The Mines of Moria
Summery: The Company travels into Moria.
Rating: PG-13
"Gates of Moria, open for me now," said Gandalf
in Elvish. The Company of the Ring stood outside the illuminated door of
the Mines of Moria. Above it, written in Elvish, were sort of instructions
on how to open the door; speak, friend, and enter. It seemed simple enough
to Gandalf, just finding the proper words to speak seemed to be their only
problem. The others sat about him waiting with slight annoyance. Merry
and Pippin sat nearby a lake of murky water. They had been throwing stones
in the water until Aragorn had warned them against such a thing. Now they
sat alone together on the ground speaking softly.
Legolas stood next to Boromir and Sam, who laid
on the ground next to each other. Aragorn shared a rock with Frodo who
sat melancholy with his head cradled in the palms of his hands. Myra sat
with Gimli, but they did not speak nor even acknowledged one anothers presence;
Gimli was too busy being excited of entering Moria once again. Legolas
had been gazing at Myra since they had settle on the ground. Beside Aragorn,
Frodo wrinkled his brow and stood sharply. All but Gandalf, who had his
back to the group, looked at Frodo for his sudden stand.
"It's a riddle," he stated. "What is the Elvish
word for 'friend'?"
"Mellon," replied Gandalf and Legolas at the same
time. As soon as they did the doors slowly opened with a deep creak. The
hobbits gave a sigh of relief, but soon tensed when the rest of the Company
became on a higher alert. Boromir and Frodo were at the back of the group,
led in a single file from front to back made of Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli,
Merry, Pippin, Myra, and Legolas. None saw the slight ripple run through
the water behind them.
"Strider!" yelled Frodo as he was pulled away
from the rest of the group. Boromir turned quickly to see the hobbit sliding
across the floor toward the doors. Aragorn came rushing after the creature
along with Boromir, and Legolas; who gave off a full blown aerial assault.
Sam, Merry, and Pippin ran after them along with Myra. The three hobbits
took out their small swords and began to attack the monster. Frodo was
held in its grip upside down, shouting at the top of his lungs for help.
Aragorn sliced at the beast with his sword as
did Boromir, while Legolas shot arrow after arrow at it, making special
care not to hit Frodo or the two men in the process. Behind Legolas came
Myra and the hobbits. He tried to stop them fearing for their safety, but
was hit harshly by one of the creatures flying tentacles. He lay strewn
off to the side of the battle that was being waged in the water.
"Legolas!" called Pippin and Myra together in
horror. Myra went to his side while Pippin joined his friends in their
attack. Soon Aragorn had sliced the tentacle that held Frodo clean off.
Frodo fell long from the grasp of the creature into the waiting arms of
Boromir, who caught him without missing a beat. The creature retreated
upon loosing its goal and slid silently back into the water.
"Quick, inside!" said Gandalf loudly from the
hallway leading into the Mines. They all ran indoors, Boromir still carrying
Frodo and Aragorn and Myra supporting Legolas. They had just entered into
the hallway when a fierce tentacle came through and made once again for
Frodo. Legolas, quicker than the eye can see, shot the tentacle that grabbed
at Boromir in its attempt to capture the hobbit in his arms. It again retreated,
this time more violently. In its pain of being shot and stabbed it fiercely
knocked down the tops of the door, blocking the Company of the Ring inside
the Mines of Moria.
Darkness filled the hallway suddenly. Frodo was
immediately frightened and reached for the Ring around his neck to make
certain it was there. Indeed it was and he released a sigh of relief. He
was still held safely in the arms of Boromir high above the ground. He
was just about to ask if everyone was all right when a light pierced the
darkness. At first he supposed it belonged to Myra, but he saw that it
was actually shining from the staff of Gandalf.
"Is everyone safe?" asked Boromir while placing
Frodo carefully on the ground. All nodded, but none were willing to speak
for fear of raising some unknown force that would terrorize them.
"It seems we have no choice of which way to go
now," said Gandalf. He began again to lead into Moria, slowly the rest
followed behind him. Only Gimli seemed to have a quick change in his attitude;
from fear to what appeared to be happiness. The others were not so optimistic
of their new surroundings. Gimli raced ahead of Gandalf into the opening
room of Moria. Inside lay the strewn bodies of two dozen dead. The dwarf
looked around him in horror upon realizing the truth; none in Moria lived.
