In Which the Winds Play
Snow had blanketed the mountains, forcing them to wade through the knee deep cold. Legolas, however, stepped lightly over the snow and Falenor barely sank into it. He walked before Boromir, but behind Bill. He was watching the pony's gait carefully.
"He has a loose shoe," the drover murmured, but his thoughts were interrupted by a small grunt. Falenor turned and saw that Frodo had slipped and fallen, rolling through the snow. In front of him, Boromir stooped to pick up the Ring, which had fallen from the hobbit.
"Boromir," Aragorn said quietly. Falenor could not see the Gondorian's face, but the look of fear on Frodo's face showed him enough.
"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing," Boromir said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Such a little thing." The Captain reached out a gloved hand to touch it, but Falenor had come up behind him and he grabbed Boromir's hand.
"Boromir!" Aragorn shouted. "Give the Ring back to Frodo." Boromir turned and looked at Falenor, blinking. In his eyes the drover saw the traces of greed, desire, and sadness. Falenor could not understand the pull the Ring had on others, he himself felt only fear and despisement when he looked at that unadorned band. The drover released Boromir's hand and nodded down the slope where Aragorn and Frodo stood waiting.
"As you wish," Boromir said, taking the Ring back and holding it out to Frodo. The hobbit snatched it away from the Man. "I care not..." Boromir jokingly tousled Frodo's hair and then turned to resume climbing. He passed Falenor and clapped a hand on the peredhel's shoulder before going on. Falenor watched Aragorn until he released his grip on his sword.
"Come Frodo," Falenor said, gesturing to the hobbit. Frodo looked up at Aragorn who nodded. The hobbit pushed through the snow and came to stand in front of Falenor. The drover placed a light hand on his shoulder.
"Do you mind?" Falenor asked. Frodo shook his head and allowed the peredhel to pick him up and carry him through the snow. Falenor was surprisingly strong, despite his small frame, and the hobbit felt secure in his arms. Where Frodo had been frightened by Boromir's touch, he was soothed by Falenor's. When he was this close to the drover he could smell horses, sweet grass, and a windswept plain.
"Do you hear that Frodo?" Falenor asked. "It is the North wind. She is singing to the West wind. If we are unlucky they will come together in a storm."
"Can you stop them?" the hobbit asked.
"Why should I?" Falenor asked his voice actually confused, to Frodo's dismay. "They are like children, they want to play."
"But we'll be caught between them!" Frodo tried to explain. Falenor wrinkled his brow in confusion but he turned his head into the wind.
"She'll bring no snow," Falenor said at last. "I can tell because she is sad. And when she brings no snow, the West wind cannot create a blizzard."
Suddenly a cry rang out from behind them. In a gust of wind, Aragorn had lost his footing and now he slid towards a steep drop-off. Falenor dropped Frodo in the snow and ran, leaping across the snow in great bounds and catching the ranger's arm just before he fell. Snow, disturbed by the man's tumble, dropped over the edge into black chasm beneath.
"Hold on!" Falenor said through gritted teeth. Slowly he tried to lift Aragorn from the edge, but his feet slipped and he dared go no further. Aragorn stared up, frightened, into Falenor's eyes.
The drover's blue eyes were terrified, one wrong move would send both him and Aragorn tumbling downwards. Suddenly a hand shot out and grabbed Aragorn's other arm.
Together Falenor and Legolas pulled Aragorn to safety. The three lay there, panting, as the rest of the Fellowship waded back toward them.
"I'm sorry," Falenor said, his eyes closed.
"Sorry?" Aragorn asked. "You saved my life."
"The wind, she said to tell you she is sorry," Falenor said. The wind had indeed lessened greatly, as though ashamed of having knocked Aragorn over. "She only wanted to play."
"This is ridiculous," Legolas said. "If you can speak with the winds, then explain that that was not playing."
"But it is playing," Falenor said, opening his eyes. "She said she was sorry, but she also said it was fun."
"Are you all right?" Merry asked, worriedly. He stood back from them, afraid to go near the edge.
"We're fine," Aragorn said, rolling over and pushing himself to his feet. Legolas stood too, but Falenor stayed in the snow.
"Falenor?" Gandalf asked softly.
"I don't understand," Falenor said softly, shaking his head. "She is gone." He stood and strode past all of the company, walking over the ridge and staring out to the north. "She should not be gone, she was going to meet the West wind... the West wind is gone."
"What does that mean?" Gimli asked.
"I don't know," Falenor's voice was low and frightened. "Nothing should be able to hold back the wind."
"Saruman," Gandalf said to himself. Falenor turned and looked back. A single tear traced its way down his cheek.
"He's chained her."
