Chapter 8 - The Moonlit Door
The wind had continued to howl about them until they finally stepped off of the mountain. The cold was intense, seeping through her cloak. tunic, flesh, muscle, bone. None of this was helped by the damp material which had been soaked through by the falling snow, which had seemed to amplify the power of the wind tenfold.
She was thankful to be out of it and the muscles in her face relaxed after hours of squinting against both the gale and the flakes that battered against her.
Gandalf was still unresponsive , only answering when spoke to directly and even then with the most limited vocabulary he could muster.
Moria was close now, although Gimli had been telling her and the others that for over two hours now. Whereas other members of the fellowship had grown sombre as the mines grew closer. For Gimli it was having the opposite effect. Almost as though he had a new lease of life and a spring in his step.
Frodo hovered near Aragorn's side. Every so often he would ask what land lay to the East or West and then they would carry on with their march.
She didn't fully realise they had arrived until Gimli let out a shriek.
"We are here , there it lies!" he cried, clapping his hands together and pushing away from the group at great speed.
It didn't look like much, at least not what she had expected from Gimli's description of a place filled with decadence and mirth.
It was dark now and the stars shone brightly in the ebony sky. Gimli stopped at the edge of a large pool that lay completely still. It may have been just a trick of the light but it looked completely black, like a tar pit apart from the stars that reflected overhead like a mirror. It made her feel uneasy, the still and quiet almost like someone was watching her and she was waiting for them to pounce. The hairs on the back of her head rose to attention.
"It's just across the other side" Gimli said, pointing to a plateau of stone that rose out of the murky water opposite them.
"The water looks too deep to cross," Boromir told them, whilst crouching down to try and see further through the surface. Behind her Bill nickered loudly and began to back up , his reins pulling taunt in Sams grasp.
"Come on Bill, not much further," Sam told the pony enthusiastically. Bill stopped, but as far as his reins would allow.
"Over here!" Legolas called from the gloom .
At the side of the cliff face there was a small walkway, no wider than if two people walked abreast. It was submerged by a few inches of water, but it was a preferred route over the alternative. Some wet boots she could deal with.
Although they could fit two by two they decided to go single file so that it wasn't a squeeze .
Legolas scouted the way, using the bottom of his bow to tap the rock formation, whilst keeping note that it stayed the same width all the way across.
Once he reached the far side he turned back to them, his blonde hair catching the silvery haze that shone from the bright moon, that kept being uncovered by clouds only to be quickly shrouded again.
"It's safe as long as you keep to the wall," he instructed, swinging his bow back onto its usual place upon his back.
Merry and Pippin went first, keeping close together. On them the water level came up to their shins, but they waded through unhesitant.
Frodo and Boromir went next, Frodo staying in the wake that the larger man left in front of him. Gandalf made his way across gingerly, lifting up the skirt of his robe slightly so it fell to just above the water level. Sam followed behind, he couldn't mask the fear on his face like the other hobbits had.
"I cant swim," he had confided to her before he set across.
"That's alright, you aren't swimming , just walking. Make sure to tread where Gandalf treads and you will be just fine," She had told him optimistically, resting her hand on his shoulder. He gave her a weak smile before continuing on his way.
She went next, Gimli close behind her, never stopping his chatter of what they could hope to find once inside. She would just be glad of a dry warm place for them to rest. The grandeur he promised would just be a bonus.
She was happy once she stepped back onto the dry grey stone. She had the irrational fear that something was going to grab her legs and pull her into the murky depths before anyone would be able to save her.
Aragorn came last, holding Bills reins tightly in his grasp. The once brave pony was coming to the end of his wits at yet another obstacle.
She watched Aragorn closely, holding her breath as he stepped close to her. Nerves rose within her, what if Bill were to bolt? They both would sink into the inky pool.
After what seemed like an age he finally stepped onto the edge of the plateau, urging Bill to step up after him. Although the pony didn't need any coaxing at all to get his hooves out of the water.
Turning around she could see the others over near the rock face gathered round.
"Dwarf doors are always invisible when closed ," She heard Gimli say as she joined them. He was tapping the end of his axe across the surface of the rock. Whilst Merry and Pippin worked their way over it, moving their small hands into recesses trying to find an abnormality.
'Oh no' she thought to herself. 'All this way and we might not even be able to get in'.
"Yes Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf chided, drumming here and there with the end of his staff.
"Why doesn't that surprise me," Legolas said, turning to her, but saying it loud enough that Gimli heard and let out a grumble.
