Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
14/12/2012
Wow! I posted this developing story just under a week ago and already it has had over 1,300 hits by 300+ visitors. Thanks to all of you!
Lupin 2020: LOL about what you said about Iron Man in Moria. I think Stark's attitude would annoy poor old Gandalf more than any mischief Merry & Pippin could get up to.
Basia Orci and Lizzie: Thank you for your kind words.
Chapter 7 – Secrets, Surprises and Shocks
The Fellowship woke at sunrise before beginning their journey to Moria. Despite Gimli's confidence, Gandalf was keen for the Fellowship to arrive at Moria before day's end. Although the Fellowship was now bolstered in number, The Wizard did not want to run the risk of another skirmish like yesterday. The Fellowship's whole enterprise could be doomed if even one orc reported the group's location to their masters.
In the spirit of yesterday's conversations, the three new members of the Fellowship talked about themselves with the original ones as they continued on their journey. Legolas was taken aback when Thor revealed he was nearly half his age of 2,931 years. Even at its height, the Race of Numenor did not have lifespans anywhere near what Asgardians seem to possess. Legolas was the first of the original Fellowship who began to speculate that Thor and his people may not be 'Men' as such.
Rogers walked with the Hobbits. As the four explained why they walked in bare feet, Rogers picked up snippets of Banner and Aragorn's conversation. The pair was just in front of him. He was surprised that their discussion revolved around horses of all things. It was no exaggeration calling Banner a polymath. Though until now, Rogers didn't know that expertise also included the equine.
"Sorry, Bruce," Rogers interrupted. "How do you know so much about horses?"
"When I was on the run," Banner recalled. "Aside from being their doctor, people sometimes also asked me to be their vet."
"You pardon, Bruce, but what do you mean by 'Vet'?" Aragorn asked. If he'd heard someone say 'vet' before today, Aragorn would have assumed it was an abbreviation of 'veteran'.
Banner's answer further educated the original Fellowship about Earth and its people.
"It means 'Veterinarian'," he explained. "Its someone that treats and heals sick animals."
"That sounds like a fine line of work, Mister Bruce," Sam commented.
Pippin added, "If I could be a vet, I'd even consider doing a hard day's work!"
After sharing a short laugh at Pippin's remark, Banner continued his explanation to Rogers.
"In some countries, horses are still the only form of transportation." Banner said before modestly claiming, "I wouldn't bet on me if I was racing in the Kentucky Derby. But I can still ride one to at least get from A to B."
"I'd like to know of this 'Kentucky Derby' you speak of, Bruce," Aragorn prefaced. "But I'm more curious why two lands in your world would name themselves with just the first two letters of the alphabet?"
The Fellowship reached their destination just before sunset. Gimli pointed to the sheer cliff face in front of them and gasped, "The Walls of Moria!"
Rogers saw a structure protruding out of the cliff face that reminded him of the ruined Roman aqueducts he saw during his service in Italy. Gandalf and Gimli led the rest of the Fellowship south along a narrow loose path that separated Moria's 'Walls' with a large, freestanding body of dark water to their right. The path was so narrow in parts that Frodo's feet once slipped into the water as a result of a slight stumble.
"Gandalf, I've full confidence you know where you're going," Rogers stated. "But I can't see a way for us to pass through this cliff."
"Well you see, good, Captain," Gimli answered. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He tapped the cliff wall with his axe to demonstrate his pride in his people's craftsmanship.
"Yes, Gimli," agreed Gandalf. "Even their own masters cannot find them when they are forgotten."
'Why does this not surprise me," Legolas dryly commented drawing a grumble from Gimli.
It was early evening by the time Gandalf bought the Fellowship to a halt. They had stopped at a smooth section of wall that was flanked by two bare trees. Gandalf began to slowly brush at this part of wall with his hand while murmuring to himself. Banner heard part of what he was saying.
"…mirrors only starlight and moonlight," the Wizard observed.
