Chapter Eight
How and Why
The morning had finally come for the Fellowship to depart and the group, in all of their traveling glory, stood in a small glade at the edge of the city waiting for their host to see them off. From beneath a magnificent stone arch they waited. Other members of the city had come to witness their departure, Arwen among them. Yet, Legolas, Aragorn, and Lord Elrond had yet to appear, although no one was too worried.
However, a certain dwarf's temper was beginning to light. "What's taking those Elves so long?" Gimili grumbled. "Just because they live forever doesn't mean they should waste any more of our time." Eina giggled. Boromir shook his head in amusement.
"And you lass," Gimili's gaze turned towards Eina, "I feel as if you are not entirely mortal either." To his proclamation, others couldn't help but cast a curious glance their way. The conversation had diverged to something blatantly more personal.
Eina's eyes shot towards the dwarf, "A wise thing of you to notice, Gimili. But you are right, in some sense, at least. I have not aged a day since I first met my brother. He can attest to that." Her eyes glanced to Boromir for an instant, "Although, why that is, no one can rightly say."
"But only the Elves are immortal." Sam said.
"And I am not an Elf." She replied quietly, adjusting the bow and quiver that were now slung over her shoulder.
"You, my dear, are something else entirely." Gandalf concluded, offering her a small smile. "Something, that perhaps over the course of our journey, we may truly discover."
A new voice entered the scene. It belonged to the ranger. "The others will be coming along shortly." Aragorn had arrived, now leading a small pony that had numerous packs strapped to its sides. "Lord Elrond had something he wished to discuss with Legolas before our departure."
"Most likely business matters for his father back home in the Woodland Realm, I presume?" Gandalf suggested. Aragorn only shrugged, coming to stop near the archway in which they were soon to depart from.
"And who's this?" Merry asked, having come to inspect the little auburn horse.
"This is Bill." Aragorn ruffled the animal's mane. The pony shook its head in response.
"He's rather sweet." Sam said, patting the pony's side while Bill proceeded to nibble on some of the dried grass nearby. Aragorn handed Sam the reins. This earned a small smile from the Hobbit.
The ranger was correct in his guessing, for not a moment later, Legolas and Elrond arrived on the scene. The Elf Lord stood just apart from the crowd as Legolas took his place among the Fellowship. Elrond's words were serious as he spoke the last goodbyes, "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid, to go further than you will."
Leaves were falling and scattering to the ground around them as they all stood, silently listening. "Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you." With his final words spoken, Elrond spread his arms wide as a last gesture of parting. Legolas and Aragorn both bowed their heads to him. Eina nodded slightly, thankful to have survived her first visit to the Elvish City.
"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf said, with a hand on his staff and looking to Frodo. The Hobbit in question then turned and began to walk under the arch, with the rest of his company in tow behind him.
While his eyes were uncertain, his feet kept along. Although, after soon coming to a fork in the road, he whispered to the wizard beside him, "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
The wizard whispered a quick reply, "Left." And so the Fellowship followed Frodo along, beginning their journey together as the Fellowship of the Ring.
But for a moment, one of their fellows lingered. Aragorn's eyes turn to Arwen as she stood among the crowd. Their eyes meet, saying silent words that only they can understand. The beauty's face was sorrowful, but Aragorn smiled ever so faintly before nodding a last farewell. With that, he too turned and began to follow his companions out of the city.
For hours they walked, traveling through the woods, across wide-open plains and over rolling hillsides. During this time there was some small talk, but most of the time all was quiet, for each of them was lost to their musings as they pondered the journey ahead of them.
The day ebbed on, and the sun was high in the sky when they came to a stop on a large outcropping on the side of a mountain in the midst of the wild. The Hobbits had began to mutter about their current state of being (which, in Merry and Pippins' case, had been "positivity starving") so it was decided that they would stop for a short time to eat and gather their bearings before continuing on their way.
Sam was at the fire cooking up sausages and tomatoes. Boromir was teaching Merry and Pippin how to properly use a sword. Aragorn was nearby, watching the scene play out as Pippin moved up to take his turn to practice.
For every motion, Boromir called out, "Two, one, five. Good! Very good." As the lesson moved on, there was a continual clashing of blades.
With his pipe teaming with smoke, Aragorn spoke out to the half-ling. His words were encouraging. "Move your feet." Pippin did as instructed, and was once again dancing along the dirt to avoid Boromir's attacks.
