Ch 3. Journey to Moria.
The fellowship had set out early the following day and made good progress. The girls were finding it hard to keep up with the rigorous trek but were able to maintain the same pace as the hobbits.
Claire fingered her sword hilt absent-mindedly as she walked. She and Sara had been given the most beautiful elvish weapons and garments for their journey.
Her sword was a likeness of Arwen's at first sight. It curved into an elegant point and an elvish inscription decorated the blade. The handle was black with a red stone set in the end. Her dagger matched this, and hung on the left side of her sword belt, as she was left handed and a smaller dagger concealed at her ankle, just in case. Her clothes made her feel like a true native of Middle Earth; she had tight black trousers, black elvish boots (which were so light to wear they were more like shoes.) Her top was a dark grey tunic with a silvery red sheen, long fitted sleeves and silver clasps all the way down the centre. Over top of this she wore a black leather body guard. It was shaped like a vest top with thick straps and an almost corset like fitting. It tied down the centre also. Her quiver was a dark mahogany shade with gold and silver patterns of decoration. Her bow matched this, being a dark wood with silver decoration at each end and a black grip. Her black cape billowed around her ankles in the morning breeze. The dark red inner lining became visible, and it matched the shimmering dark red hood. The clasp around her throat was a silver leaf; the underside of it was auburn. Her naturalistic make-up and smokey alluring eye shadow finished the look perfectly.
Claire looked at her friend and thought how beautiful she looked in Elvish clothes. Sara seemed to look perfect in a different elemental colour, which suited her perfectly.
Sara was wearing a fitted black top with floaty white sleeves, and dark blue tight trousers. She had black shin high boots with a concealed dagger. Her dark blue cape hung to her ankles and its pearl blue lining was visible as it was blown back by a sudden gust of wind. The clasp was black, and appeared to resemble the tree of Gondor. The quiver on her back was black with silver decoration and a silver rim. Her bow matched this, with a white grip. Her sword was the twin of Claire's, though the elvish word for 'strength' rather than 'Grace' was carved along the blade. The hilt of it was black with twists of silver. Her silver nail varnish, shimmery eye shadow and blue eye liner made her look incredible, and her black hair shone softly as it rippled in the wind.
Both girls also had small packs with a few provisions. They also contained the girl's mobile phones, lighters and Claire's books. Sara also carried some make-up, her purse and a small map of Ludlow. Some things she would find hard to explain if the Fellowship found them.
Whilst sat around a campfire one night the girls found themselves engaged in conversation.
'Oh what I wouldn't give for a nice juicy fry-up and a pint of ale.' Grumbled Pippin.
Sara grinned at him and took in her surroundings. Pippin, Merry, Frodo and Sam were sat one side of the fire, Gimli and Boromir sat another side with Gandalf next to them feigning sleep with his hat over his face, and the girls were another side. Aragorn sat on the far side with his back against a rock, lost in thought. Legolas had been patrolling the perimeter and took a place next to Aragorn when he returned.
'It appears to be safe.' He said quietly on his return. Claire elbowed Sara in the side as she sighed out loud. The conversation dwindled and Claire found herself absently humming a tune as she gazed into the fire.
'Of what do you sing, Claire?' Frodo asked innocently. Claire snapped back to reality.
'Oh! Oh it's nothing.' She blushed slightly.
'It sounded beautiful.' Boromir smiled. Claire felt her face melt and smiled appreciatively.
'Go on.' Sara teased. 'Sing it out loud!' Claire threw her a furious glare; she was very self conscious of her singing voice.
'Yes, please do!' Merry and Pippin were part of the conversation now. In fact, the entire camp was staring at Claire expectantly.
'I'm not very good. And I won't sing without Sara to accompany me!' She said triumphantly. Sara made a disbelieving sound. Seeing there was no way out of this she looked daggers at Claire, and realizing what she had been humming, began to smirk.
'They shouldn't hear this song.' She whispered.
'The basic meaning is universal; they won't know where it's from.' Claire whispered back. The girls sighed, took a deep breath and began to sing;
'When the cold of winter comes, Starless nights will come again, In the fading of the sun, We will walk in bitter lands, But in dreams, I can hear your name, And in dreams, We will meet again.
When the seas and mountains fall, And we come to end of days, In the dark I hear her call, Calling me there, I will go there, And back again.'
