Just then, Legolas stood and addressed Boromir.
"He is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. As a subject of Gondor, you owe him your allegiance."
Legolas knew Aragorn because Aragorn had once delivered Gollum to Mirkwood. They were acquainted.
Boromir looked shocked.
"How can you prove that?"
Elrond and Gandalf vouched for him.
"I can prove it. When Arathorn was killed by orcs, his wife Gilraen and Aragorn were sheltered in Rivendell."
"I will attest to it as well."
Legolas spoke again.
"He is the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor."
Boromir looked between Aragorn and Legolas, then slowly said:
"Gondor has no king. And Gondor needs no king."
From Boromir's perspective, it was understandable. His family had ruled Gondor well for generations. A sudden claimant to the throne would naturally be unwelcome. Aragorn knew this too, and only looked bitter.
Gandalf continued the council.
"Aragorn is right. We cannot use the One Ring."
Elrond said:
"Then there is only one choice. The ring must be destroyed."
The attendees shifted uneasily. Some coveted the ring. Others wondered if it could be used differently. Then Gimli stood, axe in hand.
"What is there to debate?"
He struck the ring with his axe.
CLANG!!!
The ring was unharmed, but Gimli's axe shattered. The recoil knocked him over.
Elrond said:
"Gimli, son of Glóin, the ring cannot be destroyed here by any craft. It was forged in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Only there can it be unmade. It must be cast deep into the fire, into the fiery chasm. One of you must do this."
Boromir, knowing Mordor's situation better than anyone, held his head.
"Entering Mordor is impossible. Behind the Black Gate, countless orcs lie in wait. Atop the Dark Tower, a great burning eye constantly watches. It is a wasteland of fire, ash, and dust, the air thick with poisonous smoke. Even ten thousand soldiers could not pass."
Legolas stood.
"Did you not hear? The ring must be destroyed! We must do it!"
Boromir shouted back:
"And if we fail? If Sauron reclaims his ring and grows stronger, who will take responsibility?"
From that point, the council splintered. Everyone argued their own position. The meeting descended into chaos. Elrond, the host, shook his head.
'What a mess.'
I stood and said:
"Then let me take the ring to the Valar. I was planning to go to Valinor anyway. Manwë or Aulë should be able to destroy it."
Gandalf and Saruman objected.
"That will not do! The stronger the being, the harder it is to resist the ring's temptation. Another Morgoth or Sauron could arise."
"Indeed. Valinor itself could be corrupted. And we must consider your own fall."
They feared another Vala falling.
'Geez. I tried to make it easy, but they objected so much.'
Frodo stood and cried out:
"I will carry it!"
All eyes turned to him.
"I will carry the ring to Mordor! Though... I don't know the way..."
Gandalf hesitated, then looked at Frodo with sorrowful eyes. Hobbits, being the weakest and least powerful race, were resistant to the ring's temptation. Bilbo had possessed the ring for years without falling. Frodo was the right choice. But knowing the harshness of the journey, Gandalf looked at him with pity.
"So be it. I will help you bear this burden."
Gandalf patted Frodo's shoulder.
"This is troublesome. I only wanted to research magic quietly, but I suppose I have no choice. I will help."
Saruman also offered to go. Gandalf smiled and bowed his head slightly in thanks.
Aragorn stood.
"I will pledge my life and honor to protect you, Frodo. With my sword."
Legolas and Gimli stepped forward.
"And my bow!"
"And my axe!"
Boromir slowly approached Frodo.
"If this is truly the will of the council, then Gondor will follow."
Finally, the other hobbits ran forward.
"We're coming too! You can't stop us!"
Elrond looked them over and smiled.
"Ten companions... So be it. You are the Fellowship of the Ring."
The ten became the Fellowship. They prepared to leave Rivendell. While they busied themselves, Gandalf and Saruman came to me.
"If this quest fails, you must leave Middle-earth with the ring."
"You opposed it so strongly."
"It could not be helped. You too possess great power and are not free from the ring's temptation. This must be a last resort."
Gandalf and Saruman would do anything to prevent the ring from falling into Sauron's hands.
"Hmm... Very well. But how will you contact me?"
"I will send birds."
"That will be slow."
I gave Gandalf a signal ring — the same type I had given Arwen. Gandalf and Saruman took it and returned to the Fellowship. With the signal ring, I would always know their location. I planned to take the ring if they failed or when they reached Mount Doom.
