Disclaimer: the ONLY thing I own is Jacqueline, and some of the plot but
not all. Majority of the plotline belongs to Tolkien and Jackson, most of
the LOTR character lines are credited to Peter Jackson and his assistant
scriptwriter (most of the character's lines are from the movie), and all
LOTR characters belong to Tolkien.
Part One, The Fellowship: Chapter 5 - Entering Moria
They traveled down to the steep, vertical walls of Moria. Their sight caught the awe of all of them, even Gimli. They trekked across muddy riverbanks and bridges made of mangled, fallen dead trees. Jacqueline slipped a couple times; she had no real traction on her boots and she still wasn't entirely used to the change in attire either. Legolas, who had been walking behind her, caught her arm both times to stop her from falling. She smiled, a combination of thanks and apology for slowing them down. He smiled warmly at her, assuring her that she was no trouble, and kept hold of her arm discreetly until she was sure of her footing. They came to an open part of the beach where a few large boulders and a dying tree sat. Gandalf walked up to the wall and started rubbing away dirt.
"Now, let's see," he murmured, outlining the doors. "Ithilien - it mirrors only starlight and moonlight." They all watched as the moon slid out from behind dark clouds. The door slowly lit up, and they all looked on in awe as Gandalf read the elvish script above.
"It reads 'The doors of Durin - Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter.'"
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked innocently. Gandalf laughed easily.
"Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." He then began trying different elvish phrases to open the door. Jacqueline moved to go join Gandalf, but was stopped by Boromir. He gave her a warning look, and she coward back. Feeling like she was out on a limb she searched out Aragorn or one of the hobbits or even Legolas, someone who did not harbour any anger towards her. The only ones who were near her were Pippin and Boromir; Merry was a little ways away from Pippin, Aragorn and Sam were to her far right and Legolas and Gimli sat under the dying tree not facing each other. Jacqueline turned her attention to Aragorn as all of the packs and equipment were taken off the horse and the horse was free to go. She wished she could have been released of her own burden as easily as the horse was. Aragorn looked over at her and seeing the hurt on her face, walked over to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Merry picked up a rock and hurled it as far into the water as his hobbit stature would allow. Pippin was about to do the same, but Aragorn stopped his hand in mid-air.
"Do not disturb the water," he warned quietly, gazing out at the dark waters. Jacqueline followed his gaze, and Boromir walked up beside him. The creature knew they were there, she was sure of it. She had to find some way of getting the Fellowship into Moria without being stalled by the Watcher; it would save their energy if it were avoided. As if reading her mind, Frodo came up beside her.
"Do you know how much longer we will be down here?" he asked.
"Not much longer," Jacqueline answered. "We just have to answer that riddle."
"That's a riddle above the door?" he asked. She nodded, and before she could say anything more about it Frodo walked over to Gandalf eager to help.
"A riddle," he said. He turned to Gandalf, who had sat down frustrated. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?"
Gandalf paused a moment. "Mellon," he answered. Suddenly a dull rumbling noise broke through the night and the doors opened to them. Jacqueline smiled; there was a glint of happy pride in his eyes, and for a moment he felt better knowing that he contributed (even if it was just slightly) to the quest. They entered the passageway as Gimli bragged about dwarf hospitality and how could anyone call his cousin's home a mine.
"This is no mine," Boromir said looking around. "It's a tomb!"
The repulsive odor swept over them like a powerful wave, as they gazed out at the corpses scattered on the floor. Gimli ran to one with arrows shot through the head and shoulders.
"Oh! No!" he gasped, looking on in sorrow. "Noooo!!!"
Legolas strode noiselessly to another body pinned to the wall by an arrow through the eye. He pulled it out and examined it. "Goblins!" he exclaimed throwing it aside and pulling out his bow and an arrow of his own. Aragorn and Boromir pulled out their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here," Boromir professed. He ushered the hobbits outward. "Now get out, get out!"
Jacqueline tried to get to Gandalf with intentions to tell him that Moria was their route, but Aragorn ushered her back.
"We must go, Jacqueline," he said. "Moria is too dangerous."
"But-" Jacqueline began. She didn't get to finish; the Watcher grabbed Frodo.
"Frodo!" the other hobbits cried. The rest of them rushed to Frodo's aid with weapons drawn.
"Strider!" Sam cried in desperation. He hacked off one of the flailing tentacles as they lethally struck the beach. "Get off him!"
Jacqueline was knee-deep in the water with Aragorn and Boromir trying to get to Frodo. He looked like a rag doll the way he was being swung around. Jacqueline swung her sword with as much strength as she possessed through any tentacle that came near her. Swinging the sword wasn't the hard part; getting the sword through the creature's flesh was. Out of the corner of her eye, she could tell that Boromir was impressed by how she was handling herself in this situation. Not now, she thought to herself. Worry about their reactions later. You've got to help save Frodo. With that goal in her mind, she approached the creature fearlessly defending herself against it. She held up her sword and drove it into the creature's side just as one of Legolas' arrows struck it. It screamed in pain and lashed out, wrapping a tentacle around her waist and pulled her under. She had gotten some of the murky water in her mouth and was nearly choking. Just as Jacqueline began to lose consciousness, the creature lifted her out of the water, thinking her to be dead. She gasped for air immediately and spit out the water, coming back to her senses. She saw Boromir hack another tentacle off. Aragorn spotted her in the creature's grasp.
