They traveled on for many days, and they all got along well enough. There was still tense air between the elf and dwarf, as well as Aragorn and Boromir, but it was little enough not to bother anyone. Aragorn understood the other man's position, and he could not fault him for it. Boromir was used to looking to his father, siblings, or himself for a solution, and had done so for his entire life. He could not afford to wait for a king he was certain would never come. Aragorn respected that, and so Boromir returned the courtesy as best he could, the two becoming at least civil allies to each other.

The friendship between Miriel and Aragorn only grew stronger as they traveled the next few days, and they could often be seen sitting or standing together, speaking in voices low enough that the others could not hear without seeming rude. Aragorn learned more of the youngest sibling of the three, and greatly anticipated meeting the brother Miriel spoke of so fondly, if their paths ever led to Gondor together. Miriel, in turn, learned much of his life as a young ranger with the other Dunedain, of which there were now few. And he listened eagerly as she told of her childhood with her family, and rise to commander of the Rangers of Ithilien.

The bonds between races in the Fellowship became stronger and more trusting as the days went on. At night, they sat around the small fires created with ease by Gandalf's magic, and would tell stories as the night grew colder. Gandalf told of days and lands not even Legolas had seen in his long life, which both enthralled and tired all enough to send them to sleep, and he often spoke last. Legolas told of his home, which nearly none had ever entered, and fascinated them with the feasts and parties thrown by the elves. Gimli told tales of deep mines and forgotten treasure, all of which fascinated the little ones. Aragorn spoke of old victories and epic battles, things he knew interested at least the hobbits, and Gandalf often added little anecdotes, sounding like an old man remembering fond memories. Boromir spoke of his siblings, and what he remembered from their childhood. But it was the stories told by Miriel herself that interested the hobbits most.

Her stories were not of dark times and brilliant victories, but of happy things and days in glorious sunshine. She told of the little fairies who lived in the woods, and sprites who helped frightened children in the dark. She told of wolves and other dangerous creatures, who could be called upon in times of need to protect and defend. She told of just kings and gentle queens, magnificent castles that glowed white at night, and animals who could speak just as other races do. Miriel told stories of hope, love, and everyday kindness. It reminded them what they were doing this for, what they were trying to save.

Their journey truly began one day on the top of a rocky outcropping. Boromir was teaching Merry and Pippin to use the little swords Aragorn had bestowed upon them, while said ranger and Miriel sat together on a nearby rock to watch. Legolas was posted on lookout with the other two hobbits sitting near, and Gimli spoke with Gandalf about Moria.

Miriel's ears gathered and retained the information being spoken about the dwarvish mine, while she focused her attention on the little hobbits taking on her elder brother, laughing with the other ranger at her side. Finally, the halflings grew tired of fighting with their blades, and instead tackled Boromir to the ground, sending his sister into a fit of laughter, which he responded to with a glare, along with a pleading look to the other man sat by her. Aragorn laughed as well, and moved to help Boromir, only to be tackled himself, sending Miriel into another fit of laughter as she watched the two men be completely overwhelmed by two beings half their size. This only bolstered the hobbits to continue to make her laugh, and the two men on the ground nearly collapsed with laughter themselves. Of course, it could not last forever. Sam broke the happy mood with an urgent call.

"What is that?" Everyone turned their attention to the place he indicated, Aragorn and Boromir helping the hobbits to their feet. The halflings banded together in apprehension, seeking refuge by Miriel and Aragorn, who had also stood to join her.

"Nothing." Gimli said. "Just a wisp of cloud."

"It's moving fast," Boromir retorted, "against the wind." Legolas called out in an urgent voice.

"Crebain from Dunland!" The two rangers and Boromir shared a quick glance.

"Hide!" Aragorn cried. He and Miriel each took the two hobbits closest to them, and hid under two rocky outcroppings across from each other. As the birds passed overhead, Aragorn looked over to her, and she met his eye with a worried look of her own. It was very possible they had been spotted, despite their attempts not to be. As soon as the birds were gone, they crawled out from their hiding places, and Gandalf spoke.

