Here's chapter 12, thank you so much for the reviews they've been so helpful! Please continue with the feedback, it's been great! To the reviewer who warned me about "Mary Sue", I really hope this character doesn't become too generic, but that being said the fact that she's Arwen's sister and an elf, it only makes sense to me that she would be fair. She does struggle with some internal conflict and a sort of "post trauma" problem, hopefully I can add more depth to it! But thank you sincerely for the constructive criticism, it really does help a writer improve!
They went quietly now, up the stairs to the main entrance way. Gimli went in front with Gandalf, helping him find the way. Though the wizard's staff glowed brightly, it lit up very little of the deep caves. Even when their eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness they could see only see a small ways ahead if them. They continued to climb the steep steps for almost an hour, having lost count by the time they'd finished.
At the top they found a grand hall with giant pillars gracing each side. The air here was not so cold and they decided to stop for a meal. A small fire was lit by Gandalf and they grouped around it. Frodo had finally become calm after his encounter with the lake creature but still remained apart from the others. He found himself feeling more isolated, no doubt an effect of the Ring. His heart was burdened and he wished for nothing more than to be able to throw it away and have it vanish in the darkness under the mountain. But he knew he could not, and that only made him more miserable. Sam came over to offer him some food and he forced a smile for his friend. "Here Mr Frodo, this should get the shaking out of your bones," said Sam as he handed him a plate.
"Thank you Sam." He set the plate on his knees but only picked at the food. Gimli as well seemed to have lost his appetite, he feared what they would find in the tunnel and was grieving for the loss of his kin. After their brief reprieve they started again, all of them eager to get the journey over with and come out on the other side of the mountain. Now Frodo and Sam went behind their leaders, followed by the elves then Merry, Pippin, Boromir and lastly Aragorn. The Ranger was grim and silent, his eyes on the ground before him. Occasionally Frodo or Eredhel would unsheathe their blades, checking for the blue glow that would indicate orcs were nearby. This was an ancient spell worked into weapons forged by elvish smiths in the Elder days.
As they continued on, their track became more perilous. The rock floor was crumbling away in many places and often a crack would open up directly in front of them. Some were so large that the hobbits would have to be tossed across by the others in order to cross them. Little was said as they walked and it was easy to tell the elves were uneasy. The black seemed to stretch on forever and the air was stuffy. Legolas felt sick and remained close to Eredhel. Although she too was uncomfortable, he took reassurance from her presence beside him. They had been twisting and turning through the caves for hours when she looked back at their friend and spoke. "I am going to join Aragorn, there is something we must check on."
"Very well," he said though he was loathe to part with her in the dark mines. Legolas realized that they were most likely keep watch for signs of Gollum, as the creature had once inhabited the caves below them. Eredhel slowed her pace to fall into step with the Aragorn, noticing that they took turns throwing glances behind them. It was shortly after this that they came to a large, rectangular room which opened to two separate corridors. Here Gandalf paused, suddenly unsure of the route. He and Gimli started to discuss the different paths as the others found seats on the floor. They feared that Gandalf had finally lost the way. When Boromir and Merry voiced their concerns Aragorn turned towards them.
"Do not be afraid!" he said, "I have been with Gandalf on many a journey and he will not lead us astray. If there is any path to be found, he will find it. They tell stories of his great deeds in Rivendell and we are quite lucky to have him with us. He is surer of finding the way home in a blind night than the cats of Queen Berúthiel." And his words soon proved true for it was only moments later that Gandalf remembered that it was the path to his right and led them down the wider of the two corridors.
They spoke less and less as they continued their trek towards the roots of the mountains. A cold, dark dread seemed to be pressing in around them and the hobbits gripped their swords nervously. The only sound to be heard now was that of their own feet. The dull stomp of Gimli's boots, the heavy tread of Boromir, the light steps of the elves and the soft patter of bare hobbit-feet. Lastly came the firm footfalls of Aragorn with his long stride.
