Hello all! I know it's been forever since I last updated this story and I am very sorry about that! I just sort of lost my writing flow.
This is by far the hardest chapter I've written, mostly because it's the first action type scene I've written in a very long time.
The journey began and the girls each reacted differently to the new change.
Maethien grew quiet. She spent most her time walking as close to Frodo as possible, her eyes analyzing everything around them as they continued on their quest. She knew what was going to happen most of the time, since she had seen the film more than once but... well, she wanted to be prepared either way.
The Valar had told them that the dark forces they were up against would do anything in their power to stop them from succeeding, they were bound to send forth challenges that the girls were not expecting. So, rather than to be caught off guard, Mae tried to be as vigil as she possibly could, causing her to, unintentionally, be quieter and much more solemn than before.
Elle and Ann were well aware their sister's sudden silence. So was Aragorn for that matter, and when they all stopped to take a rest he purposely moved to sit near her. He said nothing as he pulled out his intricate pipe while Maethien, very aware of his presence, relaxed as best she could on the rock she sat on as she waited, rather anxiously, for him to say or do something. She hoped he spoke soon because he was making her immensely nervous.
"You've become very quiet." Aragorn said finally, smoke wafting from his mouth in an array of swirls and curls. "Is something troubling you?" He looked at Mae directly when he asked the question. Maethien froze and looked at Aragorn with surprised eyes, had she gotten quiet? Sure, she had been very focused on the journey, trying to keep on eye out for danger but... quieter?
"I- Oh," Mae blinked once more and suddenly laughed sheepishly. Aragorn lifted a brow and smiled softly as he watched the beautiful elleth laugh at herself. "I hadn't realized I'd become so serious. I'm just trying to be observant and aware of my surroundings. To keep Frodo safe." Mae explained, with a smile and sheepish shrug, as she leaned back against the large boulder at her back. Maethien breathed a calming sigh and watched Frodo as he walked in the distance.
Aragorn nodded, considering her words in his thoughts, and relaxed against the boulder as well, his eyes trained on her. "I see. I understand. Though remember," Mae looked up when he paused and found his eyes already on hers, holding her gaze. "Don't feel you need to take the burden from us all, we're all here to help protect Frodo."
The man made sense, Mae thought as their gazes remained on each other for another long moment.
"Your right." Mae nodded and smiled at Aragorn. " I don't have to do it alone." She laughed softly and looked to where Elle was sitting upon a rock meditating and Ann was helping Sam with the food, her smile grew and she felt a sudden warmth overcome her. "I suppose, since I'm accustomed to taking care of my sisters on my own, I feel I need to be the one to protect everyone at all times." Mae shrugged, as if to brush away any seriousness from her words, and smiled at Aragorn.
Maethien decided to take some time to rest, unaware that she was being watched by Aragorn as she lifted her legs onto the large rock she sat on, straightened her back, and closed her eyes, fully intending to test out that meditating sleep thing that Elle had told her about once. After another moment of getting comfortable, or as comfortable as she could get on a giant bumpy rock, she finally felt her shoulders un-tense and her mind relax.
Suddenly, a terribly painful shriek pierced the air, Mae's eyes flashed open and looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the scream... but she was no longer sitting beside Aragorn on a rock. She was surrounded by a dark despondent wasteland, the ruins of Gondor adorning the darkness, stone stained by blood and surrounded by shadows. But that was not the worst of what she saw, her eyes soon found the bodies of her loved ones. Maethien recoiled in horror and hurried away, her hands clamped over her mouth in an attempt to keep herself from retching.
Pippin, dear and joyous Pippin had been burned alive, his tiny blackened body curled into a fetal position, his fingers were curled and clutching at his burned body... almost as if he had been trying to smother the flames on his body with them. Merry lied on the ground not far from Pippin, multiple blood stained swords impaling him and pinning him to the ground, blood still dripping from his small body and pooling around him. Sweet Sam was completely frozen, his entire body tinted blue, chips of ice had formed all around him, his eyes were frozen in an expression of stark fear. Legolas had been shot through the eyes with arrows, Gimli lay on the ground with his stomach ripped open, blood and gore everywhere.
