**Disclaimer: I do not own the obvious characters… meaning the ones you've
heard of. The rest… I do. PLEASE R&R!!! More chapters will come if you
R&R!!! **
*~*Chapter 14*~*
Legolas sighed and closed his eyes, "Durian, just ask Amanda if we should go into Moria or no."
The fellowship had safely reached the foot of the Caradhras. But now that they were down there, they weren't sure where they should head next. Gimli had suggested that they go through the mines of Moria. The name Moria sent chills down Durians back.
"No, I do not want to go through Moria." Durian said flatly.
"Durian, we don't care whether or no 'you' WANT to go in. We have to know if we SHOULD go in and if we absolutely HAVE to." Legolas was getting sick of Durian's childhood phobia of dark enclosed places. He was almost an adult in elf years and Legolas felt that it was time for him to put the silly fear away.
"No, Legolas. I cannot go into the Mines." Durian protested.
Legolas smiled at the rest of the fellowship and turned back to Durian. "Durian you are embarrassing yourself. Now just ask Amanda if we should go through or not. 'Tis a simple question. I'll help you if you start acting up, I've been taking care of it for over a thousand years, I will not leave your side."
Durian looked at his older brothers concerned eyes. He slowly nodded, "Alright, I shall do it. Hold on." Durian took the MIN out of his bag and walked a little away from the rest of the fellowship. He sent the message and waited for a reply.
He held his breath as he waited for Amanda to send a message back. 'Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.' He repeated in his head. He nearly cried out when he saw Amanda's message.
Amanda: if I had my way, you wouldn't go in at all… but you have to. Go into the mines… be careful… do not disturb the waters outside the doors. (
"Oh shit," Durian mumbled. He squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his head. After a couple of seconds, he collected himself and turned towards the fellowships waiting eyes. He sighed and nodded his head.
"Then it has been decided. We shall journey to Moria." Said Gandalf. "It will take a day to reach the gates. Be silent through the forests, wolves dwell here. Are you alright with the decision ring bearer?"
Durian looked down at the small hobbit. He was silently hoping that the hobbit would be against going into the mines. His heart sank when he heard the small voice murmur a go-ahead.
They started walking fast at first, they wanted to find a camping spot as close to the Mines as possible the first night. The wolves didn't dwell too closely to the walls of Moria… Durian didn't blame them. He was lagging behind the fellowship about 15 feet.
Legolas noticed this and shook his head, he felt sorry for the young elf. Many a times he had to rescue the poor elf when he was a mere child. He was always the small timid one in the family, and his oldest brothers always like to play tricks on him.
Aragorn looked over at Durian, he looked sickly. "Is your brother okay?" He asked Legolas
"Aye, he just has a fear of enclosed places. 'Tis been that way since he was a child. It was something that happened… and he's been terrified ever since." Legolas said softly, so Durian couldn't hear. He looked back at Durian again to see him shuffling along kicking the occasional stick or leaf.
"What happened?" Aragorn asked.
Legolas turned and looked at the Ranger. His blue eyes scanning the human until he continued. "His fear of dark enclosed places started when our older brothers shoved Durian and I into a cave…"
**flashback**
"Legolas? Where are we?" Durian asked. The elf stood about 3 feet tall. He was only 6 years old in elf years and he was clinging to his older brother for dear life. Tears were streaming down his face onto Legolas' tunic. Legolas who was around 12 in elf years was trying to comfort the small elf.
"It's okay Durian, we are going to make it out of here. Father will have all the best warriors in Mirkwood searching for us. He has probably already sent them out because of our absence." Legolas told the younger elf. "… I hope." He said under his breath.
They could hear laughter coming from outside the 'cave' wall. Legolas fumed with anger when he heard the laughter from his older brothers. It was their fault that they were in this situation. It was their fault that they were in this little cave thing. The cave itself was only 6 feet deep and around 4 feet high. It sat on the edge of a river that had been barricaded by a dam around 50 years prior. The thought of the creaky dam breaking plagued Legolas' mind.
"You monsters! Father is going to have your heads!" Legolas screamed as loud as he could, but his voice was not audible over the banging of thunder and the rain. He looked down at the soaked elf, Durian's hair was sticking to his small face and his eyes were red and puffy from crying. Legolas pushed some hair out of his eyes, "Durian, stay calm. We are going to get out of here, don't worry." Legolas tried comforting the elf.
