Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up , but this is the first chance that I've had to write anything in quite a while. I decided to make it extra-long since you had to wait so long for me to update. :) :) :) Enjoy!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter VI ~ "Moria , part I"
Night fell, and a cold wind blew down from Caradhras. The Fellowship had halted for the night, Gandalf and Aragorn both agreeing that they could all use a longer rest than usual.
"Even now it mocks us," Teneriel said softly from her perch in a nearby tree, watching the four hobbits huddle even closer together near the fire. " Caradhras has not forgiven us for our trek up its slopes."
Legolas laughed dryly from a limb far above her, where he was keeping watch. "And I doubt that it will!"
Gimli was crouched near the fire as well, his arms crossed tightly over his broad chest.
"The wind cuts through to my bones," he growled, pulling his cloak closer around his shoulders.
The wind in question howled around them, very nearly masking the sound of a fast approaching enemy.
Frodo glanced up , his face white with something other than the cold. The wind was not all the he heard. " Aragorn ," he asked, "is that just the wind?"
Aragorn glanced up into the tree, but the two Elves were already gone, making their way swiftly through the trees toward the sound. "If it is not, Frodo ," he answered quietly, "we will soon know."
Some distance away, Legolas stopped , his head cocked and eyes slightly closed. "I cannot tell," he whispered, listening intently. "Is it is Wargs, then the wind masks their hideous voices too well for us to hear."
Teneriel sighed, scanning the faraway hills. Her heart gave an uncomfortable leap. "We need not our ears for this, Legolas. Look!"
Indeed, just in their range of vision, were Wargs. They were pelting as hard as their legs could carry them toward the fire, its light barely flickering through the trees.
Legolas hissed something under his breath that she could not quite make out. "Go back to camp. I will stay a few moments longer to test how well a draug's hide stands up to an Elven arrow."
Teneriel nodded, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Aim true, Legolas. And be quick." Then she disappeared back through the trees, with nary a rustle.
Back at camp, Aragorn was pacing around the fire, his hand on the hilt of Anduril and his brow creased.
"What is taking them so long?" Boromir asked quietly, his voice laced with the same concern that Aragorn felt, but did not voice.
A moment later, his query was answered, for Teneriel landed silently in front of him. "Dunadan," she whispered, grabbing Aragorn's arm. "Frodo was right. Wargs."
Gandalf heard and turned to the hobbits, his blue eyes aflame. "Put more wood on the fire!" he snapped.
They obeyed without a word, and the fire blazed high behind them, showing clearly the looks of utter fear on the hobbit's faces.
Gimli pulled out his axe and swung it experimentally. The blade whistled shrilly through the air, and he nodded in approval. "Wargs cannot stand against this blade.
"I have felled some of them," Legolas said, dropping from a nearby tree . Teneriel might have smiled under different circumstances, as his normally tidy blonde hair was hanging loose about his shoulders and he looked rather rumpled. Apparently, his flight through the trees had not gone as well has he had hoped.
But sadly, she had not the time to laugh, for at that very moment, the Wargs attacked. Wolves launched themselves at the Fellowship from every direction, regardless of the blades.
Teneriel pulled out her bow and set an arrow to the string. Within a few seconds, arrows were flying thick through the air. Aiming was hardly necessary, as the horde of Wargs was so thick that an arrow sent in any direction would find a target.
The hobbits were closest to the fire, the other members of the Company forming a deadly perimeter around them. Blades flashed brightly in the firelight , and the air was filled with the yelps of wolves.
Legolas gritted his teeth as he shot his last arrow, the words coming out in a rush. "There are too many of these fell beasts!"
Quivers empty, the two Elves abandoned their bows, opting instead for their other weapons. Erdoniel and Calathrel flashed in the firelight as they cleared Teneriel's sheath. Legolas pulled out his knives.
The Company fought for their lives as the Wargs pressed in from all sides.
Aragorn, his face streaked with sweat and blood, snapped, " Gandalf, we cannot last long like th- !" He broke off and neatly decapitated an attacking Warf.
Gandalf straightened, and seemed to grow far taller. "Enough of this!" he bellowed, staff outstretched. "Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!"
