Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ XXXIII: The Ring goes South ~

Eregion - Hollin, 3019 TA, January 8

It was a cold grey day near the beginning of January. The East Winds howled through the sparse branches of the trees and raged among the black pines on the hills. The winter wind blew through the trees and the branches with a powerful passion, scattering leaves of fall as if they were its chaotic drum beat. The clouds were the type of grey that any quarry rock would be proud of as if they were delighted to echo the ground. Condensation was certain to occur sooner rather than later with all the grey and whirling water in the sky. As the cheerless shadows of early twilight started to fall, the Company travelled south of Rivendell on unstable waterways across the country of Deep Valley. To their left, the misty mountains rose sharply.

Aragorn was dressed in high leather boots and a dark-green cloak, with his sword to his left. Legolas was equipped with a bow and quiver, as well as two long white blades concealed behind his back. Gimli the dwarf was the only one who wore a short steel-ringed shirt openly, since dwarves like light burdens; and he had a broad-bladed axe in his belt. Xena got to wear leather and metal upper-body armour, a coat, her sword on her back, and her Chakram on her belt. The younger hobbits donned the swords they had retrieved from the barrow, but Frodo retained just Sting, and his mail-coat remained concealed, as Bilbo desired. Gandalf carried his staff, but at his side was the elven sword Glamdring, Orcrist's mate, who lay now on Thorin's breast under the Lonely Mountain.

Elrond had provided them with thick, warm clothing, as well as fur-lined coats and cloaks. Spare food, clothing, blankets, and other necessities were slung over the back of a pony, none other than the unfortunate beast they'd taken from Bree. Bill the pony was now a member of the Fellowship and was aiding them along the way by caring for all the gear and goods.

Sam spent most of his time around the pony, worrying about taking the poor creature on such a dangerous mission. He was talking to his close friend as his desire for adventure was at its lowest. "Bill," he said, "you oughtn't to have taken up with us. You could have stayed in Imladris and et the best hay till the new grass comes." The pony was swishing his tail and simply gazing at Sam.

Sam slung the bag over his shoulders and mentally ran through all the items he'd stashed within, checking to see if he'd missed anything: his major prize, his cooking utensils, and the little box of salt. He always believed that adding seasoning to the meals that he prepared made the food taste better. And salt was the basis of the seasoning he always was carrying with him.

He went on like that trying to think if he had forgotten anything that could be important, and he remembered. He forgot to take the rope. 'And only last night you said to yourself: Sam, what about a bit of rope? You'll want it if you haven't got it. Well, I'll want it. I can't get it now.' he thought a sighed. But even today after they were parting from Rivendell he forgot about it as he was listening to Elrond calling the company and speaking his last words.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in gravest need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road."

And it seemed as if Elrond's last remarks stayed with everyone as they weighed his words along the journey. To their left now rose three peaks; the largest and closest stood crowned with snow; its enormous, barren northern precipice remained mostly in darkness, but burned crimson where the sunshine slanted upon it. The company rested their eyes along the way as the grey wizard informed them.

"We have done well," he acknowledged counting the distance that they had covered. "We have reached the borders of the country that Men call Hollin; many Elves lived here in happier days when Eregion was its name. Five-and-forty leagues, we have come, though many long miles further our feet have walked. The land and the weather will be milder now, but perhaps all the more dangerous."

"Dangerous or not, a real sunrise is a mighty welcome," said Frodo, throwing back his hood and letting the morning light fall on his face.

"But the mountains are ahead of us," outlined Pippin as he was watching the mountains ahead. "We must have turned eastwards in the night."

"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains." Gandalf paused, breathing deeply as he informed them."There are many maps in Elrond's house, but I suppose you never thought to look at them?"

"Yes I did, sometimes," defended Pippin, "but I don't remember them. Frodo has a better head for that sort of thing."

"I need no map," spoke Gimli, who had come up with Legolas, and was gazing out before him with a strange light in his deep eyes. "Maybe the elf would need one!" he scoffed looking at Legolas.

The elf did not seem to pay any attention to him. He was conscious of Gimli and his sardonic tone; if they were back in Imladris, he would share his thoughts with the dwarf, but his interest at the time was the company and their surroundings.

Xena let her eyes rest along the mountains as well listening to the company speak. It was the first time they have walked for so long without crossing paths with the enemy. For that she was thankful, but she could not stand back without noticing that the weather was getting worse and more dangerous. "Is there no other way," she asked, "we will end up freezing before passing through the mountains."

"Dark is the water of Kheled-zâram," said Gimli agreeing with her, "and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla. My heart trembles at the thought that I may see them soon."

