Chapter 5: The Ring Goes South
It was the night before they were to leave. Harry usually tried not to stay up this late, but this night, he couldn't sleep. So, he found himself wandering around a stand of pine-trees above Rivendell. At times like this, he truly found himself missing home. Certainly not Privet Drive. He would NEVER consider that home. Hogwarts was his home.
Up ahead, he heard voices. He recognized Aragorn's gruff voice and the regal tone of Elrond. They seemed to be having a rather heated discussion. He didn't want to snoop, but he was also curious to find out more about Aragorn.
"Our time here is ending." Elrond was saying. "Arwen's time is ending. Let her go. Let her take the ship into the West were it will be ever-green."
"But never more than a memory." said Aragorn.
Elrond's face hardened. "I will not leave my daughter here to die!"
"She stays because she has hope-"
"She stays for you!" Elrond practically shouted. "She belongs with her people!" Elrond seemed surprised at his own outburst. He appeared as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he simply walked away back towards Rivendell.
Aragorn sighed. "It's alright, Harry. You can come out."
Harry jumped at hearing his own name. He stepped out sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just out walking and I heard."
Aragorn shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He fell silent and gazed at what appeared to be an elaborate tombstone, topped with the statue of a woman holding a baby.
"What is that, if you don't mind me asking?" asked Harry after a moment.
"This is the memorial to my mother, Gilraen. After my father was cut down by Orcs, she brought me here. She died soon after and Lord Elrond raised me as if I were his own son. I was happy for a time...Then I met Arwen..."
"Elrond's daughter." finished Harry.
Aragorn nodded. "It was, in fact, on this very spot. I came here often to think. Then, I saw her. She was walking under the moonlight. I thought I had strayed into a dream, her beauty was so great. Growing up, I had never met her because she had always lived in the forest of Lothlorien with her mother's kin. Soon, I got enough courage to speak to her. And soon after that, we fell in love."
"I bet Elrond wasn't happy about that." said Harry.
"You can only imagine." said Aragorn. "But there was nothing he could do about it...Until now."
"Why does she have to leave?" asked Harry.
Aragorn smiled sadly. "All Elves must eventually sail west, across the sea, to the undying lands of Valinor or they will forfeit their immortality. Arwen pledged to me a few nights ago that she would choose a mortal life to be with me."
"Isn't that what you want?" asked Harry.
The man shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. It all seemed so clear before. True, my life always has been and always will be dangerous, but this quest could be more than even I can handle. If I should fall in battle, Arwen will not hear of it for a long time. And by then, it will be too late. The ships will have sailed and she will have to spend her days here, alone." He fell silent for a while. Harry didn't know what to make of all this. "I cannot do it." whispered Aragorn at last. "I cannot let her die here when she can go and live eternally with her people." He sighed. "Get some rest, Harry. We leave at sunrise."
Harry adjusted the sword which now hung from his belt for about the thousandth time. He still couldn't get used to carrying it's weight. He looked around at the rest of the Fellowship. Each was checking over their gear, making sure they had everything. Sam was muttering about not having thought to bring rope. Merry, Pippin and Draco were all yawning and looking bleary-eyed.
A little while later, all of Rivendell came out to see them off. Elrond stepped forward. "The Ringbearer is setting out upon the Quest of Mt. Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is layed to go further than you will. Good luck, and may the blessings of Elves, Men, and all Free Folk go with you."
"Goodbye, Frodo." said Bilbo. "Make sure you take plenty of notes. I want to hear all about your adventures when you get back!"
"The Fellowship awaits the Ringbearer." said Gandalf.
Frodo looked around once more at the Last Homely House west of the Misty Mountains. He would miss this place horribly. He also looked West and said a silent goodbye to the Shire. But then, he straightened his pack on his shoulders and set off through the gate. A sudden thought came to him. "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?" he whispered.
The Wizard smiled and tried not to chuckle. "Left."
