Sorry about the length of the update, I have had a load of mocks,
assessments and exams, so I have been a little behind! Okay well I will
stop with a ll the excuses here is your chapter people, I hope you enjoy.
I'm off to Sheffield in..*looks at watch* 10 minutes, so enjoy! I want
reviews when I get back! lol
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The first test.. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Frodo's POV*
I was so scared, how could I have been so wrong? Elenya would be the one who was tempted! She was the danger, and here I was alone with her in the middle of the night, listening to the lust and desperation in her normally fair voice. I tried to run, to get away from her, but she grabbed my wrist tightly, still staring at where the Ring was beneath my shirt. I could hear it calling to her, trying to make her take it. I saw her eyes narrow and her face harden.
"..this one ring; this piece of metal can kill so many and hurt so many, cause death and destruction everywhere possible." She was just talking to herself; she seemed to have forgotten about me, aside from the hand tightly clamped on my wrist. All her concentration was focused on the Ring and nothing else.
She stopped and looked up at me, and I saw recognition in her eyes. She knew what I was thinking about her and she knew I was afraid.
"Frodo." She said softly, and my heart jumped into my throat, this was it. What could I do? I knew she could overpower me easily.
".. I don't want that Ring from you don't you understand? I wouldn't take it; I couldn't no matter how much I was enticed by it." I stopped struggling; what did she mean? This meant she must not be the danger! I HAD been wrong, and it was a weight off my shoulders. She went on with a sigh;
"I know I couldn't get that Ring from you, I know you would fight. I know too, that I would have to fight you to take it from you, and that it wouldn't end there." She seemed to be having difficulty speaking, as if the thought was too much for her.
"I would have to hurt you Frodo, maybe even kill you to get that ring from you, and I don't want to that! I don't want to hurt you, any of you. I can't even count temptation as an option, do you understand?" I nodded and was relieved.
Her eyes were shining and she was breathing deeply, composing herself. Elenya let go of my wrist and I lay back down next to her relaxed slightly. I was glad I was wrong, I knew now I could trust Elenya, and that she wasn't the one I should fear. We took a while to fall asleep, the both of us, but it was good to know it wasn't just you lying awake. .........
*Gandalf's POV*
I didn't want to wake them all. I knew they couldn't have had more that 4 hours sleep, but the less time we spent in Moria, the better, even though I knew in my heart Elenya hadn't been wrong in her vision. This wouldn't end well.
I woke the others first then went over to the pillar under which Elenya and the hobbits lay. I could see that Frodo's talk with Elenya had lifted at least some weight off his mind; he looked more at peace in his sleep than I had seen him in a long while. He was lying in front of Elenya and had one arm wrapped about hers. Elenya had her chin resting on the top of Frodo's curly hair.
I hated to see such people bought into the middle of such a terrible business as this Ring. I would never have let Bilbo keep his 'magic ring' if I had known what it truly was, but there was nothing I could do now. Frodo had to leave the Shire behind, and Elenya had to try and control her gift, even though I knew something of the pain of foresight.
I lent over and nudged them awake. Elenya was the first to wake, and the first thing she did (after blinking and yawning awake) was to check on everyone else on the company, smiling at them all in greeting.
"Must we go Gandalf?" she mumbled sleepily to me. Now, she looked and sounded as young as could be, and I wished more than ever she had been kept out of this. I had heard her the night before, and now was surer that her heart was true, and that Frodo would have no reason to fear her, even in times of greatest darkness.
"I'm afraid so, I don't want to waste too much time. Now get ready quickly, we have to be on our way." I replied, making my way back to the others, full of regrets I could do nothing about.
---------*-----------
Elenya quickly whispered to the hobbits to wake them as she unwrapped herself from them. As soon as the feeling had come back to her limbs, and the Company had each had a mouthful from a flask passed to them by Gandalf, they were on their way once more, invigorated by the golden liquid and the warmth it spread through them. Once again Elenya was grateful for the help given to them at Rivendell.
They had come to the mouth of the tunnel they had been climbing the day before and were now winding their way along a narrow path in a huge cavern, with huge drops to each side. As far as she could make out, Elenya could see that this went on for a while, and indeed it did.
Hours later, they reached the end of it, and left those huge black nothings behind them. At least now there was a wall on one side of them.
Elenya stayed close to everyone and tried once more to make frail conversation, but in a place such as this, what could she say? Nothing seemed to matter; the only thing that lifted her spirits was the fact that Frodo seemed slightly better today. She wondered if this was because of their talk last night. As they plodded on, Elenya too slipped into her own thoughts, but all she could think of was of how much she despised this place.
