CHAPTER 8:
Eventually, the crows seemed to be satisfied, and finally left, much to my relief.
Immediately, Gandalf called a meeting to discuss the route through the Misty Mountains. 'From the signs that we had seen lately,' said Gandalf, 'I fear that the Redhorn Gate may be watched and also I have doubts of the weather that is lurking up behind. Snow may come. We must go with all the speed that we can. We must leave as soon as we can get ready.'
'I will add a word of advice, if I may,' Boromir spoke up, suddenly. 'We shall meet the bitter cold until we come down on the other side of the mountains. I suggest each of us should carry a faggot of wood.'
I trudged beside Aragorn up the steep hill, clutching a long branch. Knowing my luck, my palms would be looking like a cactus in no time - there'll be so many splinters in them.
Aragorn had argued with Boromir about me not having to carry the wood. 'The fair daughter of Elrond should not be carrying such a heavy load!' he had yelled. But I had intervened (stupidly now I realize - I should had just shut up so I wouldn't have to carry this freaking heavy log up a mountain!) and said I didn't mind, and that I didn't want everyone else to have to while I didn't. Aragorn had smiled at me admirably then.
So now I'm regretting my "admirable behaviour". My hands hurt like hell, and my arms are so tired from lifting it that they were going numb. Arwen's gonna kill me when she sees the state of her palms. *Oops there goes her perfect, smooth, white hands!* Speaking of which, I haven't brushed my hair in ages, so there's probably split ends now. Oh well. That's her problem. On the bright side, she has a whole lifetime or at least another 3000 years to condition her hair and rub Aloe Vera on her hands *muahaha!* I'm evil, huh?
Incredibly, my whole depressed mood had lifted, even though I was climbing a freezing mountain carrying wood - which isn't funny in a long, cumbersome dress! I was starting to feel like almost my normal self again, so I guess my brain has gotten used to the idea that I was going to be chopped up by evil dudes.
I cracked some dumb jokes to Aragorn to lighten the situation, but he just frowned in puzzlement at me. Bah! Only Legolas laughs.
I fell silent after a while. I examined the expressions of the Fellowship.
Aragorn was grim, worried about the outcomes.
Gandulf had a neutral expression, but he looked slightly strained.
Boromir had a grimace on his face that he constantly tries to keep under control by putting on an easy smile, which is like so fake.
Gimli was complaining, twisting his disgruntled face into a really cute disgruntled face. Wonder whether he realizes how adorable he looks when he sulks. Hehe.
Frodo was looking pale, drained, exhausted, as he normally did since the start of the journey. I always have the longing to just give him a big hug. Looking at Frodo, I thought if he smiled, he'd look just like my Choir teacher- curly hair and all - well except for the slight height difference.
Sam was leading his pony, Bill and looking like what I was thinking: debating whether or not to give Frodo a big hug. No, I better rephrase. I don't want to imply he's gay or anything. He was just being a loyal friend, worrying about his master's state, his lack of energy and life. Nothing weird at all.
Merry and Pippin seemed to be in a lively mood at the moment. They were intently arguing about how Pippin had managed to rip his pants.
'It just appeared! One minute it wasn't there, and the next BAM! It's there!' Pippin was insisting.
'Pippin, a rip in your pants doesn't just come out of nowhere!! You must have ripped it yourself! But how did you manage it?! It's not like you're putting on weight!' Merry shot back.
'I DON'T KNOW! I told you, it just APPEARED!'
'A RIP DOESN'T JUST APPEAR!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'CAN.'
'CAN'T.'
'CAN!'
'I'M NOT ARUGING WITH YOU ANYMORE! A RIP DOESN'T JUST COME! IT IS MADE BY THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THE PANTS! CASE CLOSED.'
'FINE! DON'T BELIEVE ME! THE ONLY REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING WHETHER YOU HAD SPARE PANTS. IT FEELS CHILLY AROUND MY BOTTOM.'
'NO I DO NOT, AND EVEN IF I DID, I WOULDN'T LEND IT YOU. YOUR RIP IS YOUR PROBLEM! I REALLY HOPE YOUR BUTT FREEZES! YOU DESERVE IT! YOU RIPPED YOUR PANTS!'
'I DIDN'T! IT JUST APPEARED!'
'A RIP CAN'T JUST APPEAR!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP?!!' Legolas yelled. 'At this rate, I think Mordor just heard you!'
'Well, what do you think, Legolas? A rip can just appear, right?' Pippin asked.
'A RIP CAN'T JUST APPEAR PIPPIN!' Merry yelled. 'YOU AGREE WITH ME DON'T YOU, LEGOLAS?'
'ARGH! HONESTLY! I DON'T CARE HOW RIPS ARE FORMED!' Legolas yelled at them. 'GO ASK SAURON!'
'Ooh, actually - ' Pippin started. 'Good idea, now that you mention it.! Can't wait till we get to Mordor! Betcha Sauron will agree with me!'
'Yeah I'm sure he will, when he's dangling you over hungry orcs' mouths!' Merry said.
