Disclaimer: I own nothing LOTR (Or LOTOR… I like pronouncing the acronym lol) or any other big copyright awesome thing I have used in reference of! You'll notice I have used quotes and scenes from the books too. This is strictly for fun and enjoyment and no money making crap ideas here! Just fangirling up in here.
Strictly FIRST POV. The order is : Elena, Elena, Frodo, Legolas, Elena.
I DO NOT USE A BETA! BEWARE: there will be fragments. After all, a person's thoughts are usually umbled about and around and incomplete! :D There are swear words too!
You guys should know what mellon means by now ;] And sorry for my poor ass action scenes. XD
Thank you to all my reviewers! Favoriting/following a fanfic is a review in itself and I'm very happy that people like this fic because I like it too lol. Thank you for all of your support! Hopefully I can still make this funny later on. XD
Enjoy!
Chapter 13: I Probably Don't Suck At Everything…
Climbing rocks… blows…
I was never one for hiking… nope nope nope!
One by one… each footstep I hear landing on the next rock that won't make us go sailing backwards.
Of course me not being used to this, I cuss to myself since I cannot do it out loud.
Though I hear a few throat clearings here and there from Legolas.
Sigh. This hella sucks. I'm like way in the back of the line hanging out with Bill the Pony and Sam. Bill is hilarious. He practically agrees with all my swear words and nays when I saw fuck or shit. Maybe that's his way of saying I shouldn't say those words either.
"How are you doing Miss Elena?" Samwise comes up to one side of me. "I'm hanging in there Mr. Samwise. Just trying to get used to all this hiking you know. I rarely did it in my world. Many areas, Man made it flat for carriages and walking to destinations."
"That certainly sounds like travel is much easier for you in your world Miss Elena."
"It really is. I could take the subway, trains, a cab, plane, ship, or I can just bum a ride from someone else."
"What are those things? Subway? Train?"
"Oh think of them as really long carriages that require tracks and are powered by a type of fuel that go extremely fast. Subways travel underground and Trains are above ground." I started to make a face of mock haughtiness and going on about a trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco could only take up to less than a day's trip. 9 hours if you don't have a car. Eh, that's public transit for you.
"Less than a day? That's fascinating! To take you to such speeds faster than Bill the Pony!"
"Elena! Frodo! Come up and help an old man." I heard Gandalf shout for us. "I'll talk to you later Sam." I pat the side of Bill's neck. "Be good." Bill nods. I swear he can understand me.
I make the quick jog on the flat pathway we just got onto. I almost trip and I bump into Boromir. "Oh sorry about that. I lost my footing."
He looks at me and he looks kinda scary with his hood on. He turns to me and doesn't even say anything snippy this time. He just moves his head toward the direction of Gandalf and says, "Go on."
"Thanks…" I look back as I move forward, but he is looking down at the ground… he reminds me of one of those hooded priests in history… or today. Not sure they still do it today.
I walk this time and I pass Aragorn and he just pats me on the back. I laugh and I don't know why. I liked the silent assurance sign that he was there. I pass Legolas and I just kinda look at him and smile… weirdly. He gives me a nice smile in return.
I can't help it. It was… nice that he helped me. It was the first time he held me like that. Glorfindel hasn't even held me like that before. So protective… I blush as I remembered I was leaning into his embrace because he felt so warm and I was fucking cold to the max. Shit. Nope. Nope. I'm out. I whip around and I just keep walking forward to Gandalf.
Frodo was already on one side of him. Eh, I'll walk next to Frodo since I don't want to be closer to the cliff.
"Frodo, how is your shoulder?" Gandalf asked.
"Better than it was."
"And the Ring?" My eyes grew wide at the question and I looked down at Frodo too now. We came to a halt and we faced each other now.
"You feel its power growing, don't you?" Frodo had said nothing.
"I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from within."
Then Boromir walked past us as soon as I questioned the possibility of me. Frodo looked at me with a worried face.
"Who then do I trust?" He turned back to Gandalf.
"Me. You can trust me Frodo." I wanted to remind them I'm still me.
Gandalf places a hand on Frodo's shoulder, "You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths."
"What do you mean?" Frodo asked. It's like I'm a fucking ghost or something!
"There are many powers in this world for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested." Gandalf looked at me again.
"What are you trying to say?" I'm starting to get offended real quick here.
"The fact remains Elena, that you have been brought here by one of the darkest lords in our history and another one wants to consume your very being. "
"Why are you saying this now?" I choked a bit. He's really close to bringing me to tears. "Why are you talking like this?!" Legolas then passes us, then Gimli, Aragorn and Boromir, the Hobbits, and Bill.
"You knew this from the beginning Elena. You knew this all along, but you didn't want to acknowledge it. You and Frodo are carrying great evil. They can consume you at any moment. Elena you have been showing more signs of darkness. Your incidents are being displayed often and I don't think we can hide them for much longer."
"Gandalf…" I shed a tear. He just brought me to tears… the realization of it all…
"I'm not safe to be around…" I whispered.
"Elena, hold strong. Do not encourage those feelings of darkness. Continue on. We must prevail." And with that, he followed the rest of the Fellowship.
I just stood there. Frodo grabbed my hand. "The Ring is getting heavier, but I must do this. Elena, we must continue forward. Do not lose your way now." I vigorously nodded my head and I have his hand a squeeze. We caught up to the others. I give my head a good shake and get my composure ready.
