Shadow of a Doubt
Chapter Six: Lift Me Up
by Capella
A/N: 12/31/02: Again, this chapter is redone from the original. Dont' worry, I didn't change any major parts of the plot, just a few fixer-uppers. These next few chapters won't be changed all that much.
__________________________
I'm over this
I'm tired of living in the dark
Can anyone see me down here
The feeling's gone
There's nothing left to lift me up
Back into the world I've known
-- Three Doors Down, "Away From The Sun"
_______________________
Harry stared up at the impassive cliff and the two Holly trees nestled under the stone, bigger than any he had ever seen. The stone wall looked rather solid. Weren't there supposed to be caves somewhere around here? Were they going to climb over these huge mountains? He looked over at Gandalf, doubtful.
"Here we are at last!" said Gandalf. "While I am searching for a way into the Mines, ready yourselves for the journey. We must cast off what we do not need, and take only the barest necessities. For this will be a long and perilous journey through the mines, at least three days if we hurry."
Gandalf turned and stared intently at the wall, between the two large trees. Next to him, Legolas pressed his ear against the wall, and the dwarf tapped the stone in some places with his axe.
"Well, here we are and all ready," said Merry. "But where are the Doors? I can't see any sign of them."
"Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut," said Gimli. "They are invisible, and their own masters cannot find them or open them, if their secret is forgotten."
Harry's eyes opened wide. "Is there someone here who remembers the secret to the Doors?" he said, resisting the childish urge to roll his eyes.
Gandalf didn't answer. He walked forward to the wall, and passed his hands over a smooth space in the rock, muttering words under his breath.
"Look! Can you see anything now?"
Harry's eyes raked up the wall in question, expecting to see some drastic change. He didn't. "Um, Gandalf-" he started quietly, at the risk of looking idiotic, but Gimli interrupted.
"The Emblems of Durin!" he exclaimed in awe. Harry frowned and leaned forward minutely, searching in the impassive stone face for any clue that didn't come.
"And the Tree of the High Elves!" Legolas reached out a hand and traced something on the wall with an almost shaking hand. Harry blew his bangs out of his face in growing annoyance, as everyone in the company stared at absoluetly nothing. He glared at the rock some more, which was obviously immune to his mental bullets. It didn't change. Staring at it some more, he completely missed the next thing Gandalf said. He caught the thread of words as Gandalf read some strange language off the supposed picture in the stone.
"It says, 'Speak, friend, and enter." Gandalf tapped his staff on the ground a few times and appeared to be lost in thought again. Something snapped in Harry's by-now fragile temper, and he threw his hands up into the air.
"Well? What are you supposed to speak? I don't bloody well want to be here all night!"
Gandalf didn't answer, and only Boromir and Legolas glanced his way. Harry could swear that there was a trace of a grin on Boromir's face, which lightened his spirits considerably. He avoided Legolas's gaze boring into his back. It would have made Harry feel better if there had been even an iota of anger in that stare, but it was empty and cool. Like the damn pond right in front of him. Harry kicked a rock by his foot into the dark pool of water, and he small "plink" echoed lightly. Frodo stiffened.
He cast an imploring gaze to Harry. "Please don't disturb the water." The pool rippled. "I don't like it."
Harry glanced at the pool and jumped when, he could swear, the water ripples changed direction. He scuffled his feet and silently pleaded with Gandalf to hurry. "This water scares me," he muttered, good mood already vanished.
Aragorn looked at him grimly. "If a pond scares you, wizard, I would hate to think what happens when we encounter real danger."
"But..." he started to protest, and quit when it became obvious that it was hopeless. He retreated to his own self-pity, oblivious to Gandalf's mutterings.
A tiny sigh brought him out of his reverie. He looked over at Legolas and was startled to see the elf looking almost sad. Harry remembered how Legolas's arms had made him feel, warm and safe and -- he gave himself a mental slap in the face.
'You ruined that chance,' said an annoyingly correct voice in his head. Harry looked over at Legolas again with softened eyes and was startled to see the elf looking back. He turned his head away and smiled a little to himself.
"I've got it!" Gandalf said loudly, almost causing Harry to stumble and fall in the pool. The wizard picked up his staff and tapped on the stone, saying in a loud, clear voice: "Mellon!"
