A/N: I am sorry for the misspellings, English is not my main language.
After a long day walking they stopped for lunch and rest.
Sam cooked a meal of bread and meat for everyone, Boromir decided to give sword lessons to Merry and Pippin with the little help of Aragorn, they were the ones who needed the most of training as possible, in fact they needed a miracle, they were noisy, clumsy and troublemakers, it was Boromir's hardest quest yet to train them.
Gandalf decided to rest, he sat on a rock and having a chat with Gimli who complained about their chosen path and suggested that it was best if they passed through the mines of Moria, he explained that his cousin Balin could give them, what he called, a royal welcome, but the wizard didn't have the plan to go there anytime soon.
Legolas, instead stood on a massive Rock by the edge of the mountain helping Nìniel practice her sight, it was about her age when elven children develop long rage sight, children before the fourth year of age could see as good as a human.
She was having some problems with the focus. when she isn't concentrating everything after a certain distance was only a blur.
"man radag na- move nev i nimloth?" *what animal is moving near that tree?* Legolas asked smiling hoping that his daughter would say the right answer.
"A miog?" *a cat?* she asked still having her eyes on the far tree.
"Nay, i Hú" *No, a fox* he smiled "Ceri- ú- worrui cin" *do not worry, you will get better*
He looked at Nìniel ho still didn't turn to face him "Ceri- ú- dring- gryor, cin are er neth, cin gar- anand na len" *do not beat yourself up, you are still young, you have time to learn* but she still didn't react "Niniel?" he turned her to face her and saw sadness in her "Whui are cin near?" *why are you sad?* he asked.
She stared him for a moment before answering quietly "Ho das i fhry hain usdt n- hi hyrth" *he said that soon they won't be here anymore* she looked in his eyes "na- ha hre ada?" *is it true daddy?*
Legolas gave her a comforting smile and hugged her "-o iór ú-" *of course not*
He was fed up Sauron messing with his daughter's mind, he made a promised to himself that if he would face him he would kill him with his own hands.
He constantly wished to do it, that thought had always been in his mind, he wanted to end it all quickly, he must pay for the pain he has brought to his family.
Just the thought of having his hands on him made him feel accomplished.
Never an elf had those evil thoughts of their heads, but Legolas had all the right to have them, that creature had to suffer for everything he did to his daughter, no one should do that to a child, and he was sure that any parent of any race would feel what he felt if it were their child.
Legolas was going to have his revenge.
Nìniel watched confused her father, he was blanky looking in front of him, she didn't understand why, in her eyes, he looked like he was resting his mind, but she knew the circumstances were rather unusual.
She moved her attention from him and give it to a shadow in the sky.
"Ada" she called him then pointed in the dark form "Mani naa ta?" *what is it?*
Legolas turned to see it, a dark shadow moving in the sky, he sprinted to the closest rock to study it, focusing on it, trying to figure out what was it and give it a name.
Sam got distracted by the elf and moved his eyes on his direction, he quickly noticed that he was attracted by something, when he gazed up he saw it "what is it?" he questioned out loud so everyone could notice the shadow.
"nothing, it's just a cloud" replied Gimli waving his hand like he didn't care, it took him a quick glance to have an answer for them.
"it's moving fast... against the wind" Boromir reported worried.
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas shouted.
"Hide!" ordered Aragorn urgently.
Every one of the fellowship rushed in every direction in panic, some were hiding and some were hiding clues they were there.
Everything was going to fast for the child, she didn't understand what was happening around her, all the adults were suddenly running in every direction.
She panicked, she didn't know where to look and where to go, her face was getting hotter and tears were falling from her eyes as she froze in her spot.
"Niniel!" Legolas called his daughter who ran to him, he picked her up and hide her and himself under a bush wrapping his arms around her to protect her.
She was crying, she didn't understand anything, Legolas kept telling her to be quiet but she didn't understand.
He pulled her closed to him and she buried her face in his chest.
It was the only way she could feel secure in that madness.
There was a regiment of large crows flying over their heads at great speed, wheeling, and circling above. As the dark shadow passed over the fellowship, a single harsh croak was heard, the crows suddenly wheel away, back toward the south.