Something was strange, though. Sauron should not be this quiet. With Saruman uncorrupted and Rohan healthy enough to send a prince to the council, Sauron should have been active. Yet he seemed unconcerned.
'What is he planning?'
The Fellowship finished preparations and left Rivendell. Elrond, Arwen, and I saw them off.
"Aragorn, another hard journey. Take this."
I gave him some gold and silver — not as much as before.
"Thank you. I'll use it well."
They left. After they departed, Elrond asked me:
"I plan to prepare the elves' departure to Valinor. What will you do?"
"I promised the wizards something, and I can leave anytime. I'll stay and see how this ends."
"Then I will take Arwen with me."
"Yes, that would be safer. Sauron likely knows she is my wife. If I leave to fulfill the wizards' request, I entrust her to you."
"Understood."
Arwen listened quietly. She already knew she was my only weakness.
Arwen and I spent the next few days in Rivendell, helping the elves pack. Occasionally, I checked the Fellowship's location. They were still in the Misty Mountains — unable to cross for some reason.
'Hmm? Has something gone wrong, like in the original?'
It shouldn't be a major problem. With Saruman — who had studied magic so diligently — accompanying them, he and Gandalf should be able to handle anything.
A few more days passed. The elves began leaving for the Grey Havens to sail to Valinor. They traveled in groups. The first group was departing.
Arwen, Elrond, and I watched. Suddenly, my [Nano Buckle] received a signal.
"The Fellowship needs me. I have to go. If I am late, follow Elrond. I can go to Valinor alone."
"Understood. Please come back safely."
"Trust me."
I kissed Arwen briefly, nodded to Elrond, and flew toward the signal.
The Fellowship was underground in the Misty Mountains. For some reason, they had abandoned crossing the mountains and entered the Mines of Moria.
"Where is the entrance?"
I urgently searched for the entrance. Seeing a man-made door, I destroyed it and rushed inside.
There, I found the Fellowship surrounded by three Balrogs.
'Why three?'
Putting aside my question, I immediately transformed into my dragon form. The Mines of Moria were vast, so the transformation caused no problems — but I couldn't fly. I ran quickly, swinging my tail to swat one away.
WHACK!!
"GRAAAGH!!"
Then I grabbed another Balrog by the head as it was about to whip the Fellowship and smashed it against a thick pillar.
CRASH!! CRUNCH!!
To finish it, I bit its head off.
CRUNCH!! THUD!
The headless Balrog's flames died, and it collapsed. I turned to face the third — but it had fled. The other ran too.
I considered chasing them, but the Fellowship was shouting urgently. I looked down — Saruman lay badly wounded. I abandoned the chase, returned to human form, and examined him.
Saruman's left side was torn open — his organs exposed. I reached out to heal him with [Mystic Arts] and [Heal], but someone grabbed my hand.
I looked at the figure — an old man with a white beard, smiling at me. I was shocked. There had been only the Fellowship. Where had he come from?
Time had stopped. Gandalf, frozen mid-motion, trying to save Saruman. The hobbits, helpless, frozen too.
I calmed myself and assessed the situation. Only one being in this universe held such power.
"You are Ilúvatar."
"Yes. Let Saruman go."
"Understood."
Time resumed. The old man had vanished as if he had never been there. Gandalf, trying to stop the bleeding, shouted:
"Arkad Jean! Is there no way?!"
I shook my head.
"It's too late."
"Please! Try something!"
Saruman grabbed Gandalf's arm.
"Stop. Don't worry so much, my fragile friend. We shall meet again in Valinor. Here, take this."
Saruman conjured a glowing sphere of energy and offered it to Gandalf.
"This is..."
"The power I have stored all this time. It will aid you on your journey."
"Without you, it means nothing. Get up!"
"You know as well as I — it is too late. There is no time. Take it. This power will go with you."
Tears streaming, Gandalf accepted the power. A brilliant light shone, and his hair turned white. He had become the White Wizard.
"A fine sight."
Having given his power, Saruman looked at me.
"Arkad Jean, these past hundred years have been wonderful. Let us continue our unfinished research in Valinor."
"Yes, I'll see you there, my friend."
With those final words, Saruman's body dissolved into light.
"SARUMAN!!!"