Their first obstacle as they entered Moria was the watcher in the water. As
they escaped the giant creature it used its long tentacles to crush the
walls inward, trapping the company under the great mountain.
"We have only one choice," Gandalf said as his staff began to glow and light the way, "we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the earth. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Day and night could not be discerned in the depths of Moria. When they stopped for rest Legolas would take the first watch as the other fell asleep. The whole time he would wonder what Ana was doing, and if she was still in Lothlorien. He was deep in thought when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "What troubles you, my friend?"
"Mithrandir?" The wizard sat next to Legolas away from the others as not to disturb them. "I have not seen my friend in years and it grieves me."
"Will I know of this friend you speak of?" Gandalf asked as he lit his pipe.
"She is a Moriquendi and one of the Dunedain," Legolas answered fingering the tip of an arrow he took from his quiver. It was at times like this he really missed her company.
"Where is she now?"
"In Lothlorien, aiding Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel and their Galadhrim," the elf said somberly, "that is why I wanted our path to go through the golden wood."
Gandalf nodded his head in understanding and continued to smoke his pipe. A few feet away the four hobbits slept peacefully and Gimli's snore could be heard as a small echo. But Aragorn lay awake, listening to their conversation.
"I would give anything to see her just one more time," Legolas looked to the ground and fought the sorrow that weighed on him. "Is there any hope we will meet again? Will she even remember me?"
"There is always hope, Legolas, even in the darkest of times. A friendship as strong as yours and Anarrima's is not easily broken by time," Gandalf said with a smile.
Legolas smiled as well. "You know of Anarrima, Mithrandir?"
"I have known of her coming since the beginning of time," he replied taking a puff from his pipe. "It was foretold that there would be one of the Eldar that would change Middle earth. That despite all those who came before her, she would rise above them and will extinguish the darkness forever."
"What then?" Legolas inquired further. He wondered also if his future held her in there too.
"Only the road is laid before her, not the destination," Gandalf replied. "But I feel your friendship for her goes much deeper than mere friendship. You not only care for her, you love her."
Legolas contemplated the wizard's words. Was he so obvious in his emotions? Love. The word seemed to fall into place when he thought about her. When he closed his eyes to sleep, he would see her. Love. Had it been in his life the whole time? Did she love him?
"'Quel umdome," Legolas thanked Mithrandir for his words and went to where the others were still sleeping. He laid down and with Gandalf's words echoing through his head and fell into a somewhat peaceful sleep.
Anarrima stood from the mirror, her eyes stained with tears and her heart pounding hard in her chest. She took in long, ragged breaths as Galadriel spoke to her.
"He has turned to the darkness, he is lost to the rest of the world."
Anarrima thought back to her coming of age and the return of her father. It all the sudden became so obvious to her. The dark words, the strange behavior. It was Sauron, it was he who did this.
"There is no one left but me," Anarrima realized, "I fight for myself."
"You are not alone in your quest," Galadriel reassured her and pointed to the ring that hung around Ana's neck, "your love for him has grown from the friendship you hold. He alone can fill the void in your heart."
Anarrima stood in silence. The truth was with each day that passed she found herself lost in her memories of Legolas. She felt her friendship for him grow to something much deeper. Her own father had betrayed her, but all these years Legolas remained faithful. Did she really love him? Did he love her?
"Let your heart answer the questions in your mind," Galadriel spoke and looked into her silver eyes. "The time will come for you to fulfill your destiny, but that time has not come yet."
Without another word Galadriel disappeared and Anarrima headed to the city gates. She replayed the scene of her father in her head, then the thoughts of Legolas. Was she ready for all of this? After changing back into her clean tunic and leggings she crossed the Nimrodel and joined Haldir and the Galadhrim to guard the golden wood.
"We have only one choice," Gandalf said as his staff began to glow and light the way, "we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the earth. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Day and night could not be discerned in the depths of Moria. When they stopped for rest Legolas would take the first watch as the other fell asleep. The whole time he would wonder what Ana was doing, and if she was still in Lothlorien. He was deep in thought when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "What troubles you, my friend?"
"Mithrandir?" The wizard sat next to Legolas away from the others as not to disturb them. "I have not seen my friend in years and it grieves me."
"Will I know of this friend you speak of?" Gandalf asked as he lit his pipe.
"She is a Moriquendi and one of the Dunedain," Legolas answered fingering the tip of an arrow he took from his quiver. It was at times like this he really missed her company.
"Where is she now?"
"In Lothlorien, aiding Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel and their Galadhrim," the elf said somberly, "that is why I wanted our path to go through the golden wood."
Gandalf nodded his head in understanding and continued to smoke his pipe. A few feet away the four hobbits slept peacefully and Gimli's snore could be heard as a small echo. But Aragorn lay awake, listening to their conversation.
"I would give anything to see her just one more time," Legolas looked to the ground and fought the sorrow that weighed on him. "Is there any hope we will meet again? Will she even remember me?"
"There is always hope, Legolas, even in the darkest of times. A friendship as strong as yours and Anarrima's is not easily broken by time," Gandalf said with a smile.
Legolas smiled as well. "You know of Anarrima, Mithrandir?"
"I have known of her coming since the beginning of time," he replied taking a puff from his pipe. "It was foretold that there would be one of the Eldar that would change Middle earth. That despite all those who came before her, she would rise above them and will extinguish the darkness forever."
"What then?" Legolas inquired further. He wondered also if his future held her in there too.
"Only the road is laid before her, not the destination," Gandalf replied. "But I feel your friendship for her goes much deeper than mere friendship. You not only care for her, you love her."
Legolas contemplated the wizard's words. Was he so obvious in his emotions? Love. The word seemed to fall into place when he thought about her. When he closed his eyes to sleep, he would see her. Love. Had it been in his life the whole time? Did she love him?
"'Quel umdome," Legolas thanked Mithrandir for his words and went to where the others were still sleeping. He laid down and with Gandalf's words echoing through his head and fell into a somewhat peaceful sleep.
Anarrima stood from the mirror, her eyes stained with tears and her heart pounding hard in her chest. She took in long, ragged breaths as Galadriel spoke to her.
"He has turned to the darkness, he is lost to the rest of the world."
Anarrima thought back to her coming of age and the return of her father. It all the sudden became so obvious to her. The dark words, the strange behavior. It was Sauron, it was he who did this.
"There is no one left but me," Anarrima realized, "I fight for myself."
"You are not alone in your quest," Galadriel reassured her and pointed to the ring that hung around Ana's neck, "your love for him has grown from the friendship you hold. He alone can fill the void in your heart."
Anarrima stood in silence. The truth was with each day that passed she found herself lost in her memories of Legolas. She felt her friendship for him grow to something much deeper. Her own father had betrayed her, but all these years Legolas remained faithful. Did she really love him? Did he love her?
"Let your heart answer the questions in your mind," Galadriel spoke and looked into her silver eyes. "The time will come for you to fulfill your destiny, but that time has not come yet."
Without another word Galadriel disappeared and Anarrima headed to the city gates. She replayed the scene of her father in her head, then the thoughts of Legolas. Was she ready for all of this? After changing back into her clean tunic and leggings she crossed the Nimrodel and joined Haldir and the Galadhrim to guard the golden wood.
