Chapter 16: Decisions and the Gates of Moria
A/N: Chapter 16 already? Wow. Let's have a sweet 16 party! Or not… anyway, enjoy ze chapter!
Disclaimer: Never have, don't now, and never will.
Elerina breathed deeply the aromas of the stable. She buried her face in Wingfoot's mane and sighed. The boredom was almost intolerable. Legolas, Míriel, Thorontur, and Erulissë and Alassiel were gone. They had gone back with their mother to Mirkwood. She didn't know any other Elves and she hardly saw them anyway, having her meals served privately in her quarters.
She wanted adventure and excitement. If she was going to be a fictional character, she might as well make the best of it. Maybe she could find the Fellowship. Wingfoot was fast enough to overtake them if she left immediately. She would have her adventure and be able to find Legolas.
'But what am I thinking. I could die out there. What if I get caught by the Black Riders? Oh yeah, real smart, Rina,' she thought. Elerina brushed the hair that had fallen in her face and put it behind her ear, feeling the soft point. 'Am I really an Elf?'
Wingfoot nuzzled her. She kissed his nose and smiled. "Are you up for a little adventure, Wingfoot?" she asked the stallion. "Or not so little…" she frowned. Oh well. It didn't matter how big or impossible or dangerous or whatever this was. She had never felt this way about anyone before. They feeling of love was so different than anything she had ever felt before.
Legolas looked up at the sky. It was almost evening, and after dark they would have to stop. He was not all that thrilled at the idea of staying with hundreds of Dwarves for a few days. Neither did Gandalf, or so it seemed. Legolas couldn't find any reason as to why Gandalf was so grim and hesitant to go into the Mines. His thoughts were interrupted by a gasp from Gimli.
"The Walls… of Moria!" he said in awe. The fellowship looked up at the sheer rock face, rising up into the evening mist. "The doors are invisible when closed," Gimli said, knocking his axe against the rock.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten," said Gandalf.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas muttered. Gimli grumbled something inaudible at this remark. The Fellowship looked at their surroundings. There was a great pool beside the rock face, with dead branches bearded with moss hanging damp above the water. Gandalf approached the rock between two twisted, gnarled trees.
"Now… let's see. Ithildin --" Beneath his hand ran spidery silver lines, faint beneath the dirt of ages. "It mirrors only starlight… and moonlight." The moon appeared in the night sky, and the silvery lines grew bright, shining with sheer white light. They outlined a door formed of two columns beneath an arch with a star in the center. Writing in a strange tongue then appeared in the arch. "It reads "The Doors of Durin - Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."
"What do you suppose that means?" asked Merry.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open," Gandalf replied. He set his staff's end upon the glimmering star. "Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" (Gate of the Elves, open now for me!)
The doors remained closed.
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen" Gandalf tried again. (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.)
"Nothing's happening," said Pippin. Gandalf gave him a glance of annoyance, and Legolas rolled his eyes. Gandalf began to push the doors, but they remained fast.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs," Gandalf said in exasperation.
"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin piped up again.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words," Gandalf replied angrily.
Legolas settled back against the rock face. Rhaich, this might take a while.
(Rhaich means "curses" in Elvish I think)
Elerina quietly stole into the kitchen. She had now set her mind on what she was going to do, and she looked around for the previsions she needed. There were only a few servants about, preparing for dinner, and either they didn't see her or they paid her no heed. Elerina walked up to a cabinet and quietly opened it.
'There we go. This is what I'm looking for,' she thought. In this cabinet were dried fruits wrapped in leaves, intended for long journeys. Also, there was lembas. She had been told it was Elven waybread. 'One mouthful could fill the stomach of a groan man.' She also found water casks. She didn't know how long it would be before she could find fresh previsions, so it would be safe to take as much as Wingfoot could carry and still be able to run. 'He's a strong horse,' Elerina though as she began to gently put the things into some saddle bags she had brought in. She was almost finished when she heard a voice from behind her.
"Are you looking for something, my Lady?" Elerina spun around quickly, and looked into the face of a young man-servant.
"Uh, n-no, thank you. I mean yes, I mean… I was just leaving," Elerina stuttered. She quickly left the young servant looking quizzically after her. She went to the wash room to fill the water casks, and narrowly missed an encounter with Elrond. She had to duck behind some plants in order not to be seen.
Why was she hiding? 'Because I'm a "Lady", and it's too "dangerous",' she thought. She went back to her room and stuffed an extra traveling dress into her bag. She debated whether to pack a blanket, but she wanted to bring as little as possible. If she couldn't build a fire, there would always be Wingfoot to keep her warm.
A knock on the door startled her. She opened it to see a servant bringing her dinner. "Your dinner, my Lady."
"Yes, thank you." Elerina closed the door and ate all of her food, saving up energy while she could. The sky went from evening to night shortly after she had finished, for it had been getting cooler each day. She dressed into her night dress and slipped under the sheets. It would be a long day tomorrow.