Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. I do not take credit for
anything you recognize. Please do not sue me.
Author's Note: I'm gong away for the weekend, (coming home Monday) so I won't be on fanfiction again for about four days and felt that I ought to leave something for you guys.
Sugar Addict: What, are implying that I might stop writing? Anyway, thanks! Plus which for all of those people who did not notice the sequel there is a note at the end of Cold Steel.
Vana Burke: Yes, actually, he is eighty seven. He lives to be two hundred and ten years old. Numenoreans have a long lifespan.
Miss No Name: Thanks for reviewing (and I'm fine, thank you for asking, even if you did assume the answer) and you are welcome concerning quick updates.
Wicked Misty: Thanks!
Dream Catcher: Yes! Some criticism from you at last! I need to do better with dialogue! And you with spelling (you wrote "dialog")! There is an old rift between Elves and Dwarves, Gimli has never heard that the dwarves caused it, Legolas has never heard that the Elves caused it, and Aragorn has heard both. I am an atheist, but you are not boring. Do not try to be boring, please! Thanks for reading and all. After all, this story was mostly written to teach you how to deal with masochists. (not that you know any, of course. . .)
Padfoots Girl: Thanks and I will.
Cool Girl Chic 16: Thanks and glad you enjoyed it.
Evil Spapple Pie: Well, you try telling Legolas that! He thinks most things are his fault.
Baby: Hmm. . .well, that is one way to help but talking is different from being a puppet. You have to want to tell the other person.
Passion Wind: Thanks and okay!
Lady Daine: Thanks! It does not change perspective at all, the entire story is written third-person but basically by Legolas, as The Hobbit is written by Bilbo. He heard Merry and Pippin talking.
Gwyn: That is a lot of what I had in mind, but with some changes in it. As for Lothlorien, Galadriel is as good a person as any to be upset around, for she seems to be patient and caring (in the book if not the movie). Good luck with your midterms!
Daylight: Thanks and okay!
Lirenel: It's also easier to write about the Fellowship. With an established plot one can focus more on characters and such.
Erhothwen: Go ahead and pride yourself, Elrohir, you are a great friend and you deserve to be a bit proud for that. **sticks out tongue at Erhothwen** The hobbits and Gimli do not have huge roles in this story but they are not ignored! Elladan, you did not nearly fall, you did fall. Estel, you are not fat, you just whammed into him. Like a dog! And Legolas, all right, I will!
Karate Elf: Thanks!!!
Kaimelieamin: Yes, that might help. You shall find out what would happen if he finds out!
Thanks again to all my reviewers!
*****
The company had halted for a few days' rest, it seemed: they would not be going on for yet another full day and night. Legolas was all right with this, while he did not mind any pace he did not object to rest, either. The hobbits at once set about making food, as this seemed to be a hobbit's favorite thing to do: eat! Mithrandir had taken out his pipe and was smoking, which was equally perhaps his favorite thing to do. Gimli the Dwarf had abandoned his favorite past time of complaining and was polishing his axe, telling a fancy tale of it, as well.
"Many an orc this blade has cut down, and many a warg has cowered at the sight of it indeed," Gimli muttered. Merry and Pippin were transfixed with this falsity, but Legolas was not. The Dwarf has joined to out-do me, no kindness shall I show to him.
"I believe that," Legolas announced.
"Do you now? An Elf of sense!" remarked the Dwarf.
"Indeed. If, that is, in Dwarfish orc means shrub and warg means beetles," Legolas continued. Gimli looked as though his eye might pop out of their sockets.
"What? Why I never heard such blasphemy!"
"You have heard it now, though blasphemy I would call it not," Legolas returned.
"Why--! I find now a decent time to put my blade to good use!" threatened Gimli. He raised his axe ready to strike, but he blinked and as he did Legolas, quick as a flash, strung his bow and at the dwarf's head pointed an arrow.
