A/N: Disclaimer, same as usual.
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Chapter Six
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They were now trudging through the snow as they made their way to Caradhras. It wasn't pleasant. Everyone was cold and Sinn and Shenaux were miserable.
"I hate snow." Shenaux cursed as she tried not to slip on the snow. Both Sinn and Shenaux refused to look about her for they would find out exactly how high they actually are.
"I hate cold. I hate heights. I hate Crebain. I may even hate this mountain." Sinn grumbled.
"But it's not its fault for being a mountain Sinn." Shenaux pointed out.
Legolas laughed as he walked by them on top of the snow.
"I am also beginning to hate a certain Elf!" Sinn called to him and only received his laughter as her reply.
"I agree. I am beginning to hate Elves too." Shenaux muttered to her friend.
Sinn would you be a dear and wrap the cloak about you more? Giz questioned. I'm rather cold and you're letting all the heat out.
~ I can't Giz. If I wrap it more tightly about me, they'll see you and then the shit will hit the fan. ~ Sinn sent the thought to her furry friend.
But I'm cold! He whined loudly in her mine, even adding a whimper out loud.
"But you're covered in fur!" Sinn protested out loud, getting tired of his constant complaining. The Fellowship all stopped their walking and stared at Sinn in surprise.
Hearing Giz' snickers in her mind, Sinn realised that she said that last statement out loud and rather loud for all to hear. She did the only think she could think of: laugh… and of course blush at her embarrassing situation.
"Uh Sinn?" Gandalf questioned. "Is there something you need to tell us?" He asked the red faced mortal woman.
"No Gandalf." She said as sweetly as she could. "I don't believe so." She hit Shenaux whom was doubled over in laughter. "Hush you."
"I…. I can't help it!" Shenaux giggled. "You made a fool of yourself!" And at this point, Shenaux took a step forward, Oxana wasn't expecting this as she took a step forward as well and sent Shenaux flying head first into the snow, leaving Oxana out in the open.
Sinn burst out laughing as she pointed to Shenaux. "Now that was funny! And I do believe that you made a fool of yourself also!" At this point, Sinn loosened her hold on Giz and he fell out of her arms and rolled in the snow down the hill where Aragorn picked him up. "Uh… oops?"
"I think we should stop for a rest now and let the ladies explain what is going on here." Aragorn said as he held Giz up.
"Sinn can explain!" Shenaux said as Sinn exclaimed, "Shenaux can explain!"
"Sit!" Gandalf boomed.
The women promptly sat in the snow, as did the four Hobbits. Boromir, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf towered over the two women, whom were looking up at them with their most innocent expressions they have. The Hobbits looked on with amused expressions on their faces. Pippin and Merry were just glad that they weren't the ones getting into trouble. Sam and Frodo wanted to see how their two friends were going to explain the owl and racoon.
"Now, Sinn, what are you doing with a racoon?" Gandalf questioned.
"To make a coonskin hat when he dies?" she tried, sending Shenaux into a fit of giggles and making Giz glare at her.
Sinn! How dare you?! He sent the thought to her.
"I'm sorry Giz, I didn't mean it. Forgive me?" She asked the racoon out loud. Unfortunately for her, Aragorn was still holding Giz, and when she apologized, she looked straight at the racoon, but to others, it looked like she was looking up at Aragorn.
"My name is not Giz." Aragorn said. "What are you talking about?"
Sinn blushed again. "Giz is the racoon. He was sent to help me out." She explained with a sigh.
"Help you with what?" Gimli questioned. "Stealing our things?"
"Wha…" Sinn frowned in confusion, then it dawned on her. All of the things that went missing was because of Giz and most likely Oxana. "Oh you didn't." she groaned.
Well, it wasn't like they were using the items. Giz protested.
"What did you take?" She asked.
Oh, nothing much. Arrows, daggers, money, some clothing, armour, and little odds and ends. Oh, a small axe, a belt buckle. Anything shinny really.
Sinn groaned again and she put her face in her hands. "Why me? What did I ever to do the Gods? Am I really that insulting to you all?"
