They headed back to Lothlorien quickly, not wanting to waste a moment. As
soon as they got there, Galadriel bid them farewell.
"I will see you again soon, do not worry. Though now I depart for Minas Tirth, to see my daughters."
For a moment, she looked pained and murmured, "Or two of my daughters."
Then she smiled again, and was gone.
Hurriedly, the trio bid the Elves farewell and thanked them for their hospitality.
Then Harry transformed, Hermione and Ron mounted the Firebolt, and they were off again.
As they were flying, Hermione said, "I think we should go to Moria. Gandalf told me that after the Ring was destroyed, the Dwarves cleaned it up and banished the orcs. Now it is a thriving community once again. Actually, I hear our friend Gimli has been made King of the Dwarves after the last king died because of his part in the war."
She smiled, "I do believe we will be welcome there."
After a day and half a night of hard flying, they reached the great stone Door to Moria. Hermione had sent Mlarthrak ahead to tell the Dwarves of their coming, so the Door was open and a few Dwarves waited.
As they stepped in, they were greeted enthusiastically.
"Welcome Princess, Princes, to the humble kingdom of Moria," one of them said happily, bowing deeply. The other Dwarf followed suit.
"King Gimli apologizes profusely that he cannot be here to meet you. Other matters called him away today. However, he shall meet you tomorrow morning. Now, I am sure you are all tired, so I will take you to your rooms now."
After this, the Dwarf led them through a complicated mess of many hallways, until they reached two doors, side by side.
He pointed to the one on the left, "This is Princess Hermione's chamber, and the one next to it shall be for Prince Harry and Prince Ron. A door joins them if you need to see each other. Well, I bid you a good night."
Hermione said goodnight to the boys and entered her chamber. Gandalf was right, the Dwarves had definitely outdone themselves on the city of Moria. Precious jewels were inlaid in almost everything: the bedposts, the chair, the wardrobe, the window frame, the door knob." Without any further delay, Hermione fell into bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day, she awoke to the sunshine streaming in the window. She rubbed her eyes, clearing her head.
"I better get dressed," she said aloud. Today she had to dress ceremonially, like a Princess, as they were meeting King Gimli in the Throne Room with all of the other Dwarves.
She wore a simple, yet elegant, white gown with a fitting bodice and loose sleeves and a flowing skirt. It was edged in silver with a silver decorative sash. She placed the silver Elven band, which she had finally discovered, then stepped into the hall where she found the boys waiting for her.
They were led by a Dwarf to the Throne Room.
They entered with Hermione in the lead, Harry and Ron flanking her.
"Hail, Gimli, son of Gloin, King of the Dwarves," she called out as they approached. She then swept a deep curtsy and Harry and Ron bowed.
"Hail Hermione, daughter of Henry. Hail Harry, son of James. Hail Ronald, son of Arthur. Welcome, Princess and Princes from the Land Beyond the Sea, welcome to Moria," he boomed back, smiling.
"Now, before any discussion, we must eat!" He clapped his hands, laughing as he saw Ron immediately start paying attention.
After a hearty breakfast, they were taken to a smaller sitting room with Gimli.
"Now," Gimli said, "I hear from Gandalf that you come seeking the drognufk. Let me tell you now, it is incredibly dangerous and hard to get."
He was cut off by Ron, "We need it, no matter how dangerous. We cannot stay here forever, much as I like your food."
Gimli chuckled, "Well then, I see your mind is made up. Come, and I will lead you to the drognufk."
They followed him for an hour an a half, until they came to a long, narrow bridge of stone that spanned a chasm so deep that Ron couldn't see where it ended, no matter how much he craned his neck. "I remember Frodo telling me something about this," he muttered. "Didn't it break?"
"We fixed it," Gimli said, "After all, only a small piece broke off."
"I still don't understand how this relates to the drognufk," Ron said.
"Well," Gimli explained, "the vial of drognufk is embedded in this bridge about a centimeter from the surface of the rock in the exact middle of the bridge. So you must chisel it out. The only danger is, if you chisel a hair to far, the entire bridge will collapse and fall to the very bottom of the chasm."
"Gosh," Harry said sarcastically, "your lot are real friendly.
"Just a precaution, Prince Harry," Gimli replied. "We don't want just anyone getting the drognufk. Only those most worthy."
"By the way," he asked as an afterthought, "which one of you will be able to touch the drognufk?"
But Ron had already grabbed the chisels from Gimli's hand and was walking to the center of the bridge.
Hermione and Harry followed.
By now, a small crowd of whispering Dwarves had gathered, watching in admiration as Ron attempted something they were sure couldn't be done.
For a half an hour, Ron chiseled away carefully.