"Gimli! Legolas! This company was not formed for the sake of battle but to prevent it," Mithrandir scolded. "Come now, lower your weapons."
Legolas burned, feeling like a young boy. One thing was certain, he would get that Dwarf. Gimli sauntered off, and Legolas plunked onto a stone. "Do you enjoy confrontation?"
Who had asked that? Oh, it was the Man, Boromir. "I do not," Legolas snapped.
"I meant no offense. Surely I do not enjoy fighting. I ask only because you and the Dwarf--" Boromir tried to explain, but Legolas interrupted him quickly.
"He started it."
Boromir smiled as though to say 'you sound like my little brother', but kept quiet. He glanced over at Merry and Pippin, who were talking and joking, and went to join them. Well, good! Legolas thought. At least he'll leave me alone. "You know, it would not hurt to give the others a small chance." That old, papery voice could belong to only one person.
"What for?" Legolas wanted to know, in bad spirits.
"For the sake of Middle Earth, perhaps," Mithrandir suggested, "or simply because they are not bad people. Maybe because you have enough troubles without bringing more upon ourself?"
"I never did apologize to you, Mithrandir, for the way I spoke before. That was un-called for. Elrohir only cares about me, and even if it is a little offensive that he asked you to look after me as if I were a child. . ."
At this a light of laughter shone in the old wizard's eyes. "No, you did not, but I knew that you meant to. But tell me, why have you come on this quest, Legolas?"
"To destroy the last great evil left in all Middle Earth," Legolas replied automatically.
"Oh?" Mithrandir asked, eyebrows raised, "in Elrond's words this is so, but I think it was a different reason." He nodded in the direction of Aragorn, who had wandered off and now was back, leaning against a tree and watching the others. "He is grown now and does not need a big brother to look after him, yet it makes you feel better to know that just in case. . ."
Legolas realized how truly dense he had been. He was angry at someone for doing the exact same thing as him! He chuckled slightly, for indeed it was funny. Merry then called up to Strider, "What is the matter, Strider? What are you looking for? Do you miss the East Wind?"
This last question may have been a joke, but Aragorn did not see this as being so. "No indeed, but I miss something." He described to the others the silence he heard, the silence of animals and such. No birdcalls resounded and no coyotes howled any longer. Mithrandir wrote this off to the surprise of seeing the group, so many after so long with no one.
"I hope that that is so, but I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never felt before," Aragorn said.
"Then we must be careful. If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him, especially if that Ranger is Aragorn." Mithrandir's last comment, suspected Legolas, was directed at him, although he did not say so.
Legolas knew things to be different than Mithrandir had said about the surprise of the land. The grass beneath his feet did not whisper, and the time when he had taken but one unclad step in it he had felt as if death were whispering secrets in his ears, and fell to the ground, jamming his shoes back on. Not again had he risked unprotected confrontation. The stones were not as frightening, for they had more and deeper memories, though dark not nearly as dark as the great emptiness. All this land was beginning to take its toll, and exhaustion along with some amount of depression crept upon him.
*****
A squaking sound was heard, and Legolas's eyes sprang open. The rest of his body did not move, he lay flat and still on the ground. In the air his Elf eyes picked up a whole herd of black crows. It was Sam's watch, but Legolas knew Aragorn had taken the watch with him. He knows what to do, Legolas told himself to keep from springing to his feet. When the crows had gone from what he gauged was the view of a Man, Legolas pricked up his ears so as to hear what went on.
"Gandalf, there were crows, crebain foreign to this land, from Dunland or Fangorn. I thought we ought to move again this evening, for surely all of Hollin has been observed. This land is not wholesome for us any longer."
"Then so is Redhorn Gate, and how we can get over that without being seen I cannot imagine. But we will think of that when we must. As for moving as soon as it is dark, I am afraid you are right."