The girls finished their song to tumultuous applause from the hobbits, Gimli and Gandalf. Aragorn and Legolas simply smiled and Boromir seemed completely speechless.
'That was beautiful.' Legolas nodded. 'You both have lovely voices.' Sara positively beamed.
The rest of the evening was more light-hearted than any had been since leaving Rivendell. Sara spent the entire evening going misty eyed every time Legolas spoke, and the hobbits entertained the entire group with tales from the Shire.
'It almost seems like some fun camping holiday, doesn't it?' Claire whispered to Sara as they drifted to sleep next to the dying campfire.
'Yeah. Wish it could stay like this forever. We still have loads of time for fun before anything big happens, don't worry.' Sara smiled as her eyes fell shut and her breathing relaxed. Claire didn't reply, nor did she sleep that night.
*****
'That's it! Good! Very good!'
'Blocked well Pippin!'
'Thank you!'
Boromir was sparring with the two hobbits atop the mountain they had chosen the have lunch on. Claire sat next to Aragorn, watching them thoughtfully. Aragorn smiled as the two Halflings attempted to take on a man twice their size and strength. Claire's eyes became dull and her smile faded as she realized it was these same two hobbits Boromir would die for eventually.
Meanwhile, Sara was busy undergoing an archery lesson with her favourite elf. 'That is it, a little more relaxed.' Legolas purred in her ear. Sara immediately became tenser. Having Legolas this close to her, his hand on hers as she gripped her bow, was almost too much to handle. She aimed at the target, but at the last minute Pippin let out a cry of victory, and her arrow went horribly astray.
It was lucky Claire had just moved, because the arrow embedded itself firmly in the rock about half a foot from Aragorn's hand. Aragorn's eyes widened. Calmly he slid off the rock and went and sat on one the other side of where the hobbits were now sparring with each other. Sara smiled sheepishly up at Legolas who immediately suggested they suspend physical training for now, and instead talked about something. Sara jumped at the chance and practically begged Legolas to tell her all about Mirkwood and the Wood elves.
'Where is Claire?' Sam asked Aragorn.
'She went for a brief walk. Boromir has gone to see that she is safe.' He reassured him. Upon hearing this Sara paused in her conversation and smiled knowingly. 'Good for you Claire!' she thought to herself, believing this was just a plot of her friends to get Boromir alone.
Not twenty feet away, just around a big boulder Claire had sat on her own battling with her emotions. She wanted desperately to save Boromir, but she knew if she did, she would throw the whole balance of things completely into disarray.
'Claire?'
Claire shot up as the man's voice startled her out of her thoughts. 'Boromir!' She looked at his bewildered expression and felt the tears creeping into her eyes.
'Is something wrong?' He asked. She looked at him for a moment and without realising what she was doing, drew her sword. Boromir arched a brow.
'Will you train with me?' Claire smiled jubilantly, her eyes still over bright. Boromir considered her for a moment, then drew his own sword and approached her.
'Have you ever used a sword before?'
'Oh yes, but that was quite different.' Claire prepared to spar. 'Sara and I fence back home. We take archery too, but fencing is quite different to actually sword fighting, and the blades are far lighter.'
Boromir smiled, then quickly jumped forward and began the training. He attacked, she blocked, and this went on for about five minutes. Claire successfully parried again and spun round to give Boromir a playful tap on the behind with the flat of her sword. He gave a shout of protest. 'Fencing may be different, but you are still very skilled with a blade.'
Claire blushed. 'Thank you.' Boromir launched at her with a string of attacks. She successfully evaded each until he tricked her into turning her back. In this split second he dropped his own sword and grabbed her around the middle. Claire let out a small shriek of surprise and dropped her own sword. Boromir lifted her effortlessly off the ground and turned her round to face him. Claire had read of his strength but she had never imagined she would see it demonstrated in such a way. She wrapped her arms around his neck to make herself feel safe. Boromir held her so that her face was within inches of his own. He lowered her to the ground slowly; they continued to stare in silence.
Claire felt like she was in a dream. Slowly Boromir leant down and kissed her full on the lips. She kissed him back, and for a few moments they stood in each other's arms, nothing else mattered.
'HIDE!'