Finally, his voice hoarse, he said, "I see the top."
The Dwarves who had been brave enough to stand on the bridge now moved off, leaving Hermione, Harry, and Ron alone in the center of the bridge.
Ron stopped momentarily, looking up at his two best friends.
"Listen," he said, "you guys should get off the bridge. If it collapses, there will be no time to run, and I'd rather it be just me than all three of us."
Harry looked at him like he had lost his mind, "Are you crazy, thinking we'd leave you on this bridge alone?"
Hermione, who was so close to crying that she couldn't speak, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Ron felt moved by this display of deep friendship.
"All right," he said with a deep sigh, and went back to work.
A few minutes later, Ron saw the chain holding the vial within his reach. He put a finger into the hole to try and get it, when a crack on the bridge appeared leading from the hole. Then another. And another. And another.
Ron knew it. The bridge was breaking.
"RUN!" he shouted to Harry and Hermione. They didn't need a second command, they ran to the side as fast as they could.
"COME ON!" Harry yelled at him. "RON! COME NOW!"
But Ron refused, he was so close to getting the chain. He could feel it shifting beneath his fingers.
But the bridge was cracking more rapidly, it was so close to falling into the chasm.
Then Ron's finger curled around the chain.
He brought the vial up to him quickly and stuffed it in his fist.
It was then, for the first time, he realized his danger. He was in the middle of a collapsing bridge.
He was about to die.
Ron gulped, then started running.
Now chunks of the bridge were breaking off, each one bigger than the last.
But Ron was too close, he would not let himself die when he was this close to safety.
With a yell that resounded throughout the many halls of Moria, Ron jumped, flinging himself at safe ground.
Just in time, the bridge he had just been standing on fell into the chasm of Moria.
He was not safe though.
He was dangling by his hands on the side of the chasm.
One hand slipped.
Then Harry's face popped into view and a strong hand grabbed his arm. Hermione grabbed his other arm, and together, they heaved him onto safe ground.
The Dwarves all around, including Gimli, stared in awe.
Soon Gimli recovered.
"Yes, Prince Ron, you are most like the Dwarves: you are willing to face danger head on and put your friends before yourself. Also, you do enjoy a good meal as much as us. I admire your bravery, Prince Ron."
Gimli bowed low, every other Dwarf following suit.
Ron's ears turned crimson. He seemed at a loss for words. Then he got an idea and a grin spread across his face.
"Let's eat."
"I will see you again soon, do not worry. Though now I depart for Minas Tirth, to see my daughters."
For a moment, she looked pained and murmured, "Or two of my daughters."
Then she smiled again, and was gone.
Hurriedly, the trio bid the Elves farewell and thanked them for their hospitality.
Then Harry transformed, Hermione and Ron mounted the Firebolt, and they were off again.
As they were flying, Hermione said, "I think we should go to Moria. Gandalf told me that after the Ring was destroyed, the Dwarves cleaned it up and banished the orcs. Now it is a thriving community once again. Actually, I hear our friend Gimli has been made King of the Dwarves after the last king died because of his part in the war."
She smiled, "I do believe we will be welcome there."
After a day and half a night of hard flying, they reached the great stone Door to Moria. Hermione had sent Mlarthrak ahead to tell the Dwarves of their coming, so the Door was open and a few Dwarves waited.
As they stepped in, they were greeted enthusiastically.
"Welcome Princess, Princes, to the humble kingdom of Moria," one of them said happily, bowing deeply. The other Dwarf followed suit.
"King Gimli apologizes profusely that he cannot be here to meet you. Other matters called him away today. However, he shall meet you tomorrow morning. Now, I am sure you are all tired, so I will take you to your rooms now."
After this, the Dwarf led them through a complicated mess of many hallways, until they reached two doors, side by side.
He pointed to the one on the left, "This is Princess Hermione's chamber, and the one next to it shall be for Prince Harry and Prince Ron. A door joins them if you need to see each other. Well, I bid you a good night."
Hermione said goodnight to the boys and entered her chamber. Gandalf was right, the Dwarves had definitely outdone themselves on the city of Moria. Precious jewels were inlaid in almost everything: the bedposts, the chair, the wardrobe, the window frame, the door knob." Without any further delay, Hermione fell into bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day, she awoke to the sunshine streaming in the window. She rubbed her eyes, clearing her head.
"I better get dressed," she said aloud. Today she had to dress ceremonially, like a Princess, as they were meeting King Gimli in the Throne Room with all of the other Dwarves.
She wore a simple, yet elegant, white gown with a fitting bodice and loose sleeves and a flowing skirt. It was edged in silver with a silver decorative sash. She placed the silver Elven band, which she had finally discovered, then stepped into the hall where she found the boys waiting for her.
