A/N: Alright, another chapter is here. For one more time, thank you so much, guys. Over 2000 views...I would never imagine it.
GallifreyanRomana-It's ok if you don't like it, it's a free forum, eveybody has the right to review.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Lord of the Rings, only the characters I create.
The same night the nine companions did not rest, wanting to go to the Mines as soon as possible. After many hours, they reached a vast cliff face, sheer and brooding, rising above and before them, away into the mists.
'The Walls of Moria' Gimli whispered.
Unlike the others, he seemed to feel comfortable, for here he knew every single inch. His friends looked around with the fear of the unknown clear the atmosphere.
'Is there not a door?' Sam asked.
'Dwarf doors are invisible when closed' the Dwarf explained to the Hobbit while knocking with his axe against a rock. The Fellowship moved along the rock wall, taping and prying, searching desperate for a door.
'Yes, Gimli' Gandalf answered to Gimli's words to Sam 'their own masters can not find them, if their secrets are forgotten'
'Why does that not surprise me?' Legolas commented, with a mocking smile on his face. It was his first real smile since he had left Imladris.
The others laughed, although Gimli looked furious, even though he did not react and went on with his searching. Meanwhile, Frodo was staring worried at a great pool beside the rock face. Gandalf approached a rock between two trees and ran his hand over the cliff.
'Now…' he mumbled 'let us see…Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight'
At that moment, the bright moon appeared on the night sky. The silver lines on the door grew bright, outlining a door formed of two columns beneath an arch with a star at the center. Strange engravings were marked on the door. Everybody looked with awe at it, especially Gimli. Gandalf read the inscription for them.
'It reads: "The doors of Dulin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter"'
'What do you suppose that means?' Merry sounded confused, trying to find out an answer himself.
'Oh, it is quite simple' said Gandalf. 'If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open'
He put his staff on the bright star in the middle, thinking about every possible spell that could help him.
'Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!' he mumbled, but the doors did not open. He raised his hands. 'Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen.' he tried again.
'Nothing is happening!' stated Pippin anxiously.
The wizard looked annoyed at him.
'I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves…Men…and Orcs!' despair was obvious in his voice.
'What are you going to do then?' Pippin spoke again.
'Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!' now Gandalf was really angry. 'And if that does not shatter them and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words!'
Pippin, scared and ashamed from Gandalf's outburst, let him alone to think and went to his friends. They all sat down next to the door, waiting for Gandalf to open them. Aragorn went to Bill, the pony, and began to take off his bridle, wanting to send him away. Sam approached him with a sad expression on his face, for he liked the pony.
'Mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill' Aragorn told him in an attempt to console him.
'Bye, Bill' said Sam.
'Go on, Bill, go on' Aragorn said and slapped Bill on the rump. Bill trotted down the shore through the night. In the same time, Merry and Pippin were throwing stones in the lake. Black ripping rings slowly fanned out. Pippin was about to throw another stone, but Aragorn grabbed his arm.
'Do not disturb the water!' he commanded, still thinking about the scene on the mountain.
'Oh, it is useless!' Gandalf exclaimed, making the others turn towards him. He dropped his staff and sat down beside Frodo. Suddenly the Hobbit stood up and looked focused at the engravings on the door. Aragorn and Boromir, though, looked at the water, as it started to shiver.
'It is a riddle' Frodo mumbled. 'Speak "friend" and enter. Gandalf, what is the Elvish word for "friend"?'
'Mellon' replied Gandalf, raising his head.
With this word, the stone doors swang open, rumbling, and the nine companions entered Moria, with Aragorn being the last after throwing another worried look at the water. Moonlight fled into a chamber and they were grateful for this.
'Soon, Master Elf' Gimli announced to Legolas 'you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!'
'I am looking forward to it!' Legolas whispered sarcastically.
'This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!' Gimli concluded, as though he had not heard Legolas's comment.
A bright light, coming from Gandalf's staff, appeared, shining every corner of the chamber. The Fellowship recoiled in horror. Many dwarf skeletons were strewn around, clearly the dead of some old battle. Rusting armors and shields were peppered with arrows and axes.
'This is not a mine! It is a tomb!' yelled Boromir.
'Oh no! No!' Gimli cried out.
Legolas pulled out an arrow from the body of a fallen Dwarf and casted it away in disgust after examining it.
'Goblins!' he said with agony and hate equal in his voice.
Aragorn and Boromir drew immediately their swords and Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow, while the others were already backing away towards the entrance.
'We make it for the Gap of Rohan!' Boromir demanded. 'We should never have come here!'
But nobody could answer him, because suddenly Frodo was pulled to the ground. A long, sinuous tentacle that had come out of the lake was wrapped around his ankle and was dragging him towards the water.
'Frodo!' Sam, Merry and Pippin screamed simultaneously.
'Help!' Frodo's terrified voice made them all freeze.
'Aragorn!' called Merry, unable to help much himself.
The creature released Frodo only for a second and disappeared under the waters. But then many more tentacles came out of the water, slapping the other Hobbits aside and grabbed Frodo around the leg, pulling him into the air. Legolas ran onto the shore, aimed and shot. His arrow pierced a tentacle that was wrapping itself over Frodo's face. To help him, Boromir and Aragorn rushed to the water with their swords and attacked the beast. It flinged Frodo widly in the air and the Hobbit was lowered towards a gapping maw in the water, ringed by fangs. Aragorn sliced through the tentacle holding Frodo, who landed into Boromir's arms.
'Into the Mines!' shouted Gandalf.
'Legolas!' called Boromir.
He and the Ranger retreated with Frodo, as a huge tentacle uncoiled an appendage, snaking after them. Legolas took aim and shot. The arrow ran deep into the beast's right eye and it recoiled for a moment with a roar.
'Into the cave!' Aragorn cried out. 'Run!'
As the nine of them were running into Moria, the sea creatures slammed the gate shut. The Fellowship stared back in fear as the last rays of moonlight disappeared and deep darkness fell.
'We now have but one choice' said Gandalf, trying to sound calm. 'We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world'
As he was talking, light appeared from his staff, shining on the frightened faces of the others. They carefully continued their way over the floor and up the borad steps at the end of the chamber.
'Quietly now' Gandalf's voice was nothing more than a whisper. 'It is a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed'
The spells Gandalf used:
Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen- Gate of the Elves, open now for me
Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen- Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue
A/N: Alright, my friends, another chapter has come to an end. I know I didn't have Sunglee in it, but you'll have her in the next one, you have my word. I am open to any review, whether positive or negative.