Hello everyone who is reading this Nuin Griffondor (obviously), and I am bringing you this new chapter, sorry it took so long, my computer has decided to give me the blue screen. I am currently using my school laptop (Which crashes almost everytime i open this document.). I cannot stress enough how much I want to hear what you are thinking about my story, granted that you read it before reviewing. The more reviews I get the more I wish to write. Oh and at the end of the story i will be doing a credits for anyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited, so if you wish to see your screen name please review, follow or favorite. I do not own anything LoTR, it belongs to the tolkien family, the only thing I own is my Oc's.
It was evening, and the grey light was again waning fast, when they halted for the night. They were very weary. The mountains were veiled in deepening dusk, and the wind was cold. Gandalf spared us one more mouthful each of the miruvor of Rivendell. When we had eaten some food he called a council.
"We cannot, of course, go on again tonight," he says. "The attack on the Redhorn Gate has tired us out, and we must rest here for a while."
"And then where are we to go?" asks Frodo.
"We still have our journey and our errand before us," answers Gandalf. "We have no choice but to go on, or to return to Rivendell."
Pippin's face brightened visibly at the mere mention of return to Rivendell; Merry and Sam looked up hopefully. But Aragorn and Boromir made no sign. Frodo looked troubled. I didn't want to return, if we did, I would have to deal with Glorfindel's snide remarks and death threats, him thinking that I had sabotaged the quest.
"I wish I was back there," he says. "But how can I return without shame – unless there is indeed no other way, and we are already defeated?"
I smile at Frodo, hobbit's are really the most amazing of people, they will surprise you at nearly every corner.
"You are right, Frodo," Gandalf says: "to go back is to admit defeat, and face worse defeat to come. If we go back now, then the Ring must remain there: we shall not be able to set out again. Then sooner or later Rivendell will be besieged, and after a brief and bitter time it will be destroyed. The Ringwraiths are deadly enemies, but they are only shadows yet of the power and terror they would possess if the Ruling Ring was on their master's hand again."
"Then we must go on, if there is a way," Frodo says with a sigh. Sam sank back into gloom.
"There is a way that we may attempt," Gandalf tells us. "I thought from the beginning, when first I considered this journey, that we should try it. But it is not a pleasant way, and I have not spoken of it to the Company before. Aragorn was against it, until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried."
"If it is a worse road than the Redhorn Gate, then it must be evil indeed," Merry says. "But you had better tell us about it, and let us know the worst at once."
"The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria," says Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smouldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear. I have never really told anyone this but I have a large fear of enclosed spaces, like mines. Elladan must have felt my heartbeat speed up, because he squeezed my hand reassuring.
"The road may lead to Moria, but how can we hope that it will lead through Moria?" says Aragorn darkly.
"It is a name of ill omen," says Boromir. "Nor do I see the need to go there. If we cannot cross the mountains, let us journey southwards, until we come to the Gap of Rohan, where men are friendly to my people, taking the road that I followed on my way hither. Or we might pass by and cross the Isen into Langstrand and Lebennin, and so come to Gondor from the regions nigh to the sea."
"Things have changed since you came north, Boromir," answered Gandalf. "Did you not hear what I told you of Saruman? With him I may have business of my own ere all is over. But the Ring must not come near Isengard, if that can by any means be prevented. The Gap of Rohan is closed to us while we go with the Bearer.
"As for the longer road: we cannot afford the time. We might spend a year in such a journey, and we should pass through many lands that are empty and harbourless. Yet they would not be safe. The watchful eyes both of Saruman and of the Enemy are on them. When you came north, Boromir, you were in the Enemy's eyes only one stray wanderer from the South and a matter of small concern to him: his mind was busy with the pursuit of the Ring. But you return now as a member of the Ring's Company, and you are in peril as long as you remain with us. The danger will increase with every league that we go south under the naked sky.
"Since our open attempt on the mountain-pass our plight has become more desperate, I fear. I see now little hope, if we do not soon vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail. Therefore I advise that we should go neither over the mountains, nor round them, but under them. That is a road at any rate that the Enemy will least expect us to take."
"We do not know what he expects," says Boromir. "He may watch all roads, likely and unlikely. In that case to enter Moria would be to walk into a trap, hardly better than knocking at the gates of the Dark Tower itself. The name of Moria is black."
"You speak of what you do not know, when you liken Moria to the stronghold of Sauron," answered Gandalf. "I alone of you have ever been in the dungeons of the Dark Lord, and only in his older and lesser dwelling in Dol Guldur. Those who pass the gates of Barad-dûr do not return. But I would not lead you into Moria if there were no hope of coming out again. If there are Orcs there, it may prove ill for us, that is true. But most of the Orcs of the Misty Mountains were scattered or destroyed in the Battle of Five Armies. The Eagles report that Orcs are gathering again from afar; but there is a hope that Moria is still free.