'Hold on, I dun think Sauron can dangle me over hungry orcs' mouths! Isn't he just an eye?' Pippin frowned.
'Oh good point! And I'm sure an eye knows heaps about tears in clothing!'
'Yeah! And besides an eye can't talk anyway!'
'Well, you could you try Saruman!' Merry said, solemnly. In an undertone he added to Legolas, 'And hopefully Saruman will lock him up for life, so I don't have to put up with him anymore! Or even better: push him off the top of Isengard Tower!'
'Excellent! Saruman! He would know!!' Pippin exclaimed. And in an undertone he added to Legolas, 'And then he'll agree with me, and we can both push Merry off the top of his tall house! And then Saruman and I will rule the world, announcing that rips DO JUST APPEAR!'
'Uh, Pippin? Saruman is evil, if you haven't forgotten. I don't think it's just such a great idea to rule the world with him,' Legolas groaned.
'Hmm. Good point, Legolas.'
'Oh brother!' Legolas rolled his eyes at me. I laughed. Legolas seemed to be the least affected by the whole fellowship thing. He walks like he's just strolling through a park - he never drags his feet. He still laughs and talks as if there was no such thing as danger. Maybe it was an elf thing?
That little incident between the two (very cute and little) hobbits was the most "happiest" and interesting moment that would happen in a long, long time.
From then onwards, everything went buckling down. It began to snow heavily as we ascended up the Misty Mountains. If I had thought it was cold before, I was wrong. It was nothing compared to the icy wind that whipped around us. My teeth were chattering uncontrollably and my face was dead white. Even Aragorn's tanned face looked ghostly white.
After a short while, the snow became knee deep - for the hobbits and Gimli almost waist deep. Suddenly an evil shrill laugh rang out above us and then large boulders starting crashing down around us, shaking the flimsy ledge we were slogging along.
Most of the boulders bounced off into the gorge in front of us, and the some that managed to hit the ledge, missed us by some metres. But the worse that was to come, was the avalanche.
It came suddenly and swiftly. We barely had time to react. Legolas gave a yell but it got cut off by the thick blanket of snow that landed onto us. I screamed, as I was buried.
I swallowed a heap of the cold snow and ice. I felt more and more snow pile on top of me.
I struggled to keep upright. I felt my ankle twist. I collapsed down, gasping in pain.
Soon I was struggling to find air. I felt the avalanche stop, and I weakly struggled to climb up.
I never managed to climb up.
I was unconscious.
Perhaps now was my time to die.
Eventually, the crows seemed to be satisfied, and finally left, much to my relief.
Immediately, Gandalf called a meeting to discuss the route through the Misty Mountains. 'From the signs that we had seen lately,' said Gandalf, 'I fear that the Redhorn Gate may be watched and also I have doubts of the weather that is lurking up behind. Snow may come. We must go with all the speed that we can. We must leave as soon as we can get ready.'
'I will add a word of advice, if I may,' Boromir spoke up, suddenly. 'We shall meet the bitter cold until we come down on the other side of the mountains. I suggest each of us should carry a faggot of wood.'
I trudged beside Aragorn up the steep hill, clutching a long branch. Knowing my luck, my palms would be looking like a cactus in no time - there'll be so many splinters in them.
Aragorn had argued with Boromir about me not having to carry the wood. 'The fair daughter of Elrond should not be carrying such a heavy load!' he had yelled. But I had intervened (stupidly now I realize - I should had just shut up so I wouldn't have to carry this freaking heavy log up a mountain!) and said I didn't mind, and that I didn't want everyone else to have to while I didn't. Aragorn had smiled at me admirably then.
So now I'm regretting my "admirable behaviour". My hands hurt like hell, and my arms are so tired from lifting it that they were going numb. Arwen's gonna kill me when she sees the state of her palms. *Oops there goes her perfect, smooth, white hands!* Speaking of which, I haven't brushed my hair in ages, so there's probably split ends now. Oh well. That's her problem. On the bright side, she has a whole lifetime or at least another 3000 years to condition her hair and rub Aloe Vera on her hands *muahaha!* I'm evil, huh?
Incredibly, my whole depressed mood had lifted, even though I was climbing a freezing mountain carrying wood - which isn't funny in a long, cumbersome dress! I was starting to feel like almost my normal self again, so I guess my brain has gotten used to the idea that I was going to be chopped up by evil dudes.
I cracked some dumb jokes to Aragorn to lighten the situation, but he just frowned in puzzlement at me. Bah! Only Legolas laughs.
I fell silent after a while. I examined the expressions of the Fellowship.
Aragorn was grim, worried about the outcomes.
Gandulf had a neutral expression, but he looked slightly strained.
Boromir had a grimace on his face that he constantly tries to keep under control by putting on an easy smile, which is like so fake.
Gimli was complaining, twisting his disgruntled face into a really cute disgruntled face. Wonder whether he realizes how adorable he looks when he sulks. Hehe.
