Chapter 10- Moria
The way to Caradrass was full with danger. Rocks, ice and snow were covering the pass making it very difficult to walk. Most of the group was in a snow that was almost up to their shoulders. All the hobbits were on top of the two horses who were able to walk on top of the snow thanks to their elfin origin. The three elfs were positioned in front, in the middle and in the back of the group. Because they were able to walk on top of the snow they were able to help all the Fellowship in the snow. The group was tired and without energy when Gandalf started chanting. Draco looked at his friend and they both knew that someone was chanting a dark spell. They were debating silently if they needed to help, but finally decided against. In this quest they were an unknown and their greatest strength resided in this. No one here expected elfs to be magical. Gandalf finally conceded defeat and had chosen the path trough Moria to Gimli immense pleasure.
- this is a bad idea- sed Viridis
- And why is that, Master Elf?- asked Gimli
- We, in Lothlorien have been watching the eastern entrance and we have not seen dwarfs or any signs of them- sed Draco
- As you know dwarfs do not like elfs so they are cautious toward you- sed Gimli
- Still it is unsettling- sed Viridis
- This is our path, master elf, chosen by me and the ring bearer- stated Gandalf- there is no other passage Viridis and Draco looked at each other uneasily and continued their route. As their got closer and closer to the gates of the mine their uneasiness grew as well. Finally they arrived at the gate of the mine.
- but there is nothing there!- exclaimed Boromir
- That is because, the gate of the dwarfs are hidden. Only those who know where they are can find them- sed Gimli
- So what are we waiting for- asked Pippin
- The moon- as Gandalf sed that between two trees, the silhouette of a door appeared
- What is up with the horses- sed Merry as he saw the two elfs horses
- They are nervous-sed Draco-and for horses they have excellent control of their emotions.
- What can cause that?- asked Sam- Bill is ok.
- That may be, Sam, but our horses are different, Draco horse has been bred by elfs and mine is a unicorn. Both are more sensitive to the darkness. They do not have trouble with orcs, wolfs or other agents of the Shadow, but...
- The environment here feels wrong. It smells of death and primal darkness- finished Draco
- Do not scare the hobbits, master elfs, there is nothing here- sed Gimli
- What did you say?- asked Aragorn suddenly
- There is nothing here- sed Gimli again
- Yes, and that worries me- sed Aragorn
- What do you mean- asked Sam
- What do you hear?- asked Legolas
- Nothing- stated Boromir
- Exactly, there is no sound- stated Aragorn
- So how do we enter Moria?- asked Frodo
- Simple, you say the password, the gates open and we enter- Gandalf stated
- So what is the password- Sam asked
The Fellowship was exasperated. They were there for some time now and Gandalf still has not manage to open the gates. The horses have long departed, Zephir and the phoenix have taken their tattoo form on Viridis back and his basilisk and draco shadow wolf were patrolling around. The green eyed elf was looking attentively at the water. It was a secret but the two elfs were elementals. Draco was water and he was fire. They both had sensed danger. Draco in the water and Viridis behind that door. Their attention was moved from the water to Gandalf who has finally manage to open the door. In the following moments it looked like few things happened simultaneously. The water exploded and some creature with tentacles focussed on Frodo, who was pushed on the ground and the tentacles grabbed Viridis and he was pulled underwater. Then from nowhere the basilisk appeared and dove into the water. The whole thing lasted for around five seconds before the water exploded again, but this time the tentacles looked pitiful. They were bloody and full of bites of the basilisk who was tangled in them. A minute later the aquatic animal trashing stopped and it sunk into the deep followed closely by the snake, who not long after reappeared with The unconscious elf in its coils before giving him to Draco and shrinking itself.
- what happened?- asked Gandalf
- What happened? This is what our horses sensed, that is what we were looking attentively at the water. We suspected that there was something in it after Merry and Pippin disturbed it, but where not sure- sed Draco with contained rage.
- Why do you not tell us?-asked Boromir
- And panic you needlessly if we were wrong?- answered Draco- the hobbits are scarred enough as it is.
- How is Viridis?- asked Legolas
- Let see, he is unconscious, his ribs are bruised and possibly broken, he has open wounds, and possibly other wounds that are unseen- sed Draco
- How we can help?- asked Frodo
- Just wait a few seconds?-sed Draco
- But why?- asked Sam
- For that-sed Draco. In the following instant Viridis body began to softly glow and the visible wounds closed
- What is happening?- asked Gandalf
- Phoenixes have healing powers, Viridis phoenix is using them to heal him- Draco explained. - the only thing left is that he is unconscious and that his ribs are still tender. Another thing you all should know, he is a fire elemental and I am a water.
- And how this information will help us?- asked Boromir arrogantly
- It means that deep behind the doors of the mine, there is a being made of fire that we SHOULD NOT disturbed- sed a tired voice
- Good you are awake, that was fast- stated Draco
-What can I say, phoenix tears do wonders- sed Viridis with a smile- now help me get up.
-What do you mean, that there is something inside the mine?-asked Gangalf
-There is something big in there - sed Viridis-
-How can you be so sure-Gimli asked arrogantly- have you been in there?