Shenaux laughed heartedly. "You have a thief as your familiar Sinn! Ha!"
Sinn looked up from her hands. "Giz, where are the stolen items?"
Near Lothlorien.
"What!" She exclaimed. "How the hell did you take all the items th…" She trailed off as she stared at the now, innocent looking owl. If owls could, this one would be whistling. "It seems not only my familiar is a little thief."
Shenaux looked at her owl. "Oh Oxana, you didn't."
By now, all of the Fellowship looked at the two women in complete and utter confusion. Aragorn still holding Giz looked at it in puzzlement.
"Gandalf, what are they talking about?" Aragorn asked.
"It's simple really," Gandalf said. "The women seem to have familiars so naturally, they will have a mind link so that the animals can communicate with their masters."
Legolas frowned. "But I have only heard of wizards and witches having familiars. And usually the animals are quite a bit older than these."
"Yes, usually witches and wizards are the only ones to have familiars, but it seems that Sinn and Shenaux are the exception to this rule. They must be very special beings."
Special, yes, that's it. Oxana said to both Sinn and Shenaux. Special.
I couldn't have put it better myself. Giz said also.
"Shut up!" Both Sinn and Shenaux said in unison, interrupting the conversation Gandalf and the others were having. Again, both Sinn and Shenaux were the centre of attention. "Heh, heh, heh, uh, we were talking to the animals." They said sheepishly.
"I think we should continue on with the journey." Boromir said, chuckling to himself. "If they had them for this long without us knowing, the animals won't be a burden to the Company. That is if they will stop stealing from us."
"How long have you had the two animals?" Frodo asked the two women.
"Uh, we've had them since the first night." Shenaux said.
"You've kept them both hidden that long?" Gimli questioned. "Wow, never thought you two had it in you. You'd make perfect dwarfish women." He told them proudly.
"Uh, thanks… I think." Sinn said.
"Come, let's continue." Gandalf said.
So, needless to say, the Company continued on with their journey and they reached the ledge of Caradhras without further incident. Well, except one. Frodo had slipped in the snow and rolled down the hill. The chain the Ring was on broke in the fall and Boromir picked it up. It began to tempt him and Aragorn was ready to fight Boromir if it came to that. Thankfully it didn't. After Aragorn ordered Boromir to give the Ring to Frodo, he did. They continued on with the journey again, but this time, Frodo was more cautious around Boromir.
The wind was flying in their faces, the cold had seemed to seep into their very bones. Boromir had to carry both Pippin and Merry and Aragorn carried Sam and Frodo. Sinn carried Giz and Shenaux carried Oxana. Gandalf was in the lead, then Aragorn, then Boromir. Behind Boromir were Sinn and Shenaux. Gimli helped Bill the Pony up the mountain. Legolas of course wasn't affected by the cold at all and he walked atop the snow, instead of joining his miserable companions as they trudged through the damn stuff. It seemed only the Elf hadn't lost his joyous spirit. He always seemed to be rather cheerful. Maybe it was for the fact that he wanted to piss everyone off so that they would be mad at him and they would forget their own misery. Or maybe it was just because he was happy. (Who knows? Not even I know that answer.)
By this time, Sinn and Shenaux were sniffling and they looked miserable. "And I thought winters back home were bad…." Shenaux trailed off.
"Yeah, and then we had hats, mitts, big thick warm coats, boots with nice warm lining, and then there were the heaters in the cars. What I wouldn't give to have a heater right now." Sinn said dreamily.
"What I wouldn't give for a nice hot cup of cocoa." Shenaux sighed.
"I miss coffee. It's seems Middle Earth has none."
"Ha!"
Just then Legolas walked by them and they looked up, glaring at the Elf. He smiled down at them and walked up in front of Gandalf.
"You know what…. When we get off this ledge and the weather is nicer, I am so going to put snow down his tunic." Sinn growled.
"But it won't affect him at all."
"But it will make his back wet and uncomfortable."
I really doubt that Sinn. Giz told her. But there might be a way to get him back for all his good humour and teasing.
"Oh? Do tell."