She had awoken this morning, not knowing if it was even morning. No sun had been there to greet her, and she couldn't tell what time it was. Hours lost count and there was only darkness to see. Although Elenya had grown used to the musty, aged smell of Moria, it still irritated her. The only light was from Gandalf's staff, and even this didn't change the dark moods of her companions.
And now the worst thing was that she thought she could hear footsteps behind them, and sometimes when she glanced back quickly, she could have sworn she saw two little globes of light, going up and down in time to those footsteps. Whenever Elenya looked again however, the lights were gone, and so were the padding footsteps. But as soon as her attention turned elsewhere, they were back, always on the corner of her mind.
No one spoke again until they had climbed once again above a great abyss. The cliff on their left was veined with little streaks of purest white that shone in the dim light. Elenya was entranced by this, and was glad when Gandalf noticed the puzzled looks that went behind him and began to explain.
"You see the wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but in Mithril." He said, stepping to the edge of the path and looking down.
Everyone followed suit as the light grew and below them they could see a great pit, filled with ladders and rotten ropes on pulleys; the remains of a great enterprise of riches. There were more pathways carved into the cliff beneath them they now saw their own path was but a small way through this maze. The size and scale of this place was astounding.
Everybody leant over to see better, and Elenya knelt down to stop herself from falling; her eyes looking for an end to this huge mine, but there was none. She had a sense of vertigo, as though she was looking upwards instead of down. She began to sway until she stopped herself, and next to her saw Merry being pulled back by Pippin. Gandalf spoke again and they started to walk again.
"Bilbo had a set of mithril rings that Thorin gave him."
"Ah now that was a kingly gift!" Exclaimed Gimli truthfully. Mirthril was widely known as the most precious substance to be found, worth much more than gold or silver. As hard as dragon's scales and a light as a feather was what Elenya had been told. She had never imagined such a thing could just be given away.
"Yes," Gandalf went on, "I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire" Elenya giggled and saw Frodo's eyes widen.
"Imagine that, carrying all that around on your back and not knowing!" She grinned at him, not noticing the shock on his face.
That night, they once again rested in a small room off the corner of a tunnel, but there was no pillar to rest under here. Elenya (and the hobbits) had to sleep out in the open just like everyone else, no matter how uncomfortable they were. The lights and footsteps that haunted Elenya all that day had followed her into her dreams, and when she awoke, she had a faint memory of a face to place behind those globe-like eyes. ............
The next day had almost no amazing events, and was filled with more long silences and thoughts. They paused only to eat, but then they came to a place where they could go no further. They had climbed up countless steep winding stairs over old books and swords and more skeletons, Pippin almost falling onto all of them a good few times and now, they had reached the final landing.
There were three doorways here, but Gandalf (their only guide and way of knowing where to go) did not know which way they should go. They all sat down and waited for him to think it out.
Aragorn had put down his torch. He and Boromir sat side by side, and Elenya couldn't help but think, had times been easier, that they may have been great friends. Legolas was looking round them once more, his eyes narrowed in dislike. Gimli had his head down, as did Sam, who Elenya guessed was napping quickly.
She was sat in the corner, her legs pulled up to her chest, behind Merry and Pippin, who were talking in hushed whispers.
"Merry?" Pippin's voice was low and sounded like one which was about to complain.
"What?" answered Merry quickly.
"I'm hungry" Elenya snorted; making them both turn round.
"What?" she gave them an innocent look and she could see both Boromir and Aragorn smiling at her and rolling their eyes.
Above her, Frodo moved from where he had been sitting on the rock and in an instant; he was by Gandalf's side. As everyone else continued to talk, Elenya strained her ears to hear what they were saying.
"There's something down there!" cried Frodo, sitting next to Ganldalf. Turning her head, Elenya saw it was true, those eyes were following them again, and she could make out the dimmest of shapes.
"It's Gollum." answered Gandalf simply, "He's been following us for three days."
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dûr?" breathed Frodo.
"Escaped.. or was set loose. "Now the Ring has brought him here."
Elenya couldn't believe this, now there were not only stuck in this nauseating place, but there was a creature following them, one who she had hated ever since she had been told Bilbo's story.
