A/N: Hey ya'll! I know it's been awhile but don't worry I haven't forgotten this story I have just been inundated with school work and it has been taking up a lot of my time. So, I cannot promise timely updates but this will be finished. Thank you all so much for bearing with me! Also, I did want to clear up that no, this is not a sequel to anything, but it is a bit of a crossover between Outlander and Lord of The Rings, so I apologize for any confusion!
Anyway, here we go!
Gloves, why didn't I think of gloves?! Why do I never factor in the weather?! Kate thought to herself, pulling her cloak tighter around her. It was snowing harder now, and getting colder with every minute it seemed. She could hardly see her outstretched hand in front of her as she gripped the cliff wall and every step felt like a trust fall exercise.
No one was in a pleasant mood, doing their best to just keep trudging on through the snow and the cutting wind in silence. Conversation wouldn't do much good anyway, she thought begrudgingly, they couldn't have heard each other over the wind. Kate shivered, not from the cold this time. It sounded to her that the wind was screaming at her, a malicious sound, and it reminded her of her time spent through the stones.
"Up you go, Sam!" She shouted, lifting up the hobbit out of the snow. "Mind your step, it's a long fall!" Standing to his feet, he shouted some inaudible thanks, and continued on. Kate watched open mouthed as Legolas glided easily over the snow, seeing a million things her human eyes never could. "At least someone is getting along well enough!" She shouted, knowing he could hear her.
She'd risk a strained throat to make herself heard; far easier to shout than remain silent. She smirked to herself as the elf turned and bowed his head in acknowledgement and she wondered if there wasn't just a little humor in it as well. Suddenly Legolas turned and moved farther up the pass, after a moment he shouted something she couldn't hear.
The wind grew colder, if that was possible and with a bang and a clap thunder struck the mountainside, sending a shower of rock and shale down upon them. Kate didn't have time to register as she grabbed Sam and threw herself back against the rock wall, grimacing and her elbow took the brunt of the weight. That would hurt once her body had thawed off, she knew, but it was better than falling off the edge of the cliff.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn warned, a warning that was not headed, and Kate watched the wizard stand against the storm and offer a counter attack.
More lightning struck the mountain side, sending another onslaught of snow and rock. This is insane! The mountain continued to shake threateningly, groaning with the effort of whatever war the wizard was waging. Her heart dropped to her stomach, and she gripped tighter to Sam who was all but covered in snow by now.
After a few more agonizing moments, the mountain stopped its assault, either satisfied with its attack or taking a brief respite. Gingerly peeling herself off the rock face, Kate pulled Sam up, giving him a once over as he gasped for breaths. 6,7,8,9…Good, gang's all here. She confirmed mentally to herself. The fellowship gathered itself, popping out of the snow like flowers in the spring, it would have been comical if it hadn't been such a terrifying experience.
"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir shouted. "Make for the gap of Rohan and take the West road to my city!" Aragorn shook his head reverently.
"The Gap of Rohan leads us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued.
"We cannot pass over the mountain." Gimli chimed in. "Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria."
"A little late to argue directions now, don't you think?!" She shouted in frustration. " I vote we get off the mountain trying to kill us if anyone cares to know!" Really, even in a whole other world, men refuse to ask for directions, preferring to argue on top of a moment. Truly amazing. She thought smugly
"We cannot stay here! It will be the death of the hobbits!" Boromir urged, and Kate couldn't help but agree, giving them a general survey as Gandalf passed the decision making to Frodo.
The hobbits were barely making it without the blizzard, and now it was a wonder they hadn't frozen solid. It's not that Kate pitied them, they surely didn't need it, but she was concerned for them. It was amazing, how quickly you could become attached to people in such a short amount of time, even though she spent just about every waking moment with them. Kate wondered if she would ever be that close with Aragorn, or were they only meant to live in the awkward and strained cloud they seemed to be under.
"We will go through the mines." Frodo decided. Gandalf grew silent, but nodded slowly. An uneasiness settled in her stomach and she watched Gandalf's face. Even through the snow and wind Kate could see the concern in his features and that alarmed her more than anything else. For a moment she thought he'd disagree but then he gave a curt nod and that settled that.
