Chapter 3
I officially decided it wasn't fair that Elves had special abilities over Men or Hobbits. We have been traveling up Caradhras; I was frozen and cold; not to mention miserable. There Legolas was walking on snow! Walking! I know this was going to happen but to physically see it with your own eyes…. man, it just blew my mind! I had made a face mask out of a cloth so that my whole head was covered as much as possible from the brutal cold winds.
'Ahh!' a noise echoed behind me and I looked back to see that Frodo had stumbled and had rolled to Aragorn at the back of the line.
I tensed as I watched Boromir pick up the chain that carried the Ring before Aragorn yelled. When it was thankfully handed over I turned and saw Gandalf glance at my direction. I put on a grim face and shook my head as way to say this is out of my control. Boromir, I had decided long ago was an unfortunate catalyst. I wanted to save this man from the misery that the Ring brought to him but to save him it might change the whole breakup of the Fellowship. As hard as it was I didn't want to do that and risk the course of the Ring and Frodo.
The higher we made it up the mountain the harder it came for me to get through the snow. The Hobbits were in worse wear than me, and we changed formation. Legolas was at the front for his keen eyes and not being affected by the snow compared to the rest of us. Gandalf, then Boromir, Aragorn, Me, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam leading Bill the Pony at the end.
'There is a foul voice in the air!' Legolas shouted to Gandalf
'It's Saruman!' Gandalf yells before a crack from above ruptured and we were buried in snow.
I had tried my best to take a deep breath before the snow hit so that I could hopefully dig myself out. Cold, enclosed in a pit of snow was the worst absolute feeling. Just when I was seeing stars' float in my eyes a hand grabbed mine and pulled me out! Sucking on air and heaving I looked up and mouthed a thank you to Aragorn who touched my shoulder before making sure everyone else was okay.
'We have to get off the mountain Gandalf!' Boromir shouted as he helped shoulder Merry and Pippin who were shaken up from the snow.
'If we cannot go over it we should go under it! My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome.' Gimli counteracted
'What does the Ring bearer decide.' Gandalf replies
I glanced at Frodo knowing how hard it must be to make the decision, but he made the one I was assuming he would take. 'We will go through the Mines.'
'So be it.' Gandalf retorts
Getting off the mountain was a lot harder than it looked, our path up was already buried in snow; either from the avalanche or due to the amount of snow that was falling. I hugged Frodo and Sam next to Bill the Pony for warmth with Merry and Pippin doing the same as we watched the men using their bodies to dig their own path through the snow; with Legolas running ahead on the snow to go look for the sun.
'Never. Never in my life would I think you could tunnel your way through snow with just shear body mass.' I grumbled to myself, still shaking from being frozen to death. 'it's in-human.'
'It is a miracle but one I am thankful for.' Frodo replies teeth chattering
They sure were a miracle I told myself; they deserved hugs when I wasn't frozen for doing the grueling work as if it was a piece of cake. I just stood there trying to shelter the Hobbits from the cold wind and trying to offer as much body warmth between us to warm us back up. Gandalf stood close by, helping Merry and Pippin stay warm.
'Well.' I looked up to see Legolas had returned 'I have not brought the Sun. But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet, not far to where the Men are the snow grows less and then it disappears!' Legolas states with a smile
'Oh! That's good then.' I mumble as soon the Men are walking back
'We have done the best we could and everyone should be able to get through the back.' Boromir states trying to catch his breath
'But what about us! How are we able to tread through it?' Pippin asked and it seems that all the Hobbits agreed on his statement
'Do not worry, I still have some strength in me.' Boromir replies with a smile. 'we did not forget about you, come Pippin I will carry you first.'
Pippin got onto the back of Boromir and Aragorn picked up Merry. Off they go again through the trail; it was still amazing how much stamina they had; I shook my head in disbelief.
'You are cold still and shivering.' Legolas states to me 'May I?' He asked as he wrapped his arms around me and helped keep me warm as I tried to shield Frodo and Sam. It was a little weird to have Legolas completely in my personal space while I had Frodo and Sam huddled much the same next to me.
After a while Boromir and Aragorn came back and the rest of us got in line. Gimli was put on Bill and Gandalf walked leading Bill behind him. Boromir took Sam and Aragorn took Frodo and I followed behind with Legolas in the back. He still would not leave my side and as we walked continued to keep his arms wrapped around me as we walked. With the men making double trips it was for the most part easy for me to make my way through and at the end the snow was only a sprinkle on the grass just like Legolas has said.
'Thank you. You are both made of steel! I never would have thought anyone capable of digging through snow with their bodies and then carrying others after that!' I exclaim hugging both Aragorn and Boromir who only chuckle at the compliment. 'must be something in the water here.' I state with a smile happy to finally be away from the snow
They both mumble a quick your welcome before we all start walking again so we could get off Caradhras before night. We all stayed quiet and because of our haste we made it down before night fall; where we stopped to decide our next plan.
'We cannot go on more today of course. The mountains has tried everyone today and we need a good nights rest.' Gandalf states and everyone sighs in relief
We set up camp and settle in for the night. I watched Aragorn show me how to build a fire while everyone talked amongst themselves
'How are you faring?' Aragorn asked quietly glancing at me as he worked to start the fire.
'I am all right. Cold, tired and sore but alive.' I state chuckling
'I am glad that you are pushing forward despite how you feel right now.' Aragorn states proudly.
