Chapter Fourteen: Journey into the Mines
Disclaimer: I do not own the works of Lord of the Rings, this belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, or the works of Harry Potter which belongs to J.K. Rowling. Any familiar dialogue or scenes belong to their respective owners.
A/N: Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter as the Fellowship traverses into the Mines of Moria!
Thanks for all the amazing reviews I got for the last chapter! You guys are the best XD Please let me know what you think of this next one!
oOoOo
The morning after their ordeal on Mount Caradhras came too soon for the members of the Fellowship. Hermione sat in the grass staring at the serene mountain and marvelled at how they managed to pull through.
She sighed, leaning back on her arms and crossing her legs at her ankles. It was still too early for the majority of the Fellowship to be awake, but Hermione knew it wouldn't be long. She just wanted a moment's peace before things got moving again. Hermione looked at the horizon and smiled as the sun began to creep up.
'You are awake,' came a voice from behind Hermione and she quickly moved onto her knees, her wand at the ready.
When Hermione grasped it was Legolas she lowered her wand. 'Oh! Sorry…' she trailed off, slipping her wand back up her sleeve. 'Habit,' Hermione added with a small shrug.
Legolas nodded and came to stand next to her, looking out at the sun climbing in the distance. 'Did you have trouble sleeping?' he asked her, peering down at where she was still kneeling in the grass.
Hermione comprehended she was in a rather embarrassing position with Legolas standing so close to her and she scrambled to her feet. She flushed, looking away from him to try and dispel the images forming in her mind. 'Um… no, I just wanted to have a moment alone before we leave,' she answered, running a hand through her hair.
'I see,' Legolas replied with a frown.
Silence fell over them for a moment before Hermione let out a sigh. 'It really is beautiful here,' she whispered, her eyes glazing over.
Legolas looked over at her. 'Yes, it is,' he agreed, relaxing a little.
Hermione glanced at him feeling awkward at their strained conversation. 'Will the rest of the journey be as hard?' she asked him, fiddling with her hands as she thought of what could have happened on Mount Caradhras.
Legolas turned towards Hermione and took her hands to stop her from twisting them. 'As Lord Elrond told us, we cannot predict what will happen,' he told her, and Hermione looked up at him with wide eyes. 'There are things in this world that you cannot oppose, no matter how hard you try,' Legolas told her, his eyes darkening.
Hermione frowned at the look on Legolas's face, but she had to wonder if she imagined it as it was gone before she had time to blink. 'I'm worried,' Hermione whispered, looking away from him to the ground. 'Not for myself, but for the Hobbits. I wonder if it's already too much for them,' she said, taking her hands out of Legolas's and crossing her arms as if she was protecting herself from something.
Legolas reached forward and placed his hand under Hermione's chin and tilted her head so she was looking at him. 'Do not be ill at ease, Lady Hermione. The Hobbits have all of us to keep them safe,' he told her, and Hermione shivered when his thumb moved softly across her jaw.
Hermione smiled at Legolas timidly. 'That is true, but the fear in their eyes…' she trailed off, shaking her head which made Legolas withdraw his hand.
Legolas nodded, looking away from her. 'It is something they will learn to overcome with time,' he told her, looking out at the brightening sky.
'I hope so,' Hermione answered with a sigh, gazing up at the sky as well.
oOoOo
It wasn't long before the rest of the Fellowship were roused and there was a cacophony of sounds as they made ready to depart the area they had camped in. They followed Gimli towards the shadow of the ruins of a great aqueduct in the mist and ice of the mountains.
When they reached the entrance, the Fellowship looked at the gloomy cave with frowns. Draco tilted his head. 'Oh, that is nice,' he said with a smirk and crossed his arms.
Gimli raised his eyebrows. 'What's so nice about it?' he asked, looking at the murky, daunting cave in curiosity.
Draco shrugged. 'I was just wondering what some place sinister and foreboding would look like, and here it is!' he answered with a laugh. 'Ouch!' he cried, rubbing his arm after Hermione punched him. Draco scowled at her, receiving a smug smile back.
