Chapter 6
Fun with SnowThe fellowship trudged through the snow, heading up the flatter part of Caradhras. Gandalf and Legolas led, followed by Gimli, Boromir and the hobbits. Kay took the rear with Garak and Aragorn. The girl suddenly stopped, and bent over. Garak looked at her quizzically.
"Just need to tie my shoe," she said. The Uruk nodded and walked on. The man beside him shifted his pack, almost nervously. Garak watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"Not all of us trust you like she does," said Aragorn. Garak didn't respond and so, the man continued. "We've had bad luck with your kind, and it wont be that easy for us to trust you. But we are working on it. The way you saved Kay back there, well, it caught all of us off guard, even her, I suspect. But I stick to what I said before, I can see what she sees in you." Garak turned his head to look down at the man.
"And what, pray tell, is that?" he growled. The Uruk didn't like being open like this, it made him feel…well, strange. There was a whooshing sound and something hard, cold and wet hit him in the back of his head. The cold wet thing slid down his back, under his clothing. Reaching back, he caught hold of part of it, bringing it around to his face. It was a snowball! He looked back at the man and saw he was in the same predicament. Garak heard laughter behind them and turned around.
Kay stood there, holding her sides, laughing so hard she might fall over. Her hands were wet and snow melted on them, even as they watched. When Kay saw the look on their faces, it only made her laugh harder. The rest of the group had stopped and now were watching with interest. Garak growled low in his throat, glancing at Aragorn, and then the two of them advanced on the girl. Kay looked up in time to see her two "victims" charging her. She squeaked, running the other way, but they were faster. Aragorn tackled her to the ground, but she kicked him in the stomach, rolling away. Suddenly there was a weight on the small of her back. Garak had placed his knee against the girl's back, effectively pining her to the snowy ground. The Uruk then took a handful of snow, yanked up Kay's tunic and stuffed it down her shirt.
Kay squeaked, again indignantly, struggling to get away from Garak. When he thought the payback was complete, he grunted and got off the girl. Kay rolled over, aiming kick at his shin. Garak quickly moved his leg out of the way, grinning and shook his finger at the prone and glaring girl.
"Revenge is oh, so sweet," he rumbled. This only caused Kay to glare at him with a new heat. Garak shook his head, how had this girl – child – survived so long in this world? He reached down a hand and Kay took it, her smaller hand completely disappearing into his dark fist. The Uruk hauled the girl to her feet, watching her as she brushed snow from her body. Aragorn joined them, still ruefully rubbing his stomach.
"You certainly know how to hurt a man, Kaylen," he said darkly. She smiled at him, much too sweetly.
"You're just lucky I have bad aim, Aragorn, I was aiming for lower," she returned then stalked away from both of them to join the others. Aragorn winced, his hand reflexively moving down to cover his groin. Garak coughed, covering up his laugh. Aragorn glared at the Uruk, and they both rejoined the rest of their group.
*
The hike up the mountain was treacherous, a snowstorm gathered and blew into their faces. Aragorn and Boromir were forced to carry the hobbits, and Legolas used his elven gifts to walk ahead on top of the snow. Gandalf used his staff to widen the path for those after him. Garak was the last in their line, behind Gimli and Kay. There was a sheer drop-off to their right, and an icy rock wall to their left.
Kay stuck close to the wall, glancing warily at the cliff. Garak moved along with confidence and almost the agility of an elf. He didn't seem the least bit concerned by the snow and ice. Suddenly, Kay's foot hit an icy spot and she slipped, falling toward the cliff. She cried out and the whole company halted, and watched in horror as the girl slid closer and closer to the cliff edge. Garak's large hand grabbed her by her shirt, pulling her back from the edge. Kay was shaking with fear and shock, and Garak pulled her against his large body. She stood there, shivering against him for a few minutes, clutching at his tattered shirt.
"Are you alright?" he asked her. The girl nodded, but did not release the Uruk. Garak didn't even think about the strangeness of this picture, instead pulled her even closer. "What is it?" he asked.
"Heights," she said, her voice shaking. "I hate heights." Garak sighed, the sound coming out as a growl. Kay flinched, but did not pull away from him. The Uruk looked up at the others, shrugging.
"You'll have to carry her, we cannot afford anymore delay!" Aragorn called back to him. Garak nodded and scooped the girl into his arms, just like before. She didn't even say a word in protest, which scared him. Was she hurt? Did she injure herself when she fell on the ice? Garak looked down at her face. Kay's eyes were screwed shut, and her small hand still clutched his tunic. Once settled, the fellowship continued a ways until Legolas stopped them.
"There is a foul voice on the air," he said. Gandalf listened closely; over the howls of the wind there was a deep voice, speaking ancient and powerful words. Garak heard it too, and growled; he knew who it was.
"It's Sarumon!" cried the wizard. He stepped onto the snow beside the elf, lifting his staff. Strange words came from his lips as the two wizards battled each other, but in the end, it was the fallen wizard that won out. Lightning cracked above them, striking the mountain. Tons of snow and ice fell, bearing down upon the fellowship. Legolas hauled the wizard back, so he would not be pushed off the ledge. In seconds they were covered, Garak shielding Kay from the brunt of the assault.
Once the avalanche stopped, they dug themselves out, gasping for air. Garak pulled Kay out of the snow by her collar. She coughed and nodded her thanks to the Uruk, before she checked on the hobbits. Garak blinked at her. She didn't even seem concerned for herself, he thought as she carefully checked over each halfling, staring with Pippin for any injury. She takes care of everyone else, before herself. Garak shook his head at this thought. When he was with his kind, no one cared about anyone but himself. The strong survived and the weak were pushed to the side, it was a life built on strength. If you were not strong, you died. Kay went against everything he once was and believed in. Garak found himself admiring the girl, what was her blood doing inside him?
No one had been hurt in the avalanche and Boromir insisted that they turn back and take the Gap of Rohan toward Gondor. That path brought them too close to Isenguard and was quickly disputed. The dwarf offered to take them through the Mines of Moria, where his cousin Balin ruled. Gandalf seemed hesitant to go through the Mines, but turned the decision over to Frodo. The Ringbearer decided on the Moria path. The fellowship turned around and headed back down the mountain. As they neared the base, the snow tapered off.
"That's so strange, the storm seems to be centralized, like it was focused just up there," mused Kay. Garak growled low and angry, causing Kay to look up at him.
"It was Sarumon's doing," he said. "He sent the snow storm to hinder us and caused the avalanche." Kay gritted her teeth, glaring at nothing in particular.
"If I ever get my hands on that son of a bitch, I will not give any guarantees on his life," she said. Garak chuckled, evilly.
"A human after my own heart," he rumbled. Kay half-smiled up at him and they continued toward Moria in companionable silence.
**A/N – what do you think so far?? Review me and tell! Should I go on or give up?**