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Ruth looked around to see if everyone was alright. The road Gandalf chose for them was steep and quite difficult if one wasn't used to mountain climbing. The thin air and the strong wind didn't make the situation any easier.
Taking a deep breath, Ruth shifted his balance and rushed forward to catch up with Gandalf who walked at the head of the group. "Master Gandalf!" he called out and Gandalf stopped for a second.
Ruth caught up with the older Wizard and Gandalf raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the younger Istar. "Are you well, Ruth? How is your back?"
"Perfectly healed," Ruth spoke lightly, earning a pleased smile from Gandalf. "I have been thinking that we should stop for a while when we reach the next glade. This road may be too difficult for the Hobbits to handle for long."
"I thought so as well," Gandalf agreed, huffing as he leaned more of his weight on his trusty staff. "We shall rest soon. I must admit, although I have traveled this road many times, I do not remember it being so steep," grumbled the old wizard and Ruth laughed, earning a glare from Gandalf who appeared to be almost pouting.
"Forgive my forwardness, Master Gandalf, but you are not as young as you used to be. It is only natural that you should feel the strain of your age catching up with you," Ruth finished with an easy going grin.
"Why you little..." Gandalf swung his left hand to take a swipe at Ruth's head but the younger Istar ducked and with light, effortless steps ran forward to catch up with Legolas who glanced at the raven haired Wizard with a light smile.
"Man cenich, Legolas?" (What do you see?) Ruth asked, making Legolas raise an eyebrow in interest.
"You speak the language of the Elves?" Legolas asked."
"I speak many tongues," Ruth shrugged carelessly, looking at Legolas with an innocent gaze. A mockery of one if Legolas had ever seen it. "So? What do your Elf-eyes see?"
Legolas shook his head, smirking at this new, playful side of Ruth they had yet to see. "I see nothing but a shadow in the east," he answered, focusing his gaze on the far horizon. "Our road is safe for now."
Ruth nodded and looked up when an eagle let go of a powerful trill. Ruth whistled strongly and the eagle dove towards him, landing easily on Ruth's outstretched right arm and folding its powerful wings.
"Is he yours?" Legolas asked while Ruth caressed the eagle's stomach, the creature practically preening under the tender care of the Istar.
"No. She isn't," Ruth corrected with a smirk, and Legolas cleared his throat, ignoring the fact that Ruth had almost - almost mind you - managed to make Legolas blush.
"How come she came to you?" Legolas asked to brush off the embarrassment of an honest mistake, and Ruth shrugged elegantly, caressing the eagle's head tenderly.
"I guess one could say I have a strong connection to nature," Ruth spoke warmly and the eagle climbed Ruth's shoulder, leveling her head with Ruth's lips. "Líthe, leam róberen. Líthe, cer béme at lah con xére do umin dúre tem poea du wái." (Go, my little friend. Go and come back to me with news of what waits for us up ahead.)
The eagle spread her wings, let go of a mighty trill and flew off into the sky.
"The song you sang last night. It was in the same language you have spoken just now, was it not?" Legolas asked, drawing Ruth's attention away from the eagle disappearing in the distance.
"Yes. I was not aware you were awake," Ruth commented, eyebrows narrowing in slight confusion.
Legolas hummed and Ruth raised an eyebrow at him. "Your lullaby took care of that, I'm afraid," Legolas sounded quite displeased and Ruth suppressed a snicker knowing that Elves did not like to be caught off guard.
"Yes," Ruth spoke.
"I would like to learn it," Legolas stated calmly and Ruth almost tripped over his own two feet.
"You wish to learn the Language of Magic?" asked Ruth, honestly surprised and Legolas looked at him with raised eyebrows, as though he couldn't understand why this surprised Ruth so much.
"Yes," Legolas spoke carelessly.
"Would you mind having another student?"
Ruth looked to his right and found Aragorn walking a few steps behind him.
"I do believe I am not too old to learn something new," Gandalf joined the conversation and Ruth looked back in time to avoid Gandalf's staff.
