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)
~ XXXV: The Pass of Caradhras ~
Caradhras, 3019 TA, January 11, 12
The Company moved off again quickly, but their path soon turned steep and arduous. The winding and ascending route was almost obstructed by falling stones in numerous areas. The pathway threaded through the mountains. To hike here was to weave themselves into nature, to become part of the cold of the place. Under heavy clouds, the night turned gloomy. A sour breeze blew amid the crags They reached the big mountains' knees around midnight. There was a steep ravine on the right, and a gulf of darkness on the left, where the ground abruptly plunged into a deep ravine.
They veered half east now and aimed their path towards Caradhras, which gleamed slightly crimson in the moonlight from afar. The air was once brisker; the wind was already reversing direction. Caradhras loomed large in front of them, a massive mountain crowned with snow. As a result, white snowflakes danced down their faces, leaving them with a chilling feeling on theirs.
They went on. But before long the snow was falling fast, filling all the air. The dark bent shapes of Gandalf and Aragorn only a pace or two ahead could hardly be seen. Gandalf halted. Snow was thick on his hood and shoulders; it was already ankle-deep about his boots.
"This is what I feared," the grey wizard said. "What do you say now, Aragorn?"
"That I feared it too," Aragorn answered, "but less than other things."
"The snow seldom falls heavily so far south," Xena observed ahead of them as the snow was getting stronger and heavier.
"I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy," said Boromir. "They say in my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that stand upon the borders of Mordor. He has strange powers and many allies."
"His arm has grown long indeed," said Gimli, "if he can draw snow down from the North."
"His arm has grown long," agreed Gandalf.
While they were stopped, the wind dropped down and the snow slowed to a near-halt. They continued trampling. However, they had not travelled more than a furlong when the storm reappeared with renewed ferocity. The wind whistled and the snow became a blinding blizzard. Soon even Boromir found it hard to keep going. The Company halted suddenly as if they had come to an agreement without any words being spoken. They heard eerie noises in the darkness around them.
"Winter deepens behind us. The heights away north are whiter than they were." Gandalf said as he snuffed the air. No one had talked for a long time. Perhaps it was a wind trick in the fissures and valleys of the granite wall, but the noises were those of piercing shouts and wild yells of laughter.
"We must go on," said Aragorn. "And it is no good our delaying the passage of the mountains. It's wise to cross it as fast as we can, my friend."
Stones began to fall from the mountainside, whistling over their heads, or crashing on the path beside them. Every now and again they heard a dull rumble, as a great boulder rolled down from hidden heights above. Frodo lost his balance while attempting to maintain his balance in the face of the ferocious storms. "Uh!" Frodo sighed and attempted to rise slowly.
"Frodo!" The ranger summoned him and escorted him to his feet. Frodo recovered his balance and immediately reached for his neck in search of the Ring. Detecting its absence. He cocked his head and returned his gaze up the hill. The Ring glimmered as it fell in the snow. Xena's eyes were drawn to the Ring, and she sensed its pull. It was as though the Ring immediately recognised her. Boromir then noted and took up the Ring by its chain.
"Boromir!" the ranger called up to him alarmed watching him closely.
"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing." Boromir said, "Such a little thing." He reached out to touch it. Everyone turned their attention to Boromir. Who seemed that be lost in the sparkle of the one ring.
"Boromir!" Aragorn called him again. "Give the Ring to Frodo!"
Boromir descended gently. Aragorn's hand was on the sword's hilt. He extended the one Ring. "As you wish," Boromir said. Frodo abruptly grasped the Ring. "I don't care," he concluded. Boromir resumed his climb. When the Ranger let go of his weapon, Frodo cast a doubtful look his way.
Gandalf's staff ploughed through the snow, making a path through a developing storm as Gandalf led the Fellowship up the Pass's narrow ledge. Everyone followed since they had a nagging suspicion that something was awry. Legolas made a beeline for the exit. His movements were light, and he glided over the snow's surface, his gaze fixed on the blinding storm. The others were half-hidden in the snow. With that, he sprang forth nimbly, and they noticed as if for the first time, the Elf wore only light boots, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow.
Everybody except her. Xena observed the elf defying gravity by not sinking into the snow. That, however, was not what astonished her. It was her own capacity to move swiftly through the snow. "This cannot be," she was referring to her own capacity to avoid sinking completely like the others.
"How did he manage to achieve that?" Pippin inquired in astonishment, temporarily forgetting about the bad weather.
