Chapter 9 - Submersion
She could not remember beginning to run. But she burst from the entrance as fast as she could, the cold air hitting her hard. Legolas was in front, his reactions just slightly faster than her own. He had already loosed two arrows which raced ahead of them, beating them in the chase.
As she skidded to a stop on the loose gravel of the bank, the scene before her almost seemed unreal. A gigantic beast had emerged from the pool, its tentacles were flying in all directions, spilling the water from the pool across the surface of the plateau. It thrashed wildly, back and forth screaming a most deafening sound. The Hobbits were at the waters edge, holding on to Frodo anyway that they could. The beasts tentacle had wound around his foot tightly and secure, trying to drag him beneath the murky depths. She hesitated not knowing what to do? Where to strike? Where to begin?
Legolas continued shoot, every arrow hitting its mark. Suddenly the creature retreated, sliding back beneath the surface, releasing Frodo so that he was able to scamper back up the shore. The other three Hobbits following suit.
But it resurfaced. This time it was able to force more of its monstrous body out of the water. The tentacles came for Frodo once again, driven like moths to a flame.
She managed to find her footing and powered ahead, brandishing her sword. Her one goal, to get to the four of them and bring them back to safety.
Having been further back in the cave than she and Legolas had been, Aragorn and Boromir both emerged seeing the horror for the first time.
Both hesitated as she had, their mouths dropping open in awe, their hands tightening on the hilts of their blades, before following behind her towards the danger.
The tentacles were too fast for her, although she ran at top speed. They moved in unison, one tentacle heading straight for Frodo, whilst the others flanked it. She was just about to grab the Hobbit when the flanking limbs spun back, knocking her and the other three Hobbits to the ground.
The main tentacle proceeded then to harness Frodo again, whipping him effortlessly up into the air. He dangled upside down, his cloak falling across his head, the tentacle then receded back over the creatures head. The large mouth opening to expose rows upon rows of jagged teeth as it let out another shrill shriek. Amplified in the confined space.
Pain shot up her right leg as she clattered to the cold stone floor, but she managed to turn and get back to her feet ignoring it. Adrenaline taking over.
"Strider!" Frodo cried from above them, whilst being flung about like a child might swing a rag doll.
Aragorn and Boromir had charged into the water by now, attacking tentacles where they could. Frodo remained up high flailing wildly to try to break free.
Running back towards them, she called to the other three remaining Hobbits "Get back to the wall!". She saw them move off in that direction without needing further prompting.
Lunging back into the fray she managed to cut a tentacle as it appeared from under the surface of the water, but the skin was tough and barely left a scratch. Aragorn screamed with effort as he put all his weight behind a hefty swing, managing to chop through the width of the tentacle. The creature let out another shriek, this time in pain as its severed limb splashed back down into the water.
Boromir followed his lead, cutting through another, as it curled around him trying to constrict. Another shriek. She managed to get a few good cuts in, sending the snake-like appendages reeling back. Finally she was able to put all her strength behind a blow that sliced straight through.
As the fallen limb dropped it covered her with a splash, she wiped her arm across her face and surveyed the situation again.
No matter how many were cut, there still seemed to be two more to replace it. They had to find the base of the tentacle that held Frodo and fast. The mouth of the beast opened fully now , its countless eyes glistening in the moonlight as it began to lower the screaming Hobbit towards its maw.
'This is it. If the creature releases Frodo now all will be lost', she thought as she batted away another limb as it snaked its way towards Aragorn.
She could see the base of the tentacle that held him, but covering it was a gauntlet of half a dozen others. Still they pushed forward, herself, Boromir and Aragorn, hacking away as best they could, Legolas covering them with a steady flow of arrows. She could see one had caught the creature in one of its larger eyes as it now leaked a heavy thick blood into the water around them.
The strain of wading through the water and swinging her sword about her was taking its toll and she was not sure if it was water spray or a sheen of sweat that covered her brow. She could not see the other two but she could feel their presence at her back as they continued to hack their way towards it.
She screamed with effort as she managed to sever another one, the limb continuing to twitch as it made its descent. From out of nowhere another emerged rapidly from the surface and struck her across her temple. Stunned for a moment she staggered backwards colliding with Aragorn behind her. He turned quickly grabbing her around her waist to steady her. Her vision swam and she blinked a few times to try and get it to focus. Boromir pushed forward and cleared the area next to the base . Although dazed she managed to follow Aragorn his hand now taking a firm grip on her arm as he pulled her through.
An arrow whistled past her, embedding itself deep into the flesh of the tentacle, it shuddered leaning forward, bring Frodo away from the mouth.
"Help Me!" He cried to them, the terror clear on his stricken face. With the tentacle leaning forward, Aragorn seized the opportunity to take the swing.
His sword glinted in the moonlight as it sliced through the toughened flesh. It looked as though it took no effort at all, the blade sliding through like a knife on warm butter. But she knew he was putting all that he had behind it. He had this one shot, the muscles of his biceps strained under the fabric of his tunic.
The blade reappeared from the other side having gone straight through. The blood began to well out of the open wound and down the remaining stump. The tentacle from above the line of the cut fell, releasing Frodo , but letting him drop along with it. He screamed anew, this time in fear of crashing beneath the surface, but better she thought than him crashing down into waiting jaws.
Luckily Boromir positioned himself beneath the Hobbits fall, his feet braced apart, his hands outstretched. He caught him just in time, stopping him from hitting the water. Without halting he flung Frodo against his shoulder how one might hold a child and began to run back towards the entrance to the mines.