"Luckily our fire made little smoke, and burned low before the crows came. It must be put out and not lit again." At this he seemed to remember the young hobbit, standing nervously by. "You may as well get to sleep while you can, Sam. We'll be going on soon." When Sam had fallen asleep Legolas considered standing and joining Aragorn and Mithrandir, but somehow felt that it would be best if he did not.
*****
They carried on. Something passed over them again that night and while the others debated what it was, Legolas with his Elf eyes gazed upwards and saw the crebain yet again. Ahead of him Legolas saw well their destination, and for him the march onwards was somewhat easier, for his mark was in sight. Three days time passed and the mountain Caradhras was reached.
Mithrandir drew Aragorn aside and spoke to him, asking what Aragorn now thought of the course the Ranger had chosen. Aragorn replied to this, "I think no good of our course from beginning to end, as you well know, Gandalf." He continued, but Legolas noticed that Frodo was listening in as well and instantaneously blushed.
"Frodo," Legolas called softly, "may I please speak with you?" Way to go, Greenleaf! He told himself. What will you say to the Halfling? Frodo diverted his attention from Mithrandir and Aragorn, peering at Legolas. "Frodo. . .are you all right? You seem a bit ill." Blatant lie, stupid, he knows you are lying!
"No, I'm quite fine. Thank you for your concern."
Frodo walked off, and Legolas exhaled, biting his lip. That had gone badly. Muddling everything up again, Elf, you just love trouble don't you, he scolded. Oh, stop that, it isn't true. You did your best. He was drawn out of thought by a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for that," Aragorn said.
"I was listening, as well," Legolas admitted.
"I know," Aragorn shrugged, "I expected that. Thank you for distracting Frodo, it is much appreciated. To your ears the words exchanged between Gandalf and I would evoke only comprehension, perhaps some confusion, but in the wrong hands. . .Frodo means well, but he might have frightened all the Halflings then with what he heard."
Then Gimli, Boromir, and the four hobbits began to eat breakfast, Pippin mumbling about how only one was not sufficient. Legolas supposed that he may as well join them. Mithrandir and Aragorn wandered off and looked at the mountain. Upon their return it was announced that Caradhras would be crossed.
"If I may," began Boromir. Legolas saw now that he was not, as earlier suspected, cocky and arrogant. Indeed all this Man meant was to lend a hand where he might. Now he suggested bringing wood. Mithrandir agreed, so long at the wood was never burned.
*****
As soon as the snowdrifts upon the mountain, snow falling so thickly, were a foot high Legolas hopped lightly upon them, taking his own time and trying to stay as slow as the others. He wished he could have carried one of the halflings with him, for they looked rather miserable, but that would not work out as they would sink into the snow.
"This is what I feared. What do you say of your road now, Aragorn?" Mithrandir asked.
"I say what I said before!" Replied Aragorn, "that I feared it also, but not so much as other things. This snow is unusual, Gandalf, for we are yet on low paths that should all winter remain open to us."
Boromir was the one to put tongue to the thoughts on everyone's mind. "I wonder if this is some contrivance of the enemy." He explained that where he came from it was said that he could control the weather.
"His arm has grown long indeed if he can draw snow from the north to trouble us here three hundred leagues away," said Gimli the Dwarf.
Mithrandir muttered, distinguishable only to Legolas, "His arm has grown long."
*****
"This will be the death of the halflings, Gandalf!"
Legolas remained out of the discussion then, for snow was no obstacle for Elven feet, and lightly he could dance upon the drifts. The company had halted now, taking as much shelter as possible, and were debating what to do. Boromir had defended the halflings, as he always did. Mithrandir passed around miruvor, which Legolas declined for he was quite fine.
Now fire had been brought up. Again Mithrandir gave in and lit a fire with magic, though he grumbled about it, and not without reason. "I may as well have written 'Gandalf is here'," the old wizard observed, and while this was true there was nothing to be done about it now. One thing was for sure: the company had to retreat. How could this be done?