"Spies of Saruman! The passage south is being watched." He looked at the two rangers and the elf, knowing they would have to be the ones to prepare for what would come next. Even the Rangers of Ithilien had more experience in the snow than Boromir or Gimli did, and certainly the hobbits. "We must take the pass of Caradhras!"

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The Fellowship climbed through the deep snow, Legolas walking on top of it at the front, and the rangers attempted to keep the hobbits from freezing to death, while Boromir brought up the rear. Suddenly, Frodo slipped from his place back beside Aragorn, passing Boromir, and landing hard in the snow. Aragorn immediately went to his aid, while Miriel kept the others from trying to help and falling themselves, but Boromir's hand lifted the ring on its chain from the snow. The conversation that followed was not pleasant, and quite unsettling, as it took the hands of both his own sister and of Aragorn to be placed on the hilts of their swords for him to snap out of whatever trance he was in.

They continued on, and the weather only worsened as they pushed forward. The three humans sheltered the hobbits as best they could, but the voice that carried over the air made the wind howl all the harder. Legolas called out to the wizard.

"There is a fell voice on the air!" Gandalf listened closely, and heard it as well.

"It's Saruman!" Rock, shale, and snow began to fall from above, and the others moved away from the edge and closer to the rock of the mountainside. Aragorn yelled as best he could over the howling wind.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! We must turn back!" Gandalf shook his head.

"No!" He moved forward, and began to chant, leaving Miriel to answer the baffled expression on Aragorn's face.

"He's trying to force us into Moria! There's a trap there just waiting to be sprung, and I do not like the idea of finding out what it is." Gandalf stopped chanting, and the wind seemed to lessen for a moment. Then, the voice of Saruman came back even louder, and as he finished, the mountain above them began to break. Legolas pulled Gandalf away from the edge, and Miriel attempted to do the same to the hobbits, unintentionally putting herself in the way of falling snow. The barrage of snow blocked her from Aragorn's view. All he saw, was her moving downward, and he heard Boromir call out for her as they were buried under the snow.

As soon as he was able, Aragorn dug his way out of the snowdrift, and he and Boromir lifted the hobbits out. Both then began to call out to Miriel.

"Miriel!" Boromir yelled. "Where are you?" An answering voice came from close to Aragorn's left, albeit very faint.

"Down here! If one of you could give me a hand, that would be brilliant!" Aragorn leaned over the edge, and saw Miriel hanging onto a ledge about half a foot down. Shaking his head in relief, he reached down to her, and hauled her up and back onto the solid pathway. She embraced him and whispered her thanks, and both moved back to where the hobbits stood with Boromir, who held his sister tightly for a moment before turning to Gandalf and indicating the shivering hobbits, who had flocked to Miriel and Aragorn for warmth.

"This will be the death of the little ones!" he cried. "Gandalf! We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the West road to our city!" Aragorn shook his head.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Boromir shook his head in frustration, but Miriel gave him a look and spoke.

"If Saruman can see us and stop us here, travelling so close to his stronghold would be suicide. We might as well simply give him the ring!" Gimli spoke now.

"We cannot pass over the mountain, then let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria." The concealed terror in Gandalf's eyes worried them enough, but Boromir's worry increased as soon as he saw it mirrored in his sister's blue eyes. Whenever she was uneasy, he had learned that it was best to trust her. Finally, the wizard spoke.

"Let the ringbearer decide." All eyes turned to the terrified hobbit, and both Rangers knew his answer before he voiced it. "Frodo?" The young hobbit looked at them all, making the only decision he felt he could.

"We will go through the mines!" He called over the wind. Gandalf gave a slow nod, and he knew that Miriel at least shared his apprehension. She too had seen what followed them in the dark, and felt at least something must be wrong with Moria.

"So be it."