Chapter 11
Berett stood stock-still in the dark as his eyes tried to adjust. Then Gandalf lit his staff and they all fell into line behind him.
"It's a four-day journey to the other side." Gandalf told them as they made their way up a wide, shallow, skeleton-littered staircase. "Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
Later, as they passed along a narrow ledge, Berett noticed chains hanging from the ceiling and the little threads of silver in the walls. Gandalf explained a little more about Moria, and what he said intrigued Berett.
After climbing a steep staircase they came to a sort of crossroads with three different paths to take. One to the left, one to the right, and one straight before them.
As they sat and waited on Gandalf, Berett thought he heard a slight hiss coming from the dark behind him. Turning, he caught a flicker of pale lights before they vanished. Frodo had seen them too, for he went and told Gandalf.
With nothing better to do, Berett studied the pale lights as they crept closer. They glowed eerily in the dark and followed Frodo's every move.
"It's that way," Gandalf suddenly said.
"He's remembered." Merry exclaimed.
"No," the wizard countered, "but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."
With that humorous anecdote the Company followed Gandalf deeper into the underground of the Mines of Moria.
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Pillars towering overhead like trees were revealed as Gandalf brightened the area. Everyone gazed about them in wonder as they passed between the pillars.
Suddenly Gimli ran off into a side chamber, and they all followed. A single shaft of light shone down on a crypt in the center of the room.
Gimli wept as Gandalf read: "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria."
As the wizard read from an ancient book taken from the grasp of a skeleton, Berett became increasingly nervous.
Then Pippin knocked a skeleton into the well. The crash reverberated through the room — and beyond. Wild screeches and yells echoed up from below. The goblins — and perhaps other foul things — were awake.
A/N: PIPPIN YOU FOOL OF A TOOK! Now what will happen? Keep reading to find out!