The council

As she lifted her eyes to the little community, Frances realised that nearly no time had passed, and most of the guests were still staring at the ring in awe or horror. The central blond elf, however, was not gazing at the jewel, but his deep blue eyes were fixed on her instead. During a few seconds his features stayed motionless as he bore holes into her, probably deciphering her thoughts. It seems like he could see right through her, and although that made her uncomfortable Frances refused to lower her own gaze. There was nothing for her to hide, and her deep chocolate eyes sent him back such sincerity that Legolas would have staggered back where he not seated. It was like she offered her soul for inspection, opening the very core of her spirit for him to judge, and the elf felt like he was prying. However, what he saw in her eyes was so pure that he could not help but smile. Seeing the imperceptible movement of his perfect face, the young woman gave him a timid smile, but the exchange was soon interrupted by the steward's son.

As Boromir's face finally lightened up, he spoke those words:

- "It is a gift ... a gift to the foes of Mordor! 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!"

As the man stood up to emphasis his point, a deep soft voice tried to bring him, back to reality:

- "You cannot wield it. None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone ... it has no other master."

Those words found their mark in Frances' mind, confirming what she had previously concluded. Such an amount of power un-mastered could bring catastrophic results, but the son of Gondor refused to see it that way. As his face contorted in disdain, the young woman realised that the ring must be pulling at his strings to taunt him. Which were they ? Pride, or sorrow for his own people ? The steward's son turned his arrogant face to Strider and said:

- "And what would a ranger know of this matter?"

The silence that followed was short. Nonetheless the man did not react to this insult, merely reflecting his pity for Boromir in his ageless grey eyes. However, one of the council members did not accept this rebuke so easily, and Frances watched with wide eyes the angry statement of the central wood elf, the one who has smiled at her, as he stood up sharply:

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

Gasping in surprise, Frances turned a questioning look to the ranger. As everything clicked into place, a small smile spread on her lips. He had told her of his family, the Dunedain and the line of Elros, but her knowledge of middle earth was not extended enough yet, and she had not made the connection between Isildur and the current situation at hand. The implications for Gondor were huge. Frodo looked stunned, but somewhere in his eyes reflected the same relief as Frances. It all made sense to him, because he too had seen something more in the ranger's ways.

This revelation, however, was not to Boromir's liking, and she could understand his reasons. The steward's house had probably been working hard to maintain Gondor's integrity, and the appearance of a dead line king was not good news to their house.

- "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"

- "And heir to the throne of Gondor", added the elf, shaking with anger.

Before the confrontation turned bitter, the new called Aragorn – another name to add to his long list - turned to his elvish friend in an attempt to pacify the exchange.

- "Havo dad, Legolas", said his soothing voice.

His face reflecting a bit of confusion, the elf eyed the heir of Gondor for a second and finally nodded while sitting down. Frances had heard enough of elvish to know what the order meant, but it surprised her that the wood elf had relented. Furious as he seemed, there was a deeper understanding between the two warriors than met the eye. Cut down in her reflexion by an angry line from the steward stated that Gondor needed no King; she gazed at the man as he regained his seating. It was not the first time that she saw him this morning, but the pride that had tainted his bearing when she had crossed his path had now turned to arrogance and hostility. It was amazing how his face had transfigured, and Frances wondered if this was linked to his loyalty to the land of Gondor, or rather to the influence of the ring. Perhaps it was a combination of both, but whatever the reason she felt a pang of uneasiness to share the council with someone enslaved by his feelings. It was so weakly human to react by anger and bitterness that it seemed very out of place in this enchanting city.

- "Aragorn is right", finally stated Gandalf, using the heir's name fully now that it had been disclosed. "We cannot use it".

- "You have only one choice", added Lord Elrond, focusing everybody's attention. The ring must be destroyed

The revelation made sense, at least to most of the people sitting across the stone room. The dwarf named Gimli even stood up, and his roaring surprised Frances who jumped in surprise:

- "Then ... what are we waiting for?", he cried, rushing forward.