Nothing happened for a few moments, and when Harry was about to complain, the entire valley rumbled. Slowly, a crack appeared in the wall and started to swing open like a set of huge doors, revealing a darkened passage and descending stairs. The inside was blacker than midnight. Harry didn't like the feel right away.
"I was wrong after all, and Gimli too. Merry, of all people" Merry bristled a little at that, "was on the right track. The opening word was on the archway all the time! The translation should have been: 'Say Friend and Enter.' Quite simple. Too simple for a learned lore master in these suspicious days. Those were happier times." Gandalf sighed. "Now let us be off!"
Pippin and Sam were the first ones to enter the Mines, the curly haired hobbit leaping ahead, oblivious to Aragorn's cautions to wait. Gimli strode in next, a strange gleam in his eyes, followed by Gandalf. As Boromir and Aragorn went in, Harry offered a tiny smile at Legolas and was strangely warmed to receive a shadow of a grin back.
Harry took a deep breath and set his foot on the lowest step. As he did so, the coldest fear gripped his heart, and he felt the cry even before he heard it. He whirled around and green eyes widened at the sight of a monstrous, pale-green tentacle with a death grip on the Frodo. The small hobbit grasped onto thin air as the arm dragged him into the water. Without thinking he ran back to the entrance, barely noticing Sam and Legolas not two steps behind him.
Sam rushed forward in front of Harry and drew his sword, hacking at the hideous arm until the stones around the pool were wet with a hissing, acid blood. The water of the lake rippled and seethed as the tentacle withdrew back into the water. Legolas scooped Frodo up into his arms, as Harry grabbed Sam's hand and forcibly dragged him back to the cave.
"Into the gateway! Up the stairs! Quick!" shouted Gandalf. He drove them forward, just in the nick of time, for when Sam and Harry were only a few steps up, the tentacles flew forward with a great strength and slammed into the doors, wriggling into the cave. Harry turned and was about to shout a closing spell but it seemed that there was no need. The horrible tentacles grabbed the side of the doors and swung them shut with a resounding crash, sending rocks tumbling to the ground and pitching the room into darkness.
"Well, well!" came Gandalf's voice from somewhere in the darkness. "The passage is blocked, and there is only one way out - through the mines."
"I knew there was something horrible in that water from the moment that it was disturbed," Frodo said, sending a significant glance to Harry. The wizard was about to apologize when Frodo continued. "There's no harm done now - we're in the Mines and that's all that matters right now. But what was that thing?"
"I do not know, but the arms were all guided by one purpose. Something has crept out of dark waters. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
Harry breathed a few choice profanities at the same time that Boromir uttered something that Harry missed. He was sure it was because of the blood pounding through his ears, loud enough for nearly every one to hear or so it seemed.
"I really hate caves," he mumbled to no one in particular.
_____________________________
Walking through the caves many hours later, Harry reaffirmed that in his mind vigorously. After trudging what seemed like days through the endless walls of stone, with only a short break to eat, he wished again that he was home. These passages weren't known to him, with stairs and arches, and passages and tunnels sloping up or running steeply down, or opening blankly on either side. He had already begun to hate this place.
Harry looked over at Frodo and fondness grew in his heart. The little hobbit was not nearly as stout as Gimli, or so it seemed, but he had an endless well of courage. He resolved not to complain. For a while.
However, that was before they came to the enormous chasm. It had to be at least seven feet across, and even Boromir was hesitant to make the leap. Below them the noise of churning water came. Harry felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach.
"I hate pits," he mumbled.
The first night had passed with little event. Harry was relieved but a little worried, at the incident at the well, and the strange drum-noises that had happened not long after. They sounded menacing, echoing off the glistening walls and the cold floors. And now to make it even better, they were stuck.
"We are tired, but we shall rest better when we are outside. I think that none of us will wish to spend another night in Moria."
Harry grinned. "I don't think so, Gandalf," he said, "but where do we go now? Which arch do we take?"
"I do not know exactly where we are. Unless I'm quite astray, we are above and to the north of the Great Gates. The eastern arch will probably prove the way that we must take, but before we make up our minds we ought to look about us. Let us go towards that light in the north door. If we could find a window it would help, but I fear that the light comes only down deeps shafts."