"If Gandalf could go before us with a flame, he could melt a path for you," Legolas observed, having dropped down from his perch on the snow to partake in the discussion.
"If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us," Mithrandir replied. Legolas supposed that, if it were possible to actually move the Sun, he well could make it round the mountain, over snow, and back, but he kept this thought to himself. "I cannot burn snow."
Aragorn and Boromir began to make a path in the snow, one that the others might follow. The hobbits huddled together now, for warmth or perhaps they were afraid. Legolas sat in the snow for a while. He liked the snow, it was new-fallen, so harbor memories not of Elves or animals other, but only space for memory, not space where memory had been. Then he leapt to his feet and explained that he was off. With a smirk towards Mithrandir he added, "I go to fetch the Sun!" And as a man on a mission he sped forth.
Around the rocky bend Legolas ran, passing Aragorn and Boromir, who did not notice him at all. Legolas stopped his run in exchange for a slight trot. He trotted for a bit until he came upon the greatest of all the snow drifts he had seen so far. "By the Valar," he said, "if this is not the worst truly, truly the others are doomed." He then trotted on farther and saw that indeed it was the worst, after that the snow quickly sloped down to nothing. He turned back there.
"This is hopeless. As thick as a house this one must be. Aragorn, let us turn back and tell the others. We cannot make our way through this," Boromir said.
"Do you think there is not any chance at all?" Aragorn asked with hope. Boromir responded that there was no hope.
"Despondent friends!" cried Legolas. "You have no reason to dismay, this is but the width of a wall. Through it and you are freed of your burden." Then he ambled back towards the others. Aragorn and Boromir came back not much later. Legolas described the situation to them, the deepest drift then the snow was as good as gone.
The taller of the company, and Gimli, made their way ought on their feet. Legolas had a simple task of it. The hobbits had to be carried. Finally it was all finished with, and they stumbled forth from Caradhras, defeated.
As with hope and valiant thoughts the nine had set out from Rivendell, now with despair and defeat they trudged away from Caradhras.
Author's Note: I'm gong away for the weekend, (coming home Monday) so I won't be on fanfiction again for about four days and felt that I ought to leave something for you guys.
Sugar Addict: What, are implying that I might stop writing? Anyway, thanks! Plus which for all of those people who did not notice the sequel there is a note at the end of Cold Steel.
Vana Burke: Yes, actually, he is eighty seven. He lives to be two hundred and ten years old. Numenoreans have a long lifespan.
Miss No Name: Thanks for reviewing (and I'm fine, thank you for asking, even if you did assume the answer) and you are welcome concerning quick updates.
Wicked Misty: Thanks!
Dream Catcher: Yes! Some criticism from you at last! I need to do better with dialogue! And you with spelling (you wrote "dialog")! There is an old rift between Elves and Dwarves, Gimli has never heard that the dwarves caused it, Legolas has never heard that the Elves caused it, and Aragorn has heard both. I am an atheist, but you are not boring. Do not try to be boring, please! Thanks for reading and all. After all, this story was mostly written to teach you how to deal with masochists. (not that you know any, of course. . .)
Padfoots Girl: Thanks and I will.
Cool Girl Chic 16: Thanks and glad you enjoyed it.
Evil Spapple Pie: Well, you try telling Legolas that! He thinks most things are his fault.
Baby: Hmm. . .well, that is one way to help but talking is different from being a puppet. You have to want to tell the other person.
Passion Wind: Thanks and okay!
Lady Daine: Thanks! It does not change perspective at all, the entire story is written third-person but basically by Legolas, as The Hobbit is written by Bilbo. He heard Merry and Pippin talking.
Gwyn: That is a lot of what I had in mind, but with some changes in it. As for Lothlorien, Galadriel is as good a person as any to be upset around, for she seems to be patient and caring (in the book if not the movie). Good luck with your midterms!
Daylight: Thanks and okay!
