A/N: Okay, hey! So basically in this authors note I'm just going to tell you that the ending note has a lot of shit worth reading. Questions are answered down there along with some suggestions from myself for y'all. But yes, so this chapter is by far my favorite out of the one's posted. Like when I got to this point in writing I was like "Aw shit, here we go, it's starting" so yeah lol. I hope you like this one. Mwah!
I'm gonna put a link in my bio that is for a map of Middle-Earth, hopefully it works, so if you want you can follow along with where the fuck the group travels because it's alllllllll over and I use the places by names a lot and it can get confusing. So know that will be up in ma bio!
Oh! You may or may not meet Brittana's other half in this one. Just saying. You may ;)
-B
Fourth Age, November, 727
"Come along, we're almost there." You call back towards your two shorter travel mates.
It had been five days and four nights since you allowed the dwarves to join you. It hadn't been as bad as you had thought it would have been. The two were quite the pair and extremely entertaining, which you appreciated during the long journey. Of course you didn't let them know you thought as much.
You learnt a decent amount about the two of them as well. Sam, his full name Samuel, comes from a large family of seven brothers and sister and is the third youngest. He's the outcast of the family, never doing anything right by his parents and left home three years prior. He met Puck, whose true name you have yet to learn, while stealing a loaf of bread from the village over from his home. Puck then stole the loaf from him and they fought for it, deciding to split it and became the best of friends on the spot.
Puck was from a similar family. His father barely came home, maybe twice a week, always drunk. Puck had three siblings, two younger sisters and an older brother. They all lived with their mother and again, like Sam, Puck was the outcast. The delinquent always getting in trouble. He snuck from home after meeting Sam and hearing of his plans to travel far from home, and the two headed off to Bree where they lived in the small basement of the bakers building. Until you came around.
You didn't give them much of your story; only that you left home to keep those you love safe. They seemed okay with knowing little to nothing as long as they got to follow you to Moria, a place they heard of as children, never believing existed.
You stop, Eder stopping behind you. You were in the Misty Mountains and the ledges were wide enough but you felt more comfortable walking yourself rather than riding atop Eder and being able to see how far of a fall it would be if something happened.
Ahead of you the mountains open wider so you won't be pressed against the side of the mountain and you let out a relieved breath.
"Lord help us if we fall." Sam mumbles in a shaky voice and you keep from glancing back as you pull on Eder's reins, making sure he steps exactly where you direct him.
"Was there not an alternative way to the gates?" Puck asks nervously and you shake your head.
"Stop complaining. We're almost there." You say, "A day's time max and we'll be parting ways." You tell them, relaxing your shoulders when the mountain opens. The dwarves jump forwards and drop to their knees, trying to hug the ground around them while you keep a hold on Eder's reins and move to the edge of the flat.
You smile in relief as your eyes land on an opening at the bottom of the mountain. Trees and grass line the base of the mountain and a wide lake sits in the middle of the space.
"Bloody hell, we ought to go down there?" Puck asks from behind you and you nod. "Where's the bloody door?" He exclaims and you roll your eyes.
"It's there." You tell him firmly. "My father told me stories of the entrance to Moria. It's hidden but can be revealed." You tell Puck as he looks at you. You look at him, "I can get us in, don't you worry." You grin faintly and he nods.
"This looks as good as any other place to stay for the night." Puck says while sitting on a small boulder.
You keep your gaze forward as you continue walking, Sam following closely behind.
"We still have plenty of time before the sun sets." You tell him and he groans loudly, "We can make it down further before we need to think about finding a spot to rest."
"We've been at it for hours." He grumbles.
"Oh, shut up, Puck." Sam laughs, "We're almost there!"
You look over your shoulder and crack a faint smile as you watch the blond dwarf slap Puck on the back with a wide grin, "Moria. A whole city of dwarves. And not the old and despicable kind."
"You sure speak fondly of your kin." You laugh quietly, arching a brow at the two as they look at you with dopy smiles.