We stopped at the top of a flat area.
"The walls of Moria."
Hm…I wonder if this is what dwarves look like when they get giddy?
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Yep… you bet your ass they do. Been at this for a while looking for those damn doors.
Books and movies makes this "looking for shit" thing… a lot quicker… real life? We've been at this for a few hours…
"Yes Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten."
"Ha. So I guess one of the dwarves forgot where they put the secret entrance?" I joked and Legolas laughed. Gimli glared at me. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas remarked. I was right behind Gmili when he groaned to himself. "I'm sorry Gimli. I don't mean to poke fun, it was all jest. I remember times where I want to hide something really well, but then I forgot where I had placed it in the first place! I knew that way for sure, sadly, no one not even I could find my important things!"
"Must have been many times then because I seem to recall you always losing your drink." He said smugly.
I gasped with a smile. Like, 'I can't believe you went there!'. "Oh my God Gimli! That was like… twice! Twice in all of our drink times!" He reminds me of a Santa Clause when he laughs deep and happily.
I see Gandalf come up to me and pat me on my shoulder. He says nothing, but I didn't even look up at his face.
He keeps walking until he gets to Sam and Bill and faces the group again. "While I am searching, will you each make ready to enter the Mines? For here I fear we must say farewell to our best of burden. You must lay aside much of the stuff that we brought against bitter weather: you will not need it inside, no, I hope, when we come through and journey on down into the South. Instead each of us must take a share of what the pony carried, especially the food and water-skins."
"But you can't leave poor old Bill behind in this forsaken place, Mr. Gandalf!" oh… this part was from the book. This whole time… movie or book movie or book… wow… I don't know what really could happen!
Sam looks like his heart is about to break. Mine too. I'm one of those that if people in the movie die, I'm like duuuuuumb… but if a dog dies… I burst into tears and rage and cuss out the evil demon who added this to the story!
"I am sorry, Sam. But when the Door opens I do not think you will be able to drag you Bill inside, into the long dark of Moria. You will have to choose between Bill and your master."
"He'd follow Mr. Frodo into a dragon's den, if I led him!" Wow. He's so adamant. But seriously… he doesn't know of the dangers that lie in the Mines… oh gawd… and knowing doesn't make me feel better either. I shiver as I start think what lies ahead and I'm starting to feel really uneasy.
I see Gandalf whisper something into Bill's ear, and I listen carefully with my Elvish ear, I can hear him, "Go with words of guard and guiding you. You are a wise beast, and have learned much in Rivendell. Make your ways to places where you can find grass, and so come in time to Elrond's house, or wherever you wish to go."
"See Sam. Bill will have a much better chance to escape any dangers!" I smiled to him. "Bill is a smart pony. Aren'tcha Bill?!" Bill nods. Yep. He gets me.
He nuzzled me and Sam and we couldn't help but burst into tears. I was helping Samwise taking off the straps off of god old Bill and throwing the bags onto the ground. Once that was done, we said "Bye bye Bill. Hope to see you again." He nodded and nay and began to walk away. Everyone gathered to get the bags and water skins that we needed for this journey.
We continued to walk and I see Frodo having a misstep and his foot gets wet from tripping into the lake water…
The dark… lake water… oh gawd… monster octopus thing… bleh… oh oh… this is bad.
Should I let it happen though?
I see everyone grazing against the stone wall looking for the Doors of Durin. I can hear him mumbling to himself about how to make the doors appear under moonlight. I was too distracted by freaking myself out about the creature that could still potentially pop out of the lake…
"Elena, are you alright?" Legolas came up to ask me.
"What? Oh me? Yeah… I'm fine… " He looked at me questioningly and placed his hand on my forehead. "You don't feel feverish, but you look pale."
"Oh, just tired from all this climbing you know… and that lake looks really really… creepy…" Legolas looked toward the lake and he nodded. "Let us not disturb the water." He said and he walked away from me.
Did I offend him?
We reached toward a spot of the rock wall that is between two trees. "Ohhhhh yeaaaaaaah…" I said aloud, but no one responded. Good cause that was a little embarrassing. The moonlight hit the spot and the arch and vines appeared.
"There are the emblems of Durin!" Gimli cried.
"And there is the Tree of the High Elves!" Legolas said.
"And the Star of the House of Feanor. They are wrought of ithidin that mirrors only starlight and moonlight, and sleeps until it is touched by one who speaks words now long forgotten in Middle-Earth. It is long since I heard them, and I thought deeply before I could recall them to my mind."
"What does the writing say Gandalf?" I already sort of knew, but I wanted to ask. "The words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-Earth in the Elder Days. But they do no say anything of importance to us. They say only: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend and enter."
"What does it mean by 'speak friend and enter'?" Merry asked.
"That is plain enough. If you are a friend, speak the password, and the doors will open, and you can enter." Go Gimli.
"That's easy enough. What was the Elvish or Dwarf word for friend?" I said.
"It cannot be so simple Elena." Gimli said. "Then everyone would figure it out."
"Hey. It was just a suggestion. I know I guess it is too easy." I smirk and roll my eyes. I walk over to Merry and I whispered into his ear. "Just so you know, I have a feeling Gandalf will thank the both of us." He looked at me and asked what I meant. "Oh well, you know, sometimes the smartest and wisest of us all forget that answers are simpler than they have originally thought." He laughs.
