Hey everyone! Here's the chapter the majority of you have been waiting for. Yes, I know some of you have been waiting this part. And here's your chance to read about it. Just a quick thing before I let you read, I know some of you have sme concerns about Hiccup's role in this story but let me just make something clear. When I first started reading fanifc, and I'm not saying all of them, there were some stories that had the characters crossing over not always being reliable. So Guest, when you said that it wasn't necessary for Hiccup to encourage Arwen to bring Frodo over to Rivendell, would you have just rather had Hiccup stand there and do nothing? All I'm trying to say is, I think it is best for Hiccup to actually be a person that these people can rely on, instead of being a useless p***k. Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. As for everyone else, please, enjoy the chapter.
The trip down the mountain had proceeded much smoother than the trip up. Not only did they have a path to follow, the wind and snow had also died down considerably. Making it easier for the lot to move more smoothly.
Hiccup did not know much about Moria. Except that it was a kingdom that belonged to the dwarves, whom had somewhat abandoned it for some unknown reason. He never read about why the dwarves abandoned it, but suspected that it was what Gandalf was afraid of that was it.
He talked with the others to see if he could find any answers that could help to his questions, but he found none so far. Though when he went to Gimbli, he found some of them.
"So, what exactly are these Mines of Moria?" he asked the dwarf.
Gimli chuckled in response.
"A Dwarf nation, laddy. My cousin, Balin, rules it." he explained. Rarity nodded.
"You never mentioned that back at Rivendell," Hiccup responded. "Though you did mention about your cousin. Seems like a pretty good guy."
"Oh he is lad," Gimbli said proudly. "Always looked up to him since I were a wee boy."
"I know how that feels," Hiccup replied. "My dad's friend taught me a lot of things. I like to say he was like an uncle to him.
"Guess that makes two of us then," Gimbi said sympathetically. "Maybe once we're done with this whole quest thing, we'd go over to the Blue Mountains some time. Rumor has that the taverns serve the best of drinks there."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The two of them shared a brief moment before some familiar Gimbli off the guard. One that would lead him to gasping with great excitement.
"The Walls...of Moria."
The Fellowship then stood and looked before a vast face, sheer and brooding. Standing even feet tall and was most likely a giant wall. Among the side of it was a small lake.
"Hmm," said Hiccup, looking quite puzzled. "Not what I was expecting."
"Ah, that may be Master Viking," said Gimbli. "But as you can see, dwarf doors are invisible when closed."
He then began to tap it twice with his axe.
"Yes, Gimli," said Gandalf. "Some are so well hidden and protected, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are lost."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas muttered.
Gimli gave the blonde a positively evil look while growling menacingly. Hiccup took note of it while approaching the scene.
"Let's see..." Gandalf murmured as he approached the wall and examining it carefully.
Hiccup came up behind him, and saw that there were vague runes carved into the ancient stone.
"Ithildin... It reflects only starlight and moonlight."
The wizard glanced back momentarily, as a cloud rolled away, revealing a full moon. The light seemed to flow down as easily as water, illuminating the area far better. The runes suddenly began to glow, creating what seemed to be an arch, a door, with runes carved into it. Gandalf smiled in satisfaction- the first time he had smiled in days, actually.
"It reads," he states, tapping his staff on the runes at the top of the door. "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked, observing the glowing door with awe.
"It's quite simple, really. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open," Gandalf explained, pressing the head of his staff against a star-like rune on the door. He bellowed something in the same language he had on Caradhras.
"Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!"
Everyone tensed, expecting something to happen. Slience filled the air for a minute. Yet unexpectedly, nothing happened.
Gandalf seemed looked slightly confused by this. He and Frodo shared a glance, before the wizard put both hands on the door, and belted out something else they couldn't understand.
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!"
"Nothing's happening," Pippin said bluntly.
Gandalf shot a glance, feeling a bit annoyed with the hobbit's stupidity, and then started to push up against the door a little, yet they remained fast.
"Well, this is surreal," said Hiccup.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men and even Orcs," Gandalf muttered.
"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asked loudly.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf snapped. "And if that does not shatter them, then I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions! I will try to find the opening words."
From that point on the others had to wait around while Gandalf did his work. While waiting, Hiccup decided to hang back with his best friend over near the river while the others tried to find things to pass the time. By then he started up a conversation with he did keep an eye out in case if Merry and Pippin were watching them. Clever bastards. Luckily no one was. So they can get at least a bit of privacy.
"So what do think we'll find down there bud?" he asked his dragon. "Maybe a few gemstones in those rocks, yud treaure chest or two in the halls. Who knows, maybe we'd find a solution to this whole mess."
Toothless let out a bit of a chirp in agreement to his rider's words. Or most likely hoping that there would be some sign of hope for the two of them when it comes to the whole saving the world business. For various reasons.
"Wouldn't that be something," Hiccup noted with a sign to follow. "So what do you say? Just keep going?"
Toothless then let out a crooning hum before resting his head on the ground. Though before he could sleep, he perked his head up and looked back to his left. From there he saw Sam and Aragorn taking unhitching Bill's saddle for an unknown reason. From there Toothless got up and walked over to the two of them. It turns out that Aragorn was setting Bill free before they entered the mines, and Sam was just saying goodbye.
When the Ranger saw the Night Fury turn up he allowed him to have a moment with the pony before cutting him lose. Knowing that these were the only two animals they brought along this journey.
"Mines are no place for a pony," he said to the hobbit and dragon alike. "Even one so brave as Bill."
