Disclaimer: I am not J.R.R. Tolkien, nor do I claim to be. Therefore I do not own the LOTR characters or the original story. I am just borrowing them for my enjoyment, as well as yours. I will return them unharmed.
Summary: Some people believe that when you make a choice, an alternate universe is created. This alternate universe plays out what would have happened if you had chosen another path. What it, in the Caradhras, the Fellowship had chosen the Gap of Rohan rather then Moria? Would everything have gone "according to plan?" A look at their alternate universe - and its consequences.
Warnings: Severely AU. Some coarse language (not a lot, but some.)
Notes: Update will come slow in this. I do not intend to update everyday, although I am shooting for once a week. Please bear with me. Although I would rather be praised, I understand that my writing can be rather controversial and perhaps, at time, rather bad. Constructive Criticism is welcomed, however flames are not. Flamers are asked to please leave contact information so that they may be contacted later.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Before I begin this chapter, I'd like to point out something. The beginning - well, most - of the chapter, and perhaps some of these first few chapters, will be a mix of information copied directly from the book and movie script. I am not J.R.R Tolkien, nor am I Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens, or Peter Jackson, and I am in no way affiliated with them. The slight plagiarism that I am causing stems from a need to give accurate descriptions of things. A notice will go up at the beginning of every chapter that has anything directly and intentionally copied. My real work shall begin next chapter, but I felt that to begin this story incorrectly would cause it to "bomb" and therefore would do me little good in the steps of becoming a writer. Thank you for your understanding in my need to do this!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter One: The Caradhras
"There is a way that we may attempt," said Gandalf. "I thought from the beginning, when first I considered this journey, that we should try it. But it is not a pleasant way, and I have not spoken of it to the Company before. Aragorn was against it, until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried."
"If it is a worse road than the Redhorn Gate, then it must be evil indeed," said Merry. "But you had better tell us about it, and let us know the worst at once."
"The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria," said Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smoldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits is was a legend of vague fear.
"The road may lead to Moria, but how can we hope that it will lead through Moria?" said Aragorn darkly.
"It is the name of an ill omen," said Boromir. "Nor do I see the need to go there. If we cannot cross the mountains, let us journey southwards, until we come to the Gap of Rohan, where men are friendly to my people, taking the road that I followed on my way hither. Or we might pass by and cross the Isen into Longstrand and Lebennin, and so come to Gondor from the regions nigh to the sea."
"Things have changed since you came north, Boromir," said Gandalf. "Did you not hear what I told you of Saruman? With him I may have business of my own ere all is over. But the Ring must not come near Isengard, if that can by any means be prevented. The Gap of Rohan is closed to us while we go with the Bearer.
"As for the longer road: we cannot afford the time. We might spend a yeah in such a journey, and we should pass through many lands that are empty and harbourless. Yet they would not be safe. The watchful eyes of both Saruman and of the Enemy are on them. When you came North, Boromir, you were in the Enemy's eyes only one stray wanderer from the South and a matter of small concern to him: his mind was busy with the pursuit of the Ring. But you return now as a member of the Ring's Company, and you are in peril as long as you remain with us. The danger will increase with every league that we go south under the naked sky.
"Since our open attempt on the mountain-pass our plight has become more desperate, I fear. I see now little hope, if we do not soon vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail. Therefore I advise that we should go neither over the mountains, nor round them, but under the,. That is a road at any rate that the Enemy will least expect us to take."
"We do not know what he expects," said Boromir. "He may watch all roads, likely and unlikely. In that case to enter Moria would be to walk into a trap, hardly better the knocking at the gates of the Dark Tower itself. The name of Moria is black."
"You speak of what you do not know when you liken Moria to the strong hold of Sauron," answered Gandalf. "I alone of you have ever been in the dungeons of the Dark Lord, and only in his older and lesser dwelling in Dol Gulder. Those who pass the gates of Barad-dur do not return. But I would not lead you into Moria id there was no hope of coming out again. If there are Orcs there, it may prove ill for us, that is true. But most of the Orcs of the Misty Mountains were scattered or destroyed on the Battle of Five Armies. The Eagles report that Orcs are gathering again from afar; but there is a hope that Moria is still free.
"There is even a chance that Dwarves are there, and that in some deep hall of his father, Balin son of Fundin may be found. However it may probe, one must tread the path that need chooses!"