Through a mouthful of food, Merry spoke to his friend, "Good job Pippin."
The other Hobbit didn't have time to look away but breathed a small, "thanks" before having to counter another strike from Boromir. The man gestured to Merry, encouraging him to join in the lesson whilst continuing to spar with Merry. The other half-ling swallowed his last bit of tomato before picking up his sword and joining in.
From farther off, Eina watched her brother egg the Hobbits on faster, watching them dance about against his attacks. The Hobbits were doing surprisingly well. She smiled at the sight, not noticing a pair of eyes watching her.
"You are happy to be back in your brother's company." Legolas had stepped up besides her, following her eyes down to their comrades as they sparred below them.
She glanced over at him, nodding. "Yes," Her eyes continued to watch the half-lings. Her smile widened, "He is kin of my heart." The expression on her face was clearly one of love for her brother, "He is very dear to me; he was there for me when others were not and trusted me when no one else would."
"You speak of darker times?" The elf inquired.
She answered with a nod. Her face turned passive, and her words somber. "Times, in which, I believe you are already aware of due to your… extensive relation to the ranger."
"I have only heard Aragorn's version of the tale. Yet I am curious how you tell it." Legolas paused after a moment, careful with the words that followed. "I would listen, if you would be willing to tell your side of the story."
Seconds passed and a look of contemplation crossed the raven's porcelain face. A sudden burst of wind rushed passed, lifting her hair from her shoulders. She sighed her shoulders slumping ever so slightly, "Yet, herein lies the problem, Prince. I have no story."
The unmistakable look of confusion on the Prince's face suggested she continue. Her voice dropped to a near whisper, and her words were short but dangerously clear, "He claims that I murdered an entire village of people and he claims to be the sole witness." She paused looking back down to Boromir and the half-lings. "And all I have is my word against his."
"Your word being?"
"That he's accusing the wrong person." She paused a moment, her voice becoming soft. "I have no recollection of ever committing such an act, nor would I ever even contemplate committing such a horrible crime."
"Surely you have an alibi?" He asked.
"Oh, I do, believe me; and my brother's, father, and the entirety of the White City can vouch for me. At the time of the massacre, I had just met my brother. And during that time, I was hardly in any sort of state to be walking, let alone murdering people." She sighed, "And that, is all the word I have."
For a moment, they were silent, watching their comrades' spar. Another breeze filtered past. She suddenly scoffed, her eyes now lost to a memory as she stared out across the rolling hills around them, "Our first encounter was interesting. For days, I knew the ranger had been tracking me. At first I thought it was fun; a game of cat and mouse, if you will." She openly laughed, but after a moment her face fell a small frown marred her lips.
"But he was unrelenting in his search. After a time, I grew curious as to why he refused to leave me to my wanderings. So one night, I let him close enough to try and ask him just that." She looked to the elf, a look of diluted sarcasm crossing her face. "And I'm sure you know how well that went."
"So him running at you with a sword and calling you a murderer did not end well then?" The elf suggested.
She rolled her eyes, "Indeed. And I tried then, and numerous times thereafter, to try and explain that he had the wrong person, but he wouldn't listen." She ran a hand across her face at the memory.
"Then perhaps it was your evil twin who committed the crime." Legolas said.
Eina laughed, shaking her head at him, "You, have a very peculiar sense of humor, Prince."
"Please, call me Legolas." He spoke, looking over to her. With a small smile he continued, "We are comrades, after all."
She blinked a few times, surprised at his suggestion. But after a moment, she nodded, a quiet smile falling across her lips. "Alright then." Her eyes took to the sky, admiring the mountains from afar. Moments passed and the clashing of blades and the murmurs of their comrades could be heard from around them. But for that one moment, the silence between them was peaceful.
With their eyes once again watching the half-lings practice, Legolas spoke out after a few moments of serenity, "Though he will never admit it, Aragorn was fearful of you upon your first encounter."
"Aragorn? Afraid of me?" Her shoulders jived in sync with her laughs. Eina shook her head, humored at his words. "You must be joking Legolas."
But the Prince's expression quickly silenced her outburst; his face was precariously sober. When she quieted, he continued, "For having allegedly killed so many people so effortlessly and singlehandedly, his fear is actually quite understandable. He feared your power and what you could become should you wander down the wrong path. So he decided to keep a watchful eye on you to ensure you did not stray into darkness." The Prince suddenly laughed, "That, and he claims that you are too mysterious for your own good, and that irks him to no end."