As if on cue, the Moon revealed itself from behind the evening clouds. The vast majority of the Fellowship was awed by what its light revealed. On the wall facing them was the white, shining outline of an archway. The archway was about Thor's height and wide enough for two men to pass through at the same time. The archway's design included two columns and a crown and strange markings that ran along its curved peak.
Banner thought it was safe to assume that Middle-earth had no electricity. Now he wasn't so sure. From his encyclopaedic knowledge of the periodic table, no element possessed the property to start glowing just by moonlight. He was about to ask about it, but Thor beat him with a question of his own.
"These runes are the first writings of Middle-earth my friends and I've seen," Thor commented pointing to the archway. "What do they tell?"
"The writings, Odinson, are a form of Elvish," Gandalf instructed in reply. He followed the Elvish writing with his staff as he translated them for the rest of the Fellowship. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, Speak Friend and Enter'."
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.
"Oh it's quite simple," Gandalf told him. "If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open."
The Wizard spoke two separate passwords in a language that neither of the Avengers had heard before. Given what he said about the door's writing they'd assumed Gandalf was speaking in Elvish also. Whatever language he was speaking, the Doors of Durin remained firmly closed.
Pippin stated the obvious. "Nothing's happening."
Thor was surprised that Gandalf had not asked the Fellowship member who, to his mind, was most likely to know the door's password.
"Gimli," Thor turned and asked him. "Do you know the password used by your kin here?"
"Err, no," Gimli replied sounding somewhat embarrassed. "Even at Khazad-dum's height, the password wasn't exactly common knowledge among Durin's Folk."
Legolas added, "Prince Thor, it's unfair for us immortals to assume others have memories similar to our own."
Outwardly, Gimli gave Legolas a glare in response to his none too subtle jibe. However, inwardly, he knew the smirk Legolas gave him in response showed no malice was meant in the remark. Perhaps he and Legolas could compete for their honour of their respective races through something other than insults? Oblivious to all this by play, Gandalf leaned his shoulder against the doors as if they needed a push in addition to a password to open.
"I was once knew every spell in the tongues of men, elves and orcs," he said mostly to himself.
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked with slight condescension.
"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf replied in exasperation. "If that does not shatter them, and I'm allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words."
The God of Thunder moved to save Gandalf the bother.
"I cannot speak to the strength of Master Pippin's skull," Thor commented with a twinkle in his eye before becoming more serious. "But perhaps we can shatter them Mjolnir. After a few strikes I am sure-."
"Thor, just don't." Rogers firmly rejected the idea before wryly explaining, "I'm pretty sure Middle-earth's like everywhere else. It's not exactly polite for guests to break down their host's front door."
Despite his current frustration, Gandalf found himself joining the rest of the Fellowship in quietly laughing at Roger's remark.
As none of the Avengers had a wristwatch, they couldn't tell exactly what time had progressed since the Doors of Durin revealed themselves. They had joined other members of the Fellowship in sitting on the path that was also the 'shore' for the dark pool of water they faced. Gandalf continued to try to find the Door's password murmuring a combination of phrases in Elvish trying to find it.
Aragorn was focused on distributing what supplies Bill carried among the luggage carried on the Fellowship's person. Much to Sam's sadness, Bill would not be accompanying the Fellowship on its journey into Moria. Aragorn recalled his first and only previous visit to the place. Moria hadn't been designed for the Fellowship's beloved pack pony to traverse. With its increased size, at least the Fellowship could carry Bill's burden more easily.
Sitting next to each other, Rogers and Thor absently watched Aragorn going about his task while discussing means of contacting Earth and Asgard. When they first arrived in Middle-earth, the Avengers' main concerns about communications were in finding a way back home. But since they had promised to assist the Fellowship in their quest, things had gotten a lot more complicated. If the vortex opened up again, would the Avengers be wrong to go through it even though the vortex might never open again? If it could be kept open, should they ask their fellow Avengers to come and help? Despite the objections Fury would certainly raise, Rogers had no doubt that Barton, Romanoff and even Stark would volunteer given the sort of people they were.
