A/N: Five minutes after posting the last chapter to FanFiction I had three reviews! This is fantastic guys, I'm so pleased that people are actually following along and enjoying this story; as well as giving answers to my last 'author's note' with such detail. Thanks so much!
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER: The Fellowship detour to the Mines of Moria; Legolas confronts Naruto on his excellent hearing and ability to walk on snow; and Gandalf acts as reluctant tour guide through Moria.
I have no ownership over Naruto or over Lord of the Rings. This is terrible news.
Please continue reviewing constructively and responsibly to this story xx
THE MINES OF MORIA
"When life puts you in tough situations, don't say 'Why me?' say 'Try me!'" – Unknown
The Fellowship walked along the far shore of a large dark lake, directly below some great looming cliffs. No animal life seemed to living around or on the lake's surface which made those who relied on their instincts to become uneasy. Naruto scouted ahead, nimbly traipsing over boulders and scaling walls, before stopping and waiting for the others to catch up as he sighed and wiped away some sweat that had gathered on his brow.
"You still owe me an explanation as to what occurred back there on the mountain."
Naruto jumped, and cursed himself for not being more observant. While it was only Legolas, who had followed him and was now staring at him with a pleasant, non-threatening expression on his youthful face; Naruto still viewed him as a stranger and therefore not to be trusted until further notice.
"Oh hey! It's really not that big of a deal. Why do you wanna know anyhow?" Naruto responded hopping down from his perch on top of a large boulder and casually striding over to where Legolas was standing.
"Because the only creature that I am aware of that can walk as easily as you just did on snow, and hear voices from faraway is one of my kin."
"Elves?"
Legolas nodded patiently. Naruto let out a low whistle and glanced at Legolas thoughtfully before making a decision.
"Chakra."
"Excuse me?" inquired Legolas.
"You heard me. I said 'Chakra'. That's what was keeping me up right on the snow, and what allows shinobi to hear great distances." Naruto explained. "Only while shinobi use chakra to enhance their listening abilities so seek out their targets … I have a little something extra to assist me." He added, rather reluctantly.
Legolas looked impressed.
"I see. That sounds like it would give you and your teammates a lot of advantage in life or death situations."
Naruto grinned.
"Yeah, saved my neck more often than I like."
"But you also mentioned that you have something extra, what do you mean?" the Elf asked curiously. Naruto mentally slapped himself.
Good one, moron. You gotta learn to keep ya big trap shut for once! He mentally berated himself. Naruto shoved his hands into his pockets and indicated to Legolas to follow him with his head as the rest of the Fellowship passed them by, warily scanning their surroundings for unfriendly company.
"In our world," Naruto indicated himself, Sakura and Sasuke, "chakra is essential to everything that we do. It is the physical and spiritual energies every shinobi has to allow us to mould and shape together to manipulate and perform jutsu. It also allows us understand one another without even talking. And it's not just people; it's also through animals – which we can summon as companions or weapons – and through the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Lightning." He explained.
Legolas blinked in astonishment.
"It appears shinobi and elves have similar attributes."
"How?"
"We both use the elements as a source of our strength."
Naruto looked up momentarily from their conversation to see Frodo and Gandalf having a private conversation, both glancing up occasionally and subtly glancing at each member of the Fellowship. He raised an eyebrow.
What's that all about?
"You still haven't told me the whole story…" Legolas reminded Naruto, as the ninja winced. He had been hoping that he had given the curious elf enough information to keep him distracted from learning that fact that he should've kept a well-guarded secret.
"Look, I shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place." He admitted, "I'm sorry, but it's not something that I'm proud of or wish to discuss right now. It will probably have to be discussed later, but right now I'm just not comfortable revealing it."
Naruto looked stressed, and Legolas was immediately concerned and just a touch suspicious. "All I can tell you is that I was born with it." Naruto concluded.
Legolas nodded.
"Alright. I'll respect your wishes. But I hope that you'll come through on your promise to reveal this to all of us when the time is right." He requested.
Naruto nodded.
"Fair enough."
"The Walls of Moria!" announced Gimli, sounding awestruck.
Naruto and Legolas raced up to where Gimli and Gandalf were standing, surrounded by the rest of the Fellowship. Before them, Naruto could see an unremarkable dull grey stone wall.
This is Moria? He thought in disbelief.