"Hold on!" he shouted, trying to make his way to her.
"No! Save Frodo!" she cried exasperated.
"But-" he cried, slicing a tentacle away.
"Go!" she yelled back, trying to squirm out of the creature's grasp. "Don't worry about me. You have to-"
Her voice cut off as the Watcher, realizing she was still alive, violently jerked her back under the water. Luckily, she kept her mouth shut this time and relaxed, knowing that if she limped the creature would think she was dead again. Aragorn looked on helplessly, then turned to Boromir who was trying to get to Frodo. Legolas had seen her go back under, but could not get a clear shot to free her. His arrows did nothing to help bring her back to the surface, and he suddenly felt useless. Then the Watcher finally dropped Frodo who landed in Boromir's arms, and they scrambled out of the water dodging tentacles as they went.
Jacqueline, meanwhile, saved her strength until she could hit the creature. As soon as it lifted her out of the water again she sliced at it, cutting herself free. She fell into the water, the lifeless flesh falling from her body as she got up and staggered out of the water.
"Legolas! Aim for his eye!" she heard Boromir yell. He ushered the hobbits forward. "Come on!" he shouted urgently as Legolas took aim, hitting his mark. Jacqueline saw the shot from where she stumbled to on the beach. She had no strength left; she was so out of breath that she could think of nothing but rest. The Fellowship was running into the mines at Gandalf's command. Legolas looked back as he jumped and saw her on the beach. He saw a sense of defeat on her face and begged her with his eyes to not give up. She got up, finding some hidden strength in her after seeing Legolas' eyes and ran to the door. The Watcher moved to the door as well, pursuing its prey. A tentacle got in her way, and she hacked at it, cutting it off and out of her way. They all ran forward into the mine as the Watcher pulled off the doors and the front passage collapsed on top of it barricading them in. Gandalf lighted the piece of quartz he picked up earlier as Jacqueline collapsed not caring what she sat on. She coughed for air as the agitated Fellowship looked out at the staircase cluttered with corpses.
"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria." Gandalf said. "Be on your guard. There are older and more fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world."
Legolas walked over to Jacqueline. He kneeled down in front of her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, putting her hand on his forearm. "Yeah I'm fine." She looked past him at the group ascending the stairs. "C'mon, let's go." She got up and began ascending, and Legolas marveled at her strength of body and spirit.
"Quietly now," Gandalf warned. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Part One, The Fellowship: Chapter 5 - Entering Moria
They traveled down to the steep, vertical walls of Moria. Their sight caught the awe of all of them, even Gimli. They trekked across muddy riverbanks and bridges made of mangled, fallen dead trees. Jacqueline slipped a couple times; she had no real traction on her boots and she still wasn't entirely used to the change in attire either. Legolas, who had been walking behind her, caught her arm both times to stop her from falling. She smiled, a combination of thanks and apology for slowing them down. He smiled warmly at her, assuring her that she was no trouble, and kept hold of her arm discreetly until she was sure of her footing. They came to an open part of the beach where a few large boulders and a dying tree sat. Gandalf walked up to the wall and started rubbing away dirt.
"Now, let's see," he murmured, outlining the doors. "Ithilien - it mirrors only starlight and moonlight." They all watched as the moon slid out from behind dark clouds. The door slowly lit up, and they all looked on in awe as Gandalf read the elvish script above.
"It reads 'The doors of Durin - Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter.'"
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked innocently. Gandalf laughed easily.
"Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." He then began trying different elvish phrases to open the door. Jacqueline moved to go join Gandalf, but was stopped by Boromir. He gave her a warning look, and she coward back. Feeling like she was out on a limb she searched out Aragorn or one of the hobbits or even Legolas, someone who did not harbour any anger towards her. The only ones who were near her were Pippin and Boromir; Merry was a little ways away from Pippin, Aragorn and Sam were to her far right and Legolas and Gimli sat under the dying tree not facing each other. Jacqueline turned her attention to Aragorn as all of the packs and equipment were taken off the horse and the horse was free to go. She wished she could have been released of her own burden as easily as the horse was. Aragorn looked over at her and seeing the hurt on her face, walked over to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Merry picked up a rock and hurled it as far into the water as his hobbit stature would allow. Pippin was about to do the same, but Aragorn stopped his hand in mid-air.
"Do not disturb the water," he warned quietly, gazing out at the dark waters. Jacqueline followed his gaze, and Boromir walked up beside him. The creature knew they were there, she was sure of it. She had to find some way of getting the Fellowship into Moria without being stalled by the Watcher; it would save their energy if it were avoided. As if reading her mind, Frodo came up beside her.
"Do you know how much longer we will be down here?" he asked.
"Not much longer," Jacqueline answered. "We just have to answer that riddle."
