Elven_Princess_2005
Chapter 9
Thanks to:
Saber Apricot: I like to be unpredicable; it makes things interesting.
PsycoSnow: Thank you!
Anilmathiel: There's more
Lady Light: I'm really glad you do!!
jw: She didn't want things to be changed anymore than they already have.
jenna diamond: Thank you.
meghan: I apologize for making you wait.
nienna surion: I have hurried.
The Rori: Thank you.
In the end, we walked back down Caradhras and down to the Wall of Moria. I was not looking forward to these next few days. Not one little bit. I was too tried and too nervous to really catch anything said. I just wanted sleep, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Four days if I remembered correctly. I heard water going "plop" "plop". I stood and turned to Merry and Pippin. In all of the other problems, I have forgotten about the Watcher. Damn octopus demon. I heard stone scrape against itself and turned to look at the Wall. It was opening. I tried to prepare myself for the upcoming vision, but nothing could.
Decayed skeletons were lying on the ground. Arrow protruded out of necks, sides, hearts, heads, legs, you get the idea. I even saw one with an arrow protruding out of its eye socket. Most of the mouths were open, like they were going to sit up and scream at a moments notice. Cobwebs sat all around the cave. Boulders sat on the ground, with some of the Dwarven Skeletons sitting on top or beside of them. The smell was horrendous. Like some of the bones were still decaying. Mental Note number 1: Gory movies never truly prepare you for real life sights.
Suddenly there was screaming. The Watcher was awake and had Frodo in his tentacles. Mental Note number 2: If I ever meet Saruman, tear his head off of his shoulders.
I stood back in the cave when people starting running deeper in. The Watcher started to come towards us. It tore down the rock entrance, trapping us inside and him outside. "We now but have one choice" Gandalf said, his staff emanating more light. "We must face the long dark of Moria. But be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs, in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It's a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed" Gandalf said.
We entered Moria. It wasn't the best place to be. Decayed skeletons of dwarves lay on the ground. Moria itself, from what I understood, was extensive, but it wasn't quiet made for men or Elves. It was small and confining. I hated small and confining. I hated it with a passion. The corridors, which were so small at times that only one person could go at a time, made me paranoid. Maybe it was my Elven blood. I wrapped my arms around myself, hoping to rid myself of the uncertainty I felt through my body. It didn't help.
Legolas had a similar look in his eyes, and I was sure that he felt the same way I did when it came to this cavern. I was also sure that he could handle the confining area better than I could. My eyes darted everywhere; I wanted to be aware of everything. And with my skin crawling I had no problem with drowsiness.
Then again it could also be the fact that the Balrog was lurking in the shadows deeper in the Mines. That monster or beast, whatever you called it, made chills run down my spine. Of course everything seemed to settle in my stomach. The terror and dread made my stomach ten times worse. I still had some minor demons of my own to deal with and dealing with the demons of Moria, wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Sure I wanted to direct my attention to something other that my own tribulations, but it didn't have to be this damned Mine!
We kept walking and I made no comment on anything. In fact I didn't say much of anything. What was there to say? I had a hankering to start singing "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, and this is how it goes." Then again it probably wasn't the best time to start. Everyone was a little weary and well a little agitated. My eyes fell on Gimli's axe, which was held in his hands, ready to use at a moments notice. My eyes also fell on the swords and daggers Aragorn and Boromir were carrying. Nope, definitely not that song.
We stopped where the Mine split into three sections. "I have no memory of this place," Gandalf said.
Great! Just fucking great! I thought. I knew it was coming, that didn't mean I had to feel any better about it. I threw my bag on the ground and decided to get comfortable for a few hours. "Are you well?" Frodo asked.
I picked my head up. "Me?" I questioned.
"Yes. You seem on edge," The Ring-Bearer said.
I smiled at the Hobbit. "I'm not too happy about being in small spaces," I said.
"Why Miss. Katherine?" Sam asked.
