Part 1 - Fires of Revolution

Chapter 11 - Mines of Moria

Miles groaned as he woke up. Something was shaking his shoulder frantically. He slowly opened his eyes, letting them adjust to the light. He found himself staring into a pair of blue eyes.

"Miles! Wake up!"

He shook the grogginess out of his head and recognised they belonged to Gwen.

"What?"

"I think we've been taken."

Miles looked around and remembered where he was.

"Nah, we're safe here. This ship belongs to Thanos. It destroyed the USS Discovery, and Conall ran through a gateway when it appeared."

"Oh. OK."

"How do you feel?"

"Terrible."

"You stopped breathing. I thought you were dead. Then Thanos came and told me you weren't."

Gwen nodded sadly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. I couldn't beat him."

"Neither could anyone down there."

"Then what made Conall run from Thanos?"

"Maybe the ship? This thing is massive. It made Discovery look like a fly. And it swatted it like one as well."

"Discovery's been destroyed?"

"Annihilated."

A smile spread across Gwen's face; it hadn't been a total loss. She threw her arms around Miles, pulling him into a tight hug. He hadn't been expecting it, but returned it as soon as he realised what was happening. A few seconds later, he pulled away a little, then pressed his lips to hers. However, only seconds later, the door to the room hissed open. The pair broke apart quickly.

"I swear we're never gonna do that and not get caught." Miles whispered out the corner of his mouth.

Gwen giggled as Thanos strode into the room.

"Internal scanners told me you were awake. Are you able to walk?"

"I...think so."

"Then I need you both to follow me."

The titan turned and waited for them outside. Miles helped Gwen to her feet, and slipped his hand into hers. They followed Thanos over enormous bridges, through corridors, and up stairs.

Finally, they arrived in a room containing a table. On the table, a map was spread. Thanos walked to the far side of it and turned to them both.

"This is a map of Middle Earth, where we currently are. The ship is here."

He picked up a long pole and pointed its tip at a spot in the bottom right of the map. Next to the spot was a small drawing of Minas Tirith.

"The resistance believes that there is an Ethereal Plate in this dimension. We don't know where. Scanners cannot find it, but there are many mines in this world. You have both spent over a day here. Have you heard anything that would help us find the plate?"

Miles nodded quickly.

"The wizard guy, Gandalf, said there was an object similar to our description of a Plate in the 'darkest depths' of the Mines of Moria. Any idea where that is?"

Thanos looked over the map, then moved the pole to point at an area in some mountains which was labelled 'Moria'.

"I guess that's where it is then." Miles concluded.

"Unfortunately, the mines were all created by and for dwarves. I am too large to enter. If it is OK, I want you both to accompany Maw to retrieve it."

"That's OK with me. I'm not so sure about Gwen. She still seems kinda weak." Replied Miles, looking at Gwen.

Gwen nodded her agreement.

"I think I need to stay. Miles says I stopped breathing, and I still feel like I could collapse. But that may have just been the long walk."

"Then so be it. Miles, you shall accompany Maw into the depths of Moria and retrieve this plate."

Miles was about to say 'OK' and leave, but a thought occurred to him.

"What does the resistance want with the Ethereal Plates?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss our plans."

"I mean...they're a bit useless. They just kill people when they touch them."

"As I said, I'm not at liberty to discuss our plans. When the time is right, you shall be informed of what will happen."

A couple of hours later, Thanos' warship cast its enormous shadow over the mountains under which lay the Mines of Moria. Miles stood in an open space near the front, next to Maw. Gwen was standing watching him. She remembered Gandalf's words about the plate:

"All who touch it die a most painful death, leaving behind only their flesh for the many thousands of Orcs which roam the depths."

She shivered at the thought of whatever these Orcs, whatever they were, tearing Miles apart. Miles looked her in the eyes and gave her a weak smile, just as blue light shrouded him and Maw, taking him down to the ground. Thanos walked up behind Gwen.

"I understand your fear. Many stories in other dimensions speak of the horrors of these mines. But they shall succeed."

"And if they don't?"

"Then the resistance will have lost two valuable warriors. And some much needed time."

This unsettled Gwen. Clearly the resistance were not entirely trustworthy, or at least Thanos seemed too caught up in his own gains.

Maw and Miles found themselves staring up at a gate. It seemed to have been destroyed by something, perhaps by something with many arms, judging by the marks on the frame. Miles' spidey sense told him there was danger nearby. He looked around, but saw nothing other than some dead trees and a small lake. Maw strode inside, holding his hands in front of him in a way that reminded Miles of someone praying. Miles followed him inside. The place was an impenetrable black; even the light coming from the door showed nothing of the path ahead. Maw raised a finger. A small tree branch burst into flames and flew into his hand. Miles took his phone out, ready to use its torch. However, he held off for fear of awakening something, and to save battery.

For what felt like days, Miles and Maw headed deeper and deeper into the mines, until they came to an enormous cavern. Miles looked around in awe.

"We must stay very quiet." Said Maw, putting his finger to his lips.

The main path looked like it followed the edge of the cliff. However, Maw led Miles off it. They started to descend into the depths of darkness. Miles felt scared. It felt so dark that even his spidey sense couldn't see. It could, of course, but he feared what may appear from the gloom. Was he scared of the dark? Perhaps he had just uncovered his greatest fear.

