Running to You (LOTR- Legolas and O/C)

Ch.7- Spies of Saruman

The next day we had made it to Eregion Hills, a rocky patch of small hills that led up to the Misty Mountains. I sat next to Gandalf playing with one of my daggers while watching Merry and Pippin learn how to fight with Boromir.

"Get away from the blade, Pippin," Boromir instructed. "On your toes... good! Now I want you to react, not think."

"Shouldn't be too hard!" Sam called, making Gandalf and I chuckle.

   "Poor Pippin," I laugh lightly, looking up at Gandalf. He smiles down at me as he blows a puff of smoke from his smoking pipe. I've never taken to smoking but my brother does on occasion.

   "Gandalf?"

"Hm?"

"Do you know anything about Legolas leaving all those years ago?" I looked at him with hopes that he'd give me answers. The wizard's shoulders sagged slightly.

"My dear girl, there is something very special about you. I cannot tell you just yet but everything that has been and everything that will be is because of you."

"Gandalf you speak in riddles," I huffed in annoyance. I was slightly joking but also irritated with how secretive Legolas, Aragorn and now Gandalf were being as of recently.

"Patience, Miss Arellia, patience. All will be answered in due time."

   I sighed and went back to watching the two hobbits and Boromir just as they tackled him to the ground. I laughed as Merry and Pip used all their strength to keep Boromir down but he was too busy laughing to care.

    "What's that?" Sam gestures to the sky behind Gandalf and I. We both turn to see what he was referring to.

   "Oh it's nothing... just a wisp of a cloud," said Gimli, shrugging it off.

    "That doesn't look like a cloud," I muttered as I slowly stand up.

     "Crebain from Dunland!"

     "Hide!" My brother urged. He rushed to the fire and stomped it out while the rest of us scrambled to gather our belongings and find shelter. Elios went to Gandalf under a jutting rock, leaving me to scramble for my own cover. I went to run towards a nearby set of bushes but a hand grabs hold of my wrist, pulling me down. I did not have time to thank whoever it was. Overhead, a large flock of crows fly over at unnaturally fast speed. I silently watch the crowd circle around twice then fly away in the direction they came. Sighing in relief I finally looked to see who helped me. That relief was short lived when I looked into those familiar ice blue eyes that seemed to stare straight into my soul.

"Th-thank you.. Legolas," I said, mustering a small smile. I shuffle to my feet and look at him awkwardly. He says nothing but there's an emotion in his eyes I could not place.

   "Ari? Legolas? You two okay?" Aragorn rounds the corner, snapping me from my thoughts. I turn and nod, leaving Legolas behind as I rejoin the others. Gandalf looked to the sky in concern.

"Spies of Saruman... the passage South is being watched. Come, we must take the pass of Caradhras!"

   We clambered through heavy snow for what seemed like hours. Aragorn and I walked on either side of Frodo. My brother had not yet spoken very much since earlier. Both of us were too stubborn to admit our fault. I was looking at our surroundings when Frodo had slipped on some shale. As he scrambled to his feet, the Ring had fallen from his grasp. Boromir, who was walking ahead of us at the time, stopped and turned. He noticed the Ring on the ground and walked towards it, reaching out to the chain. He stands and holds the ring up by its chain, his eyes transfixed on the object. I step in front of Frodo, pushing him back with an arm.

   "Boromir..." I whispered, slowly walking towards the man.

    "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing.. such a little thing."

   "Boromir, give Frodo the ring back," I said slowly, eying him suspiciously. I glance at Aragorn who now held the hilt of his sword. I slowly move my hand to my sword as well. A strange smile lights up on Boromir's face as he is still transfixed on the ring. Suddenly he snaps out of his trance and hands the ring back to Frodo.

"As you wish," he says softly. "I care not." Boromir smiles down at Frodo and ruffles his hair. Once he had turned away from us, Aragorn and I finally relaxed and unhanded our swords.

Hours had passed and the weather became harsh. The blizzard chilled us all to the bone. It bit at my cheeks, stinging them like tiny shards of ice were being thrown at me. Legolas easily passes all of us as he lightly steps atop the snow rather than plowing through it like the rest of us. The poor hobbits were struggling against the blizzard. Suddenly Legolas stops when a voice sweeps by in the wind.

"There is a fell voice in the air..." Legolas urges.

"It's Saruman," Gandalf concludes, his voice low. Thunder tumbles loudly, causing snow and slate to rain down on us. I stumbled through the deep snow trying to keep Frodo up.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf! We must turn back!" Aragorn yelled over the wind.

"No!" The wizard called back. He raises his staff and begins chanting. "Losto Caradhas, sedho, hodo, nuitho I ruith (Sleep Caradhas, be still, lie still, hold your wrath)"

That seemed to have angered Saruman for dark clouds had gathered above our heads. A crack of lightning explodes on the mountainside above us. We all look up just as an avalanche thunders down towards us. We throw ourselves against the cliff face, some of us having to pull the hobbits with us. Snow crashes down on us. For myself, who was shielding Elios, was trapped under a thick blanket of ice. I began to panic, Elios and I both scrambling to go out. Suddenly a face appears through the thick blanket.

"Aragorn!" I cried. I threw myself into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck. He held me there for a moment before helping me down.

"Are you okay?"

"Just ready to be out of this damned weather!" Elios barked in agreement, making me smile just for a moment.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the gap of Rohan and take the West road to my city!" Boromir yelled at us from up ahead.

   "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." Aragorn shook his head.

   "We cannot pass over the mountain," Gimli began, looking at us as he shivered. "Let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria."

Gandalf had not spoken in some time. Conflict and annoyance was written all over his face. I knew not of the state of Moria at the moment but last I knew there was a battle. I had not been there in quite some time though.

   "We shall let the ring bearer decide," Gandalf announced, turning to Frodo. Everyone looked to Frodo. Merry and Pippin shivered against Boromir. I stood alone, clutching my cloak as close as possible while Elios was sitting in the snow with his tail wagging. I rolled my eyes at him. Must be nice to be oblivious to this cold...

   "We will go through the mines," Frodo decided, looking to Gandalf. Gandalf hesitates then nods reluctantly.

   "So be it."