Lirenel: It's also easier to write about the Fellowship. With an established plot one can focus more on characters and such.
Erhothwen: Go ahead and pride yourself, Elrohir, you are a great friend and you deserve to be a bit proud for that. **sticks out tongue at Erhothwen** The hobbits and Gimli do not have huge roles in this story but they are not ignored! Elladan, you did not nearly fall, you did fall. Estel, you are not fat, you just whammed into him. Like a dog! And Legolas, all right, I will!
Karate Elf: Thanks!!!
Kaimelieamin: Yes, that might help. You shall find out what would happen if he finds out!
Thanks again to all my reviewers!
*****
The company had halted for a few days' rest, it seemed: they would not be going on for yet another full day and night. Legolas was all right with this, while he did not mind any pace he did not object to rest, either. The hobbits at once set about making food, as this seemed to be a hobbit's favorite thing to do: eat! Mithrandir had taken out his pipe and was smoking, which was equally perhaps his favorite thing to do. Gimli the Dwarf had abandoned his favorite past time of complaining and was polishing his axe, telling a fancy tale of it, as well.
"Many an orc this blade has cut down, and many a warg has cowered at the sight of it indeed," Gimli muttered. Merry and Pippin were transfixed with this falsity, but Legolas was not. The Dwarf has joined to out-do me, no kindness shall I show to him.
"I believe that," Legolas announced.
"Do you now? An Elf of sense!" remarked the Dwarf.
"Indeed. If, that is, in Dwarfish orc means shrub and warg means beetles," Legolas continued. Gimli looked as though his eye might pop out of their sockets.
"What? Why I never heard such blasphemy!"
"You have heard it now, though blasphemy I would call it not," Legolas returned.
"Why--! I find now a decent time to put my blade to good use!" threatened Gimli. He raised his axe ready to strike, but he blinked and as he did Legolas, quick as a flash, strung his bow and at the dwarf's head pointed an arrow.
"Gimli! Legolas! This company was not formed for the sake of battle but to prevent it," Mithrandir scolded. "Come now, lower your weapons."
Legolas burned, feeling like a young boy. One thing was certain, he would get that Dwarf. Gimli sauntered off, and Legolas plunked onto a stone. "Do you enjoy confrontation?"
Who had asked that? Oh, it was the Man, Boromir. "I do not," Legolas snapped.
"I meant no offense. Surely I do not enjoy fighting. I ask only because you and the Dwarf--" Boromir tried to explain, but Legolas interrupted him quickly.
"He started it."
Boromir smiled as though to say 'you sound like my little brother', but kept quiet. He glanced over at Merry and Pippin, who were talking and joking, and went to join them. Well, good! Legolas thought. At least he'll leave me alone. "You know, it would not hurt to give the others a small chance." That old, papery voice could belong to only one person.
"What for?" Legolas wanted to know, in bad spirits.
"For the sake of Middle Earth, perhaps," Mithrandir suggested, "or simply because they are not bad people. Maybe because you have enough troubles without bringing more upon ourself?"
"I never did apologize to you, Mithrandir, for the way I spoke before. That was un-called for. Elrohir only cares about me, and even if it is a little offensive that he asked you to look after me as if I were a child. . ."
At this a light of laughter shone in the old wizard's eyes. "No, you did not, but I knew that you meant to. But tell me, why have you come on this quest, Legolas?"
"To destroy the last great evil left in all Middle Earth," Legolas replied automatically.
"Oh?" Mithrandir asked, eyebrows raised, "in Elrond's words this is so, but I think it was a different reason." He nodded in the direction of Aragorn, who had wandered off and now was back, leaning against a tree and watching the others. "He is grown now and does not need a big brother to look after him, yet it makes you feel better to know that just in case. . ."
Legolas realized how truly dense he had been. He was angry at someone for doing the exact same thing as him! He chuckled slightly, for indeed it was funny. Merry then called up to Strider, "What is the matter, Strider? What are you looking for? Do you miss the East Wind?"
