Through Darkness and Despair
Chapter 5: The Watcher in the Water
The dull thud of eight pairs of footsteps rang throughout the base of the mountain. Legolas Greenleaf the elf made no sound at all. The hobbits seemed wearied, but all four courageous little souls held their heads up high, with Sam still leading Bill the pony, and marched on. Frodo would occasionally slip his hand into his vest pocket, and Legolas and everyone else in the company would worry about him. They knew how the ring corrupted its bearers, but Frodo showed no other signs of lunacy, so they ignored these actions, for now. The Fellowship finally came to a halt by a gigantic stone block, which seemed like doors. Gandalf then touched the door, and elven symbols and depictions spread out like spider webs, wherever the veins touched, a silver glow appeared in the moonlight. Finally, the symbols stopped spreading.
"These are the emblems of Durin!" cried Gimli.
"And here are the trees of Valinor!" said Legolas.
The elf and the dwarf both pointed at the symbols on the door. The realized they were standing near each other, and quickly backed away. Legolas wanted nothing to do with this rude, pompous dwarf. The door showed an anvil, and a hammer surrounded by a crown encircled with seven stars. Then, below, there were two white trees, the trees of the high elves! In the center of it all was a magnificent white star, it's rays reaching out into the depths of the dark world.
"Ennyn Durin Atan Moria: pedo mellon a Minno. Im Narvi hain echant:Celebrimboro Eregion teithant I thiwhim." Gandalf read the inscription on the door.
Even Legolas could not fathom these words, for they were in the tongue of the high elves, vanished long ago, from the elder days, and gone from the face of Middle-earth.
"Well, what does it say?" Peregrin Took asked anxiously.
"Patience, patience, my dear hobbit. The inscriptions on the arch only say this: the Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." Answered Gandalf in a weary voice.
"Well, do you know the password?" the dwarf asked.
"No, I do not. You will have to give me time to figure this riddle out." Said Gandalf sadly. The wizard seemed like he was finally beginning to feel the burden of this journey.
* * * * * *
As if signaling a break, everyone broke off in separate groups. Boromir, Merry and Pippin formed a group, as did Frodo and Sam, then Gimli by himself, and finally… Aragorn. Legolas found Aragorn sitting alone by a gigantic lake, staring at the black waters that shined brightly. Legolas walked over to him.
"What an adventure this has been, my lord Ranger," Legolas whispered to Aragorn.
"Yes, but I fear that this adventure will not soon end, my elf of Mirkwood." sighed Aragorn.
" Do you miss her? "Legolas said sadly, his pale hair glowing.
"Who?" Then, Aragon looked into the elf's eyes, and realized whom. "Oh."
"I'm not sure, I'm having some very mixed feeling right now." Aragorn replied. "Legolas…" he hesitated, but then he looked into those silver seeming eyes in the darkness, a portal of light in the dark, dark world, he continued.
"About that night in Rivendell…" he began.
"Do you regret it?" asked Legolas softly, "For I do not."
"You don't?" asked Aragorn hopefully, sounding like a child. He suddenly smiled, and it seemed as if years had been lifted from his handsome face.
"No, I do not, my lord. Even though we never got to do this…" he suddenly leaned forward, very slowly, and pressed his lips onto Aragorn's. He closed his eyes, and let himself become lost in Legolas. The kiss slowly progressed, getting deeper, more passionate, but never lost any of the sweetness. Aragorn melted into the elf, didn't have a care of the world when he was with Legolas. He didn't think of Mordor, the Ring, or Sauron, but only of the man, the elf in front of him, the beauty of his porcelain white skin, silvery blue eyes, and long, blond locks. The ranger reached up a hand, and let it stray to the back of Legolas' neck, while brushing back loose strands of soft, blond hair aside. He pushed the elf deeper, closer. Finally, they broke apart, each gasping for breath, their cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. They gazed into each other's eyes, one pair blue, one pair grey, each thinking the other was as beautiful as the sun, the moon, the stars. When their breathing slowly returned to normal, Aragorn gently touched his lips to the elf's brow. Then, Legolas laid his head against Aragorn's chest, feeling his heart beat quickly, and they stayed there, basking in the warmth of one another's love.
* * * * * *
"Aha!" cried Gandalf, startling all of them, especially the star struck lovers. They jumped apart, and the hobbits and Gimli (who were secretly watching Legolas and Aragorn) looked away, but still smiled quietly. Boromir then came back from, having to relieve himself in the woods.
"What is it Gandalf?" asked Gimli.