As Rogers saw Aragorn bend towards a pack in front of him, he noticed the Ranger was wore a chain around his neck. It was a silver chain on which hanged a triangular pendant that was largely white in colour. It was an exquisite design of sparkling crystals arranged like a flower or star that was set in finely engraved silver. Unlike the Ring, it did not seem to project any sort of 'presence' let alone an evil one. But its beauty made the pendant possess a magic of its own.
"That's a nice pendant," Rogers complimented Aragorn pointing to it.
There was a slight sense of embarrassment in Aragorn's explanation. "It was a gift from someone before our company set out from Rivendell."
Thor added his own compliment. "It's a gift worthy of a king."
Thor and Rogers noticed Aragorn visibly flinched at the word 'king'. They were both puzzled as to why Aragorn would react that way. After an awkward pause, Aragorn moved their discussions along a different tangent.
"Well, I've divided Bill's load among us as best I could," Aragorn advised satisfied with his efforts. Before walking over to Sam and Bill, he said to Thor and Rogers, "Stay here. I shall go and help Sam release Bill."
A puzzled silence reigned over the two Avengers after Aragorn left them.
"Do not think your remarks have offended him," a voice said from behind.
Thor and Rogers looked in surprise to see that Legolas was standing behind them. Only the most stealthy of individuals could've escaped their attention like that.
"The jewel Aragorn wears is a gift from his betrothed," Legolas informed them. "Aside from being a token of her love, it also symbolic of her pledge to forsake the immortal life of her people to bind herself to him. It is a great sorrow to many of my people that one of our fairest ever maidens will not be journeying to the Undying Lands."
"Look, Legolas," Rogers started. "I don't understand much of what you've just said. "As far as I'm concerned, Aragorn's relationship with his fiancé is none of my business."
Rogers was quite the introvert even after becoming Captain America. One of the things that appalled him the most in the America he now resided was the ever-exploding volume and consumption of media coverage of celebrities' private lives. Worse, some celebrities and a lot of 'normal' people seemed to have no shame in using all types of new media to show all sorts of (to his mind) questionable behaviour just to gain attention.
"Having said that," Rogers continued. "What does his engagement have to do with what Thor said?"
Both Rogers and Thor followed Legolas' gaze to Aragorn who was helping Sam remove Bill's tack.
"Aragorn's father was killed by orcs when he was but a small child," Legolas began explaining the connection. "His mother wanted him to be raised in safety, so she took him to the Elven refuge of Rivendell. Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell was a friend of Aragorn's father and he raised Aragorn as if he was his own son.
"When he entered manhood, Aragorn first met Elrond's daughter, Arwen Evenstar. Despite being of different races, they fell in love and pledged themselves to each other. It was not the first time this had happened between a Man and an Elf Maiden. But their relationship is doomed to follow all previous ones.
"More and more of my people are leaving Middle-earth for the Undying Lands to continue their immortal lives unbound by weariness. Elves are the only race of the Free Peoples allowed passage there. Arwen would never be able to take Aragorn with her should she choose to depart with her kin. But by staying with him in Middle-earth, she will become mortal and be unable to rejoin her people even if Aragorn dies before her."
"It is a sad tale you speak of, Prince of Mirkwood," Thor said genuinely moved. "But like Steve, I'm still unsure how it is related to my earlier remark."
"Elrond has told Aragorn that he shall never accept his daughter giving up her immortality and will never give her in marriage to him," Legolas answered. "Not unless he proves himself worthy by claiming his inheritance." Seeing that Rogers and Thor were now looking at him, Legolas firmly returned their gazes. "Aragorn is descended from the line of Isildur. He is the current and sole heir to the throne of Gondor."
At Legolas' revelation, both Rogers and Thor snapped their heads in Aragorn's direction. To Rogers, a lot of what he had seen about Aragorn that puzzled him now made sense! For one, the way Aragorn looked ashamed last night during the telling of Gandalf's tale.
Even though it happened 3,000 years ago, he thinks Isildur's failure brands him as well. Rogers privately concluded.
