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Chapter 2: The Watcher and the Opening of the Gates
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[Disclaimer: No, I do not own Lord of the Rings. I just work off of the genius Tolkien's work. Darn.]
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Thank you IrishQT and Dis Thrainsdotter for reviewing. Here is the second chapter.
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The company which walked to Moria had no fear, even though they knew the fate of Balin and his people many years before. They learned from Balin's mistakes. The first thing that was needed was to destroy the Watcher, who slept in the lake before the western gates. That was the undoing of Balin. The Watcher kept them from leaving by the west gate. p
'So how do you propose to get rid of the Watcher, Master Dwarf?' asked Legolas. p
'Yes, do tell, Gimli.' said Aragorn. p
'Actually, I am not sure yet. I was hoping you two would help me formulate a plan. I know we can get rid of it, but I don't know how' p
'Well we had better get a plan quick, for tomorrow we arrive at the west gate. Let us form a plan tonight at camp Master Dwarf.' said Legolas. p
That night, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and a few dwarves held a council to decide how to get rid of the Watcher. p
Durin VII said, 'I think we should leave it be. My ancestor Dain II Ironfoot put it there to watch the gates and keep enemies from entering Moria after the War of Dwarves and Orcs where Dain avenged Thror, whom Azog had slain. We have no need to remove it.' p
'It led Balin to his death, or did you not read the book which Gimli bore out of Moria at Gandalf's bidding. It would not let him and his followers out of the west gate. There Balin was slain, shot by an orc arrow, after holding the title Lord of Moria for only five years.' said Aragorn. 'If we are overwhelmed, do you wish to share his fate? The orcs and goblins can cut off the east door, and the Watcher will close of the west. Nay I say to you, let us be rid of him somehow. Whether we kill him or isolate him from the gate in someway, I do not know, but we must get rid of him.' p
'Yes, but the question is how to do it.' said Gimli. 'I know not how to isolate it, as Aragorn has said. So we must kill it, which is an impossible task in its own. First its reach is so long and it has many arms. We must get through those tentacles before we can even get to a vital point to kill him. Yet there must be some way, for how did Dain II tame him to ping him to the gates of Moria'
'Well put Master Dwarf. We will be hard pressed tomorrow before the west gate if we do not have a plan.' p
'Is Mithrandir still meeting us tomorrow at the gate?' asked Gimli.
'Who is Mithrandir, Gimli?' asked Durin, for he was still a young dwarf by dwarven standards, and knew not of the wizard Gandalf.
'He is a wise wizard, who has paved many perils. He is the main reason that the War of the Ring was not a massacre. He is known by many names: Mithrandir, Gandalf, or Icanus. You may have heard of him bearing the name Tharkun in some of the old tales. He is the one that helped Thorin Oakenshield reclaim the Lonely Mountain and restore to him the title King under the Mountain before his death. He was the one that pought tidings of the orcs and allied the dwarves, elves, and men against the orcs. Also, he pought the Eagles to help those allied against the orcs and their wolves.' Gimli answered. 'If anyone could help us against the orcs of Moria and avenge the one who killed my uncle -(for he who did it is none other than Azbo, the grandsire of Azog, who had returned to Moria after his father Bolg's death in the battle of Five armies)- Balin it is he.' p
'Tharkun?' asked Durin, awed by the fact that one such person was a friend to Gimli. p
'The one and only,' answered Legolas. 'Let us wait for Mithrandir tomorrow eve, by the water. As long as the waster is undisturbed, the Watcher will not come out of his sleep. We can create a plan with Gandalf then.'p
They neared the path to the west gate around nine o' clock Shire time. It was already past dark, and Mithrandir had not yet shown. One of the dwarves, a young one with no experience, started to throw rocks in the lake. p
'Salin, stop throwing rocks. Do not disturb the waters until Mithrandir c—' started Gimli. 'Too late, everyone cover yourselves.' p
At that moment, a giant tentacle came out of the water. Everyone ran away, but one dwarf was caught in a trap between two tentacles. The Watcher grabbed him and pought him towards its mouth. Legolas poised to shoot an arrow, and just as the Watcher let the dwarf go he let the arrow fly. It hit the monster in one eye and entered the pain. At once it did lost its control over most of its tentacles.
During this peak Gimli went into the water shouting 'Baruk Khazad. Khazad ai menu.' He went forward, chopping off tentacles as they hindered his progress. Aragorn entered in another of tentacles and they met up at the center. Once there, the Watcher started spitting out a burning acid-like substance. It missed the first few times, but it finally hit its target. Gimli's helmet was hit and started melting. He quickly took it off, and threw it at the monster. The helmet bounced right off its thick hide. Gimli swung his axe at it, but caused no damage. Aragorn, walking to the main head, tripped and fell trying to evade an acid spit. His sword went flying and struck the monster in the eye, causing it to go blind. This gave Legolas the idea to hack it in the eye with his axe, and he promptly did so. Silver sparks flew by as the blade entered the monsters pain, and the monster started dying. Aragorn, who had picked up his sword, also drove his blade, Anduril, into the monster's pain. This killed it, allowing access into the mines of Moria when they got to the door. At that moment, Mithrandir rode up on his horse, with Meriadoc (Merry) Pandybuck, and Peregrin (Pippin) Took. p
'You came too late, Mithrandir. We had hoped to form a plan with you on getting rid of this vile beast, but alas, the water was disturbed. Five dwarves were lost, due to the sheer amount of tentacles on the beast. We need every last dwarf for this mission, but Merry and Pippin will well make up for two of them put together. I am glad to see you lads, though unexpected it was. I am honored to have you in my service.' said Gimli. p
To this Pippin replied, 'And I am glad to share another adventure with the fellowship that fought in Gondor together. I am honored to have you want me.' p
'Well, now we need to start the task of clearing the door of the debris from last time. Let us get to it so that we still have moonlight when we are done.' said Mithrandir, rather hastily for they would lose the moon in a couple of hours. p
They worked for several hours before the door was cleared, and they could see the door. p
'Mellon' said Gandalf with his staff to the door, and with that the door opened to reveal a mass of orcs, goblins, and the last Uruk-Hai, prepared for a fight.p
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pre I hope you like the second chapter to my story. I would have put it up sooner but the website was closed to my internet for some reason. Anyway, please read and review, and no flamers. If I get enough reviews, I will put up Chapter 3 soon.
Irishancest/pre
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