Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess
Author's Note:
This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)
~ XXXVI: Gates of Moria ~
Moria, 3019 TA, January 13
Together, they led the group back to the mountains. A stream called the Sirannon had been the only way to reach Moria from the west in old times. It came out of the cliffs near where the doors used to be and ran into the stream. But either Gandalf was going the wrong way, or the land had changed in the last few years. He didn't find the stream where he looked for it, only a few miles south of where they began. All was dark and dry. Their hearts broke. They didn't see any living things, and there were no birds in the sky. They didn't care what the night would bring if they were caught in that forsaken land.
After they had been going for a while, Gimli came up behind and called back to the group. He was on a hill and pointing to the right. They rushed up and saw a deep and narrow channel below them, so they had to hurry. It was empty and quiet, with only a small trickle of water running through the brown and red-stained stones in its bed. On the other side, there was a path that was very old and had many broken and decayed stones.
"Ah! Here it is at last!" said Gandalf. "This is where the stream ran: Sirannon, the Gate-stream, they used to call it. But what has happened to the water, I cannot guess; it used to be swift and noisy. Come! We must hurry on. We are late."
The Company was sore and tired, but they kept going along the rough and winding trail for a long time. The sun started to move away from noon and start to go to the west. After a short break and a quick meal, they kept going. Mountain ranges were angry in front of them. Their path was in a deep trough of land, and they could only see the high shoulders and the peaks to the east.
They finally came to a sharp turn. This was where the road took a turn to the right. It had been going south between the channel and a steep drop on the left. They came around the corner and saw a low cliff with a broken and jagged top. It was about five feet high. Water dripped over it through a wide cleft that looked like it had been cut out by a strong and full fall.
"Indeed things have changed!" said Gandalf "There are many powers in this world, for Good or for Evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some, I have not yet been tested."
"The Walls of Moria!" Gimli spoke loudly as the company had finally reached the walls of Moria. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," he noted. He knocked his axe against a rock. Everyone followed along the wall.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf said. "And there the Gate stood once upon a time, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin by which we have come. But this way is blocked."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas scoffed earning Xena's attention. They both had hardly exchanged any word along the journey, only a few glares from time to time. Gimli grumbled and decided not to start a fight with the elf. He would soon pass through Moria and even see his kin and his cousin Balin.
Gandalf approached the rock between two trees, and run his hand over the cliff. He said "Now… let's see. Ithildin." Beneath his hand run spidery silver lines, faint beneath the added: "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." He looked up at the black night sky, the moon showed up. The silver lines grow bright, outlying a door formed of two columns beneath an arch, with a star in the centre. "Here the Elven-way from Hollin ended," said Gandalf. "Holly was the token of the people of that land, and they planted it here to mark the end of their domain. Those were happier days, when there was still close friendship at times between folk of different races, even between Dwarves and Elves."
"It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned," said Gimli.
"I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves," said Legolas.
"I have heard both," said Gandalf.
"It sounds like it was the fault of the Elves," added Xena only to win a smile from Gimli and a glare from the elf.
After a while, they couldn't see anything but the grey face of the rock. At first, they looked like pale gossamer threads that only sparkled a little when the Moon caught them. They kept getting bigger and clearer until their design could be guessed. He could reach up to the top, where there was an arch made of letters in an Elvish language. There was a crown with seven stars on top of an anvil and a hammer, even though some of the threads were blurred or broken. This time, there were two more trees, each with a crescent moon on top of it, below them. There was a single star with many rays in the middle of the door.
"There are the emblems of Durin!" cried Gimli.
"And there is the Tree of the High Elves!" said Legolas.
"And the Star of the House of Fëanor," said Gandalf. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin; Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked curiously as he gazed at the door in awe.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." Gandalf explained.
"Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" [Gate of the Elves, open now for me!] said Gandalf hoping that the spell would work and the doors would obey. But nothing happened he continued, "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen."[Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.] The grey wizard tried everything, though the doors didn't open.
"Nothing's happening," Pippin complained.
Gandalf sent a small irritated glare his way. He banged against the doors. However, the doors remained closed. "I once knew every spell in all the Elves', Men's, and Orcs' tongues," he said irritably.
"What are you going to do, then?" asked Pippin.
"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 shouted.
Time passed, and everyone waited for Gandalf to devise a method of opening the door. Bill the pony was released by the ranger and Sam. Because Moria was not a suitable location for the wretched creature to follow. The remainder of the group sat, unsure of what would happen next. Bill had been a valuable company, and Sam would miss him.
"But you can't leave poor old Bill behind in this forsaken place," cried Sam, angry and distressed. "I won't have it, and that's flat."
"I am sorry Sam," said Aragorn "But the Moria is not a place for Bill."
"He'd follow Mr. Frodo into a dragon's den, if I led him," protested Sam.
"That he would," said Xena suddenly as she skipped next to Sam stroking the poor pony "But it would lead it to its death Sam, is better to free him. He had witnessed enough darkness."
"You are a wise beast and have learned much in Rivendell. Make your way to places where you can find grass, and so come in time to Elrond's house, or wherever you wish to go," said Sam while standing sullenly by the pony and returned no answer.
Bill, seeming to understand well what was going on, nuzzled up to him, putting his nose to Sam's ear. He struggled with the straps, unlading and flinging all of the pony's bags on the ground. Aragorn and Xena sorted the things, collecting all that could be left behind and sharing the remainder. When this was done they turned to watch Gandalf. He appeared to have done nothing. He was standing between the two trees gazing at the blank wall of the cliff.