Once the flock had passed everyone emerged from their hidden place.
Gandalf staggered on his feet "spies of Saruman" he said "the passage south is being watched" he looked at the snowy mountains " we must take the pass of Caradhras!"
Nìniel cried on Legolas' arms, she refused to look up, she didn't like at all that loud sound of flapping wings, for her elven ear it felt like they were on her, she could still hear the echo of them in her mind.
"Ha na- tríw " *its fine* Legolas tried to reassure her as he held her strong in her arms occasionally bouncing her like he did when she was a baby, but it didn't help her sobs.
The campaign couldn't do anything but give a sympathy look as in their minds they were all telling themselves that a child shouldn't go on a journey like that.
She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, her damp tears instantly falling against his neck.
"there is no time for delay" Gandalf announced "gather yourself, we have a long journey ahead" he gave a reassuring look at Legolas than turned to leave scooting the hobbits to move.
As they were walking Nìniel was still clinging to him, he held the sobbing girl against him.
Stroking her hair with one hand he spoke to her "Nìniel, laes, tur- cin ten nin?" *Nìniel, baby, can you hear me?* He asked her, his protective voice trying to remain as calm as possible.
"Ada." She said in a choked sob.
"Ya, i's foeir, im'm hi." *that's right, I'm here.* He told her, stroking down her hair again. "m'm hi. Ha's oui. Itenso cin" *I'm here. It's okay. I've got you*
"Ta nae osse" *It was scary* She whined
"Amin ista, Amin ista, nan metta" *I know. I know, but it's done* He told her.
He kept whispering nothings into her hear, telling her that she was brave and that it was going to be okay
She quietly showed her face and looked around, she had stopped crying and her eyes were still teary, Legolas smiled at the sight of her face, he felt her hand cling onto the back of his shirt where her hands were linked around his neck.
Legolas continued stroking her hair until she calmed.
"Ada, Mani naa ta?" *Daddy, what is it?" Nìnien cheered full of joy from far away pointing at the cold white substance on the ground.
Legolas couldn't help it but smile at her daughter, it didn't take much for her to go back on being herself after the traumatic experience she had, after all, she was a child, she gets over everything in a matter of minutes.
He had let her run around the area, exploring and having fun in her world, she was just a bundle of joy for all the time and he knew she wouldn't stop anytime soon "I na- loss" *that is snow*
Legolas enjoyed the path because he could see his daughter having fun, it was her first time that she saw snow.
Legolas wasn't the only one enjoying the company of the laughter of the child, every one of the fellowship smiled at the delightful sound of happiness, that child had the gift to bring joy in people even in darkest times.
She crouched at the beginning of the white path, facing the new ground, she extended her finger and slightly touch it, when the tip touched it she quickly retract it and turned her head to the group
"Ha na- echor" *it is cold* She reported shocked like she had discovered a new element.
When the Snow was tall enough Pippin and merry knew exactly what to do, together the bowed on the floor and with their bare hands the scooped some of the snow and formed a sphere, a couple of seconds later they had begun a snow war between them.
Their high laugh filled the silence of the snowy mountain as they leaped, dodged, fall and run trying to defeat each other.
Nìniel was amazed by their new invention, soon enough she wanted to play that game too.
She crouched off the ground and with one hand grabbed the snow, but somehow it would break in her hand, she tried several times but she couldn't grab those snowballs like the hobbits.
Legolas noticed she was left behind, he saw her struggle with the snow, he quickly reached her
"Lle anta amin tu?" *do you need help?* he asked her smiling as he watched her attempt making a snowball.
"ya, im tur- ú-ceri-ha, tur-cin tu nin ada? " *yes, I can not do it, can you help me daddy?* she said disappointed, lowering her head.
Legolas couldn't help but smile at her, he showed her how to make a snowball.
Then they reached the fellowship who briefly stopped when they noticed the pair were left behind when they returned Legolas reassure them that nothing had happened and explained to them that she wanted to learn how to make a snowball.
Nìniel wanted to play the game the hobbits were playing, she created a ball and aim it at her father.