"We told you about our families." Sam says, hopping onto a rock. "The dwarves back in my village are terrible. Always so rough looking and rude." He states as you and Eder stop to listen. "Not to mention their horrid stench." He scrunches his nose and you chuckle.
"Oh poor you." Puck mocks lightly, pushing Sam from atop the rock, taking his place. "Where I'm from the dwarves are the absolute worst." He says, pointing a thumb at himself. "They walk around with their chests puffed out like they own the entire place." He tells you, puffing his own chest out while marching in his spot, "When in reality, a single flick to their forehead leaves them a blubbering mess." He grins, hopping down.
"How dreadful." You say dramatically with a betraying smile.
"What about your people?" Sam asks and you shrug, "You need not speak specifically of your family but what's it like where you come from?"
"I was birthed in Gondor." You tell them, "The people there are…let's just say I didn't fit in." you say softly.
"Was it due your lonesome personality?" Puck quips with a grin and Eder snorts.
"No." you chuckle, "There was only one person in the entire kingdom who didn't think of me as a nuisance."
"Your mother?"
"Your father?"
"He was a stable boy." You tell them and the two frown. "My family could care less about me. I was an accidental pregnancy. I was the outcast. A bugger in their eyes. Even when I tried to please them they'd shoo me off as if I was some type of pest." You recall with a clenched jaw.
Eder shakes out his mane and you look at him, stroking his neck fondly before looking ahead of you as you continue down the mountain.
"Felipe, the stable boy, was my only true friend." You tell them, smiling faintly as you picture the older boy. "He was my family for years; and through him I met a whole other lot that accepted me and loved me like I was their own."
"In Gondor?"
"God no." you scoff, "Rivendell." You tell them, looking over your shoulder.
"The Elven city?" Sam asks with a captivated look. You nod.
"I thought Elven folk and men didn't get along?" Puck asks in confusion and you snort.
"Firstly, I'm not a man; God forbid."
"Well of course not, that's as clear as day."
You shoot Puck a warning glance and he lifts his hands in defense, a grin plastered across his face.
"Secondly, keeping in mind the differences between the races, I have never heard of any issue between them." You state while slowing to a stop at the bottom of the mountain's crevice. You step down from rock onto grassland and carefully guide Eder behind you as you stay along the side and away from the lake in the middle of the wide open space.
"Finally!" Puck exclaims and you smile, looking towards the far wall of the mountain, the area in front of it cleared away. That must be where the door is located.
"Well," you breathe out, looking back at Sam and Puck, Puck beaming and Sam crouched by the lake, dipping his hand into the water. They both look back at you, "As much as it pains me to say it, I have actually enjoyed your company."
"As have we." Sam beams, getting to his feet, "We don't have to split the second we get inside."
"True." You nod, "But as you both know, I'm more of a lone rider." You remind them.
"You're a bloody liar." Puck grins, "You love having us around ya."
You roll your eyes before Eder reels back on his hind legs, pulling on the reins. You tense, straining your ears and lift your head, gritting your teeth when you spot a figure on the edge of the mountain.
A horn blows and you let go of Eder, unsheathing your sword.
"What's going on?" Sam asks in panic, him and Puck moving closer to you as you pull on Eder's reins to guide him towards the wall of the mountain.
"Orcs." You growl, narrowing your eyes at the hideous goblin looking creature.
"What in hell are Orcs?" Puck exclaims, all of you looking up as a hoard of them begin climbing down the mountain. "Santana?" he shouts in question and you pull one of the daggers from Eder's saddle, handing it to Puck before pulling your second from the back of your trousers, handing it to Sam.
"Why are you giving us these?" Sam asks hesitantly.
You glance back towards the wall and them around you as the Orcs get closer.
"We need to get inside." You tell them, "And to do that, I'm going to need you both to make it there." You finish before nodding, "Get to the door."
"There is no door!" Puck yells as the three of you run along the grass path between the mountain and the lake, Orcs beginning to drop to the ground and attack.
"There will be." You say while bringing your sword up in a diagonal motion, slicing the front of your first Orc. You push him into the lake and continue on as Puck and Sam try to avoid being touched by anyone.
