The Dark Within (Book One)

•11•

We trudge through the deep snow of the mountain. Aragorn and I stay at the back of the group, making sure nobody falls too far behind or gets lost.

"I hate the cold." I say, pulling my cloak on tighter. Aragorn snorts.

"You've said that many times." He says.

"It's because it's true." I say and he laughs. We watch as Frodo stumbles and falls backwards. "Frodo!" I call out to him and run up to him. Aragorn and I help him up and wipe some snow off. He reaches for his neck and panic seeps into his eyes. The ring isn't there anymore. We look up and see Boromir pick up the ring. Rage and fear flow through me. Everyone stops and stares.

"Boromir." Aragorn warns.

"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing." Boromir says, mesmerized by the ring. "Such a little thing." He reaches for it with his other hand.

"Boromir!" Aragorn says. "Give the ring to Frodo." Boromir, pulled from his thoughts, comes over and hands the ring to Frodo.

"As you wish." He says. "I care not." An obvious lie, we could all see it. I think to myself. He laughs a bit and rustles Frodo's hair. Anger surges through me but I control it. Frodo quickly puts the ring back around his neck. I release the grip I had on the hilt of my sword. I didn't even realize it was there. I shake off the thought and we continue walking. I keep a very close eye on Frodo.

The more we walk, the more treacherous the weather gets. The wind gets stronger, sending icicles of snow hitting our faces. I couldn't feel my face. The snow got so deep and soft that Aragorn, Boromir, and I all had to carry the hobbits. Frodo hung onto me tightly, his face buried in my cloak. Legolas easily walked on top of the snow, his elf feet making him extremely light. I hear something on the wind but I can't tell what it is.

"There is a fell voice on the air." Legolas calls to us. We all pause to listen for a moment.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf calls out. Rocks fall from the top of the mountain and we tuck into the side to not be struck. I hold Frodo tighter to myself.

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

"No!" Gandalf yells. He takes a step forward, out of the deep snow. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith! (Sleep Caradhras, be still, lay still, hold your wrath!)" he chants at the voice on the wind. Suddenly there is a lightning strike that hits the top of the mountain. Legolas grabs Gandalf as snow and rocks begin to fall. I use my body as a shield on top of Frodo just in case anything would hit us. Snow soon covers all of us and he feel it stop. I manage to dig myself out and pull Frodo with me. An arm grabs mine and pulls me out more. I fall into his arms and just breathe. I realize that it's Boromir and push myself off.

"I'm sorry." I say under my breath. He looks me in the eyes.

"I am too." He says before turning away and helping the others. Once everyone was out and safe Boromir speaks.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" He yells at Gandalf as the wind still blows loud.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn says. I hold Frodo close to me, trying to warm him up. I wrap him in my cloak as he warms his hands.

"If we cannot pass over a mountain, let us go under it." Gimli says. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gandalf's eyes wander. Something is wrong with Moria.

"Let the ring bearer decide." Gandalf says, looking to Frodo.

"We cannot stay here!" Boromir yells. "This will be the death of the hobbits!" They all look terrible. Cold and tired.

"Frodo?" I gently ask the small boy.

"We will go through the mines!" He says. Something crosses Gandalf's face for just a moment. Was it fear? I think to myself. We begin to make our way down the mountain, to the mines.