▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐠 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐑𝐖𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐖 him, she went running. She scurried through the castle, looking everywhere for her sister. When Arwen finally found Ellaria, she was in the midst of talking to one of the maids, a soft smile on her face. Ellaria glanced in her direction, dismissing the maid and turning to her sister. Arwen ran up to her, a wide smile blooming on her face as she grasped her sisters arms. Ellaria frowned. "Arwen, what is the matter? Why are you running so swiftly?"

     "He is here." Arwen breathed, excitement dancing in her eyes.

     Ellaria rose a brow. "Who?"

      "Come. You must see for yourself." She took Ellaria's hand and began dragging her through the halls.

     "Arwen!" Ellaria tried to stop her, but her sister was persistent. "If this is about your love, I already know of his arrival."

     Arwen's smile grew mischievous. "Not mine." She finally slowed to a stop, pulling her sister to her side. "Fate has given you a second chance, sister. Should you not take it while you can?" Ellaria stared at her and Arwen nodded her head to the side.

     Ellaria followed her sisters gaze and her breath got caught in her throat. There he was, standing there in all his glory, her best friend, her true desire. The elf whom she's loved for centuries. "Legolas." She whispered his name, letting it carry along the gentle breeze and into his ears. He turned his head away from his companion, his striking blue eyes meeting her soft brown ones. Arwen gently nudged her forwards and Ellaria shook her head. "Arwen, I am not ready."

     "But you are." Arwen assured. She turned to her sister, grabbing her hand, making Ellaria break eye contact with Legolas. "Why do you not have it in you to find your happiness? What are you so afraid of?"

     The question echoed in her head. What was she afraid of? Ellaria swallowed, glancing at Legolas one more time before softly whispering, "Everything." She pulled away from her sisters grasp, turning and walking back into the castle.

     Arwen frowned, quickly following after her. "Ellaria." She quickened her pace to catch up with her sisters long strides. "Do not turn away from this."

     Ellaria shook her head and kept walking. "I do not understand how many times I must say this to you for you to understand. Legolas and I are simply friends, it has never been and ever will be anything more."

     Arwen scoffed. "As if! Do you ignore the way he looks at you? The way his gaze turned to immediately find yours? Did you not see the smile on his lips when he spotted you standing there? By the Starlight, if you two are just friends, what are Aragorn and I?"

     "Fools." Ellaria hissed. "You are fools."

     Arwen stopped but her sister continued forwards. "Love is not foolish." Ellaria slowed, coming to a standstill. "It is wonderful. It's like taking a breath of fresh air and truly seeing the world for the first time. You've always believed this. What has made your heart turn so cold?"

     Ellaria clenched her jaw, the memory of Tauriel hovering over Kili's lifeless body as she spoke to Thranduil with heartbroken words flashed before her eyes. "Why does it hurt so much?" Tauriel's words echoed in her mind. Ellaria turned to her sister, hurt dancing in her eyes. "Love will bring me nothing but heartbreak. That is all it has ever done. I do not wish to experience anymore pain, Arwen. I cannot. I fear it will ruin me."

     "Is love worth nothing?" Arwen asked, taking a step closer.

     "Arwen, leave it."

     "I want to know why you won't follow your destiny. Why you won't let anyone in. Ever since your journey to the Lonely Mountain, you have shut yourself out from everyone."

     "It has cost me everything, Arwen!" Ellaria snapped, her voice dangerous with warning. "I will not be going on this quest. I will stay home until it is time to leave these lands."

     Arwen shook her head. "You are not the person you once were. The Ellaria I knew would do anything for adventure."

     Ellaria's gaze narrowed. "The sister you knew died on that mountain with her friends. I am lost, Arwen. I have been for years."

      "Then will you stay lost?" Arwen asked. "Will you not find your true self?"

     "Arwen—"

     "I will not let you hide yourself away anymore." Arwen strode towards her, grabbing her hands. "If you are lost, you must be found. Otherwise you will go mad. Don't do this for me, Ella. Don't do this for anyone. Do it for yourself." Ellaria swallowed, glancing down at the ground. Arwen placed a hand on her cheek and Ellaria met her eyes. "You are stronger than you think, Ellaria."

✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐓 her father's side as the meeting began. Surrounding her were Elves, Men, Dwarves, Aragorn, Frodo, and Gandalf. Elrond stood, holding out his hands. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He placed his hands before him. "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. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."