"Umin cúe hith tém?!" Ruth snapped and the rest of the Fellowship laughed at them.
"I will pay you back for your earlier comment. Mark my words," Gandalf grunted and Ruth felt an irresistible urge to stick his tongue out. Thankfully he managed to suppress it and settled for a dark glare.
"What did you just say?" Legolas asked.
"I asked Gandalf what was that for," Ruth grumbled, keeping a watchful eye on Gandalf's staff.
"Umin cue hith tem." Aragorn repeated, and Ruth dared to glance at him.
"You have to watch for the accent," he warned. "Umin cúe hith tém. You have to speak as though you're singing." Aragorn nodded in understanding muttering the words into his chin.
"How would you introduce yourself?" Legolas asked.
"Lam cáe Ruthímiel me Mírd," Ruth spoke easily, although he moved to walk to Aragorn's right, with the Dúnedain and Legolas between Ruth and Gandalf.
"I am Ruthímiel the Green," Aragorn translated. "So I would say: Lam cáe Aragorn."
"Yes, but instead of adding my rank as the Green Istar, you would say: Lam cáe Áragorn, órtho do Árathorn."
"Son of Arathorn?" Legolas asked to confirm and Ruth nodded. "Lam cáe Legolas, órtho do Thranduil."
"Háe," Ruth nodded with a smile, happy to have his new friends interested in the language he loved so much.
"Yes?" Gimli asked and Ruth looked at him in surprise. The Dwarf smirked challengingly, as though daring Ruth to say something, and the young Istar swallowed a laugh, deciding against commenting on Gimli's sudden interest in another language.
Ruth believed it had something to do with the growing rivalry between Gimli and Legolas, but he was not willing to risk life and limb bringing that up.
"Yes," he finally answered Gimli, receiving a nod in understanding.
"How do you say Gandalf the Gray?" Merry asked and Ruth looked back at the interested faces of the Hobbits behind them.
"Gandalf me Súth," he said, although it took him a moment to remember how to say 'gray' in Mother's tongue. He had never spoken to anyone except her about it, and they had never spoken about colors, per se.
"How do you greet someone?" Frodo asked and Ruth hummed thoughtfully, trying to remember the proper greeting.
"Well if it is someone you have just met you would say: Weluthúe zamárthe di luth. Rim péam do poéat Ekhárte glábe láro zátho luth." Seeing the confused faces of his new friends, Ruth snickered and decided to grace them with the translation. "Heavenly blessings to you. May the eyes of our Mother look kindly upon you."
"Sounds nice," Sam commented and Pippin nodded enthusiastically.
"So how do you say mother?" the youngest Hobbit asked.
"Ekhárthe," Ruth said and everyone could hear the gentle and loving tone he spoke that one word with.
"Who is that mother you speak of?" Boromir asked and Ruth took a deep breath as he tilted his head back.
"The Mother of us all. The First among Creations that gives Magic to everything around us," Ruth answered and Boromir nodded in understanding.
"So!" Pippin grinned and hopped a bit as he walked. "Is there an easier way to greet someone? That's quite a mouthful." Ruth laughed while others either rolled their eyes or smiled fondly at the youngest in their group.
"You can simply say 'weluthúe zamárthe'; heavenly blessings," Ruth answered between laughing and Pippin's grin brightened.
"Weluthúe zamárthe," Frodo repeated. "The language sounds beautiful." Ruth nodded in agreement and hummed.
"I consider that language the purest I've ever heard. When I was young I did all my spell-work in another language. While my spells were strong after I've learned our Mother's language I realized my spells grew in strength and potency. Ever since then I have grown accustomed to use that language when I'm casting."
Gandalf nodded. "Like the one you used to create a shield."
"Háe."
They came upon a glade and Gandalf looked around. "We shall rest here," he said and most of the Fellowship let go of a relieved sigh.
"Had I known we would travel this path I would have taken a pony," Gimli grumbled. "I still think we should forgo the gates of Rohan and go through the mines of Moria."
