Chapter Five~The Mines
Naturally it took less time going down, than it did going up. And Marina, at least, was glad for the warmth that came once they made it to the base of the mountain again. As someone who had been born in the southernmost country of Middle Earth and had spent most of her life surrounded by the eternal springtime made by Elven magic, she did care too much for the cold. Even covered in an Elven cloak, which kept her safe from the most brutal of the elements, she still felt the harsh wind. Now, down on flat ground, she was much more comfortable. Adding to that, the fact that she could walk without constantly tripping over herself. Samora was comfortable in any conditions, much to Rina's chagrin. Once they made it to the base of the mountain, they turned south, hugging the range until night had fallen.
"The Walls of Moria." Gimli sounded as if he were in awe. Which he probably was, given that this was his cousin's kingdom that he had not seen since he was very young. Everyone could feel the power of the Mines, though not all of them knew just how dangerous the place they were about to enter was. In fact, only those who had spent their lives studying all the evil things in the world knew that there was a possibility of them not walking out alive. Rina didn't know this, but she could still feel all the pain and suffering that had happened years ago.
At their left shoulder stood the Wall, and on the right, a large lake dark as ink. Everyone's auras were steeped with fear and exhaustion, yellow and grey. Gandalf was muttering to himself, she could feel the vibrations of him sweeping his hands over the stone. Her amplified hearing caught the sound of accumulated grime land on the ground. She heard him say something about reflecting the light of stars and moon. Everyone else gasped. Placing a hand on Samora's head, she once again saw through the canine's eyes. Before them stood a door made of light. It looked Elvish in origin, writing and all.
"It reads: 'Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter'." Gandalf informed them.
"What do you s'pose that means?" Merry asked.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open." He sounded so sure of himself, though Rina knew it couldn't be that simple. He started chanting in Elvish, his staff against the door. When nothing happened, he stepped back, hands above his head and tried again, with a different incantation. Slightly put out, he put his shoulder to it and started to push. Again, nothing. She saw the disappointment in every one of her companions.
"Gandalf," Rina put a hand on his back, "Nothing is happening."
"No, no. I just need to find the right password."
"The door might be sealed shut." She pointed out.
"If that were the case, it would not glow in the light of the moon, now would it?"
She sighed. "I do not know. I don't think anyone has ever come across something as old as this."
"I will find the right one, if it kills me."
Shaking her head, she left him to his ramblings. Rina sat next to Legolas, her head resting against his hip as he stood, watching silently. Merry and Pippin were throwing stones into the lake, Sam unburdening Bill the pony, who had been a constant sense of comfort for the heavy Hobbit.
"The Mines are no place for a pony," Aragorn told him, Sam petting the pony's nose.
"Bye bye, Bill." They took off his bridle and turned him around, pushing him to leave.
"He'll be alright, Sam. He knows the way home." Rina assured him from her post under the tree.
Splashing alerted her to the fact that the younger two Hobbits seemed very bored. She heard Merry grunt as he hauled back to thrown another rock, but his arm was caught by the Ranger. "Do not disturb the waters." As if on cue, Rina felt vibrations in the ground, heard the water splashing from an unseen movement under the surface.
"Oh, it's useless." Gandalf sat down hard on a rock next to Frodo.
"Wait..." The Hobbit had seen something. "It's a riddle." Rina's ears perked up at that. "'Speak, friend, and enter.' What's the Elven word for 'friend'."
At the same time, Gandalf and Rina said, "Mellon."
Rumbling alerted them to the doors unsealing themselves, and a the grinding of stone on stone. Everyone made noises of relief, gathering around the entrance to make their way inside. Rina felt magic as Gandalf blew on a witch-light stone, filling the cavern with faint white light. "Marina, dear, some assistance." Legolas passed her up the line, her hand met Gandalf's. "Do not leave our Fellowship in the dark."
Nodding, she reached into her pack and pulled out what looked like a translusent egg. She pressed her lips to the side of it and hummed a simple tune. When it began to glow, she held it aloft, then bringing her hand back down. It stayed up, floating in a slow circle around the group."
"What is that?" Sam, ever curious, asked in awe.
"Something I made myself. A quartz gem imbuned with sunlight. Very effective in complete darkness...and for warding off unsavory characters." She smiled in the general direction of the Halflings.
"How?" He egged.
"Sam, don't encourage her." Aragorn snarked.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He held his hands up, "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Soon, Elf, you shall enjoy the hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" Gimli was quite proud. "This is the home of my cousin, Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
"This is no mine...It's a tomb." It was Boromir's statement that made her realize what the musty scent that tickled her nose was. Death. There were exclimations of fear from the Hobbits, and pain from Gimli. He was obviously heartbroken by the sight of his fallen brethren.
The sound of something being ripped, "Goblins!" Legolas said with distain.
Weapons were being drawn all around her, Samora started growling. Rina yanked her knife from her belt. Someone had a hand on her, pushing her back towards the door. "We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here!" Boromir was behind her. "Now, get out. Get out!" There was a yelp behind them, the Hobbits yelling Frodo's name.
"Give me sight!" The orb above them suddenly moved to circle her head and glowed brighter, sending a tendril of rays to connect with her. At first, what she saw nothing but bright light. Then it subsided. What she saw was mayhem. A river kraken had Frodo suspended above them by his ankle, apparently intent on swallowing him whole. The others had started attacking it, cutting off its tenticles. Rina picked up a rock, hauled back, letting power pool in her hand, then snapped forward and shot the monster in one of its eight eyes. It screamed in pain once, then again as one of the Men sliced through the tenticle holding Frodo. He fell, he was caught. In the confussion, she tripped over something. Rina fell, losing her connection with the orb, shoving her back into darkness.
"Into the Mine!" Gandalf yelled. Small feet were trampling over her, then more, heavier. Someone kicked her in the face, probably the Dwarf, considering the solidity of the boot that connected with her. She could hear the monster coming closer, climbing onto the shore. It got hold of the doors, effectively pulling them down on top of itself. The sound of crumbling and the cloud of dust that enveloped them was enough to give her a general idea of what had happened, even through the pain that radiated in her skull.
There was silence,
"Well, that was fun." Rina sat up, holding her head. "Ow."
"Lass, are ye alright?" Gimli's thick hand tuned her face towards him, and, presumably, the light. He hissed through his teeth. "I'm sorry, lassy. I didn't mean to kick you."
"You couldn't see where you were going. I understand. Just give me a moment." Someone else placed a wineskin under her nose, causing her to reel back. "What-"
"Elven sweet wine," Legolas raised it to her lips. "It will help the pain. Only a few sips." Gulping it down, the pain did indeed abate.
"If you are ready, my dear. We now have but one choice." The Wizard thumped his staff on the ground twice. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world." Once again, Legolas took her hand, leading her. "it is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed.