Chapter Five - Finally Leaving.
She had gone to Aragorn that night after her father had left. He had been amazed at the conclusion Elrond had come to. It was not like the Lord of Rivendell, Elrond would keep to his mind about certain events no matter what the opinion of anyone else may be. Nevertheless Aragorn told Arwen that he was glad that she would be accompanying them, even though he had voiced his concerns before.
The morning sun rose quickly into the sky, and by the time of around nine o'clock the 11 companions were standing outside near the gates getting ready to depart.
Arwen had not got as much sleep as she had hoped as she had been packing into the early hours of the morning. Then of course once she settled down under the covers the nerves kicked in. She realised that this quest would change her life forever for better or for worse. But she could not back out now, she had wanted it like this, she had pushed for it, it was her own doing.
Then there was the slight case of what she should pack? To travel light she knew, but what did that include? Clothes, food, weapons, healing equipment? Did she need to bring food? Or did someone else pack that or all of them?
She had managed to pack to the best that she knew how also managing to get at least three hours sleep before she had to get up and ready to move out.
And so she came to this point standing at the gates staring back at the place that she loved, and the man who had given her life, the man she may not see again.
"I love you Ada," she told him wrapping her arms around him and kissing him on the cheek, trying to hold back her tears so that she would not appear weak in front of her new companions.
"Goodbye my dear," he said turning. "Goodbye all of you, may you journey go in good health".
It was the hardest goodbye she had ever said, she promised herself that she would remember every detail of the place and family and friends that she loved. Alas she new that the decay of time chisels away at memories one way or another.
As they left the gates for the wild, she looked back and whispered "I will see you again".
They had not been walking long when Arwen managed to shake the sadness from her eyes. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on something else to keep her mind busy. Most of them travelled in silence, she wondered if they were feeling as nervous about this as she was? Of course they would never admit it. She could never imagine Boromir or Gimli saying they were frightened of the path ahead. Their prise would be ruined forever.
Frodo had managed to creep up beside her without her noticing he too seemed to be in a world of his own.
"Young master, what troubles you?" She asked him, trying not to startle him from his dream like state.
"I was just thinking….it is a awful long way to Mordor, is it not lady M'lady?" He replied looking up at her from underneath the brim of his hooded cloak.
"Indeed it is Master Baggins, and the most perilous of one at that," she told him with a smile. " We are all either very brave or very foolish, I have not worked out which one as of yet."
"M'lady you do not have to call me Master, just call me Frodo," he explained to her, his mood seeming to lighten.
She nodded in agreement. "Well in that case you must call me Arwen and not M'lady," she replied with a chuckle. If she was going to fit in with this band of men then she had to start acting like one of the boys. No more 'M'lady' or special treatment just because of her gender. She was useful and she would make sure that they saw this. She would not become a worry or a burden for them.
"Anyway Frodo," she continued. "Do not trouble yourself with thoughts of Mordor yet, we still have an awfully long way to go," she told him.
He gave a smile in return and then dropped back to where Sam was walking with Merry and Pippin, already deep in an animated coversation about some girl named Rosie.
Arwen was glad that she had managed to form a friendship with at least one of her companions apart from the ones that she knew already.
"What was that about?" Aragorn asked in curiosity, stopping to wait for her.
"Mind your own business," Arwen told him playfully, a grin stretched across her face.
"Fine!" Aragorn replied trying to sound as if he had been hurt.
"I think I just made a friend."
As they began to climb their way up the side of a steep hillside, it was clear to see that some of the members were not as fit as they had made out.
Gimli began to lag back to the end of the team, puffing and panting, his face growing redder and redder with every breath.
Legolas and Arwen found it easy, and were soon at the top waiting for the rest to arrive, chuckling as they made bets on how many times Gimli would have to stop and say that he was 'admiring the view' when really it was all he could do to stop himself from keeling over.
