Chapter five.

                                    

                                          
Arneth's POV.
It is now around midday and considering we left Rivendell at eight o'clock this morning we have been walking for quite some time. The hobbits are tiring out and I am walking beside them trying to cheer them up. Not saying that I'm not tired myself but I have been hunting with elves, so I can still go on for at least another few hours. Legolas is leading our company with Gandalf behind him, then Merry, Pippin and myself along with Sam and Frodo, and finally Boromir and Aragorn are taking the rear. Aragorn still holds Bills reigns and I laugh softly. It's not like Bill is going to run off, but then again he was not trained by elves to walk beside you, so in fact there is a possibility that he may! But he loves Sam and that might persuade him to stay for as long as possible. "Gandalf, is there anywhere we could stop to rest for a while? The hobbits are not used to this although, I daresay, Aragorn had walked them while they slept on their feet to get them to Rivendell. We all need to eat also, it is midday. I know not all of us got breakfast as they were too busy obsessing over things that do not matter," I say looking pointedly at him. He laughs and nods his head, with that the hobbits cheer and have found a new lease of life so they start walking with more purpose then five minutes ago! After walking over hills and along flats, passing by two ruins we came to a rocky area and decided that this would be a good place to stop. Sam starts cooking while Legolas and Gimli, who are not on great terms act as lookouts. Gandalf is sitting on a rock beside Frodo and Aragorn who is watching over Boromir, who is trying to teach the hobbits and I about sword fighting. I already know, but I'm not going to tell anyone that I can fight with the endurance of an elf or shoot with the accuracy of one. They'll find out eventually. Gandalf speaks up; "We must hold this course west of The Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds the gap of Rohan may still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor".
                          
"Two, three, four," Boromir says helping the hobbits get the right footwork. Aragorn, being the ever helpful person he is shouts random things like "Move your feet. Make sure to keep a good grip" yada, yada, yada. It looks like I was paying too much attention to Gandalf and Aragorn and not watching my opponent who managed to sneak up behind me and wrap his arms around me, pining my arms to my sides. Suddenly Boromir is tackled to the ground by two ever helpful little hobbits. "No, you don't! Don't mess with the lady!" Merry says. They continue to wrestle as Gimli says "If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!". Gandalf actually looks slightly scared by this and replies; "No Gimli, I would not take the roads through Moria unless I had no other choice!". I look over to Legolas, who has ran onto a rock and is staring at...a cloud?! Suddenly I hear Pippin yell "FOR THE SHIRE" and turn around to see Boromir pinned beneath the two hobbits and I start to laugh. Sam then turns to look at the cloud, as do I but now I'm not so sure it's a cloud. "What is that?" he asks and Gimli replies "Nothing, it's just a wisp of a cloud". Everyone's attention is now fixed on the 'cloud' and Boromir speaks "Its moving very fast!". I check the direction of the wind and say "And against the wind". Two seconds later Legolas shouts "Crebain from Dunland.". That kicks Aragorn into action as he shouts "Hide!". The next ten seconds are spent with everyone diving for cover. Legolas was closest to me at that point so he grabbed me and dived under a bush. I didn't dare look around to see where the others were. The birds circle once and then fly away. Legolas stands and lifts me to my feet, I blush and thank him. I mean you'd think I'd be used to the strength of elves from living with them for so many years but it still manages to catch me off guard. Gandalf is the first to react "Spies of Saruman! The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras," he says as he points to a snow covered mountain. Well thankfully I have my cloak!
                          
We are now trekking up the side of a bloody cold, snow covered mountain. Legolas, the annoying elf, is walking beside me as I try not to slip. Key word being try! Frodo is walking in front of me and Boromir behind with Aragorn taking the rear. Gandalf and Gimli are in front with the rest of the hobbits behind them. Frodo slips and I'm to slow to react, to stop him. He tumbles back until Aragorn stops him and when he stands he searches frantically around his chest for the chain that the Ring is on. I spot it by my feet and bend to pick it up only Boromir beats me to it. "Boromir," Aragorn says, Boromir looks at him and then back to the Ring. He stares at the Ring in wonder as he says "It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing... Such a little thing". He is starting to creep me out, so I decide to see if I can command without being influenced by fear or anger. "Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo!" I command. He looks as though he has snapped out of a trance and complies. "As you wish. I care not!" he says as he holds out the Ring to Frodo, who snatches it back and hastily puts it back on. I can command people to do things without being influenced too much by extreme emotions. Well, now I see why this is dangerous, commanding people at will is a useful weapon to have! Aragorn pulls me back. "I thought you were joking when you said you could command people to do things! But, you can! Do you realise what this means. If-" he starts ranting but I cut him off. "They already know. But by now they must think I perished along with our parents. We need not give them reason to believe otherwise! Understood?" I tell him harshly. He nods and I trudge my way back up to the hobbits.
                          
Two hours later, it seems like the mountain is against letting us pass. Legolas is walking on top of the snow beside me as I carry Pippin. Boromir has Merry and Sam, and Aragorn has Frodo with Gimli walking in front of him. Gandalf is walking up the front trying to fight a path through the ever thickening snow, which is around my waist by now. It is snowing heavily and Legolas moves further up. "There is a foul voice in the air!" he yells and Gandalf says "Saruman". Just then, an avalanche start coming at us. I put Pippin down and push him against the side of the mountain, flattening my body over his to protect him. "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn yells. Gandalf yells "No" and he begins to chant. Lightning strikes the mountain and Legolas dives forward pulling Gandalf to the side of the mountain. I'm not as quick and my feet are taken from under me. I go off the side of the mountain but catch myself on a rock a few feet down. It almost seems like the rock attached itself to my hand, not letting me fall to my death. I hear movement up above and then Legolas shouts "Aragorn, Arneth is not here!". Aragorn then starts to panic from the sounds of things just as I yell "Help me, I'm down here!". I hear Aragorn mutter something about my ghost haunting him already when I hear a loud slap and Frodo scolds him. "If you would kindly look down Strider, you will find your sister clinging to the side of the mountain for dear life," Frodo says calmly. I look up to see nine astonished faces. Two minutes later Legolas is lowered down with a rope around his waist and he grabs me, holding on so tight I can't breathe and we are pulled up. As soon as he let's go of me Aragorn wraps me up in a hug and starts kissing my forehead. "Hannon le, Legolas.( thank you)" he mutters. 
                          
As soon as Aragorn lets go of me, Gandalf wraps me into a quick hug. "My dear, how did you manage to hang on? Not saying I'm not pleased that you are unharmed but, you should have fallen to your death there!" he says. "Gandalf, it was incredible. It felt almost as if the mountain did not want me to fall! Like it made my hands stick to it!" I tell him. He looks very confused. As am I right now! Just then what was a bit of peace ended and the storm started up again. "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir yells over the wind. "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close too Isengard!" Aragorn yells back. "If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria," Gimli yells. Gandalf looks lost in thought and after a while yells "Let the Ringbearer decide! Frodo?". Frodo looks conflicted and finally says, "We will go through the Mines!". "So be it!" Gandalf says as he closes his eyes and nods, but just before he closed them I caught a sight of what I never thought I would see in Gandalf's eyes... Fear. I decided to say nothing to anyone else about it and picked Pippin back up. "Right Pip, you ready for this trek down the mountain?" I ask and he laughs in response. These hobbits have improved my mood to no end. Now we just have to find the doors to this Mine and then go through it, easy right? Well, I for one, hope so!
                          
____________________________________________________________
Hey guys,
Here's the next chapter. I hope those of you that are reading it are enjoying it so far and if you are let me know or if not let me know also! 
Love yas,
~Annacricket.