The first light of the day shines upon Aragorn's chamber. Iladya stirs awake and her eyes flutter open. She tilts her head, coming across Aragorn's resting face. Last night's memory invaded her mind of how she listened to him, to his story. The corners of het mouth curve into a humble smile. She grasps several more moments before she awakens him by pressing her lips on his. Iladya feels the man stir awake under her lips.
Aragorn feels Iladya's delicate lips on his. His arms move around her waist to pull her close to him. This is a surreal feeling. That he is still out in the wild, making way for the Prancing Pony. He does not dare to open his eyes, not wanting to meet the cold reality.
''Open your eyes, Aragorn,'' Iladya whispers, pulling away from his lips. Aragorn keeps his eyes shut and he shakes his head.
''I do not want this dream to end,'' he speaks. Aragorn feels her hands cupping his cheeks, her thumbs caressing his cheekbones. He is focused on the movement of her thumbs, now moving to his lips. Iladya caresses his lips with her thumbs before she plants a slow kiss on his lips.
''Lord Elrond awaits us,'' she whispers. Aragorn opens his eyes and he locks her eyes with his. Without another word Aragorn pulls Iladya into a kiss. He earns a chuckle that vibrates through his body. He pulls away to admire her facial features. He could not get enough of her beauty.
''What is flashing through you mind?'' He simply stares into her eyes with a smile plastered on his face. ''How blessed I am to have you back in my life,'' he whispers. Iladya leans in closer and pecks his lips before rising to her feet.
     "I am more than thankful, however, Elhorir could have done it too," she teases and winks at him. Aragorn glances at her through his eyelashes before snatching his arms around her waist and pulls her onto him back on bed. Iladya shrieks by the surprise.
     "I will not lose you to another Elf," he grunts. Iladya chuckles as her hand searches for his cheek. "I was merely joking, which I am allowed to since your stunt," Iladya reasons. Aragorn hides his face in the nap of her neck. 
     "Hmm," he nuzzles. "You are right, my lady." He places soft kisses on the back of her neck before letting her go. They have, in fact, a council to attend.