-No, but I can sense it- spat Viridis
-This is our path, master Elf, there is no other way- sed Gandalf with this words he turned toward the door and continue murmuring to himself
- This is a riddle- Frodo sed suddenly- What is the elvish word for friend?
-Mellon- answered Gandalf and in the next moment the doors opened
Not long after that, the Group was in the mine and saw the bodies of the dwarfs. Legolas crouched next to a body and pulled an arrow from it and declared that the arrows were goblin made. In the following instant, the door behind the Fellowship collapsed due to some cracks that had formed during the battle with the water creature. The group did not have any other choice but to continue forwards.
Three long days, the Fellowship was resting in front of three huge stone doors and waiting for Gandalf to remember the right way. Viridis had closed his eyes and was trying to sense where the fire that he was feeling was, but with no success to his ire. Some time later Gandalf led the group through the middle door stating that the air smelled few hours of walking the group entered a room with huge colons and high sealing hidden somewhere in the shadows of the room. The group stopped speechless to look around and Viridis noticed some of the cracks in the shadows of the columns, but before he could worn the group Gimli started running toward a small room on the side of the immense hall that was illuminated by a ray of light.
The group entered the room and saw in the middle of it a stone coffin. When Gimli saw the coffin he kneeled next to it and starting crying. Meanwhile Gandalf saw in one of the skeletons hands a very old book and he gently took it from the body. He opened it and started to read.
- They took the bridge and the second hall- read Gandalf- the water guardian took Ori... We can't get out...the drums sound deep in the mine...They are coming...
While Gandalf was reading the final few pages of the book Viridis, Draco, Boromir, Aragorn and Legolas were looking around and listening for anything unusual. They knew that this was the worst place to be as there was only one exit and hopped that everything would have been calm. However this was not to be as Pippin touched one of the bodies and it felt down a water-well followed by a chain and a bucket. The Fellowship froze in fright and started to listen carefully, but not long after that the sounds of drums resonated in the Mine. Aragon looked at the group and started to run toward the door with Boromir. The two men closed it just in time as a black arrow buried itself at the place where Aragorn head was just a second ago. Viridis, Draco and Legolas started throwing weapons at the two man and they managed to barricade the door with them before stepping back while the hobbits were pushed at the back of the group and Gimli stepped on Balin's coffin. Draco and Viridis looked at each other and they gripped more securely their swords. Soon the door exploded and the goblins entered the room, they were met by the arrows from Legolas and Aragorn bows. The ones that got threw the arrows barrage were sleigh by Viridis and Draco while Boromir and Gimli protected the hobbits.
Few minutes into the fight a deep roar was heard and few goblins led a cave troll on a chain. When Viridis saw the creature he growled with annoyance. He had fought trolls before and knew how durable they were. He watched as the creature brought down its club on Gimli who jumped from the coffin as it was destroyed. The troll then saw Frodo and went after him. Viridis saw that the creature took a discarded lance and started walking toward the hobbit with it. The troll started trusting the weapon, but it was deflected as it was intercepted by Viridis body. The black headed elf felt the blade of the lance tearing through his armour and swore as he felt the blood. His head started spinning from the blood and he stumbled as he saw the troll trust the lance again and this time it hit Frodo. Soon after Frodo felt the troll followed and he saw through his dimming vision Aragon touching Frodo and then signing as Frodo showed his mithrill armour.
A huge roar startled the group and Viridis elemental abilities kicked in as he felt the fire waking up beneath his feet. He noticed that the behaviour of the goblins changed and they abandoned the attack on the Fellowship. The adrenaline started pumping through Viridis body and the followed the group as Gandalf led them toward the bridge of Khazad- Doom. The fire intensified as the group ran on the rocky stairs as fast as they could. In the hustle nobody saw that Viridis tripped for a second before righting himself and continuing to run, however the group had to stop as they saw that stairway was destroyed by a falling rocks. The group looked at each other and Boromir was the first to jump the gap followed by Gandalf. Aragorn and Draco took a hobbit each and threw it at Gandalf and the Gondorian. Gimli followed the hobbits and as he landed due to the tremors the stairway in front of Draco and Legolas broke. The two elfs looked at each other and they jumped. The roaring and he fire intensified and Viridis vision dimmed for a moment, A huge rock felt on the stairway behind Frodo, Aragorn and the green eyed elf and broke the connection. The three members of the Fellowship were trapped, but then Aragon told the boys to lean backwards and they followed his instruction. Viridis wound burned. His vision blurred again as Aragorn told them to jump and due to that he missed his chance. His eyes found the terrified ones of Draco as the blond elf saw the staircase braking down more and more. Both of the young elf knew that Viridis chance had come and gone and the Fellowship watched helplessly as the ebony haired elf felt and disappearing into the blackness of the mines. With heavy hearts they continued to run and finally they were at the level of the fire and the bridge. Gandalf let the Fellowship in front of him as he knew that the were powerless to face the Balrog of Moria. The elder wizard stopped at the middle of the bridge and the group was powerless yet again as it watched one of their own fall again. With heavy hearts they finally escaped Moria to a moonless and starless night. In their grief not one of them saw the black shadow who flew of the cursed door and the unconscious figure that it carried.