This chapter has been revamped.
This writing will be flashes of memory for the remainder of the story.
Importance of a Name
"Tell me young Hobbits, why are all of you here? I thought the Shire tended to stay out of the goings on of the world." Lorarwin walked beside Bill the pony and Sam: Pippin and Merry walked ahead of them, then Frodo, Gimli, Legolas and finally Gandalf at the lead. Aragorn, Boromir and Vada followed after the group. They had been moving for eleven days already and had yet to face any dangers. Ahead of them were a few boulders that looked like pieces of a building once, but at the same time they didn't. They would rest there and continue after eating.
"Well, I promised Gandalf that I'd look after Mr. Frodo," Sam smiled as he looked at Lorarwin. "I don't plan on breaking that promise. I've known Mr. Frodo for as long as I can remember."
"A noble reason in itself, to protect a friend."
"We were kind of thrown into all of this. And when the chance arose, we weren't going to miss it." Merry called over his shoulder.
Pippin nodded in agreement. "All we did was get caught stealing from farmer Maggot and next thing we know we're being chased by one of the Black Riders. Anyways, Frodo is our cousin, so we can't let him go into danger without us."
Lorarwin paused in her steps and held a hand to where she herself had a scar. She can remember the moment she received it clearly.
Trees surrounded her as Lorarwin ran through the forest. The stars themselves were clouded and the moon was not out that night. Behind her a village was ablaze and cries of pain and terror filled the air around her. She was young. Today was the start of her 247th year alive. Snow quieted her footsteps and the cold burned her lungs as she continued to run. Amid the screams heavy steps could be heard. She was being followed by the same evil that had just killed her family. Chancing to take a glance behind her Lorarwin's foot caught on a fallen branch, sending her sprawling onto the snow.
"Lorarwin," Lorarwin blinked and looked down. Sam stood there holding onto Bill's reins. "Lady Lorarwin are you alright?"
"I'm sorry Sam, just remembering something." Starting to walk again Lorarwin reached up and rubbed her side again. The pain was never really gone, and even after all this time the wound remained, never fully healed. "Come along Sam, they seem to need help with getting some food cooked. And I'd rather not try anything that they call a meal."
Bags had been placed down and a fire started. Boromir, Pippin and Merry were having a small sparring match in order to teach the Hobbits to defend themselves. Aragorn sat nearby with a pipe, smiling and calling out instructions to the two younger beings. Sam went to make food while Legolas and Gimli stood below a talking Gandalf and Vada. Frodo was sitting alone watching the fight.
"If anyone were to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not. I'd say we're taking the long way," Gimli spoke up. "Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
The look upon Gandalf's face would be said to be fear. Lorarwin had heard tales of the elderly man, but in none of them had he ever been afraid. Vada's face showed nearly the same fear as the wizard. What ever it was that scared the two of them, Lorarwin bet that she'd rather not meet it alone, or with the Fellowship.
Legolas stepped up onto the rock that Lorarwin had stood upon looking out into the distance. Lorarwin turned to see whatever it was that he was looking at. Gandalf saw the two and turned his eyes upwards to the sky. Down below the fight had turned into a wrestling match and Aragorn lay on his back. "What is that?" Sam asked.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud," was Gimli's reply.
Boromir's breath was still uneven as he spoke, "its moving fast… against the wind."
"Crebain from Dunland," Lorarwin and Legolas said as one.
"Hide!" Aragorn shouted and at once everyone began to gather their stuff. Sam put out the fire. Lorarwin had rushed to the Frodo and pushed him under one of the rocks, Aragorn slid in next to him. Looking about Lorarwin couldn't see the others and dove into the nearest hiding spot, nearby bushes.
The birds grew closer as Lorarwin pushed herself farther into the brush. Hitting something, she looked into the eye of Legolas. He held a finger up to keep her silent and pulled her closer to him, hiding her completely from anything else. A single croak was heard and the birds turned, heading back south where they came from. Legolas stood and pulled Lorarwin to her feet. The fellowship was beginning to leave their hiding spots.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf said with a look of disgust. "The passage South is being watched." Everyone walked to Gandalf.
"That means we're taking the mountain doesn't it?" Vada whined sitting on a rock above the rest of them. As one the group turned to look onto the distant mountain range, "The Pass of Caradhras."
