Chapter 19: The Mines of Moria

And so, the Company had left the treacherous path of Caradhras to go under the mountain. They were about to pass through the Mines of Moria. Boromir had a great wariness wash over him as they neared Moria. It was not the danger that made Boromir uneasy; it was that Gandalf seemed fearful of going into the Mines. Boromir knew if he was going to survive the mines, he would have to be on his guard. The only one who took comfort in the journey to the Mines was Gimli, as he was akin to Balin, the Lord of Moria.

Gimli was in awe as they approached the mines. "The walls of Moria."

Gimli then proceeded to bang his ax against the walls, as if he was in search of something. Before Boromir could ask why, Gimli spoke up.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," he said.

"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf said.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas said.

Gimli gave a growl low in his throat.

Oh, brilliant. Invisible doors, Boromir thought.

At last they stopped when Gandalf gazed at what seemed to be a door.

"Ithildin," he said. "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight."

The moon revealed itself, and the runes shone on the door like stars. Everyone gaped at the sight of the beautifully lit runes.

It seems the dwarves are full of surprises, Boromir thought. I lament that Faramir and Pharazphel are not here to witness this.

"It reads, 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter,'" Gandalf explained.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.

"It's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open," Gandalf said. "Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!"

Much to everyone's dismay, the door did not open. Gandalf tried to push it open, but with no success.

"Do not you know the word, Gandalf?" Boromir asked.

"No," Gandalf said.

"Then what is the use in bringing us to this accursed spot?" Boromir wanted to know. "You told us that you once passed through the Mines. How could that be if you do not know how to enter?"

"To answer your first question, Boromir, is that I do not know the word – yet," Gandalf said. "As for your other question, do you doubt my tale? Have you no wits about you? I did not enter from the door. I entered from the East."

"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asked.

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrine Took! And if that does not settle them, then I'm allowed a little peace from foolish questions. I am trying to find the right words."

For a long moment, the Company was silent as Gandalf tried to solve the riddle of the door. As they waited, Boromir and Aragorn noticed a ripple moving fast in the water. Merry and Pippin were foolishly throwing stones into the water. Before Pippin could throw another, Aragorn grabbed his arm.

"Do not disturb the water," he said.

Suddenly, Frodo jumped up. "It's a riddle," he said. "'Speak friend, and enter.' What's the Elvish word for 'friend?'"

"Mellon," Gandalf replied.

Suddenly, the great bright doors pulled open.

Hobbits certainly are a clever folk, Boromir thought.

The Fellowship entered the Mines. Gimli was overjoyed as they entered.

"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves," he said. "Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone! This is the home of my cousin, Balin, and they call it a mine. A mine!"

Gandalf lit up his staff. Boromir did not see roaring fires, or dwarves for that matter. All he saw were numerous skeletons about them. Each skeleton was pierced with arrows.

"This is no mine. It's a tomb," he said.

Gimli looked in horror at the skeletons around the Mine. "No. No! NO!"

Legolas glanced at one of the arrows. "Goblins!"

Everyone drew their weapons.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir said. "We should never have come here. Now get out of here, get out!"

Suddenly, they heard Frodo cry out. The Fellowship raced out to find Frodo dragged high into the air by a monstrous creature with tentacles. Legolas fired arrows at the beast while Aragorn and Boromir furiously cut off it's tentacles. The creature swung its tentacles at all who approached. Boromir slashed swiftly at a tentacle, and Frodo fell into Boromir's waiting arms.

"Into the Mines!" Gandalf cried.

"Legolas! Into the caves!" Boromir cried. "Run!"

The creature pulled itself onto the land, pursuing its foes. The Fellowship had barely made it into the caves as the creature snatched at the stone, causing a cave in. They were trapped in the Mines. Gandalf lit up his staff in the darkness.

"We now have but one choice: we must face the long dark of Moria," he said. "Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things in the deep places of the world. Quietly, now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."

And so, the group journeyed to the other side of Moria. As they crept through the darkness, Boromir easily lost track of the time. He did not know how long they had been in the darkness. There was no way of knowing if it was night or day. As they journeyed deeper and deeper into the Mines, Gandalf noticed what seemed to be a gleaming light in the dark.

"The wealth of Moria was not in gold, or jewels, but in mithril," Gandalf said.

He raised his staff, and the Company could see the sparkling brightness of the mithril. Everyone was taken aback by the beauty of the gems.

"Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave to him," Gandalf said.

"That was a kingly gift!" Gimli said.

"Yes," Gandalf agreed. "I never told him, but it's worth was greater than the land of The Shire."

The Company left the sight of the brilliant mithril and climbed the stairs. As they reached the top, Gandalf looked bewildered.

"I have no memory of this place," he said.

Once again, their journey was stalled. As they could do nothing until Gandalf remembered the way, the Company made a fire. Boromir was fearful as they waited in the dark.

"Something troubles you, Boromir?" Aragorn asked.

"Shall we be doomed to be trapped in this darkness forever?" Boromir asked.

"Do not lose hope, Boromir," Aragorn said. "Gandalf will find us a way."

"But when will that be?" Boromir asked.

"Do you lack faith in Gandalf?" Aragorn asked.

