Thank you to all of my reviewers and readers. I'm sorry this was so late, but college was making me a little more busy than normal. Even now I should be studying, but I don't want to.

Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or Phantom of the Opera or anything else really… though I wish I did.

And now what you really came for.

Chapter 5

The rest of the day was blissfully uneventful. I ate with the funny hobbits again and we talked for a long time on what they thought was going to lie ahead. I kept my mouth shut on the particulars of what we were going to do and opted to only tell them that they were going to get hungry a lot. The moon rose and the hobbits led me back to my room and bid me goodnight. I was all alone. It's probably better since I am sponsoring these romantic notions about Boromir. I'm not even human for heaven's sake.

Those thoughts weighed heavily on my mind as I fell onto my bed. I rolled over and closed my eyes listening to the crickets chirping outside. Out of the nighttime ambiance I heard a voice rise up in song. It was the one I heard the first night I had been here. Now that's what I would want my lover to sound like. I was immensely curious as to whom this voice belonged to, but I was also very tired. I opted to just enjoy it as a lullaby as I drifted off to sleep. Knowing that tomorrow would mark the start of my journey.

I woke up the next morning to a knock on my door. I sat up and climbed out of bed to see who it is.

"Come in, it's always open," I said. The door swung open to reveal Gawin standing there. He looked a little flustered.

"I came to say goodbye," He looked into my eyes and I felt my throat constrict.

I swallowed back my rising tears as I knew he would probably sail to the undying lands.

"It doesn't have to be," He smiled, "You can always come back to see me afterwards." If I'm here was the unspoken part of his attempt to make it easier.

"I hope I will be able to," I said sadly. He had become somewhat of a father to me and this was goodbye hurt worse than saying goodbye to my real father,mostly because I had to do it in person

"I don't think even a Ringwraith could stop those claws," He joked, but I could tell he was sad to see me go. In a rare act of emotion, Gawin sank down on his knees and hugged me tightly around my neck. I returned the hug the best I could by putting a paw around his back. Too soon he broke away and stood by the door.

"Safe journeys to you, Elita," He said. There was a look on his face, but I couldn't tell what it meant. I returned the gesture and he was gone. I bit back tears that his abrupt good-bye had brought to my eyes. Why didn't he stay longer?

Before I could worry about getting anything to take with me, all four hobbits came to my door and announced that everyone was ready to leave. They were all four dressed in their traveling cloaks with packs hanging off their shoulders. Or in Sam's case, multiple packs.

It looked like the company had all gathered in the courtyard that Boromir and I had originally arrived in. The thought almost made me wish we could go back to that time. Soon everything was going to get a lot more complicated, not that it wasn't already.

Elrond was there giving final farewells and blessings on the journey. I looked around this fresh group of travelers and realized that Aragorn was not with the group. I turned in three hundred sixty degrees and yet I still could not find him. Not in this group or the group that was slowly pouring into the courtyard. The elves of Rivendell were cramming the courtyard to see the company before it headed out.

Then I caught a glimpse of Arargorn in the shade of a pathway nearby. There seemed to be a woman talking to him. He must be saying goodbye to Arwen… That's a tender moment I do not want to run in on I thought as more and more elves were wishing us all farewell. I was currently being given a wider berth than the rest of my companions.

Finally Gandalf motioned for all of us to follow and we started heading out. At the last moment Aragorn detached himself from the crowd to step along aside Gimli. Dessed now in his ranger attire, he looked a lot more like I had pictured him. Being tall, having dark shaggy hair, and a weathered cloak really suited him. A rugged mountain man… well sort of.

Aragorn contrasted greatly with the dwarf beside him. While Aragorn was tall, Gimli was short with stubb,y little legs. Though he'd chop off mine if I ever said that. His red beard was very intricately woven into braids and went down passed his chest. His armor was very bulky, but had on it many interesting designs. Over all he was just the stocky character I had thought about when I had read the books.

A few feet in front of them was Legolas. He was very good looking… that's all I can say. With that handsome face and that thin outfit… yep. Too bad I wasn't into the pretty boy type. Not that I had any delusions about finding love like that thing said. Boromir was making my hormones go crazy enough as it was.

At the head of our group was Gangalf… what can I say about Gandalf. Just like that cute old man type, but with a long gray beard and a long grey cloak. He seemed just like a grandfather, steering our group in the right direction. Wish he could have steered me a little clearer. But even he couldn't know what the Valar are thinking.

The hobbits were, as always,s very cheerful. Well, as cheerful as you can be if you're walking to a volcano. Merry and Pippin were taking turns pestering Sam. Frodo, in turn was making jokes about Merry and Pippin. It was quite comical and very heart-warming.