Shrugging, Naruto joined up with Sakura and Sasuke and followed Gandalf and Gimli along the path. The footing was treacherous, filled with narrow strips of green and greasy stones. Gimli was supplying everybody with a little 'fun' fact about Dwarf entrances.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He started tapping his axe against a rock, as the rest of the Fellowship moved along the wall looking for a door.
Gandalf piped up.
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten."
Legolas rolled his eyes, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Gimli grumbled, but said nothing. The group turned around a bend in the pathway and came across the same dark lake that they had been appraising earlier and Frodo accidentally stepped into it. Just as quickly pulled his foot out. Gandalf eventually came across a rock between two trees, and started to run his hand across the cliff face.
"Now… let's see. Ithildin—" He mumbled to himself.
As his hand moved, beneath his hand ran spidery silver lines, faint beneath the dirt.
"It mirrors only starlight… and moonlight." He looked up at the black night sky.
The clouds parted and revealed a bright full moon. The silver lines that Gandalf revealed glowed brighter, outling a door formed of two columns beneath an arch, with a star in the centre.
"Wow…" breathed Sakura, her jade green eyes wide and amazed. Sasuke blinked twice, thinking he was seeing things. But then snapped his head sharply towards the large lake and frowned suspiciously.
There's something in that water…
"It reads, 'the door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'" Gandalf explained, pointing to the runes revealed upon the stone.
I give up. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Naruto thought, as he walked up to the stone wall and touched the silver lines curiously.
"What do you suppose it means?" asked Merry. Gandalf turned and smiled at Merry as he backed away from the wall, preparing himself to open it.
"It's quite simple," He said, indicating for Naruto and Merry to come away from the wall.
"If you are a friend, speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf explained confidently.
"That's great. But what is the password?" asked Naruto, perching on a boulder beside Sasuke (who was still glaring at the body of water) and crossed his arms over his chest.
Gandalf ignored him and raised his arms.
"Annon edhellen, edro hi amen! (Gate of the Elves, open now for me!)"
There is a stiff breeze, that blew cold and caused everyone to shiver … but the door remained closed. Gandalf paused, slightly confused before he tried again.
"Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen. (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue)."
"Nothing's happening." 'Captain obvious' Pippin commented.
This earned a slightly annoyed glance from Gandalf. The wizard began to push on the doors, but they wouldn't budge. He then began a series of different incantations to get the doors to open, and Naruto found himself imagining the sounds of crickets chirping after every failed attempt Gandalf made.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves … Men … and Orcs." Gandalf muttered exasperated and frustrated.
Which wasn't helped by Pippin.
"What are you going to do, then?" The inquisitive hobbit asked, innocently, unaware of the stress he was causing with that simple question and oblivious to the glares he was receiving. Gandalf lost his temper.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little piece from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words."
"Pip, just come and sit down." Sakura suggested, sensing that Pippin was one stupid question away from being hexed by Gandalf. Pippin obeyed looking slightly chastened, and didn't say another word.
Time passes, and Gandalf still hadn't found the right password to open the doors.
"Ando Eldarinwa… a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa… (Gate of Elves … listen to my word, Threshold of Dwarves…)" Gandalf mumbled as the Fellowship sits around the doors nearby the lake. Sasuke still hadn't stopped glaring at the water, and it was making both Sakura and Naruto nervous.
"Geez, what did that water ever do to you?" asked Naruto, jokingly, trying to snap Sasuke out of his brooding funk.
He was ignored.
"Sasuke? Are you alright?" Sakura asked timidly, reaching out to touch Sasuke's arm to get his attention. She flinched when Sasuke abruptly snatched away his arm and deepened his glare; thankfully not at her.
"I'm fine. Don't touch me." He replied, shortly.
Naruto sighed. When Sasuke was in a strop like this one, it was best to just leave him be or risk an unwanted amputation. He turned his head towards where Aragorn was unhitching Bill the Pony's bridle, and his face fell when he realised what was happening. He nudged Sakura.
"Sakura, look." He said, pointing towards Aragorn, Sam and Bill. Sakura sighed.
"Oh no, poor Sam."
They watched as Sam said a tearful farewell to his friend whom they bought back in Bree when they first travelled towards Rivendell, months before. It was a sad sight and Sakura itched to go over and comfort the clearly heartbroken hobbit. She turned to Naruto.
