~ Hmm, I might not be able to finish the whole trilogy until December
2003!!! Oh wellz...
Chapter 2: The Ring Goes South
I silently thanked my teachers as we crossed over rough terrain and steep hills for training me to be a warrior. If I had not gotten proper training, I would not be able to handle the tedious and tiring journey. The hobbits seem to need the most rest, which did not mind me at all. I was more amused at the fact the hobbits have "second breakfast" and "afternoon tea" and "elevenses," whatever those were.
I smiled as I watched the blond man, Boromir, I found out his name, practiced sword fighting with the two little hobbits, Merry and Pippin. It certainly was relaxing to watch Pippin and Merry all of a sudden tackle Boromir to the ground and wrestle with him. I needed a good entertainment. After traveling for such a long time, we need some sort of laughter to ease our senses.
My sharp elven eyes then spotted something out at the distance. Squinting, I did not know what it was at first. I thought it was a bunch of birds, but birds would not travel in that vast amount, do they? I then realized what it was at the same time everyone else did. Spies from Saruman! If we did not take cover immediately, they would see us and inform the traitorous wizard about us.
We all ducked for cover and hid until the crows all passed. We stayed hidden for a few more moments to make sure they were all gone before we emerged. Gandalf told us we had to go through the Caradhras mountain to avoid more of Saruman's spies.
As we climbed up the steep, snow covered mountain, I spun around when I heard the ring bearer slip and fall. I looked down at his neck and froze. The ring was missing. Where did it go? Looking up, I saw Boromir bend down and pick something up from the snow. The ring. He was staring at it for a long time, and I was afraid he was going to bolt with it.
"Boromir! Give Frodo the ring!" Aragorn commanded.
Boromir seemed to hesitate for a moment before returning the ring back to the hobbit. I released the breath I had held. I noticed Aragorn took his hand off the hilt of his sword. That was a close one indeed. I will have to keep an eye on Boromir. I am afraid he cannot be trusted when it comes to the unity of the fellowship.
We continued on up the snowy mountain straight into a snow storm. Great going. Because I was able to walk on the snow without leaving even a trace of a footprint, it was easy for me to hurry to the front of the line and look out to the horizon.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" I announced after listening for a bit. It was true. Although the others could not hear it, my elven ears could hear a faint, low voice speaking to us. I did not like the sound of that voice. It spoke of evil, and I was right. It was the voice of Saruman.
"Saruman!" Gandalf screamed over the gushes of wind blowing the snow right at our faces, stepping forward to the edge of the cliff to address the voice.
I then heard another noise from up above which did not sound pleasant. Looking up, I saw a herd of rocks and snow fall from the top of the mountain straight towards us. And it was heading straight towards Gandalf. I reached out, grabbed Gandalf by his cloak, and pulled him back just in time. I watched as the rocks and snow fell past us down to the seemingly never ending bottom. That was a close one.
"We must turn back! We must get off the mountain!" Aragorn shouted. But Gandalf refused.
Then the dwarf, Gimli was his name, suggested we go down through the Mines of Moria. Oh, sweet Elbereth, through the mines? I first of all hated caves, and the Mines of Moria would be swarming with more dwarves. Traveling with one dwarf was enough, but to be surrounded by thousands of dwarves? I was ready to return back home upon that suggestion, but I had no choice. I had to live with it if we wanted to achieve this quest. Hopefully the dwarves would not be too hostile.
The decision fell on Frodo, and he chose to go through the mines. Well, if that was what he wanted to do, that is what we're going to do.
And we did. We went to the Mines of Moria, but it was guarded by a large gate. Well, we'll just open it and go through. We should be out by morning. But when I read the elvish words written at the top of the doors, I knew we were going to be here for a while. To enter, a password was required.
While Gandalf tried to figure out what the password, we all sat by the wall to rest. I watched as Aragorn and Sam released the pony that bravely traveled with us. The better for him. He would not be able to travel with us any more under this condition. Better to let him go than to suffer along with us.
I snapped into attention when I suddenly heard the gates of Moria open. They figured out the password! We all hurried in to the mine and looked around. Skeletons of dwarves lay everywhere, and even I was stunned. I had never seen such a sight of hundreds of dead dwarves lying everywhere.
"This isn't a mine!" Boromir exclaimed. "This is a tomb!"
He wasn't wrong in that regard. I felt a pang of sympathy towards Gimli who had to see this. "No!" he cried out in emotional agony. I bent down and pulled out an arrow from a skeleton, examining it. I immediately knew who did all of this.
