Ch. 3
We departed from the camp, finally. I strode behind, not minding to be ignored by such pigs. Who needed them? All I was here for was to help rid Middle Earth from the evil of the Ring. I had no need to befriend those crude beasts. The dwarf sloshed his horse through the mud, splattering it everywhere. The elf was snobby, and thought he was so great, though all are aware that the lady elves have the lighter foot, quicker tongue, sharper senses, and faster reflex. I sighed. Female traits were being ignored, nowadays. The only thing that counted was being male, and you could not give me all the mithril in the world to do that. Well, I was content. Aragorn was silent, Pippin was annoying, Gandalf was too mysterious I found something to say about all of them. Then, I just gazed at the scenery. I sank into a stupor while Storm trotted on after the rest of the Company. We walked through forests, bright and cheery. Yet everywhere I could see signs of a shadow, creeping over the land. The birds stopped singing wherever we passed, and the trees turned dark, as though the Ring was killing all signs of happiness it touched. I looked behind us, and the sun glowed in the trees. All around us was the darkness, smothering, I could feel it. I breathed it init was everywhere
'Rosalia!'
I woke from my stupor, and sat straight up again, looking around.
Legolas was speaking to me. He said in our own language: Rosalia! You were muttering in the forbidden tongue! Doth thou wish to bring us all to ruins! Cursed lady
He shook his head and trotted ahead. I just looked upon, dumbly after.
Indeed! Me, muttering in the forbidden tongue? Absurd! No, I barely even knew the forbidden tongue! How could I have been muttering
I trotted up to meet Legolas again. He ignored me, and looked away.
I spoke in the Elvin tongue, so not to upset the others.
Legolas, I have been noticing things. Dark that they are, and I have the thought that this would cause the greatest danger for us. There seems to be a darkness swarming about us at all times. I know not even the speech of the forbidden language! I know you do not respect me, and I know you thinketh me just a child, but if not to me, then listen to the birds!
Legolas stopped and listened. He strained his ears for a sound of song, but to no avail. He looked at me, and continued riding, but he was more cautious now. I strode up to Gandalf, and told him in the common tongue what I had said to Legolas. He just nodded knowingly, and said grimly
'This is not strange news to me. For the power of the Ring is great, and evil. It draws all Dark things, and I think now we shall be more cautious of our goings, for we are nearing unfriendly lands, we have already left the land safest to us, though none now is.' With the sun sinking in the west, we continued until twilight. Along a path that was now thinning, and a dream that was still faint, we wandered into a grove of trees and settled down there for the night. We lit no fire, and the group huddled together for warmth. Cold though it was, for we were fast approaching winter, I stayed outside the circle of heat. I had no need for them, well, so I thought. It was a long, cold night sleeping (or trying to) next to my horse, whom lay on the ground beside myself to give me little heat.