"And all of this is based of what he thinks he saw." She huffed, exasperated, "Whomever did murder all of those innocent people, I hope they reveal themselves so I can run them through with my sword for having to put up with him for so long."
Legolas laughed, shaking his head, "And you say that I have a peculiar sense of humor."
She shot him a mock glare, pared with a contented smile. Her gaze shifted to the landscape yet again. "It is not often that I discuss the alleged secrets of my life. But you, Prince… you, for whatever reason, make it easy." Her stare remained fixed out across the tumbling hills around them as Legolas looked to her as she spoke. A bittersweet simple fell over her lips, "Your kindness is not something I encounter often."
"It is not hard to be kind to others." Legolas said, smiling to her. "You were burdened with a false allegation against your name. An allegation that has remained with you for years, despite the legitimacy of it."
"You almost speak as if you believe me." Her brow then furrowed. "Why?" A gentle breeze came between them and he could only smile back at her.
"Why not?"
Eina couldn't help but smile. She was about to continue their refreshing conversation, when a curious thing happened.
A sudden tickle began to make its way down her spine, almost as if cool water was now trickling beneath her skin. At first it was hardly noticeable, but after a moment, it became hard to ignore. She turned her head, looking around in both curiosity and befuddlement. Legolas eyed her with a furrowed brow, noticing her shift in behavior. "Is something wrong?" He asked.
She stood, her expression now sober and still just as perplexed. To the elf's surprise, it also appeared somewhat anxious. "I'm not sure." She answered, beginning to walk off. To her comment, Legolas stood, following Eina over to where Gandalf and Gimili were perched.
Gandalf was smoking a pipe as they approached, and they managed to catch the very end of his conversation with their dwarf companion, "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." The dwarf huffed boisterously, muttering under his breath about delicious malt beer. With their boots tapping against the dirt, Gandalf turned his gaze towards the duo as the gap between them closed.
The wizard offered them a small grin, "I trust the half-lings are taking well to their lessons?" His smile widened, seeing the half-lings tackling Boromir to the ground. But his smile soon faded after seeing the look of worry marring Eina's face. "Is something wrong my dear?"
"I'm not sure." The peculiar feeling was now tracking down her entire spine and trailing up into her skull. It was not a painful thing per say, just distracting. And then, for whatever reason, she felt her gaze being pulled south and off into the sky. She then lifted a hand a pointed out across the horizon, "There."
For an instant they all simply stared, confused as to what it was they were supposed to be looking at. But then it appeared.
"What is that?" Sam asked from behind them, a black wisp having now filtered towards them across the midday sky.
Gimili let out a bellowing response, "Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud."
"It's moving fast." Boromir had stood, pulling the Hobbits' with him. "Against the wind..."
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas yelled.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Aragorn let out his own commands, "Hurry, hide!"
In a flurry of motion the Fellowship gathered their things, doused the fire, and bolted for places to hide from the black birds. They took cover under short rock overhands and bushes, all of them somehow managing to find cover just as the birds arrived on top of their camp.
The birds were cawing loudly, their blackness marring the light of the mid day sky. From her hiding spot, Eina peered between the branches of the shrub to try and catch a better glimpse of the menacing birds. Although, with her spine seemingly pulsating at the mere presence of the birds, it was hard for her to put much concentration in actually looking at them. By now, the feeling was downright irksome. Eina closed her eyes, wishing for both the birds and the tingle in her spine to disappear.
But as soon as it seemed to begin, it ended. After having circled the hill, the Crebain returned to the higher parts of the sky and began to fly back from the direction they had come. When their caws finally began, the Fellowship emerged from their hiding places. They all looked to one another in a new sense of worry.
"Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched." Gandalf proclaimed, his staff in hand. "We must take the pass of Caradhras." All eyes turned towards the white mountain looming above them. Pippin visibly cringed, Sam groaned, and Gimili let out an indignant huff. The dwarf then turned, his eyes catching a peculiar sight.
"You alright lass? You look pale." Although he'd never admit it, look of slight concern crossed the dwarf's face. The others all turned, noting the shade of white that had overtaken Eina's face.
