The picture is of the dress Evelina wore to the Council and her hairstyle.

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Chapter Six, The Council

It had been a couple of days since they had arrived at Rivendell and two days after their arrival Frodo woke up on October 24th just after they'd finished breakfast in the Dinning Hall. Lord Elrond had come and told them all that Frodo had woken up and that Gandalf was with him. As soon as Sam had finished his breakfast he practically flew to the medical bay where Frodo was being kept. But that was a few days ago, right now Evelina was sat peacefully on a bench in the garden watching as Frodo messed around with his fellow Hobbits as she waited for time to pass until it was time for the Council that she and Neville had been summoned to attend yesterday evening. Neville was somewhere in the other gardens with Aragorn and Legolas, no doubt interrogating them.

"Evelina." A voice behind her called making her jump and spin around an arrow notched into her bow and pointing at the person behind her. "Oh, I'm so sorry Arwen." Evelina apologised as she put her bow and arrow away as she realised who was behind her. "It's quite alright Evelina." Arwen smiled at her. "I've come to help you get ready for the council. Come we have much to do before then. Itarildë has already made your dress after taking your measurements yesterday. And she's adjusted it for your tails." Arwen told her with a kind smile, but with a stern look in her eyes when Evelina went to open her mouth.

Sighing in defeat Evelina rose from her seat and followed to the Bathing House where there was a large pool that was a hot spring. "In you get." Arwen says nodding to her part of the pool with her arms filled with numerous bottles of colourful lotions. Evelina blushed and summoned a screen to hide behind so she could undress before she stepped into the pool. 'I'm just thankful there is no one else here.' Evelina thoughts as she entered the pool, ignoring Arwen as she rolled her eyes at her. "You don't need to be so nervous Mellon nîn, for all of the woman here usually bathe at the same time to help with each other's hair and to save time. But I knew you would be uncomfortable so I asked them to bathe later."

"Now this lotion," Arwen said holding up a light pink lotion that smelt of vanilla, rose and jasmine. "Is for your body, and this one," she says holding up a light blue potion, that had a hint of lavender and citrus fruits coming from it even with the stopper on. "Is for your hair and the other light blue one is for your tails." Arwen explained first handing her the light pink lotion and then one of the light blue potions when she's finished bathing.

After spending around an hour in the Bathing pool Arwen helped her brush out all of the kinks and knots in her hair and tail behind mindful of her sensitive ears. "Put this on." Arwen instructed as she held out a silky light green robe and soft shoes in a sand colour. "They're just until we get to your room." Arwen told her, handing Evelina's old clothes to a maid to be washed. Once Evelina was dressed Arwen led her through the winding courtyards and numerous gardens until they reached Evelina's room.

Evelina gasped when she saw the beautiful medieval, red wine coloured dress with silver accents in the shape of small crystals and leaves, hanging on her wardrobe door with silver shoes on the floor underneath the dress. "It's beautiful." Evelina said her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thank you." Evelina said hugging Arwen before she ran her fingers over the dress. The back was in a corset lace up style while the sleeves were made of chiffon and were in a fluted shape fitted at the elbow, that then open out to a thin trail which ended at the wrist as it finished off with a string of crystals, beads and pearls.

"You're welcome." Arwen smiled at her new friend. "I'm sure Aragorn and Legolas will be unable to keep their eyes off you." She teased causing Evelina to blush and duck her head.

"I'm not too sure Neville will be happy with that." Evelina giggled as she went behind the screen to put on the dress. "No I suppose he won't." Arwen agreed. "If you come out I'll lace you up and do your hair for you."

She suggested smiling when she saw how the dress seemed to enhance her beauty.

* * *

"There, all done." Arwen smiled as she finished putting the last plait into Evelina's hair. She had styled Evelina's hair in a mix of curls and plaits. "Now you just need this." Arwen said holding out a silver headdress that looked like vines interwoven so that it was similar to Arwen's own but also unique. "You are a Lady of two houses and as such you will need this which will help stop the other males at the Council from walking over you. Though I know you don't really need it to prove that." Arwen laughed at her sometimes feisty friend. "But nevertheless," she continued as she fastened the headpiece into place at the back of Evelina's head in place. "It is tradition. You look beautiful." Arwen told her as their was a knock on the door.

"Lady Arwen," Aragorn greeted once she had opened the door. "I've come to take Evelina to the council. Neville has already been taken to the Council Hall by Legolas."