I was trying not to stare at my last unmentioned, fellow traveler. He was still in his Gondorian clothes and chainmail. His grey eyes did not turn to look at me while we were walking. Nor did he drop back from the front to walk with me. He was still the same enigma that I had traveled the day with to Rivendell. Not talking to anyone in particular or showing any emotion. He'll open up soon I'm sure.

And so he did over the next few days. Not that he talked to me or anything, but he'd start joking with Merry and Pippin. Would give advice on which path we should travel, all in all becoming pretty sociable.

Me on the other hand…. I was the queen of being awkward to all except Gandalf and the hobbits. Gandalf just made me feel calm and was very fatherly. The hobbits… I had spent so much time with them already, so what was there to be awkward about?

Eventually I got more comfortable around all of them, minus Boromir. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli may have seemed intimidating at first, but they tolerable me. I would try to help Aragorn hunt, though most of the time he would make the kill before me.

I did manage to find a nice sized rabbit once and even more amazing… I caught it, but that's about all I managed to do. Aragorn seemed to have a different presence than Gawin did when we were hunting together. Gawin would talk to me, while Aragorn be silent as the grave. Gawin was cheerful and Aragorn was intense. Once he made the kill though; he'd talk to me on our way back. Then when we'd make it back to camp he'd tell stories to the hobbits and me. Stories of the Eldar days and basically all the things I had missed when I had never finished The Silmarillion.

The days seemed to drag on and we kept our pace. I had never walked this much in my life so it took some getting used to. We marched over vast plains of short grass and crossed enormous boulders. At night I would curl up with the hobbits to keep them warm and they could keep me up with their rolling around. It wasn't bad though, it was really cute. I, who has no motherly instincts at all, was keeping watch over these hobbits like they were my cubs.

Every night though, I would lie down and try to remember the voice I had heard singing back in Rivendell. I had become quite infatuated with it, almost like I had when I would watch The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't ever care to meet the singer particularly, but I loved that voice. It was nice to dream.

One day we reached a rocky outcrop and took a noon meal there. It was a beautiful day and everyone was in a good mood, but I kept feeling déjà vu while I was sitting there. Sam was cooking some food for Frodo. Gandalf and Gimli were arguing over how to get to Mordor. Boromir was teaching Merry and Pippin how to fight while Aragorn looked on and gave advice. It looked like they were all enjoying this.

I spotted Legolas sitting by himself over on one of the large boulders that the dotted hill. I walked over and plopped down about a foot away from him. It made me nervous to be around him. I had never been good at talking to attractive men and with him being an elf it made it that much harder. Gimli made you feel comfortable around him, by teasing you. But there was something that was so intimidating about Legolas.

This thought process was playing out in my mind all the while he just stared out across the landscape. Maybe I should break the ice.

"I'm sorry for scaring you and your kinsmen back in Rivendell," I blurted out. Why yes, that was a great way to start a conversation. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't melt into the earth to escape my awkwardness.

Surprisingly, Legolas responded back, "I wasn't so much scared for me as I was for those around you… I'm still afraid for those around you," he finished and his honestly took me back. He finally turned towards me and narrowed those emerald eyes of his.

"W-what do you mean by that?" I asked, completely bewildered. He seemed to tower over me, as menacing as a Balrog, but as fair as only elves can be.

"You who seem to know so much about this tale already. You who could be an agent of Mordor under our very noses," he spelled it out for me.

"Elrond trusts me… he saw me in his foresight. He thought I had a reason to be here," I managed to stammer out.

Legolas took a long hard look at me, "Even so, I don't think I can trust you." I stared back at him. Well that I guess is to be expected, I'll bet everyone is a little on edge with me around.

"Thank you for the honesty, but I can assure you, I want this mission to succeed as much as you do," I said, attempting to sound reassuringly.

Legolas's stare never changed, "You may be sincere in your intentions, but that doesn't prove anything."

I took a deep sigh, "Are you wanting me to just leave? I'm sure Gandalf explained everything that I told him…"

"… which is precisely why none of us can be sure if having you here is the right choice." Legolas simply stood up and started walking away from me. A thought occurred to me He means I could be screwing things up, 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.' My existence here could screw up the storyline

Maybe he's right and I shouldn't be here with them… The rest of the company continued to relax as I continued to brood. Just then:

"Crebain from Dunland!"

"Hide!"

Oh shit was my one thought as I realized why this terrain had looked so familiar. I jumped up on my feet and scrambled towards to cover of the bush nearest to me. Why didn't I see this coming? Idiot!

I watched as the dark flock flew right over where our camp had been moments before. Gandalf who had been crouching behind a boulder came out, "The passage south is being watched," He turned towards the Misty Moutains, "We must take the Pass of Caradhras!"

