Hello all! Finally an update! I'm sorry it took me so long. I've been so busy lately, I even have to go into work on Sunday for a few hours and in all honesty I don't want to, but I have no choice. So, I've worked double time tonight to be sure that I finished this chapter. I'm going to be running around town tomorrow, but if I get time I'll do my best to finish up Chapter 7 so I can update again, but I'm not promising anything. Thank you so much for your reviews because they mean so much to me! I hope you like this chapter, and as I say every single time let me know what you think!
Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in Elvish.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 6
They were very close to the mountains when the finally took their mid-day break. They sat among a very large group of rocks and caves. Carita had eaten already and was looking south, while Pippin and Merry practiced their sword skills with Boromir while Aragorn watched and called out words of encouragement or tactics. "If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome," Gimli said and Carita looked over her shoulder and at the dwarf that walked over to where Gandalf sat smoking his pipe. Legolas was walking towards her and settled on one of the rocks next to her. However, she paid no mind and watched Gandalf and Gimli talk.
"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf said.
"Carita," Legolas said and she looked at him. "Do you see that?" he asked her quietly as his eyes focused on something in the great distance. Carita followed his eyes. There was a large dark mass that was blended into the dark clouds that floated high in the sky.
"Aye, I see it," she whispered, but she knew she had to strain her sight much more than he did. Her attention was drawn on the moving mass, but she heard the hobbits and Boromir laugh and a ruckus.
"What is that?" Sam asked and Carita took a slow breath.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud," Gimli said.
"That is no cloud," Carita whispered.
"It's moving fast…against the wind," came Boromir's voice and when she realized what it was Carita took a sharp breath.
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas exclaimed.
"Hide!" Aragorn yelled and they quickly moved. Aragorn grabbed the packs before he rushed over to where Frodo and Sam were. "Frodo! Hurry! Take cover!" As Carita made to hide in a gap between the boulders, she was pulled under the thick brush and covered protectively. Her eyes were closed, but she did not need to open them to know who had pulled her with them. The cawing of the birds echoed around them and the person that held her tightened their grip around her waist. Their hair was brushing against her face as she figured their head was turned to watch the birds fly overhead.
The birds circled the rocks, and Carita opened her eyes just as Legolas turned his eyes to face her. She looked at him with a furrowed brow as he looked back at her. They remained silent though while the birds started to fly away. When they had gone, Legolas remained where he laid and Carita looked away from him.
"It's safe to get out now," she said before she looked back at him. "Please get off of me," she whispered and with a frown Legolas quickly climbed from under the brush and helped her out. Carita kept her eyes from his as she let go of his hand and quickly walked over to where Gandalf stood watching the birds fly away. Gandalf glanced at her and her ruffled expression, but turned to face the others.
"Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras," Gandalf said as he turned his eyes to the mountain pass.
"It will be cold for you, and the others," Carita said softly. "That pass is dangerous even in the summer." Gandalf looked at her.
"We must try, Carita," he said as he glanced at Legolas and that back at her. She shook her head and moved over to where Aragorn had hidden her things. Quickly she pulled out her pack and took out her cloak and carried it over to Gandalf. Gandalf looked at the brown material and she smiled a nervous smile.
"You shall need this more than I," she told him gently and he smiled before he took the offered cloak with a nod. She pulled on her pack and fixed her sword belt when a hand was suddenly on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder and Legolas was looking at her intently.
"I was only trying to hide you, they were nearly upon us. You have no cause to fear me," he told her and she could see the honestly flooding his eyes and Carita frowned. How he knew that she became frightened, she didn't know because she was usually so well at hiding what she felt.
"Then I thank you for that, but next time, know better than to put your hands on me," she told him and turned away as she followed Gandalf up the mountain. Legolas sighed heavily and shook his head as he watched her walk away. He hadn't meant to frighten her, he only wanted to protect her from the eyes of Saruman's spies, but it seemed that he had once again found himself in her bad graces.
"I'd listen to her words," Aragorn said as he stood beside Legolas and the elf looked at him. "Perhaps you should keep your distance," Aragorn said and Legolas frowned as they began to follow the marching party. They had taken all they could from Bill for the pony couldn't make the journey, and they left him amongst the large rocks.
"Why?" Legolas asked and Aragorn sighed quietly and looked at him before he turned his eyes to the others. Carita walked along side Gandalf and she did not look back, Frodo and Sam behind them followed by Gimli, then Merry and Pippin, then Boromir.
"You are allowing yourself to get too close to her," Aragorn whispered and Legolas looked away from the man and at the others just as he was. However, he did find that his eyes moved to the Maia and rested there more than any other place.
"You don't know what you speak of," Legolas said as he settled his eyes on Merry and Pippin when he noticed Pippin slip a bit on the wet stone.
