Chapter Twelve: The Dwarf-City of Dwarrowdelf
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and any characters I add in. All familiar dialogue belongs to Peter Jackson (film adaption) and J.R.R. Tolkien (books). Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
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The Fellowship continued their journey through the dark, seemingly endless halls in the Mines of Moria. They were guided only by Gandalf's sense of direction and Legolas' keen hearing and sharp eyesight. They reached a steep, brittle staircase and started their slow climb. It was like climbing the side of a mountain. Pippin grabbed hold of one of the steps, the stone crumbling. He slipped, and Merry caught him to stop him from falling on his head. 'Pippin,' Merry said in frustration, pushing Pippin to keep climbing.
Gandalf reached the top of the stairs finally, sighing in relief and looking around at his surroundings. In front of him were two separate sets of spiral stairs leading up to three doorways, and Gandalf's eyes narrowed in confusion, taking this in. 'I have no memory of this place,' he whispered to himself in worry.
The Fellowship stopped when Gandalf sat on top of a huge rock, and stared at the three doors like doing this may give him the memories he needed to know which door to go through. Draco sat next to Harry on the floor, leaning against the wall. 'Are we lost?' he asked to no one in particular.
'No,' Aragorn answered, watching Gandalf with curiosity.
'I think we are,' Pippin said to him, but Merry hit him on the arm, frowning at his cousin.
'Gandalf's thinking,' Harry whispered to Draco, and the Slytherin nodded.
'Merry?' came Pippin again, turning to the Hobbit in question.
'What?" Merry asked in slight annoyance.
'I'm hungry,' Pippin answered, and Merry pushed him off the rock he was sitting on next to him, sighing while he took a long puff of his pipe.
Frodo turned, hearing a noise from below in the ravine and he looked down, spotting something moving below them. In fear, he ran up to Gandalf. 'There's something down there,' he informed the old Wizard. Harry followed him up there, also going to tell Gandalf he saw something down in the ravine.
'It's Gollum,' Gandalf said to him.
'Gollum?' Harry asked, looking back at the ravine.
'He's been following us for three days,' Gandalf explained, glancing at Frodo and Harry before staring back at the three doorways in front of him again.
'He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dûr?' Frodo asked him in shock.
'Escaped or was set loose,' Gandalf said to him, looking at the Hobbit. 'Now the Ring has brought him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself,' he explained, shaking his head. 'Sméagol's life is a sad story,' he said, turning back to Frodo and Harry after saying this. 'Yes, Sméagol he was once called before the Ring found him. Before it drove him mad,' he stated, turning back to the doorways again.
'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance,' Frodo said, turning back to the ravine, and catching sight of the creature again.
'Pity?' Gandalf asked the Hobbit with a frown. 'It is pity which stayed Bilbo's hand,' Gandalf informed a shocked Frodo and a curious Harry. 'Many who live deserve death. Some who die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?' he asked him, but it was evident to the wizened Wizard Frodo could not answer such a question. Instead, he continued, 'Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many,' Gandalf told Frodo.
Frodo sat down next to Gandalf, saddened at these words. He looked down at his hands. 'I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this happened,' he whispered forlornly.
'So do all who live to see such times, but it is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time which is given to us,' he paused, letting this sink in. He watched Harry walk back down the steps, pulling Hermione into a hug and the girl looked at him in confusion. Gandalf smiled, turning back to Frodo, and continuing, 'There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you also were meant to have it. And it is an encouraging thought,' he told him with a smile. The Hobbit smiled back, a little more comforted after talking to the old man. Gandalf looked back at the doorways, and his eyes widened, a twinkle appearing in them, and he smiled. 'Ah! It's this way,' he said, pointing to one of the doorways, which gained the attention of the Fellowship who looked around at each other in disbelief.
Merry brightened at these words. 'He's remembered,' he said, getting to his feet.
'No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here,' he informed the Hobbit. 'If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose,' he told the Hobbit, who laughed a little at this.
Gandalf led the way, followed by Hermione who helped him light the way with her wand. Harry and Draco did the same, but they were at the back of the group helping those behind see their way. They descended the steep staircase, which was slippery and dangerous, and walked through the archway at the bottom. Gandalf looked around, noticing the new area was too large to make out everything. 'Let me risk a little more light,' he said, mumbling a spell to brighten the crystal at the end of his staff. The members of the Fellowship looked around in awe at the hall. 'Behold the great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf,' he said in a welcoming tone.
'Gossip's worth its weight in gold,' Gimli said in awe, taking in the city.
'There's an eye-opener, and no mistake,' Sam whispered, looking around the vast underground city.
'It's a bit dull,' Boromir scoffed, looking around as well.