There were objections, many in fact, but everyone trusted Gandalf wisdom even more than their own. Boromir made the suggestion for everyone to haul firewood up with us. Of course it was as much as one could carry, so I had more than everyone else. Though I shouldn't be complaining, Bill seemed worse off than I was, carrying supplies and firewood.

We climb and we climb and we climbed some more, but it didn't seem like we'd ever even get halfway. Every night the hobbits would curl up next to my side and I would try to provide what warmth I could that our small fire could not. Everyday these poor creatures would try their hardest to get through this frozen terrain. It was taking a huge toll on them. Pippin's limbs seemed to be turning blue all the time and Sam's face was riddled with cracks.

Soon a blizzard started and our groups' travel pace slowed till it was non-existent. I felt like my limbs and tail were frozen off by now, It must have so much worse for the others. Ice had permanently formed underneath my paws and my fur felt a hundred times heavier with the added weight of the water. In my stupidity, I complained about it. Till Boromir pointed out that I had a lot more insulation than everyone else.

I'm not sure what happened or why that triggered such a strong response in me, but I snapped. "What? Am I fat or something?" If I could I would have taken those words completely back, but now all I could do was think Crap.

Boromir turned back to me and his expression now turned to full out distust."You are a large animal with a layer of fur and fat. The hobbits are half-lings with only their cloaks and clothes," Now his tone was like he was talking to a child. I guess that's what I sound like to a real warrior. Boromir turned smartly and continued to follow Gandalf. My voice caught in my throat as I digested his retort. I need to stop acting like a pathetic child. I should be acting like a twenty-year old. Looking over at the hobbits made me feel ten times worse. They were so small and all of their faces were red. Their noses were even turning blue. Swallowing my pride I clamped my mouth shut and kept on marching.

Finally we had to make a complete halt to our journey. The wind was blowing fiercely and the snow was falling rapidly. I could barely see five feet in front of me. At this rate we'll be covered. I'm not sure how Gandalf had kept us on the path up to this point. I felt like I was about to fall off the side of the mountain.

For the fire we had to put the last of our wood in. I watched as everyone tried their hand at getting the wood burning, but it was too wet from the snow. Gimli and Boromir were grumbling and tempers were starting to boil over.

I looked over to the hobbits who were violently shivering. I walked over and tried to block the wind as best I could. I bit my lip from the ice I felt start to creep through my fur onto my skin. Gandalf finally put an end to the wet firewood and blasted it. It caught instantly and went up a strange flame.

"Now I've let all who care to see that Gandalf is here," he said wearily. His face was more lined than ever and his gray beard had turned white with the snow.

The company all sat around the meager fire, trying to keep warm. It was an impossible storm that refused to let up. Isn' t this Saurman? What will happen to us if he keeps up this storm? Or more like what will happen to us if Gandalf doesn't turn around soon. He always did before… why hasn't he yet?

A voice jarred me out of my thoughts, "Elita?" it was Frodo, "Are we going to make it off the mountain?"

"Yeah, we will," my voice trembled betraying the fact that I wasn't completely sure anymore. I should try to keep his mind off of the cold. A random thought occurred to me, "What are you planning to do once you destroy the ring?"

"Well I'll go back to the Shire of course," he said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'll write down this whole adventure too." He smiled and cracked his lip. It started to bleed. A delicious smelled wafted up my nostrils. My mouth started to produce saliva; it was such a sweet smell. I shook my head out and returned the smile. What the heck?

Of course I didn't have time to linger at the oddity of my body's reaction. My ears perked up as they caught just then my ear picked up a weird sound. Like someone chanting. Legolas was already standing up and turning his head to hear better. My eyes widened. Not again…

"There is a fell voice on the air."

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf exclaimed.

I was frozen, like my body really was made of ice. Aragorn and Boromir had rushed over and picked up the hobbits, two each, and I was still frozen where I stood. Gimli came out of nowhere and roughly shoved me to the side as the first part of the boulders fell onto our campsite.

"What good are you if you get killed too quickly?" Gimli yelled in my ear. We were now all pressed up again the side of the mountain waiting for this unnatural disaster to cease. Large amounts of snow had by now covered the entire company. As we all pushed free of the rubble I turned to Gimli, "Thank you, I..."

"Don't mention it lass," He cut me off and I swallowed the rest of my gratitude. Now I've just proven that I can't take care of myself.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the West road to my city." Boromir exclaimed as he held onto Merry and Pippin.

Aragorn looked at him wildly, "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"

"If we cannot go over the mountain, let us go under it," Piped in Gimli," Let us go through the mines of Moria." He talked to Gandalf who's face darken at the mention of the name.

Gandalf sighed and the dark look was replaced with a weary one, "Let the Ringbearer decide." All now turned towards Frodo. He looked frightened at the prospect of all this attention. His eyes wandered around onto all of our faces. He battled with himself for a few more seconds before he said…

"We will go through the mines."

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