[maikafanawen]

The entire company was tense, not afraid, just cautious. They began the ascension of Caradhras walking in threes, but soon the passageway narrowed, and they were forced to walk singly up the mountain. Ani Dao was freezing. She would never admit it, but her face was raw and red. The dark blue cloak Annanoldowen had given her in Rivendell was a humongous help in shielding the rest of her from the harsh wind. She kept the large cowl covering her face, and her long braid tucked inside as the flakes of snow ripped around her head. Beneath the cloak, her regular clothes trapped her body heat inside of her, preventing hypothermia. Deer-hide boots protected her feet from the snow and thin gloves separated her hands from ice as she used them to try to hoist herself up onto the landing where the company had stopped. Stiff from the combination of strenuous climbing, and biting wind that both Hathalas and Burzdol had to help her make the platform, while Kili and Gromfelt watched protectively from behind.

When she was finally standing on the flat ledge, she closed her eyes and completely stilled her body, forcing out any inclination of shivers and chills, then laughed forcibly.

“Well,” she said to the two dwarves mostly, “let’s not let that happen again. Hey, aren’t I supposed to be an elf.” She winked and the two dwarves chuckled quickly, their spirits lifted for a moment.

“You are Ani Dao, and so are the rest of them,” said Kili nodding towards the front of the company where a good portion of elven scouts peered through the wind, rigid with cold, but keeping it inside of them. “It’s just that they would never admit it.” The trio laughed again before concentrating again on their footing.

The cold sensations had left her immediately and up ahead she heard Bali say,

"Well, here we are; this is the pass of Caradhras. We will now enter a dangerous road, which will drop down steeply for a while. It does not lead underground, but when there are great storms the pass darkens. Watch your step, and keep near the walls. There are many sheer drop offs into the nothingness below." At least I can still hear like an elf, if I can’t withstand a little bit of cold weather. Smiling to herself despite the conditions she followed carefully behind Hathalas as the company made their way into the dangerous pass.

Basking herself in the memories of Moria bonfires and Shire ale, Ani Dao was cured of the affects of the freezing atmosphere. She glanced behind her more than necessary to make sure that the company still followed, her elven blue eyes peering through the thick fog.

“Why do you keep doing that?” asked Burzdol finally, climbing right behind her. She shrugged,

“Don’t want to lose anyone do we.” Burzdol shook his head.

Breaks were taken seldom. They wanted to spend as little time as possible on that treacherous mountain. After the first full day of walking, they came upon a pause in the pass where the path was not so narrow, and five to six could walk abreast. There they stopped and warmed themselves with an imaginary fire. The wind was too rough to start a real one, and no cavern wall was provided as a blockade. Perhaps they would find better shelter later, further ahead.

Ani Dao sat in the snow and leaned up against the mountainside that jutted strait up, allowing her no comfort but to just sit. Burzdol took a seat beside her and buried his feet in the snow.

“Cold?” he asked her. She didn’t appear to be shivering, and her face was red but not strained. The elf opened her eyes and looked over at him, snow clinging to her long lashes. A sarcastic smile spread across her face and she looked over to where Gromfelt and Kili were standing, trying to look ahead past the roaring wind. Then she guffawed dramatically,

“Now what in Eru’s Arda would make you think that my dear friend?” Burzdol smiled and leaned up against the wall too.

“Does that mean yes?” Ani Dao nodded quickly and leaned back again.

“Yeah. I’d say I’ve never been colder.”

They were allowed only a few moments to rub feeling back into the aching muscles in their arms and legs before Bali, Hathalas, and the elven scouts persuaded them to move on. Ani Dao moved steadily now, wrapped securely in her cloak so that the wind could not reach her. Energy found its way into her body and her mind was cleared so that she was completely aware of her surroundings. The Gondorian rangers along with some of the original company began to slow as the wind fought stubbornly to dislodge them from the side of Caradhras.

“Ani Dao, Astarielle, make your way back to help the Gondorians. I fear their enigma is failing them, and that their speed is slowing.” The two elves nodded and pressed themselves up against the mountain, allowing the dwarves to pass them by before they made their way back to check on the men. Ani Dao watched as the soldiers trudged through the snow. Dark circles were around their bloodshot eyes, and their breath came heavily in swirls of mist. They were as strong as a herd of oxen walking over a regular plain. Their thick legs seemed to move effortlessly through the snow. Ani Dao had never met anyone from Gondor, and the only men she ever met were in Umbar, Bree, and the random rangers she had acquainted during her stays in Rivendell. Seldom had she revealed herself to anyone on the Road. Now she stood, her back against the mountain, marveling at the Gondorians. Finding nothing amiss, she made her way back to Hathalas.

“They’re as strong as oxen! Nothing could slow them—”

“Except a narrower ledge,” interrupted Astarielle. Her gaze was focused ahead at the elven scouts who were searching for the safest way across the cliff side that was no more than two feet wide. The ledge they were walking on now was five feet, and even then they had pressed themselves as close to the mountain as possible, for fear of teetering slightly off balance and plummeting into the bottomless abyss before them. A message was making its way down the line of scouts. Ani Dao listened in as it was passed to Hathalas,

“It is narrow for about twenty yards. Then it broadens again to be roughly seven feet across.” Hathalas nodded.

“That is bad and good news,” Ani Dao decided. Bali was informed of the obstacle. He looked at Hathalas firmly and said,

“Master elf, we have no choice. Press on, while the wind is not so rough.” Ani Dao felt around her with her senses and noticed that the wind had died down enough, as if granting them permission to cross safely, Or urging us onwards in deception to our doom. But it was true, they had no real choice. Ani Dao found that she was frightened much more for her companions than she was for herself, which was definitely a new feeling. Usually she was tough, and single-minded. Now she was compassionate and protective of her friends.

“Bali!” The dwarf turned to look at her. “I’m going to the rear and to be of assistance to the Gondorians. They will need help getting across?” she made it sound more like a question than a fact. The dwarf nodded, the wind blowing his beard across his face.

“Be careful.” Ani Dao had turned to go, when Burzdol touched her elbow from behind.

“I’m coming too.” The two elves then made their way back to lead the procession of Gondorians across the narrow ledge. They came upon it again, and the wind had grown merciful.

“Crouch down so your balance is not in question,” ordered Burzdol. The Gondorians bent their knees and began to move along the strip, placid faces staring into the gloom. They had not gone but five yards when the fates intercepted their good fortune ...