It was the darkest hour of the night as they skirted around the walls of Moria. The large group was quiet as they moved in a line down the narrow rock path with the wall to their left and a large body of dark, sinister looking water to their right. Gimli was the only one who did not feel hindered by the silence surrounding their trek nor the darkness making the path ahead a mystery. Frodo slipped off the path accidentally just as the path curved left, but he was pulled back swiftly by Earein. As they moved along, she kept a hand on the hobbit's shoulder. In the very front of the group, Gandalf let his hand slide along the side of the mountain. He appeared to be mumbling to himself. He brought the company to a halt as he looked up into the night sky as the moon came out from behind a cloud. Everyone but Gandalf and Earein were surprised as lines along the mountain appeared, creating a door. Elvish writing graced the very top of the door in the same eerie blue lines that outlined it.
"It reads, "The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter," Gandalf informed them.
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked, eyes furrowed in thought.
Gandalf's chest seemed to inflate confidently.
"It's quite simple. If you are a friend, speak the password and the doors will open."
Earein glanced at her father.
"In all my readings of Moria, I do not recall a way to open these doors..."
The Wizard gave his daughter an exasperated look before raising his staff to the door.
"Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!"
The group looked around at each other as nothing at all happened. Gandalf deflated and stepped back from the door. Earein nodded to herself and turned to the others.
"I think setting up camp here for a bit will have to do."
As the others settled down, Gandalf stood mumbling by the door in an attempt to find the correct way to enter Moria. Frodo sat by the Wizard, thinking to himself. Earein stood by the edge of the water, trying to recall all she could about the mines. Glancing back, she spotted Aragorn unsaddling the pony Sam had grown attached to during their travels. She felt bad for Sam, but the pony would not do well in the mines. She jumped slightly as there was a sudden splash. Turning, she spotted Merry, Diamond, and Pippin tossing stones into the black water. She almost reached them, but Aragorn got there first. He grabbed Pippin's wrist and looked at him sternly.
"Do not disturb the water."
The three hobbits looked rather frightened, but wisely listened to the ranger's words. Earein looked over as Boromir reached her side. The ripples from the rocks in the water appeared to increase in size, causing the group by the water to stare. The woman only caught a glimpse of Aragorn's hand sliding down to the hilt of his sword as Frodo grabbed her attention.
"Speak, friend, and enter! Gandalf, what's the Elvish word for friend?"
Earein began moving over to the door as Gandalf spoke the word:
"Mellon."
The attention of everyone was now on the door as it opened up, showing them the darkness into which they must venture. They all cautiously made their way inside. It smelled very musty and dank inside and Earein was fully aware of the tons of rock that now sat above their heads. The sound of crunching beneath her feet, caused the woman to step back. She would have slipped if not for Boromir's hands reaching out and catching her waist. She couldn't see him well in the darkness and was very glad that he could not see hers, for she was terribly embarrassed.
Gimli scoffed as he stepped through the entrance.
"So, master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin...and they call this a mine...A mine!"
Diamond stumbled over something in the darkness and grumbled, loud enough for the others to hear.
"Some light would be nice. Earein?"
Gandalf waved a hand over the top of his staff as Earien sighed, deciding such a small amount of magic would harm no one, and moved her hand in a circular motion. A ball of light appeared to sit in her hand. From the glow of the magical lights, the group looked around with hearts sinking. Skeletons of warriors were strewn everywhere. From the size, the warriors were obviously dwarves. The armor and weapons they bore were so old that they had rusted, molded, and broken. Earein's free hand reached out to Boromir's, as he was the closest to her, as he spoke. He grasped it tightly, pulling her toward him and the exit.
"This is no mine...it's a tomb!"
Gimli seemed to lose himself as he cried out in despair. Legolas pulled an arrow out of a skeleton and turned to the others in alarm.
"Goblins!"
Weapons were quickly drawn from their resting places as they began backing out of the mountain. Earein pulled her hand away from Boromir's to draw her sword.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir announced, less of a suggestion when faced with what would lie in the mines," We should never have come here. Get out! Get out now!"
Earein put out the light as she turned, only to find Frodo and the hobbits yelling. The dark haired hobbit was being dragged out of the cavern by a black tentacle. Earein and Aragorn were the first to rush after him, Boromir on their heels. Aragorn reached the hobbit first, slicing the tentacle and pulling him away from the water. Unbelievably, countless amounts of tentacles shot out, knocking the three humans back. Frodo was grabbed once again. A toothy gaping maw arose from the water. Scrambling to their feet, the three began hacking at tentacles just as they saw them. Luckily, Aragorn sliced the new tentacle holding Frodo, causing him to fall into Boromir's arms.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf cried, leading the hobbits first.
Boromir shouted to Legolas as those outside ran after the group. The elf shot an arrow at the gigantic creature. Just as they were all in the mountain, the creature slammed itself against the entrance in an attempt to follow. Instead, the entrance caved in with boulders falling to block the way. Earein would have fallen victim to the boulders if Aragorn hadn't grabbed her and pulled her to him. The force of his pull would have knocked them to the ground, but Legolas held them steady. As the dust and rocks settled, the group found themselves in complete darkness. Gandalf's staff lit up to give them some light. He looked at the group, gravely.
"We now have but one choice...we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard...there are older and fouler things than the Orcs in the deep places of the world."
The mines were huge. It would take them four days to reach the other end. By the end of the second day, they had reached a fork with three separate doors. Gandalf could not recall this place, so they set up camp before the doors. They had climbed up many steps to this point and they were all exhausted. Gandalf sat staring at the doors with Frodo close by. Earein smiled from the step she was sitting on, watching the two of them. Frodo had always been very fond of her father, but she knew he loved hearing more about journeys than living them. Looking back at the group that was camping out, Earein cross her arms over her knees. Aragorn noticed her attention on the group and nodded to her, a pipe in his mouth. She gave him a small grin before Boromir turned to look at her as well. The man looked between the two of them before clearing his throat.
"It appears the two of you have quite the history," he said, loud enough for those around him to hear, but not enough his speech to reach Gandalf and Frodo," How did you meet?"
Earein and Aragorn watched each other for a long moment before Earein smiled. The three hobbits, Gimli, and even Legolas were intently waiting for a response. Sitting back, she began.
" A few of you are aware that my grandmother was an Elven woman, but my grandfather was a human. Because of this, my mother, Delinia, was raised in Rivendell. Gandalf met her there. My mother was a bit of an outsider. For having human blood in her, she was considered a human. Despite being together in Rivendell, it is obvious that Gandalf does not stay in one place for very long. He visited us often while I was growing up, but shortly after my mother's death when I was four he came twice a year at best. As a lonely child, almost orphaned by fate, I began to notice a young boy who was my age. He had moved to Rivendell before my mother's death. He was under the guardianship of Elrond. After my mother's death and upon Gandalf's request, I was taken into Elrond's care as well. I was afraid of this young boy who was my age, for I had never dealt with anyone who wasn't well beyond my years...but one day..."
