Stian's Fanfic

The Council of Elrond, with one more guest

This fan fiction takes place at the Council of Elrond in the Fellowship of the Ring. After reading the book, I thought there was one more thing that should be discussed at this council. Gandalf is a friend of Radagast, who is actually mentioned in the Council in the book, and I think that Radagast not only should be mentioned, but be present at this Council. He was the one who made it possible for Gandalf to escape from Orthanc, so he would be in everyone’s mind at the Council. Therefore I believe someone also should have invited him there.
Radagast has a network of Eagles that potentially could help the Fellowship on their way to Mordor. Whether or not they choose to use this network isn't really the issue, but I think it is really obvious that they should have at least discussed it, since there is no reason mentioned in the book that says the Eagles can’t help them on their way.

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Frodo could hear the loud flowing river Bruin as he walked through Rivendell, and watched the pale, cool sunrise above the far mountains shine down through the glimmering leafs. Suddenly, a single clear bell rang out. It was the warning bell of the Council of Elrond. Gandalf led him to the port where the council was held.

Frodo entered the Council, and saw people sitting in a circle with a stone pillar in the centre. He could hear the noise of bubbling water coming up from the foaming waterfalls below, and the birds singing over the peaceful land. The faces that met him were grave, and the people were silent. He saw Glorfindel, Gloin, and Boromir from Gondor, and sitting in the corner was Strider who had put on his old travellers clothes again. He sat down at a seat pointed out by Elrond. Elrond proceeded with introducing Frodo to the Council, and then the people who Frodo had not seen before were introduced to him.

There was a younger dwarf seated next to Gloin, his son Gimli, and besides Glorfindel, there were several other members of Elrond’s household. Then Elrond introduced Radagast, who earlier had sent the eagle Gwaihir, the Windlord, to rescue Gandalf from the corrupted wizard Saruman at Orthanc.

“He is Radagast the Brown, or Aiwendil as we call him”, said Elrond. Frodo looked at the old man sitting next to Gandalf. He had white hair reaching down to his back, a long white, greyish beard and bushy eyebrows. Like his name, his cloak was brown, and he had a brown bag with herbs laying on his right lap, and his long, wooden staff in his left hand.

“Radagast is an Istari wizard, and comes from Valinor like Gandalf and the rest of the wizards of this world”, Elrond continued. “He is the Tenderer of Beasts, and a bird-friend. After I heard he came to Gandalf’s aid at Orthanc with his mighty eagle Gwaihir, I invited him to this council, in the hope that we can make use of his great wisdom in this dark age as well.”

Then Elrond, Gandalf and Bilbo told the story of the making of the Rings of Power, how Sauron betrayed them and made the One Ring to rule them all; how Sauron lost this ring; how it got to Gollum - and then found its way to Bilbo and Frodo.

After this, the Council discussed what they should do with the ring. Boromir told of how he looked at the ring as a gift, which should be brought to Gondor and be used in the fight against the evil. Some mentioned it should be given to Tom Bombadil, others suggested it should be thrown into the Ocean, and be forgotten. No one wanted to take the quest of bringing the Ring into Mordor. The very air one breathes is poisonous, and the land is infested with countless orcs and other wicked creatures. But throwing the Ring in the ocean, or bringing it to Gondor would not solve their problem; Sauron’s spirit would still be alive if the Ring was not destroyed.

They discussed back and forth, and the frustration grew proportionally with the sound of their voices as they could not decide who was going to take the Ring to Mordor. In the midst of the heated discussion, suddenly a small, thin voice spoke up. “I will take it!” There was a sudden silence spreading through them. “I will take the Ring to Mordor” Frodo suggested. Everyone was surprised, even Frodo himself. It was then decided that Frodo would carry the burden of being the Ring-bearer.

"Then," said Aragorn, "let us send message to the eagles.” Aragorn looked at Radagast, expecting that he was already thinking of it. “We can pass by foot and boat to the Brown Lands and gather there with the eagles, and then they can fly with the Ring-bearer to Orodruin.” Frodo’s face got softer. He liked the idea of being carried to Mt. Doom by flight, instead of taking the long, dreaded way through that evil land by foot.
"It is not my decision to make”, Radagast sighed, and folded his hands on his lap. “The eagles are not simply my servants who do whatever I ask of them. They are independent creatures, and can only do what is permitted by the Valar. I have no say in this matter.” Aragorn frowned and recalled “But Gwaihir helped Gandalf escape from Orthanc?”
“That is true,” Gandalf replied. “Ever since I saved Gwaihir from a poison arrow, he has been both eager and ready to help whenever I’m in danger. Unfortunately does this not mean that he will be willing to fly the Ring-bearer into Mordor.”

Elrond stood up and walked towards the stone pillar in the middle, and concluded “Radagast and Gandalf, as you said, you cannot decide this here. I say you leave at sunrise and set course for the Misty Mountains. Tell the eagles then of this meeting and ask them to give us their aid.” Radagast looked at Gandalf and nodded "It is worth the attempt." Gandalf and Radagast sat course towards the Misty Mountains the next morning.