The Shape of Shadows [2]

The Pass of Caradhras

Caradhras was one of the most formidable peaks in the Misty Mountains. The fellowship each had their own reservations about using the pass, Amara in particular. The Pass of Caradhras was where her mother had been captured and tortured by orcs. It was the last place she wanted to go, but their options were few, so they set off up the mountain.

They were scaling a steep incline part of the way up, when Frodo lost his footing and went tumbling backwards. Aragon and Amara helped him to his feet, but once he was steady, his hand shot to his neck in a panic. The chain that held the ring had shook lose and was lying on the snow further up. Everyone watched warily as Boromir reached out and picked it up from the snow. Aragorn's hand moved to the hilt of his sword as Amara felt for the dagger on her belt.

"Boromir." Aragon's voice was calmer than he looked.

Boromir held the ring up on the chain and stared at it, almost in a trance. "It is a strange fate, we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing. Such a little thing." Boromir reached out to touch the ring, but Aragorn's voice knocked him out of the trance.

"Boromir! Give the ring to Frodo."

"As you wish." Boromir walked down towards them and held the ring out. Frodo snatched it back as soon as it was within reaching distance. "I care not." He looked from Frodo to Amara to Aragorn, before chuckling and ruffling Frodo's hair. It was only when he started back up the incline towards the others that Aragorn and Amara removed their hands from their weapons.

The fellowship continued up towards the mountain pass with little obstruction. There were a few more trips and falls, but Amara and Legolas, so light on their feet, had no trouble navigating the snow when needed to help the others up. Their trouble really started when they began the crossing.

A storm had blown in, bringing with it thick clouds of fog and heavy snowfall. While Amara and Legolas could walk on top of the loose power with ease, the others struggled to wade through it. Amara and Legolas scouted ahead to make sure the path was clear as Gandalf tried to clear a path with his staff. When the powder reached waist height on Aragorn and Boromir, they each had to take two of the hobbits under their arms to stop them being lost in the snow.

As they reached a corner, Legolas placed his hand on Amara's arm to stop her. She was about to ask him what was wrong but then she heard it.

"There is a fell voice on the air." Legolas called back to Gandalf.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted over the wind.

The words had barely left his mouth when there was cracking and crunching above them and rocks began to fall. They all huddled closer to the rock face as the falling rocks barely missed them.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn called. "Gandalf, we must turn back!"

"No!" Gandalf moved to the edge of the ledge and attempted to counter Saruman's spells.

They thought he might be succeeding, then lightning struck the ledge above them causing another cascade of snow and rock. They all dived closer to the rock face and Legolas reached out and pulled Gandalf away from the edge just in time.

When the snow had settled, they were all completely covered and had to fight to break the surface.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouted.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn reminded him.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria!" Gimli suggested.

Gandalf looked grave at that suggestion, but he turned to Frodo. "Let the ring bearer decide."

Frodo anxiously glanced at the other member of the fellowship.

"We cannot stay here!" Boromir voiced what they were all thinking. "This will be the death of the hobbits!"

"Frodo?" Gandalf asked again.

Frodo drew a breath. "We will go through the mines."

"So be it." Gandalf's face turned stony as he thought back to Moria and what the dwarves had awoken.