Fourth chapter, I hope you like this one, spent quite a bit of time on this one with the tweaking; it's also about 12 pages on my pc so it's the longest chapter yet! Thanks to all for reading the last chapter,
Enjoy,
Xandrandra xx
Snow Folly
The snow was still thin though steadily growing thicker; the 10 travellers continued forward, the hobbits delighted by the sight of snow for no hobbit alive save Bilbo remembered the last snow that had fallen in the Shire. The men's spirits were lifted by the pureness and clean look to their surroundings while the dwarf complained of his cold feet, Gandalf who led the fellowship pushed through the snow as though hurried to reach the end of the pass, the elf walked normally over the snow, his feet leaving barely a mark. The female of the group seemed most effected for she did not remember snow from her past and her energy seemed renewed when she saw it, running up to the first bank and touching it with her fingers, turning to the other nine with a simple smile on her face, she now strayed ahead of the group, observing the untouched snow covered rocks and plants. The group stopped to rest as the snow became deeper and more of a wade than that of a walk, the hobbit's were knee deep in the cold white and were beginning to feel the cold, Téanar looked back to find them resting, taking another look up the mountain she turned back and began to walk towards them her slow step slowly speeding into a jog, as she came to their resting place she fell forwards onto her hands, turning a graceful cartwheel in the snow, folding her legs as she came down to finish sitting, her legs crossed, in the snow beside the hobbit Merry.
'Show off.' He muttered, though his eyes glinted,
'I merely tripped hobbit. Would you prefer for me to land on you if the situation were to arise again?' she asked, laughing.
'Eh, eh, Merry! She's fallin' for ya charm!' said Pippin, waggling an eyebrow in the pair's direction,
Téanar reached behind her back, pulling the snow together quietly as he spoke, patting it into a ball, the two men watched her with interest, her strange behaviour had always been noticed by the fellowship, and this was yet another unusual trait of the woman's. Pippin found himself covered in a soft snow a few seconds after he finished his words, one of his eyebrows raised as though frozen by the cold,
'Right. If that's how you want it then here!' he pulled together his own handful of snow, launching it in her direction, missing her and hitting the hobbit next to her.
'That's it!' Merry cried,
Aragorn ducked as a snow missile flew towards his head, the wizard, elf, dwarf and two men sat in a stunned silence as the hobbit's and girl ran through the snow, the hobbit's teaming up against the girl who moved so gracefully over the snow,
'Certainly an elf.' Said Boromir,
'Nay, elves do not conduct themselves in such a manner.' Said the elf,
'But her feet leave no mark, the hobbits are knee deep and they are following her path.' He argued,
'And surely my friend you wish to join them.' Said Aragorn innocently, a glint in his eye,
'Do not jest my friend, this is a child's game.' Was the elf's answer,
'It is a preposterous display of childishness!' said the dwarf, 'look at them! Running around playing with snow!'
'You dislike the snow?' asked Boromir,
'I am a dwarf…'
'Look.' Gandalf interrupted them, pointing to the game,
The hobbits stood throwing balls of snow at the girl as she dodged them, she jumped up and back, her body turning, her hands connected with the snow, her elbows bending and pushing her legs over, pushing up she came to land on her feet to repeat the process once again, to end standing with a large clump of snow in her hands, she ran to the hobbits, throwing it at them, stooping to collect more in one hand then diving sideways into what was a cartwheel to dodge more snow, though one hand held a ball the wheel was flawless. She turned to the hobbits and ran at them, with her speed it seemed she would not stop, the hobbits froze in a line of four, debating which way to run, upon reaching the still frozen hobbits she jumped, wrapping her arms around her waist and turning in the air as she rotated her body to land feet first facing the hobbits who had turned, their heads watching her body as she flew over head. Merry was the first to move, charging at her and knocking her onto her back with the other three moments later coming to attack.
'Strange.' Said Gandalf,
'Impressive.' Was Aragorn's comment,
'The grace of an elf…' Legolas said to himself,
'So you can do that too?' the dwarf asked,
'I do not know. I have never tried.'
'I would not recommend it, if you did not land correctly you would surly be in pain.' Aragorn told him, 'let us finish this game for we must move on.' He told them standing and going over to the mound of hobbit, girl and snow.
