"This is too high a price to pay…"
The halls were silent, cool and dark, wreathed and shadows and dark doorways. Nothing moved and nothing was heard, as if the world outside had faded and left the House of Healing alone as a monument.
Aragorn paused at the entrance way, waiting…but not sure what for. Gandalf's hand on his shoulder caused him to look in to the Wizards eyes, calm but wary, his suspicions were correct and this scared Aragorn more than any of his private nightmares did. Despite their protests Gandalf had persuaded the Hobbits to remain behind, the fewer peoples there were the greater the chance of their entering without disturbing…It.
Aragorn pushed forward past the doorway his boots making a sound on the stone, breaking the silence. Almost without warning noises could be heard, voices talking quietly, men moving on the upper levels doors being closed. It was unnerving and confirmed his suspicions, something was here that should not be here, something that should have left this earth long ago. He refused to believe in Sauron, the spirit of the undead Lord was too strong, and had no ties to the mortal plane anymore, the Ring was gone, his kingdom failed and his minions dead or captured. This was not Sauron, but something like him…there was a clue he was missing a link…and maybe here was the place to find it.
Legolas watched the King, a Ranger of old and wise beyond his line, pause at the doorway, sensing what he felt, the dwelling of the beast, a creature of darkness. Galdalf felt it too, the wizard was cautious in his steps, anxious not to alert it to his presence. Of all of them Gimli was the only walking in to this with no knowledge of what or who he was about to face, at this Legolas paused, for all of their friendship he never doubted Gimli's abilities but this was not about the fight, no axe would win this battle of that he was sure but the dwarf would follow where Gandalf and Legolas lead, he trusted them with his life…
The second floor was warmer than the first, sunlight came through the windows, dappling shapes on the stone walls, drawing a shiver from Aragorn. The heat here made him more cautious, it was late afternoon and even the sun did not warm these corridors as much at the height of day.
"Where is Sam?" The thought came to his mind, surprised he had not thought of the hobbit Aragorn stopped and turned in to one of the rooms, looking at the nurse within he asked her.
"Oh, he was put in to one the rooms by the Ring Bearer, when we tried to take him to one of the larger chambers he started struggling Sire, he wouldn't leave him." Her dark grey eyes were clear as she answered, she had not felt it.
Aragorn left quietly and headed for Frodo's room, as they drew closer he noticed a figure move in the corner, Legolas' bow was in his hands and strung before they could blink, only Gandalf's upheld hand stopped him from firing. The figure moved in to the light, Sam, Legolas marvelled at the change in him, his strong body thinner and head high on the alert for trouble, he turned to the company, he was calmer, more worldly wise than the last time he had seen him. As Sam turned to step to Frodo's door a whisper, echo of a voice drifted through the hallway, strong but distant, the malevolence was palpable in the atmosphere and the temperature rose again as the sun began to set leaving bloody trails on the white floors, the light becoming redder leading to Frodo's door and the voice began again, less distant and the hairs on Legolas' arms stood on end, misgiving growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Now they're taking you away…"
The shadows moved the tip touching the gilded handles on the door, turning the metal in to liquid fire.
The guards on the door had drawn their weapons and only waited for their King's command to destroy whatever lingered within.
"Sam! We thought you were resting" Aragorns voice called, loud and fearful in the short corridor.
"I felt something…not right" Sam answered not turning to them, his voice softer than the man's. As the sun dipped below the distant horizon the atmosphere became electric and the heat increased. Gandalf felt something change and moved quickly toward the door, Aragorn beside him with Legolas clutching his bow and Gimli with his axe ready to strike as soon as the doors opened. But before any of them could reach him, Sam reached out to the handles and moved to turn it, before pulling his arm away with a cry of pain, Gandalf caught him and looked at it, the metal was as hot as it looked, the imprint branded into Sam's large hand, the flesh red and smarting, before he could order Sam to seek help the hobbit had pulled away and gripped the burning metal again and with a scream of agony wrenched the door open…
The halls were silent, cool and dark, wreathed and shadows and dark doorways. Nothing moved and nothing was heard, as if the world outside had faded and left the House of Healing alone as a monument.