Horrified, Maethien continued to back away from the brutal scene before her, gasping for breath, tears spilling from her eyes. "No, no. It's not real. It's not real." Mae yelped when she bumped into something behind her, she jumped away and whirled around to look at what she had touched. Her scream pierced the deadly silent air as she stared in pure horror... Aragorn's head was on a spike his eyes still open but clouded, his own blood dripping from his hair. Behind him Gandalf had been chained to a stone wall, his torso exposed revealing the horrid evidence of his torture. And Frodo... oh God, Frodo... her little friend lied at Gandalf's feet, Frodo was dead... the ring gleamed dangerously on his finger. He, unlike the others, did not display the cause of his death but Maethien could feel it... somehow she just knew that the ring had claimed his life.
"You failed, daughter of the Valar." The deep husky voice came from behind Mae, she instantly whirled around and found herself face to face with a tall dark figure dressed in pitch black armor from head to toe, a black cape of shadows flowing from his back. The armor was nothing like Sauron's... it was dark and frightening yet somehow still... elegant. Almost regal.
"Who are you?" Maethien cried out, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. She hastily wiped at her face, she refused to look weak in front of her enemy. She refused to be weak in front of this enemy. Pain and rage flared from within her and Mae glared viciously at the dark figure in front of her, her chest rising and falling deeply along with her angry breaths. "I will kill you for this." The warrior's deep roaring laugh pierced the dead air making Mae flinched, the sound lashing at her very soul.
"Your sisters shall kill you first, little girl." Maethien's horror returned with a vengeance as she watched her dear loving sisters come out from behind the dark warrior. They were dressed in shadows, they're once golden hair now pitch black, they're eyes... they're eyes entirely consumed by darkness.
"NO! Elle wake up! Ann, Ann please!" Maethien sobbed, reaching out to her sisters pleadingly.
"You will not defeat the Dark Lord. You are weak. You were always weak" Saeleth spoke, her voice throaty, her lips twisted into a cruel snarl.
"Look at us, Maethien." Maethein could not stop herself from looking at her sisters, tears streaming from her eyes. "You couldn't protect us. You can't protect us."
"No!" Maethien screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Maethien?" Aragorn's deep, soothing voice made Mae jerk awake with a gasp. "Mae are you alright?" He asked her, concern coloring his tone, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder, his palm feeling oddly warm against her cold skin.
No, she was not alright, but Maethien pushed away the cold and fear away and forced a smile onto her face. "I'm fine, Aragorn. Thank you." He did not look convinced, Aragorn looked at her closely for a moment longer, his eyes narrowed slightly. Maethien reached up hesitantly and patted the hand he'd set on her shoulder gently in an attempt to reassure him. She was relieved when he finally nodded and moved away from her.
Immediately after his departure, Mae turned to look for her sisters, they looked shaken but otherwise unharmed, her thundering heart beat calming when she found them safe and sound. She rushed toward them and wrapped them both into a tight hug.
"Did you-"
"Yes." Saeleth nodded, a dazed look in her eyes.
"And look." Ann lifted her left hand to show her sisters the mark that had appeared on the back of her hand. Mae grimaced when she felt the stinging sensation on her own hand. The mark seemed to consist of several overlapping knots in the center of their palm with three leaf shaped lines curling out of the cluster then back in to blend into the array of beautiful knots. It reminded Mae of the many beautiful symbols in Celtic mythology back in their world.
"Foresight." Elle muttered as she gazed at the gleaming new mark, her gaze not all that pleased.
"That was horrible." Ann whispered, she could still feel herself quivering. She fisted her hands once, then lifted them to wrap her arms around herself and leaned into her oldest sister. "There was so much blood and darkness." Mae wrapped a comforting hand around her little sister's trembling shoulders. "I saw you both. Your eyes were black, everything about you was dark and evil. You called me useless and pathetic."
Mae's thoughts went back to that dark wasteland, she bit her lip. "You called me a failure, and weak."
"I saw you two the same way." Elle shivered and looked at her sisters with wide eyes. "You told me you never loved me."
"No! Of course we love you, Elle!" Ann immediately launched herself at Saeleth and hugged her tight.
"You're our lovable and nerdy sister, how could we not love you?" Mae said, in an attempt to bring back the warmth and lighten the depressing atmosphere that cloaked them. It worked. Elle breathed a laugh and reached out to hold her older sister's hand tightly in hers.
"I love you too. You've protected us all your life Mae, I would never think you weak." Mae felt her heart melt with warmth and love, she smiled and gripped her sisters hand with both of hers.