Gollum was evil and depraved and wanted nothing but the Ring. How on earth could Elenya possibly keep calm knowing that any time she feel asleep, Gollum may throttle everyone and take the Ring from Frodo? Elenya resisted the urge to go down there and slit Gollum's throat now.
Taking her hand off her sword, she decided that she would just have to be more careful and take better care of Frodo, always keeping an eye out.
She looked up to find Legolas looking at her meaningfully, he knew that she too had heard what had been said, and now Elenya understood why he was forever watchful.
She closed her eyes and leant against the rock, still hearing Frodo and Gandalf's conversation.
"...I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had ever happened." Elenya could hear Frodo's voice now, and it sounded so small and so weak, as though he had completely given up inside. She knew how he must feel; such a small thing in such vast goings-on, with so little power in this world.
".So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. The only thing we can decide is what to do with time we that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the power of evil." Elenya knew Gandalf was right, and tried to keep her composure.
Gandalf went on, "Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought."
Elenya listened and held her head up high; she was not going to be the first to give up. Gandalf was right, there was a way, and this could be done. Her mind and body had been threatening to give in ever since they entered Moria, but she wouldn't let it be. Frodo, she saw seemed heartened a little and she too took heart from this. Suddenly Gandalf stood up.
"Oh! It's this way!" He walked over to the left archway.
"He's remembered!" cried Merry, running over to Gandalf as everyone else got up and gathered their things. Elenya followed him, pulling Frodo to his feet as Gandalf answered with satisfaction, laying a hand on his shoulder;
"No Meriadoc, but the air smells less foul down here. When in doubt always trust your nose". Then Gandalf made his way into the dark stairwell with Merry close at his heels. Elenya glanced at Frodo as they too followed. The stairs continued down into more darkness. The Company climbed down for hours and hours, until their feet were sore and raw. They had tried to count the stairs as they went down, but even Pippin gave up when the numbers ran past the thousands.
By the time they reached the bottom, everyone was so exhausted they flopped down on the landing where they were, not even looking around to see where they were. The only thing Elenya could think of as she fell asleep was the fact that this time tomorrow, chances were, they would be out of this awful place. ..................
But she wasn't reassured for long. As soon as her eyes closed, she fell asleep and as soon as she fell asleep, the vision was back. She saw a bridge and a figure holding a white light above their head. They were keeping back the most hope breaking thing Elenya had ever seen. It was huge, nothing but shadow and smoke and fire. They couldn't possible stop this huge thing. But somehow it fell and was gone. But then...
Elenya awoke, her scream stopped only by the hand clamped over her mouth.
Opening her eyes and struggling wildly, she saw Gandalf's face above her, with a finger to his lips. She was still struggling and as he removed her hand, she had to fight to keep the scream back. She couldn't hold it anymore and once again was stopped by Gandalf's hand. He spoke in a low hiss; "You saw it, you saw what will happen.." Elenya nodded with a gulp.
"It cannot be helped, don't you try to change it, nothing will be helped and you too will fall."
Elenya didn't nod this time; that had been her first idea, to take the place of whoever it was going forwards to stop that thing.
"Promise me." whispered Gandalf as he cautiously took a hand away from her mouth. Elenya tried to swallow the lump that was filling her throat.
"I promise." she responded, "but it is close, it's coming! I am meant to be content to stand by and do nothing?"
"You cannot do anything to help. Their own fate is made for them. You may be different but you cannot change everything. You must let them be." Elenya looked at her sleeping companions with despair in her heart.
"I don't want anyone to die, I need them all; can't we do anything Gandalf?" Gandalf looked down and hesitantly answered her;
"No.. we can't do anything to help them. But just because you cannot change this, don't think you cannot help other matters. Try and sleep, my heart tells me you will need it." he replied, handing Elenya back her blanket, which she had tossed away as she slept. She lay down, not taking her eyes off him, even after he had moved away and pulled his own blankets over him. She knew there was more going on than she knew, but she wasn't sure what. ---------*----------
When she awoke, Elenya couldn't walk at first, she was so shaken at what she knew. That danger was growing closer; there was nothing she could do.
They made their way down the last set of steps and came out through an archway onto another landing, half blocked by more fallen pillars. Gandalf stopped.
"Let me risk a little more light," he murmured and as he did so, the entire space was lit up and Elenya's breath was taken away
"Behold," Said Gandlaf, "The great realm and dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf!"