A gigantic fireball blossomed from the tip of his staff. It rose, crackling, to the tree above, which burst into flame.
The burning tree afforded Legolas a sight that saved Frodo's life. His eyes widened, and he pulled an arrow out of the nearby body of a dead Warg. "Duck!" he ordered, aiming at Frodo.
Frodo ducked obligingly, and the arrow sank deep into the heart of a Warg that had been slinking up behind him, where it smoldered gently. The remaining Wargs slunk away, their howls piercing the air.
~~~~~~~
The rest of that night was spent in wakefulness, for none of the Fellowship seemed to be able to resign themselves to sleep.
Teneriel sat with her back to a nearby tree, thankful that the Wargs had left them in relative peace and that her worst injury was a tiny scratch across her hand. They all had minor scrapes and bruises, but thankfully nothing worse than that.
Pippin hissed as Merry bound up his arm, which had been burned when the fireball brushed past him. He jerked away when the bandage touched the burn.
"Well, if you'd hold still, then this wouldn't hurt so much!" Merry said, grabbing onto the struggling Took's arm.
"It's still gonna hurt whether I stay still or not!" Pippin whined, cradling his arm.
Teneriel shook her head ruefully, kneeling beside Pippin. "If I may, Merry?" she asked.
"Be my guest," he said grumpily, walking away and sitting down by Frodo and Sam.
She carefully pulled the bandage away from Pippin's burn and ran her fingers lightly over it. "It is superficial, Master Took, but those often pain the most." Before he could squirm away from her, Teneriel wrapped the bandage around the burn. "You will live, Peregrin. Do not entertain thoughts that are to the contrary."
Pippin nodded and flexed his arm slightly. "Thank you, uh-um- I don't quite know what to call you. Princess doesn't seem right, but then , neither does Teneriel."
She smiled softly, leaning back. "You may call me Eriel, if that pleases you better."
He grinned brightly, his eyes brightening. "Eriel. Now that sounds just perfect."
Gandalf rose, replacing his hat on his head. "Teneriel, Legolas, if you would retrieve your arrows, we will continue on. We must reach the doors of Durin before the sun sets tonight."
~~~~~~~~~
Always in a line, the Fellowship trudged onward. Gimli walked with Gandalf, conversing with him in low tones. The others followed behind with various degrees of heavy hearts.
Aragorn dropped back to walk with Teneriel, his voice laced with brotherly concern. "Are you all right, little one?" he asked quietly.
Teneriel glanced at him quickly and sighed, walking up the gigantic stone steps leading to Durin's Doors. "Why would I not be?" she returned evenly, skillfully evading his question.
"You are about to enter Moria, Teneriel! That very fact freezes my blood, and you cannot tell me that it does not do the same to you," he snapped, grabbing onto her arm.
"Dunadan," she said, looking deep into his eyes, "I do not see you counseling Legolas in this matter. He is an Elf, just as I am. Why do you not show the same concern for him? You have known him for many years." Teneriel laid a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "Worry not about my safety, brother. I am quite capable of caring for myself. Even in the Mines of Moria." She laughed softly , holding out her scratched hand. "And as you can well see, the blood in my veins is not frozen."
Aragorn nodded, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "In that case, sister, I shall not worry for you."
Their conversation was quickly halted as the Company reached the top of the steps. It was not a welcoming sight. There was solid cliff facing them on two sides , behind them were the stairs they had just ascended , and to their right was a pool of water. And a very dark and dank pool of water it was, too. The surface of it reflected neither their faces nor the sky above.
Frodo shuddered and stepped away from it, pressing against the stone cliff.
"What's wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked, coming over to him.
"It's the water," Frodo whispered. "I don't know why , but I'm afraid of it!"
The hobbits grouped off to the side, allowing the other members of the Fellowship to examine the cliff face. Gandalf nodded and tapped the rock with his staff.. From where the tip of his staff touched the rock, tiny silver threads wove their way into a pattern, forming both letters and other objects.
Gandalf read the passage written across the top of the doors to himself, muttering softly in ancient languages.