Gandalf rolled his eyes before smacking Draco on the back of his head. 'Enough,' he told them as Draco looked at him in surprise. 'We must press on,' Gandalf advised and Draco nodded, sulking slightly and crossing his arms.
The Fellowship made their way into the cave and followed the makeshift path next to a small stream while trying not to slip on any mud or loose stones. Gandalf walked next to Gimli, and he could be heard murmuring to the Dwarf with a bitterness in his tone. Draco, Harry and Hermione had a feeling Gandalf was not keen on the idea of going through Moria. Hermione considered her surroundings and realised she really couldn't blame him. The place seemed barren and far too quiet for comfort.
When they had started their trek through the cave Hermione had been amazed that they hadn't come across any Dwarves at all. She didn't think it was ordinary practice for them to not have at least a couple of sentinels minding the entrance for intruders. They could have been anyone, even followers of Saruman, but there was no one. It was eerily quiet in the caves and only the echoes of water dripping from the cave roof could be heard as it landed to ripple in the still stream. It was disconcerting.
Gandalf slowed his walk, allowing Legolas to take the lead as he beckoned to Frodo. 'Frodo, come and help an old man,' he requested, inclining heavily on his staff. Frodo nodded, making his way to Gandalf's side and the old Wizard put his arm around the small Hobbits shoulder, leaning on him. 'How is your shoulder?' he asked him, looking down at Frodo in concern. Harry, Hermione and Draco looked at each other in bewilderment as they questioned what Gandalf was talking about. None of them were aware Frodo had injured his shoulder at any point and worried it may have happened on the mountain without realising.
'Better than it was,' Frodo replied, touching his shoulder and frowning.
Gandalf nodded. 'And the Ring?' he probed anxiously, casting a fleeting look at him. Frodo opened his mouth to answer, but he didn't know what to say. Gandalf stopped walking, prompting Frodo to stop as well and look up at him. 'You feel its power growing, don't you?' Gandalf asked him with a sigh. 'I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship,' he cautioned him and Frodo's eyes widened in dread. 'And, I fear, from within,' Gandalf added as Boromir passed them. Gandalf looked at the Gondorian guardedly, whereas Frodo looked at him in concern.
Frodo turned back to Gandalf. 'Who, then, do I trust?' Frodo asked him, his tone subdued.
'The only person you can trust is yourself,' Harry put in, stopping next to them. Gandalf looked over at him, realising they had been eavesdropping and Harry glanced at him apologetically for butting in.
Gandalf smiled at him before looking back at Frodo. 'Harry is right, Frodo. Trust your own strengths,' he told him with a smile.
Frodo frowned. 'What do you mean?' he asked, looking up at Gandalf.
'There are many powers in this world for good or for evil,' Gandalf explained, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder. 'Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested,' he added, smiling at Frodo. 'Always remember, Frodo, he who destroys evil, controls evil,' Gandalf told him, raising his eyebrows.
Gimli stopped next to them at the top of the path and gazed at the walls in wonder. 'The Walls of Moria!' he cried in reverence, touching the stone of the wall as if it was the most exquisite thing in the world.
Gandalf frowned, looking down from the looming cliff which had been cut into a sheer formation. His eyes were not full of awe like everyone else's, Hermione observed, but dread and concern. She looked at the walls and felt a shiver run down her back. If this is a place even Gandalf fears to tread, then what is in store for us, I wonder? Hermione thought, crossing her arms and frowning.
Gandalf signalled for them to continue on carefully as the path became narrow strips of green and greasy stones making their footing treacherous. On the way, Gimli tapped the wall with his axe, listening. Gandalf raised his eyebrows, but did the same with his staff. 'Dwarf doors are invisible when closed,' Gimli clarified to the puzzled Harry, Hermione and Draco.
'Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten,' Gandalf countered with a sarcastic smile making Harry and Draco snigger.
'Why am I not surprised?' Legolas put in softly. Hermione held back a giggle as the Dwarf glowered up at him and sniffed with disgust at the comment.
Frodo let out a yelp as he slipped, almost falling into the water. Hermione reached out to steady him. 'Be careful, Frodo,' she said, checking if he was okay and he gave her a small smile.