Harry walked a little ways through the gate and suddenly noticed that someone had stayed behind. He turned back and saw Aragorn gazing at a beautiful Elvan woman in the crowd. Her eyes were pointed carefully downwards. The Ranger lowered his head and walked out. He didn't even say anything to Harry as he passed. Harry gave Elrond a very frosty glare and he followed the Fellowship.
Harry took in a deep breath of the cold, clean air and gazed out over the vista spread before him. He had never seen anywhere quite so ruggedly beautiful in his life. To his left, the mountain range ,which Gandalf had identified as the Misty Mountains, stretched out of sight North and South. They had walked for nearly three days straight before they had finally been allowed to stop and take a proper rest.
He glanced back at the camp to see what everyone else was doing. Boromir, who had taken it upon himself to look after Merry and Pippin, was teaching the two eager young Hobbits rudimentary swordplay. Aragorn was watching, offering the Hobbits occasional bits of advice such as, "Move your feet." Gandalf was perched atop a rock, smoking a long wooden pipe and contemplating their course. Legolas was serving as their unofficial sentry. Gimli was carefully sharpening his axe. Draco was airing out his and Harry's packs after it had been discovered that Eledan and Elrohir had given them a parting gift of very, very rotten eggs. And Frodo and Sam were busy preparing supper for everyone.
Gimli set down his axe and stood up. 'Uh oh.' thought Harry. 'He's about to start something.'
Sure enough, "If anyone were to ask for my opinion, (which, I note, they have not), I would guess that we were taking the long way 'round! Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome!"
The Wizard's eyes widened slightly. "No, Gimli." he said in a haunted tone. "I will not take the road through Moria unless we have no other choice."
"Elrond said something about some of the Dwarves' Rings being lost in Moria." said Harry. "What's bad about it?"
"Nothing!" said Gimli. "Moria was the home of the first Dwarves. Long ago, my people were driven out by Orcs, and there were whispers of some unknown evil with them. For centuries, the doors to the Mines have been sealed. But thirty years ago, Balin took a large force to retake them. For a time, messengers returned with good news. Then, the messages stopped. For over three years, we have heard nothing. But it is possible that the messengers have simply fallen prey to wolves or Orcs or any other danger in the wilderness! I would bet gold that when we get close, we will hear the sounds of hammers on steel and Dwarven voices raised in song!" Gimli laughed and walked away, singing in his own tongue.
Harry chuckled. "He certainly sounds sure of himself."
Gandalf's frown deepened. "All I know is that as we have drawn closer to the ancient City of Durin, my heart has darkened. There is...something evil in that place."
They were suddenly interrupted by a sharp cry of pain. Boromir's sword had slipped and had nicked Pippin's hand. He apologized profusely, only to be tackled to the ground by the two Hobbits. Everyone burst out laughing when Aragorn tried to break them up and was flipped onto his ass...Everyone that was, except Legolas. The Elf's fair brow was furrowed as he stared into the distance. Harry followed his gaze and saw a dark cloud moving in their direction.
"What in the name of Merlin is that?" he asked.
"Just a cloud." said Draco, dismissively. "Phew. I smell like those eggs. I'm not naive enough to hope that anyone thought to bring a bar of soap."
"It's moving fast," said Boromir. "Against the wind..."
Suddenly, Legolas exclaimed, "Crebain from Dunland!"
"Hide!" shouted Aragorn.
The Fellowship sprang into action, hastily gathering up their supplies and diving under rocks and bushes. The Wizards didn't know what Crebain were, but they obviously weren't friendly.
Harry looked up through the branches of the bush, which served as his hiding place, as a flock of big, black crows passed overhead. They circled a few times before flying back South.
"Spies of Saruman." said Gandalf grimly. "The passage South is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras!" he looked up at a towering peak which stretched up over the campsite.
"Oh, bloody brilliant." muttered Draco.
Harry had long ago lost all feeling in his feet. Even heavy fur-lined boots and cloaks Elrond had given to them could do little to keep out the cold's searching fingers.