As far as the eye could see, there were endless black pillars rising so far above the head, that the rafters were almost invisible. Each had been carved with the exact same intricate patterns and seemed created out of ebony. Elenya heard Sam murmur behind her, just as awe struck as she;
"Well there's an eye-opener and no mistake" This was what tales of the glory of the dwarves were about. So many hands must have made this hall, so many lifetimes spent tunnelling and carving. The craftsmanship, the work and the dedication were what Dwarves were renowned for, and here it was...
Each member of the company walked forwards, still looking at the giant pillars surrounding them. Even Gimli was taken aback at what his kin could accomplish and Legolas was speechless at the work of the Dwarves and swore he would never look down on them again.
No one spoke as they moved, all gazing at the vastness of this hall. They had almost walked all the way through when Gimli ran ahead, turning to run into a chamber on the right.
As they made to follow inside they could hear small moans and wails coming from within. They walked through the battered wooden door to find Gimli knelt in front of a block of stone, upon which was shining a light from the roof.
There was total chaos in this room, with corpses and weapons and bones and papers covering most of the floor. Gandalf stepped up behind Gimli and read from the stone tablet;
". Here lies Balin, son of Fundin.. Lord of Moria."
Elenya felt so sorry for Gimli, his whole family was gone.. To find out like this.
"So he is dead, then. It's as I feared." Spoke Gandalf. Elenya looked down at Pippin beside her and then at Gimli, still mourning for his lost family as she stepped back, watching Gandalf hand over his staff and hat to Pippin and pick up a dusty book. As Gandalf began to read, Elenya couldn't think of anything but of Gimli and the pain he must be going through, as her eyes lingered on the patch of sunlight on the stone.
She heard Gandalf reading from the book, but her mind was elsewhere still lingering on the fear that was growing inside her, until she heard a scuffling noise.
Looking up, she saw Pippin inches away from grabbing hold of a skeleton balanced on the edge of a well.
Elenya sprang forwards, but all too late, just as she pulled on Pippin's shoulder, the head of the skeleton toppled back, clattering off the side off the well. Elenya and Pippin whipped back to face the others, who were all glaring at them in alarm and shock.
Then, the rest of the skeleton was falling in, making huge echoing noises. Trying to hold onto the chain was useless, ass the rust cut into her hands so Elenya was forced to let go and let the skeleton continue to fall.
They could hear the metal clanging repeatedly off the rock below; Pippin flinched with each crash that echoed up to them. At last the noise stopped completely; there was only silence. Almost everyone exhaled noisily.
"Fool of a Took!! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" barked Gandalf furiously, snatching his hat and staff from Pippin.
Once again, Elenya moved closer to Pippin, as though to stick up for him, but she said nothing; she was still waiting and watching.
Her attentiveness paid off.
Suddenly the silence was pierced by a deep beat on a drum, from far away.
Then again, and again, and soon the Company could hear many feet pounding on the rock floors, and the chattering of voices, as the drumming continued.
Boromir ran to the door and looked out, as the noise grew closer. Elenya screamed out to him, making Boromir jump back, as an arrow flew into the door, exactly where his face had been.
He looked at Elenya in wonder, amazed at her sudden premonition, gathering himself he said simply;
"They have a cave troll". Aragorn shouted back to the hobbits as he ran forwards to help Boromir close the doors.
"Get back, stay close to Gandalf!!". His eyes passed over the hobbits, who were being ushered back by Gandalf and then over Elenya.
She shook her head, defiantly stepping forwards in front of the hobbits, her hand on the hilt of her sword. Everyone began to draw their weapons and make themselves ready to fight. Sting glowed bright blue in Frodo's hand.
Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir began to barricade the doors closed with the weapons of the fallen warriors about them.
"Their weapons may come in useful once more.." mused Elenya aloud as she pulled out her sword, holding it in front of her face, now hardened and ready. ----------*----------
*Elenya's POV*
I moved to Boromir's side, holding my sword holding it at arm's length, just as I had learnt to in fighting before.
Boromir's shield was up, his sword drawn. Aragorn and Legolas both had their bows out, ready.
Boromir glanced at me, concerned, but I just looked back at him, willing him to try and dissuade me from fighting, as I knew he wanted me to. If this was to be the end (which I doubted very much it was) I was going to take as many orcs with me as I could.
I stood perfectly still, as the doors ahead rattled and shook. I could hear the deep breathing of everyone as they waited with me. Cracks were appearing in the door now, and as a spear was pushed through on of the holes.
Legolas shot, and didn't fire in vain. Aragorn too was shooting at any of the multiple holes that were appearing, but they could not keep it going forever, no matter how accurate they were.