Toothless nodded in response and lot out a low warble. Showing his empathy towards Sam when it comes to saying goodbye to a good friend. He always found Bill to be an interesting creature, despite him being an entirely different species to him. It jut felt sad to see that he wouldn't be able to see him again. Then again, Aragorn was always a man of his word. He could not deny that.
"Goodbye, Bill," Sam said in a saddened tone.
By then Strider sent him on his way, and the three watched as the pony disappeared up the mountains and was out of sight.
"Don't worry guys," Aragorn reassured them. "He knows the way home."
Toothless gave Aragorn a saddened look before walking back to join his rider. Of course understood the situation and didn't seem to worry about Bill's safety. But a thought crossed his mind,. One that made him stop and look back. It was not the circumstances concerning his likeminded friend, but just the thought of having to endure the same thing with his own rider.
The thought of having to leave his best friend over something that would be more for him to happen. He dared not think about it, but kept it in mind as a safeguard to him and his rider's friendship. Hiccup was his best bud, and it would be a disaster if he would have to leave him.
Meanwhile, Hiccup was just sitting near the river with Merry and Pippin not too far from them. He watched the two of them throwing stones at the water, an unlikely thing to do when it comes to killing time. Yet he didn't bother to interfere, since it did not seem to do any harm to them. Though they were stopped by Aragorn not shortly after, giving them a fair warning afterwards.
"Do no disturb the water," he said, looking to the river.
While this had happened, Gandalf had given up all hope to opening the doors and sat down by Frodo while dropping his staff.
"Oh it's useless," he muttered.
As they sat helpessly, something ripping ran through the river. Drawing the attention of a certain Night Fury. Who growled as he looked to the waters with cautious eyes.
"What is it bud?" Hiccup asked, coming to his dragon's side.
He honestly did not know what it was, but he knew that something was in the river. He could feel it. But before he could get past it, he looked back to see Frodo stand up, as if he finally figure out the solution to the door problem.
"It's a riddle," he stated. "Speak friend. And enter."
He then turns to Gandalf, who would probably help fix this problem.
"What's the Elvish word for friend?" he asked.
"Mellon," Gandalf answered, inconspicuously.
And just like that, the doors to the mines opened. Drawing everyone's attention. Immediately, they all gathered their things and jumped up to join Frodo and Gandalf. The wizard placed a translucent crystal in the gnarled head of his staff, and it glowed slightly.
"Well," said Hiccup. "That took long enough."
Gandalf was the first to enter the mines, followed closely and eagerly by Gimli, who gladly led the less eager elf into the darkness. Hiccup went by Gandalf's side. Igniting his fire sword to add the extra light.
"Where did that come from?" asked Legolas.
"Made it myself," Hiccup answered. "I'll tell you about it when we have more time."
The elf nodded in an understanding. Knowing that they may not have time for talking if whatever is in these mines is dangerous.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves," Gimbli said with excitement. "Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat till the bone."
Gimli, heedless of the thoughts of the others, continued with his long intro to Moria. As he did on the other hand, Gandalf leaned his staff closer to the darkness, and revealed something that was probably to dirty to see.
"This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin, and they call it a mine. A mine!"
However, his moment of excitement was shattered when Boromir noticed something about the mines themselves.
"This is no mine," he said. "It's a tomb."
Gandalf and Hiccup's light then revealed scattered, rotting, and broken forms of skeletons. As they did the hobbits jumped back, and Toothless was put on alert once more. From the arrows and severed bones that lay about, it didn't take a genius to realize a battle had taken place.
"No... no" Gimli gasped, running around and staring in horror at the grisly scene. "NOOOOOOOOO!"
Nearby, Legolas tore an arrow out of a dwarf skeleton. After a moment of examination, he dropped it like it was a cobra.
"Goblins!" He hissed.
Aragorn and Boromir instantly drew their swords. And Hiccup drew out a small knife with his other hand.
"Toothless," he called out. "Sound off!"
Then without hesitation, Toothless let out his usual roar that echoed across the mines. By then his ears perked up, and he snarled afterwards. Indicating that something foul may be in the mines after all.
"He's got something," Hiccup said to the others. "But it's not anything good."
"We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir said, knowing that they made the wrong decision. "We should never have come here."
The four hobbits backed away from the door at the sight of the tomb, not knowing that something was coming out of the water. None of them seem to know, however, Toothless's left ear perked up and he turned his eyes back as if he sensed something. Then without warning, he turned to the direction the the door and jolted towards the direction of hobbits.
The hastefully jumped out of the way to avoid the Night Fury's pounce, but suddenly realized what he had done when he lunged to the ground. When the looked down they saw Toothless snatch a tentacle with his jaws before it could wrap around Frodo's ankle. There he started tugging it with all his strength. By then they were on constant alert.
"STRIDER! HICCUP!" Sam called to them as Toothless resumed his tug of war.
The commotion instantly got their attention, and Hiccup quickly rushed over to his dragon.
"TOOTHLESS!" he called out.
The little tug war ended with the tentacle jerking off of the Night Fury's grip, and then slid back into the water. Then all of a sudden, more tentacles shoot out from the river. Swatting away the hobbits and dragon while one of them grabbed Frodo by his foot. And then proceeded to drag him into the air and flailed him around as if he were a ragdoll.
"FRODO!" Merry yelled as the rest of the Fellowship joined them.
Legolas ran out and immediately shot out an arrow at the monster's tentacles. Though the beast didn't let go, it kept it from warping around Frodo's face. While this happened, Hiccup quickly mounted Toothless and waited for an opening. Aragorn and Boromir started chopping off the other tentacles of the beast to try to force it to drop the Ring Bearer.
