Negotiations

III 24th October, 3018...Rivendell.


Gandalf and Elrond watched the hobbits reunite after Frodo is well enough to rejoin them. It gladdened the old wizards heart. But he still feared for Frodo's well being.

Elrond moved away from the balcony and sighed heavily, "His strength returns..."
Gandalf looked down at the floor, and then at Elrond, following the Half-Elf further into the study. "That wound will never fully heal...he will carry it the rest of his life."

Elrond glanced at the wizard, "And yet to have come so far, still bearing the ring, the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to it's evil."

"It is a burden, he never should have had to bear..." Gandalf stopped near the window and shook his head, "We can ask no more of dear Frodo..."

"Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the east - His Eye is fixed on Rivendell...." Elrond paused to turn and look at the other, "And Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin..." As does my patience. He left that part out though. They had to be practical about this. It was a damn near hopeless situation. The Ring couldn't be destroyed three thousand years ago...what made Gandalf think it could be now?

Gandalf sighed, yet again, "His treachery runs deeper than you know." He moved further into the study, coming to stand before the Elf-Lord, "By foul craft Saruman has crossed orcs with goblinmen, he's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight and cover great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring."

Elrond gave the wizard a frustrated glare, "This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves...We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard!"
Walking away slowly, deep in thought, Gandalf stopped on the balcony and gazed out over Rivendell. Of course...Elrond was right. He could not look to the Elves for much help. Elrond only confirmed that by saying, "Gandalf, the Ring cannot stay here." Gandalf nodded and watched the gates as those who had been called arrived, Elrond's voice in his ears, "This peril belongs to all middle earth. They must decide now how to end it. The time of the Elves is over- my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone? The Dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches. They care nothing for the troubles of others."
With a resolute sigh, Gandalf turned to face Elrond, "It is in Men that we must place our hope."

Elrond looked a bit put off by that, "Men?" Are you serious? "Men are weak." He led Gandalf into his library, while he spoke, "The Race of Men is failing. The Blood of Numenor is all but spent. It's pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives....I was there, Gandalf....I was there three thousand years a go...Isildur took the Ring...I was there the day the strength of men failed..." He sighed deeply, remembering that day, "I led Isildur into the heart of Mount doom, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed....It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure." He turned to face Gandalf, who had hung back during his little speech, "Isildur kept the Ring...the line of Kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless..."

Gandalf raised a brow and gave Elrond a look. What and the Elves aren't? You can't even get along amongst yourselves and you have the audacity to say that about Men? The old man sighed, "There is one who could unite them...one who could reclaim the throne of Gondor." Hint, hint...wink, wink....
Elrond sighed and shook his head, "No...he turned from that path long ago....he has chosen exile..."

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Boromir had only been in Rivendell for a few hours...and every moment was filled with awe. So much history contained with in these walls...hell, the walls themselves were history books in and of themelves....He stopped in front of one that depicted Isildur cutting the Ring from Sauron's hand...with his father's broken sword. He stared at it for a moment, then looked around again, spotting the Ranger he'd seen somewhere before. He couldn't place it..."You are no elf..."
The Ranger nodded to Boromir in greeting, then said softly, "Men of the south are welcome here..."

Boromir frowned slightly, "Who are you?" The other man looked vaguely familiar...but he couldn't place him...

Aragorn smiled slightly, "I am a friend to Gandalf the Grey..." He wasn't about to tell this other man...Boromir, was it? My, how he had grown...the last time he'd seen the lad...well..he wasn't a lad anymore...it was ages ago...Boromir couldn't have been more than a year old...How time flies...

"Then we are here on common purpose....Friend." Boromir still couldn't shake the feeling that he knew this man. Where the hell from? He turned away from the other and gasped, "The Nards of Sharsil! Wait...Shards of Narsil....the blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand..." He couldn't believe it...Leave it to the elves to be so anal-retentive to go back to the battle field and pick up the pieces of a broken weapon. He assumed it had something to do with that prophecy about some man coming to claim the throne.. He picked up the hilt and looked it over, then ran his finger over the blade, thus cutting himself. He looked at the sword in disbelief, "Still sharp...." He swallowed and glanced at Aragorn...the man's eyes were unnerving...He swallowed again and put the sword back carelessly, "But no more than a broken heirloom..." The sword fell to the ground with a loud clang and Boromir paused as he walked away....then continued on...