Teneriel touched the doors gently and whispered, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter." She turned to Gandalf. "We have a problem."
Gandalf shook his head ruefully. "There are no creatures quite like Elves for making understatements. We have a problem indeed. The password has long been forgotten, I would think ."
Frodo tapped his chin thoughtfully, walking up and facing the door. "Wait a moment," he mused. "It's a riddle, so what if the answer is staring us straight in the face?" He snapped his fingers in satisfaction. "What's the Elvish word for 'friend' ?" Frodo asked.
Gandalf, Teneriel, Legolas, and Aragorn all spoke concurrently. "Mellon."
The doors shone brightly for a second, then creaked open slowly, revealing a void.
Frodo would have smiled , or possibly even laughed, but at that moment, a slimy , snaky something had grabbed his ankle and yanked him off his feet. It dragged him back toward the water, then lifted him high into the air. He screamed, "HELP ME!!! STRIDER !!! GANDALF !!!"
Aragorn and Boromir turned together and took the situation in at a glance. They both charged into the water , swords drawn, and hacked at anything that slithered. By chance, Boromir happened to chop off the tentacle holding Frodo in the air. Frodo dropped like a stone, landing directly in Aragorn's waiting arms.
The Fellowship fled through the doorway. The beast slithered in after them and reached up to the ceiling, ripping off massive boulders and stones. They fell to the floor and blocked the entrance.
"Well," whispered Merry, "I don't think that we'll be getting out that way!"
Suddenly, there came a pop, and the crystal on the end of Gandalf's glowed with light. The light cast over the faces of the Fellowship, illuminating each one individually. They were all alert, weapons out and ready.
Gimli grinned brightly, the expression having an interesting effect on his weathered face. "Moria!" he exclaimed. "Years ago, my cousin Balin returned here. We've had no word of him since." The dwarf laid a hand on the bare, cold stone walls. "I would know what happened to him here."
Gandalf nodded, pulling out his pipe and lighting it. "Well, we shall have a rest before continuing on. We must eat something."
They did not rest long, taking only the smallest amount of time needed to eat and rest quickly.
The Fellowship continued on, completely unaware of the horror that lay just ahead.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter VI ~ "Moria , part I"
Night fell, and a cold wind blew down from Caradhras. The Fellowship had halted for the night, Gandalf and Aragorn both agreeing that they could all use a longer rest than usual.
"Even now it mocks us," Teneriel said softly from her perch in a nearby tree, watching the four hobbits huddle even closer together near the fire. " Caradhras has not forgiven us for our trek up its slopes."
Legolas laughed dryly from a limb far above her, where he was keeping watch. "And I doubt that it will!"
Gimli was crouched near the fire as well, his arms crossed tightly over his broad chest.
"The wind cuts through to my bones," he growled, pulling his cloak closer around his shoulders.
The wind in question howled around them, very nearly masking the sound of a fast approaching enemy.
Frodo glanced up , his face white with something other than the cold. The wind was not all the he heard. " Aragorn ," he asked, "is that just the wind?"
Aragorn glanced up into the tree, but the two Elves were already gone, making their way swiftly through the trees toward the sound. "If it is not, Frodo ," he answered quietly, "we will soon know."
Some distance away, Legolas stopped , his head cocked and eyes slightly closed. "I cannot tell," he whispered, listening intently. "Is it is Wargs, then the wind masks their hideous voices too well for us to hear."
Teneriel sighed, scanning the faraway hills. Her heart gave an uncomfortable leap. "We need not our ears for this, Legolas. Look!"
Indeed, just in their range of vision, were Wargs. They were pelting as hard as their legs could carry them toward the fire, its light barely flickering through the trees.
Legolas hissed something under his breath that she could not quite make out. "Go back to camp. I will stay a few moments longer to test how well a draug's hide stands up to an Elven arrow."
Teneriel nodded, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Aim true, Legolas. And be quick." Then she disappeared back through the trees, with nary a rustle.
Back at camp, Aragorn was pacing around the fire, his hand on the hilt of Anduril and his brow creased.
"What is taking them so long?" Boromir asked quietly, his voice laced with the same concern that Aragorn felt, but did not voice.
