Sry found a lot of writing errors and so I went back to correct them, but here is chapter 11 for the second time! Please let me know what you think in the comments or if you see any tolkien errors please let me know! Thanks for being here and happy reading:)
The morning dawned white as the sun glistened on the white mounds of snow surrounding them. Adelaide awoke early, glancing around to find that her magic had kept the fellowship from being encased in snow. Feeling a slight surge of satisfaction, she cut off the magic that had been used to protect them from the snow and began to rouse everyone. Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, and Aragorn were lively and took little rousing, but the same could not be said for the hobbits and Gimli, who complained loudly about the cold and spent several minutes cursing at anything they could think of.
"Why did you think to come up here anyways, Gandalf?" Gimli grunted, stomping his feet on the frozen ground to encourage circulation to his toes. "We would have been better off to take the Gap of Rohan, or better yet fly over these mountains than to pass this way."
Gandalf did not respond, but his lined face darkened for a moment with a deep frown.
"There is nothing for it but to continue down," Aragorn asserted, eyeing the path that they had taken just the day before. However, where he was looking was not a path but a solid wall of snow as tall as himself or Boromir.
"If it's this deep all the way down the mountain than it will take the better part of the week to clear a path down," Boromir concluded, standing alongside Aragorn and staring into the embankment of snow and ice.
"We're trapped!" Pippen exclaimed, a note of hysteria creeping into his voice.
"No we are not, Master Took, and I would kindly ask that you keep quiet. I've had enough of this mountain and I cannot think if you are blathering on about traps!" Gandalf chided, wrapping his cloak around him further and shuffling up beside the two warriors.
"I will go forward and see how deep the snow is and for how long," Legolas offered, and before anyone could argue or agree, he leapt up onto the embankment in one fluid motion and set off, his footsteps silent as he dashed across the snow.
Only seconds later Adelaide heard him returning, his silver hair glistening in the early morning light. He leapt down into their grotto, his eyes never even skimming her face. So we are back to silence she wanted to say, but she bit her tongue. This was not her place to complain about their state of affairs – getting Frodo and the ring off this mountainside and pointed in the right direction of their quest was the only thing she should be concerned with at the moment. Yet still the return to silence nagged at the back of her mind.
"I bring both good news and bad. The good, the snow only continues this deep for another twenty or forty paces I would deem, but it remains this deep the whole way. From there it turns into a light dusting, almost as if the storm was centered directly above us," Legolas relayed, his musical voice deepening with the sour news.
"Well there is nothing to be done but to dig ourselves out," Gandalf said. "Thank you, Legolas."
Boromir and Aragorn set to work, using Boromir's shield to dig themselves out of the snow and their bodies to force their way through. It was grueling work, and Adelaide itched to be of aid, but Aragorn and Boromir had both declined her offer for help. She sat in the snow with Gimli and the hobbits, listening in silence as they talked over breakfast.
"What I wouldn't give for a pipe full of Longbottom leaf!" Merry concluded, pulling his pipe out of his coat pocket and staring at it longingly.
"Or a pint of ale from the Green Dragon," Sam added, his eyes more forlorn than Adelaide had every seen them.
"I don't suppose any hobbit from the Shire has ever been this far from home," Pippen said, glancing around at their small, snowy cell. "Well, besides Bilbo that is," he added hastily, inclining his head towards Frodo.
"No, I suppose you're right, Pippen. And even when Bilbo tried to pass this way he encountered Rock Giants and fell down a cave infested with goblins," Frodo said with a frown.
"And he met that stinker Gollum and started this whole nasty business," Sam added, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"You four are the most miserable creatures I have ever met," Gimli concluded, laughing at each of them in turn. "I for one would like to return to these mountains with a whole hoard of my people! They have deep bones, and what we could learn and discover I do not know!"
"I," Gandalf interjected darkly, "do not wish that Gimli. You know what happened when your people delved too deep."
Silence fell over the group and Adelaide felt a chill trickle down her spine which had nothing to do with the cold. She knew that Gandalf spoke of Moria and the monsters held within, but the wizard's threat did not seem to phase Gimli, who looked more offended than anything else.
