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When Ruth woke up he realized he was not just warm, but overly warm at that. He tried to get up and came to see why exactly. It appeared that someone had decided that Ruth's fur wasn't enough to keep him warm and wrapped him up in a thick cloak.
"I see you are finally awake."
Ruth looked up and came face to face with Boromir who smiled at him kindly. Feeling better Ruth wriggled around and mewled.
"Are you sure you're well enough?" Boromir asked and Ruth graced him with a kitty glare. Boromir snorted in amusement and slowly released Ruth from the stuffy warmth of the cloak.
Ruth wiggled around a bit before he jumped out of Boromir's arms, stumbling on the stone ground before managing to catch his balance. Focusing inwards, Ruth released what magic he had recovered and changed back to normal, breathing in deeply and stretching heavy limbs.
"Ruth?"
The raven haired Istar looked up from where he was kneeling, and Aragorn walked over to him and helped him stand up. "I'm well, if that's what you're going to ask," Ruth said and Aragorn smirked, rolling his eyes.
"I shall be the judge of that," Aragorn said, seeing that the young Istar was still weak and tired, although he did look slightly better than he did a day ago.
"You are still pale and drained." Legolas walked over to stand beside Ruth and the Istar sighed and shook his head.
"I am fine," Ruth insisted. "Or did you forget that I have faced worse things than simple tiredness?"
While Boromir, Aragorn and Legolas cleared their throats and exchanged glances Ruth took a look around, opting to ignore the three men he officially dubbed mother-hens. His gaze fell on the glowing doorway and Gandalf's hunched form. The wizard gifted Ruth with a small, strained smile before focusing on the door again, and Ruth's eyebrows narrowed in confusion.
"What is it?" Ruth asked, summoned his staff and walked over to Gandalf, leaning on the staff for support.
"We came upon a riddle," Frodo said and Gandalf grumbled something into his chin.
"For centuries I have walked this world and passed through hundreds and hundreds of secret passages and gate," Gandalf grunted angrily, "and yet I cannot solve a simple riddle."
Ruth shook his head, lips tilted into a smile of fondness, and decided to leave Gandalf be. Ruth was certain that Gandalf would think of an answer. By then everyone could use some rest. He looked around with a hum, finding Sam sitting with Gimli beside the gates and Merry and Pippin beside the lake, throwing stones into it.
Ruth's gaze strayed to the rippling surface of the lake and his guts twisted, whole body trembling as though he had been doused in cold water. "Merry! Pippin! Come here!" he called out and the two ran over.
"Yes, Ruth?" Pippin piped out with a slightly mischievous grin.
"Are you well?" Merry asked, elbowing Pippin when the younger started to hop in his place.
Ruth smiled at them and patted Pippin's head since he was closer. "I'm well, iliathínethe, but I would like it if you stayed away from the water. There is something dark in it." (younglings)
Merry and Pippin frowned, looked at the water and then back at Ruthímiel.
"Alright, Master Ruth," Pippin said and nodded avidly.
"We'll do as you say," Merry added and Ruth smiled.
"Come," he said and led the Hobbits over to where Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas were sitting. "While Master Gandalf thinks of a way to open the door, I'm going to tell you a story." Pippin and Merry brightened immediately and Frodo, Sam and Gimli stood up and joined them.
"One is never too old for storytelling," Legolas commented as he helped Ruth take a seat on a big stone while the others took seats around him with the Hobbits sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of Ruth.
"What is this story about?" Sam asked and Ruth hummed and looked at the cloudy sky.
He tilted his head to the side a bit, pursing soft lips, trying to think of a good story to tell, and then his eyes brightened and he smiled at the Hobbits, clearing his throat and clasping his hands around the staff. "It is a story about a young man I once knew. His name had been Neville Longbottom and he had been a wizard."
"Like you?" Pippin asked.
"Not much like me," Ruth corrected Pippin as he laid his staff over his lap and crossed his hands on it. "One could say that he hadn't been very talented when it came to magic, but he had many other talents. He was loyal, friendly, understanding and kind; he knew no selfishness and he would help anyone who came asking. Now, because he was weak in magic, people started underestimating him. He was clumsy and insecure. He came to believe that he was useless and weak and that future held nothing good for him. He simply couldn't see all his good sides, because almost everyone was constantly pointing out his bad sides."