Claire and Boromir jumped as their moment was rudely interrupted. 'Oh no!' Claire suddenly realized what all the commotion was. 'Hide Boromir! Quick! Crows!' they swiftly scurried under a large bush and lay there as a black screeching mass swarmed over head. When the flock had passed Claire and Boromir brushed themselves off and quickly rejoined the group. 'We must take the pass of Caradhras.' Gandalf decided.
Claire locked eyes with her friend. They both seemed a little shaken, but were equally enjoying gripping onto their respective mans arm for comfort.
*****
As they began the grueling climb up the snowy mountain, Sara and Claire walked alone at the back of the group.
'Oh my god you kissed? Well? Was he good? Was it really romantic?' Sara quizzed her friend.
'Easy tiger! I was expecting to hear about you and Leggy's little training session. Merry informed me you two were quite close!' Claire teased.
Sara frowned, then smiled, then frowned again. 'Well, I think he likes me, but he's a little guarded.' She sighed.
'Duh! He's and elf! When they mate they mate for life!' Sara looked scandalized and began to giggle incessantly. 'He has to be guarded; he needs to get to know you better is all.' Claire gave her friends arm a reassuring squeeze. 'How could he possibly resist a stunner like you? I mean, if you don't win him over with your charm, your inner fan girl can always tie him to a chair and torture him until he professes his love for you.'
The girls screamed and shouted as they had a mini snowball fight. Gandalf turned round and glared at them. 'If you two don't mind!' He shouted in one of his sternest voices. The girls froze. 'We would like to pass these hills in relative secrecy!' He looked furious. Sara elbowed Claire.
'Oi!' Claire whispered.
'Yes?' Demanded Gandalf. Claire went white. Sara had to bite her fist to stop from breaking into hysterics.
'Well, it's just, we're perfectly safe here, Gandalf. At least for the time being that is.' The fellowship all turned and stared.
'You have seen this?' Aragorn asked, impressed.
'Yes. When we get to that ledge...'
Sara indicated farther up the mountain and was about to go on when Claire hissed; 'Too much info!' Sara nodded.
'When we reach that ledge we should raise our defenses again, but at the moment we are safe.' Claire finished. Sara nodded importantly then grinned at her friend who shook her head with a smile.
They trudged up the mountain having a loud conversation with Merry and Pippin about snowball fight tactics. Sam expressed his opinion on snow, and how it was an annoying interruption to gardening. But even he couldn't deny how wonderful it was to see the flowers in spring after the winter months. Soon the whole Fellowship was busy discussing their favourite times of year, until Frodo fell.
'Frodo!' Cried Aragorn. He stopped the poor little hobbit mid-roll and put him back on his feet, Frodo immediately began searching frantically for the ring, but it was gone. Sara and Claire looked at Boromir just as he picked it up. Sara felt a shiver go down her spine as she looked at the fascinated expression on his face.
'Such a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing.' He lifted his hand to stroke the ring. 'Such a little thing.'
'Boromir!' Aragorn snapped him out of his reverie with a strange sternness in his voice. Boromir looked up, startled; it was as if he did not know where he was. 'Give the ring to Frodo.' Aragorn demanded. The entire Fellowship watched with bated breath.
Boromir slowly descended to where the man and hobbit stood. 'As you wish.' Frodo snatched the ring from him. 'I care not.' A tense look was exchanged between the two men, then Boromir ruffled Frodo's hair and began to climb the path again. The onlookers relaxed and Aragorn released his grip on his sword hilt, but did not begin to walk again with Frodo. He waited until the two girls who had been at the back of the group were alongside him.
'I thought you said we were safe for now.' He shot at them.
Sara looked confused, and then profoundly annoyed. 'Whatever.' She shrugged and walked past him.
Claire however, held his gaze. His expression softened slightly at the look on her face. But his eyes were unreadable. After about a minute they began to walk again and catch up to the others.
'Geese, what was that about?' Sara whispered to her friend as she caught up. Claire didn't reply. After a little while, they reached a higher ledge, and a snowstorm.
The girls decided immediately they no longer like snow. Aragorn and Boromir lifted the hobbits and attempted to wade through the snow drift. It was useless.
'Well, they said we would be safe until we reached this ledge!' Gimli roared over the storm.
Gandalf listened to various pleas to turn back, hesitating until Legolas cried out, 'There is a fell voice on the air!'
