The Elf, the Hobbit and the Ring - Book 2 NEW VERSION

Mountains and Caves

Míriel walked in the lead of the group with Legolas as they made their way through the snow toward the Caradhras pass. The others in the fellowship were not able to walk on top of the snow as the two Elves could; it wasn't a very fast paced journey for the company.

"How come you can walk on snow?" Merry asked Míriel and his voice was trembling from the icy cold. She smiled sympathetically at poor Merry. .

"We walk very lightly my friend," she answered him, feeling sorry that he was so cold. She too felt that it was quite chilly in the air, but she was not near as cold as the Hobbits. "And we don't wear heavy boots like Men or Dwarves. It's just yet another ability that Elves have."

"Would come in handy now," said Merry and chuckled.

Suddenly Míriel heard a small gasp and watched as Frodo lost his balance and fell. He tumbled down the mountain but Aragorn caught him quickly before he could get very far. The fellowship all stopped as soon as the ringbearer did and watched as Frodo desperately searched for the ring. It was no longer around his neck. Boromir spotted it and picked it up from the ground hesitantly, held it in front of his face to look at it. He stared at it just as he had done back in Rivendell during the council, as if the ring was speaking to him.

"It is a strange fate," Boromir mumbled to himself, but Míriel could hear him clearly. "That we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing..."

Aragorn had put his hand on his sword for he was preparing to fight Boromir if he became too entranced by the ring yet again. Boromir was the weakest of them all to the ring's power and to have him so near it was dangerous.

"Boromir!" Aragorn snapped to wake him from his trance. Boromir blinked and stared startled at Aragorn and then at Frodo, not wanting to tear his eyes away from the beautiful ring. "Give the ring to Frodo."

Míriel feared he wouldn't do as Aragorn said and that they would have to fight their own companion this early on in the journey. Fortunately, Boromir seemed to come to his senses and gave the ring to Frodo after a moment of hesitating. The rest of the fellowship had been holding their breaths in fear and anticipation of what Boromir would do, and they all sighed in relief as Frodo snapped the ring back from Boromir's hand and placed it around his neck once more.

"Sure, I care not," Boromir said and chuckled, ruffled Frodo's hair as he passed him to continue to walk.

But he did care, Míriel knew so. Boromir would try to mask how much he cared for the ring and how much it twisted his mind. They all felt the ring's power, at least Míriel did so, but she did not allow herself to even look at it for too long in case it would try to ensnare her mind. Boromir would have to learn to do the same, for otherwise it would not be long before their friend was lost to its power.

*

At sundown, Gandalf made the fellowship stop their march to their great relief. They were to rest in a cave for the night - just big enough to fit them all and for them to have a place to sleep and escape the cold. Míriel made a fire to keep them warm for it was freezing cold even inside the cave. Outside the wind was howling and a storm was forming from up the mountains. They would not be able to continue their march as long as the weather betrayed them.

"You should all rest," Gandalf said and sighed. "We will take turns to take watch - Legolas, Aragorn, Míriel, Boromir and myself." Even the Wizard seemed rather exhausted which was quite a rare sight. Míriel sometimes wondered how Gandalf had the strength to go on such tiring missions, he was a rather old Wizard after all.

"I will take the first watch," Legolas said and stood up from the ground where he had been sitting. "I have no need to rest."

"Neither do I," said Míriel quickly and stood as well.