The Last Othellan

Caradhras

I was grateful for my light, elvish feet as we walked in the foothills of the mountain. The crunching of snow under the fellowship's footfalls echoed around me, and everywhere all I could see was white. There was a chill breeze in the air, and the hobbits already looked freezing even in this shallow snow.

I walked a little closer to the back of the line, next to Boromir. We were quiet for a while but, as the hobbits seemed to get colder, Boromir spoke.

"I was born under the shadow of the white mountains" he said "I know journeying in high places is difficult, and we may be faced with more than just snow."

I nodded my agreement "It is dangerous, but I will trust Gandalf." I answered "If there is a way across, he will find it".

Boromir smiled and nodded, but I could see the worry in his eyes as he looked across at Merry and Pippin. I was about to say something to him, that I was sure they would be fine, but I heard a scuffle from behind me. Frodo had fallen down, and Aragorn caught him before he rolled any further.

"Frodo?" he asked in concern, setting him on his feet

I jogged down to Frodo, intending on helping. I wanted to do as much as possible for the fellowship, especially since I saved only myself when the Crebain flew overhead.

Frodo's hand went straight to his neck as he felt frantically around for the ring.

My heart dropped like a stone as I realised what had happened, and I glanced hurriedly around, looking in the snow for a glint of gold.

Before I spotted it, however, someone else picked it up. Boromir held it loosely in his hand, staring transfixed at the ring. Knowing from the council of Elrond that he was sorely tempted by it, I tensed and my hand strayed almost casually to one of the daggers in my belt.

"Boromir-", began Aragorn, but he was cut off.

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

His other hand edged slowly closer to the ring, his face full of desire and longing.

"Boromir!" shouted Aragorn.

Boromir jerked up at the sound of his voice and, as his hand briefly touched the ring, he watched my hand curl around my dagger.

"Give the ring to Frodo" continued Aragorn. I could sense the danger in his quiet voice.

Boromir walked over and unwillingly gave it to Frodo, who snatched it away from his hands.

"As you wish, I care not" Boromir answered, trying to brush the incident off by ruffling Frodo's dark, curly hair affectionately. Aragorn and I stared at him and he turned, slinging his shield over his shoulder and striding away.

I glanced at Aragorn, as both of us took our hands off our weapons. With a nod we carried on walking, Frodo just in front of us.

***

The snow got steadily deeper as we walked up Caradhras, and soon all of the fellowship were waist deep and freezing cold. There was a bitter wind whipping my face, and my hands stung.

Legolas and I walked on top of the snow in front of the fellowship, slowly trudging along as everyone behind us struggled. Gandalf grumbled darkly as I wandered easily past him, as if the snow was barely there. I raised my eyebrows humorously and he gave me an evil look as I chuckled.

Aragorn carried Frodo and Sam, while Boromir dragged Merry and Pippin. The hobbits were practically turning to ice, and I could barely see the short form of Gimli struggling to keep his head above the snowfall.

"Can you hear it?" Legolas said loudly over the noise of the blizzard around us. He grabbed my wrist and stopped me walking any further. I glanced at him questioningly, and strained my ears.

Outside of the sounds of the blizzard, I could barely hear deep chanting, carried by the wind from somewhere east. Looking back into his eyes, I nodded slowly.

"There is a fell voice on the air" Legolas called, as the fellowship struggled towards us.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf hollered. I sprang out of the way as rocks thundered from above, at the last moment remembering that I had promised to be less selfish and pulling Legolas back with me, practically slamming him into the mountainside. He gave me a slight nod, before we turned to the others, who were unhurt.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain" Aragorn shouted in answer "Gandalf, we must turn back!"

"No!" Gandalf insisted. He scrambled out of the snow and began to fight back, chanting a spell in elvish with his powerful, imposing voice.

"Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i ruith!" (Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)

At that moment, a lightning bolt hit an outcrop of rock above us. A thunderous noise came from the rocks, and snow fell disastrously, heading for the fellowship.

Legolas and I ran forward, seizing Gandalf and dragging him away from the edge just in time, as the snow hit us with the force of a battering ram.

The force of the snow pushed me flat onto my side. I couldn't see, couldn't breathe, I could only wait until it stopped, and try to get myself out of this. Stars erupted in front of my eyes as I was enveloped in snow for longer than my lungs could cope with.

I had never considered that drowning in snow was possible, but the white power filled my nose, mouth, and forced my eyes closed. I desperately tried to draw breath, but the snow was too heavy, and I only succeeded in sucking more of it into my mouth. The fall was lessening however, and I tentatively tried to move upwards.

When the snow fully ceased falling on top of my head, I wriggled desperately forwards, trying desperately not to lose consciousness, until at last my fingers broke the surface.

Someone grabbed my hand and pulled. I held on tightly and kicked upwards, while someone else put their hands under my arms and wrenched me out. Eventually, I ended up on top of the snow, taking, great heaving breaths in the sharp winter air and spitting the stuff out of my mouth. 

"Alright?" grinned Aragorn. He was still half buried in the snow, and as he lent back from me and withdrew his hand I realised that everyone else was also still buried, but, crucially, they were okay.

"Thanks" I grinned back at him. Looking to my left, Legolas smiled and pushed me into a sitting position.

"Are you alright?" he repeated.

"Fine" I answered. Legolas smiled again, and squeezed my shoulder before standing up, pulling me with him.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the gap of Rohan, and take the west road to my city!" yelled Boromir from behind me. The hood of his cloak was up, and he looked half frozen.

"Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn answered.

"We can't go anywhere near Saruman, it's too dangerous" I added in agreement.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria" intoned Gimli. I knew Gandalf thought they were dangerous, but what other option would we have?

"Let the ringbearer decide" said Gandalf.

"We cannot stay here!" Boromir shouted "It will be the death of the hobbits!"

"Frodo?" Gandalf prompted nervously

Frodo looked at us all. He was white with cold and I knew instantly what he would choose.

"We will go through the mines."

"So be it".