"I will go through the mines of Moria only if some bad luck forces us to go through there," Gandalf muttered and Gimli raised an eyebrow at him. He harrumphed and took a seat while the Hobbits started to prepare everything to make lunch.
"Master Ruth, how do you say 'lunch'?" Merry asked and Ruth, who took a seat on a rock with Orion standing close to him, smiled at him kindly.
"Ménasa," he said and Merry nodded.
It didn't take long for lunch to be ready and for everyone to eat their share. While others rested, Pippin and Merry asked Boromir to teach them how to use their swords. That proved to be quite entertaining especially when the Hobbits turned it all into a game of trying to bring Boromir down on his behind. Ruth laughed merrily when Aragorn mixed in only to find himself under Merry and Pippin who were laughing and shouting 'for Shire' while others observed them with fondness.
Ruth looked at the sky with a sigh.
Even though the times were dark and getting increasingly darker, he found himself enjoying his time with the Fellowship. He knew the road in front of them was dangerous and riddled with threats and darkness. He swore in his heart to do his very best to make sure all of them reached their goal alive. He would lose no one to death again; no one.
A frown marred Ruth's features when a familiar trill made him look to the east and the eagle he had earlier let go flew towards him to land on his offered right arm. Seeing the eagle, Legolas' eyebrows narrowed and he looked to the east. Gimli and Boromir, who stood close to Legolas saw his worried countenance and their gazes shifted.
"What is that dark cloud?" Gimli asked.
"That is no cloud," Legolas breathed out and stood up.
"It's moving fast and against the wind," Boromir added, suddenly breathless with trepidation.
"Crebain from Dunland!" Ruth shouted and sent the eagle away.
"Saruman's spies!" Gandalf snapped and all of a sudden everyone was moving around quickly, trying to find some place to hide while Ruth made Orion invisible.
The Crebain were almost upon them when Ruth saw that Sam and Frodo were practically out in the open. He ran out of his hideout ignoring Gandalf's and Aragorn's frantic calls, pulled the Hobbits to his chest and covered all three of them with his cloak.
The only thing that could be heard for a few long moments was the flutter of wings and the angry screeches of the Crebain flying over them. Once they were gone Ruth took a deep breath and pulled his cloak off of Frodo, Sam and himself.
"I think it is safe to say that the passage of Rohan is sealed," Ruth spoke gravely while the others came out of their hideouts. He released Orion from the spell and looked at Gandalf. "We need to find a different road."
"You're right," Gandalf agreed and looked up at the snowy tips of the mountain behind them. "We go for the path of Caradhras."
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Ruth barely caught Sam in time when the Hobbit tripped due to the thick, fresh snow they were walking through. He only feared what would happen once they reached the steep passages of the mountain.
"Thank you, Master Ruth," Sam spoke breathlessly, and Ruth nodded at the flustered Hobbit.
"Small steps, Master Samwise," Ruth instructed. "You will tire easily if your strides are too long." Sam nodded and they continued after the rest of the Fellowship.
Ruth kept a close eye on the others, but his attention was more often than not drawn to Frodo's slight frame. The young Hobbit had as much problems walking through the thick snow as his friends and Ruth couldn't help but worry about them. They were having problems with this open slope, where the only danger was to roll a few meters back before someone else would catch them. He hated to think how difficult it would become for them once they reached the narrow, steep passages of Caradhras.
Ruth's breath hitched in his throat when Frodo tripped and rolled down the slope.
"Frodo!" Aragorn caught the Hobbit before Ruth could do so and the Wizard fell on his knees beside Frodo and the Numenórean.
"Are you well?" Ruth asked and Frodo smiled, although his cheeks were pale with fright.
"Háe," Frodo breathed out and Ruth let go of a wavering breath of relief. Frodo reached to feel for the Ring and his eyes filled with panic when he realized the Ring was gone.
