A/N: Haven't updated for too long. Darn this writer's block.
"I know you think I am cute Zephyr." "No." "Are you sure?" "Pippin shut up, or else I am shoving this sausage in your potty mouth." "I don't have a potty mouth!"
Frodo watched, but couldn't laugh, as Zephyr started to strangle Pippin who started choking on his Dinner.
They have been acting strange lately, and as a hobbit that has reached his "coming of age", Frodo could tell that "something" is going on between them. Frodo could only sigh as he shot another forlorn look overhead, where Cleff sat beside Gandalf (who still haven't discovered the right way through the three mine doors), brooding over her huge Book, face guiltily hidden behind the cover.
He knew she was guilty, guilty of the cursing him and making him cry, and that made Frodo feel so rotten. Off all Cleff's actions, he suddenly begins to understand… why she didn't want to join the Fellowship, of why she didn't want to protect him, of all things why would she counter-act him and curse him outside Moria… all things point to the same thing: Cleff loathes him. This made Frodo lose hope, and the truth that someone doesn't believe in him, makes him want to give up the Ring, and trudge back home.
But what about the fate of Middle Earth? What will happen if you give up the Ring now? A small voice spoke in Frodo's head, holding back his tears. Too much is at stake. If Cleff would be acting selfish, he should ignore, and go on with the burden he accepted. What would you do if Sauron takes back what is his? Frodo shook his head, despite his eyes getting a bit misty and wet. He shouldn't give up, he shouldn't give in, and if hate erupts in the Fellowship –
"I'll never give up! Never give in! I'll never accept a mean little 'no' for an answer, Zephyr!" Pippin erupted, launching himself in Zephyr's arms. "I know you love me and you have to accept that!!!" Zephyr wrinkled her nose and tried to brush Pippin off, clinging hard to her sleeve like a demented crab with hairy claws. Sam, Merry and Shea stifled sniggers as Boromir and Aragorn watched and shook their heads in disbelief.
"Get off my sleeve, Peregrine Took! All you are saying is major crap!!! None of those is truth, and if they were-" A soft, giggly voice interrupted Zephyr. "You wouldn't have the heart to prove it, don't we Zephyr?" Cleff said in a giggly mode, as suddenly she was standing right in front of the two, fanning herself with Polaroid pictures of Zephyr and Pippin's "lover's quarrel".
"I suggest that you open up to your sweet little Pippin, oh dear Zephyr Took," Cleff teased, as she hid the pictures behind her back as Zephyr tries to lounge at her. "Or he'll find out anyway!" Zephyr's violet eyes turned red as she lounged for the pictures, but with heavy Pippin on her sleeve, they both could only hit the dust. Cleff sniggered a laugh, as she climbed a few more higher steps, back to the boulder where she is sitting on, when she bumped onto a small, curly haired figure, with big blue saucer-like eyes, glaring back at her in a scary mode.
"How about you Cleff," Frodo muttered, his arms crossed. "Aren't you going to tell me how you really feel about me?"
Cleff was speechless, she wasn't ready to face Frodo yet, and all that she could give him is another blue-eyed glare. Just when the two were about to have a telepathic, blue-eyed battle, Zephyr hit Cleff on the head with the Baseball-Bat-Of-Doom(TM). "Snap out of it!" Zephyr accused, as Frodo and Cleff tunred their glares on her. Zephyr turned red and mustered, "That rude! Clefe, you better apologize to Frodo! You're the one who started this…"
Cleff spun around, gave Frodo a mighty glare, and went past him, stomping her way up the stairs, stalking towards Gandalf's spot. "That isn't fair!" Frodo called out, as he raced at her heels. "You have to tell me-" he started.
"The hobbit is right Cliffhanger." Cleff stopped inches from Gandalf, as Frodo hopelessly looked back at her. "Apologize for the foolishness you have done." Gandalf whispered, his eyes hidden beneath his hat and bushy eyebrows, looking more mysterious than ever. With a shudder, Cleff turned around to face Frodo's disappointed face, full of gloom. "I am sorry." Cleff said plainly.
Frodo crossed his arms. "Why would you ever go against me, Master Cleff?" His voice sounded so hopeless. "Why." Cleff was looking around frantically, thinking she has lost her Book… "I-I was jealous…" Her blue eyes were looking around in a frenzy…the place where she left the Book was empty… "Jealous?" Frodo reasoned out in confusion, as Gandalf suddenly spoke again.