Then there was way Rogers saw Boromir look Aragorn on the march yesterday. If their ancestors had been in charge for the last 1,000 years, Boromir's family wouldn't human if they considered themselves 'caretaker' rulers of Gondor. Especially after what Boromir told him what they'd bled and sacrificed in Gondor's defence over the time.
Although Rogers cared little for political intrigue, he knew enough about human behaviour to now make sense of Aragorn's reaction to the word 'king'. It appeared that he seemed uneasy with and reluctant to claim his birthright. Even if Aragorn wasn't reluctant, it was doubtful that Boromir's father would be happy to hand over rule to Aragorn with no questions asked.
As he watched Aragorn gently push Bill in the direction of safer lands, Rogers contemplated that the Ring was not the only potential cause of conflict within the Fellowship.
Ignorant to the important revelations received by his fellow Avengers, Banner sat with Frodo on a rock. Both of them watched Gandalf's rising frustration as he failed in every of his attempts to open the Doors of Durin. Frodo and Banner quietly spoke to each other about their theories on what the Door's password might be.
Despite not being able to read Elvish, Banner assumed the same principles that applied to code breaking in his world had to apply here as well. For governments and corporations on Earth, 'passwords' were normally sophisticated encryption codes that were created by even more complex series of algorithms. But the inscription that Gandalf had translated did not appear to be a numerical sequence. This would rule out using a mathematical solution to finding the password. Banner agreed with Gandalf's judgment that the way to open these doors was through a word or phrase. For a moment he remembered the story of the Forty Thieves and their Magic Cave.
After the Door's resisted another of his attempts to open them, Gandalf gave a sigh and dropped his hat and staff to the ground as a sign of surrender.
"Oh it's useless," he grumbled as he sat next to Frodo and Banner. "The only way I can think of to get the password is to overhear someone else speak it."
Wait, Banner thought. What if we don't have to be like Ali Baba?
Obviously by having a password, the Doors were built to keep out enemies. But the inscription also implied that Moria's inhabitants also assumed they could have guests arrive unannounced after the Doors were built. The Dwarves who lived here would have to have left a means to reveal the password, but only a means that their allies would think of.
"Could the password be implied in the inscription itself?" Banner speculated to both Gandalf and Frodo.
Banner saw a flash of inspiration in Frodo's eyes as he stood up.
"It's a riddle," Frodo quietly said in understanding. "'Speak friend…and enter'. What's the Elvish word for 'friend'?"
"Mellon," Gandalf replied in the direction of the doors.
At this word, the Doors of Durin released a heavy grinding sound as they opened and pushed outwards towards.
While Frodo, Gandalf and Banner had been solving the mystery of the password, Merry and Pippin had decided to break their monotony by throwing stones into the pool. Pippin held his arm back to throw a stone as long as he could but was stopped when Aragorn firmly gripped his wrist.
"Do not disturb the water," Aragorn quietly advised.
As soon as he'd spoken these words, Aragorn noticed ripples on the surface of the pool indicating movement just beneath it. The ripples had caught the attentions of Pippin, Merry, Boromir, Rogers, Legolas and Thor as well. The ripples appeared to be moving closer to where they stood.
The seven of them were momentarily distracted when they heard the Doors of Durin opening. They quickly grabbed their bags and gear while continuing to warily glance at the ripples.
As they passed the doors, the Fellowship's footsteps echoed as they entered what appeared to a cavern. Its darkness was dimly pierced by the moonlight streaming through the open doors behind them. Because of the darkness, the Avengers' attention was grabbed not by what they saw but what they smelt. A musty stench appeared to pervade the cavern. Banner came to an immediate halt at the stench – he knew what decaying bones smelled like.
"You've got any light at all?" he asked, hoping he was wrong about the stench's source.
"Not to worry, Bruce," Gandalf calmly assured him as he moved to attach a small crystal to the top of his staff. "We will have light very shortly".
Gimli seemed oblivious to the smell or the concern etched in Banner's voice.
"Soon my friends," the Dwarf enthused, "you shall enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires! Malt Beer! Red meat off the bone!"
