Leaves flutter to the ground around the Fellowship as we stand by the lichen-covered archway, ready to leave Rivendell. Elrond stands before us.
,,This is my last word," He says in a low voice. ,,the ring-bearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the enemy nor indeed to let anyone else handle it, save members of the company and the council, and only then in grave need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy it will be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road."
,,Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." Says Gimli.
,,Maybe, but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall."
,,Yet the sworn word may strengthen the quaking heart."
,,Or break it," Says Elrond. ,,Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts. Farewell, hold to your purpose, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!" He spread his arms now. Lostariel, Legolas and I respectively bow our heads, holding a hand over our hearts.
,,The fellowship awaits the ring bearer." Gandalf says, gesturing to Frodo. Frodo turns and leads us through the archway, hesitant and uncertain.
,,Mordor, Gandalf. Is it left or right?" Frodo whispers to the wizard.
,,Left." Gandalf answers, just as quiet. Frodo continues walking left, and the rest of us follow. We cross the bridge and wind slowly up the long steep paths that lead out of the cloven of Rivendell; and we come at length to the high moor where the wind hisses through the heather. At the Ford of Bruinen we leave the road and turn southwards. We go on by narrow paths among the folded lands. Our purpose is to hold this course west of the Mountains for many miles and days. The country is much rougher and more barren than in the green vale of the wilder land on the other side of the range and going there would slow us down. The spies of Sauron have been seen in this empty country and the paths are little known except to the people of Rivendell. Gandalf walks in front with me by his side. I know this land even in the dark. The others behind us.
The first part of our journey is hard and dreary. For many sunless days and icy blast that comes from the Mountains in the east and no garment seems able to keep out the winds searching fingers. It's about midday when we pause for a short rest and to have a noonday meal. Pippin still complains about only having three meals a day. Sam roasts sausages over a fire.
,,We must hold this course west of the misty mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the gap of Rohan will still be open to us." Gandalf says to Lostariel and me.
,,And then?" Chloe asks.
,,From there our road turns east, to Mordor." Chloe gives me a worried look. I sit down, pulling Chloe next to me on this windy hill. I watch as Boromir spars with Merry and Pippin, testing their fighting skills. Boromir's broadsword clangs against Merry's short dagger-like one.
,,Good, very good." Boromir says.
,,Move your feet." I say encouraging the two hobbits. Lostariel leans her head against my shoulder, watching as well.
,,You look good, Pippin." Merry says.
,,Thanks."
,,Faster!" Boromir moves his sword a little faster. I overhear Gimli speaking to Gandalf.
,,If anyone was asking for my opinion, which I know they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way around. Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
,,No, Gimli. I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." The old wizard replies. Boromir accidentally nicked Pippin's finger with his sword.
,,Ah!" Pippin drops his sword and brings his finger to his mouth.
,,Sorry!" Boromir says, but Pippin kicks him.
,,Get him!" Merry shouts. The two hobbits tackle Boromir, bringing him to the ground. Lostariel chuckles. I stood up to separate the fight, as did Lostariel. She grabs Pippin and pulls him off Boromir, the hobbit still flinging his arms and I try to pry Merry off. Merry struggles in mock battle and Pippin helps to pull me to the ground. Lostariel laughs, bending down to help me up and getting pulled down to the ground as well. I caught her and she smiled at me, looking deep into my eyes before giving me a small kiss. I stand up, helping Lostariel up and once again we pull the hobbits apart. Lostariel controls her laughter and smiles at me with bright eyes. The a silence grew. Dead silence is around us and away in the south a dark patch appears, and grew, and drives north like flying smoke in the wind.
,,What's that, strider?" Sam asks me and I look at what he's pointing at. Everyone sees it now and Gimli huffs dismissively.
,,Probably just a whiff of cloud."
,,It doesn't look like a cloud. It's moving too fast, against the wind." I gaze intently at the sky. Flocks of birds, flying at great speed, are wheeling and circling, and traversing all the land as if they are searching for something; and they are steadily drawing nearer.
,,Crebain from Dunland!" Lostariel calls out.