Before they heard Giz tell them his plan, they both heard a voice in their head. It was saying something about a Hobbit Lass back at the Shire and what the person wanted to do to her. They realised that the voice belonged to Merry. He wanted to take her to a secluded part of the Shire and show her how much of a Hobbit he is. Sinn and Shenaux choked as the thought came to them and they both blushed deeply.
"Merry!" Shenaux scolded. "That's not something you should be thinking about! Not at a time like this!"
Sinn was too busy trying to stop her embarrassed choking. "Aren't you a little young to be thinking like that?" She gasped, her eyes wide.
Merry looked at the two women curiously. "What are you talking about?"
"You were thinking about a young Hobbit Lass named Lilly and all of the things you wanted to do to her when you got back to the Shire." Shenaux explained. By now, all the Fellowship stopped and stared at her.
Merry's face went beat red. "But, I was thinking that. I didn't say it out loud." He protested. "My thoughts are private, how did you get into them?"
"I don't know, we were talking with Giz and he was going to tell us a plan as to how to get the damned Elf back about his teasing us, when we heard your thought." Sinn told him.
"What did he say about her?" Pippin asked making the two women blush again.
"Uh, I'd rather not repeat it." Sinn said.
"Great, now they can read minds." Gimli grumbled to nobody in particular.
"Now what do we do Gandalf?" Boromir called to the old wizard.
"For now, until I get the chance to work with the women, try not to think of anything discriminating of yourselves or others." He looked meaningfully at all the males. "That means no day dreaming about past lovers."
"Pippin!" Sinn and Shenaux scolded.
He just chuckled evilly. "Now this is going to be fun!"
Legolas looked at them thoughtfully for a moment before he turned away and began his trek again. Gandalf followed suit and soon, the whole Fellowship was now walking forward again. They didn't manage to walk very far when Legolas called out a warning.
"There's a fell voice on the air!" He called to them all.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled and just then, lightning struck the top of the mountain, sending boulders crashing down.
"We must get off the mountain!" Aragorn yelled. "Gandalf, we must turn back!"
The old wizard shook his head. "No!" He yelled then he pulled himself atop the snow to stand next to Legolas and began chanting. But whatever he was chanting, didn't seem to work and an avalanche started. The Fellowship all looked up and then quickly ducked their heads and moved closer to the mountain wall before they were buried in snow.
It was a few seconds later when Legolas wiggled himself free then all the others worked themselves out of the snow. Shenaux was the second last.
"Where's Sinn?" She asked urgently. Everyone looked around and found that Sinn was nowhere to be found. Then Giz burrowed his way out of the snow calling to Shenaux, telling her Sinn hit her head hard against the wall and she was now unconscious.
Legolas was the first one to start digging for her and when he finally found her, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. "She's still unconscious and we can't treat her here on the mountain. We have to get off."
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir yelled.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengaurd!" Aragorn argued.
"We cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria." Gimli suggested to the Fellowship.
Shenaux shuddered at the thought of the things that will happen there.
"Let the Ring bearer decided." Gandalf finally said and he looked at Frodo. "Frodo?"
The young hobbit looked at all his friends. They all looked miserable. Then he looked at Shenaux and she smiled at him gently, trying to urge him to make the right decision. He finally looked at the still unconscious Sinn and guilt ran through him. "We will go through the mines." He finally announced his decision.
"So be it." Gandalf said as he looked at Frodo with disappointment and fear in his eyes. Only Shenaux caught the look.
'Oxana, will Sinn be all right?' Shenaux sent the thought to her familiar.
Yes, she'll be fine. As long as we get her someplace safe and warm. Oxana said.
Giz shook his head. She's fine now, just asleep. She has to wake up now or else she won't. She is almost freezing to death.
"Oh sure, she's fine he says. Just asleep then he tells me that she's freezing to death. Make up your mind!" Shenaux said loudly, getting everyone's attention.
"What did you say?" Aragorn asked her.
"Aw damn, I said that out loud huh? Well, Giz says that she's fine and she is just sleeping, but he also says that if we don't wake her up she'll freeze to death. Anyone know how to wake up a stubborn mule headed woman?"