"That's a riddle above the door?" he asked. She nodded, and before she could say anything more about it Frodo walked over to Gandalf eager to help.
"A riddle," he said. He turned to Gandalf, who had sat down frustrated. "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the elvish word for friend?"
Gandalf paused a moment. "Mellon," he answered. Suddenly a dull rumbling noise broke through the night and the doors opened to them. Jacqueline smiled; there was a glint of happy pride in his eyes, and for a moment he felt better knowing that he contributed (even if it was just slightly) to the quest. They entered the passageway as Gimli bragged about dwarf hospitality and how could anyone call his cousin's home a mine.
"This is no mine," Boromir said looking around. "It's a tomb!"
The repulsive odor swept over them like a powerful wave, as they gazed out at the corpses scattered on the floor. Gimli ran to one with arrows shot through the head and shoulders.
"Oh! No!" he gasped, looking on in sorrow. "Noooo!!!"
Legolas strode noiselessly to another body pinned to the wall by an arrow through the eye. He pulled it out and examined it. "Goblins!" he exclaimed throwing it aside and pulling out his bow and an arrow of his own. Aragorn and Boromir pulled out their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here," Boromir professed. He ushered the hobbits outward. "Now get out, get out!"
Jacqueline tried to get to Gandalf with intentions to tell him that Moria was their route, but Aragorn ushered her back.
"We must go, Jacqueline," he said. "Moria is too dangerous."
"But-" Jacqueline began. She didn't get to finish; the Watcher grabbed Frodo.
"Frodo!" the other hobbits cried. The rest of them rushed to Frodo's aid with weapons drawn.
"Strider!" Sam cried in desperation. He hacked off one of the flailing tentacles as they lethally struck the beach. "Get off him!"
Jacqueline was knee-deep in the water with Aragorn and Boromir trying to get to Frodo. He looked like a rag doll the way he was being swung around. Jacqueline swung her sword with as much strength as she possessed through any tentacle that came near her. Swinging the sword wasn't the hard part; getting the sword through the creature's flesh was. Out of the corner of her eye, she could tell that Boromir was impressed by how she was handling herself in this situation. Not now, she thought to herself. Worry about their reactions later. You've got to help save Frodo. With that goal in her mind, she approached the creature fearlessly defending herself against it. She held up her sword and drove it into the creature's side just as one of Legolas' arrows struck it. It screamed in pain and lashed out, wrapping a tentacle around her waist and pulled her under. She had gotten some of the murky water in her mouth and was nearly choking. Just as Jacqueline began to lose consciousness, the creature lifted her out of the water, thinking her to be dead. She gasped for air immediately and spit out the water, coming back to her senses. She saw Boromir hack another tentacle off. Aragorn spotted her in the creature's grasp.
"Hold on!" he shouted, trying to make his way to her.
"No! Save Frodo!" she cried exasperated.
"But-" he cried, slicing a tentacle away.
"Go!" she yelled back, trying to squirm out of the creature's grasp. "Don't worry about me. You have to-"
Her voice cut off as the Watcher, realizing she was still alive, violently jerked her back under the water. Luckily, she kept her mouth shut this time and relaxed, knowing that if she limped the creature would think she was dead again. Aragorn looked on helplessly, then turned to Boromir who was trying to get to Frodo. Legolas had seen her go back under, but could not get a clear shot to free her. His arrows did nothing to help bring her back to the surface, and he suddenly felt useless. Then the Watcher finally dropped Frodo who landed in Boromir's arms, and they scrambled out of the water dodging tentacles as they went.
Jacqueline, meanwhile, saved her strength until she could hit the creature. As soon as it lifted her out of the water again she sliced at it, cutting herself free. She fell into the water, the lifeless flesh falling from her body as she got up and staggered out of the water.
"Legolas! Aim for his eye!" she heard Boromir yell. He ushered the hobbits forward. "Come on!" he shouted urgently as Legolas took aim, hitting his mark. Jacqueline saw the shot from where she stumbled to on the beach. She had no strength left; she was so out of breath that she could think of nothing but rest. The Fellowship was running into the mines at Gandalf's command. Legolas looked back as he jumped and saw her on the beach. He saw a sense of defeat on her face and begged her with his eyes to not give up. She got up, finding some hidden strength in her after seeing Legolas' eyes and ran to the door. The Watcher moved to the door as well, pursuing its prey. A tentacle got in her way, and she hacked at it, cutting it off and out of her way. They all ran forward into the mine as the Watcher pulled off the doors and the front passage collapsed on top of it barricading them in. Gandalf lighted the piece of quartz he picked up earlier as Jacqueline collapsed not caring what she sat on. She coughed for air as the agitated Fellowship looked out at the staircase cluttered with corpses.
"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria." Gandalf said. "Be on your guard. There are older and more fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world."
Legolas walked over to Jacqueline. He kneeled down in front of her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, putting her hand on his forearm. "Yeah I'm fine." She looked past him at the group ascending the stairs. "C'mon, let's go." She got up and began ascending, and Legolas marveled at her strength of body and spirit.
"Quietly now," Gandalf warned. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