But he knew that the Hobbits probably had it worse. They had only the fur which grew on their feet to keep them warm.
But of all the Fellowship, Legolas was the envy of all. He wore only a light tunic, leggings and boots. And to top it all off, he walked about on top of the snow as if he had snowshoes on.
Draco was actually considering casting the lead-legs curse on him when Frodo let out a cry and fell a short ways down the mountain, rolling past him before Aragorn stopped him. He got up and began feeling frantically around his neck. He looked around, panicked. The Ring was gone!
A short distance away, Harry spotted something gleaming in the snow. A hand picked it up by its thin silver chain.
"Draco..." said Aragorn.
Malfoy was holding the Ring, gazing longingly at it.
"Draco!" repeated Aragorn more harshly. "Give the Ring to Frodo."
The young wizard seemed to snap out of it. He slowly handed it back to Frodo. "Sorry." he muttered and walked away.
Harry took his hand out of his robes, where he had been preparing to draw his wand. And if he had seen it, Aragorn also took his hand from his sword.
Saruman the White was overseeing the working of the forges in Isengard when his spies returned. One especially large one landed near him and croaked out his report.
The traitorous wizard cracked a smile. "So Gandalf, you try to lead them over Caradhras? And when that fails...When the mountain defeats you, where then will you go? Will you risk the more dangerous road?"
The Crow croaked something else and Saruman's head snapped back towards him. "WHAT?" he asked enraged. He couldn't have heard that correctly. He stormed off to gaze into his Palantir.
After all, the attempt had failed...hadn't it?
A fierce blizzard had kicked up within a matter of seconds. Draco and Harry were up to their chests in snow, and Aragorn and Boromir were having to carry the Hobbits. They had attempted to melt them a path with the Incendio spell, but it hadn't worked and now Gandalf was having to forge a path with his staff as best he could.
Meanwhile, Legolas still seemed to be having no difficulty in walking across the top of the snow. He hopped over Draco's head and stepped out onto a ledge to listen. "There is a fell voice on the air!" he said.
Draco strained his ears. A chill that had nothing to do with the cold went down his spine. Faintly, he could hear strange words being carried over the wind. "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea rasselya!"
"It's Saruman!" howled Gandalf just as rocks and snow came hurtling down from above. The Fellowship pressed themselves against the mountainside just in time.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" yelled Aragorn.
"Gandalf, we have to turn back!" added Harry.
"No!" the Wizard insisted, climbing up to battle Saruman with his own words of power. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!"
But Saruman's evil words only grew louder, and the clouds overhead turned dark. Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the cliff above them, triggering an avalanche.
Legolas pulled Gandalf back just in time to keep him from being thrown off the mountain.
Draco covered his head as a ton of snow and ice fell down on top of him. He didn't know if it was simply the darkness or if he had blacked out, but the next thing he knew, Boromir was hauling him up out of the snow by the back of his cloak.
"We must get off the mountain!" shouted the Man of Gondor. "Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the West Road to my city!"
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" argued Aragorn.
"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it!" piped in Gimli. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria!"
Gandalf's face grew grim. "Let the Ringbearer decide."
Frodo looked up at him. Harry felt bad for him. He knew Frodo didn't like being the center of attention.
"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" pleaded Boromir.
"Frodo?" pressed Gandalf.
"We will go through the Mines." said Frodo finally.
"So be it." whispered Gandalf.They began to make their way down the mountain, and as they did, the storm died down.
Caradhras had defeated them.
Saruman smiled evilly, as he lowered his arms and allowed the storm to die down. Even this far away, he could feel his old friend's internal turmoil. Saruman had only left them one choice. "Will you take them through Moria, Gandalf? Do you dare? You fear to go into those Mines, don't you? The Dwarves delved too greedily, and too deep. Deny it all you want, but you know. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad Dum. Shadow and Flame..."
