I ran through the halls, trying not to be late for the council meeting. I turned a corner and ran right into an elf. My bow and arrows fell off of my shoulder into the floor with a soft thud.

"Sorry, my lady," the elf said. He bent down and retrieved my items as I stood up. Then I took in his appearance. He had long blonde hair the color of milk, eyes as blue as the ocean yet I wasn't too impressed. Those features were common in Lothlorien. Even I had similar traits.

"It was my fault really. I was trying to get to the council meeting on time but I'm usually late." The elf smiled and extended his hand.

"I'm Legolas." I took it kindly. His hands were unusually soft, thinking of the bow on his own back.

"I'm Arietta," I replied, causing his eyes to widen in recognition.

"You're the daughter of Adalia and granddaughter of Lady Galadriel." I nodded, slightly embarrassed. Noticing my embarrassment, Legolas changed the subject.

"We better get to the council meeting," he said and we started walking towards the gathering hall.

*

    We sat in a circle, listening to Lord Elrond talk. I wasn't too interested but being an apprentice this long, I had experience with boring conversations.

"You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He said a few more sentences about unity, but like I said, I wasn't paying attention. Well, not until they called the hobbit forth.

"Bring forth the ring, Frodo," he said and little Frodo walked up to him. He laid it on a pedestal slowly. A little too slowly, I thought. Everyone leaned forward in their seats and whispered quietly, their voices all blending in together. Boromir stood up before slowly inching towards the ring, talking about a dream he had. He reached out to touch it, raising a red flag inside of me and I looked at Gandalf questioningly. He nodded in approval. Without further hesitation, I flicked my finger at Boromir, causing fire to shoot forth and burn him in the hand. He yelped and pulled his hand away and then came towards me, angry. This will be pleasant.

"What gave you the right to do that? Aren't you just some silly little girl?" I stood up quickly, ready to knock his sorry butt back to Gondor, but Lord Elrond stopped me.

"Lady Arietta, sit down. There is no need for a fight right now," Lord Elrond said. I sat back down beside Gandalf, slightly flushed. I kinda wanted to beat up the steward's son but of course, Elrond ruins the fun. 

Boromir started pacing and asked for the ring to be given to Gondor. Is he really that stupid? Oh wait, of course he is.

"The ring only answers to Sauron," Aragorn said.

"What would a ranger know?" sneered Boromir.

"That's no mere Ranger, that's Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance," Legolas said, pushing his chair back and standing up. The room went silent and Boromir let out a small gasp that only the acute hearing would be able to pick up.

"Aragorn?" he asked in disbelief. I began picking at my nails with little interest in the conversation.

"The heir to the Gondor Empire," Legolas confirmed.

"We'll have it at that, Legolas," Lord Elrond said. Legolas sat down.

"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king," Boromir said in a low voice before walking back to his seat. Oh look, one of my cuticles is damaged. How sad. I couldn't dwell on it anymore because pulled me away from my nails, scolding me with his eyes. I rolled mine before giving my attention to Elrond.

"There is only one choice. The ring must be destroyed," Lord Elrond said. Gimli picked up his axe and slammed it onto the ring. His axe shattered and a moan sounded from beside me. Since it wasn't Gandalf, it had to be Frodo. My gaze fell on him only to see him in pain.

"It cannot be destroyed Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there it can be unmade. One of you must do this."

"One cannot simply walk into Mordor. It's 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 and riddled with fire, ash, and dust. Not with ten thousand men you could do this. It's just folly," Boromir-the-oh-so-cheerful said causing Legolas to shoot up from his seat again. Seriously, he was going to wear out his knees.

"Have you not heard what Lord Elrond had said? The ring must be destroyed!" Yes Legolas, we know this. It has been suggested about what, fifty times?

"And you suppose your the one to do it?" Gimli asked mockingly. Oh, the calm before the storm.

"I'll be dead before the ring is put into the hands of an elf." The storm has begun. The elves stood up with red faces only to be stopped by Legolas. They bickered at one another resulting in Gandalf shaking his head beside me. He too stood up a few seconds later and joined in the fighting. When I was about to blow the whole council up and be done with the bickering, Frodo's small figure made it's way to the group.

"I'll take it," he said softly. Gandalf turned to look at him with a knowing look. He probably expected this all along.

"I will take the ring to Mordor," he repeated, louder. The room hushed and stared in disbelief at Frodo.

