One to rule them all. | Legolas.

Chapter 5- Cahahraa

The Fellowship trudged through the snow atop the mountain pass, the wind biting at their faces. The hobbits struggled, their smaller frames sinking into the drifts, while Morwen, using her size and strength, carved a path behind them. Her fur bristled against the cold, but she pressed forward tirelessly, keeping a close eye on the group.

Suddenly, Frodo tripped, landing hard on the snow. He gasped, his hand instinctively reaching for his chest. "The ring..." he whispered, realizing it was no longer around his neck.

The group froze as a flash of gold gleamed in the snow ahead. Boromir had picked up the ring, his fingers turning it over with an unnatural fascination. His eyes lingered on the small object, its allure clouding his face with a dangerous intensity.

"Boromir," Aragorn said sharply, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. The tension in the air was palpable.

Morwen moved forward slowly, her eyes narrowing, and a low growl rumbled in her throat. She advanced cautiously, her form predatory and deliberate, as if stalking prey. To Boromir, she might have looked like a mere beast, but her presence was unmistakably commanding.

Boromir held the ring aloft, his voice low and reverent. "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing... such a little thing."

"Boromir," Aragorn said again, his voice firmer now. "Give Frodo the ring."

Still caught in the ring's thrall, Boromir didn't move. Morwen growled louder, her fangs bared. She stopped just short of him, her body tense, ready to spring if he dared to take another step. Her growls cut through the silence like a warning bell, a reminder of the danger he toyed with.

Finally, Boromir snapped out of the spell. His eyes met Morwen's glowing, unwavering gaze, and he seemed to understand the peril he faced. He looked down at the ring and let out a shaky breath. "I care not," he muttered, handing it back to Frodo.

The hobbit hurried to retrieve it, slipping it back over his neck. He looked up at Morwen and placed a hand gently on her side. "It's okay, Morwen. He gave it back."

She quieted her growl but didn't move her eyes from Boromir, her gaze as cold and piercing as the mountain wind. Only when Frodo tugged at her fur lightly did she turn and follow him, staying protectively by his side.

The Fellowship pressed onward, the winds howling as they climbed higher. Frodo walked ahead with Aragorn, their voices lost in the gusts. Morwen, lingering behind, kept her eyes fixed on Boromir, her muscles coiled as if ready to strike. She sensed someone approaching and turned her head slightly to see Legolas falling into step beside her.

"You look as if you're ready to pounce," the elf said, his voice calm but knowing. "Stay calm, Morwen. He will not take it."

Her gaze shifted to meet his, her expression cold. Before she could respond, a faint noise in the air caught her attention. She stilled, her ears twitching, and nodded toward the sky.

Legolas's sharp eyes followed her signal. His expression darkened. "I hear it too," he said, raising his voice. "There is a fell voice on the air!"

"Saruman," Gandalf muttered grimly. Above them, rocks began to shift and fall, the sound of stone grinding against stone echoing ominously.

"Get down!" Aragorn shouted, grabbing the nearest hobbit and pulling him to safety.

The Fellowship scattered as a landslide erupted above them. Rocks crashed down, creating chaos. Most of the group made it to safety, scrambling to the other side of the narrow path, but as Legolas was crossing, Morwen leapt toward him, pushing him backward just as a large boulder came crashing down. She shielded him with her body, her growls drowned out by the roar of the avalanche.

When the dust settled, Legolas and Morwen were trapped on the far side of the rocks, the path blocked entirely. "We must turn back!" Aragorn called, his voice urgent.

"No," Gandalf said firmly, his staff glowing faintly in the dim light. "It is too late for that now."

Legolas looked at the wall of debris and turned to Morwen. "What now?" he asked, his voice steady despite the situation. Morwen motioned with her head, gesturing for him to climb onto her back.

Legolas hesitated only for a moment before obliging. With remarkable agility, Morwen began scaling the unstable rocks. Each stone she touched crumbled beneath her weight the moment she moved on, but her light-footedness kept them both steady. She reached the top of the pile and leapt down to the other side, landing gracefully despite the treacherous terrain.

The hobbits ran to her at once, hugging her fur and murmuring their gratitude. Morwen stiffened under the unexpected affection, unused to such contact. Gandalf chuckled at the sight, but Morwen shot him a withering glare that silenced his laughter.

As the group regrouped, Legolas slid off her back and leaned close to her ear. "Thank you, Morwen," he whispered. "You saved my life. I am in your debt."

Morwen gave him a curt nod, her expression unreadable, and began to walk again, the hobbits still clinging to her warmth as the cold gnawed at their limbs.

A short time later, Gandalf's voice broke the heavy silence. "The ring-bearer shall decide. Do we pass through the Gap of Rohan, or the Mines of Moria?"

At the mention of the mines, Morwen's ears flattened, and she let out a soft growl. She shuddered, memories flickering in her mind. The horrors she had witnessed in Moria were not something she wished to revisit. Yet she remained silent, her gaze fixed ahead.

Boromir, his voice urgent, argued, "We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits."

Gandalf turned to Frodo. "What is your decision?"

The young hobbit hesitated, his voice trembling but resolute. "We will go through the mines."

Morwen's growl deepened, though she quickly stifled it. Her eyes met Gandalf's, and he offered her a knowing look. "So be it," the wizard said.

With a heavy heart, Morwen fell into step with the group, her dark form blending with the shadows as they descended toward the fateful halls of Moria.