Shadow had been correct in his warning that the path inside the cavern wouldn't be pretty. From what could be told, six hours had passed since they'd entered Moria, and nothing had changed. Here and there, corpses littered the ground—those of goblins and those of dwarves—much to the horror of Gimli. The path was dangerous. Cracks and pitfalls came from nowhere before the feet of the weary travelers. Treacherous this road was and dark. So dark was it that the weight of it was enough to nearly smother the breath from Legolas's lungs. Only the pale light from Gandalf's staff kept the Fellowship from certain doom.
The Fellowship was silent. Each member concentrated on making certain that feet didn't stray. Gandalf lead with Gimli. Frodo trudged behind them with Boromir and Aragorn just behind him. Behind them, Pippin and Merry followed, with Legolas making sure they kept marching. Bringing up the rear, Sam walked, deep in his own thoughts, with Shadow living up to his name just behind him.
Sadness still filled Sam's heart over having to leave the pony Bill outside the gates. He hoped beyond hope that the animal would make his way swiftly home. This road was fearful though, and Sam was glad Bill wouldn't have to endure it. Suddenly, though, another thought entered his mind.
"I can still see…Gandalf just said to stay close so we didn't get lost in the darkness, but I can see as well as in the gardens of Bag End on a full moon's night," Sam thought to himself.
I had wondered if there would be effects…a voice spoke. Its sound was not uncomfortable or loud, but Sam jumped all the same. It was not a voice of his own, but the sound was that of a thought in his mind—clear and definite, but not heard by his ears. It was obvious to the little hobbit that no one else had heard the voice as they carried on like nothing strange was happening at all.
It's alright, Samwise. The voice spoke again. I heard your thought, and it seems you can hear mine as well now…I'll have to put up more careful guards against my more sensitive notions…
This last phrase ended in the very audible, soft chuckle from the man at Sam's left.
"Shadow?" Sam kept his eyes forward, but tried to make his thoughts louder, unsure of exactly how this newly discovered communication worked.
No need to shout, dear one.Came the answer. I can hear you clearly. It had crossed my mind that you might be effected by that bit of my blood running through your veins…I was interested to see exactly how.
"Can everyone hear my thoughts now?" Sam sounded horrified in his own mind. The voice chuckled.
No. Not if you don't wish them to. Eventually you will learn to place your thoughts into the minds of others if you so choose. I have a number of theories as to why I can hear them so readily. It will suffice for now to say that our physical connection through my blood and our joined connection to the Force allow me to hear your mind. I will teach you to place walls that will keep prying eyes away in case you should come against another like me in the future.
Sam was silent for a time, just mulling over the ideas Shadow had given him. The Jedi waited for a wave of questions to overcome coherent thought in the hobbit's mind, but what he heard instead quite surprised him.
"Am I…" Sam thought to Shadow "I mean…is this voice…the one I hear in my head…is that your REAL voice…and the one you talk with is part of the disguise? Is this what you really sound like?"
It is.
Sam nodded.
"And so…I suppose…" The hobbit shyly glanced sideways up at the tall Jedi. "I suppose that's your face I'm seeing?"
I had wondered if that would also be a side effect of you sharing my blood…
Shadow's "voice" was not disappointed…nor was it angry or frustrated. It was thoughtful and accepting, as though behind the words, the Jedi was calculating what to do next. The face matched the voice. While not fully frowning, the brow was slightly furrowed, and part of the bottom lip was being chewed absently.
Does it disturb you…?
"No," Sam frowned, cocking his head sideways while giving Shadow's face another hard look. "It's not like the face I thought would be lookin' back at me from under that hood…but it's yours…and you're Shadow no matter what face you have."
A smile crept briefly across the lips of the Jedi beside him as they continued to trudge through the darkness. It would have been Sam. Of all the companions Shadow could have been forced to share his blood with along this journey so far, blessings would have it that it would be the most loving, blindly faithful one of them all. Shadow couldn't have wished for a better person to take on as an apprentice.
~#*ITS*#~
As they marched, the path's temperature changed drastically. First, it had grown stiflingly hot, and now it became colder than the night air outside. During one pause Sam glanced over at his master. Frodo shivered violently, and Boromir stooped, wrapping his large cloak around the hobbit's shoulders.
"Are ye' alright, Mister Frodo?" Sam scooted closer to his master, wrapping his arms around Boromir's cloak.
