It had been a few days and the fellowship was currently resting among a small hill of rocks. Gandalf was sitting on a rock, smoking his pipe and going over the plans with Gimli who asked the same question a few times throughout the journey what path they were taking. Legolas was standing on a rock not too far from them, looking out to see if there was anything suspicious. Sam was cooking up some food for the others and watched Boromir practice sword fighting with Pippin and Merry with Frodo next to him.
Aragorn and Amdiriel sat on a rock next to each other, watching Boromir and the hobbits while giving them small pieces of advice every now and then.
"Good, very good." Boromir said to Merry as he then moved to practice with Pippin. The sound of clashing blades echoing through the air.
"Move your feet." Aragorn advised the hobbit. He quickly did as he was told and was able to move around better. "That's good, Pip." Merry complimented Pippin who thanked him.
"Faster." Merry told Boromir who soon brought down his blade.
"Don't think too much but anticipate everything, if that makes sense." Amdiriel said to a slightly struggling Merry. She turned to Aragorn "Did that make sense?" She asked with a chuckle. "I think it did." Aragorn replied with a small smile.
Suddenly they heard Pippin yelp in pain and drop his sword. "Oh sorry." Boromir apologized for nicking a part of the hobbit's hand. But before he could inspect the wound he was kicked in the shin by Pippin and then was wacked in the other leg by Merry. The two hobbits then tackled the man to the ground. "For the Shire!" Merry yelled while they laughed, earning a smile and small laugh from both Aragorn and Amdiriel.
After a few seconds of 'torture,' Aragorn got up over to save Boromir. He handed his pipe to Amdiriel who took it and sneaked a quick puff when the ranger turned to walk over to the group on the floor. "Gentlemen, that's enough." He said and bent over to grab the two rascals but they turned around and pulled Aragorn's legs out from underneath him. Aragorn had no time to react and ended up flying on to his back. That was when Amdiriel burst into laughter. Aragorn groaned as he sat up but a smiled came over his face as Amdiriel's laughter filled the air. He looked and saw the smile that graced her face as she laughed and he wanted to keep it there forever. Boromir smiled for 3 different reasons: they got Amdiriel to really laugh, the look Aragorn was giving his sister and maybe they were a little bit closer to breaking the spell. The four got up and began to dust off the dirt from their clothes as Amdiriel tried to calm herself.
"What is that?" Sam asked, making all of them turning their heads toward Legolas's direction. "Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud." Gimli declared but Amdiriel knew that it wasn't as she focused her elf eyes.
"It's moving fast...against the wind." stated her brother.
"Crebain from Dunland!" warned Legolas. "Hide!" yelled both Amdiriel and Aragorn as they grabbed their things. Boromir then yelled for Merry and Pippin to follow him while Amdiriel yelled for Sam and Aragorn for Frodo.
The four of them hid under a large boulder, the hobbits next to each other and the half-elf and man next to each other. Just as everyone got to their hiding spot, the crows flew overhead, squawking as they did.
Amdiriel could hear them getting closer to their hiding place, so she pulled out an arrow from her quiver and was about to load her bow when a hand grabbed hers.
Amdiriel knew who it was by the sparks that shot through her body. Amdiriel looked over to Aragorn who gave her a small shake of his head but kept hold of her hand to help calm her until they left.
Once the birds had cleared, everyone came out slowly. Amdiriel could still feel the sparks as she offered a hand to the ranger as he climbed from under the boulder. It was something that Aragorn have never felt before but it somehow felt familiar.
"Spies of Saruman." Gandalf told them "The passage South is being watched...We must take the path of Caradhas." They all looked to the mountain behind them that was fresh with snow.
The journey up the snowy mountain was long, hard and cold which Amdiriel did not particularly enjoy. Nor was the fresh snow from the night before any help to them. They all climbed up the mountain, one behind the other.
Frodo suddenly lost his footing and went tumbling backward. "Frodo." Aragorn called out and went to help the fallen hobbit. Aragorn raised him to his feet and helped dust off the snow from his clothes. The fellowship had stopped and turned to see the commotion. Frodo then felt something missing and placed his hand inside his shirt and felt for the Ring but did not find it.