There was a loud crash the doors flew apart, and then the Orcs came...
Enjoy all, I will see you in a couple of days! xxxxx
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The first test.. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Frodo's POV*
I was so scared, how could I have been so wrong? Elenya would be the one who was tempted! She was the danger, and here I was alone with her in the middle of the night, listening to the lust and desperation in her normally fair voice. I tried to run, to get away from her, but she grabbed my wrist tightly, still staring at where the Ring was beneath my shirt. I could hear it calling to her, trying to make her take it. I saw her eyes narrow and her face harden.
"..this one ring; this piece of metal can kill so many and hurt so many, cause death and destruction everywhere possible." She was just talking to herself; she seemed to have forgotten about me, aside from the hand tightly clamped on my wrist. All her concentration was focused on the Ring and nothing else.
She stopped and looked up at me, and I saw recognition in her eyes. She knew what I was thinking about her and she knew I was afraid.
"Frodo." She said softly, and my heart jumped into my throat, this was it. What could I do? I knew she could overpower me easily.
".. I don't want that Ring from you don't you understand? I wouldn't take it; I couldn't no matter how much I was enticed by it." I stopped struggling; what did she mean? This meant she must not be the danger! I HAD been wrong, and it was a weight off my shoulders. She went on with a sigh;
"I know I couldn't get that Ring from you, I know you would fight. I know too, that I would have to fight you to take it from you, and that it wouldn't end there." She seemed to be having difficulty speaking, as if the thought was too much for her.
"I would have to hurt you Frodo, maybe even kill you to get that ring from you, and I don't want to that! I don't want to hurt you, any of you. I can't even count temptation as an option, do you understand?" I nodded and was relieved.
Her eyes were shining and she was breathing deeply, composing herself. Elenya let go of my wrist and I lay back down next to her relaxed slightly. I was glad I was wrong, I knew now I could trust Elenya, and that she wasn't the one I should fear. We took a while to fall asleep, the both of us, but it was good to know it wasn't just you lying awake. .........
*Gandalf's POV*
I didn't want to wake them all. I knew they couldn't have had more that 4 hours sleep, but the less time we spent in Moria, the better, even though I knew in my heart Elenya hadn't been wrong in her vision. This wouldn't end well.
I woke the others first then went over to the pillar under which Elenya and the hobbits lay. I could see that Frodo's talk with Elenya had lifted at least some weight off his mind; he looked more at peace in his sleep than I had seen him in a long while. He was lying in front of Elenya and had one arm wrapped about hers. Elenya had her chin resting on the top of Frodo's curly hair.
I hated to see such people bought into the middle of such a terrible business as this Ring. I would never have let Bilbo keep his 'magic ring' if I had known what it truly was, but there was nothing I could do now. Frodo had to leave the Shire behind, and Elenya had to try and control her gift, even though I knew something of the pain of foresight.
I lent over and nudged them awake. Elenya was the first to wake, and the first thing she did (after blinking and yawning awake) was to check on everyone else on the company, smiling at them all in greeting.
"Must we go Gandalf?" she mumbled sleepily to me. Now, she looked and sounded as young as could be, and I wished more than ever she had been kept out of this. I had heard her the night before, and now was surer that her heart was true, and that Frodo would have no reason to fear her, even in times of greatest darkness.
"I'm afraid so, I don't want to waste too much time. Now get ready quickly, we have to be on our way." I replied, making my way back to the others, full of regrets I could do nothing about.
---------*-----------
Elenya quickly whispered to the hobbits to wake them as she unwrapped herself from them. As soon as the feeling had come back to her limbs, and the Company had each had a mouthful from a flask passed to them by Gandalf, they were on their way once more, invigorated by the golden liquid and the warmth it spread through them. Once again Elenya was grateful for the help given to them at Rivendell.
They had come to the mouth of the tunnel they had been climbing the day before and were now winding their way along a narrow path in a huge cavern, with huge drops to each side. As far as she could make out, Elenya could see that this went on for a while, and indeed it did.
Hours later, they reached the end of it, and left those huge black nothings behind them. At least now there was a wall on one side of them.
Elenya stayed close to everyone and tried once more to make frail conversation, but in a place such as this, what could she say? Nothing seemed to matter; the only thing that lifted her spirits was the fact that Frodo seemed slightly better today. She wondered if this was because of their talk last night. As they plodded on, Elenya too slipped into her own thoughts, but all she could think of was of how much she despised this place.