"Cliffhangers and Ring bearers carry the same burden, they cannot work alone. Foolishness shall speak of your doom, Clefe. Do not go looking for it." Gandalf blew smoke out of his pipe, then looked gravely in Cleff's distorted face of confusion, anger and fear. "The book spoke of why the Cliffhanger and the Ring bearer is one… does it not, Clefe?" Clefe was in complete panic now… she can't find the book anywhere. "But Gandalf sir, the Book-"
Frodo took a heavy step, his face distorted with heaviness too. To Cleff surprise, he seems to be carrying something… Hidden beneath his cloak was the Book, he saved it from slipping from the boulder Cleff left it on. He was watching it all the time Cleff left it to tease Zephyr and Pippin, and he saved it from getting lost. He took another quick step, his body trying to carry the burden, the Ring, and the Book… He was about to collapse… till Clefe finally took pity, and steadied him on the shoulder, taking the Boom out of his arms, and sitting him down next to Gandalf. Slowly, the exhaustion eased from the hobbit's face.
Clefe smoothed the book's cover, and opened it to the previous page, where it is only filling up the latest events… Gandalf was right, the Book spoke something of her foolishness and jealousy of the hobbit. And it shouldn't be that way.
"You're right Gandalf, it does speak of it… The Ring bearer carries the Ring, source of all evil, the tool of Sauron. The Cliffhanger must burden his unfortunate fate, and to change his destiny if necessary. They have one mind, one mission, for the free peoples of Middle Earth… If Jealousy, Hate, or Anger comes upon them, it may spell their doom…" Clefe looked at Frodo, who bitterly looked back at her, his eyes completely saying that he agrees with what she has read out… and his eyes tell so much of how she had hurt him… Clefe could only be pieced, to look away and accept Gandalf's disappointment. "You're right. I was foolish. Fine then with me…" she looked away, to see Zephyr and Pippin watching nearby, their faces distorted in pity and drama.
"But Clefe, I forgive you-" Frodo started. He suddenly stumbled back as he tried to go after Clefe, when a black Shadow below him quivered. He fell to Gandalf's feet, as Zephyr and Pippin, standing on the steps backed off. "Frodo!" Clefe suddenly reached out, and steadied him. Frodo sta down, panting, his eyes trailing the dark shadow, climbing one of the broken walls fo Moria… "Its Gollum." Gandalf finally spoke.
Zephyr and Pippin sighed, as anger flared in Cleff's eyes. "Pity. What a dirty piece of sleath…" she whispered. Frodo glared at it in wonder, as yellows eyes flashes fiercely from the shadow, taking Frodo, Clefe, Zephyr and Pippin aback. "He escaped the dungeons of Barad-Dur!" He said in disgust. "Pity Bilbo didn't kill him…"
Clefe looked over to Frodo in shock… never had she heard so much hatred from a hobbit's lips before. She had heard of Bilbo's adventures… Frodo must have taken and grown in hatred of what the creature Gollum could have did to Bilbo… Then Gandalf looked in the hobbit in delirium. "Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Frodo and Cleff exchanged parried glances, as Frodo returned Gandalf an empty stare.
"Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. Even the very wise can not see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many." Gandalf said firmly. Hopeless, Cleff slowly eases her grip on Frodo's shoulder, as the hobbit desperately sighs and whispers, "I wish the ring had never come to me." Zephyr and Pippin exchange sad glances as Cleff stepped on the boulder, her misty eyes surveying Moria. "I wish none of this had happened." Frodo continued softly.
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide." Gandalf said in a encouraging manner, as Frodo looked back at him with hopless thoughts of doom. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought."
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. Cleff felt herself whisper. Frodo slowly turned to look at her, a new brightness in his eyes. Cleff slowly nods, her hopless thoughts roaming her mind as she surveyed Moria slowly disappearing. "Gandalf, you were right. You were right."
Gandalf grinned, as he cheerfully puffed on his pipe, so did Frodo. "Pursue your part to play, Cliffhanger. The world may be in a balance, but don't forget to sow even a small smile." Cleff softly snorted, as her eye met up with Frodo's cheerful ones. Pippin and Zephyr, along with Merry creeping up behind them, all carefully hidden, exchanged happy glances, the turmoil between the Cliffhanger and the Ringbearer was over.
"Ah! Its that way!" Gandalf suddenly spoke out, breaking the silence. "He's remembered!" Merry sudeenly piped up, as Cleff suddenly looked up to see company, as Zephyr and Pippin managed too late to have themselves discovered. "A ha!" Cleff whispered beneath her breath as Zephyr stuck her tounge out at her. "Finally made peace with you hobbit, don't you."
