Chapter 6 - The First of Many
The Fellowship was walking silently through the mine. It had passed nightfall and was the early morning, according to Gandalf, and Rei was still unconscious. "Would you like one of us to hold him Aragorn?" Legolas asked softly, the ranger had yet to have a break from holding Rei.
"No...I'm fine" He said stubbornly, he wasn't letting Rei out of his sight until he was able to walk around but himself. The neko-jinn mumbled something in his slumber and curled his arms around Aragorn's neck, causing the male to smile and bringing him close.
"I find it odd" Boromir spoke quietly to Legolas, so only he could hear "How can they care for one another this much in such a short amount of time of knowing each other?" He asked with a deep frown upon his face. Legolas smiled as he glanced at the two in front of them
"Thats what makes love such a wonderful thing. It can happen at any time, you could have only just met the person then or have known them for many years" Legolas smiled up at Boromir before back at the two. A happy sigh escaped him along with the words "Nae saian luume'" Boromir blinked and Legolas let out a soft laugh "It means 'It has been a long time'"
"A long time? A long time for what?" He asked intrigued by the Elf. It was the first time they have both spoken a lone together and he had to admit, it was quite a pleasant conversation
"It's been such a long time since I've seen Aragorn smile like that" Legolas looked down upon his feet "When he found out he was the next kin in line for the throne he changed, he wasn't that free spirit he once was, he..." Legolas trailed not sure how to finish
"Grew up" Boromir finished, his face had a sad look upon his face he understood what Aragorn felt, he had to grow up pretty fast with whom his father was. Legolas's heart started to race as he looked up upon the mans face, how did he not notice how beautiful the male was. Quickly looking away Legolas smiled
"Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa" The elf grinned seeing the confused look upon the male "It means 'Your heart is that of the lion'"
"Dear Elf I am confused whether or not that is an insult" Boromir placed his hand over his heart with a mock hurt look across his face. This caused Legolas to laugh loudly but quickly clamped his hand over his mouth upon seeing the rest of the fellowship look their way. An unlikely blush came over the Elf as he bowed his head in shame. Boromir smiled though, it was the first time he felt like himself since before hey met in Riverdale.
The atmosphere changed dramatically over the Fellowship as they climbed up a steep stairwell, passing through a dwarf cemetery. The graves are despoiled dwarf skeletons are strewn about and Goblin Graffiti is scrawled on monuments in dried Dwarf blood. The atmosphere was very sinister. A soft moan escaped Rei as he blinked his eyes open, the first thing he saw was the outline of Aragorn's face, which was looking down worringly at Rei
"W-what happened?" Rei asked as he blinked looking around, the group stopped and crowded around Rei as Aragorn helped him on his feet and steadied him
"You where pulled into the river by The Watcher in the Water" Aragorn stated running his hands through Rei's tangled hair, trying his best to untangled it.
Gandalf looked at where the path splits into three passages, each disappearing into dark tunnels. Gandalf frowned deeply before turning back to the Fellow ship "We will rest here. I have no memory of this place" the group side heavily, the hobbits took it upon themselves to start a small fire to cook some food. Gandalf sat and staring intently at the 3 tunnel mouths in front of him. He appears to be in some kind of trance, trying to remember.
Frodo looked over at Rei "Your guardian...Drigger, he saved you" Rei tiled his head to look at the hobbit
"He's telling the truth, I saw it with my own eyes he pulled you from the water before disappearing" Aragorn stated, Legolas and Boromir nodded in agreement. Rei pulled out his beyblade, studying his bitbeast chip, a green glow came from it, surrounding Rei's hand causing the neko-jinn to smile
"That doesn't surprise me, it would not be the first time he has saved my life" The group nodded before sitting separately, The hobbits sat together excluding Frodo who was speaking to Gandalf quietly, Gimli was speaking with Legolas, they both seemed to be having a disagreement. Boromir sat on his own, sharpening his sword. Whilst Rei and Aragorn sat together, Rei's fingers traced his bandana which had yet to leave Aragorn's wrist.
It was comfortable silence between the two of them, and Aragorn hated to break it but he needed to let what was troubling his mind out "You scared me...I thought you where taken by the creature" Rei's eyes looked up at Aragorn's "I'm going to get you a weapon, theres bound to be one in these mines, you know how to handle yourself with one and I'll feel better if you had some sort of protection with you" Rei nodded gently
"As you wish Mellon" Rei smiled at Aragorn's surprised look "Legolas has been teaching me some words here and there. I will need new clothing if we are to make people believe I am...an elf" Rei shrugged as he picked at his slack pants, he did feel left out compared to the remainder of the group Aragorn gave him a soft smile
"Well once we are out of here we will be in the city Lothlórien, Lothlórien is a beautiful woodlem relm, I believe you will love it and I am sure Lady Galadriel would love to meet you and perhaps she could see if she knows what has happened to you" Rei's eyes seemed to brighten at that before they were filled with confusion "Lady Galadriel is a very powerful elf, she bares one of the three elven rings, she can see into the future, I am sure she knows we are coming"
"Ah! It's that way!" Gandalf stated before Rei could ask further questions about this woman. Gandalf was pointing to the right hand tunnel. The Fellowship quickly scrambled to their feet.
