Filius' POV

We've been traveling for a week and are taking a break. Boromir is teaching Pippin and Merry how to fight with a sword. While Aragorn supervises. Legolas is on look out duty. Sam cooks sausage and other food over a fire, climbing up onto a rock besides Frodo. I'm sharpening my axe while I think of my last conversation with my mother before we left Rivendell.

(Flash back)

"You're leaving aren't you?" she asked me as she looked out the window.

"Yes, with nine others. We're going to Mordor to destroy the ring" I told her.

"I would have gone also, if I was sixty years younger" she stated. "I want you to wear this" she added as she handed me her old mithril shirt. "It will protect you" she told me.

"I'll be ok mum, you taught me well" I assured her.

"A mother always worries" she told me. "Now go pack and rest, you have a long journey a head of you" she told me. We hugged each other tightly and she kissed my forehead before I returned to my room.

(Present)

I'm pulled back to the present as Gimli approached Gandalf. "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" Gimli states.

Gandalf takes a pipe he was smoking from his mouth. Faint surprise registers in his eyes. I narrow mine, wondering why he is surprised? "No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice" Gandalf tells him.

"I've heard stories of Balin and his brother Dwalin from my mother. Do you think Balin will like me?" I ask Gimli curious.

"He'll love you laddie" he tells me.

"What is that?" Sam asks and I follow his gaze. I see something off to the south. Legolas is examining it closely.

"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud" Gimli states.

"I don't think so" I tell him as I get to my feet.

"It's moving fast... against the wind" Boromir states.

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas shouts.

"Hide!" Aragorn shouts.

"Hurry!" Boromir adds. Aragorn rushes around, getting the Fellowship out of sight. I rush over to Frodo and grab him. We hide under a rock ledge with Aragorn as Sam put out the fire. We all hide as a flock of black birds fly over head. The birds circle the hill, then turn and fly back Southward. We come out of hiding.

"Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched" Gandalf declares. As I sheath my axe. ""We must take the Pass of Caradhras" he states. He turns, looking up at a great, snowy mountain. Great, I hate snow.

(Time skip)

It's bloody freezing up here. And it's no even snowing yet. As we climb through the glistening, fresh snow beneath the great blue sky, Frodo looses his footing and falls, rolling down the slope towards Aragorn. Who catches him and helps him to his feet. Frodo grabs his neck and I notice the chain with the ring missing. I see Boromir pick it up and examine it.

"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing. Such a little thing" he whispers. As I go for my axe.

"Boromir!" Aragon says loudly catching his attention. He looks down at him and Frodo. "Give the ring to Frodo" he tells him. Boromir walks slowly down the slope to the Ranger and the Hobbit. Aragorn's hand is on the hilt of his sword.

"As you wish, I care not" he says handing the ring to Frodo. Boromir jokingly tousles Frodo's hair, turning to resume climbing. Frodo looks on suspiciously; Aragorn releases his grip from his sword. I do the same with my axe. But make a mental note to keep a closer eye on Boromir in the future.

We reach the high snow banks as it begins to snow heavily. I notice Legolas is able to walk on top of the snow. Lucky bastard. "There is a fell voice on the air!" he yells as the wind begins to howl.

"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouts. With a rending echo, a horde of rock slabs and boulders falls from the mountain's arms. We shove ourselves flat against the sheer cliff wall to avoid the onslaught of stone.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouts.

"I agree with Aragorn!" I shout.

"No" Gandalf tells us. He steps out onto the ledge, rising on the snow. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" he chants. (Translation: Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!). The wizard's voice is drowned out by a more terrible cry in the maelstrom. I grab Frodo and Sam pulling them closer to me.

As a lightning strikes the tip of Caradhras, sending a second avalanche of white ice onto us. Legolas snatches Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just before the ice-fall hits. We're all buried in snow. But survive. I help Frodo and Sam out first, before following them.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouts over the wind.

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

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria" Gimli suggests.

"We need to decide quickly!" I yell at them.

"Let the Ring bearer decide" Gandalf tells us. We all look at Frodo. Who is shivering like mad, hell we all are.

"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir shouts.

"Frodo, the choice is your cousin" I tell him placing a hand on his shoulder.

"We will go through the mines" he declares.

"So be it" Gandalf says and starts to lead us to the mine entrance. Out of the snow storm. I pray Frodo made the right decision and that the dwarves will like me. Maybe I could learn more about dwarf life while we are there. More about my dwarf heritage on my dad's side. And I would finally get to meet the famous Balin, mum has told me so much about.