"I've figured out the riddle!" He seemed really excited.
"It turns out our friend Durin has a sense of humor after all. You see, this is a riddle! When the inscription said, Speak friend, and enter, we thought it meant to say a password, but it actually meant to say, "friend"! Gandalf looked immensely pleased with himself.
"Mellon!" he commanded.
At this, the stone doors opened, grinding against each other, until they could see a dark passageway leading into utter blackness.
Legolas and Aragorn got up, and walked to the opening. Gandalf whispered something, and the crystals on the head of his staff suddenly lit up, providing a range of light. AS everyone made their way into the gloomy entrance, Legolas heard a cry of help. At this first sign of danger, he whipped his hand to his quiver, drew out a fletched arrow, and fit it into his bow. He walked slowly to where he had heard the cry, arrow ready to let loose, and what he saw was a terrible sight. Frodo Baggins, the ring bearer, had a huge black, slimy tentacle wrapped around his waist, the tentacle belonging to an octopus like creature coming out of the black waters of the lake. The watcher in the water had a bout 50 more appendages, and was quickly pulling Frodo into the lake. Legolas immediately shot an arrow at the tentacle, but it did no more than annoy the monster. He heard a screech. Meanwhile, the others, seeing the plight that Frodo was in, hurried forward to help. The elf heard the ringing of about six swords being pulled out of their sheaths, all of the company except Gimli wielding a sword. He was swinging around his ax at the wriggling tentacles. The air was soon thick with Legolas' flying arrows, each one finding it's mark on the creature, clashing swords, dull thuds of tentacles severing from the monster, and the whacking of an ax. But no other companion was braver than Samwise Gamgee, fighting with all of his might to bring his master back from the clutches of the creature. Legolas finally aimed at one of its eyes. The giant octopus screeched in pain, and finally, they knew their chance. Sam hacked and slashed at the tentacle that held Frodo captive, and finally, the arm let go, and Frodo was freed. The Fellowship, seeing that they had rescued their companion , hurried towards the gates of Moria, eager to be rid of the monster. Legolas, master archer, let loose a final arrow, and it struck the creature in the nostril, and when the whole company was inside Moria, the doors shut with a clang. The Watcher in the Water slowly sunk into the black depths of the lake, acknowledging defeat for the very first time.
Chapter 5: The Watcher in the Water
The dull thud of eight pairs of footsteps rang throughout the base of the mountain. Legolas Greenleaf the elf made no sound at all. The hobbits seemed wearied, but all four courageous little souls held their heads up high, with Sam still leading Bill the pony, and marched on. Frodo would occasionally slip his hand into his vest pocket, and Legolas and everyone else in the company would worry about him. They knew how the ring corrupted its bearers, but Frodo showed no other signs of lunacy, so they ignored these actions, for now. The Fellowship finally came to a halt by a gigantic stone block, which seemed like doors. Gandalf then touched the door, and elven symbols and depictions spread out like spider webs, wherever the veins touched, a silver glow appeared in the moonlight. Finally, the symbols stopped spreading.
"These are the emblems of Durin!" cried Gimli.
"And here are the trees of Valinor!" said Legolas.
The elf and the dwarf both pointed at the symbols on the door. The realized they were standing near each other, and quickly backed away. Legolas wanted nothing to do with this rude, pompous dwarf. The door showed an anvil, and a hammer surrounded by a crown encircled with seven stars. Then, below, there were two white trees, the trees of the high elves! In the center of it all was a magnificent white star, it's rays reaching out into the depths of the dark world.
"Ennyn Durin Atan Moria: pedo mellon a Minno. Im Narvi hain echant:Celebrimboro Eregion teithant I thiwhim." Gandalf read the inscription on the door.
Even Legolas could not fathom these words, for they were in the tongue of the high elves, vanished long ago, from the elder days, and gone from the face of Middle-earth.
"Well, what does it say?" Peregrin Took asked anxiously.
"Patience, patience, my dear hobbit. The inscriptions on the arch only say this: the Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." Answered Gandalf in a weary voice.
"Well, do you know the password?" the dwarf asked.
"No, I do not. You will have to give me time to figure this riddle out." Said Gandalf sadly. The wizard seemed like he was finally beginning to feel the burden of this journey.
* * * * * *
As if signaling a break, everyone broke off in separate groups. Boromir, Merry and Pippin formed a group, as did Frodo and Sam, then Gimli by himself, and finally… Aragorn. Legolas found Aragorn sitting alone by a gigantic lake, staring at the black waters that shined brightly. Legolas walked over to him.