"I'll be back." She promised and moved swiftly over to Sam, who was quietly sorting and repacking his belongings to fit his cooking pots and pans.
At the same time, Merry and Pippin had grown bored waiting for Gandalf to finally get the doors open and decided to amuse themselves by skipping rocks on the lake.
"Fools!" said Sasuke suddenly, and moved to intercept them. He was beaten to the punch by Aragorn.
"Do not disturb the water." He warned the hobbits, ominously.
But the damage had been done the moment Merry had thrown the first stone into the murky black water. Ripples appeared and grew bigger and bigger every passing second, worrying both Aragorn and Boromir.
"We're in for it now…" Sasuke declared mysteriously and got to his feet as though preparing for a predicted battle. Naruto frowned in confusion and got to his feet.
"Oh this is useless!" Gandalf gives up, despairing and takes a seat next to a patient Frodo, who was studying the Elvish inscription curiously. Suddenly, a wide smile appears on his face.
"It's a riddle…" He mumbled, quietly. Gandalf raises an eyebrow at him. Frodo starts to explain.
"Speak, friend, and enter. What's the Elvish word for 'friend'?" He asks Gandalf, who got the 'lightbulb-over-the-head' expression.
"Oh… 'Mellon'." Gandalf replied.
Almost immediately, the rock face silently divides in the middle and two great doors swing outwards, revealing a blackness inside that rivalled the night.
"Oh yes! Finally!" cheers Naruto, forgetting what was troubling Sasuke and immediately bounces towards his knapsack and swings it on his back.
However, Sasuke didn't budge from his spot, glaring at the water. But he could've murdered his lover right there and then when Naruto casually swung an arm around his shoulders and escorted him towards Moria's gate. Once inside, the Fellowship warily step deeper into the darkness of Moria; which turned out to be a dank cavern with winding steps leading deeper into the mountain. Naruto stopped dead in his tracks when the familiar stench of death and decay hit his nose.
His eyes widened in horror.
"Uh-oh." He said.
His teammates silently seconded his motion.
"Soon, Master elf," Gimli was addressing a half-listening Legolas, bragging about what they were to expect. "You will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone."
Alarm bells were pealing madly in everyone's head, as Gandalf attached a special crystal to the top of his staff and gently blew on it to make it glow and grimaced at what he saw: grey shrivelled skeletons of hundreds, maybe even thousands of dwarves were scattered all around them, each littered with arrows. Gimli was facing away from the entrance, remaining oblivious to the obvious carnage all around him, so intent on bragging to Legolas of the 'luxuries' they would be given.
"This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin … and they call this a Mine … a Mine!" He bragged.
Boromir shook his head, grimly. "This is no mine … it's a tomb!"
Gimli reacted to this and spun 'round, his face turning ashen with horror.
"Oh… no…no…no…NO!" He cried out in anguish.
Legolas walked over to the nearest skeleton and pulled free a crude arrow, examining it before throwing it away in disgust.
"Goblins!" He announced and immediately loaded his bow while Aragorn, Boromir and Sasuke drew their swords, and Naruto and Sakura brandished kunai. The four hobbits back away towards the entrance, horrified.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here!" Boromir shouted, angrily.
While the Fellowship were distracted by the horror within Moria's gate, Frodo felt something cold and slimy wrap itself around his ankle. Suddenly, he is pulled to the ground and dragged towards the lake. Immediately Sam, Merry and Pippin seized whatever they could grab of Frodo and try to pull him back.
"Strider!" yells Sam in panic.
Aragorn jerked his head towards the entrance and cursed before rushing forward with Boromir close behind. However, Sasuke having anticipated this attack earlier, was already there and immediately severs the tentacle holding Frodo, allowing the other hobbits to drag him to safety. Boromir, Sakura and Naruto begin to hack away at the other limbs. Their efforts seemed to be in vain, as more tentacles ripple out of the lake and swot the three of them and the hobbits away, before lunging at Frodo and pulling him back towards the lake.
"Naruto! Sakura!" roared Sasuke who was running on the surface of the lake towards a hideous creature who immerged from the water, ready to devour a terrified Frodo who was struggling to free himself.
The pinkette and blonde nodded without question and with chakra enhanced speed launched themselves at the creature and started to slice and dice, much to the amazement of the rest of the Fellowship. Once again, Sasuke severs the tentacle holding Frodo aloft, and releases him allowing the hobbit to freefall into Aragorn's waiting arms.
