Some time later we were all walking up the freezing mountain covered in snow. The further we walked up the more windy it got.

I could feel the cold getting to me and I could feel my hands were going numb.

All of a sudden Frodo slipped and went rolling down the hill behind us. I looked back and stopped. Aragorn helped Frodo up and he then realised he ring wasn't around his neck anymore.

Boromir was stood a few metres ahead of them, the chain in his hand with the ring dangling off of it. He had found it in the snow after Frodo must've dropped it when he fell.

"Boromir." Aragorn said.

He started at it for a few moments before I made an awkward coughing noise and then Aragorn gave Boromir a look.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing..." Boromir murmured, looking mesmerised by the gold in front of him.

"What's going on down there?" Merry walked up next to me.

"Er... I'm not sure-"

"Boromir!" Aragorn said more loudly this time which snapped my attention back to them. "Give the ring to Frodo."

Boromir abruptly stopped and snapped out of whatever isolation he was in, immediately walking over to a worried looking Frodo before hesitating slightly, and then holding the ring out for Frodo. He quickly snatched it from Boromir's hand and put it back on 'safely' around his neck.

Boromir chuckled and ruffled Frodo's hair.

"Come on, we should... g-go." I said and shivered under my coat.

The further up the mountain we walked the colder and windier it got. I looked down at my fingers and they were almost frozen numb. My hands were red raw and the tips of my fingers had a tint of blue in them. Great.

Other than the cold, it was going okay. That was until the whole mountain shook slightly and I let out a little squeal.

"W-what is it!?" Merry shouted over the wind.

"D-did you not- f-feel that!?" I stuttered.

Merry almost fell over as the mountain shook again but worse this time. Chunks of snow fell from the stop the mountain.

"Merry!" I squealed as a large chunk of ice almost hit him on the head.

I jumped ahead, clinging onto Merry for dear life. We were quite a tad behind the others so we had no choice but to help each other keep our balance.

The wind had suddenly picked up and it was like a snow storm. Then a loud voice rang through the air. We could barely see through all the snow, but I saw a look on Gandalf's face and I knew it wasn't good. Not good at all. We were in trouble.

Legolas, being the light and graceful Elf he is, ran along the top of the snow as if he weighed nothing more than a feather. He stood higher up on a clump of snow.

'"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!'"

"There is a fell voice in the air."

"It's Saruman!"

All of a sudden a mighty crack above us made me look up and then big, hard chunks of snow and rock came falling down, narrowly missing us. I tried my hardest not to scream and looked at Aragorn who was now holding back to help Merry and I.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf! We must turn back!" Shouted Boromir.

I nodded in agreement and looked at Gandalf as well as everyone else.

"No!" Replied the stubborn wizard. Now was not the time for stubbornness!

Suddenly everyone's voices started to fade out, then in again, and I could barely make out what anyone was saying. I looked down and realised my fingertips were going blue and I felt faint.

"'Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!'"

"'Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; Nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar!'"

And then that was it. Snow fell down and I'm pretty sure I was either knocked out or I fainted.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Quickly! Set up camp here, we will rest here for the night."

"But, is she alive?"

"Yes, she's just- well-"

My hearing was slowly fading in again, though accompanied by a loud ringing noise, and I felt myself being carried by big human arms.

"We'll have to be up before dawn if we want to make it to Moria by nightfall tomorrow."

I was gently placed down on the floor. "May? Maisy!?" I could hear Merry's voice.

I eventually opened my eyes to see Merry and Pippin staring down at me.

"Aragorn she's awake!" Pippin shouted.

Before I could say anything else Aragorn had rushed over to me, followed by Sam, and eventually Frodo.

"What happened..?" I asked groggily.

"Sam, get a fire going." Aragorn said and I sat up against a rock.

"You nearly died." Merry stated.

"Oh, really!?" I retorted.

"You've had hyperthermia. You are quite lucky to have pulled through." Aragorn said and handed me a flask of hot water.

I gulped. "Oh, well... I'm okay now right?"

"It seems so. How do you feel?" He asked whilst feeling my forehead with the back of his hand.

