The Fellowship and the Lady
This is the beginning of the journey that Lara and the fellowship will be heading on.
For now, it's a walk in the park.
I was walking in the center of the messy line of the fellowship, my sunglasses high against my face as I peered out on the flat ground around us. The sun was high today, possibly because we were nearing late afternoon, and it overlooked the brown grass underneath our feet. The strap of the bag I was carrying slipped down my shoulder and I heaved it back up with a sigh. I wasn't tired. Just a bit hot.
"Crazy, stupid rocks!" I turned to see Merry struggling the pull the bag he carried over a rock cliff. "Can't do anything right!"
"That's how I feel," I told him, reaching down and grabbing the bag so I could swing it over my shoulder. "Just do what I do and take a few deep breaths before you blow up. Or worse. Blow up on somebody." I looked over at a grinning Pippin.
"Very well." He muttered, rubbing his sore shoulder.
I turned away and grinned. The sun was just barely setting over the horizon and Gandalf had led us up a very dangerous rock cliff. Wondering how in the world the Hobbits were going to get through this, I turned to see them getting pulled up by Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas. Aragorn caught my gaze and held out the pony's rope to me.
"Take the ropes." He ordered.
I caught the rope quickly just as the bloody animal got dragged down the cliff. Blowing dust from my face, I looked up and caught gazes with Legolas, who was giving me a stern look. Glad that he couldn't see the look on my face, I pushed my sunglasses closer to my face and, with the two bags on both my shoulders, pulled the pony along the jagged cliff.
However the sun was setting, it was still hard on all of us. Bill trotted his head which was soaked in sweat from the beating sun, and neighed happily as we neared the top of the cliff. I let the others pass by me before struggling to lift the horse on solid ground, but it denied and reared its head.
Growling with annoyance, I felt the weight on my shoulders lifted and I turned to see Legolas walking away with the bags. Smiling and forgetting the horse, I let the rope slip from my hand and shot my head to the side just as Bill neighed and violently kicked his hooves against the rocks.
Not helping but to laugh, I snatched the rope and heaved the horse on the flat surface, letting my body fall flat against the smooth, brown grass underneath my back. I felt the rope ease from my hand and I slipped off my shades to look up at the setting sun.
A voice at my right startled me.
"Amin hiraetha (I'm sorry)." Legolas laughed. "Amin merna quen (I wish to speak.)"
I gave him a look and pushed myself up on my elbows. "About what?"
"About why you are straining yourself with bags." His voice dropped. "And why you are avoiding me."
"We've been on the road for a day and already you're jumping to conclusions." It wasn't a question. A sly remark, maybe.
He sighed. "Perhaps," He stood and looked out at the open sky. "The air is tense up here. I fear it." He then turned to Gandalf and pointed to the sky. "There is something I do not like in the air. Something evil.." He let his voice trail off.
"You're paranoid." I said, kicking myself on my feet. "Hmm. I smell food."
"Indeed!" Sam cried, waving his hand over to me where he sat with Gimli and the other Hobbits, cooking what appeared to be sausages and bread. "Toast and fried sausages. Here you are. Have a plate."
"Thank you." I smiled and took the plate from him, walking on a set of rocks and sitting myself besides Gimli. Taking my two slices of sausage, I placed them in between my separate slices of toast and patted them down on my plate.
"Ai, what are you doing?" Gimli asked, watching me take a bite out of my food.
"Sandwich." I murmured, swallowing my food and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "It is quite good, if you ask me. See, Pippin likes it already."
Pippin nodded enthusiastically, taking another large bite out of his sausage sandwich. Seeing the look on the dwarf's face, I prompted him to try it out and with a sideways glance at the Hobbits, he lifted his sausage and toast, and with one more sideways glance, shoved them all in his mouth and grunted.
I threw back my head and laughed. The Hobbits soon joined in with my laughing and I leaned against my hands to control myself. My head rolled over to the side and, still grinning, I caught Legolas staring at me with his eyes narrowed and his dark eyebrows furrowed.
I waved him over. "Don't you ever eat?"
He looked over at Gimli, who had food dripping from his mouth all the while grunting and trying to control his laughter, then turned back to me and gave me a look. Understanding somehow, I looked away and watched as Merry and Pippin fought over the last toast, since everyone else had a bite to eat.
"You've already had five slices!" Merry cried, smacking Pippin across the head.
Pippin groaned, lifting his leg in the air and swatting Merry's arm. "Did not! This would be my third slice. Then we would be even!"
"Excuse me?" Merry growled. "I've had two slices, Mr. Took, and I deserve this just as much as you do!"
"Gentlemen." Boromir's mused voice made my head shot up. I almost forgot about the bloke sitting way over by himself as he made his way over to us. "If you haven't noticed, the slice of toast is already on the floor and dirty."
"Oh no." Merry cried, slapping his forehead, but froze when Pippin snatched the bread and shoved it into his mouth. "That is incredibly stupid of you Pippin. Honestly."
"Hungry bugger." I laughed.