He looked up at the branches and thorn bushes that his older brothers had barricaded them in with. Legolas grabbed at one of the branches and pushed it as hard as he could. Even with his Elven strength, he couldn't budge the branches.
Durian stood in fear and the rain started gathering up at his feet. He wrapped his arms around Legolas' leg and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to pretend that he was somewhere else…
3 hours later…
Legolas groaned as he continued to push against the branches, tears of frustration were streaming down his face now. He finally gave up and sat down in the water. The water level of the cave had risen to be a foot. He looked into Durians face, his face was turning white and his lips had a pale blue tint to them. Legolas wrapped his arms around his little brother trying to keep him warm.
The laughter died down around an hour before, their brothers had obviously left them, or forgotten about them. Legolas started to get even more worried, what if they didn't return and the water got higher.
"Legolas…?" Asked Durian's small voice.
"Yes?"
The younger elf looked into Legolas' eyes. In a quivering voice, he managed to mumble through his frozen lips. "Are we going to die?"
Legolas looked at his brother. Fear was written on his face for the poor elf, Durian was starting to show signs of severe hypothermia. "Oh no. Don't worry. Father will find us… I promise." His voice whispered. He nodded, but froze when he heard a deep groaning sound coming from the dam. He pushed his blond hair out of his eyes and looked through a hole in the branches at the dam. There was a leak in the dam.
Legolas started shaking from fear as he saw water begin to pour out of a small hold in the dam. He screamed and furiously began pounding on the branches, trying to knock them loose once more. The water was raising fast to the level of the cave. It would be only a matter of minutes until the water would come into the cave. He heard a small cry come from Durian, the water from the rain was almost up to his waist now.
Legolas looked back at his brother. He gave him a look of encouragement, it didn't work. Legolas looked back at the dam, it almost seemed slow motion when a very large log fell off the dam and headed straight towards the cave entrance. "Durian! Get back!" Legolas screamed.
He grabbed Durian's hand and led him to the back of the cave and covered him when the log stuck the barricade at the entrance. The branches shattered and the opening was free. Legolas grabbed Durian's hand again and pulled him to the front of the cave. He knelt down to look into his brothers eyes. "Now, Durian, I'm going to lift myself up, then I'm go-"
"NO! Legolas please don't leave me!" Durian sobbed.
"I won't be gone for anymore than 2 seconds until you're up there with me, ok buddy?" Legolas told the tear stained elf. Durian nodded. Legolas jumped up out of the cave he reached back in and grabbed Durian's hand. A large crack from the dam made Legolas freeze and look over at the dam. He was too slow, by the time he tried lifting Durian out of the cave, water gushed over him. The water pulled him away from his little brother. Durian's small hand fell out of his own as he got washed down the river with Durian still in the cave. He could see the small white hand prodding around for the safety of his brother's arms through the water. Legolas watched in horror as the hand was completely submerged in water.
Durian watched his brother's hand slip away from his own. "LEGOLAS!" He sobbed out. He tried lifting himself out of the cave but was too weak. The last thing he remembered was the water rushing into the cave, pinning him to the back wall. His mind screamed as he thrashed around in the water around him. His lungs began to burn as the air was slowly being dragged away from him. He let out a sobbing cry. 'How could you leave me Legolas?' His mind cried out as everything went black…
*** End flashback**
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Aragorn when Legolas finished his story. "What happened after that?"
"Well, luckily our brothers were smart enough to go tell our father when we didn't return. He went out with Mirkwood warriors to find us. I was found lying far down river. While I was washed down the river I had stuck several rocks. I suffered from a mild concussion, some broken ribs, and a broken arm. But Durian…" Legolas looked back at his brother. "Oh I wish he didn't have to go into Moria with us."
"What happened to Durian?" Asked Aragorn.
Legolas sighed, "Durian, blacked out. The water washed his body out of the cave and twas actually my father who found him floating down the river. God… I still remember his face when he saw him so… lifeless. Durian spent several weeks with the Healers in recovery. Everyday I was there by his side. Of course I felt that the whole thing was my fault and I was the cause of everything. I don't think I've ever forgiven myself for making him go through that…"
"But it wasn't your fault. Your brothers made you go in there." Aragorn said.