Gimli turned to him in anger. 'It would be nice not to want to kill you all the time,' he told the man through gritted teeth.
Gandalf smiled, turning to them to stop the Dwarf from killing Boromir. 'Now, Gimli,' he said and then turned to Boromir. 'You reap what you sow... You have heard of this, no?' he asked him, and the other man shook his head. 'Insulting a Dwarf in his domain is not a smart move,' he said in warning. He addressed the rest of the Fellowship while Boromir glared at the floor. 'We will make camp here and continue come morning,' he told them all with a smile. He turned serious again. 'We must be careful, for I fear there may be horrors lurking about in the quiet darkness around us. Be on your guard,' he warned them, sharing a glance with Legolas who nodded.
The Hobbits, Draco, and Harry sat down gratefully at these words, followed by Boromir, Gimli, and Gandalf. Over to one side, Aragorn and Legolas stood conversing in whispers. From what Harry and Draco could make out, they were speaking Elvish. Hermione also listened in curiosity, but she could only make out a few of their words. Draco tugged on her sleeve, and she leaned down. 'What is it?' she asked him.
'What are they saying?' Draco asked her. Harry leaned towards them as well, also curious to know what words the Elf and the Ranger were exchanging.
'I can't hear them from here. I managed to make out a few things, but not much. Aragorn mentioned something about Goblins and Legolas sounded worried, but I'm not sure about what he said. I did notice they keep glancing at the Hobbits, Gimli, or us though. I have a feeling whatever they are talking about could have something to do with any of us or the others. I'll try to get closer to make out what they're saying, but Aragorn knows I can understand Elvish, so he may notice my motives. I have a feeling Legolas suspects I know it because of my slip up when opening the door into Moria,' she explained. They both nodded and watched her walk closer, pretending to join in a conversation with Gandalf and Boromir.
She listened to Aragorn and Legolas. 'I'm worried about how the Hobbits are faring in this place,' Aragorn whispered, looking around the vast hall.
'They are stronger than they look. I fear the Ring's power is starting to wear Frodo down. I am afraid he may succumb,' Legolas answered, his voice laced with concern.
'What of young Harry and his two companions?' Aragorn asked the Elf.
Legolas sighed, turning to look at him. 'Master Harry and Master Draco I do not know, I have not conversed with them much. I am unsure of their motives or even why they are here. Lady Hermione is entirely different from them I have noticed. I suspect she knows ɛð'ɛl̡lɛn,' he answered. Hermione looked away, saying something to Gimli when Legolas looked over at her.
'What makes you think she knows Elvish?' Aragorn asked him in curiosity.
'I heard her speak the Sindarin word for "friend". It maybe she has picked up a few words from when we were in Rivendell, but it seems to me there may be more to it,' Legolas said, glancing back over to the girl in question.
Aragorn eyed him for a moment. 'Would it be so bad if she did?' he asked, reverting to English.
Legolas looked back at him for a moment, sighing and turning back to the endless inky blackness of the city. 'I suppose not. Knowing if she can speak it would make my life simpler. It also causes me to wonder how she learnt it in the first place. She could not have appeared here and learned Sindarin or any of the other Elvish languages overnight. It is not possible to learn it in such little time. It takes years to master the pronunciation and the difficult words. She would have had to have grown up learning it, or she would have to be part Elf to know it anyway,' Legolas explained to him, glancing over at Hermione again. Only this time, he caught her eyes and gave her a tiny smile before turning away again.
Aragorn watched them, smiling to himself. 'I taught her a few words while we were in Rivendell,' Aragorn told him, without looking at him, and Legolas nodded at this in understanding.
They fell silent, and Hermione closed her eyes, tuning into the other conversations buzzing around her. Something Frodo said caught her attention, 'I think I made a mistake in agreeing to come to this place. It was a wrong decision, and now we're trapped in here,' he said sadly, and Sam patted his shoulder in comfort.
Hermione made her way over to him, kneeling in front of him, and tilted his head up, so he was looking at her. 'If the only choice you've got is to do the wrong thing, then it's not the wrong thing, is it? It's more like fate,' she told him in the hopes of lifting his spirits a little.
'Hermione's right, Frodo. There was no way you could have known what was down here,' Harry said from where he was sitting between Merry and Pippin.
They sat talking until Harry whipped around towards Draco so fast it caused the blonde to fall off the rock he was sitting on. 'Whoa, calm yourself, Potter,' Draco said in amusement, pulling himself back up onto the rock.
Harry rolled his eyes. 'Snape said your Father mentioned the device Voldemort was using to you. Did the device have a name?' Harry asked him.