It was evening of the next day when they reached a slightly warmer climate. They reached a lightly wooded area, and by silent consensus, they all dropped their packs. As Harry helped Aragorn to light a fire, Gandalf went a short distance away and lit his pipe.
Very suddenly, there came a loud howl from some distance away. Gandalf shot to his feet and held his staff ready.
Aragorn drew his sword. "That was a Warg, or I am no Ranger!"
Another howl sounded, this one rather closer. "What the hell are they?" asked Draco, aiming his wand into the darkness.
"Giant Wolves and friends of Orcs!" spat Gimli.
Very close at hand, there came a deep growl. A pair of glinting yellow eyes appeared a short distance away. "Go back, foul hound of Sauron! I swear to you that if you come any closer, I will shrivel you from tail to snout!"
The creature snarled and leapt forward, but it fell dead just as quickly, Legolas' arrow jutting out from its throat.
Gimli growled and kicked the great carcass. "If that doesn't settle it, I don't know what does. We cannot wander around in the wide open with these beasts around."
"If we leave at dawn, we can reach the gates of Moria by sunset tomorrow." said Aragorn.
Gandalf nodded, looking grim. "Legolas and I will take the first watch. The rest of you, sleep lightly and keep your weapons close at hand."
Nobody slept that night. Harry found himself dozing off once or twice, but he always dreamed of howling wolves, which would bring him back to consciousness with a start.
As the sun's first rays crept up over the horizon, everybody rose and packed in silence. A thick fog covered the ground, and all they could think about was the thought of yellow eyes and blood-stained teeth emerging from that fog. But despite the hindrance to their vision, Gandalf and Aragorn led them on, occasionally consulting with Gimli.
Even when the fog lifted, the same could not be said for their spirits. Oppressive gray clouds hung low in the sky, promising a wet night if they didn't reach Moria in time.
Some time after dark, Gimli stopped suddenly and pointed. "The Walls," he intoned dramatically, "of Moria!" Sure enough, an unnaturally flat rockface spread out before them. Spread out before it was a huge lake of inky black water. Nobody felt at ease, but a howl far behind them convinced them to press on.
At one point, Gandalf called to Frodo. "Come and keep an old man company, my lad." he said.
Frodo went up next to Gandalf.
"How's your shoulder?" the Wizard asked nonchalantly.
Frodo shrugged. "Better than it was."
"And the Ring?" Gandalf asked in a low voice. Frodo looked up at him. Gandalf studied the Hobbit's face and nodded after a moment. "You feel its power growing, don't you? I've felt it too. You must be careful. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from within." he added, glancing up as Draco walked past.
"Who then do I trust?" asked Frodo.
Gandalf placed a hand on his shoulder. "You must trust in yourself, Frodo. Trust your own strength."
Frodo knew there was a reason Gandalf was saying all this now. "What do you mean, Gandalf?"
The Wizard sighed. "There are many powers in this world for good and for evil, Frodo. Some are greater than I am. And against some, I have not yet been tested." He placed a reassuring hand on the Hobbit's shoulder and contined walking.
Harry, meanwhile, was trying to concentrate on not slipping on the wet rocks. A task which was very hard with the stead sound of Tap, Tap, Tap every few seconds. Finally, he could stand it no longer. "Merlin's Beard, Gimli! What the hell are you doing!"
The Dwarf tapped another place on the cliff wall with his axe. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." he explained.
"Yes, Gimli." added Gandalf. "Their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" muttered Legolas just loud enough for Gimli to hear. Harry suppressed a laugh at the Dwarf's sour expression.
A few minutes later, they found a spot where two large trees appeared to have been deliberately placed. Gandalf ran his hands over the spot on the wall, and smiled. "Look here, Harry, my lad." he pointed to thin, barely visible lines. "Ithildin! Dwarven Moon-Letters! It mirrors only starlight and moonlight. We are very fortunate, indeed, that these are not the sort that require a certain type of moon to read." He looked up and waved his hand in the air. Instantly, the clouds which had been obscuring the sky rolled away and a full moon shone down on them.
