We turn around and retreat down the mountain. This time Lostariel stays with me, just to comfort me because of the height and to make sure I'm safe. Lostariel and I lead the rest and within an hour we're back at the base of the mountain and winding around it. Gimli is talking on and on about how his cousin Balin would prepare feasts and tours of great halls and underground tunnels. Sam had convinced us to keep the pony Bill with us and he followed behind, leading the small animal.
,,Frodo, come and help an old man." Gandalf ushers Frodo closer and they whisper quietly. I cannot hear what they're saying. I turn around briefly to look at the rest of the Fellowship behind us. Pippin smiles when I look at him. I smile back, then turn forward. Lostariel caught my eye and my heart quickens. I stumble because I'm not looking where I'm stepping and Lostariel holds out her arm for me to grab onto. I grip her arm and quickly steadied myself, blushing, looking forward this time. Lostariel keeps her hand lightly on my upper arm for a moment.
,,Look out, I don't want you to fall." She tells me.
,,Hey, I got distracted by the most gorgeous person in front of me." I tell her and give her a wink. Chloe blushes before continuing to walk. Oh, I love that elf so much! We come to a sharp bend. There the road, which has been veering southwards between the brink of the channel and a steep fall of the land to the left, turns back and goes due east again. Rounding the corner we see before us a low cliff, some five fathoms high, with a broken and jagged top. Over it a trickling water dripping, through a wide cleft that seems to have been carved out by a fall that had once been strong and full.
,,Indeed things have changed!" Gandalf says. ,,But there is no mistaking the place. There is all that remains of the Stair Falls. If I remember right, there is a flight of steps cut in the rock at their side, but the main road wound away left and climbs with several loops up to the level ground at the top. There used to be a shallow valley beyond the falls right up to the walls of Moria, and the Sirannon flows through it with the road beside it. Let us go and see what things are like now." We find the stone steps without difficulty and Gimli springs swiftly up them, followed by Gandalf and Frodo. When we reach the top we see that we can go no further that way and the reason for the drying up of the Gate-stream is revealed. Behind us the sinking sun fills the cool western sky with glimmering gold. Before us stretches a dark still lake. Beyond the ominous water are rearing vast cliffs. No sign of gate or entrance. ,,There are the walls of Moria." Gandalf says, pointing across the water. ,,And there the gate stood once upon a time. The Elven door at the end of the road from Hollin by which we have come. But this way is blocked. None of the company, I guess, will wish to swim this gloomy water at the end of the day. It has an unwholesome look."
,,We must find a way around the northern edge." Says Gimli. ,,The first thing for the company to do is to climb up by the main path and see where that will lead us. Even if there is no lake, we could not get our baggage-pony up this stair."
,,But in any case we cannot take the poor beast into the mines." Says Gandalf, referring to Bill. ,,The road under the mountains is a dark road and there are narrow and steep places which he cannot tread, even if we can." Sam gasps. ,,I am sorry. Poor Bill has been a useful companion but this road is too dangerous for him." We release Bill and watch him run off as we continue our way. With all our speed we can climb up the slopes and reach the side of the lake. There is a rim of open ground between the stony ridges that encloses the valley and the water's edge. We hurry forward, for we still have a mile or two to go before we can reach the point on the far shore that Gandalf is making for; and then he still needs to find the doors.
When we come to the northernmost corner of the lake we find a narrow creek that barred our way. It's green and stagnant, thrust out like a slimy arm towards the enclosing hills. Gimli strides forward undeterred and finds that the water is shallow, no more than ankle-deep at the edge. We continue our way with care, for under the weedy pools are sliding and greasy stones. Frodo shudders with disgust at the touch of the dark unclean water on his feet. Gandalf is standing between two trees, gazing at the blank wall of the cliff, as if he's trying to bore a hole into it with his eyes. Gimli is wandering around, tapping the stone here and there with his axe. Legolas is pressed against the rock, as if listening.
