(Author: Lyn)
Leila backed away slowly, until she felt the acrid water of the lake
lapping against her Sketchers. She knew what lay ahead in the tombs of
Moria, and felt deathly afraid as she stared into the darkness that would
soon consume her. A piercing scream awoke Leila from her deep thoughts,
and she kicked herself realizing the play of events that took place before
they crossed the thresh hold. Sure enough, looking over her shoulder she
spied the rather small figure of Frodo swaying above their heads, his leg
gripped by a long tentacle.
"Quick, through these gates! Aragorn and Boromir, it would be wise
of you to wield your swords," cried Gandalf, herding the elves, dwarves
and hobbits into the vast cave. Leila saw Sam standing on the edge of the
lake, screaming wildly at the sight of his master dangling in the air.
Boromir and Aragorn slashed wildly away at the numerous tentacles, hacking
their way to Frodo. Leila dove for Sam, remembering he was the next to
be pulled in. She swiftly pushed him through the Moria gates, congratulating
herself on quick thinking, when a slimy sensation seemed to be wrapping
itself around Leila's ankle.
She was hoisted through the air, and flung about like a rag doll, towards
a seething froth swirling around the middle of the lake. Leila closed her
eyes as a monster resembling a mutated octopus lowered her to his jaws,
which were lined with rows upon rows of flesh eating teeth. "Please be
a dream, please be a dream," she muttered. All had grown quiet, and Leila
wondered if this is what it was like to be dead. She felt a soft thud and
opened her large eyes, to find herself caught in the strong arms of Boromir.