"I begin to despise the elves more," Xena continued, glaring at Legolas.
Gimli said as he attempted to pass in front of them, "No elf triumphs." However, it proved to be more difficult than he anticipated.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" the elf said ignoring the rest and their bitter comments about his abilities.
"Shelter!" muttered Sam. Bill the pony stood patiently close to Sam and dejectedly in front of the hobbits, and screened them a little; but before long the drifting snow was above his hocks, and it went on mounting.
The Company gathered as near to the brink as possible. It faced south and leaned out somewhat towards the bottom, which they believed would provide some shelter from the northerly wind and falling stones. However, eddying gusts encircled them on all sides, and the snow poured down in even heavier clouds.
"This will be the death of the halflings, Gandalf," said Boromir. "We must do something to save ourselves."
"Give them this," said Gandalf, searching in his pack and drawing out a leathern flask. "Just a mouthful each – for all of us. It is miruvor, the cordial of Imladris. Elrond gave it to me at our parting. Pass it around!"
As soon as they consumed a little amount of the warm and aromatic liquid, they felt an increase in heart power, and the heavy sleepiness departed their limbs. They were also resurrected and infused with new hope and vitality. However, the snow continued to fall. It spun thicker than ever around them, and the wind-blasted louder.
A light voice could be heard against the loathing wind "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai larvae Grassley!" [Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be bloodstained!]
Gimli looked up and shook his head. "Caradhras has not forgiven us," he said. "He has more snow yet to fling at us if we go on."
"It's Saruman!" said the Grey Wizard.
A swarm of granite slabs and boulders plummeted from the mountain's arms with a piercing echo. The Fellowship pressed themselves against the steep rock face, avoiding the stone attack.
The Gray wizard shouted "No!" and stepped out onto the ledge, rising on the snow "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho I 'ruith!" [Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!]
Both wizards engaged in a lengthy struggle, with Saruman trying to awaken the mountain and the other to put it back to sleep. The remainder were attempting to survive. As lightning struck the tip of Caradhras, fresh snow fell on everyone. Legolas pulled Gandalf off the precipice, squeezing him against the rock just before the ice fell. They were eventually buried under the snow. Almost immediately, everyone attempted to emerge.
"We must get off the mountain!" said Boromir. "Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" the Ranger noted.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go, through the mines of Moria," suggested Gimli.
Gandalf was uncertain, of the unspoken terror. He seemed to be conflicted. Finally, he said, "Let the Ring-bearer decide."
Boromir holding Merry and Pippin to him. Both hobbits seemed cold and extremely pale. He shouted, "We cannot stay here!"
Gandalf called him again "Frodo?"
Frodo's legs ached. He was chilled to the bone and hungry; and his head was dizzy as he thought of the long he finally spoke "We will go through the mines."
"So be it." agreed Gandalf with a worried heart.
The Fellowship didn't linger any longer. They passed south, along with the misty shadow of an aqueduct's ruin. It was approaching dark, and the grey light was rapidly fading, when they came to rest for the night. They were exhausted. The mountains were shrouded in a thickening gloom, and the wind was very cold. Gandalf spared them one more mouthful of Rivendell's miruvor.
The Company ascended to the top of the tiny hill behind which they had been hiding in the night to defend themselves. It was capped by a knot of ancient and twisted trees, around which lay a shattered circle of boulder stones. They kindled a fire in the middle of this, since there was little chance that darkness and stillness would conceal their route from the hunting packs.
They sat around the fire, and those who were not on watch slept uncomfortably. Bill the pony shook and perspired as he stood. The wolves' howling was now all about them, sometimes closer, sometimes farther away. Many bright eyes were observed looking over the crest of the hill in the dead of night. Several advanced close to the stone ring. Suddenly a wolf hissed and sprang at them. There was a harsh twang at that point. Legolas's bow had been dislodged. There was a horrible shriek, and the jumping from thudded to the ground, its neck struck by the elvish arrow. Gandalf and Aragorn advanced, but the hill had been abandoned.
The night was drawing to a close, and the declining moon gleamed intermittently through the breaking clouds westward. The majority of the group had fallen asleep since the wolves could no longer be heard. The elf stayed vigilant throughout the night, fearful of another beast's appearance. Aragorn, Gandalf, Xena, and Boromir were unable to sleep and stood vigil until the early light.
By dawn, they would take the road to Moria...
((Upcoming Chapter Thirty-Six))
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