She managed a small smile back at the elf as Gandalf moved off from where they stood and walked over to a piece of rock face that lay between two ancient gnarled trees. He lay his hand on the wall and paused for a moment, closing his eyes.
Everyone studied him, hoping beyond hope he had found it.
"Now…..lets see. Ithilden" he finally spoke to himself. As soon as he had fine spider web like lines became clear across the surface of the rock. Glowing faintly like gossamer caught in the moonlight.
"It mirrors only starlight and moonlight " Gandalf continued as the hobbits gaped at the spectacle before them.
As if on cue the clouds parted and the moon shone brightly down to the plateau. The silvery lines began to glow ever brighter, until it was clear they formed the outline of a door. A star shone in the centre with elven script in the arches. Although beautiful, I was eerie against the dark and gloom of their surroundings.
Nobody said a word, most unsure of what it read. Gimli let out a low breath.
Going closed to the door and running his hand over the scripture, Gandalf finally stepped back and tapped his staff lightly.
"It reads, 'the doors of Durin, lord of Moria, Speak friend and enter'," he told them, turning back to face them.
"What do you suppose it means?" Merry asked, looking around behind him at some unseen noise.
"Oh it's quite simple, if you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open " Gandalf replied optimistically. Turing back towards the door he placed the end of his wooden staff upon the star at the centre.,
"Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen!" he spoke loudly to the rock face in her tongue.
She felt a tug on her sleeve, looking down Sam was right next to her.
"What did he say?" he asked her, his blue eyes reflecting the stars from above as he looked up at her.
"He said, 'Gate of the elves , open now for me' ," she explained with a smile. But that was soon extinguished when she saw that the doors remained closed.
Gandalf faltered, then raised his hands to the surface.
" Fennas nogothrim lasto beth lamthen" he spoke now in the tongue of the dwarves of which she knew some.
Again she tried to translate for Sam.
"It loosely says 'doorway of the Dwarves listen to my words', " she told him.
"Nothings happening," Pippin piped up as everyone waited for something, anything to happen with bated breath.
Gandalf half turned from the door to throw him a look, his annoyance building at the same rate as his frustration. He whispered something to himself and began pushing on the rock. Her heart sank.. He was out of ideas.
All this way and now they were stuck again. She looked to Aragorn and then to Boromir whose faces both mirrored what she was feeling, but none of the dared to say it.
"What are you going to do then," Pippin asked , not understanding that now was not the best time for those sort of questions.
Spinning around from the wall, his cloak twirling about him, his face holding fury in its withered features.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took and if that does not shatter them, I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words" he shouted his voice echoing off the rock surrounding them, giving it a much more menacing tone.
Pippin shrank back not knowing what to say. Boromir put his hand on his shoulder and said "come on lad, come over here" and led his to the waters edge to gaze into the pool.
Gandalf had turned back to the wall and the others lingered not knowing how to proceed.
They too turned away one by one, following Boromirs lead and left the old wizard to his thoughts.
Sitting down on a rock that jutted out from the rock face. Arwen leaned back . Everything was so still here. Being between the rock no breeze stirred so the water lie completely at rest.
Glancing over to Gandalf she felt pity. He was scouring the bright doorway , muttering a range of tongues, she could just about hear. Each time the same response from the door. Nothing.
"Do you think we did the right thing by turning back?" A voice asked her before joining her on the rock.
"I don't know Legolas, I know the mountain was too dangerous, but something doesn't seem right about this place. Everything seems so still, like it has been forgotten about. Where is the welcome Gimli spoke of?" She confided to her friend.
"I know what you mean, perhaps it is a good thing that we cannot enter, perhaps a sign that we should head for the Gap instead," he said , keeping his voice as low as hers so not to be overheard.
A rock fell from the cliffs above and shattered as it hit the grey slate floor sending out shards in all directions. Looking up she thought she saw the shape of a figure moving away from the edge, but it was most likely her fears playing on her nerves.
"Do you feel it too?" he asked, his eyes still looking intently on the ridge above them.
"Feel what?" she questioned , her own eyes scanning for any further sign of movement.
"Like something is following us, watching us" he explained.
"I think it's just this place, it plays tricks with my mind, like I'm specifically searching all the dark places, trying to find something," she told him.
He paused, pondering what she had said.
"Still glad you came?" he asked out of nowhere, with a smirk on his face.
She laughed and gave him a small shove on his shoulder.
She didn't give him an answer, there was none to give. She didn't even know the answer herself.
Aragorn untied Bills bridle after he had unburdened the pony of the equipment he was carrying.
"Are you sure we shouldn't keep him until Gandalf managed to open it ?" Boromir asked him.
