A Peculiar Fellowship

Part Three

Slowly, the fellowship trekked up the side of the mountain. It was an odd combination, with the sun shining down on them as the icy wind nipped any exposed skin at the same time. The two elves had a much easier time than the rest of their companions, gracefully stepping atop the snow while the others trudged through it.

Behind them, Laradel could hear Frodo struggling more than the rest. Just as she glanced back to ensure that he was alright, the poor Hobbit lost his footing and rolled down the mountainside.

"Frodo!" Aragorn called in alarm, stopping him before he could fall too far.

He set Frodo back on his feet and steadied him there, but the Hobbit's face was stricken with alarm, searching his neck for the chain that should be there.

It was then that the glinting of gold in the snow caught Laradel's eye. Boromir slowly picked up the chain, gazing in wonder at the Ring. Silence blanketed the rest of the group, and tension filled the air.

"Boromir..." Aragorn finally spoke.

Boromir did not seem to hear him. "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing." The man seemed enraptured by the thing on the end of the chain. He did not sound himself at all. "Such a little thing..." His hand was moving nearer to it, he was going to hold it, and--

"Boromir!" Aragorn called again, his voice more clear and stern now.

The other man blinked back to the present moment.

"Give the ring to Frodo."

Boromir held the ring out in front of himself as he walked towards the two at the back of the group, still looking somewhat disoriented. Laradel caught Legolas' eye, exchanging a concerned glance as Boromir ruffled Frodo's hair. It was apparent that the Ring affected him more strongly than it did the rest of them.

With the situation diffused, Gandalf turned and led them on.

~~~

As they climbed higher, the clouds began to darken, the snow falling harder as a storm brewed overhead.

While Legolas and Laradel practically danced over the snow, the others were trudging through it, nearly waist deep in Gandalf's case. Aragorn and Boromir carried two Hobbits each.

Just then, something caught Legolas' attention. Laradel followed him as he stepped past the rest of the party to stand near the edge.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Listen."

Then, she heard it. Indistinct echoes rode the wind, creeping around them with the snowstorm.

"There is a fell voice on the air," Legolas said, looking back at her.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted over the wind.

A large cracking noise sounded above them, and everyone looked up to see rocks falling directly towards them.

Laradel grabbed Legolas by the arm and pulled him away from the edge, pressing against the rocky cliff as the barrage continued.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" she shouted.

"Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn tried.

But the wizard would not hear of it. "No!"

With that, he turned to the skies and began trying to counter the magic of Saruman.

Lightning struck the mountain, causing an avalanche of snow. This time, it was Legolas who pulled Laradel out of the way. She found herself tucked under him as the fury of Saruman rained down around them.

When everything stopped falling, Legolas helped her back above the snow. The others resurfaced too, coughing and spluttering.

"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir yelled. "Make for the Gap of Rohan, and take the West road to my city!"

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." Aragorn countered.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain," Gimli insisted once more, "Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria."

Laradel stayed silent. As much as she wanted to see Balin again, she trusted Gandalf's judgement over anyone else's. Whatever he decided, she would accept.

Gandalf, however, seemed strangely unnerved. He knew there was no good option, though Laradel still didn't understand why he feared the Mines so.

"Let the Ring-bearer decide."

Everyone fixed their gaze on Frodo, who studied them each in turn.

"Frodo?"

"We will go through the Mines."

Gandalf's expression was unreadable. "So be it."

She wasn't sure what it was, but something about his tone made Laradel's blood run cold. There was something in Moria which frightened even the wizard. Now, that was their road.