She had awoken this morning, not knowing if it was even morning. No sun had been there to greet her, and she couldn't tell what time it was. Hours lost count and there was only darkness to see. Although Elenya had grown used to the musty, aged smell of Moria, it still irritated her. The only light was from Gandalf's staff, and even this didn't change the dark moods of her companions.
And now the worst thing was that she thought she could hear footsteps behind them, and sometimes when she glanced back quickly, she could have sworn she saw two little globes of light, going up and down in time to those footsteps. Whenever Elenya looked again however, the lights were gone, and so were the padding footsteps. But as soon as her attention turned elsewhere, they were back, always on the corner of her mind.
No one spoke again until they had climbed once again above a great abyss. The cliff on their left was veined with little streaks of purest white that shone in the dim light. Elenya was entranced by this, and was glad when Gandalf noticed the puzzled looks that went behind him and began to explain.
"You see the wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels, but in Mithril." He said, stepping to the edge of the path and looking down.
Everyone followed suit as the light grew and below them they could see a great pit, filled with ladders and rotten ropes on pulleys; the remains of a great enterprise of riches. There were more pathways carved into the cliff beneath them they now saw their own path was but a small way through this maze. The size and scale of this place was astounding.
Everybody leant over to see better, and Elenya knelt down to stop herself from falling; her eyes looking for an end to this huge mine, but there was none. She had a sense of vertigo, as though she was looking upwards instead of down. She began to sway until she stopped herself, and next to her saw Merry being pulled back by Pippin. Gandalf spoke again and they started to walk again.
"Bilbo had a set of mithril rings that Thorin gave him."
"Ah now that was a kingly gift!" Exclaimed Gimli truthfully. Mirthril was widely known as the most precious substance to be found, worth much more than gold or silver. As hard as dragon's scales and a light as a feather was what Elenya had been told. She had never imagined such a thing could just be given away.
"Yes," Gandalf went on, "I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire" Elenya giggled and saw Frodo's eyes widen.
"Imagine that, carrying all that around on your back and not knowing!" She grinned at him, not noticing the shock on his face.
That night, they once again rested in a small room off the corner of a tunnel, but there was no pillar to rest under here. Elenya (and the hobbits) had to sleep out in the open just like everyone else, no matter how uncomfortable they were. The lights and footsteps that haunted Elenya all that day had followed her into her dreams, and when she awoke, she had a faint memory of a face to place behind those globe-like eyes. ............
The next day had almost no amazing events, and was filled with more long silences and thoughts. They paused only to eat, but then they came to a place where they could go no further. They had climbed up countless steep winding stairs over old books and swords and more skeletons, Pippin almost falling onto all of them a good few times and now, they had reached the final landing.
There were three doorways here, but Gandalf (their only guide and way of knowing where to go) did not know which way they should go. They all sat down and waited for him to think it out.
Aragorn had put down his torch. He and Boromir sat side by side, and Elenya couldn't help but think, had times been easier, that they may have been great friends. Legolas was looking round them once more, his eyes narrowed in dislike. Gimli had his head down, as did Sam, who Elenya guessed was napping quickly.
She was sat in the corner, her legs pulled up to her chest, behind Merry and Pippin, who were talking in hushed whispers.
"Merry?" Pippin's voice was low and sounded like one which was about to complain.
"What?" answered Merry quickly.
"I'm hungry" Elenya snorted; making them both turn round.
"What?" she gave them an innocent look and she could see both Boromir and Aragorn smiling at her and rolling their eyes.
Above her, Frodo moved from where he had been sitting on the rock and in an instant; he was by Gandalf's side. As everyone else continued to talk, Elenya strained her ears to hear what they were saying.
"There's something down there!" cried Frodo, sitting next to Ganldalf. Turning her head, Elenya saw it was true, those eyes were following them again, and she could make out the dimmest of shapes.
"It's Gollum." answered Gandalf simply, "He's been following us for three days."
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dûr?" breathed Frodo.
"Escaped.. or was set loose. "Now the Ring has brought him here."
Elenya couldn't believe this, now there were not only stuck in this nauseating place, but there was a creature following them, one who she had hated ever since she had been told Bilbo's story.
Gollum was evil and depraved and wanted nothing but the Ring. How on earth could Elenya possibly keep calm knowing that any time she feel asleep, Gollum may throttle everyone and take the Ring from Frodo? Elenya resisted the urge to go down there and slit Gollum's throat now.