For many hours, Miles and Maw descended further and further, until finally the ramp levelled off at the edge of an enormous subterranean lake. From here Miles could just make out an island in the very centre of it. It was illuminated by something, perhaps torch light as it glowed orange. But surely a small flame couldn't extend its reach that far? That had to be it. Maw seemed to think so too. A wedge of rock broke off from under him and lifted him into the air. It began to glide across the lake towards the island, carrying Maw with it. Miles fired a web at a nearby wall and began to swing across. Suddenly, something struck the rock beside him. Horrible screeches and screams seemed to rain down from the sides of the cliffs. Miles looked up and saw a dark mass moving towards them. It flowed down the rocks like a stingray swimming on the sea floor. He couldn't tell if it was a single creature, or thousands of smaller ones. He decided all there was for it was to ignore it. He continued to swing after Maw who had picked up speed. Soon they were in the middle of the area between the shore and the island. Miles fired his webs at the ceiling of the cavern. He resisted his urge to look down into the depths. Who knew what foul creatures lurked beneath the water?

After a few minutes, Miles and Maw reached the central island. Miles looked up. All he could see was darkness. He looked back to the shore. Now he could see what the shadow on the wall had been: an army of hideous creatures screeched and cried out. A few released arrows, but they fell short. Miles turned back to Maw who had thrown his flying chunk of rock away. He was standing over the glowing object. A shattered crystal ball lay on top of a pedestal. Clearly the gaping hole had been created by previous attempts of people to try and take the plate which lay inside. Miles spotted bones littering the island. Clearly those creatures, most likely the Orcs Gandalf had mentioned, really did eat people. Maw lifted the crystal ball.

"This is what we are here for." He concluded.

"That's good. I just hope we can get it through all those things."

"We have no need. According to my research, the Bridge of Khazad-Dum should be directly above us. From there we can make our escape."

"Err...the Orcs are climbing on the roof now."

"Then you had better start climbing, boy."

Miles couldn't agree more. He fired a web at the roof and pulled himself up. After a few more shots he found an enormous tunnel leading directly up. Maw rose beside him, carrying the crystal ball. Miles stuck himself to the wall and began to scramble up as fast as he could. He could hear the Orcs getting ever closer. An arrow shot past him and fell again. The projectiles began to strike Maw's new rock which continued to rise unhindered. Small chips flew off it as each arrow struck. Miles dared to look down: his eyes widened in horror. The snarling mouths of the Orcs leapt at him from only a few metres behind. He felt a clawed hand snag his foot.

"Maw! Help!"

Maw looked down. With a flick of his wrist, a rocky spike exploded out of the wall, skewering a few of the Orcs and blocking the path of a few others. Miles picked up the pace, but he was quickly getting tired. He let his mind wander to Gwen. If these Orcs killed him it would break her heart. Not wanting to let that happen, he let his fear of it becoming reality drive him further and further up the wall. Arrows were still flying. Suddenly, Maw gave a grunt. Miles looked to see an arrow protruding from his leg. Maw pulled it out and hurled it back at his attackers. But the air was quickly becoming denser with the crude projectiles as more and more Orcs saw their chance to feast on fresh meat. Miles felt one clip a bit of his hair. Maw cried out as one embedded itself in his back. His rock began to fall, and he himself began to tumble over the edge. Miles fired a web at the crystal ball and pulled it up to him. Maw was dead; all he could do was run. He fired a web at the opposite wall and leapt over to it. The Orcs began to follow. When most were on that side, he leapt again, narrowly avoiding the slowly thinning torrent of arrows.

For the next few minutes, Miles continued this pattern, tricking the Orcs into believing he was going one way rather than the other. He suddenly realised he had no way to see where he was going. His eyes had adjusted to the pitch darkness enough to leap between walls, but the walls were widening and soon all he could see was the rock face he was currently on. Miles scampered to the top. Suddenly, he found himself hauling himself onto a ledge. He grabbed his phone, switched on the torch and looked around. The Orcs screamed at him in anger from the other side of the remains of a bridge. Miles turned the light in every direction. A few Orcs scrambled up his edge, clearly the more intelligent ones. He placed the crystal ball on the ground with his phone and began to punch and kick them back over the edge. One ducked beneath his kick and sank its teeth into his foot, dragging him closer to falling. He cried out in pain and slammed his other foot into the Orc's face, sending it down once more with its friends. He pulled himself away from the edge, grabbed his phone and pointed it back at the edge. No more Orcs reared their ugly heads, so he lay his own on the hard stone. Something warm trickled around his foot. He didn't need to look to see it was blood. He began to close his eyes, exhaustion slowly seeping through his body. Yet he knew that if he did sleep, he most likely would bleed to death, or the Orcs would find a way across and devour him. He shook it away and stood up. That was what Spiderman had to do. No matter how many times he fell down, he had to get up. Grabbing the crystal ball, he limped through a huge door.

Many hours later, Miles became aware of light. He raised his head to see a doorway hanging open, leading into the light. He limped towards it, collapsing in the snow that lay just inside. Above his head were engraved the lines of some sort of poem, perhaps a song? A few of them caught his eye as a deep rumbling began to sound from outside. Thanos' ship, Sanctuary II, cast its shadow as it crossed the peaks of the Misty Mountains. Miles read the lines of the poem.

"The shadow lies upon his tomb, in Moria, in Khazad-Dum. But still the sunken stars appear, in dark and windless Mirrormere. There lies his crown in water deep, till Durin wakes again from sleep."

He looked at the crystal ball in his hands. 'There lies his crown in water deep'...Perhaps this plate had been the crown of a king at some point? Who knew? Darkness began to cloud his vision as the blood loss from his foot finally shattered his determination. A blue beam of light was the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- Avengers
- Lord of the Rings
- Star Trek