Swinging his axe in a mighty blow, the dwarf crushed his oversized weapon over the ring in an attempt to reduce it to powder. Astonished by this rash decision, Frances watched with wide eyes the axe shatter with a deafening crack. As the dwarf was projected backwards, she could not help but marvel at how little power the jewels held over that stout being. None of them had dared approaching it, even less touching it so the bold move from the dwarf demonstrated an incredible self-control, and a little bit of stupidity.

After the shock had passed, Glorfindel suggested that maybe the elvish rings of power could protect the one, but as Lord Elrond refused, the name of Saruman the wise was spoken. The tension in the wizard's shoulders increased suddenly, and the next hour or so was spent hearing the tale of Saruman's treason. Horrified, elves, dwarves and hobbits learnt how one of their most powerful allies had turned his back to reason, and embraced the dark lord's cause.

Frances sighed, catching Elrohir's gaze on the other side of the open circle. If even the wise ones started swaying, the battle would be dire. She noted to ask more of this Saruman figure to the twins later one. Those two would know how to paint a quick strategic picture to her; they were used to her cultural shortcomings.

As the conversation went by, the bell rang noon, but nobody noticed it, except for Bilbo who never missed lunch time. Frodo, however, his deep blue eyes wide open, drank everyone's word like his life depended on it.

As Gandalf gave the council every detail of his adventures, many other stories joined in the tale, creating a complicated pattern even for those who knew much. This is how Frances started to realise how deep the affair of the ring was. It affected every living creature on middle earth, would they accept it or not? A hobbit, Gollum, was mentioned as the former owner of the ring. Gandalf had sent Aragorn to fetch him, and it was only by a miracle that he managed to capture the poor creature. His description of the creature was a bit weird, and the young lady felt a wave of uneasiness coming from both ranger and wood elf. It was then that the envoy from Greenwood stood up. Legolas, if Frances had heard right. His fair features were covered with shame, and it nearly hurt to hear the strain of his beautiful voice.

- "Alas, alas", exclaimed Legolas, "the tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told..."

This is how the company learnt that Gollum had escaped, probably helped by a band of Orcs. The wood elves, in their great kindness, had not had the heart to keep him into chains, and the foul little creature had played them by appealing to their good heart. One dwarf though, rose and spoke up in a harsh manner about the concern of elves, only to be told off by Gandalf. There was some underlying story there that Frances did not know about. The tension eased up as the dwarf bowed and sat down, but still some glances were exchanged between the group and Bilbo. Raising her eyebrows to the older hobbit, the young lady was rewarded by a semi smile, like a promise to tell her more whenever all the discussions of the fair folk would be finished. In matters of darwishness, always refer to Bilbo !

The talk went on, exploring any solution that could be offered, and one by one they were dismissed. Nobody had the strength to protect the ring, not even the elven lords, and there was no place to hide it that could ensure its safety. Many possibilities were suggested, and many more names quoted that Frances ignored. The dark lord had minions everywhere, and if not all foul creatures obeyed him, it wasn't worth taking a risk that any of them find the ring. Finally, as moments of silences started to slip through the discussion, she realised that all these people reunited had not found any solution. The giants of this era were powerless, and the young woman shivered. If elf lords, wizards, kings and dwarves could not find a way, then who would?

Surprisingly, it was Frodo who did. His legs shaking, he came up to the pedestal where the ring stood. Silence fell over the place as he said:

- "I will take the ring, though I do not know the way."

All eyes fell upon the hobbit in awe. Of all the people present there, he certainly seemed the weakest, and yet his courage would be sung for the rest of times. Shame filled everybody's heart as realisation sunk in, for all of them had been in battle before, even Frances. Before anybody could object though, Sam jumped into the circle, crying that his master could surely not go alone. This is how the council ended; hope resting on two hobbits' shoulders as more companions had yet to be designated to protect them on their quest. The unlikelihood of the event itself kept all mouths shut, even those of Elrond's sons who weren't usually the last to open.