'Yeah remind of that when I'm too sore to move.' I state with a tease which earned me a smile
At having achieved getting Aragorn to smile I lay down in my sleeping bag and fall asleep listening to everyone talk. Our path went back into repetition as we would make our way to Moria. Walk, eat, walk, sleep and repeat. I got to bond with everyone a lot better than I ever would have at Rivendell and I was thankful for that. I did my share of night watch which 50% of the time some how always included Legolas. He was seemed curious about wanting to know more about my world and what I did.
By night fall we finally got to the valley that led down to where the door into Moria was located. I decided to hint to Aragorn about the beast in the water so when we began our path down the hill I hung to the end to be able to talk to him.
He stopped next to me confused to what I needed, 'what is wrong.' he asked
'Don't let anyone disturbed the water.' I whisper to him and give him a hard look hoping he'd understand
'I will try my best.' Aragorn replies with a hard nod before we walked down the path together, Legolas glanced up at us with a curious look, since he must have heard me.
I shook my head that it wasn't the time to explain. As of right now only Aragorn and Gandalf knew about my knowledge and I felt it was best that way since I was not planning to follow them into battle.
'Indeed things have changed!' Gandalf exclaimed as we saw that the lake had shrunk, 'there is all that remained of the Stair Falls. If I remember right, there was a flight of steps cut in the rock at their side.'
We followed Gandalf to the stone steps and we walked carefully and no one spoke. It was an eerie place that you could tell had a long past and most of it not pleasant. I tried my best to keep from shaking, the déjà vu and the place freaked me out completely.
'There are the Walls of Moria.' said Gandalf pointing across the water. 'and there the Gate stood once upon a time, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin by which we have come.'
'We must find a way around the northern edge' Gimli chimed in
At this point it was time to say good bye to Bill who we would not bring into Moria. I stood by Legolas as I watched Sam say goodbye to the pony that had been with the Hobbits since the beginning. The stars were out by the time we got to where the doors were concealed. A swish and a plop sounded and I turned to the water and watched as ripples formed and began to widen stretching far across the lake. A bubbling noise occurred before stopping completely.
I glanced at Legolas who also was watching intently and I looked and made eye contact with Aragorn who gripped his sword and nodded not saying a word.
'You are wary of the water.' Legolas asked in a statement
'I-'
I was saved by Gandalf, 'Well, here we are at last!' and I walked forward to make myself comfortable.
'Well, here we are and all ready, but where are the Doors?' Merry asked looking about the rock wall
'Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut.' Gimli replies 'they are invisible.'
I closed my eyes as I listened to Gandalf begin his long task of trying to figure out the password that would open the doors. Everyone else did much of the same. I felt someone sit next to me and opening an eye I found myself starting into Legolas' ice blue eyes.
'I am still waiting for a reply.' He whispers to me breaking eye contact. He could be quite stubborn it seems about wanting to get something out of me.
'Are you? I am wary of this place in general, something just feels off about it. Do you not feel the same?' I ask opening my eyes again to look at him
He stares at me intently and I try to keep his hold to keep up the façade, he relents, 'Yes, I do not like the idea of going into caves and it makes me wary to see that living things are scarce here.'
I nod and listen to Gandalf harassing Pippin when he questioned Gandalf about if he knew how to open the door. I try not to freak out as I heard a plop coming from the water.
'No do not disturb the water!' my eyes flew open and I found Aragorn was the one who yelled at Merry for dropping something into the water.
I could tell Legolas was watching me and frowned when he followed my gaze to the water. The ripples on the water grew and came closer, lapping on the shore. Panic was building inside me as I thought about what would occur in a matter of minutes. I quickly closed my eyes and took a deep breath… calm down. Calm the fuck down! I was clenching my fists trying to battle my instincts to freak out. You need to stay the fuck calm or you will blow your story. Breathe!
'Samantha are you okay?' Legolas asked concerned
'Hm.' was all I could reply
"What is the Elvish word for Friend?' Frodo asked
'Mellon.' Gandalf answered which lit up the rock and began to open
I stood up and I saw Aragorn was looking at me curiously, which meant him and Legolas must have done their looks at each other. Sometimes I swear it was like a secret language.
Making my way to Gandalf I wanted to be able to set up my stance inside to help fight the water creature but not have to worry about the walls when they would collapse; which meant as we walked into the Mines I ignored Gimli's speech about a royal welcome. I picked my way through the decaying Dwarves and orcs as I turned towards the door.
'Ah! Strider!' Frodo yells when the tentacle wrapped around his ankle and was pulling him back to the water.
I took a deep breath and tried to keep the panic down. Focus! I pulled out my bow and arrow as everyone around me was in a panic to save Frodo from this hideous creature. I set up the bow and tried to my best to aim at the face, I took a breath and released the arrow; it missed the face but still hit the creature who howled in pain.
Aragorn and Boromir were hacking at it with their swords and treading into the water to be able to catch Frodo as Legolas was like lightening when releasing and loading his arrows. I continued my best to help and once Aragorn caught Frodo I backed farther into the cave as everyone ran in to escape the creature. I collided into Merry and Pippin as the creature destroyed the entrance and we were temporally blinded in the darkness.
'Well, well.' Said Gandalf as he lit his staff spreading light all around us. 'the passage is blocked behind us and there is only one way out. We must be quiet on our journey, there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' We journeyed on where I learned my newest hatred for stairs.