Pippin made a face at me and looked up as Boromir waved both him and Merry over to a flat surface in the center of some rocks. Dazed, they followed him and it turned out that he was teaching them some sword thrashing and useful skills for blocking attacks. Setting my plate down, I leaped rock to rock and sat myself besides Aragorn, who came over to watch.
"Keep your legs balanced on the ground." Boromir told Merry, who was wobbling side to side. "Very good. Now thrash your sword at Pippin's and see if you can unblock his block."
Merry did just that, but Pippin had successfully dodged his blow by ducking and swinging his sword up to stop another blow. Merry laughed as Pippin pulled out his leg and tripped him, towering over the older Hobbit, his sword resting against his neck.
"Ha, I killed you!" Pippin hollered.
Aragorn laughed and took a blow from his pipe. "That was a true block master Hobbit, but not as fair as you think."
"What are you seeking, Legolas?" Gandalf suddenly asked.
I turned to see the Elf leaning at the edge of the cliff, his hands slowly easing up towards his bow. I hesitated to go over and pull him away from the edge, but something in the sky caught my eye. It was still the strange blue as before, but in the center a black mist was moving, almost like a clog of dust getting blown away. But this was strange.
"It is a mere cloud!" Gimli huffed. "A mist in the air."
"It is moving with the wind." Boromir whispered, moving besides me.
"It is almost like ash." I breathed, having the sudden feeling to grab my bag and run. But as I stood I heard Legolas cry out and running over to the camp. "What is it?"
"Spies of Saruman!" Gandalf shouted.
That told me enough. Bracing myself, I pulled at the pony's rope and urge him behind a set of shrubs, shoving him down on his knees. At the sound of birds crying my head shot sideways and watched as a swarm of birds- no, crows- swooped around the campsite just as everyone hid themselves. That's when I spotted my bag.
"Spies of Saruman?" I sat out loud. "My Ring Watch!"
Pushing myself back on my feet, I ducked my way against the rocks. The birds swooped past my ears, crying and shrieking all the while trying to attack me. One had succeeded and its beak slit the flesh of my shoulder, but I twirled my knife from my ankle and brought it down against its beak that was locked against my skin.
Its body fell limp against the rocks just as I reached my bag and heaved it over my shoulder.
Something knocked into me, causing me to fall face flat against the rocks.
I tumbled towards the edge of the cliff but my hands clapped onto the dirt rock that was leaning against the edge. Just as it broke into dust, my hands grabbed onto a solid rock and I felt for something to kick myself up on, but with the birds flying around me and my bag that was now slipping from my shoulder made it hard.
"Get the fuck off me!" I shouted, swapping at a bird that pecked my bag's strap.
The rock I was holding onto moved forwards and brought me further down the cliff. I turned my head and saw the long way down and grimaced. That'll be a messy death. With single strands from my braids hanging against my face, I was able to see a tree root just nearby. I kicked my feet into the cliff and reached for it with my bare hand, but the rock slipped from the edge and brought me down with it, just as a set of hands grabbed onto my wrists.
"Let me go!" I shouted up at the blonde Elf who was struggling to pull me up. "You're making my bag slip from my shoulder!"
"If I let you go you'll fall!" He cried.
"Just grab my bloody bag." I let the bag slip down my arm and I threw it over the cliff. "Alright, let me go."
He looked at me uneasily. "Never. You will fall!"
I groaned impatiently. "The birds aren't here to distract me. I'll grab onto that tree root over there. You just have to let me go, you stupid Elf!"
The sides of his face tightened and with a deep sigh he let go of my wrists. I did not bother to think to what I was doing next, because once the dirt under my feet gave out I grabbed for anything I could grab onto, and I found myself holding onto the tree root I planned on grabbing earlier before.
Somehow it moved closer but I paid no heed and with my other hand, I grabbed onto the soil under my nails and pulled myself up, and with a groan I tumbled onto the flat surface, letting my body hit a stone and fall limp against the ground.
I went to lay my head down but Gandalf's voice rung across the place.
"Birds from Craine!" As I sat up I saw him grip his staff angrily. "Our North path leads dangerous. We have but one choice left. A choice that I would most likely not have turned to, if only necessary."
"The mountain?" I asked, touching the blood on my shoulder. "What's so bad about a mountain?"
"Everything." Legolas murmured, handing over my bag. "The farther we go the more uncertain I grow."
"Sounds like it will be a good time." I heaved my bag over my shoulder and dragged myself in the center of the line just as everyone gathered their things and headed off, where Gandalf led the group in a quick pace. So much for cleaning my cut, I thought bitterly. Maybe the snow will clean it up for me.
"Snow." I hissed, trying to take my attention away from the waist length snow covering most of my covered body.
"Are you cold?" Boromir asked, clutching Merry closer to his chest. "You are barely wearing anything!"
I gave him a sort of smile, which I guess turned out to be a snarl. "I'll manage. Just can barely feel my fingers clutching the stupid animal's ropes."
Sam made some sort of noise from the other side of Boromir. "His n-name i-is Bill, Lara. C-Call.. call h-him Bill."