"So be it." He relented. Kate's stomach dropped, she didn't know why, but suddenly continuing on over the mountain didn't seem so bad.
Heading back down the mountain seemed to be a far more difficult task than going up it. It took all of Kate's strength to counterbalance the weight of her pack as she descended down the steep slope, gravity always wanting to have the upper hand.
More than a few times she had fallen and rolled like down the mountainside only to be blessedly stopped by an innocent bystander, elf, man dwarf…whoever was in her path really. Currently Kate had taken to holding on to Aragorn's shoulder when she could, careful not to distract from the need of the hobbits.
Despite the difficulty in their descent they made it down the mountain a great deal quicker than was anticipated, due in part to a great deal of the famous fall-run-roll dance they were all inadvertently performing. Even Legolas, with all his otherworldly grace moved just a touch slower, seeming to take more care where he placed his footing.
Finally, when they reached the bottom of the mountain pass and all traces of snow had dissolved they rested. No one said much as they tiredly unrolled their pack and readied themselves for the night. There would be no fire tonight, Gandalf declared, prompting a groan from Pippin. Kate wasn't shocked by the announcement, but she was no less disappointed.
Ever since they announced they would go through Moria instead of continuing on over the mountain, Gandalf seemed more ill at ease and less likely to take chances in regard for their safety. This made things like a warm fire a needless indulgence. She supposed she should get used to it, this would not be the last night without a fire, but her frozen limbs wouldn't listen to reason. She was about to suggest a small fire, mentally preparing a presentation about the risks of hypothermia when another cloak was casually dropped onto her shoulders.
Kate turned to watch Aragorn walk back to his bedroll nonchalantly, albeit a bit more stiff than usual, but she couldn't tell if that was from the cold or their previous conversation. Steeling herself, she pulled the cloaks tighter around her and went to sit by Aragorn who dipped his head in acknowledgement but said nothing. She watched him unlace his boots for a moment before speaking up.
"I need to apologize." She said finally, earning a raised eyebrow from the man.
"Why?" Came his curt reply.
"I don't know… I just feel like I should." She fidgeted lamely with the fraying end of the cloak before continuing. "You know I'm not really used to this. I don't just mean this world, I mean you. I don't know how to act around you, I feel like I need to impress you somehow and I don't know why because it's not like you're my father. This is weird, all of it, super weird. And it'd be one thing if you were in my world and you were Average Joe with a normal 9-5 and stuff but you're not…you're some medieval badass ranger man and then here I come! Some long lost niece you feel like you have to take care of because she doesn't know anything but I do, you know? So…I just… I'm sorry. I have a lot to learn and I recognize that I can come off as arrogant or rash…but I just want you to know that I have some good qualities too and I just don't want you to be disappointed in me or think that my mother would be disappointed. So yes, that's what I wanted to say."
She finished, with a nod of her head like she had just finished a national address. Aragorn gave a long sigh, putting his boots to the side of him and turning to Kate. He gapped for a moment, grappling at what to say.
"I do not think you are a disappointment Kate. I am sorry if I have made you feel that way. I am surprised by your strength of will…but not disappointed." He gave a sad smile and looked up at her now. "I do not know how to do this either. I struggle with finding a balance in my desire to protect you and let you learn for yourself...and yet you are a grown woman, not a child. That time with you is lost."
"Well, we're quite the pair then, aren't we?" Kate said, shaking her head.
"Perhaps, instead of trying to force each other into a role neither of us know how to play…we learn to be friends instead?"
"I think that is your best idea yet." Kate declared with a smile, earning a laugh from the ranger.
"I cannot take credit for it, unfortunately. It was Arwen's idea, I should have heeded her advice sooner."
"You should. Clearly she's brilliant." Aragorn smiled that soft smile he got whenever he thought of the half elf. She imagined suddenly of the elaborate wedding they might have…a half elf and a man.