Merry looked relieved as he stated "He's remembered!" exultingly though Gandalf shook his head and tapped his nose as he spoken
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down there. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!" The wizard grinned as he led the Fellowship through an arched doorway into a black and empty space. Gandalf pauses for just a moment before he risked for a little more light, he tapped his staff and for a brief moment a bright light blazes, like a silent flash of lightning, it spread through the hall way, shadows spring up and flee from the light. Aragorn and Gandalf shared a look, knowing they will have to be more careful. They where being watched
At the end of the hall Gandalf smiled and spread his arms out showing the Fellowship the sight of a vast roof, far above their heads, upheld by many mighty pillars hewn out of stone. "Behold! The great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf!" He guide them in one of the huge empty halls, the walls where black, polished and smoothed like glass. The hobbits took in the hall, there eyes wide as they took in the details. Rei looked upon the floor, there where many, many skeletons. He shivered and Aragorn immediately pulled him in close, he knew Rei had never seen such a sight before
Ahead of them was an entrance to one of the many chambers, the wooden door has been smashed open and black arrows where embedded into the timbers. Two goblin skeletons lie in the doorway. Gimli's eye widened as he recognised the chamber and rushed ahead, ignore Gandalf calling out his name
"Gimli!"
Gimli rushed into the chamber, the only light came from a narrow hole in the roof, shaft of sunlight beaming down into the centre of the room. Dwarf's and Goblin's skeletons were piled high across the room. The shaft of light falls directly onto a stone table in the middle of the room. A single oblong block, about 4 feet high, topped with a great slab of white stone, a tomb. Gimli falls to his knees "No...no...oh, no!" He sobbed loudly, head buried in his hands.
The Fellowship looked on, eyes filled with sadness, even Legolas, who bowed his head and muttered some words which Rei could only assume was a payer. Gandalf quietly moved closer to Gimli, looking on top of the tomb and reads an inscription of runes, carved onto the white stone slab.
"'Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria'" He is dead, then. It's as I had feared" Gandalf said grimly. The group walked further into the chamber, Aragorn lead Rei to one of the corners where there where many unused weapons as Gandalf read a passage from what seems to be a journel
"Here, this should do you, it's light and easy to use" He handed him, the sword was indeed light, very flat and deadly slim "It's Elvish made, as to why its hear we will never know" Rei smiled at Aragorn as he held out the sword "You remember what we taught you?" Before Rei could speak Legolas came over and gripped Aragorn's shoulder
"We must move on, we can not linger!" He whispered harshly to both Rei and Aragorn, who both in return nodded at the elf. Rei knew better than to question Legolas, the elf seemed to sense danger far quicker than most. Before anyone could raise there concerns a loud noise came from the corner of the room. Rei looked to see Pippin looking guilty, behind him a stone well which the noise seemed to be coming from before a loud crash ended the sound, obviously the thing that was dropped hit the bottom.
At first no one moved, then Gandalf turned angrily on Pippin. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Pippin looked down at his feet, his body slightly shook with fear. The group fell silent once more until a low rolling boom rises from the depths below, growing louder and louder, booming noises as if the caverns of Moria were turned into a vast drum. A great horn blasts nearby, answering horns, running feet and harsh cries. The Fellowship looked at one another, worried. Then Sam's eyes glance at Frodo's belt
"Mr. Frodo!" he said in worry. Both Rei and Frodo looked down at his belt, drawing out his sword, Rei's eyes fixed upon the ice cold blue glow that was emanating from Sting's Scabbard!
"Orcs!" Legolas snarl snapped Rei out of his trance, watching as Aragorn pushed the four hobbits towards Gandalf
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf, no matter what happens." He then turned to Rei and pulled him along towards the entrance where Boromir joined them. Aragorn and Boromir slam the door shut, before the three of them and wedge any weapons or objects they could find into the door. An awful stentch came from the other side of the door, and a pitiful moan. Boromir quickly turns to Aragorn with shock in his eyes.
"They have a cave troll!" Boromir grabs Rei's wrist to pull him back whilst Aragorn finishes wedging the door. Legolas hands Rei a bow and some arrows
"Remember what I taught you, breathe that is the key to this" Rei nodded as he set up his bow with shaken arms. Aragorn came over and rested his hand on his shoulder, calming Rei instantly, locking eyes with the male. Gimli pulled himself out of his grief and snatches up two rusty dwarf axes before leaping onto the tomb.
"Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" He cried out, breathing heavily as anger filled over him, he was prepared to fight till his last breath.
BOOM!
One of the door cracks in the middle causing a shower of wood fragments to fly out, the crack was big enough for a goblin to climb through. Rei inhaled softly and as he exhaled he let his arrow go, watching it fly towards the Goblin, it was the first of many arrows to follow