"People tend to do that," Boromir commented quietly, thinking of his younger brother, looking up when Ruth hummed understandingly.
"Yes, especially children," Ruth agreed. "In their ignorance and innocence children can be quite cruel to their peers." Ruthímiel bowed his head, eyes filled with memories, lips tilting up into a small, sad smile. "Neville was a victim of that. Children at the school we went to ridiculed him daily. Then something happened." Ruth looked at the Hobbits with a smile. "Neville had gotten close to someone who eventually managed to help him see that he wasn't as clumsy and as useless as everyone made him believe he was. Neville didn't even realize that he only needed someone to believe in him and help him stand tall. He didn't realize his own worth until someone else pointed it out to him, until someone stood beside him and showed him that he had the strength to stand alone."
"It was you," Aragorn stated and Ruth looked at him with slight surprise.
"Why do you think so?"
Aragorn laughed and shrugged. "You have that effect on people," he said and Ruth tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"You seem to know the exact words to say to make people see their own worth," Boromir agreed with Aragorn and Ruth hummed.
"It seems that you have now ruined the story," Ruth teased.
"No!" Pippin moaned.
"We want to know what happened with Neville!" Merry begged.
"Please, tell us what happened!" Frodo implored and Ruth laughed quietly.
"Very well," he said and shifted in his seat a bit. "Because we had a teacher that didn't want to teach us properly, another friend of mine helped me create a group of people with which we could practice our magic. Our world was in danger and the danger was constantly growing. Neville was a member of that group. He wanted to grow stronger. I am ashamed to say that even in that group people were still ridiculing him. In the end he had managed to prove them all wrong."
"How?" Sam asked.
"There had been a great battle at our school," Ruth continued the story. "The forces of the Dark Lord attacked quickly and ruthlessly. At one moment, while I was incapacitated, the dark Army blocked the exits. The Dark Lord Voldemort demanded that everyone surrendered to the Dark Side." A smile tugged on Ruth's lips and his eyes shone with pride. "When no one had the courage to speak up, Neville did. He stood proud in front of Voldemort, fearless and strong. His heart called out to our hearts and gave us strength when we alone had none. His words gave us strength to stand up and fight. In the end, I dare say that were it not for Neville's courage, his vigilance and faith, the war would not have been won. He was justly named one of the Heroes of Hogwarts. A Hero of the Wizarding World."
"What became of him after the war?" Frodo asked and Ruth hummed.
"He had married a nice young witch by the name of Luna Lovegood. I was his best man. They had 4 beautiful children; Rose, Godric, Harrison and Xena. Their lives were filled with both joy and sorrow. When it was his time, Neville had greeted death as a dear friend, grateful for his many happy years and went to join his friends and family on the White Fields of Valinor."
"That is a nice story," Sam commented with a happy sigh and Ruth nodded.
"I believe it has a nice point as well." He received a few confused glances from the Hobbits, Boromir and Gimli, while Legolas and Aragorn shared a smile. "No matter how weak someone seems, no matter how different they are from people you are used to meet, they have their worth. In the darkest moment the smallest star can shine the brightest, if only it has someone or something to shine for."
Legolas and Aragorn nodded while the others smiled in understanding.
"I would like for you to tell that story to my brother when we reach Gondor," Boromir said and Ruth placed a gentle hand on Boromir's shoulder.
"Trust me, merén. I will give my all to make sure that all of us reach Gondor alive so that you may be the one to tell your brother the story of the Lion of Hogwarts," Ruth swore and Boromir swallowed difficultly, feeling something heavy yet incredibly warm wrap around his head. Something he hadn't felt ever since the death of his beloved mother and since his father parted Boromir from Faramir so that the older brother could lead the armies of Gondor to win their territories back.
"What did you call him?"
Everyone looked at Gandalf and Ruth raised an eyebrow at the older Wizard when he found Gandalf looking at him with narrowed eyes.
"I called him my friend. Merén," Ruth spoke and Gandalf cursed.
"Curse my old age and senility!" he snapped and stood up.
"He remembered!" Pippin cheered.
