Chapter 6

The Council of Elrond

“Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've been summoned here to answer the threat of the Empire. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction, none can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound by this fate, this one doom. Cast your eyes upon the Death Star,” Lord Elrond said, as Master Yoda approached, placing a hologram of the Death Star on the stone alter in the center of the Council, beside the Ring of Power that Frodo had put down before. The observers gasped as they gazed at the image of the Death Star.

“Capable of destroying an entire planet in a single blast, it is, mm. The threat of Sauron, greater this is. Decide now what is to be done, we must,” Master Yoda said.

“Is there a weakness? Something like that has to have some kind of weak point,” Rainbow Dash asked. Obi-Wan shook his head.

“Not that we can see. The Emperor has been VERY thorough in the design of the Death Star. I'm not sure we have ANYTHING that could hold the power of the Death Star at bay,” he said. Boromir's gaze lingered on the image of the Death Star, then his eyes flicked to the Ring.

“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. Isildur's Bane,” he said, slowly approaching the Ring with his hand outstretched, speaking slow and trance-like.

“BOROMIR!” Lord Elrond called, but was quickly drowned out by an incantation from Gandalf.

ASH NAZG DURBATULK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL,

ASH NAZG THRAKATULK AGH BURZUM-ISHI KRIMPATUL!

The sky around Rivendell darkened, and the various members of the Council recoiled as Gandalf stood up, his voice deepening and echoing.

“Never before has anyone dared to utter the words of that tongue here, in Imladris,” Lord Elrond said, affixing a glare on the Grey Wizard, as the skies opened up again.

“I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond, for if we fail, the Black Speech of Mordor could soon be heard in every corner of the West. Even with the threat of the Death Star, the Ring is still altogether evil!” Gandalf said, his steely gaze fixed on Boromir. But, the Gondorian was not done.

“It is a gift! A gift from the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring against the power of the Death Star? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay, but now with the threat of the Death Star it may be more than he can bear. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the Enemy, let us use it against the Empire,” Boromir said.

“You cannot wield it! None of us can! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone! It has no other Master, and there is no certainty that it will hold any sway against the Empire!” Strider said. Borormir sneered.

“And what would a ranger know of this matter?” Rarity gasped. She had never heard such rudeness. Apparently Legolas felt the same, as he stood up in defiance.

“This is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn! You owe him your allegiance,” the Elf said. Boromir's eyes widened, turning his head to the now named Strider.

“Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?” he scoffed.

“And heir to the throne of Gondor,” Legolas said. Twilight and the other's gasped. Strider, or Aragorn, was the heir to the throne? He was the rightful king of this land? Why wasn't he pursuing the crown?

“Havo dad, Legolas,” Aragorn said, putting his hand up to calm the elf.

“Gondor has no king,” the Gondorian said, sizing up Aragorn. “Gondor needs no king,” he finished, sitting down with defiance.

“Aragorn is right. We cannot use it against the Empire,” Gandalf said.

“There is only one thing that can be done. The Emperor desires the Elements of Harmony, and so they must be protected. A group of you must accompany the Elements and the Jedi and find ally's to stop the Emperor, escorting them to Lothlorien where Lady Galadriel can give you more guidance,” Lord Elrond said. The Council murmured to themselves, intrigued by this new development.

“How are we supposed to get to Lothlorien? If we take the main road, the Emperor will see us,” Legolas said.

“That is why you will go another road. You will go through the Mines of Moria because it is the ONLY road the Emperor would never expect you to WILLINGLY go,” the Elf lord said.

“We will need to be well equipped before going to Moria,” Gandalf said.

“Nonsense! Moria is the home of my cousin, Balin! He'd give us a royal welcome before we set off to Lothlorien!” a red haired dwarf said.

“Really? When was the last time you were there, Gimli, Son of Glóin? Do not assume that a land like Moria will be the same as you left it the last time. Things always change,” Lord Elrond said. Gimli glowered. Twilight stood up in front of the whole of the Council with a brave face.

“My friends and I are willing to go to whatever lengths to save our home. If that means going through these Mines, then that's what we'll do,” she said. The rest of the Elements stood up in support of their friend. They were determined. Gandalf smiled, approaching.

“I will help you on this journey, Twilight Sparkle, for as long as I am needed,” the Grey Wizard said.

“If by my life, or death, I can protect you, I will,” Aragorn said, kneeling in front of Twilight and placing a hand on her shoulder. “You have my sword.”

“And you have my bow,” Legolas added, coming to stand behind the Elements.

“And my axe,” Gimli chimed in, standing to the side of the Elements. Frodo silently stood with them as well, with a small smile on his face.

Boromir set his gaze, and stood up from his chair. “You hold the fates of us all in your hand, young one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done,” he said, taking his place with the rest of the party.

