Woo! I didn't think I'd be able to get this uploaded as the net cut us off, luckily our neighbours have let us borrow theirs until we can get ours back, so say thanks to our neighbours for you reading this chapter now!
Also, would like to apologise for the chapter mix up as I have taken down the schedule so some of you may not have read the previous chapter yet. If not, please read it before reading this one.
Without further ado, here's the next chapter for you all!
Spies, Mountains and Watchers
We leave Rivendell as the sun's rays pierce the valley and watch us as we make our way into the wild. We spend the first half of the day walking through woods, over open plains and hillsides.
I smile as I look around us as we're walking. Apart from walking straight into danger, it was nice to be doing something like this again, to actually be of use other than doing random raids on orcs, goblins or bandits. It was also nice to be doing this with Gimli this time, since he was too young to come on the last quest with us.
That afternoon, we take a rest on a hillside with lots of rocks, boulders and bushes to shield us from immediate danger.
"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor."
I take this opportunity to continue the hobbits training, though Frodo and Sam decide to sit out this time so I start to train Merry and Pippin. After a few moments, Boromir walks over and offers to take over. I just look at him for a few moments. We haven't spoken a single word since our confrontation a few weeks before, but I figured that since we'll be spending a lot of time together on this quest, that we should at least put our differences aside and be civil with one another. I bow my head to him in acceptance and smile at the hobbits before making my way over to Gandalf and Gimli and sit with them on one of the boulders.
"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not," he glares at my giggle. "I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. Our cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome."
I look up at this, it'd be nice to see Balin again and see what's been stopping him from contacting any of us in so long.
"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." Gandalf replies.
I look to him for a moment, wondering what it is that has Gandalf nervous to go through the mountain. He would quite happily lead myself, thirteen dwarves and a hobbit to a dragon but not the ten of us through Moria?
Legolas, who is keeping watch, leaps up onto the boulders across from us, looking towards the South. I follow his gaze and see something that appears to be a dark cloud in the sky. Coming to stand next to him, I continue to stare intently at the cloud. It appears to be moving closer to us at a fast pace.
"What is that?" Sam asks as he notices our observation.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud." Gimli replies as everyone suddenly takes notice
It's moving fast. . .against the wind." Boromir points out.
As I continue to look, my heart stops as I realise what they are.
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas and I call out together.
"Hide!" Aragorn yells out.
"Hurry!" Boromir gathers Merry and Pippin together.
Aragorn rushes around, getting the Fellowship out of sight.
"Frodo! Hurry! Take cover!"
We all scramble to gather our things, and Sam puts out the fire. Legolas and I hide together under some bushes as the others hide in various other place. We wait. Then suddenly, the flock of black birds rushes overhead, cawing loudly. The birds circle the hill a few times, before they turn and fly back Southward.
We all come out of our hiding places. I smile and thank Legolas as he gives me a hand up.
"Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched." Gandalf says as we all gather together. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras."
He turns, looking up at a great, snowy mountain. I groan slightly to myself as we all gather our belongings together.
Legolas looks to me. "Are you alright?"
I nod. "Yes. The last time I went over those mountains I almost died."
"What happened?"
"Our group got in the middle of a Thunder Battle with Stone Giants."
"Stone Giants? They're just a legend." Boromir says as he overhears out conversation when we walk past.
"Oh, believe me Boromir, they aren't legend. Their fighting caused me to fall off the mountain. Luckily, there was a river at the bottom that I landed in."
"Was that during your quest for Erebor?" Merry asks as we walk on.
I nod. "It was. Father decided to lead us over the mountain after someone decided to leave us!"
I raise my voice slightly at the end as I look to the wizard at the front of our group. He looks to me with an indignant look on his face.
"I'll have you know, Faron, if I had not stayed behind, you would not have left Rivendell at all. You should be grateful I caused a distraction for you."
I just grin. "Any excuse, old man."
Gandalf turns away, grumbling to himself something about rude, ungrateful and father's stubbornness. The hobbits just giggle to themselves at our banter. Even Gimli, the men and Legolas have small smiles at this.
We climb the snowy slopes of Caradhras for the next couple of days. I stay at the back of the line with Aragorn as we talk with each other before Frodo looses his footing and falls, rolling back towards us.
"Frodo!" Aragorn and I shout as we catch him and set him on his feet.
"Are you alright?" I ask him.
He nods as he regains his footing. I then watch him as he and puts a hand instinctively to his neck for the Ring. Looking up, we see the ring lying in the snow a few meters ahead. Boromir sees the Ring and picks it up by its chain.