While they had talked and sat and ate, the better part of the morning had wasted away. At last Aragorn and Boromir returned, both dripping with sweat and hunched with weariness, but their eyes glinted with pride and they announced to everyone that the path had been cleared. The snow at their feet still stretched to their knees, and so they were forced to take the hobbits in twos on their back through the tunnel. Legolas scampered along the top of the snow, and Gimli pushed through, grumbling that no man would carry him like a sack of wood. Gandalf was the second to last, and Adelaide brought up the rear, finally emerging from the snow to find it just as Legolas described: the embankment ended abruptly and all that remained was a light dusting of snow on the ground as they continued down the mountain.
"We are going to have to find another path to take," Adelaide sighed, glancing at Aragorn's solemn face.
"I know. And I have a growing fear that the longer we tarry getting across these mountains, the more our enemy will learn about us. Time is not our friend," he replied.
"I too have a growing fear. That was no natural snowstorm."
"And we cannot forget the Crebain. We will need to find a safe place to camp tonight," Aragorn concluded, wiping the sweat from his brown.
Adelaide frowned, seeing the weariness in his form. He was right, returning down the mountain made them vulnerable, but they had no choice. Adelaide herself felt the usual weariness that accompanied their travels, but as they moved further and further down the mountain and the oxygen grew thicker, she felt light and her mind more focused. Something was coming, but what that was, she did not know.
It was just at sunset that they reached the base of the mountain and began to look for a place to camp. There were no trees or rocks, and finally they decided upon the top of a hill where they would be able to see for miles around. The base was covered with scraggly bushes, and they all stopped to gather wood for new faggots. Sam's pony nickered at the sight of grass and Sam himself seemed to be pleased as well.
"Nothing so natural and beautiful as grass I always say, Bill," he murmured into his horse's ear.
When at last they reached the top of the hill, the hobbits collapsed, as did Boromir. Above them the stars twinkled dimly, and Adelaide smiled, thinking to herself of the many nights she had wandered this way during a happier time. The air was fresh, and she breathed deeply, the sounds around her falling away.
"What was it like," a voice from behind her that was so gentle it could only belong to Legolas asked. "When the elves lived here – what was it like?"
Adelaide turned and found his blue eyes boring into her own evergreen. Her heart stopped for a moment, but with a shake, she smiled hesitantly at him.
"It was beautiful. The very trees themselves sang in the wind, and people with good hearts could wander freely through the land," Adelaide recalled, in her mind the image of rolling green hills lush with wildflowers and bees humming lazily through the air. "Their cities were magnificent, and the lady of the wood and Celeborn ruled before the fall of Eregion. It was here that the rings of power, all of them save my own, were crafted."
"They were made by elvish hands?" Legolas said with disgust, his face contorting in horror. Adelaide felt pity stir in her stomach.
"They were deceived. Mairon came to them in a beautiful form – not the twisted creature he had become. He called himself Annatar, the giver of gifts, and he taught them the way of ring making. Of course Celebrimbor, the greatest of all elvish craftsmen was suspicious, but the rest of the smiths were deceived—"
"Lady Adelaide," Gandalf interrupted. "This is not the place nor the time for this tale! Do not be a fool and speak of such a horrid past in a place like this." He hmphed loudly and then strode over to where the hobbit were laying out their sleeping mats.
"Why trick the elves? Could he not have created them on his own?" Legolas asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Adelaide felt the pity in her stomach grow. Nin mel she wanted to say, and to pull him into a hug, but she only shook her head.
"I do not know. Perhaps when he betrayed the Valar he lost the ability to craft, but I think it was that perhaps he missed the beauty of the world; in his exile, he was denied this. He always loved beautiful things, flowers and forests and creatures," Adelaide offered.
"You most of all," Legolas added, a layer of frost returning to his voice. Adelaide said nothing and pressed her mouth closed. And me most of all she thought, the truth in his words ringing true.
"We should sleep, tomorrow we will have a long journey, whichever course we decide to pursue."
"We cannot rest until we decide our path," Boromir said, and his voice was like gravel with exhaustion and something more. Adelaide eyed him, noticing a severe glint in his eyes.
"Well what are our choices?" Merry asked, sitting up on his bed roll. "I haven't been of much use on this adventure, but if there is an option that does not involve climbing mountains I am in full support of it. I can't say I'm very keen to try that again."
"Hush Merry, I don't think this decision is for a Took and a Brandybuck to decide," Pippen scolded under his breath.