Myra stood looking about in the bright light of the staff at the many bodies
laying about. Beside her, Legolas pulled out an arrow from the heart of
one of the bodies of a dwarf and seemed to contemplate it for a moment.
"It seems to be a goblin arrow," said Legolas.
Aragorn put his sword in a ready stance in the case of any unwanted intruders.
Boromir did the same as did the hobbits and Gandalf. Myra stood perfectly
still, the only one there not taking out a weapon of choice. As Legolas
readied his bow he noticed that she held no weapon at all, though he knew
her to have a sheathed sword under her blue cloak. He had seen it given
to her by Elrond shortly before leaving Rivendell.
She was not frozen to the spot as Legolas thought,
but was thinking of what to do next in a logical fashion. In time she pushed
aside the cloak over her shoulders and drew out her sword. Under the cloak
there was a dress of light blue with silver trim that was not as full and
lengthy as the one they had seen her wear in Rivendell. Since they had
left she had not taken off her cloak to show what clothing she wore underneath.
The dress was in no way suitable for battle attire, but as dresses went
it would have to do.
Gandalf again began to walk into the Mines. The
other members of the Company following close in the light of his staff.
The old wizard explained that it would take up to five days to get all
the way through Moria. The first day was horribly uneventful for Gimli,
he had hoped to see at least one dwarf still living. He sat oftenly alone
on the outskirts of the group, where the light from the staff of Gandalf
began to fade into darkness. None approached or tried to comfort him for
fear of backlash.
When Merry had tried to go over to speak with
the melancholy dwarf he was stopped promptly by Aragorn who said that Gimli
just needed some time by himself to comprehend what had happened to his
people. Merry had gone back to sit beside Pippin, but kept his eyes on
Gimli, who was just a hump in the dissolving light. Pippin too began to
look at the dwarf in wonder. He seemed to have caught Merry's sudden interest
in worrying about Gimli.
Just before the Company settled to sleep, Gimli
got up from his sorrow and went to rest with his companions. Merry lay
next to Aragorn and Pippin, watching the dwarf carefully. He saw no streaks
of past fallen tears, no red blurred eyes, no sign that Gimli had shed
a single sorrow filled tear. Despite this, Merry knew he had, as did the
rest of the Company. None said anything of the sorts, ofcourse, but they
all knew.
"He's very upset," said Pippin quietly from beside
Merry. He was speaking to Frodo, who nodded in reply as his eyes began
to slide shut. Next to him was Sam who was already sound asleep curled
up closely to his master. Not more than a couple of feet from the hobbits
and Aragorn was Boromir who sat as guard for the night. Legolas sat between
Gandalf and Myra to Boromir's side. Finally, off by himself, was Gimli.
He slept none too peacefully just near enough to provide him comfort, but
far to give him solace; he wanted no solace from his companions just yet.
"What shall we do with him?" asked Myra once all
but she, Boromir, Gandalf, and Legolas had fallen asleep. Gandalf took
a minute for contemplation before answering her query.
"We should wait to see what sorts of comfort he
desires," answered Gandalf. Beside him Boromir was attempting to build
a fire by striking a piece of flint on his sword, so far he had had no
luck. Boromir gave a glance at the wizard and the other two awakened companions.
"What of Frodo? He worries me," said Boromir.
"I believe him to be in pain; not physically, but mentally. He has carried
the Ring already too long, and longer more does he have to go. I wish one
here was strong enough to carry the burden for him. Though I am not all
together sure he would give the Ring to anyone who stepped forward to take
it from him."
"He has been worrying me as well," said Gandalf
in return.
"The Ring already has a powerful hold on him.
Boromir is right; he will not give up the Ring freely. Not to one of us,
anyway. I hope he can whence we reach the Fires of Mordor," added Myra.
Legolas did not agree, however, to this ofcourse. Though he had not fought
with her since the strange and deadly white light had appeared round her,
the Company was still ready for any other future argument.
"He would give it to Sam," said Legolas calmly.
"Possibly another one of the hobbits. He is close to them. Maybe Gandalf,
though my heart tells me that Gandalf would refuse such an offer were it
to be made."
"Indeed I did when dear Frodo offered me the Ring
while he still dwelt in the Shire," replied Gandalf.
"Than I guess that means Myra can also not wield
the Ring without consequence," said Boromir.
"None live, save the Dark Lord himself, that can,"
said Myra. "I pray that Frodo will be strong enough for this terrible task.
I also pray that we will as well be strong for him."