'It's Saruman!' Cried Gandalf, but his voice was drowned by a large crashing sound as a ton of snow came hurling down towards them. Everyone ducked, Gandalf walked to the edge of the ledge and began to chant loudly; he was trying to counter Saruman's spell, but to no avail.
'Brace yourself!' Sara and Claire huddled together and put their hands over their heads, and not a moment too soon. Legolas seized Gandalf and pulled him back just as another huge wave of snow covered the ledge on which they stood.
There was silence for a moment. And any on looker would have believed the party crushed. Until heads began to appear. One by one the Fellowship re-emerged. Most grumbling loudly.
'We should turn back and go through the gap of Rohan, and take the west roads to my city!' Boromir cried.
'If we cannot go over the mountain let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria!' Gimli shouted.
The girls shivered as they brushed snow off their clothes and attempted to extract it from their collars before it melted down their backs. 'Oh boy, here we go.' Sara motioned towards Gandalf's worried expression.
'We could say something?'
'You said yourself! We can't! It will mess things up!' Sara chided.
'Right, we need Gandalf the White more than Gandalf the Grey.'
'Let the ring bearer decide.' Gandalf said finally. Sara and Claire groaned. They were not looking forward to meeting a Balrog. But right now they had to admit being inside a dry place would be much better than where they were.
'We will go through the mines.' Came Frodo's answer. Sara wandered if he would have changed his mind knowing all that was yet to come.
*****
The journey down the mountain was far easier, and quicker. The few days it took them to reach the walls of Moria were quite uneventful. Once they got there, the Girls began to feel the reality of the situation, and by the time they had reached a place to cross the dark muddy water in front of them and begin looking for the door, they were both absolutely terrified.
The fellowship came to a halt as Gandalf examined the solid rock. He mumbled to himself but Sara and Claire weren't listening, they were watching the water. The door began to glow.
It was far more beautiful than Sara and Claire had originally expected. Gandalf explained what was written and began chanting passwords, each one failed to work. 'Oh for heavens sake!' Hissed Sara. She wanted desperately to tell him what the password was so they could get inside and get the entire ordeal over with.
Claire watched the water. Merry and Pippin threw stones until Aragorn stopped them, but the water continued to ripple. She took several steps back until she came into contact with Boromir. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders and threw Aragorn a puzzled look as she gripped him around the waist, shaking. He stroked her arms and back in an attempt to comfort her.
Sara looked worried by this, but soon found herself struggling with her own fear as Frodo solved the riddle and the door swung open, revealing a suffocating darkness.
The fellowship entered cautiously, Gimli bragging about the hospitality of Dwarves. As Gandalf lit his staff the bodies that littered the floor appeared before them. The girls squealed and stumbled backwards. 'This is no mine, it's a tomb.' Exclaimed Boromir.
Gimli roared with rage and grief as the scene unfolded and the presence of Goblins was revealed.
'We should never have come here; we make for the gap of Rohan.' The group backed towards the door, weapons drawn. 'Now get out of here! Get out!' Boromir cried.
The girls realized this as the cue for the octopus type monster too late. The hobbits began to scream as the creature seized hold of Frodo's ankles. The girls screamed equally loud as the creature seized Sara.
'Oh my God! Claire! Legolas help!' Sara screamed as the things slimy tentacle raised her ten feet in the air.
'NOOO!' Screamed Claire. The fellowship rushed out and began hacking at the many flailing limbs. Legolas shot arrows at the tentacles holding Sara and Frodo. 'That's it!' Thought Claire. She drew her sword and rushed into the murky water. Tentacles flailed precariously all around her. She raised her sword and began to hack furiously at the 'arm' holding her friend.
Sara screamed as the creature swung her round and dumped her upside down on the shore. Claire struggled back out of the water and seized her friend. They struggled towards the stone doors as Boromir caught Frodo.
The group hurried inside as the creature ripped the doorway apart, causing a massive cave in, and blocking their only way back. The girls shivered and whimpered for a moment, clutching each other in shock, until they heard Gandalf's voice, and a light flared out of no-where.
'We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world.'
*END!*
A/N: Okay, hope everyone liked this chapter! Thank you so much for our wonderful reviews! Sara and I love you all! In reply to one review about the format, we are very sorry, but we are new to FFnet and don't know how to sort this problem out just yet! But rest assured when we do we will fix it! XOXOX
The fellowship had set out early the following day and made good progress. The girls were finding it hard to keep up with the rigorous trek but were able to maintain the same pace as the hobbits.