Normally such a thought would have made her laugh, it was amazing how quickly she was accepting this world…her world too, technically. Could it be possible to inherit…citizenship of a new world. Those questions make it sound like you'd want to stay. She thought to herself, shaking her head in incredulity. Which of course I don't! The way she accepted things, her role in this journey…but Kate was forgetting that this was a deadly journey, not just a holiday. And she wasn't going to stay. Her place was at home, in her world, where no one tried to end the world over a ring!
Getting to know people, her uncle, that was all well and good, but she could not lose sight of the goal. She would have to go home soon.
"Well this is…encouraging." Kate announced, hands on her hips, as she gaped up at the ominous stone wall. Didn't look like much of a mine to her, but what did she know.
"The walls of Moria!" Gimli gasped in awe, and then hurried down the rocky incline to where the assumed door was. The rest followed suit, until they had arrived. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He told Kate proudly, taping the wall with his axe.
"Yes, Gimli, even their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas quipped, winning a growl from the dwarf. Kate stifled a laugh and instead frowned at him.
"Oh, be nice. I think it's quite clever really."
"Of course, you do, Lady Kate, being so proficient in battle ready architecture." Legolas replied, lips tugging upward in jest.
"Yes, I minored in it at university actually." Kate retorted, equally in play. "You'll find i'm proficient in many things."
"Oh, I do not doubt it."
"Ithildin." Gandalf declared. "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." And suddenly as he said it the clouds parted to show the moon which shined on the lines on the door grew brighter, bolder, forming an arch of ancient letters and symbols. "It reads, 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, Speak Friend and Enter.'
"What does it mean?" Merry asked.
"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open!" The wizard announced confidently and placed his staff on the door, shouting the password in quite the ceremonial fashion.
Kate would have been more than impressed if the doors had opened, but as it happened nothing had changed at all, save the wind blowing across the water. The fellowship shifted, awkwardly staring at each other but not saying anything.
Clearly it was rude to tell a Wizard he had recited a spell wrong, especially this wizard. After a beat Gandalf shook off his dumbfounded expression and replaced it with a determined scowl, reciting another password, this time with more authority. Still nothing had changed, not even the slightest movement.
"Nothing's happened." Pippin stated lamely. Kate tried to stifle a laugh earning a glare from Aragorn. In exasperation Gandalf began shoving the door, muttering to himself about knowing every spell there was. Kate bite down on her lip hard to keep from laughing. This is no laughing matter, Mackenzie! Quite serious, in fact!
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked in genuine curiosity.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Came Gandalf's biting reply. "If that does not shatter them, then I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions! I will try to find the opening words." Pippin looked down, shame faced as Gandalf turned back to the door, musing and calling out random bits of spells. Kate put a gentle hand on the hobbit's shoulder, winking at him as he looked up at her.
"Maybe we should go sit and wait, Pip." Kate suggested. "Just in case one of those spells gets us turned into a frog or something. Better to be out of the line of fire, right?" Pippin nodded, giving her a small smile in reply. Gandalf's rebukes always seemed to hurt Pippin more than anything, and she couldn't really blame the Hobbit; Gandalf could be quite menacing when he wanted to be, especially after a very public defeat.
With an exaggerated sigh Kate threw herself down with Merry and Pippin, amusing themselves with stories while they waited. Kate didn't mind so much, especially after a few arduous days of walking to get here, but the darker it got the more uneasy she began to feel. Every small sound was enough to unnerve her, probably because there weren't any sounds.
Kate could hear no birds or wildlife, except for Bill the Pony who was being sent back to find his way home. The only sound she could hear were the ones the fellowship was making and the continuous lapping of water; sometimes a splash here and there, which Kate attributed to fish…or at least she hoped. Finally, after a few hours of waiting she had had enough. Her imagination would get the better of her if she didn't get a handle on this.
"Legolas?" She called, deciding that if anyone would be just as bothered as she was by this it would be him. He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow in response. She shivered a little as she always did when he looked at her directly. Awkwardly, she stood up and walked over to him, wiping the dirt off her leggings. "Hey is this…does this place bother you? Or is it just me? I'm not scared or anything, just…I get a bad vibe here." The elf frowned in agreement, turning to stare out at the water, eyes noting movements no one else could see.
