Disclaimer: Yeah, I own Lord of the Rings. That's why I'm broke as a joke and posting this on I actually didn't take eight billion light years to finish this one. It's a little short, but it is done. Yay!

Hobbitfeatures: No, I'm not still upset. In fact I kind of owe you an apology. While you could have been a bit more tactful, I was frustrated and took some of it out on you. I am sorry for that.

sweetlittlecherry: (Smiles) Glad I could help.

Sakari: I'm sorry! Being grounded sucks. Let me give you a tip for next time. If you don't have time to read something at the moment, you can copy and paste it onto a document on your computer, save it, and read it later. your parents might not get as mad if you're not actually on the internet for the extra two hours. I am very glad you like the story.

Caffinated-Maniac: LOL! That's mean! Thank you for the review and the laugh.

Arami: Glad you like it. But it's not really feeling at this point. It's hormone problems, plain and simple. Well, okay, maybe not all just a hormone problem... Please keep in mind what I said before. Attractions, tension, no real romance.

Hello World: No, no Leggy porno! LOL Seriously, kids might be reading this. I'm not going to be the one to warp their minds. That's what school and South Park are for.

Elle: Thank you. That's very flattering.

Shemyaza 1: I have a few things to say to you. One: thank you for the explaination on the Elves sleeping with their eyes open thing. I'm still not sure I fully understand it, but it is a start.

Two: I can take constructive critisizm. You had a couple of points. However, some of the issues you brought up have already begun to be addressed. If you had kept reading past chapter 13, you would know that. And a few things I had already been planning for. In case you're curious, I am well aware that a sixteen year old girl would have a period. I saw no reason to mention it when she was in the Shire or Rivendell because she could have easily taken care of it without talking to any males about it. Besides, most people don't like hearing or reading about that. As for her songs not being in Elvish or Westenron, I might point out that if I didn't have the situation being that Westenron and English are basically the same, not only would they not understand the songs, they wouldn't understand her, period. Too many problems there.

Three: What the heck makes you think that I had Valora not getting along with Boromir because I think he's unattractive? Did I say he was unattractive? I personally happen to think Sean Bean, who played Boromir, is a handsome man. Sorry to burst your bubble on that one. They weren't getting along because their personalities clash and they didn't make the best first impressions on each other. As for Gimli, you're right about me neglecting him a bit. It has nothing to do with attractiveness. If you must know, I simply don't know how to describe his relationship with Valora.

Four: Please don't get upset at me for something a reviewer said about Boromir.

Five: Your comment about Valora being me pissed me off. Valora is NOT a self-insert. She shares a couple of traits with me, I admit, but she is most definately not me. Just when, exactly, did you get to know me so well? Oh, yeah, that's right. You didn't. Therefore, you had no basis for such an analysis. And your comment about me writing this soley to, as you put it, lift myself out of the mundanity of my own life, was uncalled for. You know nothing of me or my life. I will thank you not to pretend that you do.

Six: If I was to write a total self-insert, the plain and somewhat embarrasing truth is that it would be in the CSI section, be about Greg and would probably have too high of a rating to be posted on this site. (I have a thing for guys who are a little nerdy. So sue me.)

Seven: As for your suggestion I write my own stories; done. We're there. They're not quite ready yet, but I have been working on my own stories for quite some time.

Eight: I don't suppose it occurede to you that I have simply chosen not to reveal the reasons for the situation yet. Why she was sent to Middle-Earth and why she was allowed to go with them will eventually be revealed, just not until I think the time is right.

Nine: If I came off as rude in my response to your review, I was simply returning the favor that you bestowed upon me. You should be glad I didn't put up my friends responses to your review.

Ten: You have stereo-typed American teenagers. Not all of them are like that. And America is not the only country where teens spend too much time at the mall and eat fast-food.

Eleven: If my story is so bad, then why, exactly, did you read so much of it?

Good day, madame.

ModernSamuri, Normione, bumbleflies and butterbees, Saiya-jin Patricia, hermione13, Eagle Took and Peaches' Hobbit-girl: Thank you all very much.

"Two, one, five," recited Boromir as he sparred with Pippin. "Good. Very good," he said approvingly.

Aragorn puffed on his pipe as he sat on a rock nearby, Valora next to him. "Move your feet," he advised.

"That's good, Pippin," said Merry.

Pippin smiled broadly. "Thanks."

"Faster," said Boromir as he began to spar with Merry.

From their seat on top of a boulder, the other two Hobbits watched, Frodo laughing and Sam shaking his head as he ate.

