Though I Lay Down in the Darkness
A/N: Ok we don't own or have anything to do with the following: JRR Tolkien, Lord of the Rings Trilogy (in book and film form), any of the character or actors (although we really wish we did!)
Chapter 1
Gimli froze in mid-stride, gazing around him with a wonder rarely seen upon the face of a dwarf.
"This my friends, is a sight matched by no other on Middle Earth! My forefathers have lived and mined in these halls for countless generations. The pride of my people is carved into this mountainside."
Legolas eyed Moria scathingly.
"It's a rock" he said flatly, "with a big hole in it"
"That, Master Elf, is the greatest Kingdom of the dwarves!"
"As I said, a rock" he crouched suddenly, cat like, to peer at the carved stone doors. "And they've locked it."
"Control yourselves, both of you" Gandalf's deep voice echoed off the damp walls "This bickering is more suited to children!"
Legolas turned on him, his blue eyes seeming to glow in the creeping mists. He glared fiercely for a moment, then dropped his gaze to the ground. Aragorn, sensing the tension in the air, strode to stand beside the huddled group, placing a callused hand on Legolas' shoulder. He glared challengingly up at the tall gates, then looked at Gandalf with anxiety etched deeply into his face.
"This is a problem we did not anticipate." His gaze turned hopeful, "You are positive you do not know the password?"
"Believe me, if I did, I would have said it by now." Gandalf's rigid shoulders sagged, "I am sorry" he sighed deeply.
Aragorn threw a large rock at the uncaring gates, "Open damn you!" he screamed in frustration.
"Give it a kick" Pippin suggested and at the others incredulous stares added, "works for my doors when they're jammed."
Gandalf smiled wearily at the eager hobbit. "If none of the spells in my knowledge will open this door, then I am afraid nothing will".
"It's a kind of riddle. What's the elvish word for friend?" Merry asked suddenly.
"Mellon" answered Legolas absent-mindedly, before starting back in shock as, without warning, the doors swung violently inwards. The Hobbits applauded Merry as Gandalf attempted to hide the annoyance creeping up on him. That darned hobbit had solved it before him.
The company clustered around the opening, peering into the dark interior.
"Just a hole, eh?" said Gimli proudly. "And now we can enter the mines!"
"Do the joys never cease?" Legolas muttered under his breath, knuckles white as he gripped his bow, following the Fellowship into Moria. No one noticed the dark ripples spreading across the oily water.
"What is this?" Gandalf whispered, light from his staff gleaming off yellow skulls and the dull axes that had once been the pride of the dwarfish nation.
"You're right" Legolas conceded, "It's not just a hole, it's a hole full of dead people." Boromir gazed in fascinated horror at the ancient carnage littered around him, "This isn't a mine, it's a tomb"
"How observant," Legolas replied dryly. The hobbits huddled together in a frightened group. "We should not remain here, we should never have come." Boromir was already backing out of the doors, stumbling over the brittle bones that cracked beneath his feet.
Gandalf rounded on him, "We had no other choice! Would you rather we had all perished on the frozen slopes of Caradhras?"
Boromir laughed bitterly "No other choice?" he said, "Then you had better find one quickly for this one is no longer open to us."
"We must go on, unless you can suggest a better road" Gandalf retorted.
"I suggest we pass through the Gap of Rohan. It will bring us direct to Gondor where we can shelter in safety until we can decide on our next move."
"Are you mad? You would risk the Ring that close to Isengard?" Aragorn exclaimed angrily, hand gripping the hilt of his sword threateningly. Boromir said nothing but his mouth tightened in an angry line.
"I do not wish to be here. It reeks of old death and corruption, yet even I can see that this is the only way." Legolas added softly, as he gazed longingly across the distant water. He froze suddenly, body dropping to a crouch.
"Get back!" he ordered.
Frodo, moving to obey, felt his blood thicken as something curled around his leg gripping with iron force. Letting out a sudden cry, his body was jerked backwards his hands scrambling at the floor in a futile attempt to stop himself being dragged back into the murky waters. They stared, their feet rooted to the ground.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Shoot it! SHOOT IT!" Gimli yelled exasperated. Legolas snapped into action, releasing an arrow into the creature's feted hide. It shrieked but did not loosen its grasp on the panicked hobbit's foot.
"Excuse me? A little help? I can't kill a three tonne monster with pointy sticks!"
Aragorn and Boromir ran forward, quarrels forgotten, towards the thrashing beast narrowly avoiding the flailing tentacles that could tear them apart. Boromir hacked at the powerful tentacle that held Frodo. The creature squealed, dropping Frodo towards the waiting waters. Aragorn leaned forward grabbing the hobbit by his coat collar before he even broke the surface.
"Get back in here! Quickly!" shouted Gandalf as the monster lunged after their retreating backs only to be repelled by a vicious arrow that seemingly grew out of its eye.
The creature heaved itself on to the banks, it's mind a tangled knot of rage. It was the watcher, nothing escaped the watcher and it was determined that this time was to be no exception. As the Fellowship reached the relative safety of the mines, it reached forward, thick tentacles entwining round the graven doors pulling them down with a magnificent display of strength.
The Fellowship gathered together in the choking darkness, which pressed down upon them like an oppressive blanket. They were entombed, trapped inside the belly of the mountain with little hope of escape.
"Damn…"