⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰
MARISTELA STOOD HIDDEN BY A PILLAR WITH HER EYES SETTLED ON the council within the balcony chamber, Lord Elrond sat ahead of them and she took in the familiar faces; Boromir of Gondor, Gimili of Erebor, Legolas of Mirkwood, Frodo of Bag End, and finally, the familiar face of Strider. She wasn't sure how this meeting would go but knew better than to just reveal herself to the council immediately, she would either stay in the shadows or she would speak out when her voice was needed.
"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..." Lord Elrond spoke out to the council mixed of Dwarves, Elves, and Men. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo," Lord Elrond instructed the nephew of Bilbo Baggins, Maristela perked up slightly at the young Hobbit, her eyes landing directly on his shoulder where the aura of Morgul poisoning once threatened his natural life; her own thigh twitching.
Frodo steps forward and moves towards the stone Plinth in the middle of the council, he places the ring on the plinth before returning to his seat. Everyone looked down at the One Ring in shock or awe, Maristela's own Ring burning in the presence of something so dark and loud. She rolled her shoulders as she tried to push away the thoughts within her mind, the taunting of the Ring of Power was echoing within her presence in hopes to taint the light that surrounds her. Her eyes lifted from the shadow of her hiding place and connected with the one person who noticed her, Strider simply bowed his head slightly.
"So it is true!" Boromir, son of Denethor spoke in a stunned voice. "Sauron's Ring! The Ring of Power!" The familiar voice of Legolas turned Maristela's eyes from Boromir to the Woodland Prince whom she hadn't seen since the ambush of Ravenhill. "The doom of man!" Gimli, the son of Gloin had exclaimed grimly. It was nice seeing the Dwarves of Erebor, she had spoken with Bofur recently upon crossing paths on his travels to the Blue Mountains while Maristela had been leaving the Misty Mountains and she hoped to speak with Gloin before his departure, she knew King Dáin was awaiting her next visit.
"It is a gift!" Boromir spoke through the awestruck silence, "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 and the power of Starlight are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy... let us use it against him!" Maristela sighed at the desires of Man, only a few moments in the presence of the One Ring and already, he demanded it's power for himself. She knew why he had mentioned power of Starlight, it was a bragging right to Man to be assisted by her ─ someone now known as a Deity to Men... unwillingly titled.
"You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone... it has no other master," Strider spoke as he stood from his chair, his words are stern and cautious but accurate in their meaning. Boromir turns and looks at Strider, coolly, "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" Maristela's jaw clenched at Boromir's words, if Strider was some mere Ranger, he wouldn't be sitting among a council as important as this one. However, Strider says nothing and Boromir turns away dismissively.
But Legolas is the one to stand, "This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Frodo turns his head to Strider curiously while Boromir turns sharply before speaking in disbelief, "Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Maristela's fists clenched at Boromir's stance, she bit her tongue to hold back the words that dared to protect Aragorn however, she need not to speak as Legolas did, "And heir to the throne of Gondor." Maristela smiled softly at the stern tone of Legolas, his certainty in Aragorn's place made her admire the Woodland Prince more than she did before.
"Havo dad, Legolas...(sit down, Legolas)," Aragorn spoke gently, his grateful eyes focused on Legolas who relented to his words. "Gondor has no King. Gondor needs no King," Boromir told them with his own harsh certainty. "And that decision is not your own to make, Boromir, son of Denethor," Maristela spoke as she walked out of the shadow of the pillar, her presence had stunned everyone as she made her way towards Aragorn, standing beside his chair with her head high and hands clasped behind her back. "Aragorn is right... we cannot use it," Gandalf spoke to bring the attention back to the ring.
"You have only one choice... the Ring must be destroyed," Lord Elrond spoke with elegance, he had been biting back a smirk from Maristela's entrance to the meeting knowing she hadn't initially wanted to have a part of it but as he had expected, she came to the defense of Aragorn, the boy she had practically claimed as her own son. The hum of the Ring seems to grow louder in Frodo's ears as its presence continues to shadow over Maristela like a shark circling its prey. Gimli suddenly stands eagerly, "Then... what are we waiting for?!"
Gimli suddenly rushes forward, he swings his axe down on the Ring. The axe shatters with a deafening crack as Gimli falls backwards, staring in disbelief at the Ring that sat there completely unharmed. Frodo winces as an angry image of the fiery eye hits him, he slumps in his chair, clutching his forehead with Gandalf looking at him in concern. "The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mt. 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," Lord Elrond explained.