Once they were properly dressed, Aragorn and Iladya make way for the Council. The two go separate ways as Iladya joins her kin and Aragorn joins his. Legolas stared at the two and leaned down to whisper in his sister ear:
     "You were not in your room." Iladya turns to look aside, only to see a smug look on her brother's face. She merely rolls her eyes.
     "He has made it up to me," she answers. "He gave me his apology and offered to explain the situation. The dignity that I have, I made clear how he made me feel." Legolas listened to every word his sister spoke. A bubble of hope flares in his chest, hoping they will end up together. Legolas opens his mouth, but Lord Elrond rises to his feet.
     "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," he speaks, his eyes lingering on all of them before settling on Frodo.
     ''Bring forth the Ring, Frodo.'' Frodo walks over to the stone plinth in the middle of the circle and carefully puts the Ring down on it. All of the attention is drawn to the Ring. Boromir puts his hand to his mouth and mutters: ''So it is true.'' Iladya's eyes linger on Frodo who sighs in what seems relief.
     ''In a dream,'' Boromir speaks, rising to his feet. All eyes turn to Borormir as he closes in on the Ring. ''I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. In the West, a pale light lingered A voice was crying, your doom is near at hand. Isildur's bane is found.'' Boromir reaches out for the Ring as Elrond's voice makes him jump back.
     ''Boromir!'' Elrond jumps to his feet. The sky darkens and Gandalf begins to speak in Black Speech.
     ''Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk. Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.'' Elrond holds his head in pain as Iladya closes her eyes. Frodo stares at the Ring as it appears to be talking to him. The sky clears and the sun reappears. All representatives are shaken in their chairs.
     ''Never before has anyone uttered the words in that tongue here in Imladris,'' Elrond grits through his teeth.
     ''I do not ask your pardon Master Elrond for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West,'' Gandalf says as he looks at everyone. ''The Ring is altogether evil.''
     ''Aye it is a gift,'' Boromir speaks as he rises to his feet again. Iladya fights the urge not to roll her eyes. ''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 bey. By the blood of our people are you lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him.'' After moments, someone steps up.
     ''You cannot wield it. None of us can,'' Aragorn speaks. ''The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other Master.'' Boromir turns to Aragorn as do every other pair of eyes.
     ''And what woudl a Ranger know of this matter?'' Boromir sneers.
     ''This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance,'' Iladya scolds while shooting to her feet. Boromir glances at Aragorn with disbelief.
     ''Aragorn,'' he scoffs. ''This ... is Isildur's heir?''
     ''And Heir to the throne of Gondor,'' she adds with the preying eyes on the man of Gondor. Aragorn looks at her and holds up his hand.
     "Havo dad, Iladya," Aragorn speaks with a kind expression in his eyes. Boromir turns to Iladya and spits: "Gondor has no King." He returns to his seat. "Gondor needs no King," he speaks in Aragorn's direction. Boromir sits down, his eyes lingering on Iladya. He sends her a grin and a swift wink before averting his gaze. Iladya draws an expression of disgust before Gandalf speaks.
''Aragorn is right, we cannot use it,'' Gandalf says. Elrond stands up again, ''you have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed.''
     ''Then what are we waiting for?'' Gimli asks. He jumps to his feet and takes his axe. Elrond and the other watch with worry as Gimli brings down his axe on the Ring. A shocking vision of the eye appears on Frodo who holds his head in pain. Gimli is thrown onto the floor, his axe blade shattered, whilst the Ring remains undamaged. Gandalf looks at Frodo in concern as the words of the One Ring are uttered from it.
     ''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 fiery chasm from whence it came.'' The Ring continues to whisper. ''One of you ... must do this.'' Elrond glances around the room, looking for a candidate.
''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 and the great eye is ever watchful. This 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,'' Boromir explains, shaking his head. Legolas jumps on his feet, ''have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed.''
     ''And I suppose you think you're the one to do it,'' Gimli protests.
     ''And if we fail what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?'' Boromir asks, standing on his feet as well.
     ''I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an elf,'' Gimli shouts. The elves stand up to back up Legolas. The men do the same, they all start talking and arguing. Aragorn watches Iladya, standing next to Legolas. Just like him, she doesn't join the argument. She just stands there, backing up her kin.
     ''Never trust an elf!'' Gimli shouts. Gandalf shakes his head while Frodo watches the arguing people in the reflection of the Ring. Then Gandalf stands to join the arguments.
     ''Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed.''
Frodo stares at the Ring as he hears these words uttered, ''Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.'' The people he can see in the Ring are suddenly covered with a Ring of fire. Frodo stands up, ''I will take it!'' Yet, no one heard him.

''I will take it!'' Gandalf closes his eyes in sorrow. ''I will take the Ring to Mordor.'' Everyone stops talking and looks at him in awe. ''Tho, I do not know the way.''
''I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear,'' Gandalf says. He walks and stands behind him.
     ''If be my life or death, I can protect you I will,'' Aragorn says and walks up to him. He kneels as he says, ''you have my sword.''
     ''And you have our bow,'' Legolas and Iladya say in unison. They walk over to join the others. Iladya stood next to Aragorn.
     ''And my axe,'' Gimli says, looking at the elves who grimace he too joins the others. Aragorn sneakily tries to get a hold of her hand, but fails. Iladya wraps her finger around his finger.
     ''You carry the fate of us all little one,'' Boromir says and walks towards them, ''if this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done.'' Aragorn looks down at Iladya and smiles. That smile disappears into a thin line as he gazes at Elrond.

Peering through the bushes Sam shouts and runs to join Frodo, ''mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me!'' Elrond watches Sam in amusement, ''no indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not!'' Merry and Pippin are listening to all this from behind some pillars and run in.
     ''Wait, we're coming too!'' Merry calls. Elrond looks astounded.
     ''You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us.''
     ''Any way you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission ... quest ... thing,'' Pippin says. Merry turns to Pippin and says, ''well that rules you out, Pip.'' Elrond looks at the ten stood together.
     ''Ten companions ... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!''
     ''Great! Where are we going?''