Claire fingered her sword hilt absent-mindedly as she walked. She and Sara had been given the most beautiful elvish weapons and garments for their journey.
Her sword was a likeness of Arwen's at first sight. It curved into an elegant point and an elvish inscription decorated the blade. The handle was black with a red stone set in the end. Her dagger matched this, and hung on the left side of her sword belt, as she was left handed and a smaller dagger concealed at her ankle, just in case. Her clothes made her feel like a true native of Middle Earth; she had tight black trousers, black elvish boots (which were so light to wear they were more like shoes.) Her top was a dark grey tunic with a silvery red sheen, long fitted sleeves and silver clasps all the way down the centre. Over top of this she wore a black leather body guard. It was shaped like a vest top with thick straps and an almost corset like fitting. It tied down the centre also. Her quiver was a dark mahogany shade with gold and silver patterns of decoration. Her bow matched this, being a dark wood with silver decoration at each end and a black grip. Her black cape billowed around her ankles in the morning breeze. The dark red inner lining became visible, and it matched the shimmering dark red hood. The clasp around her throat was a silver leaf; the underside of it was auburn. Her naturalistic make-up and smokey alluring eye shadow finished the look perfectly.
Claire looked at her friend and thought how beautiful she looked in Elvish clothes. Sara seemed to look perfect in a different elemental colour, which suited her perfectly.
Sara was wearing a fitted black top with floaty white sleeves, and dark blue tight trousers. She had black shin high boots with a concealed dagger. Her dark blue cape hung to her ankles and its pearl blue lining was visible as it was blown back by a sudden gust of wind. The clasp was black, and appeared to resemble the tree of Gondor. The quiver on her back was black with silver decoration and a silver rim. Her bow matched this, with a white grip. Her sword was the twin of Claire's, though the elvish word for 'strength' rather than 'Grace' was carved along the blade. The hilt of it was black with twists of silver. Her silver nail varnish, shimmery eye shadow and blue eye liner made her look incredible, and her black hair shone softly as it rippled in the wind.
Both girls also had small packs with a few provisions. They also contained the girl's mobile phones, lighters and Claire's books. Sara also carried some make-up, her purse and a small map of Ludlow. Some things she would find hard to explain if the Fellowship found them.
Whilst sat around a campfire one night the girls found themselves engaged in conversation.
'Oh what I wouldn't give for a nice juicy fry-up and a pint of ale.' Grumbled Pippin.
Sara grinned at him and took in her surroundings. Pippin, Merry, Frodo and Sam were sat one side of the fire, Gimli and Boromir sat another side with Gandalf next to them feigning sleep with his hat over his face, and the girls were another side. Aragorn sat on the far side with his back against a rock, lost in thought. Legolas had been patrolling the perimeter and took a place next to Aragorn when he returned.
'It appears to be safe.' He said quietly on his return. Claire elbowed Sara in the side as she sighed out loud. The conversation dwindled and Claire found herself absently humming a tune as she gazed into the fire.
'Of what do you sing, Claire?' Frodo asked innocently. Claire snapped back to reality.
'Oh! Oh it's nothing.' She blushed slightly.
'It sounded beautiful.' Boromir smiled. Claire felt her face melt and smiled appreciatively.
'Go on.' Sara teased. 'Sing it out loud!' Claire threw her a furious glare; she was very self conscious of her singing voice.
'Yes, please do!' Merry and Pippin were part of the conversation now. In fact, the entire camp was staring at Claire expectantly.
'I'm not very good. And I won't sing without Sara to accompany me!' She said triumphantly. Sara made a disbelieving sound. Seeing there was no way out of this she looked daggers at Claire, and realizing what she had been humming, began to smirk.
'They shouldn't hear this song.' She whispered.
'The basic meaning is universal; they won't know where it's from.' Claire whispered back. The girls sighed, took a deep breath and began to sing;
'When the cold of winter comes, Starless nights will come again, In the fading of the sun, We will walk in bitter lands, But in dreams, I can hear your name, And in dreams, We will meet again.
When the seas and mountains fall, And we come to end of days, In the dark I hear her call, Calling me there, I will go there, And back again.'