Though it still managed to keep in the air. But by that time, the monster began to burst out of the water. Taking the form of some type a kraken. A watcher they called it. Which was a beast that Hiccup had read about. One that killed one of the dwarves that accompanied Frodo's uncle Bilbo, when he went on that one quest to reclaim Erebor.
The creature suddenly hovered Frodo over its mouth, and then proceeded lower him down so it could devour the hobbit. But before he could Toothless shot out a plasma blast. Which forced the tentacle back, and allow Aragorn and Boromir to keep cutting the tentacles off.
Eventually, Aragorn was able to cut the tentacle that was holding him, and Hiccup and Toothless lunged into the air. Catching Frodo into the Night Fury's paws as he avoids the remaining tentacles.
"Hang on kid," Hiccup told the lad. "This might get a little rough."
By then Toothless dodged two mre tentacles before firing a plasma blast at the creature bellow. Forcing it into the water. He fires another on to keep it disracted while diving down to the group. Before he could reach them in the other hand, he was stopped by one of the other tentacles.
Only to be forced down with yet another plasma blast shot. From there, Toothless was able to drop Frodo off into Aragon's grasp before landing swiftly near them.
"Into the mines!" Gandalf calls to them.
Pretty soon everyone began to retreat into the mines. As the beast approached them, Legolas shot an arrow at the beast in the eye to give Aragorn, Frodo, and Boromir some cover fire. Toothless followed suit by firing a plasma blast to slow the beast down. At that time Hiccup dismounted Toothless and too began to retreat into the mines of Moria.
"Run!" Aragorn yelled as everyone went into the doors.
Toothless was the only one who was outside the mines by that time. Battling the insane monster to buy the others some time. Two tentacles reached out for him, but as swift as mongoose, he dodged the tentacles and returned with a plasma blast to the beast's face. He then fired two more blasts, causing the beast to roar out in pain.
The Night Fury slowly backed up into the direction of the mines as he bombarded the watcher with dragon firepower. At this time everyone was safe in the mines and looked up to see the ceiling on top of the doors becoming unstable.
"TOOTHLESS!" Hiccup called to his dragon.
The dragon turned back to see what they were seeing and then turned back to the beast. Firing one last plasma blast before bolting straight for the entrance of the mines. The slabs of rocks on top of the ceiling began to fall apart. Giving the Night Fury little to no time to make it to the mines on time. Luckily for the young dragon, he was faster than a majority of the dragon's back at home.
With great determination, Toothless made a full sprint to the mines, flapping his wings to give him an extra boost. It seemed that he wasn't going to make it due to the slab of rocks falling too soon, yet Toothless did not give up. He fired a plasma blast at one of the rocks to clear a path and then leapt into the mines as the rocks fell.
As he did, he landed on the ground, rolled a bit and skidded on his right side before coming to a screeching halt right in front of the Fellowship. All the while the door behind him crumbling down. Blocking the only way out of this hell hole at any cost. By then Toothless panted heavily before standing up, shaking off the dirt from his scaley hide, and looking to the other Fellowship members. Who were just awestruck with the Night Fury's performance.
"That was amazing," said Sam, utterly dumbstruck.
"How did you do that?" asked a mortified Merry.
Toothless blushed a bit with all the attention he was getting. He did not mind to show off his skill, knowing how utterly badass he looks. He then turned to Frodo, and check to see if he was alright.
"I'm alright," he reassured the Night Fury, and then looked to Aragorn and Boromir. "We all are."
He then turned over to his rider, who then patted his head.
"Good job bud," he told him, before looking to the blocked exit. "What do we do now Gandalf?"
"We have but one choice," the Grey Wizard responded, lighting up his staff in the process. "We must face the long dark of Moria."
He then started to walk forward into the deep, with the others following behind.
"Be on your guard," he suggested to the other members. "There are older, and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world."
Everyone began to journey deep into Moria. With Gandalf advising the Fellowship that it would be a four day journey to the other side of Moria. As far as light goes, the Fellowship foudn two disused pitch torches in additon to the crystal on Gandalf's staff, as well as Hiccup's fire sword. Aragorn and Bormir carried them, while keeping a constant eye out for whatever would be in these mines.
After their encounter with the Watcher, the Fellowship were advised to quiet down in order to not draw any attention. So far they had no other encounters with any sort of foes except the Watcher. Though Hiccup ad to keep in mind of certain goblins or orcs that may have slaugthered all those people by the entrance. Though they had hoped that this state would remain for the majority of the trip.
Though the further they ventured into Mria, the more questions Hiccup had in his head. One such question was what would be so special about the wealth of this place. He knew that Erebor valued its wealth on gold and minerals, yet there seemed to be none so far. Another questioned that bugged him was the structure of Moria itself.
His people based their civilization on Great Halls, where they held their daily feasts and planning rituals. Filled in tough wood that kept the walls from crumbling. Yet in here, it seemed that the structure of Moria contained stone passageways, steep stairways, and rooms and halls covered with intricate carvings. The often-narrow pathways the Fellowship used traversed over very deep pits in areas. The pathway the Fellowship was currently on ran alongside a stope wall to its left and the edge of a deep pit to its right.
"So Gandalf," he said to the wizard. "What did the dwarves mine in here? What did they base their riches off of?"
"The wealth of Moria, Master Hiccup, was not in gold in jewels," he answered before shining his staff down he pit to theirr right. "Mithril."
Hiccup heard of that word before. In one of his books, mentioning about the toughest metal in Middle Earth. One that was light as a feather and was hard as dragon scales. It was very interesting to read about. He almost thought of buying one from a dwarf himself.
"I thought mithril wasn't very common in Middle Earth," Hiccu stated.
