Chapter Ten: Up the Mountain Caradhras
Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine. Familiar dialogue belongs to Peter Jackson.
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The twelve companions crossed the mountainous region of Hollin towards the Misty Mountains. It took them a quarter of a day to walk across until they came to a makeshift path. Gandalf led the way, followed by Legolas and Gimli. Draco, the Hobbits, and Bill the pony followed them up, and Harry was behind them. Behind Harry was Boromir and then Hermione and Aragorn took the rear, talking amiably about which route they were going to take.
'We must hold to this course, west of the Misty Mountains, for 40 days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor,' Gandalf explained to them, stopping to rest for a while.
Sam busied himself with making food for everyone, and they helped themselves for a while. Boromir, Merry, and Pippin brushed up on their sword skills by having a play sword fight. 'Two, one, five. Good! Very good!' Boromir told Pippin when the Hobbit defended himself from every move Boromir made.
They repeated the process while Aragorn watched, and Sam sat next to Frodo with a plate of food to watch as well. Aragorn watched the footwork, turning to smile at Hermione who was sitting next to him. She smiled back and stood, walking over to where Gandalf was. She heard Aragorn issuing out orders to the Hobbit. 'Move your feet,' he said.
'You look good, Pippin,' Merry told him, his mouth full of food he stole from Sam's plate.
'Thanks,' Pippin answered, looking over at his cousin.
'Faster,' Boromir stated, issuing out the same technique to Merry.
Hermione smiled, sitting next to Gandalf who was watching Draco and Harry duel, which, to her, was hilarious. Draco opted for a mocking tone which had Gandalf laughing while he watched them. 'En garde, touché!' Draco said as his sword met Harry's in a duel stance.
'Do you know how cliché that is?' Harry asked him in amusement, moving back and getting into his fighting stance.
Draco tutted. 'You sir, are spoiling my fun,' he stated, getting himself into a fighting stance. 'May the best man, or boy in your case, win,' Draco added.
Harry rolled his eyes. 'Now you're exaggerating on your manliness,' Harry retorted, their swords clashing.
Draco smirked at him and swung around, hitting Harry's sword hard, making the Gryffindor step back from the force. 'Do I look like a man who exaggerates?' Draco asked him, hitting the Gryffindor sword again. The Goblin and Elven made swords clashed in a small shower of sparks.
Harry gave the Slytherin a smirk of his own, bringing the Gryffindor sword down on Draco's sword. 'Yes,' Harry stated. Draco smirked and spun around, catching Harry a little off guard. He had to quickly block Draco's sword which left him open for Draco to trip him up. Draco looked down at the Gryffindor, pointing his sword at Harry's chest. 'It's not possible!' Harry shouted, not believing the Slytherin beat him.
'Not probable,' Draco said, smirking at the Gryffindor. He took his sword away and held out his hand to help him up. Harry frowned, taking Draco's outstretched hand, and allowed the Slytherin to pull him up.
'I want to go again!' Harry said, not accepting a Slytherin beat him.
'Best out of 3?' Draco asked with a smirk, wiping his sword.
'You're on, Malfoy,' Harry answered, and they were at it again.
Hermione and Gandalf laughed at them when they discarded their swords on the ground and started to play fight instead. Hermione couldn't believe how far they had come. She had gotten to the point where she could honestly say Draco was a friend, which was strange. She felt Harry thought the same if what she was seeing was anything to go by. She had a strong feeling Draco felt the same about them, watching them laugh and fight on the ground.
Gimli made his way towards where Gandalf and Hermione were sitting, looking around before speaking. 'If anyone were to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way 'round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome,' he said, his tone hopeful.
Gandalf shook his head, worry written on his features while he answered, 'No Gimli. I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice,' Gandalf's response was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Legolas ran passed them, jumping up onto a rock and Hermione wondered what was wrong. He seemed uneasy while he looked out at something in the distance. She stood, jumping down onto the rock next to him, touching his arm. 'What's wrong, Legolas?' she asked him, but he didn't answer her or even react to her touching his arm.
In the background, Boromir hit Pippin's hand with his sword, stopping straight away. 'Sorry!' he shouted, and Pippin kicked him in the shin.
'Get him!' Merry shouted, and the two Hobbits took Boromir to the ground, play fighting with him much like Draco and Harry were earlier. Draco and Harry both started laughing from where they were talking over to one side. They walked over, standing next to the rock Frodo and Sam were still sitting on. Aragorn chuckled, taking a puff of his pipe. Boromir was laughing at the Hobbits' success at getting him down. 'For the Shire!' Merry shouted.
'Hold him. Hold him down, Merry!' Pippin cried, the three of them rolling around on the ground.
Aragorn walked over, attempting to pick the two Hobbits up by the scruffs of their shirts. 'Gentlemen, that's enough,' he said, but Merry and Pippin had the advantage of being small and quick. They grabbed Aragorn's legs, pulling so he fell on his back and awarded him the same treatment Boromir received.
