Disclaimer: Obi-Wan is not mine. Lord of the Rings is not mine.

Chapter Eight
The Only Way

"This is what I feared," Gandalf muttered, and Obi-Wan could hear the frustration in the Wizard's voice. The snow was getting deeper and deeper as the climbed higher up the Pass of Caradhras, and still they were nowhere near the top.

Yet they plodded on, and Obi-Wan at last stopped to scoop up Merry, who was trailing behind. Pippin had moments before been picked up by Boromir. Obi-Wan could feel Merry shivering. He tried to summon the Force to send some of his body's own heat into that of his companion, but it had no visible effect; he couldn't give what he didn't have.

Indeed, on the journey up the mountains, the Force had not proven to be much use. Obi-Wan had been frustrated at first to realize that he couldn't shield them from the falling snow. His efforts simply amounted to nothing; some stronger power, he was sure now, was guiding this storm.

One thing had lifted his spirits, however. At Boromir's advising, they had brought wood, most of which was now floating alongside the Jedi, also providing something of a distraction for his mind, as he had not been able to give the Hobbits, Strider, and Boromir more lessons for the past three days; all their efforts were concentrated on moving forward.

At last, the Fellowship halted under a sort of cliff, though it provided little protection from either the snow or the wind. Merry huddled in closer to Obi-Wan. Soon, everyone was packed closely together, huddling against the wall.

Obi-Wan remained silent while the others talked. They agreed not to go onward or go back at the moment, because the cliff provided some shelter, and the way ahead would become still more difficult. Everyone was tired, and even the younger Hobbits, Merry and Pippin, were miserable, huddled close together between Obi-Wan and Boromir.

"What are we doin' here, Merry?" Pippin sighed. "What good are we doin' freezin' to death in this snow?"

"Well, you were the one who said they'd have to tie you in a sack to stop you from coming," Merry pointed out. "What did you think we'd be doing?"

"I don't know," Pippin admitted. "I just feel so useless. Look at us! With all the Orcs and Black Riders out there, what is it that stops us here? Snow! It's white and fluffy and -- it's snow! We're sitting here, freezing to death and miserable, because of cold, fluffy snow!"

"That is rather ironic," Obi-Wan nodded. "But this is no ordinary snow, you can be sure."

"Indeed," Strider nodded. "These paths are usually open, and even in the winter this kind of storm is seldom seen."

But the wind, for the moment, was dying down, and the snow seemed to lessen. Obi-Wan looked around at the group, then turned to Gandalf. "If we are to press on further today, it would seem that now is the best time."

Gandalf and Strider exchanged glances, and Gandalf nodded. Obi-Wan picked up Merry, and they trudged onward into the open again. The snow was deep and, though it was falling slower now, was nonetheless becoming steadily deeper.

Suddenly, with a terrible rumbling noise, rocks began rolling down the side of the mountain. Obi-Wan quickly set Merry down and reached out his hand, summoning the Force, but the rocks kept on rolling towards them. Obi-Wan looked around frantically. There was nowhere to hide. They had made a mistake, perhaps, in leaving the cliff.

All this passed briefly through his mind as he picked Merry up again. "To the cliff!" Gandalf shouted, and though it was more than obvious that they would never make it, they all started to run. Huge boulders the size of grown men were rolling down the side of the mountain towards them, followed by a huge wave of snow. It was a race, and they were losing.

Obi-Wan barely had time to think, much less run for the cliff. He held Merry close as he ducked out of the way of one huge boulder, unfortunately placing himself in the path of an only slightly smaller one, which slammed into his right side. Merry was nearly swept from his grasp by the avalanche of snow but Obi-Wan somehow managed to grab the Hobbit's hand in his. He was only vaguely aware of the other members of the Fellowship, black dots around them as the two of them were swept together down the mountain.

A shape passed him that, as best he could tell, more or less resembled a Hobbit. He reached out to grab whoever it was with his other hand, but as he did, a rock struck him in the side of the head, and he knew no more.

It was freezing cold. At first, that was the only thing Obi-Wan knew for sure. Then he felt them. Hands, holding him, helping him up. Strider he could feel for sure, and hope flowed back into him. There were others here, perhaps all of them.

