Chapter22

We stayed in that freezing little nook for what seemed like hours. The debating commenced, and arguments broke out.

Gimli was all for going through The mines of Moria, but Gandalf and the others didn't feel that that was the best was to go.

It was chaos, and I was sure that Saruman could hear the racket we were making all the way back in Isenguard without the Palantir's help.

Eventually, the choice was thrust upon Frodo, and thinking to leave the bitter cold behind, agreed to go through Moria. But of course I already knew that.

And so we left the mountain, and traveled on towards Moria. As the night grew closer, the sky turned gray and dusky. We walked on for hours, but we had to rest as nightfall approached...

We camped beneath some trees, and though we were far from the mountains, the wind still held their bitter cold. It howled loudly through the spring foliage.... Wait, it howled....

Quickly I rummaged through my pack and in split seconds found my book, and the place we were at. 'Oh my goodness!" I thought.

Discretely, I readied my bow, praying that no one would notice.

"Oh how the wind howls!" Cried Aragorn "It is howling with wolf voices. The wargs have come west of the mountains!"

"Need we wait until morning then? The hunt is up," Said Gandalf, "It is as I said. But who wishes to travel south at night, with wild wolves on his tail?"

"Then let us start as soon as it is light tomorrow, if we can," Started Boromir, "The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears."

"True," Aragorn shot back, "But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls."

"I wish I had taken Elrond's advice," muttered Pippin, he shivered. Sam nodded but said, "Aye, I understand you, Mr. Pippin, but we have some stout friends here, and I don't think a wolf's belly is what's in store for ol' Gandalf.

I reached over and took hold of Pippin's hand, gave it a squeeze. With a grateful look at Sam, I smiled. He knew how scared Pippin was...

Later, around a fire we sat, hoping the light would keep the wargs away, and at bay. Guards were posted, and the others and I tried to sleep.

No one lay down though, instead, we huddled shoulder to shoulder, or back to back. Our companions as our pillows.

I went to check on the poor ponies who stood, the whites of their eyes showing in terror. The calls were all around us now, some nearer and some farther. In comfort, I stoked their soft muzzles, and whispered to them. Still, they were tense.

Sighing, I went back to the others, but there seemed to be no room for me. Heads lolled, and arms were thrown about the pile of hobbits that was Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry.

Pippin was on the end, and seeing an open spot, I sneaked in, and curled up half in his arms. His arm tightened around me, and I smiled. I closed my eyes and tried to doze like the others....

But my eyes snapped open, as suddenly Gandalf shouted, holding his staff aloft, "Listen hound of Sauron! Gandalf is here. Fly if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring."

I sprang up as the others did so, and I reached for my bow. The wolf snarled and sprang forwards with a great leap but Legolas loosed an arrow, and as it buried itself in the warg's throat, it let out a dying cry.

The clouds began to shift, as the night grew silent as death, then without warning we were enveloped in a storm of fierce howls. A great host of the wretched beasts had gathered around us, and was starting an attack on every side.

"Fling fuel on the fire!" Gandalf cried to us urgently, "Draw your blades, and stand back to back!"

Sam and Frodo paired and Pippin began to run towards Merry. I gave a wry smile, no one would ever replace Merry in Pippin's heart, not even me. But it was all the same, I had my bow, and I planned to take up my place beside Legolas.

Fixing a quiver on my back quickly, and grabbing my bow, I ran and stood beside the prince. I passed Gimli, who was standing and wielding his dwarf-axe, a fire in his eyes, and Aragron and Boromir, who looked ready for anything.

Legolas was as calm as if this were just an everyday activity, though his bow was singing through the night. Turning my eyes to the battle, I turned just as a small warg began to sneak towards me.

Gritting my teeth, I aimed an arrow right between the two lamplights that were her eyes, and fired. My bow twanged brilliantly, and though I hadn't aimed there, my arrow tore through the soft flesh beneath her throat. She fell like a stone and I found my next target...

Then like thunder in a storm, Gandalf boomed "Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!" I released another arrow, and looked behind me as a great pine tree burst into leaf and bloom of blinding flame.