Harry trailed behind Aragorn as the Company went under the northern arch. Harry looked around as the walked, noting the strange carvings in the wall. He reached out to touch one and recoiled sharply when he realized the dark red paint on the stone was not paint. The walls seemed to tilt sharply, but when he felt arms on his waist to steady him, he realized he'd almost fainted.
Cheeks turning red, he turned around to thank Boromir but found that it was Legolas behind him instead. His face firmed. He had to say something now. "Legolas-" he began, but was interrupted as they came into a long square chamber.
The dust swirled gently around their feet as they disturbed things that had not moved in years. Harry grimaced as he stubbed his toe on something - he looked down and his eyes widened - or on somebody. Bile raised in the back of his throat.
"It looks like a tomb," murmured Frodo from the middle of the room, and Harry walked over to his side to look at it. It was a single rectangular block, two feet high, made of what seemed to be white marble.
Gandalf leaned over him and read slowly, off the slab, " Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria."
Gimli let out a strange noise and pulled his cloak over his face. "He is dead then," Frodo whispered. "I feared it was so." Harry felt intense sympathy for these creatures he had just met. This Balin was obviously someone important and kind. A strange dread then tightened his stomach. Whoever killed this man - these men, he amended, looking around at the scattered bones and weapons - had to still be here. He voiced the thought aloud.
Aragorn looked amused. Gimli looked insulted.
"Balin was no man, young wizard," said Aragorn, almost teasing. "All these you see here - they are dwarves."
"Like a mere man could do this," Gimli muttered darkly, casting a glance at the tomb. He shuddered and pulled his cloak tighter. Harry looked over at the hobbits, who were huddled in a tight circle, then Gandalf and Legolas, who were pouring over a rotted and faded book. He caught snatches of their conversation, words like 'dimrill,' 'frar,' and 'watcher in the water,' that he didn't understand, and phrases that he could understand that he didn't want to. It sounded dark and ominous.
"Listen," Gandalf said loudly, "I fear their ending was cruel. 'We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frar and Loni and Nali fell there.' Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read: ' went five days ago.' The last lines run 'the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Oin. We cannot get out. The end comes,' then 'drums, drums in the deep.' I wonder what that means. The last thing written is in a trailing scrawl of elf-letters: 'they are coming.' There is nothing more."
Harry felt the same cold fear settle over the room. He barely heard Gimli's words.
"We cannot get out. It was well for us that the pool had sunk a little, and that this Watcher was sleeping down at the southern end."
Frodo shuddered and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Come! Let us go! The morning is passing." Gandalf tried to rouse the Company out of the depression into which it had fallen. "Which way will we go?" asked Boromir in a quiet tone.
Harry took a step toward the doors and had hardly placed his foot down when a huge, echoing BOOM resounded through the chamber. The skulls and bones began to shiver at the force of the sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The huge drumbeats continued, making Harry clap his hands over his ears. Paralyzed with fear, he could only watch as Aragorn slammed the door firmly shut and barred it. From behind the door came the sounds of harsh and vile words and cries.
"We cannot get out!" Gimli cried. "Trapped!"
Gandalf's eyes widened beneath his hat brim. "Why did I delay? Here we are, caught, just as they were before."
Harry's fine eyebrows lowered thunderously. In a fierce bout of determination, he drew his wand and held it up before him, daring the monsters to break through. Small yellow sparks flew from the end of it. Dimly, through the red fury descended over his vision, he saw the others draw their swords. Frodo's hand trembled and a bright blue light issued from his blade.
Gandalf narrowed his eyes. "There are Orcs, from the sound, many of them. They sound large, black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they hang back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way."
Harry's memory suddenly and vividly flashed back to that night, nearly seven years ago, when he and Ron had defeated the mountain troll. For a moment he thought his heart would burst from aching for his lover. But then a light feathery touch against his shoulderblade brought him back. He looked up into the stormy eyes of Legolas.
"Be careful, little one," the elf murmured and stepped back. In one fluid moment, the elf drew a bow and aimed for the door, drawing the bowstring back tight. A fervent look came to his eyes.
"Let them come," the elf said in a loud voice that rang off the stone like clear water. "We will make them fear the Chamber of Mazarbul!"
_____________________________
*chuckle* I love cliffhangers - especially when I know that something very momentous is going to happen next. And I love angst. Two things which I'm sure pain the readers of this story. :D Makes it all the more fun, eh?