"Hey! What about me? I need loving words too." Ann said, her arms still round Elle, refusing to let go. The sisters laughed.
"We love you too Ann. Your what keeps us together little sister." Mae said through laughter. Ann sniffled and reached out to pull Maethien into her hug, forcing them into a very tight group hug. Which, they didn't pull away from for a long while.
When they finally did let go, they looked over to the rest of the group. Boromir was calling out instructions to Merry and Pip, the three of them holding swords.
"Two, one, five. Good! Very good!" Boromir praised with a smile as Pippin completed the actions accurately. Mae smiled widely as she looked on, watching all of her little friends having a wonderful time. This was how she wanted to see them, to remember them... full of joy and life.
"Move your feet." Aragorn called out.
"You look good, Pipin." Merry complimented his friend.
"Thanks!"
"Faster." Boromir declared and leaped back into the routine. Meanwhile, Gimli approached Gandalf, his hands on his belt, thumbs tucked behind the buckle.
"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way around!" He said gruffly. "Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome." There was unmistakable pride in his tone.
"No, Gimli," Gandalf spoke gravely. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." He said, before returning his attention to his pipe. Uh-oh. Maethien watched closely as Legolas climbed onto a tall cluster of rocks and boulders, he looked to the south his bow already in his hand.
"Elle, isn't this-"
"The part where the Crebain come." Ann nodded, her shoulders tensing in anticipation. The sisters turned back to look at the group as Aragorn strode over to the laughing hobbits, who had tackled Boromir to the ground and were holding him down.
"Gentlemen, that's enough." Merry and Pip responded to his order by grabbing his legs and flipping him onto his back, winding him. Yes, this was the part.
"Get down!" Maethien called out.
"Crebain from the Dunland!" Legolas shouted instantly after, running back to the others. Saeleth hurried to Merry and Pippin, grabbing them and rushing them to a safe place below the rocks, Boromir close behind them his body hovering over them protectively. Maethien ran to Sam and made sure he completely stomped out the fire before looking around in search of Frodo, where was he? He should be here!
"Frodo!" She called out, spotting him just down the hill, unaware of the danger that was coming. Mae moved fast and ran to him the sounds of Crebain looming behind her.
"Mae!" Ann took one look at how close the Crebain were and quickly tried to go after her sister but Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her down into the bushes with him, hovering over her protectively just as the birds flew within range. Maethien reached a startled Frodo and pushed them both behind a rock, throwing her cloak over both of them and holding him close to her as the racket of birds flew over them.
"Shh." She whispered, the loud screeching of the birds rang above them, causing her to grimace. Her sensitive ears picking up every shrill sound. Once they had passed over, she slowly uncovered herself to make sure they had gone, then pulled the cloak off Frodo and stood from the hard ground, guiding Frodo back to the others. Ann was frantically searching for them.
"Mae! Frodo!" She exclaimed in relief.
"We're alright." Mae assured them.
"Thank you, Mae." Frodo said with a smile, Maethien nodded.
"My pleasure, Frodo. I hope I didn't hurt you." She added, biting her lip and grinning. She had practically tackled him to the ground in her attempt to hide him. Their laughter faded and Maethien turned to face a solemn looking Gandalf.
"Spies of Saruman." He said. "The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." Gandalf said grimly and turned to face the great mountain crowned with pure snow, his eyes clouded with concern. The dramatic and serious moment was ruined by a loud mournful groan.
"Wonderful. My two favorite things." Ann muttered as she unhappily eyed the snowy mountains.
"It just had to be-" Ann yelped suddenly, she had somehow managed to step into a particularly deep part in the snow and had sunk shin deep into the poofy cold snow. How in the hell had that happened?! More than a little surprised, Ann blinked as she watched her sister just ahead of her, walking atop the snow with ease. Anoreth was supposed to be an elf! Elves didn't didn't fall into snow holes! They walked on top of the snow!
"Here." Ann moved her incredulous gaze up to see Legolas, smiling kindly at her and holding out a hand, his gleaming blue eyes bright with tender amusement. "Let me help you." He said softly, Ann grabbed his warm hand and let him pull her out of the snow. The icy wind instantly hit her and she felt a shiver pass through her... that was another thing, why was she feeling the cold? Weren't elves more resilient against the cold? What kind of an elf was she?
