I do not own the Lord of the Rings, nor its characters or places. I only own Mÿne.


Aragorn's POV

They were traveling for weeks now. It was the 65th day already. They had just passed the Nîn-in-Elph. Or, the Swanfleet, as Gandalf translated to the Hobbits. At the foot of the mountains they took a little rest. Sam started a little fire to make some lunch for the fellowship. Aragorn watched him blow on the flames. He shifted his gaze to Mÿne, his student, who leaned against the yellowish rocks. She had her face lift up, trying to catch some weak sunbeams. Aragorn sighed. She had grown fast in the past four years. She became brave and independent. And although he was proud...it made him feel sad too. He couldn't teach her more. She'd already learned everytime he had to offer. With a quick smile he sat down on the stones beneath him. He filled his pipe with some of Pippin's pipe-weed. With a watchful eye he watched as Boromir took place beside him. He too sighed and leaned backwards against the stones.

"The path we face is no easy one, my friend." Boromir said as he closed his eyes. Aragorn did not respond. Although he liked the young Captain of Gondor, and he understood why Boromir was being desperate. It was no easy thing to see your people fight and die for a cause that seemed hopeless. But still, sometimes Boromir got on Aragorn's nerves.

"No path involving the One Ring is easy. It attracts bad luck and enemies. But you knew this, otherwise you wouldn't be with us here...my friend." Aragorn said. Boromir stayed quiet after that. But, Aragorn had to admit, Boromir was right. It was no easy path and Aragorn wondered if Frodo could withstand the Ring. And if he could...would he survive? Would they all?


Mÿne watched Merry and Pippin practice their fighting skills. They had picked Boromir as their target. There was sight of improvement. Despite the cheating... But hey, everything was allowed at the battlefield. Behind her she heard Gandalf and Gimli talk. Gimli was eager to tell them about the grand halls of Moria, where his kin lived. But it seemed like Gandalf didn't want to hear it. Mÿne laughed when Merry and Pippin jumped on Boromir and kind of tackled him to the ground. Then Aragorn started to get involved in it. But just when he wanted to grab the shoulder of one of the hobbits, they threw him on the ground too by grabbing his foot. They shared a laugh and the hobbits complimented each other on the way they took care of the Man. But soon Mÿne's attention was drawn by something else. Their was a black something in the sky. It was still vague, and it moved fast. Still, Mÿne didn't trust it. She rushed to her feet and ran over to Gandalf.

"There is something coming this way. I do not know what it is."

Gandalf nodded, he had spotted the swarm of something himself.

"It's probably just a cloud." Gimli said, still annoyed by the discussion with Gandalf.

"But it's moving fast...and against the wind." Boromir said, getting up.

Mÿne looked at Legolas who, alarmed, stood on a rock. He peered at the sky.

"Crebain, from Darkland!" he cried out.

Aragorn didn't hesitate, he commanded for everyone to take shelter. Mÿne crouched down and pushed herself between a narrow cave of rocks. She felt some pointy rock scratch her arms and she felt squashed, but she was out of sight. Sam put out the flames of the campfire they made. He picked up his bags and thew himself in the bushes nearby. Aragorn grabbed Frodo and pulled them into the darkness of the small trees. Boromir rushed past Mÿne and dived in the same bush with Merry and Pippin as Sam had. Gandalf, Gimli and Legolas had take shelter under a pair of small trees behind the small cave. Within seconds a large group of birds rushed over the small mountains. Mÿne could see the small campfire still smoldering. She squished her eyes shut and listened to the birds that circled around them. It seemed like hours... Mÿne didn't even dared to breath.

As soon as the birds came, they went. Behind her she heard the shuffle of feet. Aragorn's head popped up before her.

"It is safe now. You can come out." he said. Mÿne smiled and pushed with her feet to the backside of the narrow cave. She stretched out her arms and crawled with all her might. She brushed herself off when she came out of her little hiding place. She looked at the fellowship. They frowned at themselves, worried.