"What are we going to do then?" Pippin asked. Oh you know, aside from the obvious. I get nervous sometimes whenever he opens his mouth because the end result usually leads to a scolding…
"Knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took. But if that does not shatter them, Iand I amm allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words." Gandalf sorta yelled it out. I see Pippin lower his head in embarrassment and scooted a little away from the crowd. I stand next to him and let my hand hang down to land on his shoulder. "Don't worry Pip. He's just under stress. Old men and all still think they know all the answers." I just wink at him. He gives me a weak smile and nods and leans into my side. Awww I guess we all need a little comfort now and then.
"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs, that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember ten score of them without searching in my mind. But only a few trials, I think will be needed; and I shall not have to call on Gimli for words of the secret dwarf-tongue that they teach to none. The opening words were Elvish, like the writing on the arch: that seems certain." Then he went to sit on a giant rock by the dark lake to ponder.
Then we heard wolves and we all became alert. "I wish we had not let the pony run away!" said Boromir. "It seems that we shall need him still, if the wolves do not find us. How I hate this foul pool!" Then he picks up a stone and throws it into the ominous lake!
"Boromir please please don't do that!" Book version… movie was Merry and Pippin… "I know you're frustrated but let's not throw things into the creepy lake! We don't know what could be disturbed down there!" I extended my hands to make it look like I'm hella nervous… cause I am. Hella nervous!
"Nope Gandalf, done waiting. Let's just try it, yeah? What's the password?! Oh I dunno. Glorfindel taught me the word MELLON!" I just decided to yell out. Everyone looked to me in surprise and then to the doors because of course, the password worked and the stone doors began to open.
"I was wrong after all. You and Merry of all people were on the right track. The opening word was inscribed on the archway all the time! The translation should have been: 'Say Friend and Enter'. The word only had to be spoken in the Elvish word for friend and the doors opened. Quite simple. Too simple for a learned lore-master in these suspicious days. Those were times. Now let us go!"
"I told you! But nooooooo! You had to make life more complicated! Take face value, and if not, then dig deeper!" I smiled and laughed like a champion!
It's quite an ugly laugh, but made me laugh normally and Merry and Pippin joined me too.
Legolas came up next to me. "That was smart of you to think of the simplicity in it." He commented. "Ya well… you have to try the easy stuff first, so you already know what fails and not have the 'what ifs'.
Boromir then started to come up behind me and he cleared his throat. "Well done." Then he left me behind to catch up going inside.
"Did he just?" I was in awe.
"Yes. I do believe he just complimented you."
"Wow…"
"He may be thinking twice about you now since you have knocked the ring out his hand since Caradhras. Perhaps… things can change." Legolas remarked.
"Yeah I hope so."
"Now now. Let us focus on going inside the cave." Aragorn was giving a little push. Gandalf went inside first and lit up the crystal thingy at the top of his staff (I want a crystal thingy) then Boromir, Merry and Pippin, Aragorn, and I looked back to see Sam and Frodo and Legolas is next to me.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" Gimli was bragging.
"Holy crap Gimli, that sounds amazing!" Just imagining it made hungry! But then I quickly got sad again as I really looked around in the light. "Damn…" I whispered…
"This, my friend is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!" He laughed. He hasn't realized it yet.
"This is no mine. It's a tomb." Boromir commented.
Then every started to freak out. This place has a smell.. smell of death… I cover my mouth with my hand and I really start to see the dead decaying away with arros stabbed through them and cobb webs forming around them. It is has been a very long time. I start to shake my head and Aragorn comes up behind me. "Stay strong." He whispered.
"It's hard. Especially when you see and hear Gimli's cries."
"Noooooooo!" It echoes in this cave. My heart tightens up. How it must feel … to see your kin folk dead… and not even knowing it until now…
Legolas marches up to one of the decaying bodies and pulls out an arrow, "Goblins" was his answer to who had done this deed. Boromir, Aragorn, and Legolas draw up their weapons.
Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God…
I go to Gandalf and I run to his side hiding behind him. "Stay with me Elena. Stay with me and do not move from my side."
"You got it!" I yelled to him. I grab onto his robes to signal him I'm with him.
We all start to back away from the entrance of the Mines getting closer to the exit.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here. Now, get out of here. Get out!"
Then it hit me! "Fuck! Why am I so slow!?" I let go of Gandalf's robes and I start running toward the Hobbits.
"Hobbits! Get back in! NOW!" I yelled to them. I reached them and ran up behind them and I shoved them in.
"Elena! What are you doing!? We should be leaving!" Boromir yelled.
"Elena!" Legolas and Aragorn yelled.
I see the Hobbits landed on the ground and then they see me get pulled back from them in the blink of an eye.
That's because the tentacle wrapped around my waist this time and not around Frodo's foot. It was dragging me into the water.
"Elena! Elena! Hold onto us tight!" I yelled to her.
"Ahhhh!" she screamed! The four of us were holding onto her, fighting the strength of this tentacle that was trying its best to bring her into the water.
"Strider! Help!" Sam shouted. Aragorn had come out of the mines as soon as Sam took out his sword and had cut off the tentacle that was clinging onto Elena.