'Alright. You won. Hobbit's are indeed the kings of snow.' Chuckled the girl,
'Let us finish this game for we must press on.' Said Aragorn
'Sure strider, come on!' said Pippin pulling hobbit limbs and resulting in being chased back to their packs,
'That was impressive,' said Aragorn looking down on the snow covered girl
'It seemed natural to me… like fighting, one moment I was running, the next I was in the air, my body moving as though it were in another's hands… I look forward to the day when I remember.' she told him,
Aragorn offered his hand which she grasped, then pulled away from suddenly, then rubbing her hands together, 'cold hands.' She muttered, reaching for his hand again and standing, 'the path looks thin, keep close to the walls.' She said brushing herself down and walking to retrieve her weapons,
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It cut into their skin, turning lips blue and faces pink, it blinded them and pushed against them. Frodo stumbled, rolled down to come to a stop at Aragorn's feet, the company stopped when they saw Boromir holding the ring, she was too far away to hear their words, but she could see Aragorn's hand tighten on his sword, only to release when Boromir handed the ring to Frodo and climbed on. She was worried, the ring was powerful, and all knew that, though she herself had felt no pull towards it, true, she had not spent long in the ring bearers company, but she felt uncomfortable that she could not feel what the others felt, it was yet another difference that pushed her away from the males. She walked ahead of the company as she had done for most of their trek across the white landscape, she looked back to find Gandalf ploughing a path, the two men carrying the four hobbits, two each, the dwarf trudged through the snow, his beard and hair now white with the heavy fall. Legolas walked slowly at the back, his eyes narrowed as the flakes stung his eyes and melted on his lashes, she walked a few more paces before once again stopping, the storm seeming stronger, she looked back, Gandalf catching her eyes, she motioned to stay near the walls, he nodded and changed his course. She tried to walk further but the wind and snow stung her eyes causing small streams of tears to make their way down her face, she turned and wiped her eyes with the heel of one hand, motioning for the elf to come to her. He stepped out of the trench the others had made and onto the snow at the side, his feet leaving no visible prints, the rest of the company watching him enviously. He arrived at her side within a few moments,
'This storm is not natural.' She told him,
'I have feared that myself… what else is bothering you Téanar?' he asked, reading her troubled and teary eyes,
'Rocks will fall from the sky followed by a sea of white.' She told him, a sad smile on her lips, and 'stay close to Gandalf.' She told him before moving to the back,
The elf turned his face to the direction they were headed, cocking his head,
'There is a voice upon the air.'
'Saruman.' Muttered Gandalf, before setting about casting his own spell, she hurried to the back of line, warning them to stay close to each other and the wall, the men headed her words, the dwarf however did not move, but seemed to move away from the wall, as rocks rained down from the cliff face above, Téanar pushed him nearer the wall, pushing her own body away from the edge so they stood side by side. Upon hearing Gandalf's more powerful tones, she pushed the dwarf into the men and crouched with her hands over her head as the avalanche covered them all. Legolas was the first to emerge slowly followed by the rest of the company, the men digging out the hobbits and the elf aiding the dwarf, who was knocked over along with the elf as Téanar erupted out of the snow with a scowl on her face,
'I would appreciate if you did not stand on me.' She told them, her face slowly relaxing
she extended a hand to the dwarf who still lay on the ground, he accepted it after a moments hesitation, she put her hands over her head again as another lump of snow fell down and hit her back, forcing her down onto one knee in the snow, she heard the ring bearer's decision, they would head for the mines of Moria, she closed her eyes and let out a breath she hadn't realised she held, trying to wipe the heaviness that now weighed on her heart, something terrible would happen, this she knew, though what she could not tell, her head once again throbbed, she rubbed her temples though it did nothing to ease the pain.
Once more Gandalf led them, but this time the pace was slower and easier as the storm seemed to rapidly ease off as they made their way to the foot of the mountain once more. They rested briefly in the snow to check for injuries and to recover the strength that had been lost in the cold and immense pressure. Save minor cuts and bruises none were hurt though the company's mood had deteriorated like the altitude, the hobbits tried to lighten the hearts as much as they possibly could, and only they seemed to have their spirit's lifted, Téanar, the company had expected her to join in with the snow folly once more but no matter the number that hit her she remained quiet and refused to join the four, her knees drawn loosely up with her chin resting on them, her hands gripping her ankles, one occasionally straying to rub her temple. Gandalf did not wish to go through Moria but all other paths were blocked and the company had resigned themselves to the path through the dwarf mines, though none too willingly. Gimli was the only one pleased to be travelling along that path, he contented himself with recounting stories of the mines to the fellowship though none seemed to listen, and he gave up with the males in the company, and went to talk to Téanar, her given name now known among the group.