It was half an hour later when Gandalf came upon his first real obstacle. They were on a circular landing with three passages ahead of them. A door to their left led to a small room and above them a single ray of light shone down, cutting through the darkness. The wizard stopped here and leaned heavily on his staff as his eyes looked for some familiar landmark. Sadly he found none. "Dear me, I have no recollection of this place," he said. After he had been murmuring to himself for over ten minutes the Fellowship lost interest and started to explore their surroundings. It was discovered that the chamber to the side had been used as a guardroom and a giant hole had opened up in the middle of the floor. They skirted cautiously around this as they returned to Gandalf and several of them took seats on the rocks. Eredhel went the edge of the landing and looked out into the surrounding black, searching for something she did not expect to find. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of two pricks of light shining from below her. It was not the first time she had seen them but now she was sure of what they were; Gollum. She moved to get a better view but they were gone, snuffed out like the flame of a candle.
So they were being followed, just as her father and the others had predicted. If the creature was searching for the Ring then that meant Frodo was in danger. Her eyes strained to catch a glimpse of him again and she repressed a shiver with a flicker of annoyance. She had been in far more gruesome places than these tunnels, she was not going to let heart quiver because she felt a bit stifled. Her ears picked up the faint sound of someone approaching her and from the lightness of their step she guessed it was Legolas. She turned her head towards him, noticing that he lacked his usual ease. She arched an eyebrow as he came to stand beside her.
"What troubles you?" she asked silently.
"Guess," he answered, his voice grim.
"Hopefully we will not be here for long, a day or two at most." He was surprised by her lack of discomfort.
"The darkness in here is different than that of my father's halls. I do not think I have yearned so much for starlight," he admitted, taking some comfort from their proximity. "But it's more than that, something foul is in the air."
"I know, only when I passed along the border of Mordor did I feel such evil omens. Have you heard the legends of what is said to lurk beneath these shadowy tunnels?" Eredhel felt his grip on her tighten.
"Rumors of what the dwarves so foolishly awakened have reached Mirkwood. Some believe that Durin's Bane dwells here while others say it is simply a myth," he answered.
"And what do you believe?"
"That no matter where we are we shall find enemies. We have gone from the being ones who seek out and fight evil to those who are hunted by it. We must tread carefully. Do you think we have chosen the right course of action?"
"I do not know, the future is veiled. Something had to be done, our enemy moves quickly," she said wearily.
"You sound like your father," said Legolas and she sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Do you mind if I ask what happened before you left Rivendell?" Eredhel wondered how much to tell him, unsure of how he would view the matter.
"He wanted me to sail for Valinor with our people, he has urged my brothers and Arwen to do the same." Legolas struggled to detect emotion in her voice but found none. He suspected there was more to it than she was letting on. He had noticed a tiredness to her as of late, though it was quick to vanish when she noticed his eyes on her. The last time she had visited Mirkwood both he and his father had noted the change and Legolas grimaced as he remembered his the King's words.
It had been the day after Eredhel and Aragorn departed from Mirkwood. He had been standing in the empty hallway, deep in thought. His friends had looked haggard and worn. Though this was normal for the man the elf had lacked her usual energy. She seemed burdened and distant. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had not heard his father come up behind him."You have a heavy heart," acknowledged King Thranduil.
"Something is amiss with Eredhel," explained Legolas and the older elf sighed.
"I know you are fond of her but you should not needlessly burden yourself."
"Why not? If I care for her then why should I not be concerned?" asked Legolas with a frown.
"She no longer holds strength," said the king, with a hint of contempt. "Eredhel may never regain all of her light. Her spirit will wane until there is nothing but darkness, such is the way of the our people. You would do well to focus your attention on those who will not trouble your mind."
At the time, Legolas hadn't thought much of it. He had assumed his father simply did not want him to worry and was over exaggerating Eredhel's state. But now he could sense it. She smiled less often and her laugh had become the rarest of sounds. He wanted nothing more than to protect her, to tear away whatever was causing her to despair.