"Get back into the Mines!" She shouted, but before we had time to react and move our bodies, the monster had brought out more of its slimy arms and extended to us to push all of us down and another had once again grabbed Elena's waist.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" It was swinging her in the air! "Aragorn!" She shouted. Splashes of more monstrous arms appeared out of the water splashing about and looking dangerous! "Elena!" None of us could keep our eyes off of her.
Her shouting… it's so hard to hear! This monster must pay!
I was about to take out my sword until I heard the piercing sound of an arrow hit the tentacle. I see it strike its target that it was the tentacle that was holding onto Elena.
My kin and I could only stand by on the shore and watch as Boromir and Aragorn go into the waters with their swords in hand, cutting and slicing down on those hideous tentacles. The monster's head had finally shown itself and Elena had seen it, she let out another scream, but this time her eyes squeezed shut and it sounded painful.
"Its squeezing me! Help me!" She managed to scream out. Then it had brought her down underwater.
"Elena! Elena!" I yelled for her. I wanted to go into the lake myself to try and save her, but Sam, Merry, and Pippin wouldn't allow it.
"No Mr. Frodo! You can't!" Sam said in a very sad aggressive tone.
I could only watch on as it brought her back to the surface high into the air once again. She was coughing and trying to draw deep breaths. Then Aragorn managed to slice the tentacle that was holding Elena and she was released to be caught into Boromir's arms. I see her cling to him for dear life. "Boromir!"
"I have you. Hold on!" he shouted to her.
"Into the Mines!" Gandalf shouted.
"Legolas!" The elf understood Boromir's command and had released another arrow to strike the monster's head and it had fell back into the waters.
"Into the Cave!" Aragorn commanded.
"Run!" I shouted to the others to get inside the mines.
As we were all running the tentacles were chasing us, but the entrance was caving in. Then to a certain point it stopped and we were surrounded by darkness again.
Gandalf had now lit his staff once again to give us light for our path.
"We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard." Gandalf then walked up to Boromir. He was still holding Elena and she had her face toward his chest and holding onto him.
"Elena. It is alright now." Gandalf said to her. We all see her take a deep breath and she had screamed into Boromir's chest. No echo as the scream was stifled.
"Are you ready to let go now?" Boromir asked. She gave him another tight squeeze and then nodded her head. He slowly let her down and she was able to stand upright.
She was still dripping and completely wet.
She let out a breath and then raised her head to see all of us. "Thank you. For saving me." She smiled weakly. "Lets… let's get going…" she insisted. She started to wring her hair to extract the excess water and the same action for her clothes.
"Everyone, march forward and be aware. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world." No one said anything else. In the line, Gandalf was leading along Gimli behind him. Then us Hobbits, Boromir, Legolas, Aragorn, and Elena.
"Quietly now. Tis a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed."
"Elena? We have been walking for some time now. Do you need to rest?" I had asked her. She has been breathing heavier and more since the incident with the monster. I am sure she is still frightened by the ordeal.
"I'm fine. I don't need to rest. Can't waste any time in these mines than we have to." She had waved me off, but once we started to walk along the pathways that were wide edges and a cliff. She had been closer to the wall and using a free hand to touch it, but her other hand was clutching to her torso.
"Elena, are you sure you are alright? You are sweating much more than usual. And you cannot say you are still wet with the lake as to your clothes are already drying and your hair is almost dry as well." I argued.
She scoffs. "Well, I didn't know you were so observant Master Elf. But do not worry. I'm fine." She emphasized the word "fine" when she had a minor trip but she tensed up.
"No you are not. You need to rest. Tell me where you are injured." I asked. She can be so stubborn.
"No. I'm fine. We need to keep moving. We've been stuck here already for a day. I've rested when I slept. I'm fine." She had to take a deep breath this time and I can see her eyes flinch when she did.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels., but mithril." We Gandalf mention. "Shh Legolas. Gandalf is speaking." She had changed the subject and we continued to walk on the path, but my eye is still carefully watching her. "Bilbo had a shirt of mithril rings that Thorin gave him."
"Oh that was a kingly gift." Gimli amazed.
"Yes. I never told him but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire." A Hobbit to know the real value of such stones… of course it wouldn't occur to Bilbo.
I hear a hissing sound from Elena's breath and even Aragorn had caught wind of it. He started to slow down his pace and asked her what was the matter.
"Nothing. Just getting tired is all. But let's keep going until Gandalf says we can rest." He nodded. He looked to me as if I had the answer, but I only shook my head. I didn't have any.
We had been walking for more hours and then we had arrived to a set of stairs so steep, we had to almost climb them vertically.
We had started to climb these stairs. I look up and I see Gandalf and Gimli had no qualms, the Hobbits were helping each other in the climb and Boromir assisting them behind them if they needed it. Aragorn and I were behind the line with Elena.
She was slow in climbing, but I could hear her hissing and groan as she out stretched her arms and having to retract them back into her form. She let out a choked sob at one point and she used a moment of her free hand to cover her mouth. "Come on. Come on." She breathed deeply and used that same hand over her torso again to control her breathing.
Why is she going through great lengths for her breathing? Is she frightened?
Ah! I understand now.
When we reached the top of the stairs, and we were all weary from this climb. I noticed that Gandalf was looking all around. There were three doorways and we were awaiting his next answer. "I have no memory of this place." He said.
