In the Shadows I Stay

Chapter four - let it snow

I noticed Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and Sam staring at a flock of birds.

"What is that?" Asked Sam.

"Nothing, just a wisp of cloud" Gimli stated dismissively.

"It's moving fast, and against the wind" Boromir corrected.

"Crebain from Dunland" Legolas shouted in realisation

"Hide" Aragorn commanded.

Every one began to shout, I morphed into my wolf shape and gathered my pack,

"Scavenge" I told them "Act like you are hunting." They did as I said and started to sniff around the rocks, leaping up to snap at the birds when they came too close to their 'hunting' grounds.

Once the spies had flown off everyone slowly emerged from their hiding places.

"Spies of Saruman, the passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras" Gandalf frowns.

Legolas gave me an almighty glare, when I morphed back to my normal form and sidled over to the little group of travellers.

"What?" I asked innocently

"You exposed us..." I cut Legolas off

"No. No I did not, I ensured that we were not seen, Saruman knows of me..."

Legolas cuts me off, "Then he knows we are here" He said, I hid my face in my hands.

"I am surrounded by fools" I mumbled into my hands, only Legolas heard, him being an elf and all. I pulled my hand away.

"You fool, Saruman knows I have only had myself and my wolves for company, this was the first time since I was banished that I willingly took another person's company" I paused, breathing heavily from the rant I turned to the wolves.

I crouched in front of the pack "Namaarie mellonamin. Quel fara tenna' ento lye omenta" (Farewell my friends. Good hunting until next we meet).

I wasn't going to let them sacrifice themselves just for the sake of this quest, they had jobs to do.

Isha placed her head on my lap as I crouched in front of her "Take care of Jehia, she will want to join in, make sure she rests for the sake of her pups" Isha nodded and turned, trotting off she howled and gathered her pack, I felt a small tug on my sleeve, I looked down to see Sam.

"She going to have pups?" He asked, I smiled and nodded watching them gallop from our sight.

"Around four I think"

The air had a frosty bite to it and the Hobbits were past freezing, I offered Frodo my cloak and morphed into my second form. The fur keeping me warmer than any cloak could, words ringing in my mind "You must embrace your gift, it is not every day that an elf is gifted with the ability of my kin"

Frodo was trudging along through the waist high snow when he tripped over a large chunk of ice. Luckily he was caught by Aragorn before he rolled over the side of the mountain.

However the ring lay upon the snow, I saw Boromir go to pick it up, he held it in his hand gazing, I flattened my ears against my skull and stalked around him, readying myself in case I needed to pounce, I zoned out completely from the words that were being exchanged, watching as Aragorn's hand tightened on his sword, Boromir walked forward and gave the ring to Frodo, I zoned back in to hear the last of the conversation.

"As you wish I care not" Boromir said ruffling the little Hobbits hair before he continued up the mountain.

I padded over the snow with Pippin and Sam on my back, while Merry and Frodo sat upon Laer, I bounded over the snow drifts, spreading my weight over the top of the snow so I didn't sink.

Legolas skipped past me, near floating over the snow, he was graceful even for an elf. I sighed. What was I thinking?

"There is a fell voice on the air" Legolas declared, a rock fell off the mountain narrowly missing the small group, I growled blocking out the chanting that was echoing through the valley, I didn't like wizards, Gandalf and Radagast were the exceptions for this.

Gandalf began to chant back, I could see his lips moving. Lighting struck the mountain top, and an avalanche began, I saw Legolas by the edge and without thinking I grabbed his collar with my teeth and pulled him back, snapping my neck around I flung him onto my back and ran back away from the edge, all this took a matter of seconds, I was covered in snow and had to dig my way out. Slowly everyone emerged out of the cold blanket that lay over them, Boromir began to speak. I could see his lips moving but could not hear anything. I shook my head wildly, trying to get rid of whatever was blocking my hearing.

I rid myself of the snow that blocked my ears, in time for Gandalf to zone out for a few seconds.

"Let the ring bearer decide" He declared Frodo looked shocked, he glanced at Sam unsurely.

"Frodo?" Gandalf asked "We will go through the mines" Frodo decided "So be it" Gandalf said disappointed.

We began to walk to Moria, Legolas kept pace beside me. I ignored him.

"Why did you save me?" He asked, I looked at him and shook my head. "You didn't save me?" He asked amused I growled then looked him straight in his ice blue eyes and yipped, if he didn't get this clue I was screwed, everyone turned to look at me, I huffed and yipped at Legolas again, looking pleadingly at Gandalf when confusion washed over the handsome elf, nope not handsome... just elf, Yes, elf.

"I think she's trying to tell you she can't talk in her wolf form" Gandalf said chuckling, I yipped happily in agreement and started to chase my tail, quite forgetting the poor Hobbits on my back, Pippin and Sam tumbled off my back and landed on a patch of dense foliage, I changed back to my elven form and ran over to them.

"Sorry, sorry I forgot you were up there" I said fussing over him to make sure that they weren't hurt. Pippin after Sam had gotten off him, stood pushing me away playfully.

"I'm fine" He said a grin etched on his face, I smiled. Legolas cleared his throat I turned to him.

"What do you want Master elf?" I asked.

"An answer" He answered haughtily I smiled then frowned when I remembered the answer.

"Loyalty" I said solemnly before phasing into the wolf and kneeling so Pippin and Sam could get back on.

"Don't drop us this time" Sam whispered cheekily into my ear, I let out a rumbling laugh.