Chapter 12



The two Elves had insisted on travelling day and night with scant and short rests and keeping a pace that was far too fast for Sam to maintain without paying, even with the energy giving Elven drink. Despite this Sam had the distinct impression that Othmiel wanted them to go faster and her frustration was increasing with every step they took. Several times over the four day journey Malindron had had to call her back, stopping her from charging ahead. Once there had been sharp elven words spoken between the twain and she had dutifully stayed with brother and elderly hobbit for several hours, before the urge to race ahead overcame her again.

Now, as they breasted the lip of the cwm that housed the entrance into the Dwarf halls, Sam paid his price, sinking to the ground in total exhaustion, allowing the Elves to go on ahead. Even in his blown condition, it was obvious that the Elves still had no idea as to how they were to gain entry.

The problem was accepted with some relief by Othmiel. She spoke lightly to Sam for the first time in their acquaintance. "Well Master Hobbitila. It looks as if we have worn your feet through for little gain. The doors are closed, the Dwarves do not answer our summons and we know not the means of opening them. So you may rest. For a while at least."

Her good mood slowly evaporated as the sun sank in the West, to be replaced by a nervous impatience that Sam had never seen in an Elf. She kept leaving the fire that they built in the shelter of the cliff and walking back to the spot Sam assumed housed the entrance.

Finally Sam's patience gave up. "Appen you ought to tell why you are pacing the valley?" He suggested sourly.

"There is no reason for concern," Othmiel excused quickly.

"Like tatties don't grow where they ain't planted," Sam retorted.

The Elf girl turned and stormed away.

"It his not her fault," Malindron interceded sadly. "Her role, if the Valtar is released, is more dangerous than ours. She is the only one who can control it and believes it is going to be set free."

Sam gazed at the young elf intently, silently challenging him to explain further but before he could do so there was a shout from Othmeil.

They turned in time to see the heavy entrance to the Dwarf halls being thrown open and more than forty Dwarves appear, running as if their lives depended upon it.

"Stop!" Malindron yelled. He leapt to his feet and raced after them, bringing down the rearmost of the posse.

The felled dwarf struggled furiously. He may even have escaped had Sam and Othmiel not arrived to subdue him further.

"What is happening?" Othmeil demanded, signalling to her brother to rise and allow the dwarf to sit. "Why are you running? Where is the leader of your halls?"

"Stone!" Was all the terrified dwarf could manage.

He kept repeating the same word over and over again, defying even the patient Malindron's attempts to get more from him.

Finally the two elves turned away, leaving Sam to guard the captive. There was intense and harsh argument between the two. Although they were conversing in the Elvish, a language he did not pretend to understand but the subject was clear; the name of Valtar appearing more than once.

Again he wondered why they had come to him for help. Something that frightened Elves and Dwarves alike suggested something more than an elderly Hobbit would be able to handle. He also found himself worrying on the fates of Tom, Bilbo and Farrimer.

He turned back to the captured Dwarf and offered him the water bottle. "There be three Hobbits. My kin?" He asked urgently.

"Stones!"

"We believe the Valtar has been released and is roaming the mine," Malindron confided, his discussion complete and rejoining Sam. "What we do not agree upon is when he will leave. She believes he will leave almost immediately, when the night grows thick. I think he will need time to gain strength and scour the mine for souls. It will give us a little time to prepare." He paused uncomfortably before admitting. "Elves are not at home underground, without fresh air and the trees. We must gather some dwarves to lead us through the mine. But the entrance must be guarded incase I am wrong. You are not fast enough to catch dwarves Master Gamgee. So we must ask you to guard the entrance."

"Arh. 'An what do you be expecting me to do if he do?" Sam demanded sourly, under no delusions as to his abilities in any fight.

"You have the light," Malindron pointed out. "Valtar fears light. He must not be permitted to escape."


The night started to draw heavily around Sam after the elves left him with only the now silent dwarf for company. He sat in trepidation, his back warmed by the fire, watching the dark opening of the mine entrance.

It was some hours later that he thought he saw a slight lightening in the shadows. He blinked several times, thinking that his continuous staring was nor playing tricks. But the brightening persisted.

Perhaps it was another Dwarf, that had got lost in his earlier panic and had only just found the way out, he thought hopefully.

Grabbing a burning brand from the fire and holding it up as an improvised torch, Sam approached the entrance warily. "Who be there?" he called. His nerves were getting the better of him, it came out as a whispered croak.

He tried again, trying to be more forceful. "Who'se there?"

A bitter coldness overcame him, starting at his toes it spread swiftly, becoming a welcome numbness as it did so. The improvised torch spluttered briefly, before being snuffed out like a candle. Vaguely, he recognised there was only total dark around him, even the fire not 15 yards distant had disappeared. He wanted to run, but there was nowhere to run to, even if he could.

A terrible burning sensation appeared from Sam's breast pocket, tearing at the welcoming numbness that was enveloping him. Desperately, he lammed his hand into the pocket, hoping to himself of whatever was causing the pain. His fingers closing around a small phial, he pulled it out, then shut his eyes tightly as bright white light flooded around him.

There was a scream, he knew not from where, then he was falling.


"Master Gamgee! Master Gamgee!" They were the next words Sam heard, along with some violent shaking.

It was not an intrusion that was welcome. He screamed and lashed out, for his flailing limbs to be caught and held until he woke properly, to find the concerned faces of both Malindron and Othmiel.

"You are safe, Master Hobbitila," It was Othmiel that was offering comfort, her voice taking on a soothing, almost musical tone in its softness. "Valtar did you no harm. The light protected you."

Only then did Sam notice that Malindron's hand was resting firmly on the hilt of his long hunting knife. Behind him there were some eight dwarves and although none appeared armed, their faces were less than friendly.

"We were afraid that Valtar had claimed you," Othmiel continued lightly. "It would have meant he had escaped. But he was no match for a sturdy hearted Hobbit. Perhaps that is why Gandalf the White places so much store in Hobbits. Now come and warm yourself by the fire. We will have much to do in the morning."

She led him by the hand back to the fire, for Malindron to ply him with tea and lembas, though Sam found he had little appetite for the light energy giving elven biscuits. He felt drained from the encounter and kept slipping towards sleep, barely listening to the argument that was obviously being held between the elves and Grydore.

Sam wake with a start as his name was mentioned, what had gone before and why his name mentioned, he did not know, but it had obviously animated the dwarves.

"We've have no elven magic to protect us like the Hobbit. You've got your familiar to keep you safe to take you through the mine!" Grydore shouted, bouncing to his feet in his rage.

The remark stung Sam to his own feet. "I'm no elf familiar!" He shouted back. Finding the small phial that had protected him earlier still in his hand he threw it at the white bearded dwarf. "We Hobbits did not ask you to come here, or wake what be there. But it's my kith and kin in yonder mine and I'll be going to find them!" With that he snatched up his walking stick, turned sharply on his heel and marched towards the dark shadow that marked the entrance.

He was caught quickly by Othmiel. "You will not enter alone Master Gamgee," she sang. "Malindron and I will be by your side, all be it fatal to us all. But there may be things inside now that are more dangerous for stout Hobbit hearts than Valtar's cool mist. Now you should rest." She forced him to lie down beside the fire and whispered a soft rhyme in elvish over him. He dropped peacefully into sleep.

Satisfied Sam was sleeping peacefully, she turned to the Dwarves, her features hardening again. "The old and peaceful Hobbit is braver than greedy dwarves," she sneered. "He knows a little of what he will face and is innocent of all that has befallen this place. Yet he is prepared to enter your hole to find his kin, though he knows their certain fate. If dwarves were only as strong as Hobbits?"