Legolas let fly his last arrow, and it kindled as it sang through the air and buried itself within the heart of the great wolf Chieftain...

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We had finally reached the gates into Moria, but as a result, we were still stuck outside, the doors were shut and locked, as it were. And I knew that now, the two ponies, who had come so far with us would be set loose...

Without a word to anyone, I went over to Clenna, and began taking off her tack. Packs hit the ground with a thump, and it was so quiet, that the noise reverberated like thunder in the silence.

Now there was nothing on her back anymore, and I brushed her down as best I could with my hands. My eyes were blurry with tears, and I realized how much I was going to miss her. I wrapped my arms around her stout chest, and laid my cheek against her neck.

I felt her nuzzle my back, then I pulled away, and removed her makeshift bridle. I Looked up, and saw that the company was watching me. I turned to Sam and gave him a teary smile.

"The mines are no place for a pony, Sam. But I'm sure Clenna and Bill will find their way back home alright."

He nodded then went through a similar ritual with Bill. Then Gandalf came with words of comfort for us, and a sort of spell of protection for poor Bill and Clenna. I hoped with all my might that the pair would find their way back to Rivendell alright. As Gandalf had said.

When he was finished, we took our mounts and leading them away from the gate, sent them on their way.

As Boromir cast his stone into the pool, I had had enough. I was not just going to let us go to all the trouble of fighting the stupid monster thing, so instead I marched up to the door and shouted at it in anger "MELLON!"

The entire company jumped, and turned to me, but Gandalf smiled. Then, cursing my stupidity, I dashed for Frodo, and shoving him down the first three steps shouted to the others "Come hurry! Hurry you fools! It's coming!" Then I turned to Frodo who looked very much alarmed, "Run Frodo! Run, it wants you! Go!" I cried at him.

I was still standing aloft at the height of the stairs, when suddenly, I felt myself being grabbed . . .by my hair. I screamed.

The wretched creature swung me about like a mad thing. And I screamed again. I heard the cries of my fellows, and then I heard an arrow whiz past my ear.

Then thinking as best I could with the pain of my scalp, I pulled out the small knife I carried in my belt, and began hacking relentlessly at my hair.

I heard it ripping against the dull blade, and then suddenly I was falling. I hit the icy water with a smack, and sinking with the weight of my pack, I screamed again, and got a mouth full of water.

I began to struggle towards the surface, dragging my pack with me. It had the Evenstar's gifts inside it, and I was not about to lose them. I opened my eyes and looked through the inky water, and then I saw it.

The thing that had grabbed me fit the exact description of what I knew to be the Kracken. It's steel gray eyes locked on me, and I felt myself grabbed my another tentacle, this one went around my waist.

It thankfully lifted me out of the churning water, and I took gulps of air. Desperately, I tried to cut the straps of my pack, using the blade that was still clutched in my palm. I wrenched it off my back and threw it at my companions.

"Help Me!" I screamed. Knowing full well that they were trying. And not thinking of what else to do, I took my knife and plunged it into the tentacle that held me. Pushing through the soft flesh, I buried my arm almost up to the shoulder.

The kracken let out a blood-curdling cry, and it's grip loosened. I pulled my arm out, noting with disgust, the welling of purple green blood around the wound. And, my eyes alight with terror; I wrenched myself from its grip, and jumped as far towards the shore as I could...

It wasn't enough, and I was in the water again. This time, without the bulkiness of my pack I could swim a bit more, and I struggled with all my might towards the surface again.

Once I broke it, I swam towards shore, hearing the battle cries of Gimli and the shouts of encouragement from those I believed to be Pippin and Merry.

I swam harder, and as a wave was created by the rolling body of the kracken, I was flung upon the rock.

Stout arms hauled me up, and I looked up into the worried face of Legolas. He sprinted down the hold, as the others followed suit...

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Author: Woo hoo! What a chapter. I noticed that lately, they have been kinda short, and choppy with not much excitement, or dialouge. I decided to change that!

Let me know what you thought, and please review. I LURVE getting reviews, and appreciate them very much. Thank you to those who do review!

Many thanx, Pippinsgal011890