"What?" Ruth asked.
"The answer to the riddle," Aragorn pointed at the letters written around the door.
"Speak friend and enter!" Gandalf laughed and shook his head. "Gandalf, you old fool." He gripped his staff tightly and looked at the door. "Mélon."
To everyone's surprise the door slowly opened. Everything shook as rock ground against rock and the Fellowship gathered in front of the door trying to avoid the rocks that fell around them.
"Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone." Gimli boasted happily and many rolled their eyes at him while Ruth merely laughed quietly stepping forward to enter Moria.
Ruth hadn't even stepped over the threshold when a foul stench slammed into his senses and bile gathered in his throat. nose.
"Let's go..."
"Ner!" Ruth screamed, interrupted Gandalf, and everyone stopped in their tracks and looked back at Ruth who had grabbed Aragorn's forearm and stared at the entrance with wide eyes full of horror.
"Ruth, what...?"
"That - that is no mine!" He whispered, trembling as he stared into the darkness, tugging Aragorn away from the entrance.
Focused on the distressed Istar, no one had noticed the constant rippling of the water behind them.
Aragorn took Ruth's elbows in his hands and tried to make the Wizard look in his eyes. "Ruth, what is wrong?"
Ruth's eyes were watering from the stench of death and decay, and he was struggling to breathe, mind running in circles as he tried to figure out what was going on. "That is no mine!" Ruth's voice wavered, hands fisting on Aragorn's chest before he looked at the Dúnedain. "It's a tomb!"
Boromir grabbed the torch they prepared earlier and Gimli followed after him, but they didn't have to go far. At the very entrance, on the steps leading to what was once the entrance of Moria were corpses of both Dwarf and Goblin folk alike.
"Pull back!" Gandalf shouted and Boromir had to pull Gimli who roared in pain and desperation out of the Mines.
"We must find a different way!" Legolas said while Aragorn held Ruth close.
The Istar covered his mouth and nose with a sleeve trying not to inhale the putrid stench in the air. There was such darkness in those mines that Ruth would rather face Sauron alone that willingly walk in there.
All of a sudden Ruth's eyes widened and Aragorn looked at him when he had felt the Istar tense up within Aragorn's hold. "Ruth?"
In that moment the Istar was ripped out of his arms. "ARAGORN!" Ruth screamed as he was pulled into the water. Tentacles suddenly rose from it and the Fellowship was frozen for a second.
"RUTHÍMIEL!" Aragorn screamed angrily, pulled his sword out of its scabbard and charged at the monster in the water.
"Aragorn!" Legolas and Boromir ran after Aragorn while Gandalf and Gimli tried to keep the tentacles away from the Hobbits.
"We never should have come here!" Gandalf shouted and kicked away another tentacle that threatened to attack them.
They looked up when they heard Ruth scream and saw him in the air with a tentacle wrapped tightly around him.
"Ruth!" Frodo cried out frantically, but Sam and Merry held him back.
Legolas was firing arrow after arrow to no effect. Aragorn and Boromir were waist deep in water trying to set Ruth free by cutting the tentacles. Boromir was suddenly flung away, toppling down the mountain side in a dead feint.
"BOROMIR!" Ruth shouted and it seemed like his mind cleared at that moment. "XIMARLE!"(Release me) Ruth snapped and his magic burst from him, but it seemed to only anger the creature more. Aragorn roared and slashed into the tentacle holding Ruth. With a yelp of surprise Ruth was suddenly falling, only to yelp when he fell into Aragorn's awaiting arms.
"Hold on!" Aragorn started to push his way onto the shore keeping a tight hold on Ruthímiel. He tripped and Ruth summoned his staff into his hand.
"MA HAT!" (Be gone) A strong wind seemed to erupt from Ruth's staff and the tentacles were blown away. Aragorn climbed onto the shore and Ruth jumped out of his arms.
"Boromir!" he ran over to the Gondorian who woke up when Ruth shook him strongly.
"We must go into the Mines!" Gandalf called out.
Ruth looked at Gandalf with eyes darkened with horror when huge chunks of rocks started to fall. He grabbed Boromir and pulled him up, all but dragging the still drowsy man along. "Get in!" he shouted and all of them ran into the Mines just as the rocks fell over the entrance and blocked they way out.
