The hobbits struggled through the snow with such difficulty it pained Maith to watch. Snowy mountains stretched eastwards, glistening through the mist. It must be cold, Maith contemplated, very cold, she came to a conclusion at noticing the frost on everyone's cloaks and everyone's furiously red noses. She wondered what it felt like to be cold, frozen. She shuddered.
Hearing a commotion from behind, Maith turned to see Frodo tumbling down the slope. Horrified, she backtracked and leapt to his side, where Aragorn had helped him up. "The Ring…" She heard Frodo whisper, and her eyes caught a glimpse of gold on the snow. But before she could pick it up, Boromir had held it to the light, entranced.
" 'Tis a strange fate we should all suffer so much fear and doubt over such a small thing. Such a little thing…" he murmured.
"Boromir!" Maith warned.
"Give the Ring to Frodo," Aragorn said sternly.
Boromir seemed to hesitate, and Maith held her breath.
"As you wish," he finally said, holding the Ring out to the trembling hobbit, "I care not."
Frodo snatched it away and put it around his neck, and only then did Aragorn's hand move away from the hilt of his sword and turn to Maith.
"I heard you lost to Legolas in a contest," he teased.
Maith frowned, not of annoyance but of why Aragorn had chosen this moment to mention it. "It was only with a sword," she defended, bending down to scoop up some snow with her hands.
"You do not usually admit defeat," Aragorn continued.
"Well, it was only fair," she answered, unsure of what her friend was getting at. Her fighting skills? That she should learn the sword? Maith shrugged and studied the snow, watching how it reflected light.
"How do you like him?"
Finally it dawned on Maith what Aragorn was implying, and she turned a shocked face on Aragorn. "I see him only as a friend, Aragorn, and nothing else." If the ranger was trying to make her blush like Larrel did, he would not succeed. Larrel loved Merethyl, but she did not feel the same for Legolas.
There was no doubt about that.
Aragorn, however, was unconvinced. "We shall see," he threw over his shoulder as he walked away.
Suddenly, Maith heard a chanting mixed in the wind, and her previous conversation was forgotten as Legolas shouted "there is a fell voice in the air!"
"It is Saruman," Gandalf responded gravely.
Seemingly at Gandalf's words, a river of snow tumbled down the cliffs, narrowly missing the group.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain, Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn yelled.
"No" Gandalf said firmly, stepping onto a boulder. "Losto Caradhas, sedho, hodo, nuith I 'ruith…" his voice rang through the mountains, but nothing happened.
Maith leapt aside as another avalanche showered them with snow and ice. "We cannot go on, Gandalf, the hobbits cannot take it!" She shouted.
"We must get off the mountain, make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city." It was Boromir.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." Aragorn cut in.
"If we cannot pass through the mountain, then let us go under it!" Gimli injected proudly. Maith remembered his previous conversation with Gandalf, and dread settled on her heart.
A pause. "Let the Ring-Bearer decide," Gandalf declared finally.
"We will go through the mines." Frodo decided.
"So be it."
"The walls of Moria!" Gimli declared, pride clear in his tone.
Ahead of them was the dark face of a stone wall, jagged and smooth at the same time. Beside it was a lake, jet black and still. It sent shivers down Maith's spine. The company walked along the wall, then settled down at Gandalf's command. Sam lit a fire, and everyone settled down around it.
Maith watched, hugging her knees, as Legolas sharpened his sword. His eyes sparkled in the darkness, hair shining like spun gold from the illumination of Sam's fire. She thought of how he was in battle, grace lining his every move, the effortless lightness in how he spoke, how he smiled.
As she watched, sudden warmth spread over Maith's heart. She jolted in shock. What had she been thinking? She scolded herself. More importantly, what had that feeling been?
Maith thought she knew.
She quickly closed her eyes, hoping desperately that the feeling would go away. Maith opened her eyes. The feeling didn't change. Her love for Legolas hadn't changed.
And the elf chose that moment to look up. Immediately, she felt light-headed, her heart beat wildly, and she found herself sinking into the dancing blue of Legolas' eyes, feeling the wisdom behind them; the wisdom of many ages…
"Maith?" the elf asked, amused. He recognized that look, it was the look of someone in love.
He wondered who Maith was thinking about that created such a distant look on her face.
"Maith?" he said again.
Maith's eyes suddenly focused, her expression nearing panic. "Yes?" her voice shook, for Legolas' voice had sounded like music to her ears and, strangely, she wanted to hear it again. She was even annoyed as Gimli spoke, interrupting whatever Legolas was going to say.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed."
"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf said, causing the group to gather at the wall.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas said.
Feeling quite defensive of Gimli, she tried to hit the back of Legolas' head, but he sensed it and lightly stopped her wrist. Hurriedly, Maith withdrew her hand. Legolas' touch had scorched her skin, making heat rush to her cheeks. Unaware of the elleth's emotions, he turned around and smiled. Maith immediately felt faint, and silently cursed herself for being so weak.
Gandalf was now running his hands over the stone and muttered: "well, let's see. Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight."
Conveniently, clouds covering the moon parted and the moon's ghostly light broke through. Gradually, an intricate shining pattern forming an archway appeared on the stone's surface, marked with Elvish scripture and markings. Above the arch were the words 'Ennyn Durin Aran Moria. Pedo, mellon, a minno."
"It reads 'the doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'" Gandalf explained.
"What do ya suppose that means?" Merry asked Gandalf incredulously.
"Oh," Gandalf laughed easily, "it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the door will open."
Maith watched warily as Gandalf tried various spells. "Nothing's happening," she pointed out, just to irritate him. Gandalf glared then tried pushing against it, at which Maith smiled and sat down, crossing her legs in front of her.
Legolas joined her, and she felt her heart flutter. But then rose the frustration and annoyance that when the elf was present, she was no longer in control of herself.
"I do not like the lake," she said, trying- after a great effort-successfully to feign indifference.
"It is too calm, even when there is a breeze," Legolas observed, his eyes cautiously following Merry and Pippin, who were picking stones by the lake.
Maith stood, no longer able to bear being too close to the elf. "I do not like what the hobbits are doing either, they are disturbing the water." She stepped over to where the hobbits were now throwing stones into the lake, and stopped them.
"Oh, it's useless!" Gandalf complained, and threw his staff on the ground.
"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asked.
"Knock your head against those doors, Peregrin Took, and if that does not shatter them I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions!" the wizard responded with growing irritation.
Silence fell, as nobody either knew or dared to say anything. Suddenly, Frodo murmured, "it's a riddle," his eyes lit up as he continued; "it's a riddle. Speak 'friend' and enter. What is the Elvish word for friend?"
"Mellon," Gandalf said.
At that, a rumbling sounded and the doors slowly opened, revealing a dark tunnel beyond.