They were led by a Dwarf to the Throne Room.
They entered with Hermione in the lead, Harry and Ron flanking her.
"Hail, Gimli, son of Gloin, King of the Dwarves," she called out as they approached. She then swept a deep curtsy and Harry and Ron bowed.
"Hail Hermione, daughter of Henry. Hail Harry, son of James. Hail Ronald, son of Arthur. Welcome, Princess and Princes from the Land Beyond the Sea, welcome to Moria," he boomed back, smiling.
"Now, before any discussion, we must eat!" He clapped his hands, laughing as he saw Ron immediately start paying attention.
After a hearty breakfast, they were taken to a smaller sitting room with Gimli.
"Now," Gimli said, "I hear from Gandalf that you come seeking the drognufk. Let me tell you now, it is incredibly dangerous and hard to get."
He was cut off by Ron, "We need it, no matter how dangerous. We cannot stay here forever, much as I like your food."
Gimli chuckled, "Well then, I see your mind is made up. Come, and I will lead you to the drognufk."
They followed him for an hour an a half, until they came to a long, narrow bridge of stone that spanned a chasm so deep that Ron couldn't see where it ended, no matter how much he craned his neck. "I remember Frodo telling me something about this," he muttered. "Didn't it break?"
"We fixed it," Gimli said, "After all, only a small piece broke off."
"I still don't understand how this relates to the drognufk," Ron said.
"Well," Gimli explained, "the vial of drognufk is embedded in this bridge about a centimeter from the surface of the rock in the exact middle of the bridge. So you must chisel it out. The only danger is, if you chisel a hair to far, the entire bridge will collapse and fall to the very bottom of the chasm."
"Gosh," Harry said sarcastically, "your lot are real friendly.
"Just a precaution, Prince Harry," Gimli replied. "We don't want just anyone getting the drognufk. Only those most worthy."
"By the way," he asked as an afterthought, "which one of you will be able to touch the drognufk?"
But Ron had already grabbed the chisels from Gimli's hand and was walking to the center of the bridge.
Hermione and Harry followed.
By now, a small crowd of whispering Dwarves had gathered, watching in admiration as Ron attempted something they were sure couldn't be done.
For a half an hour, Ron chiseled away carefully.
Finally, his voice hoarse, he said, "I see the top."
The Dwarves who had been brave enough to stand on the bridge now moved off, leaving Hermione, Harry, and Ron alone in the center of the bridge.
Ron stopped momentarily, looking up at his two best friends.
"Listen," he said, "you guys should get off the bridge. If it collapses, there will be no time to run, and I'd rather it be just me than all three of us."
Harry looked at him like he had lost his mind, "Are you crazy, thinking we'd leave you on this bridge alone?"
Hermione, who was so close to crying that she couldn't speak, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Ron felt moved by this display of deep friendship.
"All right," he said with a deep sigh, and went back to work.
A few minutes later, Ron saw the chain holding the vial within his reach. He put a finger into the hole to try and get it, when a crack on the bridge appeared leading from the hole. Then another. And another. And another.
Ron knew it. The bridge was breaking.
"RUN!" he shouted to Harry and Hermione. They didn't need a second command, they ran to the side as fast as they could.
"COME ON!" Harry yelled at him. "RON! COME NOW!"
But Ron refused, he was so close to getting the chain. He could feel it shifting beneath his fingers.
But the bridge was cracking more rapidly, it was so close to falling into the chasm.
Then Ron's finger curled around the chain.
He brought the vial up to him quickly and stuffed it in his fist.
It was then, for the first time, he realized his danger. He was in the middle of a collapsing bridge.
He was about to die.
Ron gulped, then started running.
Now chunks of the bridge were breaking off, each one bigger than the last.
But Ron was too close, he would not let himself die when he was this close to safety.
With a yell that resounded throughout the many halls of Moria, Ron jumped, flinging himself at safe ground.
Just in time, the bridge he had just been standing on fell into the chasm of Moria.
He was not safe though.
He was dangling by his hands on the side of the chasm.
One hand slipped.
Then Harry's face popped into view and a strong hand grabbed his arm. Hermione grabbed his other arm, and together, they heaved him onto safe ground.
The Dwarves all around, including Gimli, stared in awe.
Soon Gimli recovered.
"Yes, Prince Ron, you are most like the Dwarves: you are willing to face danger head on and put your friends before yourself. Also, you do enjoy a good meal as much as us. I admire your bravery, Prince Ron."
Gimli bowed low, every other Dwarf following suit.
Ron's ears turned crimson. He seemed at a loss for words. Then he got an idea and a grin spread across his face.
"Let's eat."