"Hiccup, my lad," Gimbli said as he welcomed the opportunity to educate the young viking chief as well as turn his houghts away from the dwead dwarves he saw earlier. "My people were constantly mining for this stuff. Crafting it for armor and weapons. Though, as time passed real quickly, Mithril started to become scarce. Though I'll admit to myself that it is still a magnificiant tool."
"No doubt about that," Hiccup replied.
You know," said Gandalf. "Bilbo had a shirt of Mithirl rings that Thorin gave him."
"Oh," said Gimbli, slightly impressed. "That was a kingly gift."
"Yes," Gandalf responded. "I never told him, but its worth was greater han the value of the Shire."
"That's a lot, considering how big the Shire is when in the air," said Hiccup.
Minutes had passed by in the endless dark. The Fellowship found themelves climbing up a steep steps on the side of the caverns. Though when they reachd the top, surprisingly, the Fellowship had come to a halt in their travels. They had unexpectedly come to a landing at the tp of some winding stairs which revealed three separated doorways that marked the entrance of differen tunnels.
Gandalf held his staff and glanced at each doorway. While this happened, Hiccup came slowly behind him, confused as to what the problem was.
"What is it Gandalf?" he asked them.
"I have no memory of this place," he answered.
By then the Fellowship were forced to rest beneath to peak of the crossroads while Gandalf decided to think of which doorway to take. From there evryone tried to find things to kill time. Boromir, Gimbli and Aragorn were busy sitting down while smoking pipeweed, Pippin was constantly complaining to Merry about being hungry, and Legolas as leaning up against the columns staring off.
Though as they rested, Hiccup and Frodo noticed Toothless looking at the direction just down the caverns. Snarling and bareing out his teeth for some unknown reason.
"What is it bud?" he asked him.
Yet the dragon did not respond. As the two of them looked to the direction where the Night Fury was looking, Frodo somewhat found the thing that was bugging him. It appears that there was something was moving through the stones. And from the look of where it's headed, it seemed that it was heading in their direction, but cautiously.
As if it does not wanted to be found. Startled by this, Frodo walked over to Gandalf while Hiccup put a hand on the top of Toothless's neck to reassure him. Though the Night Fury never took his eyes on the creatures that is seemingly stocking them.
"There's something down there," Frodo said to Gandalf.
"It's Gollum," Gandalf answered.
"Gollum?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes, he's been following us for three days."
"I read about him," Hiccup replied. "The last I heard of him was when he was captured by orcs and tortured by them."
"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dur," Frodo stated, somewhat surprised.
"Escaped? Gandalf questioned rhetorically. "Or was set loose. And now the ring has drawn him near."
"I can get behind that," said Hiccup.
As they talked, Toothless watched the creautue that was said the be Gollum's every move. We watched as it's dark, yet filthy hands clasping a stone implement. From a distance below, the creature looked up from the implement. His large, wet eyes piercing through the darkness. Observing the company, while simultaneously looking into the eyes of the dragon above.
The two of them then commenced in an epic staredown. With Toothless growling as his eyes narrowed. His wings slowly started to flail out. But not all the way. As a sign to the creature to stay away. The creature did not respond to it. Instead it stared at him with intentions that were indescribable. Then after a moment of staring, the creature finally took its hands off of the implement and disappeared into the darkness.
"He will never be rid of his need for it," Gandalf explained. "He hates and loves the ring. As he hates and loves himself."
"That's a bit hard to believe," said Hiccup. "To love and hate yourself."
"Aye," Gandalf agreed. "Smeagol's life is a sad story. Yes, Smeagol was what he once was called. Before the ring found him, and drove him mad."
"It's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance," Frodo stated, looking into the direction whence Gollum came from.
"Pity?" Gandalf asked Frodo, with a bit of disappointment. "It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that died deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?"
"No one can," Hiccup answered for the Hobbit. "Not even a brave viking such as myself. I learned that when I met Toothless. "
Frodo looked silently looked down. Taking their words for granted.
"Exactly, Master Hiccup" Gandalf too agreed. "Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play, yet for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
Frodo then sat by Gandalf. Taking all of this information in like cake. But also feeling a bit of guit in himself.
"I wish the ring had never come to me," he stated. "I wish none of this had happened."
"So do all who live to see such times," Gandalf reassured. "But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Frodo then looked up to Gandalf, still processing this.
"There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil," Gandalf continued. "Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you were meant to have it."
Gandalf then looked to Hiccup. Who was right beside his dragon as they looked down to the caverns. Who then checked of few this from his saddle before patting the Night Fury.
"And better yet," he said. "There is no doubt that they were meant to come to this world. Fighting the battles that were only meant for us. And that is encouraging thought."
The two of them shared a look before Gandalf finally remembered something. Or most likely, found out something that would be helpful.
"Oh," said the Grey Wizard, as he pointed his head to one of the doorways. "It's that way."
"He's remembered," Merry commented to the Fellowship.
"No," Gandalf replied. "But the air doesn't smell so foul down here."
He then bent over the Merry who was now standing beside him.
"If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."
The Fellowship followed Gandalf down a narrow stairway until exited into seemingly another large cavern. Gathering their things as well as the torches that they were using since the start of this journey in the deep.
"Let me risk a little more light," Gandalf murmured as he held up his staff to shine its light into the cavern even further. "Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."
Hiccup and Toothless then caught their sights at what they saw next. By which the dark halls edged with silver light, whence revealing an enormous stone hall supported by numerous columns that stretched for miles and miles.
"There's an eye opener," Sam commented. "No mistake."