"You're just in time Estel. We've just finished." Arwen said stepping back and allowing Evelina to step forward. As soon as Aragorn saw her his mouth dropped open in surprise and his eyes bugged out. "Estel. Close your mouth." Arwen giggled with Evelina. "I apologise Evelina. I did not mean to embarrass you. You look beautiful mîr-nîn." Aragorn said kissing Evelina on the cheek as she hugged him. If her or Arwen noticed that he held her closer to his chest they didn't mention it.

"I'm sure Legolas will regret his decision when he sees you Evelina." Arwen smirked. "Go. Otherwise you'll be late to the Council." Arwen said making shooing motions with her hands. Laughing Aragorn held his hand out to Evelina, smiling happily when she took it and led her towards the Council Hall. "Actually Legolas wanted to come as well but Neville asked Legolas to show him the way and let me get you. Between you and me I think he trusts me more than Legolas, though I have no idea why." Aragorn said causing them both to fall into another round of laughter.

The short walk to the Council Hall flew by in peals of laughter and friendly banter between the pair as they got to know each other. "That's a nice necklace." Aragorn commented when he saw her fiddling with the golden heart shaped necklace. "Thanks it was my mothers, it's the only thing I have of hers. It's a locket that has a picture of her, my dad and me in it. My godfather Sirius, who adopted me said it was taken shortly before they were murdered." Evelina whispered sadly as she opened it to show a bespectacled black haired man who was obviously a Kitsune with his large black fluffy pointed ears atop his head, his hazel eyes shining with love and happiness as he held a baby Evelina in his arms smiling as she giggled when he or her mother kissed and waved her tiny hands.

"You look just like your mother but there are a few things of your father." Aragorn smiled as he watched the small family waving at him. "Why is this...picture moving?" He asked confused.

"In my world, well the Wizarding part of it at least, we can make the pictures move." Evelina explained smiling sadly at the picture.

"I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sorry, I did not mean to upset you." Aragorn said as he wiped away the tears that Evelina didn't even know had fallen. "It's fine." Evelina assured him when Aragorn looked dubious. Aragorn looked at her critically for a moment before he nodded and gently took her hand as he continued to lead her towards where the Council was being held.

When Aragorn and Evelina entered hand in hand everyone turned to stare at them, but they ignored them as Aragorn led her to a chair that was in between Frodo and Neville and coincidently was opposite Aragorn's own chair. "A woman should not be allowed to join the Council." A man on the opposite side of the room shouted.

"Lady Evelina is my guest and has as much right as you do to be here. Now sit down man of Gondor!" Lord Elrond said tersely, glaring at the man until he sat down.

Evelina looked around the room and saw that there were many elves that sat in a semicircle as well as herself, Neville, Frodo and Gandalf. Lord Elrond and his two sons sat in the front of the group, to the right of Elrond sat Aragorn and to the right of him sat the men from Gondor, then the dwarves and Legolas and his company. She didn't know whose idea it was to put the dwarves next to those particular elves, but if what Evelina knew about them to be true nothing good could come from it. Evelina pulled her attention away from the others gathered as Lord Elrond rose from his seat.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Lord Elrond began the meeting gaining the attention of all those present. "Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall." Lord Elrond stated causing those gathered to look amongst each other. Evelina noticed many of them looked rather sceptical.

"Each race is bound to this fate - this one doom." Lord Elrond continued before he raised his hand to gesture at the stone pedestal that sat in the middle of the circle where everyone sat.

"Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." Elrond stated causing Frodo to rise nervously as everyone else turned to look at him, Evelina and Neville felt sorry for their new friend for they knew what it was like when everyone's attention was on you. Quickly, Frodo moved towards the pedestal and placed the ring in its centre before hurrying back to his seat beside Gandalf and Evelina who both smiled at him reassuringly. Frodo smiled back gratefully and sighed in relief quietly as he realised that everyones attention was now upon the ring.

The members of the council sat staring mesmerised at the ring as it appeared to start whispering to each of the members present. But Evelina and Neville were able to block it out after having destroyed Voldemort's Horcruxes, though they both flinch back when they felt the evil coming off of it, causing Aragorn to look at them in concern. "The Doom of Men." A member of the council murmurs into the silence which is quickly broken as Boromir rises to address the council.