"It's part of being an Elf, Sam" Aragorn answered.
"That and I have never been a admirer of small places. Even when I was mortal"
"It still could have been your Elven blood" Legolas pointed out.
"Either way, I would much rather be in an open field" I said.
"So would I, melamin"
I sat down against my bag. I started to hum unconsciously. About half way through the song Boromir's voice cut through my train of thought. "What are you humming?"
"A song from where I came from"
"It sounds distressing" Merry said.
"It is," I said.
"Will you sing it to us?" Pippin asked.
I smiled at the Hobbit. I don't know how, but he managed to get me to do almost anything for him. "Not right now" I answered.
"Please Miss Katherine. It would do our hearts some good"
"A depressing song would make your heart feel better?" I asked.
"No, but the sound of your voice may" Legolas piped in.
"Be quiet you!" I hissed.
I looked at Pippin and Merry. They both looked hopeful. I sighed. "Fine" I muttered. Legolas got closer and Merry and Pippin scooted closer to me.
"I'm so tired of being hereSuppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along"
"Tis a very sad melody" Boromir said.
I nodded in agreement. "What's the song's name?" Frodo asked
I smiled. "I don't know" I lied. Truth was I knew the name of the song: "My Immortal" by Evanescence. I loved that song. Always have since the first time I heard it. "Sing us another one?" Merry asked.
"Not right now" I said.
"Please?" Pippin asked.
"No" I said.
"But…" Pippin started.
"Leave her be, Master Pippin. She does not feel well" Legolas said.
I rested my head on my bag. I needed to get out of this place and the sooner the better. Frodo walked over to me and sat beside me. "How are you?" I asked.
"I've been better Miss Katherine" Frodo answered. "To be honest, I'm concerned about you. Are you ill?"
"I guess you could say I am. I really detest closed in spaces such as this mine. I don't like the darkness. I fear what lurks in the shadow," I said.
"You'll be fine Miss Katherine. You're one of the strongest people I know" The young Hobbit said.
I smiled at Frodo. Sitting up I placed a kiss on his forehead. "Thank you Frodo Baggins. Now I only hope I can live up to your standards"
He smiled. "You work quite well with the little ones, lass," Gimli said.
"In a way, they're nothing but children. They see more than one would think"
"Do you have any children?" Boromir asked.
I laughed. "Me? With kids? Have you gone daft? That's a really personal question. No, I don't have children. They would drive me to the brink of insanity"
"I apologize. Tis not my place to ask such a thing; I was only curious. But the way you talked about them you seem to generally love children" Boromir said.
"Apology accepted, and I do love kids. But if I'm babysitting them, at the end of the day, I can send them home and I'm not the one who has to deal with them. I dunno, maybe it's just me. I'm just not ready to have kids. I've got too much of my own to deal with. When I settle down and have a family, I want to be able to devote all of my attention to them; I don't want to be distracted with other issues in my current life" I said.
"Oh! It's that way!" Gandalf said, looking down one of the corridors.
"He's remembered" Merry said, happily.
Thank GOD! I thought. "No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose" Gandalf revealed.
We continued walking. It wasn't long after that that the wizard decided we needed more light. "Behold: the great realm and Dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf"
"Now there's an eye-opener and no mistake," Sam said.
As we continued walking I saw a room with sunshine hitting a stone tomb. Our Dwarven companion grunted and took off to the tomb. I closed my eyes, my heart going out to my friend. Losing family was never easy. The old wizard called Gimli's name, but he paid no heed to the words spoken by our unofficial leader.
I ran after him. When I reached him, he was sobbing, almost uncontrollably. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
The others followed us. Gandalf translated the words on the tomb. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared"
Gimli whispered a Dwarven prayer to his cousin. Gandalf handed his staff and hat to Pippin and picked up a book from a corpse's hands. Legolas told Aragorn, in a hushed whisper, that we couldn't linger.