He tried to open his eyes, but his face was still in the snow. How deep was he? The hands were coming from above; surely he was buried. Obi-Wan tried hard not to panic as his attempts to draw breath proved futile. He was a Jedi. Jedi didn't panic in situations like this. Obi-Wan concentrated and let the Force flow through him. He could hold out long enough . . .

Suddenly, all at once, the snow was lifted, and he was free. Obi-Wan's eyes shot open as he gasped for breath. Strider was there, and with him were Merry and Frodo. Obi-Wan looked around. The others seemed just as surprised as he that the snow had been suddenly flung aside. Had he done it unknowingly, Obi-Wan wondered, or had it been one of them? Surely none of them had the ability yet. Legolas, perhaps, may have been able to, but he wasn't there. His only guess was that somehow the Ring had done something; surely it had the power. But that made even less sense. Its power was evil; why would It save him?

"Is this everyone you've found?" Obi-Wan asked, coughing.

Strider shook his head. "Legolas is looking for others. Besides him, though, yes, this is all of us."

Obi-Wan shivered. Pippin's irony had been accurate. Perhaps the Enemy didn't need to send any armies. He could simply bury them in the snow.

Just then, Legolas came running. "Aragorn! I found Gandalf and Sam, over this way!"

Obi-Wan looked where the Elf was pointing, off towards the east. They would be going further along, and it would be harder to go back, should they wish to do so. But had they already gone too far? Was there no going back?

Without a word, they followed Legolas. The sun was setting behind them, and the night would be cold. Obi-Wan realized the wood he had brought was now gone. And what of their supplies? If Bill had been swept away, as well . . .

At last, Gandalf and Sam came into view, along with a rather huge boulder. The snow was less there, sheltered somewhat from the blowing drifts, but it was still at least a foot deep. A few pieces of wood were off to one side. Obi-Wan could see no sign of Bill, nor indeed any supplies but those Sam had carried with him.

Gandalf came forward to greet them and held out a leather flask. Strider took it, drank a mouthful, and passed it to Obi-Wan. The Jedi looked at it curiously for a second but then put it to his lips. Immediately, warmth coursed through him, filling his body. Obi-Wan passed the drink to Frodo and turned to Gandalf in wonder. "What is it?"

The Wizard smiled. "It is miruvor, a gift from Elrond. But it will not keep us alive forever in this snow, even with whatever supplies Sam has in his pack. I'm afraid--"

"Look!" Merry pointed off into the distance. "Someone's comin'!"

Obi-Wan had felt it, from a little ways off. He looked up; one shape was coming towards them, moving slowly but not slowing down.

Legolas looked. "It's Gimli."

Obi-Wan watched the Dwarf come closer. "Does he see us?"

Legolas nodded. "There are seven of us here, and a huge rock. He sees us. A Dwarf's eyes don't miss rocks."

Gimli came closer, grumbling to himself. When he was near enough, he glared up at Obi-Wan. "What good is this Force of yours if you couldn't stop those rocks from falling on us? What good is it? You can lift little rocks but not big ones?"

Obi-Wan wasn't in a mood to argue. "Look, Gimli, there was some sort of power behind those rocks, just like the snow. I don't know why I can't do anything about them, but I can't."

Gandalf nodded. "We shouldn't dwell on that until we are out of danger. We must find either a way to go on or a way to go back. We cannot stay here forever."

"But Boromir and Pippin are still out there!" Merry objected. "We can't leave them!"

"Boromir and Pippin will look for a way either forward or back," Frodo pointed out. "They wouldn't wait to find us, without any food or supplies. They've probably set out already, Merry."

Merry looked down. "But which way should we go? We've come this far; should we go on?"

"There is much farther still to go," Gandalf said. "I do not believe we have enough food to last us the whole way, to say nothing of wood for a fire. But we should make one now, if we can, and stay here to rest, and perhaps to wait for others. Gimli has found us; perhaps they will, as well." Obi-Wan noticed that Gandalf was taking great caution to say perhaps. If they waited for Boromir and Pippin when they had, indeed, gone on or back, they would be waiting until they all froze to death.

"But we cannot wait forever," Strider added, gathering the wood together. "Time is precious." Obi-Wan smiled. The Ranger had said exactly what he had been thinking. "And while we wait," he added, "we must decide where we are to go."

