Author´s note:

Thanks once more for all these kind reviews and sorry so very much for not updating for more than a year. Shame on me. ;-) I must admit I had abandoned this for a while, not really planning to drop it totally nor intending to get back to it soon... but somewhat I feel inspired these days so I continued this and now am able to proudly present another chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Please drop a line or two. Thanks a lot!

Nili

Chapter 16

The watcher in the water

So their journey continued and all mountains´ snow

and the howling of wolves soon seemed ages ago.

But the fear in the heart of the wizard still grew.

He feared worse things to come and they were just so few.

Just so little a host for a quest, few to aid

him, the little Ringbearer, who´d soon meet his fate.

So it hence came to pass that the gate of the halls

of the proud Dwarven kingdom drew near. Blackened walls

crossed their way. Smoothest rock reached so high

That the stones´ looming darkness stood against the sky.

Oh! Majestic they once were, were Moria´s walls,

but no man´d expect entrance here to glitt´ring halls

for the entrance was hidden, not easy to find

for an unknowing eye that was senseless and blind.

At the rims of the lake they stood and creeping fear

touched their hearts like cold fingers were suddenly near.

But the wizard´s skilled eyes saw the wall, found the door

which soon sparkeled like silver when light touched the floor.

In the middle of darkness the smooth silver flowt

that its carvers once made, revealed stroke after bow:

Seven stars, ancient letters and one silver tree,

silver hammer, an anvil, all this they would see.

And the letters they told in fair Eldarin word

that the gate wouldn´t open before not the word

had been uttered that finally undid the spell.

Long the fellowship stood there and thought I can tell.

And a lake was nearby with its waters so dark

and so brooding and evil that if one would hark

One would hear not a sound but the air full of doom

could be sensed and one would think of things that could loom

in this dark lake´s own sinister beds, monsters tall

that were creeping so closely to Moria´s wall.

And indeed there it was and still closer it krept:

A fell beast full of hatret and melace. They stepped

on the doorstep of Moria and didn´t heed

that the waters were troubled, yes troubled indeed!

They did not see the shadow that lay on the ground

for I tell you the watcher did not make a sound

when in waters as dark as the world´s final rim

it krept nearer and nearer to the lake´s dark brim

watching out for a hobbit who had the one Ring

for it too had desired to own this strange thing.

But not hobbit nor Elf, dwarf, nor wizard nor man

then took heed of the waters that bubbled and ran.

They were busy to find a spell or find a word

which would open the gates if now once it was heard.

And like children they stood knowing nothing to do

till they found that they all had just acted like fools.

T´was a riddle, a riddle, they soon came to know

when they stood by the lake and they suffered the blow

of the fell nightly winds and they suddenly knew

that it just was a riddle and there was one true

word they just had to utter, so simple and small.

Just the Elf word for friend. That was all! That was all!

And so Gandalf spoke "mellon" and this little word

seemed to make the walls quiver and when they had heard

the old wizard now utter it the heavy walls

opened up its stong gates, lead to Moria´s halls.

Full of wonder the Fellowship made the next step

until suddenly foul arms so sinister krept

over stone and rock swiftly and ere they could go

through the now open archway, ere they could step fro

Lo! The Ringbearer screams with a scream full of fear

and the watcher of waters has got him right here.

Grabs his leg, grabs his arms, searches feverishly

for the Ring, for the Ring, and the others they see

Kreeping darkness, tentacles and waters insane!

They jump fro but they swordstrokes they all seem in vain.

For the Ringbearer´s strength soon is weakend! They fear

he´ll be drowned ere the end of their quest would be near.

And the Elven bow sings and Isildurs sole heir

draws his sword ´gainst the beast shows courage even there.

And the hobbits rush forth with their courage combined

without heeding the danger they so soon could find.

And the trustful small pony who´s dear to old Sam

gives a neigh, bolts from fear, into darkness it ran

ere the final blind stroke strikes the core of the beast

and it roars and it shrieks and its prey is released.

And they run for their lives without pony and all

but just with they pure lives ere the heavy rocks fall.

Ere the arms of the watcher can reach them they bolt

through the now open archway, into caves so cold.

With a last final bang all the rocks block their way

and they now are in darkness and here they must stay

For the way they have come now is burried by stone,

so now really those nine seem to be all alone.

Blackened halls, creepy pits and no dwarf here does dwell

nor an anvil or hammer is heard I must tell.

So what happened to all those halls´ glistening pride?

You will see, so come back but for now folks: good night.