"Fine, just cold, obviously." I said.

Once I felt okay to move again I ate an apple I had left over in my bag. It was quite bruised and brown but I was happy to eat anything in that moment. Everyone was rushing around trying to set up camp.

"I told you she shouldn't have come. If she goes any further there's no way she'll be able to cope!" I heard someone say, quietly.

"Excuse me?" I turned, my arms crossed.

"I'm just being honest. You could've died!" Merry said. Of course it was Merry. I didn't understand what had gotten into him as of late.

"I know!" I shouted. "How many times do you have to remind me!?"

"May-"

"Do not call me that!"

He had no right to say whether I should or shouldn't be there! Why was he suddenly acting so protective? Maybe that's not the word. Like he suddenly cared? It frustrated me for some reason. Like he doubted me and my capability to be there. I didn't want him, or anyone, to feel pity for me!

"I can't believe this." I said and got up, wobbling a little at first.

"Woah, Maisy I think you should stay there." Pippin reached out but I whacked his arm away.

"I'm quite capable of walking myself thank you Peregrine!"

"I was only trying to help." Pippin sighed. Merry gave him an annoyed look and walked away.

"Hello.." I said and plopped down beside Frodo and Sam.

"Maisy! Thank goodness you're okay." he said and hugged me.

"Yeah. How are you two feeling?" I asked.

I smiled throughout our nice, calm conversation. Without talking about near death experiences!

I shivered slightly and looked back at the spot where Merry and Pippin were, but Pip wasn't there anymore. I turned back to realise he had now made himself comfortable by the fire with us.

"Is there food?" He asked.

"Go and ask Aragorn or something." I said and huffed, getting up again. "I may be back in a bit."

I looked around and saw Merry again. He was sat over where the bags were.

I slowly walked along the grass to get to my bag. When I got there I tried not to look at the hobbit. I opened my bag to see the last of the fruit I'd packed was gone. Great.

"Erm.. Merry, where's my-"

"Don't ask me, look at him." he said and I saw Pippin eating another apple as he had just thrown an apple core into the fire.

"Of course." I sighed, sitting down and leaning against a rock.

"I shouldn't have said what I said, I'm sorry." Merry finally said.

"Don't." I was too tired for it.

"But I-"

"I'd rather not talk about it.. it's fine." I said with a sigh.

"Maisy-Rose!" Gandalf suddenly appeared in front of us, startling me a little and probably Merry too.

"Oh hello Gandalf!" I beamed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Quite a bit warmer, thank you."

"Well that's good to know. You should get some rest, both of you. We will be heading to the mines of Moria tomorrow." He turned to where Frodo was. "Not by my choice." He said under his breath and I gave him a sympathetic smile, and then he went to go and get settled for the night.

"Gandalf's right Maisy." Merry said. "You should sleep."

"I suppose." I replied.

Before we knew it everyone else had started getting ready for bed too, though Legolas and Aragorn chose to stay up and keep watch for a while.

"Maybe I should put this near the fire to dry." I said, holding my damp and still slightly frosty cloak and scarf.

As I was about to get up Merry quickly got up. "No it's alright, I'll take them." he said and took them from me.

"Oh, thank you..?" I said, surprised to see such politeness from Meriadoc Brandybuck as he hurried over to the campfire.

I tried to get comfortable in my little spot on some grass but it wasn't the best. I hadn't got much sleep at all for the past few nights, having slept outside and all.

A few minutes later Merry returned, holding a blanket.

"Here."

I took the blanket and wrapped it around me.

"Thanks Merry, but aren't you going to be cold?"

"No, I'll be fine. You need it more than I do."

I just nodded and laid down again. I was still in shock with this behaviour from Merry.

"Well, goodnight then.." I said, proceeding to yawn.

"Night May." Merry said, after a short moment he then realised what he had said. "Oh, sor-"

"It's fine." I giggled. "Goodnight Merry."

I tried to contain my giggling as I heard Pippin let out a yelp and then someone started laughing.

"Hush now Peregrine Took!" Gandalf raised his voice.

Soon my eyes closed and I drifted off into a somewhat peaceful sleep.