Life in Death

7. To dungeons deep and caverns old

So this chapter has turned out longer than I expected it to be. Though I will not devide it into two parts, for I think it wouldn't work. I hope you like it since I changed a few things and left out some aspects where I thought it was unnecessary to have Kayleigh involved. Starting with this chapter (not so much in this), I might start changing things throughout the original plot since Kayleigh being there will have consequences and some events wont play out as we are all used to from here on.

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As I had feared the path leading onto Caradhras was harsh and dangerous. Snow had started falling and was now covering all landmarks on the slope. At one point Frodo had lost his footing and rolled down a couple of feet. I wasn't fast enough to grab a hold of him but luckily Aragorn was able to catch him. It wasn't until Boromir picked it up that he realized he had lost the ring. Because of the wind I didn't catch what words were exchanged, but I saw Boromir's eyes as he gazed upon the ring. There was a shadow clouding his eyes, a darkness passing through him that made me shiver. We had all stopped and were watching the scene further down the snowy slope. I didn't notice I had involuntarily gripped my sword until I felt Gandalf's hand on mine. When I looked up he softly shook his head, telling me that it was not my place to step in.

When finally Boromir returned the ring to Frodo I relaxed a little. Still what I saw in the Gondorian's face had me worried. Will he turn on us given the chance to save his people? Is it the ring? Gandalf said something about men being easier corrupted by its dark power... He is a good man, but what if that leads to his doom?

"Help an old man walk, Kayleigh?" I looked up ahead where Gandalf had paused and let Legolas pass. I envied the elf for being able to walk on top of the snow whereas the rest of us had to fight our way through the ever growing white mass. I walked up next to the old wizard and locked my arm with his. We both knew he was more than capable of taking on this journey by himself.

"How are you holding up, child?" He kept his voice low, so I assumed he was onto something.

"I am managing. The walking isn't bothering me that much anymore. But that is not what you want to talk about, is it?" He let out a small chuckle.

"No. You are right, it is not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to know how much you actually remember at this point. When you sat with Boromir a few nights back you seemed to remember something for a moment. What was it?" I hesitated to answer him, not sure what to say.

"He was telling me about his family. It was just an image popping into my mind, but I remembered his brother before he told me his name. And I have this dark feeling he won't be seeing Faramir again. I haven't figured out yet what that means. There is just this feeling something is about to happen. Not only to him but in the foreseeable future. In my dreams I see darkness and flames, though I don't know what it means. I can't remember."

"Well. I am sure we will find out soon enough. Once we leave the mountain behind it will get easier. You will see." He squeezed my shoulder reassuringly and quickened his step.

"I am not so sure about that..."

o-0-o

"I hate snow!" I was getting frustrated. The wind blew harshly around us, snow was falling so thick you almost couldn't see through and the snow had reached up to my waist by now. Legolas gave me an apologetic look as he walked by, of course on top of the snow, and up to the front of the line. At this point we were on a narrow path around the mountain that didn't allow us to walk side by side any longer. Aragorn and Boromir were following behind me, both carrying the Hobbits, for they were no longer able to walk through the snow. In front of me Gimli was cursing the snow in lot more colourful words than I had these last days. I instantly regretted grinning at his cussing when my face hurt from the cold of the wind upon moving a muscle.