This chapter will follow book verse and as a warning is mostly Tolkens work. The next chapter I will be able to focus on my own characters and change it up a bit more. Although change is rarely easily accepted, I hope we can all keep an open mind.
Chapter one
Plunk!
The deafening noise echoed thought out the dark halls under the mountain. As piercing as a scream and just as troubling. Voices yelled out, wakening the sleeping shadow merely a staircase or so below. Creeping slowly and quietly, up the staircase towards the voices and the light. Trying it's best to remain invisible, blue eyes peered at the angry group of mix matched companions.
There were two men one with sword and shield bearing the signs of Gondor, the second man had plain clothes and only a sword to see. Both men looked alert and weary. With them was a dwarf in full armour and a big battle axe in his strong hands. Huddled together in the corner looked to be three children or small dwarfs to the eyes of the spy. A tall elf was near them clad in earthy hews, he had a bow with a nearly full quiver of arrows, and a long white handled knife on his belt. In the middle of them around the well, was an angry elderly man and another small man.
'This is a serious journey, not a hobbit walking party. Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity.' The old grey robed man said angrily glaring at a very small, very frightened little being. The small one opened it mouth to speak, but was cut off.
'Quiet.' The old man said holding up his right man while his left held his glowing staff so hard his knuckles were white.
All was quiet, barely a breath was taken and then it came from below. Tip-tap tom-tap. The faint sound came once then again. Tip-tap tom-tap tap.
'That is a hammer if ever I heard one' the dwarf said eyes scanning the room, but no sound came again hammer or otherwise.
A signal had sounded unmistakably and the spy moved causing a small rock to shift by its feet as it turned to get as far away as possible from the now perused journey men.
The pebble had gone unnoticed by the men but the elf had moved towards the doorway peering into the darkness alert and bow ready. The larger of the small man like creatures with sandy hair had heard the shifting pebble as well and stood closer to a darker haired fairer looking one.
'Legolas, what do you see?' the rough voice of the old man softy asked.
'Alas nothing, perhaps the mind is playing tricks.' Came a murmured reply as grey eyes scanned the door way.
The spy held its breath and closed it eyes while it strained it ears to hear what was being said, it's blacken and dirt covered cloak provided protection from being detected although it had never been tested by an elf. Its heart beat seemed so loud to its own ears it was amazed that the elf hadn't pinpointed where it was immediately.
'Come let us rest 'ere a while.' The old man said quietly ', let us hope that we shall go unnoticed. Pippin as payment for your foolish stone you can go on first watch.'
Sometime later the shadow saw the small little man Pippin sitting by the doorway glancing downward worriedly every few moments then quickly back into the room fearfully.
Soon the old man took up the spot and the smell of smoke flowed down from the room, the elders eyes were ever open and yet unseeing.
After a while the spy relaxed against its small nook in the rocky passageway feeling rather puzzled. It had been in the dark for far too long, lost in these long halls and even longer staircases. The question before the spy now was did it follow the men though this maze risking detection from the darker creatures that lived in the lower tunnels or continue on alone in the dark.
It was six hours of unrestful sleep, until the old man finally roused the others having come to some kind of decision.
'This way the air doesn't smell as foul and it's about time we started back upwards.' He said as the others gathered around behind him and his magical staff.
Eight long hours of marching up wards had lead to a wide and faster road and then a main greater hall. The spy had followed quietly and as far behind as it could get without losing them on a corner. The staircase had been long and hard, unforgivingly so to weary legs. To control ones breathing was hard in the stale thick air of the mines alone, add the exertion of five hundred steps or so the last count had been by one of the small folk's voices, and it was near impossible not to gasp for air. The elf and the legendary hearing of his kin only added to the anxiety. However as the group stopped to rest in the large open hall the spy nearly cried a warning as their voices echoed loudly. The spy had learned that the hall they stood in was once the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf and had once been filled with light.
'The world was young, the mountain green
No stain on the moon was seen.'
The dwarf was singing, although his voice was of fine and deep quality, the spy shuddered as the hall seemed to hum with the presence of life. The song was long and many in the group seemed to have enjoyed it despite the noise. The group slept there in the middle of the hall they had just awoken and there unseen friend gaped at their naivety. Warily watching the shadowy corners for a way to pass them by unnoticed, ahead it would run the risk of being seen or getting lost again but at least it would not be caught in any traps that may be forth coming with such foolishness.
