Chapter 2:
"…You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond pronounced.
"That was a really dramatic pause," Arika whispered to Nina, who groaned and facepalmed.
They didn't set out right away, of course. There were provisions to procure, maps to study, routes to plan.
Mai informed them that they were in an even worse situation, as well.
"Nagi the White has betrayed us. It seems he wants the Ring for himself. He's working with the Obsidian Prince. Or scheming against him. And he's cross-bred Orcs and Goblins to create a new creature. They call them the Uruk-Hai."
"How'd he do that?" Mikoto peered at her.
"Nevermind," Mai blushed.
They came up with a plan, and a back up plan.
"We make for the gap of Rohan," Mai said, "It takes us very close to Isengard, which is Nagi's stronghold. But he might not think we'd try that route. I'd wager he'd expect us to try the longer road, around the Misty Mountains and through Mirkwood."
"Ara, but that wouldn't have been ideal, at any rate," Shizuru said, "The spawn of Ungoliant have returned to Mirkwood. And I received even more troubling news from home, yesterday. It seems the creature, Tomoe, has escaped. Two of my kinsmen were slain by orcs, and Tomoe slipped her bonds and left in the confusion. I would not desire to take the Ring anywhere near where that creature is."
"Fine," Natsuki looked at the map, "So the Gap of Rohan. And if that is closed off to us, or if the mountain pass at Caradhras is closed to weather, which it may well be by the time we reach it, then that leaves the Mines of Moria. I have kinfolk there."
"Moria is the most dangerous path, Natsuki," Mai said, "We will not go through Moria unless there is no other path open to us."
It took two months of steady travel along the Misty Mountains, and they had reason to suspect that the Gap of Rohan was being keenly watched, now. It was agreed that they would attempt the pass of Caradhras, But, as Natsuki had suspected, the pass was closed to a dark storm and intense ice and snow. Shizuru suggested that she could hear a fell voice on the winds, prompting even worse from the storm.
"Moria it is, then," Natsuki said, ruefully.
It took a few days to find the West Gate, which was situated by a pool of dark water.
The door was illuminated by a gorgeous carving of elaborate design, with words written in High Elvish.
"Elvish writing on a Dwarf Door?" Nina mused.
"The Dwarves and the Elves were once great friends," Natsuki sighed, "I have heard that it was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship failed."
"Ara, but I have been told it was not the fault of the Elves," Shizuru smiled sweetly.
"I've heard both," Mai said sharply, "And that's all I want to hear about it. Now, shush. I'm trying to figure out the password."
"Password?" Nina asked.
"The inscription on the door says, 'Speak friend and enter.' I'm trying to discern what the words were to speak."
"I'm not big on riddles," Erstine said, staring off into the dark pool, and practicing skimming a stone over the surface.
"Don't disturb the water," Mikoto said, holding Ers' wrist, "I don't like the look of it."
Mai tried several words and a few spells, all to no avail.
"Ara, but does Natsuki know the password?"
"Natsuki does not," the dwarf said ruefully, "It was passed down from Father to Son. My Father kept stubbornly hoping that Momma would grant him a son, and he passed on without ever having one, so I don't know it."
"Well," Shizuru smiled, "It's fortunate that you didn't inherit his stubborn streak."
"Idiot," Natsuki said, but she said it affectionately.
"I'm not the one who forgot the password," Shizuru replied.
"Because you can't forget what you never knew in the first place," Natsuki countered.
"Those two are such good friends," Arika hugged Nina.
Nina sighed, then looked up. Could it be that simple?
"What's the Elvish word for 'friend'?" Nina asked Mai.
"Mellon," Mai said. The gates of Moria parted.
"Ara, of course. It was right there in front of us."
"It was a simpler, happier time," Natsuki reflected.
"But I am having a very delightful time with Natsuki," Shizuru said gently. Natsuki looked at her out of the corner of her eye and flushed, but she also smiled a bit, herself.
"Well," Yukariko said, "That's over with and we're safe now. Nothing can go wrong."
As if on cue, the dark waters of the pool erupted in a mass of writhing tentacles.