"I am too weary to decide. And I expect that you are all as weary as I am, or wearier," I see Gandalf eyeing Elena. "We had better halt here for what is left of the night. You know what I mean! In here it is ever dark; but outside the late Moon is riding westward and the middle-night has passed."
So now we are waiting until Gandalf regains memory of this place. Boromir and Aragorn had started a little fire and smoking their pipes. Frodo goes to Gandalf's side and they start chatting. I start to hear nonsense from Merry and Pippin.
"Are we lost?"
"No."
"I think we are."
"Shh. Gandalf's thinking."
"Merry?"
"What?"
"I'm hungry."
And I hear the faintest of laughter from Elena and her coughing? I looked around and right behind me there she was. In this flat area where the very rocks I was leaning on created herself a little fort of secrecy.
"Did you even notice that I was down here?" We made eye contact and she smiled. She was lying down on her back with her hands resting on her stomach.
"I had an idea. But I had forgotten you were there." I turned to Aragorn and Boromir. "Did you know she was there?"
"Not at all. I've been resting my eyes and lowering my guard slightly. I've been trusting you all to make me alert if there is danger afoot." Boromir said.
"I just happen to not care." He laughed lightly. "I'm fatigued from all this walking."
Elena chuckled and groaned in pain. I see her clutch her stomach tighter and she turned on her side.
"Elena! What is the matter?" I shouted. Aragorn and Boromir stood up as well. "Elena?" Aragorn questioned.
"Fine fine. Cat's outta the bag then." She started to lift up her tunic and the rest of us looked away. "Elena! What do you think you are doing?!"
"Oh calm down! You guys are grown-ups! I'm hurt gawd damn it now look!" I slightly turn my head with a crevice opening of my eye, then both eyes wide.
"Elena, why didn't you tell us sooner?" She had moved her tunic upward just below her breasts to show that her skin on her torso area is purple and blue. Some spots were darker on her sides.
"Yeah. I thought I could ignore it, but it's been hard since going up those steep ass steps." She lowered her tunic and layers back down and she used an arm to hold it down.
"How on earth did you get this?" Merry asked as I see the rest of the Hobbits and Gandalf trying to peek over the rocks.
"It was from that monster from the lake a couple of days ago. He squeezed me really really… really hard." She winces as she breathes.
"You should have said something sooner." I was angry. Disappointed. Why couldn't she tell us?
"I just didn't want to slow us down more than we wanted to. Plus, I didn't want to be the reason why we were still spending time in here. Just to slow down for little old me." She started to stand by using the rock wall for support. I quickly went to her side before Aragorn could reach her and I became her support to lean on. She accepted.
"Thanks Legolas." I brought her to my side until she could stand on her own. I nodded to her.
"Aragorn, don't you have any salves or ointment that may aid her in her injury?" Gandalf suggested.
"I do!" I see him reach into the side pouch that is on the side of his robes. He hands her a little container. "You'll need to put this on. It will help ease the pain as your body heals from this." She took it. "Thank you Aragorn."
"Please always tell us of your ailments, Elena." Frodo said. She ruffles his hair slightly and says her apologies to him and to everyone. "Plus, back home, I'm just not used to receiving medical attention. It costs so much so I have learned to either take it like a man or just find home remedies."
"We may rest here the night. It may be some time until I figure out which way is the way to our freedom." Everyone settled back into their resting spots. Sam had decided to take this time to lay out whatever food we are able to spare for this dinner.
Elena had said that she was only going to be a few steps into one of the doorways so she could privately put on the salve.
Or from the sounds she is now doing, she is attempting it. I hear her groans and hisses in pain. I can only think she is having some trouble applying it onto herself since she has trouble stretching her arms and twisting her torso. I have decided to take the initiative to help my friend, but, she is also a woman.
With my back against the archway of the door she had picked, I had whispered, "Do you need some assistance?"
"Oh my God yes. You are such a lifesaver. I was just about to ask one of you guys to do it anyway if you hadn't come along. Though think Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir are too shy and the Hobbits… Well this is your lucky day!" She giggled softly.
I start to enter the archway looking all around and not her in direction. "Chill out Legolas. It's not like I'm showing you my boobs… breasts I should say. I won't bite." I awkwardly look toward her direction and she has the container that has the salve and she hands it to me and she raises her tunic and shirt once again. "Just put it on in circles. I tried, but whenever I try to move my arms and twist my torso, it bloody fuckin' hurts!" She laughs, but it had caused her some pain and she winced.
This… I have never done this before. To other men yes, but to a woman? I have touched women but in a sense of rescuing them, embraces, and the like, but to skin and somewhere so intimate?
"Well? What are you waiting for?" And here she is so calm about it. "The salve isn't going to apply itself on me on its own you know? Just apply it to my back and sides. I had already taken care of the front, so calm yourself. It's not like this is foreplay."
"Foreplay?" I questioned. "Uh… you know what don't worry about it. I can do this myself." She tried to take it back from me, but I took it away from her reach. "Alright now. Just hold still." As I started to apply the salve to her bare skin, I don't know why, I let out a breath that I was holding in as I went to grab some more salve with my fingers.
Why am I so nervous?
I continue to rub her back and then I can very much see the markings of the wings on her back. "Were these the brandings that Gandalf and you had mentioned previously during the council?"