"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand.'" Boromir slowly approached the pedestal where the ring rests. "Isildur's Bane is found." Boromir murmurs revently as he reaches towards the ring taking no notice of those around him as Gandalf and Elrond exchange concerned looks as Boromir's fingers hover just above the ring.

"Boromir!" Lord Elrond exclaims loudly as he quickly rises from his seat.

However he does not have time to do much else as Gandalf starts to chant in a language that causes fear and confusion to settle in all those present as the ring seems to echo the words and thunder starts to crackle in the quickly darkening sky.

"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,

ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul." Gandalf chants and as the last words leave his lips the voice of the ring slowly fades away and the sky starts to lighten. All those present slowly settle back into their seats slightly horrified including Boromir.

"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!" Lord Elrond states silently furious that the Black speech has been used in the elven city.

"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 the Grey states in a rather raspy voice.

"The Ring is altogether evil!" Evelina whispered drawing everyone's attention to herself. "I can feel it's evil and malice pouring off of it in waves. There is nothing good about that piece of tin, it will only bring death and bloodshed until all you know is gone and all those you care about are dead, and it turns the ones you care about against you. It. Can. Not. Be. Used!" Evelina stressed thinking back to what the locket did to Ron. Neville placed his hand on her arm looking at her in concern when she shivered. Evelina smiled at him in reassurance but it was more like a grimace.

"What does a woman know about it?!" Boromir asked sneering at her. "It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor." Boromir states revently still staring at the ring. "Why not use this Ring?" Boromir asks as he once again stands and starts to pace as he continues to speak. "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! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Aragorn said sternly. "Lady Evelina and her god-brother Lord Neville- who sits beside her are not from this world. The Wild Hunt brought them here along with a friend of theirs- who resides in Lothlôrien- a year after they fought in their own war, where they destroyed a Dark Wizard at the age of eighteen." Aragorn snapped he didn't want to give everything away as it was not his place, but he would not have them treated this way. Neville and Evelina smiled gratefully at him.

"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" Boromir asked with a slight sneer, completely ignoring what Aragorn had just said, but no one else was and they were left to wonder what had happened to the two youngest in the Council. Legolas finally having enough of the mans attitude. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Legolas stated on behaf of his friend and his new friends.

"Aragorn? This... is Isildur's heir?" Boromir questioned in disbelief as he turned to face Aragorn once more. Legolas rose his chin in defiance on behalf of his friend as he spoke once more. "And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas continued. At this statement Boromir looked quite surprised whilst young Frodo looked at Aragorn wide eyed.

"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn said to his friend with a small smile. Legolas nodded tightly before sitting in his seat once more.

"Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King." Boromir stated fiercly before taking his seat.

"Aragorn and Evelina are right. We cannot use it." Gandalf stated in a fierce tone as he gestured towards the ring. Lord Elrond nodded in agreement before he continued to speak.

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond said in a serious voice as he stared around at those seated in the circle. He could see that many would not be able to resist the rings call as many of them were once again staring at the ring with an intense look in their eyes.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli asked as he grabbed an axe from beside him and quickly approached the pedestal. Before anyone could even stop him Gimli swung the axe behind his shoulder before swinging it forwards at full force and on to the ring.

"Argh!" Gimli shouted as he is thrown backwards and lands hard on to the ground. Those gathered could only blink in surprise as they took in the sight of the ring sitting innocently between pieces of Gimli's axe whilst whispers in the black tongue can be heard coming from the ring.

At the same time Frodo winces in pain and put his head in his palm as the picture of an eye flashes across his vision so quickly he barely believes it was real. Evelina frowns as she saw Frodo wince and swore to herself she will find a way to help him.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, 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." Lord Elrond says into the silence that has gathered except for the whispers coming from the ring that still sits innocently upon the pedestal.

"One of you must do this." Lord Elrond continues as everything goes silent.

"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. 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!" Boromir stated as his voice slowly rose in volume and he was again stood from his chair as he finished speaking.

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas argues.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli growled incredulously.

"And if we fail, what then?! What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?!" Boromir argued back.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Grimli protestd as he rose from his seat. "Never trust an Elf!" Gimli shouted over all those gathered that had now risen from their seats as a commotion started and all the council members started to argue amoungst each other.

Frodo, Evelina, Neville, Aragorn, Lord Elrond and Lord Elrond's sons were the only ones that remained seated as Frodo watched the ring and Evelina and Neville watched Frodo. While the figures of the council members reflect upon the rings surface. "Do you not understand that while we bicker amongst ourselves, Sauron's power grows?! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!" Gandalf's shout reached Frodo over the others raised voices as the wizard stands to try and stop the arguing council members.