"Boromir." Aragorn calls out in warning.
Boromir is oblivious. "It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt. . .over so small a thing. Such a little thing."
He reaches out a gloved hand to touch it. I instantly reach a hand for one of my blades.
"Boromir!" I snap loudly.
Boromir finally looks up, pulled from his trance.
"Give the Ring to Frodo."
Boromir looks to me for a moment before he walks slowly down the slope towards us. I see Aragorn's hand is also on the hilt of his sword.
Boromir holds out the Ring "As you wish. . ."
Frodo does not wait, and grabs the Ring sharply.
". . .I care not."
Boromir jokingly tousles Frodo's hair, turning to resume climbing. Aragorn and I release our grip from our weapons. We both share a glance with each other, knowing that we would have to keep a close eye on the Gondorian for the duration of our quest.
As we labour onwards through the high snow banks, Legolas and I walk out ahead. Our step are light, thanks to us being elves, and we move with ease across the top of the snow, staring into the blinding storm. It's then I can hear a voice, but cannot make out what it's saying.
"There is a fell voice on the air!" Legolas calls out to the others.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf exclaims.
With a rending echo, a horde of rock slabs and boulders falls from the mountain's arms. Legolas grabs hold of me and we press ourselves against the cliff wall with the others to avoid the onslaught of stone.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!"
"No!" Gandalf steps out onto the ledge, rising on the snow. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!"
The wizard's voice is drowned out by a more terrible cry in the maelstrom. Sarumans voice continues travelling through the air towards us. Just then, lightning strikes the tip of Caradhras, sending a second avalanche of white ice onto the Fellowship. Legolas snatches Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just before the ice-fall hits. The avalanche cascades over us all, snow burying us completely. I manage to claw my way out of the snowstorm, my head popping up as I look around.
"That's it! That's the last time I come over this mountain!"
I pull myself from the snow and move along the line making sure everyone is alright, pulling Gimli from the snow in the process.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouts out.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn states.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria." Gimli suggests.
"Let the Ring bearer decide." Gandalf says.
After Frodo stays silent for a moment, Boromir shouts through the snowstorm, holding Merry and Pippin to him. Both are cold and extremely pale.
"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!"
"Frodo?"
"We will go through the mines."
"So be it."
We travel south, along the shadow of some ruins. I walk with Gimli as we talk excitedly about being in Moria and to see Balin, Oin and Ori again.
Gimli stops walking and points ahead. "The Walls. . .of Moria!"
Looking to where he's pointing, I smile as I see the familiar cliff face
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli says, once we reach the cliff.
He knocks his axe against a rock as we move along the wall, searching for a door.]
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf points out.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I hear Legolas mutter.
I have to hold back a laugh as I hear Gimli grumbling, I just lay my hands on his shoulders as we walk on.
Gandalf approaches the rock between two trees, and runs his hand over the cliff face.
"Now. . .let's see. Ithildin —" Beneath his hand run spidery silver lines, faint beneath the dirt. "It mirrors only starlight… and moonlight."
As he looks up at the black night sky, the moon appears. The silver lines grow bright, outling a door formed of two columns beneath an arch, with a star in the center.
"It reads 'The Doors of Durin — Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asks.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open. Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!"
The Doors remain closed.
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen."
The door still remains closed. I look down at Pippin as he tugs on my sleeve.
"Nothing's happening." he simply says.
I notice Gandalf glancing at him at him, looking slightly annoyed and put a hand on the hobbits shoulder. Gandalf begins to push on the doors, but they remain fast.
"Faron, do you not know the password? You said you came this way the last time you were here, weren't you?" Gimli asks.
"I did, but I came from inside and the door was left opened so I had no need of the password.
He nods as Gandalf sighs and steps back.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves. . .Men. . .and Orcs."
"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asks.
"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."
I glare at Gandalf for his hurtful words and tone of his voice before gently turning Pippin away, allowing him to continue to think of the password in peace. We all split up and quietly do our own things while we wait. Aragorn and Sam unloading our provisions from Bill to let him go free and return as the mines were no place for a pony. Gimli sits against a tree and begins to smoke his pipe while the others were relaxing nearby.
I take this opportunity to walk away a little and kneel in the ground to where I remember my friends to be buried after our battle in Moria. I take a moment to myself to remember them and thank them once again for their helping my uncle reclaim Moria.
"What are you doing?" I hear Legolas ask from behind.