Her first few throws missed, Legolas thought that she was throwing just for fun, he didn't have any idea that the target was him, when he realized it it was too late.
she hit Legolas in the back.
"Hey!" he laughed, he turned to see her hysterical laughing at her success, she was clearly enjoying the snow, too much for his opinion.
He took the opportunity to throw a snowball back on her. At first, she was shocked at her first hit, but then she was determined to have her revenge.
The more she threw, the better her aim became, and soon she was running around and pelting snowballs like she'd been doing it her whole life. She even threw a huge snowball at Aragorn, he wasn't expecting a hit on his feet so he fell down.
"Oh, oh!" she exclaimed, running to his side. She hadn't meant to hurt him. "Amin hiraetha" * I'm sorry* she said, kneeling beside him.
He reached up and pulled her down beside him, tickling her. She squealed with laughter and got him back by shoving a handful of snow in his face. Aragorn sputtered.
"Amin hiraetha" * I'm sorry* Nìniel laughed, brushing the snow from his face.
He rubbed his cold hands against her cheeks, making her laugh again;
Suddenly Pippin and Merry clobbered them with snowballs, and in less than a second, a snowball war had begun.
The 'war' got interrupted when they saw Frodo fall, there was silence as Boromir picked the ring from the ground, and holding the chain, he stood, it seemed to grow in stature as if he was absorbing its power.
Niniel could feel the tension as Aragorn warily approached Boromir, she ran to her father who wrapped an arm around her.
Boromir was motionless, he stared at the ring.
"Boromir?" Aragorn called him.
"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small thing, such a little thing," Boromir said without taking his eyes off the ring, slightly touching it.
"Boromir," Aragorn said quietly "give the ring to Frodo," he said as his hand moved to his sword hilt
"as you wish, I care not," he said lightly and smiled at Frodo ruffling his hair and turned to the rest of the group.
No one was in the mood to play after that, Nìniel had tried to throw other snowballs but Legolas convinced her to not to, he explained the rest of the group could feel colder than elves and that they did not want to play at the moment.
At first, she fuss a bit but then she understood, she had to be content to walk beside him.
The fellowship struggled through a blinding blizzard in the Pass of Carathras, Legolas moved lightly across the top of the snow, he moved to the edge of the mountain to better hear the sound he heard through the wind.
"there is a fell voice in the air" he said urgently
"It's Saruman!" as Gandalf yelled as rocks and shales fell from above
"He's trying to bring down the mountain" Aragon yelled for making his voice hear "Gandalf! We must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf raised his staff and chanted into the storm "Lasto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho I ruith" *Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath*
Saruman's voice strengthened, rolling past the fellowship like a thunder, a lighting cracked exploded on the mountainside above them, Niniel looked up in horror as a huge thundered down toward them, she hugged strong her father waist but he picked her up and took her against the cliff face with the other members of the fellowship and used himself as a shield for her as snow crashes into the narrow ledge.
Within moments, the pass is blocked and the fellowship were enveloped in snow, Legolas was the first one out and pulled Niniel out too, he then saw Aragorn and Boromir frantically digging for the hobbits who were pulled out shivering and fearful.
The had to change the path, they could not proceed from there, they gather themselves and decided the fate of the quest.
"we must get off the mountain! Make for the gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city" Boromir suggested
"the gap of Rohan take s too close to Isengard" added Aragorn
"we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it, let us go through the mines of Moria" insisted Gimli
Gandalf had a concerned look on her face, he knew what Moria was hiding and he fears it,
"Let the ringbearer decide" he then said calmly.
Frodo looked at Sam his skin was white and his lips were blue.
We cannot stay here!" Boromir shouted, "This will be the death of the Hobbits!"
"Mani ume toi quena?" *what are they saying daddy?* Nìniel asked her father.
"hain samn lond sana" *they are deciding with path take* He simply answers trying his best to reassure her with a smile.
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked sadly.
The Ring-bearer turned to face Gandalf "We will go through the Mines."
Gandalf could not help but stare at the Hobbit with such sadness and terror "So be it."
NEXT CHAPTER: MORIA