"I know. But I should have been stronger. I should have held on to him. Durian was a mute until he was about 500. For over 200 years he didn't mutter a word to anyone. He went to school a mute, he trained as a warrior as a mute, he did everything. He would only talk to my mother. But she never repeated anything he would say. Every time I would see him I felt the pain. The pain inside of being too weak. I almost died from grief when I was about 2000 years old. He would never speak to me. When he started speaking to people again, he spoke to everyone besides me. I had to spend years with Galadriel in Lothlorien to regain my inner light. All was emptied when Durian ignored me. Until this day, he still seems weary around me, which always causes me to remember that accident. I fear that I will never get over the pain that I made him go through." Legolas told him. A single silver tear ran down his face. He wiped it away angrily for showing his weakness.
"Legolas, it wasn't your fault. Don't feel that way. Don't!" Aragorn demanded.
Legolas looked over at Aragorn and smiled, "Aragorn, every hour, on the hour for the past thousand years people have told me that over and over again. And everytime, I know it isn't true."
Aragorn was about to protest, when he was interrupted by Gandalf up ahead. "We shall rest here for the night. We do not wish to travel any longer in these woods at night." He pointed towards a large cave over by the riverside.
Legolas tensed when he heard the sharp intake of breath from Durian behind him. He turned around and looked at the elf with sympathetic eyes, Durian shot him a nasty glare and walked forward. He walked towards the cave but stopped and looked inside, watching the hobbits begin a fire.
He turned to Legolas and smiled before walking into the cave and finding a nice spot for himself right next to the entrance.
Legolas shook his head and walked into the cave, hoping for a good night rest for the journey into Moria tomorrow. He prayed to the gods silently that Durian would be okay while in Moria… no one knew what would happen. As long as there wasn't any water in Moria… everything would be fine…. He hoped.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
**Hey people! YAY!! It only took me a good 2 ½ hours to write this! LoL. My best friend Tiffany practically begged me to write another chapter tonight! I DID IT!!! ::hehe:: I hope you like it!! EVERYONE PLEASE R&R!!!! More chapters if you review!!!!**
*~*Chapter 14*~*
Legolas sighed and closed his eyes, "Durian, just ask Amanda if we should go into Moria or no."
The fellowship had safely reached the foot of the Caradhras. But now that they were down there, they weren't sure where they should head next. Gimli had suggested that they go through the mines of Moria. The name Moria sent chills down Durians back.
"No, I do not want to go through Moria." Durian said flatly.
"Durian, we don't care whether or no 'you' WANT to go in. We have to know if we SHOULD go in and if we absolutely HAVE to." Legolas was getting sick of Durian's childhood phobia of dark enclosed places. He was almost an adult in elf years and Legolas felt that it was time for him to put the silly fear away.
"No, Legolas. I cannot go into the Mines." Durian protested.
Legolas smiled at the rest of the fellowship and turned back to Durian. "Durian you are embarrassing yourself. Now just ask Amanda if we should go through or not. 'Tis a simple question. I'll help you if you start acting up, I've been taking care of it for over a thousand years, I will not leave your side."
Durian looked at his older brothers concerned eyes. He slowly nodded, "Alright, I shall do it. Hold on." Durian took the MIN out of his bag and walked a little away from the rest of the fellowship. He sent the message and waited for a reply.
He held his breath as he waited for Amanda to send a message back. 'Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.' He repeated in his head. He nearly cried out when he saw Amanda's message.
Amanda: if I had my way, you wouldn't go in at all… but you have to. Go into the mines… be careful… do not disturb the waters outside the doors. (
"Oh shit," Durian mumbled. He squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his head. After a couple of seconds, he collected himself and turned towards the fellowships waiting eyes. He sighed and nodded his head.
"Then it has been decided. We shall journey to Moria." Said Gandalf. "It will take a day to reach the gates. Be silent through the forests, wolves dwell here. Are you alright with the decision ring bearer?"
Durian looked down at the small hobbit. He was silently hoping that the hobbit would be against going into the mines. His heart sank when he heard the small voice murmur a go-ahead.