"I know what I speak of, my friend. I can see it," Aragorn said firmly and Legolas simply ignored him before he marched up the line on top of the snow they had already come across to help Merry and Pippin along. Aragorn sighed and shook his head as he took to the rear of the party on his own and thought no more of his Elvin friend and the Maia, perhaps he was wrong and he had hoped that that was the case.
They continued up the slope and Carita heard grunt and like the others turned around and saw Frodo being helped up by Aragorn further down the hill. Frodo regained his footing and reached at his neck. Carita knew he was reaching for the Ring out of instinct and that was when she noticed Boromir kneel down and pick something up from the snow. She listened intently when she saw a flash of gold in Boromir's hands.
"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt…over so small a thing. Such a little thing," Boromir said very softly but she heard him all the same and she knew Legolas had too. He reached to touch the Ring and Carita frowned.
"Boromir!" Aragorn said firmly and the man jumped slightly and lowered his hand as he looked at Aragorn. "Give the Ring to Frodo," Aragorn said and Carita saw his hand was set on the hilt of his sword. Boromir stepped forward and held out the chain to Frodo who took it quickly.
"As you wish," Boromir said. "I care not." He turned around and walked up the mountain. Aragorn let go of his sword while Frodo put the Ring's chain back around his neck. They started up the path again and Carita sighed quietly as she glanced at Gandalf and they set off once more.
"The pull is strong on him," she said softly and Gandalf glanced at her. "I fear for him."
"He is a strong man, he will fight it," Gandalf said.
"What if he can't?" Carita asked.
"We have to hope, Carita," he said and Carita nodded as she glanced over her shoulder and sighed before she turned her eyes ahead and to their path.
The weather had turned treacherous as they marched along the high cliffs. The snow was falling so steadily and hard that Carita even had trouble keeping her footing on top of the snow. Like Legolas, Carita had the luxury of walking on top of the thick and freezing snow. She squinted and looked ahead to see Legolas moving ahead of Gandalf and looking off into the distance once more. He was focusing on something, and she did the same thing, letting her ears listen.
"There is a fell voice in the air," Legolas called over the roaring of the wind and Carita nodded as she moved to where Legolas stood. She chose to forgive him for his actions earlier, but had yet to speak to him about it.
"Saruman," she whispered when she heard the chanting voice of the white wizard.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted so the others would know. Boromir carried Merry and Pippin while Aragorn carried Frodo and Sam. Gimli was trudging on his own, but having difficulty all the same. A loud echo shook the mountain and sent a large slide of rocks and snow hurdling towards them. They threw themselves against the stone wall, and Carita was once again being covered by Legolas. However, that time she did not mind. Somehow she had slipped when she made to move to the wall, and if had not grabbed when he had, she would have been hurt. Determination in his hard strides, Gandalf moved forward and raised his staff and hands before he chanted back.
"Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith! (Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)" he shouted. Legolas looked to Carita.
"Could you help him?" he asked and Carita shook her head.
"I do not have his powers," she said and Legolas nodded. Right then she wished that she had been made and Istari so she had the power to help him. All her powers were in battle only and in song and dance. She had nothing to offer to still the mountain against Saruman.
Lightening stuck the top of the mountain and Carita looked up to see a cascade of snow descending on them. With speed, Legolas reached for Gandalf and pulled him back from the edge before he once again wrapped his arms around Carita. When the mountain stilled and the snow stopped falling, Legolas helped Carita break free of the snow and she took a deep breath of the cold air.
"Are you alright?" he asked and Carita nodded.
"We should help the others," she said and the broke out of the snow completely and moved to help Boromir and Aragorn pull the hobbits from the snow. Legolas helped Gimli and they all looked at Gandalf. The hobbits were shaking violently from the cold. Everyone was covered in snow and Carita's clothes were soaked and she was chilled, but not freezing.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir called as he looked at Gandalf.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn shouted and Carita knew Aragorn was right. If they went close to Isengard, Saruman would be waiting.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria," Gimli said and Carita's eyes widened as she looked at Gandalf. The wizard sighed and took a deep breath as he looked out into space.
"We cannot take the mines," Carita said and Gandalf looked at her. "We must continue on this path, we cannot stray from it," she said fiercely, but Gandalf shook his head and looked at Frodo.
"Let the Ring bearer decide," Gandalf said and Carita looked to Frodo, just as everyone else.
"Frodo we cannot take to the mines," Carita said urgently and he looked at her.
"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir said and Carita looked at Merry and Pippin. They looked so cold, but she knew they could not go into the mines. The Mines of Moria had become too dark, too dangerous. It would be a perilous journey if they took it.
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked and Carita looked at him, but he refused to look at her. He looked at his friends and then at Gandalf as he clung to his cloak.
"We will go through the mines," Frodo said firmly and Carita sighed and shook her head. She opened her mouth to protest, but Gandalf stopped her by casting her a stern look and she closed her mouth.
"So be it," Gandalf said quietly and they set off back down the mountain and Carita did so reluctantly. They may very well find their doom in the mines, and she just hoped that they would pass through the darkness unnoticed.