"Saruman may have seen us." Gandalf said sighing. For a moment he looked up to the mountain. The tip of it was concealed by misty clouds. "We must take the path of Caradhras."


It was cold. Wind rushed trough Mÿne's cloak. The snow cracked underneath her boots. She walked next to Boromir, who sheltered himself from the snow with his shield. Mÿne slowed down her pace and started to walk behind Boromir. The wind became less and so did the cold. Suddenly she heard a small cry behind her. She twirled around and saw Frodo roll down the snowy hill they were climbing. Aragorn rushed towards him, trying to catch him. Mÿne watched as even Boromir started to jog down the road towards them. Halfway he stopped. He was looking down. Very slowly he bent over and picked something up. Mÿne had a slight suspicion. She wanted to cry out to Aragorn who was helping Frodo up. Frodo had already noticed something was wrong. He was searching his neck frantically. Mÿne focused her attention back on Boromir, who seemed to have no other interest but the Ring.

Mÿne had to do something.

"WAIT!" she yelled to the front of the fellowship. That caught everyone's attention. Except Boromir's...

"Boromir!" Aragorn yelled.

Frodo looked at Boromir doubtful. Like he was scared that Boromir would suddenly run off with the One Ring.

"It is a strange thing that we suffer so much fear and doubt...over so small thing." Bormir mumbled softly. Even through the ice wind Mÿne could hear him. "Such a little thing..." and he reached with his other hand for the Ring.

"Boromir!" Aragorn yelled again.

Boromir jumped up a little, shocked. He seemed dazed.

"Give the Ring to Frodo." Aragorn said demanding.

Slowly Boromir walked towards them. Unwillingly, like something was stopping him to do so.

"As you wish." he said.

For a moment Mÿne saw his fist clench, trying to keep the Ring. But the Frodo snatched it out of his hand. Boromir mumbled something Mÿne could not understand. She watched him like an eagle when he ruffled Frodo's hair, pulled his shield up his shoulders and walked past her. Although she was suspicious of him, she knew what it felt like. Hadn't she felt the same, back in Bree? Just as she turned away to walk further something caught her eye. Aragorn released his hand on his sword.

So he also didn't trust Boromir...


The snow of the mountain Caradhras reached up to Mÿne's knees. She shivered. She'd traveled through icy rain, storms and chilly winds. This, however, was a whole new level. And if she thought she was having a hard time, the hobbits and Gimli seemed to have it worse. They were covered in snow up to their shoulders. They were literally fighting their way through. At one point Boromir and Aragorn took them on their backs, the hobbits being unable to make themselves a path through the thick snow. Gimli was too heavy but still a head taller than the hobbits. Mÿne huffed impatiently when Legolas walked by atop of the snow. Of course, elves were light as snow itself. They could easily walk on it. That thought didn't cheer Mÿne up. Gandalf tried to make himself a path with his staff but he was slower than usual.

Mÿne clenched her teeth. They were chattering for a while now and she could use that energy in a better way. Just when she thought they couldn't go any slower, they stopped.

"There is a fell voice in the air." Legolas said to Gandalf. It seemed even elves didn't have to raise their voices to overpower the wind. They listened for a couple of seconds. Indeed, a dark and sharp voice was shouting various words in a language Mÿne couldn't understand.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted. He tried to stand on the edge of the ledge they were standing on and spread his arms.

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

"NO!" Gandalf shouted back to Aragorn.

Then he started to shout the same words in the same weird language back at the sky. Before they knew it, the ledge above them broke.

Mÿne threw herself against the mountain, trying to keep herself standing. Snow and rock were falling down, making horrible loud noises. Snow covered her sight and ears and it felt like a huge weight was put on her, trying to crush her. Her breathing became difficult. She was cold. Suddenly she felt someone grab her armpit, pulling her out of the pile of snow. She took a huge gulp of air, coughing. Mÿne stared at Legolas' face for a minute.

"Thanks." she mumbled while she crawled out of the pile by herself. Everyone was covered in snow, trying to catch their breath.