"Tentacle monster!" Yukariko shrieked.
"Oh, I did NOT sign up to be in that kind of a story!" Natsuki clove a tentacle with her axe.
"What kind of story is that, then?" Shizuru asked innocently, causing Natsuki to blush. She loosed an arrow at something that was beginning to break the surface of the pool, and a few of the tentacles withdrew.
"Everyone, into the mine!" Mai shouted.
They needed no prompting. Everyone dashed into the mine, and the entryway was collapsed by the pull of strong tentacles.
"There is now only one way out," Mai sighed, "We must find the Eastern Gate. It's four days to get to the other side. We must be cautious. And quiet."
Erstine, at that moment, had the misfortune to bump into a bucket at a well, causing it to fall to the bottom in a sharp clatter.
"Foolish Ho! Throw yourself in next time!" Mai shouted at her.
Nina tried to be gentle, "Come on, Mai. It was an accident in the dark. I'm actually surprised that it wasn't Arika who did it."
Arika stuck out her tongue.
They walked quietly through the mine from that point on. It was on the beginning of their forth day, as they were rousing from slumber, that Nina went to Mai.
"I think something is following us."
"Yes," Mai agreed, "Tomoe. She's been following us for three days."
"Wretched thing. It's a pity that Papa didn't kill her when he could have."
"Pity is what stayed Sergay's hand," Mai chided her, "There are many who live who deserve death, Nina Wang, just as there are many who die who deserve life. Can you give it to them?"
Nina was silent.
"For good or ill, Tomoe still has some part to play in this story of the Ring. Do not be quick to bandy death about. We shall all have our fill of it before this enterprise is over."
Mai rose, "It's this way."
"You've remembered?" Nina asked.
"No, but the air over there doesn't smell like orc dung, so that's the path I'm taking."
"Can't argue with logic like that," Natsuki said.
They reached a large tomb, and found skeletons riddled with orc arrows. Mai read the inscription on the tomb.
"Here lay Balin, son of Fundin. He is dead, then."
Natsuki gently touched the edge of the tomb, "I will mourn you, Cousin. And I will send many orcs to join you in death."
"Natsuki will not have long to wait," Shizuru said, "They are coming."
"This way," Mikoto said.
They found a set of doors and barricaded them.
"They have a cave troll," Yukariko murmured just as she just managed to get inside the door.
There was a sudden growling, gurgling noise.
"What is it?" Mikoto looked at Mai's troubled face.
"A Balrog of Morgoth," Mai closed her eyes, "We make for the bridge of Khazad-Dum."
The doors shattered behind them, and there were arrows and spears aplenty.
"Let's hope they don't prefer Otome on the menu!" Irina shrieked as she ran.
"Don't worry, Irina-han," Shizuru smiled, "You wouldn't make a mouthful, so they'll probably just ignore you and try and eat the meatiest of us. Ne, Mai-han?"
"Shizuru, we're going to have a talk about that mouth of yours when we get out of this place," Mai growled.
"It's not like she's wrong," Natsuki pointed out.
"I don't want to hear that from you!" Mai protested.
They reached the bridge, and that's when it appeared. The Balrog. It was fire and smoke incarnate, It's mouth was a blast furnace. It's eyes scalded with a glance. In the darkness and smoke, there was an impression of wings.
"Swords are of no more use, here!" Mai said to Mikoto, "Lead them across the bridge. Go!"
"But Mai…"
"Do as I say!" Mai said sternly, then turned to face the Balrog.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, the Flame of Arnor. The Dark Fire will not avail you! You cannot pass."
The Balrog growled, and cracked a fiery whip at her. She blocked with her blade and staff, a gleam of pure white light flashing.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Mai struck the bridge with her staff, causing it to collapse. She sighed in relief as the Balrog fell. But then…
The fiery whip cut into the flesh of her leg, burning. She felt herself dragged down, and she fell. She managed to catch the edge of the broken bridge by her fingertips.
"Fly, you fools!" she gasped. And then she was gone.