"Into the mines!" urged Gandalf.
"Legolas!" hollers Boromir, who was standing on the edge of the lake, hacking away at the straggling tentacles.
The elf shoots an arrow into the creature's head, buying enough time for Aragorn and the shinobi to race out of the water with Frodo. The Fellowship retreat hastily into Moria as the creature gives chase, having been thwarted in having its meal and causes the doors to cave in. Trapped, the Fellowship turn to Gandalf for their next move.
"We now have but one choice … we must face the long dark of Moria." He declared ominously, banging his staff on the stone floor to make the crystal glow brighter. "Be on your guard," Gandalf warned. "There are older and fouler things that the Orcs in the deep places of the world."
They crossed a precarious bridge above deep mine workings. Gandalf held his glowing staff high.
"Quietly, now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence will go unnoticed."
Naruto smiled at Sasuke who raised an eyebrow at him inquiringly.
"Your instinct really doesn't suck, teme." Naruto whispered, teasingly. The Avenger rolled his eyes, but nevertheless pulled Naruto into an embrace and affectionately kissed Naruto's temple.
"Shut up, dobe."
The Fellowship continued up a steep stair, passing through a dwarf cemetery. The graves were desecrated … dwarf skeletons strewn about and goblin graffiti was scrawled on monuments in dried Dwarf blood. Sakura shuddered in horror; the entire atmosphere very sinister. Time passes and eventually they entered a giant cavern. Gandalf rests his hand upon a rock with dark, silver veins running through it.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold… or jewels…" He tilts his staff down towards a pit, "…but Mithril." The light illuminates the Fellowship's faces, as they took in the sight they saw.
"Woah…" whispered Naruto in amazement.
A vast rock wall dropped into the depths below. There were row upon row of ladders and scaffolding, old and disused that disappeared into the mining shafts below. Merry would've taken a header off the ledge as he leant forward to look closer, if Pippin hadn't put a warning hand in front of him to prevent him plummeting to certain death. Frodo observes the sight, right until the light fades. Gandalf gestures for them to keep moving.
"Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him."
Gimli's eyes widened, "Oh, that was a kingly gift."
Gandalf smiled.
"Yes! I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire." Nobody noticed Frodo's eyes widen in shock.
"You gotta be shitting me!" Naruto muttered under his breath as Gandalf then climbed up more steep steps on the side of another dark foreboding cavern. Halfway up the stairs, Pippin lost his footing and nearly falls on Merry.
"Pippin!"
At the top, the path split into three passages … each disappearing into dark tunnels. Gandalf stops and frowns.
"I have no memory of this place."
The Fellowship sits and rests, nervously waiting for Gandalf to remember the right way to go. Aragorn, suspecting Boromir was plotting to steal the Ring from Frodo, casually takes his seat next to him.
Sakura was still reeling from what she had seen so far … and she was a seasoned chunnin AND a medical-nin to boot for God's sake!
C'mon, Haruno! Buck up! You've seen worse than this…
She glanced over at where Naruto and Sasuke were sitting huddled together, just enjoying each other's company and talking quietly with each other. She recoiled, fighting back tears and wishing she hadn't looked over at Sasuke at that moment. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she was happy that her two teammates had found love with each other; she knew for a fact that part her was also resenting Naruto for taking from her what she so desperately coveted.
Sure, it was selfish… But who was going to take a chance on me? Give me that 'look' I've had girlfriends like Ino and Tenten describing?
Sakura sighed, wishing she had somebody to lean on for comfort; and not just because she was lovelorn … it was because it was REALLY creepy in this place.
"Uh, Sakura?" She looked up at the softly spoken voice, and saw Legolas looking at her with a slight frown. "Are you okay?" Legolas asked sounding concerned.
Sakura quickly dried her eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks."
She smiled, weakly. The elf frowned.
"So why don't I believe you?"
Sakura hesitated. Legolas got up from his perch and walked over to where Sakura was sitting, curled up into a protective ball. He shook his golden head and immediately sat down next to this impossible girl with unnatural coloured hair. He hadn't been fooled for a moment. He knew for a fact that she was scared; and not because they were trapped in what used to be a fully functional Mithril mine-turned final resting place for a bunch of moronic dwarves. It was because she was trapped in a strange, unfamiliar world that was not her own with danger at every turn.