The girls finished their song to tumultuous applause from the hobbits, Gimli and Gandalf. Aragorn and Legolas simply smiled and Boromir seemed completely speechless.
'That was beautiful.' Legolas nodded. 'You both have lovely voices.' Sara positively beamed.
The rest of the evening was more light-hearted than any had been since leaving Rivendell. Sara spent the entire evening going misty eyed every time Legolas spoke, and the hobbits entertained the entire group with tales from the Shire.
'It almost seems like some fun camping holiday, doesn't it?' Claire whispered to Sara as they drifted to sleep next to the dying campfire.
'Yeah. Wish it could stay like this forever. We still have loads of time for fun before anything big happens, don't worry.' Sara smiled as her eyes fell shut and her breathing relaxed. Claire didn't reply, nor did she sleep that night.
*****
'That's it! Good! Very good!'
'Blocked well Pippin!'
'Thank you!'
Boromir was sparring with the two hobbits atop the mountain they had chosen the have lunch on. Claire sat next to Aragorn, watching them thoughtfully. Aragorn smiled as the two Halflings attempted to take on a man twice their size and strength. Claire's eyes became dull and her smile faded as she realized it was these same two hobbits Boromir would die for eventually.
Meanwhile, Sara was busy undergoing an archery lesson with her favourite elf. 'That is it, a little more relaxed.' Legolas purred in her ear. Sara immediately became tenser. Having Legolas this close to her, his hand on hers as she gripped her bow, was almost too much to handle. She aimed at the target, but at the last minute Pippin let out a cry of victory, and her arrow went horribly astray.
It was lucky Claire had just moved, because the arrow embedded itself firmly in the rock about half a foot from Aragorn's hand. Aragorn's eyes widened. Calmly he slid off the rock and went and sat on one the other side of where the hobbits were now sparring with each other. Sara smiled sheepishly up at Legolas who immediately suggested they suspend physical training for now, and instead talked about something. Sara jumped at the chance and practically begged Legolas to tell her all about Mirkwood and the Wood elves.
'Where is Claire?' Sam asked Aragorn.
'She went for a brief walk. Boromir has gone to see that she is safe.' He reassured him. Upon hearing this Sara paused in her conversation and smiled knowingly. 'Good for you Claire!' she thought to herself, believing this was just a plot of her friends to get Boromir alone.
Not twenty feet away, just around a big boulder Claire had sat on her own battling with her emotions. She wanted desperately to save Boromir, but she knew if she did, she would throw the whole balance of things completely into disarray.
'Claire?'
Claire shot up as the man's voice startled her out of her thoughts. 'Boromir!' She looked at his bewildered expression and felt the tears creeping into her eyes.
'Is something wrong?' He asked. She looked at him for a moment and without realising what she was doing, drew her sword. Boromir arched a brow.
'Will you train with me?' Claire smiled jubilantly, her eyes still over bright. Boromir considered her for a moment, then drew his own sword and approached her.
'Have you ever used a sword before?'
'Oh yes, but that was quite different.' Claire prepared to spar. 'Sara and I fence back home. We take archery too, but fencing is quite different to actually sword fighting, and the blades are far lighter.'
Boromir smiled, then quickly jumped forward and began the training. He attacked, she blocked, and this went on for about five minutes. Claire successfully parried again and spun round to give Boromir a playful tap on the behind with the flat of her sword. He gave a shout of protest. 'Fencing may be different, but you are still very skilled with a blade.'
Claire blushed. 'Thank you.' Boromir launched at her with a string of attacks. She successfully evaded each until he tricked her into turning her back. In this split second he dropped his own sword and grabbed her around the middle. Claire let out a small shriek of surprise and dropped her own sword. Boromir lifted her effortlessly off the ground and turned her round to face him. Claire had read of his strength but she had never imagined she would see it demonstrated in such a way. She wrapped her arms around his neck to make herself feel safe. Boromir held her so that her face was within inches of his own. He lowered her to the ground slowly; they continued to stare in silence.
Claire felt like she was in a dream. Slowly Boromir leant down and kissed her full on the lips. She kissed him back, and for a few moments they stood in each other's arms, nothing else mattered.
'HIDE!'