Ruth and Aragorn looked up at the same time and their bodies froze when they saw Boromir bow down and pick up the Ring. His eyes were dark and his breathing shallow, and for a moment it seemed as though the skies darkened and the wind stilled.
"Boromir…" Ruth and Aragorn spoke at the same time and Boromir looked at them as though he was shaken from a trance.
"Give Frodo the Ring." Ruth spoke firmly and Boromir raised an eyebrow at him. He looked at the Ring again and while Aragorn placed both hands on Frodo's shoulders, Ruth stood up and looked in Boromir's eyes.
"Boromir..."
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear over so small a thing," Boromir whispered and the Ring spun on the chain it hung on. "Such a little thing." The Gondorian gasped when, with a gust of warm air, Ruth appeared beside him and placed his left hand on Boromir's right. The Ring spun almost madly as Ruthímiel gazed deep into Boromir's eyes, his own glowing almost menacingly.
"Xúrnue di hith, Boromir."(Don't listen to it, Boromir.) Ruth's voice echoed in the wind and Boromir's eyes widened as warmth washed over him, clearing the fog around his mind. "It will only bring you sorrow and despair."
Boromir swallowed difficultly and he let go of the Ring, letting go of a deep breath as he stepped back, Ruth immediately letting go of Boromir's arm. "What have I...?"
"Be at ease, son of Gondor," Ruth said as Frodo ran over and took the Ring, returning it to where it hung around his neck before. "For as long as I am here the Ring will have no power over you."
Boromir let go of a wavering breath and nodded his head. "Forgive me, Master Frodo..."
"There is nothing to forgive, lord Boromir," Frodo reassured him and Boromir nodded minutely.
"Let's move on!" Gandalf shouted and everyone jumped into motion.
Boromir walked close to Ruth and the youngest Istar spared him a glance before focusing on the road ahead.
"Tell me what is on your mind, Master Boromir."
The Gondorian swallowed over the bile that gathered in his throat. "I am afraid of the Ring," he confessed and Ruth looked at him fully. "I know it is evil and I remember what you told me, but every time I see it..." he hesitated for a second, as though looking for the right words. "I can hear its call," he whispered frightfully. "I can hear its promises. My father..."
"Your father strayed far too deep into the Shadow of his own fears and greed, Boromir," Ruth spoke quietly and Boromir looked at him with shock written over his face. "I had spent a few years in Minas Tirith and I have seen what has become of the Great City of Men. Denetor is lost to you, merén. It is your brother you should worry about. Your father will destroy him if you do not return." (my friend) Boromir frowned, eyes darkening in worry. "Forget the Ring. It will only bring you despair. Focus on your brother and your quest to free Gondor, and on your future as the Steward of Gondor." Boromir looked at Ruth with a raised eyebrow, and Ruth in turn looked at Aragorn with Boromir following the emerald gaze. "His destiny is to sit upon the throne of Gondor and bring peace to Middle-Earth, but he won't be able to do that alone. He will need strong men, men of confidence, to bring Gondor to its former glory."
Boromir was quiet for a moment, as though he was contemplating Ruth's words, and Ruth's lips tilted up into a smile even before Boromir had spoken again.
"When he proves himself to be the King Gondor needs, I will follow him."
Ruth chuckled and looked at Aragorn's back, and Boromir raised an eyebrow when Ruth sighed and closed viridian eyes for a moment. "That is all he will ask of you, Boromir. Trust me," he spoke and looked at Boromir. "If you believe in yourself and your own strength the Ring will no longer hold any sway over you."
Silence settled over them in which Boromir contemplated Ruth's words and the Istar pulled back into his own thoughts. Their journey continued in silence and soon enough they lost track of how long they have been walking.
Clouds had gathered above them as they entered the gorge of Caradhras. The path they walked was narrow. To their left was an endlessly tall cliff. To their right was a deep, steep slope, leading down into a snowy abyss.
