Chapter Eleven: Going Under
Disclaimer: All familiar dialogue belongs to Peter Jackson and J.R.R. Tolkien. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
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The Fellowship followed Gimli towards the entrance to the mines, leading them into the dark tunnels below. Hermione walked between Harry and Draco, gripping their hands tighter whenever she got scared. Harry and Draco looked at each other every time this happened, rolling their eyes considering they didn't seem to be at the scary area yet.
Gandalf was behind Gimli, murmuring to the Dwarf every now and again. Draco, Harry, and Hermione had a feeling Gandalf didn't like this, and they couldn't blame him. The place seemed desolate and too quiet for comfort.
Gandalf turned to Frodo, calling back to him. 'Frodo, come and help an old man,' he said. Frodo walked over, letting Gandalf place his arm around the small Hobbits shoulder. 'How is your shoulder?' Gandalf asked him. Harry, Draco, and Hermione looked at each other from behind them wondering what he meant by this. They hadn't been aware Frodo hurt his shoulder.
'Better than it was,' Frodo answered, looking up at the old Wizard.
'And the Ring?' Gandalf asked, glancing sideways at him in worry. 'You feel its power growing, don't you? I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship,' he said in warning, and Frodo looked back at him in fear. 'And, I fear, from within,' he said when Boromir walked passed. Gandalf looked at the man warily, whereas Frodo looked at him worriedly before turning back to Gandalf.
'Who then do I trust?' Frodo asked him.
'Trust yourself,' Harry said, stopping next to them. Gandalf looked over at him, and Harry looked back apologetically for butting in. 'Trust your strengths, Frodo,' he added.
'What do you mean?' Frodo asked the Gryffindor.
Gandalf was the one to answer. 'There are many powers in this world for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested,' Gandalf explained, smiling at him. 'Always remember, Frodo, he who can destroy evil, controls evil,' he told him.
Gimli came up then, stopping next to the five companions. 'The walls of Moria,' he said in awe, looking ahead of him. Gandalf, too, looked up towards the walls, only his eyes were not full of awe, but fear and worry. The Fellowship looked over at the walls Gimli was referring to, continuing towards the door to the mines. 'Dwarf doors are invisible when closed,' Gimli told them, banging his axe against the wall to prove his point.
'Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten,' Gandalf stated, making Harry and Draco snigger.
'Why am I not surprised?' Legolas put in, causing Gimli to glare up at the Elf.
When they reached the door, Frodo almost fell in the water before moving on. 'Be careful, Frodo,' Hermione called to him, and he gave her a small smile.
'Well, let's see,' Gandalf said quietly, reaching the wall and leaned close to the door. 'Ithildin,' he whispered, moving his hands over the patterns and looking towards the sky. 'It mirrors only starlight and moonlight,' he mumbled to himself, looking at the full moon shining in the sky. When the clouds moved out from in front of the moon, the door glowed. Gandalf read out what the Elven inscription over the top meant. 'It reads, "The doors of Durin. Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter",' he translated for them.
'What do you suppose it means?' Merry asked from the back of the group.
'It's simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open,' he explained to the Hobbit, and placed the end of his staff against the star on the door, speaking in a different language.
Merry and Pippin glanced at each other and smiled, Sam looked on bored, and Frodo looked on in curiosity. The doors did not open, and Gandalf looked at it in confusion, he was sure he figured out the password. He said the same thing in another language, and again it didn't open. From next to him, Gimli rolled his eyes, wondering if they would ever get in.
'Nothing's happening,' Pippin said, stating the obvious. Legolas looked down at him, turning back to watch Gandalf trying to open the door with force now.
Gandalf looked scandalised, staring at the door. 'I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs,' he muttered to himself.
'What are you going to do, then?' Pippin asked him.
Gandalf, who was getting irritated, snapped back, '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,' he finished, his voice becoming a lot softer and, for a while, he kept trying to figure out the spell.
While they waited for Gandalf to open the door, Hermione walked over to where Legolas was standing on the roots of a tree staring at the water. Hermione stood next to him. 'Beautiful night, isn't it?' She said, looking up at the bright moon. When he didn't respond, she looked over at him in curiosity. "Legolas?" she called to him softly, but he still didn't respond.
'He is in an Elven sleep. He is still aware, but he is asleep. We never know when an Elf goes into this state because they can run and walk while in this trance. It is why they rarely tire,' Aragorn explained to her and walked over to where Sam was holding Bill's reins while stroking the pony's neck. Aragorn took the bags off his back, and Sam looked at him questioningly, so he explained, 'Mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as Bill.'