"Yeah. They look like wings of the fellbeasts." She lowers her shirt then her tunic slowly. I wipe away excess salve on my own hands to keep it from going to waste. "I never want to experience that kind of pain again." She turned around and she looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
"You have a good memory. Gandalf only mentioned that I was 'branded' once, and I never said anything, but you remember." She said melancholy. "They were burned onto me. What I went through, being stripped away from my world, so much fire, so much burning… burned away my clothes, got these tattoos, and… these incidents…" She trailed off… "This branding, is the biggest display that is on me that shows what I am meant to be here in Middle-Earth."
"We can prevent that from ever happening." I assured her, but I do want to ask, "Elena, what are these incidents?" She inhaled and exhaled deeply.
"I'm telling you now because I don't want you to be surprised or hate me. Please know that I am still me. Please know, I will never hurt any of you." She takes my hand.
"I will. I could never hate you." She lets go of my hand and she begins to explain herself.
My eyes grow wide and I feel fear, anxiety, worry, pity and more. So much sadness in her voice. She explains to me of her black eye, when she coughs blood, it is perhaps that she has lingered closed to the ring for far too long, her fiery eyes when she and Gandalf encountered Ringwraiths, hearing the voices of the dark lord, how her consciousness disappears when Frodo puts on the Ring of Power and appears before him in the Shadow World, and something that I could not believe…
The Fellbeasts Wing… it had sprouted twice. She explains to me how the pain is excruciating, and blood, tearing of her skin…
"It really does suck that this happens to me. I didn't want to tell you any of this because I wouldn't want you to hate me. I haven't even told Arwen and Glorfindel of the wing. He only knows up to my eye. If I told him about my wing, I don't know how he would react about me."
I had not said anything. I had only been listening. She trusted me enough to tell me these things. "Have you told the others?
"Not Boromir, Gimli, Sam, Merry and Pippin. They don't have to know yet. If it happens in front of them, let them find out the hard way."
"Then why bestow upon me this information?"
"Because I wanted you to know! I wanted you to know everything from the start. I couldn't tell you in the beginning because you hated me, but I wanted to tell you since we started to become friends. Glorfindel I knew longer and we've had chats with Gandalf on and off about it, but you… I can't have you hate me again! I was the demon! The witch remember!" In her voice, she still has slight resentment.
I had decided to close the space between us to bring her into my arms. A full embrace. "Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for letting me know of your sufferings."
"Legolas…" I feel her choke on a small sob into my chest. "You are welcome. Thank you for believing in me after I have told you this."
I smiled. "Of course. We are friends after all. And I have seen you angry. You could be worse than the dark lord himself." She laughed and she pulled away from my embrace and she had cuffed me playfully. "Oh yeah?! Well you better not be on the receiving end of it buddy!"
I had overheard that Gandalf had figured out the way.
"Come, it seems that Gandalf has found the way to continue our path." She laughs, "Yeah right. He's only following his nose."
"What do you mean?" I asked. What an odd answer.
"This archway we're standing in smells horrible. He wouldn't choose this pathway anyway." I couldn't help in join in her laugh as well.
We started to follow the rest of the company to the doorway that Gandalf had directed us too. I was staying close to Elena. Aragorn had asked if I could join Gandalf up the front of the line and I agreed. I turned my head to see Elena and I smiled and she gave a smile back to me."
"Seems like you and Legolas have been getting along now." We're going down the steps in the darkness.
"Yeah, well. He's a nice elf. He was brave in helping me put the salve on unlike the rest of you! "He coughed nervously. "Thanks for that by the way. I think Legolas still has it in possession."
"You are doing alright now?"
"Yeah I am. It's nice not to feel pain for a while." I showed him that I could stretch. "Though I wish I really did sleep. Gandalf figured out the way before we could've had some shut eye."
"Don't worry. There will be plenty of opportunity to sleep once we leave these mines." I nodded.
We reached the bottom of stairs. "Behold, the great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf." Gandalf said.
"There's an eye opener, and no mistake." Sam was in awe. This architecture really is amazing. Everyone was admiring these wonderful stone pillars. So many of them…
Then we approached that room that I have been fearing…
Gimli gasps and Gandalf calls out to him.
We rush in after him and we see so many more decaying bodies of the Dwarves. We arrive in the room right when Gimli is kneeling in mourning.
Such a battlefield here…
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf read the runes on the stone coffin. "He is dead then. It's as I feared." He took off his wizard hat in respect. I went to place my hands on Gimli's shoulders. "I'm so sorry Gimli. I'm so sorry." Then I left him alone with his space. What can you really say when you come into a room like this and see most of your kin is dead?
I see Gandalf pick up the big book off of a corpse and hands his staff and hat to Pippin.
I hear Legolas say to Aragorn, "We must move on. We cannot linger." Aragorn nodded. "We need to hear what happened."
Gandalf begins to read the entries from the book. Hearing the sentence, "can't get out. They are coming." Sends shivers and goosebumps all over my body.
The balrog is coming… that's what I know for sure… goblins, orcs, the cave troll, and THE FUCKING BALROG.
"I want to leave here." I'm not ready to let go of Gandalf. Not yet. I'm not prepared to explain things to others without him. I start backing away from everyone heading towards the door. I just want to run away.
Right when I said it, Pippin messed with the skeleton on the well and the loudest noises I have heard are happening. Clink, clang, tink,… oh gawd…
"No… please. Let's go…"
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity." Gandalf then snatches his stuff pack from Pippin.