Gandalf gently blew on the crystal that he had attached to his staff. In response the crystal illuminated and spread a limited but steady light for the Fellowship to see by.
"This is the home of my cousin Balin and they call it a mine," Gimli guffawed at the description other races called Balin's home. "A mine!"
Thor was about to comment that had enjoyed similar hospitality with the Dwarves of Nidavellir in their underground halls. What the light from Gandalf's staff had revealed stilled the Asgardian.
The Fellowship had entered a passage-shaped threshold that had been carved out of the cave rock. About 30 feet in front of them in between two pillars was a flight of wide steps leading up. However, the threshold was full of humanoid skeletons wearing metal armour covered by cobwebs. Random bones and skulls as well as broken and disused weapons were scattered over the floor. Rogers had no doubt these remains were the result of a struggle that had taken place a while ago.
"This is no mine," Boromir whispered fearfully. "It's a tomb!"
The Hobbits, standing just inside, startled when they saw a skeleton lying close to their feet.
"No!" Gimli gasped in shock, disbelief at why he hadn't heard from his cousin in thirty years.
Gimli ran to examine the armoured skeleton of one his kin. Disbelief turned to rage after recognising the patterns on its helm were those of a family friend.
"NO!" he howled.
Having his guess about the stench being proven right, Banner looked closer at one of the skulls in front of him. From the skeleton that Gimli had reacted to, Banner assumed that dwarf skulls were similar to human ones. But the skull to his front reminded him of the infamous 'Starchild' one. There also appeared to be more skulls like it than Dwarven ones. Legolas examined the hooked point of an arrow that had been lodged in the ribs of a Dwarf skeleton. His response answered the question Banner was asking himself about what creature possessed such a deformed skull.
"Goblins," Legolas hissed in recognition.
Seeing that Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir had drawn their weapons, Rogers concluded that Middle-earth goblins were not the mischievous pranksters they were often portrayed as in Earth cultures.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir firmly concluded to the rest of the Fellowship. "We should have never have come here."
None of the Avengers knew what the 'Gap of Rohan' was. But anywhere had to be better than these dark caves filled with the sight and stench of death. Not to mention the strong possibility they were still occupied by hostile creatures.
Boromir showed he agreed with these thoughts as he said in a raised voice, "Now get out of here! Get out!"
The shocking sight before them caused the Fellowship to forget about the ripples on the water's surface just moments ago. They were right to have been worried about them. A large (some would say evil) predator resided under the water for many years. No one remembered its true name. But those who remembered it simply called it the 'Watcher in the Water'. The Watcher attacked and fed on any creature it sensed travelling on the narrow path that ran along its home. The Fellowship was to about to be the latest victims of one of its attacks.
After Boromir had shouted his suggestion, the Hobbits began to back up towards the open doorway. They quickly sensed something cold and wet tapping their ankles from behind. What they felt was some the Watcher's tentacles probing for its prey. The Watcher wrapped one of its tentacles around Frodo's right ankle and quickly dragged him towards the water.
The rest of the Fellowship was alerted to the Watcher's presence when they heard Sam shout, "Strider!"
Merry and Pippin were back outside as they tried pulling the Watcher's tentacle off Frodo's ankle. Sam had greater success, using his short sword to inflict a couple of crude cuts on the tentacle that forced the Watcher to release its grip. Merry and Pippin dragged Frodo to his feet but their victory was short lived as the Watcher surged its greater mass through the water surface. It flicked half a dozen of its thirty-foot tentacles in the hobbits' direction bowling them over. With a roar it resumed its grip on Frodo and latched on to Sam as well. The Watcher hoisted the hobbits over the water high above its ravenous mouth full of sharp teeth. Sam flailed around with his short sword. Given the size of the Watcher's mouth, he and Frodo would be swallowed whole if they were not immediately rescued.
Legolas was the first of the non-hobbits out of the cave. He immediately shot an arrow into the tentacle holding Frodo. The Watcher twitched at the arrow's impact but still kept a firm grip on Frodo. Thor charged into the water followed by Aragorn and Boromir. Banner came out as well and pulled both Merry and Pippin by the hand back into Moria. The skeletons in the threshold were disturbing. But at least they didn't threaten to eat the Fellowship alive.