An Orc drops to the ground in front of you and you twirl your sword around while running towards him, kicking him with the bottom of your boot. He grunts and falls on his back, and you plunge your sword through his abdomen, yanking it out and slicing another Orc as he jumps at you from the mountain wall.
"A little help would be much appreciated!" you call out while looking back towards the dwarves and Eder. You drop your shoulders in disbelief of Sam and Puck trying to mount your horse while blinding slashing the air around them. "Apparently I was right in my assumption of you two being morons!" you shout at them, whistling for Eder to come over. "To the door." You tell him, pushing on Sam's backside to get him on the horse as Puck pulls him up. You slap Eder's bottom and he takes off.
You watch Sam stab an Orc in the eye and Puck kick another in the head while Eder moves, and shake your head.
"Ahhhh!"
You duck quickly while turning around, and thrust your body upwards, slamming your shoulder into the Orc's stomach, knocking him off his feet. You push him off you and into the water before looking around quickly and taking off towards the wall here the door should be, Puck and Sam trying to keep the Orcs away from them as Eder reels back and slams his hoof into a head.
You smirk proudly and turn out of the way of an oncoming hammer, slicing the Orc's arm off before pushing your blade through his chest. You pull it back out and let out a grunt as you are tackled into the lake.
You hold your breath while opening your eyes, keeping a hold on your sword while pushing your other hand against the Orc's face. He bites your hand and you let out a yelp under the water. You pull back you sword, kicking away from him at the same time, before fighting against the water and thrusting your sword through the Orc's stomach. He goes limp and you kick your legs, pulling your sword out while pushing against the Orc.
You gasp for air the second your head is out of the water and swim to the end of the lake, pulling yourself onto the grass.
"Santana!" You hear Sam yell, "Watch out!" You weakly roll onto your back and stare up at the Orc grinning down at you with the worst teeth you have ever seen. He lifts his rusty sword over his head and you reach for your own sword and flinch when he straightens, his eyes widening.
You watch him in confusion as he stays tense before widening your own eyes when he begins to fall towards you.
"Woah, no, no, no…" you mumble, shuffling backwards as he gets closer to the ground. You pull your legs to your chest and he lands on the ground, his head at your feet, and you stare in shock at the silver arrow in the middle of his spine.
You hear an enraged growl and look behind you while grabbing your sword, and get to your feet as another arrow flies through the air, landing itself in the Orc's temple.
"What the hell…" you breathe in confusion and look around, doing a double take when you glance upwards.
You press yourself back against the wall of the mountain as a tall, slim figure with spiky black hair gracefully lands in front of you from above.
You flinch in surprise and watch with wide eyes as he retrieves the arrows from the Orcs temple and from the other's spine, holding one between his teeth while readying the other in his bow, sending it flying towards an Orc fighting another tall, slender being with pale skin and copper colored hair. The pale one looks towards the black haired man and nods in thanks.
The one in front of you takes off towards another Orc and you slowly get to your feet, moving towards Sam, Puck and Eder clear of Orcs. You swallow and run over, telling them to shut up when they start yelling out questions.
"Shut up, damn it!" you hiss, stepping back to look at the wall. "Okay." You say, thinking back to the stories you were told as a child.
"It's a wall, Santana." Puck mumbles.
"It's a way into Moria. Aqueduct's ruins." You state, running your eyes over the wall, drowning out the sound of fighting behind you.
Dwarf doors are invisible when closed, Elpis. You tilt your head, taking in every minor detail of the wall as the voice in your head continues. Their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten. Light of the night will guide you.
You whisper a word in Elvish and a white light carves the outline of a large door in front of you. You smile widely, feeling quite proud of yourself and scrunch your nose when Puck and Sam press against your sides, staring at the door in awe.
"What did you do?" Puck whispers and you look from him to the door.
"I told you I can get us in." you tell him and start to read the inscriptions above the entrance. "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak-" you flinch when Eder lets out a whine, reeling on his hind legs, and look behind you.
Your lips part slowly as you take in the being standing in front of you.