"Please… let's leave. Now!" I whispered aggressively.
Then we heard the drums… oh those damn drums… "The drums have started… It's too late… " I started to head to Gandalf's side along with the Hobbits. Everyone else was looking around to see where the drumming was coming from.
Sam and I trailed our eyes to Frodo's sword. Frodo took it out and it revealed blue.
"Orcs!" Legolas and I said together.
Boromir quickly went straight for the wooden doors that we passed earlier and two arrows had just missed his head. "Boromir!" I shouted.
"I'm alright!" He said. He closed the doors.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn ordered me and the Hobbits.
"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God…" Gandalf pushed us to a back corner of the big hall we were in and I was about to fuckin just scream until he told me to hush.
I could hear Boromir say "They have a cave-troll." Oh ha ha… "Oh they happen to have a cave-troll!" I started to laugh nervously… "Fuck…" I choked.
I know at this point Legolas is handing Aragorn and Boromir weapons to try to barricade the doors and readying themselves with bows and arrows.
I start to cover my ears to ignore all the goblin sounds and the drums. "Not happening! Not happening! This is not happening!" I started this chant and then Frodo shook me out of it. "This is happening Elena. Please focus!" The Hobbits got their swords out including Gandalf.
"Okay shield shield shield… ah! I had lots more shield training than sword!" I took a shield off of one of the decaying bodies next to us. I mumurred a quick thank you to the fallen Dwarf. It was pretty big. Almost as big as Boromir's shield. This will do.
"Elena, fight when you can. Otherwise, defend yourself!"
"You got it Grandad!" I shouted to him. "The three of you! Protect Frodo!" I shouted to the Hobbits. "Don't worry about me." I hope the listened to me. "Aragorn, protect Elena when you can!" Gandalf reiterated.
I can see just Aragorn nod in agreement as he holds a bow and arrow in hand.
Gimli hops onto Balin's coffin, "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath."
"Oh please oh please! Let me survive this!"
The horde rolls in! The Hobbits decided to take the initiative and fight them dead on. I see Merry giving good slices to a goblin and same with Pippin. Sam got stopped as a cave-troll decided to step in…
"Sam! Move!" and he went in between his legs. I decided to take this chance with Boromir and Aragorn to try to pull back on the chain that was wrapped round the cave-troll's neck! Success and we pulled him back, "Sam! Move again!" With that he did, and the cave-troll spun around along with his hammer and Aragorn shoved me to the ground, but Boromir wasn't quite so lucky and was flung to the wall. "Boromir!"
I had to move where I was. Dodging sword swings! "Ahh!" I keep moving and when I thought I wasn't going to make it to getting out of the way, I raised up the shield.
"Elena! Get around the pillars! Quickly!" Aragorn said then I see him throw his sword in an awesome way that it stabbed the goblin that was going to stab Boromir.
I spotted the Hobbits toward a pillar and I went to them. "Hi guys. Fancy meeting you all here." I said. The four of us trying to fit behind the pillar.
"Glad to see you Elena!" Frodo said.
I peeked over to where the cave-troll was and I see Legolas on the second floor. He's using the chain already to get on the cave-troll and shooting an arrow right on the top of his head! "Yeah Legolas!" I cheered for him.
Did he just wink at me?
Do elves use winking as a gesture?
In this battlefield, did I JUST SERIOUSLY FUCKING BLUSH!?
Okay when you think about it, this only took all of 5 seconds. Brain back in the game!
I see the cave-troll falling in pain. I'm dodging sword swings again and trying to run to another pillar, the cave-troll swings down his hammer and me and Frodo got separated from Merry and Pippin. They call out our names, but we were too busy dodging the cave-troll's sight.
I hear Aragorn call out our names as well and I see that he's trying to fight his way toward us. "Go to the other side!" We're still hiding in the same pillar and I can hear his ugly ass sniff!" Then he screamed at us on the other side! It drove us into a corner and then… I shit you not…
Is that cave-troll eyeing me? "Frodo run now!" I pushed him away and wow. The cave-troll took no notice of him. Then it grabs me by my legs.
"Fuck! Not agaaaaaaaaain!" I'm being dragged down on the ground by the troll and he screams. I'm hanging upside down and I dropped my shield!
"Aragorn! Legolas! Gimli! Somebody!" I screamed out. Then Aragorn jumps in front of the cave troll and he backs away from him. "Help me!" Aragorn gets closer to the beast and takes the spear he has I his hand and punctures him right on the side of his chest area! "Yeah! Get'em!"
"Elena don't move!"
"What?" I yelled out. Then I heard an arrow zip on by to strike the other side of the cave-troll's chest. "Oh that was you!" I started clapping because it was Legolas' arrow.
Seriously what the fuck is wrong with me? Clapping?
"I still need to get down!" I managed to use whatever non-existing ab muscles to try to lift myself up, but I just yelled in pain. Oh yeah… really bruised torso.
Fuck my life…
A rock then hits my leg. "Hey what the hell!?"
"Sorry!" I heard Merry say. Oh the Hobbits are throwing rocks at the troll.
Then Aragorn gets swatted to the side. "OH SHIT! ARAGORN!"
Frodo reaches to Aragorn's side. He looks like he's not getting up. The cave-troll was swinging its lance that it had in his hand and drove Frodo into a corner where he stabbed him. "You sonova bitch!" I screamed. One hand it has me, and the other it was the spear that stabbed Frodo and pulled it out.
