Author's Note: So, this Chapter Three... I personally don't think it's one of my best ones. I don't really like the scene much in the film, so I found it difficult to write :/ Really sorry if it's crap :/!
Read and Review :) I don't bite... much ;)
I do not own Lord of the Rings.
Chapter Three: The Ring Goes South
The Fellowship were ready to leave the next morning. Amelia couldn't help but notice the sorrow in Arwen's eyes as she watched Aragorn standing with the Fellowship. When Arwen's gaze landed on Amelia, she smiled to her, trying to reassure her. Arwen looked downwards, avoiding anyone's gaze.
"The Ring bearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom and you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will," Elrond explained. He raised his hand. "Farewell. Hold to your purpose and may the blessings of elves and men and all free folk go with you."
The Fellowship was silent, taking in Rivendell before their long journey. Rae couldn't help the feeling, albeit small, that she was never going to see it again. She turned her head away quickly, saddened by the thought.
"The Fellowship awaits the ring bearer," Gandalf said, as everyone watched Frodo. Introductions had been made shortly after the council before they went their separate ways to prepare for the journey. Frodo took another glance at Rivendell before turning and walking past the Fellowship.
Gandalf followed him out first, followed by Gimli, Boromir, Rae, Pippin, Merry, Legolas, Sam and Aragorn. Aragorn gave one last longing look to Arwen before he set foot out of Rivendell. Amelia glanced back.
"I'll look after him," she said to Arwen, grinning, before she, too, left the Elven city.
The Fellowship wandered over the mountains, Gandalf taking the lead rather than Frodo. The journey was tiring for Amelia, but she strove to prove to the males in the Fellowship that she could handle anything they could. She had changed out of her usual travelling clothes, opting for the light and comfortable Elvish clothing she had been provided with (it would have been rude for her to decline them too).
Despite the fact she was wearing a corset, she could breathe freely. Her white shirt had a few buttons undone before the purple and blue corset covered the rest of the shirt. Her black cloak was above this, covering the shirt. She wore a light blue skirt, only reaching mid thigh on the left side but extending to the ankle on the right side. Under this, she wore black leggings and boots. Her hair was back in its usual braid, only the elves had helped her by efficiently putting it back in an Elven braid that would be difficult to come undone.
Rae had settled for another tunic, a light blue one, black leggings and knee length dirt coloured boots. She aimed for a comfortable look as she was aware she would be able to change for a while. Her hair was down in natural waves, but half of it was back in an Elvish braid, keeping it out of her face. She'd settled for a forest green cloak, and frequently pulled it close to her for warmth (though she did not really need it).
The Fellowship stopped on a mountain, pearl white rocks dotted about. Amelia was sitting with Gimli, watching Boromir teach Merry and Pippin how to fight with a sword. Aragorn was watching while smoking on his pipe, smiling ever so slightly. Gandalf was talking about the journey to no one in particular, whilst Rae eagerly took the sausages Sam offered her from the fire. Frodo was quiet, looking out into the distance. Legolas was watching Rae as she dug into her sausage, smiling as she nibbled on it.
Gimli and Legolas began to argue about the mines, Gimli telling Gandalf it would do them good. Rae, much like Legolas, did not like the idea of being underground, preferring to stay out in the open. She involuntarily shuddered and Frodo looked at her.
"Are you alright, Lady Rae?" He asked, voice soft. She smiled and nodded.
"Just dreading what would happen if we went into the mines," she said, voice low so Gimli did not hear.
"You don't like being underground?" Sam questioned, curious.
"Elves don't especially like being underground," she told them, getting up to join Legolas. "Thank you for the sausages, Samwise, they were lovely."
Legolas was looking out into the distance, a frown on his face. He was aware of Rae joining him, but said nothing. There was commotion over by Boromir and the hobbits as he accidentally cut Pippin's hand.
"Sorry!" Boromir yelled quickly, but he was too late. Merry and Pippin tackled him, yelling "For the Shire!". Amelia chuckled lightly as Aragorn went to break it up. As he grabbed Merry, the hobbits pulled his legs out from underneath him.
Amelia laughed loudly, the sound foreign to her. It had been so long since she had openly laughed as hard as that. She watched Aragorn struggle to regain his bearings and stop the fight, grinning. Rae watched her sister in amusement before following Legolas' gaze.