Aragorn had stayed behind with the four Hobbits. Their short legs were not cut out for this type of terrain. Even so they pressed on, none of them complaining if they found it hard.
Boromir was next to reach the top, he sat down heavily onto the ground, sweat beading on his brow as he faced Arwen on a fallen boulder.
"So M'lady, how are you finding the journey so far?" He asked her politely enough but really wanting to hear how much she hated it already.
"Well Lord Boromir, my feet do not tire, so I suppose that that is a good sign, for I would hate to seem a burden upon you," she replied smiling sweetly at him, not sarcastically but in a knowing way, that he should not push her further.
" I'm glad to hear it M'lady, and don't worry if you become a burden I will be the first to inform you," he said his tone never shifting, his eyes piercing into hers, he only broke to show her a forced smile as he walked away to the others climbing to the summit.
Arwen rose behind him, her eyes never leaving his back as he strode away. Legolas approached her, in his face Arwen could see concern and a twinge of anger, he had obviously overheard what the man had said, he rested his hand upon her arm.
"What was all that about?" He asked her as he eyed Boromir helping Sam to his feet after he had slipped on a loose boulder.
"It seems that my presence upon the journey has not lifted his mood, nor Gimli's for that matter," Arwen replied following the gaze of Legolas.
"Well that gives him no right to behave like that to a Lady," Legolas continued, his nobleness creping out.
"I do not want him to think of a just a Lady, I want him to respect me as a companion, as a valuable member and asset to this fellowship," Arwen said adamantly.
"You are a valuable member of this fellowship, whether they believe it or not," Legolas reassured her, he was one of her oldest friends and she knew that she could rely on him on any issue.
She put her hand on top of his and put her other hand on the side of his face.
"What would I do without you?" She asked him, turning away as Aragorn came walking towards them. Frodo and the other three Hobbits sat about some large rocks chatting and laughing amongst themselves. At least the strenuous journey had not dampened their spirits.
Arwen sat back down on the large boulder her feet were a little tired but she wasn't about to go and tell Boromir that, she would never hear the last of it. Aragorn sat down beside her, smoothing some of his hair away from his face and shifting some of his weapons so that he became more comfortable.
"How are you doing…M'lady?" He questioned her, not knowing how he should address her as the others were nearby.
"My Lord I am doing well, thank-you for asking," She replied, speaking a little louder than her usual tone so that Boromir could overhear, he only looked up from where he and Sam where creating a makeshift campfire and started muttering under his breath.
Aragorn seemed confused, his brow furrowing at his disgruntled companion.
"What was that about?" He asked her, hoping that she would elaborate a little more than when he had asked her about her conversation with Frodo.
"Lord Boromir will just have to get accustomed to having a woman on this journey" Arwen told him in a whisper, she was sure that from her tone that her relationship with Boromir had not blossomed when they had both reached the top.
An hour had passed briskly and they had all nearly finished their afternoon meal, a hearty feast of sausages, bacon and bread. Gimli sat atop a boulder to the back of the camp, blowing circles of smoke out from his pipe into the air, they dispersed quickly as the wind whipped round the valley. Next him sat Gandalf, his grey hair tied back and clutched in his hand another pipe, they were having a heated discussion in regards the way that they should continue, but why were decisions never quite as simple as they should be?
"We shall take the path up Caladrahlas," Gandalf informed the dwarf taking another breath of smoke and releasing.
"Gandalf, we should take the mines of Moria, my cousin Balin will set us a feast like none other," Gimli protested, clearly thinking with his stomach which seemed to be a recurring theme. But it was no use, Gandalf had already made up his mind.
"I would not take the path through Moria if it were the only one left," Gandalf finished, there would be no compromise. He knew as well as her what the dwarves had awoken in their haste to mine.
Over near the Campfire Boromir had begun teaching the Hobbits some basic fighting skills. Merry and Pippin darted about between the grown mans legs, trying to knock him off balance. Boromir laughed out as he instructed them on tactful moves. Arwen watched him closely, she wondered at the change in the mans behaviour from earlier. So she sat deep in thought only glancing up every so often as a sputter of fat from the sausages on the campfire roused her.
