Author's Note:
I don't own any of the characters, places, names, etc (only the OC). It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien and Peter Jackson.
~ Chapter Ten: Moria ~
3019, January 13
"How long until we reach the other side Gandalf?" Frodo asked the wizard. While everyone needed to get the journey over as quickly as possible, and were willing, tired as they were, to go on marching still for several hours.
Gandalf was in front as before. In his left hand he held up his glimmering staff, the light of which just showed the ground before his feet; in his right he held his sword. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed." he responded.
Behind him came Gimli, his eyes glinting in the dim light as he turned his head from side to side. He was still sad about the death of his Kin. Though, he couldn't deny his attention over the Mines.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril." Gandalf tilted his staff down towards a pit.
Merry seemed confused "Mithril?"
"Mithril is a precious silvery metal, which is mined by the Dwarves in the deep mines of Khazad-dûm. It's very lightweight but capable of providing extreme strength." Gimli explained proudly, as he was talking about his Kin.
Behind Sam went Legolas, and after him Ethir, and the young hobbits, and Boromir. In the dark at the rear, grim and silent, walked Aragorn. Ethir would pause time to time and let the Elf advanced. Although it seemed she had noticed the Elf wasn't drawn by her darkness, as before. It seemed when it was night or dark, Legolas had no issue being close to her. But that wasn't the only thing she noticed. The Elf, who walked in front of her, was dazzling than before. She felt loosing her balance for time, to time.
The path twisted round a few turns, and then began to descend. It went steadily down for a long while before it became level once again. The fellowship was walking for hours inside the minds. The air changed slightly it became colder and heavier, as they followed Gandalf. Few seemed bothered by the darkness. Though Gimli and Legolas, had no issue. The Mines of Moria were vast and intricate beyond the imagination of Gimli. Ethir had no issue about the darkness, but she couldn't not see clearly. At least the dazzle Elf was useful providing some light.
It was after nightfall when they had entered deeper into the Mines. They had been going for several hours with only brief halts, when Gandalf came to his first serious check. Before him stood a wide dark arch opening into three passages. "I have no memory of this place at all!" said Gandalf, standing uncertainly under the arch.
Seemed that all three paths led in the same general direction, eastwards. Though the left-hand passage plunged down, while the right-hand climbed up, and the middle way seemed to run on, smooth and level but very narrow. The wizard was confused. "I am too weary to decide. And I expect that you are all as weary as I am, or wearier. We had better halt here for what is left of the night." he suggested. And honestly everyone, liked the idea. They were walking for too long. They needed some rest.
Merry and Pippin didn't wait at all, they went over a stone door and found shelter. They sat there, searching their backpack for food. Gandalf placed his stick in the center giving some extra light for everyone. He sat close to the paths, trying to remember which one was the correct to take.
Aragorn sat beside Boromir. He gazed up to Boromir saying "Hmm. He'll remember the way soon."
"I'm not sure any more. We should never pass through, Moria but we did anyway. We should never take a woman with us, but we did that too. And now we are lost, but we don't admit it." Boromir whined.
"Have faith, Gandalf will have the answer soon." the Ranger answered.
Though he was interrupted as Ethir stepped closer glaring at Boromir. "You are still complaining about that. You should get over it." she voiced up loudly.
"And I'll saying it as many times, as I can. It was a bad idea to take a woman with us. Bad Luck I say." he said again.
Ethir mad now took a step closer "You should let it drop Lord Boromir. You don't want to irritated me. Specially, now that this place is getting to me."
Aragorn grabbed both of their hands "Be quite! We never know what those minds hide. You can cross words later." he made it clear, as he gestured Legolas to trail off Ethir.
Legolas already, understood what his friend meant. He grabbed Ethir softly from her arm and trailed her with him, away from Boromir and Aragorn. Ethir glared at him for a few seconds. But again, the sparkling Elf was something she couldn't stare for long. She lowered her gaze, and freed her arm from his grip. And moved away. Only to lose her balance and find herself fallen against the Elf's feet.
"That cannot be happening." she mumbled to herself, trying not to gaze up. She never lost her steps easy. 'How could she now be so clumsy?' She breathed deeply, trying not to overact. Though, she was starting to getting really annoying.