Chapter Six: Lift Me Up
by Capella
A/N: 12/31/02: Again, this chapter is redone from the original. Dont' worry, I didn't change any major parts of the plot, just a few fixer-uppers. These next few chapters won't be changed all that much.
__________________________
I'm over this
I'm tired of living in the dark
Can anyone see me down here
The feeling's gone
There's nothing left to lift me up
Back into the world I've known
-- Three Doors Down, "Away From The Sun"
_______________________
Harry stared up at the impassive cliff and the two Holly trees nestled under the stone, bigger than any he had ever seen. The stone wall looked rather solid. Weren't there supposed to be caves somewhere around here? Were they going to climb over these huge mountains? He looked over at Gandalf, doubtful.
"Here we are at last!" said Gandalf. "While I am searching for a way into the Mines, ready yourselves for the journey. We must cast off what we do not need, and take only the barest necessities. For this will be a long and perilous journey through the mines, at least three days if we hurry."
Gandalf turned and stared intently at the wall, between the two large trees. Next to him, Legolas pressed his ear against the wall, and the dwarf tapped the stone in some places with his axe.
"Well, here we are and all ready," said Merry. "But where are the Doors? I can't see any sign of them."
"Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut," said Gimli. "They are invisible, and their own masters cannot find them or open them, if their secret is forgotten."
Harry's eyes opened wide. "Is there someone here who remembers the secret to the Doors?" he said, resisting the childish urge to roll his eyes.
Gandalf didn't answer. He walked forward to the wall, and passed his hands over a smooth space in the rock, muttering words under his breath.
"Look! Can you see anything now?"
Harry's eyes raked up the wall in question, expecting to see some drastic change. He didn't. "Um, Gandalf-" he started quietly, at the risk of looking idiotic, but Gimli interrupted.
"The Emblems of Durin!" he exclaimed in awe. Harry frowned and leaned forward minutely, searching in the impassive stone face for any clue that didn't come.
"And the Tree of the High Elves!" Legolas reached out a hand and traced something on the wall with an almost shaking hand. Harry blew his bangs out of his face in growing annoyance, as everyone in the company stared at absoluetly nothing. He glared at the rock some more, which was obviously immune to his mental bullets. It didn't change. Staring at it some more, he completely missed the next thing Gandalf said. He caught the thread of words as Gandalf read some strange language off the supposed picture in the stone.
"It says, 'Speak, friend, and enter." Gandalf tapped his staff on the ground a few times and appeared to be lost in thought again. Something snapped in Harry's by-now fragile temper, and he threw his hands up into the air.
"Well? What are you supposed to speak? I don't bloody well want to be here all night!"
Gandalf didn't answer, and only Boromir and Legolas glanced his way. Harry could swear that there was a trace of a grin on Boromir's face, which lightened his spirits considerably. He avoided Legolas's gaze boring into his back. It would have made Harry feel better if there had been even an iota of anger in that stare, but it was empty and cool. Like the damn pond right in front of him. Harry kicked a rock by his foot into the dark pool of water, and he small "plink" echoed lightly. Frodo stiffened.
He cast an imploring gaze to Harry. "Please don't disturb the water." The pool rippled. "I don't like it."
Harry glanced at the pool and jumped when, he could swear, the water ripples changed direction. He scuffled his feet and silently pleaded with Gandalf to hurry. "This water scares me," he muttered, good mood already vanished.
Aragorn looked at him grimly. "If a pond scares you, wizard, I would hate to think what happens when we encounter real danger."
"But..." he started to protest, and quit when it became obvious that it was hopeless. He retreated to his own self-pity, oblivious to Gandalf's mutterings.
A tiny sigh brought him out of his reverie. He looked over at Legolas and was startled to see the elf looking almost sad. Harry remembered how Legolas's arms had made him feel, warm and safe and -- he gave himself a mental slap in the face.
'You ruined that chance,' said an annoyingly correct voice in his head. Harry looked over at Legolas again with softened eyes and was startled to see the elf looking back. He turned his head away and smiled a little to himself.
"I've got it!" Gandalf said loudly, almost causing Harry to stumble and fall in the pool. The wizard picked up his staff and tapped on the stone, saying in a loud, clear voice: "Mellon!"
