Somewhere between Rowanwell and Caradhras
"So there we were surrounded by three monstrous trolls." Said Bilbo "and they were all deciding on how they were going to eat us. One wanted to put us on the spit and slow roast us, alive. Another said they sit on us one by one and turn us into jelly. Well they were arguing so long that the sun came up and turned them to stone!"
"Nice story Bill," said Grover the disbelief was obvious in his voice.
"The hobbit's name is Bilbo, and we will be passing the stone trolls on our way back from Minas Tirith, Master Goathead" said a very irritated Gandalf
"Oh, Gandalf I'm absolutely fine with him calling me Bill I mean if you can call him goathead then I see no reason why he can't call me Bill.
As Bilbo continued Percy went over to where Gandalf and Legolas were sitting, and seemingly arguing.
"No, Legolas absolutely and unequivocally, no."
"Gandalf I know that you have a dislike of the place which was heightened after that run-in with the Balrog, but if I know Gimli he will have sent a group down to retake Moria."
"The only reason that we had to go through Moria in the first place is because Saruman would not allow us to pass through Caradhras."
"Do pardon me for interrupting" Percy interrupted. "But both of these places do not sound like a place that anyone would want to go although if I had a choice I would go through Caradhras and face this Saruman than have a face off with a rouge bull."
Legolas turned to him "First and foremost it is very rude to listen in on other peoples conversations. Second Saruman is dead. And last but not least Moria has been abandoned for decades. True you will fond the occasional orc"
"I believe you mean orc hoard" Gandalf interrupted.
Legolas glared "Gimli will have eradicated the place by now, anyway since Gandalf so graciously rid us of the major threat there is no reason why we can't go through Moria. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the Moria that Gimli thought we would find on our first trip through is what is there now."
"But what are these places?"
"Moria is a mine where the dwarves harvested mithril, a light and very hard metal" said Gandalf.
"Caradhras is a torturous and, at least to some bewitched mountain" said Legolas.
"We need to decide soon, we could reach the base of Caradhras or the Moria Gate tomorrow" said Gandalf.
"Why, don't we talk to the rest of the group in the morning?" said Legolas.
"Yes that would be best" said Gandalf.
The next morning Gandalf told the assembled group of the choice that they faced. He and Legolas told of each path to enlighten the remainder of the party of the choice they all had to make. Then he gave them all rocks telling them. "Whisper into your rock the path you wish to take, then place it in the fire, once all the rocks are in fire we will know the will of our new fellowship.
All took a rock and one by one all of the rocks were placed in the fire then Gandalf through something into the fire, muttered something under his breath and the embers rearranged themselves into the word "DRAW."
Everyone stared at the word for five whole minutes and then slowly and very deliberately Gandalf said "It seems that we cannot come to an agreement and I will be leading a party over Caradhras."
"And I will lead the party through Moria" said Legolas.
After another long silence Grover who looked very worried objected "N-now wait just a moment we're not splitting up are we?"
"It certainly seems that way Master Goathead."
"No way, not happening, we can't split up. What happens when ever the good guys split up? Bad things, anyone ever seen Star Wars aside from me? The good guys split up to do different jobs and their best warrior dies. And every time the Scooby-Doo team splits up something goes wrong. I end this rant by saying, I DON'T WANT TO SPLIT UP."
"Your two references are not familiar to me or my friends Master Goathead, but I am afraid to not split up you or one of us will have to change our vote."
When no one seemed willing to do so Gandalf said "Those going over Caradhras follow me" Frodo, Percy, Tyson, and Nico moved towards him. That left Legolas, Bilbo, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia to go through Moria. As the two parties separated Grover said to Percy "why don't we make a race out of this the group with the least injuries, casualties, and is first to Minas Tirith buys dinner when we get back home."
"Deal" said Percy when as the two groups moved off in their separate directions.
The Tower of the Moon, Minas Morgal
For your convenience the following conversation has been translated into English
"The time has come; we must retrieve the Witch Kings ring." Said one of the remaining Nazgul
"How do you intend to do so? It I true that we finally know the exact location of the ring but how are we to approach the gates of Minis Tirith unnoticed?" asked another.
"We are not the ones who are going to retrieve the ring no we are going to have one of the returned do that for us" said the first.
"So the rumors are true then? That the Elvin beyond has not taken a tight enough grip on its most valuable inhabitance?" asked a third Nazgul.
"Yes the rumors are true and it is also true that they are marching towards our front door."
"So we are just hoping that one of them will just decide to betray his friends and bring us the one thing that can revive the power of Sauron the Great to us, no questions asked?" the second Nazgul asked.
"Yes" replied the first one. "He is week and has found a ring by accident before all we have to do is have it call him, and then his week resistance to the lure of our power will do the rest."
Authors note: Thanks for reading there will be more soon. Please review if you like and feel free to make any suggestions you think will make the story better
-Luke Attmey