The darkness was so deep that they couldn't see anything.
"Is everyone here?" Gandalf called out and received 9 confirming answers. He sighed and hit his staff against the ground immediately producing a weak light.
Boromir looked at Ruth who was leaning against the closest rock, taking deep breaths. "Are you well?" he asked and gently placed his hands on Ruth's heaving shoulders. Ruth was soaking wet and his hair was clinging to his shivering body and pale face.
"As well as I can be," Ruth stuttered out and pushed away from the rock. He hit his staff against the ground and a warm wind passed over him and Boromir.
Aragorn shivered when that wind passed over him as well and his clothes and hair dried within seconds. "Useful," he commented and Ruth gifted him with a tired smile.
"I believe it is best if you lead the way, Master Gandalf," Ruth spoke wearily and Gandalf nodded.
"Will you be able to keep up?" he asked and Ruth nodded.
"I don't believe I have much choice on this matter," the younger Istar drawled, wincing as he tried to straighten, the kinks in his back making themselves known.
"I'm sorry," Frodo murmured and Ruth sighed, guessing how the young Hobbit must feel.
"You have nothing to feel sorry for, yathár," (child) Ruth said and Frodo shook his head.
"No. I chose this way. I should have chosen..."
"Ner," Ruth interrupted him. "We didn't know Moria was lost. Master Gandalf passed through these mines countless times and he didn't know it has come to this. Now, we must move on. Feel no guilt, young Master Baggins. You hold no blame."
Frodo nodded and Ruth awarded him with a small smile which didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Let's go. The sooner we move the sooner we shall be out of these halls," Legolas said.
Gimli grunted and walked closer to Ruth who looked down at him with a confused frown. "Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir carried you while you slept. I shall serve as your support while we walk the Mines of Moria."
Ruth gifted Gimli with a grateful smile, and the Dwarf bowed his head a bit, almost shyly. "Thank you, Master Gimli," Ruth spoke warmly, and while he held his staff in his right hand, he took a hold of Gimli's right shoulder with his left before looking at Gandalf, wordlessly telling the older Wizard that he was ready.
"Let's go. Now we travel the Darkness of Moria," Gandalf spoke gravely and started to walk up a set of stairs, closely followed by the rest of the Fellowship. "Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world. It is a long journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed."
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Frodo looked at Ruth's sleeping face. The raven haired Istar and Aragorn were by the fire and the Ranger had an arm wrapped around Ruth's waist to keep him warm while the Istar slept. Boromir had taken off his furred cloak and covered Ruth with it some time ago to make sure their emerald eyed friend was warm enough. .
This was an impromptu break they had to take since Gandalf could not remember which way to go next. Obviously it had been a much needed break, since Ruth fell asleep the second he took a seat and leaned his head on Aragorn's shoulder.
"Worry not, Master Baggins." Frodo looked up at the kind face of Boromir. "Master Ruth will be well. He is strong." Frodo nodded although a part of him was still a bit insecure around Boromir. "You do not have to worry anymore," Boromir said and Frodo looked at him with wide eyes. "I no longer desire the Ring. Master Ruth took care of that. My father had a great influence on me. I couldn't see clearly. Forgive me for frightening you. I promise, Master Baggins. I will sooner throw myself together with the Ring into the Fires of Mount Doom than let my father get his fingers on it. Even if we by chance end up in Gondor you will have my protection from my father."
With his heart lighter, Frodo smiled at Boromir and nodded. "I believe you," he said and Boromir smiled, before turning his gaze to Ruth's sleeping form and sighing.
"I fear what would have become of me had he not joined our quest. He brought light to our Fellowship in these dark times," Boromir muttered and Frodo swallowed difficultly over the fear clogging his throat.
"I only hope he recovers," Frodo whispered fearfully. "I fear for his fate if he doesn't manage to gain back at least some of his strength."
"We shall watch over him." Both looked at Legolas. Gimli, who stood by Legolas' side nodded with a low grunt.
"He promised that we shall all see the end of this journey alive. It shall be our mission to aid him in that quest," Gimli agreed with Legolas although neither paid any attention to it, and no one was of the right set of mind to point it out.
