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.
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Chapter Two: Making the Way
The Fellowship carefully placed their things in packs, and then made ready to continue their journey down the Caradhras. As Sam and Legolas loaded Bill the Pony with the packs that could not be carried by the Company, Aragorn carefully destroyed any trace of their presence. Gandalf drew Frodo aside when he had finished helping Merry and Pippin complete their task of putting the fire out and scattering the burnt wood. This was to delay the notice of any predator that there had indeed been a fire.
"I shall ask you again, Ringbearer - shall we take the road to Moria or the road to the Gap of Rohan? Do not make light in your decision - the fate of the Company and of the One Ring lies in your hands."
Frodo felt troubled. He was only trying to please Gandalf and the rest of the Company in his decision. The road to Moria was filled with dangers yet unknown to them, but the road to the Gap of Rohan was filled with the same. The road to the Gap of Rohan held less in the element of surprise for the Enemy, but Gandalf would at least have some knowledge of the way to take, as would Boromir. And then there was Frodo's dream.
Frodo still had not forgotten the glint of fear and doubt in Gandalf's eyes in his dream. Who knew what could be the basis of this fear? Frodo wondered if he could really and truly bear the thought of causing Gandalf - the great and mighty Gandalf - to be in fear of something. He also was not sure if he wanted to know what caused Gandalf to fear that way.
"We shall take the road to the Gap of Rohan," Frodo answered Gandalf, still unsure of his selection. Was he truly making the correct decision? He had not made light in his choice, and Gandalf had advised him not to, but he felt uneasy. He did not like to refuse Gandalf's advice, for the wizard was very wise indeed of the world outside of the Shire, something Frodo had always wished to know. Maybe the road to Moria was safer - but something was drawing him to the Gap of Rohan.
"So be it," Gandalf responded to him once more, although this time his response seemed forced, as if he wanted to beg Frodo to reconsider. He knew the dangers of Moria, this was true, but the danger and threat of the Gap of Rohan and the Enemy's eye seemed so much greater too him. The thought of bringing the Ring that close to the Enemy was unnerving. But it was not his decision to make. It was the Ringbearer's.
"Let us be off then," Gandalf stated. Sam took up Bill the Pony's reins, and Boromir gave Bill a little pat on the rump to get him moving. Gimli was carrying on a rather lively conversation with Merry and Pippin, and they fell into line behind Legolas, who followed Gandalf, who led the way down the mountain. Aragorn took up the rear, and Frodo walked in front of him, behind Boromir. He somehow felt rather safe with the two Men on either side of him. As if nothing in Middle-Earth could break his fortress.
Boromir turned and gave him a smile, and slowed his pace to walk next to Frodo. "I am glad that you have chosen this road," said he; "yet I cannot help but wonder why. 'I do not wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf' said you earlier - what has changed your mind, little one?"
Frodo shook his head. "Of that I am not quite sure, nor do I feel comfortable in sharing with you, Boromir. You have proved yourself worthy of friendship so far, but my trust is not completely won yet. I still remember the gleam in your eye at Elrond's council, and you can be sure that others in the Company do also. You would be wise to remember this in the future."
"I am astounded that you think ill of me, Master Hobbit. Perchance in the future I can breach your wall of ill trust." With that, Boromir moved ahead to join in on Gimli, Merry, and Pippin's conversation.
"Your ill will is well founded, Frodo," came Aragorn's voice from behind him. "Possibly in time he will prove himself worthy of your trust, as well as the friendship you seem to have already deemed him rightful of. Still, I cannot help but wonder - is this a test you are giving to our faithful companion Boromir? Or is this a test you felt Gandalf needed to remind him to be wary of giving advice?"
"No test is being placed on any one from the Company, Master Aragorn," Frodo said lightly. "Hobbits and Men think differently, although this I am sure you know. My ill will towards Boromir stems only from the way he spoke of the Ring at the Council - for no other reason do I withhold my trust. But perhaps you would do well to remember that trust can as easily be lost as it is given."
The conversation had ceased up ahead, and everyone seemed to be holding a breath, as if waiting for Aragorn's response. Even Gandalf's posture seemed slightly tense, as if praying that the ill will between Boromir and Aragorn would not affect the rest of the Company. "We only need two wary of each other," he thought wryly, "no others."
Aragorn let out a small laugh. "You are right, Master Hobbit. I shall remember that in the afterlife." Everyone relaxed, and the Company once again continued down the mountain, with slightly less worries then they had gone up with.
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The Company reached the base of the Caradhras, and came to a forked road. Gandalf turned to Frodo. "I shall ask you one last time, Ringbearer, and then the fate of this Company shall be set in stone. Shall we take the road to Moria - " here he pointed left - "or the road to the Gap of Rohan?" Here he pointed right.
Frodo looked from the hobbits to Gimli, from Gimli to Boromir, from Boromir to Legolas, from Legolas to Gandalf, and from Gandalf to Aragorn. Gimli was leaning towards the path to Moria with his head, as if it would somehow sway Frodo's decision. The three hobbits looked at Frodo rather sadly, as they had in his dream, as if they knew the complexity of his decision. Aragorn and Legolas looks were inreadable, but Frodo knew from what had been said earlier that Legolas dreaded Moria, as did Aragorn, but that both would go with no complaints if that were to be the road chosen.
Boromir was copying Gimli's stance, with the exception of the direction of his head. He was leaning towards the path to the Gap of Rohan. Gandalf stood, impassable in all of his wisdom, and Frodo had no indication to the want of Gandalf. Still, his conclusion remained the same. "We shall take the path of the Gap of Rohan," said he, "and that is to be my last word on the manner of our going."
Gandalf nodded his head, and they began the long, tiring journey to their destiny.
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