They started walking fast at first, they wanted to find a camping spot as close to the Mines as possible the first night. The wolves didn't dwell too closely to the walls of Moria… Durian didn't blame them. He was lagging behind the fellowship about 15 feet.
Legolas noticed this and shook his head, he felt sorry for the young elf. Many a times he had to rescue the poor elf when he was a mere child. He was always the small timid one in the family, and his oldest brothers always like to play tricks on him.
Aragorn looked over at Durian, he looked sickly. "Is your brother okay?" He asked Legolas
"Aye, he just has a fear of enclosed places. 'Tis been that way since he was a child. It was something that happened… and he's been terrified ever since." Legolas said softly, so Durian couldn't hear. He looked back at Durian again to see him shuffling along kicking the occasional stick or leaf.
"What happened?" Aragorn asked.
Legolas turned and looked at the Ranger. His blue eyes scanning the human until he continued. "His fear of dark enclosed places started when our older brothers shoved Durian and I into a cave…"
**flashback**
"Legolas? Where are we?" Durian asked. The elf stood about 3 feet tall. He was only 6 years old in elf years and he was clinging to his older brother for dear life. Tears were streaming down his face onto Legolas' tunic. Legolas who was around 12 in elf years was trying to comfort the small elf.
"It's okay Durian, we are going to make it out of here. Father will have all the best warriors in Mirkwood searching for us. He has probably already sent them out because of our absence." Legolas told the younger elf. "… I hope." He said under his breath.
They could hear laughter coming from outside the 'cave' wall. Legolas fumed with anger when he heard the laughter from his older brothers. It was their fault that they were in this situation. It was their fault that they were in this little cave thing. The cave itself was only 6 feet deep and around 4 feet high. It sat on the edge of a river that had been barricaded by a dam around 50 years prior. The thought of the creaky dam breaking plagued Legolas' mind.
"You monsters! Father is going to have your heads!" Legolas screamed as loud as he could, but his voice was not audible over the banging of thunder and the rain. He looked down at the soaked elf, Durian's hair was sticking to his small face and his eyes were red and puffy from crying. Legolas pushed some hair out of his eyes, "Durian, stay calm. We are going to get out of here, don't worry." Legolas tried comforting the elf.
He looked up at the branches and thorn bushes that his older brothers had barricaded them in with. Legolas grabbed at one of the branches and pushed it as hard as he could. Even with his Elven strength, he couldn't budge the branches.
Durian stood in fear and the rain started gathering up at his feet. He wrapped his arms around Legolas' leg and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to pretend that he was somewhere else…
3 hours later…
Legolas groaned as he continued to push against the branches, tears of frustration were streaming down his face now. He finally gave up and sat down in the water. The water level of the cave had risen to be a foot. He looked into Durians face, his face was turning white and his lips had a pale blue tint to them. Legolas wrapped his arms around his little brother trying to keep him warm.
The laughter died down around an hour before, their brothers had obviously left them, or forgotten about them. Legolas started to get even more worried, what if they didn't return and the water got higher.
"Legolas…?" Asked Durian's small voice.
"Yes?"
The younger elf looked into Legolas' eyes. In a quivering voice, he managed to mumble through his frozen lips. "Are we going to die?"
Legolas looked at his brother. Fear was written on his face for the poor elf, Durian was starting to show signs of severe hypothermia. "Oh no. Don't worry. Father will find us… I promise." His voice whispered. He nodded, but froze when he heard a deep groaning sound coming from the dam. He pushed his blond hair out of his eyes and looked through a hole in the branches at the dam. There was a leak in the dam.
Legolas started shaking from fear as he saw water begin to pour out of a small hold in the dam. He screamed and furiously began pounding on the branches, trying to knock them loose once more. The water was raising fast to the level of the cave. It would be only a matter of minutes until the water would come into the cave. He heard a small cry come from Durian, the water from the rain was almost up to his waist now.
Legolas looked back at his brother. He gave him a look of encouragement, it didn't work. Legolas looked back at the dam, it almost seemed slow motion when a very large log fell off the dam and headed straight towards the cave entrance. "Durian! Get back!" Legolas screamed.