Sam stood in confusion, finally noticing what Legolas was looking at. 'What is that?' he asked, gaining Draco's and Harry's attention. They turned to look at what Sam was looking at.
'I think it's moving,' Draco said.
Gimli turned to look at him before looking back at what they were talking about. 'Nothing. It's just a wisp of cloud,' he answered.
'It's moving fast,' Boromir put in from where he, Aragorn, Merry, and Pippin realised something was up. 'Against the wind,' he said in disbelief.
'Legolas, what is that?' Hermione asked him in fear, gripping his arm tighter.
'Crebain from Dunland!' the Elf shouted to the Fellowship.
'Hide!' Aragorn cried, grabbing Boromir's arm.
'Hurry!' Harry shouted, helping Merry and Pippin get into a hiding spot.
'Take cover!' Aragorn yelled to Frodo and Sam who both slid off the rock, allowing Boromir to help them hide.
Sam grabbed his bag, packing away his things followed by the others, and took it back to the hiding spot and went in next to Frodo who was next to Aragorn. Merry and Pippin were hiding behind Boromir, and Draco tripped Harry up, when the Gryffindor ran past his hiding spot, dragging him into the bushes so he could hide next to him. Legolas jumped down from the rock, holding out his arms allowing Hermione to jump down. He caught her easily, pulling her into a hiding spot near the rock they were just standing on. He held his arm out across her stomach protectively, and she leaned her head against the rock behind her. Her heart was beating fast from the adrenaline and fear coursing through her.
The birds flew overhead, and Legolas moved closer to Hermione to protect her. The others looked out from their hiding places, hoping the birds wouldn't see them. Legolas pulled his arm away from her, easing his way forward and looking out. Out of fear, Hermione grabbed his shoulders, and he turned to look at her before looking back out at the birds.
When they flew away, the members of the Fellowship came out from their hiding places. Legolas was the first out of the spot he pulled Hermione into, and he took her hand to help her out before letting it go immediately.
Gandalf, who was a little away from them came out of his hiding area in anger. 'Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched,' he confirmed, walking over to Legolas who was examining his bow, having moved away from the rest of the group to check if they were safe. Gimli and Hermione stood by Gandalf while Frodo and Sam walked over to them. Frodo was looking scared and a little tired to Hermione, and she felt worried for the Hobbit. Gandalf looked around at everyone in turn. 'We must take the Pass of Caradhras,' he said, looking up at a massive snow-covered mountain. Legolas looked at Hermione who was looking up at the mountain with more than a little fear in her eyes. He looked up at the mountain himself, wondering how safe they were going to be when climbing.
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The Fellowship made their way up Mount Caradhras without too many problems, except they were walking through about a foot of snow, apart from Legolas who was walking on top of the snow.
Harry, Hermione, and Draco, who were bantering amongst themselves, turned when Frodo fell through the snow. 'Frodo!' Aragorn shouted, running over to help the Hobbit to his feet. Frodo searched his neck for the Ring on his chain, finding it gone. He looked forward at Boromir who picked it up, staring at it as a man possessed.
Draco went to step forward to take it off him and give it back to Frodo, but Harry grabbed his arm, so the Slytherin had no choice, but to glare at the man. Gandalf turned to look at Boromir himself, and the look he gave him wasn't a happy one.
Aragorn watched Boromir warily, placing a protective hand on Frodo's shoulder. Harry let Draco go, and the Slytherin walked towards Boromir, stopping next to him. 'Boromir,' Aragorn said with a touch of worry in his tone.
'It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt over such a small thing,' Boromir stated in a monotone. 'Such a little thing,' he said, reaching up to place the Ring on his finger.
'Boromir!' Aragorn and Draco shouted as one.
As Draco was the one right next to him, he looked down at the younger man. 'Give the Ring to me,' the Slytherin told him.
'As you wish, I care not,' Boromir answered, and Draco glared at him, snatching the Ring from him, rewarded with shock from the older man.
Aragorn went to step forward at this, his hand on his sword at the ready in case something happened. He stopped in shock, about to unsheathe it, when he realised the Ring did not affect Draco. He walked over to Frodo after receiving it, knelt in front of him, and handed the Ring and chain back to him.
'Thank you,' Frodo said sincerely, while Hermione and Harry gaped at the Slytherin's random act of kindness.
'You're welcome, wee man,' he said, ruffling the Hobbits hair, and smiling down at him. He opted to walk next to him to make sure he would get up the hill without falling again. Aragorn smiled at the young man at his show of concern for his comrades while the Fellowship continued their journey up the mountain.
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Many miles away from where the Fellowship was struggling to walk up Mount Caradhras, deep in the caverns under Isengard, Orcs and Goblins worked on the orders given to them by the puppet of their Lord, Saruman. The White Wizard watched the progress from a bridge above where the Orcs were working. He turned, speaking in a monotone, 'So, Gandalf, you try to lead them over Caradhras. And if that fails, where then will you go? If the mountain defeats you will you risk a more dangerous road?'