'This is a bit sudden, don't you think?' Draco asked in shock.
'Harry, where did this come from? We weren't even talking about Voldemort or anything to with him. Why the sudden interest now?' Hermione asked him, just as surprised as Draco at Harry's abrupt question.
'I just had a thought. Do you know what it is called?' Harry asked him, a little firmer.
'A device, a thing-a-ma-bob, a do-hickey?' Draco answered, smirking.
Harry glared at him. 'Is there ever going to be a time you can be serious for five minutes?' Harry asked, gritting his teeth.
Draco smirked. 'No,' he answered, and Harry narrowed his eyes at him. Draco feared the Gryffindor was going to beat him up, so he held up his hands in surrender. 'Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I can't remember much about it, but it was a mirror. That's all I know, I swear,' Draco answered.
'A mirror?' Harry whispered in question; only it wasn't to anyone in particular.
'Why not ask Gandalf? He seemed to know much about it,' Hermione told him.
Harry nodded. 'I'll ask him when I have a chance to speak with him alone,' he told them, and they nodded in agreement.
Hermione stood up, walking away from the group, unaware a pair of bright blue eyes and another emerald pair followed her. She stopped next to a pillar and leaned against it, finally letting the tears fall when she thought of everything which had happened up until now. The loss of Ron was a huge blow to her system, and she didn't think she'd ever get over it. She loved him; he was like a brother to her. She knew she would have to let him go though and crying is not what he would have wanted her to do.
She felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder, and she looked up at Aragorn. 'Are you alright?' He asked her in concern. She wiped her tears away, smiling half-heartedly at him and nodding. 'Do you want to tell me what is bothering you?' he asked her.
She looked up at him with a smile. Ever since she first spoke to the Ranger, she trusted him explicitly. He reminded her of Sirius, and she felt she could tell him anything without any worry he would judge her. 'I guess... I'm getting scared,' she answered, looking away from him.
'What are you afraid of?'
Hermione wiped the fresh tears away, turning to him. 'Sometimes... when I'm with you all... I... feel like we're on the same wavelength... you know? But whenever there are fights, everyone's tempo picks up and... I feel like I'm being left behind. I try to catch up, but it's no use...' she told him.
Aragorn pulled the young woman into his arms to comfort her. 'You will never be left behind, not when there are those who care for you and want only to keep you from harm,' he said to her, and Hermione noticed him glance over at Legolas who was watching them with curiosity. 'Legolas cares more than he lets on. He may seem withdrawn and quiet, but his heart is in the right place. He only wants to protect you, because he feels connected to you on some level,' he explained to her.
'Thanks, Aragorn,' she whispered, hugging him again.
He stroked her hair, pulling away and wiping away her tears. 'Anytime you need to get something off your mind, you know I'll be here for you,' he told her, and she nodded. He patted her shoulder, smiling.
He walked away over to Harry and Draco who were talking about something, their expressions serious. Hermione stayed where she was for a while, her thoughts on Harry, Ron, the future, and a certain blonde Elf.
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'Fear is what protects you from the things you don't believe in,' Aragorn told Harry and Draco. The two boys told Aragorn about what happened in the battle of Hogwarts.
'There was so much destruction. So many people died,' Harry said sadly after a short moment of silence.
Aragorn shook his head. This young man had seen more death and destruction than he had, and here he sat, a strong young man who was looking now to the future. He placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. 'The past is a puzzle, like a broken mirror. When you piece it together, your image keeps shifting, and you change with it. It could destroy you, drive you mad. It could set you free,' Aragorn told him.
'What do you mean?' Draco asked him in curiosity.
'You have seen much in your young lives people your age should not have to witness. I think you have both come out all the stronger for it. I believe the same for Hermione also,' Aragorn explained, and Draco nodded in understanding.
'They were after me, and it was my fault. I can't run from my past. I end up running in circles. Until I fall back down the same hole I was trying to escape from,' Harry said, tears filling his eyes.
'The illusions of the past. You think to have cast them off, only to find them years later, unwearying, and unrelenting. The past can bind a man as surely as irons,' Aragorn told him. 'It's not something to worry yourself over, young Harry. These things have a way of working themselves out. Just wait, and you will see what I am talking about,' Aragorn reassured him. Harry nodded, smiling at the older man weakly while Hermione pulled him into a hug.
Over with Gimli, Boromir, Gandalf, and Legolas, they were discussing the different races of Middle-Earth. 'Dwarves are a proud race, which is where our large cities come from,' Gimli was saying with a laugh, and Legolas rolled his eyes. The tension and anger between the Dwarf and Elf was yet to lift, but the rest of the Fellowship members believed this wouldn't happen for a while yet.
