++++++ I do not own the Lord of the Rings or any affiliated characters apart from my OC. All rights belong to Tolkien ++++++
Twelve
He was close…so close…she could almost taste it.
They would come this way soon, it was the only way that they could go to escape the darkness of the mines. All around her she could hear the drumming, the screeches, the shouts…something was about to happen, something that had not happened in a long time.
She could now see them in front of her. Running…trying the safety of the Bridge of Kazud-Dum. She smirked. "Fools."
At the last second, he turned to face whatever was coming out of the darkness. He was ready to fight but the look on his face told her that he wasn't expecting her. "And we meet again, old friend," she spoke, "for the last time."
"There is another way," he told her pleadingly.
She laughed. "There is no other way, there ever was. Hand it over, Gandalf the Grey, and I shall let you all live."
"Whatever darkness has claimed your mind, fight it!" he urged.
"GANDALF!"
She laughed. "There will be no fighting, dying, yes. Fighting…" She smirked. "Well, I would hardly call it a fight. There's nine of you and one of me, this isn't a fight. This is sport." She stepped out onto the bridge. "I've waited a long time for this, a long time to see you fall. I need this. The last vestige of my old life is you, wizard."
She wrapped her cloak around her until her body was completely enveloped in the fabric before she vanished into the shadows. When she stepped out, she drew her dagger and thrust it straight into the wizards back. "My Lord Sauron sends his regards," she hissed, twisting the knife in deeper until it hit bone. "Goodnight, goodnight, dear old friend, you knew this day would come."
She wrenched the dagger from his back and in a swift second, pushed the wounded wizard off the bridge. "Goodbye Gandalf…"
I sat up on the small rock that I had fallen asleep on and looked around in a blind panic at the other members of the Fellowship. The ten of them were going about their own devices whilst Gandalf tried to figure out which pathway we were to take.
On our fourth day through the mountain, we'd come to a path that led to one of three doorways. Gandalf, having no memory of this place, decided it would be best if we rested for a couple of hours whilst he tried to figure out which path to take.
Fortunately no one had noticed me sleeping away in my own little corner so for now, I was free from questions or concerns.
Why would you show me that? I scowled at my mind.
Bring me the ring.
My entire body seized up as the voice boomed loud and clear through my head. I ran my hands through my hair and pulled a little to take my mind off the order I had just been given. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, building a somewhat shaky wall in my head with memories of my friends and my family. Hopefully this would keep Sauron out of my mind for a little while yet.
"Are you alright?"
It was Breya.
I opened my eyes as Breya came and sat down beside me. "Never better," I lied.
Breya studied me a little. "No, you're not. Sauron is talking to you again."
I sighed and nodded. "He wants the ring." I than launched myself into the story of the numerous visions I'd had of me doing Sauron's bidding. I wanted to leave out the part where I had stabbed Gandalf but I told her everything. To her credit, Breya sat there and listened to everything that I had to say about it before she spoke.
"Falathiel, I don't know how many times this needs to be said to you but I wish you would believe that you're stronger than you look," Breya told me. "You will not kill any one and you will not take the ring to Sauron. He's a coward for exploiting a weakness that you really know nothing about. You have too many friends to turn evil."
She was right. As always.
"Sing something," Breya urged me. "It will bring us all peace of mind."
"Oh please do," Sam added. "You've a wonderful voice, so calming." He looked at me with a shy smile. "Beggin' your pardon, miss, but I heard you a couple times singing in Mister Bilbo's home when you came to visit."
Frodo looked at me from his conversation with Gandalf. "Yes, please do."
I blushed a little. "Any requests?"
"The lullaby you used to sing me to sleep with," Breya muttered.
I laughed. "It has been a long time, hasn't it Breya?"
She nodded.
I leant forward and patted Ghost behind the ears.
Sing now ye joyful, now sing all together!
The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.
Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.
Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him!
Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him!
The wanderer sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow!
Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!
Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn!
Fall Moon! Dark be the land!
Hush! Hush! Qak, Ash, and Thorn!
Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand,
Breya sat back with a grin on her face. "That takes me back. Thank you, really uplifts the soul."
"Ah!" Gandalf gasped like he'd remembered something. "It's that way!"
"He's remembered!" Merry grinned.
Gandal shook his head. "No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."
We quickly gathered all our stuff and went single file down the left-hand passage. It wasn't long before we came to a large open space.
Gandalf was right, it didn't smell as foul down here.
A brighter light shone from Gandalf's staff, exposing us to a great hall before us. "Behold, the great realm and the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
It felt somewhat odd to me to walk through the empty halls that used to be so full of life.
Suddenly, Gimli darted off from us and ran towards a ray of sunlight, shining through a chamber nearby.
"Gimli!" Gandalf cursed, following the dwarf.
The room we came into was a crypt littered with dwarf and goblin bodies, all bearing evidence of war.
I came up behind the dwarf and lightly traced my fingers over the words on the tomb.
Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.
I knelt down beside the tomb and pressed my head against the stone. "Namarieor navaer mellon."
Breya placed her hand on my shoulder. "Namarieor navaer mellon," she repeated.
"They have taken the bridge," Gandalf spoke. The two of us turned to see Gandalf reading from a large, dusty book. "And the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out…they are coming."
From behind the Fellowship there was a huge thud than an incredibly loud crash. Our attention was pulled all at once to Pippin whose curiosity had gotten the better of him. Gandalf slammed the book shut and stormed over to the hobbit. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He snatched his staff and hat from the hobbit just as drums echoed throughout the halls.
"Frodo!" Sam gasped, pointing at his sword.
I glanced down at Sting and saw that it was glowing blue, just as Narylfiel was.
The orcs were coming.