,,Well, here we are and all ready," I say, sitting down on a rock. ,,but where are the doors? I can't see any sign of them."
,,Dwarf doors are not made to be seen when shut," Gimli explains. ,,they are invisible and their own masters cannot find them or open them, if their secret is forgotten."
,,Why doesn't that surprise me?" I hear Legolas and Lostariel whisper. The moon shines upon the grey face of the rock, revealing fine lines, like slender veins of silver running in the stone. At first they are no more than pale gossamer-threads, but steadily the thin lines broaden into thick, large ones and take the shape of a door. Gimli stares in awe at the ancient emblem.
,,There are the emblems of Durin!" He cries.
,,And there is the tree of the High Elves!" Legolas says.
,,And the star of the house of Feanor." Says Gandalf. ,,They are wrought of ithildin that mirrors only starlight and moonlight, and sleeps until it is touched by one who speaks words now long forgotten in Middle-Earth. It has been a long time since I heard them and I thought deeply before I could recall them."
,,What does the writings say?" Frodo asks.
,,The words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-Earth in the elder days." Gandalf answers. ,,But they do not say anything of importance to us. They only say: 'The doors of Durin, lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter' and underneath small and faint is written: 'I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs'."
,,What does it mean by "Speak, friend, and enter?" Merry asks.
,,That is plain enough," Gimli says. ,,if you are a friend, speak the password, the doors will open and you can enter."
,,Yes. These doors are probably governed by words. Some dwarf-gates will open only at special times, or for particular persons. These doors have no keys."
,,True, but what the word is, is not remembered. Narvi and his craft and all his kindred have vanished from the earth."
,,But do you know the word, Gandalf?" Boromir asks in surprise.
,,No." We look in dismay.
,,Then what was the use of bringing us to this accursed spot? You told us that you had once passed through the mines. How could that be, if you did not know how to enter?"
,,I do not know the word yet. I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves and Men or Orcs that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember some of them without searching in my mind. But only a few trails, I think, will be needed. I shall not have to call on Gimli for words of the secret Dwarf-tongue that they teach to none." He steps up to the rock again and lightly touches, with his staff, the silver star in the middle beneath the sign of the anvil. ,,Annon adhellen, adro hi ammen! Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" He says in a commanding voice. The silver lines are fading, but the blank grey stone does not stir. Many times he repeats those words in different order, then he tries other spells but nothing happens. Gandalf turns slightly annoyed and takes a seat on a log. We sit around the doors, not knowing how to get in. It's dark now. I see Merry and Pippin throwing rocks into the water, out of boredom. I quickly make my way over to them and grab Merry's arm.
,,Do not disturb the water." I say.
,,Oh, it's useless!" Gandalf takes off his hat and sits next to Frodo. A ripple runs through the water and I focus on watching it, trying not to seem nervous. Frodo stands up and stares at the writing on the wall.
,,It's a riddle." He realizes. Gandalf looks up. ,,What's the Elvish word for friend?" He asks.
,,Mellon." Legolas, Gandalf and Lostariel say at the same time, as another ripple runs across the water's surface. The rock rumbles and a doorway opens. I stand up, watching the lake still. I followed into the mine last.
,,And they call it a mine. A mine!" Gimli is saying, probably finishing his story. Gandalf places a dull gem into the head of his staff and lights the cavern up with light with a few taps. He moves the light around, revealing dirty stairs, cracked walls and dust. I look closer. This hall has not been inhabited for a long time.
,,This is no mine, it's a tomb!" Boromir says, looking at the broken skeletons littering the floor. My foot nudge something and I look down at a skull staring back up at me. I shudder.
,,Oh, no! No!" Gimli cries, looking around as well. Legolas pulls out a barbed arrow from one of the corpses.
,,Goblins!" He tosses the arrow behind him, fitting one of his own arrows to his bow. Lostariel follows his example. Boromir and I draw our swords.