A moment later, his query was answered, for Teneriel landed silently in front of him. "Dunadan," she whispered, grabbing Aragorn's arm. "Frodo was right. Wargs."
Gandalf heard and turned to the hobbits, his blue eyes aflame. "Put more wood on the fire!" he snapped.
They obeyed without a word, and the fire blazed high behind them, showing clearly the looks of utter fear on the hobbit's faces.
Gimli pulled out his axe and swung it experimentally. The blade whistled shrilly through the air, and he nodded in approval. "Wargs cannot stand against this blade.
"I have felled some of them," Legolas said, dropping from a nearby tree . Teneriel might have smiled under different circumstances, as his normally tidy blonde hair was hanging loose about his shoulders and he looked rather rumpled. Apparently, his flight through the trees had not gone as well has he had hoped.
But sadly, she had not the time to laugh, for at that very moment, the Wargs attacked. Wolves launched themselves at the Fellowship from every direction, regardless of the blades.
Teneriel pulled out her bow and set an arrow to the string. Within a few seconds, arrows were flying thick through the air. Aiming was hardly necessary, as the horde of Wargs was so thick that an arrow sent in any direction would find a target.
The hobbits were closest to the fire, the other members of the Company forming a deadly perimeter around them. Blades flashed brightly in the firelight , and the air was filled with the yelps of wolves.
Legolas gritted his teeth as he shot his last arrow, the words coming out in a rush. "There are too many of these fell beasts!"
Quivers empty, the two Elves abandoned their bows, opting instead for their other weapons. Erdoniel and Calathrel flashed in the firelight as they cleared Teneriel's sheath. Legolas pulled out his knives.
The Company fought for their lives as the Wargs pressed in from all sides.
Aragorn, his face streaked with sweat and blood, snapped, " Gandalf, we cannot last long like th- !" He broke off and neatly decapitated an attacking Warf.
Gandalf straightened, and seemed to grow far taller. "Enough of this!" he bellowed, staff outstretched. "Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!"
A gigantic fireball blossomed from the tip of his staff. It rose, crackling, to the tree above, which burst into flame.
The burning tree afforded Legolas a sight that saved Frodo's life. His eyes widened, and he pulled an arrow out of the nearby body of a dead Warg. "Duck!" he ordered, aiming at Frodo.
Frodo ducked obligingly, and the arrow sank deep into the heart of a Warg that had been slinking up behind him, where it smoldered gently. The remaining Wargs slunk away, their howls piercing the air.
~~~~~~~
The rest of that night was spent in wakefulness, for none of the Fellowship seemed to be able to resign themselves to sleep.
Teneriel sat with her back to a nearby tree, thankful that the Wargs had left them in relative peace and that her worst injury was a tiny scratch across her hand. They all had minor scrapes and bruises, but thankfully nothing worse than that.
Pippin hissed as Merry bound up his arm, which had been burned when the fireball brushed past him. He jerked away when the bandage touched the burn.
"Well, if you'd hold still, then this wouldn't hurt so much!" Merry said, grabbing onto the struggling Took's arm.
"It's still gonna hurt whether I stay still or not!" Pippin whined, cradling his arm.
Teneriel shook her head ruefully, kneeling beside Pippin. "If I may, Merry?" she asked.
"Be my guest," he said grumpily, walking away and sitting down by Frodo and Sam.
She carefully pulled the bandage away from Pippin's burn and ran her fingers lightly over it. "It is superficial, Master Took, but those often pain the most." Before he could squirm away from her, Teneriel wrapped the bandage around the burn. "You will live, Peregrin. Do not entertain thoughts that are to the contrary."
Pippin nodded and flexed his arm slightly. "Thank you, uh-um- I don't quite know what to call you. Princess doesn't seem right, but then , neither does Teneriel."
She smiled softly, leaning back. "You may call me Eriel, if that pleases you better."
He grinned brightly, his eyes brightening. "Eriel. Now that sounds just perfect."
Gandalf rose, replacing his hat on his head. "Teneriel, Legolas, if you would retrieve your arrows, we will continue on. We must reach the doors of Durin before the sun sets tonight."