They walked one by one, with Gandalf at the front. The strong gusts of wind were constantly pushing them back and the snowy blizzard was blinding them. Gimli had cursed Legolas when he had seen that the Elf had little problems walking through the deep snow that further hindered their advance, while Gimli had to walk with the Hobbits in the back, allowing Boromir and Aragorn to fight their was through waist deep snow.
"Gandalf! We must find shelter! The storm will kill the Hobbits!" Aragorn shouted and Gandalf turned around to look at him. In his right hand Gandalf was holding his staff and with his left he was holding on to his hat to stop the wuthering wind from blowing it away.
"We must move forward! We have to reach the other side as soon as possible!" Gandalf answered, hardly heard over the howling wind.
"This is not a normal storm!" Legolas called out. "A foul voice is carried with the wind!"
"It's Saruman!" Ruth shouted and Gandalf frowned. All of a sudden everything shook and huge chunks of ice and snow fell on them from above. "Crúxere!" A shimmering shield appeared above them to protect them from the avalanche. (shield)
"We must go back!" Boromir cried out as he clutched Merry and Pippin to his sides, while Aragorn held Sam and Frodo close. "Saruman wants to kill us all! We cannot go on!"
Gandalf looked at the sky and raised his staff.
"Gandalf!" Ruth called out and grabbed onto Orion's reigns when the stallion neighed in fright.
"Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" (Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)
"Gandalf, no!" Ruth screamed. Thunder clashed and Gandalf started to fall. In the last second, Ruth and Legolas grabbed Gandalf and pulled him back. Ruth's eyes flashed and he raised his staff, "CRÚXERE!" he roared and the light that burst from the gem at the top of the staff blinded the Fellowship for a moment. Once they opened their eyes all they could do was gape, for the shield wasn't see-through, but bright white. "We must go back! It is the same if we risk our lives here or on any other road! I would rather try the Gates of Rohan than the paths of Caradhras!"
"This is the fastest way!" Gandalf countered, although it appeared as though his resolve was already wavering.
"What use is there of the fastest way if none of us survive?!" Ruth challenged and Gandalf's eyebrows narrowed in thought.
"We should go underground!" Gimli shouted. "We should go through Moria!"
Gandalf looked at Gimli and then at Frodo. "What does the Ring bearer say?!"
Frodo frowned and looked at Aragorn. He then looked at Ruth and then at Gandalf who held his staff with both hands, leaning onto it heavily. "We go back!" Frodo shouted, knowing that going forward on this road was too dangerous. "We go through the mines of Moria!"
Gandalf sighed and nodded, turning to Ruth who was holding on to his staff, shoulders hunched as though incredible weight rested on the young Istar's back.
"How long can you uphold this shield?!" Gandalf asked and Ruth swallowed difficultly.
"Not for long!" Ruth answered. "It is known as the Dome of Equality. While others are protected it takes a great toll on my body. I don't want to risk being unable to fight!"
"Hold the shield for as long as you can!" Gandalf ordered, receiving a nod of understanding from Ruth. "Leave the fighting to us if any battles await us!" Gandalf then turned to the rest of the Fellowship, sighing gravely and shifting his weight. "Turn around! We're going back!"
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Everyone had seen the shield shatter, but what had the Fellowship stop in their tracks in fear was not that. It was the pained gasp and the sound of a body hitting the stone ground.
"Ruthímiel!" Aragorn shouted and ran over to the kneeling Wizard, falling to his knees beside Ruth who was gasping for air, pale and trembling as he rested against the tall stone wall of the mountain.
"I am well, Aragorn," Ruth spoke breathlessly, trying with all his might to smile for Aragorn. "I only need a moment."
Ruth allowed Aragorn to help shift so that he could sit back against the stone cliff while Gandalf walked over and kneeled beside Ruth. The younger Istar sighed when Gandalf placed his hand on Ruth's sweaty forehead, frowning at the feel of Ruthímiel's cold, clammy skin. "You are exhausted," Gandalf muttered, continuing before Ruth had a chance to protest. "You upheld the shield for over a day. I should have stopped you when we've escaped the storm."