"If anyone was to ask my opinion," spoke up Gimli, "which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way 'round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome."

Gandalf looked slightly sick at the mere suggestion, taking the pipe from his lips. "No, Gimli. I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."

Valora fidgeted slightly, dressed once again in her jeans and t-shirt. It wasn't just that the rock was uncomfortable. Something wasn't right. She could feel it in her bones. The feeling had been steadily growing for the past two days, since they'd begun traveling again after taking time for her to recover from her food-poisoning. If she had seen Legolas staring into the distance with a strange look on his face, the feeling would have increased.

Pippin gave a cry of pain as Boromir struck his hand by mistake. He dropped the sword and shook his hand.

Dismayed, Boromir moved forward. "Sorry!" he exclaimed.

Pippin responded by kicking the Gondorian on the shin. Boromir let out a startled yelp of pain. "Get him!" cried Merry as he smacked Boromir in the leg with the broad side of his sword. Both Hobbits then proceeded to dive on the fallen man. Boromir began to laugh, mock struggling against his attackers.

Valora and Aragorn laughed. After a few seconds, Aragorn got up and headed over to them. "Gentlemen," he declared, trying to be serious, "that's enough." He took Merry and Pippin each by a shoulder.

The two Hobbits looked at each other before simultaneously grabbing hold Aragorn's legs and yanking them out from under him. He fell to the ground, landing flat on his back with a loud grunt.

Valora laughed harder. "Dorks," she mumbled.

"What is that?" asked Sam.

The others turned to see what he was talking about. There was a dark shape on the horizon. It was what Legolas had been staring at.

"Nothing. It's just a wisp of clouds," said Gimli dismissively.

The others frowned. That sure didn't look like any clouds they had ever seen.

"It's moving fast," said Boromir, having just climbed to his feet. "Against the wind."

The dark shape was beginning to look like a bunch of small shapes. Valora squinted at them. Were those... birds?

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas warned.

"Hide!" yelled Aragorn.

"What the hell is a crebain?" asked Valora as she joined the others in scrambling to hide themselves and all of their possessions.

The crebain were nearing quickly. Everyone took cover wherever they could. Under rocks, in bushes. Just as Valora was about to hide herself, she realized she had lost something. She looked back. A few feet away, her sword lay on the ground. "My sword," she whispered. She couldn't just leave it there. It was a dead giveaway. Against the hissed protests, she ran back and scooped it up as quickly as she could. She dove into the nearest bushes. Boromir, already hiding there, pulled her back snuggly against his chest to make sure she wouldn't be seen.

No sooner was this done than the crebain arrived, cawing as they flew overhead. Everyone stayed still and silent, praying they hadn't been spotted.

Valora watched them circle for a moment or two. Crows? she thought.

Finally, the coal colored birds moved on. Once they were a reasonable distance away, everyone began to emerge from their hiding places.

"Spies of Saruman," spat Gandalf, glaring after the birds. "The passage south is being watched."

"Great," said Valora. "Now what do we do?"

"We must take the Pass of Caradhras," he said. He turned to look up at the snow covered mountain in the distance, which towered above them.

"Terrific," she said flatly.

They struggled up the rather steep, snow covered slope. They had all brought cloaks, of course, except Legolas, who didn't really need one, but none of them had been prepared for this. And it would only get colder as they climbed higher.

"And to think," grumbled Valora as she stimbled and nearly fell face first onto the icy ground, "I usually can't wait for the first snow back home."

Frodo slipped and began to tumble back down the mountainside. Aragorn, who had luckily been trailing behind, moved quickly to stop him from rolling down the entire mountain. He pulled the Hobbit to his feet.

Frodo brushed some of the snow off of his clothes before feeling for the Ring. It was no longer around his neck. Slightly panicked, he checked for it again. He must have lost it when he fell. He scanned the ground ahead, trying to spot the Ring. It was lying in the snow a few feet away. Frodo felt a moment of relief, until someone picked the Ring up.

Boromir lifted the Ring by the chain for a close look at it. He looked as though he was in a trance.

Everyone had stopped and now watched worriedly.

"Boromir," said Aragorn.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing," said Boromir. His eyes never left the Ring. "Such a little thing." He reached out to touch it.

"Boromir!" called Aragorn sharply. The Gondorian finally came to his senses and looked over. "Give the Ring to Frodo," said Aragorn, a warning edge in his voice.