As the Fellowship continued its journey through the Twenty-First Hall , they eventually came across a set of double doors to their right. Two wooden doors were pushed opened and revealed a room that had a beam of sunlight streaming through its back wall through a small shaft. Gimli gasped when he noticed something in the middle of the room ,and began running towards it. Gandalf called out his name, but Gimli could not be persuaded to heel.
The rest of the Fellowship quickly followed him into the chamber. By the time they could reach him, they saw him kneeling at what appeard to be a stone altar or sarcophagus. The walls around the area were broken and scarred with blood and bones. In the center, Gandalf began to study the dwarven runes and translated the tomb to see who it had belonged to.
"Here lies Balin," he said. "Son of Fundin, Lord of Moria."
He then removed his hat to pay his respect to his old dead friend.
"So he is dead. It's as I feared."
As Gimli let out a sorrowful cry, Hiccup slowly moved above the dwarf and put a hand on his shoulder. Emphasizing the feeling of losing a dead relative.
"I'm sorry Gimli," He told him.
Then the dwarf began to mumble some prayers in the Dwarvish language. As he did, Gandalf had noticed a thick tome being held by a skeleton leaning against Balin's Tomb, presumably the tome's author in life. He handed his hat and staff to Pippin to hold so he could remove the tome from the skeletal grasp of its owner. He blew the accumulated dust off the tome's cover before carefully turning its pages of parchment.
Standing near Aragorn, Legolas started to become worried.
"We must move on," he advised his companion. "We cannot linger."
"Give him a minute guys," said Hiccup. "The pain of a lost one can be a big deal."
"If we don't move," said Legolas. "We'll be ambushed by orcs."
"He won't be long," Hiccup urged. "Just give him some time."
As the two of them bickered, Gandalf opened the book and started to read aloudd from the tome. Cutting the two off from their argument to look to Gandalf.
"They have taken the bridge," he states. "And the Second Hall. We haved barred the gates, but cannot hold them long. The gorund shakes. Drums. Drums in the deep."
He then flipped the page, the tension in the air starting to show.
"We cannot get out," he continued. "A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out...they are coming."
As Gandalf finished reading the ominous sounding words, Hiccup looked over the wizard's shoulder. He saw Pippin, seemingly lost in morbid curiosity, reaching to pull the arrow stuck in the skeleton sitting on the well.
"Pippin, NO!" Hiccup audibly yelled.
But it was too late. Pippin touched the arrow's fetching and resulted with the skull of the corpse slipping off. Falling into the well and crashing down into the deep. The Fellowshi spun around and looked in Pippin's direction. Pippin looked to Gandalf, feeling slightly guilty. Unknowin that the rest of the skeleton tumbled down into the well as well.
Dragging the bucket chain with it. Toothless leapt to the well to try to catch it, but was unable to catch it in time. By then a loud echo sounded off throughout the chamber with the dwarf's corpse unexpectedly hitting the bottom of it. Afterwards all Fellowship members dared not to make another sound, to see if Pippin had awoken whatever would be in these halls.
Luckily, after a moment, there was nothing. The majority of the Fellowship breathed a sigh of relief, having been startled by the original sound that Pippin had unintentionally caused. Hiccup reassured Toothless with a hand to the top of his head.
"Well, that was a close one," he commented.
Likewise to their luck, Gandalf put down the tome and gave the Hobbit a withering look.
"Fool of a Took!" he growled at Pippin as he snatched his hat and staff back from him. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
Pippin was saved from a further scolding when a loud booming rythem sounded off across the chamber. The Fellowship also heard the pounding, and from where it was coming from, it seemed that it was coming from the Chamber's entrance. Leaving Toothless to growl viciously at the doors.
"That can't be good," said Hiccup.
The echoes of numerous high pithced screeches and howled followed after the pounding. Frodo drew out his sword. Revealing its blade to be glowing light blue. And they all knew what that meant.
"Orcs!" Legolas proclaimed.
Boromir turned and ran to another set of doors, where the scattered, strange noises were coming from. From that point two arrows were shot at the door, causing him to jolt his head back.
"Get back, and stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn ordered the four hobbits.
By the the Hobbits began to form up at the back of the chamber just behind Gandalf. Aragorn went over to the door to check on Boromir. Who was busy closing the door. As they did, a loud roar sounded off. Causing Toothless to snarl viciously.
"What was that?" asked Hiccup.
"They have a cave troll," Boromir answered as soon as the door was shut.
Hiccup heard of this particular beast as well, and instantly drew his weapons. He started helpig Legolas toss weapons to Aragorn and Boromir and helped bard the doors as best as they could. Within moments the Fellowship began to mobilize. The rest of the Fellowship began to retreat within the Chamber. With Gandalf drawing his own sword, and Gimbli climbing on top of Balin's tomb.
"Let them come," he urged, thirsting for orc blood. "There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."
As they prepared for combat, the Fellowship arrayed themselves in somewhat of a battle order. In the front lines, Legolas stood in the front with his bow ready. Aragorn was to his left, also wielding a bow. Boromir stood to Legolas's right. His sword and shield ready. Hiccup stood between Legolas ad Boromir. is flame sword set ablaze and cannisters ready. Toothless was in front of Aragorn and Legolas. His mouth open with his maw glowing blue.
The hobbits in the back had their swords drawn out too. Ready to defend themselves if needed to. Along with Gandalf and Gimli ready to do heavy damage as well. Though as they stood ready, the chamber doors began to sway back and forth as the orcs and goblins sought to break though with murderous intent. Pretty soon weapons started to break through the splintered spaces of the door. The first clear gap was gashed in the door, though it was shot by Legolas.