Frodo turns a slight tinge of scarlet as Cleff raises an eyebrow on her, with Pippin trying to climb up Zephyr's slender shoulders. "Peace with YOUR hobbit you did!" Cleff shot back as Gandalf stood up, beckoning Frodo, Cleff, Zephyr and the rest of the Fellowship towards the Cave door to the right.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." Gandalf softly chuckled, as the Fellowship begins to tread down the passageway. "Let me risk a little more light."
Slowly, light began to engulf from the tip of Gandalf's staff as the Fellowship looked in awe at the sight of the dwarf hall. Zephyr and Cliff, who was trying to light up matches to see it more better, rolled their eyes and threw it aside, with a soft, "Nevermind. Gandalf's got the prized scepter." Gandalf chuckled softly for Cleff, Zephyr and Frodo enough to hear and said announced, "Behold the great realm of the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
Pippin and Merry exchange naughty, surprised glances, as Sam held onto Shea in awe of the great city. "Not bad," Cleff mustered softly, as Zephyr chuckled behind her. "No wonder dwarves can do things bigger than what they already are." Zephyr and Cleff tried to hold their snickering as Gimli shot them a woeful glare.
THWANG! Suddenly, a metal pan suddenly hit Cleff's backhead again, as she saw Shea and Sam raise their eyebrows on her and trudged alongside them, as the Fellowship made their way thgrough the enormous, endless hall. Zephyr tried to stop a snicker and mustered, "Shea, don't tell me you're going for the dwarves too-" THWANG! Zephyr became another vicitim of the Official-Cooking-Pan-Of-Doom(TM), as she got pissed off naturally and chased Shea all around the hall, and through the pillars with her Black-Arrows-Of-Pain(TM), without hurting anyone.
Cleff was about to stop the insanity, and run after the two deranged teenage girls, when suddenly, a small hobbit hand stopped her. "Speaking about dwarves… I don't think Gimli's going to like that…" Samwise cautioned to her, tugging on her arm, pointing to Gimli who suddenly broke from the line and into a chamber where a ray of sunlight fell upon… a lone tomb surrounded by corpses. "Gimli!" Gandalf tried to call out to the dwarf, but far too late, Gimli was down on his knees, sobbing.
Gandalf leaned over the tomb, as Gimli sobs, as one by one, the Fellowship fills the death-filled chamber. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria…" The old wizard spoke out, reading the graven letters scraped against the hardness of the tomb, you can hear Gimli's heartfelt sobs nearby. Cleff returns from the outside, dragging a still restlessly violent Zephyr and Shea who seem to be dying to tear the hairs out of each other. "He's dead," Gandalf finally spoke out, looking up at the three children who just entered the chamber, as Zephyr and Shea escaped from Cleff's grip, growled at each other and finally behaved. "Just as I feared."
"So, he's dead then. Good riddance-" Zephyr softly glared, when Gimli quickly got up his feet and was to lounge at Zephyr, if he wasn't held back by Legolas. Shea hit Zephyr on the head with the pan, and Cleff stepped right between them, in case another fight would ensue.
Gandalf shook his head slightly at the youngsters, as he noticed a battered book held by a dwarf corpse. He hands his hat and staff to Pippin, as he takes the battered book in his arms, blowing dust off a page. Cleff looked nervously around, and a close eye at Zephyr and Shea who ws still sending each other naughty glares, till she met up with Frodo's scared glimpse. She tried to speak out to him, try and explain, despite the loss of hope… but she couldn't speak…
Then finally her attention was drawn back to Gandalf as the old Maia began to read from the Dwarf's Diary… "They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep…" A soft memory began to return to Cleff, as if she has been there, just through Gandalf's voice reading from the book, she suddenly feels the heaviness of her own Book, as she carries it with her own hand… Danger wrought up again in her mind when she heard the elf Legolas turn to Aragorn and whisper to Zephyr, "We must move on, we cannot linger…"
Fear began to creep up Cleff's spine, as she watched the hobbits listen in terror, as Gandalf continues reading from the book. Cleff's eyes play naughtily with the torch of flame Aragorn was holding… as she suddenly peered into the darkness… she felt a shadow watching her, stalking her, some unaware prescence she knew anywhere, a prescence she haven't felt since the incident in Isengard… Unwatched, as Zephyr and Shea calm down and listen to Gandalfs words, Cleff moves slightly to face the darkness, to identify the lurking shadow, and slay it with her sword…
That's when a pair of flickering red eyes was engulfed from the darkness, taking Cleff aback, as Gandalf's words began to ring in her head and a soft voice began to talk to her unconsciously…
"We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark…"
Where you can't go, I will follow… where you cant hide, I shall run. I am a Shadow, and a Shadow I shall be. Still wondering why you cant come and join me.
