Disclaimer: All references to Lord of the Rings Characters and places are
the property of J.R.R Tolkien, I have just tried to use them for my own
story. Also this Chapter mainly covers things straight out of the book, so
anything that appears in the book and this chapter is copyright of J.R.R
Tolkien as well as the characters and places.
Chapter 9: To Walk On Snow
By the advice of Boromir the Company carried sticks with which they could light a fire if in great need or fear of freezing to death and so they started the trek to the top of Caradhras.
When they reached the first of the heavy snow, Legolas stepped up to the top of the snow and walked around on it as though it were solid ground, before he turned back to look at Celebfaer. She was in fact already on top of the snow and walking with as much ease as Legolas was, bringing a smile to her face and a memory that she had forgotten until that moment.
When she caught up to him, he smiled at her and nodded.
"Very convincing." He told her and she smiled.
"Thank you Legolas, but I believe that I am able to skim over the water's surface as well, for I just remembered doing it once, so snow is rather simple compared with that." She said, and he laughed just as the rest of the company caught up to them.
It started to snow in the late afternoon and got heavier as the Company trudged on into the night. The snow eventually got so bad that they could go no further and could not go back so they all huddled together beside a cliff wall, trying to keep warm.
Soon it was clear the hobbits were near freezing, so Gandalf revealed a leathern flask that Elrond had given him full of miruvour, the cordial of Imladris. They started to pass it round for a mouthful each, but Celebfaer had already called the fire spirit softly to keep herself warm, so when it came her turn, for a mouthful of the miruvour she pretended to drink the cordial then passed it to Boromir, who accepted it gladly.
For a while they still stood there in silence, until Boromir spoke up again.
"I'm afraid that we may need fire or die in the next hour Gandalf. The little ones especially."
To this Gandalf merely nodded. "If you can light a fire, then I permit it." He said and so Borormir set about trying to light a fire.
When he failed Gimli tried, then Legolas and Aragorn who managed to obtain a small spark of light, though the light did not last longer than a few seconds. When their attempts proved futile, Celebfaer stepped forward.
"Let me try." She said then she grabbed the stick in her hand and whispered a few words, as the fire spirit was already within her, so it was easy for Celebfaer to call the spirit out. However, to hide the magic, she used it with the tinderbox next to the sticks. The small stick suddenly burst into flame and she smiled then sat it down and they all huddled around it.
Gandalf looked at her then, knowing for certain that she had just called the fire spirit. He knew that the spirit was around because he had sensed her presence, though he did not think that Celebfaer had the power to call her. He was a bit surprised, though he realised now that maybe she would be more useful than he had first thought.
She did not see the look that Gandalf gave her because she was busy trying to keep the fire going and the rest of the Company huddled around her, grateful for the fire, particularly the hobbits.
"If a wood elf could not light a fire then the talents in the Enchanted wood must be greater than any." Gimli said to spite Legolas, who said nothing in response and just stared blankly into the flames.
It was a long night and as the last piece of wood started to burn out, dawn came and with it light and no more of the storm. But, the snow was quite deep and the Company agreed that it was foolish to keep going, but in order to get back they would have to pave a path.
So off went the strongest two of the Company, Aragorn and Boromir, to dig a path through the snow for the rest of the Company that could not walk on snow to go through so that they could all make it to the bottom of the mountain.
Legolas watched for a while before looking at Celebfaer, who was standing there quietly observing the situation, facinated at the strength and vigor of the two Men.
"I shall go and scout out the area before them, I may find some useful information or maybe even the Sun herself." Legolas said and before any could answer, he sprang up on top of the snow, and ran off in the direction of Boromir and Aragorn, passing them quickly and disappearing around the corner.
Celebfaer nodded almost in agreement after Legolas had left. "I think I shall look ahead to see if the snow gets any worse up there." She said and Gandalf looked at her.
"Are you sure that is wise Celebfaer?"
"Yes Mirthrandir. I shan't be long." She said then she too sprung up and ran across the snow in the opposite direction to Legolas, heading up the mountain.
The walk by herself was good, though the wind chilled her to the bone, despite the fire spirit warming her body. The snow was very heavy and thick and she did not have to walk far before she gathered all the information she needed. To go on would be suicide, as the snow was rather thick and powdery in some places, so much so that when she stepped on a patch, her foot sunk and the snow came up to the top of her leg. Using her hands, she managed to pull herself up, then she rested for a few seconds before she turned and continued on back to where the others were. She came back just after Legolas and the Men had returned.
