A hand traces runes on a pale slab of stone, nestled in the deep forests of Rivendell. 'Gilraen', it reads. 'Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin Estel anim.' (I gave Hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself).

The hand reaches out, pulling a clump of moss from the grove of a letter, wiping leaf litter and mud from an edge of the stone, pulling free entwining branches gathering over the smooth, stony hands of a statue. Aragorn, kneeling, lifts his head. He gazes into the solemn eyes of the statue, a woman in a cloak and hood. Aragorn touches her face.

Aurora: "Anirne hene beriad I chên în. Ned Imladris nauthant e le beriathar aen." (She wanted to protect her child. She thought that in Rivendell you would be safe.)"
Aurora appears, walking towards Aragorn through the trees.
Aurora: ""In her heart, your mother knew you'd be hunted all your life. That you'd never escape your fate."
Aurora: " lord Elrond by the skill of the Elves can reforge the Sword of Kings, but only you have the power to wield it."

Aragorn: "I do not want that power. I have never wanted it."
Aurora: "You are the last of that bloodline. There is no other."

———————-

On a bedside table, a hand folds back a homespun cloth to reveal a short sword in a scabbard. Bilbo picks it up and hands it to Frodo.
Bilbo: "My old sword, Sting! Here! Take it, take it!"

Frodo unsheathes the sword and examines it. It rings as Frodo draws it, glinting.
Frodo: "It's so light!"

Bilbo: "Yes... yea — made by the Elves, you know. The blade glows blue when Orcs are close. And it's times like that, my lad when you have to be extra careful!" Bilbo brings out a mail shirt. It shines, simple, yet beautifully adorned with intricate patterns in the mail.

Bilbo: "Here's a pretty thing — Mithril! As light as a feather... and as hard as dragon scales! Let me see you put it on. Come on."

Frodo begins to unbutton his shirt. As he does, the Ring is revealed. Bilbo sees it. A shadow runs across the walls behind them, watching, waiting.
Bilbo: "Oh... M-my old Ring! Oh, I sh-sh-should very much like... to hold it again, one last time."

Bilbo's eyes light up and he wrings his hands, his eyes focused on the Ring. Frodo begins to cover it up. Bilbo smiles faintly in an almost grandfatherly manner. Suddenly, transformed by the power of the Ring, he lashes out. His eyes grow round, ringed in purple shadows, his teeth are like yellowed fangs in his mouth, stretched open wide as he utters a strangled cry.

The shadow lashes out, drags Bilbo back. Bilbo yelps by the force but the hand is soft, only holding him softly.
Aurora: "I knew this would happen, Bilbo. The ring has taken you." "Leave it. It's safe with Frodo" Aurora whisper, holding tightly on bilbo's shoulder. Her head is beside his ear, whispering soft words.

Frodo, startled, backs away, clutching his hand over the Ring. Bilbo returns to normal. Bilbo's eyes show surprise at his transformation. He cowers back, his voice strained.
Bilbo: "I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my boy... I'm sorry that you must carry this burden."

He sits down on the bed, weeping. Aurora had left him and now stood in the shadows again. Bilbo: "I'm sorry for everything!" Frodo places a reassuring hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Bilbo reaches back and puts his hand on Frodo's. He continues to weep in sorrow.

——————-

In a glade beneath an old stone arch, the Fellowship gathers to bid farewell to Rivendell. Elrond speaks to them, gazing sternly at the faces before him. Frodo stands, listening, slightly apart from the others; leaves flutter to the earth.
Elrond: "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid, to go further than you will."

Elrond: "Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you."

Elrond spreads his arms, and Legolas and Aragorn bow their heads, hands upon hearts. Aurora mirrors their action.
Gandalf: "The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Frodo turns and walks forward, uncertainly. Before him, the path winds away to either side.

https://www.tk421.net/lotr/film/fotr/img/fotr0886.jpg

Frodo (whispering softly to Gandalf): "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
Gandalf: "Left."

The Fellowship departs beneath an old arch of lichen-encrusted stone. Aragorn remains where he stands, and turns to Arwen. Across the path between them, they gaze into one another's eyes. Arwen's face is sorrowful; Aragorn smiles faintly and nods a farewell. He walks out. Arwen breaks off her gaze, looking down.

The Fellowship departs from Rivendell as the sun's rays pierce the valley.

They travel through the woods, over open plains and hillsides. They pause on a hill in the wild.
Gandalf (voiceover): "We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor."

———————

Sam cooks sausage and other food over a fire, climbing up onto a rock beside Frodo. The Fellowship is resting on an outstretched arm of the mountains. Aurora watched as Boromir spars with Merry and Pippin, tutoring them on sword fighting. 