Boromir looked at Frodo, who was staring at him. Slowly, he moved towards them. Despite his strong desire to keep the Ring, he held it out to the Hobbit. "As you wish," he said, trying to sound as though the incident was of no importance. Frodo snatched the Ring away from him. "I care not." His nervous gaze met Aragorn's warning one for a moment. He smiled and ruffled Frodo's hair affectionately, chuckling slightly, before starting back up the mountain.

Aragorn relaxed the death grip he'd had on the hilt of his sword.

Up ahead, Gimli looked carefully at the girl beside him. "Easy, lass," he said, asgently as his gruff voice would allow.

Valora looked down at him and realized her hands were clenched into fists and felt the sting of her nails digging into her skin. Her stance was completely rigid, as though she was an animal who had just sensed a predator. She cleared her throat and forced herself to relax a little. "I'm fine," she assured Gimli, thoughshe soundedslightly shakey. "That was just a little..."

"You don't have to tell me that, lass. I understand."

They continued to struggle up the mountain.

"He knows we're here," said Valora suddenly.

"What?" asked Gandalf.

"Saruman. He knows we're taking this way."

"So, his spies did see us," said Legolas grimly.

"They must have seen me," said Valora, feeling unbelievably horrid. "I didn't hide fast enough."

"It would not have mattered," said Aragorn. "The south passage is being watched and Caradhras in the only other road we might have taken to reach the other side of the mountains."

The snow was very deep now, nearly up to Aragorn and Boromir's waists. The wind was beginning to pick up as well, swirling around them as if taunting them. Valora shivered and pulled her cloak tighter around her body. The cloak was made of wool, but the material was a little thin.She should have put her long-sleeved shirt on when she'd had the chance, she realized. She couldn't exactly ask if they would stop now so she could find it and put it on.

Gimli tugged on Bill's lead. The pony obediantly followed, but, like the rest ofthem, was having a bit of difficulty making his way.

They kept moving. The cold kept Valora's mind somewhat occupied, but was doing nothing good for her mood. Her mood went into a complete nosedive, however, when she saw someone moving past her on top of the snow. She looked at him incredulously. Then she scowled. "Oh, this is fair. How come the Elf gets to walk on top of the snow?"

Legolas turned to look at Valora. He couldn't help feeling a little smug as she glared at him. Her resentment for the fact that he not only had an extreme resistance to the cold, but the fact that he didn't have to dredge through the snow that she was waist deep in, clearly written on her face. "Because Elves walk much lighter than humans." He eyed her, feeling a twinge of sympathy for her, she looked so cold, but the urge to tease her about it was more than he could resist. "You look cold."

She gave him a look that would have made an orc cringe. "Gee, what gave it away?"

"Odd, I feel just fine." He gave her a smug little smirk before continuing forward, leaving Valora to glower at his retreating back.

Legolas pitched forward slightly as something hit him, rather hard, inthe back of his head. He had to take a step to keep his footing. After quickly regaining his balance, he turned around. Bits of snow fell from his hair as he moved his head, all that remained of the snowball that had struck him only seconds ago. Valora still glared at him, but now had a triumphant and somewhat smug look of her own in her eyes.

He glared right back at her and a now laughing Gimli behind her. She just smirked at him.

The others turned around to see what was gong on. Eyebrows raised not only at the delay, but at the look Legolas was giving to Valora. They were all used to seeing him give similar looks to Gimli, but never to her.

"Did you just throw a snowball at the back of my head?" he demanded.

A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I confess nothing, but I will say that it clearly did not throw itself."

"I know it was you, Valora."

"Prove it," she countered.

"You know I cannot prove it, but I know it was you."

She smirked smugly at him. "Well, I'm innocent until proven guilty. So nyah," she declared, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Now really, don't you think you're being a bit childish?"

"We must keep moving," called Aragorn. At their nods, he faced forward again. He shook his head slightly. "Honestly," he muttered, but there was a tiny smile playing his lips. He began to move forward once again, a Hobbit tucked under each arm.

"It was a fine shot, lass," said Gimli, sounding quite proud.

"Thanks, Gimli."

Hearing this, Legolas whirled around and pointed an accusing finger at her. "Aha!"

Her smirk remained firmly in place. "He could have been talking about anything."

He gritted his teeth slightly. Knowing that this was a waste of time, he turned back around and started forward again. He resisted the urge to call back over his shoulder that he was still able to walk on top of the snow and she was not.

Frodo would have laughed at their antics, but he was just too damn cold. He shivered and huddled closer to Aragorn. Sam was tucked under Aragorn's other arm. Merry and Pippin were being carried in a similar fashion by Boromir. Valora had tried to carry Pippin for a short time, but he proved too heavy for her to carry very far. And the fact that she herself had to fight through the snow had only made the task more difficult.