"I feel for him. It is unfair to ask him to carry
such a burden," said Legolas. Boromir nodded in agreement from his spot
sitting on the ground, still trying to build a fire. With no warning of
any sort, Myra put a hand softly on Boromir's sword and pushed it from
the small amount of kindling they had managed to find. The Elf and the
Man looked in wonder, but Gandalf looked in what appeared to be surprise
as Myra touched one piece of fire wood and it burst into flame. Boromir
jumped back from his close spot in surprise.
Myra smiled as the fire burned warm and brightly
before them. She turned to see her three male companions looking at her
in astonishment. They had heard before of such powers inhabited in magic,
Gandalf especially knew of such things, but none (save, ofcourse, Gandalf)
had ever seen up close such wizardry. Gandalf gave a light applause as
to not wake those still asleep. Myra in her own turn gave a short bow while
kneeling on the ground with her back to the fire.
"That was astounding," said Boromir with amazement
in his voice. Myra stood and drew her cloak closely around her as if a
sudden breeze had come into the hall they camped in. Legolas noticed small
goose bumps running up her neck, but not touching her beautiful face. He
looked about him for something to give her to keep her warm, but Elves
seldom travel with such things seeing as cold never much bothers them.
"Here," said Boromir placing his fur cloak onto
Myra's slim shoulders. "I need it not."
"Kind thanks, son of Denethor," said the Wizardess.
She walked fluidly past Gandalf and Legolas to settle on the dirty ground
near Gimli. Gandalf said his good-nights to the Elf and Boromir and settled
himself on the ground beside what was nearly a pile of hobbits, his staff
ceasing its glow. Legolas sat on the ground, now illuminated by nothing
but the fire. Boromir sat with a grump next to him and gazed into the fire.
Legolas noticed the grey eyes of Boromir drift
to where Frodo lay sleeping. In the dim light Legolas guessed that Boromir
could not see the Ring, but Legolas with his keen elven eyes could. The
Ring shined dull in the fire light, but cast a dreadful shadow over the
heart of Legolas. Beside him Boromir inhaled sharply. Legolas immediately
reached for an arrow and his bow thinking there was an attacker Boromir
saw.
"It is not an attack," said Boromir, reading Legolas's
stance. "I have just realized that Gimli seems to be crying in his dreams."
Legolas had been so caught with the Ring he had not noticed that Boromir
had changed his gaze to the sleeping dwarf. Indeed, it seemed Gimli was
lightly crying in his sleep; tears ran down from his eyes and were caught
in his long beard. "Shall we rouse him?"
"Best to let him sleep, though fitful it may be,"
answered Legolas. "Do you need rest yourself, I will relieve you?"
"That is kind, but I feel no sleep take me to
dreamland as of yet," said Boromir. Legolas stood than and walked to Myra.
He gazed down at her for a moment, Boromir's eyes glued questioningly to
his back. With a deep intake of breath, Legolas turned about to face Boromir
once more.
"If you need leave just wake me and I will take
your lookout, my new friend," said Legolas. He laid down on the ground
on his back next to Myra . He stared to the ceiling and could make out
carvings on the stone above him. It was in Elvish and read: believe in
thy friends, for they are thy saviors. With this rolling around in his
mind, Legolas drifted into a dreamless slumber.
Boromir sat on the ground still gazing at Frodo.
He heaved himself off the cold ground and walked to stand over the young
hobbit. He crouched down and moved back a part of Frodo's shirt to reveal
the Ring hanging on the silver chain of Bilbo's. Boromir touched the Ring
absently with the tip of his index finger. A sudden power over came him
as he brought the Ring as close to his obsessed eyes as the chain would
allow. He studied it in awe; the Ring glittered in the soft glow of the
fire, it forced his eyes to gaze and become mesmerized by it. With a sudden
jolt running threw his body he came to as if out of some dream, though
he knew he had not fallen asleep. He looked down at the Ring with a passing
passion and placed it carefully back onto the chest of Frodo, who slept
on peacefully.
The night traveled slowly as a whisper of thought
kept Boromir glued to thinking of the Ring. He did not want anything terrible
to happen to his new companions because of such a seemingly small ring.
If Frodo were to give him the Ring, he would wield it to stop Sauron and
free Middle-Earth from his rein of terror. Surely Frodo would give the
Ring to him for such an honorable purpose. He did not wish to destroy or
maim, but to fix that which was wrong with all. Boromir glanced fleetingly
at the Ring, but could not see it in the failing firelight. All he saw
was the peaceful faces of Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin; all his companions.