Claire and Boromir jumped as their moment was rudely interrupted. 'Oh no!' Claire suddenly realized what all the commotion was. 'Hide Boromir! Quick! Crows!' they swiftly scurried under a large bush and lay there as a black screeching mass swarmed over head. When the flock had passed Claire and Boromir brushed themselves off and quickly rejoined the group. 'We must take the pass of Caradhras.' Gandalf decided.
Claire locked eyes with her friend. They both seemed a little shaken, but were equally enjoying gripping onto their respective mans arm for comfort.
*****
As they began the grueling climb up the snowy mountain, Sara and Claire walked alone at the back of the group.
'Oh my god you kissed? Well? Was he good? Was it really romantic?' Sara quizzed her friend.
'Easy tiger! I was expecting to hear about you and Leggy's little training session. Merry informed me you two were quite close!' Claire teased.
Sara frowned, then smiled, then frowned again. 'Well, I think he likes me, but he's a little guarded.' She sighed.
'Duh! He's and elf! When they mate they mate for life!' Sara looked scandalized and began to giggle incessantly. 'He has to be guarded; he needs to get to know you better is all.' Claire gave her friends arm a reassuring squeeze. 'How could he possibly resist a stunner like you? I mean, if you don't win him over with your charm, your inner fan girl can always tie him to a chair and torture him until he professes his love for you.'
The girls screamed and shouted as they had a mini snowball fight. Gandalf turned round and glared at them. 'If you two don't mind!' He shouted in one of his sternest voices. The girls froze. 'We would like to pass these hills in relative secrecy!' He looked furious. Sara elbowed Claire.
'Oi!' Claire whispered.
'Yes?' Demanded Gandalf. Claire went white. Sara had to bite her fist to stop from breaking into hysterics.
'Well, it's just, we're perfectly safe here, Gandalf. At least for the time being that is.' The fellowship all turned and stared.
'You have seen this?' Aragorn asked, impressed.
'Yes. When we get to that ledge...'
Sara indicated farther up the mountain and was about to go on when Claire hissed; 'Too much info!' Sara nodded.
'When we reach that ledge we should raise our defenses again, but at the moment we are safe.' Claire finished. Sara nodded importantly then grinned at her friend who shook her head with a smile.
They trudged up the mountain having a loud conversation with Merry and Pippin about snowball fight tactics. Sam expressed his opinion on snow, and how it was an annoying interruption to gardening. But even he couldn't deny how wonderful it was to see the flowers in spring after the winter months. Soon the whole Fellowship was busy discussing their favourite times of year, until Frodo fell.
'Frodo!' Cried Aragorn. He stopped the poor little hobbit mid-roll and put him back on his feet, Frodo immediately began searching frantically for the ring, but it was gone. Sara and Claire looked at Boromir just as he picked it up. Sara felt a shiver go down her spine as she looked at the fascinated expression on his face.
'Such a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing.' He lifted his hand to stroke the ring. 'Such a little thing.'
'Boromir!' Aragorn snapped him out of his reverie with a strange sternness in his voice. Boromir looked up, startled; it was as if he did not know where he was. 'Give the ring to Frodo.' Aragorn demanded. The entire Fellowship watched with bated breath.
Boromir slowly descended to where the man and hobbit stood. 'As you wish.' Frodo snatched the ring from him. 'I care not.' A tense look was exchanged between the two men, then Boromir ruffled Frodo's hair and began to climb the path again. The onlookers relaxed and Aragorn released his grip on his sword hilt, but did not begin to walk again with Frodo. He waited until the two girls who had been at the back of the group were alongside him.
'I thought you said we were safe for now.' He shot at them.
Sara looked confused, and then profoundly annoyed. 'Whatever.' She shrugged and walked past him.
Claire however, held his gaze. His expression softened slightly at the look on her face. But his eyes were unreadable. After about a minute they began to walk again and catch up to the others.
'Geese, what was that about?' Sara whispered to her friend as she caught up. Claire didn't reply. After a little while, they reached a higher ledge, and a snowstorm.
The girls decided immediately they no longer like snow. Aragorn and Boromir lifted the hobbits and attempted to wade through the snow drift. It was useless.
'Well, they said we would be safe until we reached this ledge!' Gimli roared over the storm.
Gandalf listened to various pleas to turn back, hesitating until Legolas cried out, 'There is a fell voice on the air!'