"I do not know the way," he added.

"I will help you with this burden," Gandalf said, standing beside Frodo. Soon, the rest of the room agreed to accompany Frodo on the journey. Even Frodo's hobbit friends agreed to come. Lord Elrond turned towards me.

"I suspect you'll be going too, Lady Arietta, daughter of Adalia." My eyes widened in surprise. I can't go to Mordor but Gandalf sent me a look that said I had to so I stood up.

"Yes, Lord Elrond, I shall be going." He smiled at me and turned to the other nine people.

"Ten companions. You shall be called the Fellowship Of The Ring!"

"Great. Where are we going?" One of the hobbits asked. I giggled even though this was no laughing matter. A few more details were given before the council meeting adjourned. I went to leave but Boromir blocked my path. I wonder if he wants to keep his ability to have children or not...

"Lady Adalia, I must apologize for my earlier behavior. I did not realize who you are." I smiled coldly at him. If he really thinks he will get on my good side, he is sadly mistaken.

"If that is how you treat women of lower rank than you, you are not worth more than the dirt I walk on," I said before walking away with a sway of my hips, something that I've only seen my mother do when she was being, well, her. I continued down the hallway before being joined. It was Gandalf.

"Why do I have to go?" I asked him angrily, running my fingers through my hair.

"We need you. You are a powerful wizard, just like your mother, but you haven't even began to touch the great power that you possess." I stopped walking and turned to him.

"Oh, is that so? So I'm going to be all powerful just because I go on this journey?" Gandalf smiled.

"You're just like your mother. If it wasn't for the journey that she took, she would have never met your father, Thorin, son of Thrain," he said, saying my father's name with great importance. I sighed. He knows that I oblige to anything when he brings up my father.

"I'll go." Gandalf smiled again before walking away. That old man will get me killed.

***Hey guys, so this is the first chapter that I have revised from the first edition! Did ya like it? Hopefully you did and will click that pretty star button at the top. It would mean so much. Also, this is going in to the Wattys. How cool is that? So share this story and vote and hopefully I'll win but I can't do it without you awesome fans:)***

Also, I will put a poem at the end of each chapter, either by me or one I like:)

Arriella – and the Evil Magician

copyright 2011 by jon gutmacher

Arriella! . . . Arriella!

Oh, where have you gone?

you were here just today

by tall castle . . . 'yon

with gold flowing hair

with white flowing dress

with fairies to guide you

with talisman

at your breast

Who took you?

Who managed?

to get thru the spells

to weave through your guards

all wishing

you well

The king is asunder

the queen is in tears

the Mage casting spells

through all of his fears

but none have yet seen you

the castle grows dim

the joy now has left us

our heads

all do swim

For all of us failed you

your joy has moved out

our knights all on quest

"No rest!"

do we shout

We'll find you!

We swear it!

not one of us rest

our meals now are meager

for all

on the quest

To travel the earth

to scour the halls

to seek out that Evil

that caused

this great pall

And one day

we'll find you

and all will rejoice

the land will reap flowers

our halls

fill with noise

For our beautiful princess

was taken away

by an Evil Magician

or, that's

what they say

And now

as I ride

my sword at my hilt

I pass through a wood

a chill

now, I've felt

That never . . .

That never . . .

I've yet

felt before

My hairs stand on end

my chest tightens, too

my hand grasps my sword

my shield falls askew

for there in a clearing

chained to a tree

is Arriella, my princess

I fall to one knee

But, I know to be silent

I know it's a trap

and if I do fail

She'll never be back

And so, with all stealth

as quiet as can be

I take out the cloak

the Mage gave to me

And place it on, over

as I vanish from view

the magic has power

my sword

shall it slew

And then I do chant

what Mage . . .

told to me

it works only once

to set Arriella free

And so, in an instant

I see what's foretold

the Evil One there

his black robes

so bold

And 'fore he could turn

my sword did it swing

his head flew off gruesome

and I grabbed off his ring

His powers were ended

His life was undone

And Arriella swooned

As I came

on the run

And when she awoke

I bowed once, so low

she cried for an instant

and then we did go

And placed her on horse

and took her back home

where trumpets rejoiced

no longer alone

And King weak with joy

and Queen full of tears

the halls filled with light

the fairies appeared

And long did we revel

And long did it last

for our Princess was back

yes . . . finally

at last