Ruth shook his head and smiled weakly, hardly able to keep his eyes open. "I pushed myself too far. You said to hold it for as long as I could. I overdid it," he spoke in a voice hardly louder than a baby's breath.
"Should we stop here and rest?" Boromir asked.
"We cannot stop here," Legolas spoke, frowning in worry as he constantly glanced towards Ruthímiel's prone form which was distracting Legolas from his task of watching the road. "We would be an easy target."
"We could mount him on Orion," Frodo suggested. "He could carry Ruth…"
"Ner."(No) Ruth interrupted any further discussion, doing his best to straighten and at least appear more aware than he really was. "Orion must be released. The Mines are no place for a horse. Give me a few minutes to catch my breath and we can move on once I release Orion from our load."
Gandalf harrumphed and stood up. "Boromir, Aragorn, help me release Orion of his load. Gimli and Legolas, watch over Ruth," Gandalf gave out the orders briskly, much to Ruth's annoyance, but the younger Istar said nothing.
The Hobbits gathered around Ruth and the tired Istar smiled at them while Legolas and Gimli took protective stances around them. Soon enough Orion was free of their bags, immediately strutting over to Ruth, the Hobbits moving aside and watching as Orion bowed his big head down for Ruth to pat him weakly.
"Lam beth qlúphe to ómi ústum, merén. Líthe." (I shall see you on the other side, my friend. Go.) Orion nipped Ruth's fingers lovingly, straightened and galloped away with a neigh.
"Where is he going?" Sam asked and everyone looked at Ruth when he sighed and closed his eyes, resting his heavy head on the cold stone wall.
"Back to the fields of Rohan," he spoke in a broken, tired, raspy voice, swallowing difficultly and licking dry lips. "He will come back to me when I call for him."
"You are too tired to walk, Master Ruth," Boromir noticed, features marred with a frown of worry and hands twitching as though he was holding himself back from taking Ruth into his arms and carry him the rest of the way. "You need to recover your strength."
"Ner," Ruth shook his head and opened his eyes. "We must move on." He tried to move, but Aragorn stopped him by placing his right hand on Ruth's right shoulder.
"Be still," Aragorn ordered - ignoring the way Ruth rolled his eyes - and looked at Gandalf. "We can take turns carrying him. There is no way we're leaving him behind."
"I would never even think of that," Gandalf comforted with a pleased smile, and Aragorn looked at Ruth, the Green Istar speaking before Aragorn had the chance to.
"I am not a light load, Aragorn. I will only slow..."
"You are not all that heavy," Boromir interrupted Ruth and the Istar looked at him with tired exasperation. "Aragorn, Legolas and I can carry you in turns. You need rest. We have no use of you half dead." Even though his words were rough, everyone could hear the worry in Boromir's tone.
"I agree," Legolas seconded and Ruth shook his head.
"All of you need to have your heads checked," he grumbled and pushed himself up quickly, only for his body to be shaken by strong coughs and heaves. That shield truly weakened me, he thought as he finally caught his breath.
"Have I not told you to be still?!" Aragorn snapped and Ruth shot him a glare.
"If you insist on carrying me I should at least make it easier for you to do so." Ruth's staff vanished again and everyone's eyes widened when in front of them Ruth shifted into a small black cat with radiant emerald eyes. He stumbled and fell and his eyes closed with a weak mewl.
Aragorn sighed and picked Ruth up gently, the Wizard falling asleep before Aragorn fully cradled him to his chest. "Let's get a move on," Aragorn said, making sure that he was holding Ruth tightly but gently as well. He didn't want to hurt the Wizard accidentally.
"Gimli, you are with me at the front," Gandalf spoke up. "The Hobbits will walk right behind us. Aragorn will follow them and Legolas and Boromir will walk last." Everyone nodded and Gandalf hummed, taking a firm hold of his staff and letting go of a grave sigh. "Let's go. Moria awaits."
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And now comes the part that was the most difficult for me to write. I remember crying like a baby when I had watched 'The Fellowship of the Ring' for the first time.