With all eyes now locked solely on her, Eina cracked a small smile, one corner of her lips tilting up ever so slightly, "I'm fine." Her eyes shot towards the skies and the maleficent black cloud that was drifting away from them, "Those things are just rather unsettling."
"Those birds would bring a chill to even the most hardy of adventurers." Merry chimed in. He picked up his pack and began to walk off ahead of everyone towards the mountain. Gandalf's eyes lingered on her ashen face for a moment before heading off after the half-ling. As the rest of the Fellowship began to leave the camp, Boromir's lips were drawn in a thin line as he watched his sister stride ahead of them, putting a good distance between herself and any of her companions.
"You seem troubled." Aragorn voiced, standing beside Boromir for a moment.
"She is lying." Boromir stated. He then began to walk, the ranger in tow with him.
"How can you tell?"
"She is my sister. After so many years, you simply pick up on those sorts of things." While the man's words were nonchalant, his expression looked no less concerned. Boromir let out a quiet sigh, "She always smiles like that when she lies. Though why, or even what she is lying about, I cannot rightly say."
Legolas had joined them in their walk, having overheard their previous exchange. "I am sure she will overcome it or come to you for guidance." The elf looked to Boromir as he spoke, but the man's face remained unconvinced.
"We shall see." Boromir exclaimed, adjusting his shield as it hung from his back, "She can be ridiculously stubborn when it comes to talking about things that trouble her."
Legolas was somehow remaining to be optimistic, "Our journey is long. I am certain there will be enough time to discover what troubles her."
The wind against their faces was beginning to chill as they approached the foot of the mountain. "Perhaps, Prince." Boromir's gaze shot up towards the new hurdle they were being forced to climb. "Perhaps."
%^&
Before long, the dirt and grass beneath their feet gave way to fresh powdered snow that was as pristine as it was blinding. With the expansive clear blue sky above them, the Fellowship pressed on, making a single path through the white snow. The half-lings, save for Frodo, had taken their place near Gandalf as the wizard continued to lead them across the slopes of the mountain. From behind them, followed Eina. She was skill keeping a good pace away from the rest of their company, for she was still lost to her thoughts.
However, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted, "It has come to our observation that something is troubling you." Legolas caught the look of surprise on her face, "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."
She shook her head, slightly embarrassed for having been caught so off guard, "No, it's alright. I was just thinking."
"Of whatever it is that's been bothering you since this morning?" The elf pressed.
There was a pause. However, she eventually came to nod, but remained quiet. And as the silence between them dragged on, Legolas wasn't sure that she was even going to give him a proper answer.
But then she surprised him, "Those Crebain. Gandalf said they were spies of Sarumon?" The Elf nodded. She continued, "I know this may sound crazy, but I think I could sense them." She tentatively looked over to the prince, hoping his wasn't looking at her like she was a complete lunatic.
To her astonishment, his expression was much more relaxed, even enlightened, "That would actually make a great deal of sense." He let out a soft chuckle. Eina's jaw had half dropped, and one of her eyebrows had shot up. "You seem surprised at my response." He chimed.
But upon his words, her jaw snapped shut, and her eyes flew to the ground, embarrassed, yet again, for having been caught so off guard. "Forgive me." She muttered, the faintest of pink hues now marring her cheeks. "But how does that make any sense?" Her eyes then peered back up at him in curiosity.
"To say you can sense the presence of creatures of darkness is no stranger than me saying I can speak to trees." Another bewildered brow shot up on Eina's forehead. The prince laughed whole-heartedly at her crazed expression, his eyes sparking in mirth. "For one who wanders, you seem to know very little of Elvin kind."
With their boots still crunching against the snow, Eina shot the elf a mock glare, "Your kind, much like the Ranger, seemed to find great sport in hunting me. And they were much more effective." Her face grew dark, "It was difficult at times, escaping their traps. Lord Elrond made sure of that."
"And yet here we walk, side by side, up the ridge of this mountain." There was something odd about this statement, some foreign meaning to his words that she could not quite comprehend. For a moment, she was quiet, mulling his words over in her mind with the snow continuing to crunch against their boots as they strode ever further up the mountain.
She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear, "To say you are an exception, Prince, would only be half true. While it goes without saying that for the course of this journey we must all put our differences aside for the better of the Fellowship, there is something else—" her voice trailed off as her gaze turned towards the Prince, "—something else about you that inspires me to trust you."
