[Legate of Amon Lanc]

"Alas!" said Saruman. "I know too well how deep my treachery reached. I pity it, and I can only hope that all I have caused can be healed yet."
"Truly we all hope for that," said Elrond. "But let us not be troubled by the past anymore! We have the advantage of the moment, when the Enemy is in doubt: he did not learn yet that Saruman has returned to our cause. And Saruman the Wise is here with us again, and who else could be of more help to us in this perilous time?"
"But what are we going to do?" Frodo asked.
"The Ring cannot stay here, that much is clear," Elrond replied. "Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril - to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire."

Silence fell on the room. At last Saruman spoke. "It is as Elrond said. The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And we need both strength and wisdom to carry us upon it, and more. This quest must be attempted by the strongest of all, for everything depends on it. Messengers will be sent out with the Ring, in small numbers, but the stronger must be their spirits and arms. We have been pondering this for a long time with the others of the White Council, and we made the choice at last."
"We agreed with Saruman that the Ring went on," said Elrond. "Bilbo's part in the tale was already finished, and also Frodo has already fulfiled his task and brought the Ring to Rivendell. Therefore, Saruman suggested another hobbit being called to complete the task."
"This person is going to represent all the halflings on the most important mission," said Saruman. "And so, I decided to turn to one I know about, and the one who is really a worthy representative of the Shire's folk. This time, the bearer cannot be chosen not just by mere coincidence, as it was in Bilbo's and Frodo's case, but after a deep thought and responsible choice. It was a good fortune, which brought the Ring to the two former bearers; but now, it is time to make choices of our own. And this is what we were appointed to."
"And whom did you choose?" Frodo asked.
"The name Baggins and its importance for the tale of the Ring is not going to be forgotten," said Saruman with a mild smile. "And so the third Halfling Ringbearer is going to be one who bears this name as well. I know the Sackville-Bagginses, and they are noble and strongwilled. The name of the Ringbearer we chose is Lobelia Sackville-Baggins."
Bilbo's face seemed to freeze in surprise and his eyes stared wide on Saruman.
"But -" he stammered. "But -"
"I understand your feelings, dear Bilbo," said Gandalf. "But, if the Wise have accepted Saruman back, why should you not accept Lobelia as the one carrying the Ring?"
Bilbo sighed. "You are right. It is just... strange that the events unfolded like this."
"You can be proud of yourself," Saruman said. "And, I believe it is time to invite the new Ringbearer among us." He nodded at Elladan who stood next to the door. The elf opened the door, and Saruman spoke up with a loud voice:
"Please, Lobelia, come in."

The venerable Sackville-Baggins entered, clothed in noble gown and with firm expression in her face. All eyes turned on her; some were looking at her with amazement. Bilbo sighed and turned away, shaking his head.
Saruman took a few steps towards the incomer and stood by her side.
"Mistress Lobelia Sackville-Baggins," he said, half towards the audience, half towards her. "Welcome here. You heard what has been said. Do you still hold to your word that you will be the Ring-bearer?"
"I do," said Lobelia, and the expression of her face was unmoved; only her eyes gleamed with what were maybe tears, maybe not.
"So it shall be," said Saruman. "I can foresee very little of the road; and how the task is to be achieved I do not know. But I have chosen you companions to go with you: I will accompany you to be of counsel and do whatever is in my powers to aid you as far as fate allows. The others of my Order shall go with you, too: Gandalf the Grey, as the Ring concerns him closely; and Radagast the Brown, for this task shall be the fulfilment of what was laid upon him a long time ago. For the rest, they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World: Elves, Dwarves, Men; and Orcs, too: as even among them many now stand against the oppression of the Dark Lord. Galadriel and Gildor shall be for the Elves; and Dáin Ironfoot for the Dwarves: all of them represent the most powerful lords of their folk in Middle-Earth and if they would not help, then none could."
All eyes turned to the beautiful Elven lords sitting on the opposite side of the room, who seemed to give out a faint light. Then Elrond spoke up.
"Even though Saruman was unsure first when we were discussing it, I believe there lies still much hope with the Men of Westernesse, even though their numbers are few; and the tale of Isildur is a part of their own tale. Therefore, we agreed that Halbarad of the Dúnedain be chosen into the Fellowship as well. The spirit of Númenor lives still, and their strength may be useful on this journey."
"Indeed," said Saruman. "And for strength, there will be also strong arms of an Uruk by your side, Lobelia. Uglúk will go with you; and he is trustworthy, the most trustworthy of all my captains."
Some of those in the room looked at Uglúk with surprise, but the tall Orc did not move.
"And if you are still in lack of valiant men," Saruman continued, "Théodred the Second Marshall of the Mark and Éomer the Third Marshall of Mark will go with you. Their honourable titles speak for them, and now that their land is in peace again, they were allowed to give their hands to our cause. Théodred son of Théoden is one of the bravest men, and bestowing him with this honor is the smallest thing I can do to repay what evil I have caused to the King and his people."
"That makes nine, yet we agreed that there should be twelve companions for the Ringbearer, to make the number of fourteen as long as Saruman is present," said Elrond. "And it will take long to call anyone from distant lands to join us now. But I had forgotten Bombadil, if indeed this is still the same that walked the woods and hills long ago, and even then was older than the old. He is a strange creature, but maybe I should have summoned him to our Council."
"He would not have come," said Gandalf.
"Could we not still send messages to him and obtain his help?" asked Gildor. "It seems that he has a power even over the Ring."
"No, I should not put it so," said Gandalf. "Say rather that the Ring has no power over him, or so it seems."
"The more is Gildor's counsel worth considering," said Saruman, "and I would not be so hasty in dismissing it, even though Gandalf thinks otherwise. Bombadil's aid could mean a lot for our cause: I say we at least try to ask him. I shall see to it myself."
"Then there remain two more to be found," said Elrond. "These I will consider. Of my household I may find some that it seems good to me to send."
"If you permit me, father," Elladan said, standing up, "we don't want to be left behind. We want to go with the Fellowship."
Elrond turned at him, startled. Elrohir rose also and stood by his brother's side.
"That is right, father," he said. "If this is the task of the greatest importance, we should go and represent our house."
Elrond's face was grave now. "I cannot withhold you by force," he said. "But I beg you to reconsider. There are other tasks that need to be fulfilled, of less honour maybe, but also of great importance. You may accompany Aragorn to Minas Tirith if you have the desire for great deeds. But I have seen the horrors of Mordor and do not want to see you going that way."
"We chose already," said Elrohir.
"Let it be so then. You shall go," said Elrond, and he sighed. "Now the tale of Fourteen is filled. As soon as all are present, the Company must depart."

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The Fellowship:

Aganzir - Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
A Little Green - Éomer
Gil-Galad - Gandalf
Groin Redbeard - Dáin II. Ironfoot
Gwathagor - Halbarad
McCaber - Elrohir
Meneltarmacil - Uglúk
Nerwen - Elladan
Nogrod - Tom Bombadil
Rune son of Bjarne - Galadriel
Sally - Théodred
THE Ka - Radagast
Thinlómien - Gildor Inglorion



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