Idrial's Quest

By Lady Annalease

Chapter Two - Western Moria:

The Mines of Moria more resembled a charnel house than a great Dwarven realm. Though it did not seem to bother my companions, the smell was almost unbearable to me, though I had the mental discipline enough not to show it….

The darkness in Moria could have been all-consuming, but luckily Elegost and Hadhod had thought to bring torches.

If I were an admirer of stonework, that place would have kept me entertained for centuries; however, much of the original work had been destroyed by Valar-knew-what, leaving us with but few paths.

We soon came upon a flooded area. It had once had a stone bridge over it, but that was smashed and we had to wade through the inky, stagnant water. We suddenly heard a roar and, with dread, I realised that we had not seen the last of the Watcher in the Water.

That battle was far more difficult than the last, as the Watcher now knew our tactics. Hadhod was knocked unconscious and I had my hands full with keeping the rest of the party on their feet. We finally prevailed, but not without numerous hurts.

Elegost and I were able to awaken our new companion, though I doubted he would be up to further fighting before we had rested.

Elegost and Hadhod found a ruined map upon the body of a single goblin that had almost proved our undoing; the creature possessed some kind of foul magic that allowed it to heal itself, as I did for our party.

Hadhod said the map would lead us to the Great Mithril Pit and hopefully a way out of that curséd place.

We came soon upon three passages, all leading in different directions.

Hadhod immediately set about examining them and trying to remember which would take us further on our quest. The smell of pipe-weed lingered strongly, reminding me of Mithrandir.

Elegost confirmed my suspicions when he said a group of people had rested here. "We are close on their trail," he commented.

I agreed.

Berethor, once again, demanded answers.

I knew he was becoming frustrated, as I would have been too, if I knew information was deliberately being held back from me. I thought it was time to let him in on some of the quest.

"We are following a company of nine that includes, among others, Mithrandir, or Gandalf the Grey, as you would better know him; Aragorn of the Dúnedain and your lord Boromir," I spoke. "We are not so far behind them, though too far to catch up very soon."

Berethor looked astonished. "Why did you not tell me this before?" he asked. "Perhaps I would have been more agreeable."

Elegost and I met gazes.

"Their task is one of great import and revealing it is something that cannot be done lightly," I replied, at length. "Do you know what quest it was that Boromir departed your lands upon?"

"He went to Imladris to seek the meaning of a reoccurring dream," he answered.

I nodded slowly. "If you knew the outcome of that consultation, then you would understand. If you do not…then I ask you to be patient - I can promise is that you shall understand all in time."

Berethor looked at me. "That is a politician's answer, Idrial," he replied.

I sighed; any pleasure I may have had at the fact he had finally started using my name instead of 'my lady' evaporated at that statement. "I know, Berethor, but I simply cannot tell you more until I know more myself."

Elegost and I turned to find out if Hadhod had figured out which of the passages we needed to take.

Berethor startled me by placing a hand on my shoulder and turning me forcefully back to him. "Have I not proved myself trustworthy to you yet?" he demanded.

I looked despairingly into his eyes. "Please try to understand," I begged. "If it was simply a matter of trust and my own judgement I would tell you all I know, but it is not and, as so, I cannot. All I can do is sware it shall all be clear soon." I impulsively touched his cheek. "Have you considered exactly why you are compelled to seek Boromir?"

I turned toward Hadhod again; Berethor did not stop me this time.

Even with the Dwarf's knowledge, we knew not which tunnel would take us out of this place, so we began to explore them methodically, beginning with the left-most.

At the end of the tunnel we found a door, but it would not open.

Hadhod said we would have to find more of Moria's secrets before we could pass that way.

In the middle of the large room sat a crypt. Elegost and Berethor tried to open it, but the lid did not move an inch.

Hadhod gave an empty laugh. "Do not bother," he said. "It would take fifty such as you to move it. No, there is runic magic on it. If we can find the rest of the Lords' runes we may have an easier time of it."

We knew we would need to return here in any case, so that did not seem so much of a hardship.

We continued on to the next tunnel.

At the end of this one, we came upon what once must have been the Dwarven throne room. A heavy stone-carved throne sat in prime place. Upon it was a leader of the goblin hoards; he fell easily beneath our blades.