"Thanks." She breathed, brushing snow off of her clothes, unaware that she was sort of leaning against Legolas. The tall elf Prince was actually pretty warm. Legolas nodded and continued to guide her over the thinner stretches of snow keeping her to the side where the wind did not hit as hard.
Maethien, who had taken the rear of the group while Saeleth took to the head with Gandalf, watched the pair with a knowing smile. A soft cry made her head whip up, Frodo had slipped and was rolling down the slight incline of the hill.
"Frodo!" Aragorn called out and rushed forward to catch him, quickly helping the hobbit to his feet, brushing off the snow that had clung to his clothes. Maethien spotted the glint of gold in the white snow a second before Boromir stooped down and picked it up, his eyes wide and dazzled. He was instantly captivated by the power within the ring.
"Boromir." Aragorn said quietly, a low warning in his tone. Enchanted, Boromir did not hear Aragorn's call, his eyes still fixed on the ring.
"It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing. Such a little thing." Maethien felt herself tense and quickly stepped forward when he lifted a hand to touch it, but Aragorn called out again, his harsh command cutting into Boromir's trance this time.
"Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo." Boromir still seemed in a daze as he slowly walked down the slope toward the Ranger and the hobbit, he held it out to Frodo quietly.
"As you wish," His voice was light and airy, Frodo instantly snatched it from Boromir's hand and hastily placed it around his neck, a wary and slightly panicked look in his bright blue eyes. "I care not." Maethien un-tensed, but did not look away, as he reached up to tousle Frodo's hair playfully, and turned back to continue on his walk up the snow covered mountain.
It wasn't long after that incident that the snow storm hit, making it all the more difficult and dangerous to move along the path, it was much too close to the edge of the cliff. Legolas and Saeleth walked slightly ahead of the group, looking around for a safer path to take through the storm. It was then that they heard the cruel echo of Saruman's chants.
"There is a fell voice on the air." Legolas called back.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf cried out at the same moment that a loud crack sounded high above their heads. A horde of boulders and snow fell from the mountain's edges and forced the Fellowship to flat themselves against the sheer cliff wall to avoid the descent of stone and ice.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouted over the roaring wind and snow.
"No!" Gandalf rose from the snow and began to counter chant. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!"
"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; Nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar!" Saruman's voice answered strongly. A bolt of lightning struck the tip of Caradhras, sending a second avalanche of sheer ice onto the Fellowship. Gandalf hurried to command the mountain, but it was much too late. Saeleth, seeing the horde of snow coming their way, darted away and snatched Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just moments before the storm of ice fell on them heavily.
A string of muffled curses sounded from Saeleth's lips as she forced her way through the shockingly heavy snow that had buried her and her friends. She had no clue which way to go or where she'd pop up- or over- but she didn't care, she just wanted out. She burst free a minute later, gasping for air, and looked around wildly, trying not to think about how close she had been to emerging beside the cliff not three feet away from where she was.
"Elle." She turned and found a worried Anoreth in the arms of Legolas, who had apparently shoved her away from the edge and against the wall. Everywhere her friends begun to pop up out of the snow, many sputtering out snow and trembling from the cold. Saeleth looked over in time to see Boromir struggling to lift Merry and Pip out of the snow, both hobbits holding onto each other in an attempt to get warm. Saeleth rushed over to help them, holding onto the hobbits and rubbing their shoulders as Boromir turned to shout to Gandalf.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." Aragorn shouted in return.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Saeleth had to force herself not to shout her refusal, instead she busied herself with helping the hobbits to get warm. Still, she could not keep herself from feeling a strong wave of despair stab into her chest, she had always hated this moment, the moment where Gandalf realized his fate.
"Let the Ring bearer decide." Gandalf decided, his eyes going to Frodo.
"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromis shouted from beside Elle, clutching Merry close to him while she held onto Pippin.
"Frodo?" Gandalf prompted, Frodo turned to the wizard and Saeleth turned to gaze at the snow sadly, desperately holding in her tears.
"We will go through the mines." He decided.
"So be it."
The Fellowship approached the doors to Moria. Frodo helping Gandalf walk at the head of the group, the three sisters, though, hung back a little to talk in private.
"Can't we save him?" Anoreth asked quietly so that they weren't overhead. Saeleth sighed and looked at the ground, a lump growing in her throat.