Legolas stood over near the edge of the rock face, he was currently sorting out the arrows within his quiver, his blonde hair drifting slightly on the current of the breeze.
Sam and Frodo sat with Arwen and Aragorn around the campfire, none of them speaking but content that their was no danger around. Every so often one of them would laugh as Merry and Pippin as they uselessly tried to wield a blade and attempted to block Boromirs advances.
Suddenly one of the hobbits who was sparring leapt backwards. It seemed that Boromir had caught Pippins hand on the edge of his sword causing little damage but enough to make the poor hobbit yelp out. He then proceeded to kick the human in the shin causing him to fall backwards on the floor, laughing all the way. Boromir now squirmed trying to get back to his feet whilst both hobbits clambered upon him.
Although Arwen wasn't in the best of moods with the man, she couldn't help but let out a small snigger at seeing the proud man of Gondor put to his paces by two men half his size. Maybe the Hobbits would bring out his kinder and more playful side, hopefully lightening his outlook upon the journey and her companionship.
Aragorn chuckled beside her, puffing on a pipe he had just lit, she hoped that the days to come on this adventure would be just as calm and collected as this one was although she doubted that.
They were quickly broken from this cheery spell when Legolas spied an uncanny sight upon the horizon.
"What is it?" He asked aloud, looking first to Arwen, hopefully her elven eyes would be able to decipher as quickly as his.
"Its just a wisp of cloud," Gimli tried to reassure them.
But the others were not so convinced, Boromir sat up from his place on the floor.
"It's moving fast against the wind," he stated, clearly hoping to god that it was not what he thought it was. Legolas confirmed his suspicion.
"Crebain from Dundeian!" he cried, motioning for the others to find sanctuary away from the prying eyes. He himself retreated from the boulder he was atop and ran to a near by fern, settling his body within the branches.
Sam quickly jumped up kicking dirt onto the fire to diminish the flames. Gandalf and Gimli slid down the boulder face hiding closely against it. Boromir dragged the remaining hobbits into the safety of the brush hiding down, quiet. Arwen grabbed Bill and pulled him over to an overhanging slab of rock.
"Stay here Bill," she instructed him with a quick pat on his neck to try and calm him, hopefully he would not be as spooked by a flock of birds as they all were.
Aragorn made his way to a patch of fern he lifted the entrance to Arwen who snuck in behind holding onto him for support. They waited with held breaths and then they heard the squawking and crying of the crows.
The fellowship just waited. Most had their eyes shut tight hoping beyond hope that the danger would pass and disappear as quickly as it had arrived. Arwen huddled down she could hear the flapping as loudly as if the birds were trapped in here with them, their wings casting shadows down upon the stone floor.
She could feel Aragorns arm wrapped tighty around her waist his head leaning slightly on top of hers. She would have been more happy of this show of affection if it were not for the current circumstances. Slowly after what seemed like a lifetime of keeping silent the flapping sound seemed to recede into the distance.
Sensing that it was now safe to come out, Gandalf stuck his head up from the crevice he had hidden in.
"The danger has passed," he called to the others, looking at the remnants of the birds just leaving into the haze of the horizon.
They all began to peek out, clambering out of ditches and bushes in which they had been hidden.
"They are Sarumans spies," informed Gandalf, "They are always searching for some news to relay back to their master."
Arwen moved over to where she had left Bill, he had now begun grazing on a piece of grass oblivious to what was going on around him.
"We should keep moving," instructed Aragorn, helping Sam to clear the cooking supplies littering the ground.
Frodo just stared after the fast disappearing cloud, deep in thought and fingering the ring that hung heavily around his neck. Gandalf laid a hand upon his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. It did not take long for the company to move off, they would take the path up Caladrahlas.