"We must get of the mountain!" Boromir yelled, "Make for the gap of Rohan. We'll make a way to my city!"

Mÿne frowned while shivering. That would get them too close to the enemy. Besides, they'd have to pass Isengard for it. Saruman wouldn't let them pass alive.

"That's folly!" she yelled at him.

"The gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn said, voicing her thoughts exactly.

"We cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the mines of Moria." Gimli said with his gruff voice.

Mÿne shot a look at Gandalf, He frowned worriedly. He didn't say anything for a moment. He just stood there, in the cold. Thinking.

"Gandalf?" Mÿne asked. She too grew impatiently by the cold and the threat of danger.

"Let the Ringbearer decide..." he said eventually.

Frodo looked up. Everyone looked at him, almost pleading for not letting them in this cold. And if even worse, Boromir spoke up again.

"We cannot stay here!" he yelled, "This will be the death of the hobbits!"

Mÿne shot a look at Sam, Merry and Pippin, who were pale, except for their red noses. They were shivering all over.

"Frodo?" Gandalf asked. The snow on his beard made him even look older then he already was.

"We will go through the mines..." Frodo said, he himself shivering as well. But Mÿne couldn't figure out if it was because of the cold, or fear.

"So be it." said Gandalf, and he sounded worried.

Mÿne looked at him, she wanted to ask what was down there that made him, a wizard, so worried? But she held her question and followed the fellowship down the path they had taken.


"So, what's down there?" Mÿne decided to ask Gimli. He was a dwarf of course, if anyone knew, it was him.

"Down where? The mines?" he gave a quick brisk laugh, "Roaring fires, beer and fresh meat right off the bone!" he said.

"Well, that does sound good to me." Pippin said, walking up to them. "I'm starved! And I wouldn't refuse a good drink too."

"You think too much about food, Master Took." Aragorn said, passing by.

Still, Mÿne could see him smile.

"You should think about it more often, you look skinny, Strider." Pippin said laughing.

Mÿne cracked a smile. Talking with Pippin always made her feel good. She didn't know how, but Pippin made her feel her at ease. It was probably because he always was upbeat. Or something like that.

"My cousin Balin will grant us a royal welcome, mark my words young hobbit." Gimli ensured. He nodded to himself. Mÿne walked down the hill. It was getting dark now and she was kind of hungry.

They came to a small lake, surrounded by dark stone walls. A couple of trees stood by the side of the water. There was only one road, and that was the one they were walking on.

"It's a dead end. Did we walk the wrong way?" Mÿne asked.

"No, this is the right path." Gimli said. "There's a hidden door somewhere, granting acces to the mines."

"Well, we could use a rest." Pippin said, peering in the dark. "I figure it will take a while to find this door of yours, Gimli."

And he was right.


They sat around the lake for two hours now, and they sought for the door. But they didn't find anything.

Mÿne sat on a rock, nibbling on a piece of bread she found in her pocket. Beside her sat Frodo, also chewing on some bread. Gandalf was mumbling to himself. He had revealed the Mithrin doors, but that's as far as they had come. Gandalf had tried every spell or language he mastered but it hadn't done anything. They made a defeated impression.

Mÿne looked behind her. Boromir was shaking his head. Mÿne could tell he wished they'd made for the gap of Rohan. And as it seemed now they had to after all... Legolas was talking to Aragorn in a whispering voice. Mÿne couldn't catch their conversation, but frankly, it wasn't her business. She heard splashing sounds and watched as Merry and Pippin threw stones in the water. They were bored and holding a contest who was best at it. Suddenly Aragorn broke of his conversation with Legolas and walked over to the two hobbits. He grabbed Pippin's arm and shook his head.

"Don't disturb the water..." he warned.

Mÿne looked over to Legolas, who oddly enough, was looking at her. Their gazes met and Mÿne broke hers with his piercing blue eyes. She jumped up when Frodo started talking.