"A kick in the ass?" Gimli suggested, sending Shenaux into a fit of giggles.
"I never tried that before. I usually wake her up with cold water, but seeing as we're on a mountain and the water would just make it worse." Shenaux said.
How about a kiss? Oxana suggested with a sigh. Oh, wouldn't that just be romantic.
"And who, pray tell, would be so romantic as to kiss Sinn to wake her up? That's only heard of in Fairy tales Oxana. Besides, doesn't it have to be a true love's kiss to wake her up from sleep? Wait, doesn't the sleep have to be because of a spell from an old witch lady who's jealous of her beauty? And I am getting off topic aren't I?"
I was thinking the elf myself. Oxana said, ignoring Shenaux' rant and that comment sent both Shenaux and Giz into fits of laughter.
"Mind sharing the joke?" Aragorn asked. "Maybe it'll help get our minds on the fact that we're all freezing."
"Oh, nothing." She giggled as she looked at Legolas holding Sinn.
For some inexplicable reason, Legolas felt that Shenaux and the two animals were laughing at him. He watched them closely before stating, "Shall we move on then? The longer we stand here and argue about how to wake her up the faster she dies. My suggestion is to let her wake up on her own."
"And who's going to be able to carry her down off the mountain?" Gimli questioned. "Aragorn and Boromir have their hands full with the Hobbits, and Shenaux is going to have her hands full with the two animals and both her pack and Sinn's. Gandalf is too old, we can't put her on Bill here for he is already laden down with much items and I am too short to carry her, even though she is not all that tall, it would still be awkward."
Shenaux grinned widely. "Well that only leaves the Elf, and since the snow doesn't bother him, or the cold, it should be easy enough for him to get off the mountain."
"What an excellent idea Shenaux!" Pippin said and all the Hobbits nodded their agreement, all four had grins like Shenaux.
The rest of the Fellowship looked at the five of them suspiciously.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you five are playing matchmaker." Boromir said with a grin. "And I am totally positive that both Legolas and Lady Sinn might not want to be matched together."
Well, boo to them. Oxana said in Shenaux' mind and sent her master into hysterical laughter.
"I think we should get off the mountain before she goes insane." Merry said loudly to Boromir, which in reply he nodded to the Hobbit he was carrying.
So, without further delay, the Company turned around and trudged their way back down the mountain, but the storm just kept howling at them, shoving snow in their faces, and making their already numb body grow even colder.
Half way back down the mountain, Shenaux finally got tired of the storm and she turned to look at the top peeks. "Enough already damn it!" she screamed up at it, startling not only the mountain, but everyone else too. "You defeated us, we're leaving now! ENOUGH WITH THE SNOW!" As if that was all the mountain needed to hear, or maybe the mountain was so startled that a mere human woman would scream that at it, the storm suddenly stopped. Shenaux looked about her in confusion. "I didn't expect that to work." She announced to the totally surprised men of the group.
All of Shenaux' screaming must have penetrated Sinn's deep sleep, for just then Sinn jolted awake and looked around her frantically, not knowing where she was. And in being in a situation where Sinn doesn't realise what's going on and where she is she does the most natural thing; she freaks out.
"Where the hell am I!?" She demands as she tries to wiggle out of the vice like grip she is in as she looks around. "What happened? What's going on?" She looked over to a laughing Shenaux. "And what the hell are you laughing about?"
Shenaux started to giggle. "You almost elbowed the elf in the head!"
Sinn looked behind her and noticed that Legolas was carrying her. "Why the hell is the damned Elf carrying me?"
"Long story." Shenaux explained.
"Explain. Now." She growled then she looked at Legolas. "You put me down now."
Sighing, Legolas puts Sinn on her own two feet and she promptly falls to the snowy ground because her legs are too weak to hold her. So, Legolas, being who he is picked her up again and began carrying her down the mountain.
"Put me down this instant!" She growled at him, and he just ignored her as he kept walking. The Fellowship watched with amusement as they passed. "Damn it Legolas! Put me down! I can walk just fine on my own!"