She stands inches taller than you with golden blonde hair falling past her shoulders and sharp crystal eyes that sparkle in the moonlight. Her skin looks incredibly smooth and soft, a faint bit of pink dusting her cheeks. Her lips, thin and pink, pulled into a tight line.
"Who are you?" she asks carefully, her voice as angelic as they come. You continue to stare in awe and only then register the two elven men at her sides, each pointing an arrow at your chest.
You blink and shake your head while wetting your lips nervously.
"Sorry?"
"Who are you?" she repeats in a much firmer tone and you furrow your brows, straightening.
"Who are you?" you throw back before the tip of a very long and very sharp sword is being held at your throat. You follow the blade to the hand holding it, and then follow the arm all the way up to the blue eyes narrowed into a glare.
"Shall I ask again?"
"My name is Santana Lopez, descendant of Idefonso Lope-Maximiliano." You recite automatically, clenching your jaw as you keep your hands to your sides. You watch the blonde tilt her head, studying you, and swallow. "It's only common courtesy, after one introduces themselves, to do the same." You state quietly, keeping your eyes locked on hers.
"I am Brittany. Daughter of Irenaeus, and granddaughter of Thranduil. Heiress to the throne of Northern Mirkwood."
"She's a royal!" you hear Puck hiss to Sam and glance at them as Puck elbows him. They both fall to one knee, their heads bowed, and you roll your eyes, looking back at Brittany.
Brittany pays them no attention, sizing you up with her eyes, before lifting her chin, "What are you doing at the entrance to Moria?" she asks.
"I don't really see how that's any of your-" you start before wincing when the blade is pushed against your skin, drawing a droplet of blood, "I'm a traveler. These two halfwits are my companions. Moria is our destination."
"What business do you have here?"
"Shelter." You roll your eyes, "Why do you even care? Moria is a home to dwarves not Elven folk."
"We were traveling home from Forlindon and saw the hoard of Orcs." The Elven man with black hair says from Brittany's right.
"Michael." Brittany says and Michael lowers his head for speaking out of turn.
"Short leash you got them on." You smirk, letting out a hiss when the blade pushes further into your neck.
"You understand the Elvish language." She states, looking at the lit entrance behind you. "How?"
"I study." You state and she narrows her eyes before turning her head and whispering to Michael. He nods and takes Eder's reins. "Hey! No." you exclaim, moving towards them as Eder pulls from Michael.
Brittany tilts her sword upwards, lifting your chin and you growl at her as the other elves behind her move forwards with rope, their weapons put away.
"We'll bring them to my father." She states, lowering her sword after your wrists are tied with rope.
"To hell you will!" Puck yells, him and Sam trying to escape. One of the elves grabs Sam by the back of his hair and the copper haired one lifts Puck over his shoulder, holding him so another can tie his hands. The two dwarves struggle as you just look around in confusion and anger, Brittany giving you final look before you're being dragged from the entrance of Moria.
A/N: So now I can finally clear it up for everyone guessing and stuff. Puck and Sam are dwarves as you know. Brittany is an Elf. Santana is human.
So this, it's weird, for those who know LotR, you'll see some parallels going on which you may have already picked up on, but at the same time it's different. Also, I believe I was asked this, and yes it's a continuation so it happens after the last movie. There is an entire Age difference in time between now and the last LotR movie though which when we get further into the story will clear a few things up. (According to Tolkien, our year right now, would be considered the Seventh Age. The story takes place in later years of the Fourth Age. The last LotR movie was set in the very last years of the Third; if that makes sense, I don't know. ignore it if it doesn't.)
What can I say for those that haven't watched the movies or read the books? You may want to look up Lord of the Rings Orcs to get the picture of what they look like, unless you've seen The Hobbit, because they're in there too. But yeah. Eder is a horse lol, just to clear that up.
If any of you have questions about this story or you just need something cleared up that was confusing, don't even hesitate to ask. I want you to get as much as you can out of this story so yeah. Tell me what you all think! Update will be Sunday (although updates are feeling really slow aren't they?) Screw it, we'll try the three times a week like with Procedure. Next update: Friday ;)
-B