The walk to the mountain was uneventful for the first couple of days. Although into their third day everyone's mindset turned from what it was. Behind them Frodo tripped in the snow and tumbled down. Aragorn thankfully caught the man before he went too far. Stopping the group turned to see him hurriedly looking for the One Ring around his neck. Boromir had gone back to help him when he stopped and leaned down, picking up the ring. He seemed as though he were in a trance. Lorarwin knelt as this feeling of want came over her. She quickly pulled her hood over her face to hide the marks that Elrond told her appeared along her body. This time though, her hands and arms had them too, even if she couldn't see them.
"Boromir," Aragorn called in question.
Quietly Boromir spoke, "it is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing… such a little thing." The last part was spoken even quieter than the first. As his hand rose up the grasp the One Ring.
"Boromir," Aragorn's hand had placed itself upon his sword, though he didn't wish to use it on the man. "Give the ring to Frodo."
Boromir walked forward with a sigh, the ring held out in front of him. "As you wish," Frodo quickly grabbed the ring, releasing a breath he didn't know he had held. "I care not." Boromir smiled at Frodo and ruffled his hair before turning and walking back up to the others. Aragorn's hand released his sword as the man walked away.
'That was the right choice Boromir,' Aragorn thought sadly, 'but will you make it again?' Aragorn and Frodo started walking, and Aragorn watched suspiciously as Boromir stopped and knelt beside Lorarwin. 'He looks at her as he does the ring…'
"Are you alright, Mi… Lorarwin?" Boromir placed a hand at her elbow and helped her to her feet again.
"Quite," Lorarwin nodded her head and walked on. Aragorn and Boromir frowned as they saw her keep her hands from sight and didn't remove her hood as she passed by the others.
The next days were calm, of course the farther up they got, the colder it became. Lorarwin never once smiled. The farther up they went, the more depressed she seemed to get. Vada noticed and walked calmly up to her. "Look, I don't know what's got you in this kind of mood, but don't let the Hobbits see you like this. They need strength to go on, and if all of us are depressed then it's doing them no good."
Lorarwin looked at the younger woman. "The youngest one here is giving one of the oldest ones advice. I find that kind of humorous."
A scowl appeared on the Rohan woman's face, "I'm not that much younger than Aragorn and Legolas!" It wasn't much of a come back, seeing that the girl knew neither of their ages. "Heck, I'm not much younger than you by the looks of it."
"That would be where you are wrong. How young are you?"
"I'm 26 thank you very much. You look like you're my age if not younger."
Smiling Lorarwin leaned towards the girl, "then it is true. I am much older than you."
Leaving her with that Lorarwin continued up the mountain. As night fell they made a makeshift camp, everyone digging into their bedrolls and cloaks to rid them selves of the cold. Aragorn and Gandalf kept first watch, with Gandalf melting the snow when it buried them too much. A grumpy Vada and Boromir took the next watch and Lorarwin and Gimli took the final one. As the morning sun rose again they set off up the mountain. The weather turned bitter and chilled their bones.
Boromir held Merry and Pippin by his side, trying to keep them from going under the waist high snow. Aragorn held Sam and Frodo, Gimli in front of him. Gandalf walked in front, using his staff to move snow from their path, with Vada behind him, using small balls of fire to melt the snow Gandalf left behind. She looked pale compared to usual, once her tan had gone away, leaving behind milky white skin. Her fire kept going out and yet she kept making another. Lorarwin and Legolas walked behind the others on top of the snow.
"Do you hear that?" Lorarwin asked halting for just a moment. Legolas nodded and they walked to the front.
"There's a foul voice on the air," Legolas's voice was urgent.
"Any voice upon the air is a foul thing." Lorarwin muttered, "Any fool would know that."
Legolas looked to her with a frown and partial glare. "It's Saruman." Gandalf yelled up to them.
"Wait a moment," Lorarwin turned back to Gandalf, "isn't Saruman the leader of the wizards? Why would he be talking on the wind?"
The mountain shook as pieces of snow and mountain top rained down on them. The others leaned as close to the mountain as they could while Lorarwin and Legolas remained where they were. "He's trying to bring down the mountain." Aragorn called, his face covered in snow, turning his beard nearly pure white. "Gandalf we must turn back!"
"No," Gandalf shook his head and tried to get onto of the snow. Lorarwin leaned down and helped him onto a snow cover rock, releasing him once he had his balance and she knew he wouldn't fall back into the deep death trap. "Losto Caradhras, sedo, hodo, nuitho I ruith." Lorarwin couldn't really understand what Gandalf said but looking back at Vada she knew that the sorceress did for she was speaking the same words as her mentor. Saruman's voice continued to reach their ears as lighting hit the top of the mountain. Waves of snow came crashing down towards them.