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The Following morning, Elrond's council would take place. Legolas and Boromir had spied each other as they took their seats around the room. Legolas wanted to run to Boromir, remind the man of his love...but he could not. Too many eyes. It had been so long though.. Well, maybe not so long to elven standards, but still. A day was too long to be parted from the man.

The Elf took his seat and sighed softly, then leaned over to whisper quietly into the ear of the elf on his left, one of his entourage, then sat back and waited for Elrond to begin. He really hoped this wouldn't take too long. He had a message to deliver...and an old flame to rekindle. His gazed fixed on Boromir for a moment and he blushed, then looked away, turning again to Elrond who'd begun speaking.
Elrond stood and looked at the congregation, "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." He paused and looked around again, making sure he had everyone's attention. "Middle-Earth stands up ong the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite...or you will fall..."

Everybody looked around..at everybody else. Elrond spoke again, "Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." The Elf-Lord looked around yet again as to emphasize his point, then motioned for the pedastal that graced the center of the circle of gathered folk. His gaze landed on the only Halfling present. Frodo Baggins. Legolas' heart went out to the poor soul. The Elf-Lord's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Bring forth the Ring...Frodo."

Boromir immediately came out of whatever funk he was in and sat forward. He put his hand to his mouth and looked at the plain gold band, "So...it is true..." He glanced at the halfling as he returned to his seat. Everyone seemed mesmerized by the Ring...it's draw quite obvious...One of the men sighed and muttered under hsi breath something about the doom of men... Boromir stood and looked at the Council, "In a dream...I saw the eastern sky grow dar...but in the West, a pale light lingered... I heard a voice cry out: 'Your doom is near at hand...' " He paused and approached the pedastal, "Isildur's bane is found..."

Just as Boromir was about to reach for the Ring, both Gandalf and Elrond stood and shouted at him. But it was Gandalf's words that caused the man to halt. The old wizard began speaking in the black speech, "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul." As the Wizard spoke, the sky grew dark and one could swear the earth was shaking. Every member of the council, the elves especially, looked as though they were in great pain.
Elrond grumbled and looked at Gandalf, "Never before has anyone uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."

Gandalf sat back down, "I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond...for the Black Speech may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is all together evil!" He gave Boromir a final, scathing glance, but the man seemed unperturbed.
Boromir sat forward again and shook his head, "Nay...'tis a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor!" He stood up and began pacing, looking at the individual members of the council, "Why not use this Ring?" He paused and bolstered himself, passing a glance at the Mirkwood Prince, "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 it against him!"

Now it was Aragorn's turn to pipe up. So far, he'd been pretty quiet, as was his nature...but this man from Gondor was just...Well, his heart was in the right place. But, frankly, he was being dense. The Ranger sighed, "You cannot weild it. None of us can! The One Ring answers to Sauron alone...it has no other master."
Boromir turned to look at the dark-haired man, "And what would a Ranger know of this matter?"

Legolas stood then, agitated. It wasn't Boromir's words that set him off..it was his tone. He frowned, rather upset with the man, "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn...son of Arathorn...and you owe him your allegiance."
Boromir cast a glance at Legolas, then looked at Aragorn, "This...Aragorn? This is Isildur's Heir?" He couldn't help the disbelief. He'd thought that line broken long ago.

Legolas was still a bit miffed. Part of him wanted to tackle Boromir for being so...well, him....but on the other hand, he really couldn't blame the man. He didn't know. He raised his chin in a small challenge, "And Heir to the Throne of Gondor."

Aragorn winced and shook his head at Legolas, then held up a hand. He thought for amoment, the Elf might kill Boromir, but Legolas backed down. "Havo dad, Legolas..."
So, the Heir of Gondor...was sitting two chairs down from him. He must be close to his elf, if Legolas defended him so. That made his blood boil. The fact that this Ranger...this...gah! No, he wouldn't think of that. He'd deal with the elvish Prince later. He glared at Aragorn, "Gondor has no King. Gondor needs...no King." He sat back down with a huff and stared at the floor.