During the watches the spy observed how the companions were like when no one was watching, the elf seemed to be the most alert of the shadow but nearing the end of his watch he'd always lapse into a soft hum of some nameless tune. Occasionally the elf would look straight at the spot the spy was hiding but never did he raise an alarm and often he'd head would turn quickly in another direction towards a softer wet sounding foot step, belonging to a grey and gruesome looking little creature. The spy new this shift was not the one to move forward.
The next shift belonged to the fair haired man of Gondor often the man would look toward his fellow party members rather then the shadows, his face was always contorted with worry and often he'd shake his head as if to clear it of thought. The spy new of the men of Gondor and their white tree. There armour was usually more of steel and hard to pierce although it was heavy and that was the weakness of the western men there armor slowed them down. Easy to outlast, easy to kill. This man's name had not been spoken yet, his travelling companions had not uttered it once. The elf was Legolas, the dwarf Gimli, the old man Gandalf, the other man Aragorn and the little hobbits as they were called were Pippin, Frodo, Sam and Merry. Although with the small folk it was hard to tell in the dark who was who. The lack of a name for the second man puzzled the spy, its thoughts turned on to why the man was left out.
Third watch belonged to the second dark haired man, he was even more watchful then the elf and very nearly caught the spy on several occasions if it were not for the grey little creature who often made equally little sound, but in another direction the spy was sure it would have been caught. With any luck the creature was all the men thought was following them for the elf and the man often shared a glance whenever a sound was heard.
The forth watch was a small hobbit with dark hair and tired blue eyes, that slowly drooped. This was the watch the spy chose to move on. Slowly and sure footed as a cat, the spy moved in the shadows, round the group it when its eyes watching the men, elf and wizard but missing the telltale twitch of a hobbit ear as it heard the dirt move under the spy's boot. The spy had made it nearly the whole way though camp, making its way towards the eastern archway. As the wizard had spoken earlier of going that way. The fair haired hobbit sleepily woke its eyes blurry as it took in the moving shadow in between blinks.
'Black rider!' the hobbit cried out, seeing nothing but the black cloak whirl as the figure ran fast into the nearest tunnel and the eastern arch. At once the group was awake sword flashed in the staff light that was as blinding as if the stars were burning away within the hall, and the cloaked figure dashed away into the darkness as if only a specter.
The warriors had moved as one, after the spy in alarm. An arrow of the elf miss only by a second as the figure descended into the dark halls never stopping, nor looking back.
'Come Legolas, we must catch it.' Aragorn called to the elf as he and the other man ran forward. Legolas turned to Gandalf and the frightened hobbits.
'A wraith? I think not 'Gandalf said grimly 'stay Aragorn! Boromir! None of you go after it. Let it pass for now. We cannot go wandering after it in the shadows, as intriguing as it maybe.'
'It could alarm others to our presence, Gandalf.' Boromir said a hand on the arch way glaring into the darkness, willing his eyes to see. ', we must go after it.'
'After it? And what shall we do blundering in the dark after a shadowy enemy we know nothing of?' Gandalf said calmly his eyes looking over the camp the intruder had lightly passed over 'There are many foul things in this world, but there are also many lost souls.'
'Lost or not it is folly to leave it alive to tell of us.' Boromir said angrily. He look to Aragorn for support and found the man watching Gandalf with a puzzled expression.
'I must agree with Boromir, Gandalf.' Gimli said watching all sides for sign of an ambush ', it could bring down a host of orc upon us.'
'Or lead us to one, master Dwarf. Best stay together all of you, we cannot afford to spend time looking any who loose there way.' Gandalf warned, his temper flaring anew.
Gimli's roaming eyes soon locked onto the small beam of light and giving a loud cry ran swiftly towards it. The light from the skylight passed though stone into a small room filled with the skeletons of dwarfs and orc. Gimli wailed as grief took him when he saw what lay in the center of the room.
Upon a stone slab read the words in the tongues of dwarves and men:
BALIN SON OF FUNDIN, LORD OF MORIA.
'It is as I feared' Gandalf said grimly putting a hand on Gimli's shoulder. He then moved forward looking over the room and picking up a dusty tomb, it had been ill-treated, near slash in half and burned around, as well as covered in black marks that once had been red as blood. Gandalf read as his comrades gathered around into the confined room. A moment of silence came as Gimli put his hood up to hide his grief, his eyes fixed hard upon the oblong stone that encased his cousin.