A small smile dancing about his lips as he next spoke, "And I can only hope that you believe me when I say that this trust is reciprocated." To his words, she nodded and for an instant, their eyes met and they both smiled.
But from behind them, came a sudden crashing of snow and all heads turned to see Frodo tumbling back down the slope. Luckily, Aragorn wasn't too far behind him, and kept the hobbit from falling further down the mountainside. As soon as he was steadied, Frodo reached for the chain on his neck, only to find it not in its place. The half-ling's eyes turned upward, catching the Ring glistening a short ways up the slope as it sat resting in the snow.
Boromir, who was nearest to the Ring, retraced his steps down the slope and picked it up by the chain. Without so much as a second thought, he continued down the mountain and held it out to Frodo. He offered he half-ling a smile, "Here Frodo." The hobbit smiled in return, taking the chain and carefully returning it back around his neck. "Careful not to lose it now. Goodness knows what would happen if the Ring fell into the wrong hands." The half-ling nodded in agreement before beginning to follow Boromir back up the mountain, Aragorn in tow behind them.
After the moments delay, they all journeyed onward. However, the bright day quickly morphing into a chaotic blizzard the further they trekked up the mountain. Soon, the entire Fellowship was trudging through massive drifts of snow, with even more of the white flakes pelting against them as they tried to carry on in the freezing cold.
Gandalf was doing his best to carve a path for those behind him, but their travels were still very slow going through the high drifts. Eina had an arm wrapped around Frodo, trying to keep even the smallest bit of cold away from him.
But as her feet pressed down yet again against the white powder, a familiar tickle began to fall down her spine. She dared to lift her head up against the raging winds, looking for whatever could possibly be causing this strange sensation to happen yet again. But it soon became clear that, in the midst of the raging blizzard, nothing was physically coming towards them. Not even the Crebain could navigate this storm.
A pair of boots had then appeared on top the bank of snow beside her. She lifted her chin to see Legolas, whose feet remained light on the snow, now standing beside her. He looked to her, "Is something wrong?" He inquired.
"I sense that there is something of ill intent upon us." She answered, "Though, I can't see anything. Perhaps you could try and search for it with your Elvin eyes?" Legolas nodded and Eina beginning to move Frodo forward yet again. The Hobbit looked at her curiously as she ushered him along the snowy path.
From on top the banks of snow, Legolas moved out in front of the group and near the mountains ledge. Looking out into the storm, a crease formed on his brow. Eina was right; there was something other than the whipping of the winds that was being tossed about the sky.
"There is a fell voice on the air!" Legolas shouted above the storm. The ringing of ancient words and spells could then be heard.
"It's Saruman!" Upon Gandalf's cry, numerous boulders loosened themselves from their places on top the mountain and tumbled ruthlessly towards the Fellowship. With what strength they had, the Fellowship threw themselves flat against the cliff wall, hoping to keep from being crushed as the rocks tumbled past in a roar of crashing stone.
Though the deadly boulders had passed, the Fellowship knew this would not be the end of their troubles. Aragorn was the first to recognize this, "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" From beside him, Sam was quivering like a leaf against the cold.
"No!" The wizard replied immediately. Gandalf trudged through the snow and stood on the ledge of the mountain. From here, he began to shout his own words of magic in hopes of calming the mountain.
But the mountain had already been won. Lighting then struck the very top of the mountain, sending an avalanche hailing down on them. With the swiftness and agility his race was famed for, Legolas pulled Gandalf away from the ledge and back against the cliff face just as the snow and ice is dumped upon them. For a moment, the mountain was still, save for the billows of wind and snow.
With waning energy, the Fellowship managed to pull themselves out from underneath the snow. This time, it is Boromir who is adamant in speaking, "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to the White City!" Besides him, Merry and Pippin were pale, if not paler than the snow, their teeth chattering against the cold between their blue lips.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn said, yelling over the wind.
It was then Gimili who offered a suggestion, "If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it." Snow and ice stuck to nearly every inch of the dwarf's vermillion beard, refusing to let go even as he spoke. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria."
Eina and Frodo stood in between everyone, with Frodo pulled close to fruitlessly try and keep away the cold. But even through the blizzard, Eina can see a quiet and unannounced fear creep into Gandalf's eyes. She can also tell that he is undecided on what to do. And so Eina offered a suggestion, "Let the Ring Bearer decide."