"I have also felt an uneasiness here. Not many a living thing makes their home here, it is …odd. I would have expected the dwarves to at least have a guard or two patrolling…and yet I hear nothing inside."
"Well, even you can't hear through solid rock." She retorted but then gave a pause, looking at him in wonder. "Can you?!" Who knew what he was capable of really, she wasn't exactly an expert on eleven abilities. Legolas smiled playfully and shrugged.
"I do not know how thick the walls are. Though perhaps you are right, I do not know much of this place, the walls could be thicker than I imagine, in which case I would hear nothing…even so…" Legolas trailed off, noticing how Kate began to bite her lip in worry. He smiled suddenly, his initial warrior instinct quashed in an effort to free her from any worry. Fear should never have to shadow her face. He grabbed her hands between his, rubbing them together to warm her hands. "Worry not, Kate. If these dwarves are as good as Gimli says then we will be…able to tolerate our stay here." Kate laughed, rolling her eyes at the small quip, but did not remove her hands from his.
She studied them, amazed at how well his hands seemed to mold to hers, not quite knowing where her fingers ended and his began. It was a marvel really, considering how small and infantile her hands were compared to his long, elegant and strong hands. He smiled at her as his thumb began to trace small circles on her hand, calming her instantly.
She looked up, suddenly at the sound of a splash, broken from her trance, and watching at Pippin and Merry began throwing rocks into the water in an attempt to ease their boredom. Legolas gripped her hands tighter as she made to move, almost out of reflex, but quickly relapsed them feeling altogether foolish.
"They should not disturb the water." Legolas whispered. Kate nodded in agreement and was about to make her way to tell them herself but relaxed when Aragorn beat her to it, sternly warning the hobbits.
"Good instincts, that one." She remarked, turning her attention back to Gandalf who had thrown his staff down in defeat, decaling it was useless. "Oh, surely you haven't given up now, Gandalf!" Kate cried, scurrying over to retrieve his discarded staff. The faster he figured this out the faster they could get inside, where it was hopefully as warm and inviting as Gimli promised. Maybe even a hot bath! Kate thought dreamily, almost delirious at the thought of such warmth and comfort! "There's got to be some sort of pneumonic for this thing, right? You know like a song or riddle to help you remember something? Like PEMDAS? No? Yeah, I figured you wouldn't know that one." She ended with a sigh. Frodo shook his head in confusion and then suddenly his face lit up.
"What's the elvish word for friend?" He asked, standing up in excitement. The inspiration was spreading and Gandalf, almost struck down by the simplicity of it all spoke it immediately.
"Mellon." And just like that, the doors slid open, pushing out a gust of air with it. Hurriedly, the fellowship abandoned their seats and entered the cave, leaving Kate standing there with her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"What is that smell?" She whispered, holding her nose rudely against the foul smelling and shockingly familiar scent. She hadn't meant to be rude but it was so unexpected and it almost smelled like...
"Possibly dwarf, little woman, a more…fragrant race, so I have heard." Boromir replied with a wink, leading her into the cave. A dark cave, Kate noticed with some disappointment. Listening to Gimli announcing even now about the fabled hospitality of dwarves she couldn't help but feel they could spare a little light for their new guests.
"…roaring fires! Malt beer! Ripe meat off the bone!" He declared. Bone… and then something jerked within her. That smell…that smell was death…long since decayed flesh…and the sudden unexpected realization made her want to vomit. She grabbed Boromir's arm in alarm as Gandalf used his staff to bring some light. "…and they call it a mine! A mine!" Gimli continued good naturedly, oblivious to the reality of the situation. Gripping tighter to Boromir's arm she yanked him until he faced her.
"We need to go. Now!" She urged just as the man began to see what was actually around them. Bodies and bodies lay strewn about the once great hall, leading well past the stairs. Whatever happened here, it had been a massacre and it did not bode well for the fellowship.
"This is no mine." Boromir announced, burying whatever horror he felt deep within him so the Captain of Gondor could control his voice and the situation. "It is a tomb!" And just like that, whatever assumptions Gimli had been under about the condition of his kin's home had evaporated. Kate swallowed back tears as she listened to the heartbreaking wails of the dwarf, and forced herself to focus.