The hobbits huddled together, nearer the middle of the room. The elf was nearer the door they came though although his pitying eyes would glance somberly towards his grief ridden companions. The men had looked towards the open door ways inside the room. Boromir's eye lingered on empty wooden chests that had been plundered. Aragorn restlessly tried to watch the exits, for there were three doorways despite the one they come though so loudly.
'There is much damage to the record of Balins folk, I see it began nigh on thirty years ago with their coming to Dimrill Dale.' Gandalf said softly as Gimli and Frodo gathered close around him. 'We drove out orc from the great gate and guard room. I believe it says. There is much more too damaged to read, later tells, that Balin has set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul.'
'The chamber of records.' Said Gimli 'I guess that is where we now stand.'
'Ah hear is something: large bold hand and in elvish script.' Gandalf said
'Ori… would often use elvish.' Gimli said with some distaste 'he could write well and with good speed.'
'He tell of how Balin was shot in the back by an orc while looking into the mirror mere. Blain had gone alone. They slew the orc but many more came up along the river siliverlode. It reads we have barred the gates.. 'Gandalf paused with a look to Gimli ' , It is grim reading . I fear there end was cruel. Listen! We cannot get out, they took the bridge and the second hall. More damage has lost us the rest but the last line reads, the end comes, the watcher in the water grads Westgate and drums, drums in the deep , they are coming.'
'They are coming' Gimli repeated his eyes looking over the book.
'Keep this Gimli son of Gloin , so that you make have record of your kins deeds for later study, keep it and take it back to Dain. For though it will bring him much grief he will like to have it.' Gandalf said handing over the book to Gimli ', come we much go! The morning passes on.'
'Which way shall we go?' Boromir asked tiredly.
'Back to the hall and to the east arch for this book and chamber have giving me better direction than I had hoped. The east arch then bear right and south, and go downwards. Come now back to the hall. 'Gandalf had barely spoken these words when the first roaring boom trembled the stone beneath their feet.
'The spy must have alerted them! I told you we should have gone after it.' Boromir said angrily his sword drawn as the sound of horns and harsh cries echoed along the corridor with the tapping of many feet.
'They are coming! Legolas cried as he and Gimli closed the trebling doors.
'We cannot get out.' Gimli yelled angrily moving to bar the doors with fallen weapons.
'Trapped! Why did I delay?' Gandalf cried readying his staff 'Legolas what do you see?'
'Black orc from Mordor! I sense a greater darkness I cannot see and larger shapes move in the darkness too large for orc.' Legolas answered as black arrow imbedded themselves in the door near to his head.
'They have a cave troll.' Boromir cried out, hopeless as they hear its deep roaring groan. 'There is no hope of escape that way.'
'There is hope we must make them hesitate, fear to enter the chamber so as to buy time, time to flee to the east door.' Aragorn said confidently as he sliced off a protruding enemy arm from the door.
So it began, the hobbit two held their swords and moved to stab at enemy feet though the crack in bottom of the door. Legolas shot two in the throat although he was loathed to lose the arrows. Gimli hacked at the orc that tried to bust through the cracks. The door would not hold much longer under the strain of the battle.
When thirteen of the enemy had fallen the rest fell back in fear except the troll was left behind it's chains flung wildly though the door as it move hungrily forward. Breaking the door apart as it roared the troll swung it club tossing Boromir into the far wall, Aragorn moved quickly to secure the troll with a fallen spear only to have it ripped away from him, by the troll. Legolas shot arrow that fell off the troll thick hided as Gimli tried to hew it legs with his axe. The troll used the spear to wildly skier Frodo the small hobbit pressed firmly into the wall spear seemingly tearing flesh. Aragorn and Boromir pulled upon the chain around its neck, as Legolas claimed upon its back and shot an arrow right though its right eye into its brain.
'Quickly this way.' Gandalf cried as he used his staff to blind and throw the incoming orc away from the east arch, with an unworldly power he blocked the passage.
Aragorn ran over to Frodo and took him up from his friend Sam's arms and fled with him and the others after Gandalf. Fear had come to them all in a wave as they sprinted down the steps and to the right there pursers close behind.
'Put me down I can walk!' Frodo complained from Aragorn's arms cause the man to drop him in his surprise.
'I thought you were dead' Aragorn cried with a grin at his now living little friend.
'Run you fools' Gandalf called back to them ', or you won't be living much longer.'