I awoke in the morning, stiff, cold and waking to the smell of someone trying to cook food. I looked around, and I found that I had forgotten that I should have slept in a tree. I would have been more comfortable there, since the trees are my close friends, silly as that may sound. But back to that smell, ugh
'What are you doing?' I asked Gimli, who seemed to be the only person around, save Merry, who was still fast asleep. Well, Im glad he could sleep, I thought, bitterly.
'I am cooking breakfast, but I thought you were bright enough to know that,' the dwarf answered sharply. My temper had gone up, which, I believe, was a record of the earliest time in the morning that has ever happened.
'Well, sir dwarf, forgive my saying so, but I could not tell that was food you were intending to poison us with.' I glared at him, and he rose up.
'Miss elf, though you and your kind,' he spoke kind like we were the scum of the earth. 'Though you were brought up nicely and with riches and splendor, this is what we unworthy normal people call food. It may not be the finest tasting, indeed, but it will have to do. All the purpose it needs to serve is that of filling our bellies whilst we ride.' He said this gruffly and went back to cooking. I angrily pushed my blanket into my bag, imagining all the while that it was the stupid dwarfs head. He did not seem to notice that I was putting my things away with such violence, but I gave it one last punch before it went in anyway.
Gandalf and the others strode into camp, and by the sickened look on their faces, they too smelled the 'food'.
'Ah, Gimli, you have made, I see breakfast.' Frodo said, plastering a smile on his face. The others plastered such smiles on their faces too, and so did Merry, who had, by now, woken up. I alone glared at him with all the coldness I could muster.
'I am not eating that,' I said with disgust. The others turned towards me with a look of surprise on their faces. They all moved and acted as one, and I found this seriously annoying.
'Then, fair Rosalia, you must learn that if you do not, you shant eat until midday, when we shall take our lunch whilst on our horses,' Gandalf said amiably, much to my irritation. I stood up, dusted off my cloak, and picked up my bag.
'Well, do hurry then, you are keeping us from progressing, and we are all aware that this evil cannot wait.' I fed my horse her oats, and began setting her up for the long journey. The others ate with speed, and clambered upon their horses, all save Legolas who bounded gracefully into his seat. Showoff, I muttered in Elvish tongue, and I hoped he heard me. If he did, however, he didnt show it.
And so, the Fellowship began the second day of journeying.
The horses went much quicker today, and I realized I knew not our course. I rode to the front, and asked Gandalf what our course was.
'We are heading for the mountains, as you can no doubt see, and we are hoping to take the path running along the mountainside to the opposite side. All our journey is about sides as you can see,' he smiled. 'But should that prove unable to work, we shall no, it will work.' I saw him shudder at the thought of the other course. I wanted to question him about it, but my stomach suddenly grumbled. I looked around, and to my relief, no one seemed to hear it. I had thought it was louder than an avalanche down a mountainside. Enough! Do not think about avalanches with your course ahead of you!
My stomach grumbled again, and I tried to ignore it. I rode in the back, so the others could not hear, and I was surprised when an apple fell into my lap. I looked up, and saw that Legolas was looking back at me, and when my eyes met his, he smiled and turned forward again.
I guess I was not as hated as I thought, or maybe the others not so vile.

Ch. 4
I heard a strange sound in the sky, and I looked up into the twilight. Against the fading light, I saw something strange, though my eyes could not quite define it. I stopped my horse, and looked into the west. It looked like a large winged beast... Legolas stopped beside me and looked into the west as well.
Nazgul he whispered frightfully. Its coming this way! I said urgently.
Nazgul is a synonym for fear, hate, and evil. Black apple of the Eye of Sauron. I felt frozen, and then gasped as loud as I could Gandalf! We must fly with winged horses! For a Nazgul is come! Gandalf turned towards the Dark, and merely nodded forward. We followed in haste, and a silence covered us like a blanket. Soon, Gandalf stopped, and said quietly and urgently
We cannot make Caradhras, for it is perilous to be in the open air. We must take the other way, or die on our way up the mountain. Legolas eyed him suspiciously.
What is the other way? he asked, and I did not wish to hear his words.
Moria. That one word spoke for so much. A million things popped into my head. Through the mines of Moria we could never make it! I wonder why that Nazgul is not upon usMoria! Ah! Doomed are we to have to resort to such an evil way. I wonder if my home is tainted with this evilMoria! These mixed up thoughts went through my head over and over. I was not thinking about Moria alone, but those thoughts were poisoning me. What if, we too awoke the darkness the dwarves did within that mountain? Would I be strong and help my Fellowship? No, said another voice in my head.
No, you should not fight it, you should embrace it, embrace the darkness. It is everywhere, there is no hiding from the Eye of Sauron, so why not join now and be rewarded? You are with the Ring, why not just take it? Why not have the power? You know it is the only thing to do. I pondered, and slowly began to slip into those evil thoughts. My hands edged closer to Frodo, though he did not notice. It would be so easy no one could harm or stop me NO, said another thought. I cowered beneath the power of its voice. YOU WILL NOT BETRAY FRODO, AND YOU WILL NOT FALL TO THE DARKNESS. STAY, STAY WITH THE GOOD THOUGHTS, ROSALIA. DO NOT GIVE INFOR EMPTY HAPPINESS WOULD GREET YOU FOR A MOMENT IN SAURONS COURT. EMPTY, AND YOU WOULD BE A MONSTER. THEN HE WOULD USE AND KILL YOU, AS WELL AS THE OTHERS, AND YOU WILL HAVE BROUGHT SHAME UPON YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR FATHER GRIEVING
I pulled my idle hands away from Frodo, who had not noticed how close I had been to silently killing him. No one else had either, which frightened me. I could have killed him I would have
I wish not to go into Moria, Legolas said warily, and I silently agreed with him.
You are bound to no contract, none are but the bearer of the Ring. If you do not wish to follow, you may leave, said Frodo, who sounded a lot braver than any of us felt. Legolas was silent, but did not turn to leave.
I gave my oath, and that I shall hold to, he said sadly.
Then let us fly, Aragorn said, warily watching the sky. We galloped along long plains and always we feared the Dark would soon be upon us. The light was a sickening one, and it lingered far longer than is normal. The few stunted trees there were offered us no protection or cover, and though I had missed the open sky, I hated it this moment. No one stopped until we had reached the end of the plains, and a land that sunk into the ground. About two miles away, we could see a dark, murky lake. And I could see on the far side of it, two large Holly trees. The doors to Moria.