'Dwarves are so small, why would you need such big cities?' Boromir asked the Dwarf.
Gimli glared at him. 'As I said, we're a proud people,' Gimli said in anger.
'I'd say you're too proud,' Boromir said softly.
Gimli turned to him, looking at him critically. 'I respect men like you. Men with courage. But you are a slave to your emotions, and so, will never know real strength. Such is the curse of Men,' the Dwarf told him, and Boromir looked back in anger but didn't say anything.
'I would say in my opinion, Men are prouder than Dwarves,' Gandalf put in, and Boromir spun to look at him in shock for defending the Dwarf.
Draco wandered over to see what they were talking about, sitting next to Gimli. 'We may be proud, but we always look out for each other,' Boromir was saying, and Draco rolled his eyes. 'We rarely lose in battles because of our need to protect our people,' he told them, trying to defend himself and his people.
'Confident bastard, aren't you?' Draco said, causing Boromir to glare at him while Gimli chuckled.
'What is your problem with me!?' Boromir shouted at him, causing Legolas to straighten up in alarm at the echo of his voice around the hall. The Elf shared a look with Gandalf who turned and glared at Boromir.
'Boromir shut the hell up!' Draco said back loudly, but not loud enough to cause the echo Boromir had. 'Bloody... idiot,' he added in frustration, turning back to the livid man. 'Everyone is allowed to be dense, but you abuse the privilege,' Draco said, rolling his eyes. Boromir lunged angrily at him, but he stopped in mid-air and got thrown back into the wall.
Legolas, Gandalf, Gimli, and Draco all turned around in shock, and Hermione lowered her wand. Boromir looked up at her in a daze, and she glared back. 'Don't. Mess. With. Us! I warn you now for the last time! You are starting to piss me off royally!' She said, her eyes flashing with anger.
Gimli leaned towards Draco. 'Do you fear her?' the Dwarf asked quietly.
Draco turned to him, his eyes wide in shock. 'You have no idea,' he answered nervously, causing Gimli to chuckle. He turned back to the still livid Hermione. 'Hey,' he said in a gentle tone, and she looked at him. 'Thanks,' he said with a smile.
'Don't mention it,' Hermione told him, the anger still evident while she put her wand back into her pocket. Draco stood and was about to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him. 'Seriously, I mean it, don't mention it,' she said to him, and he nodded, smiling at her. She stared at him, a little shocked because Draco never smiled... ever.
Draco raised his eyebrows while Hermione continued to stare at him in confusion. 'I'm smiling which should scare you,' he said like this was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hermione shook her head, smiling herself. 'Believe me, it's the freakiest thing I've ever seen in my life,' she answered, laughing.
'Good, I'm glad I have that effect on you,' he told her, and his smile widened.
Hermione shuddered, walking away, and shaking her head, and Draco chuckled evilly, his smirk returning. Hermione slumped down next to Harry, resting her head on his shoulder.
Draco turned around, tuning in to what Gimli was saying to the Hobbits. 'The smart enemy attacks you exactly where you think you are safe,' he told them. 'You always have to prepare for a fight. That's why I'm never without my trusty axe,' he added, gesturing to the axe sitting next to him.
Aragorn walked over then, placing a hand on Draco's shoulder. 'I have a suggestion,' he said.
'What would that be, Aragorn?' Gimli asked from his perch next to Sam.
'I think young Draco here should take the Ring to Mordor,' he said, trying not to laugh when the boy took on a look of absolute horror at the thought.
'I don't want to,' Draco whispered, his voice a notch higher than it should have been, causing everyone who was listening to laugh.
'I was jesting, Draco,' Aragorn said, laughing with everyone else.
'That's good to know,' Draco said, sighing in relief.
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The halls of the city turned almost pitch black when Gandalf dulled the light from his crystal. The only two members of the Fellowship who weren't sleeping were Gandalf and Legolas. They stood side by side, looking into the inky blackness of the halls. 'What do you see?' Gandalf asked him quietly.
Legolas looked around the hall. 'Nothing out of the ordinary. I sense a great evil within these walls. They are close so we must stay on our guard,' he said, looking over at Hermione, concern filling his eyes at the thought he may not be able to protect her.
Gandalf followed his gaze, smiling. 'Everything happens for a reason,' the old Wizard said quietly, and Legolas turned to face him. 'They say even the proudest spirit can be broken... with love,' he added, walking away from the confused Elf.
Legolas turned back to the darkness and sighed, preparing himself for a long night of guarding his sleeping companions. After a while of silence, he allowed himself to slip into Elven sleep. He was still completely aware of his surroundings, staring unblinkingly into the darkness.