     Frodo stood, hesitantly walking over to the small stone table and placing the Ring on it. He walked back to Gandalf, taking a seat beside him. Ellaria watched their company, her eyes snapping to the Men as Boromir stood. "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. Isildur's Bane is found." He grew closer and closer to the Ring. Ellaria shared a look with her father before looking at Boromir. His hand began to reach out to the Ring and Elrond shot up, calling his name. Gandalf began chanting in Black Speech, and Boromir began to back away. Gandalf stood, continuing the speech as he walked a few steps towards Boromir.

     Ellaria closed her eyes, pain ricocheting through her head. Gandalf finally stopped and Boromir returned to his seat. Elrond turned to the wizard, anger ablaze in his eyes. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."

     Gandalf bowed his head. "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil."

     Boromir shook his head. "It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor." He stood again. "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 against him."

     "Or you take it for yourself and attempt to use it against your own peoples." Ellaria argued.

     "You cannot wield it." Aragorn added. "None of us can." Boromir slowly turned to face him. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

     Boromir smiled in amusement. "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

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

     Boromir looked at Legolas before turning to Aragorn in surprise. "Aragorn. This is Isildur's heir?"

     "And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas added.

     Aragorn put up his hand. "Sit down, Legolas."

     Boromir turned to the blonde elf. "Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King." He reclaimed his seat.

     "Aragorn is right," Gandalf said. "We cannot use it."

     Elrond stood. "You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."

     "Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli growled. He shot up, grabbing an axe and slamming it down on the ring only for it to shatter. Elrond placed a protective hand in front of Ellaria who had quickly ducked as a piece of the axe went flying towards her. Gimli fell backwards, landing roughly on the ground.

     Elrond's gaze narrowed, plucking the piece of axe that had embedded itself into Ellaria's chair and tossing it to the ground. "The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The Ring was made in the fire 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. One of you must do this."

     Gimli took his seat, looking to Ellaria and swallowing sheepishly. Had she been killed in front of her father, he would have died on the spot. "Apologies, my Lady." He mumbled. Ellaria looked to him and gave a slight nod in acknowledgement.

     Boromir ran a hand over his brow. "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 your breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with 10,000 men can you do this. It is folly."

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

     "I suppose you think you're the one to do it!" Gimli shouted.

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

     Gimli clamored from his seat. "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"

     Instantly, everyone stood and began shouting over one another. Ellaria sat there, a bored expression on her face. She looked to her father. "So, we expect a bunch of imbecile's to do this task? They argue like children. This distaste for the other race is going to get us all slaughtered."

     "Well, they'll have to do it somehow." Elrond replied, the arguing growing louder. "They are acting like children, aren't they?" Ellaria cracked a smile.

     "I will take it!" Frodo shouted, but his voice fell on deaf ears.

     Ellaria looked at the Hobbit before standing and shouting louder than all the others. "Silence!" Her voice thundered with power, Men and Elves alike ducking like something would fall from the sky. When she got their attention, she held a hand out to Frodo. "The Hobbit would like to get a word in." She sat back down, looking to Frodo and giving him a gentle smile and nod.

     Frodo glanced at her before looking at the others. "I will take it. I will take the Ring to Mordor." A small smile pulled on Ellaria's face as she watched shock echo on their companies faces. "Though. . . I do not know the way."

     Gandalf nodded. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." He placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder.

     Aragorn stood. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." He walked to Frodo, kneeling before him. "You have my sword."

     Legolas stepped forwards. "And you have my bow."

     "And my axe," Gimli added.

     Ellaria stood there for a moment, Arwen's words echoing in her head. She swallowed her fear and stepped towards the Hobbit, placing a hand on his shoulder as she kneeled before him, a soft smile pulling to her lips. "As well as my sword and arrows."

     Boromir was the last to step forwards. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."

     "Here!" A voice shouted, running from behind the bushes and taking a quick stance beside Frodo. Samwise Gamgee crossed his arms over his chest. "Mister Frodo is not going anywhere without me."

     "No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not," Elrond agreed.

     "Wait, we're coming too!" Two more Hobbit's came sprinting in. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Merry Brandybuck sternly claimed.

     "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. . . quest. . . thing." Pippin Took said, nodding his head.

     Merry stared at him in disbelief. "Well, that rules you out, Pip." Pippin smiled and nodded before his smile fell when he realized what his friend had said.

     "Ten companions." Elrond hummed. "So be it. You shall be The Fellowship of the Ring."

      "Great." Pippin smiled. "Where are we going?" Ellaria placed a delicate hand over her mouth, trying to hide her smile.