Further down the eastern hall our spy was still moving forward the sound of the battle had only caused a small pause in its step. However its desire to get out of the dark tunnels was stronger than any desire for battle and so tiredly but with determination the spy moved on, thinking of home. The hot sun on its face, the smell of the sea and the open breeze, than the hurried foot falls came crashing to its ears. With a hurried glance around it ran forward however there was a gap in the long stair longer then it was tall and the path as very much in the open as the wizards light came down the hall. The spy had no choice but to lower itself over the side and hold onto the stair and pray that the men passed by without noticing, perhaps even the orc maybe swift and few in there hunt. Those positive thoughts were thrown aside as the last hobbit Pippin remained on its side of the broken pathway while what sounded like a whole mountain of orc's were coming though the pass. His companions cried out for him to jump quickly but panic stalled him. Flaming arrows were being fired at its hiding spot as the orc from the other side and above made out its hanging form. With a curse the spy moved in one swift movement upwards pushing it's up on its pain filled arms.
'Ai.' Pippin screeched as it was pulled up into the arms of the spy and thrown over the gap hard. His companions watched as the dark hooded figure jumped the gap as well but not stopping to talk it ran past. Boromir moved to block it only to be side stepped as it shoulder rolled past his left side avoiding his sward arm. Then it jumped the next gap and leaving them behind, as the fire and smoke roar around them.
Doom, doom sounded the drums as fire and blackness in the form of great horned giant came forward with heavy footsteps.
'Ai! Ai! A Belrog! A Belrog has come.' Legolas wailed, in despair dropping his bow, all fight had left him in his fear gripped heart. His nightmares of dying in this underground tomb hit him full force.
'Druin's bane, 'Gimli cried out as fear took him also letting his axe fall to cover his face. The shame of his kin and what their greed brought into the world a crushing shame.
'Come we must make haste for I am weary and this foe is beyond any of you. Come!' Gandalf cried leaning even more heavily upon his staff as he went. 'We must follow our shadowy friend's example and flee. Do not look back.'
Onwards the elf and dwarf ran after the wizard both of one mind in their fear, they caught up to their group over the bridge as Gandalf strayed behind in the middle of it. The Belrog made its way onto the bridge.
'You shall not pass.' Gandalf cried throwing off his weariness as he faced down his foe. The malice coming from the being was as scorching as its flames to the already tired wizard.
The Belrog shadow expanded into wings as it raised its whip high into the air, letting it crack along the ground a warning to the wizard in its wake.
'You cannot pass.' Gandalf said standing firm. 'I am a servant of the secret fire, and wielder of the flame of Anor, the dark fire will not avail your flame of Uduin. Go back to the shadow.'
The Belrog made no answer except to continue forward and all the chamber darkened with its step, the air became thicker as if it held greater mass. It drew itself up right spreading its wings. The men moved forward to help Gandalf over coming there fears. At that moment Gandalf raised his staff and broke the bridge in the center, the bridge gave way and the Belrog fell into the pit below. The staff was broken from the force of the spell, Gandalf turned swiftly on his heel towards the exit. Then like a flaming red tongue the whip of the Belrog lashed out grabbing Gandalf's foot and pulling him down. He grasp the stone of the bridge unable to pull himself up he looked to his companions as he heard the orc's gathering around them.
'Fly you fools' he cried and allowed destiny to take him.
The group stood in horror as they watched the bridge crumble away there thought numb to watch they had just witnessed. Aragorn was first to recover his wits.
'Come! Quickly we must see his last will done.' Aragorn shouted his voice rousing the others from their thoughts ', follow me.'
So they did as the way out crumbled after them, devouring any hope of Gandalf's return.
The spy had made it out into the open air at last, many months it had wandered in the deep dark. It had made it out long before the fellowship and was now heading down the broke path towards the trees and the river. Thirst came crashing to the fore front of it need as it made its way to the water. The provisions it once held had run out long ago water find able where it dripped from the cracks, not enough to completely stave off dehydration. It knelt down and gave a yelp as its grey hand touched the icy flow. Holding the hand against itself, it glared at the water. Its blue eyes glared right back in the waters reflection out of a thin barely recognizable face underneath the filth of the mines.
The light of the sun was fading and further up it could hear shouts and tumbling rocks, fearing a rock slide the moved on begrudgingly away from the water. The trees would have to provide enough cover to hide, although now the spy wished for the enclosed spaces, easily defendable and pure undiluted darkness to hide under. It was four hours later that the spy found a place that the rivers connected and tried it's hand again. Finding it much easier to hand it, drank deeply and at one point dunking its face in. If not for the cold wind from the mountain the spy may even have risked bathing. it contended with washing only what was visible. Hands, face, neck. There were tears in its worn black leathers and old bandages glued on it its skin by dried blood where once had been wounds, left mostly untreated in the dark. With a hiss though gritted teeth it started the painful process of removing them, before moving on. Night was coming.
