A few days ago, representatives from every region met to discuss what one witness called “deeds that move the wheels of the world.”
The council met in Rivendell, also known as Imladris, which is believed to be in the vicinity of Sun Valley. The lord of Rivendell, Elrond Peredhel, chaired the meeting. Press was not invited, however I have assembled this story from interviews with numerous participants, none of whom were willing to speak on the record.
Much was discussed over the course of the morning, but here are the major points:
- Glóin of Erebor reported that messengers from Sauron, Lord of Mordor, had offered rings of power to the Dwarves in exchange for knowledge of Hobbits.
- Elrond explained the history of the rings of power and of the One Ring, forged by Sauron himself. Isildur of the Dúnedain took the ring after his father had vanquished Sauron in battle but it was lost when he was ambushed by Orcs while traveling north.
- Boromir, son of Lord Denethor the Steward of Gondor, updated the council on how his people have fought the servants of Sauron along the Anduin River, holding them at bay for the time being. He also shared a vision he experienced in which a voice called him to visit Imladris, seek the sword that was broken, and learn about “Isildur’s Bane”.
- Strider, a northern ranger who was in attendance, revealed that the sword that was broken was the shards of Narsil, used by Isildur to cut the ring from Sauron’s finger. In a moment that appeared to surprise most attendees, Elrond explained that Strider was really Aragorn, son of Arathorn, long lost descendant of the kings of Arnor and claimant to the throne of Gondor.
- Bilbo Baggins of the Shire explained how he found the ring in caverns deep below the Misty Mountains, stealing it from a creature named Gollum.
- Gandalf the Grey, a long lived wizard, shared the betrayal of Saruman the White, leader of the wise of Middle-Earth. Gandalf explained that Saruman kept him locked in his tower of Orthanc at Isengard for a time to prevent him from intervening in Sauron’s attempt to retrieve the ring.
- Gandalf also said that he and Aragorn had captured Gollum, learning that he was once a Stoor named Sméagol who found the ring around 500 years ago before retreating into the caves below the Misty Mountains.
- Legolas, son of Thranduil, king of Mirkwood, said that his people had been holding Gollum but the creature escaped when they were attacked by Orcs.
- Finally, Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s younger cousin, explained how he had taken the ring from the Shire to Rivendell, pursued by the Nazgûl, the ringwraiths of Sauron.
All of this led into the council’s decision to appoint nine walkers to carry the one ring to Mt. Doom, deep in the land of Mordor. Council members reasoned that the only place where the ring could be destroyed was the place in which is was made.
Our sources relayed that Boromir of Gondor suggested using the ring against Sauron, but Gandalf and Elrond dismissed the idea as folly.
Frodo Baggins offered to carry the ring, and his servant Samwise Gamgee offered to accompany him.
The rest of the fellowship was not revealed at the time, but sources close to Elrond have shared a shortlist of potential walkers:
- Aragorn, son of Arathorn
- Boromir, son of Denethor
- Legolas, son of Thranduil
- Gimli, son of Glóin
- Gandalf the Grey
- Glorfindel
- Elladan, son of Elrond
- Elrohir, son of Elrond
- Galdor of the Havens
- Erestor of Rivendell
However, other sources indicate that Hobbits Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, companions of Frodo Baggins in the Shire, are expecting a place in the fellowship as well. It remains to be seen if the Lords of the West would consider replacing powerful Elf warriors with additional Hobbits.
According to sources, Elrond closed the meeting with a statement that “This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck?”
Samwise Gamgee was heard to say “A nice pickle we’ve landed ourselves in!”
At the time of this writing, rangers and Elves are said to be scouring the route south from Rivendell to prepare for the fellowship’s departure. I will keep you updated as I learn more.
Thus far, neither Gov. Brad Little nor members of the Legislature have commented on this development. With the fellowship expected to pass through Idaho on its way to Mordor (which is presumably in California somewhere) we shall see what kind of attention they attract.
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