Taking her hand off her sword, she decided that she would just have to be more careful and take better care of Frodo, always keeping an eye out.
She looked up to find Legolas looking at her meaningfully, he knew that she too had heard what had been said, and now Elenya understood why he was forever watchful.
She closed her eyes and leant against the rock, still hearing Frodo and Gandalf's conversation.
"...I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had ever happened." Elenya could hear Frodo's voice now, and it sounded so small and so weak, as though he had completely given up inside. She knew how he must feel; such a small thing in such vast goings-on, with so little power in this world.
".So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. The only thing we can decide is what to do with time we that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the power of evil." Elenya knew Gandalf was right, and tried to keep her composure.
Gandalf went on, "Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought."
Elenya listened and held her head up high; she was not going to be the first to give up. Gandalf was right, there was a way, and this could be done. Her mind and body had been threatening to give in ever since they entered Moria, but she wouldn't let it be. Frodo, she saw seemed heartened a little and she too took heart from this. Suddenly Gandalf stood up.
"Oh! It's this way!" He walked over to the left archway.
"He's remembered!" cried Merry, running over to Gandalf as everyone else got up and gathered their things. Elenya followed him, pulling Frodo to his feet as Gandalf answered with satisfaction, laying a hand on his shoulder;
"No Meriadoc, but the air smells less foul down here. When in doubt always trust your nose". Then Gandalf made his way into the dark stairwell with Merry close at his heels. Elenya glanced at Frodo as they too followed. The stairs continued down into more darkness. The Company climbed down for hours and hours, until their feet were sore and raw. They had tried to count the stairs as they went down, but even Pippin gave up when the numbers ran past the thousands.
By the time they reached the bottom, everyone was so exhausted they flopped down on the landing where they were, not even looking around to see where they were. The only thing Elenya could think of as she fell asleep was the fact that this time tomorrow, chances were, they would be out of this awful place. ..................
But she wasn't reassured for long. As soon as her eyes closed, she fell asleep and as soon as she fell asleep, the vision was back. She saw a bridge and a figure holding a white light above their head. They were keeping back the most hope breaking thing Elenya had ever seen. It was huge, nothing but shadow and smoke and fire. They couldn't possible stop this huge thing. But somehow it fell and was gone. But then...
Elenya awoke, her scream stopped only by the hand clamped over her mouth.
Opening her eyes and struggling wildly, she saw Gandalf's face above her, with a finger to his lips. She was still struggling and as he removed her hand, she had to fight to keep the scream back. She couldn't hold it anymore and once again was stopped by Gandalf's hand. He spoke in a low hiss; "You saw it, you saw what will happen.." Elenya nodded with a gulp.
"It cannot be helped, don't you try to change it, nothing will be helped and you too will fall."
Elenya didn't nod this time; that had been her first idea, to take the place of whoever it was going forwards to stop that thing.
"Promise me." whispered Gandalf as he cautiously took a hand away from her mouth. Elenya tried to swallow the lump that was filling her throat.
"I promise." she responded, "but it is close, it's coming! I am meant to be content to stand by and do nothing?"
"You cannot do anything to help. Their own fate is made for them. You may be different but you cannot change everything. You must let them be." Elenya looked at her sleeping companions with despair in her heart.
"I don't want anyone to die, I need them all; can't we do anything Gandalf?" Gandalf looked down and hesitantly answered her;
"No.. we can't do anything to help them. But just because you cannot change this, don't think you cannot help other matters. Try and sleep, my heart tells me you will need it." he replied, handing Elenya back her blanket, which she had tossed away as she slept. She lay down, not taking her eyes off him, even after he had moved away and pulled his own blankets over him. She knew there was more going on than she knew, but she wasn't sure what. ---------*----------
When she awoke, Elenya couldn't walk at first, she was so shaken at what she knew. That danger was growing closer; there was nothing she could do.
They made their way down the last set of steps and came out through an archway onto another landing, half blocked by more fallen pillars. Gandalf stopped.
"Let me risk a little more light," he murmured and as he did so, the entire space was lit up and Elenya's breath was taken away
"Behold," Said Gandlaf, "The great realm and dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf!"
As far as the eye could see, there were endless black pillars rising so far above the head, that the rafters were almost invisible. Each had been carved with the exact same intricate patterns and seemed created out of ebony. Elenya heard Sam murmur behind her, just as awe struck as she;
"Well there's an eye-opener and no mistake" This was what tales of the glory of the dwarves were about. So many hands must have made this hall, so many lifetimes spent tunnelling and carving. The craftsmanship, the work and the dedication were what Dwarves were renowned for, and here it was...