Aragorn paused at the entrance way, waiting…but not sure what for. Gandalf's hand on his shoulder caused him to look in to the Wizards eyes, calm but wary, his suspicions were correct and this scared Aragorn more than any of his private nightmares did. Despite their protests Gandalf had persuaded the Hobbits to remain behind, the fewer peoples there were the greater the chance of their entering without disturbing…It.
Aragorn pushed forward past the doorway his boots making a sound on the stone, breaking the silence. Almost without warning noises could be heard, voices talking quietly, men moving on the upper levels doors being closed. It was unnerving and confirmed his suspicions, something was here that should not be here, something that should have left this earth long ago. He refused to believe in Sauron, the spirit of the undead Lord was too strong, and had no ties to the mortal plane anymore, the Ring was gone, his kingdom failed and his minions dead or captured. This was not Sauron, but something like him…there was a clue he was missing a link…and maybe here was the place to find it.
Legolas watched the King, a Ranger of old and wise beyond his line, pause at the doorway, sensing what he felt, the dwelling of the beast, a creature of darkness. Galdalf felt it too, the wizard was cautious in his steps, anxious not to alert it to his presence. Of all of them Gimli was the only walking in to this with no knowledge of what or who he was about to face, at this Legolas paused, for all of their friendship he never doubted Gimli's abilities but this was not about the fight, no axe would win this battle of that he was sure but the dwarf would follow where Gandalf and Legolas lead, he trusted them with his life…
The second floor was warmer than the first, sunlight came through the windows, dappling shapes on the stone walls, drawing a shiver from Aragorn. The heat here made him more cautious, it was late afternoon and even the sun did not warm these corridors as much at the height of day.
"Where is Sam?" The thought came to his mind, surprised he had not thought of the hobbit Aragorn stopped and turned in to one of the rooms, looking at the nurse within he asked her.
"Oh, he was put in to one the rooms by the Ring Bearer, when we tried to take him to one of the larger chambers he started struggling Sire, he wouldn't leave him." Her dark grey eyes were clear as she answered, she had not felt it.
Aragorn left quietly and headed for Frodo's room, as they drew closer he noticed a figure move in the corner, Legolas' bow was in his hands and strung before they could blink, only Gandalf's upheld hand stopped him from firing. The figure moved in to the light, Sam, Legolas marvelled at the change in him, his strong body thinner and head high on the alert for trouble, he turned to the company, he was calmer, more worldly wise than the last time he had seen him. As Sam turned to step to Frodo's door a whisper, echo of a voice drifted through the hallway, strong but distant, the malevolence was palpable in the atmosphere and the temperature rose again as the sun began to set leaving bloody trails on the white floors, the light becoming redder leading to Frodo's door and the voice began again, less distant and the hairs on Legolas' arms stood on end, misgiving growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Now they're taking you away…"
The shadows moved the tip touching the gilded handles on the door, turning the metal in to liquid fire.
The guards on the door had drawn their weapons and only waited for their King's command to destroy whatever lingered within.
"Sam! We thought you were resting" Aragorns voice called, loud and fearful in the short corridor.
"I felt something…not right" Sam answered not turning to them, his voice softer than the man's. As the sun dipped below the distant horizon the atmosphere became electric and the heat increased. Gandalf felt something change and moved quickly toward the door, Aragorn beside him with Legolas clutching his bow and Gimli with his axe ready to strike as soon as the doors opened. But before any of them could reach him, Sam reached out to the handles and moved to turn it, before pulling his arm away with a cry of pain, Gandalf caught him and looked at it, the metal was as hot as it looked, the imprint branded into Sam's large hand, the flesh red and smarting, before he could order Sam to seek help the hobbit had pulled away and gripped the burning metal again and with a scream of agony wrenched the door open…