The Fellowship finally reached the clearing and Gandalf approached a smooth rock wall between two twisted, gnarled trees. Slowly, faint lines appeared like slender veins of luminous silver running through the stone. 'Oh wow,' Hermione gasped, looking at the wall in awe.
Gandalf smiled at Hermione. 'Ithildin,' he explained as a large moon rose over the mountains. 'It mirrors only starlight and moonlight,' he told them, watching as the lines on the wall grew broader and clearer, forming a glowing arch of interlacing ancient letters and symbols.
Draco looked up at the Elven inscription over the top of the door. 'What does it say, Gandalf?' he asked, his eyes not leaving the script. Somehow, deep down, Draco felt like he should know this but he had no idea how. It was an odd feeling, one he couldn't figure out.
'It reads, "The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter",' Gandalf interpreted for Draco, looking at the blonde's curious expression.
'What do you suppose it means?' Merry asked curiously, tilting his head at the inscription.
Gandalf raised his eyebrows, glancing back at Merry. 'It's simple,' he answered confidently, gripping his staff in both hands. 'If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open,' he told them, smiling smugly.
Gandalf raised his staff and placed the tip onto the glowing star on the arch and closed his eyes. 'Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!' he incanted, and the cliff towered into the night, the wind blew cold causing everyone to shiver, but the door stood fast. (A/N Translation: 'Gate of the Elves, open now for me!') Unperturbed, Gandalf smiled and tried again. 'Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen,' he incanted, but the same thing happened and the door still remained tightly shut. (A/N Translation: 'Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.')
Merry and Pippin glanced at each other, grinning in amusement. Sam was tired of standing about while Frodo watched in interest. Hermione stared at the inscription questioning what it could really mean while Draco and Harry were having a thumb war to keep themselves entertained. From next to Gandalf, Gimli rolled his eyes, doubting if Gandalf would ever figure out the password. Aragorn was eyeing the lake, apprehensive about it being so tranquil while Legolas had moved further into the clearing to check if they were safe.
After a few more tries, Pippin tilted his head. 'Nothing's happening,' he said, stating the obvious and making them turn to him with raised eyebrows.
Gandalf glanced at him in irritation, before turning back to the door and tried pushing on them forcefully, but they remained unmoving. The old Wizard looked scandalised, glowering at the door in bewilderment. 'I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men and Orcs,' he murmured, shaking his head.
'What are you going to do, then?' Pippin questioned him with innocent inquisitiveness.
Gandalf closed his eyes against the frustration building up in him. 'Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!' he snapped back, shaking his head. '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 said, his tone softening as he finished.
Gradually, the members of the Fellowship wandered off to different parts of the clearing to try and distract themselves so they could give Gandalf the peace and space to try and open the door.
Hermione was the last to leave, gazing at the doorway in amazement as she read the inscription again. She smiled at Gandalf as he touched the door, continuing to mumble spells wearily, 'Ando Eldarina… a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa…' and with every one, the door still wouldn't budge. (A/N Translation: 'Gate of Elves… listen to my word, Threshold of Dwarves…')
Sighing, Hermione moved over to the lake which reflected the night sky on the smooth, glassy surface. She knelt at the edge, placing her hand, palm flat, on the surface and watched it ripple, distorting the mirror-like image. Hermione smiled, standing back up and looked around, noticing Legolas standing on the roots of a large tree, staring at the water.
Legolas looked so fixated on the water that Hermione debated leaving him alone, but she wanted to ask him about the doorway. She slowly made her way over to him, and stopped next to him. Hermione frowned when Legolas didn't move or acknowledge her presence at all. 'Hey, can I ask you something, Legolas?' Hermione asked, crouching down and picking some grass blades and twirling them in her fingers.
Hermione was so preoccupied by twirling the grass blades that it took her a few minutes to grasp that Legolas hadn't replied and downright blanked her. Blinking a couple of times, Hermione stood back up and looked at him with wide eyes. 'Legolas?' Hermione asked again, moving slightly to look at his eyes which were blank.
A chuckle came from behind her, and Hermione turned to find Aragorn grinning at her. 'Legolas is in an Elven sleep. He is still mindful of his surroundings, but he is asleep,' he elucidated, motioning for Hermione to come back down from the tree. 'We would never know when an Elf goes into this state because they can run, walk and even eat while in this trance. It is why they seldom tire,' Aragorn told her as she came to stand next to him.
