Chapter 16: The Road to Moria

Gandalf waited for the others to finish gathering their things while Aragorn relived what happened to the Hobbits on the way to Rivendell.

The scar Frodo bore reminded Gandalf of his scar. Some things never fully heal…

With Gandalf in the lead, the company headed out in an hour's time. Days passed and, when they rested, Aragorn and Boromir would teach the Hobbits how to fight, Legolas would keep watch, Gimli would smoke weed with Gandalf.

One day, as they were resting on a cliff, Gimli confronted Gandalf; claiming that his cousin would give them a warm welcome.

Gandalf shook his head. Though it was one of his least favorite memories; he knew that Sauron planted one of her hideous creations there. A Balrog was a mix of a Nazgul, a dragon, an ox and a human. The human she used was Lucius Malfoy; who disappeared years ago. Saruman never found out about his father's torture and transmutation into the Balrog. Saruman didn't care.

Though, if he knew, Saruman would have been harder to break to returning to the Dark Side.

"No Gimli; I would not head to Moria…unless I had no other choice," Gandalf said solemnly.

Gimli turned to face Legolas, but Legolas was watching a cloud…that was moving quite fast.

"Bats of Isengard!" Legolas cried. That said, the company hurried to gather their things, put out the fire and hide from the bats. Once gone, Gandalf informed them that they had no choice but to go over the mountains.

The next week was spent with Pippin complaining about the lack of food, Merry punching Pippin to shut him up, and much more.

The mountains began to rumble and Legolas turned to the company. "I hear a voice!" he shouted.

Gandalf cursed. "Stay back with the others!" With that, the other eight placed themselves as close to the wall as they possibly could while Gandalf began to recite spells that ought to be able to thwart Saruman, but to no avail.

"Gandalf! He's trying to bring down the Mountain!" Aragorn shouted over the wind.

" "We ought to make for the Gaps of Rohan, Gandalf," Boromir shouted.

"Why do that?" Gimli asked, raising his voice to beat the wind as well. "Why not go through the Mines?"

Gandalf inhaled a deep breath, he'd rather go through the Gaps of Rohan instead, but that would go near Gondor, which would be playing into Denathor's hands. Going through Moria would be suicide…but…"Let the Ring Bearer decide."

Frodo looked around nervously and thought about it for a moment. "The Mines," Frodo answered.

Gimli looked happy at this, but Gandalf's heart sunk to his feet. "So be it."

They reached a rocky hillside and they looked around for the door.

Dwarf doors were crafted to be nearly impossible to find. But after four thousand years or so, Gandalf new how to find one with ease. He found the door and moonlight shown on it, revealing the door in exuberant light. At the top of the door was Elvish writing.

"Speak Friend and Enter," Gandalf repeated.

"What does that mean?" Pippin asked.

"Simple," Gandalf said, smiling. "If you're a friend you speak the password and you'll be let in." With that, Gandalf began speaking in a number of different languages to get in. None worked. Frustrated, Gandalf sat down on the rock.

"Wait…" Frodo stood. "It's a riddle: speak 'Friend' and enter. Gandalf, what's the Elvish word for 'friend?'"

Gandalf looked at him as realization dawned on him. "Melon."(AN: You can think of a lot of funny puns with this "melon" quote…hehe!)

The gates opened and they entered. Gimli ranted on how great Moria was…until he noticed the bones.

"Orcs!" Legolas concluded, drawing his bow. The others drew their weapons as well.

"We make for the Gaps of Rohan. We never should have come here," Boromir said.

"Aragorn!" Frodo shouted, turning around, they noticed and acted quickly as Frodo was dragged back outside by a large tentacle. Once Frodo was free, more tentacles shot out from the water and grabbed the hobbits. Another few minutes passed in which Boromir and Aragorn fought the thing and dragged the hobbits back inside. The doors closed, engulfing them into total darkness.

"We now have but one choice," Gandalf said, giving off light from his staff. "But to face the grim and deep darkness of Moria." With that, they headed off. "Be warned; there are fouler things than Orcs here."


OK…sorry about the late update for this one too: school is hammering down on me