"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"

For thirty days we are walking towards the west of the Misty Mountains and then we are heading towards the Gap of Rohan, if it's still open. Gandalf told us that we have to walk forty days to the Gap and then we take the road east, to Mordor.

My feet hurt, but I do not complain. Why should it? I do not want to look like an arrogant princes who never does something for herself.  Most of the time, I walk next to Legolas or Aragorn. I can also speak with Gimli, he tells me everything about his family and more. I am beginning to love his stories about the dwarfs and I can't wait to meet one of his family members one day. Mithrandir is just quiet and looking out for me. But when we speak, it is more talking about long lost memories. At night I dream about them, things I begin to remember. Faces, sounds and surroundings I vaguely recognize. The Hobbits are funny, mostly Pippin and Merry, who are always talking about their home, the Shire and food. They talk about a lot of food. Sam is mostly talking with them or asking questions to Aragorn or Legolas. And if he isn't doing that, he is taking care of our pony Bill. Frodo, the poor boy, has a hard time. I can feel the power of the ring grow and it is becoming more and more difficult to resist it. Sometimes it looks like the ring is only speaking towards me, whispering my name, laughing at me. But I know that Boromir is hanging on the edge. I can see him looking at the ring with greedy eyes. And that is a shame, I like Boromir. He is a good man, a good soldier and above all, a good brother. He speaks about the White City, the city of kings. He is the one who kept he army of Mordor away for so long.

In the morning of day thirty-two, Mithrandir decides to rest for a bit. The Hobbits sign loudly and flop down on a hill. I see that Sam is making a campfire and Frodo sits next to him, closing his eyes. I sit also down and get my backpack from my back. The bow and quiver is still hanging on my back, just in case. I feel my sword prick in my thigh. I hiss a little and move around so I can sit better. Aragorn sits down next to me, smoking his pipe. We look towards Pippin and Merry, who Boromir is teaching how to fight.

They yell and laugh, until Boromir catching Merry's hand and Merry throws his sword down. He lunges at Boromir and together with Pippin they tackle him. 'For the Shire!' They both yell. I hear Aragorn chuckle and I smile. 'Help, help!' cries Boromir with laughter. I stand up. 'Boys, this is enough' I say when I walk over to them. 'Get her!' Pippin shouts and they let Boromir go, only to tackle me. I fall on the ground, the two hobbits attacking me with tickling. 'S-stop!' I laugh. Luckily I get help from Boromir and Aragorn, both lifting a hobbit from my squirming body. I catch my breath and wipe the tears from my eyes. I get up from the ground, wiping the mud and the grass of me. I look around, Legolas is standing further away, his gaze fixated on a distant dark patch, it looks like smoke. But when I get a better look, I freeze. No..

'It is moving fast, against the wind!' I hear Boromir say worriedly. 'Crebain' I mutter. 'Crebain from Dunland!' Legolas yells. 'Hide!' Aragorn shouts urgently. Legolas turns around, moving fast. I feel him grabbing my wrist and pulling me with him. I hear Boromir shouting the names of the Hobbits to take cover and we all scramble under a rock our bush.

Legolas and I hide under a bush and I can see the Crebain coming closer, they fly overhead at a great speed and circling above us. The crows are circling above us for one more time and fly suddenly away, back to the south. Mithrandir staggers back to his feet. 'Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched' He looks at Aragorn and then back to us. Mithrandir gestures toward the high mountain pass. 'We must take the Pass of Caradhras!' He orders.

Snow. I am not dressed for the cold, just great.

We make our way towards the mountain pass and soon the grassy landscape turns into snow and ice. The atmosphere is getting heavier with each step we take. We climb through rock and snow. On a certain point I lose the feeling in my toes and fingers. But I can't complain, being a she-elf, I walk on top of the snow, the same does Legolas. But my friends are walking chest and knee deep into the cold snow. I hear a yelp and I wake up from my daydreaming. Frodo is rolling past me, I try to grab him, but Frodo holds still a couple of meters further. Everyone is escaping their breath. Aragorn is the first, rushing towards our ring-bearer. He scrambles to his feet, feeling frantically on his chest.