~~~~~~~~~
Always in a line, the Fellowship trudged onward. Gimli walked with Gandalf, conversing with him in low tones. The others followed behind with various degrees of heavy hearts.
Aragorn dropped back to walk with Teneriel, his voice laced with brotherly concern. "Are you all right, little one?" he asked quietly.
Teneriel glanced at him quickly and sighed, walking up the gigantic stone steps leading to Durin's Doors. "Why would I not be?" she returned evenly, skillfully evading his question.
"You are about to enter Moria, Teneriel! That very fact freezes my blood, and you cannot tell me that it does not do the same to you," he snapped, grabbing onto her arm.
"Dunadan," she said, looking deep into his eyes, "I do not see you counseling Legolas in this matter. He is an Elf, just as I am. Why do you not show the same concern for him? You have known him for many years." Teneriel laid a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "Worry not about my safety, brother. I am quite capable of caring for myself. Even in the Mines of Moria." She laughed softly , holding out her scratched hand. "And as you can well see, the blood in my veins is not frozen."
Aragorn nodded, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "In that case, sister, I shall not worry for you."
Their conversation was quickly halted as the Company reached the top of the steps. It was not a welcoming sight. There was solid cliff facing them on two sides , behind them were the stairs they had just ascended , and to their right was a pool of water. And a very dark and dank pool of water it was, too. The surface of it reflected neither their faces nor the sky above.
Frodo shuddered and stepped away from it, pressing against the stone cliff.
"What's wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked, coming over to him.
"It's the water," Frodo whispered. "I don't know why , but I'm afraid of it!"
The hobbits grouped off to the side, allowing the other members of the Fellowship to examine the cliff face. Gandalf nodded and tapped the rock with his staff.. From where the tip of his staff touched the rock, tiny silver threads wove their way into a pattern, forming both letters and other objects.
Gandalf read the passage written across the top of the doors to himself, muttering softly in ancient languages.
Teneriel touched the doors gently and whispered, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter." She turned to Gandalf. "We have a problem."
Gandalf shook his head ruefully. "There are no creatures quite like Elves for making understatements. We have a problem indeed. The password has long been forgotten, I would think ."
Frodo tapped his chin thoughtfully, walking up and facing the door. "Wait a moment," he mused. "It's a riddle, so what if the answer is staring us straight in the face?" He snapped his fingers in satisfaction. "What's the Elvish word for 'friend' ?" Frodo asked.
Gandalf, Teneriel, Legolas, and Aragorn all spoke concurrently. "Mellon."
The doors shone brightly for a second, then creaked open slowly, revealing a void.
Frodo would have smiled , or possibly even laughed, but at that moment, a slimy , snaky something had grabbed his ankle and yanked him off his feet. It dragged him back toward the water, then lifted him high into the air. He screamed, "HELP ME!!! STRIDER !!! GANDALF !!!"
Aragorn and Boromir turned together and took the situation in at a glance. They both charged into the water , swords drawn, and hacked at anything that slithered. By chance, Boromir happened to chop off the tentacle holding Frodo in the air. Frodo dropped like a stone, landing directly in Aragorn's waiting arms.
The Fellowship fled through the doorway. The beast slithered in after them and reached up to the ceiling, ripping off massive boulders and stones. They fell to the floor and blocked the entrance.
"Well," whispered Merry, "I don't think that we'll be getting out that way!"
Suddenly, there came a pop, and the crystal on the end of Gandalf's glowed with light. The light cast over the faces of the Fellowship, illuminating each one individually. They were all alert, weapons out and ready.
Gimli grinned brightly, the expression having an interesting effect on his weathered face. "Moria!" he exclaimed. "Years ago, my cousin Balin returned here. We've had no word of him since." The dwarf laid a hand on the bare, cold stone walls. "I would know what happened to him here."
Gandalf nodded, pulling out his pipe and lighting it. "Well, we shall have a rest before continuing on. We must eat something."
They did not rest long, taking only the smallest amount of time needed to eat and rest quickly.
The Fellowship continued on, completely unaware of the horror that lay just ahead.