I had a feeling this room had more to offer us, but it would not yet reveal its secrets.

We rested in the shadow of the Dwarven throne. Berethor sat away from the rest of us, his back to me.

I sighed.

Elegost frowned at me. "You need to mend this rift, Idrial. We cannot continue to fight together consistently if we are not united," he spoke.

I nodded. "I know. Perhaps it would be alright if I told him just a little more."

I stood and moved to kneel next to the Man. "Berethor…" I began.

He would not meet my eyes.

Anger surged in me. "What are you? A child! Do not play these foolish games with me! It is not my fault that I cannot tell you what you wish to know!"

This time he did meet me, his eyes showed shock and possibly…admiration.

I realised what I had done and I sat down heavily…for an Elf. "Oh, I am sorry," I spoke. "This place and…lying to you is beginning to ware on me. I did not mean to shout. I wanted to apologise for my answers earlier, they really were not good enough. I truly do wish I could tell you everything, but I am under orders and you would not like it if you knew and it would jeopardise…. Oh, that is not a good enough answer either, is it?" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "…A different tack then; how much do you know of my Lady Galadriel?"

He frowned. "She lives in the Golden Wood and commands much power," he replied. "We are told stories of her as children - the great Elf witch - and told never to go near the place, for it is evil."

I shook my head. "My Lady is not evil, but she is powerful. She has the gift of seeing and can channel the powers of earth, air, fire and water. She and Mithrandir saw you upon your road and knew your destiny was a powerful and needful one. She guards and guides you. She sent me to help you, but with specific orders; one of which was not to reveal more than I must. Elegost, and the rest of the Rangers, are under similar instructions from the Leader of the Dúnedain himself.

"So, as you hopefully can see, it is not that we do not wish to tell you…. When we get through this wretched tomb, despite the evil you carry, I shall take you to my Lady and tell her of your valour and bravery. Perhaps then she will decide that we can reveal all to you."

I realised that I had inadvertently said something which I definitely should not have, but Berethor seemed not to notice my mention of evil.

He sighed heavily. "I do not like this," he finally replied. "I am a warrior and all this talk of destinies and magics sits not well with me. I am…grateful you explained your reticence to me, though it still pains me that you do not think I can be trusted. However, you have given me an ultimatum I can live with, I suppose, and I apologise for being rude and childish."

I smiled tentatively at him.

He gave me a weak smile in return.

"Will you join the rest of us?" I asked.

He nodded once.

I climbed to my feet and offered him a hand to his. I began to walk toward Elegost and Hadhod, but I was stopped by the fact that he had not released me and was not walking with me.

I turned to look at him questioningly.

He stepped close and skimmed my cheek with the backs of two fingers.

It took all of my centuries-won control not to tremble at that gesture.

"I am sorry, Idrial," he murmured. "You do not deserve my ire. Well do I understand the weight of orders, and I should not blame you for the ones you are under. I…I do not particularly enjoy this state of affairs, but it should not tear friendships apart and I will not let it any longer. So, am sorry and...I am glad you are here."

He did smile at me then, radiant and warm, before gallantly offering me his arm to escort me back to the others.

I did not blush…I did not!

Upon a pedestal in the next room, Elegost found a Dwarven walking axe. Hadhod identified it as the last axe ever forged in Moria.

"You should carry it proudly as a representative of your people," Berethor suggested.

"Indeed," Elegost agreed, presenting the blade to the Dwarf.

It was a good blade and Berethor's words seemed to make Hadhod quite pleased.

I was glad he had returned from his brooding state; our group needed a leader and, although I could do a passable job, it was Berethor who was the master.

That was the last chamber in the middle tunnel, so we retreated once again to go down the final tunnel and find its secrets.

The room at the end of the final tunnel was bathed in an eerie light. If I had not known better, I would have said that it was on fire. It was certainly warmer than any of the other places we had been in.

Running down to an outcropping we heard the sound of debris falling. If it had not been for my Elven reflexes, I would have been rendered unconscious by the skeleton that suddenly appeared above me.

A voice echoed down the chute from which it had fallen: "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

I glanced up - I knew that voice. I was about to speak to so much, but a twinkle on the skeleton caught my eye. I retrieved a key from the bones.