Sam looked at Bill sadly, stroking the pony's ears and neck. 'Bye-bye, Bill,' he whispered.
Aragorn handed the reins to Sam, pushing Bill's neck, so he turned towards the entrance of the cave. 'Go on, Bill. Go on,' he said, and the pony trotted away. Sam looked on sadly, and Aragorn placed his hand on the Hobbits shoulder in comfort. 'Don't worry, Sam, he knows the way home,' Aragorn reassured him.
Hermione moved away from Legolas, sitting next to Harry who was glaring at the Elf. Harry sobered his expression when she placed her head on his shoulder. 'How are you, Harry?' she asked quietly.
'Fine, thanks. How are you and lover-boy over there?" he asked bitterly.
Hermione pulled away, staring at him in disbelief. 'He's protecting me, and this is how you speak of him? I don't see you making any effort. You're supposed to be my friend, Harry,' she shouted, walking away in anger.
Legolas jumped down from the roots, staring at the water, and he frowned, moving closer to Gandalf. 'Swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake,' he whispered, and Gandalf looked at the lake in curiosity. 'Something is not right about this,' he said quietly. His eyes found Hermione's before diverting to Merry throwing a large stone into the water.
Aragorn noticed Legolas' worried expression and grabbed Pippin before he could copy Merry. 'Do not disturb the water,' he told him in warning, and Pippin looked back in fear.
Over by the door, Gandalf slumped his shoulders, walking over to sit on a rock. He threw his stick down in defeat, sitting next to Frodo. 'Oh, it's useless,' he said in frustration.
Aragorn and Boromir studied the water, both wearing frowns. Hermione walked over to the door, reading the inscription, and momentarily forgot she wasn't going to let on she knew Elvish, except for Aragorn and Gandalf. Aragorn guessed rather than found out. 'It's a riddle,' she said, and the water seemed to come alive, waves licking the shore by their feet. Hermione stared at the door in wonder. 'Speak "friend" and enter,' she whispered. Aragorn, Boromir, and the Hobbits continued to stare at the water when larger waves moved towards the shore. Legolas fixed his eyes on Hermione while she continued to stare at the door. 'm'ɛl̡lɔn,' she whispered, and Legolas' eyes widened when the door opened. His eyes flew back to her in shock. Did she know Elvish? How was this possible?
Gandalf looked on in shock. 'Ah, the last spell must have been delayed and only got through to the door now,' he laughed, leading the way into the mines and everyone followed in relief. Legolas eyed Hermione with curiosity and suspicion when she passed him, but she didn't look at him, and he wondered what she was hiding.
Gimli addressed Legolas, walking next to him, 'Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!' he said excitedly. Gandalf lit the crystal on the tip of his staff so everyone could see around them. 'This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin. Unless I miss my guess, we're in for one wild night,' he laughed loudly at this. 'And they call it a mine.'
'Are you going to be a bad influence?' Legolas asked in amusement, looking around.
'Of course, I'm a bad influence,' he answered, shocked at being asked such a thing. He laughed while Gandalf shone his light on the stairs. 'A mine!' Gimli shouted out in amusement.
Boromir, Aragorn, and Legolas looked around in shock. 'This is no mine. It's a tomb,' Boromir stated. Everyone looked around in fear, noticing the many bodies lying around on the ground.
'It's quite filthy down here,' Draco muttered, looking around at the skeletons on the ground and stairs. Harry, Hermione, and Draco pulled out their wands, continuing to look around warily.
Gimli's eyes opened in horror. 'No...' he said in grief, running to one body of his kin. 'No!' he shouted.
Legolas walked over to one, pulling out the arrow, examining the arrowhead. 'Goblins,' he stated, throwing away the arrow, and grabbing one of his own, loading it onto his bow. Hermione followed suit while Draco and Harry pulled out their swords. Aragorn, Boromir, and the Hobbits pulled their weapons out also. Gandalf placed his hand on the hilt of his own but didn't take it out.
Aragorn turned to Boromir while the other man looked back at him in fear. 'We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here. Now, get out of here. Get out!' Boromir shouted.
Something tripped Frodo up, grabbing him by a long tentacle which came out of the water. 'Frodo!' the other three Hobbits yelled while the arm dragged him to the water.
'Help!' Sam shouted as the three Hobbits made to grab Frodo, but the beast was too strong. 'Strider!' Sam shouted, gaining Aragorn's attention.