I straighten from where I bowed over in prayer, sitting on the heels of my feet. "Praying. Some friends of mine are buried here when they were killed during the battle to reclaim Moria."
He stays silent for a moment. "I am sorry for your loss."
I smile as I stand beside him. "Thank you, but is not necessary. They are at peace now, which I am grateful for."
He nods as we stand together in silence. The silence is broken by Boromir saying something about the pool before he throws a stone into it. The stone vanishes with a soft slap; but at the same instant there is a swish and a bubble. Great rippling rings form on the surface out beyond where the stone had fallen, and they move slowly towards the foot of the cliff.
Knowing what possibly lies within the water, I walk over and grab hold of the man's wrist, stopping him from throwing another stone. He looks to me in confusion.
"Don't do that again." I say as I stare at the dark water.
"Why, what had you concerned about the pool?"
"I can sense something amiss with the water, as if something lies beneath, watching us and waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"To take us."
He goes silent as he looks to me before he himself turns his attention to the pool as we both keep watch.
I soon hear Gandalf dropping his staff as he gives up on opening the door.
"Oh, it's useless!"
Aragorn joins Boromir and I as we see another ripple run through the water, seeming to come towards us before it stops.
"It's a riddle." I hear Frodo say.
The water ripples once more, Merry and Pippin who are beside us also notice.
"Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?"
The water shivers again.
"Mellon…" Gandalf answers.
Hearing a grinding sound, I look to see the stone doors slowly swing open.
"Thank Mahal." I breathe as we walk in, Boromir, Aragorn and I gathering Merry, Pippin and Sam together.
Aragorn and I cast a last glance at the water and then to each other as we walk in.
Moonlight floods into a shadowy chamber as Gandalf lights a crystal on his staff.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin." I hear Gimli saying to Legolas, which surprises me to hear him talking civilly to him. "And they call it a mine. A mine!"
"This is no mine, it's a tomb!" Boromir says.
As the light brightens slightly, I look in horror to see several rotted, broken and battered forms of Goblins and Dwarves strewn about, casting long shadows across the room.
"Oh! No! Noooo!" Gimli wails.
Legolas pulls out an arrow from the body of a fallen Dwarf, examines it and casts it away in disgust.
"Goblins!"
Aragorn and Boromir draw out their swords. Legolas and I fitting arrows to our bows.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir says, which causes me to roll my eyes, although I believe he could be right this time. "Now get out of here, get out!"
I suddenly hear a commotion from behind and the hobbits calling out for Frodo.
"Strider! Faron!" Sam yells.
Whipping around, I see Frodo being dragged out by a tentacle around his ankle. Rushing out, I see Sam hacking the tentacle, freeing the hobbit. Merry and Pipping clutch at him, attempting to keep him away from the water. We watch, thinking the watching creature has gone, when suddenly, many tentacles come out of the water, slapping the other Hobbits aside and grabbing Frodo around the leg. He is pulled out over into the air.
"Frodo!"
Legolas and I run out onto the shore and shoot. Our arrow piercing the many tentacles, but it does not release him.
"Strider!" Frodo yells.
"Yaghh!"
Boromir and Aragorn rush to the water and attack the beast, while we still continue to fire arrows, Gandalf and Gimli keeping the other hobbits back. The creature flings Frodo wildly in the air. Despite the our efforts, the Hobbit is lowered towards a gapping maw in the water, ringed by fangs, set in a gilled face.
"Frodo!" I cry out.
Aragorn finally manages to slice through the tentacle holding Frodo, who falls into Boromir's arms.
"Into the Mines!" Gandalf yells.
Aragorn and Boromir retreat. Boromir runs for the gates with Frodo as a huge tentacle uncoils a hand-like appendage, snaking after them. I takes aim, allowing Legolas to gather the hobbits back inside.
"Into the cave!" Aragorn shouts.
I shoot, the arrow hits the beast's right eye, and it recoils with a roar.
"Run!"
As we race into Moria, the sea creature reaches out and tears the gates shut. Slabs of rocks drop and the roof of the passageway caves in. we stare back as the last rays of moonlight disappear.
Gasps and heavy breathing echo in the darkness.
"We now have but one choice." Gandalf says as light appears from his staff, showing the startled and frightened faces of us all. 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 world."
We all follow as he leads on, with me at the end as I take one last glance at the wall blocking the Drimrill Gate.
"Quietly now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Well, there it is, we're finally in Moria. Stay tuned next week to see what happens. Xx
Translations;
"Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" - Gate of the Elves, open now for me!
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen." - Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.
"Mellon" - Friend