Note: To HannahT62, thanks so much for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoy the story so far! Now, onto the story!


I walk back to my room as dawn nears, the sun rays peeking over the mountain. I'd woken up in the middle of the night after a nightmare, and didn't go back to sleep. Instead, I took a walk throughout Imladris, into the forests to enjoy the peacefulness that will probably be lacking for a while after.

As I run a sharpening stone over my sword, possible events of the next couple of days run through my head. It is a long way to Mordor, a journey that will likely take up months. I already know the likely route: taking the path to the west of the Misty Mountains, going through the Gap of Rohan, and from there, going east. Caradhras isn't likely unless the path was being watched, as the frigid temperatures could kill, at the very least, the hobbits, if not more of us. Moria isn't an option. We cannot go into Moria without at least one member of our Fellowship dying. I have heard rumors of what dwells in the mines there. It is a creature that Elves have nightmares, one theater we learn to fear. No, we cannot go there.

I exit my room with my bow and quiver slung over my shoulder and my sword strapped to my waist. Legolas falls into step next to me.

"Remember our agreement, nethig," he whispers.

"How could I forget, hanar?" I smile. We walk together to the gate, where Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli were already waiting. Gimli gives a slight grunt of annoyance at our appearance. Legolas ignores him, but I bow my head politely. I mean, come on. The last thing we need is a war between Dwarves and Elves because my brother chooses to be petty now. Aragorn is staring at an Elf whom I know to be Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond. I've known for a while that there was something between them; Aragorn told Legolas and me, and before that, I could tell just by the way he spoke about her. Boromir is just… waiting. He hides it well, but I can see that he is displeased in some way, probably due to the fact that the Ring isn't going to Gondor.

I wait as the members of the Fellowship continue to arrive. They come slowly, and it is another half hour before we stand gathered at the gates.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will," Elrond proclaims. So… if any of us wishes, we can back out at any time. Not likely. That is cowardice, no matter what we face. "Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you." Legolas, Aragorn, and I know the proper bow, and I bow my head and put a hand on my heart to acknowledge Elrond's words.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer," Gandalf says, and Frodo turns around, looking at the road in front of us. Though my hearing isn't as sharp as my brother's, I can still hear Frodo say,

"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?" I marvel at the innocence of the hobbits. This must truly be the biggest endeavor the four joining us have taken in their lives.

"Left," Gandalf whispers back, and we set off on our journey. I walk near the back with Legolas, and look back one more time. Aragorn hasn't begun walking, but is instead looking back one last time at Arwen. I turn around so they can share their last looks in peace.

I feel sorry for Arwen. Aragorn may never return (I pray to the Valar that he does), and this can take an emotional toll on her. However, I know Arwen, and she's strong. Hopefully she'll be okay.

Over the next several hours, we travel up and down hills, across plains, and across different terrains. Most memorably, the group insisted on squeezing through a couple of rocks when it was much easier to go around. Sometimes, I suppose, people can be odd.

Finally, we took a rest stop near several boulders. Within ten minutes, Sam, one of the hobbits, had begun cooking, Merry and Pippin, the other hobbits, were learning sword fighting from Boromir with Aragorn coaching them, and the others were simply watching.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not," Gimli puts in, "I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome." I shake my head almost imperceptibly. Gimli doesn't know what lies in the darkness of Moria.

"No, Gimli, I would not take the roads through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf says darkly, clearly sharing my sentiments. Legolas gets up and jumps to a higher boulder, peering out into the distance. As I cannot see as far as he can, and therefore probably wouldn't be able to see what he's looking at, I turn my attention back to Merry and Pippin, just as Boromir accidentally strikes Pippin's hand.

"Sorry!" He exclaims in apology, but with a cry of shock and slight pain, Pippin kicks Boromir's leg. The Man exclaims, and Merry yells,

"Get him!" The two young hobbits tackle Boromir, and they all fall to the ground.

"For the Shire!"

"Get him, Merry!" I chuckle at the chaos. It's nice to see that, even though these are dark times, there's happiness and laughter to be found.

"Gentlemen, that's enough," Aragorn says, trying to break up the fight, but instead gets thrown back and lands with a thud. At this, I burst into laughter. The irony of this situation is too funny. Two Men, one destined to become king of Gondor, the other the son of the current Steward of Gondor, taken down by a pair of hobbits half their size. Who wouldn't laugh?

My brother, evidently, whose eyes are still fixed upon the horizon.

"What is that?" Sam asks, noticing the thing that Legolas is staring at. I see it too, now. It looks like a mere cloud at this distance, just black.

"Nothing, it's just a wisp of cloud," Gimli voices my thoughts. Something tells me, though, that it's more than that.

"It's moving fast," Boromir says, rising, having finally got the hobbits off him. "Against the wind." I see my brother's eyes widen as he finally spots what is coming towards us.

"Crebain from Dunland!" He shouts in warning.

"Hide!" Aragorn yells. The Fellowship bursts into a flurry of movement as we all scramble to erase any trace of our camp. I rush and hide beneath a hedge with Legolas, and we both manage to stop breathing as the Crebain approach. The birds fly overhead with a loud squawk and flapping of their wings as they circle the area twice before flying off. I breathe a sigh of relief and stand up, seeing that everyone else has, too.

Well, we definitely can't go the route we planned now.

"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf proclaims. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." I groan inwardly. Caradhras is brutal. The chances of our entire group making it through the pass are slim.

I send a silent prayer up to the Valar that this could work. In my opinion, though, it's not likely to be answered.


Nethig: little sister

Hanar: brother

Elvish words are checked with Parf Edhellen. If the definitions are wrong, please correct me. Reviews appreciated!