"It's a riddle. 'Speak 'Friend' and enter." he said. Then he turned to Gandalf. "What is the elvish word for 'Friend'?"

"Mellon." Mÿne answered for him.

With a cracking sound the Mithrin doors opened slowly. Mÿne got up and watched as a black hole in front of them revealed itself.

"Finally!" Merry sighed. He picked up his bag and walked over to Frodo.

When they had packed all of their bags and walked inside Mÿne had to squint her eyes to adjust at the darkness.

"For a royal welcome it's kind of dark in here, Gimli." she said.

"The mines are big. This is just the entrance." he said gruffly. "Soon you will enjoy the hospitality of the dwarves."

They started to walk up the steps towards the inside of the mine. Mÿne found it quiet inside. No dwarves talking, no other footsteps than their own...It was kind of strange.

A small point of light emerged in front of Mÿne. Gandalf had made some light at the end of his staff. Only by squinting her eyes again, Mÿne could make out a little stone she'd never seen on his staff before. Had it always been there?

"It's home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine! A mine!" Gimli continued, laughing loud.

Mÿne adjusted her eyes to the picture in front of them. Strange feelings weld up inside of her. Her eyes were wide and a tingle went up her spine. Her feet stepped on something that cracked. She jumped back, her hand on her sword.

This was no mine. At least, not any more. Before them layed bodies. Many good-looking to be orcs or goblins. Besides, orcs and goblins don't wear dwarf armor. Gimli grew quiet and looked at the bodies of his kin. He started to yell, ran over to a body and yelled again, grief this time.

Behind him Legolas pulled out a arrow of a dead dwarf's skull. He looked at the tip and threw it down on the stone floor.

"Goblins." he said, confirming Mÿne's thoughts.

They drew swords and bows. Aiming at nothing particular in the dark before them. The hobbits made little sounds of fear. Sam even threw up on the side of the room.

"We make for the gap of Rohan. We should've never come here." Boromir said in a low tone, while looking at Aragorn like it was his fault.

The hobbits scurried backwards.

"Now get out of here. GET OUT!" Boromir yelled.

A scream was heard. Mÿne turned around and watched as Frodo was pulled into the lake by a large tentacle. She yelled and ran after him, trying to grab his outstretched hands. She grabbed his collar and pulled. Sam got over his fear and tried to slice the tentacle holding Frodo.

The tentacle withdrew but more came instead. They pushed the hobbits and Mÿne off Frodo and pulled him up in the air. Aragorn and Boromir flew past Mÿne into the lake. Mÿne crawled up and reached for her bow. She took her stand next to Legolas and aimed for the beast's gigantic head. She spread her feet, and sent arrows at it. The beast roared and mowed with it's tentacles. It pulled Frodo higher and higher, and opened his mouth.

"FRODO!" Mÿne yelled and she struck the beast with her arrows.

One of them hit him in the eye. Aragorn slashed his tentacle and the beast dropped Frodo into his arms. Quickly, he and Boromir ran out of the lake.

"INSIDE, INSIDE!" Aragorn yelled, running with all the strength he had left over.

Mÿne turned on her heels and ran. She heard the sliding sound of the beast climbing out of the lake, onto the land. She tried to run faster. Next to her, Legolas grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. The beast roared furiously. They were almost there. Almost.

With a quick jump they dived through the doors. Stone scraped against her arms and shoulder, she felt her head bump into something. Luckily it wasn't something hard so it didn't hurt that much. She scrambled back on her feet and ran the last couple of meters to the rest. The beast behind her tried to get in, pulling itself up on the doors but they couldn't hold it. They collapsed with a thunderous sound.

Stone and rock were rolling over Mÿne and she held her arms over her head. She fell down again. Darkness took over.

With a sound of wood on stone Gandalf made light again. Mÿne opened her eyes and jumped away from the body she fell on. She brushed herself off and winced when she touched her shoulder. It was grazed and it bled. She looked at the rest. They were shocked, but seemed okay. She turned around to look at the doors, but they were no more. They were locked in. And there was only one way out.