Legolas cracked a smile. It was one of those times, he found her only human. Like days ago in the camp, when she clinched against his boots. He leaned closer and offered her his hand. "It's truth that woman fall against my feet. But I never knew, you would be one of those?" he mocked her.
Ethir glared at him, and pushed his hand away. "I can get up on my own." she said coldly. Then she place her palms on the ground and stood up. She gazed around finding most laughing at the view. As it was kind funny. She didn't say anything else. She only passed-by Legolas and found a puffy corner to seat.
"Are we lost?" Pippin asked as he looked at Gandalf and Sam. It seemed that both were into a serious conversation. They would gaze at the lower parts of the Minds, like they were talking about something or someone.
Merry answered "No."
"No! No! I think we are." Pippin said again as he gazed at Gandalf.
"Shh! Gandalf's thinking!" Sam cut them off. He was sitting closer and could hear Gandalf and Frodo talking about Gollum.
Frodo looked down into the cavern and sees a small figure leaping from stone to stone. Startled, he asked Gandalf "There's something down there!"
Gandalf without surprise, like he knew it was there, responded "It's Gollum."
"Gollum?"
"He's been following us for three days." the wizard revealed.
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-Dûr!" Frodo wondered, as he kept gazing in the lower parts.
"Escaped? Or was set loose? And now the Ring had drawn him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself." the wizard added "Sméagol's life is a sad story. Yes, Sméagol he was once called. Before the Ring found him, before it drove him mad."
Frodo had only to say "It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance!"
"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Gandalf said glancing sharply at Frodo "Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise can not see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill."
"Get into a corner and have a sleep, my lad." Gimli said in a kindly tone, looking at Legolas; who was still standing.
"Elves, don't really sleep like humans or dwarfs do, Master Gimli." the elf answered. He lifted his eyes and gazed at Ethir. Remembering Ethir blade. "But I might take some rest." he said moving towards her.
Legolas stood priory of her, glancing down. Ethir rose her gaze against him confuse "What?"
The Elf turned and took a seat next to her. "There is something, I was curious about?" he revealed.
Ethir sighted, she really wasn't fond of the Elf. Actually, she was still mad, for landing on his feet. "What?" she asked again.
Legolas glanced one more time at her, and then pointed at her sword. "Your blade seems familiar. Who gave it to you?" he quizzed her.
"My blade?" she seemed puzzled. She placed her hand over her sword, remembering there was one more Elf that was interested in her blade. The Elvenking of Mirkwood, 'what's with that sword' she thought. She choose to settle the curiosity of the annoying Elf. "It wasn't giving to me. I found it, in an old armory, some orcs had. I think it was made by Elves."
Legolas tilted his head "You think?" he asked, as he could tell the wicked human knew more about its story.
"No, I know. It was crafted in Mirkwood. I don't know the details." she only added. She didn't reveal that Thranduil had the other blade. Neither, that it cost her once her life fighting with him. Her pride didn't let her to say more.
Legolas, didn't push to learn more. He could tell there was more to that story. But seemed that Ethir didn't want to say anything more, he dropped the matter. But his mind was set on the blade. And he would ask again about it.
"Oh! It's that way." suddenly Gandalf said getting all the attention. After long time he had remembered. The fellowship had rested enough. Now, they were again ready to walk further. They started down a dark stairway. Then they came to a more open space. Broken columns lie tumbled across the floor. Gandalf lifted his staff saying "Let me risk a little more light."
For a brief instant there was blaze like a lightning. Great shadows sprang up and fled, and for a second they saw a vast roof far above their heads upheld by many mighty pillars hew of stone. The black walls, polished and smooth as glass, flashed and glittered. Everyone was speechless, at the view.
"Behold: the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf." the wizard said.
Sam added "Now there's an eye opener and no mistake."
They walked forward through the hall, peering around a column. Gimli said a ray of sunlight shining through a chamber. Gimli ran into the chamber. Bodies and weapons scattered about it. A shaft of light illuminated it. He walked forward and peered at the tomb's surface.
Soon, the rest of the company and the outcast walked into the chamber.
Gandalf reading and translating the runes on the tomb " 'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' "
((Next Chapter: 11))
Cannot wait for next chapter. It's when the action starts. Thank you for reading! ^_^