Leaving a shrill cry to ring out. The elf then notched another arrow as Aragorn shoots another goblin through the next gap. They both went before another round, but before they did, the doors crashed down. Leaving an entire horde of orcs and goblins to charge through and at the Fellowship. As it broke through, Toothless fires the first plasma blast straight at the door. Causing a massive explosion that killed a majority of goblins.
Though it not stop them from charging furthr in. And the battle begins shortly after. Gimbli draws a battle cry as Aragorn quickly drops his bow and draws his sword as the goblns jump forth. Though he managed to cut across the goblins' gut. Boromir followed suit as he charged forth, blocig a goblin with his shield and then sicing it across the face.
Legolas retreats behind the safety of the others an then starts shooting arrows at the attacking goblins. In close combat, he uses the tip of on arrow to stab a goblin in the eye before shooting it dead between the eyes. Gimli swung his axe at a few attacking goblins who had reached the tomb. As for the rest of them, with a battle cry, they all charged at the goblins howling for blood.
By then Hiccup starts his assault by crossing swords with one goblin while kicking another on in the stomach. And than follows his attack by bringing the gobln's sword down before smacking it across the face. And ends it by stabbing the goblin in the chest before moving to the next one.
By the time the goblins reached the perimeter, Toothless starts off his atatck phase. He starts if off by lashing his claws out at three goblins. Cutting them down with each swipe. He then rams another attack goblin before putting a paw on top of it. Snarling at the other goblins before grabbing another goblin with his jaws and tossing it to his left.
He then takes it up on notch by taking his let wing and swiping five goblins with it. Then he jumps forth and swipes another goblin. Though he failed to see one particular goblin jump on the back of his spines. But he did not worth. Instead he swung his tail around, flinging the goblin off him while hitting four other goblins to his right. He then swings his tail to the other side and sends three other goblins across the room. Then he goes on to hit a goblin directly in the face with his right aw and then went to look for more targets.
Meanwile, everyone seemed to be holding their ground. Frodo ducked under a goblin's sword, Pippin prepares to fight another, Merry stabs one particular goblin multiple times, and Sam drove his sword right through a goblin's gut. Legolas fires yet another goblin in the chest while Aragorn decapitates a goblin with crying out for battle. Hiccup counters another goblin strike before return by slashing it across the face.
Then he catches one goblin's arm that was raised up and then stabs it in the heart. Depsite th the odds, Hiccup quickly found himself surrounded by goblins. But instead of worrying, he turns on the cannisters, which release Hideous Zippleback gas. The gas spreads all over the surrounding goblins, before Hiccup ignites it. Causing an explosion that blows the goblins to smithereens.
As the fight commences, Sam pauses in the heat of battle, his attention drawn upwards to the sound of thundering feet. Aragorn also looked up as the massive cave troll that Boromir mentioned earlier smashes through the doorway, chains leading from its neck to two goblins hands.
The troll then lets out a loud bellow catching the attention of the others as they look at the cave troll. Legolas quickly shoots at the cave troll in the shoulder, with the beast growls and claps a hand to the wound. Spotting Sam, the troll brought the full weight of its hammer towards him. The troll assumed that the hobbit would be an easy kill given his small size. But the young hobbit leapt right in between the troll's legs before it could crush him.
As he started to crawl away from the troll, it urned around and had its sights on him again. By then it walked over to where Sam has cornered himself, and the troll raised its left foot in order to squash the little hobbit. However, Aragorn and Boromir quickly grab the troll's chain and begin pulling on it to get the trolls attention away from Sam and to stop it from trying to crush him. Hiccup quickly helps the two and pulls on the chain pulling the troll away from Sam as it retaliates by spinning to his right while swinging its mace while doing so, but young lad and ranger quickly let go of the chain and dodged the mace with Aragorn jumping out of the way and Hiccup rolling to the right.
However while Boromir dodged the mace he found himself still holding the chain as the troll then grabs the chain and whipping Boromir off it while pulling the chain to its left. Which sent Boromir flying and crashing into the wall and landing on the catwalk, and then rolling back down to the ground.
Dazed by the attack, Boromir gets up to see a goblin in front of him with is sword raised high to deliver a killing blow. However, before it could, a flaming sword came out from the goblin's back. And then coming out from that side and splitting the goblin in two. In the aftermath, Boromir looks up to see Hiccup to be the one to savs him. Who nods at him while lending him a hand. In response, Boromir takes the hand and gives him a nod before continuing the batte.
Standing on top of the tomb of Balin, Gimli throws an axe at the troll and pierces its shoulder. Though the trolls shrugs it off and stomps towards the dwarf, swinging its mace onto the tomb and destroying it. Not while Gimli jumped off just in the nick of time. Meanwhie, Merry, Pippin and Frodo quickly went up to the upper level of the chamber in order to avoid the troll's rampage.
Meanwhile, Gimli hacks one of the Goblins with his axe, before dodging the troll's mace attacks. Only for it to hit goblins instead. After two swings, it came at Gimbli from behind all the while the dwarf trips and falls. Before it could kill him, Toothless and Legolas simultaneously fired at the troll. Forcing it to reel back and fall on its back.
While this was going about, Gandalf knocks a goblin down with his staff and cuts down another. Hiccup jumps to higher ground and flings his knife at a coming goblin while counting another behind him. By the time he was finished cutting it down, he reloads his third cannister and sees the troll beginning to use its chain as a weapon at Legolas.
"Legolas, twelve o'clock," he yelled.