Gandalf began reading from the book. "They have taken the bridge…and the second hall. We have barred the gates…but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums...drums…in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out…They are coming!"
I saw Pippin reach out for the arrow in the corpse that was sitting on the well. Part of me wanted to tell him to stop. But the logical part quickly thought through everything. If the skeleton doesn't fall there is no battle, no battle means no Balrog, which means that Gandalf doesn't fall into the darkness of Moria and doesn't become Gandalf the White. Which also means that he doesn't rid Saruman from Théoden. As Pippin twisted the arrow, the head of the body fell off into the well with a resounding crash. Gandalf whipped around; he was spooked. The rest of the skeleton fell in after the head, making a louder sound, if possible. I found that even the silence that followed was deafening. Gandalf slammed the book shut. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
He grabbed his staff and hat from the scared Hobbit. All of my muscles were tense, like a cat ready to pounce on his prey. Boom….Boom. The drums. The drum beats got louder and faster, like a heartbeat. Sam called Frodo's name and the Ring-Bearer pulled out Sting, which was glowing a lovely shade of blue. "Orcs" Legolas informed us.
"Like we didn't know that already," I muttered.
Boromir ran to the door to look. Arrow struck near his face on the wooden, decaying door. He pulled his head back, as if he had been burned. "They have a Cave-Troll," He said, in a fake cheerfulness.
Aragorn and Boromir work on getting the door jammed with Legolas's help. I waited with my sword drawn, while the Orcs jabbed and sliced at the door with their axes and swords. Legolas and Aragorn stood ready with their bow and arrows. At the first small opening, Legolas released his arrow. It hit an Orc. Aragorn followed suit and they strung another arrow. Soon the doors collapsed. Orcs just started pouring into the room. Gimli was up on Balin's tomb waiting for his share of Orc.
The first Orc reached me and I cut off his head. No sooner had I done that, two more popped up in its place. It didn't take much to kill them, but their numbers were too great. I was a good fighter, granted I could probably use more practice, but holding my own wasn't even a question.
By sheer numbers alone, I was beginning to tire. They fell easily, too easily, but their strength was in their numbers. I heard stone being hit and looked to see the Cave-Troll. Nothing we did to it, affected it. Sam had lost his sword near the beginning to the battle, and resorted to using a metal skillet. He kept hitting the Orc in the heads, and was doing a good job at it. Three Orcs came at me and I cursed them. I had lost my sword and was resorted to use what little wits I had about me. Somehow though it wasn't enough. I was hit in the side with one of their swords. It wasn't relatively deep, but it would need a few stitches. I ducked from another one's attack. He hit the ground not a second later, dead. And arrow was wedged in his throat. I stood up and saw Legolas atop a ledge. He had strung another arrow, but I knew it was him that shot the now dead Orc. The Cave-Troll was relentless and attacked everything in his path; even Orcs. By this time, he had trapped Frodo in a corner, around a pillar. My heart and body froze. Aragorn had come to his rescue, but was thrown aside like he weighed nothing. The spear that was embedded in the Cave-Troll was pulled out and used to trap Frodo and stab him. I knew that Frodo was wearing the Mithril shirt, but it still looked painful. Pippin and Merry, bless their hearts, jumped on top of the Cave-Troll and started stabbing him in the head.
It was a major irritation to the troll though. One of them was caught by the troll and thrown across the room. The one left standing on the head, stabbed him on the base of the neck. The troll roared, lifting his head. I saw Legolas shoot, but I didn't see where the arrow landed. The troll stumbled around a bit before falling to the stone floor, dead.
All of our attention turned to Frodo. I ran to his side, the best I could. No one knew I was injured and it would stay that way. I didn't want people to fuss over me. Frodo stood with little difficult; he was only out of breath.
We took off running out of the room. Orcs and Goblins came at us from all directions. From beneath the ground and beside us, around the tall pillars that stood in the hall. Many came from the ceiling. I wonder how many suction cups Sauron and Saruman had to make for them to do that. I thought. The Orcs and Goblins surrounded us. Terrible screeching came from them. I wanted to cover my ears and hide under the nearest rock. All of a sudden I heard growling. I looked up to see a faint reddish-orange light. The Balrog. As it got closer, the room got hotter and the growling louder. The Orcs and Goblins stopped for a second turned to look at the oncoming, unwelcome demon and started fleeing. When the ugly, bad guys start running from a reddish-orange growling light, we're screwed. I thought.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked.
Gandalf hesitated for a few seconds before answering. "It is a Balrog; a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!" the wizard shouted.
And we took off. Down stairs we went. Boromir almost fell; he wasn't looking where he was going. Legolas grabbed him and pulled him back. We ran down a narrow flight of stairs. Heights. I hate heights. I thought, jumping over. Legolas, Gandalf, Boromir, Merry, and Pippin made it over. Aragorn tossed Samwise and went to throw Gimli over, but Gimli wasn't having any of that. "Nobody tosses a Dwarf"
Gimli jumped and didn't quite make it. Legolas reacted, grabbing the Dwarf's red beard. Gimli wasn't too pleased, being grabbed by his prized beard and shouted, "Not the beard!!"
Is it just me or is he shouting a lot? By this time the staircase that Aragorn and Frodo was on, wasn't holding up too well. The ceiling started caving in and broke the other end of their staircase. It was wobbling now, moving back and forth. They leaned forward and the stairway followed their example. We took off running. I felt like I was burning up. The Balrog wasn't anything to be messed with, but Gandalf had to do something. The bridge of Khazad-dûm was right in front of us. Of course, it was also hundreds, probably thousands of feet above the ground. I froze for a second, terrified. It was barely large enough for one person to walk across. Boromir came and grabbed my arms. "Come. We must go across" he told me.
"I can't," I whispered.
"I realize that you are terrified. Everyone here is, but you must face your fears"
"Easier said than done. If anything, I'm more terrified of heights than anything else" I hissed.
"Then face it," He said, dragging me across the bridge.
His hand never left mine. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally made it to the opposite side. I breathed a very heavy sigh of relief. "You cannot pass!" I heard Gandalf shout above the Balrog's growling.
I turned my eyes on the bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf was standing on the bridge, preventing the shadowy demon from going across with his staff and sword raised into the air. "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor" he started to chant. A globe of light encircled the wizard. "The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!"
The Balrog heaved its arm upward, a sword of fire forming in its hand. The Balrog went to strike Gandalf down, who blocked the blow with his own blade. "Go back to the Shadow!" he said, almost in a frustrated tone.
A thread of flame came from the Balrog's maw, and it stepped forward onto the bridge. The beast brandished a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly. The Grey Pilgrim summoned the last of his energy, and raised his sword and staff together into the air. "YOU...SHALL NOT...PASS!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.
Gandalf drove his staff into the bridge. The Balrog stepped forward onto the bridge, but the bridge collapses from under it as it moves towards Gandalf, and broke before the wizard's staff. The demon plunged backward into the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leaned on his staff and watched the Balrog fall; he turned to follow us. At the last second, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths of the abyss and wound around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clung to the bridge but finds is hard to keep his grip.
Gandalf told us to fly before he released his hold on the stone, falling backward into the shadows, following the Balrog.
I stood in shock, my mind not registering what I saw. I was frozen; I couldn't move, regardless of the numerous arrows that were being shot in my direction. Frodo was shouting at the top of his lungs. Aragorn grabbed my arm in an attempt to pull me to the exit. Once I was brought out of my stupor, I took off after the Ranger.