"The past years have been dark, and the shadow ever lengthens. No father would want to see their children in peril," he said. deciding to accept her explanation. A moment later Gandalf called out to them and they rejoined their companions. It had been decided that they would take rest in the guardroom while Gandalf considered their route. They set out their bedrolls on the edges of the room, avoiding the large hole in the middle of the floor. Eredhel sat directly opposite the door, her eyes never leaving the entrance. Merry and Pippin were seated in the corner and she noticed Pippin slowly edging towards the center of the room. The others paid him little mind, Legolas and Boromir were murmuring quietly while Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf debated which path to take. Their discussions were interrupted however, when a loud crack broke through the cold air. Gandalf whipped around to find Pippin standing above the open hole, his hand now empty where a rock had been only moments before.
"Fool of a Took!" growled Gandalf, as the plunk continued to echo. "This is not a hobbit stroll-about! Throw yourself in next time and rid of us of your stupidity!" Pippin backed into the corner looking ashamed of himself. After a few minutes of silence the Company relaxed once more and resumed their quiet chatter. Boromir was in the middle of his discussion with Legolas when he noticed the elf go rigid, his eyes widening. They were joined a second later by Eredhel.
"Did you hear it?" she asked. Legolas nodded and immediately strode over to Gandalf.
"Hear what?" inquired Boromir.
"A soft tapping, like hammer on rock. Even my ears barely picked it up," she said. Gandalf called for quiet and they all stood straining their ears against the silence. Now Boromir could hear it, the knocking of metal on stone. He wondered where it was coming from and if it had been brought on by Pippin's stone. After a moment it stopped and when they were sure it would not resume again, Gandalf spoke.
"I do not know if that sound was caused by Pippin's disturbance or if it was utterly unrelated. Either way we must exercise caution and bar the door." He nodded to Eredhel and Boromir and they dragged a broken timber towards the entrance. Once they had secured it in place they returned to their bed rolls and the remainder of the night was spent in tense silence. They slept lightly while Gandalf and Eredhel sat side by side, watching the door. When they rose several hours later Gandalf had decided to take the right path seeing as it felt the least gruesome and by far smelled the best.
They walked for hours, only stopping occasionally for brief rests. When their feet could carry them no farther they came out into a giant hall, larger than any they had yet passed through. Here Gandalf risked a little more light, his brightened staff illuminating enormous pillars and spectacularly carved archways. A strong draft of cool air blew past their faces as they gazed in awe at the former glory of city of Dwarrowdelf. Gimli puffed out his chest in pride as he surveyed the hall of his people. "In the olden days, this city was full of light and splendor, it is remembered in many songs," he explained.
"But if the orcs have robbed all the jewels why did the dwarves return?" asked Merry.
"It was not in gold or gemstones that the true worth of Moria lies, it is in silver. Mithril the elves call it," replied Gimli.
"Yes it is ten times more valuable than gold. The elves love it dearly for it can be used to make many beautiful things yet it can also beaten like copper or polished like glass. Bilbo owned a corslet of Mithril, I never told him but it was worth more than all of the Shire," said Gandalf. Frodo peaked under his shirt in wonder, his eyes widening at the sight of the silver shirt Bilbo had bestowed upon him. He suddenly became very sad and missed the old hobbit dearly.
Once again they huddled together for a few hours rest, drawing their cloaks tightly around them. When they were forced to once again move on their bones ached and their muscles were stiff. It was welcome news when Gandalf informed them that if they pushed on they would likely be spending their next night under the open sky. The next few hours passed uneventfully as they trudged on through the dark halls. They were following a wide corridor when they came into a large square room. It was lighter in here due to a shaft of sunlight shining down from above them. Their feet disturbed a thick layer of dust on the floor and as their eyes adjusted they could make out an oblong stone table. It was topped with a slab of white rock and the light fell upon it. "A tomb," whispered Gimli. Gandalf rushed over and bent over to read the runes engraved into the stone.
"It says Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria," said Gandalf.
"No, it cannot be!" cried Gimli as he fell to his knees beside his fallen kin. Sobs shook his body as Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. Beside them Eredhel stood with her head bowed, memories cascading through her mind as her fingers traced the runes. Balin. He had been the wisest of the Company, and the most open to Gandalf's suggestion of her accompanying them, save for Bilbo. He was kind, often noticing when she sat on her own and sitting beside her. He would ask about her travels or tell her tales about his life in Erebor. He was interesting, and though Eredhel usually enjoyed solitude she found she liked his company. His death saddened her, he had died far from his home, away from those closest to him.