Aragorn and Boromir hacked down the Watcher's tentacles like tree trunks with their swords to get to Frodo. Thor could not use Mjlonir to slice through the Watcher's tentacles to get to Sam. But the pain he could inflict on the tentacles was arguably more deadly. Holding Mjolnir with two hands Thor swung it with powerful blows into any tentacle that proved to be an obstacle. The tentacles that were struck by Mjolnir's blows were paralysed by the pain it caused them. Thor slammed Mjolnir into the tentacle holding Sam. The Watcher dropped Sam in an instant.
"To dry land to which we are better suited, Master Samwise," Thor said as he caught him.
"What about Frodo?" Sam gasped in return.
Aragorn and Boromir were facing much heavier resistance from the Watcher than Thor did as they attempted to get to Frodo. For every of its tentacles they cut down another took its place. To confuse them further, the Watcher passed Frodo around its tentacles that made it hard to keep track of him. They were also aware that the Watcher instead might turn those same tentacles on them also.
It was fortunate for the Fellowship that Captain America had joined its ranks. Rogers stood by Legolas and threw his shield towards the Watcher. If the manner that Aragorn and Boromir attacked the Watcher's tentacles was like axes chopping tree trunks, Roger's attack with his shield was like a chainsaw. In its return flight to him, Rogers shield quickly sliced through a number of tentacles including the one that held Frodo. The Watcher recoiled at the quick loss of so many of its body parts letting out a savage growl.
Boromir caught Frodo as he fell. Holding Frodo, he and Aragorn begun to wade through the water as quickly as they could towards the rest of the Fellowship.
"Legolas!" Boromir called to cover their retreat.
The Mirkwood Prince answered with an arrow that precisely pierced one of the Watcher's eyes.
Thor and Rogers thought about launching a counterattack against the Watcher. Gandalf, who saw in the anger in Watcher's 'face', stopped them.
"Into the mines!" he commanded the Fellowship outside of Moria.
The Watcher surged towards them lifting itself out of the water.
"Run!" Aragorn emphasised as they bolted as best they could through the narrow doorway.
Unable to catch any of the Fellowship, Watcher wrathfully smashed the Doors of Durin with its remaining tentacles. The Fellowship had to run deeper into the threshold as the force of the attack caused a section of its roof to crumble. The section fell as a rockslide of boulders that quickly blocked the doorway as well as any light that could pass through it. The Fellowship only stopped running when the crumbling stilled. In the now pitch black Threshold of Moria, the only sounds they could hear were the exertions of their heavy breathing.
With a solid tap of his staff on the ground Gandalf reignited the light on top of it piercing the darkness that had engulfed the Fellowship. Now he had light to see with, Thor walked towards the pile of boulders.
"It may take some hours," he said as he surveyed the damage. "But I think I can clear a way with Mjolnir."
"No thank you, Mister Thor!" Sam quickly blurted out quickly. "It's very kind of you to offer. But I'd rather leave well enough alone if you follow me."
Sam was no coward. But nor did he think it would be a bright move if the Fellowship voluntarily began removing any barrier between them and the beast that nearly ate him and Frodo.
"Yes," Gandalf agreed in a deeply authoritative voice. "We now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria."
The rest of the Fellowship began to follow Gandalf as he moved forward.
"Be on your guard," warned the Grey Wizard. "There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world".
Still reeling from the Watcher, Rogers dryly observed, "We've noticed."
Banner thought this was a pretty uncharacteristic remark by Rogers who he was walking beside.
"Keep that attitude, Cap," Banner mischievously whispered. "And I'll soon start calling you 'Tony Stark' by mistake."
Personally, I think Cap would probably prefer facing the Watcher than taking on any of Stark's personality traits.
Banner 199999's familiarity with horses is speculation on my part. If nothing else, it's a nod to the Incredible Hulk episode 'Rainbow's End'.