"There is even a chance that Dwarves are there, and that in some deep hall of his fathers, Balin son of Fundin may be found. However it may prove, one must tread the path that need chooses!"
"I will tread the path with you, Gandalf!" says Gimli. "I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there – if you can find the doors that are shut."
"Good, Gimli!" says Gandalf. "You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf 's head will be less easy to bewilder than Elves or Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria. I sought there long for Thráin son of Thrór after he was lost. I passed through, and I came out again alive!"
"I too once passed the Dimrill Gate," says Aragorn quietly; "but though I also came out again, the memory is very evil. I do not wish to enter Moria a second time."
"And I don't wish to enter it even once," says Pippin.
"Nor me," mutters Sam.
"Neither do I, but if it is the will of the company than I shall brave this road." I say trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
"Of course not!" says Gandalf. "Who would? But the question is: who will follow me, if I lead you there?"
"I will," says Gimli eagerly.
"I will," says Aragorn heavily. "You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now – if this last warning does not move you. It is not of the Ring, nor of us others that I am thinking now, but of you, Gandalf. And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware!"
"I will not go," says Boromir; "not unless the vote of the whole Company is against me. What do Legolas and the little folk say? The Ring-bearer's voice surely should be heard?"
"I do not wish to go to Moria," says Legolas.
The hobbits said nothing. Sam looked at Frodo. At last Frodo spoke. "I do not wish to go," he says; "but neither do I wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf. I beg that there should be no vote, until we have slept on it. Gandalf will get votes easier in the light of the morning than in this cold gloom. How the wind howls!"
At these words all fell into silent thought. They heard the wind hissing among the rocks and trees, But the howling was something I didn't hear, but voices, I lept to my feet, "That is not the wind, Those are wolf voices, Wargs to be specific."
"Need we wait until morning then?" says Gandalf. "It is as I said. The hunt is up! Even if we live to see the dawn, who now will wish to journey south by night with the wild wolves on his trail?"
"How far is Moria?" asks Boromir.
"There was a door south-west of Caradhras, some fifteen miles as the crow flies, and maybe twenty as the wolf runs," answers Gandalf grimly.
"Then let us start as soon as it is light tomorrow, if we can," says Boromir. "The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears."
"True!" says Aragorn, loosening his sword in its sheath. "But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls."
"I wish I had taken Elrond's advice," mutters Pippin to Sam. "I am no good after all. There is not enough of the breed of Bandobras the Bullroarer in me: these howls freeze my blood. I don't ever remember feeling so wretched."
"My heart's right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin," says Sam. "But we aren't etten yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, I'll wager it isn't a wolf 's belly."
I kneel down to the hobbits, and put my hands on their shoulders "Do not doubt your strength my friends, everyone has a part to play, Anyone, no matter their size has strength to withstand evil."
For our defence in the night the Company climbed to the top of the small hill under which they had been sheltering. It was crowned with a knot of old and twisted trees, about which lay a broken circle of boulder-stones. In the midst of this they lit a fire, for there was no hope that darkness and silence would keep their trail from discovery by the hunting packs.
Round the fire we sat, and those that were not on guard dozed uneasily. Poor Bill the pony trembled and sweated where he stood. The howling of the wolves was now all round them, sometimes nearer and sometimes further off. In the dead of night many shining eyes were seen peering over the brow of the hill. Some advanced almost to the ring of stones. At a gap in the circle a great dark wolf-shape could be seen halted, gazing at them. A shuddering howl broke from him, as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault.
I stand, and walk towards it, Demos following behind snarling at the alpha.
"Fly, fly hound of Sauron, crawl back to thy master, and your pack shall remain unharmed," I tell him and he snarls, and in their foul tongue he spoke back.
"You daughter of the lord Sauron, bow to the knee to thy father then we shall obey you, but stand against us, your Father has given us permission to injure you, then hand you to your Brother."
Gandalf who had been listening looks at me, I was in shock, I mean I had expected, but I didn't really know.
"Fly fly from the Leonaré, or you will burn," I shout, Igniting my hand, and drawing my blade.
The wolf snarled and sprang towards me with a great leap. At that moment there was a sharp twang. Legolas had loosed his bow. There was a hideous yell, and the leaping shape thudded to the ground; the Elvish arrow had pierced its throat. The watching eyes were suddenly extinguished. Gandalf and Aragorn strode forward, but the hill was deserted; the hunting packs had fled. All about them the darkness grew silent, and no cry came on the sighing wind.
I went over to the edge of the light, and tried to stabilize my breathing, I had a brother and he was serving my evil father, and he was hunting me. I am debating on wether or not to leave the company, as Elladan comes over to me.
"What is it my love you have been over here for quite a while now."
"I am being hunted my love, The wolf told me that if they capture me, I am to be taken to my brother."
Elladan draws me close, "Arindil, I won't let that happen, and you won't go do something stupid like we both know you are thinking right now."