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Back with the Fellowship, Legolas' ears twitched, and he frowned which attracted Hermione's attention from where she was walking next to him, even though he was on top of the snow. 'What's wrong?' She asked him, but he didn't answer her. He ran ahead, taking the lead. When he passed Gimli, the Dwarf growled at him, continuing to trudge through the snow.
Legolas stopped short just ahead of them, looking around, and listening to what he thought he heard before. 'There is a fell voice on the air,' he said to his companions.
Gandalf stopped walking in shock. 'It's Saruman!' he shouted, and blocks of ice broke off from the top of the mountain.
Legolas looked up in shock before his eyes found Hermione's ones, which were open wide with shock while the clumps of snow fell above them. Legolas ran forward, grabbing her up into his arms, and leaned over her to protect her from the snow. He had taken it upon himself to protect her and had taken her into his responsibility. If anything happened to her, he would blame himself and accept any blame anyone gave him should they choose to.
They leant up against the rock face, the clumps of snow and rocks flying over the edge, just missing them. Aragorn, who was guarding Frodo and Sam, turned to Gandalf. 'He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!' he shouted, trying to reason with the old Wizard.
'No!' Gandalf shouted back. He chanted loudly, and Hermione assumed it must be a counter-curse to Saruman's spell. It didn't seem to work, and the voice grew in momentum and lightning struck the top of the mountain. Legolas, who let go of Hermione after the rocks fell, moved to protect her again. An avalanche of snow rained down on top of them, burying them beneath about two feet of snow.
Legolas dug himself out, pulling Hermione up with him, and he made his way to where Gandalf was, listening and watching for any more danger. The Hobbits emerged with Boromir and Aragorn, dragging themselves out from underneath the snow. Gimli muttered to himself, grumbling about the snow while he pulled himself out, causing Legolas to roll his eyes. Harry and Draco were dusting themselves off, and Harry walked towards Gandalf. 'We must get off the mountain!' he shouted to the old Wizard.
Boromir seemed to agree with this, shouting things at Gandalf. 'We can make for the Gap of Rohan, and take the west road to my city!' he shouted.
Aragorn was quick to argue with this. 'The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!' he shouted at Boromir.
'We cannot pass over a mountain. Let us go under it,' Gimli joined in, causing Gandalf to look at him, knowing what he was suggesting. 'Let us go through the Mines of Moria,' he pleaded, and Gandalf eyed the Dwarf with disdain.
Back in Isengard, Saruman flipped through a book until he came to a page with an archway on it with Elven script bordering it. 'Moria. You fear to go into those mines. The Dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm. Shadow and flame,' he said into Gandalf's mind.
On the mountain, Gandalf closed his eyes before looking at Frodo. 'Let the Ring-bearer decide,' he said.
Draco placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder. Harry did the same, placing each of his hands on a shoulder of both Merry and Pippin. Hermione kneeled down, with Legolas' help, in front of Frodo and hugged the Hobbit. She pulled away, smiling at him, before standing back up, and leaned into Legolas. Frodo looked around at everyone, stopping when his eyes found Sam. He was freezing to the point where Aragorn had to hold his shoulders to prevent him from falling over. Frodo smiled at him, and Sam gave him a small smile back.
Boromir turned back to Gandalf. 'We cannot stay here!' he shouted, catching the attention of everyone. 'This will be the death of the Hobbits!' he shouted. Draco shook his head, his eyes narrowing. He didn't believe Boromir cared much for the Hobbits. Until he saw Boromir do something selfless for them, he refused to believe he cared. Whereas Draco had gained a sense of responsibility in protecting the Hobbits and he didn't know why. It just overcame him one day in Rivendell, and he took a liking to the small people.
Gandalf turned to the Hobbit. 'Frodo?' he asked, hoping Frodo wouldn't choose the mines but also felt there was no other choice.
Frodo looked at Gandalf. 'We will go through the mines,' he said with determination.
Gandalf closed his eyes, letting his shoulders slump, and looked back at the Hobbit. 'So be it,' he said.
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The Fellowship retraced their steps, reaching the area where the spies of Saruman flew over them. They stopped to get their bearings, and Legolas jumped up onto a rock next to Gimli, looking down at the Dwarf. 'Which way, Dwarf?' Legolas asked with only a little spite.
Gimli looked up at him. 'South-west to the entrance of the caves. Then through the mines underneath Mount Caradhras, Elf,' Gimli answered.
Draco ran forward from his position, jumping up onto the rock Legolas was standing on. The Elf turned to him with interest, wondering how the young man managed it when the rock was quite large. Draco smirked at him, before turning to the Fellowship. 'Should we rest before we continue?' he asked them.
'Resting would be too dangerous, and it is not yet dark. No, we should continue and make camp when we are in safety,' Aragorn answered. 'Get your strength up, we leave soon,' he told them. They all nodded, while the Hobbits and Harry sat down in exhaustion. Draco sat on the rock cross-legged, closing his eyes like he was meditating. Hermione sat down on a rock next to the one Draco was sitting on. Legolas jumped down from the rock, moving over to where Aragorn was and talked to him in hushed voices.