The Ring was several feet in front of them, laying on the white snow. Boromir picked up the gold ring who suddenly seemed hypothesized by it.
"Boromir." Aragorn called out but it fell on deaf ears. Amdiriel came from behind her brother and put her hand on his back, hoping he would respond. When she received nothing from him, she moved to stand at his side, now eye level with the Ring. "Boromir" She whispered but again, nothing. Amdiriel went to speak again but she heard another whisper, the voice was deep and it was calling her name, a voice she had heard before. Amdiriel glared at the Ring and was about to yank it from her brother's grasp as he began to speak. "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over such a small thing...such a little thing. Boromir was about to grab the Ring but before he could his sister's hand shot out to grip his arm. "Boromir." both she and Aragorn had said at the same time. This time waking Boromir from his daze. "Give the Ring to Frodo." Aragorn ordered. Boromir looked over at his sister who gave him a nod but each could see the small amount of fear in the other's eyes. But Amdiriel took Boromir's hand in her and gave it a light squeeze in comfort. The two then walked down to where Frodo and Aragorn stood.
"As you wish." said Boromir as he handed the necklace to the hobbit who took it very quickly. "I care not." he added and looked up at Aragorn with a small smile but it was met with a stern look from the ranger. Amdiriel had spotted Aragorn's hand on the hilt of his sword so Amdiriel slowly mirrored his actions just in case something were to happen. Boromir tried to diffuse the evident tension with a chuckle and ruffled the young hobbit's curly hair. Boromir turned and began to walk away giving the fellowship the sign to continue onward. Amdiriel stayed out for a second and gave Aragorn a hard look before she removed her hand from her weapon, Aragorn doing the same before she turned to walk away and catch up with her brother.
A storm soon came upon them, wind and snow blowing fiercely against them. The new layer of snow, making it even harder for them to walk across the mountain's edge. Aside from Legolas and Amdiriel, everyone was treading through three feet of snow. It was moments like this when Amdiriel found herself grateful that she had inherited her mother's elf abilities but she also felt bad for her brother had not and he was currently carrying Merry and Pippin through the snow as was Aragorn who carried Sam and Frodo.
Amdiriel and Legolas walked past the others, their footprints barely able to be seen in the snow from how light they were.
"You hear that?" Amdiriel asked the elf who then nodded and continued to walk forward, Amdiriel following close behind. "There is a fair voice on the air." Legolas said loud enough for the others to hear him over the wind. "It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled. As soon as he said those words, rocks began to fall from above them. Everyone threw themselves onto the side of the mountain.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must go back!" yelled Aragorn. "No!" Gandalf rebuked, he stood feet and began to chant in elvish. He tried to speak spell over the mountain but to no avail, Saruman's voice only grew louder.
Suddenly, lightning struck the top of the mountain causing a large amount of snow to fall. Legolas grabbed Gandalf and pulled him from the edge while Amdiriel covered Boromir and the two hobbits in his arms. The snow fell over them, covering them like a blanket.
It took a few minutes for everyone to unbury themselves, everyone helped each other except for Gimli who had too much pride t receive help from anyone who had pointy ears.
"Everyone okay?" Amdiriel asked, earning a groan from everyone. "We must get off the mountain!" She then yelled. "Yes." Boromir agreed. "We make for the Gap of Rohan, then take the West road to our home!" he suggested. "You forget that Amdirieil is banished from Gondor!" reminded Aragorn. He feared what would happen if she would return to the White City, he knew she would surely get the death penalty. "And the Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn then stated.
The almost seemed to be out of options until Gimli spoke up. "Can not go over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." There was a moment of silence, it seemed as if Gandalf was going over all their options in his head. All Amdiriel knew was that she didn't fancy either choice at the moment.
"Let the Ring-bearer decide." said the wizard. Frodo took a minute to think as all eyes were on him. "Frodo?" asked Gandalf. "We will go through the mines." he announced. "So be it." Gandalf agreed.