After the Fellowship stood in silence a few moments they began to search around the room for clues as to Balin's fate. They soon found broken weapons and the bones of many fallen soldiers. Among the debris were orc scimitars, their blades black and often stained with blood. Gandalf suddenly bent over and picked up a battered book that lay on the floor. Laying it on the slab, he carefully pried apart pages and began to read the narrow script, his brow furrowing as his eyes darted from side to side.
"It is a record book, of the dwarves' activity since arriving here," explained Gandalf. "It says they fought many orcs though a few of their own fell. It seems that Balin only held his seat for a few years before they were overcome by their enemies. They seemed to meet their end in this very chamber, the orcs closing in on them from both sides." Gimli's sobs had quieted now as he listened to Gandalf recount the doom of his kin. "They have taken the main hall, we are trapped, and we cannot get out." Gandalf's voice was now no more than a whisper as a grim silence settled over the companions. "Their end was a tragedy indeed but I know now our location and we must make all haste for the daylight." They had just started for the door when a deep boom shook the air. Eredhel's head snapped towards the door as did Gandalf's. Another beat followed and the Fellowship drew together.
"Aragorn!" exclaimed Eredhel, indicating to her unsheathed blade. Blue vines were tangled around the metal and it shone brightly.
"Orcs! Quick, bar both the entrances!" ordered the man. He and Legolas began piling weapons against the main door. Boromir and Eredhel started towards the other but Gandalf stopped them.
"No! We cannot risk getting shut in, we must learn from the mistakes the dwarves made. Keep that door ajar and we will escape through it if we can!" They could hear the pounding of feet through the caves now and the drums had quickened their beat. The hobbits backed against the far wall and Eredhel joined Legolas at the door, drawing her bow. Gimli pulled himself on top of the rock slab and raised his axe determinedly.
"They have a cave troll!" said Boromir as he peered out between the doors.
"Marvelous!" muttered Gandalf as he drew Glamdring.
"The elves can handle that moldy mountain dweller!" cried Gimli with a wicked grin. Eredhel and Legolas shot him identical dirty looks but then returned their attention to the entrance. Eredhel could already see the light of their enemies' torches and she nocked an arrow. Giving Legolasa small nod they released their shots at the same time, each of them hitting their mark. A massive orc fell through the opening, arrows embedded in his neck. Screams of rage came from the other side of the door and their enemies began to push against the make shift barricade. Within moments they had blasted through, piling into the room and towards the Fellowship. Eredhel took note of the hobbits behind her as she fought against her opponents. Soon the room was packed with the gruesome creatures and she was forced to fight with her long blade. She spun between enemies, ducking beneath their swords and hewing through them with powerful strokes.
The floor began to shake and the cave troll crashed into the room, sending chunks of rock flying through the air. One narrowly missed Aragorn as he fought next to Boromir, their enemies falling to their deadly swords. Gandalf stood off the side using both Glamdring and his staff while Gimli hacked the orcs from above on the tomb. The troll made for the hobbits and they started towards the stairs. Eredhel turned towards them and shot an arrow into its hand, drawing its attention onto her. It growled but soon lost interest and continued after Frodo. Legolas tried to get to Eredhel but a group of orcs surrounded him as he slashed with both his knives. He had already suffered a gash to his chest and blood was dripping from it. "Aragorn!" cried Eredhel and the man ran up the stairs to help the halflings. More enemies blocked his way but he managed to get through. Frodo was crouching beneath a pillar as the troll tried to sniff him out. He made a break for it but the beast saw him and picking up a discarded spear from the ground, rammed it straight into the Ringbearer's chest.