"But do not you know the word, Gandalf?" asked Boromir in surprise. The rest waited for the wizard to know the answer. Only Legolas and Aragorn, who knew Gandalf well, remained silent. Until Frodo got closer and read again the saying.
"It's a riddle.." Frodo noted "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?"
Gandalf answered "Mellon…"
"I was wrong after all! I had only to speak the Elvish word for 'friend' and the doors opened. Quite simple! Let's go inside." Gandalf said. He adorned the top of his staff with a crystal. He took a step forward and placed his foot on the bottom step. Aragorn was the last to arrive, throwing a last glimpse at the lake. A long, sinuous tentacle had crept out of the water, followed by another trail. A gloomy room was illuminated by moonlight.
Gimli couldn't wait to meet his kin and he showed his excitement "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. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
Gandalf wrapped his hand around his staff and blew on the crystal, causing the chamber to shine. Xena just cast a quick look around; she was more concerned about the water. She hesitated, letting her palm rest on her Chakram. She looked at the elf, who seemed to be awakened by the raw emotion as well.
Boromir could see better now, broken and battered forms across the long shadow "This is no mine, it's a tomb!" he shouted.
"Oh! No! Noooo!" cried out Gimli fully aware now that the corpses that were surrounding them were from his kin.
She didn't seem terrified, but something was bothering her. Her focus was elsewhere. She shifted her sight to the lake. Legolas went farther within, forgetting about the water. He took an arrow from the corpse of a fallen Dwarf, studied it, and then threw it away. "Goblins!" he said as he fitted an arrow to his bow. Both Aragorn and Boromir drew their swords. Xena finally drew her Chakram.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir said as he stepped away from the mines "Now get out of here, get out!"
The four Hobbits were retracing their steps and closing in on the door. The sea behind them seemed to be agitated by something. When something grabbed Frodo's ankle, he tumbled to the ground, crying out in fear. They yelled out "Frodo!" to their companions.
Out from the water, along sinuous tentacle had crawled; it was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had hold of Frodo's foot and was dragging him into the water. Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with a knife and yelling at Aragorn "Strider! Get off him! Strider!"
"Into the gateway! Up the stairs! Quick!" shouted Gandalf leaping back.
Aragorn and Boromir made a hasty advance. Xena abruptly hurled her Chakram, severing the very tip of another tentacle that was approaching. She dashed towards the Hobbits, who clutched onto Frodo, striving to keep him out of the water as additional tentacles wrapped around him.
Frodo was finally liberated by the water thing. It came dangerously close to disappearing under the waves. Nonetheless, other tentacles began rippling out simultaneously. Grabbing Frodo's leg and slapping the other Hobbits. He was dragged out of the water and into the air. Boromir and Aragorn dove into the water and immediately engaged the beast. Xena dashed to the other side, drawing her sword and attempting to slash as many tentacles as possible. She raised her eyes to the Elf, contemplating what he was doing. "Legolas!" she yelled, attracting his attention.
Legolas dashed out onto the beach and began shooting, after hearing her calling his name. His shot pierces through a tentacle that has wrapped itself around Frodo's face. His arrows blazed like flames. Xena cast a couple of glances around. She had never seen someone being so swift and precise. She rolled her eyes and raised her blade to her shoulder. Her movements were precise and abrasive.
Frodo called out again "Strider!"
Aragorn and Boromir were still fighting with the monster. It flung Frodo wildly in the air. Despite the Fellowship's efforts, the Hobbit was lowered towards a gaping maw in the water, ringed by fangs, set in a gilt face. Aragorn sliced through the tentacle holding Frodo, who fell into Boromir's arms.
"Up! Quick!" Shouted Gandalf leaping back. Rousing them from the horror that seemed to have rooted.
"Legolas! Xena!" Boromir said, trying to get them to follow them.
Aragorn and Boromir retreated. Boromir ran for the gates with Frodo as a huge tentacle snaking them. Legolas took aim and shoot. His arrow hit the beast's right eye, and it recoiled with a roar. He glanced at Xena, who continued to retreat. She cycled the sword, letting the blade cut deeper against the nearest tentacle.
"Run!" Aragorn yapped.
Gandalf considered, what word would close the gate again from within. Legolas aimed and fired a few arrows against the tentacles close to Xena. The impact of the arrows was close enough, for her to notice. Only then did she gaze up at him. Legolas glanced at the Gate of Moria pointing that everyone was fleeing that way. She didn't wait and followed. Many coiling tentacled seized the doors on either side and with horrible strength, swung them round. As the Fellowship raced into Moria, the sea creature reaches out and tore the gates shut. Slabs of rocks dropped and the roof of the passageway caved in. The Fellowship stared back as the last rays of moonlight disappear.
"The passage is blocked behind us now and there is only one way out... On the other side of the mountains. I fear of the sounds that boulders have been piled up, and the trees uprooted and thrown across the gate." the wizard said.
"I felt that something horrible was near, from the moment that my foot first touched the water," added Frodo.
"This place cannot be trusted. We should never come here," Boromir muttered under his breath like he was scared of the place.
A faint light rose from Gandalf's staff, throwing a Creepy Glow across the old wizard's face. "We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria," he said. He passed on ahead up the great steps, he held his staff aloft, and from its tip, there came a faint radiance.
Slowly everyone was on their feet following Gandalf. The darkness didn't bother Xena. Although, it seemed that Moria held more secrets. Legolas gave her a fast glance and bypassed her. The company of nine and she had now only one way to go. Through the darkness of Moria.
((Upcoming Chapter Thirty-Seven))
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