We departed later that day on the quest to Mordor. I had acquainted myself with the rest of the Fellowship earlier after the council was dismissed. The elf was named Legolas and Prince of Mirkwood. The man from Gondor was named Boromir. After a farewell from Lord Elrond we left the city of Rivendell. We traveled over vast fields, this place was magnificent. I only hoped the Yeerks never found another way here, if they did it would become a barren wasteland.
"We must hold to this course west from the Misty Mountains for fourty days," Gandalf said. "If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor."
After walking for quite some distance we stopped to have lunch. Sam cooked some sausages for everyone while Boromir taught Merry and Pippin how to swordfight.
"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round," Gimli stated. "Gandalf! We could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf told him.
There was a hint of fear in his tone, like something about those mines troubled him. Merry and Pippin had tackled Boromir and Aragorn and were wrestling them on the ground. I chuckled at the scene until I noticed Legolas staring off into the distance at something heading our way. I got up and stood beside him.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Crebain from Duneland!" he shouted.
"Hide!" Aragorn ordered.
Everyone ran and hid under rocks and behind bushes just as a flock crows were flying above. They circled the area once and flew on. I had the feeling they knew we were there.
"Spies of Saruman," said Gandalf. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras."
We trudged through the snow along the top of the mountain. Frodo stumbled and fell backwards. Aragorn helped him to his feet. As Frodo brushed the snow from his clothes he felt around his neck as though something were missing. Boromir picked up a chain which held the ring. He looked at it intently as if in a trance.
"It is a strange fate that we must suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a liitle thing."
"Boromir! Give the ring to Frodo."
I noticed Aragorn had his hand on his sword, ready to draw it at any sign of trouble. Boromir walked over and held the ring out to Frodo who snatched away.
"As you wish. I care not." He turned and walked away.
"I have an idea," I said and began to morph.
Transparent fur that appeared white from a distance covered my body. My muscles enlarged and long sharp teeth filled my mouth. My ears became more rounded as they slid up the side of my head. I dropped to all fours and my face protruded into the snout of a polar bear. The change was complete.
Get on my back Frodo. Merry, Pippin, Sam! Come get on my back!> I called to them.
"What sort of creature is this?" Aragorn asked.
Polar bear. They thrive in places like this.>
I carried the four hobbits along the snowy trail until we came to a path that was too narrow for my large size. I demorphed and waded through waist deep snow. The wind stung my face as it blew fiercely. I noticed that Legolas was walking on top of the snow. Here I was freezing my ass off with snotcicles hanging from my nose and he was walking on top of the snow! And to top it all off he didn't leave any footprints behind.
"Show off," I muttered.
He turned to me and smiled. I heard something from far away. It sounded like a voice but I wasn't sure. Legolas stopped ahead of us and listened.
"There is a fell voice on the air," he said.
"It's Saruman!"
Boulders began to fall from above, barely missing us. Legolas jumped back and landed in front of me.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn said. "Gandalf, we must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf stood and raised his staff in front of him. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" 1
Saruman continued his chant. A bolt of lightning struck the mountain and we were buried under a pile of snow and rocks. I wriggled my way free and looked around for the others. One by one they surfaced.
"We must get off the mountain!" shouted Boromir. "Make for the Gap of Rohan! Or take the west road to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued.
"We cannot pass over the mountain. Let us go under it," Gimli suggested. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria."
Gandalf was silent for a moment. "Let the Ring-bearer decide."
"We cannot stay here!" Boromir shouted. "This will be the death of the hobbits!"
"We will go through the mines," Frodo said.
I could see fear in Gandalf's eyes. I knew he did not want to go through the mines, but he went along with Frodo's decision. "So be it."
I was relieved to be out of the snow and on solid ground. I stumbled on some rocks and Legolas caught me before I fell. I smiled and followed Gimli as he led us to the entrance of the mine.
"The walls of Moria," Gimli pointed to a stone wall up ahead.
We stood before the wall as Gandalf brushed dirt away to reveal an inscription. It glowed brightly in the moonlight. Gandalf studied the symbols carefully.
"It reads: 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter'."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked him.
"Oh it's quite simple, if you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open," Gandalf recited an encantation. The doors didn't budge. He then recited another and had the same results.
We sat and waited while Gandalf tried to find the proper spell to open the doors. Merry and Pippin were throwing stones into the lake when Aragorn came over and grabbed Pippin's arm.