"We cannot stay here!" Boromir was insistent, "This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Grimly enough, his proclamation had very good potential for becoming true. Sam, Merry, and Pippin all looked frozen to the bone, shaking against the cold with snow and ice caked to nearly every inch of their bodies.
The wizard turned his gaze to the blue-eyed hobbit, "Frodo?"
The half-ling looked to his friends, and seeing their misery as well as everyone else's, he decided. "We will go through the Mines."
"So be it." Gandalf said softly. With the decision made, the Fellowship turned around and began to make the trip back down the snowy mountain. Gandalf once again moved to the front of the group with the Hobbits seemingly running after him. At the news being able to get off the mountain, the Hobbits seemed to find a new will to keep going for their motivation to carry on had been rekindled.
As Eina watched the rest of the group begin to descend, she remained behind for a moment. Her eyes were trailing after Gandalf. From on top of the snow and ice, Legolas stood beside her. Upon seeing her stare, his eyes followed her gaze. His face then turned puzzled and he stepped down onto the carved path where she stood. "Is something the matter?" He asked.
"I'm not sure." She answered, pulling her cloak closed with stiff hands, "But I cannot help but feel that there is something Gandalf is keeping from us." To this comment, the two of them glanced at one another; both now curious and wary of the secrets their wizard friend was hiding as they began to walk back down the mountain.
%^&
What was left the of day had passed, and the Fellowship had since traveled off of the mountain (much to the relief of the Hobbits). They had passed south and were now trailing along what was left of an ancient aqueduct, following a small stream as they walked.
The two siblings of the group walked side by side, softly chatting with one another. Eina had just finished telling Boromir of what she had discussed with Legolas when the dwarf in front of them stopped abruptly.
"The walls of Moria." Gimili let out an awestruck breath. The remainder of the Fellowship looked up, seeing a vast cliff face towering above them.
Eina couldn't help but smile, "It really is magnificent." The wall disappeared into the misty haze above them, making it seems as if the wall went on forever into the sky.
Gimili's chest seemed to puff out a bit at her compliment, "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He boasted, tapping his ax against a rock, picking up his stride yet again. The Fellowship all then continued to trail along the cliff wall, searching for the door.
"Yes, Gimili, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf added, running his hand along the wall as he walked.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas commented. Those who happened to overhear the elf's comment couldn't help but snicker. The dwarf shot a glare towards the prince, grumbling under his breath before continuing on.
The stream they were following had emptied into a small pool that shimmered like black glass against the moonlight. A splash was suddenly heard, and heads turned to see Frodo hastily pulling his foot out of the water. For an instant his eyes scanned the water fretfully, hoping he hadn't disturbed anything that might've been lurking beneath the blackened water. Aragorn put a hand on his shoulder, nodding him forward and further from the waters edge.
Gandalf, who was still running his hand along the rock wall, suddenly came to stop at a large stone between two trees. He then began to mutter, "Now… let's see. Ithildin." With a hand still trailing across the cliff face, silvery wisps' began to appear on the rock wall. "It mirrors only starlight… and moonlight." The wizard then turned his gaze to the night sky, which, after the swift shifting of clouds, revealed the moon. The silvery lines then became brighter, revealing a door framed by two columns beneath an arch. A star was imprinted at the very center of the door, glowing just as brightly as the moon above them.
From behind him, the rest of the Fellowship gathered, listening to him as he spoke, "It reads 'The Doors of Durin – Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
Gandalf, who was obviously pleased for even having found the door, answered swiftly, "Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." Gandalf then took a step towards the doors, lifting his staff and pressing it against the glowing star, "Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" After a few seconds, all was still and the doors remained closed.
Although now slightly off put, Gandalf stepped back, lifting his arms high towards the doors and trying again, "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen."
"Nothing's happening." Pippin commented, which earned a somewhat agitated stare from the wizard. Gandalf then pushed against the doors, hoping his efforts were not in vain. But it was clear that the doors remained tightly closed against all of his efforts to open them. The remaining members of the Fellowship all glanced at one another; why were the doors refusing them entry?
Having taken a few steps back from the impenetrable door, Gandalf spoke, "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves… Men… and Orcs."