Aragorn pushed her before him, she dared not turn as she knew the creature would surely be after them.
"Into the mines!" She heard Gandalf shout before her. He stood in the doorway, the light emanating from his staff a beacon in the dark. Gimli and the other Hobbits were already inside . Legolas continued to fire. she could feel the beast right behind them, the remaining tentacles about to grab them. Her heart thudded in her chest, her breath ragged.
"Legolas!" Boromir cried out, hoping that the elf may be able to buy them some time.
Legolas took aim, looking graceful as ever amongst the chaos. The arrow left the bow as fast as lightning piercing the sky. Due to the screech that the beast gave out she assumed that the arrow had connected with something vital.
"Keeping running!" Aragorn shouted just behind her. Legolas jumped down from the plinth her was stood on and passed Gandalf in the doorway.
They were close now, the dangerous mines now their only option of a safe refuge.
Gandalf too went inside, disappearing behind the dark shroud.
The creature was persistent , it was right behind them again, she could feel its breath on them.
They almost flung themselves inside the entrance way, crashing into the other members of the fellowship as the beast crashed into the rock face behind them. It was still trying to pursue them, though the doorway was clearly too small. Wrapping its tentacles around the open door it tried to squeeze its bulging mass through the small gap.
But the doors were weak, or if they were strong there were still no measure next to the amount of pressure the squid like beast exerted upon them. The rocks began to crumble, the lintel falling through to cover the exposed entrance. Each time a new piece fell she felt safer from the beast, but the room around them became darker. The tumbling rocks came closer and the fellowship moved further back into the black, dust covering them and making it hard to breathe. Still the beast came, its roars of frustration still shaking her ribcage. From above she heard a colossal crack and all of them shielded themselves as a huge boulder, almost as big as the beast came crashing down before them, raining bits of debris and large chunks of rock all around which scraped at her arms and her face. She turned away, her back now taking the brunt of the strikes. She felt arms encircle her in the dark and straight away she knew who it was, she leaned forward against his chest, his heart beating almost as fast as hers. A steady beat though, away from the carnage of noise around her. His breath tickled her face but she did not move away. One of his hands came up to smooth down her back, starting just below the crown of her head, down her spine to rest at the small of her back. Her eyes closed, relishing the contact as she put both arms around him too. Entwined in the black.
The falling rocks came less now, and the beasts muffled roars were hardly audible from outside. None of the fellowship had said a word. She could hear their gasps and heavy breathing and pictured each of them in her mind. The Hobbits bracing themselves on their knees. Gimli propped over by the wall his axe in hand. Gandalf leaning on his staff. Boromir still clutching Frodo lest he be taken again. Legolas looking...perfect as usual, the thought made her smile.
"We now have but one choice," Gandalf spoke , his voice amplified in the dark making her jump slightly. His staff brightened and through the dust and gloom she saw the fellowship exactly how she pictured them, however Legolas seemed to be a little bit too dirty to be considered perfect.
"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," He warned them, reawakening the fear she felt back at Caradhras regarding the rumour of the menace awoken by Dwarven greed.
Boromir placed Frodo back on he floor and the Hobbit quickly regrouped with the other three. Sam eyed him over, and turned him round to ascertain if he was injured. His concern was touching, like a mother fussing over her child. She left Aragorns arms although reluctantly and brushed herself down, the dust and fragments of rubble falling away. Her legs were soaked through from being in the water.
'So much for just getting my boots wet,' she mused to herself wryly. As she stood up straight from adjusting her left boot, Aragorn was back right in front of her. He outstretched his hand and gently held the right side of her face, turning it to her left, the touch of his bare fingertips on her flesh sent shiver up from the contact to her hairline.
"The wound will need to be cleaned," he said in a matter of fact manner.
It took her a moment for her to realise what his meaning was and she looked at him quizzically.
He pulled the stopper out of his water-skin and doused a piece of cloth from his pack. raising her own hand to her face she felt up from her jaw line, her face was warm and wet and took it away to see red. She was injured and hadn't even felt it. She continued working her way up to her temple then to her brow, as soon as she touched it she let out a hiss. The stinging pain struck her suddenly and made her drop her hand away from it and back to her side immediately. Aragorn came back towards her with the wet cloth. He dabbed around the wound, getting rid of the fragments. It stung but she tried not to grimace, not wanting to seem weak. It was embarrassing enough that she seemed to be the only one with a substantial injury in the first place. He was firmer with the cleaning on the rest of her face, getting rid of the blood that had started to dry on her right side cheek.
"It must have happened when the tentacle struck me," she said as much to herself as to him, when she recalled the strike she had in the water.
He nodded, still examining any places he had missed. He was so close, his lips parted as he concentrated. His blue eyes intense. If only he would kiss her. After the commotion it was just what she wanted most. To feel safe again in his embrace. But she knew that would not happen, not with the other members so close by. Storing the cloth back in his pack he moved away. The disappointment must have shown on her face for he raised his eyebrows slightly and asked. " Are you alright?".
"I am fine," she said , wiping some of the excess water away from her cheek.
Pippin started coughing violently as a small patch of ceiling rained down yet more powdered rock upon him. He waved it away, how one might try to swat a fly.
"Quietly now," Gandlaf said to him as he passed to start the procession once more.
"It's a four day journey to the other side, let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed," he instructed, stepping over a fallen Dwarf.
She hoped he was right, and that they would travel stealthily amongst the mine. But they had not been lucky so far, would their luck change now?
They carefully picked their way through the fallen debris and skeletal remains trying not to disturb the still and silence, as well as the dead.