Nothing happened for a few moments, and when Harry was about to complain, the entire valley rumbled. Slowly, a crack appeared in the wall and started to swing open like a set of huge doors, revealing a darkened passage and descending stairs. The inside was blacker than midnight. Harry didn't like the feel right away.
"I was wrong after all, and Gimli too. Merry, of all people" Merry bristled a little at that, "was on the right track. The opening word was on the archway all the time! The translation should have been: 'Say Friend and Enter.' Quite simple. Too simple for a learned lore master in these suspicious days. Those were happier times." Gandalf sighed. "Now let us be off!"
Pippin and Sam were the first ones to enter the Mines, the curly haired hobbit leaping ahead, oblivious to Aragorn's cautions to wait. Gimli strode in next, a strange gleam in his eyes, followed by Gandalf. As Boromir and Aragorn went in, Harry offered a tiny smile at Legolas and was strangely warmed to receive a shadow of a grin back.
Harry took a deep breath and set his foot on the lowest step. As he did so, the coldest fear gripped his heart, and he felt the cry even before he heard it. He whirled around and green eyes widened at the sight of a monstrous, pale-green tentacle with a death grip on the Frodo. The small hobbit grasped onto thin air as the arm dragged him into the water. Without thinking he ran back to the entrance, barely noticing Sam and Legolas not two steps behind him.
Sam rushed forward in front of Harry and drew his sword, hacking at the hideous arm until the stones around the pool were wet with a hissing, acid blood. The water of the lake rippled and seethed as the tentacle withdrew back into the water. Legolas scooped Frodo up into his arms, as Harry grabbed Sam's hand and forcibly dragged him back to the cave.
"Into the gateway! Up the stairs! Quick!" shouted Gandalf. He drove them forward, just in the nick of time, for when Sam and Harry were only a few steps up, the tentacles flew forward with a great strength and slammed into the doors, wriggling into the cave. Harry turned and was about to shout a closing spell but it seemed that there was no need. The horrible tentacles grabbed the side of the doors and swung them shut with a resounding crash, sending rocks tumbling to the ground and pitching the room into darkness.
"Well, well!" came Gandalf's voice from somewhere in the darkness. "The passage is blocked, and there is only one way out - through the mines."
"I knew there was something horrible in that water from the moment that it was disturbed," Frodo said, sending a significant glance to Harry. The wizard was about to apologize when Frodo continued. "There's no harm done now - we're in the Mines and that's all that matters right now. But what was that thing?"
"I do not know, but the arms were all guided by one purpose. Something has crept out of dark waters. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
Harry breathed a few choice profanities at the same time that Boromir uttered something that Harry missed. He was sure it was because of the blood pounding through his ears, loud enough for nearly every one to hear or so it seemed.
"I really hate caves," he mumbled to no one in particular.
_____________________________
Walking through the caves many hours later, Harry reaffirmed that in his mind vigorously. After trudging what seemed like days through the endless walls of stone, with only a short break to eat, he wished again that he was home. These passages weren't known to him, with stairs and arches, and passages and tunnels sloping up or running steeply down, or opening blankly on either side. He had already begun to hate this place.
Harry looked over at Frodo and fondness grew in his heart. The little hobbit was not nearly as stout as Gimli, or so it seemed, but he had an endless well of courage. He resolved not to complain. For a while.
However, that was before they came to the enormous chasm. It had to be at least seven feet across, and even Boromir was hesitant to make the leap. Below them the noise of churning water came. Harry felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach.
"I hate pits," he mumbled.
The first night had passed with little event. Harry was relieved but a little worried, at the incident at the well, and the strange drum-noises that had happened not long after. They sounded menacing, echoing off the glistening walls and the cold floors. And now to make it even better, they were stuck.
"We are tired, but we shall rest better when we are outside. I think that none of us will wish to spend another night in Moria."
Harry grinned. "I don't think so, Gandalf," he said, "but where do we go now? Which arch do we take?"
"I do not know exactly where we are. Unless I'm quite astray, we are above and to the north of the Great Gates. The eastern arch will probably prove the way that we must take, but before we make up our minds we ought to look about us. Let us go towards that light in the north door. If we could find a window it would help, but I fear that the light comes only down deeps shafts."