Legolas looks to see the troll its chain at him as he quickly dodges by ducking down. The troll swings again to the side with Legolas ducking down again, and then the troll tries a downward strike with its chain which causes Legolas to jump to his right to dodge it. The troll swings sideways again but this time Hiccup catches the chain in the air and quickly wraps it around his right arm as he holds the chain and the troll in place.
The troll attempted to pull the chain away from thd viking, but with the aid of his dragon, who rushed to him as soon as he saw where his rider was, Hiccup manages to hold the chain and not move an inch as he holds the chain with both of his hands and pulls it downwards. This gave Legolas the opportunity to run up the chain and onto the trolls shoulders. From there he aimed his bow at the top of the trolls head, and then fires an arrow right on top of it.
However, the arrow breaks immediately on contact and forces Legolas to jump off of the troll. Hiccup immediately lets go of the chains and orders Toothless to shoot the troll right in the face. In which he did, and forced it to against the wall just behind it.
Meanwhile, Sam was in a bit of a killing frenzy. Bashing a goblin or two in the face with his skillet. He actually seemed to be enjoying it from the looks of things.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," he says as he bashes another goblin in the head.
Before long, the troll found where the other three hobbits were on the high ground, and raised its face high to the ground and crashing it down. Isolating Frodo from the others in the process.
"Frodo!" Aragorn called out as he noticed Frodo being separated from Merry and Pippin.
In act of quick thinking, Frodo hid on the other side of the pillar as the trol looked for him on the opposide side. While this happened, everyone else was fighting goblins and were in a bit of a struggle to save Frodo. Though as the battle went on, the troll began tomove to the other side, which caused Frodo to move quickly to avoid being spitted. After a second of sniffing around, the troll somewhat disappeared.
Frodo managed to carefully look to the other side to see if the troll was actually gone. Surprisingly to him, it was. He sighed in a bit of relief. But before he could get ahead of himself, the troll appeared at the side that he had just checked. Roaring at his face in utter rage. And causing the hobbit to stumble and fall back behind the corner of the pillars. Nevertheless, the trolls grabs him by the foot and drags him to the edge. Forcing Frodo to grab the ledge and hang for dear life.
Aragorn breathes heavily, exhausted. Still, he continued on.
"FRODO!" he yelled.
Frodo slashes the troll's hand with Sting. The troll drops Frodo to the ground, twisting his injured hand and staring at it. Frodo lies on the floor. It raises its mace and begins to swing, but before it could smash the poor half-ling, Toothless climbs up the high ground, fire a plasma blast right in front of the trolls' face before landing right in front of Frodo.
The blast was strong enough to force the troll back and buy Aragorn enough time to lend in his own attack. The rager quickly grabs a spear and stabs the troll in the hip. It doesn't penetrate its hide, but its enough to keep the troll back for a bit. By then Merry and Pippin start to throw rocks at the trolls head. But it angers the troll, and drives it to swing its arm around and send Aragorn flyign into a wall. Unfortunately, he is knocked out by the attack.
In response, Toothless leaps down from the corner and pounces on the front of the troll's face. From there, he bites down onto his head and forces the troll back. However, the troll retaliates by grabbing the Night Fury by the tail and throwing him across the room. Luckily the dragon was quick to land on his feet and fire another plasma blast to keep the troll from Frodo.
From there two stood off, with Toothless extending his wings as a sign of wanting a fight, In response to this challenge, the cave troll staggered while having his big arms ready to smash. After a brief moment, Toothless charged at the cave troll with murderous intent.
Leaping into the air midway and at the cave troll. And the giant monstrosity responded by bringing his fists up and crashing them down on the Night Fury's him crashing to the ground. Hiccup saw this, and immediately went to his dragon's side.
"TOOTHLESS!" he called out.
Yet he did not realize that the troll wasn't done with its assault, and was fored to watch as the troll grabbed Toothless by his head and flung him across the room yet again. This time the Night Fury was sent tumbling until his back crashed against the wall. Causing rocks to fall down and cave in on him until he was no longer visible.
Enraged, Hiccup charged at the troll with the same intentions as his dragon. He drew out his sword and slashed it at the side of its right hand. And it in response took its other hand and punched the young viking in the gut. Sending him rolling a couple yards while grabbing onto his stomach with his hands in the aftermath.
Satisfied, it turns its attention back to Frodo, who was busy trying to wake Aragorn up. But before he could continue, he see the troll take the spear out of its gut from the corner of his eye, and the proceeds to duck down from the trolls strike. He then counters with a slash to the trolls hand, but had no effect and tried to bail. But the troll stops the young hobbit by blocking his path wiith the spear.
By then there was no escape for Frodo as the troll took aim with the spear, and then stabbed Frodo with it in the chest.
The whole Fellowship heard Frodo's cry when the spear struck him. Some members of the Fellowship were able to turn and see Frodo fall face down into the ground after the troll withdrew the spear from him.
"Frodo!" Sam called to him.
Hearing no response from Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and Gimli started furiously dispatching any goblins that stood between them and the Ring-bearer. Utterly that Frodo was now killed, the troll turned its murderous attention to Merry and Pippin. The two hobbits had their swords in hand, ready to defend themselves. But before they could even get the chance to, the troll somehow stopped.
Pausing with its face looking as something something indeed happened. When Merry and Pippin looked passed the troll, they were able to see Toothless, apparently surviving the rocks, and on the trolls back. His teeth were sinked into the troll's shoulder. Biting down hard too. The troll howled in pain as it now flailed about. Reaching backwards to try to thwart the Night Fury off his back.