I was too weak to stop this… was too weak and scared!
"Frodo! Frodo!"
Angered, Merry and Pippin dove onto the troll's back and tried to stab it in revenge. "Be careful up there!" was all I could yell. The troll then let go of the spear and used it's free hand to remove Merry from its back and he dropped him.
"Oh he lets you go?! Lucky!" I yelled out. All this swinging is making my back hurt! "My legs are going numb!" Now I'm just complaining!
"Elena! Hold still in one formation!" As Gandalf and Gimli trying to take their swings at the troll, I try to bring myself to reach up to its fingers so I can curl into a position that will be a lesser chance to be accidentally sliced by them.
"Elena! Don't move!" Legolas yelled. I stayed like that and it hurts! "Legolas! Hurry up and do whatever it is you are going to do!" I just yelled. I didn't see what happened, but I knew right there at the sound of troll's pain, Pippin had stabbed it in the neck to make the troll look up toward the ceiling with its mouth open so Legolas could let an arrow zip through to inside of its mouth to strike at the brain. The cave-troll got wibbly wobbly and it let go of my legs and I was caught by the Elf bridal style.
"Thanks Legolas."
"I made it my duty." I smiled.
"You shouldn't." He let me down gently, but I couldn't walk all that much. My legs were kinda numb from the grasp of the cave-troll.
"Frodo!" Sam yelled out.
We started to gather around Frodo and Aragorn was awake. "Oh no…"
" 'Ey! Frodo! You're not dead! Get up!"
"Elena! How dare you!?" Sam replied.
"No look watch!" Okay, so I'm not a sensitive person when I know someone isn't dead. Aragorn didn't move from his position because he was stunned by my behavior. "Chill he isn't dead." I slowly lowered myself to the ground next to them and I flipped over Frodo and he was coughing. "See! I told you!"
"But he should have been dead." Aragorn said.
"Yeah, should have, buuuuuuut he didn't! You could tell he was still breathing." I helped Frodo up, but I stumbled as soon as he leaned on me for a bit of support. "I'm not hurt. I'm fine." Aragorn then stabilized me.
"That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf said with mystery in his voice.
Frodo then revealed to everyone that he wore mithril. "You are full of surprises Master Baggins." Gimli said with joy. It's nice to see treasure of his kin being used to save a friend's life.
Then the moment of peace was gone. The goblin's screeching was everyone. Goblins and Orcs…
"To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" Gandalf left and we followed him. We started running, but I'm so tired and the pain in my torso was burning. Plus my legs felt stiff from being in the grip of the cave-troll's hand. Legolas noticed and he fell back. He swung me around really fast before I could even blink and next thing you know, he's giving me a piggy-back ride and running to catch up with the rest of The Company. I held tight enough so I wouldn't fall back. But we were soon surrounded by hundreds of thousands of goblins, from the ground up and they were coming out of the ceiling!
"Legolas!" I couldn't help but grip tighter. He adjusted himself to get a better hold on me. "Do not give up!" he whispered. Everyone formed a circle and the goblins taunting us. Then we heard it…
The roar of the thing I dreaded most in coming here into the Mines of Moria.
The goblins freaked out and they decided to split.
My eyes started to burn… and I shut them tightly. I can see him. The Eye of Sauron!
"Ahhhhhh! It's hot! It's hot! Gandalf! It's hot! My eyes!" I must have scared Legolas because he let me down and he did a check over with his hands. I feel it on my forehead and cheeks.
"Elena you hold on! Do not lose yourself! Now open your eyes to me!" Gandalf was right in front of me when I opened my eyes. Everyone else was taken aback by what they saw.
I started crying. Tears of pain, physical utter burning pain were trialing down from my eyes to my cheeks.
"By the Valar is that-"
"No! It is not! This is merely the energy that it is sensing that one of the dark lord's servants is nearby!"
Through my tears, I can see Aragorn, Boromir, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Gimli, Frodo, take a step back. Even Legolas.
"He's not coming. None of the dark lords are coming! But someone else is!" I shouted to them.
Everyone started to look around.
"But who can it be?" Asked Boromir.
I realized I can keep my eyes open longer this time. The pain is dying down enough for me to withstand it.
"Gandalf, the pain. It's not as bad anymore… Still hurts, but not as bad."
"The grey veins around your eyes have returned." I felt around my eyes. Indeed the grey veins are there. Bumpy and gross…
"Elena, you fingernails have turned black now." He said. I looked at my fingers and they were black now. "No… no more." Then I gasped. "Gandalf! My wing! It could-"
"Do you feel anything now?" I just shook my head.
Legolas was back to my side. "Are you still in pain?" He whispered to me.
"Not as bad. I can handle this." I turned my head to his way and he had a hard time looking at me. "I'm sorry. It's…"
"Don't worry. I understand. I'm scared too and I'm not a good looker to stare at anyway."
Legolas swings me back up on his back again. "Whoa!" I hold onto him again and I asked, "Are you sure you want to help me?"
"I believe in you. Your eyes, just need to get used to them." I sigh in relief.
"What is this new devilry?" Borormir asked and Gandalf is finally going to answer as the halls are starting to light up in the colors of yellow and orange.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"
Gotsta bail the fuck outta here!