Valora smiled over her shoulder at Gimli. Legolas couldn't prove a thing and they knew it. Gimli wouldn't give her away, she knew. He was probably only sorry that he hadn't been the one to throw that snowball. She was actually surprised that she had hit him so dead on. With a bow, she was deadly, but when throwing things with her arm, she had never been that great with aim. Odd, but true. But, she had nailed him with the snowball, and that was all that mattered. Smug, pointy eared bastard.

Soon enough, the wind was howling around them, tugging at their clothes and hair and biting viciously at their skin. The snow blew around them, making it difficult to see. The snow had grown deeper as they moved on. Though it was only a few more inches, it was much harder to fight though it. Still they moved on, struggling against the wind.

Legolas, having gone to the back of the proccession after a brief word with Gandalf, moved around the others to the head of the line. His ears picked up the sound before the others. "There is a fell voice on the air."

The others could hear it now, chanting in Quenya.

"It's Saruman!" cried Gandalf.

There was a noise from above and they all looked up. Horror cascaded over them as they saw large chunks of snow, ice and the mountain itself falling towards them. They moved back towards the mountain wall behind them as fast as they could, alarmed cries pouring from their mouths. The falling objects fell harmlessly past them, but that did little to soothe their fear.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" shouted Aragorn over the wind. "Gandalf, we must turn back!"

"No!" Gandalf moved forward and began to chant as well, the Sindarian words echoing around them.

It wasn't enough. Saruman's power was too great. A bolt of lightning struck the mountain above them, sending an avalanche down upon the Fellowship. Legolas ran forward and grabbed Gandalf, dragging him back to the mountain wall just in time. The snow fell over them, burying them all.

When the avalanche had ended, there was only the sound of the wind. And no sign of the ten companions. Or Bill.

Legolas' head burst through the white powder, the first to break out of the snow. Seconds later, the others began to emerge as well.

"Is everyone alright?" asked Valora, fearful of the answer. The others responded that none of them were reallyhurt. All of them were accounted for. Even Bill seemed to be unharmed, if a bit shaken. She sighed in relief before struggling to free the rest of her body from the snow. Legolas came over and helped her before helping Gimli unbury himself.

"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir shouted over the wind. "Make for the Gap of Rohan. And take the West Road to my city!"

Aragorn protested. "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"

"There has to be another way!" called Valora. They had been lucky this time, and they all knew it. If Saruman tried to harm them again, it was likely he would succeed. Even if he didn't, the mountain was too treacherous. They were ill prepared for snowstorms or such extreme cold. They would never make it.

"If we cannot go over the mountain, let us go under it!" suggested Gimli. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria."

Valora heard the taunting voice of the White Wizard in her mind even as she saw something in Gandalf's face that she had rarely seen before. Something that made her shiver worse than the cold. Fear. "You fear to go into those mines, Gandalf. The Dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness. Shadow and Flame." She saw the image that had been drawn in the book Saruman read. It was not a very encouraging sight. She didn't know what he meant by shadow and flame, but knew that it defiantly wasn't good. But could it really be much worse than what they would face on either of their other choices?

Gandalf was silent. It appeared they were out of options. The Gap of Rohan could deliver them right into Saruman's waiting hands and the mountain was too dangerous. Still, he knew what dangers lurked in the dark of Moria. "Let the Ring bearer decide," he said finally.

All eyes fell upon Frodo, who looked at a loss.

"We cannot stay here!" Boromir urged, looking to Gandalf. "This will be the death of the Hobbits!" He held Merry and Pippin a bit tighter. They were shivering almost violently as the clung to Boromir, burrowing themselves into him as much as they could in a fruitless attempt to stay warm.

"Frodo?" asked Gandalf.

Frodo considered their options. "We will go through the mines," he decided.

Gandalf stared at him. A look of determination graced his features. "So be it."

Okay, now the bad news. I have to figure out exactly how to write the battle scenes. I've never had to do that before. And once I get them to Lothlorien, there are going to be more added scenes. I'm sorry, but they will be kind of important later on and for character development.

On the plus side, we are finally going to get to see Valora in battle. You guys will just have to wait and see how that turns out because I need to figure out how to describe it without it sounding lame or anything.

Until the next chapter.

Oh, and anyone who actually is leaving review only to stroke my ego, as someone who shall remain nameless claims you all are, please don't bother. No one likes pity reviews. They are a waste of your time as well as mine.