Soon Frodo's body began to slump to the ground with the spear still sticking into his chest. Looking at this, Toothless began to viciously claw at the troll's back. Now he was p*ssed. Distracted by the Night Fury, Gimli and Gandalf saw an opportunity to bring down the evil beast and took it. Gimli attacks first, striking the troll from behind while Gandalf struck it with his sword. He then backs up to allow Gimli to strike the troll again, through the troll hits the dwarf and sends him flying down to the ground to the trolls left.
The troll then lifts its left arm to try to grab Toothless, but the Night Fury fires a plasma blast straight at it. As the troll lifted its arm with a howl of pain, Toothless then takes this opportinuty to climb up further onto the trolls shoulders. The troll tempted to try to grab the dragon with his other hand, but Toothless dodges it and returns fire with another plasma blast.
With both arms incapaciated, the troll turns to Legolas's direction, who reaides his bow for another shot. Seeing the elf, Toothless looks for another soft spot on the troll, and finds on on the trolls right shoulder. With the same murderous intent, as well as an added savagery, Toothless bits down on the trolls right shoulder. Causing it to lift is head up and roars in pain.
From that point Legolas fires an arrow straight at the troll. Which travels up to the trolls brain. The troll then stops fighting and its hand fumbles towards its mouth where the arrow is. It seemed that it was over, but Toothless was not yet finished. With his might, he grabbed the trols upper lip, and relentlessy yanked it backwards.
The rest of the Fellowship that remained standing had to make room as the troll staggered back trying to reach Toothless from behind yet again. At this time Hiccup would've recovered from his blow to the chest and watched this scene commence with the others. As he did though, he looked to his dragon's back and noticed that they were glowing blue for some unknown reason.
He thought that Toothless was just trying to be cool, but it appeared to be much more. The others were thinking the same thing. Well, a majority of them anyway. Though as Toothless struggled, he started to climb further up the trolls shoulders. Until he was about a good difference from the trolls head. From there he used both of his paws to open the trolls mouth wide.
And with his remaining strength, he forced the trolls mouth to stay open, and fired the most powerful plasma blast he had ever fired in his life. Though as he did, the blast transformed from a blast, to a huge blue spiral beam. That shot straight into the trolls mouth. Destroying the arrow that Legola had shot as well as destroying everything that was in the trolls body.
Within seconds the evil, soulless, black hearted creature was dead before the beam could explode from under it. By then Toothless stopped firing. Jumping back and pushed himself off the troll troll's corpse as it slumped forward onto the floor. The victorious Night Fury then landed on top of the corpse before he raised his head towards the ceiling and bellowed a victory roar.
One that was filled with bluster and bravado and echoed as far and as wide for all of Moria to hear. When he was about finished, he crawled off of the trolls corpse and then turned towards the Fellowship. Who were just mesmerized with what had just happened. Even his rider, Hiccup, too had questions that needed to be answered. And the first one was the most basic question.
"Where did that come from?" he asked.
Instead, Toothless gave him a gummy smiles as an answer before turning his attention to Frodo. With all the enemies dead for now, the Fellowship caught its breath. Under normal circumstances, the original Fellowship would have had countless things to ask Hiccup about Toothless. But for now sole focus was instead on Frodo as he had not moved since being stabbed by the troll. Aragorn, now awakened, crawled over to Frodo and reached to him first and feared the worst that has happened. Toothless bounded near him, and crooned in sadness.
"Oh no," he whispered as he rolled Frodo over on to his back.
The rest of the Fellowship member's eyes widened when they saw Frodo moving with his worst injury appearing to be a nasty cough. Sam knelt next to Frodo on the opposite side to Aragorn. None of the Fellowship minded Frodo's gardener and best friend to state the obvious.
"He's alive!" he started never feeling more relieved than ever.
After he finished coughing, Frodo finally had recovered and gasped for air. Gandalf too sighed in relief.
"I'm alright," the ring-bearer reassured the group. "I'm not hurt."
"True that," said Hiccup. "But how are you even alive? Nobody to survive a blow like that."
"I hate to admit this" said Aragorn. But he's right. You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
Gandalf's mind had begun to catch up with the Night Fury's surprisingly killing blow on the cave troll.
"I think this hobbit is a bit like the dragon," Gandalf wryly observed. "There's more to him than meets the eye."
Frodo parted his shirt to display a shiny, silver-white metal coat he wore underneath it. One member of the original Fellowship instantly knew what the mail was compromised of.
"Mithril," Gimli softly identified as he stared admiringly at Frodo's armour. "You're full of surprises Master Baggins."
He then turns to the dragon, who too was staring at the shining shirt.
"As well as you dragon," the dwarf commented.
Toothless in return looked to Gimli and warbled a bit before looking down to Frodo again.
"I strongly second the observation," Boromir agreed, while still being a bit deadpanned.
"Oh don't worry Captain," said Hiccup. "There's more where that came from. Toothless is just really extraordinary."
The Night Fury shared a look at his rider, who in return smiles at his companion. But before he could enjoy the moment, the sounds of goblins filled the air again. Aragorn suggested the Fellowship should quickly gather up their belongings. Questions about the Toothless could wait until the Fellowship had put the Chamber well behind them.
"So, where to now Gandalf?" Hiccup asked as he grabbed the knife that he threw at a goblin not too long ago.
Before Gandalf could reply screeeching of goblns got louder and louder. Through the Chamber doorway they could see torchlight casting the shadows of countless goblins heading towards the Fellowship.
"To the Bridge of Khazad-um," Gandalf commanded as he grabbed his turns to the other direction and leads the Fellowship deeper into the mines of Moria.
And that's the end of the chapter folks. Please click on the review box if you have anything to say regarding this story or anything else. Alright people, see y'all in the next chapter.