"Goblins," I informed them. It was the least I can do for Gimli.
All of a sudden, I heard a cry from behind me. I spun around to see Frodo being dragged back by a large tentacle from the waters. What in the name of the Valar was that? We all rushed forward to save Frodo from the throes of the beast. As Aragorn and Boromir chopped at its arms, I took my bow and started shooting at its head. This was the most awful looking beast I have ever seen. All the more reason why we want to kill it. It looked like it was about to eat the poor little hobbit! I shot an arrow right into its mouth, rendering it dazed for a moment. That moment was enough for Aragorn to chop off the tentacle holding Frodo. Boromir caught him, and we all ran into the mine, closing the gates in time to block the beast outside. That was close.
We all had to catch our breaths for a moment before moving on. It was good that Gandalf had his staff to use for a light. Even I cannot see clearly in the dark. I hated the dark.
We eventually reached the tomb of Balin, the lord of Moria, I guess. Gimli seemed quite distressed by his death. Well, I don't blame him. Losing the lord of Moria to him was like losing Lord Elrond to me. I gave him a moment to grieve before I had to remind everyone we must not tarry.
"We must move on. We cannot linger here," I said. I know everyone was not in the mood, but we had to keep on going. Mainly it was because I hated caves, and I could not stand being here another minute. Only a half a day has passed, and I already missed the trees and the sky. We forest elves are very attached to nature.
A sound made us all jump. Turning, I saw Pippin looking shocked and pale. Nice going, Pippin. Knock off the skeleton into the well and disturb every living being down here. That will surely attract attention to us.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf scolded him. "Next time, throw yourself in, and rid us of your stupidity!"
Our ears all perked up when we started to hear drums. Drums? My heart started to pound. What was happening? Don't tell me it was what I thought it was. We had nowhere to run except the front door, and I doubt that we could escape through the front door without encountering what was coming.
Frodo pulled his sword partially out from his sheath. It was glowing blue. I could feel my heart pounding even faster. We all knew what that meant. We all knew who was coming. And judging from the sound of the drums, they were coming fast.
~ A cliffhanger! Sorrie guys, I know what it's like to read a story and end at a cliffhanger.
Chapter 2: The Ring Goes South
I silently thanked my teachers as we crossed over rough terrain and steep hills for training me to be a warrior. If I had not gotten proper training, I would not be able to handle the tedious and tiring journey. The hobbits seem to need the most rest, which did not mind me at all. I was more amused at the fact the hobbits have "second breakfast" and "afternoon tea" and "elevenses," whatever those were.
I smiled as I watched the blond man, Boromir, I found out his name, practiced sword fighting with the two little hobbits, Merry and Pippin. It certainly was relaxing to watch Pippin and Merry all of a sudden tackle Boromir to the ground and wrestle with him. I needed a good entertainment. After traveling for such a long time, we need some sort of laughter to ease our senses.
My sharp elven eyes then spotted something out at the distance. Squinting, I did not know what it was at first. I thought it was a bunch of birds, but birds would not travel in that vast amount, do they? I then realized what it was at the same time everyone else did. Spies from Saruman! If we did not take cover immediately, they would see us and inform the traitorous wizard about us.
We all ducked for cover and hid until the crows all passed. We stayed hidden for a few more moments to make sure they were all gone before we emerged. Gandalf told us we had to go through the Caradhras mountain to avoid more of Saruman's spies.
As we climbed up the steep, snow covered mountain, I spun around when I heard the ring bearer slip and fall. I looked down at his neck and froze. The ring was missing. Where did it go? Looking up, I saw Boromir bend down and pick something up from the snow. The ring. He was staring at it for a long time, and I was afraid he was going to bolt with it.
"Boromir! Give Frodo the ring!" Aragorn commanded.
Boromir seemed to hesitate for a moment before returning the ring back to the hobbit. I released the breath I had held. I noticed Aragorn took his hand off the hilt of his sword. That was a close one indeed. I will have to keep an eye on Boromir. I am afraid he cannot be trusted when it comes to the unity of the fellowship.
We continued on up the snowy mountain straight into a snow storm. Great going. Because I was able to walk on the snow without leaving even a trace of a footprint, it was easy for me to hurry to the front of the line and look out to the horizon.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" I announced after listening for a bit. It was true. Although the others could not hear it, my elven ears could hear a faint, low voice speaking to us. I did not like the sound of that voice. It spoke of evil, and I was right. It was the voice of Saruman.