Suddenly, glowing, pencil-thin lines appeared on the wall, forming strange symbols and pictures.
Gandalf stood back, smiling at his discovery. He pointed to a series of runes etched across the top of the door. "It reads, 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter.'"
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Draco.
"It's quite simple." said Gandalf. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open."
He placed his staff in the middle of one of the symbols and spoke in a loud, commanding voice, "Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!"
Everyone stepped back in anticipation and waited...and waited...
Gandalf looked slightly put out but was not ready to give up. He spread his arms dramatically and tried another series of words. "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" This worked about as well as the first.
Pippin looked up at Draco. "Nothing's happening." he said.
Draco rolled his eyes as if to say, 'Duh.'
Gandalf meanwhile was pushing on the doors and running his fingers along them to see if he could find a seam.
"I once knew every opening word in the tongues of Elves, Men, and Dwarves." he muttered.
"What are you going to do then?" asked Pippin to which Gandalf sharply replied, "Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them and I am allowed a few moments peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words!"
Two hours later, the Fellowship had given up standing ready to venture boldly into the dreaded Mines. Spirits were lower than they had been the entire journey. Someone, it seemed, had it in for them. First, going around the mountains had been foiled. Then, they had been forcibly stopped from going over the mountains. Now, even the least desirable road, leading under the mountains, was beyond their reach.
Gandalf had gone through dozens of opening words, even trying 'Alohamora' at Harry's suggestion, but none had worked. The Wizard now sat staring at the door, as if trying to bore into it with his eyes.
Aragorn and Sam were saying a sad goodbye to Bill, their faithful pony who had been with them since Bree.
Merry and Pippin had tried skipping stones on the lake before Aragorn had stopped them, warning them not to disturb the water.
Suddenly, Frodo stood. "It's a riddle!" he exclaimed. "Speak friend and enter! What's the Elvish word for friend?"
Gandalf looked up. "Mellon."
With a loud crack, the doors swung open, revealing a dark passage beyond. The Fellowship gathered their belongings and followed Gandalf in.
Gimli grinned up at Harry and Draco. "Soon, my young friends, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, and ripe meat off the bone!" Gandalf placed a crystal in the top of his staff and blew on it. A bright light emanated from it, illuminating the room in which they stood. Harry looked down at the shapes on the floor, no longer listening to Gimli. "This is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
"This is no mine." said Boromir grimly. "It's a tomb."
Everyone looked around. The floor was littered with skeletons, all pierced with arrows and spears or with their ribcages sliced open. Legolas stooped by one and pulled out a black arrow. "Goblins!" he hissed. Everyone drew their weapons at once.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan." said Boromir. "We should never have come here. Now get out of here. Get out!"
Suddenly, Frodo screamed. Everyone whirled to find the Hobbit being dragged out the door by a long tentacle wrapped around his leg. Sam charged and hacked at it fiercely until it let go. But then, dozens more shot out of the water, knocking Sam, Merry and Pippin to the ground and again grabbing Frodo. A slimy head rose from the lake and opened its gaping jaws, ready to swallow him. But Aragorn, Boromir, Harry and Draco were ready. The two Men hacked the tentacles while Harry and Draco cast spells and attacked with their own swords. Aragorn suddenly made a lucky cut and Frodo tumbled down into Boromir's arms.
The creature tried to grab him, but Legolas shot one of its beady eyes and it reared backwards, roaring.
"Into the mines!" shouted Gandalf. He didn't have to ask twice. They all ran inside just as the creature ripped the doors apart in its rage, causing the entire entrance to collapse.
For a few moments, they could hear only the sounds of each others' breathing. Then, two voices called out, "Lumos." Harry and Draco's wands lit up, casting eery shadows across the walls. Gandalf also lit his staff.
"We now have but one choice." the Wizard said. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
He set off, up a staircase at the back of the room. Harry suddenly stumbled over a piece of stray armor. "Quietly now!" said Gandalf. "It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."