It is not the frail Gollum, the shadow speaks the Black Tounge of Mordor… as the foreign language registers in Cleff's mind as one of her own… It was terror and evil combined, but somehow, a moving invisible force holds her still in place, as her lips couldn't even move to save the Fellowship from this wrath…
Gandalf's reading continues, so is Cleff is being haunted by the shadow.
"We cannot get out…They are coming."
CRASH!
Cleff suddenly snapped back to consciousness as the pair of red eyes disappeared. Gandalf suddenly stopped reading, as Aragorn and Boromir suddenly turned to the hobbits… Pippin had been messing around again. And this time, the naughty Took has befallen again, by dropping a skeleton, accompanied by a chain and bucket into a rusty old well. Guiltily possessed, Pippin began to wince as noises were heard down the well. Cleff, Zephyr and Shea exchange nervous glances, as Sam suddenly held on to Frodo. (ick) Then finally, silence.
Angrily, Gandalf slams the book shut. "Fool of a Took!" Zephyr and Cleff quickly shot an angry glare at Pippin. "Next time, throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf growled, as he yanked his hat and staff out of Pippin's grip.
Zephyr wasn't able to contain it no longer. "EXACTLY what were about to do, oh, Gandalf dear-" Next thing, you would find Zephyr and Pippin in a wrestling position, the angry archer trying to shove the poor hobbit down the well, holding him upside down by his legs. Legolas and Cleff quickly sprung into action, trying to stop Zephyr, as Pippin screams pitifully in the well's mouth. Boromir, Aragorn and Gandalf shook their head slightly, aware of even more trouble coming. "Stop it you all!" Gandalf growled. "This Fellowship has caused us nothing but treason and-"
That's when war drums began to echo from down below.
Sam and Frodo quickly exchange glances as the latter quickly draws his sword – glowing blue! "Orcs!" Legolas exclaimed, as finally, Cleff was able to haul Pippin up the well, and calm Zephyr down. Cleff quickly turns around to see Boromir open the door, and almost to pierced by arrows which hit the door. "What the- I don't want to be a pin cushion boy now!" Boromir whined as Aragorn cautioned the hobbits to move back. "Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!!!"
Legolas and Zephyr toss weapons and axes to Boromir and Aragorn to help blockade the door, as Zephyr draws her bow and arrows, and Cleff setting the book safe on top of the tomb. "I'll come back for this later…" She quickly turns around on quick sensing, as she saw the familiar Shadow, crept up behind one of the hobbits, its red eyes glittering… "Look out!!!" Gandalf suddenly panicks, and draws his sword, so did all the other hobbits. This has caused a great uproar, as the Shadow suddenly slinked back into the darkness, but its red eyes focused on one hobbit – Frodo.
Cleff was about to charge from her spot next to the tomb and track down the slinking red-eyed shadow, when Gimli leaped atop the tomb, growling. "Aarrggggh! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!" Just then, the door was about to be broken apart, as Legolas, Aragorn and Zephyr try to shoot the orcs through the gaps on the door. Then the door breaks down.
About a whole army of combined Orcs and Goblins charged through the doorway, right into the arms of the waiting Fellowship. Merry and Pippin charged at one orc which almost charged at Zephyr, but more orcs knock them down twice. Cleff noticed that she hasn't drawn her sword yet, and hits the hilt with one orcs, kicking and flailing trying to get to Sam and Frodo trying to protect each other. That's when Shea hit an orc with her pan, and gasped. Zephyr turned around and gasped too. A bunch of orcs were gathered around the tomb, trying to swipe Gimli off, coz he was standing on a pices of batered old…
"CLEFF, YOU LEFT THE BOOK ON THE TOMB!!!"
Zephyr, Gandalf, Frodo, and Shea's unison screams jittered fear into Cleff's angry eyes of blue, as she saw it was too late to retrieve the Book of The One Ring, as a Cave Troll smashed into the doorway, threatening Sam, Gimli and Legolas who was trying to shoot arrows into him. "CLEFF YOU CAN'T LEAVE IT-" Zephyr screamed as she stuck an arrow into an orc she was wrestling with. "NOT THE HARRY POTTER TROLL!!!"
Cleff rolled her eyes as she grabbed one of the orcs by the shoulders and hauled it on another cluster, as she glared at a big bunch of orcs, drooling, about to grab the Book sitting on the tomb, since the Troll was able to knock Gimli off it. Cleff broke into a run, with an Indian war-cry, as she dove at the Book. All the other orcs screamed, as they dove for the tomb, but they were too late for Cleff was too fast, as she grabbed the book, and rolled over the tomb, and landed with her back on the floor. All the orcs fell on each other on the tomb, as the tomb cracked down with their weight, sending them into a hole down below. Cleff made a big sigh, as she was suddenly grabbed by Zephyr and hauled into safety, as they try to help Legolas defeat the big troll that he was standing on.