We finally made it back outside, but at a great loss. I fell to my knees in pain, both emotional and physical, and exhaustion. I wanted nothing more then to break down in tears right then and there. Aragorn wiped off his sword and told us to get up. He seemed unaffected by what happened in Moria. "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir shouted in our defense as well his.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up" Aragorn said. He pulled Sam to his feet. "On your feet Sam. Frodo? Frodo!"
Frodo stood to the side, looking at the horizon. He was crying, I knew that. I pushed myself up and put on my hoodie. I pulled the hood over my head. As we headed out, tears rolled freely down my cheeks.
We kept walking to the forest. The trees were tall, and shapely with moss and lichen covering them. Golden leaves twirled to the ground. I knew we would meet Haldir and his Sentinels soon. My hood still covered my face; hiding it from the world around me. I still cried. My face was red and stained from the tears that never seemed to stop falling. My eyes were blurry and I could hardly see.
"Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…and are never seen again" Gimli said.
Can he get any more depressing? I thought to myself. "Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"
I kept my face to the ground, knowing what was about to come. We stopped moving as the Sentinels surrounded us. Arrows were pointed to our hearts', or in Gimli's instance his nose. "The Dwarf breaths so loud, we could have shot him in the dark" An Elf stood out in front.
He held himself as if he were important. And he was. It was my father, Haldir of Lórien. He had long platinum blond hair, but his eyes were what startled me. They held a coldness to them that not even Legolas could come close to, even when he was angry with me.
I could only guess that my mother's death and sending me away had caused that. Aragorn said something to the March Warden, in Elvish. It was something about protection. I was too messed up to even relatively care at the moment. If I got sleep, that was great, if I didn't, I could move on. "Who is the hooded one? Why does he not show his face?" Haldir questioned.
"Because I'm too distraught to face my companions," I said.
He eyed me. "You travel with a female?" He asked.
"This She-Elf can fight better than most trained warriors," Gimli said.
I caught a hint of pride in his voice. I don't think he ever disliked me because of my heritage, I just reminded him to what my people did to his father. And in a way, you couldn't really blame him. "Remove your hood" Haldir commanded.
"Mankoi?" I asked.
"Because I have commanded you to do so," He said, arrogance showing through.
Oh joy! This ought to be fun. I thought. "You do not control me nor do you order me around like one of you Sentinels. I am not part of your army"
"Dina" He hissed.
He didn't like to be talked backed to. "Katherine" Aragorn warned.
"What? It's true," I said.
Aragorn glared at me. I wasn't helping the situation. I swept my hood off of my head. I looked at Haldir and I saw a spark of recognition go through his eyes. "What?" I asked in annoyance.
"You remind me of someone I knew long ago," he said.
"Who?" I pressed.
"My wife" He said nothing more.
Pain and sadness filled my being. I closed my eyes. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
But I don't think he heard me; if he did, he didn't show it.
Later that night we were standing on a platform. I was about ready to go to sleep. Haldir greeted Legolas and Aragorn in Elvish. "So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!" Gimli was a little irritated.
"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days" Haldir informed my height-deprived friend
Of course Gimli had his own retort ready. "And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!"
Ahhh Dwarvish. I could only guess by the undertone of Gimli's voice, it was a rather bad insult. Strider turned and looked down at the red-haired Dwarf. "That was not so courteous"
"And you are?" Haldir directed his question to me.
I looked up at him. "Katherine of Mirkwood" I replied.
He eyed me. He didn't believe me; I could see that in his eyes. But it was the truth. My mother was from Mirkwood, so that meant I was from Mirkwood as well. Besides I couldn't say I was from Lothlórien, because he would know that I was lying. He went to talk to Aragorn. After what seemed like hours of arguing between the two, Haldir finally decided to speak English. "You will follow me"
Elvish Translations:Melamin - My love
Mankoi - Why?
Dina - Be Silent
Author's Note: Here you go, Chapter 9. Chapter 10, already in the works, should be out in a week to a week and a half. I'm not going to get into the different holidays because I don't want to offend anyone, so... Happy Holidays!!!