'Help!' Frodo screamed.
'Get off him!' Sam shouted, cutting the creature's tentacle off, freeing Frodo.
'Aragorn!' Frodo cried while Merry and Pippin tried to get him to his feet. They watched the tentacle disappear into the water, and ten more appeared, knocking the Hobbits and Aragorn away from Frodo. It grabbed the Hobbit again, pulling him away from them into the water.
Legolas and Hermione took up position with their bows and arrows. He let one loose, hitting it in the tentacle gripping Frodo, and Hermione let hers go, hitting the same tentacle Legolas hit. In the time it took Hermione to fire one arrow, Legolas had already fired off three, and Hermione wished she could be as quick.
Frodo screamed when the body of the creature surfaced, opening its mouth like it was going to eat him. Boromir cut one of the tentacles off, before getting hit away from the monster. He ran back over, halving the one gripping Frodo, and caught the Hobbit when he fell.
'Into the mines!' Gandalf shouted to them.
'Legolas!' Boromir cried, and Legolas reloaded his bow, shooting again.
'Into the cave!' Aragorn shouted, and Legolas grabbed Hermione, pulling her into the mines. He ran back out and got Merry, Pippin, and Sam in, before firing arrows at the monster until Aragorn and Boromir, who was still holding Frodo, passed him.
When they ran in, Harry, Draco, and Hermione pulled out their wands, pointing to the monster. 'Reducto!' they all shouted, and the force of the three spells combined caused the walls to cave in and they ran so they wouldn't get crushed.
They took cover, the Hobbits huddled together, and Legolas grabbed on to Aragorn's shoulders, pulling him away from a rolling rock. They watched Harry, Hermione, and Draco dive away from the rocks landing in front of the Hobbits. They were soon engulfed in complete silence, and all they could hear was the heavy breathing of everyone present until Draco decided to break it. 'Well, that was fun... in a terrible, sick, not-at-all-fun kind of way,' Draco said with a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Legolas helped them to their feet, eyeing Hermione. 'Next time, stay close, you are no good to me dead,' he said to her, turning away.
She grabbed his arm, making him turn back towards her. 'I'm not afraid of dying, you know,' she said, a little bitterly.
'How would you know? You've never tried it before,' Draco put in, brushing himself off, and answering for Legolas who walked away over to Gandalf.
'Total shambles, as per usual,' Gandalf whispered in anger, breaking the banter. He addressed his companions, 'We now have but one choice,' he said, lighting the crystal on his staff, and Hermione, Harry, and Draco lit the tips of their wands as well. Gandalf continued, 'We must face the long and dark of Moria.' He walked towards the stairs, and upon reaching Legolas, he turned to him. 'Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world,' he said, leading them up the stairs covered in the skeletons of the Dwarves. 'The darkest souls are not those who choose to exist within the hell of the abyss. It's those who decide to move in silence among us. Quiet now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed,' he told them in warning, entering the mines.
'What did he mean by the whole things moving around us?' Draco asked with a little fear in his voice.
Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Just because you cannot see something, does not mean it cannot kill you,' he told the Slytherin whose eyes widened at these words.
'It's so dark down here,' Harry whispered, and Legolas nodded in agreement before walking ahead to survey the area.
'If there are any eyeless seeing undead things down here, let me know and I'll... er... shoot them from a distance... with my wand,' Draco said, looking around at the mines.
Boromir fell into step with him, looking down at the Slytherin. 'How could someone see without eyes? Even if they are undead?' he asked him.
Draco turned to him, smirking. 'How can you walk around without a brain? Some things no one can answer,' he told him, looking at Hermione who rolled her eyes. Draco sniggered. 'Yes, behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes, gentlemen!' he said to the rest of the Fellowship who all turned to look at the blushing Hermione.
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They walked along thin paths with no barriers to stop them from falling down a massive drop. Gandalf stopped, examining the wall in curiosity, running his hand across some markings. 'The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril,' he told the Fellowship, shining his light down the edge of the drop. It lit up the ravine and showing them how far it went down, and they could see a glittering substance on the walls, assuming this was Mithril. Gandalf turned back to them and smiled. 'Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings which Thorin gave him,' Gandalf told them, smiling when he thought of his old friends.
Gimli's eyes widened in surprise at this. 'Oh, that was a kingly gift,' he stated.
Gandalf nodded. 'Yes,' he agreed, before continuing, 'I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the value of the Shire,' he said to them, and Frodo's eyes widened at this revelation, placing a hand on his chest.