Sam sighed. "How can you even light a fire in this wind with nothing but damp wood?"

Obi-Wan held out his hand and concentrated. Red, orange, and yellow flames sprouted from the wood. Gimli looked suspiciously at Obi-Wan, as if at any moment he might decide to set something else aflame. But Obi-Wan ignored him as they all moved in closer to the warmth of the fire.

There was a long silence, but at last Strider spoke. "You say we do not have the supplies to go on, Gandalf. Do we have enough to go back?"

"I am not sure," Gandalf admitted.

"Where would we go?" Merry asked. "Back to Rivendell? To get more supplies? And then set out again -- for where?"

Gandalf shook his head. "No, we should not return to Rivendell. We would lose too much time. We should try another way as quickly as may be."

"What other way?" Frodo asked. "Boromir suggested the Gap of Rohan, but the Ring, you said, must not come near Isengard. What other way is there?"

Legolas and Obi-Wan exchanged a look. It had been brought up at last. The only question left was who would say it first.

"There is another way," Gandalf said at last. "It leads to the Mines of Moria."

Gimli looked up, and even Obi-Wan was unsure which of many emotions was brightest in his eyes. Frodo, Sam, and Merry looked at each other. They had heard of it, perhaps, but probably knew little or nothing beyond what they had heard at the Council.

"Is it the only way?" Frodo asked, and it was obvious what the Hobbit was asking. Was the pass over the mountains impossible? Did they have to go back, and possibly leave Boromir and Pippin? Was there, indeed, no other way at all?

The Wizard stared into the fire, and the light from the flames danced across his face. At last, he looked up into the Ringbearer's eyes. "Yes, Frodo," he said slowly. "It is the only way."

Herendil -- Yes, I'm looking forward to Moria, too. Hope they actually get there sometime in between science class and writing at midnight after cramming for history. :)

xWhit3StaRx -- Yeah, I've played trumpet for . . . (counts on fingers) this is my sixth year. Wow. I didn't know I'd played for that long. :) I'm not terrific but I'm not terrible either, and our band director is great, so even if I stunk, I think I'd still have fun. :) He gets a little stressed out when huge concerts come around, but other than that, he's great. (which is more than I can say for my science teacher, who must be the most boring guy on earth.) :)

SNAITF -- Well, as you saw, they do have miruvor. Good thing, too. As for being book or movie based, I guess you could say the council was more movie-based, but as for the other stuff, such as who wants to go to Moria and who doesn't and who suggested it (Gimli in the movie, Gandalf in the book), I'm more following the book, except that Legolas and Obi-Wan figured it out, which in all reality Legolas may have, but didn't want to say anything about it. Once they get to Moria, book and movie basically do the same thing, so it won't really be based on one or the other, but when I want details, nine times out of ten, I'll go back to the book.

Lunatic Pandora 1 -- You're right, Merry and Pippin aren't exactly Jedi material, but as you probably know so I feel a little stupid pointing this out, not everyone who's force-sensitive is really great Jedi material. :) Little voice in my head is telling me to stick to what I know, but I think that sounded at least halfway intellegent. :)

The Dancing Cavalier --Glad you liked it; I really like doing one-on-one character things because I don't get to too often and probably won't do it a lot once things start happening because people don't have time to talk deep philosophical stuff in the middle of a battle with the Orcs. Or a Balrog, for that matter. :) But for the moment, it works. :)

Crazy Canadian Llama -- :) Boromir's lack of talent is the last thing on anyone's mind right now, I think. Everyone seems to be looking forward to Moria; I can't imagaine why. (evil grin)

Ally127 -- Yes, well, now the fact that they're separated should keep them out of too much trouble until they run into each other again.

Night of the Land -- Man, I don't think I like your history teacher. :) Ours is great. He was demonstrating the Batton Death March (think I spelled that right) and he took us on a march through the school and at the end there was only one person left "alive" to be rescued by General MacArthur (know I spelled that one right; it was on our test). I got "killed" for volunteering to read twice. Go figure. Trying to be too helpful. When will people learn to appreciate it. :) Oh, well. I thought being helpful would keep him from "killing" me. (sigh) Teachers. Different race altogether. :)