sky grow dark; but in the west, a pale light lingered." Boromir began, as he slowly took steps towards the stone pedestal.

"A voice is crying, 'your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found.'" The High Warden of the White Tower continued. (Y/n) feeling her hand grip tightly at the chair beneath her, as he slowly reached out.

"Isildur's bane..............." The last words that the man spoke before Elrond quickly got to his feet and called out his name. (Y/n)'s head beginning to pain her, as Gandalf began to speak lowly in a tongue that she could not understand. Boromir backing away; the sky growing dark and the ground around them shaking, as the words continued to spill from the wizard's lips. The princess not blind to the fact that whatever the old Maia was saying, it was having the same effect on her elven kin as it was her.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue in Imladris....." The elven lord said, as he looked at the grey man.

"I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond......." Gandalf replied, as the peredhel retook his seat.

"For the black speech of Mordor, may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The Ring is altogether, evil.............." The Maia continued, as he looked at all those present, his eyes falling on (Y/n) and Frodo, before he sat back next to them.

"But surely it is a gift ... a gift to the foes of Mordor!" Boromir began again, as once more got to his feet. Gandalf and the others turning to look at him. It seeming as if he had not heard a word that had just been said. As if he were under an enchantment.

"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. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him........!"

"You cannot wield it.........." Another voice came. The princess looking over to the Ranger that her uncle Legolas had introduced her to, the night before.

"None of us can........... The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master......"

"What would a Ranger know, of this matter?" Boromir asked with disdain, as he looked at the dark-haired Ranger. (Y/n) slightly taken aback, as Legolas got to his feet and spoke.

"This is no mere Ranger.......He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance........."

Aragon.......(Y/n) looking between her uncle and the man. This man was no mere anything. The Ranger that she had danced with the night before, was the one that would be king. The king that had been waited for, for so long.

"Aragorn...........? This is Isildur's heir.........?" Boromir asked, as he looked between elf and man.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor........." Legolas added. It obvious to (Y/n) that Aragorn meant a lot to her uncle, given his tone. A tone that he would only use when defending those that he cared for.

"Havo dad, Legolas........" Aragorn said, gesturing to the elf to calm himself.

"Gondor has no king." Boromir continued.

"Gondor needs no king." He added as he made his way back to his chair. His eyes looking to her, as he sat back down.

"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it........." Gandalf told them all, as Lord Elrond got back to his feet.

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed........"

"Then what are we waiting for." Gimli said. The dwarf not listening as the princess shouted out his name; called on him to stop. Gimli raising his axe above his head and bringing it down on the Ring. The dwarves weapon smashing into pieces, but leaving the One Ring, as it was. (Y/n) dropping to her knees, as the image of a flaming eye flashed in her mind.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin; by any craft that we here possess." Elrond explained, as the dwarf and (Y/n) were helped to their feet.

"The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade." The dark haired ellon continued.

"It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you........must do this.........."

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep." Boromir finally said, breaking the silence.

"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........"

"Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed........" Legolas countered, as he jumped to her feet.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli interpreted, as he glared at the elf. (Y/n) shaking her head at the pair. Hoping that she didn't get stuck in the middle of some idiotic elf and dwarf argument. The princess recalling all the times that her mother had had to do something similar between her husband and father.

"And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his....?" (Y/n) drowning out the rest of Boromir's words; drowning out Gimli's words against Legolas; her eyes falling on the Ring, sure that all this was because of the band of gold that lay on the stone plinth. That they would not be like this, if some evil did not have a sway over them. The princess holding her head and her stomach as they filled with a pain like a thousand knives being pushed into her flesh. The awful feeling only subsiding, when she heard a soft voice that was barely audible over the argument that was raging around her. A tear coming to her eyes, as she looked at the hobbit that had stepped forward and announced that he would take the Ring.

"I will take it." He called out again. (Y/n) turning her attention to Gandalf. It obvious that this was the last thing that the grey wizard had wanted.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor." Frodo said again, as the din died down. (Y/n) slowly getting to her feet and making her way over to join him; as all the other stared in disbelief.

"Though..........I do not know the way.........." He added softly, as he once more placed his hand in (Y/n)'s.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins.........As long as it is yours to bear........" Gandalf said, as he joined the hobbit.

"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will........You have my sword." Aragorn announced, as he dropped to his knee in front of Frodo.

"And you have my bow." Legolas declared, as he stepped forward and stood by Gandalf's side.

"And my axe." Gimli moving until he had reluctantly joined Legolas.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." Boromir agreed, as he moved to join all those that already stood with Frodo. (Y/n) looking at to those who surrounded the hobbit; knowing what she had to do to fulfill the promise that she had made to a beloved old hobbit.

"Frodo.........." She said, as she dropped to her knees and took both of his hands.

"Once a little hobbit stood shoulder to shoulder with my family, and he and you became as much kin to me, as any that shares my blood. And now, that family stands with you, my dear Frodo. I know that I am not old for either dwarf or elf; but I am my mother and father's daughter, and will fight for you and with you, if you will do me the honour of letting me join you........?" (Y/n) asked, ignoring the noises of discontent from Gimli and Legolas. A smile coming to her lips, as the hobbit nodded.

"Here. Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me." A voice suddenly called out. Sam appearing from nowhere and coming to stand by (Y/n) and Frodo.

"No indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you. Even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not." Elrond doing his best not to smile, as looked at the blonde hobbit

"Wait. We're coming too." Yet another voice came. Merry and Pippin running out and coming to stand in front of her.

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." The Merry added, as he looked between the princess and the rather confused elven lord. Elrond realising that his private Council, hadn't been as private as he thought.

"Anyway, you need people of intelligence, on this sort of mission.......Quest......Thing. That, and we promised to look after (Y/n). Can't have a princess wandering around without someone to take care of her......" Pippin said. Giving (Y/n) a broad smile and a wink. Not seeming to notice the looks from Gimli and her uncle.

"Ten companions." Elrond said, as he looked at the strange group.

"So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring........."

"Right........where are we going..........?"