He lost the ring!

'Boromir!' Aragorn warns him. We all look to Boromir, who is holding the ring by his chain.

How did he walk past me? I didn't see him.

Boromir stands like frozen, the ring dangling before his eyes. Aragorn locks eyes with me and Legolas and starts to warily approaching Boromir. Boromir is still staring at the ring as if his life is depending on it. 'Boromir!' I shout.

'Boromir?' Aragorn asks, now standing before him. 'It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing ..such a little thing' Boromir mutters. 'Boromir' I try again. 'Boromir .. give the Ring to Frodo' Aragorn says quietly, moving his hand towards his sword hilt. I do the same.

But as suddenly Boromir was fixed on the ring, as sudden he snaps out of it. He hands the ring to Frodo, who lets the chain slip back over his head, hiding the ring beneath his shirt. 'As you wish. I care not' replies Boromir lightly and smiles at Frodo, ruffling his hair. Aragorn unhands his sword, he look relieved.

Thanks the Valar.

We walk further through the snow – I mean everyone is struggling to move forward except Legolas and I. A blizzard is begin to form, Legolas is walking in the front. He suddenly stops. He listens and looks at me in worry. I hear it to, a voice sweeps by on the wind.  'Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!' (Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be bloodstained!) There is a fell voice on the air!' Legolas and I shout back to our company. Mithrandir looks up to the sky and listens. 'It's Saruman!' He yells. Thunder rumbles and rocks fall from above. I move towards the mountain side, closer towards the Hobbits. 'He is trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!' Aragorn shouts urgently above the wind. 'No' Mithrandir raises his staff and begins to chant. 'Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i ruith'

(Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath) But it doesn't help, Saruman's voice strengthens, sounding like thunder. I hear a lightning crack explodes above us and the last I see in Frodo looking up in horror as the snow falls down on us.

Cold is all I know for a few seconds. But feeling movement beside me, I try to claw my way out. I need to help! To get the Hobbits out before they suffocate! I open my eyes, not knowing I closed them, I see a flash of light above me and dig myself out of the freezing snow. A warm hand grabs my cold one and pulls me up.

Aragorn, the ranger who would be king, saved me.

I mean, helped me.

I try not to blush, but I fail miserably. He smiles gently at me and wipes the snow from my hair and cloak. 'Manen le?'(How are you?) He asks, slightly worried. 'Gloss law vaer annin' (I don't like snow) He smiles at me. 'Me neither' Boromir has pulled the Hobbits and Gimli out of the snow. 'We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the West road to my city!' He yells in fear. Aragorn turns around and looks at the Gondorian. 'The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard'

'We cannot pass over a mountain. Let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria!' Gimli suggest happily. We all look at Mithrandir, who looks worried. 'Let the Ring-bearer decide' Frodo looks at us, our gaze met and I smile at him. He smiles back, showing his dimples. 'Frodo?' Mithrandir asks. Frodo turns away from me, looking at Mithrandir. 'We will go through the mines' Mithrandir nods slowly. 'So be it'

That sounds confident.

We turn around, making our way off the mountain towards the west. I see that Mithrandir beckons Frodo. 'Frodo, come and help an old man' I chuckle, yes he is old, but he doesn't need help. What is he up to? Frodo rushes forward and allows Mithrandir to lean on him. They start to whisper and when Boromir walks by, they look at him.

Curious.

'What are you thinking?' Aragorn's sudden voice startles me. I pull my cloak in a reflex closer around me, trying to shut the cold wind out. 'Nothing, daydreaming I guess'

'I know' He suddenly whispers. What?

'Man pennich?' (What did you say) I mutter, I slow my steps, walking on the edge of our company. I see that Legolas is listening also. 'I know, about the prophesy. Elrond told me about it'

'And?'

'This is a suicide mission!' He stammers.