Legolas reached forward and pulled Gandalf against the mountain. Seeing him in danger himself Lorarwin rushed forward, sending her and the other elf down against the ground. Minutes seemed to pass as everyone was buried under the snow and the mountain finally stopped shaking so badly. Standing, Lorarwin forced her way to the top, Legolas following after her. They watched as Aragorn pushed Sam and Frodo out from under the snow, Boromir doing the same with Merry and Pippin. Gandalf shook the snow off him, Aragorn helped Gimli up and Vada seemed fine. A small circle of water stood around her and not a flake of snow seemed to have landed near her during the avalanche.
"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir called to Gandalf. "Make for the gap of Rohan and take the West Road to my city."
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard," Vada called. "We'll be seen."
"If we cannot pass over the mountain let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria." Vada used her staff to hit Gimli upside the head as she looked to Gandalf to see the fearful glance he sent her way.
"I swear Gandalf that if you bring me through the mines I will kill you myself." Vada hissed.
"Let the ring bearer decide." Gandalf looked away from Vada to look at Frodo.
The Hobbit looked completely frost bitten. "We will go through the mines," he said. 'Although I do not wish to make this journey last any longer than need be, but why does Gandalf not want to go through the mines?'
"So be it," Gandalf nearly whispered.
'Why do you wish to run from this Gandalf?' Lorarwin questioned as she helped Gimli to turn around in the snow. Vada had scowled at everyone as she pushed her way to in front of Aragorn so she could clear a path. 'What aren't the two of you saying?'
"The walls of Moria!" Gimli said loudly as he looked upon the mountain side with pride. Lorarwin tilted her head a little and shrugged, 'I of all people do not understand the meaning of home so who am I to judge.'
Gandalf walked to a section of the cliff and brushed some dirt out of the way. "Itidin… it mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Turning, Gandalf watched as a full moon made its way out from behind a cloud.
Leaning over to Boromir Lorarwin muttered, "Is it just me or is that too pretty to be a Dwarf entrance?"
"I agree, and yet here I am standing next to the entrance of a Dwarven mine and there's a lake right next to it. I thought Dwarves didn't bathe." Boromir smiled as Lorarwin tried to hold in a laugh. Legolas glanced over and caught his eye, Boromir just glared at the Elf.
The three had missed a good part of the conversation and of Gandalf threatening to use Pippin's head to open it. Frodo and Gandalf had just figured out the password and everyone was on their way inside. Gimli of course was going on and on about the mines of Moria. Lorarwin was standing just ahead of the Hobbits when everything went to hell. The place was filled with corpses, both Dwarf and Orc. Everyone had pulled out their weapons. Vada stood there with her dagger, a grin on her face.
A sudden pull on her cloak sent Lorarwin tumbling to the ground. Sam, Merry and Pippin rushed out the door. "Strider," Sam called, getting everyone's attention. Lorarwin rolled onto her stomach and watched as Frodo was pulled away by some sort of giant monster. Aragorn and Boromir rushed into the water, slicing limbs to get to Frodo. Legolas used his bow to shoot the monster.
When everyone rushed away from the monster Lorarwin's shock finally left her. The monster hit the rocks above the entrance, sending large sections down upon them. Standing, Lorarwin pushed the Hobbits ahead of her but stopped running when a rock hit her leg. Stumbling, Lorarwin was once again knocked off of her feet.
"Guess we are even now," Legolas slowly got up off Lorarwin and held a hand down to her. Lorarwin took the offered hand and let the Elf pull her to her feet.
"Are you alright Lorarwin?" Frodo asked, coming over to the pair. Lorarwin looked down at him and smiled.
"Yes I'm alright. I give my thanks to Legolas for that." Lorarwin turned to the Elf and then looked down at the warmth in her hand. Seeing that their hands were still clasped together she removed hers and ruffled Frodo's hair. "Now don't go getting yourself nearly killed again. I don't think I could take it." Everyone smiled as they turned to walk away. Glancing over her shoulder Lorarwin gave a genuine smile. "Thank you, Legolas of Mirkwood."
"The pleasure was mine… Lorarwin." Lorarwin didn't miss that this was the first time that she had used his name. Nor had Aragorn, who still stood behind them with a smile on his face.