Harry trailed behind Aragorn as the Company went under the northern arch. Harry looked around as the walked, noting the strange carvings in the wall. He reached out to touch one and recoiled sharply when he realized the dark red paint on the stone was not paint. The walls seemed to tilt sharply, but when he felt arms on his waist to steady him, he realized he'd almost fainted.
Cheeks turning red, he turned around to thank Boromir but found that it was Legolas behind him instead. His face firmed. He had to say something now. "Legolas-" he began, but was interrupted as they came into a long square chamber.
The dust swirled gently around their feet as they disturbed things that had not moved in years. Harry grimaced as he stubbed his toe on something - he looked down and his eyes widened - or on somebody. Bile raised in the back of his throat.
"It looks like a tomb," murmured Frodo from the middle of the room, and Harry walked over to his side to look at it. It was a single rectangular block, two feet high, made of what seemed to be white marble.
Gandalf leaned over him and read slowly, off the slab, " Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria."
Gimli let out a strange noise and pulled his cloak over his face. "He is dead then," Frodo whispered. "I feared it was so." Harry felt intense sympathy for these creatures he had just met. This Balin was obviously someone important and kind. A strange dread then tightened his stomach. Whoever killed this man - these men, he amended, looking around at the scattered bones and weapons - had to still be here. He voiced the thought aloud.
Aragorn looked amused. Gimli looked insulted.
"Balin was no man, young wizard," said Aragorn, almost teasing. "All these you see here - they are dwarves."
"Like a mere man could do this," Gimli muttered darkly, casting a glance at the tomb. He shuddered and pulled his cloak tighter. Harry looked over at the hobbits, who were huddled in a tight circle, then Gandalf and Legolas, who were pouring over a rotted and faded book. He caught snatches of their conversation, words like 'dimrill,' 'frar,' and 'watcher in the water,' that he didn't understand, and phrases that he could understand that he didn't want to. It sounded dark and ominous.
"Listen," Gandalf said loudly, "I fear their ending was cruel. 'We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frar and Loni and Nali fell there.' Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read: ' went five days ago.' The last lines run 'the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Oin. We cannot get out. The end comes,' then 'drums, drums in the deep.' I wonder what that means. The last thing written is in a trailing scrawl of elf-letters: 'they are coming.' There is nothing more."
Harry felt the same cold fear settle over the room. He barely heard Gimli's words.
"We cannot get out. It was well for us that the pool had sunk a little, and that this Watcher was sleeping down at the southern end."
Frodo shuddered and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Come! Let us go! The morning is passing." Gandalf tried to rouse the Company out of the depression into which it had fallen. "Which way will we go?" asked Boromir in a quiet tone.
Harry took a step toward the doors and had hardly placed his foot down when a huge, echoing BOOM resounded through the chamber. The skulls and bones began to shiver at the force of the sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The huge drumbeats continued, making Harry clap his hands over his ears. Paralyzed with fear, he could only watch as Aragorn slammed the door firmly shut and barred it. From behind the door came the sounds of harsh and vile words and cries.
"We cannot get out!" Gimli cried. "Trapped!"
Gandalf's eyes widened beneath his hat brim. "Why did I delay? Here we are, caught, just as they were before."
Harry's fine eyebrows lowered thunderously. In a fierce bout of determination, he drew his wand and held it up before him, daring the monsters to break through. Small yellow sparks flew from the end of it. Dimly, through the red fury descended over his vision, he saw the others draw their swords. Frodo's hand trembled and a bright blue light issued from his blade.
Gandalf narrowed his eyes. "There are Orcs, from the sound, many of them. They sound large, black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they hang back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way."
Harry's memory suddenly and vividly flashed back to that night, nearly seven years ago, when he and Ron had defeated the mountain troll. For a moment he thought his heart would burst from aching for his lover. But then a light feathery touch against his shoulderblade brought him back. He looked up into the stormy eyes of Legolas.
"Be careful, little one," the elf murmured and stepped back. In one fluid moment, the elf drew a bow and aimed for the door, drawing the bowstring back tight. A fervent look came to his eyes.
"Let them come," the elf said in a loud voice that rang off the stone like clear water. "We will make them fear the Chamber of Mazarbul!"
_____________________________
*chuckle* I love cliffhangers - especially when I know that something very momentous is going to happen next. And I love angst. Two things which I'm sure pain the readers of this story. :D Makes it all the more fun, eh?