"You know," She looked up at him with those beautiful green eyes, giving him her full attention. "It's okay to be afraid. This isn't going to be an easy road to follow." He reminded her.
Sakura smiled.
"I know. I know that I'm afraid." Sakura agreed.
Legolas approved. "Good. I'd consider you a fool if you weren't. And you don't strike me as a fool."
Sakura giggled.
"What made you come over here and check up on me?" She asked. Legolas shrugged.
"I suppose it might be because you appeared upset and lonely. So, I took it upon myself to make sure that you were okay. I hope I haven't overstepped my boundaries." He asked, tentatively.
"No, you haven't. Thank you for looking out for me, I appreciate it." Sakura thanked him, graciously.
"It was my pleasure, milady." Legolas stood to go back to where he had left his weapons and belongings, when Sakura unexpectedly stopped him.
"Legolas?" He looked back at her, "Can you stay here with me? I don't want to be alone." She asked, feeling both hopeful and slightly needy.
"Of course." Legolas smiled warmly and retook his seat next to Sakura whose face lit up immediately.
Sakura huddled next to the Elf, instantly feeling relief when his warmth eased the chill in her bare arms. She glanced over to see that Naruto had shifted so his head was now resting comfortably in Sasuke's lap, while the Uchiha absently carded his long, elegant if calloused fingers through Naruto's coarse blonde hair. It still hurt a bit, seeing them like this. But Sakura knew that she would heal eventually. She just had to believe that it would happen.
Time continued to tick by, and Sakura found herself falling asleep. Her head rested heavily against Legolas' shoulder and she drifted into a dreamless sleep. Legolas glanced over at Sakura in surprise, before smiling. Readjusting their position, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her into his side.
"Sleep while you can, Sakura." He whispered into her ear.
Legolas was unaware that Gandalf had seen the entire exchange, in between trying to remember which direction they were meant to go.
He was pleased that Legolas had finally decided to move on from his unrequited attachment to his childhood friend but was a little shocked that the person who helped him achieve this turned out to be a young girl from an entirely different world from this one.
It wasn't an unpleasant surprise, but he hoped that they didn't get too attached to each other. He feared that if a relationship forged between them was suddenly broken – either by their deaths, or because they finally figured out how to return her to her world – that they probably would never recover.
Gandalf continued pondering over Legolas and Sakura's newfound, if slightly tentative friendship even when he was giving Frodo advice about how to deal with being the Ringbearer, and when he finally figured out the right road.
"Oh! It's that way." He confirmed, pointing to a doorway on his left. He got to his feet, placing his hat on his head and gathering up his sword and staff.
"He's remembered!" whisper-shouted Merry.
Legolas gently shook Sakura awake. She opened her eyes and glanced around groggily. Upon realising she was leaning against Legolas, she immediately sprang away from him like she had been electrocuted.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry." She apologised, blushing. Legolas chuckled warmly.
"It's perfectly alright, Sakura. No harm done." He walked over to his bow and picked it up, "You only drooled a little…" He teased. Sakura gave him a mock-glare and wiped around her mouth, before replacing her pack and striding past the smirking elf.
"Thanks a lot."
The Fellowship followed Gandalf down the narrow staircase, before they eventually passed under an arched doorway into a black and empty space. Gandalf stopped.
"Let me risk a little more light." He said, tapping his staff on the stone floor, coaxing it to light up more. Almost immediately, the shadows vanished.
"Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" said Gandalf.
There was scattered gasps and exclamations of awe as they took in the impressive sight. Far above their heads, held up by mighty pillars of hewn stone, was a vast roof. Before them, stretched a huge empty hall, with burnished black walls as smooth as glass.
"Well, there's an eye opener and no mistake!" remarked Sam.
They continued walking and spied just ahead of them, a wooden door had been smashed in. Black arrows were embedded in the timbers, and the two goblin skeletons that lay in the doorway told them all that a desperate attempt to keep something out had occurred here.
Gasping, Gimli immediately ran towards the mangled doors…
A/N: That's all for now folks! I am extremely pleased on the outcome of reviews from my last chapter. It makes me happy to know that people are actually out there paying attention and reading my stories. Please keep it up!
Apart from requesting that you continue sending in your votes for which member of Team Seven you'd like to travel with Frodo and Sam, I hoped that you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned in for the next one.
TTFN xx