"What? What do you mean," I say cursing that he knows me so well
"You are thinking about leaving us and drawing your brother away, knowing full well that he will capture you and drag you to your father, you are still weak from the attempt to cross Caradhras. Stay, I don't want to lose you, if that happens, we both know that I will fade." He says and tips my chin up to see his face, and plants a kiss on my lips, then walks over to the fire next to his brother
The night was old, and westward the waning moon was setting, gleaming fitfully through the breaking clouds. The hobbits were drifting off, I stood at the edge of the light knowing that they would be back their honor as wolves demanded it. Without warning a storm of howls broke out fierce and wild all about the camp. A great host of Wargs had gathered silently and was now attacking them from every side at once.
'Fling fuel on the fire!' cries Gandalf to the hobbits. 'Draw your blades, and stand back to back!'
In the leaping light, as the fresh wood blazed up, I see many grey shapes spring over the ring of stones. More and more followed. Through the throat of one huge leader Aragorn passed his sword with a thrust; with a great sweep Boromir hewed the head off another. Beside them Gimli stood with his stout legs apart, wielding his dwarf-axe. The bows of Legolas, Elrohir, and Elladan hummed as they continued streams of arrows at the wolves. I was flinging fireball after fireball illuminating the hill, slashing at any wolf that came close.
In the wavering firelight Gandalf seems suddenly to grow: he rose up, a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping like a cloud, he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves. They gave back before him. High in the air he tossed the blazing brand. It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder.
'Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!' he cries.
There was a roar and a crackle, and the tree above him burst into a leaf and bloom of blinding flame. The fire leapt from tree-top to tree-top. The whole hill was crowned with dazzling light. The swords and knives of the defenders shone and flickered. The last arrows of Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir kindled in the air as they flew, and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf-chieftain. All the others fled.
"We move, Now, before they return." I say and begin walking trying to ignore my fatigue.
Elladan stops me, "Arindil, you are barely on your feet you need to rest, now."he tells me and the lays me down, as I grumble, and then says, "sleep Arrindell, you need it."
I sigh then fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes. When I awake it's morning and I shake off the dreams of my brother, his eyes burning holes in my soul, leaving me shivering in fear, a feeling rather unfamiliar to me.
We went around the hill but there were no signs of the wolves to be found, and the others looked in vain for the bodies of the dead, but i knew we wouldn't find any. No trace of the fight remained but the charred trees and the arrows of Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas lying on the hill-top. All were undamaged save one of which only the point was left.
That day the weather changed again, almost as if it was at the command of some power that had no longer any use for snow, since they had retreated from the pass, a power that wished now to have a clear light in which things that moved in the wild could be seen from far away. The wind had been turning through north to north-west during the night, and now it failed. The clouds vanished southwards and the sky was opened, high and blue. As they stood upon the hillside, ready to depart, a pale sunlight gleamed over the mountain-tops.
'We must reach the doors before sunset,' says Gandalf, 'or I fear we shall not reach them at all. It is not far, but our path may be winding, for here Aragorn cannot guide us; he has seldom walked in this country, and only once have I been under the west wall of Moria, and that was long ago.
"There it lies," he says, pointing away south-eastwards to where the mountains' sides fell sheer into the shadows at their feet. In the distance could be dimly seen a line of bare cliffs, and in their midst, taller than the rest, one great grey wall. "When we left the pass I led you southwards, and not back to our starting point, as some of you may have noticed. It is well that I did so, for now we have several miles less to cross, and haste is needed. Let us go!"
"I do not know which to hope," says Boromir grimly: "that Gandalf will find what he seeks, or that coming to the cliff we shall find the gates lost for ever. All choices seem ill, and to be caught between wolves and the wall the likeliest chance. Lead on!"
"Aye, I would rather face the caves of moria, than the one...ones pursuing us." I say, catching myself, which prompted suspicious glances from Boromir, Elrohir, and Legolas.
I walked with the hobbits, who began asking me questions.
"What did you mean by one Wraith?" Frodo asks, to which I purse my lips
"You know something, don't you." He says
"I know many things young Frodo, many of which I will not be sharing." I say rather forcefully causing the hobbits, except Sam, to give me mistrustful looks. I close my eyes, "I am sorry, this is just personal for me, and I can't share it."
The three share uneasy looks and continue walking forward, Sam gives me a knowing look
Gimli now walked ahead by the wizard's side, so eager he is to come to Moria. Together they led the Company back towards the mountains. The only road of old to Moria from the west had lain along the course of a stream, the Sirannon, that ran out from the feet of the cliffs near where the doors had stood. But either Gandalf was astray, or else the land had changed in recent years; for he did not strike the stream where he looked to find it, only a few miles southwards from their start.
The morning was passing towards noon, and still the Company wandered and scrambled in a barren country of red stones. Nowhere could they see any gleam of water or hear any sound of it. All was bleak as we trudged forward towards Moria.