𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐇: 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 ( lotr. )

Chapter Six - Caradhras

The man held up his arms in defeat and — laughed.

"You know how to use your size, little one. It's a good lesson for the hobbits."

Incredulously, she helped him back onto his feet.

"Forgive me for my earlier spite."

"Forgiven, Boromir."

Both hobbits were staring at her as she sat down next to Aragorn again.

"See? It's all about moving your feet. Your turn, Merry."

"Impressive," he noted. "I did not know that anyone in Rivendell possessed such skills. Some rangers do, to be sure, but I never quite had the strength, and I wasn't there to teach you, for which I am sorry."

She sighed.

"Elrond sent me to Mirkwood to train with Thranduil, seventeen years ago," Arina answered after a while. "He also wanted me to learn from the elves of Lórien. I learnt little of the Ñoldor's way of battling in orderly ranks of shining steel before mastering the Sindar's soft tread."

"Sorry!"

"Aah!"

Arina looked down at the training hobbits, startled. Pippin kicked Boromir's leg, causing the man to give a shout of pain.

"Get him!" Merry yelled, and together the two hobbits tackled Boromir.

Boromir was laughing as he struggled with the hobbits, and Arina and Aragorn started laughing too, watching their playful banter. Maybe she had been wrong to judge Boromir so harshly. He had inherited his father's pride, but also kindness which she suspected came from his mother.

"For the Shire! Hold him! Hold him, Merry!"

"Gentlemen, that's enough," Aragorn interfered, but when he tried to pull the hobbits off Boromir, they both grabbed his legs from under him, causing him to fall flat on his back. Arina was shaking with laughter by that point. Still laughing, she jumped off the rock and helped Aragorn up as Merry shouted desperately.

"Ah! He got my arm! He got my arm!"

She moved to pull Merry out of Boromir's grip and to his feet, Aragorn doing the same with Pippin. By that point, Boromir had scrambled to his feet, but the atmosphere had changed entirely.

"What is that?" Sam asked, regarding a dark cloud on the horizon.

"Nothing, it's just a wisp of cloud," said Gimli offhandedly.

"It's moving fast...and against the wind," Boromir muttered.

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas suddenly cried.

"Hide!" Gandalf shouted.

They quickly grabbed their packs and hid under some bushes. Couldn't have found better cover, she thought to herself, looking at all the holes in the leafless thicket under which she and Aragorn had thrown themselves. Hopefully the colours of their garb would offer some camouflage, at least. Not long and the Crebain, a dark cloud of black birds, swept over their camp, screeching. Arina held her breath as some of them passed so close to their hiding spot the legs almost touched the thicket. They circled the rocks a few times, then flew back south.

"The passage south is being watched." Gandalf said as they emerged from their hiding places again. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras." He looked up at the Misty Mountains as the Fellowship started to get ready.

꧁ ───────✧ ☫ ✧─────── ꧂

It was half a day of eastward march later when they reached the foot of Caradhras. Arina craned her neck to look up at the high mountain, white and glittering snow lying on its hangs further up. The Sun had already vanished behind its peak, and nightfall would soon come. There were several trees nearby, their leaves lying in dried heaps at their trunks. The Misty Mountains threw their great shadow upon the small leafless forest at their feet and a chilly breeze rustled through the thin branches. Apart from the whistle of the wind, everything was quiet, no bird nor beast could be heard. Aragorn stopped a few paces ahead of her, looking around him.