This last question may have been a joke, but Aragorn did not see this as being so. "No indeed, but I miss something." He described to the others the silence he heard, the silence of animals and such. No birdcalls resounded and no coyotes howled any longer. Mithrandir wrote this off to the surprise of seeing the group, so many after so long with no one.
"I hope that that is so, but I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never felt before," Aragorn said.
"Then we must be careful. If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him, especially if that Ranger is Aragorn." Mithrandir's last comment, suspected Legolas, was directed at him, although he did not say so.
Legolas knew things to be different than Mithrandir had said about the surprise of the land. The grass beneath his feet did not whisper, and the time when he had taken but one unclad step in it he had felt as if death were whispering secrets in his ears, and fell to the ground, jamming his shoes back on. Not again had he risked unprotected confrontation. The stones were not as frightening, for they had more and deeper memories, though dark not nearly as dark as the great emptiness. All this land was beginning to take its toll, and exhaustion along with some amount of depression crept upon him.
*****
A squaking sound was heard, and Legolas's eyes sprang open. The rest of his body did not move, he lay flat and still on the ground. In the air his Elf eyes picked up a whole herd of black crows. It was Sam's watch, but Legolas knew Aragorn had taken the watch with him. He knows what to do, Legolas told himself to keep from springing to his feet. When the crows had gone from what he gauged was the view of a Man, Legolas pricked up his ears so as to hear what went on.
"Gandalf, there were crows, crebain foreign to this land, from Dunland or Fangorn. I thought we ought to move again this evening, for surely all of Hollin has been observed. This land is not wholesome for us any longer."
"Then so is Redhorn Gate, and how we can get over that without being seen I cannot imagine. But we will think of that when we must. As for moving as soon as it is dark, I am afraid you are right."
"Luckily our fire made little smoke, and burned low before the crows came. It must be put out and not lit again." At this he seemed to remember the young hobbit, standing nervously by. "You may as well get to sleep while you can, Sam. We'll be going on soon." When Sam had fallen asleep Legolas considered standing and joining Aragorn and Mithrandir, but somehow felt that it would be best if he did not.
*****
They carried on. Something passed over them again that night and while the others debated what it was, Legolas with his Elf eyes gazed upwards and saw the crebain yet again. Ahead of him Legolas saw well their destination, and for him the march onwards was somewhat easier, for his mark was in sight. Three days time passed and the mountain Caradhras was reached.
Mithrandir drew Aragorn aside and spoke to him, asking what Aragorn now thought of the course the Ranger had chosen. Aragorn replied to this, "I think no good of our course from beginning to end, as you well know, Gandalf." He continued, but Legolas noticed that Frodo was listening in as well and instantaneously blushed.
"Frodo," Legolas called softly, "may I please speak with you?" Way to go, Greenleaf! He told himself. What will you say to the Halfling? Frodo diverted his attention from Mithrandir and Aragorn, peering at Legolas. "Frodo. . .are you all right? You seem a bit ill." Blatant lie, stupid, he knows you are lying!
"No, I'm quite fine. Thank you for your concern."
Frodo walked off, and Legolas exhaled, biting his lip. That had gone badly. Muddling everything up again, Elf, you just love trouble don't you, he scolded. Oh, stop that, it isn't true. You did your best. He was drawn out of thought by a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for that," Aragorn said.
"I was listening, as well," Legolas admitted.
"I know," Aragorn shrugged, "I expected that. Thank you for distracting Frodo, it is much appreciated. To your ears the words exchanged between Gandalf and I would evoke only comprehension, perhaps some confusion, but in the wrong hands. . .Frodo means well, but he might have frightened all the Halflings then with what he heard."
Then Gimli, Boromir, and the four hobbits began to eat breakfast, Pippin mumbling about how only one was not sufficient. Legolas supposed that he may as well join them. Mithrandir and Aragorn wandered off and looked at the mountain. Upon their return it was announced that Caradhras would be crossed.