Frodo was looking pale, drained, exhausted, as he normally did since the start of the journey. I always have the longing to just give him a big hug. Looking at Frodo, I thought if he smiled, he'd look just like my Choir teacher- curly hair and all - well except for the slight height difference.
Sam was leading his pony, Bill and looking like what I was thinking: debating whether or not to give Frodo a big hug. No, I better rephrase. I don't want to imply he's gay or anything. He was just being a loyal friend, worrying about his master's state, his lack of energy and life. Nothing weird at all.
Merry and Pippin seemed to be in a lively mood at the moment. They were intently arguing about how Pippin had managed to rip his pants.
'It just appeared! One minute it wasn't there, and the next BAM! It's there!' Pippin was insisting.
'Pippin, a rip in your pants doesn't just come out of nowhere!! You must have ripped it yourself! But how did you manage it?! It's not like you're putting on weight!' Merry shot back.
'I DON'T KNOW! I told you, it just APPEARED!'
'A RIP DOESN'T JUST APPEAR!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'CAN.'
'CAN'T.'
'CAN!'
'I'M NOT ARUGING WITH YOU ANYMORE! A RIP DOESN'T JUST COME! IT IS MADE BY THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THE PANTS! CASE CLOSED.'
'FINE! DON'T BELIEVE ME! THE ONLY REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING WHETHER YOU HAD SPARE PANTS. IT FEELS CHILLY AROUND MY BOTTOM.'
'NO I DO NOT, AND EVEN IF I DID, I WOULDN'T LEND IT YOU. YOUR RIP IS YOUR PROBLEM! I REALLY HOPE YOUR BUTT FREEZES! YOU DESERVE IT! YOU RIPPED YOUR PANTS!'
'I DIDN'T! IT JUST APPEARED!'
'A RIP CAN'T JUST APPEAR!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'YES IT CAN!'
'NO IT CAN'T!'
'WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP?!!' Legolas yelled. 'At this rate, I think Mordor just heard you!'
'Well, what do you think, Legolas? A rip can just appear, right?' Pippin asked.
'A RIP CAN'T JUST APPEAR PIPPIN!' Merry yelled. 'YOU AGREE WITH ME DON'T YOU, LEGOLAS?'
'ARGH! HONESTLY! I DON'T CARE HOW RIPS ARE FORMED!' Legolas yelled at them. 'GO ASK SAURON!'
'Ooh, actually - ' Pippin started. 'Good idea, now that you mention it.! Can't wait till we get to Mordor! Betcha Sauron will agree with me!'
'Yeah I'm sure he will, when he's dangling you over hungry orcs' mouths!' Merry said.
'Hold on, I dun think Sauron can dangle me over hungry orcs' mouths! Isn't he just an eye?' Pippin frowned.
'Oh good point! And I'm sure an eye knows heaps about tears in clothing!'
'Yeah! And besides an eye can't talk anyway!'
'Well, you could you try Saruman!' Merry said, solemnly. In an undertone he added to Legolas, 'And hopefully Saruman will lock him up for life, so I don't have to put up with him anymore! Or even better: push him off the top of Isengard Tower!'
'Excellent! Saruman! He would know!!' Pippin exclaimed. And in an undertone he added to Legolas, 'And then he'll agree with me, and we can both push Merry off the top of his tall house! And then Saruman and I will rule the world, announcing that rips DO JUST APPEAR!'
'Uh, Pippin? Saruman is evil, if you haven't forgotten. I don't think it's just such a great idea to rule the world with him,' Legolas groaned.
'Hmm. Good point, Legolas.'
'Oh brother!' Legolas rolled his eyes at me. I laughed. Legolas seemed to be the least affected by the whole fellowship thing. He walks like he's just strolling through a park - he never drags his feet. He still laughs and talks as if there was no such thing as danger. Maybe it was an elf thing?
That little incident between the two (very cute and little) hobbits was the most "happiest" and interesting moment that would happen in a long, long time.
From then onwards, everything went buckling down. It began to snow heavily as we ascended up the Misty Mountains. If I had thought it was cold before, I was wrong. It was nothing compared to the icy wind that whipped around us. My teeth were chattering uncontrollably and my face was dead white. Even Aragorn's tanned face looked ghostly white.
After a short while, the snow became knee deep - for the hobbits and Gimli almost waist deep. Suddenly an evil shrill laugh rang out above us and then large boulders starting crashing down around us, shaking the flimsy ledge we were slogging along.
Most of the boulders bounced off into the gorge in front of us, and the some that managed to hit the ledge, missed us by some metres. But the worse that was to come, was the avalanche.
It came suddenly and swiftly. We barely had time to react. Legolas gave a yell but it got cut off by the thick blanket of snow that landed onto us. I screamed, as I was buried.
I swallowed a heap of the cold snow and ice. I felt more and more snow pile on top of me.
I struggled to keep upright. I felt my ankle twist. I collapsed down, gasping in pain.
Soon I was struggling to find air. I felt the avalanche stop, and I weakly struggled to climb up.
I never managed to climb up.
I was unconscious.
Perhaps now was my time to die.