"Saruman!" Gandalf screamed over the gushes of wind blowing the snow right at our faces, stepping forward to the edge of the cliff to address the voice.
I then heard another noise from up above which did not sound pleasant. Looking up, I saw a herd of rocks and snow fall from the top of the mountain straight towards us. And it was heading straight towards Gandalf. I reached out, grabbed Gandalf by his cloak, and pulled him back just in time. I watched as the rocks and snow fell past us down to the seemingly never ending bottom. That was a close one.
"We must turn back! We must get off the mountain!" Aragorn shouted. But Gandalf refused.
Then the dwarf, Gimli was his name, suggested we go down through the Mines of Moria. Oh, sweet Elbereth, through the mines? I first of all hated caves, and the Mines of Moria would be swarming with more dwarves. Traveling with one dwarf was enough, but to be surrounded by thousands of dwarves? I was ready to return back home upon that suggestion, but I had no choice. I had to live with it if we wanted to achieve this quest. Hopefully the dwarves would not be too hostile.
The decision fell on Frodo, and he chose to go through the mines. Well, if that was what he wanted to do, that is what we're going to do.
And we did. We went to the Mines of Moria, but it was guarded by a large gate. Well, we'll just open it and go through. We should be out by morning. But when I read the elvish words written at the top of the doors, I knew we were going to be here for a while. To enter, a password was required.
While Gandalf tried to figure out what the password, we all sat by the wall to rest. I watched as Aragorn and Sam released the pony that bravely traveled with us. The better for him. He would not be able to travel with us any more under this condition. Better to let him go than to suffer along with us.
I snapped into attention when I suddenly heard the gates of Moria open. They figured out the password! We all hurried in to the mine and looked around. Skeletons of dwarves lay everywhere, and even I was stunned. I had never seen such a sight of hundreds of dead dwarves lying everywhere.
"This isn't a mine!" Boromir exclaimed. "This is a tomb!"
He wasn't wrong in that regard. I felt a pang of sympathy towards Gimli who had to see this. "No!" he cried out in emotional agony. I bent down and pulled out an arrow from a skeleton, examining it. I immediately knew who did all of this.
"Goblins," I informed them. It was the least I can do for Gimli.
All of a sudden, I heard a cry from behind me. I spun around to see Frodo being dragged back by a large tentacle from the waters. What in the name of the Valar was that? We all rushed forward to save Frodo from the throes of the beast. As Aragorn and Boromir chopped at its arms, I took my bow and started shooting at its head. This was the most awful looking beast I have ever seen. All the more reason why we want to kill it. It looked like it was about to eat the poor little hobbit! I shot an arrow right into its mouth, rendering it dazed for a moment. That moment was enough for Aragorn to chop off the tentacle holding Frodo. Boromir caught him, and we all ran into the mine, closing the gates in time to block the beast outside. That was close.
We all had to catch our breaths for a moment before moving on. It was good that Gandalf had his staff to use for a light. Even I cannot see clearly in the dark. I hated the dark.
We eventually reached the tomb of Balin, the lord of Moria, I guess. Gimli seemed quite distressed by his death. Well, I don't blame him. Losing the lord of Moria to him was like losing Lord Elrond to me. I gave him a moment to grieve before I had to remind everyone we must not tarry.
"We must move on. We cannot linger here," I said. I know everyone was not in the mood, but we had to keep on going. Mainly it was because I hated caves, and I could not stand being here another minute. Only a half a day has passed, and I already missed the trees and the sky. We forest elves are very attached to nature.
A sound made us all jump. Turning, I saw Pippin looking shocked and pale. Nice going, Pippin. Knock off the skeleton into the well and disturb every living being down here. That will surely attract attention to us.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf scolded him. "Next time, throw yourself in, and rid us of your stupidity!"
Our ears all perked up when we started to hear drums. Drums? My heart started to pound. What was happening? Don't tell me it was what I thought it was. We had nowhere to run except the front door, and I doubt that we could escape through the front door without encountering what was coming.
Frodo pulled his sword partially out from his sheath. It was glowing blue. I could feel my heart pounding even faster. We all knew what that meant. We all knew who was coming. And judging from the sound of the drums, they were coming fast.
~ A cliffhanger! Sorrie guys, I know what it's like to read a story and end at a cliffhanger.