Thirty - Caradhras & Moria

“Good, very good,” Boromir complimented Merry as he practised sword fighting with them and I said next to Gandalf. 

Gandalf decided we had some time to rest before we moved again. He could tell the ring’s power was growing more and more. The effect it had on Frodo was noticeable but he hid it well.

“If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note that they're not, I'd say that we were taking the long way round,” Gimli said as he walked around the rocks. 

“We could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome,” He suggested and I tensed. Balin was always good to me… but if what Gandalf said was true, then Moria is the last place we should go.

“No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice,” Gandalf replied. 

Legolas ran in front of us and stood on one of the bigger rocks and stared at a grey cloud in the distance. 

All the while, Pippin, Merry, Boromir and Aragorn got to laughing loudly but I didn’t turn to see what they were doing, my eyes were fixated on the grey cloud in the distance.

“What is that?” Sam asked. “Nothing, it's just a wisp of cloud,” Gimli answered.

“It's moving fast… against the wind,” Boromir commented. “Crebain from Dunland!” Le shouted. 

 “Hide!” We scattered for our belongings and hid. I put out the fire and covered the traces of it from my spot under the bushes and watched as they flew past us. 

“Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched,” Gandalf said.

“The Pass of Caradhras is our only alternative,” I said and we looked up at the mountains. 

Brilliant.

~~~

I walked ahead with Le, us being the only two who could persevere through the snow without any hardships.

“Frodo!” Aragorn shouted and I turned, looking back down at them. Aragorn had helped up the Hobbit, who dusted himself off and realised the Ring was no longer there. 

Boromir picked up the Ring on its chain and I walked further down. 

“Boromir,” Aragorn said calmly. “It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing,” He whispered, entranced by its power.

“Boromir,” I said softly and he turned around to look at me. “Give the Ring back to Frodo,” I said and he looked confused, like he didn’t understand. 

“Boromir,” I repeated, this time warningly. He walked down to him, extending the Ring out to the Hobbit, who took it back quickly.

“As you wish,” He said, looking back at me and nodding. “I care not,” He hesitated for a moment, then chuckled and ruffled Frodo’s hair and walked past me. 

I looked back at Aragorn, who had released the hilt of his sword and relaxed, but only a little.

That was just the beginning.

~~~

As we got further up into the mountains, the blizzards stirred worse than I’ve seen before. Elven warmth is something I feel lucky to have. 

Aragorn carried Sam and Frodo while Boromir carried Merry and Pippin. The cold was too much for them and the snow was even worse.

Legolas walked ahead and I followed just behind him. He stood at the edge of the cliff as a strange voice spoke in a different tongue.

 “There is a fell voice on the air,” Le warned. “It's Saruman!” Gandalf shouted. At that, pieces of the mountain began to crack and large boulders fell. “Legolas!” I shouted and pulled him back against the side of the mountain.

“Can you not calm it?” He asked. “Not without Cleos,” I answered as Gandalf stepped up, shouting counter spells.

A streak of lightning coursed across the sky and met with the top of the mountain, sending an Avalanche of snow on top of us. I raised my hands, using the winds to protect us, sending it over the hillside. 

After the last of it passed, I stumbled backwards, Legolas catching before I fell. “Are you alright?” He asked in concern. “I’m fine,” I answered, trying to stand on my own, but falling again. 

“She’s exhausted her energy!” Legolas yelled over the wind, holding me up.

 “We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!” Boromir shouted. 

“The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!” Aragorn responded.

“If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria,” Gimli suggested.

 “Gandalf,” I said and he walked over to us. “One is just as bad as the other. There are no other choices and we can’t stay here,” I said weakly.

“Let the Ringbearer decide,” Gandalf announced.

“We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits!” Boromir told him. “Frodo?” Gandalf asked, walking toward him. 

