The wind blew cold flakes of snow on her face as Alarain climbed. The path was steep and she was struggling for breath. When she would breathe in, the freezing air would dry her throat causing her to swallow, which in turn made her gasp for air. Her legs were aching and she couldn't count how many times she had slipped. The worst part was that they weren't even very far up yet. She glanced down at Brenir and immediately felt guilty. He too was not doing very well. He had become slimmer and his fur was all matted. The poor dog was still quite active though.
Aragorn was plodding along behind her, waiting to catch her if she fell again, and he too was panting heavily. Alarain tried to amuse herself and take her mind off all her aches and pains by watching her breath as in came out in puffs. She would try, unsuccessfully, to make it into a circle like Gandalf did when he smoked.
Legolas was up ahead scouting, and she felt awfully jealous whenever she saw him walking peacefully on top of the snow when she had to shove her way through it. Well, not completely. Everyone in front of her was having more trouble than she, and Boromir was being nice enough as to try and create a wide path for everyone behind him. She felt quite bad for him, puffing along with that huge shield on his back. Alarain then turned her eyes to the hobbit in front of her. Frodo was also having a hard time getting up the hill without falling. He was stumbling along almost as if he wasn't really paying attention to where he was putting his feet. He paused for a rest and as the woman passed him, she gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. Aragorn waited with Frodo and Alarain caught up with Boromir.
"You really don't have to do that." she said through her panting.
He turned to her, eyes questioning.
"You don't need to clear a path for us." she replied, gesturing to the travelers behind her.
He raised his eyebrows at her. "If you say so." he said rolling his eyes at the exhausted woman.
She sent him a silly glare and continued on, shoving past him as she did. He laughed at her behaviour before trudging after her.
Hearing a grunt from behind them, they looked back to see Frodo rolling down the slope. Aragorn caught him and helped him to his feet. Seeing that he was fine, Alarain continued on, but turned again when she heard a small jingling sound. Boromir stood some ways down the mountain from her and was holding something in his hand that shone brightly in the sun. The Ring. Aragorn and Frodo were staring at him, worry and suspicion in their eyes, and the other members of the fellowship stopped as well, watching the scene intently.
"Boromir." Aragorn said quietly.
The Gondorian took no notice. He was watching the Ring as it dangled in the air, and his eyes had changed somehow. A cold, greedy look came across his face, and he started whispering to himself. "It is a strange fate, that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing... such a little thing." His other hand slowly raised until he was almost touching it.
"Boromir!" Aragorn snapped, louder this time, and with more authority.
He was startled out of his trance and looked around, slightly confused.
"Give the Ring to Frodo." The ranger's voice had grown dangerous and his hand rested on the sword strapped to his side.
Watching Boromir, she almost thought he wasn't going to give it back, but he made his way slowly down the hill and held out the Ring for Frodo. "As you wish." he said. "I care not." The hobbit snatched it out of his hand and put it back into place around his neck. Boromir smiled, ruffled Frodo's hair playfully and pushed on up the slope.
Alarain let him pass and waited for Aragorn. As he came up beside her, she saw the dark look in his eyes and wondered what he would have done had Boromir not returned it. She stayed close to him for some while, not really wanting to walk with Boromir after that.
Slowly but steadily, the group made their way up the mountain, and the weather grew more and more hazardous as they climbed. Alarain's fingers were starting to feel unresponsive and her her eyes stung as the wind constantly blew snow into them and clouded her vision. She tried, but failed to not look down the cliff to their right, and her stomach flipped with fear as the blizzard became worse when darkness started to fall.
Boromir and Aragorn both carried two hobbits each while Gimli tugged the pony along. Gandalf was in the front, pushing through the snow with determination and his staff, with Legolas walking easily on the snow beside them. Alarain was at the back, occasionally leaning on the rump of the pony to keep him going, while Brenir shivered at her side, letting out a weak whine here and there. Snowballs clung to his dark brown coat, slowing him down with their weight, and she eventually picked him up before continuing after Bill. The dog was a welcome heat source and he seemed to enjoy it as well, though she struggled to hold him up with her frozen fingers. Also, he wasn't exactly a small dog.