He ignored her yet again.
"I don't see anyone carrying Shenaux down the mountain! And if the Hobbits can walk, then so can I!" she protested again.
Finally Legolas stopped and put her on her feet again and again, she fell to the ground. He bent down so that he was eye level with her and spoke to her as if she was a child. "The reason why I am carrying you isn't because I want to. You hit your head in the avalanche and you were unconscious and probably have a slight concussion, which is why your legs aren't strong enough to hold you up. That is why the Hobbits and Shenaux aren't being carried like you. They didn't get hurt, so would you please just shut your mouth and stop slowing down the Company. We must destroy the Ring of Power, and we cannot do that with you complaining the whole way down."
Sinn blinked at Legolas then grinned. "Hey look at that. I pissed off an Elf. I thought you could control your emotions better than that Legolas. You are a prince after all."
"I'm not angry Lady Sinn." He told her and looked into her eyes and she found that he was not. "I am simply explaining something to a mere child, like a parent would do to their young." And with that he picked her up again and continued walking down the mountain.
Sinn could hear cheering in her mind and realised that it was Giz. Woo-hoo! Go Elf-boy! Ha! He sure told you! Elf-boy! Elf-boy! GO ELF-BOY! YA!
'Oh shut up Giz!' Sinn yelled at him in her mind and she only got snickers afterwards.
So again the Company started down the mountain again and when they finally stopped for a break, Legolas began putting Sinn tentatively on her feet, standing rather close just in case she fell and hurt herself again and he would have to carry her longer. And just as she was about to place her feet on the ground, Shenaux began to speak to her through their mind link.
'Oh hey Sinn,' Shenaux said. 'You should have heard Oxana's suggestion about waking you up. She suggested that someone, namely the hot Elf that is standing oh so close to you like a lover, kiss you to wake you up to a lovers kiss. And frankly I agree with her. Man being held by his strong arms, his soft tender kisses trailing down your neck. You moaning with absolute pleasure as he touches the most intimate places on your body. Stroking you gently, tenderly kissing you. His hand fondling your breast. His mouth sucking you're—'
Sinn turned beat red and she fell to the ground with wide eyes. Well, she would have fallen to the ground if Legolas didn't catch her again, making her turn even brighter red. "Shenaux! Please stop! I don't need to hear that! I can't believe that you would say that to me! It's worse than Merry's thoughts!" She said out loud. "And honestly, I don't care what you think! And THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! What is wrong with you?" She was at this point turning every shade of red there is, and most likely making up colours. "That sounds like something out of our smut novels!"
"Because it is dear sister. The newest one I bought. It's about this woman who lost her love and then gets pulled into another world and finds this gorgeous man who takes care of her and doesn't know why. They argue all the time and when she falls ill, he refuses to leave her side and that's when he realises that he's in love with her and then there's the hot se—"
"Uh, I don't think that the virgin ears should hear that Shenaux." Sinn said looking at the men. "I think you might make them blush."
"Wow Merry." Pippin said. "I didn't know anyone could turn that shade of red. It was rather pretty."
"Yeah, almost purple. I wish I could find that colour in a flower, then maybe I'll pick a few of them and give them to Lilly when I get home."
"Yeah, I'm sure you'll be in her favour then Merry." Sam said as he nibbled on a piece of cheese and bread.
"Young Hobbits!" Shenaux and Sinn exclaimed.
"Oh look Merry." Frodo said with a grin. "It's that colour again. This time the two of them are blushing."
"Who needs younger siblings when you have mischievous Hobbits to make you blush. I haven't blushed this much in years." Shenaux muttered.
"Are you all right now Lady Sinn?" Legolas questioned. Ever since their little spat, he had reverted to calling her 'Lady Sinn'. Maybe he was trying to hint at something.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." She added the last part as an after thought. Then she struggled to her feet. She wavered a little bit but was able to stand. She took a few tentative steps and found her strength was returning to her. She walked over to Shenaux and slapped her upside the head. "If you ever do that to me again I seriously will kill you!"
Shenaux just laughed. "What are best friends for?"