"Whatever." I tugged at Bill's ropes and when he wouldn't budge, I tugged him harder. "Stupi--" At a hard glance from Sam, I quickly changed my words. "Silly pony better hurry up because Lara cannot feel her fingers!"
Something to my side caught my eye and I watched with envy as Legolas glided gently above the snow, his head high and peering out at the mountain. Snow started to fall heavily on us the further we gotten and I shivered uncomfortably under the snow, feeling envy as well towards the pony's thick fur.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" Legolas shouted, leaning against his bent knee and gripping his bow. "It is speaking amongst the wind in some strange language. I cannot understand it, but it is familiar with my kin's tongue."
There was a pause and I could hear the soft whispering along the bitter, bone chilling breeze. Gandalf was speaking of something but my eyes fluttered closed just as the mountain shook violently, and I swayed in place as my head became light and my body was pressed firmly against the side of the mountain.
Lara...
The voice was tempting me as the voices around me dimmed. But he continued to speak as though inside my head.
Lara Croft, this is your only chance for safety...
I fidgeted under the weight that was leaning against me.
Do not hide from it now, it is the only way out. Your father knows of what I speak.
And who are you? I thought, my fists clenching angrily. To be addressing me as though you know me!
But I do...
His voice faltered and then all went silent. My eyes flew open to see the Elf holding onto me, looking up in horror. I followed his gaze skywards and watched as the snow piled slowly approached us. There was a tense silence until the snow piles against myself and the others. My knees buckled and I let go of the pony's ropes, my throat clogged and I suddenly found it hard to breathe. All went dark.
"Where are the little ones?"
The voice was muffled, and I could barely hear it. I tried to open my eyes but the snow was still towering over my head and it took all my strength to throw my arms out from under the pile of snow and wiggle free. Someone touched it and struggled to pull me out. I couldn't breath and I panicked, grabbing onto his chest and pulling myself out.
"Thanks." I choked out, looking up at Aragorn. "Go get the others."
The snow was still falling from the sky, rougher this time, and I turned around to see Legolas pulling out Gimli and helping Gandalf with his staff. My head turned around to see Bill barely peaking out from the top of snow. Smiling gratefully, I turned my head back to the freezing snow which now engulfed my entire well being. Well, mostly my body, but it was still all I had and I couldn't quite feel my lower half.
When Legolas noticed me he quickly let go of the Dwarf and struggled over to me.
"I saw you fall in." He breathed and hesitated. "I couldn't find you.. I panicked."
"The others needed you," I said, lifting my arm and patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
He returned my small smile and reached out to touch my cheek. His hand was surprisingly warm and I couldn't help but lean into it and close my eyes. But he withdrew his arm and a pinch of coldness took the warmth's place and I shuddered. Gandalf's gaze caught my eye and he didn't look away.
"Lara Croft," He addressed me, his face grim. "Do you have your possession with you still?" I frowned and patted my bag. He held my gaze for a few moments then turned to Frodo, who was snug tight in Aragorn's arms.
"Gandalf," Boromir called over the heavy thudding of the snow. "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"
"No." Aragorn shouted. "The gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard. We will be crazy if we take that road."
"All of you are speaking nonsense." Gimli cried, holding onto Bill's reigns. "If we shall not pass over the mountain, then let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria. The safest road, after all!"
Legolas shot the Dwarf an annoyed glance, but I fixed my eyes on Gandalf. He tore his gaze away from Frodo and stared worriedly at the Dwarf, his blue eyes suddenly dark and deep in thought. I shifted under my numb weight and waited.
"Let.. Let the ring bearer decide." He then glanced my way. "For the Lady knows not of our world as well as we think."
"But if you ask me, I think neither choices sound convincing." I shouted, looking at the others. "But if it was not for the Hobbits or the Dwarf, I would continue on through the mountain, despite the snow. What could get worse? More snow?"
"You speak ignorance, my Lady." Boromir hissed. "You would most definitely make a not so wise decision if not taking the road to my city, for the towers are tall and a glimmering white. You would marvel at the beauty, and one day realise the true art of my city."
"Enough!" Legolas cried, glaring at Boromir. "Gandalf said for the Ring bearer to decide. Frodo must choose either paths!"
Even though Frodo's back was to me, I could tell he was thinking rather hard on this decision. I shuddered, suddenly wondering why on earth Gandalf would think this was the most complicated decision. Then I shot him an angry glare for not allowing me to choose, despite not knowing either paths as well as I would like. I pouted. Dumb men.
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked quietly.
His head jerked from an obvious trance and he sighed. "We will go through the Mines."
Gandalf nodded firmly and looked up at me. I shuddered again and pushed my gaze to Legolas. He was watching me also and I gave him a small smile before tapping my thighs, trying to get some warmth in my hands. Something warm grabbed onto it and I looked back up at Legolas. I squeezed his hand and leaned into him.
"So be it." Gandalf said after a moment. "We will take the road to Moria, and hopefully our presence will go unnoticed."