After a couple of hours, we were at the foot of the mountain. A light snow was falling and it seemed pleasant. We started up what seemed to be a path, half covered by snow. Gandalf lead the way, followed closely by Aragorn, Frodo and Sam. Next came Gimli, then Merry, Pippin, and Legolas, and last was Boromir and I. A little ways up the mountain, the snow started to get thicker and thicker. We trudged through the snow halfway up the mountain. By then, the sun fallen from view and it was dark all around. The storm picked up and snow started flying and swirling around. Soon, there was a couple feet of snow up to our waists. It was extremely hard for all of us to walk, especially the hobbits. Aragorn carried Frodo and Sam; Boromir carried Merry and Pippin. Gimli had trouble also, but he would not accept help from anyone. Legolas was walking lightly on the top of the snow, barely making an imprint on the surface.
Out of nowhere, I heard a small crack and a low rumble began. Legolas must have heard it also, because he looked up the same time I did. "Move!" he yelled. Then I saw a couple of huge boulders of snow coming traight down on us. Everyoe scrambled to avoid the boulders as they fell right where we had stood only seconds earlier. They left behind a gigantic scar in the middle of the white perfection of the snow.
"We cannot continue on like this Gandalf. We have to get off the mountain," Boromir called up. Just then, a louder crack resounded above. Another rumble ensued and I looked. Half of a cliff above had broken and was falling directly on us. We quickly moved back again, and the cliff fell and broke our path in half. Aragorn then took Gandalf's shoulder and led him away, so they could hold private counsel. Minutes later, they came back and got Frodo, then returned to their talk. When they were finished, they walked back over to the group.
"Frodo, the ring bearer, has decided to choose an alternate course," Gandalf announced. Looking at Aragorn, he had a forlorn look on his face. "Frodo, tell the group what route you have decided to travel," Gandalf continued.
"I have decided to go back down the mountain and through the mines of Moria," Frodo said. The sound of that name sent shivers through my spine. I looked down and shook my head. Legolas had a shocked look on his face, and Boromir just rubbed his face and took a deep breath. Gimli looked excited.
"Now you all can witness the splendor an beauty of Moria. You can also experience the hospitality of the dwarves. Come! We must continue! Balin, Lord of Moria, will welcome all with open arms! Even the elf," he exclaimed and then glared at Legolas. Legolas ignored him, which was for the better.
We reached the bottom of Caradhras by dawn of the next morning . Curious to know what caused the snowstorm in such a short time, Legolas and I went to ask Gandalf.
"Gandalf?" Legolas said as we went up to walk beside him, "what caused that storm to pick up so fast?"
" I have never seen any that terrible and that fast, not even the worst in my land," I added.
"It was Saruman, I could sense it. His spies are everywhere, he knows exactly where we are and what he can do to ail us." He speeded up and we dropped back, sensing he wanted to be left with his thoughts. I looked to my right and saw Aragorn.
"Aragorn?" I asked.
"Yes, Erin, what is it that you need ?" he asked.
"Why couldn't we have gone through the Gap of Rohan? It's less perilous then Moria." As I asked, Legolas kicked my calf from behind, and mouthed "we already went over this" as I turned back to meet his gaze. I continued, "the stories I have heard of that place are terrifying. I don't know if I really want to go."
"I understand, but Frodo chose this path and he is ring bearer. I don't want to go as much as you. You, I trust, already know why we do not go through Rohan, because I can see it in Legolas's eyes. No one has ever been able to know what the Riders of the Mark will do. For now, we will continue on this path." I turned to Legolas and sighed. He didn't want to go to Moria as much as I did. I turned forward and continued on.
Out of nowhere, I heard a small crack and a low rumble began. Legolas must have heard it also, because he looked up the same time I did. "Move!" he yelled. Then I saw a couple of huge boulders of snow coming traight down on us. Everyoe scrambled to avoid the boulders as they fell right where we had stood only seconds earlier. They left behind a gigantic scar in the middle of the white perfection of the snow.
"We cannot continue on like this Gandalf. We have to get off the mountain," Boromir called up. Just then, a louder crack resounded above. Another rumble ensued and I looked. Half of a cliff above had broken and was falling directly on us. We quickly moved back again, and the cliff fell and broke our path in half. Aragorn then took Gandalf's shoulder and led him away, so they could hold private counsel. Minutes later, they came back and got Frodo, then returned to their talk. When they were finished, they walked back over to the group.
"Frodo, the ring bearer, has decided to choose an alternate course," Gandalf announced. Looking at Aragorn, he had a forlorn look on his face. "Frodo, tell the group what route you have decided to travel," Gandalf continued.
"I have decided to go back down the mountain and through the mines of Moria," Frodo said. The sound of that name sent shivers through my spine. I looked down and shook my head. Legolas had a shocked look on his face, and Boromir just rubbed his face and took a deep breath. Gimli looked excited.
"Now you all can witness the splendor an beauty of Moria. You can also experience the hospitality of the dwarves. Come! We must continue! Balin, Lord of Moria, will welcome all with open arms! Even the elf," he exclaimed and then glared at Legolas. Legolas ignored him, which was for the better.
We reached the bottom of Caradhras by dawn of the next morning . Curious to know what caused the snowstorm in such a short time, Legolas and I went to ask Gandalf.
"Gandalf?" Legolas said as we went up to walk beside him, "what caused that storm to pick up so fast?"
" I have never seen any that terrible and that fast, not even the worst in my land," I added.
"It was Saruman, I could sense it. His spies are everywhere, he knows exactly where we are and what he can do to ail us." He speeded up and we dropped back, sensing he wanted to be left with his thoughts. I looked to my right and saw Aragorn.
"Aragorn?" I asked.
"Yes, Erin, what is it that you need ?" he asked.
"Why couldn't we have gone through the Gap of Rohan? It's less perilous then Moria." As I asked, Legolas kicked my calf from behind, and mouthed "we already went over this" as I turned back to meet his gaze. I continued, "the stories I have heard of that place are terrifying. I don't know if I really want to go."
"I understand, but Frodo chose this path and he is ring bearer. I don't want to go as much as you. You, I trust, already know why we do not go through Rohan, because I can see it in Legolas's eyes. No one has ever been able to know what the Riders of the Mark will do. For now, we will continue on this path." I turned to Legolas and sighed. He didn't want to go to Moria as much as I did. I turned forward and continued on.