"Certainly not to make my life a living hell." She replied dryly as she stretched her muscles that were quickly going stiff.
"Stiff muscles?"
"How'd ya guess?"
"Naw, I didn't guess. At first I thought you were trying to get some height but then I realised that you are pass the whole growing up stage."
"I hate you."
"I love you too sweetie."
Sinn just glared at her grinning friend and then sat down on a stone that was sticking up out of the ground. "Where's Giz?" She frowned as she looked around.
"And Oxana?" Shenaux stated as she looked around also. "They were here just a minute ago."
The Fellowship looked around and Legolas was the one to spot them. "Oxana is in the sky carrying Giz." He told them. "Giz seems to be holding something in his paws."
Sinn looked up to where Legolas was staring intently and her hand absently went up to her neckline to finger the ring she always wore around her neck on a chain. When she felt nothing there she looked down and realised that the chain was gone. "Who took my chain?" She demanded.
"Sinn?" Shenaux asked as she looked at her wild-eyed friend. "What's wrong?"
"My chain! The ring! It's gone Shenaux! The last and only thing of his that I own and it's gone! I lost his ring!" She explained in frenzy.
"It must have fell off when the avalanche hit us." Gandalf mused quietly, thinking only Legolas heard him but obviously he was wrong.
"I have to go back! If the avalanche was the main reason why it's off, I have to go back and get my ring! I can't just leave it there!" Sinn exclaimed.
Gandalf looked at her surprised.
"What?" Shenaux questioned. "Why are you looking at her oddly? It made some sense. Besides, you yourself just said that it fell off in the avalanche."
The Fellowship looked at them weirdly. "Shenaux, Sinn I said that rather quiet. I muttered it to myself. Nobody should have heard it but Legolas."
Sinn turned to the Hobbits. "Did you hear him?" she asked them. They were standing near the old wizard so surely they should have heard at least something.
"I heard him mumble something to himself, but I didn't catch what it was." Sam told her truthfully and the other Hobbits nodded in agreement. Sam was the closest one to Gandalf.
"What's going on?" Shenaux demanded. "First we can read minds, now we have super hearing." She looked up to the sky. "Oxana, get your feathered ass down here this instant. You have some explaining to do."
"You too Giz." Sinn added.
When Oxana got closer to the ground, she dropped Giz onto the ground and he fell into the soft snow. Then the owl landed on the rock next to Sinn.
Sorry we disappeared on you there. We had to go find something. Oxana explained to the two women.
Giz walked up to Sinn and gave her back the chain with the ring on it. I believe this is yours. I knew you didn't want to lose it.
Sinn took the ring. "Thanks Giz." She looked at the clasp. "But it's broken beyond repair." She sighed. "I don't have the tools to fix it, and I don't want to wear the ring on my finger, I'll lose it even more quickly where we're going." She put the ring and chain into her pack and then looked at Giz. "Now tell me my dear racoon familiar. Why do Shenaux and I have super hearing and can read minds?"
You're hearing is returning? Oxana asked in shock. But it's too soon.
"We lost our hearing and it's returning now? What the hell?" Shenaux said. "How can we lose our hearing and then have it return to us?"
Giz shrugged, that is he would if racoons could. We have no idea. We're going to have to go to our superiors and talk about this.
"You have superiors? What the hell? What's going on here?" Shenaux demanded.
You'll find out when you need to. You're on a need to know basis.
"Need to know basis? We need to know now!" Sinn almost shouted.
We'll meet up with you after you leave Moria! Oxana said as she took off and then swerved down and picked up Giz. Bye and good luck! Ta!
"Oxana! Giz! Get back here!" The two women shouted to the two animals that were quickly disappearing. "They are so getting a piece of my mind when they get back." Shenaux said as she crossed her arms.
"Not too big of a piece I hope, you can't afford to lose anymore." Sinn said with a grin and she bit into an apple she pulled out of her pack. She received a glare from Shenaux.
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A/N: So any thoughts on a title? The only think we've thought of was "Saving Graces", what do you people think? Thanx to all who reviewed, also!