Chapter II
Sam
Summery: The Company is formed and sets out on its quest.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. That really sucks.
"Don't let him turn me into anything unnatural!"
-Samwise Gamgee, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'
I could hardly believe my ears. Had Mr. Frodo really
just volunteered to destroy the Ring? I swear to everything that I must
have heard him wrong. After much of the chatter has died away Gandalf and
Elrond speak to Frodo. I'm too stunned to move for the moment. With a push
from an invisible foe, I'm up standing beside Frodo and saying words that
I myself cannot believe; I will go with him. It is true, in fact. It may
be the death or me, but I will go. I shall fallow him to the ends of Middle-Earth
if need be. From the corner of my eyes I see him smile in surprise at me.
Once all that is said has finished, Frodo and
I seek our two hobbit friends so as to tell them our tale of the Council
of Elrond. They joined us in Bilbo's room and listen to the tale intently.
Frodo gave the names of those who had attended -including Strider himself-
and a short description of each. Pippin seemed most interested of Frodo's
recounting of where Gandalf had been during our journey to the safety of
Rivendell. I chimed in when he had told of all present about the Elves;
one particular, Legolas, who had given the grievous news of Gollum escaping
from the Elves of Mirkwood.
We stayed many months in the fair house of Elrond
before we were summoned to him again. He had chosen those who would go
with Frodo and I on our adventures into the heart of Mordor. Chosen is
not quite the right word, for all had volunteered to my knowledge. There
were only two I had not been sure were going of their own free will: the
Elf, Legolas and Gimli, son of Gloin. I had heard nothing of their volunteering
to go on our quest with alongside everyone.
The Company of the Ring was made of nine representing
the Free Peoples of Middle-earth: myself, Frodo, Gandalf, Strider, Boromir,
Gimli, Legolas, and entering last of all were my hobbit friends Pippin
and Merry. Though the younger two hobbits were warned against joining our
Company by both wise Lord Elrond and Gandalf. The two would not back down
for any reason.
"Rope! I have forgotten my rope!" I cried. Frodo
looked to me as all the members of the Company packed for their leave of
the city in the next few hours. The others did not pay much mind, the only
one close enough to hear besides Frodo was Boromir, but he was busy tying
our packs to the back of my dear pony, Bill.
"Let us be off, my new companions," said Strider.
We began off with waves behind us to the Lord Elrond and his daughter the
Lady Arwen. Bilbo followed shortly behind us speaking softly with Frodo.
Upon the beginning of our road to the Mountains, Bilbo gave to Frodo a
loving hug and fond farewell. From there we set off for an adventure that
none of us could even imagine. Somewhere deep in my heart I knew that not
all of us would return from this quest alive and I was shattered by this
new discovery.
It was cold for many days with a harsh wind blowing
in from the Misty Mountains and we were seldom allowed to light a fire
to warm ourselves or for me to fix a hot meal to eat. I thought back to
the talks I had had with my hobbit friends in the halls of the House of
Elrond and wished to be there again; our talks now were not accompanied
by warmth or merriment as they had before. Now all that came with our converses
was the input of the rest of the Company, not much by Strider or Gandalf
whom oftenly sat alone together speaking of what road should be taken.
"I hear you are much interested in the ways of
the Elves, Master Samwise," said Legolas the night before we were to climb
the Caradhras. I looked to him in interest; he spoke little to anyone since
setting out on our quest. I had only really heard him talk once at the
Council of Elrond, every other time he spoke it was in a whisper that even
keen hobbit ears could not pick up.
"This is true, Master Elf, I have long listened
to stories from Bilbo of his time with the Elves and have even attentively
sat to hear stories from our dear Ring-bearer," I replied. He spoke wistfully
and attempted to sound educated as to impress the Elf. Legolas halfheartedly
smiled back at him from across the fire pit where low burned a fire.
"Much am I interested in as well with the hobbit
kind. I have heard tales of such beings, but to be as honest as I shall,
this is the first I have had any pleasure to have met one. Actually, four
is wonderful to me to meet," said Legolas. I scooted over to him on the
other side of where I had been sitting.
"I never knew there were those in the world so
interested in the likes of hobbits," I said in return. Though he was guard
that night I still stayed awake to speak many tales of hobbit life with
him. He seemed most interest in my stories. After I would finish one tale
he would begin one of his own for me to listen to, and intently I did so.
Sleep overtook me near the dawn time as I realized how little of sleep
I had gotten and what trouble it would bring me while climbing the Caradhras.
We set out shortly after sunrise and I had gotten
little rest in that short time. Though had not slept at all, Legolas seemed
as vibrant as ever. He seemed to be wholeheartedly interested in hobbits
for he stood ahead of me speaking with Merry and Pippin. His curiosity
seemed to spread as Boromir began to join in the conversation between the
two young cousins and the Elf. Strider and Gandalf stood far ahead discussing
just how to safety get up the Caradhras without being killed, though it
seemed impossible to me to accomplish such a thing, begging their pardon.
The snow began to fly round us heavily and I could
no longer see Gandalf leading us, but Legolas assured us hobbits that he
could see our guide. We stopped when the snow became higher and hardy to
trudge through; there would be now way that four foot high hobbits could
walk in snow that was up to the waists of the Big People.
"We shall carry you," said Strider, indicating
himself and Boromir. First, the two men struggled ahead into the snow to
clear a narrow path for the others to follow. Legolas decided to take a
more direct route and ran upon the snow, past the men in the snow; he received
quite annoyed looks from Strider and Boromir. Though soon the Elf returned,
heading back to our small group, telling of the route ahead. Soon enough
the men returned as well. Aragorn took it upon himself to carry myself
and Frodo while Boromir took Pippin and Merry. Gimli trailed behind, allowing
no one to carry him. Behind him bracing the wind was Gandalf. Legolas once
again sprinted across the snow ahead of us.
"Sometimes I hate Elves," mumbled Boromir while
trudging along. He looked over the shoulder of Strider to Legolas.
I could see through the flying snow the distant shape of Legolas standing
upon the snow before the others, waiting for them.
"I agree; Elves can be horribly annoying sometimes,"
said Strider, whispering to Boromir, though he was sure Legolas would not
hear over the driving wind even if he had hollered it.
When all had finally reached the end of the path,
a great wall of snow and ice stood dominating before them. They had managed
to make a small hole through it, but the structure was uneven and threatened
to fall, capturing them alive, at any minute. For a moment they thought
to run through, but with the driving snow it would be impossible. I feared
for the safety of the team as we passed below its great arch. We were the
first three through and I could not turn back to see if the others had
made it past. Strider had glanced back and by the expression on his face
I gathered that the others had made it safety.
We went forth to trudged along the rest of the
way, but the wind blew fiercely into our red faces. Needless to say that
we decided to take another path; the Mines of Moria. It would be a dangerous
route to choose, Strider assured us, but we would try it. The walk was
long and tiring. Gandalf led us and no one spoke, it was the quietest the
Company had been. We were about to reach the gates of Moria.
TBC
Next Chapter: Gimli