,,Hide, lie flat and still!" I hissed. We scramble to gather our things, putting them out of sight. Sam pours water on the fire and finds a spot with Frodo under a bush. Everyone looks for a hiding spot. I see Lostariel glancing around frantically to make sure the others are hiding but the Crebain are moving closer. I rush towards her, grab her and pull her under an outcropping of a rock. A whole regiment of birds has broken away from the main host and comes, flying low, straight towards the ridge. We wait. I have my hand around Lostariel's waist and we huddle into the small space. I hold her against me tightly, minimizing the chance we would be seen. As the Crebain pass overhead, in so dense a throng that their shadows follow them darkly over the ground below, one hard croak is heard. Lostariel turns her head to look at me, holding her breath. We wait until the birds are dwindling into the distance, north and west, and the sky is clear again to rise from our hiding spots. Chloe climbs out first, me behind her and I keep my hand on her waist a moment longer than I need to.
,,Those were spies of Saruman." Lostariel says. ,,They're clearly spying on the land. Hollin is no longer wholesome for us: it is being watched."
,,And so is the Redhorn Gate." Says Gandalf. ,,I don't know how we are going to get over that without being seen. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." He turns to look up at a great snowy mountain up above. I swallow. Heights are never my strongest point. Lostariel grabs my hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
,,I'm with you." She whispers in my ear and that's all the encouragement I need.
We make our way up the mountain. It's cold and windy, and the snow clings to my eyelashes. Frodo loses his footing in the deep snow and begins rolling down the hill towards Chloe and me. I help him to his feet and Frodo immediately reaches for his neck to grab the ring until he notices that it's missing. I look up where he had fallen from and see Boromir holding up the ring, staring at it.
,,Boromir." I say. Boromir is oblivious.
,,It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much over such a little thing." He says quietly, still staring at it. I give Lostariel a small look, before looking back to Boromir who tries to hold the ring in his hand now.
,,Boromir!" I say harder, startling him. He looks at me now. ,,Give the ring to Frodo." I direct. Boromir slowly walks forward, holding out the ring.
,,As you wish." He says. Frodo snaps the ring out of his hands. ,,I care not." Lostariel doubts him immediately.
,,If he didn't care about the ring, he wouldn't be so hesitant to give it back to Frodo." She whispers to me. I don't react because I keep a close eye on Boromir, who tassels Frodo's hair, then resumes climbing. I release the hilt of my sword now and meet Lostariel's eyes.
,,We must keep a close eye on him." I tell her and she nods, before she steps forward up the mountain. I smile at Frodo and stay with him while climbing the mountain further. We reach a higher ledge not long after. Legolas and Lostariel are running ahead easily while we're trudging behind slowly. I try to control my fear as we're walking closely to the edge of the small path. You can easily fall down and it doesn't help that Lostariel is far ahead with Legolas.
,,There is a foul voice in the air." Legolas shouts suddenly.
,,It's Saruman!" Gandalf yells just as rocks fall from the mountain towards us. I grab Merry and Pippin and quickly step aside, my heart beating a million times now.
,,He's trying to bring down the mountain!" I say. ,,Gandalf, we must turn back."
,,No!" He yells back and shouts a counter-curse at Saruman as a great streak of lightning hits the top of the mountain above us and an avalanche of snow rains down on top of us, burying us underneath it. My whole body feels frozen, but I don't give up easily. I look down to the two hobbits who are freezing and use my whole being to get out of the snow.
,,Neuma?!" I hear Lostariel's voice and she helps me out of the snow. ,,Are you okay?"
,,Yeah, we're fine. Just cold." She giggles now, helping me up on my feet.
,,We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouts, fighting the blizzard.
,,The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" I shout to Boromir.
,,If we cannot go over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria." Gimli suggests. Gandalf thinks deeply.
,,Let the ring bearer decide." He says grimly.
,,We cannot stay here." Boromir shouts. ,,This will be the death of the hobbits."
,,Frodo?" Gandalf asks him.
,,We will go through the mines." He declares.
,,So be it." The wizard nods.