The council was stunned to silence, downcast eyes as if a great dread has descended on them. Boromir addresses the council in a quiet voice, "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." Maristela rolled her eyes at Boromir's words, the doubt in all but their doom was something that made Men distasteful at times.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas exclaimed to Boromir, Maristela was mildly stunned by Legolas' passion behind his words. She had only seen the more reserved side of Legolas, the Elf Prince had been more quiet and less expressive the last they had encountered each other but over time, he had grown, not only within his personality but his voice. She locked eyes with him, he held her stare with a determined look within his soft gaze. She smiled slightly in approval of his comment and he immediately perked up with pride.
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli's questioned pushed the pride from Legolas' heart causing the Elf Prince to glare at Gimli. A memory of Legolas insulting Gloin's son within the Mirkwood forest flashed through Maristela's mind and she had to bite back the laugh that sat within her throat. "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" Boromir questioned. Gimli jumped to his feet, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" Maristela sighed in disbelief as a storm of voices filled the chamber arguing.
"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli's words struck Maristela, she tried to push it away remembering her honorary Dwarf title given to her by the Dwarves of Erebor. "Do you not understand? While we bicker among ourselves, Sauron's power grows! No one will escape it. You will all be destroyed, your homes burnt and your families put to the sword!" Gandalf exclaimed to the arguing council but Maristela's eyes were locked on the small Hobbit who suddenly stood up to speak but she couldn't hear over the chorus of harsh tones.
Suddenly, a bright light consumed the chamber silencing everyone as they lowered their eyes to avoid the blast. Slowly, the silver light faded back into Maristela allowing everyone to see that she had been the one to silence them with gifts she had learned from her time in Lothlórien with Lady Galadriel. "I believe Frodo has something to say," Maristela spoke gently allowing Frodo to step forward despite Gandalf's saddened eyes. "I will take the Ring to Mordor," Frodo expressed with a strong voice before it softened, "Though... I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," Gandalf offered after he rose to his feet. "Who am I to deny an opportunity to accompany a Baggins on a grand adventure?" Maristela asked with a cheeky grin that lightened the mood of the room, she approached Frodo and kneeled down to him, "For as long as there is breath in my lungs and the steady beat of my heart, I will be with you on this journey, Frodo Baggins. I am at your service." Maristela bowed her head, her right arm across her chest with her fist to her heart in both a Dwarven and Elven bow of service.
After standing to her feet beside her father, Aragorn stepped up to Frodo as he spoke, "If, by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragorn knelt down to Frodo, "You have my sword." He stood up and placed himself next to Maristela, the Elleth grinning at him, placing her hand on his arm and squeezing gently before letting go and clasping her hands together. "And you have my bow," Legolas spoke from where he stood near Aragorn. "And my axe!" Gimli added prompting Legolas to look down at him in disdain before focusing on Frodo, a sight that Maristela found greatly amusing.
Boromir looks at them all then walks towards Frodo, "You carry the fate of us all, little one." Boromir looks towards Lord Elrond, Gandalf and Maristela before speaking, "If this is indeed the will of council, then Gondor will see it done." Frodo stares in wonder as the greatest warriors within Middle Earth stand at his side ready to fight by his side and bear his burden with him. "Here!" A voice shouts before Samwise Gamgee appeared from behind a bush, "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me." Maristela grinned at the stunned awe on Lord Elrond's face.
"No, indeed... it is hardly possible to separate you... even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," Lord Elrond expressed to Sam who seemed sheepish by those words until he saw Maristela's grin and wink, the actions eased the young Halfling. "Oi! We're coming too!" Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took rushed out from behind the bush as Merry spoke, "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Maristela chuckled at the two, she remembered her last visit to the Shire, the two had been following her around; they were younger then.
"Anyway... you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission─quest─thing..." Pippin announced, he had started off confident before losing it towards the end. "Well, that rules you out, Pip," Merry comments recieving a look from Pippin while Maristela and Frodo shared a small smile. "Ten companions... so be it," Lord Elrond spoke thoughtfully as he looked over the ten members each standing tall. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Lord Elrond announced with pride. "Great," Pippin spoke up with a smile before frownin, "Where are we going?" Maristela laughed loudly at his words.
⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰
⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰
「 ✦ 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ✦ 」
OH EM GEE~
Here we go, it has truly began.
Also, Legolas seeking Maristela's approval?! Get used to that 'cause he definitely has a praise kink. No one can tell me otherwise!
Thoughts on Maristela's reveal/her words to Boromir?
Thoughts on Legolas seeking her approval?
Thoughts on Maristela's words of service to Frodo?
Extra thoughts on this chapter?
Theories? Suggestions? Predictions?
See you in the next chapter!