"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin's question was an innocent one, but Gandalf's patience had long since grown thin.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" The wizard snapped, causing the hobbit to flinch ever so slightly at the harshness of his words, "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." The rest of the Fellowship looked to one another before each moving about to find a comfortable place to rest, for it would seem that they would be waiting here for a while as Gandalf tried to solve the mystery of the Dwarf doors that refused to allow them entrance.
%^&
Some time had passed, and the Fellowship had all found places to rest beside the lake near the doors. Gandalf was still uttering countless spells and words in many tongues in efforts to try and get the doors to open; despite his valiant efforts, none of them proved to be the right ones, and the door was still sealed shut.
Eina sat on a small stone, watching Aragorn unhitch the pony from its bridle, sending it off back down the path they'd came. Sam was beside him, his expression a bit crestfallen before the ranger set a hand on the Hobbit's shoulder, offering a small, but comforting smile. As they began to walk back towards the rest of the group, Merry and Pippin began to throw stones into the water. As Aragorn walked past, he grabbed them both by the arms, "Do not disturb the water."
"Oh, it's useless!" Gandalf suddenly proclaimed, tossing his staff and hat onto the ground before sitting down beside Frodo. Eina glanced over at the wizard. He was clearly troubled, but he had every right to be. She stood from her place and walked over to the seated pair, looking to the door with her own eyes. Frodo decided to join her in further observing the quizzical markings.
"This thing is proving to be quite the puzzle, isn't it Frodo?" Eina said offhandedly, her eyes following the intricate words across the top arch.
But her words sent a spark of an idea through Frodo's mind, "Puzzle…" He muttered, brow now furrowed as the gears of his mind began to turn, "It's a riddle. Speak 'friend' and enter." The half-ling looked up to the woman standing beside him, "Eina, what's the Elvish word for friend?"
She looked to him, uttering the single word, "Mellon." And to their great astonishment, the stone doors began to move, rumbling deeply as they swung open. They revealed a seemingly endless black pit that disappeared into the side of the cliff face. But Gandalf was not deterred from the darkness, and quickly gathered his discarded things and stepped forward into the Mines.
With quiet steps, he took the first few paces into the dark, with the rest of the Fellowship in tow behind him. Aragorn and Boromir came in last, both of them taking watchful looks back over their shoulders. Even with the moonlight flooding in past the doors, it was still very dark in the Mines.
Gandalf then placed a crystal on top of his staff as Gimili began to banter on about the Mines, "Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone." The look of eagerness was clear on Gimili's face by this point, "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin. And they call it a mine." He laughed, "A mine!"
But as Gandalf breathed light into the stone upon his staff, it was clear that they would never enjoy such luxuries. "This is no mine…" Boromir proclaimed, taking in the horrid sight that surrounded them, "It's a tomb."
From all around them, an endless number of corpses littered the ground, all belonging to the Dwarves who once called this place home. Many of them were broken, battered, and strewn about, sending a dark chill down each of their spines.
"Oh, no! Noooo!" Gimili howled in anguish.
Everyone had grown dangerously tense and hands began to fall on the hilts of swords. Legolas pulled an arrow from the body of a dwarf, quickly scanning it over. Upon realization, his face twisted to disgust before tossing the arrow away, "Goblins."
To this announcement, Boromir and Aragorn drew their swords. Legolas notched an arrow to his bow and all eyes began to search the darkness. Eina had begun to usher the Hobbits back and out of the Mines; this place was not safe. But as her eyes glanced over the heads of the four half-lings, she couldn't help but notice the black water of the pool churning behind them.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan." Boromir proclaimed, deadest. "We never should have come here. This place is not safe. Now get out of here. Get out!"
Eina had stopped just beneath the archway of the door, the Hobbits bumping into her, not having noticed that she'd stopped. "Boromir," She yelled over her shoulder, not daring to take her eyes off the water. She put her hands up, keeping the Hobbits behind her just as the surface of the water erupted with a new dangerous life.
In a seemingly well-practiced motion, Eina notched an arrow to her bow and shot at the long snaking tentacle that was headed straight for them. Her aim was true, and severed the black appendage clean in half, earning a wild cry of anguish from the beast as it's mangled limb shot back under the water. She couldn't help but smirk at hearing the Hobbits cheer her on.
However, their cheers quickly died as another dozen tentacles were being hurdled at her and the half-lings at a new level of ferocity. She swore under her breath, shoving the Hobbits out of harms way just as the slimy black arms reached them.