Frodo still keeps watch on the ring and suddenly flames flare up and engulf the surface of the ring. The sound of the ring whispering enters Frodo's ears. "Ash Nazg Durbatulûk! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul!" And slowly the intensity of those arguing starts to increase whilst determination dawns on the hobbits face.

Frodo slowly rises from his seat and starts to step closer to the other arguing members trying to make his voice heard over everyone else.

"I will take it!" Evelina seeing no one was listening to him got up from her seat and shouted, "QUITE!!!" The Council members stopped arguing when they heard her shout and turned to look at her with astonishment. "Frodo wants to say something!" She snapped before turning to Frodo with a kind smile as she rested her hand on his shoulder in comfort.

Frodo smiled back at her in thanks but it was more strained than what it usually was. "I will take it!" Frodo said more confidently than he felt, however Gandalf closed his eyes in slight defeat as he heard Frodo's words. "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though - I do not know the way." Frodo said once again now that he had everyone's attention. Gandalf turned and slowly walks towards Frodo, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is your's to bear." He promises as he placed his hand reassuringly on Frodo's shoulder.

"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragorn says as he rises before approaching the young hobbit and kneels before him. "You have my sword."

"And you have my bow." Legolas states as he walks forward to join them.

"And my axe!" Gimli adds as he joins the group whilst looking rather grimly at 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 says as he also joins the mismatched group.

Evelina stepped forward with Neville- she had stepped back slightly when the others had stepped forward so Frodo wouldn't feel crowded. "Frodo. Nev and I will join you on this journey. I know what it's like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, to have a burden placed on my shoulders that was meant for older and experienced people when I was only fourteen. Since I was fourteen till a year ago when the war came to a head, I watched as all of my family, my friends, and children were slaughtered in front of me. I will not let that happen here and I'll do all I can to help you Frodo." Evelina swore.

"I will help you fight this war Frodo as well for not only are Evelina and I trained in magic but the Wild Hunt has trained us with swords and a bow and arrow and I will promise I will not let what happened in our world happen here." Neville promised smiling at Frodo who smiled gratefully at him and Evelina. "A girl cannot come on this dangerous quest!" Boromir protested. Evelina spun around to glare at him so fast that her hair nearly hit Aragorn in the face if it wasn't for his quick reflexes. "I've had a psychopath hunting me since before I could sit up without aid, until I killed him a year ago.

I watched my parents murdered before my eyes when I was fifteen months old, and I killed when I was eleven years old. Do not test my patience!" Evelina hissed, though her eyes had filled up with unshed tears that she refused to let fall. There was a tense silence after Evelina's outburst, Neville put his arm around her and held her close to his chest as he knew she still felt guilty like he did. The silence was broken when they heard another voice shout from behind them.

"Here!" Sam exclaims as he jumps from behind a group of bushes that surround the clearing where the meeting takes place and joins the rest of the group. "Mister Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!" Sam states crossing his arms over his chest as he stares determinedly at the others gathered who all look rather startled. Lord Elrond's eyebrows had risen into his hairline as he looked back and forth from Sam and his hiding place wondering how he had missed the young hobbit's presence.

"No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Lord Elrond says rather amused as he looked at the two hobbits who grin sheepishly back at him. "Oi!" Another voice sounds from behind them that sounded rather like Merry. "We're coming too!" Merry exclaimed at once as he and Pippin jumped from behind two pillars that are around the meeting place. Lord Elrond whipped his head around in the direction of the voices and a frown curved down his lips as two more hobbits entered the so called secret council meeting, once again wondering how no one had noticed the three hobbits with their heightened senses.

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry stated once he was stood next to Gimli.

"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest... thing." Pippin put his two cents in.

"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry said jokingly as he looked at his friend. Pippin nodded before catching what Merry had said and glared at him.

"Eleven companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Lord Elrond said as he looked towards the group in front of him.

"Great! Where are we going?" Pippin asked causing everyone to start laughing and Pippin to look at them all with a confused frown on his face.

End of Chap 6!

Translations:

*Elvish: Itarildë. English: Ebony.

*Elvish: mîr-nîn. English: my treasure.

Black speech- "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,

ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."

English- "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them."

*Elvish: "Havo dad, Legolas." English: "Sit down, Legolas."