There was a cloud, large and a foggy black colour. Rae, confused, looked to Legolas, but he seemed to be as perplexed as she.
"What is that?" She asked him. He didn't answer, keeping his eyes trained on the unidentified cloud. Rae heard Amelia asked the same question.
"Nothing," Gimli grumbled. "It's just a wisp of cloud."
"It's moving fast," Boromir pointed out.
"Against the wind," Amelia added. Legolas' eyes widened.
"Crebain, from Dunland!" He called, grabbing Rae's hand.
"Hide!" Aragorn ordered, grabbing his sword.
Legolas pulled Rae towards a bush and she clambered under, Legolas following. Sam doused the fire and rushed into a hiding place, the other members disappearing into different hiding places. Rae tried to avoid feeling awkward as she felt Legolas' breath on her neck. She watched a flock of black crows circle over head, trying to find any evidence of them being there. Then turned and flew back the way they came, the Fellowship scrambling out of their hiding places.
Rae avoided Legolas' gaze, embarrassed at their previous positions, keeping her eyes on Gandalf instead. If Legolas noticed he didn't say anything, to which Rae was thankful for.
"Spies of Saruman; the passage south is being watched," Gandalf told them, looking towards the snowy mountains in the distance. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras."
Rae looked over at Amelia, a look of dread on her face. Amelia, after looking over to the mountains, bit her lip. The feeling in the pit of her stomach told her she was going to hate every second of the journey over those frozen peaks.
As it turned out, Amelia was right.
Walking up the snow covered slopes of the mountains was a challenge for Amelia. Her feet were freezing from trudging through the snow non-stop, her eyes never leaving Rae's light form. She was jealous, for lack of a better word, of the fact that both Rae and Legolas seemed completely unaffected by the cold weather and snow. She grew more irritated when she noticed that they weren't even walking through the snow; they were walking on it.
She breathed out an irritated sigh and continued to struggle up the mountain behind Aragorn. She noticed Frodo lose his balance slightly, before he slipped and rolled back down the slope. Aragorn managed to steady him and he checked for the Ring. Amelia looked up, concerned, when she noticed Boromir holding it.
"Boromir?" She questioned, raising a frozen eyebrow.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing," he whispered. Aragorn reached for his sword, Amelia following his actions.
"Boromir!" Aragorn shouted, snapping him out of his reverie. He slowly brought the Ring to Frodo and handed it to him, although hesitantly.
"As you wish," he said. Then he ruffled Frodo's hair, saying, "I care not."
Amelia loosened her hand on her sword, watching his retreating form. She threw a worried glance at Aragorn, who returned it, before she continued up the mountain.
The higher up the mountain they got, the worse the weather. Amelia had taken Merry from Boromir, Rae had taken Pippin, feeling it would be better for him as she did not have to struggle to get through the snow. Aragorn had kept a strong grip on Frodo and Boromir on Sam. Legolas walked past Amelia and stopped just ahead of Gandalf.
"There is a fell voice on the air!" He called back to them.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled.
There was a cracking from above them before huge rocks fell, missing them by metres. Amelia and Rae exchanged nervous looks as Aragorn tried to convince Gandalf it would do them good to turn back.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn yelled, trying again. "We must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf yelled.
There was a flash of lightning before another crack. Snow fell from above, trapping the Fellowship under mounds of snow. Rae kept her grip on Pippin and managed to pull him upwards, with help from someone who had already emerged. She smiled, although it was a little shaky, at Legolas, as he came forward and helped Rae keep Pippin warm. He wrapped his arms around both of them, trying to trap the heat.
As the rest of the Fellowship dug their way out of the snow, Boromir called over to Gandalf, eying the hobbits worriedly.
"Gandalf, this will be the death of the hobbits!" He shouted. "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued. Amelia huddled close to Merry, her cloak draped around the two of them, trying to keep the warmth.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it!" Gimli said, voicing his opinion. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria."
Gandalf said nothing, staring into space, pondering. Rae and Legolas did not move from their position around Pippin. Gandalf seemed almost reluctant to answer. After a few moments, he looked straight to Frodo, his grey beard coated with frost and snow.
"Let the Ring bearer decide," he said, finally, looking straight at Frodo. Frodo hesitated, saying nothing. Pippin was shaking violently in between Legolas and Rae. Finally, Frodo spoke.
"We will go through the mines."