'It's Saruman!' Cried Gandalf, but his voice was drowned by a large crashing sound as a ton of snow came hurling down towards them. Everyone ducked, Gandalf walked to the edge of the ledge and began to chant loudly; he was trying to counter Saruman's spell, but to no avail.
'Brace yourself!' Sara and Claire huddled together and put their hands over their heads, and not a moment too soon. Legolas seized Gandalf and pulled him back just as another huge wave of snow covered the ledge on which they stood.
There was silence for a moment. And any on looker would have believed the party crushed. Until heads began to appear. One by one the Fellowship re-emerged. Most grumbling loudly.
'We should turn back and go through the gap of Rohan, and take the west roads to my city!' Boromir cried.
'If we cannot go over the mountain let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria!' Gimli shouted.
The girls shivered as they brushed snow off their clothes and attempted to extract it from their collars before it melted down their backs. 'Oh boy, here we go.' Sara motioned towards Gandalf's worried expression.
'We could say something?'
'You said yourself! We can't! It will mess things up!' Sara chided.
'Right, we need Gandalf the White more than Gandalf the Grey.'
'Let the ring bearer decide.' Gandalf said finally. Sara and Claire groaned. They were not looking forward to meeting a Balrog. But right now they had to admit being inside a dry place would be much better than where they were.
'We will go through the mines.' Came Frodo's answer. Sara wandered if he would have changed his mind knowing all that was yet to come.
*****
The journey down the mountain was far easier, and quicker. The few days it took them to reach the walls of Moria were quite uneventful. Once they got there, the Girls began to feel the reality of the situation, and by the time they had reached a place to cross the dark muddy water in front of them and begin looking for the door, they were both absolutely terrified.
The fellowship came to a halt as Gandalf examined the solid rock. He mumbled to himself but Sara and Claire weren't listening, they were watching the water. The door began to glow.
It was far more beautiful than Sara and Claire had originally expected. Gandalf explained what was written and began chanting passwords, each one failed to work. 'Oh for heavens sake!' Hissed Sara. She wanted desperately to tell him what the password was so they could get inside and get the entire ordeal over with.
Claire watched the water. Merry and Pippin threw stones until Aragorn stopped them, but the water continued to ripple. She took several steps back until she came into contact with Boromir. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders and threw Aragorn a puzzled look as she gripped him around the waist, shaking. He stroked her arms and back in an attempt to comfort her.
Sara looked worried by this, but soon found herself struggling with her own fear as Frodo solved the riddle and the door swung open, revealing a suffocating darkness.
The fellowship entered cautiously, Gimli bragging about the hospitality of Dwarves. As Gandalf lit his staff the bodies that littered the floor appeared before them. The girls squealed and stumbled backwards. 'This is no mine, it's a tomb.' Exclaimed Boromir.
Gimli roared with rage and grief as the scene unfolded and the presence of Goblins was revealed.
'We should never have come here; we make for the gap of Rohan.' The group backed towards the door, weapons drawn. 'Now get out of here! Get out!' Boromir cried.
The girls realized this as the cue for the octopus type monster too late. The hobbits began to scream as the creature seized hold of Frodo's ankles. The girls screamed equally loud as the creature seized Sara.
'Oh my God! Claire! Legolas help!' Sara screamed as the things slimy tentacle raised her ten feet in the air.
'NOOO!' Screamed Claire. The fellowship rushed out and began hacking at the many flailing limbs. Legolas shot arrows at the tentacles holding Sara and Frodo. 'That's it!' Thought Claire. She drew her sword and rushed into the murky water. Tentacles flailed precariously all around her. She raised her sword and began to hack furiously at the 'arm' holding her friend.
Sara screamed as the creature swung her round and dumped her upside down on the shore. Claire struggled back out of the water and seized her friend. They struggled towards the stone doors as Boromir caught Frodo.
The group hurried inside as the creature ripped the doorway apart, causing a massive cave in, and blocking their only way back. The girls shivered and whimpered for a moment, clutching each other in shock, until they heard Gandalf's voice, and a light flared out of no-where.
'We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world.'
*END!*
A/N: Okay, hope everyone liked this chapter! Thank you so much for our wonderful reviews! Sara and I love you all! In reply to one review about the format, we are very sorry, but we are new to FFnet and don't know how to sort this problem out just yet! But rest assured when we do we will fix it! XOXOX