We spent the night without fire, and I did not sleep. I did not drift into even one open eyed dream, which is how we Elves sleep. Instead I paced warily throughout the camp, and I kept looking up at the moon. Bright that night, it was wonderful Luna Pale and looming in the sky it looked to me then, instead of the happy sight it had been to me in my childhood
I sang songs of the moon in my own language to comfort myself. I heard a rustle of clothes, and looked back to see that Legolas was stirring in his sleep. He was having a nightmare. I knelt beside him and felt his brow, it was warm. He was sick, I knew. I had seen signs of it since our first camp, the dropping of his tall shoulders, and the sweat that formed on his brow whilst he was riding
I felt I should tell someone, but he would not want me to. He would not be a burden. Instead, I unhooked a flask of pale liquid from my belt, and opened his mouth. I poured a bit of the precious liquid down his mouth to help him heal quicker. Niembwa, the healing drink. I then sat upon the ground next to him, and sang a song, which only he could understand, and I saw him stop stirring, and dream good dreams once again. His head was no longer hot, but just a bit warm to the touch, and I felt better. I had repaid him for his kindness this morning.


I did not sleep that night. Instead, I kept watch. I was not tired. I knew that we would have to leave as soon as the dawn came, and I wanted to be sure we would make it on time. As soon as I saw a fiery bit of red rising on the horizon, I woke the others. Legolas seemed much better that morning. I chuckled to myself as he marveled at his new health. But if he suspected, he did not show it. We all clambered rather ungracefully onto our steeds, and rode off toward the lake. Though I was not tired, I felt like sleeping. I could not and cannot explain it, but I felt as though we were going to our certain doom, which we were, most likely. I felt the desire to go home and sleep for ages, until this evil had passed through our land, and everything was better again. Alas, I knew not what those days would mean to me, or I would have treated them better
We soon reached the lake, and I was still wary of the Nazgul, though I saw no signs of it. We stood beside the lake, and looked across the water. Dark, murky water it was, too. It was thick, with an almost cakey fell to it. When Gandalf said we would need to walk through a shallow part of it, I was filled with a nervousness I knew not the source of. I was loath to touch it, the water. He also said that we would need to abandon our horses, for the mines were no place for them, though brave they are. I was filled with a deep sorrow. I had been forever with Storm, ever since I had found her on that day 400 years agoand I knew not what made her live on. I thought she had the spirit of Elendil with her, and my father says that she is just old and annoying. I patted her nose, took off her pack, and she not having a saddle, galloped off. I fought the tears, and called to her in our own language stray not! Go right home, and do not get yourself into trouble, you beast! I turned around, fighting tears, as I truly left my bit of home behind.

Legolas came over, and stood beside me in a comforting way. He was not so bad.
Rosalia, we may have friends that we leave behind, but we never leave the ones we truly love.
I could not help it. My tears sprang forth with no sound, and feeling like a child, I embraced Legolas. He hesitated, and put his arms around me too. I did not know why I was so depressed to leave Storm, but it also marked more than that. My journey had truly begun.

Part 3...