Both Legolas and Aragorn looked at her with questioning looks, but she ignored them and reported that the snow only got worse further up, so much so that they would never get through it, so it was wise that they were turning back.
So, Boromir and Aragorn carried Merry and Pippin first, and Legolas scouted across the ground ahead of them.
Waiting with the others, Celebfaer looked around with not much hope, she did not know how she would be able to get back to Lothlorien now, because the only pass was blocked. If the Fellowship decided to down near Rohan and cross there she would have to turn back to Rivendell and wait for summer before she could return to her home. But something was calling to her as though she needed to be home in the woods of Lorien before the end of the winter.
Boromir and Aragorn came back, breaking into Celebfaer's thoughts, so she helped Gimli up onto the horse, and Gandalf led the horse, while Boromir carried Sam and Aragorn beared Frodo. So, seeing that they were all settled, Celebfaer pounced across the snow and went to wait with Legolas, Merry and Pippin for the others to arrive.
So when the others arrived, the Company proceeded down the mountain and Gandalf waited for the mountain to be as far away as their legs could carry them before dusk until he would let the stop for the night. He then handed out another sip each of the cordial from Imladris and this time Celebfaer took it because she had let the fire spirit go as soon as they left the snow behind them.
Then they ate some food and Gandalf started to speak to them of their situation. Eventually the idea of passing through Moria was brought to the attention of the Fellowship and it got a mixed response. Aragorn and Gimli were willing to follow Gandalf through but the others seemed reluctant.
Boromir stated that he would not go unless the majority of the Company were against him and he asked Legolas and the hobbits for their opinions before he would indeed agree to a trek through the mines.
"I do not wish to go to Moria." Legolas replied looking off into the distance. "But I will go with you Gandalf for there seems no other way."
"I shall go." Celebfaer said plainly and they all looked at her. "I do not want to walk through the Mines of Moria, as the thought terrifies me so, but I desire more to be home in the wood of Lothlorien, so I shall go into the Mines." She added and Gandalf threw her yet another look as she had managed to surprise him yet again.
"You are a brave one Celebfaer." He said and she nodded, bowing slightly to him.
"Thank you Mirthrandir for your praise is not easily won." She said and then Frodo spoke up.
"I wish to sleep on it first." He said shivering from the cold wind. "Then make my decision in the morning when the air is less cold and the world less dark. How the wind howls!"
Aragorn stood up and looked around at this comment, his eyes alert and the hand on his sword hilt. "Wolves!" He cried. "It seems that the Wargs have come west of the Mountains. May the Valar protect us and help us survive this night." He added then Gandalf led them to the top of a hill so they would be better protected.
"I will take first watch." Celebfaer said once the fire was lit in the middle of the group, but Gandalf shook his head.
"Do not trouble yourself, I shall get no rest while there are Wargs about. Aragorn it seems will not get any rest either, so we shall keep a watch, fair one." Gandalf said and she looked at him, confused at his last comment, but she did not argue.
"Thank you Gandalf, though I do not think I shall be able to sleep myself for I have many things on my mind." She said and Boromir snorted.
"Nor shall any of us Celebfaer. The wolf that one hears is worse than the Orc one fears." He said softly and then none of them spoke another word, listening to the howling of the wolves getting closer.
So, Celebfaer grabbed her bow and arrows, then readied an arrow in her bow, she did not want to be caught unaware this night.
Eventually the wolves came and although they passed over the ring of stones that Gandalf laid, none would be able to pass through to the very summit, but the Company stood up and drew their swords or any other weapon that they possessed.
Celebfaer looked at Legolas and he nodded, then they both stood at opposite sides of the Company and attacked with their arrows, barely seeing if their arrow had hit before looking then aiming for the next target.
Suddenly, Gandalf grew and chanted some words, and fires leapt from tree- top to tree-top but all were still concentration on killing the wolves and the wolves stopped their advance just as Legolas used his last arrow. The arrow was set on fire by Gandalf's magic, so that it would hit its target with a fatal blow. It's target, the king of the wolves was hit with perfect accuracy as Legolas rarely missed his target. With their chief gone, the wolves fled and the hilltop was normal again.
In the light the next day, Legolas and Celebfaer retrieved their arrows from the ground because there were no wolf bodies to be seen and their arrows were barely damaged.
