"She wasn't exactly sure when it happened. Or even when it started. All she knew for sure was that right here and now, she was falling hard and she could only pray that he was feeling the same way." ― Nicholas Sparks

Chapter 6

Many days passed in uneventful succession, following the pattern of walking when the sun was down and sleeping when it rose in the sky. The lands they passed through to the south of Imladris seemed somehow unnatural in their emptiness, never passing living creature larger than a fox.

Legolas found himself looking forward to the days, where the fellowship slept and he could watch Amber's sleeping face, knowing that she dreamed when her expression changed in slumber. There had been one night, weeks into their journey, when some troublesome image must have disturbed her, for her face screwed up in what seemed like pain, and he heard in her throat a low whimper. Legolas reached out to her, taking her hand in his without thinking, and her expression changed, appearing soothed. She did not wake, which was curious, as he had learned her to be a light sleeper; but her troublesome dream seemed to have subsided.

There they stayed, Amber sleeping more soundly now, Legolas sitting awake as he often did while the company slept, for elves did not need rest in the same way that mortals did; her hand in his. He marvelled at the feel of her fingers, smooth but strong, and the prickling sensation that began in his own hand at the contact. It was not unpleasant, he decided, to hold onto her this way, feeling that should he close his eyes, he would still have her hand to keep him connected with her.

Before she woke, he gently released it, taking his own hand back and missing her contact immediately. Upon opening her eyes, she seemed to look for him and smiled when she saw his face, gazing at her.

"You were in my dream" she said, smiling as she began to sit up, "Something had frightened me..." as she said this, a momentary sorrow crossed her face, though she did not elaborate as to what, "You came to my side and brought me into a nearby forest. It was beautiful there, the tree canopies were golden and you told me stories of the trees, though I cannot remember them now"

He listened, heart beating faster. Had she felt his hand on hers? His intention to comfort her? He swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat form at her words, to know that she saw him in her mind in such a way. "I am glad I could comfort you. Although I wish I knew of the forest you speak, for I should indeed love to take you there" his voice sounded rough to his ears, as he held in the nameless emotion.

Amber smiled, one of her smiles which she bestowed only on him, so far as he had observed. There was a warmth and perhaps even affection in her expression as she looked at him.

He wished to say more but they were interrupted by Gimli's loud complaint as he was woken from his sleep. It was time for a cold meal, cheerless as all had been since they departed Imladris; then onwards on their journey. They were soon to approach the line of hills which had been on their horizon since they turned from their southward path to the east, hoping to cross some way through the line of mountains which ran down that way. Once they reached the foot of those hills, finally a decision would have to be made as to their journey across.

It was Aragorn and Gandalf who were to make the decision of their next stretch of journey. While the others ate their first meal of the day in the cold afternoon, the two walked aside and spoke in hushed tones of the various paths they could take. It was decided that the gap of Rohan was too far south, the proximity to Isengard too high a risk for them to take since Gandalf had told of his capture by the Wizard Saruman. So it was that the path decided upon was that which would take them over the mountains to the east, over the pass of the great mountain Caradhras. They took with them each a faggot of wood as none would be found upon the mountain, and fire would be a necessity for their survival on the snow capped mountain pass.

As they began on their path up the mountain, the wind pushing hard at them, the flakes began to fall. At times Legolas felt that he heard strange voices in the wind – 'unnatural', he thought to himself, 'the mountain does not wish us to come this way'.

After a small pause in which the wind seemed to die down, they pushed on ahead; the hobbits trailing in the increasing flurry. Soon snow started to gather, building as they climbed. The Hobbits struggled on in the midst of the pack of taller folk, the larger catching them if they fell. The colder the wind, the slower that progress they made. Legolas looked about him, on disheartened faces as their hearts began to falter. The snow did not affect him as much as they, his elven feet light in the snow and heart otherwise untroubled.

Aragorn called a halt and the company gathered against the cliff face. "Shelter?" Sam, the hobbit, cried, "If this is shelter, then one wall and no roof make a house!". The winds raged and the hobbits huddled around Bill the pony for warmth, the others pressing together aa best they could.

Aragorn beckoned his friend over, Amber following him. Legolas, feeling a sudden envy at the readiness of his new friend to press in besides Aragorn; stepped quickly over to her, taking the spot on her other side. He despaired at his own weakness, such emotions having little place on such a perilous journey, and yet, seeming unable to be dismissed.

If the chill and fear of the group had not been so great, Legolas would have taken himself off to allow his heart some time to calm. There were no such luxuries, so instead he found himself pressing into Amber as he felt her body racked with shivers, no more than the rest of them, and yet far more distressing to him.

At a later time he would recall the press of her body, shielded from the wind by his own; shamelessly pressing her face into his back which he used to shield her from the worst of it. Now, however, all he could think of was keeping her safe from Caradhras' assault.

They burned their firewood, until the last of the embers failed just as daylight broke, illuminating the deep snow which pressed them into the cliff face.

The dwarf was the first to speak, "Caradhras has not forgiven us" he said, grimly looking at the seemly impassable snow drifts above them on the pass, "He has yet more snow to fling at us, if we go on. The sooner we go back and down the better".

It was agreed by all in the company that this was the best course they could take, now that they had faced the bitter night on the mountain. Legolas suggested that Gandalf burn a path down for them with his staff but Gandalf retorted that the elf should fly and catch the sun for them, for he could not burn snow.

A grim feeling seemed to have spread through the fellowship at this first defeat, Legolas alone seeming light of heart, his night having been spent pressed close with the beautiful Beorning woman, despite the circumstances, this warming his belly and spreading cheer throughout his heart.

In the end, the two large men took the task of creating a path down in the snow, using their strong arms to force a path downwards as they had come. Still jubilant from the night, Legolas leapt atop the snow and skipped ahead to see how far they must go before the drift broke onto more even ground. Not far indeed, it seemed, Caradhras having sent all his snow to prevent their passing.

Once the men had made a path, they made their way back up to the awaiting group and led them down it, carrying two hobbits apiece, for the snow was still too deep for them. Amber, upon seeing Legolas dance back up to them, seeming light of heart, smiled at him. He felt his stomach flutter in response, dazzling her with his brightest smile yet.

Once all had made their way through the snow path and began their final descent from the angered mountain. He found his mood sobering. They had survived the night but now he knew not which way they could journey to reach their goal.