"What an adventure this has been, my lord Ranger," Legolas whispered to Aragorn.
"Yes, but I fear that this adventure will not soon end, my elf of Mirkwood." sighed Aragorn.
" Do you miss her? "Legolas said sadly, his pale hair glowing.
"Who?" Then, Aragon looked into the elf's eyes, and realized whom. "Oh."
"I'm not sure, I'm having some very mixed feeling right now." Aragorn replied. "Legolas…" he hesitated, but then he looked into those silver seeming eyes in the darkness, a portal of light in the dark, dark world, he continued.
"About that night in Rivendell…" he began.
"Do you regret it?" asked Legolas softly, "For I do not."
"You don't?" asked Aragorn hopefully, sounding like a child. He suddenly smiled, and it seemed as if years had been lifted from his handsome face.
"No, I do not, my lord. Even though we never got to do this…" he suddenly leaned forward, very slowly, and pressed his lips onto Aragorn's. He closed his eyes, and let himself become lost in Legolas. The kiss slowly progressed, getting deeper, more passionate, but never lost any of the sweetness. Aragorn melted into the elf, didn't have a care of the world when he was with Legolas. He didn't think of Mordor, the Ring, or Sauron, but only of the man, the elf in front of him, the beauty of his porcelain white skin, silvery blue eyes, and long, blond locks. The ranger reached up a hand, and let it stray to the back of Legolas' neck, while brushing back loose strands of soft, blond hair aside. He pushed the elf deeper, closer. Finally, they broke apart, each gasping for breath, their cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. They gazed into each other's eyes, one pair blue, one pair grey, each thinking the other was as beautiful as the sun, the moon, the stars. When their breathing slowly returned to normal, Aragorn gently touched his lips to the elf's brow. Then, Legolas laid his head against Aragorn's chest, feeling his heart beat quickly, and they stayed there, basking in the warmth of one another's love.
* * * * * *
"Aha!" cried Gandalf, startling all of them, especially the star struck lovers. They jumped apart, and the hobbits and Gimli (who were secretly watching Legolas and Aragorn) looked away, but still smiled quietly. Boromir then came back from, having to relieve himself in the woods.
"What is it Gandalf?" asked Gimli.
"I've figured out the riddle!" He seemed really excited.
"It turns out our friend Durin has a sense of humor after all. You see, this is a riddle! When the inscription said, Speak friend, and enter, we thought it meant to say a password, but it actually meant to say, "friend"! Gandalf looked immensely pleased with himself.
"Mellon!" he commanded.
At this, the stone doors opened, grinding against each other, until they could see a dark passageway leading into utter blackness.
Legolas and Aragorn got up, and walked to the opening. Gandalf whispered something, and the crystals on the head of his staff suddenly lit up, providing a range of light. AS everyone made their way into the gloomy entrance, Legolas heard a cry of help. At this first sign of danger, he whipped his hand to his quiver, drew out a fletched arrow, and fit it into his bow. He walked slowly to where he had heard the cry, arrow ready to let loose, and what he saw was a terrible sight. Frodo Baggins, the ring bearer, had a huge black, slimy tentacle wrapped around his waist, the tentacle belonging to an octopus like creature coming out of the black waters of the lake. The watcher in the water had a bout 50 more appendages, and was quickly pulling Frodo into the lake. Legolas immediately shot an arrow at the tentacle, but it did no more than annoy the monster. He heard a screech. Meanwhile, the others, seeing the plight that Frodo was in, hurried forward to help. The elf heard the ringing of about six swords being pulled out of their sheaths, all of the company except Gimli wielding a sword. He was swinging around his ax at the wriggling tentacles. The air was soon thick with Legolas' flying arrows, each one finding it's mark on the creature, clashing swords, dull thuds of tentacles severing from the monster, and the whacking of an ax. But no other companion was braver than Samwise Gamgee, fighting with all of his might to bring his master back from the clutches of the creature. Legolas finally aimed at one of its eyes. The giant octopus screeched in pain, and finally, they knew their chance. Sam hacked and slashed at the tentacle that held Frodo captive, and finally, the arm let go, and Frodo was freed. The Fellowship, seeing that they had rescued their companion , hurried towards the gates of Moria, eager to be rid of the monster. Legolas, master archer, let loose a final arrow, and it struck the creature in the nostril, and when the whole company was inside Moria, the doors shut with a clang. The Watcher in the Water slowly sunk into the black depths of the lake, acknowledging defeat for the very first time.