"Do not disturb the water."
The surface of the water rippled as something moved beneath it. I suddenly had a bad feeling about this place.
"It's a riddle," I heard Frodo say. " Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?" he asked Gandalf.
"Mellon."
The doors opened and we headed inside. I kept my eyes on the lake however, my internal alarm was going off big time. Gandalf placed a crystal on his staff that illuminated the cavern. The stench of decay flooded my nostrils.
"Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" Gimli told Legolas. "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine! A MINE!"
Boromir swept his torch over the area. "This is no mine. It's a tomb."
I soon discovered the stench I had smelled came from the corpses that littered the mine floor. Skeletons of Dwarves and other creatures were all around us. Many of them had arrows protruding from their skulls and ribs. Legolas pulled an arrow from a corpse and studied it.
"Goblins!" He strung an arrow as the others drew their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here. Now get out! Get out!"
We began backing out towards the entrance. One minute Frodo was next to me and then he was gone. I heard him scream and saw that he had been grabbed by a large tentacle coming from the lake. The remaining hobbits and I ran to his aide. Sam and I pulled Frodo back as Merry and Pippin slashed at the creature with their swords. The tentacle released Frodo and more tentacles emerged knocking us back. Frodo was lifted high in the air. I'd had enough with this thing. I morphed to Tyrant and began slashing the tentacles with my blades. Legolas shot at them with his bow. Aragorn cut the tentacle holding Frodo and Boromir caught him as he fell.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf said.
The doors were crumbled by the creatures tentacles. The light was completely blocked out. I couldn't see an inch in front of me.
Gandalf lit another crystal. "We have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard, there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Some time later we came to a room with three passages. Gandalf looked uncertain as to which way to go.
"I have no memory of this place."
We waited silently as he gathered his thoughts and tried to remember which direction to go. He and Frodo talked for a few minutes. I risked a glance at Legolas, he spotted me looking at him and smiled. My thoughts trailed to Darrax.
He made his choice, I told myself.
I was still pretty steamed about what happened that day before we went into battle. We had an arguement. Apparently I hadn't been myself since my dad was made Visser One's host. Darrax said I was withdrawn and that our relationship was suffering. Whatever, I didn't care anymore. I rested my head in my hands and sighed.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked me.
"I'm fine, just some memories I'm trying to forget."
He nodded and gave me a warm smile. God he had a great smile! And those eyes...
"It's that way," Gandalf said at last.
"He's remembered," Merry said.
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." We entered a large cavern with tall pillars as far as the eye could see. "Behold the great realm of the Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."
Gimli suddenly ran to a room full of dead bodies. He knelt in front of a grave and began to weep.
"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria'," Gandalf read the writing on the grave. "He is dead then. It is as I feared." He pulled a book from the grasp of a corpse and began to read. "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. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming."
There was a loud crashing noise as a skeleton and bucket fell down an empty well. The sound reverberated throughout the entire mine. Pippin had a look of guilt on his face. Gandalf slammed the book closed in frustration.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
The steady beat of drums echoed through the mine. I could hear howling and laughter getting closer.
"Orcs!" Legolas said.
Boromir ran to the doors and two arrows narrowly missed his head. "They have a cave-troll," he said as he and Aragorn barred the doors.
Gimli stood atop his cousin's grave, axe in hand. "Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath."
The Orcs broke through the doors and attacked. Legolas fired arrow after arrow in rapid succession, killing any Orc that was hit. Aragorn and Boromir slashed at the mob with their swords, Gandalf and the hobbits joined the fight. I looked up and saw a large creature enter the room swinging a massive club.
Oh great.
Legolas shot it with an arrow, but that only seemed to piss him off. The troll was about to squish Sam beneath it's foot but Aragorn and Boromir grabbed the chain that was around it's neck and pulled him back. Boromir wound up being slung into a wall and knocked senseless. Legolas was fighting off a pair of Orcs with his daggers. The troll swung it's chain at him, he moved gracefully out of the way and jumped onto the troll's back. He kept his balance as the troll tried to shake him off. Legolas fired an arrow into the top of the troll's head, but he wasn't going to go down easy.