The Council dragged on and on...until everyone rose and shouted at one another. The fight was silenced soon after it started by a tiny voice shouting over the throng, "I will take it! I will take it!" Once Frodo had everyone's attention, he looked around, "I will take the Ring...though...I do not know the way."

At that moment...Gandalf felt his heart break. He had hoped Frodo would no longer have to endure this Evil, but the task had already been appointed to him. He sighed and put his hand on the hobbit's shoulder, "I will help you bear this burden..so long as it is yours to bear." He stood beside the small halfling.

Aragorn rose and came to kneel before Frodo, "If by my life of death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."

Legolas moved to join them as well, "And you have my bow..."

Gimli, son of Gloin, one of the dwarves present, was not to be out done by an elf. He rose and went to stand next to the small group that had sworn fealty to the Hobbit, "And my axe." He and Legolas exchanged dirty looks. Oh, this was going to be a very fun trip.

Boromir stood and looked at Frodo, "It seems you hold the fate of us all, little one...If this is truly the will of the Council...then Gondor will see it done." He moved and stood beside Aragorn. He had another motive, other than trying to convince them to take the ring to Gondor. His lover was going...he had to protect the elf, though he knew very well...that Legolas was a more than capable warrior.
Suddenly, from the bushes, Sam, one of Frodo's companions, leapt out, "Hey! Mr. Frodo's not goin' anywhere without me!"

Another chuckle supressed from the elf-lord, "No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

Seeing Sam in the middle of all the important people, Merry and Pippin emerged from behind the pillars that surround the council chamber, "Wait! We're coming too!" They ran up to the group and stood beside Frodo, then Merry said, "You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Pippin looked at Elrond, "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission....quest...thing." Merry looked at Pippin and snorted, "Well, that rules you out, Pip."

Elrond, who was slightly upset and still trying to stifle a chuckled, "Nine companions....So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Pippin smiled, "Great! So where we going?"

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That night, after a feast was held in honor of the Fellowship, Boromir was on his way back to the room he'd been given. On his way though, he spied Legolas...His Legolas. He couldn't explain the overwhelming and sudden possessiveness that came over him. He'd never felt it before. Perhaps it stemmed from being apart for such a long span...

Legolas was chatting idly with a few members of his entourage, but a slight turn of head let him catch sight of Boromir. Turning his attention back to his companions, he muttered a few words of parting before going to the man, "Boromir."

When Legolas said his name, it sounded like a thousand angels singing. He pulled the elf away from the eyes of others, then pushed him against the nearest wall and kissed him quite soundly, "Oh, how I have missed you, my golden Prince..."

Legolas smiled and pressed his forehead to the other's, wrapping his arms around the Man's neck, "And I you, son of Gondor." He kissed the Man again, this time with more hunger. While the time that seperated them was like mere minutes to the elf...it was still hard to endure. He couldn't imagine what it was like for the man. He pulled back and looked at Boromir, smirking, "I see you kept the goat..."

Boromir blushed and rested his hands on the Elf's hips, "Aye...only because you seemed to like it so much, my fair Prince." It got a chuckle out of the Prince...another angelic sound. By all that is good and green, how he had missed this elf.

Legolas got a mischievious glint in his eyes, then began leading the man off, toward his rooms. They needed to get reaquainted with one another. He was stopped by Boromir though. The man frowned deeply, "Wait...Legolas...I don't think...About the council...." He stopped speaking when his mouth was covered by a hand.

Legolas looked up at him and sighed softly, "It wasn't meant to be offensive, Boromir...You aggrivated me when you belittled my friend like that...If I wronged you, I am sorry...but let's not let that taint our night together.. We leave in the morning...and peace will not come easily on the road...So, let's take some while we still can, hmm?"

Who could argue with that sort of logic? Boromir allowed himself to be led toward the elf's rooms. He was still slightly put off by the words said at the council, but it didn't matter. Legolas still loved him dearly. And for that, he was happy. He was determined not to let those words spoil his reunion...nor the thought of such a perilous journey that laid before them...

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The next morning, Boromir had left the elven prince sleeping in the large bed by himself. He took a moment as he dressed to look over the other's sleeping form. He was glad Legolas was coming along...though part of him wanted the Prince to remain behind, in safety. He sighed softly as he tied the belt around his waist, then slipped out as quietly as a churchmouse.

