"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Lord Elrond began, as he looked around those that had heeded his calls. Sons of man, elf and dwarf, along with a very little hobbit, 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 half-elven turning his gaze to the hobbit; gesturing for him to place the ring on the stone plinth before him. Frodo slowly getting to his feet and moving into the centre of the circle and placing the seemingly innocuous band of gold on the stone.

"So, it is true." Boromir, son of Denthor said, as his eyes lingered on the Ring. Aragorn's eyes watching every movement, as Frodo retook his seat at Gandalf's side, and let out a sigh. The grey wizard 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, as he slowly reached out.

"Isildur's bane..............." Elrond quickly getting to his feet and calling out his name, as Boromir's hand got too close to the Ring. Gandalf beginning to speak lowly in a tongue that only knew evil. The sky growing dark and the ground around them shaking, as the black speech continue to spill from the wizard's lips. Boromir backing away, and Elrond clutching at his head, as Gandalf continued. A sudden burst of light surrounding those gathered, as the grey wizard stopped speaking. All those present jumping to their feet and reaching for their weapons, as the light faded to reveal a black hooded figure stood before them. Gandalf shouting for all to stand back, to retake their seats, as the black form, gripping at an equally black staff, moved closer.

"You should not speak such things here.......Stormcrow." A voice from under hood said. A voice that very few present, had expected. A voice that seemed to surround them.

"I do not ask your pardon, nor that of Master Elrond. For the black speech of Mordor, may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The Ring is altogether, evil.............."

"Do not think to teach me about this evil, Gandalf the Grey." The black figure replied angrily. A collective gasp being heard, as the new presence suddenly pulled back their hood. Each male in attendance at the meeting, sure that they had just lain their eyes on such exquisite beauty, that they were sure that anything else for the rest of their days, would pale in comparison. The woman taking another step forward; her eyes closing, as she stood before the Ring.

"I know better than many here, what this Ring means. What evil it can bring with it; what control over the minds of those that call this world home, it can have. I was there the day that it was cut from Sauron's hand by Isildur. There when a promise was made that it would be returned to the fire from whence it was forged." She continued, her eyes moving to look at Elrond.

"Yet it would appear that I took my leave too soon from Barad-dûr. That I should have stayed and made sure that Isildur and the elf that followed him, did what they were entrusted to do." All eyes now turning to look at Elrond.

"And............" A voice interrupted. The dark clad female turning to look at one of the dwarves that had just got to his feet.

"Whom, might this unwanted guest be and why has she come barging in..........."

"Hold your tongue, Gimli son of Gloin." Gandalf interjected with a growl, as he got to his feet.

"The woman that stands before you, is (Y/n) the Black. The only female member of the Ishtari and the White Council. And our last hope for aid, now that Saruman has joined the Dark Lord. The one that is best to advice on what should be done with the Ring." Gandalf explain, as the witch looked down at the dwarf. Gimli just giving a simple nod, before returning to his chair.

"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 (Y/n) turning to look at him. It as if he had not heard a word that had just been said.

"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 witch looking over to see a man, with features that she was sure that she recognised.

"None of us can..........."

"The man is right. The Ring only has one master. It is not something that will bend to your will; you will bend to it. Its only reason for being, is to corrupt; to spread the evil of Sauron to every corner of this world, until nothing good, nothing pure; nothing beautiful, survives.........."

"What would a Ranger know, of this matter?" Boromir asked with disdain, as he looked at the dark-haired man.

"This is no mere Ranger." An elf with long pale hair interrupted, quickly getting to his feet.

"He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance........."

"Aragorn...........? This is Isildur's heir.........?" Boromir asked. (Y/n) making her way to stand over the Ranger, the newfound knowledge of his lineage, telling her why she saw something in him that she recognised. Her eyes set on him, as he looked between her and Boromir.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor........." The elf added. It obvious to (Y/n) that the elf and Isildur's heir, were friends given his tone.

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

"Gondor has no king." Boromir told the elf behind him.

"Gondor needs no king." He continued as he made his way over to the Ranger. Stopping, as the black witch turned to glare at him.

"Enough of this petty squabbling. I was woken from my slumbers by that accursed creation, and what do I have to listen to? A petulant child that is not getting his own way. Now sit down!" (Y/n) exclaimed. The witch having had enough of their ridiculous, pointless arguments, when real evil was before them. The witch only moving her eyes from Boromir, when he had once more sat down.

"Now listen and listen well. The heir of Isildur is right. The Ring cannot be used; so, there is only one thing that can be done. The one thing that can end Sauron's evil. The Ring must be destroyed........." (Y/n) continued, as she looked around the others.

"Then what are we waiting for." Gimli spoke. The black witch shaking her head, as he got to his feet, before raising his axe above his head and bringing it down on the Ring. The dwarves weapon smashing into pieces, but leaving the One Ring, unscathed. (Y/n) dropping to her knees, as images flashed before her eyes, and black speech filled her ears. Gandalf looking between her and the hobbit by his side, who seemed to be suffering just as much.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin; by any craft that we here possess." The women said, as she finally shook the images and voices from her mind.

"The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. As it should have been, so long ago." She explained, as she looked to the Hobbit, who in turned looked between her and the Ring.

"It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Elrond said. The black witch nodding, before he continued.

"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 announced.

"And the great eye, is ever watchful.........

"That is true. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. But still we must try........" (Y/n) called out. Recalling her time there, when she had fought alongside Gil-galad during the Last Alliance. Boromir looking at her in disbelief.

"Not with ten thousand men, could you do this. It is folly........" He told her. His words angering not only her; but the pale haired Legolas.

"Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond and the lady have said? The Ring must be destroyed........"

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli asked bitterly, as he glared at the elf.

"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 the elf. The witch well aware that the Ring was causing this; that this was what it wanted. What he wanted. Her head feeling as though it were being stabbed at with daggers as more black speech filled her ears. As Sauron tried to call to her. The pain only stopping when she heard a soft voice that was barely audible over the argument that was raging. 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) looking up to Gandalf. It obvious that this was the last thing that the grey wizard had wanted.

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

"Are you sure that that is what you want, little one?" The witch asked, as she knelt in front of him and took his hand. Frodo nodding.

"It is, but.......I do not know the way.........."

"Then I will help you." (Y/n) told him, as she rested her hand on his shoulder.

"I too, will help you bear this burned, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf agreed, as he too joined the hobbit. The Ranger the next to get to his feet.

"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." Aragorn said, as he came to (Y/n)'s side and dropped to his knee.

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

"And my axe." Gimli moving until he was reluctantly stood next to the elf.

"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) smiling at the hobbit again, before she got to her feet. Her smile staying on her lips, as Frodo kept a tight grip on her hand.

"Here. Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me." Another hobbit announced, as he appeared from nowhere, and pushed himself in between (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 said. The witch not missing the amused look in his eyes.

"Wait. We're coming too." Yet another voice came. Two more hobbits running up the steps and over to Frodo. Coming to stand in front of her.

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." The third hobbit continued.

"Anyway, this beautiful lady is going to need someone to protect her on the journey. And you also need people of intelligence, on this sort of mission.......Quest......Thing."

"Well, that rules you out, Pip." The other little one retorted, as he looked at his friend, before they both started fighting over (Y/n)'s remaining hand. In the end, the pair agreeing to just take two fingers, each.

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

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

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