"What is that?" I looked up in alarm as I heard someone ask.

"Nothing but a wisp of cloud." Gimli brushed off.

"It does not look like a cloud." I commented suspiciously already shooing the Hobbits into places to hide.

"It is going against the wind, and quickly." Aragorn murmured in alarm.

"Quickly, down!" I hissed before Legolas could say his piece.

Everyone dove for cover, and just in time. The unsightly crows flocked down to caw and screech, obviously looking for something. We were lucky to have avoided them, I just knew. After they had disappeared, I swept my gaze over my companions in a head count. Everyone was accounted for, and not worse for wear.

"The path we have chosen is being watched. We will have to go over Caradhas."

I hadn't been in such cold conditions before. I couldn't help but hope I could handle it.


I followed Legolas over the snow, glancing briefly at the others stuck in the freezing mess. I listened as Gimli grumbled about the cold. It wasn't so bad as the Hobbits lobbed snow balls at each other and kept the mood light.

I watched Legolas prepare a snowball just for Gimli and throw it with grace right into his beard. Gimli spluttered at the freezing snow peppering his person. I discreetly scooped some white powder up, and snuck behind the chortling elf. I quickly slipped the snow down the back of his shirt and took off like a shot. I hear him shout in surprise, as well as soft footfalls behind me. I laughed as I tried to out maneuver my pursuer. I felt a weight collide with my back and squealed quietly as he tackled me to the snow, holding me tight against himself and rolling us to our sides. He had us sit up, but continued to keep me trapped against him.

I craned my head back to get a glimpse of amused eyes. "You are more mischievous than I first thought." His voice hummed in my ear.

"I'm full of surprises, I'm told." I grinned cheekily. I wriggled around, then slipped from his grip and bounded away. Perhaps if I had turned, I would have seen the knowing look Aragorn shot at Legolas.

Gimli was chortling in turn at my little prank on our company's Elf. The others stared after me wide eyed as I practically shot ahead. Gandalf called for the shenanigans to cease as I continued to stare ahead.

We trudged up farther into the mountains, shimmying across cliffs. It was around then, that the snowfall became strong and harsh. I actually felt myself shivering slightly from the cold. My clothes had a thick layer of frost coating the outside and drenched the cloth, causing it to stick to my skin. Legolas kept his eyes aloft, looking for enemies or cover from the snow. I noticed his eyes travel back to me every now and again with some indiscernible emotion prominent in his expression.

It wasn't long before I heard voices. "There's a fell voice in the air." Legolas called. We all listened to the wind. I heard the rumble before I saw them. "Naerwen!" I felt him pushing me away from the rocks as they rained down on us. The world was dark for a while. Sounds were muffled, and I was reminded vividly of my time in my mother's womb in this life. Only, it was cold. I began to dig my way out."...wen? Naerwen!" I could hear Legolas' voice getting louder. I broke through the snow and shook my head to rid my face and hair of clinging snow.

"Little help?" I asked sweetly. Legolas chuckled in relief. He helped me climb out of my snowy pit. The others were also slowly getting out of the snow. All of the Hobbits were already unearthed, as well as the bigger people. My head was a bit fuzzy, so I missed most of what was said around me.

"We cannot stay here! It will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir cried.

"Our ring bearer will decide. Frodo, what say you?" Gandalf addressed the poor Hobbit.

"We will go through the mines..." Frodo looked unsure in his decision. I patted his shoulder.

"So be it." I heard Gandalf's heavily burdened words. I repressed the shudder of the horrors I had decided to willingly face ahead of us.


"You are beginning to see her in a new light." Aragorn murmured to his Elven friend.

"Perhaps." Legolas breathed as he watched the Elfling in question stare around her on high alert. Like a rabbit or a deer, her eyes were darting this way and that, trying to take in as much as possible. "She is very strange. But not in a sinister manner." Her ear twitched at a falling pebble below and her eyes darted down to follow the stone's descent. "She seems shy, and skittish in one moment, but as fierce and proud as a warrior in another moment. She puzzles me. I think that is what drew my father to her... She is unique."

"She is shivering..." Aragorn murmured. "Perhaps tonight you should stay by her side. Boromir, Gimli and I can take the watch tonight."

"No. I can take first watch." Legolas glanced around again. "I feel she may reject such advances. After all, the one she is most suspicious of is me."

"Your father's influence, I assume?" Aragorn whispered.

"He wishes me to marry. But he doesn't think just any Elleth will do." Legolas sighed. "I have not shown any interest in any Elleth accept..." Legolas took a deep breath. "And she has faded away in mourning for the one she loved. I did not realize that I had spoken so much of her to him. He imagines an attachment on my part, and wishes to 'help things along'." He closed his eyes for a moment in frustration. "I am sure she has no intention to form an attachment." He noticed that they had found a place to rest. She was already setting up a fire to warm up the others.

"Step aside, girl. Let a Dwarf handle the fire." Gimli gruffly rumbled good naturedly.

"Of course, master Dwarf." She submitted with a smirk. She turned to set up her bedroll far enough from the fire to not get burned while she slept, but close enough to stay warm.

Legolas was quick to claim a spot nearby. Aragorn chuckled to himself as he realized that they looked like some invisible force was slowly pulling them together. And they had no idea.