"If I may," began Boromir. Legolas saw now that he was not, as earlier suspected, cocky and arrogant. Indeed all this Man meant was to lend a hand where he might. Now he suggested bringing wood. Mithrandir agreed, so long at the wood was never burned.
*****
As soon as the snowdrifts upon the mountain, snow falling so thickly, were a foot high Legolas hopped lightly upon them, taking his own time and trying to stay as slow as the others. He wished he could have carried one of the halflings with him, for they looked rather miserable, but that would not work out as they would sink into the snow.
"This is what I feared. What do you say of your road now, Aragorn?" Mithrandir asked.
"I say what I said before!" Replied Aragorn, "that I feared it also, but not so much as other things. This snow is unusual, Gandalf, for we are yet on low paths that should all winter remain open to us."
Boromir was the one to put tongue to the thoughts on everyone's mind. "I wonder if this is some contrivance of the enemy." He explained that where he came from it was said that he could control the weather.
"His arm has grown long indeed if he can draw snow from the north to trouble us here three hundred leagues away," said Gimli the Dwarf.
Mithrandir muttered, distinguishable only to Legolas, "His arm has grown long."
*****
"This will be the death of the halflings, Gandalf!"
Legolas remained out of the discussion then, for snow was no obstacle for Elven feet, and lightly he could dance upon the drifts. The company had halted now, taking as much shelter as possible, and were debating what to do. Boromir had defended the halflings, as he always did. Mithrandir passed around miruvor, which Legolas declined for he was quite fine.
Now fire had been brought up. Again Mithrandir gave in and lit a fire with magic, though he grumbled about it, and not without reason. "I may as well have written 'Gandalf is here'," the old wizard observed, and while this was true there was nothing to be done about it now. One thing was for sure: the company had to retreat. How could this be done?
"If Gandalf could go before us with a flame, he could melt a path for you," Legolas observed, having dropped down from his perch on the snow to partake in the discussion.
"If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us," Mithrandir replied. Legolas supposed that, if it were possible to actually move the Sun, he well could make it round the mountain, over snow, and back, but he kept this thought to himself. "I cannot burn snow."
Aragorn and Boromir began to make a path in the snow, one that the others might follow. The hobbits huddled together now, for warmth or perhaps they were afraid. Legolas sat in the snow for a while. He liked the snow, it was new-fallen, so harbor memories not of Elves or animals other, but only space for memory, not space where memory had been. Then he leapt to his feet and explained that he was off. With a smirk towards Mithrandir he added, "I go to fetch the Sun!" And as a man on a mission he sped forth.
Around the rocky bend Legolas ran, passing Aragorn and Boromir, who did not notice him at all. Legolas stopped his run in exchange for a slight trot. He trotted for a bit until he came upon the greatest of all the snow drifts he had seen so far. "By the Valar," he said, "if this is not the worst truly, truly the others are doomed." He then trotted on farther and saw that indeed it was the worst, after that the snow quickly sloped down to nothing. He turned back there.
"This is hopeless. As thick as a house this one must be. Aragorn, let us turn back and tell the others. We cannot make our way through this," Boromir said.
"Do you think there is not any chance at all?" Aragorn asked with hope. Boromir responded that there was no hope.
"Despondent friends!" cried Legolas. "You have no reason to dismay, this is but the width of a wall. Through it and you are freed of your burden." Then he ambled back towards the others. Aragorn and Boromir came back not much later. Legolas described the situation to them, the deepest drift then the snow was as good as gone.
The taller of the company, and Gimli, made their way ought on their feet. Legolas had a simple task of it. The hobbits had to be carried. Finally it was all finished with, and they stumbled forth from Caradhras, defeated.
As with hope and valiant thoughts the nine had set out from Rivendell, now with despair and defeat they trudged away from Caradhras.