But having had moved the Hobbits, she did not have time to move herself. Within a split second, the slippery tentacles were wrapped around her in a tight grip, yanking her clean off of her feet and into the air. She didn't even have the time to scream before the beast decided to plunge her into the water.
But what was worse than being mercilessly ripped off her feet and dragged into the water was the fact that the beast seemed to want to keep her there, submerged in the cold, dank water. The beast had her from both ankles and a wrist. Yet try as she might, struggling against its grip, her thrashing came to no avail.
She needed to think, and quickly; being under Gandalf's new spell meant that she now needed air, and she was quickly running out of it. But how was she supposed to get herself out of this mess? But there was so little air left in her lungs… so little… not enough…
Eina then experienced a feeling she had not known in nearly 17 years: panic. So again, she struggled against the grip of the beast, knowing that she had mere seconds before she would blackout. She slammed her free hand against one of the tentacles, desperately trying to get it to release her.
From behind closed eyelids, she could see a glow suddenly appear from her right hand, which was still trying to fight against the beast. The glow erupted and died almost instantly. But before the light even had disappeared, the tentacles that held her flinched away, finally letting go. Her instinct to survive urged her to swim upward, and with a few kicks, she broke the surface of the pool. With great breaths, she heaved in gulps of air, her vision still spotty for having nearly drowned.
A voice from the shore suddenly yelled out to her, "Eina!" Although she could not see him, she knew the voice belonged to Legolas. She heard an arrow soar just above her head, which was instantly followed by an angry roar from the monster. "Get out of the water!" He ordered, letting two more arrows fly. Not needing to be told twice, she began to swim the short distance back to shore.
She scrambled out of the water, drenched, but alive. She looked over her shoulder in time to see that sheer pandemonium had broken out. Arrows and swords were flying every which way and water was splashing everywhere.
Mustering up her strength, she stood on shaky legs. "Eina!" Someone yelled out to her. She whipped her head around to see Merry, Pippin and Sam all gathered back under the archway, ushering her over to them. In a few seconds, she was beside them, each of them talking so fast she could hardly keep up.
"We saw you go under the water—" Merry started.
"And then there was this light—!" Sam interjected.
"It was a strange color—" Pippin carried on.
"But then you reappeared!"
"We were so relieved."
"We'd thought you'd drowned!"
"And then the monster got Frodo—"
Eina hardly let Sam finish his sentence before interrupting him, "It WHAT?!" She flung herself back around, eyes instantly finding the missing half-ling, who was hanging precariously from one of the beast's tentacles above seemed to be the creature's mouth.
She did not realize that she had fired the arrow until its trailing pink light had blown a hole clear through the tentacle that was holding Frodo, severing the limb completely. The beast wailed in agony, and Boromir managed to catch the falling Hobbit before he fell into the murky water yet again.
"Into the Mines!" Gandalf ordered, having run up to the little group before outright shoving them under the archway and back into the dark mines.
"But the others!" Eina protested, ready to fire off another arrow.
The voice of her brother suddenly yelled out, "Legolas!" The remaining members of the Fellowship then sprinted as fast as they could towards the doors as Legolas continued to fire off arrows that dared to chase after his comrades. Tentacles continued to fall, and given a split second advantage, Legolas fired an arrow into the beast's eye. With a roar of pain, the creature recoiled for an instant before lunging all its remaining limbs after the fleeing company, tearing at the stone around the door in efforts to reach them as the moved further back into the mines.
Massive stone slabs quickly begin to crumble against the beast's rage and soon the roof around the door collapsed. Within seconds, the last rays of moonlight vanished and the Fellowship was left in darkness.
A voice spoke out in the dark in between the heavy breathing of the company, "We now have but one choice." A familiar light emerged from the stone on Gandalf's staff, revealing the fearful and startled faces of the Fellowship. "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." He then began to walk further into the darkness with the rest of the company trailing after him, their feet scuffling along the dusty and corpse ridden ground.
"Quietly now." Gandalf proclaimed quietly, "It's a four day journey to the other side. Let hope that our presence goes unnoticed." And so, the Fellowship crept into the swallowing darkness, their steps light as they dared to tread ever deeper into the depths of the hallowed mine.
She always smiles like that when she lies.
%^&
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And so the plot begins to diverge from the movie… if you think these are interesting little twists, then just wait and see what else I have in store.