Legolas suddenly shouted something from the front, though she couldn't hear him through the wind crashing murderously by her ears.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled, and this time she heard.
Not a moment after his warning, a great crack sounded from above. Looking up into the storm, her eyes widened when she saw that the snow on the peak had started to crumble. Everyone launched themselves against the side of the mountain as enormous chunks of packed snow fell down and headed straight for them.
Alarain crouched down with Brenir under her body just before she felt the impact. It seemed as if lifetimes passed before she felt the snow calm itself around her and opened her eyes to darkness. Brenir struggled under her, panicking when he realized what had happened. She too started to panic when finding she could hardly breathe. Her frozen hands scrapped at the snow above them but that only resulted in more falling in on her face. Brenir ceased his wiggling and her heart skipped in fear. Please be okay, she thought, tears threatening to fall.
Light suddenly flooded into her cave and strong hands reached in, lifting her up. She yelled for Brenir, but Aragorn and Boromir held her back and watched as Legolas reached in again, bringing the dog out in his arms. Brenir was still, and his eyes were closed. This time, tears did fall.
"Is he...?" she started to ask.
"No." Legolas interrupted. "But he may be soon if we don't get off this mountain."
The hobbits looked terrified as they took in the unmoving dog. They had grown close to him and none wished him dead. Gandalf quickly led the way back, heading down the mountain. Shaking with cold, worry and fear, Alarain followed after the others. Aragorn hovered by her side now that the hobbits were walking.
"You're freezing." he said, worry dripping from his voice.
"Of course I'm freezing! Everyone's freezing!" she snapped. Looking at him, she saw hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry." she said as more tears fell. She glanced at the ground as she lost her balance.
The ranger caught her arm and steadied her. "It's fine. I know you're worried about Brenir."
Catching her when she slipped again, Aragorn scooped her up in his arms. She frowned but didn't have the energy to protest. Instead, she rested her tired head on his chest and fell into a deep sleep.
Waking, Alarain opened her eyes and blinked. She sat up and took in her surroundings. It was dark. They had left the mountain and were now huddled in as small patch of trees with a campfire blazing in the middle.
In a flash, Aragorn was at her side. "Drink this." he ordered, handing her a canteen.
She tilted it to her mouth and water poured in. I never knew water could taste so good, she thought gratefully. Sighing as she finished, she handed him back the container.
"How do you feel?" he asked, checking her pulse.
Alarain brushed off his pestering. "I'm fine." She almost didn't want to ask, but she had to know. "Brenir?"
Aragorn smiled. "He's alright." He pointed across camp to a brown lump of fur surrounded by curly haired hobbits. "He had almost stopped breathing, but once we got him close to a fire and covered in hobbits, he woke up. He's sleeping now, but he had a little to eat and drink when he was awake." Aragorn told her.
Sighing with relief, Alarain leaned back on the tree behind her. The ranger watched her for a moment before he spoke again. "Everyone was more worried for you I think." She looked at him questioningly, and he continued. "You're heartbeat had gotten very slow, and you didn't awaken when we tried to rouse you." His eyes didn't move from her and she stared back, only just realizing how close she had come to death.
Looking away from his gaze, she moved her stare to the fire. "We didn't make it over the mountain. Where do we go now?" she asked, turning back to him.
He moved closer, leaning on the tree as well. "It has been decided that we are to go through the Mines of Moria."
"What's that?" she asked.
"It's a dwarf city. It leads under the mountains."
She smiled. "Well, that sounds better than going over."
Aragorn didn't reply, but continued to gaze into the flames.
"I am sorry I snapped at you." she said sincerely, guilt coming over her.
He smiled kindly. "I know."
They said no more, and she looked up through the treetops at the sky, admiring the thousands of beautiful, bright stars. Before long, she grew tired again and her eyelids grew heavy. Head resting on the ranger's shoulder, she felt soft lips on her head and a whispered 'goodnight' before she fell into a dream.