"You know we can't." She said, though she didn't like it. "It needs to happen, otherwise he won't became Gandalf the White and everything will fall out of place." Which was true, and Elle reminded herself constantly of that fact.
"Besides," Mae added. "He comes back. We'll see him again." Anoreth nodded slowly, despite the truth in their words, all three of the sisters were not looking forward to Gandalf's temporary death.
"Oh! The Walls of Moria!" Gimli gasped and rushed forward. The sisters hastened to join the rest, pausing to marvel at the mountainous wall that hid the Mines of Moria inside it. The film did not compare at all to the real thing. Nightfall had come quickly, the moonlight glistening in the murky water that lay just beside the doors to Moria.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli commented casually, tapping his ax against the stone wall with a proud smirk.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf added.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas' commented sarcastically, Maethien resisted the urge to chuckle as Gimli grumbled ahead of them but said nothing.
"Shouldn't you at least try to get along with Gimli?" Anoreth asked the elf suddenly, walking beside him calmly, her eyes on the path ahead. Legolas blinked and looked at Ann.
"He is a dwarf, I am an elf. Hostility has existed between our people for centuries." Legolas answered matter-of-factly, making Anoreth roll her eyes and laugh, which surprised him once again.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Ann asked bluntly and turned to look at Legolas, the kindness in her eyes softening her words. "We are all fighting for the same thing on this quest. To save Middle-Earth. To save us all. Shouldn't you both try to be the better of your kin and attempt to get along?" Anoreth reasoned, shrugging gently when Legolas turned to fix her with a very surprised expression. A blush began to rise in her cheeks the longer that Legolas stared at her, worrying that perhaps she had crossed a line. She was relieved when a smile spread across his lips.
"You're right. This is no time for hostility among allies." Legolas spoke and rewarded Ann with a smile. Ann bit her lip and nodded, looking away from the elf and busying herself with trying to find the doors on the stone wall.
"Now let's see. Ithildin.." Gandalf reached to the wall and instantly webs of intricate, ancient silvery designs began to gleam softly beneath his hand. "It mirrors only starlight... and moonlight." Up above them the clouds cleared away to reveal the brilliant moon, as if Gandalf himself had asked them to fade. The silver designs grew even brighter when the clouds drifted away from the light and, soon, an outline of a grand door made itself known, formed of two columns beneath an arch with a shimmering star in the center. Carved into the arch were words in a language unknown to most. Gandalf gestured to the riddle with his staff and read aloud.
"It reads 'The Doors of Durin- Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter'."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked innocently.
"Oh, its quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." Gandalf sounded almost cheerful as he spoke then moved to press the head of his staff into the star on the gleaming carved doors. "Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" Silence followed. "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen." Once again: silence. The doors remained shut.
"Nothings happening." Pippin said unhelpfully, earning an annoyed glare from the frustrated wizard as he proceeded to press against the doors in an attempt to force them open. Saeleth tried not to giggle as she watched the grey haired wizard grow more and more aggravated.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orc." He grunted quietly.
"What are you going to do then." Pippin asked, Ann grimaced gently when the wizard whirled on the half-ling.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took, and if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words!"
And that was that.
Time passed, Gandalf continued to mutter an array of words in multiple languages and everyone else eventually drifted off to sit on the ground near the water or lean against the trees flanking the gleaming doors. The sisters sat together just behind Gandalf, Elle smiling softly as she continued to watch the wizard wearily mutter password after password with no success.
"You think we should tell them?" Ann asked quietly, it was getting a little... agonizing, watching Gandalf stand before the doors with his staff raised high, chanting in several languages. Mae, who had decided to take the time to do some meditating, smiled and opened her eyes to look at their old friend with amusement. She pretended to think for a second before decidedly shaking her head.
"Nah." She said and watched on as the wizard finally threw down his staff and hat, then plopped onto a rock beside Frodo. A resigned look on his face. "This is Frodo's time to shine." She added with a soft smile. Her smile, however, fell when she heard the sound of water splashing from behind her, turning around she felt herself frown further as she watched Aragorn warn Pippin to not disturb the water.
"Oh no." Ann groaned quietly when a small wave formed in the water, this one unprovoked by any thrown rocks. She knew what was coming and she was not looking forward to it at all.