He battles with Pippin.

Boromir (to each move of the sword): "Two, one, five. Good. Very good."

Aragorn sits nearby, smoking a pipe. He speaks encouragement.

Aragorn: "Move your feet."
Aurora: "You look good, master Pippin."
Pippin: "Thanks."

Boromir: "Faster!" As the Hobbits spar with Boromir, Gimli approaches Gandalf.

Gimli: "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."

Aurora turns her head from the fight and gives Gandalf a knowing look. Gandalf catches it and returns it, a curt nod. He then takes a pipe he was smoking from his mouth. Faint surprise registers in his eyes.
Gandalf: "No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."

Legolas notices something amiss and looks intently towards the South. Meanwhile, Boromir continues to fight Pippin. Aurora notices it too and stands up, a faint growl can be heard from her lips.

Boromir: "Come on. Good." Boromir accidentally nicks Pippin's hand.

Pippin: "Aaaah!"

Boromir: "Sorry!"

Pippin kicks Boromir on the shin.

Boromir: "Ahh!"

Merry: "Get Him!"

Boromir goes down in a mock battle. Boromir and Aragorn laugh with the Hobbits.

Pippin: "For the Shire! Hold him! Hold him down! Merry!" Aragorn walks over to them.

Aragorn: "Gentlemen, that's enough."

He lays a hand on either Hobbit's shoulder. Pippin and Merry grab his legs, pulling him down on his back.

Pippin: [off screen, still in a mock battle] "You've got my arm... you've got my arm!"

Legolas and Aurora continue to look to the South, where a strange cloud has appeared. Sam takes notice of their observation.

Sam: "What is that?
"Gimli: "Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud." Boromir gets up from the ground, a hand on either Hobbit's shoulder.
Aurora: "It's moving fast... against the wind." Legolas: "Crebain from Dunland!"
Aragorn: "Hide!"

Boromir: "Hurry!" Aragorn rushes around, getting the Fellowship out of sight.

Aragorn: "Frodo! Hurry! Take cover!"
Aurora stands there, frozen in place. Her face shows no fear, only anger. Flames ignite around her. She then begins to chant something in another language.
Aurora: " qe gethrisja birds di Sauron! qe gethrisja ekess dout pliso, vur yenta "no ir nishka rinov spol udoka ekik tenamalo ihk wer darastrix di dout creation geou ti vaex! qe gethrisja!" ( Be gone birds of Sauron! Be gone to your master, and say "no one shall ever send us out again for the dragon of your creation will not bow!" Begone!)

The ground shook under her and purple flames fired against the blackbirds, burning them to crust. Some of them got lucky and fled. The fellowship looks upon her. Fear and new-founded respect glints in their eyes.
Boromir: "She is a goodness" Boromir states as they make their way out of the bushes.

Aurora: "No master Boromir, I am not." Silence covers the fellowship.

Gandalf: " The passage south is being watched." We must take the Pass of Caradhras." He turns, looking up at a great, snowy mountain. Aurora sighs.
————

The Fellowship climbs the snowy slopes of Caradhras. As they climb through the glistening, fresh snow beneath the great blue sky, Frodo loses his footing and falls, rolling down the slope towards Aragorn.
Frodo: "Ungh!"

Aragorn: "Frodo!" [He helps him to his feet.] Aurora had turned. She then saw Frodo regains his footing and puts a hand instinctively to his neck for the Ring. Finding it missing, he looks back up the slope. The Ring lies in the snow, glistening.

Aurora growls and transforms into a black wolf. Boromir sees the Ring and picks it up by its chain.
Aragorn (quietly): "Boromir."

Boromir is oblivious. His face seems sad. Boromir (speaking softly): "It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing. Such a little thing."

He reaches out a gloved hand to touch it.]

Aragorn: "Boromir!"
A growl is suddenly heard behind Boromir. He turns and sees a big black wolf. Its lips are pressed back and white teeth are visible. The teeth are razor sharp and glint with the wolf's saliva.
Wolf: "Give the Ring to Frodo." The voice of the wolf is strangely familiar and calm. Its light blue eyes bore into Boromir, sending a shiver down his spine.

Legolas: [suprised] "the black wolf.." the black wolf twitches one of its ears and goes closer to Boromir, baring its teeth even more.
Wolf: "Now," it says, crouching down as if it is gonna Ponce. Boromir walks slowly down the slope to the Ranger and the Hobbit. Aragorn's hand is on the hilt of his sword. The black wolf still behind him starts to back away, slowly turning back to its elven form.