Hermione nodded. 'I should have realised,' she whispered, glancing back up at Legolas and suddenly feeling like a fool. She had learned about Elven sleep when she was a child. It had been part of her lessons.
Aragorn gave her a knowing smile before moving over to Sam who was packing pots and pans into his bag. He looked up forlornly as Aragorn started to unsaddle Bill the pony. Sam stood, taking the reins off Bill and stroked the pony's neck sadly. Aragorn smiled at him. 'Mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill,' he whispered, gripping Sam on the shoulder gently.
Sam nodded, stroking Bill's ears and neck tenderly. 'Bye-bye, Bill,' he whispered, his eyes watering a little.
Aragorn let Sam say his goodbyes before lightly pushing Bill's neck to turn him towards the exit. 'Go on, Bill, go on,' he whispered to the pony, and slapped him on the rump softly and Bill trotted off into the darkness. Sam watched Bill disappear worriedly, his shoulders sagging. Aragorn squeezed Sam's shoulder softly. 'Do not worry, Sam, he knows the way home,' the Ranger reassured him, giving the Hobbit a small smile.
Hermione moved over to Harry and Draco who were sitting on a log. She sat next to Harry, leaning her head on his shoulder, and missed the frown that passed over Draco's face. Harry was looking at the Elf in curiosity. 'So, you're spending a lot of time with Legolas on this trip, Hermione,' Harry remarked innocently, glancing down at Hermione with a twinkle in his eye.
Hermione blushed and removed her head from his shoulder. She coughed lightly. 'He just interests me. I grew up learning about Elves, but never actually met one so…' Hermione trailed off, trying to defend herself.
'You liiiiike him!' Draco sang, snickering as Hermione punched his arm.
'Shut up, it's not like that,' Hermione snapped, her blush deepening.
'Uh-huh,' Draco replied, holding out his hands in front of his face and making kissing noises. 'Ooh Legolas!' he sighed, putting on a girly voice as Harry laughed.
'Oi! Stop it!' Hermione cried, tackling Draco and tickling him.
'I yield!' Draco laughed, breathing heavily as Hermione got off him and sat down next to Harry with a huff.
'Hermione-'
'Don't you start!' Hermione snapped, cutting Harry off and swatted the back of his head as his laughter increased.
The Slytherin and Gryffindor stopped teasing Hermione when Legolas unexpectedly jumped down from the roots and stared at the water with a frown. For a moment, his eyes moved over to the three of them, before he walked over to Gandalf. 'A swirling mist on a vast, glass lake,' he whispered cautiously, his eyes not leaving the lake as Gandalf turned to look at it interestedly. 'Something is not right about this,' he added softly as Gandalf nodded and frowned, looking back at the door. Their attention was drawn back to the lake as Merry threw a large stone into the water, watching the black rippling rings slowly fan out.
Aragorn realised from Legolas's troubled expression that something was wrong, and reached out to grab Pippin's arm to stop him from throwing another stone in the water. 'Do not disturb the water,' Aragorn told him ominously, receiving a swift nod from Pippin who dropped the stone onto the ground nervously. Aragorn went to turn away, but stopped when he detected the ripples seeming to grow. He exchanged an anxious glance with Boromir, his hand creeping towards his sword as they both studied the water with frowns.
Over by the door, Gandalf's shoulders slumped in despair and he walked over to sit next to Frodo, throwing his staff down in defeat. 'Oh, it's useless,' he muttered in frustration.
Frodo glanced up at him sympathetically before looking back at the doorway knowing Gandalf would eventually figure it out, but he wondered how long it would take. Frodo looked over at the others, frowning as he realised Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir were watching the lake worriedly. His eyes moved to Hermione who was staring at the door curiously.
Hermione's frown deepened as she walked towards the door, reading the inscription over and over in her head. Speak, friend, and enter, she repeated in her head. She was so fixated on the door, she didn't notice a pair of bright blue eyes scrutinising her interestedly and he slowly moved closer towards her, listening to her repeat the inscription under her breath.