Each member of the company walked forwards, still looking at the giant pillars surrounding them. Even Gimli was taken aback at what his kin could accomplish and Legolas was speechless at the work of the Dwarves and swore he would never look down on them again.
No one spoke as they moved, all gazing at the vastness of this hall. They had almost walked all the way through when Gimli ran ahead, turning to run into a chamber on the right.
As they made to follow inside they could hear small moans and wails coming from within. They walked through the battered wooden door to find Gimli knelt in front of a block of stone, upon which was shining a light from the roof.
There was total chaos in this room, with corpses and weapons and bones and papers covering most of the floor. Gandalf stepped up behind Gimli and read from the stone tablet;
". Here lies Balin, son of Fundin.. Lord of Moria."
Elenya felt so sorry for Gimli, his whole family was gone.. To find out like this.
"So he is dead, then. It's as I feared." Spoke Gandalf. Elenya looked down at Pippin beside her and then at Gimli, still mourning for his lost family as she stepped back, watching Gandalf hand over his staff and hat to Pippin and pick up a dusty book. As Gandalf began to read, Elenya couldn't think of anything but of Gimli and the pain he must be going through, as her eyes lingered on the patch of sunlight on the stone.
She heard Gandalf reading from the book, but her mind was elsewhere still lingering on the fear that was growing inside her, until she heard a scuffling noise.
Looking up, she saw Pippin inches away from grabbing hold of a skeleton balanced on the edge of a well.
Elenya sprang forwards, but all too late, just as she pulled on Pippin's shoulder, the head of the skeleton toppled back, clattering off the side off the well. Elenya and Pippin whipped back to face the others, who were all glaring at them in alarm and shock.
Then, the rest of the skeleton was falling in, making huge echoing noises. Trying to hold onto the chain was useless, ass the rust cut into her hands so Elenya was forced to let go and let the skeleton continue to fall.
They could hear the metal clanging repeatedly off the rock below; Pippin flinched with each crash that echoed up to them. At last the noise stopped completely; there was only silence. Almost everyone exhaled noisily.
"Fool of a Took!! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" barked Gandalf furiously, snatching his hat and staff from Pippin.
Once again, Elenya moved closer to Pippin, as though to stick up for him, but she said nothing; she was still waiting and watching.
Her attentiveness paid off.
Suddenly the silence was pierced by a deep beat on a drum, from far away.
Then again, and again, and soon the Company could hear many feet pounding on the rock floors, and the chattering of voices, as the drumming continued.
Boromir ran to the door and looked out, as the noise grew closer. Elenya screamed out to him, making Boromir jump back, as an arrow flew into the door, exactly where his face had been.
He looked at Elenya in wonder, amazed at her sudden premonition, gathering himself he said simply;
"They have a cave troll". Aragorn shouted back to the hobbits as he ran forwards to help Boromir close the doors.
"Get back, stay close to Gandalf!!". His eyes passed over the hobbits, who were being ushered back by Gandalf and then over Elenya.
She shook her head, defiantly stepping forwards in front of the hobbits, her hand on the hilt of her sword. Everyone began to draw their weapons and make themselves ready to fight. Sting glowed bright blue in Frodo's hand.
Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir began to barricade the doors closed with the weapons of the fallen warriors about them.
"Their weapons may come in useful once more.." mused Elenya aloud as she pulled out her sword, holding it in front of her face, now hardened and ready. ----------*----------
*Elenya's POV*
I moved to Boromir's side, holding my sword holding it at arm's length, just as I had learnt to in fighting before.
Boromir's shield was up, his sword drawn. Aragorn and Legolas both had their bows out, ready.
Boromir glanced at me, concerned, but I just looked back at him, willing him to try and dissuade me from fighting, as I knew he wanted me to. If this was to be the end (which I doubted very much it was) I was going to take as many orcs with me as I could.
I stood perfectly still, as the doors ahead rattled and shook. I could hear the deep breathing of everyone as they waited with me. Cracks were appearing in the door now, and as a spear was pushed through on of the holes.
Legolas shot, and didn't fire in vain. Aragorn too was shooting at any of the multiple holes that were appearing, but they could not keep it going forever, no matter how accurate they were.
There was a loud crash the doors flew apart, and then the Orcs came...
Enjoy all, I will see you in a couple of days! xxxxx