Shea and Samwise began to kill orcs by hitting them with their Cooking-Pans-Of-Doom (TM), and accidentally hits each other with it, without getting any of the two of them unconscious. Cleff and Zephyr kick orcs off a small stair case when they found that on the edge of it, Frodo was playing hide and seek with the Troll on the other side, while Merry and Pippin were hiding on the other side. Unfortunately, Frodo falls to his back on the corner, and was now being dragged by the troll by foot. "Dunces!" Zephyr growled as she pushed Cleff towards the direction of the troll. "You take care of your hobbit, while I deal with my worse nightmare…" Zephyr quickly jumps tries to scare off the orcs who were threatening Merry and Pippin, leaving Cleff all alone, face to face with the troll to rescue Frodo.
"Aragorn? Cleff!!!" Frodo screamed hopelessly. Cleff tries to get her hands on something, she has lost her sword. "Hang on!" she screamed to Frodo, as she dodges the Troll, grabbing her hands on a spear. She can hear Aragorn to the rescue nearby, calling out to Frodo, trying to kick off as much trolls as she can. "Cliffhanger!!! Save Frodo!" Cleff stabs the spear into the troll, infuriated. "I am trying!" Unfortunately, the troll wasn't happy with what the girl did, and gave her a punch, sending her across the room.
"No!" Frodo screams as he dodges the troll, running over to an unconscious Cleff, shaking her awake without succeeding. Aragorn was able to reach them, but was suddenly jumped on by a nasty orc, who started biting on his arm. Inflamed by anger, Frodo grabs the spear and charges towards the troll, but accidentally sticks the spear on the pillar, blocking his way. He yanks it with all his might, and lets it fall down exhaustedly, when the Troll grabbed the spear and stabs Frodo on the chest…
Aragorn sees the commotion, as he slams the Orc-thinks-his-arm's-a-chew-toy's head onto the wall and sees the spear on Frodo's chest. The hobbit was losing breath, without blood staining his clothes, his eyes about to bug off his sockets, with the Troll still growling at it angrily… Frodo finally slumps down, dead.
"Frodo?! NOOOOO!" Merry and Pippin freak out, and escapes from Zephyr's grip and jumps on the troll, trying to stab it. "You dunces!!!" Zephyr freaks out. The troll manages to flip Merry of his shoulder, as Legolas, Boromir, Zephyr, Gandalf and Gimli try to take down the troll, amidst the now small number of orcs. Legolas and Zephyr takes aim, as Pippin pulls the Troll's head back, letting thw two archers hit it on the stomach and the neck. Finally the troll slumps down dead.
Cleff suddenly stirs, and sees Frodo lying dead across her. One by one, the Fellowship surrounds her and the dead Ringbearer, having graven looks of sadness on their faces. Hopelessly angry at herself for failing to save him, Cleff turns him over, then the supposed-to-be-dead hobbit groans. "What the-"
"He's alive!" Sam exclaims as he quickly approaches and hugs his master. "Im all right, Im not hurt." Frodo speaks out, panting, as Cleff sighs in relief, to be pummeled by Aragorn on the back. But the Strider had doubts, "You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar." Cleff and Zephyr exchanged looks and snorted. Like they don't know this story. "I think there is more to this hobbit that meets the eye." Gandalf mutters knowingly.
Frodo unbuttons his shirt, and shows a tough silver mail shirt beneath it, as Shea and Sam sighed in relief and awe. "Mithril," Gimli gasped. "You are full of surprises Master Baggins." Frodo sighed contentedly that he's alive and grins at Cleff who was "close" to saving him.
That's when to the corner of Cleff's eye, the shadow with the pair of flaring red eyes appeared, and floated in the darkness, making its way down the hall… "Ha!" Gathering all her strength, she gets up her feet, and tracks it down the hall… but is stopped in her tracks with the sound of orcs. She turns around to see the Fellowship following behind her.
"What is that?!" Sam asked, as he panted. "Some shadow," Aragorn suggested. "A wrath." Gimli growled. "Or a bunch of orcs!" Legolas suddenly exclaimed, as they refused to continue down the hall. They all turned to Gandalf.
"To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" the old Maia exclaims, as he drags the rest of the Fellowship out of the hall.
A/N: Looks like for Moria, there shall be a total of three chapters. Lothlorien shall be in one chapter, while Amon-Hen and the ending will be in one. In three more chapters (I hope), Manic Depressive will be finished. If things get longer, too bad, it might take a bit while.