"What do you say to this, Dwarf?" I asked.

Hadhod almost snatched it from my grasp. "That would be a key, Elf, to a very important item; maybe in the throne room, a Book of Secrets, perhaps."

The ground suddenly began to tremble and a dreadful roar filled the air.

"I think we may have found more than we bargained for!" Elegost cried.

I could scarcely believe my own eyes when a Balrog climbed up the opposite wall. "It…it is a Balrog of Morgoth," I whispered, equal parts awe and fear colouring my voice.

Berethor stepped up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "We must master our fear and go after the creature," he announced. "It might be our only way out of here."

We ran toward the thin ledge at the edge of the room.

The Balrog suddenly roared once more and smashed the path.

Hadhod seized Berethor before he fell head-first into the lava.

"It is no use," the Man supplied. "We shall have to find another way."

However, we first had to deal with the goblins who had thought that a terribly good time to surround us.

We left the Balrog Pit and returned to the Throne Room and the Book of Secrets. It was too heavy to bring with us, but Hadhod opened it and I read it, as it was in Elvish script. I could speak the words on the page, but they meant little to me.

Hadhod grinned."Yes, Witch," he said, "you are able to read the words and your people served to seal our doors, but you were never the power behind our thrones."

He pushed the massive throne aside to reveal a map.

I laughed. "That is true enough, Tunnel Rat," I replied.

The Map led us back to the first room, with the massive door we were unable to open before. Now that we had collected all the runes, Hadhod was sure we would be able to open both the door and the tomb.

Inside the tomb we found a most splendid set of Dwarven armour.

"It is yours now," Berethor spoke, "in memory of your people."

Hadhod smiled and nodded. "Aye, in memory," he agreed, "in memory of them all."

We walked to the massive concealed doors and Hadhod and I looked them over.

"I believe we are here, Dwarf," I spoke, "no more secrets."

He laughed at that. "Plenty more," he argued, "but you are right. The door is here."

I knelt before the great stone wall and spoke the words.

The door creaked open in front of us.

"This is the way to the Chamber of Records," Hadhod supplied, "where we shall find yet more secrets."

We came quickly upon the great halls of Dwarrowdelf; they rose many meters above our heads. They had an otherworldly sort of splendour about them.

"Impressive," I murmured.

"Aye," Hadhod agreed, "it is indeed, Elf."

After running through the great columned hall, we finally came upon the entrance to the Chamber of Records.

Berethor called a halt.

We did not know what we would find upon entering the chamber and he wanted us well-rested for the experience. We shared what rations we had left.

Hadhod fell asleep almost immediately, but Berethor, Elegost and I stayed awake longer.

"I think it is time we pushed harder and caught up with the Fellowship," I spoke. "I heard Mithrandir's voice when that skeleton almost fell on me and he will, perhaps, be able to tell you more of what is going on, Berethor."

The Man nodded eagerly."Yes," he agreed.

Elegost also nodded his agreement; I guessed he probably wished to speak to Aragorn about as much as Berethor and I wished to speak to Mithrandir.

The three of us agreed to split the night into three watches. I volunteered to go first, of course; I would wake Elegost in a few hours.

Both Men fell asleep reasonably quickly and as I lay back against the stone wall, I realised that I was exhausted myself. It took quite a lot of effort not to slip into reverie during those hours, but I knew we were not safe in this place and refused to let myself find sleep.

Half of an hour or so before I was to wake the Ranger, Berethor began to stir in his sleep.

I raised myself and knelt beside him.

He was murmuring fervently, tossing and turning and groping for his sword.

I took gentle hold of his shoulders. "Berethor!" I called softly. "Berethor, awake! You are dreaming."

He kept moaning and tossing.

I shook him gently, hoping to waken him before he woke Hadhod and Elegost.

He shot awake with a cry, his sword pressed against my throat.

I froze.

He was panting harshly and he looked at me with wild terror in his eyes.

"Berethor," I whispered softly.

He blinked and the fear receded some. "Idrial?" he asked, almost seeming confused. "I…I dreamed…you…you were not there," he murmured.

"Do you mind?" I asked, gently taking his sword from his hand.