"No, forgive me," Boromir said. "I am only thinking of returning to my wife. She is greatly with child now. I have thought of her and our child since I left Gondor."

"Do not fear. We shall escape this darkness, and you will return to your wife and child," Aragorn said.

"It is that thought alone that has kept my hopes high on this journey," Boromir said.

Boromir was interrupted when Gandalf cried out, "Oh, it's that way!"

"He's remembered!" Merry said excitedly.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here," Gandalf said. "If in doubt, young Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

Gandalf led them down a stairway. As Gandalf lit the way, they beheld a great city with tall pillars and great high ceilings.

"Behold, the great realm of the dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf," Gandalf said.

"Well, there's an eye-opener. Ain't no mistake," Sam said.

The Fellowship marveled at the spectacular city. Their amazement was halted when Gimli gave a cry and rushed forward to a room with a grave. The group followed him to the grave as Gimli sank to his knees.

"No! No!" Gimli cried.

Gandalf approached the grave with Dwarf runes and read it aloud. "'Here lies Balin son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead then. It is as I feared."

Gimli cried out in pain and recited a Dwarvish prayer. Boromir placed a consoling hand on Gimli's shoulder. Gandalf picked up a book that was lying nearby. He blew the dust off of it and opened it.

"'They have taken the bridge, and the second hall,'" he read. "'We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. We cannot get out. The ground shakes, drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. The shadow moves in the deep. Cannot get out. They are coming."

Suddenly, BOOM! The Company was startled as Pippin foolishly tugged on a skeleton and sent it crashing and clanging into the well and deep into the Mines. Pippin looked shameful as everyone stared. Boromir breathed a sigh as no danger came after the racket.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf cried. "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

Then, there was a different sound. It was the sound of drums. The drumming grew louder and was accompanied by shrieks.

"Orcs!" Legolas said.

Boromir rushed to close the door. Two arrows zipped through the air, narrowly missing Boromir as they were caught in the door.

"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn cried to the Hobbits.

Boromir and Aragorn closed the doors as they heard a roar.

"They have a cave troll," Boromir said.

Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir barred the doors with wood and axes. They stood back, and waited for what was to come through the doors. Aragorn and Legolas drew their bows. Boromir, Gandalf, and the Hobbits readied their swords. Gimli growled as he held his ax high and jumped atop Balin's grave.

"Let them come! Here's one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" Gimli said.

The company waited as the hordes tore through the door. Aragorn and Legolas loosed their arrows, as the creatures shrieked behind the doors. At last, the Orcs burst through the doors. Chaos engulfed the entire chamber as they battled the Orcs. Boromir slashed his way through the Orcs. The ring of metal was everywhere, like music. Legolas' bow sang and let loose arrows with great speed. Just as the Company thought the Orcs were enough, a humongous cave troll smashed through the chamber with a fierce roar. The powerful creature swung a great mallet at Sam and prepared to squash him. Aragorn and Boromir pulled on the chain that hung around the troll's neck, distracting him. Aragorn let go quickly, but the cave troll swung Boromir off the chain, smashing him into a wall and knocking him unconscious for a moment. When Boromir came to, he saw an Orc ready to strike. The Orc fell dead after a dagger pierced its neck. Boromir looked over and nodded at Aragorn. Boromir got to his feet and slashed at any Orc who approached him. The cave troll viciously attacked Legolas, swinging the chain at the elf. Legolas quickly trapped the cave troll's chain and climbed on top of the beast. Legolas fired an arrow directly into the brain of the creature. The cave troll roared furiously as it went after three of the Hobbits. It grabbed Frodo by his leg and dragged him. Frodo slashed the beast's hand to free himself. Amidst the chaos, Boromir saw Aragorn attack the cave troll, piercing the creature with a long spear. The Hobbits through rocks at the beast, causing it to swing its arms madly, and toss Aragorn against the wall. Boromir raced to Aragorn's side and slashed at any Orcs who approached. Boromir was distracted by a cry of pain. The cave troll had used the spear to stab Frodo. Frodo cried out and fell forward.

No! Boromir thought. It cannot end here!

With more fury than ever, Boromir hacked his way through the Orcs. Before long, only the cave troll remained. Legolas fired two arrows into the cave troll's throat. At last, the cave troll gave one last cry as it fell dead with a crash. Everyone rushed to Frodo's side. Frodo was not moving.

"Oh no," Aragorn said sorrowfully.

Aragorn turned Frodo over. Much to everyone's surprise, Frodo coughed and sighed as he awoke.

"He's alive," Sam said.

"I'm alright," Frodo said.

"You're not hurt?" Aragorn said. "That spear would've skewered a wild boar."

"I think there's more to this omen that meets the eye," Gandalf said.

Frodo opened his shirt, revealing white and gold mithril rings.

"Mithril!" Gimli cried. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."

Halflings are truly an amazing people,Boromir thought.

Outside the chamber, there was the shrieking of more Orcs approaching.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" Gandalf said.

Without a second thought, the Company raced out of the chamber and to the bridge. As they neared the bridge, no one could have anticipated the evil that would await them.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I will be getting back to Pharazphel soon. Thank you for all of the favorites and reviews. It means so much. Thank you, and enjoy!