Chapter Twenty-Four: The Pass of the Redhorn
Written in story form by Telahalien
Webposter's notes: This is written from the roleplaying that we did.
Knowing that they had to take the pass of Caradhras, the Fellowship made their way up the side of the snow-covered mountain. Progress was slow as they moved through the thick blanket of snow. Frodo suddenly fell, tumbling down the snowy slope, stopping in front of Aragorn.
Halien's eyes fell on Frodo as he rolled down and she would have helped him if she could've, but her place was all the way in front of the line with Gandalf. She covered her mouth as she gasped using her cold pale hand.
Aragorn helped the snow-covered hobbit to his feet while he brushed himself off. He stopped, his face growing paler than it already was. He quickly reached into his shirt for the Ring... only to find it not there.... and that is was lying embedded in the snow where he had fallen. Boromir noticed it shining in the white powder, and bent down, picking it up by its chain.
Halien's eyes narrowed as she saw that Frodo seemed to be missing something, and then she realized it was the ring. She started towards them, but a strong grip held her back. Turning her head, she saw Legolas gripping her arm, and shaking his head a bit.
"Release me." She said slowly with a hint of annoyance. He showed no sign of actually releasing her, and she sighed, "Will you please let me go?" She did not want to plead, and make herself look vulnerable, but it was the only way he would release his hold on her.
His voice was soft, but serious, "They can solve their own problems. If you go, you will only cause more." She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. Pulling her arm from his grip, she stalked up to the front to Gandalf's side.
Aragorn removed his hands from Frodo's shoulders, eyeing the fellow native of Gondor.
"Boromir..."
The Steward kept his eyes upon the gold ring and spoke entranced, "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing..."
Elfindel, who was standing near the other hobbits at the head of the line, began to move down towards Boromir, walking on the snow. Boromir's left hand began to move towards the dangling Ring.
"Such a little thing...."
Elfindel approached his back, reaching out a hand to forcefully turn him around when Aragorn shouted out, snapping Boromir from his daze. "Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo."
Boromir blinked and walked slowly towards the two, "As you wish." He dangled the Ring in front of him, which Frodo quickly grabbed; Boromir only grinned slightly. "I care not." He laughed then, ruffling Frodo's hair.
When he turned to walk off, he came face-to-face with Gil-Galad's heir, standing firmly, her arms crossed. He stopped for a moment, their eyes fixed on each other. Elfindel turned away from the Steward, heading back up to join the other hobbits. Merry looked depressed considering he wanted to see another verbal battle between them. Aragorn released the hilt of his sword, which he held onto just in case.
As Halien walked up the hill she tried to look defiant, but she lost her footing, and slipped falling face down into the snow. She growled deep in her throat, and pushed herself up. Legolas came to help her, laughing a bit. She ignored the arm he extended out to her.
"I don't need your help," she spat on him, her hair stuck to her forehead with snow.
He laughed, "Take my hand."
She pushed it away, and stood up brushing herself off. Walking up a bit, she started to stumble a bit, but was able to keep her ground. The sound of his laughter behind her angered her, and she walked with Gandalf fuming with anger.
Gandalf smiled and turned to face her, "Do not make things hard for yourself, Halien. You cannot accomplish everything on your own, now and then you will need a hand to help, and Legolas might just be that hand. I have a feeling things will change with you two."
Keeping her gaze straight ahead she answered, "I do not think things will change, Gandalf."
* * *
After several long hours of walking, the fellowship reached the side of Caradhras, and was met with a blowing snow blizzard. The Elves walked slightly ahead of the others, walking on the snow with ease, as Gandalf and the others found it rather difficult. Aragorn and Boromir held onto two hobbits each. All of them were bracing the hard chill.
From the front of the line Legolas looked up to the thunderous skies and announced to the fellowship, "There is a fell voice in the air."
Gandalf listened to the voice, and turned around to face them, "It's Saruman!"
Several boulders broke off of the mountain above them, crashing down all around them. Aragorn fought to get his voice heard over the howling winds. "He's trying to bring down the mountain!"
Gandalf shook his head, "No!" Then he turned to the furious mountain, "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning hit the snow-covered incline above them, sending pounds upon pounds of snow raining down on top of them and burying them.
Halien who had looked up to see the snow falling down, was now buried deep in it. Her hands clawed desperately at the snow, and as she did so a hand tangled in hers pulling her up. She gasped, at the feel of the cold snow on her and glanced up to find that Legolas was the one holding her hand.
He looked at her worriedly, "Are you alright?"
She nodded, and shook off the snow looking around to make sure everyone else was safe.
Elfindel managed to climb her way out of the snow, giving Aragorn and the other hobbits a hand, helping them to escape their white prison. When she looked over to where Boromir had managed to shake his upper body free of the snow barrier. They locked glances for a moment; Boromir narrowing his eyes slightly. Elfindel waited a long while before walking over to him, slowly extending a hand to him. Boromir only looked up at her, a puzzled expression on his face. Pippin, Merry, and Aragorn watched as Boromir took her hand after a moment's hesitation. After everyone brushed themselves off, Boromir turned to Gandalf, struggling to make his voice her above the howling winds.
"We must get off the mountain...!"
Gandalf turned to the Steward, who continued, "Make for the Gap of Rohan! Or take the west road to my city!"
Halien's red hair was dark and matted to her head with snow. Her lips were a slight shade of purple. She raised an eyebrow at Boromir's proposal, and closed her eyes sighing deeply. She did not want to take that road, but at this point there was hardly anything they could do. She kept her eyes closed, and considered the possibilities of taking this path.
Aragorn looked at him, "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"
Gimli, who was still buried waist-deep in the snow, turned to Gandalf, "If we cannot pass over the mountain... let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria!"
Gandalf was silent for a moment, and he slowly turned his glance to Frodo, "Let the Ring-bearer decide... Frodo?"
All attention was turned to the Hobbit at that moment, and Frodo remained silent for a moment as well, his little body shivering from the cold.
"We will go through the mines."
Gandalf eyed him longly. He did not want this to happen, but alas he spoke, "So be it."