"I will tread the path with you, Gandalf!" said Gimli. "I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there - if you can find the door that are shut."
"Good, Gimli!" said Gandalf. "You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf's head will be less easy to bewilder then Elves or Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria. I sough there long for Thrain son of Thror after he was lost. I passed through, and I came out again alive."
"I too once passed the Dimrill Gate," said Aragorn quietly; "but though I also came out again, the memory is very evil. I do not wish to enter Moria a second time."
"And I don't wish to enter it even once," said Pippin.
"Nor me," muttered Sam.
"Of course not!" said Gandalf. "Who would? But the question is: who will follow me, if I lead you there?"
"I will," said Gimli eagerly.
"I will," said Aragorn heavily. "You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now - if this last warning does not move you. It is not of the Ring, nor of us other I am thinking now, but of you, Gandalf. And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware!"
"I will not go," said Boromir; "not unless the vote of the whole company is against me. What do Legolas and the little folk say? The Ring-bearer's voice surely should be heard?"
"I do not wish to go to Moria," said Legolas.
The hobbits said nothing. Sam looked at Frodo. At last Frodo spoke. "I do not wish to go," he said; "but neither do I wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf. I beg that there should be no vote, until we have slept on it. Gandalf will get votes easier in the light of the morning than in this cold gloom. How the wind howls!"
At these words all fell into silent thought. They heard the wind hissing among the rocks and tress, and there was a howling and wailing round them in the empty spaces of the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Frodo fell into a dream, and a very strange dream it was. He could hear and see all that was occurring, but it appeared that the inhabitants of his dream could not see or hear him. A story was unfolding before him - one that he had no care as to find out the moral or conclusion too.
A voice was chanting, and Frodo could just make out the words. "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!" * As Frodo struggled to decipher the word's meaning, he was plunged into the cold snow. He stood up and was surprised to discover that he could stand on the snow, like Legolas.
"There is a fell voice on the air!" Legolas cried.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf called back. Suddenly rock slabs and boulders fell from the mountain's arms. He watched as the Company, his dream-self included, was shoved against the cliff all to avoid being hit.
Aragorn yelled to Gandalf through the storm, "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf cried. He pushed his way through the snow to stand on the far ledge, and tried to save the Company. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nutiho i 'ruith!" **
"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar!" *** Saruman's voice overpowered Gandalf's, but Gandalf continued to try and command the mountain. Suddenly, lightening struck the tip of the mountain, sending snow and ice hurtling down on the Company. Legolas grabbed Gandalf and pulled him against the cliff so that he would not be hit by ice. The Company was buried, and for a perilous moment, Frodo held his breath. Then Legolas' head popped out of the snow, followed but the others, one by one.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir cried, frightened by the depth of the snow and the tone of Saruman's chant.
Aragorn cried in return, "The Gap of Rohan take us too close to Isengard!"
Gimli shook his head, spreading snow from his beard with each shake of his head. "If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria."
Gandalf's eyes glinted fearfully, Frodo noted. He appeared to be shadowed by doubt, although he nodded his head at the mention of the name, seemingly consenting to the road that would lead them to Moria. Finally he said grimly, "Let the Ringbearer decide."
Boromir held Pippin and Merry close as they shivered in fear, doubt, and cold. They were extremely pale, and the looked at Frod's dream counterpart sadly as he looked from them to Sam and back to them again.
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
"We will take -" Frodo was abrubtly brought back to reality with Aragorn standing over him.
"Frodo?" he asked softly. " 'Tis the light of day. We must make haste in our decision process so that we may continue our journey. So we ask you, Ringbearer - shall the Company take the road to Moria, or the road to the Gap of Rohan instead?"
Frodo debated silently. Although in reality, Gandalf's fear and doubt was well hidden, Frodo's dream still thrived in his mind. He debated over the fate of the Company - Moria or the Gap of Rohan? It was a hard decision, for Moria could bring nothing good, but the Gap of Rohan led them straight into Enemy's eyesight. Moria perhaps would bring warmth to them; yet it might also bring coldness unknown to them. His decision was soon reached. "We shall take the road to the Gap of Rohan," he said, his voice faltering slightly.
"So be it," Gandalf responded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And so our story begins.