Once out in the hall, Boromir made his way to his own appointed rooms to gather his few belongings. As he picked up his pack, he sighed again. When he made the journey from Gondor to Rivendell, he hadn't planned on going on some crusade to Mordor to destroy an elvish trinket. He had brought only one change of clothes, utterly stupid in hindsight. It took him nearly a month and a half to get up here...He shook his head and stuffed the spare leggings and linen shirt into his bag, then grabbed his sword and shield and left the room.

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Legolas awoke several moments after Boromir had left and sleepily reached for his lover only to find him not there. He sat up and frowned, then shook his head to free the cobwebs of sleep from his mind. Sighing, the Prince got out of bed and dressed, grabbed his things, then left. Old habits die hard with men...Boromir could have stayed until the summons...Elves were more leniant when it came to such things.

Down by the gates was where he found Boromir...and the hobbits. He smiled at Frodo and the others, then went to Boromir, pulling him aside. He looked up at the man and raised an eyebrow, "You didn't have to leave, you know. The servants would understand."

Boromir nodded, "Aye, but I couldn't risk it. We've been careful thus far...and I would like to continue to be so...there are other Men here, Legolas. If they were to see...and send word to my father that his eldest has taken up with the Elven Prince from Mirkwood...his retribution would be swift and devastating...and neither of us wants that, do we?"

Legolas shook his head and sighed, "I know all that...but..nevermind. It's too late for it now. I just would have prefered to wake up with you in my arms...versus a cold, empty bed." He brushed his hair off his shoulders and put a hand on Boromir's forearm, "Maybe...if we succeed...we could...try...to have a life together...Aragorn would be king...you his steward...Maybe then -"

"Legolas, no...you know it is folly to hope for that...we might not survive this journey...and even if things end like you say...we would still live a lie..." The man put a hand on the elf's shoulder, then glanced over his own before pulling Legolas into a tight embrace. He felt the elf wrap his arms around his middle and sigh. Boromir pulled back and smiled, "We shall try though...I still think it's folly."

Legolas raised a brow, "You think everything is folly... I must have heard you say that word a million times last night during the feast..." A smirk painted the elf's features, "Follow me...we have time before the others come...Mithrandir, the Dwarf, and Aragorn have yet to show..." Legolas led the man off to a nearby clearing in the woods that were Elrond's gardens, then turned to face him, "Before you found me last night...after the feast...I was out here...in this very clearing...and I spied the Lady Arwen...and Aragorn...She made a promise to him...she chose a mortal life...and to bind herself to him...now, I remember...not too awful long ago...I made a similar promise to you, Boromir.." He took the man's hands in his own and looked up into his eyes, "And to that promise, I hold...I will remain in middle earth...until the end of your days...as I cannot give you mortality to die at your side...I am not half-elven...therefore, the choice...is one I cannot make...but...You have my heart and my soul...and I am bound to you in this life...I will never love another in all my years on this earth...."

Boromir looked down at their hands as he digested the elf's heavy words. Legolas was willing to lay aside everything to be with him...even the chance to love after the man had died. Boromir looked up at the elf, "Such words...I would not want to you grieve after I have gone...nor to deny yourself the chance to love again. But...I make a promise to you know, Prince of Mirkwood...that I will try to live as long as possible to spare you any hurt....and I will always cherish your love and devotion..."

Legolas smiled, then wrapped his arms around Boromir's neck and kissed him tenderly. And Boromir returned the kiss. Before it could deepen, Legolas broke it when a voice called out for them. The sun had risen fully and now it was time to depart. Boromir left the clearing before Legolas, casting a look at the elf over his shoulder. A few minutes later, Legolas joined the others by the gate.

Taking a place beside Boromir, Legolas turned his attention to Elrond, and all those gathered to see them off. Poor Arwen looked a mess. Elrond sighed deeply and addressed the Fellowship, "The Ring-Bearer is setting out on a quest for Mt. Doom. Those that travel with him...no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell...Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves, and Men, and all the Free Folk go with you...."

Gandalf, who had been standing near the rear of the pack shifted slightly, "The Fellowship awaits the Ring-Bearer..."

Frodo turned around then and made for the gate, only to whisper over his shoulder at Gandalf, "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
"Left."

And they were off...

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