Chapter 7
1 The Darkness of Moria
The Fellowship passed the Walls of Moria, on their way to the mines. Gandalf found the Gate into Moria, its outlines, symbols and runes written in ithildin, reflecting only moonlight and starlight. The words in ancient elvish, written across the arch read: 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.' But they were all puzzled at what the password was. Gandalf tried many combinations of strange languages, spells and incantations. Finally, frustrated he repeated the word 'edro' which meant 'open', his rage rising. Then finally, he sat down on a rock, Frodo beside him, to contemplate their stalemate.
While Gandalf sat, thinking, Merry and Pippin began a game of who could throw a rock the farthest into the dark water beside them. Aragorn, startled by the first splash, turned and caught Pippin's arm in mid throw. His face was dark and wary, he spoke in a hushed voice.
"Do not disturb the water," he said. Suddenly, Frodo, who had been contemplating the door with Gandalf, stood.
"It's a riddle! What's the elvish word for friend?" he asked.
"Mellon," said the wizard. There was a deep rumbling then a cracking sound and the great stone doors opened before them. Kalan stepped up beside the hobbit and smiled down at him.
"Not bad, Frodo," he complimented, Frodo beamed from the praise. The group walked slowly into the mines and was immediately engulfed in darkness. While Gimli boasted about the great Dwarven City of Dwarrowdelf and the accomplishments of the dwarves who lived there, Gandalf set a small crystal into the top of his staff. He breathed onto it and the stone began to glow with a magical light. Boromir looked around him in horror.
"This is no mine, it's a tomb," he whispered. The others looked around, their eyes widening in fright.
All about them were decaying remains and skeletons of long dead dwarves. Most had arrows stuck into them. Legolas stepped over to one corpse and took the back quarrel from its place, studying it.
"Goblins!" he spat and threw the arrow down, drawing one of his own and setting it to his bow. Boromir, Aragorn and Kalan drew their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan, we should have never come here. Now get out, get out now!" called Boromir. The hobbits fearfully backed out through the gate.
Suddenly, something wrapped around Frodo's ankle, dragging him down. He screamed as he was pulled toward the dark water.
"Strider! Kalan!" Sam yelled. The two turned at his call. Sam hacked at the black tentacle holding Frodo with his short sword, releasing his friend. Merry and Pippin dragged the other two back.
Dozens more writhing arms shot from the water and knocked them away from Frodo, taking hold of the Ringbearer once more. It dragged the hobbit up into the air by his furry foot.
"Frodo!" Kalan called and leapt to his aid. The hobbit was being dangled above the water, struggling and screaming. A large monster appeared, surfacing from the foul water below. It opened its great maw, revealing many sharp teeth.
"HELP!" screamed Frodo.
Below, Aragorn, Kalan and Boromir attacked the creature. Kalan's sword sliced through black tentacles, trying to get Frodo. Legolas shot an arrow at the thing, hitting its eye. Kalan severed the arm holding Frodo and the hobbit came tumbling down into the waiting arms of Boromir.
"Get into the mine!" ordered Aragorn and the Fellowship retreated into Moria's dark depths. The creature tried to follow, but its huge mass could not fit through the Gate. It caused a great rock fall and the exit was blocked.
*
"Well, it seems we have no choice, we must brave the great dark of Moria." Said Gandalf, holding his staff, the magical rock casting an eerie glow about them, "We must walk swiftly, for it is a four day journey to the other side. Be on your guard, there are fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world." They nodded and prepared to move on.
Kalan stood off to one side, his silver eyes darting around the shadows. He almost looked frightened, high-strung as if something was going to jump out of the dark at him.
Legolas noticed that the boy was not following and he turned back to him. The elf slowly came up to the youth, and upon seeing his nervous expression made sure Kalan knew he was coming. He cleared his throat and reached out to clasp Kalan's shoulder.
"Gildae?" he asked in elvish, using the name the elves gave the boy, "Mani naa ta?"(1)[1] he asked softly. Kalan turned to him, slowly. The muscles under the elf's hand were tense and quivering. He searched the silver eyes seeing an unnatural fear. "Gildae?" he asked again.
"Huine,"(2)[2] Kalan answered in elvish, "It feels like it is closing in around me, trying to swallow me whole," a shudder ran through his body, "Darkness, it drains me, my one enemy,' he stared into the elf's eyes. Legolas nodded, he to felt the strain of being enclosed in the dark.
"Then stay near Gandalf's light, it may help," he offered, but Kalan shook his head.
"No, put the hobbits up there, they are more vulnerable and cant see as well as you and I," he answered, a slight smile on his lips. Legolas nodded, understanding. The two of them hurried to catch up with the others.
**So sorry for not updating in so long!! Thanks for all the reviews, please keep 'um coming! Next chapter, Kalan tells the others what he is and about his past. Please read (if I ever get it up x_x) "Secrets Revealed: Kalan's Tale"**
----------------------- [1] 1) What is it?