“HERE! Mr. Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me!” Sam yelled, rushing into view of the Council.

“No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not,” Lord Elrond said, an amused smile coming to his lips.

“Oi! We're coming too! You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!” Merry exclaimed, as he and Pippin ran into the group.

“Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing,” Pippin said. Ahsoka sighed, shaking her head.

“Well, that rules you out, Pip,” Merry replied to his friend.

“So be it. You shall become a Fellowship. Keep true to each other and, with the values of friendship and kinship, shall you find success!”

“Great! Where are we going?” Pippin asked, resulting in a groan from every Fellowship member.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Battalions of Stormtroopers had their blasters trained on Sauron's Emissary. The Mouth of Sauron, the Dark Lord's voice and will. At least, he was that to the people of Middle-Earth. To Palpatine, he was one thing only. Cannon fodder.

“Ah, esteemed, wise Emperor Palpatine. My Master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome,” the Mouth said, genuflecting needlessly. “He has sent me bearing a message.”

“And that is?” Palpatine asked, simply humoring the Mouth. He'd already made up his mind about the fate of the Emissary the moment he laid eyes on him.

“Sauron is more than willing to allow you to find the one's you are after, all he asks is that you leave the Ring of Power for himself,” the Mouth said.

“Sauron believes that I desire the Ring of Power?”

“Is that not accurate, my lord Emperor?” Palpatine smirked, holding up his hand. The Stormtroopers lowered their weapons, and the fool thought he was safe. Oh, how foolish that was.

“Tell your Master this. His..trinket does not concern me. I could care less what happens to the Ring. No, what I desire is something FAR more powerful. Sauron believes that with the Ring, he will be all powerful again?” Palpatine asked, turning his burning yellow gaze on the Mouth.

The Emissary shifted nervously. Something was wrong. “That is correct, my lord.”

“Then allow me to show him what TRUE power is,” Palpatine said. Negotiations were now over. Throwing down his cane, Palpatine held out a hand and began constricting the Mouth's throat. The Emissary scrabbled at his throat, gasping and choking. In Barad-dûr, the tower of Sauron, the spirit of the Dark Lord could FEEL Palpatine's power. “You fool. Your Master and his trinkets are no match for the full power of the Dark Side!” Palpatine ground out, an elated grin on his face. He genuinely loved this feeling. Lifting the Mouth up into the air, while tightening the constriction of his throat, Palpatine held up his other hand. “Do you hear this, Sauron, Lord of the Earth? Servant of Morgoth? I give you this message and mercy only once. Attempt to interfere again, and I will PERSONALLY show you the FULL POWER OF THE DARK SIDE!” With a roar, Palpatine unleashed his Force Lighting on the Mouth.

Barad-dûr almost seemed to shake. Without the Ring, Sauron could never stand up against the Lord of the Sith. He could sense that Palpatine wasn't even using HALF of his power. If the old man was this powerful without even using half of his power, what happens when he finally stops holding back? The Mouth screamed in agony, his breath almost gone, as Palpatine shocked him. In the background, Saruman watched with narrowed eyes. This was simply a display to scare the one's under Palpatine, and for it to be the last thing the Mouth saw before he died, and he would. The White Wizard didn't need to even think about it to know that Palpatine was going to kill the Mouth. What Saruman did want to know was what Palpatine planned on doing about Sauron. He'd just called out the Dark Lord, and so brazenly. Yet, Sauron did not have the Ring, at least not yet. Finally, after the screaming subsided, the Mouth hung in the air dead, with smoke coming off of him. Palpatine threw him to the ground in disgust. Weakling.

“Send him to the incinerator,” Palpatine said to one of the Imperial Officers.

“Yes, my lord!” Palpatine walked away from the hanger, as Saruman took to his side.

“Sauron will not stay idle for long, Lord Sidious. If he gets the Ring..” Saruman began, but Palpatine held up a hand.

“Do not worry, my friend. I am not foolish. I am well aware of the threat Sauron would pose should he gain the Ring of Power. For the time being, I am content knowing that the Ring is out of his grasp,” Palpatine said.

“But, it is in the hands of the Hobbits. Should we allow them to keep such a powerful item in their proximity?” Saruman asked.

Palpatine chuckled. “The one thing we can be sure of is that, while the Elements are here, the Ring will not be used. If the Ring is not used, Sauron will not be able to find it,” he said.

“You are right, my friend. Still, I should..keep an eye on them, correct?”

“Of course, Saruman. We don't want them thinking their TOO safe,” Palpatine said, as he and the White Wizard headed back for the throne room. Once Saruman had an idea where the Elements wil be, he'd send Darth Maul to follow them. It wouldn't be long before the Elements were finally in his grasp.

Author's Note

Whew! This chapter's finally done. Next is the Journey to Moria and more with Palpatine and Vader. Might even have Qui-Gon popping up again.