They were what mattered to the quest; no man could hold the Ring without
paying a dastardly price, and Boromir would do no such thing.
Light did not reach the Company when the sun rose
over the horizon. Only specks of light could worm their way through cracks
in the rocks to shine a single beam of light onto the closed eye of Frodo
Baggins. He winced painfully against it as he began to wake from his sleep.
Boromir stared at the burned out ruins where the fire had been burning
the night before, but changed his eyes stare to fix on Frodo. The hobbit
sat up and rubbed his eyes, giving out a large yawn. He stretched out his
arms up toward the ceiling and let them fall loosely to his sides with
a barely audible rustle of clothing.
"I doubt I shall sleep that well in the journey
to come," said Frodo to himself. He saw Boromir still sitting as what was
supposed to be a tentative night guard. "Rather uneventful night was it,
Boromir?"
"Very," said Boromir. He was lying, the Ring having
nearly convinced him to take it from Frodo while he slept was eventful
indeed. Guilt found its way to the heart of Boromir and made him feel a
certain indistinct pain at having lied so early in the quest of the Company.
He stood and stretched out his arms and long legs. "You should wake the
others."
"Right, right," replied Frodo. Beside him he shook
his fellow hobbits awake first. They grudgingly awoke at the call of their
names and a gentle shake from the Ring-bearer.
"What time is it? Does anyone know?" asked Merry.
Boromir looked up to the light that had smuggled threw the crack and disrupted
Frodo's sleep.
"I do not know, but my guess would be late
morning. Rouse the others, Master Meriodoc," said Boromir. As Merry began
to do this Boromir mumbled to himself, "I wish we had the beloved horse
of Sam's to carry our packs."
Sam had apparently heard this and smiled at a
memory of his pony, Bill. They had to release him to the woods and the
wolves and who knew what else before they came into Moria. Sam went to
retrieve his pack, which lay discarded next to Myra. As he reached down
to grab for his pack he decided to instead reach over to lay a hand on
one of the sleeping shoulders to give it a wakening shake. First he called
out her name as his hand found its way to a shoulder clad in the cloak
of Boromir. He shook her lightly once more and called her name softly close
to her ear.
He was about to do this again when a green and
brown blur flew out from laying beside her. At once a white knife held
fast to the neck of Sam. He shook uncontrollably and had let out a rather
womanly scream when the object had popped up. The rest of the Company turned
to see what had happened at this yell. They gazed at a half awake Myra
on her back, eyes wide. Above her bent Legolas, his knife close against
the skin of Sam's neck.
"Sam?" said Legolas. Sleep left his eyes so they
may focus on the frightened hobbit.
"Sorry to inconvenience you, sir, but I had to
rouse Miss Myra here, begging your pardon. I did not know it was of such
a foul to you. I assure you, if I had indeed known, I would have allowed
her rest and to wake on her own. It was not my intention to displease you,
sir," blabbered Sam. Legolas took the knife quickly from the neck. Faster
than the eyes could behold, Legolas was on his feet and at Sam's side.
He held down a hand at Sam. The hobbit looked almost frightened at the
extended gesture.
"I fear my reflexes may have been too quick in
this matter. I meant you no harm, my dear hobbit friend. It shall not happen
again, I assure," said Legolas. Sam took the outstretched hand of his and
was pulled up with power by the Elf. Legolas turned to see Myra standing
behind him with a somewhat shocked expression on her face. The countenance
was of pure surprise and of horror. He stepped closer to her, expecting
her to step back, but she did not. She held what ground she could firmly
beneath her.
"Why would you do such a thing to poor Sam? Please
tell me that you were not deliberately trying to do harm to him. If it
was unintentional than he and the others could at least forgive such a
reaction," said Myra.
"I certainly mean him or anyone else in our Company
any harm. It was a simple reaction. It shall not happen for as long as
I can help it; but one day my swiftness shall come into a sort of use.
I was merely protecting my companions," retorted Legolas. "It is as simple
as that."
"Is it?" said Gandalf from the side of Aragorn.
The Company looked over to him. Legolas gave him a wondering stare, he
did not know of what the old wizard spoke. "You had a natural reflection
to protect Myra, not anyone else. And nearly killed one of your comrades
in the process."