Hermione, on the other hand, let her mind slip to the fact she wasn't going to let anyone know she could read and speak Elvish. The only people who knew this, as it stood, was Gandalf, Aragorn, Draco and Harry.
'It's a riddle,' Hermione whispered after a moment, tapping her chin with her forefinger.
Legolas watched her, his frown deepening, but his gaze was diverted back to the lake as another black ripple disturbed the surface, licking the shore by their feet. He reached for an arrow, staring vigilantly at the lake, but his ears twitched as he continued to listen to Hermione.
'Speak, friend, and enter,' Hermione whispered, frowning as she tried to recall the Elvish word for "friend". She scrunched her eyes up, trying to think back to her lessons and her mother's voice enunciating the word and the syllables. After a moment, Hermione's eyes snapped open and she looked back at the door. 'Mellon,' she whispered, but when nothing happened, Hermione blinked.
Legolas, on the other hand, stared at Hermione with wide eyes as he heard her. After a moment, his eyes flew to the door as the rock face noiselessly divided in the middle and two great doors swung outwards, revealing a blackness deeper than night. Legolas looked back at Hermione in disbelief and his frown deepened. She knows Elvish? How can that be?
Gandalf shook his head, eyeing Hermione sternly. 'Miss Granger,' he warned softly, but firmly.
Hermione looked up at him sheepishly. 'Yeah, sorry,' she laughed, blushing a little.
Legolas watched this exchange and felt confused mystified; an emotion he was not accustomed to. Maybe Gandalf taught her some Elvish? Legolas said to himself, thinking this was the only conceivable explanation. But why would she hide it from us?
When the Fellowship joined them at the door, Gandalf looked at them in amusement. 'Ah, the last spell must have been delayed and only got through to the door now,' he laughed, making everyone snicker except Legolas who frowned at him.
Gandalf is concealing this for her? But why? Legolas asked himself, not fathoming the motives behind it. He wasn't sure why it was even bothering him. Legolas shrugged it off for the moment, clearing his mind and pushing these foreign emotions to the side for now.
Gandalf led the way into the mines and everyone sighed in relief as they were finally moving forward again. They stepped guardedly into the darkness of Moria; a dank cavern with winding steps leading deeper into the mountain.
Gimli fell into step next to Legolas, smiling up at him. 'Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone!' he yelled eagerly, making Legolas roll his eyes. 'This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin. Unless I miss my guess, we are in for one wild night,' he laughed, his voice reverberating off the stone walls around them. 'And they call it a mine,' he chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye.
Legolas's lips twitched in amusement. 'Are you going to be a bad influence?' he asked, looking around into the gloom.
Gimli raised his eyebrows at him. 'Of course!' he countered, stunned at being asked such a thing. Gimli laughed again. 'A mine!' he chuckled, shaking his head.
Gandalf frowned, lighting the end of his staff while Harry, Draco and Hermione lit the tips of their wands, casting light on the chamber. The Fellowship recoiled in horror at the sight before them. Many Dwarf skeletons were strewn about, evidently having died in some old battle. The rusting armour and shields were peppered with arrows and axes.
'This is no mine… it is a tomb,' Boromir stated grimly, looking around in alarm.
'Is this... some sort of mass suicide?' Draco quipped, receiving a punch in the arm from Harry. 'What?' he asked him, rubbing his arm.
'Not the time,' Harry whispered through clenched teeth and pointed to Gimli.
Gimli was kneeling in front of one of the skeletons, looking down at the bones of his kin in horror. 'No…' he cried, reaching out to touch the tarnished armour. 'No!' he bawled out in anguish.
Legolas frowned at Gimli for a moment before moving over to one of the skeletons, pulling out a crude arrow and inspecting the arrowhead. 'Goblins,' he declared, throwing the arrow away and reaching for one of his own to load into his bow.
The rest followed suit, drawing their swords or wands in Draco, Harry, and Hermione's case. Gandalf only placed his hand on the hilt of his own sword, but didn't draw it yet. 'We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here,' he told Gandalf who nodded fearfully. 'Now, get out of here. Get out!' he added with an urgent yell to the rest of the Fellowship who didn't need to be told twice.