"The young hobbit makes a fair point Gandalf," Gimli said. Why go over our around when we could go through. The mines of Moria are open to us, Gandalf, and my cousin Balin will be there to see us safe passage."
"Will no one listen to reason? The Gap of Rohan is a simple journey, and does not include orc infested tunnels. When was the last anyone heard from Balin? Every realm heard of his journey in, but Gondor has not had word in many months!" Boromir retorted.
"And why should we walk ourselves into the hands of a traitor and powerful enemy?" Gimli shouted. "Saruman is certain to be watching the Gap of Rohan!"
"Lady Adelaide, what do you think? You have walked these paths, both, many times over," Aragorn asked, his steady voice bringing a sense of calm to the discussion.
"They are both dark choices in a darker time, Lord Aragorn," Adelaide responded. What could she say, she favored neither course, and would have preferred to try the Redhorn pass again, but it was closed against them. "Of the present company, I have been through Moria the most recently. I was alone and forced inside to escape a storm," Adelaide murmured, unable to keep the shaking from her voice. "The air is wretched and festering, and nothing wholesome grows in that darkness. I did not attempt to pass through, for my heart warned me that the crossing would not be simple, and so I exited as I came in."
"But perhaps that has changed since Balin arrived!" Gimli offered.
"It is possible, though not probable, Master Dwarf," Adelaide admitted. "It would take more than a few hundred dwarves to drive out the darkness unearthed there. Durin and his people dug and built recklessly, and we will pay for their folly if we pass through Khazad-dûm."
"Then you support the Gap of Rohan!" Boromir exclaimed, again the greedy light flashing in his eyes.
"No, Lord Boromir, I do not. I do not think I can give council with such dark options before us. My heart would say to try the Redhorn pass again, but it is closed by some unnatural force and we will find no success there a second time. Master Gimli is right, to walk the Gap of Rohan would be a fool's hope. I have power of my own, but I fear it may not just be a fight against Saruman, but against all the forces of Isenguard, an army and a sorcerer that I alone cannot keep at bay unless I release too much of my power and am returned to Cyprinia."
Silence fell and everyone turned inward to their thoughts. Adelaide scanned the gathering to see how her words had been received. Aragorn and Legolas were unflinching, but both Boromir and Gimli were flushed with anger at the rebuke of their options. All the hobbits but Frodo were quaking, the latter sitting stoically with a gleam of determination in his eyes.
"We can discuss this all night, but it will get us no closer to Mordor," Gandalf chimed. "As I see it, we can choose a certain but definable danger with the Gap of Rohan, or the chance of unknown danger in Moria. We could cast lots, but I think it wisest for the ring bearer to decide, for we are but here to aid him with the burden he bears."
Frodo sat up a little straighter, and after several moments of quiet, he spoke:
"Dark are the days when we must choose between paths such as these. If I had known what my journey was to be when I sat before the council, I may never have taken it. Yet alas! For the choice is mine, and I alone must choose." Here he paused to take a deep breath. "We will go through Moria and hope that the darkness will cloak us, not endanger us."
Adelaide felt as if a hand of ice had been wrapped around her heart, slowly compressing. Her eyes locked with Gandalf's, and she saw the same fear that must be reflected within her own. You know what the dwarves awoke there she thought and she pushed the message to his mind where she felt him spark with surprise.
Only danger and ruin await us in those tunnels Gandalf's thoughts echoed around her head.
One of the two of us will have to face it Adelaide replied, the image of the fiery beast which lay somewhere in the shadows filling the forefront of her brain. She could feel every hair on her body stand on end. None of the others can withstand the power. I could perhaps hold it off long enough -
It must be me Gandalf's deep voice boomed in her head. There was no hesitation, and his certainty captivated her. Erui Adaneth, the Great Wanderer, you must be with the Fellowship. You must end this misery, and you must guide them. His tone had grown gentle, speaking to her not as their leader, but as her friend.
I cannot guide them, give the post to Aragorn, but I think you a right, although it brings great pain to my heart. I must be there when Mairon is destroyed.
My dear friend Gandalf thought.
Your light will be sorely missed, my friend Adelaide answered.
Do not mourn for me, our journeys have been long and weary. See them safely out of the mines, we will not be able to get through unscathed Gandalf concluded.