,,We make for the Gap of Rohan, we should never have come here!" Boromir yells. I turn around to see the four halflings backing to the doorway. ,,Now, get out of here! Get out!" He shouts again. I see a long, snakelike tentacle burst out of the water, grabbing Frodo and pulling him backwards.
,,Frodo!" The hobbits yell. Sam turns to me.
,,Strider!" He calls for me. I rush out, sword in hand, Boromir following. I stare at the large beast coming out of the water, my breath caught in my throat, and hack frantically at a long tentacle wriggling near me. I'm determined not to let Frodo fall to this beast and head into the water alongside Boromir and Legolas. The hobbits grab Frodo, trying to keep the monster from pulling him under water. The tentacle let go for a moment, slink into the water, then burst out along with the rest of the tentacles, revealing a large head, snapping its beak-like mouth. Frodo is grabbed again and sent dangling into the air high above the battle, screaming. Lostariel runs out and shoots an arrow into a three pronged tentacle trying to cover Frodo's face. I swing my sword furiously at the tentacles, successfully chopping one off. The monster issues a sharp screech from the break, flinging wildly.
,,Help!" Frodo yells, staring at the huge maw. I hack through the tentacle holding Frodo and the halfling falls into Boromir's arms. The monster screams again, flailing about and I retreat out of the water. One tentacle hits my ankle sharply, sending me falling into the water. Lostariel runs to me and grabs my arm, helping me up and making sure everyone gets out of the water safely. I take a step towards the cave, but am stopped by a stinging pain in my calf. I look down. My leg has a gash in it. I must have fallen on a sharp rock when the kraken pushed me over.
,,Into the mines!" Gandalf yells. We head to the doors, I'm trying not to limp and grimacing at the pain. Boromir runs for the door with Frodo in his arms. Another hand-like appendage snakes towards us.
,,Legolas!" Boromir dodges the arm. Legolas takes aim and fires at the monster's eye. The arrow pierces the gigantic eyeball and the monster retracts for a moment with a piercing screech. We run into the gate and the tentacle shoots forward and slams it shut behind us, sending tumbling rocks down to block the entrance. Total darkness fills the room.
,,Well," Gandalf says. ,,the passage is blocked behind us now and there is only one way out - on the other side of the mountains. 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." Boromir mutters under his breath, but the echoing stone magnifies the sound to a hoarse whisper that all can hear.
,,In the deep places of the world. And thither we are going against my wish. Who will lead us now in this deadly dark?"
,,I will," Gandalf says. ,,and Gimli shall walk with me. Follow my staff!" He finishes. I take another step, trying to hide my limp but unfortunately Chloe sees my struggle.
,,Neuma is hurt." She says, moving towards me.
,,It's fine." I say, closing my eyes at another wave of pain. Sam walks over as well. Chloe puts her hand on my shoulder.
,,Sit down for a moment." She directs.
,,It's fine. It's just a cut. I've had worse and I don't want to slow you down." I argue.
,,It will only take a moment." Chloe helps me to a rock and makes me sit down. Sam pulls out some Athelas from his bag.
,,Will this help at all, Lostariel?" He asks. Chloe smiles and takes the Athelas. I gasp at the pain in my leg again as Chloe wipe the blood with a wet cloth.
,,Yes, thank you, Sam." She says and then takes some of the Athelas. She applies it to my wound. Then, she lays her hands against my wound and says some Elvish healing words. It doesn't take long for my wound to heal for most of it. Only a small cut is still seen, but I'll survive that.
,,Wow!" Sam yells out in surprise. ,,You have healing powers?" He asks Lostariel now.
,,Yes, but I can only do it if I have Athelas. Without it I can only bind it and hope it will heal itself." Chloe helps me stand now. The pain is not gone yet, but luckily I'm not limping anymore.
,,Thank you." I say, looking at Chloe. She looks at me with care in her eyes and smiles. We walk together as we continue on, stepping over bones and rusted weapons.
,,Quietly now, it's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence will go unnoticed." We walk up the battered and uneven stairs. The light of Gandalf's staff chases shadows away as we progress.