The first scouts left that evening, looking for signs of the Black Riders or any other enemies. More left the next morning. They had
an important duty, to find the safest path for anyone leaving Rivendell with the Ring. It would be weeks before they returned.
Elves and Rangers made up the scouts, divided into several parties. Aragorn and Legolas went off with one of them.
Eowyn's faithful horse, Windfola, also went out with one of the scouting groups. They promised to escort him southward, then let
him go to find his way home to Rohan. The Rohirric horses would not lose their way.
Eowyn talked occasionally with some of the other visitors while they all waited for the scouts to return. Gandalf she knew slightly
already, and he told her some of what transpired between himself and King Theoden. The dwarves were not much for words, but
they were strong and determined, and had a way of getting right to business that Eowyn found herself admiring. Frodo and Sam
also spoke little, except to each other. Bilbo spent most of his time writing in a book. Merry and Pippin, the two youngest hobbits,
who had not been present at the Council, made good companions, as they were always up for a bit of fun. Although they enjoyed
pranks and jokes, she sensed a maturity in them deeper inside, particularly in the older one, Merry. The hobbits had a fierce loyalty
to each other that rivaled that of the greatest Men.
The person that she became closest to, however, was Boromir of Gondor. He, like her, was proud and strong, and a passionate
defender of his country. He reminded her of King Theoden in his better days. She found herself smiling as she listened to him talk
about his plans for the future of Gondor.
Autumn was ending when the scouts began to return. They had found no trace of enemies nearby, nor any trace of Gollum. The
Black Riders' horses were found drowned in the river, but of the Riders themselves there was no sign save a tattered black cloak.
It could only be assumed that the Riders had been forced to return to Mordor empty, opening a chance for escape when they would
be unable to pursue.
Elrond summoned all his visitors to him. "The time has come," he proclaimed. "The Ring-bearer stands against the Dark Lord of
Mordor. As the Dark Lord has nine Riders to serve him, so shall the Ring-bearer have nine Walkers to protect and stand with him.
Your hope lies in secrecy, not in force, and you will venture into lands far from aid. With you, Frodo, and your faithful companion
Sam, Gandalf the Grey shall go, for this shall be his great task."
"The others will represent the other Free Folk of Middle-Earth: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Legolas shall go for the Elves, and Gimli
son of Gloin for the Dwarves. For Men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn, for Isildur's Bane concerns him closely. As the
road home for Boromir and Eowyn lies on the same path as yours for many hundreds of miles, they too shall accompany you. Then
there remain two more to be found."
"We're coming, too!" shouted Merry.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," said Pippin. "At any rate, you need people of intelligence on this mission...
quest...thing."
"Well, that rules you out, Pip," snickered Merry. Pippin rolled his eyes. Eowyn and Boromir looked at each other and shared a
little laugh.
"So be it," said Elrond, with a sigh. "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
The Fellowship made ready to depart on a cold, gray, and windy December day. All had been furnished by Elrond with thick, warm
clothes. Spare food and other gear were loaded on a pony named Bill that Sam had charge of. For weapons Aragorn had a long
sword at one side and a dagger at his other, and a short bow upon his back. Legolas carried a long bow and a pair of knives.
Boromir had a sword similar to Aragorn's, and bore a large round shield upon his back. Eowyn carried her smaller shield upon her
back. Her sword was at her side and her knife was still tucked securely into her boot.
Gimil, alone among the Fellowship, openly wore armor, a shirt of chain-mail. The journey would be long and harsh but dwarves
made light of burdens. For weapons he had a large axe that he carried in his hand, and a smaller axe at his belt. The hobbits each
carried a short sword. Frodo's sword was called Sting, and it was a magical elvish blade that glowed blue when orcs were near.
Gandalf also had an elvish blade, the sword Glamdring, which he carried in addition to his staff.
"This is my last word," announced Elrond. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom. On him alone any charge is
laid, to neither cast away the Ring nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy. On his companions no oath or bond is laid to go any
farther than you will. Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves, Men, and all Free Folk go with you."
They crossed the bridge over the foaming river and headed west out of Rivendell, then turned south. Eowyn looked back at the
lights of the Elven sanctuary twinkling and fading in the distance. Despite her people's natural mistrust of Elves, she had grown rather
fond of the place.
The Fellowship walked in single file, Gandalf leading the way, and Legolas right behind him. Then came Gimli, and then the hobbits,
with Sam leading Bill the pony. Eowyn and Boromir were next, and Aragorn was the rearguard. For two weeks they moved
southward through hilly country, and the weather was cold and cloudy.
After two weeks the weather changed suddenly, though it remained cold a pale sun came out. The Misty Mountains were now
visible ahead of them, as the mountains curved southwest there. Gandalf proclaimed that they had arrived on the borders of the
country known as Hollin, once occupied by elves but now abandoned. That evening they camped on a high hill. Thick shrubs and
large boulders covered it, but there was a clearing in the middle big enough to make camp.
Boromir, as he had begun doing a few nights past, taught Merry and Pippin the basic points of swordfighting, as the others watched
them. Eowyn smiled as she gazed at Boromir. He had a way of bonding with the hobbits, a warm side to his personality despite all
the war and death he had seen.
Gandalf stared off at the horizon. "We must hold to this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days," he said. "If we are lucky,
the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us."
"It was still open when I came through on the way north to Rivendell," said Eowyn. "When we reach the borders the Riders of our
kingdom will be ready to protect us."
"Much has changed in the few months since you came," said Gandalf somberly. "Saruman's power has grown, and the amount of land
that the Riders of Rohan have been able to protect has shrunk. Orcs and evil Men now roam where none did before." Eowyn
shivered at those words, and felt a burning desire to get back to her country and stop any more damage from being done.
"If anyone was asking my opinion, and I know they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round," spoke up Gimli. "We could
pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
"No, Gimli," replied Gandalf, a worried look appearing on his face. "I would not pass through the mines unless I had no other choice."
There was a hobbit-shout as Pippin was accidentally nicked by Boromir's blade. "Sorry!" shouted Boromir. Merry and Pippin
playfully tackled him. "For the Shire!"
"All right, gentlemen, that's enough," said Aragorn, with a small smile. He went over to them and was suddenly tackled as well.
Laughter and shouting ensued.
Legolas' eyes suddenly focused on a dark shape in the sky. He stared at it intently.
"What's that?" said Sam, frowning.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud," said Gimli.
Boromir stood up. "It's moving fast, and against the wind."
"Crebain from Dunland!" shouted Legolas. They all quickly hid as best they could under the bushes and rocks. Sam put out the
cooking-fire before finding a hiding place.
When the evil crows had passed, Gandalf stood up. "Spies of Saruman," he growled. "The path south is watched." He looked to the
mountains in the east. "We must take the pass of Caradhras!"