Adelaide severed the connection between their thoughts and was startled to find tears on her cheeks. She had not known herself to be crying, but Gandalf's gaze was soft and he smiled at her from across the fire. Their friendship was a rock in Adelaide's long, wearisome existence in Arda. To think that he might pass in mere days… it was unfathomable.
"How the wind howls tonight," Frodo said, bringing an abrupt silence to the crowd sitting around the fire to listen to the wind around them. There seemed to be a moaning in the distance, and dread filled Adelaide from her head to her toes.
"That is no wind, Master hobbit," she whispered, drawing her blade.
"Wargs! Wolves and Orcs! We cannot delay our flight to Moria until the morning," Aragorn called out, leaping to his feat.
"We must, Aragorn!" Gandalf cried, picking up his staff. "We cannot travel in darkness or risk losing the way. The Dimrill Dale and the gates of Moria are 15 miles as the crow flies, and with wolves on our feet we will need to be right in our path."
Suddenly, from behind the wizard there was a snarling close at hand and a great hulking beast with grey fur leapt from the shadows into the light. Before anyone could respond, Legolas had drawn his bow and sent an arrow to burry itself deep in the creature's neck. With a yelp, the warg collapsed on the fire, its eyes dim an unmoving. Adelaide summoned the hobbits to collect their things, her mind sharp and clear under the circumstances. Out of the corner of her eye, she never lost sight of Frodo. He was sitting upon a stone with Sting across his knees, his starlight filled gaze fixated upon the darkness around them.
"Lady Adelaide, fire!" Gandalf shouted, and with several words in elvish the warg's body burst into flame. Stowing her blade, she summoned her magic, using her hands to bid tendrils of fire to flow through the air. Moving like currents of liquid magma in underground tunnels, she ushered the flames to the withered shrubs and trees at the foot of the hill. Slowly a ring of flame encased the base of the hill, lighting the surrounding area for all to see.
Circling just outside the flames, several wolves the size of horses could be seen. Some had orc riders, and some were so ferocious they would bear no creature. How foolish we have been!
"What say we give them a taste of steel," Aragorn whispered into her ear. "We will not be able to flee with them right on our heels, so we must drive them off."
"Let Anduril, Flame of the West, and Authiel, Daughter of the Dim, be raised in battle together, and may all our foes weep when they see their light flashing," Adelaide said, and with grim smiles they charged down the hill. Aragorn let out a hoarse cry which melded into Adelaide's own, her body searing with anger and frustration at the situation they found themselves in. Every inch of her body was light and aware and prepared to fight, and as they drew closer to the swirling hoard of wargs, her senses seemed to heighten.
With howls of their own, the pair leapt over the ring of flames, their blades gleaming in the firelight and fell upon the mass of creatures. Back to back they swayed and danced, Authiel moving like an extension of her arm. Letting her frustrations air as energy, she watched as if disconnected as her sword pierced eyes and throats, sliced off legs and arms. She ducked when a volley of arrows was sent their way by a gathering of orcs just outside their line of sight, and at the last minute Adelaide cast an invisible shield over Aragorn who's back was to the volley. The arrows hung in midair before she vaporized them, her anger only growing by the second.
The wolves for their pair snarled and snapped and moved with unknown agility, leaping at their throats and legs, forcing Aragorn and Adelaide to circle. Yet for all their ferocity, they were no match, and after several more minutes, they disappeared into the darkness, leaving the bodies of their comrades there to rot.
"We must move now," Adelaide panted, cleaning her sword on one of the dead warg's fur.
"I do not know the way, but I will follow where you lead, my lady," Aragorn said, his grey eyes boring into her own. Adelaide fell still for a moment, captivated by the intensity in his gaze, until finally she forced herself to break it and make her way back up the hill. Aragorn followed only one step behind.
"We leave, now," she said, glancing out over the horizon where light was beginning to grow in the east.
"I shall lead, come along hobbits!" Gandalf cried, and without any delay, they fled. Adelaide stowed her sword and glanced behind her at the carcasses, her mouth growing dry. We are moving from one doom to the next she thought, her heart heavy in her chest as she began to jog to catch up.
On her hand, her ring singed painfully, and Adelaide, not for the last time, cursed her situation and Mairon and her own foolishness.