Boromir: [holds out the Ring] "As you wish..."Frodo does not wait and grabs the Ring sharply.
Boromir: "... I care not."

Boromir jokingly tousles Frodo's hair, turning to resume climbing. Frodo looks on suspiciously; Aragorn releases his grip from his sword. Aurora watches them in silence. She then turns her head to the other members of the fellowship. Legolas had his eyes on her. The hobbits seem to be focusing on Frodo and Boromir. She sighed before going over to Legolas.
——————-

Over Isengard, there is a veiling shadow. The remaining crows fly down through a maze of underground workings, past Orcs laboring. They circle, cawing.
Saruman: "So, Gandalf, you try to lead them over Caradhras. And if that fails, where then will you go?"

Gandalf's staff drives into the snow, forging a way through a growing blizzard as Gandalf guides the Fellowship along a narrow ledge on the Pass.

Saruman (voiceover): "If the mountain defeats you, will you risk a more dangerous road?"

As the Fellowship labors onwards through the high snow banks, Legolas runs out ahead. His step is light and he moves with ease across the top of the snow, staring into the blinding storm. Aurora is also walking atop the snow.

Saruman: "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!" (Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be bloodstained!)

Legolas: "There is a fell voice on the air!" Gandalf: "It's Saruman!" With a rending echo, a horde of rock slabs and boulders falls from the mountain's arms. The Fellowship shoves themselves flat against the sheer cliff wall to avoid the onslaught of stone.

Aurora gives a loud growl and strides to Gandalf's side. She then begins to chant with him.
Aurora and Gandalf: "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" (Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)

Their voices are drowned out by a more terrible cry in the maelstrom. Saruman stands on the Pinnacle of Orthanc and continues to command Caradhras. Away above him where he stands, a great black wall-cloud towers over Redhorn.

Saruman: "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; Nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar!" (Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your bloodstained horn fall upon enemy heads!) Lightning strikes the tip of Caradhras, sending a second avalanche of white ice onto the Fellowship. Legolas snatches Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just before the ice-fall hits. The avalanche cascades over the Fellowship, and snow buries them completely. After a moment, they emerge.

Aurora is nowhere to be seen.
Legolas: [worried] "Where's Aurora?!" A tumble under the snow sounds and the snow suddenly starts to melt. Aurora emerges from the snow, fire bounding her.

Aurora: [strained] " I'm here." Legolas rushes to her side and helps her stand up. 
Legolas : " you're ok?" Aurora nods, patting Legolas shoulder and he let her go slowly.
She hears Boromir and Aragorn arguing .

Boromir: "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"
Aragorn: "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!"
Gimli: "If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria."

In Gandalf's eyes there is a shadow of doubt, of fear that lies unsaid. He is conflicted.
Saruman (voiceover): "Moria... You fear to go into those mines."

Saruman sits in his study in Orthanc, reading a page in a book of lore written in a strange tongue.

Saruman: "The Dwarves delved too greedily and too deep." On Caradhras, Gandalf's eyes glint, fearful.

Saruman: "You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm:"

Saruman turns to another page, revealing a mysterious form drawn as blackness and deep fire, with two sparks in the midst of the flame and dark, like eyes.
Saruman: "Shadow and Flame!"

On the mountain, Gandalf speaks.

Gandalf (grimly): "Let the Ring bearer decide." Boromir shouts through the snowstorm, holding Merry and Pippin to him. Both are cold and extremely pale.

Boromir: "We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!"
Aurora jumps form her places, landing beside Boromir.
Aurora: " here come" she drag the hobbits closer to her body. Warmth suddenly emerges from her body, warming the hobbits frozen figures.

Gandalf: "Frodo?"
Frodo: "We will go through the mines."
Gandalf: "So be it."
——————

The Fellowship passes south, along the misty shadow of an aqueduct's ruins. Gandalf: "Frodo, come and help an old man."
Gandalf: "How is your shoulder?"

Frodo: "Better than it was."
Gandalf: "And the Ring?"
Gandalf: "You feel its power growing, don't you? I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from within."

Behind them, Aurora stood. She growled at the thought of the ring corrupting any one other of the fellowship. She knew it had already begun. Soon one of them would crack.

Frodo: "Who then do I trust?"
Gandalf: "You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths."

Frodo: "What do you mean?"

Gandalf: "There are many powers in this world, for Good or for Evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested."

Gimli: "The Walls... of Moria!" The Fellowship stands and looks upon a vast cliff face.
——————-

That's all for this one :)
-Saph