"Yes, Sam," Frodo's voice was tired. "It's just that my clothes haven't dried from earlier."
At this, Sam and Legolas had the same thought.
"Shadow?" the elf frowned, kneeling down to where the Jedi leaned against the cave wall. Sam watched the interaction from where he sat by Frodo. "Shadow, are you alright?"
Shadow only nodded, but Legolas could feel the tremors running through the man's body when he touched the Jedi's arm.
"Here, I'm quite warm now," Legolas lied smoothly as he laid his cloak over Shadow's folded arms.
"Thank you," Shadow whispered. Legolas nodded before moving to stand, but Shadow grabbed his arm gently. "She is well."
"What?" a frown crossed Legolas's ageless face.
"Lady Daiel," a soft smile toyed with Shadow's hidden mouth, "You've been meaning to ask me about her since you discovered my connection to Starkaven, have you not?"
Legolas's expression changed to amused wonderment.
"She is well," Shadow nodded, "and her love remains yours alone."
Legolas's face turned bright red in the dim light, and he turned quickly, clearing his throat.
"Thank you," he managed to get out, unable to hide the smile in his chagrinned voice.
After a few moments went by, Gandalf motioned for everyone to get up.
"The way is here!" he called, heading downward once again.
~#*ITS*#~
Some several hours had passed before the Fellowship halted again. The path broke off into three passageways, one going down, one up, and one straight ahead.
"I have no memory of this place at all!" Gandalf fumed. "Ah well, I suppose now's as good a time as any to take a rest."
"There is a door just to your left," Shadow murmured sleepily. "I believe you'll find it suitable to our needs."
"You know the way we will take, don't you?" Aragorn laughed grimly.
"I do," Shadow marched toward the ancient door, "but right at this moment, I am tired, and I know I'm not the only one. Mind the well!"
Just as Shadow said, the room was perfect for a well-deserved rest…save for the massive hole in the center that used to serve as a well. Pippin found himself strangely drawn to the dark well. While the others got settled, he peered over the edge, groping for a loose stone. He held the stone aloft and let it drop. To his horror, the stone only fell about a foot before coming to a stop and hovering in the darkness. Suddenly, it shot off behind him and into Shadow's waiting hand.
"I'm fairly certain trouble will find us," the Jedi said ominously from where he lay on his pallet, "there's no need to show it the way."
"Peregrin Took!" Gandalf scolded. Pippin flinched. "If you're going to throw anything in that well, throw yourself, and save us from your idiocy!"
"Come, young one," Shadow motioned to the spot next to him. "Sleep, and think no more of the evil things in the deep."
With Shadow's strong arm laid over him, Pippin did just that.
~#*ITS*#~
"You were hard on him."
Some three hours had passed, and Shadow sat next to Gandalf in the doorway of the well room.
"I suppose I was," Gandalf muttered back sullenly. "I'm nothing but a tired, old grump. I'll apologize to him when he wakes."
"No," Shadow shook his head, "You are the great wizard who will lead us to the light again. Pippin knows that."
"Not all the way," Gandalf's tone was darker.
"No," Shadow sighed, "not all the way…but we have Aragorn as well."
"Do not discount your own worth," Gandalf scolded without conviction.
"I fear that I will be of very little service on this leg of our journey." Shadow mumbled.
"Poppycock," Gandalf murmured dismissively, puffing at his pipe. After a moment of silence, Shadow spoke again.
"You sensed it, didn't you?"
"What?"
"The lake monster," Shadow rolled his lightsaber over in his hands, "You sensed that it hunted Frodo, did you not?"
"I did," Gandalf nodded grimly, "though until you spoke of it, I was hoping it was nothing beyond an old man's paranoia."
"Denial of danger will not make it go away," Shadow raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed no," Gandalf frowned deeply, causing his bushy eyebrows to bristle out. "But I suppose very soon, his wellbeing will be yours to worry with more so than mine…I just have to pick a path first."
Here, Gandalf laughed grimly.
"It's the right, is it not?" he smiled, thoroughly pleased with himself.
"It is indeed," Shadow chuckled, "I'll go wake the others."
~#*ITS*#~
AN: Well, there's one more member of the Fellowship who can see who Shadow is! And what's this about Legolas and the Empress? Don't forget to review!