"Frodo!" yelled Sam and he ran to his side. Merry and Pippin began throwing rocks at the troll, each one of their missiles hitting its mark. They fought to avenge their friend, adrenalin and rage pumping through them. The troll retreated from them and backed into the center of the room, crushing several orcs in the process. Now Eredhel and Legolas had clear shots while Aragorn and Boromir hacked at his legs. The beast refused to fall and Gandalf, after slicing through one of the last remaining orcs, turned to watch him teeter. Even the elvish arrows could not deeply pierce his thick hide.
"Legolas its throat!" shouted Eredhel and the blond elf ran from the troll's hand to its shoulder, nocking an arrow. He lithely jumped onto the creature's neck and aimed downward. Just before he released his shot Eredhel loosed hers and the two arrows sunk into the troll's skin. It choked and stumbled forward a few steps before finally dropping to the floor. Legolas leapt off just in time and landed next to Eredhel, giving her a quick smile. Aragorn had rushed over to Frodo and was ripping back his shirt to examine the wound. But no blood poured from the hobbit's torso. The only mark was a slight bruise beneath the shirt of shining silver.
"Mithril!" exclaimed Gimli in wonder. "Master Baggins, you truly are full of surprises!"
"And not short on luck either," said Gandalf. The second wave was soon upon them and more orcs were beginning to push through the entrance while arrows started flying into the room. "Quick! We must make for the exit!" instructed Gandalf, leading them through the door they had left ajar. They sprinted through a dark hall then up several flights of stairs with their enemies close on behind them. They came to an enormous open hall, giant pillars rising to the ceiling hidden above them. The air here was warm but the hall was completely empty. The cries of their enemies could be heard from behind them but also from ahead. They seemed to be closing in and sure enough a few moments later they were surrounded. The Fellowship backed into a tight circle, pushing Frodo into the center. Legolas quickly glanced over at Eredhel and noticed a look of grim determination on her face. But it gave him little reassurance, they were outnumbered and outarmed in an endless passage. He inched closer to her, prepared to kill any enemy that tried to take her life.
Just when he was about to give up hope the orcs began to retreat, scuttling away as if now terrified of the small group. Legolas looked around in confusion until he saw the bright glow at the opposite end of the hall. He looked at Eredhel and saw she was looking over at Gandalf with fear in her eyes. This was the ancient evil the dwarves had awoken, a demon so powerful that there were few who could hope to compete with it. "Run! To the bridge of Khazad dûm!" yelled Gandalf.
They were running through a long passage when suddenly the floor gave way beneath them. A gaping hole opened, the rock crumbling into the cave below. Eredhel and Legolas jumped across first, not hesitating in their long strides. Next went Gandalf and they caught the wizard as his feet landed on the opposite side. Sam was thrown across then Pippin. Boromir took Merry under his arm and jumped, just making the solid ground. Aragorn made to throw Gimli but the dwarf's pride wouldn't allow it. He retreated a few steps back and took a running leap. His feet fell short and his beard was quickly caught by Legolas. He growled as the elf hauled him up and pushed him towards the others. The floor once again began to teeter and shake, Aragorn and Frodo only just making it across just in time. "Go, go!" urged Gandalf but he hauled Eredhel back from the others, his grip tight on her arm. The elf through a nervous glance over her shoulder, her eyes filled with confusion. "This foe is beyond the might of any sword or bow. I will confront it, stop it from crossing the bridge," he said. Eredhel did not interrupt him, as he had known she wouldn't. She was in battle mode, forcing herself to simply listen and act. He knew that she would get them out of the caves, would push them on if the others faltered. "If I am overcome you must urge them to run. Aragorn can lead them but he himself will need somewhere to draw his strength. You must reach Lorien." She nodded and they sprinted to catch up with the others.
The glow behind them was strengthening and the air began to grow hot. They came out into an open chamber and a cool gust rushed up to greet them. To their left they could see the bridge, a thin, curved, stone walkway that was the only way across the chasm. Soon they were crossing the path, going as quickly as they could without risking losing their footing. The orcs had reassembled and were now chasing after them. Boromir and the hobbits had reached the other side and Eredhel was daring to hope that Gandalf would not have to confront their enemy. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind when a roar sounded behind them and the monster came around the bend. Eredhel turned to face it and felt her blood go cold.