Chapter Four
Lillith's POV
The Pass of Caradrhas. Whoever Caradrhas is, I want to kill him. These snow covered mountains are going to kill me. Stupid Saruman. I swear when I meet that guy, I'm kicking him where the sun don't shine. He deserves it.
Behind me I heard someone yelp and I turned to see a fallen Frodo. Aragorn helped him up and Frodo felt for the ring. It was in the hands of Boromir. I scowled. I so wasn't in the mood for this. He looked at his mystified, obvious longing was written all over his face.
"Boromir." Aragorn said. Nobody moved.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing." He reached up to hold it in both hands. I ran forward and snatched it from him. He glared at me and I glared back.
"The ring belongs in the hands of Frodo and Frodo only. There its power will not be disturbed." His glare fated and he gave a small smile.
"Of course." He said with a small chuckle and patted my arm. He then turned and walked forward. I walked over to Frodo and held it out to him.
"Lillith." It said to me. I gasped and dropped it in his hand. He looked at me oddly then put it around his neck. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Aragorn release his hold on his sword.
"Frodo." I called. He stopped and looked at me.
"It spoke to me. It was horrible. I'm sorry." He nodded and smiled softly at me. I ran up and hugged him. "Don't let it control you." I whispered.
I clung to Gwyn as she carried me through the snow. Beside me Mimi was walking on top of it. I huffed. Stupid elf. I listened though, for Saruman's voice. Soon I heard it.
"There is a fell voice on the air!" Legolas shouted over the wind.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yelled back. There was a loud crack and large pieces of ice and rock fell just missing us.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf we must turn back!" Aragorn yelled.
"No!" Lillith agreed. There was no other way, but she knew what would happen. Gandalf started shouting words, incantations, but nothing worked. Lightning cracked and I looked up to see ever larger pieces of rock and snow falling. I yelped as it fell on us, burying us. I clung to Gwyn and felt her struggle to reach the surface. As we got through I sat back gasping for air. I felt someone touch my arm.
"Lilli? Are you alright?" It was Pippin. I smiled and patted his arm.
"Yes pip. I'm fine." He put an arm around my waist and I leaned into him as he helped me up.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir yelled.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued.
"We cannot pass over a mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli suggested exasperated. Gandalf looked at him wearily then defeated at Frodo.
"Let the Ring-Bearer decide." Frodo looked up surprised then at the rest of us all.
"We cannot stay here; it will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir yelled pulling Merry closer to him. I looked up at Pippin then at Frodo.
"We will go through the mines."
Mimi's POV
I gasped in pain and tripped as I climbed from the snow. Legolas kneeled next to me.
"My ankle." I told him and he went for my boot.
"For, uhm, medical purposes?" He asked. I laughed slightly and nodded as he started unlacing it.
"What happened?" He asked slipping it off.
"When the snow fell it twisted. I think its spra- AH!" I yelped as he squeezed it gently.
"Sprained. Yes." He said lifting my foot on his knee. He slung off his pack and pulled out a roll of cloth bandages. He wrapped it up tightly and poked it.
"That doesn't hurt does it?" I shook my head and he slipped my boot back on.
"It should be fine now. Just take it easy, alright?" I nodded and stood up.
"Thank you." I said with a small smile. He smiled back and strode forward.
I turned to see Lilli standing there smiling. I looked at her questioningly.
"What?"
"That was just too cute!" She squealed. I huffed at her then smirked.
"Pippin and Lilli sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G." I sang softly and laughed as she ran over to shush me. Ahead of me I caught Legolas looking back with a smile.
Gwyn's POV
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli said proudly.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf said.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I heard Legolas say. I scoffed and Gimli growled. I'm surprised he just let it go. Gandalf came to a stop and started felling the wall.
"Let's see…" He muttered. "Ithildin." He murmured impressed.
"It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." As if on cue the moon came out from behind some clouds and the door revealed itself. It was beautiful. Gandalf smiled at it proudly then turned to us.
"It reads, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"It's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf said. I shared a small smirk with Mimi. Gandalf touched his staff to the door and chanted something but nothing worked. He raised his arms and chanted something else but nothing worked. We all looked at each other and Pippin looked at Lilli.
"Nothings happening." He stated obviously. Gandalf then proceeded to pushing on the door to see if it would open. He muttered about knowing all these spells in all these different languages. I smiled softly.
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked innocently.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them and I am allowed some peace from foolish questions I will try to find the opening words." Gandalf snapped. I smiled as Lillith scowled at Gandalf and took Pippin's hand comfortingly. "I walked over to Mimi.
"Should I?" I asked softly. She nodded and gave me a little push. I walked over to the wizard.
"Gandalf, would you mind if I tried something?" I asked sweetly. He looked at me tiredly and nodded.
"Go ahead, my dear. If you think it will work." I stepped in front of the doors and looked up at them.
"Mellon." I said loudly, and the doors creaked open. I smiled and looked at the girls.
"How did you do that?" Gimli asked astounded. I shrugged.
"I did exactly what it told me to. Speak 'friend' and enter." I decided to have some fun.
"Ever hear the expression 'never send a man to do a woman's job'?" I asked looking from Boromir to Gimli. Both looked uncomfortably away and I smiled smugly.
"Did you hear that?" Lillith asked.
"Hear what?" Gandalf asked her.
"It sounded like it came from the water." She said softly. Looking back at it. We stayed silent for a moment listening but heard nothing.
"Never mind." She muttered walking forward. Gwyn looked back at the water, eyes searching for any detectable movement, but when she saw nothing she walked through the entrance behind Gimli.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone! This, my friends, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!" Gimli suddenly stopped as Gandalf lit his staff.
"This is no mine, it's a tomb." Boromir muttered. Gimli jumped forward looking at all the corpses. His cries caused me to wince. On the silver screen it may not be so moving, but in person? Legolas pulled an arrow from a corpse.
"Goblins!" He spat. I unsheathed my sword and looked slowly around.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir said looking around.
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Lilli muttered ahead of me. I kicked her leg silencing her.
"We must leave this place." Mimi said softly. Then suddenly Frodo was pulled backward violently. It was the squid. The hobbits ran forward and Sam called for Aragorn swinging his sword on the tentacle holding onto Frodo. It snapped back but for only a moment. At least a dozen tentacles shot back out knocking the hobbits back. Aragorn ran forward slicing the tentacles as he went. I dodged them as I ran toward the one holding Frodo.
"Aragorn! Here!" I sliced the tentacle and Frodo landed in Aragorn's arms. Legolas and Mimi pelted the beast with arrows as we ran for shore.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf called. The beast followed us tentacles shooting in every direction. One found its way around my ankle. I jumped in surprise dropping my sword.
"You're kidding me!" I yelled watching it fall as I was swung through the air. I yelped as I was violent thrown back and forth.
"Some help would be nice?" I yelled as my sisters shouted my name. Aragorn ran forward but someone was already there. The tentacle was sliced and I landed on top of Gimli. He sputtered as he was pushed into the water then pulled me toward the mine quickly. The beast's tentacles knocked against the walls, cracking them causing rocks to fall. Soon the entrance was blocked and we were thrown into darkness. Gandalf lit his staff and I saw I was on the floor panting as Gimli stood leaned over next to me, panting as well.
"Are you alright, lass?" He asked. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Gimli! Thank you!"
"It—it was nothing." He said bowing his head. I smiled as pecked his cheek.
"Knew you'd warm up to me."