"May you have the joy of the sight, my good dwarf, and the weather will turn dangerous, Xena," said Gandalf "But cannot remain in the valley. We must go down the Silverlode into the secret woods, and so to the Great River, and then To the end of the journey – in the end."

"How many days of walk, Gandalf?" asked Gimli feeling the need to complain about all the hiking his poor legs have to withstand.

"Forty days at least. If our luck holds, the gab of Rohan will still be open to us." Gandalf informed him receiving a terrifying look from everyone but he continued "I think we will rest tonight. There is a wholesome air about Hollin. Much evil must befall a country before it wholly forgets the Elves if once they dwelt there."

"That is true," verified the elf who had spoken for the first time since they had left Imladris. "The Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do not now remember them."

"Could those elves be much stranger, really?" Xena scowled at the elf, certain that his kind could not possibly get stranger than they already were.

"They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago," said Legolas ignoring her bitter comments as he dwelt into his surroundings.

Merry, started counting and mumbling to himself when he heard how many days they would travel "That would last us for three... Maybe four days."

"Merry where are we going? They didn't answer us that?" Pippin said, trying to have Merry notice him. But Merry was busy counting if their food would last them for forty days.

As Gandalf had promised, they built a fire in a deep depression surrounded by enormous holly bushes, and their dinner was more joyous than any since they started out. They did not rush to bed afterwards, since they planned to have the whole night to themselves and did not want to continue until the evening of the next day. Aragorn was silent and restless. Legolas had left the company to scout the area. And Aragorn followed him later. Xena was lost in her own mind as if visiting a distant memory or listening to the sounds she had forgotten for a while. The days she spent in Rivendell, had her already tasted a different world from the one she was living in. She was surprised with herself, but not relieved.

She used to roam freely with her trusted companion, Gabrielle, and they would camp every night under the open sky. Today she missed her, and she started recalling their old adventures smiling from time to time. She had not noticed Boromir who was observing her. Since they had announced that she would be part of the fellowship Boromir did not agree about the matter.

"Is everything all right, my lady?" Boromir inquired.

She regarded him and remembered the man's identity. "It is not as it seems!" Xena said as she focused her attention on Boromir. "I was only recalling about former times."

"Of your prior existence?" he said, his gaze fixed on the campfire. "I am aware that my thoughts have been racing since we left Rivendell."

"Of a lived life and the loss of a friend," Xena acknowledged. "I am aware of the weird times in which we live, Lord Boromir."

"So it seems, my lady, that we are proceeding with the destruction of the One Ring, that we have permitted the hobbit to choose our destiny, and that we have let a woman accompany us," Boromir said bluntly.

"I observed at the Council that you want to use the One Rings," Xena said, "despite the fact that it has been made plain that the ring should be undone. You should have greater trust in this Fellowship. We have no idea how difficult it is for Frodo to bear the ring, and you certainly have no idea of my skills."

Boromir was taken aback by her reaction, which demonstrated how effortlessly she could express herself. "You are more outlandish than I anticipated," he argued. "Whatever difficulties Frodo faces, he is just a hobbit, and you are merely a woman. You might jeopardise our mission or perhaps be the reason for our demise."

Xena regarded him with a wicked sneer. "No, I will not."

He couldn't dispute that her words and demeanour were resolute and fearless. The lady was unconcerned about travelling with a group of guys on this perilous trip. "You may perish," he remarked. "As you go with men, you could be in danger at any time. What gives you the courage to continue so fearless!"

She sighed, well aware that she was unlikely to prevail in an argument with this man. However, she was unconcerned. "You seem to have forgotten that I have died already and that death does not scare me. In fact, I like it." She brought it to his attention. Then she leaned against the fire, her eyes gleaming. "I may travel with men, but you never considered the possibility that I may be the one thing you should fear."

Boromir was dumbfounded because she had believed every word she had uttered for a little period. "What do you mean, are you a witch?" he hissed.

"No," Xena responded, angling away from the flames, "I do not need to be a witch to slay you, Lord Boromir; I am more than capable of wielding my blade!"

"The lass is correct," Gimli said abruptly; he had been watching their argument for a long minute and decided it was time to put an end to this nonsense. "She can handle that blade like no other woman I have ever seen."

"Have you seen many ladies who are capable of wielding a sword, Master Dwarf?" Boromir inquired.

"I have one," Gimli said, indicating Xena.

"As I already said, I possess a variety of abilities," she smirked at him.

The night unfolded with more conversation as the hobbits started asking questions and soon the debate ceased. Xena had noticed that Boromir did not like her and that he did not agree with her being part of this company. But she did not have to argue with him because she agreed. She always believed that trust was earned, from both sides. She did not have to prove anything, time would show if he could trust her, as well as she could him.

((Upcoming Chapter Thirty-Four))

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