He grabbed Durian's hand and led him to the back of the cave and covered him when the log stuck the barricade at the entrance. The branches shattered and the opening was free. Legolas grabbed Durian's hand again and pulled him to the front of the cave. He knelt down to look into his brothers eyes. "Now, Durian, I'm going to lift myself up, then I'm go-"
"NO! Legolas please don't leave me!" Durian sobbed.
"I won't be gone for anymore than 2 seconds until you're up there with me, ok buddy?" Legolas told the tear stained elf. Durian nodded. Legolas jumped up out of the cave he reached back in and grabbed Durian's hand. A large crack from the dam made Legolas freeze and look over at the dam. He was too slow, by the time he tried lifting Durian out of the cave, water gushed over him. The water pulled him away from his little brother. Durian's small hand fell out of his own as he got washed down the river with Durian still in the cave. He could see the small white hand prodding around for the safety of his brother's arms through the water. Legolas watched in horror as the hand was completely submerged in water.
Durian watched his brother's hand slip away from his own. "LEGOLAS!" He sobbed out. He tried lifting himself out of the cave but was too weak. The last thing he remembered was the water rushing into the cave, pinning him to the back wall. His mind screamed as he thrashed around in the water around him. His lungs began to burn as the air was slowly being dragged away from him. He let out a sobbing cry. 'How could you leave me Legolas?' His mind cried out as everything went black…
*** End flashback**
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Aragorn when Legolas finished his story. "What happened after that?"
"Well, luckily our brothers were smart enough to go tell our father when we didn't return. He went out with Mirkwood warriors to find us. I was found lying far down river. While I was washed down the river I had stuck several rocks. I suffered from a mild concussion, some broken ribs, and a broken arm. But Durian…" Legolas looked back at his brother. "Oh I wish he didn't have to go into Moria with us."
"What happened to Durian?" Asked Aragorn.
Legolas sighed, "Durian, blacked out. The water washed his body out of the cave and twas actually my father who found him floating down the river. God… I still remember his face when he saw him so… lifeless. Durian spent several weeks with the Healers in recovery. Everyday I was there by his side. Of course I felt that the whole thing was my fault and I was the cause of everything. I don't think I've ever forgiven myself for making him go through that…"
"But it wasn't your fault. Your brothers made you go in there." Aragorn said.
"I know. But I should have been stronger. I should have held on to him. Durian was a mute until he was about 500. For over 200 years he didn't mutter a word to anyone. He went to school a mute, he trained as a warrior as a mute, he did everything. He would only talk to my mother. But she never repeated anything he would say. Every time I would see him I felt the pain. The pain inside of being too weak. I almost died from grief when I was about 2000 years old. He would never speak to me. When he started speaking to people again, he spoke to everyone besides me. I had to spend years with Galadriel in Lothlorien to regain my inner light. All was emptied when Durian ignored me. Until this day, he still seems weary around me, which always causes me to remember that accident. I fear that I will never get over the pain that I made him go through." Legolas told him. A single silver tear ran down his face. He wiped it away angrily for showing his weakness.
"Legolas, it wasn't your fault. Don't feel that way. Don't!" Aragorn demanded.
Legolas looked over at Aragorn and smiled, "Aragorn, every hour, on the hour for the past thousand years people have told me that over and over again. And everytime, I know it isn't true."
Aragorn was about to protest, when he was interrupted by Gandalf up ahead. "We shall rest here for the night. We do not wish to travel any longer in these woods at night." He pointed towards a large cave over by the riverside.
Legolas tensed when he heard the sharp intake of breath from Durian behind him. He turned around and looked at the elf with sympathetic eyes, Durian shot him a nasty glare and walked forward. He walked towards the cave but stopped and looked inside, watching the hobbits begin a fire.
He turned to Legolas and smiled before walking into the cave and finding a nice spot for himself right next to the entrance.
Legolas shook his head and walked into the cave, hoping for a good night rest for the journey into Moria tomorrow. He prayed to the gods silently that Durian would be okay while in Moria… no one knew what would happen. As long as there wasn't any water in Moria… everything would be fine…. He hoped.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
**Hey people! YAY!! It only took me a good 2 ½ hours to write this! LoL. My best friend Tiffany practically begged me to write another chapter tonight! I DID IT!!! ::hehe:: I hope you like it!! EVERYONE PLEASE R&R!!!! More chapters if you review!!!!**