The cave-troll then grabbed Frodo and lifted him into the air. Aragorn stabbed the troll with a spear, but was thrown aside and knocked unconscious. The troll took the spear and stabbed Frodo. Frodo collapsed to the ground motionless. I ran over and placed a hand on the troll. I concentrated and absorbed his DNA, I was going to fight fire with fire. I morphed and stood face to face with the troll. We grabbed each other and wrestled.
Legolas! Shoot it!>
"Which one?!"
The one that's winning!>
Legolas shot an arrow into the trolls throat and he fell lifeless to the floor. I demorphed and ran over to Frodo. Aragorn turned him over and Frodo sat up.
"I'm alright. I'm not hurt."
"You should be dead," Aragorn said. "That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
Frodo opened his shirt to reveal armor made of Mithril.
"You're full of surprises Master Baggins," Gimli said.
The sound of more Orcs approaching filled our ears.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dûm!"
We ran but were eventually surrounded by hundreds of Orcs and goblins. They were about to attack when a deep roar erupted from the end of the hall. They scurried off as the walls began to glow red.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
We came to another cavern with winding stairways. We stood on a section of stairs, a gap between us and the next section. Legolas jumped first followed by Gandalf. Boromir held Merry and Pippin in his arms and jumped. Aragorn tossed Sam over next and proceeded to do the same with Gimli.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Gimli jumped and began teetering on the ledge. Legolas leaned over and caught him by the beard before he lost his balance. "Not the beard!"
It was Aragorn, Frodo and myself remaining on the now crumbling stairs. A section of stairs in front of us broke off, making the gap wider. The stairs started to sway. I morphed to Tyrant.
Get on my back, both of you! We're gonna jump it!>
Once they were secured I coiled the mucsles in my legs and launched myself in the air. I cleared the gap and landed behind the others.
"Over the bridge!" Gandalf ordered. Once we were across Gandalf turned to face the approaching Balrog. "You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor! The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!"
The Balrog produced a fiery whip and cracked it in the air.
"Go back to the shadow! YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf slammed his staff down on the bridge and it collapsed where the Balrog was standing.
As Gandalf turned to walk away the Balrog snapped his whip and caught him by the ankle. Gandalf now clung to the ledge.
"Gandalf hang on!" I shouted.
I was the closest to him so I ran and grabbed his hand, but he was to heavy.
"Leave me!"
"No!"
"Don't be a fool! The Fellowship needs you."
He slipped from my grasp and fell through the darkness below. I watched as Gandalf disappeared from sight. I had failed to save him. The rest of the Fellowship still remained by the bridge, staring in horror and disbelief. The Orcs came and began to shoot arrows at us. Boromir carried Frodo, who was screaming, out of the cavern while Aragorn still looked into the abyss in shock. He then looked at me with an unreadable expression. Once we were outside everyone collapsed in grief and exhaustion. Merry and Pippin cried. Boromir was holding Gimli back, who was shouting and trying to go back into the mines. Legolas stood in silence. I failed them all because I failed to save their companion.
"Legolas, get them up," Aragorn said.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir protested.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien."
Aragorn pulled Sam to his feet and we continued on. I stayed in the back, walking in silence. I couldn't bring myself to face them for fear they would never forgive me. We reached the forest some time later. Gimli spoke to the hobbits of an Elf-witch that lived in the woods.
"Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox."
Just then a group of elves appeared and aimed their bows at us.
"Yeah, a blind hawk and a deaf fox," I said. Gimli growled at my remark.
One of the elves stepped forward. "The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark."
The elf, who's name was Haldir, forbade us to go any further because of the ring Frodo carried. Aragorn argued back and forth with Haldir in elvish. I sat off to side alone, I didn't feel like talking to anyone, I just wanted to go home. Haldir approached us.
"You will follow me." He led us to the center of Lothlorien, which was a city built in the trees. "The heart of all elfdom. Home to Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light."
Celeborn entered with Galadriel, who was bathed in a bright light.
"Tell me where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him," Celeborn said.
"He has fallen into shadow," Galadriel said.
"He was taken by both shadow and flame," Legolas told her. " A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the depths of Moria."
"Needless were not the actions of Gandalf in life." She warned us not to let the Fellowship fail or all would be lost. "Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."
We were all given clean clothes and a place to sleep. The elves sang
a song dedicated to Gandalf. I sat at the edge of a small pond, staring
at nothing. Did they blame me? I rested my head on my knees, how could
I possibly be any help? My thoughts then trailed to my home and friends.
Would they ever find me?
1 "Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold [your] wrath."