'Miss Téanar? Are you alright?' the gruff voice of the dwarf asked,
'Yes master dwarf. Is there something I can assist you with?' she answered, she turned her head to face him, the movement sending another stab of pain through her head,
'No. it is just you sit so quiet and still, we were worried…'
'I am just thinking of the next step in our journey, my head also hurts, I think the cold has finally affected me.' She told him as he sat next to her, though a reasonable distance away,
'My cousin Balin will give us a fine welcome, food drink and lots of heat to warm you up lass, I do not see why everyone is so worried. They are more than just mines!' Scoffed the dwarf
'That is what I fear. There is a heavy weight on my heart that has not lifted since our path was chosen.' She told him,
'Come, we must press on save spend the night out here on the snow.' Said Aragorn placing a hand on their shoulders,
They reached the foot of the slope long before nightfall; they managed a few more miles before they were forced to stop for the dark. They stopped to sleep in a very small clearing, no more than a gap within the trees large enough for the group to spread out with a small fire, the group was silent as they ate apart from the quiet chatter from the hobbits and the dwarf. The elf was to sit most watches with the other alternating between Gimli, Aragorn, Gandalf and Boromir, they did not allow the hobbits to guard because of their small size, the pain in her head has left her, she was not angry but frustrated, they did not include her in the watches, she was a women, she knew this, she also knew their views on a woman's place, though she herself had very different view, she wished she could remember more, prove to them that she was equal to each of the fellowship… she finished her food and picked up her weapons, walking around the edge of the opening, looking up into the branches of the nearby trees, she stopped under one and hooked her bow over her shoulder and head once again before preparing herself to jump. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Boromir watching her, he was sitting nearest to her, and she looked away,
'Is there something you wish of me Boromir?' she asked quietly so no one else could hear her words,
'Where are you going is all miss.'
'I am going to sleep where when I wake I can have a view of the camp.' She turned to him, 'I have not been included in the watches so I shall make my own. I wish you goodnight my friend.' With that she turned and jumped into the leaves,
Her words had been quiet so that no one could hear them save the man, but he too had heard them, he watched her shadowed form as it climbed into the higher boughs of the tree, the leaves stopped shaking as she began to rest. He had not realised that she had not been included in the watches; he would have to speak with Aragorn when they watched together. The elf watched as the fellowship settled down to sleep leaving the man Boromir and himself to their thoughts.
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The branches seemed to enclose about her, cradling her as they swayed, she had woken a long time ago, now she looked down onto the fellowship, her thoughts running through her mind as she tried to put them into some type of order. The man Aragorn was on watch, who was the other she wondered, trying to pinpoint the second watch, she settled herself back against the trunk and looked up to the stars, wondering if she had memorised any in her past.
'Do you always watch me as I sleep elf?' she asked her gaze lowering then turning to her right,
'Aragorn asked me to check on you.' He told her, sitting on a branch next to her own,
'Unless I yell or fall I am fine.' He nodded and began to leave, 'there is a good view of the camp and forest from up here, and you are welcome to stay for the view if you wish.' She said looking once again into the sky, noticing that he settled more comfortably on the branch,
'Do you recognise any?' he asked, also gazing upwards,
'I truly could not say, I have no memory of ever memorising any, though the sky… I feel that the stars have always held a place in my heart. They feel familiar, yet, I have the sense of awe I have with most of this world.' She told him, she looked down through the thin branches to the fellowship below, 'I am tempted to throw something on Boromir's head. It is sad that this tree bares no fruit.' She smiled sadly at him.
'You are a strange one Téanar.' She was told,
'Would I be me if I wasn't?' she asked, being rewarded with a small smile.
Silence followed her words; it was not uncomfortable like many absences of noise caused, but calm, peaceful,
'I do not wish to go into the mines.' She said, not realising she had spoken aloud until he asked,
'Why?'
'I am not sure, but my heart is heavy and has been so since it was decided that Moria was our path.' She told him,
'I also feel it, though I have reason to for I have heard the tales of the mines, you have not.'
'That is what worries me. But dawn approaches fast, rest, for I have watched and seen that you have had none. I will watch with Aragorn and retrieve you when we leave.' The two swapped branches and she started her decent.
'Legolas?' asked Aragorn as she stepped out of the shadows,
'Téanar.' She answered, 'the elf is resting.' She walked over to him and sat down with her legs folded, her quiver on her back, knife at her hip and bow in hand,
'We will depart for Moria when the dawn breaks,' she was informed,
'Yes, it will be a long trip… and dark.' She stood and walked to the other side of the camp where she looked into the trees though appearing not to look at anything.
Aragorn shook his head,
'My friend, she is in a world that is far from her own. The company appears to forget that. When her memory returns I am certain she will be able to tell you much, but for now, trust her, and let her think. She is changing, she needs time to adjust.'
'Gandalf, must you too now speak in riddles?' asked the man,
'I am speaking on her behalf, Aragorn, riddles are a forte of hers.' smiled the old man.
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I think this is better than the first version, hope you all think so too, review.. You know you want to!
Xandrandra xx