"MAI!" Mikoto and Nina yelled in unison. Arrows flew past them, and they turned to run. They made their way out of the far gate, emerging on the Eastern slopes of the Misty Mountains.
"For the Lord's sake," Yukariko said, "We must let them rest."
"In just a few hours, these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must make our way to Lothlorien."
Natsuki looked up, "Lothlorien! The legends of the Golden Witch…"
"You needn't fear Alyssa," Shizuru said, "The Lady of the Searrs is just and kind."
They ran, at Mikoto's insistence, into the forest of Lothlorien.
It became clear to Mikoto and Shizuru quickly that they were surrounded. A pale elf maiden descended.
"The dwarf breathes so loudly, we could have shot her in the dark," she regarded Natsuki with scarlet eyes.
"Miyu," Mikoto called her over, and quickly explained the situation to her.
"I will handle the orcs. Their feet will not trample our lands. My people will escort you to our citadel. You will be blindfolded."
"We most certainly will not," Natsuki huffed, "We're allies, not enemies. I didn't come all this way to be treated like a criminal by someone we're trying to help!"
"Stubborn dwarf," Miyu sighed, "Then you can stay here and wait for the orcs."
"If Natsuki will submit to blindfolding, I will as well," Shizuru said, putting a gentle hand on the dwarf maiden's shoulder.
Nina heard a voice in her head, "Nina, your coming is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, ring-bearer."
They were taken to the citadel hidden in the forest, the home of the Elves. Lothlorien, the golden land, and introduced to Alyssa, the Golden Elf.
She requested an audience with Nina.
"If you ask it of me," Nina held out the Ring, "I will give it to you."
Alyssa gave a soft laugh, "And here it was I who had thought to test you. Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a Queen, radiant as the dawn, guiding the Searrs to usher in a new Golden Age!"
She sighed, "I pass the test. I remain Alyssa of Lothlorien."
There was much food and song as the weary travelers recovered from their ordeal in Moria.
Alyssa set them up with boats, and then gave them all cloaks of Lothlorien, with ornate leaf pins. And to each of them, she gave a gift.
For Arika, Elvish rope.
"Grandma says you should always be grateful," Arika nodded, smiling. Alyssa laughed gently, and also gave her a small box with earth from her own garden.
For Nina, a phial of liquid, "It is the light of our dearest star. Let it be a beacon for you in the darkness."
For Irina and Erstine, silver belts. A golden belt was given to Yukariko.
To Shizuru, the finest bow ever crafted in Lothlorien.
To Mikoto, a scabbard for her blade, a sword kept within protected to never break.
"And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?" Alyssa gave Natsuki a bemused smile.
Natsuki shook her head, casting a glance at Shizuru, "Only you forgiveness for my rudeness when I arrived."
Alyssa turned to those gathered, "Never let anyone here today say that dwarves are grasping or ungracious! But surely, Natsuki, daughter of Saeko, there is something."
Natsuki cast a glance again at Shizuru, "I have already her friendship, and perhaps a bit more. What more could I ask?"
Alyssa plucked three golden hairs from her head, "These shall be a sign of our friendship, then. No, of our kinship. Natsuki, I am given to understand that all of your blood are gone?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall adopt you. You shall be my sister, and these golden hairs will be a sign to all that our bond is sincere. And if you should chance to desire to wed any of our people, and they you, there shall be no objection to it."
Natsuki held the hairs to her chest with a smile, eyes closed, "I shall encase them in crystal, and they shall grace my home until the day that I die."
She placed them in a special pouch, tucked away safely.
"The river will guide all of you to the lands past the Argonath," Alyssa said, "Take care, for I fear that once you pass from our lands, you will be in terrible danger once again.
"Well," Natsuki smiled at her, "I can't let myself die so easily. I have to return to see my dear sister, don't I. And then she can properly give me her blessing."
"Ara, ara, would Natsuki like to ride in my boat?" Shizuru asked.
Natsuki grinned, "I'll think about it."
"Ikezu!"
Alyssa laughed, "I daresay, the Elves have given you a glorious treasure, indeed. Go safely on your journey, my friends."