"It's a riddle." Frodo realized, standing and stepping closer to the door and read it aloud. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?" He asked Gandalf.
"Mellon." The doors rumbled deeply and then proceeded to creak open. Gandalf laughed happily and stood grabbing his staff and hat, everyone else immediately began to follow him inside. Ann kept off to a side, it was too dark for her to see the skeletons but she tried her hardest not to step on any as she continued forward using the wall as a guide.
"Soon you Elves will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin." Gimli spoke with immense pride as he stomped forward, meanwhile Gandalf lifted his hand to the crystal upon his staff and blew on it gently.
"Lumos." Elle couldn't resist. The light grew from within the crystal at the same moment Elle spoke the word, causing both Mae and Ann to giggle softly.
That would be the last laugh any of them would utter for a long while.
"And they call it a mine. A mine!" Gandalf moved his hand from the crystal and soon their surrounding were revealed to them all.
"This is no mine. It's a tomb." Boromir spoke quietly.
Rotten corpses were strewn across the room, against the walls and thrown across the steps ahead of them. Ann gasped in shock as her eyes took in the horror around them. The sisters had seen this scene many times in the films... but to see them yourself was far much more gruesome. Ann staggered back from the bodies and nearly screamed when she felt something bump into her back, whirling around her eyes widened in horror as she found herself facing yet another corpse dangling from the ceiling with a chain wrapped around it's throat... It was not the only one...
"No... no. NO!" Gimili cried painfully, forcing Ann to look away from the body and back to where her sisters were holding onto the frightened hobbits. But that was not all she saw...
"Frodo! Watch out!" Ann rushed forward but the tentacle wrapped itself around Frodo's leg and pulled.
"Frodo!" Sam shouted and instantly made to run after him, but Ann grabbed onto the hobbit and held him back, struggling to keep him, Merry, and Pip away from the danger.
Both Saeleth and Maethien drew out their weapons and rushed at the tentacle before Aragorn and the rest could move, calling out Frodo's name as they slashed. Ann stood firmly in front of the hobbits with her curved sword and shield drawn and ready to protect her little friends, her eyes focused on the battle in front of her. Elle grabbed onto Frodo's arms and pulled with all her strength, ensuing a sort of tug of war between herself and the monster in the lake. Thinking fast, Mae shouted for Elle to hold on to Frodo and raised her sword high above the tentacle, she then brought it down heavily and slashed off the monster's tentacle.
"Inside! Hurry!" Mae shouted and pushed them toward the entrance but the arms came back with a vengeance. Ann watched in horror as her sisters were flung away brutally by the monster, Mae crashing into one of the large trees by the entrance and Elle being thrown against one of the doors. Frodo shouted for help as he was taken once again by the monster and lifted high into the air above the water.
"Stay inside!" Ann ordered sternly and rushed forward with Aragorn and the rest, she slashed at the many arms in an attempt to get it to release Frodo, all the while screaming out to her sisters to get up. The hobbits rushed to the two elves and began to shake them in an attempt to wake them up, their wide worried eyes darting from the monster to the sister's repeatedly as they shook and shouted.
Mae was the first to awake, she looked at the worried look on her friends faces and quickly tried to shake away her spinning vision. Mae staggered to her feet and fought away the dizziness, forcing herself to focus on the battle only feet away from her. From the water, the monster's head rose from the darkness, with it's dark eyes trained on Frodo as it opened it's mouth to reveal rows and rows of razor sharp teeth.
"Legolas! The eyes!" Boromir shouted as he brought his sword down onto a tentacle. Legolas instantly shot out an arrow and hit his target, the monster screeched and roared in pain and immediately began to shrink back into the safety of the water.
"Frodo!" Aragorn called out and made to slash at the tentacle that still held the hobbit, but, before he could, another struck him hard and sent him barreling into the rocks by the lake. The monster dived back into the water, taking Frodo with him, the hobbit's shouts for help getting sharply cut off as he was taken into the deep.
"No!" Mae screamed and ran to the water ignoring the calls of everyone telling her to stop. The only thing Mae could think of was saving Frodo, and with that Mae dove into the water and searched frantically for the hobbit. The water was dark, she could just barely see Frodo's small form being dragged deeper into the lake. She swam after him, pushing herself hard and swimming as fast as she could, reaching out to Frodo as he reached out for her.
Come on Frodo! Don't leave us.