"Are you well?" They looked up when they heard Aragorn speak.
"I am as well as I can be, Aragorn. These Mines do not help me at all," Ruth spoke in a raspy voice and accepted some water from Aragorn.
"Do you not like being underground?" Sam asked and brought Ruth some food.
"I prefer the forests and open fields, skies and mountains," Ruth answered, gifting Sam with a grateful smile. "No, Master Gamgee. I do not like being underground. The air here is stale and the darkness all-consuming. No sunlight passes through hard rock, no wind or water. Only darkness." Ruth finished in a whisper, eyes focused on the fire in front of him.
"We will get out of here quickly," Merry said and Pippin nodded enthusiastically.
"We miss the Sun as well. We just have to stay together and always think of the Sun. The time will pass quickly."
Ruth laughed quietly and graced the young Hobbits with a beautiful smile which somehow managed to brighten his face. "You are a true ray of sunlight, Peregrine Took," Ruth whispered. "Don't ever change, young Hobbit."
Pippin blushed and Merry snickered, teasing poking Pippin's stomach with a finger.
"Do you wish for us to carry you for another part of the journey? You aren't well yet," Boromir offered and Ruth almost rolled his eyes.
Resisting the childish urge, Ruth merely sighed and shook his head. "Ner. I will not burden anyone. I am regaining my strength slowly. I will be well."
"Gandalf is still thinking," Frodo said after he looked at the wizard. "Why don't you sing something for us while we wait?"
Ruth recoiled slightly at the request, emerald eyes widening and expression going slack. "Had all of you heard me sing?" he muttered confusedly.
"Yes." 8 people answered at the same time and Ruth cleared his throat in obvious discomfort.
"Well, what should I sing for you?" he asked, raising a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind a slightly pointed ear.
"Whatever comes to mind," Boromir said and Ruth sighed as he gazed at the dying fire. He wrapped his arms around his legs as he hummed low in his throat and a few minutes later Ruth closed his eyes and started to sing.
Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby,
back to the years of loo-li lai-lay.
And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you to morrow,
bless you with love for the road that you go.
May you sail fair to the far fields of fortune
with diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet.
And may you need never to banish misfortune.
May you find kindness in all that you meet.
May there always be angels to watch over you;
to guide you each step of the way.
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm.
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay.
May you bring love and may you bring happiness
Be loved in return to the end of your days.
Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you.
I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay. (1)
Even Gandalf turned to listen.
"Which song is that?" Boromir whispered and Ruth shrugged.
"I don't know. It has been a long time since I had last heard it. I had been gravely injured during an attack some 300 years ago in the world I had lived in at that time. The woman that had sung this song for me was a nun at a church. She was the only one in that world that knew almost everything about me. To be perfectly honest I had hoped that wound would be the end of me. When I had told her that, she had said that I had a much greater destiny. That someone was somewhere waiting for me. She put my head in her lap and as she ran her fingers through my hair she started to sing that song. It has been cut into my memory ever since," Ruth finished with a wistful smile, staring at something only he could see.
"What happened to her?" Frodo asked and Ruth looked at him with a sad smile.
"She died," he whispered sadly "She died a warrior's death, protecting the children of the church orphanage together with Father Maxwell."
"What was her name?" Legolas asked.
"Helen." Ruth spoke the name softly. "It means shining light." He laughed silently, shook his head, and his eyes met Gandalf's when the older Wizard looked at him. "She truly was a shining light," Ruth murmured. He felt a breeze caress his face and turned around in wonder towards one of the gates. "Is it just me or did a breeze come down from this hallway?"
Gandalf frowned and walked over. "You're right. It's this way!" Gandalf almost cheered.
Almost, mind you.
"You remembered!" Pippin rejoiced while everyone jumped to gather their things.
"No. But as Ruth said, a breeze is coming down this hall and the air isn't as stale. When in doubt, always follow your nose." Gandalf said and tapped his nose with his finger. "Ready?" he asked the Fellowship and smiled when he saw everyone waiting to move on. "Let's go."
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(1) The song (Sleepsong) belongs to Secret Garden. I claim no rights to that song.
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And now it comes. I need someone to hold my hand! T-T