The Beginning of Darkness [LotR] [COMPLETED]

The Fellowship Departs

“I think that’s everything” said Mariliel aloud, she had just finished packing everything she would need for the long journey to Mordor.

Lying down on her bed she let out a long sigh. This was it. She was officially on the quest to destroy the Dark Lord. If she made it all the way to Mordor, to the summit of Mount Doom she would have proved to her Father that prophecies can be changed. The prophecy that had been hanging over her head since she was a child, that when the Ring finally came back into the world she would die before the task of destroying it could be completed.

“You are not going to change your mind about going on this quest are you?”

Sitting up Mariliel saw her sister standing in her doorway, “I am not going to cower under my bedcovers waiting for destiny to find me.” Mariliel stood up clenching her fists, “I am going to help Frodo bear his burden in whatever way I can. No force on Middle-Earth will stop me from helping him.”

Arwen chuckled lightly, “Sister you were always so stubborn, I’m going to miss you” she stepped forward and embraced Mariliel. Mariliel returned the embrace and secretly shed a silent tear.

.::.::.::.

The Fellowship had all gathered together by the entrance to Rivendell, everyone was saying their final goodbyes. Mariliel looked over to Arwen and Aragorn who were talking intently to each other and noticed that Aragorn was wearing the Evenstar necklace that Arwen usually wore. She frowned slightly and adjusted her pack and quiver so they sat more comfortably on her back.

Elrond stepped forward and spoke, “Farewell, stay strong to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you.”

Gandalf turned to Frodo, “The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer”

Frodo nodded looking uncertain and turned towards the forked path, “Do we go left or right?”

Gandalf gave a small smile, “Left”

.::.::.::.::.

“We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If we are lucky the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. After that our road will turn east to Mordor”  Gandalf explained as the company rested on a reasonably flat part of the mountain they were currently climbing.

“ ‘Ere you are Mariliel” Sam said handing her a plate of sausages and vegetables

“Thank you Sam” she smiled at him

Cutting into one sausage she watched as Boromir taught Merry and Pippin how to use their swords, she noted they seemed to be catching on pretty quickly matching Boromir strike for strike.

“If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which they are not” Mariliel overheard Gimli muttering to Gandalf, “I’d say we were taking the long way around, we could go through the Mines of Moria. Balin, my cousin, would give us a royal welcome”

Gandalf took a puff of his pipe looking thoughtful, “No, I wouldn’t take that path unless I didn’t have any other choice”

Mariliel was surprised at Gandalf’s response, if there was a quicker way to get to Mordor then why shouldn’t they take it? What could have happened in Moria that would make Gandalf only go there as a last resort?

“Argh!”

“Sorry!”

Mariliel snapped her head back to where Boromir was sparring with Pippin. Pippin was clutching his hand and Mariliel guessed that Boromir must’ve accidentally cut him. Pippin kicked Boromir as hard as he could in the shin and Merry cried out,

“Get him!”

The two Hobbits tackled him to the ground and the three of them pretended to fight wriggling all over the ground. Everyone laughed at the very comical scene playing out before them. But Legolas’s attention was focused elsewhere, he had spied a very suspicious looking shadow moving towards them.

“What is that?” Sam asked bringing everyone’s attention to the shadow in the sky.

“A cloud?” Gimli asked

Boromir and the Hobbits got up off the ground brushing the dust off their clothes, “It’s moving very fast against the wind” Boromir commented.

Mariliel stepped up onto a large rock to get a better view and narrowed her eyes against the suns glare and nearly stumbled off the rock when she realised it wasn’t a cloud at all, “Cerbain from Dunland!” she cried, “Hide!”

Everyone scrambled for cover under bushes, behind large rocks anything to hide from the gaze of the large birds that had quickly reached their campsite. The sky seemed to darken as the flock passed over and the noise of their squawking was deafening, then as soon as they had arrived they left.

Slowly they all emerged from their hiding places looking wearily in the direction that the birds were flying,

“Saruman’s spies! The passage South is being watched. We have to take the Pass of Caradhras” said Gandalf, slowly turning to look at the vast, snowy mountain range they were now supposed to cross.