'If that is my fate, so it be! Aragorn if I die, I shall be reunited with my parents and I have saved middle earth!' I exclaim angry. His stormy blue eyes soften. 'Henion' (I understand) He says softly, bowing his head as a gesture of apology. I want to say more, telling him that I don't mean it like that. But Gimli is on top of the path and shouts in awe. 'The Walls of Moria!' Before rushing down. We follow him in excitement, looking forward to warmth and food. We have to walk around a big lake but finally, we are before the Walls of Moria. The night is coming and the sky is darkening. Naneth is sending the stars to their places in the sky.

Gimli and Gandalf are both tapping with their axe and staff on the wall, listening. The rest of us sits down on the greasy stones.

Finally my sore feet can rest for a bit. Next to me is Pippin, still shivering from the cold. I pull him close to me, saying not a word, but he relaxes a bit.

'Dwarf doors are invisible when closed' Gimli states. 'Yes, Gimli' Mithrandir replies. 'Their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten'

'Why doesn't that surprise me?' Legolas chuckles and Gimli sniffs with disgust at his comment. I throw a small rock at Legolas, hitting his left shoulder. 'Eleniel!' Legolas turns around, facing me. 'What? You asked for it' Behind me I hear Aragorn and Boromir chuckle. The Princeling is irritated but smiles none less. 'I guess your right'

I look up to the Wall when faint silver lines appear on the stone. I look up to the sky, the moon is shining brightly.

'Le hannon Naneth!' I whisper towards the moon and stars.

'Isildin ... it mirrors only starlight and moonlight' The moon rises over the mountain and the lines on the wall grow broader and clearer, forming a glowing arch of ancient letters and symbols.

'It reads, "The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." Mithrandir continues.

'What do you suppose that means?' Merry asks Mithrandir.

'It's simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open' He says confidently. Mithrandir raises his arms and begins to chant. 'Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!' (Gate of the Elves, open now for me!) But nothing happens. Frowning, Mithrandir raises his arms again. 'Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen' (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue)

'Nothing's happening' Pippin states. Mithrandir glances annoyed at him and I chuckle. He begins to push on the doors, but they remain closed. 'I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs' Mithrandir mumbles. 'What are you going to do, then?' Pippin asks. Quickly I put my hand over his mouth but Mithrandir heard him. 'Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words!' Mithrandir barks at Pippin. I pull the young Hobbit closer to me, trying to comfort him. Wisely Pip keeps his mouth shut, so I remove my hand and we continue to look at Mithrandir, who tries to opens the doors.
Hours later, we are still sitting on the greasy rocks, Mithrandir is mumbling spells to open the door, but they don't work. Pippin is fallen asleep against me, while Merry and Sam are with pony Bill.  They watch with sad eyes, Aragorn unsaddling Bill. 'Mines are no place for a Pony, even one so brave as Bill' I hear him say to the two Hobbits. 'Bye, Bill' Sam whispers. Merry pats the Pony's flank. 'Go on, Bill, go on! Don't worry boys, he knows his way home' Aragorn slaps Bill on the rump and the pony goes trotting off. The three of them watch Bill disappear into the darkness.

Pippin moves and wakes up, blinking. He stands up and walks over to Merry, Sam returns in his place. 'Eleniel? How long do you think this is going to take?'

'I don't know Sam, I hope we can enter soon'

'Aye, I do too, I hope they have meat!' I laugh. 'I am just hoping on some warmth Sam' I jump a bit from a sudden splash into the water, I look at the lake. Merry and Pippin are tossing stones into the black water. Pippin is about to throw another one but Aragorn grabs his arm. 'Do not disturb the water!' He warns them. I can see the Ranger exchanging a look with Boromir. My hand finds his way around the hilt of my sword. But nothing happens...

I look back at the now defeating Mithrandir, sitting next to Frodo. 'It's a riddle..!' Frodo says quietly. I raise a brow. A riddle? 'Speak, friend, and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?' Frodo continues. 'Oh .... mellon' Mithrandir replies in wonder. And with that, the rock face silently divides in the middle and two great doors swing outwards, revealing a blackness deeper than any night I have seen.

A shiver creeps down my spine, I'm having a bad feeling about this.

Berio ven Eru. (May Eru protect us)