He immediately relinquished it to my grasp. "Oh Gods, did I hurt you?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Just startled me."

I glanced over my shoulder to find Hadhod still sleeping soundly, but Elegost was awake. His own hand rested upon his blade.

I shook my head very slightly at him and he nodded once. "I shall take the watch from here," he said and proceeded, grabbing his bow, to the post where I had been sitting before.

I handed Berethor back his blade and sat next to him. "Would you like to talk about your dream?" I asked.

He hesitated.

"Mayhap I can help you decipher it."

He finally nodded. "I…I was...there was a…a figure dressed in a black robe and he held a sword. Then there was a flaming…flaming eye. It spoke to me: 'You cannot hide. I see you,' it said. Then there were nine ghost-like figures, all wearing crowns, standing about me and one of them raised his sword and skewered me." He touched over his heart. "Here." He jerked his hand away. "It burns!" he exclaimed. "It was just a dream. Why should it hurt?"

He pulled his armour away to check his chest. Fortunately, there was no physical evidence of the wound left for him to find. I was also glad he was very preoccupied with his own matters at that moment, for I was sure I could not have schooled my face from the horror it showed.

I took a breath and composed myself before he looked back to me.

"Do you know what it means?" he asked.

I pinched the bridge of my nose once more. "The Eye was Sauron; you have heard of him, yes? The wraiths you saw were Ring-wraiths…Nazgûl, we Elves name them Úlairë. They were those Kings enslaved by the Nine Rings of Men, now Sauron's servants. As for your being stabbed…you almost were when I first came upon you."

I knew I was dissembling there, but I hoped it would be good enough for the moment.

"Why would they chase me?" he asked.

This one I could answer truthfully. "I do not truly know; because you escaped them once, mayhap? However, I believe there is more to it than that. I am not privy to all of what my Lady Galadriel and Mithrandir have seen in your future, but I do know that it will affect us all - I believe that is why the Úlairë search for you."

"More mysteries," Berethor sighed.

I smiled sadly. "I am sorry."

He shook his head. "I know. I see they withhold things even from you, so I cannot blame you for not being able to tell them to me."

At that moment, I almost wished that he had seen the scar where he had been stabbed, or that he had remembered it at all, even if it would possibly drive him to madness; at least then I could stop withholding and tell him all I knew.

I impulsively brushed my lips gently across his forehead. "Go back to sleep, Berethor. Nightmares cannot hurt you. You do not have the watch for a few more hours."

I made to get up and leave, but he gripped my wrist.

"Stay," he murmured, "please. Sleep beside me again. There will not be any more nightmares if you are here."

I hesitated for a moment, fearing it a dangerous idea, but I then nodded and resettled myself next to him, my back to his back as we had been before. We lay that way for a while, but I could tell he had still not fallen into sleep. The fear from the flashback still lingered in the tense lines of his body.

I warned myself that I was walking on very, very thin ice as I turned over and gently took him into my arms, his back pressed against my front.

"Be at peace, Berethor," I spoke again. "I will not let any harm come to you."

He startled, but settled quickly, laying his head against my shoulder.

"Thankyou," he murmured sleepily before his eyes closed and his breathing levelled out.

I looked down at him in my arms and knew I was in trouble. This foolish attraction I harboured for him had to stop - it was dangerous and it was unhealthy. I was many times his age and I was immortal.

I should have leapt up that very moment, but I could not bring myself to disturb him, as peaceful and vulnerable as he looked in my embrace.

Elegost woke me in a few hours with a smirk on his face.

I gave him a dirty look.

"It is none of my business," he murmured. "Do you want me to wake Hadhod for the watch instead?"

I thought for a few moments, Berethor would be livid if he thought that I was coddling him, but he could certainly do with a few more hours of uninterrupted rest. In the end, it was the selfish and guilty pleasure of having him in my arms that made me nod to the Ranger.

He smirked again and mockingly bowed his compliance.

I groaned softly to myself, I was just digging myself in deeper and deeper. This had to stop; this would stop…first thing in the morning.

That was the second night we spent together….

Translations:

Mithrandir - Gandalf, literally Grey Pilgrim

Dúnedain - Rangers, literally Men of the West

Imladris - Rivendell

Úlairë - Nazgûl, Black Riders