The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 7: Quick Decisions

Chapter 7: Quick Decisions

The group trudged up the steep hill and onto the slops of Caradhras, the sun had disappeared over the horizon and stars were beginning to twinkle overhead as they walked through the deepening snow and up the mountain.

Frodo and the hobbits were struggling and shivering already and Aragorn was trying his best to assist the Ring-Bearer as Boromir stared at the Ring that was hanging around his neck. The group took refuge under a crag that jutted out and blocked out the frigid wind and snow that wrapped around them and was beginning to block their view, Sam created a fire and the others crowded around it.

I sat away from the group, peering into the darkness that lay ahead of them. The mountain itself seemed to dislike their presence here but there was something else, something far more sinister that watched them and set it's will against them.

"What are you doing?" Legolas asked as he sat down on a rock beside me, I jolted slightly as he woke me out of deep thoughts, "I just... feel wrong." I sighed, "I feel watched." I whispered, Legolas narrowed his eyes as he tried to look into the darkness. "I feel the same, ever since we set foot here." He said after a long silence.

"I am wary of Boromir," I looked over my shoulder at Boromir who was sitting beside Aragorn with his black cloak wrapped tight around him, fighting the cold. "He watches Frodo closely, have you noticed?" I brought her attention back to Legolas who was also peering over his shoulder at Boromir, "I have noticed, but Aragorn is watching him," He said quietly. "Come, sleep." He smiled weakly as he pushed off the rock and went over to the crackling fire that lit the small cavern they were hiding in.

I puffed out air and went deeper into the cavern and collapsed on my bed roll, wrapping my deep green cloak around my body and pulling up the hood to ward out the cold that was engulfing me. 

Morning came swiftly, I felt that I had hardly slept at all when the bright rays of the sun reflected off the brilliant white snow and made me blink rapidly. I quickly gathered her things and threw my bag onto her back, the others were doing the same and preparing for the hard journey ahead.

Gandalf talked in hushed tones to Boromir and Aragorn and the hobbits were huddling together as if trying to stay warm.

"We will not stop until nightfall!" Gandalf announced, all the hobbits except Frodo groaned out loud and murmured among themselves about the plan that lay ahead. They still had to hike up the mountain and try to cross the narrow, treacherous paths that could hardly been seen from the amount of snow that fell.

I tightened my cloak around me as they walked up an ever rising slope and trudged through the snow (although elves could walk easily atop the snow with their nimble feet)

The group was high in the mountains and snow capped summits surrounded them as they struggled up the ever deepening snow, a frigid wind blew down the mountain.

A tumbling sound and groaning made everyone turn or bring their attention to Frodo who was tumbling down the steep slope. "Frodo!" Aragorn grabbed and steadied him, Frodo nodded up at Aragorn and brushed the snow off his brown coat, I stepped slightly forward when he nervously rummaged around his neck and looked around quickly, the Ring was not around his neck.

Boromir strutted a couple steps down the slope and slowly picked up a small object that glimmered in the sun, the gold of the Ring was bright against the white snow and reflected off his conflicted face. 

"Boromir!" I stepped slightly towards him, his gaze didn't falter from the Ring and tilted his head slightly as he examined the Ring, I looked over at Legolas who narrowed his eyes at Boromir.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing." He whispered as he brought the Ring closer to his face, "Such a little thing." He breathed and began to bring his other hand up to grip the Ring in his fist.

"Boromir!" I demanded, Boromir's head jerked up as if he was awakening from a daze and he looed around, his eyes met Aragorn's. 

Aragorn was staring hard at him, two emotions seemed to be running through his mind as if he was angry yet he felt bad for Boromir. "Give the Ring to Frodo." Aragorn said as he narrowed his eyes at the man.

Boromir puffed out air and looked around then walked slowly down to Frodo holding the Ring far out from his chest, "As you wish." He smiled at Frodo who snatched it out of his hands. Boromir laughed nervously, "I care not," He adjusted the shield on his back and looked up at Aragorn who had darkened his stare. Boromir laughed and fluffed Frodo's hair before walking up the slope and back to the rest of the group.

The wind began to pick up as we walked up the mountain and crossing the higher points, the sky darkened and the snow slapped their faces causing their sight to falter. 

Gandalf used his staff to clear the snow ahead of the group as he was the leader and the guide and seemed to have in his mind the way he wished to go, the snow was up to his hips as he struggled against the snow.

Legolas and I tip-toed on top of the snow at the end of the group, Aragorn and Boromir were holding the hobbits since the snow had long since reached their height. Legolas bounded over to an overlook as lightning crashed beside the mountain and he peered into the dark storm.

I joined his side, raising my eyebrows over at him. "There is a fell voice on the air." I looked back at Gandalf who scrunched his face up. A commanding voice echoed from the distance speaking in Quenya and as the voice became louder the storm became worse.

"it's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled out over the storm as lightning struck the side of the mountain causing a flood of snow to drop onto the group and rocks barely missing them.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Legolas yelled at Gandalf, "Gandalf! We must turn back!" Aragorn announced. "No!" Gandalf shook his head vigorously and pushed out of the snow to another overlook that jutted out and began yelled out in Sindarin.

The voices clashed in the air yet Saruman's seemed to be dominant and continuing to overpower Gandalf and the storm worsened. Another lightning strike struck the top of the mountain and a pile of large rocks tumbled down the side, I jumped to dodge a rock that took out the overlook she was standing on and snow overtook the group.

Boromir spit out snow as he shoved it off himself and the others quickly did the same. Gandalf glared out into the darkness and looked over at Frodo who was shivering and curled up in his cloak as far as he could get.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the road to my city!" Boromir yelled out over the whistling wind that whipped around the mountain.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued with Boromir who sighed, "If we cannot pass over the mountain.. Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli suggested, Gandalf stared at him as if he was in deep thought, remembering something that had been told to him some time ago.

"Let the Ring-Bearer decide." Gandalf said after some silence, Frodo''s head jerked up and he looked around at the others that were struggling to keep their eyes open against the storm.

"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits!" I yelled out at Gandalf as I looked at the hobbits that were huddling together and shivering against the freezing winds, Gandalf's gaze did not falter from Frodo.

"Frodo?" Gandalf asked, Frodo looked up at Gandalf with worry and took a deep breath. "We will go through the Mines." Frodo said, Gandalf lifted his head slightly to look at Frodo from his large hat that had now sunk from the weight of the snow that sat on top of it.

"So be it." Gandalf said darkly.

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