Meanwhile the group had marched on and camped, seen to their wounded. Sam had a cut on his fore head that hadn't stopped bleeding and much to the delight of everyone Frodo had on a coat of the finest mithril rings that lived up to their reputation leaving only a deep bruise upon his chest. They march on again into the night following Aragorn, deep into the woods. Exhausted and grief ridden yet not allowed to grieve the hobbits and much of the group had trouble keeping quiet. Only the Aragorn had walked on in grim silence.
'Not a sound, but the wind. No orc as far as I can hear. Perhaps they will not follow us?' Gimli said looking around the trees at the darkened wide wood around them. He walked beside the elf who from time to time would tilt his head as if hearing trouble coming. 'What is it you confounded elf! Your making me jump at shadows!" he hissed.
'I'm not sure.' Legolas answered with a small smile, his hand clenching his bow as he continued on 'but I'm not surprised you can't hear it, with how heavy your own foot falls are.'
'Am I to assume your needless humming for the last hour we have walked was to drive the enemy away?' Gimli countered happily arguing rather then
Almost at once Legolas stopped walking his eyes fixed on a resting figure ahead, a figure that hadn't responded fast enough to the heavy foot falls of Boromir who walked over it. Not that it was Boromir's fault as Pippin had been telling a detailed account of another one of his and Merry's misadventures something about stealing a fire work and a dragon. All too late did Boromir see what he had stepped on, quickly he found himself under attack and on his back trying to throw off his enemy. The flash of a knife was all Legolas needed to see as he let loose an arrow to save his friend.
The arrow hit just as Boromir push up his attacker was hit damagingly so, was to its right caller bone. The arrow cracked the bone as it planted half into the tissue below blood came quickly to the wounds edges, staining its hands as it touched the place the arrow entered itself.
'Ii!' the attacker screamed, falling back as the pain of all the nerve endings and bone, the arrow was deep and soon the pain became too much. As Aragorn hit it in the back of the head to silence it before its screams brought forth more enemies. The others gathered around the unconscious body.
'It's a woman.' Frodo said shocked.
'We should kill her and be done with it.' Boromir said tiredly.
'You can't kill a woman!' cried Pippin who turned to the other members of the group. 'Besides I think she's the one who threw me in the mines!'
'You would have us care for an enemy?' Boromir glowered at the hobbit. 'This is war! If we leave her alive she will alert others to our location, if she lives long enough.'
'Boromir is right! Master Took, it would be a mercy to kill her rather than leave her with Legolas arrow alone to finish it.' Aragorn said grimly.
'We won't leave her here then!' Pippin said angrily 'let's take her with us. She was as scared of the orc as we were back in Moria! You don't know she is an enemy.' The hobbit looked from one face of the fellowship to the other he could see they each had their own inner turmoil. His eyes met the elf's who looked ill as he stared at the mortal woman dying.
'I agree with Pippin.' Legolas stated softly.
'You're the one who let the arrow fly are you telling me that you regret aiding me from this spy?' Boromir asked shocked at the madness he was hearing.
'No I do not, for I did not know then, what I know now.' Legolas said looking over the wound light fingers checking her pulse.
'Very well then, Legolas but she is your responsibility since it is your arrow. You must keep up, for we are headed to Lothlorien and I wish to make it there before the morrow.' Aragon said looking at his elven friend with pity. ', with any luck we can leave her in their hands.' He added towards Pippin
'So that she might escape from over kindness?' Boromir spat glaring at the elf, before turning to the rest of the group ', this is madness have you all lost your senses?'
'Aye lad perhaps we have.' The dwarf said calmly seeing the distressed hobbits 'and yet you have my word I will watch her like a hawk. She won't get away whist I am here.'
Boromir deflated at the dwarfs' words for he had hoped to have an ally in him, seeing his defeat at hand in the argument he paced a ways off.
'Gandalf did not heed my advice and now see where he is.' He muttered just loudly enough for them to hear.
At those word a defining silence covered the companions as Legolas and Aragorn tended to the wounded woman. A half hour later and they were on their way again the extra weight of carrying the woman gently didn't slow the elf down too much, as the tired hobbits lagged behind to stare at her curiously.