Chapter 4:

The Watcher in the Water

The fellowship was walking around the perimeter of the Black lake of Moria. The surface occasionally rippled or bubbled, Gandalf passed it of as fish. Darsul wasn't so sure...there was something evil in the lake...she was sure of it. Soon they reached a place were they could go no further. Gandalf stopped and began tapping the wall with his staff.

''Dwarf doors are invisible you know''said Gimli.

''Yes, and there own masters can not find them if their secrets are forgotten!''scolded Gandalf.

''Why doesn't that surprise me?''muttered Legolas sarcastically. Darsul took one look at his face and laughed out loud. It was a clear, tinkling sound that lifted everyones spirits. Legolas couldn't help looking at her. It shocked him! Compared to the darkness, Darsuls hair glowed like silvery moonlight.

Gandalf shouted out ''Here!'' and walked up to a space in front of the door. Everyone crowded around but could not see anything. Suddenly Darsul looked up, as if driven by someones will a cloud moved in the sky. Moonlight fell on the door. A fine silver line began to draw an intricate door on the rock. Soon a 10 foot tall arch stood before them. Gandalf raised his staff an said,

''It says...Speak friend and Enter...It's quite simple, if you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open!''

The fellowship had been waiting on the shores of the lake for hours. Gandalf still hadn't found the password and was now sitting on a stump with Frodo,muttering. Merry and Pippin had begun to throw stones into the lake. Just as Pippin was about to throw another stone, a pale wrist grabbed his own.

''There are fouler things than Orcs in the...deep...places of the world Master Peregrin...you would do well not to disturb them.''whispered Darsul.

Pippin nodded and nervously dropped the rock. Darsul smiled gently and put her hand on his shoulder. He grinned and she responded with a giggle. Darsul stood and saw Aragorn and Sam unsaddling Bill the pony. Sam had grown quite fond of Bill and was sad to see him go. Darsul then remembered Haleth...tied to a tree. Should she take him into the mines?

Boromir and Legolas sat some ways away from the others,talking.

''Do you have family in Gondor?''Legolas asked quietly. Boromir looked thoughtful for a moment.

''I have a brother...named Faramir. He is younger than me...there is no rivalry between us...though my father favors me...''He trailed off into thought.

''Do you have family in...Mirkwood?''He finally said. Legolas did not answer for a long time. He looked up at the stars and whispered softly.

''I have no siblings...but my father,the king is there...with my mother.''He seemed as if he didn't want to talk about it so Boromir quickly changed the subject.

''What do you know of Lady Darsul?''

Legolas looked into his eyes at these words and said truthfully

''I can only tell you she lives in Mirkwood, but her brothers dwell in Lorien...If you want to no more I cannot say...she trusts me to keep her secrets. ''Boromir could see an emotion pass through Legolas' eyes quickly,but he was quick to mask his feelings. Was it anger,sadness,love,hate? Boromir couldn't say for certain. He would never understand these elves.

Darsul had decided to take Haleth if he would come. He was her best friend and she didn't want to abandon him...he wouldn't understand. She was just preparing her things when she heard Frodo mutter...

''It's a riddle...''

Darsul quickly walked up in front of the door. She stared at the silvery letters for a moment then she cried out,

''I have found it!''

Everyone jumped up and ran over. They gathered their things and stood behind Darsul. She gulped and hoped she was right. Darsul placed her hand in the center of the door and shouted...

''Mellon!''

With a shrieking noise the gates slowly began to open, revealing unto them the dark that was Moria. Everyone stood in amazement until Pippin squeaked out,

''Darsul...how did you do that?''

Darsul smiled mischievously and said,

''Gandalf mistranslated...it said say friend...not speak friend.''

Everyone turned to look at Gandalf in shock...mistranslated? Gandalf? They couldn't believe it. Darsul grabbed Haleths reins and led the way into Moria.

As they began to walk into Moria, Darsul could hear Gimli growling to Legolas.

''Soon you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves, Master Elf. Red meat off the bone, Malt beer...and they call it a mine! Ha!''

Darsul screamed as Gandalfs staff illuminated the inner chamber. It was littered with Dwarf skeletons, stuck full of arrows that Legolas immediately recognized as...

''Goblins!''

Everyone drew their swords and assumed fighting stances. They slowly began to back out of the hall when suddenly they heard Frodo shout. They turned.

A luminous, greenish-gray tentacle had risen out of the lake and grabbed Frodos ankle. It lifted him high into the air. Aragorn and Boromir ran into the water and attempted to cut the tentacle. Sam got to it first. With a mighty shout he hacked the tent-acle right off! Legolas jumped down and pulled Frodo and Sam up onto the bank. There was a moment of inexplicable calm,then 20 tentacles shot out of the dark water. They all went directly for Frodo,drawn to the power of the ring. Boromir and Aragorn rushed into the shallows again. Hacking and cutting as they went. The creature pulled Frodo out farther over the lake. A monstrous creature began to rise up from the depths. It was pale gray. With a sucking sound, a mouth full of teeth as big as Frodo appeared. Frodo yelled and the creature bellowed and opened it's mouth...slowly lowering Frodo into it!

''Legolas!''Yelled Darsul,drawing her bow and notching an arrow to the string. He nodded immediately and copied her action. They fired as one body and hit the creature directly in the middle of it's mouth. The creature roared and dropped Frodo. Aragorn caught him and shouted,

''Quick! Into the mine!''

Everyone ran through the door as the creature began pulling itself up, out of the water! With a great sucking sound, It reached up and knocked tons of rocks down on the door. A crushing darkness fell on the Fellowship. They couldn't see a thing. Darsul nervously mounted Haleth and walked him in a circle. He was jittery and kept prancing and bucking nervously. Gandalf whispered and his staff tip glowed with an eerie white light. It lit up the inner chamber. Darsul trotted over to Legolas and tried not to look at the skeletons of the dwarves. She loosened her sword in it's scabbard, mentally preparing herself for the challenge ahead. Gandalf sighed and turned to them all.

''Come Quickly! If we hurry,our presence may go unnoticed...We have no choice...we must now face the long dark...of Moria.''