Mae gripped onto Frodo's hand and pulled herself closer to the hobbit, wrapping one arm around him she brought out her sword with her free hand and stabbed the tentacle holding onto Frodo furiously. Even in the water, Mae heard the eerie screech of the monster, dark liquid spilling from the wounds. With no time to lose Mae grabbed onto Frodo and made for the surface, but was stopped when the angry monster wrapped its tentacle around her ankle.
Damn you, you giant ugly squid! I'm gonna chop off every one of those tentacles and feed them to you myself!
Despite her dire situation, Mae's thoughts were more angry than afraid as she immediately shoved Frodo as hard as she could toward the surface, then turned to face the tentacle, holding her sword in both of her hands she began to slash and stab as hard as she could. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold her breath, she could feel her lungs aching for breath as she fought hard to free herself, her movements beginning to feel heavy, her lungs straining for air.
No, no, no! I can't die! I won't die!
Suddenly, Mae felt an arm wrap tight around her waist and another sword glinted beside hers.
Ann and Elle stood knee deep in the water, scanning the water frantically for their sister, they dug their hands into the water in a desperate attempt to find them, see them, touch them! Anything!
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Aragorn resurfaced, holding onto Mae firmly with one arm both of their swords still drawn and gripped tightly in their dominant hands.
"Oh thank you!" Ann whispered gratefully as she rushed forward to help the warriors out of the water, she then screamed when the creature burst from the water behind them.
"Why don't you die!" Mae tried to scream but she was a tad busy breathing as much air into her lungs as she could while still swimming for her life. The creature slapped at the water, causing a large wave to throw them all to the bank.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf roared. Everyone rose to their feet and ran, Aragorn still holding firmly onto Mae as they rushed into the mines not daring to look back when the sound of falling stones thundered behind them.
Labored breathing. That was the only thing that could be heard in the pitch black. The passage had collapsed, leaving them all trapped in the darkness and dangers of Moria. No one spoke for a long moment, everyone still trying to catch their breath.
"We now have but one choice." Light spilled from Gandalf's staff, illuminating the passage for everyone. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things then Orcs in the deep places of the world." The wizard spoke gravely as he began to lead the way into the mines.
It was then that Mae realized that she had been clutching onto Aragorn's cloak and that Aragorn realized he'd been gripping onto Mae's waist. The two looked at each other, their faces merely inches apart, the chests rising and falling heavily.
"Um, thank you Aragorn... for helping me." Mae spoke first, the words breaking the figurative spell between them. They released their holds on each other and stepped away, their eyes no longer on one other but on anything other than each other.
"There is no need to thank me, Mae. I would not have let the beast take you." Mae felt a warmth at his words. Unsure about what to think of that warmth she simply smiled softly and glanced at him quickly, meeting his eyes briefly, before looking at the ground once again, tucking her soaking hair behind her ear.
"Quietly now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed." Gandalf murmured as he led the way.
Aww, I love them!
As always, I very much enjoy hearing from all of you! Feedback is always welcome, so is constructive criticism!
I really want to take time to thank all of you that have Favorited and Followed this story! You cant imagine how much it means to me to know you enjoyed my story and want to keep reading more! Thank you so much guys!
Angel897
Thank you so much for your comments and for coming back to read my story every time!
Unicorn682006
Thank you for reading this story despite it being an Aragorn/OC fic!
briarleaves
Gotta tell you I reread your comment when Im having some trouble updating, how can I disappoint the teddycats?!
Alice Starlight
Thank you! I'm glad you like it!
Kyouki no kitsune
Thanks for those quotes! I like reading quotes and poems that remind me of LotR, they give me a push to keep writing.
Marauderzoe
No! Thank YOU! Thanks for reading, Im so glad you liked it and that you like the girls! You cant imagine how much a struggle with those three so thank you so much for putting my mind at ease about them!
Artful Artifice
As always, i could not have done a lot of this without your help! Thank you so much for helping me with my story and giving me many much needed pushes to keep writing and thank you so much for all of your feedback and suggestions, you should know that I truly take all of your suggestions into consideration. Guren glassui!
~Translations~
Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith! :: Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath
Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; Nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar! :: Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your blood-stained horn shall fall upon the enemy-heads
Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen :: Gate of the Elves open now for me
Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen :: Doorway of the Dwarf-folk listen to the word of my tongue
