The message

Aragorn looked into the beautiful green eyes of the elf laying beside him. "Before I do that, I just want to clear something up. I may not be jealous of what you will be doing with the hobbits, but I am worried about it." Aragorn said.

"Worried? What for?" Einis asked running her smooth hand up his grizzled face.

"That I may lose you of course." He said.

"How sweet." She said giving him a peck on the lips, but Aragorn saw real emotion in her eyes, even for just a second before it was covered over again. He smiled at her as he got up to let the bird in.

"Come on little guy." Aragorn said opening the window and watching as the bird hopped onto the little desk in the room. Aragorn walked over and untied the letter before letting the bird free again and sitting down to read it. Einis watched Aragorn's face as he read the letter, she could tell he was not liking what he was reading. When he was done, he was furious as he handed the letter to her to read. Aragorn paced around inside the cramped room, trying to wrap his head around what he had just read.

The letter was from Gandalf, and he claimed that he had been captured and held prisoner in Orthanc by Saruman the White. The letter went on to say that Saruman was cutting down his forests and building an army and industry to equip that army. Another enemy had presented itself to the good people of Middle Earth. "Saruman? Why?" Einis asked sadly.

"Long had he studied the ways of Sauron, there was a rumour that one of the lost seeing stones, a Palantir, was in Orthanc. It might have been through the Palantir that Saruman's soul was caught and enslaved by Sauron." Aragorn swore as he paced. "I told you! This must confirm his participation in that white hand business. It must have been him who sent those Dunlendings. He must have been looking for the ring!" Aragorn surmised.

"They haven't found it yet, though, the hobbits aren't even here." Einis said.

"This changes things you know?" Aragorn said.

"How?" Einis asked.

"Our plan was to make for the Gap of Rohan. That's no longer feasible with Saruman's betrayal. I know of two other ways to get to our destination, one is over the mountains and taking the path of Caradhras. If we take the path over the mountains, we can come across in Rohan somewhere and pick up our trail. It will be dangerous, the weather that high up is harsh, and I don't know if it is within the range of Saruman's foul magic." Aragorn explained.

"And the other way?" Einis aked.

"We go under the mountain, through the Mines of Moria." Aragorn said solemnly.

"Moria? Please tell me you don't expect to see a thriving Dwarven Kingdom down there? Nobody has heard from Balin in ages, my guess is he along with all he took with him are dead." Einis said.

"I don't expect anyone down there except a bunch of goblins and orcs, not to mention any other unspeakable horrors that live in the depths." Aragorn said.

"Both are dangerous, I must think about it Aragorn, on one hand not many elves have been to the ancient Dwarven kingdom since the fall of Gondolin, but then again I'd rather not die going sight seeing. Of course, I'll ask your opinion in the matter as well." She said.

"Thanks. Take all the time you need, we set out as soon as you're done with the hobbits tomorrow." Aragorn said.

"Yippee!" She said sarcastically.

Which path does Aragorn prefer?

A) Going over the mountain

B) Going under it

C) Leave a suggestion of another path