Frodo started walking backwards, almost tripping on something which unexpectedly wrapped around his foot and pulled him to the ground. Frodo looked down, noticing a long sinuous tentacle wrapped around his ankle and he tried to grip onto something as it began to tug him towards the lake.
'Help!' Frodo cried.
This got Sam's attention and the Hobbit rushed after him followed by Merry and Pippin. 'Frodo!' they yelled in alarm.
'Help! Strider!' Sam shouted, getting Aragorn's attention as the three Hobbits tried to grab Frodo, but the beast was too strong.
'Get off him!' Sam barked furiously as Aragorn and Boromir rushed over to them. Aragorn severed the tentacle holding Frodo and freed him, pulling him to safety while Boromir hacked at another writhing limb.
Their eyes widened as twenty more tentacles rippled out of the lake and the dark water boiled as the hideous beast lashed out at the Fellowship. The tentacles knocked the Hobbits, Boromir and Aragorn away from Frodo before seizing the Hobbit again and pulled him to the lake.
Frodo screamed as he was flung into the air by the creature while the Fellowship began a battle with it. Harry, Draco and Hermione hung back next to Legolas at the doorway, firing spells at the beast. Hermione watched Legolas in admiration for a moment as he let loose an arrow which hit the tentacle gripping Frodo and before she could blink he had fired another arrow. Shaking her head, Hermione concentrated on the battle. 'Confringo!' she cried, causing flames to explode on the tentacles and the beast screeched in agony.
Frodo screeched again when the body of the creature emerged, opening its mouth like it was ready to eat him. Boromir rushed forward, cutting off one of the tentacles before running at the tentacle that was holding the Hobbit, but it batted him away from it effortlessly and he rolled onto the ground with a thud and a groan. 'Boromir!' Harry yelled, running down to the man and checking to see if he was okay.
'I'm fine,' Boromir told him, letting Harry help him to his feet.
They ducked another tentacle and Harry pointed his wand at it. 'Glacius!' he shouted, the spell hitting its target and causing the tentacle to freeze above them. Boromir ran back over towards the tentacle holding Frodo and severed it, catching the Hobbit when he fell.
'Into the mines!' Gandalf bellowed to them, and they hurriedly ran towards the entrance.
'Legolas!' Boromir cried, ducking away from one of the tentacles trying to snatch Frodo again.
Legolas nodded and reloaded his bow and shot an arrow into the creature's head, gaining a few vital seconds for Aragorn and Boromir as they raced out of the water with Frodo.
'Into the cave!' Aragorn barked, pulling Draco and Harry along with him as Legolas grabbed Hermione's hand, hastily withdrawing back into the Moria chamber. Seeing Merry, Pippin and Sam lagging behind, Legolas continued to rain arrows at the beast as it pursued them, while Hermione sent spells its way. Draco and Harry rushed towards them, picking up Merry and Pippin while Aragorn grabbed Sam and they rushed back into the mines.
Many coiling tentacles seized the large doors, attempting to pull itself into the chamber. Harry, Draco and Hermione turned their wands on the beast. 'Reducto!' they yelled in unison and the force of the three combined spells hit the top of the doors. With a shattering echo, the doors were propelled into the creature, forming a rock slide that crashed down the cliff face.
Harry dived out of the way of the falling rocks to avoid being crushed, while Draco grabbed Hermione and pulled her out of the way of a rolling boulder which was going to smash right into her. The rest of the Fellowship promptly got themselves to safety as well. The Hobbits huddled together while Legolas grabbed Aragorn's shoulders, pulling him out of the way of a rolling rock.
Within seconds, tons of rock sealed the doorway and threw the Fellowship into pitch blackness and complete silence except for their heavy breathing. 'I do not mean to alarm anyone, but I believe we have all gone blind,' Draco piped up after a few moments to break the silence.
Gandalf rolled his eyes, producing a dim light on his staff and throwing an eerie glow across his face. He turned towards the stairs, looking at them apprehensively. 'Total shambles, as per usual,' he muttered to himself in irritation, shaking his head.