"It is as I feared. These were no ordinary wolves." Gandalf said when he saw that there were no bodies, so the Company set off as quickly as they could, all of them wanting to be away from the dreadful place.
Chapter 9: To Walk On Snow
By the advice of Boromir the Company carried sticks with which they could light a fire if in great need or fear of freezing to death and so they started the trek to the top of Caradhras.
When they reached the first of the heavy snow, Legolas stepped up to the top of the snow and walked around on it as though it were solid ground, before he turned back to look at Celebfaer. She was in fact already on top of the snow and walking with as much ease as Legolas was, bringing a smile to her face and a memory that she had forgotten until that moment.
When she caught up to him, he smiled at her and nodded.
"Very convincing." He told her and she smiled.
"Thank you Legolas, but I believe that I am able to skim over the water's surface as well, for I just remembered doing it once, so snow is rather simple compared with that." She said, and he laughed just as the rest of the company caught up to them.
It started to snow in the late afternoon and got heavier as the Company trudged on into the night. The snow eventually got so bad that they could go no further and could not go back so they all huddled together beside a cliff wall, trying to keep warm.
Soon it was clear the hobbits were near freezing, so Gandalf revealed a leathern flask that Elrond had given him full of miruvour, the cordial of Imladris. They started to pass it round for a mouthful each, but Celebfaer had already called the fire spirit softly to keep herself warm, so when it came her turn, for a mouthful of the miruvour she pretended to drink the cordial then passed it to Boromir, who accepted it gladly.
For a while they still stood there in silence, until Boromir spoke up again.
"I'm afraid that we may need fire or die in the next hour Gandalf. The little ones especially."
To this Gandalf merely nodded. "If you can light a fire, then I permit it." He said and so Borormir set about trying to light a fire.
When he failed Gimli tried, then Legolas and Aragorn who managed to obtain a small spark of light, though the light did not last longer than a few seconds. When their attempts proved futile, Celebfaer stepped forward.
"Let me try." She said then she grabbed the stick in her hand and whispered a few words, as the fire spirit was already within her, so it was easy for Celebfaer to call the spirit out. However, to hide the magic, she used it with the tinderbox next to the sticks. The small stick suddenly burst into flame and she smiled then sat it down and they all huddled around it.
Gandalf looked at her then, knowing for certain that she had just called the fire spirit. He knew that the spirit was around because he had sensed her presence, though he did not think that Celebfaer had the power to call her. He was a bit surprised, though he realised now that maybe she would be more useful than he had first thought.
She did not see the look that Gandalf gave her because she was busy trying to keep the fire going and the rest of the Company huddled around her, grateful for the fire, particularly the hobbits.
"If a wood elf could not light a fire then the talents in the Enchanted wood must be greater than any." Gimli said to spite Legolas, who said nothing in response and just stared blankly into the flames.
It was a long night and as the last piece of wood started to burn out, dawn came and with it light and no more of the storm. But, the snow was quite deep and the Company agreed that it was foolish to keep going, but in order to get back they would have to pave a path.
So off went the strongest two of the Company, Aragorn and Boromir, to dig a path through the snow for the rest of the Company that could not walk on snow to go through so that they could all make it to the bottom of the mountain.
Legolas watched for a while before looking at Celebfaer, who was standing there quietly observing the situation, facinated at the strength and vigor of the two Men.
"I shall go and scout out the area before them, I may find some useful information or maybe even the Sun herself." Legolas said and before any could answer, he sprang up on top of the snow, and ran off in the direction of Boromir and Aragorn, passing them quickly and disappearing around the corner.
Celebfaer nodded almost in agreement after Legolas had left. "I think I shall look ahead to see if the snow gets any worse up there." She said and Gandalf looked at her.
"Are you sure that is wise Celebfaer?"
"Yes Mirthrandir. I shan't be long." She said then she too sprung up and ran across the snow in the opposite direction to Legolas, heading up the mountain.
The walk by herself was good, though the wind chilled her to the bone, despite the fire spirit warming her body. The snow was very heavy and thick and she did not have to walk far before she gathered all the information she needed. To go on would be suicide, as the snow was rather thick and powdery in some places, so much so that when she stepped on a patch, her foot sunk and the snow came up to the top of her leg. Using her hands, she managed to pull herself up, then she rested for a few seconds before she turned and continued on back to where the others were. She came back just after Legolas and the Men had returned.