"Goblins!" Legolas spat, disgustedly tossing an arrow he had been inspecting from the body of a corpse. Swords were drawn and arrows were notched as the panic level was rising and Kates's stomach dropped. The men knew what they were doing, this was not an unexpected thing, and it shouldn't have been unexpected to Kate! But even still, when all they had been doing these last few weeks was walk Kate had wondered if Aragorn might have over exaggerated the seriousness of it all. Clearly, she was wrong!
"What do we do?!" She squeaked out, trying to control the panic in her voice.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan." Boromir commanded, with more than a little derision in his tone. "We should never have come here. Now get out of here! Get out! Get out!" He yelled and Kate wasted no time, spinning around to flee only to watch Frodo falling and being dragged away by what looked like tentacles. The hobbits panicked, springing to action as Kate stood there blinking, trying to make her mind and body comprehend what she was seeing.
"Strider!" Sam called, and hacked determinedly at the tentacle as Merry and Pippin held onto Frodo. The severed tentacle retreated and then immediately up sprang more tentacles, shoving the hobbits out of the way because it was clearly only after Frodo. Oh crap, Frodo! The realization brought Kate back, snapping her into "doctor mode", it was the only way she could separate what was happening and what she was seeing with what she needed to do!
Is that a Kraken?! Alright, that's fine. Focus Kate! Having successfully compartmentalized she grabbed her sword and did as Sam had, hacking away at those sinewy limbs in hopes that it would give up its attack on Frodo and get its dinner somewhere else! Hopefully far away from them.
Every member of the fellowship leapt into action, but it all seemed to be in vain as the beast opened up its mouth and positioned Frodo high over it. She swung her sword furiously, spurred on by the ring bearer screams, finally able to sever one tentacle. Only 100 more to go!
"Hang on, Frodo!" She screamed. After a few heart-stopping minutes Aragorn made the lucky strike, sending Frodo plummeting into Boromir's arms. Kate allowed herself a sigh of relief but that was the only celebratory moment they would have as they were immediately called back into the mines.
They ran, no one sparing a look back as Legolas fired off a few more shots at the beast before he too ran into the cover of the mines. Enraged by this loss, the Kraken-like animal threw itself full force onto the door, tearing down whatever it could. The rock and stone fell over the doorway with an earth shattering force, and she covered her head, stepping back as the rock continued to fall successfully entrapping them. Kate's heart thumped loudly in her ears as she tried not to breathe in the putrid air too deeply. She could hear someone cough, the dirt and dust settling around them but she could not see who it was. Staring into the pitch black, Kate couldn't help but wonder if this really was a tomb…one they couldn't get out of. What now?
"We now have but one choice." Gandalf said after a moment, allowing them a little light, whatever small comfort that would bring. "We must face the long dark of Moria." Kate scanned the group, counting off the numbers to make sure everyone was accounted for and when her eyes met Aragorn relief flooded both their faces. Yes, they could try to be friends…but they were blood at the end of the day and that meant something. "Be on your guard! There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world."
"Like what?" Kate whispered, not trying to hide her horror anymore. She really had no idea what could be lurking in a place like this…no idea of the dangers this world held…Aragorn was right…what had she done?! Legolas took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before dropping it. Slowly they began to follow Gandalf who led the way through the only path in front of them.
"Quietly now!" The wizard cautioned, his staff illuminating the way for them as they walked. "It is a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed. "
Four?! Four days in here?!
Kate's chest tightened at the thought of being in this place for four entire days. Reflexively she grabbed Legolas's arm, partly to help steady herself and partly because she knew his touch had always calmed her before. The elf looked back, shock displayed on his face for only a moment before his features relaxed and he gave her an encouraging nod. Four days. They could do this. It was only four more days of walking, right?
A/N: I hope this was worth the wait, even though I feel like I'm a bit rusty now! Please review with your thoughts, where would you like to see things go with Kate and Legolas and their journey! I have an idea in mind for a sequel but I'm trying to decide how far along I want them to be before cementing the idea. Or I'll just play it by ear. Questions, comments, concerns? Review! Happy to be back!