Aragorn and Boromir helped the Hobbits to their feet as Legolas and Gimli moved over to Harry, Hermione and Draco and helped them stand. Legolas eyed Hermione in disapproval, eyeing her dishevelled appearance and recalling the rock which almost crashed right into her. 'Are you alright?' Legolas asked her, looking over her to make sure she wasn't injured.
Hermione glanced up at him, sensing a bitterness in his tone. 'Yes,' she answered, her voice still shaking somewhat. In all honesty, Hermione had been terrified when the rock came towards her and she froze. If Draco hadn't grabbed her, she may be… Hermione swallowed thickly, not wanting to think about it.
Legolas nodded, looking away from her. 'That rock would have killed you,' he whispered, shaking his head.
'I'm not afraid of dying,' Hermione countered quickly, but her voice wavered in the lie. She could tell from Legolas's expression when he looked back at her that he saw right through her.
Legolas stared at her critically for a moment. He knew she was shaken by this ordeal, but Hermione almost radiated with determination also. 'I do not fear death. That does not mean we should be reckless,' Legolas replied finally, placing his hand on Hermione's shoulder gently. Hermione relaxed and nodded. Legolas walked away and ascended the stairs to look at their path ahead. She sighed, letting out a shaky breath before moving over to Gandalf with the others. Draco, Harry and Hermione cast drying and warming charms on everyone, receiving smiles of appreciation from the rest of the Fellowship before doing the same to themselves.
Gandalf turned to his companions and sighed. 'We now have but one choice,' he began ominously as Legolas appeared at the top of the stairs and gave Gandalf a small nod. Draco lit the tip of his wand, prompting Hermione and Harry to do the same. 'We must face the long and dark of Moria,' Gandalf whispered, looking at the stairs cagily.
Gandalf started leading them up the stairs and stopped next to Legolas, placing a hand on his shoulder. 'Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world,' he informed him, receiving a nod from the Elf.
Gandalf looked down at the strewn skeletal Dwarves on the stairs and shook his head sorrowfully. 'The darkest souls are not those who choose to exist within the hell of the abyss. It is those who decide to move in silence among us,' he told them, turning back to their path and picking up his pace. 'Quiet now. It is a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed,' he told them, receiving nods from the Fellowship.
As they walked, Draco reached up and scratched his head. 'Things moving silently among us…' he muttered nervously, moving his wand around in the darkness uneasily.
Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder, making Draco jump and let out a yelp. He scowled up at the Elf who raised his eyebrows at him. 'Just because you cannot see something, does not mean it cannot kill you,' Legolas clarified to the Slytherin whose eyes widened at these words.
Draco looked away from the Elf and stared into the darkness. 'Can I go home now?' he whispered timidly, tightening his grip on his wand.
oOoOo
After a while of walking, the Fellowship came across a precarious bridge suspended above deep mine workings. They crossed it, one at a time, and walked along the thin paths ahead which had no barriers to prevent them from falling to their deaths. It brought them to a chamber with old ropes and ancient ladders.
Gandalf stopped to examine the wall in wonder, touching a shining substance. 'The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but Mithril,' he told them, before holding his staff over the vast drop beside them. The rest of the Fellowship looked down into the chasm which seemed to be endless. A faint, blue glow glittered from its depths, but it looked all but abandoned.
Gandalf pulled his staff back and continued along the narrow path carefully, followed by the Fellowship. 'Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him,' Gandalf told them, smiling fondly as he recalled that particular exchange between Thorin and Bilbo.
Gimli raised his eyebrows. 'Oh, that was a kingly gift!' he stated, his eyes widening in amazement.
Gandalf nodded, smiling down at the Dwarf. 'Yes,' he agreed, looking back ahead of them. 'I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire,' he disclosed to them. Draco whistled in astonishment while Frodo's eyes widened in disbelief at this revelation and he placed a hand on his chest.
oOoOo
A/N: I was watching an anime called Fairy Tail while writing this chapter so some of you may recognise Draco's 'You liiiiike him!' which is a reference to Happy who is a blue cat XD If you have never seen Fairy Tail and like anime or manga… then you should give it a try! It's amazing!
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! And please let me know what you think XD