[2] 2) The darkness
1 The Darkness of Moria
The Fellowship passed the Walls of Moria, on their way to the mines. Gandalf found the Gate into Moria, its outlines, symbols and runes written in ithildin, reflecting only moonlight and starlight. The words in ancient elvish, written across the arch read: 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.' But they were all puzzled at what the password was. Gandalf tried many combinations of strange languages, spells and incantations. Finally, frustrated he repeated the word 'edro' which meant 'open', his rage rising. Then finally, he sat down on a rock, Frodo beside him, to contemplate their stalemate.
While Gandalf sat, thinking, Merry and Pippin began a game of who could throw a rock the farthest into the dark water beside them. Aragorn, startled by the first splash, turned and caught Pippin's arm in mid throw. His face was dark and wary, he spoke in a hushed voice.
"Do not disturb the water," he said. Suddenly, Frodo, who had been contemplating the door with Gandalf, stood.
"It's a riddle! What's the elvish word for friend?" he asked.
"Mellon," said the wizard. There was a deep rumbling then a cracking sound and the great stone doors opened before them. Kalan stepped up beside the hobbit and smiled down at him.
"Not bad, Frodo," he complimented, Frodo beamed from the praise. The group walked slowly into the mines and was immediately engulfed in darkness. While Gimli boasted about the great Dwarven City of Dwarrowdelf and the accomplishments of the dwarves who lived there, Gandalf set a small crystal into the top of his staff. He breathed onto it and the stone began to glow with a magical light. Boromir looked around him in horror.
"This is no mine, it's a tomb," he whispered. The others looked around, their eyes widening in fright.
All about them were decaying remains and skeletons of long dead dwarves. Most had arrows stuck into them. Legolas stepped over to one corpse and took the back quarrel from its place, studying it.
"Goblins!" he spat and threw the arrow down, drawing one of his own and setting it to his bow. Boromir, Aragorn and Kalan drew their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan, we should have never come here. Now get out, get out now!" called Boromir. The hobbits fearfully backed out through the gate.
Suddenly, something wrapped around Frodo's ankle, dragging him down. He screamed as he was pulled toward the dark water.
"Strider! Kalan!" Sam yelled. The two turned at his call. Sam hacked at the black tentacle holding Frodo with his short sword, releasing his friend. Merry and Pippin dragged the other two back.
Dozens more writhing arms shot from the water and knocked them away from Frodo, taking hold of the Ringbearer once more. It dragged the hobbit up into the air by his furry foot.
"Frodo!" Kalan called and leapt to his aid. The hobbit was being dangled above the water, struggling and screaming. A large monster appeared, surfacing from the foul water below. It opened its great maw, revealing many sharp teeth.
"HELP!" screamed Frodo.
Below, Aragorn, Kalan and Boromir attacked the creature. Kalan's sword sliced through black tentacles, trying to get Frodo. Legolas shot an arrow at the thing, hitting its eye. Kalan severed the arm holding Frodo and the hobbit came tumbling down into the waiting arms of Boromir.
"Get into the mine!" ordered Aragorn and the Fellowship retreated into Moria's dark depths. The creature tried to follow, but its huge mass could not fit through the Gate. It caused a great rock fall and the exit was blocked.
*
"Well, it seems we have no choice, we must brave the great dark of Moria." Said Gandalf, holding his staff, the magical rock casting an eerie glow about them, "We must walk swiftly, for it is a four day journey to the other side. Be on your guard, there are fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world." They nodded and prepared to move on.
Kalan stood off to one side, his silver eyes darting around the shadows. He almost looked frightened, high-strung as if something was going to jump out of the dark at him.
Legolas noticed that the boy was not following and he turned back to him. The elf slowly came up to the youth, and upon seeing his nervous expression made sure Kalan knew he was coming. He cleared his throat and reached out to clasp Kalan's shoulder.
"Gildae?" he asked in elvish, using the name the elves gave the boy, "Mani naa ta?"(1)[1] he asked softly. Kalan turned to him, slowly. The muscles under the elf's hand were tense and quivering. He searched the silver eyes seeing an unnatural fear. "Gildae?" he asked again.
"Huine,"(2)[2] Kalan answered in elvish, "It feels like it is closing in around me, trying to swallow me whole," a shudder ran through his body, "Darkness, it drains me, my one enemy,' he stared into the elf's eyes. Legolas nodded, he to felt the strain of being enclosed in the dark.
"Then stay near Gandalf's light, it may help," he offered, but Kalan shook his head.
"No, put the hobbits up there, they are more vulnerable and cant see as well as you and I," he answered, a slight smile on his lips. Legolas nodded, understanding. The two of them hurried to catch up with the others.
**So sorry for not updating in so long!! Thanks for all the reviews, please keep 'um coming! Next chapter, Kalan tells the others what he is and about his past. Please read (if I ever get it up x_x) "Secrets Revealed: Kalan's Tale"**
----------------------- [1] 1) What is it?
[2] 2) The darkness