"He said he could do it, so we must have faith in him," Aragorn replied, stroking the horses mane.
"Why cant Bill come? he has come this far," Sam said miserably whilst feeding Bill some oats from his hand.
"The mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill," Aragorn told him, trying to comfort Sam as much as he could.
Bill made his way back along the shallows as fast as he could. He stopped looking back to see if the others were following.
"Buh Bye Bill!" Sam called to him, before turning away, his eyes glistening more than usual.
The pony trotted away with some urgency, happy to get away from this unmoving place.
"Don't worry Sam he knows the way home," Aragorn said.
A splash in the water made her sit up straight, looking away from the exchange. Legolas did the same beside her, searching across the way for the source.
It came again just as loud as the first , echoing on the rock and shattering the silence.
Casting ripples across the surface of the water that once remained still. Merry threw another stone. It landed a few feet out in front of him with a loud plopping sound.
She almost scolded herself for assuming the worst.
Pippin following in his friends influence, was about to throw a stone of his own when Aragorn caught his sleeve.
"Do not disturb the water," he told him in a calm manner, not quite telling off but with enough warning that the Hobbit could not mistake the hint.
"Oh its useless," she heard Gandalf call out from his place at the door, Frodo seated beside him.
Her gaze kept averting back to the water though, the ripples on the surface remained, distorting the once peaceful reflection of the moon in a grotesque manner.
Sliding down from the rock she made her way to stand beside Aragorn and Boromir. They too were transfixed, both of them with their hands on the pommels of their blades. She followed suit, hoping that she would not need to draw Hadhafang from its sheath.
The water shivered, it was obvious this time, not the ever increasing circles. It had movement of its own. Something had been disturbed.
"We should get back towards the wall" Boromir suggested, as he backed away.
"I agree" Legolas said as he motioned for Merry, Pippin and Sam to follow him.
Backing away with Aragorn at her side all she heard from behind her was Gandalf saying the words. "Mellon." and then the sounds of rock grating against rock as the doorway opened , revealing the dark passageway inside.
Relief flooded her, the doors could not have opened a moment sooner. They all came together , crowding round the entrance each trying to get a look inside.
Aragorn was behind her now, but he was looking at the water, his eyes scanning.
Gandalf picked a crystal from his bag, a piece of quartz , roughly hewn and placed it firmly into the top of his staff. Then he started the procession inside.
"Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves, roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin," Gimli prattled on to Legolas as they entered a moonlit chamber.
It had an odd smell about it and pieces of lose rock cracked beneath her feet. The Hobbits huddled together in the darkness, clutching at each others cloaks. The air lay warm and close.
Gandalf's staff at the front began to emit a low light, from the crystal. Not enough to see far, but enough that the shapes in the room around them began to take form.
Her breath caught in her throat. Broken furniture, great stone columns littered the floor. But it was the bodies strewn about so carelessly that had shocked her.
Gimli continued his talk, but she could hear him over her own thoughts. The dead bodies of Dwarves lined the floor and the walls, bones and weapons dropped beside them.
"This is no mine, it's a tomb," Boromir stated, breaking her from her trance.
Turning back towards the rest of the fellowship, Gandalf's light brightened up the area in which the rest of them now stood, making it easier to see the fallen.
She raised her hand to her mouth, the smell becoming overwhelming once she associated it with decomposing flesh.
Gimli let out a strangled cry, almost primal. The Hobbits begun to back up till they got behind Aragorn who was working his way through to take a look.
"Nooo!" Gimli shouted into the gloom, his echoes replied to him, carrying his anguish deeper into the mountain.
Crouching down amongst some broken pillars, Legolas pulled an arrow from one of the corpses. He drew it closer to his face to examine it, twisting it this way and that, the head glinting.
Casting it away he rose back to his feet in one swift motion.
"Goblins," he called to the rest of them.
Her fear rose again, drawing with it Hadhafang. He hand gripped it tightly around the hilt and she knew that her knuckles would be white under her gloves.
She heard Aragorn and Boromir do the same and quicker than a flash Legolas notched an arrow into his bow.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan, we should never have come here," Boromir called. Backing up whilst keeping his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.
The Hobbits scampered past her, best place for them.
"Get out of here, Get out," Boromir called to them , making sure they were to safety before the other proceeded to follow them.
She, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf remained but a moment. They all cast each other the same look. Defeat. They had been defeated at every juncture.
That was when she heard the water splash outside and her stomach instinctively dropped.
"Strider," Sam screamed in fear at the top of his lungs . Followed by a roar that would haunt her for life.