Both Legolas and Aragorn looked at her with questioning looks, but she ignored them and reported that the snow only got worse further up, so much so that they would never get through it, so it was wise that they were turning back.
So, Boromir and Aragorn carried Merry and Pippin first, and Legolas scouted across the ground ahead of them.
Waiting with the others, Celebfaer looked around with not much hope, she did not know how she would be able to get back to Lothlorien now, because the only pass was blocked. If the Fellowship decided to down near Rohan and cross there she would have to turn back to Rivendell and wait for summer before she could return to her home. But something was calling to her as though she needed to be home in the woods of Lorien before the end of the winter.
Boromir and Aragorn came back, breaking into Celebfaer's thoughts, so she helped Gimli up onto the horse, and Gandalf led the horse, while Boromir carried Sam and Aragorn beared Frodo. So, seeing that they were all settled, Celebfaer pounced across the snow and went to wait with Legolas, Merry and Pippin for the others to arrive.
So when the others arrived, the Company proceeded down the mountain and Gandalf waited for the mountain to be as far away as their legs could carry them before dusk until he would let the stop for the night. He then handed out another sip each of the cordial from Imladris and this time Celebfaer took it because she had let the fire spirit go as soon as they left the snow behind them.
Then they ate some food and Gandalf started to speak to them of their situation. Eventually the idea of passing through Moria was brought to the attention of the Fellowship and it got a mixed response. Aragorn and Gimli were willing to follow Gandalf through but the others seemed reluctant.
Boromir stated that he would not go unless the majority of the Company were against him and he asked Legolas and the hobbits for their opinions before he would indeed agree to a trek through the mines.
"I do not wish to go to Moria." Legolas replied looking off into the distance. "But I will go with you Gandalf for there seems no other way."
"I shall go." Celebfaer said plainly and they all looked at her. "I do not want to walk through the Mines of Moria, as the thought terrifies me so, but I desire more to be home in the wood of Lothlorien, so I shall go into the Mines." She added and Gandalf threw her yet another look as she had managed to surprise him yet again.
"You are a brave one Celebfaer." He said and she nodded, bowing slightly to him.
"Thank you Mirthrandir for your praise is not easily won." She said and then Frodo spoke up.
"I wish to sleep on it first." He said shivering from the cold wind. "Then make my decision in the morning when the air is less cold and the world less dark. How the wind howls!"
Aragorn stood up and looked around at this comment, his eyes alert and the hand on his sword hilt. "Wolves!" He cried. "It seems that the Wargs have come west of the Mountains. May the Valar protect us and help us survive this night." He added then Gandalf led them to the top of a hill so they would be better protected.
"I will take first watch." Celebfaer said once the fire was lit in the middle of the group, but Gandalf shook his head.
"Do not trouble yourself, I shall get no rest while there are Wargs about. Aragorn it seems will not get any rest either, so we shall keep a watch, fair one." Gandalf said and she looked at him, confused at his last comment, but she did not argue.
"Thank you Gandalf, though I do not think I shall be able to sleep myself for I have many things on my mind." She said and Boromir snorted.
"Nor shall any of us Celebfaer. The wolf that one hears is worse than the Orc one fears." He said softly and then none of them spoke another word, listening to the howling of the wolves getting closer.
So, Celebfaer grabbed her bow and arrows, then readied an arrow in her bow, she did not want to be caught unaware this night.
Eventually the wolves came and although they passed over the ring of stones that Gandalf laid, none would be able to pass through to the very summit, but the Company stood up and drew their swords or any other weapon that they possessed.
Celebfaer looked at Legolas and he nodded, then they both stood at opposite sides of the Company and attacked with their arrows, barely seeing if their arrow had hit before looking then aiming for the next target.
Suddenly, Gandalf grew and chanted some words, and fires leapt from tree- top to tree-top but all were still concentration on killing the wolves and the wolves stopped their advance just as Legolas used his last arrow. The arrow was set on fire by Gandalf's magic, so that it would hit its target with a fatal blow. It's target, the king of the wolves was hit with perfect accuracy as Legolas rarely missed his target. With their chief gone, the wolves fled and the hilltop was normal again.
In the light the next day, Legolas and Celebfaer retrieved their arrows from the ground because there were no wolf bodies to be seen and their arrows were barely damaged.
"It is as I feared. These were no ordinary wolves." Gandalf said when he saw that there were no bodies, so the Company set off as quickly as they could, all of them wanting to be away from the dreadful place.