"I would do such things for anyone here; including
you, Wizard Gandalf," said Legolas in return. Gandalf did not dwell on
this matter for long. He ordered all to retrieve their packs for leave.
Frodo went to Sam to make certain his friend had not been harmed, as did
Merry and Pippin with him. Myra passed by Legolas to go to Sam with a slight
breeze.
"I wonder if you would have done the same for
the others," said Myra as she passed. She did not look back at him, but
went to Sam to check his neck carefully. When she left the group Legolas
decided to give a formal apology to Sam. He walked over to him with slowness.
Beside Sam his fellow hobbits crowded nearer to him; Merry went so far
as to place his hand on the hilt of his small sword, but took it off with
reluctance when Frodo had given him a displeased glare.
"Master Samwise," said Legolas kneeling before
Sam, "I beg of you for forgiveness, I truly meant you no such harm. I swear
upon Mirkwood, for if I lie may it fall to ruin, that I am severely sorry.
From this day forth I shall be in your eternal debt. Any day of any year
I shall come upon your call for a reason that I will not ask for, but instead
do entirely what I am told to do."
Sam thought at this for a moment; it would be
a very secure thing to have the assistance of an Elf whenever one was needed.
He looked to Frodo and Pippin who seemed to silently agree with each other
on that Legolas should be forgiven. With a soft sigh, Sam turned back to
the kneeling Elf who had sorrow drifting endlessly in his blue eyes.
"Fear not, Legolas. All is forgiven; this is not
a hobbit of the sorts that keeps a grudge. Just be sure you know who you
are attacking before you attack next time. Arise! Arise! My dear elf, but
give me half a hug of friendship refound before you do so." So Legolas
gave more than half a hug to Sam and arose to his feet, towering once again
over the hobbits.
"Let us be off with that ended," said Boromir.
Legolas handed to Sam his forgotten pack as the other hobbits too told
Legolas that he knew well to give a formal and good apology. They chatted
merrily along with the Elf; heading no noise, for their were none. Gandalf
again lighted his staff and led his nine companions down a hall. They reached
a fork in the road; one hall going left, the other right.
"I seem not to remember this. Do you know which
way should be chosen, Gimli?" said Gandalf. The sad face of Gimli looked
up at the call of his name. He stepped up to stand beside the much taller
Gandalf. First he looked left and than right.
"Sorry, I have no memory either," said Gimli after
much thought. Pippin sat heavily on the stone floor and held his head lopsided
upon one of his hands. Merry sat less dramatically beside him.
"Left," said Gandalf suddenly.
"You have remembered?" asked Pippin rising from
the floor.
"No, the air is warmer from that hall," replied
Gandalf. He began to walk once again, all following behind him; weapons
ready for anything. From beside Gandalf, Gimli seemed to tense. With no
warning he began to run off into a room to the far side of the chosen hall.
The others shouted after him and chased after his retreating figure. Upon
catching up with him, they found that he knelt before a tomb and saw tears
finally begin to fall down his face.
The Nine of the Ring dispersed themselves around
the room. From the far corner Pippin saw the body armored dwarf sitting
on the edge of a well. Pippin flicked an arrow that stuck out of its chest.
First the body wobbled slightly as Pippin began to pray that it would not
fall. He looked back to see all paying mind to Gandalf whom read from a
dusty old book. A startling crash behind him forced him to turn to see
the legs of the body falling down the well. With echoing all throughout
the Mines, chains and all tumbled down. Pippin turned with a scrunched
face to look at the faces of his nine friends.
"Fool of a Took!" said not only Gandalf, but Frodo
and Sam as well. The rest stood in silence, the echoes being the only thing
heard. They had died away and nothing greeted them in return. Boromir began
to slightly relax and just as he began to remove his waiting hand from
the hilt of his sword, a deep drumming could just begin to be heard. In
seconds passing it became closer and closer.
"Bar the door!" hollered Aragorn. Already he was
throwing weapons to keep the door shut to Legolas and Boromir. They stood
back as the first bang sounded upon the wooden door. All unsheathed their
swords, but Legolas opted to ready his bow. The pounding upon the door
grew much louder still. The hobbits backed to stand behind Gandalf per
Aragorn's insistent request. They huddled close together as the door finally
gave way and the wave of attackers barged, weapons drawn, toward the Company.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 4: The Fall of Gandalf
A/N: This chapter was sort of a mix of what happened in
the movie and what happened in the book. I hope you liked it! R&R,
pretty please. :)