“We will go through the Mines,”

~~~

“I’m fine, Greenie,” I told Legolas, trying to make him let off of his back. “You can barely stand on your own, Ver. You’re not fine,” He fired back. 

“That was hours ago. Once our path gets more narrow I’ll have to walk,” I said. He stopped, slowly letting me down. I stood straight on my feet and let go of his shoulders. “See? I’m perfectly fine,” I smiled and he shook his head. 

“The walls of Moria,” Gimli marvelled as we stood by the sheer flat cliff. 

“Dwarf doors are invisible when closed,” Gimli said as he tapped the walls with his axe. “Yes, Gimli! Their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten,” Gandalf said. 

“Why doesn't that surprise me,” Le muttered and I hit his shoulder. “Be nice, Greenie,” I said warningly. 

 Frodo stumbled in front of me and slipped his foot into the lake and I grabbed his shoulder before the rest of him went in. “Careful. You never know what secrets water hides,” I warned and he nodded.

Gandalf stopped and ran his hand over a smooth part of the wall. “Ithildin,” He whispered. He dusted most of the brush away and revealed the patterns in the stone. “It mirrors only starlight and moonlight,” At that, the patterns on the door shone brightly, revealing the intricate door with Elvish writing on the arch. 

“The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter,” I read the writing aloud. “What do you suppose that means?” Merry asked.

 “Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open,” Gandalf answered, then turned to the door. “Gate of the Elves, open now for me!” He announced in Elvish.

Gandalf cleared his throat and held up both of his hands. “Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue,” He tried again, but nothing happened. 

“Nothing's happening,” Pippin pointed out and Legolas glanced down at Gimli, who looked embarrassed. 

“I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men and Orcs,” Gandalf muttered, pushing on the door. “What're you going to do then?” Pippin asked. 

“Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them, I'm allowed a little peace from foolish questions. I will try to find the opening words,” Gandalf answered, frustrated

I sat by the lake next to Legolas as Gandalf said a thousand more words, trying to open the doors.

“How are you feeling?” Le asked in Elvish and I chuckled. “Do not worry yourself with my wellbeing, Legolas. I am fine,” I answered.

“If I didn’t worry about you, who would?” He asked and sat down. “Heaven knows you don’t,” He said and I smiled. 

Merry began throwing rocks into the lake and Pippin joined him. Aragorn grabbed Pippin’s hand and I looked out into the water, putting my hand in it to see what he could’ve disturbed. 

 “What do you see?” Le asked. “Nothing. It’s too dark,” I sighed in frustration. The water began to move and I looked again. Ripples in the water. Still nothing.

Behind us, the enchanted door opened and I stood with Legolas, walking into the Mine. “Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabelled hospitality of the Dwarves. Roaring fires! Malt Beer! Red Meat off the bone!” Gimli boasted. 

Gandalf lit the crystal in his staff and I shook my hand, igniting it in flames and raising it. 

 “This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin and they call it a Mine! A Mine!” Gimli announced.

 The added light reveals corpses and skeletons. “This is no a mine. It's a tomb,” Boromir said. 

I grabbed one of my swords and transferred the flames to it as Gimli wailed in grief. Legolas pulls out an arrow from one of the corpses to inspect it.

“Goblins,” He threw the arrow down and got one of his for his bow while Aragorn and Bormir drew their swords.

“We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here,” Boromir said. “Now, get out of here. Get out!” He shouted. 

“Frodo!” They shouted and I turned to see he was missing. I ran past them out of the doorway to see an octopus tentacle holding him by his leg. I cut the tentacle and it slithered back in, only for more to burst out and knock us away, grabbing Frodo.

Legolas fired arrows up at the tentacles while Boromir and Aragorn were cutting off tentacles in the water. 

I, on the other hand, decided to be a complete fool.

“Verena!” Legolas shouted at me as I jumped on the swinging tentacles, quickly moving. The head of the octopus surfaces, pulling Frodo closer to its mouth. 

I slashed the tentacle Frodo is held in and it flung Frodo back to shore. 

Didn’t think of an escape plan. 

I continued to move quickly on the tentacles, practically dancing. “Get back in the Mines!” I shouted. Once I was close enough, I jumped onto solid ground while Legolas continued to fire arrows at the beast. 

I created a whirlpool that sucked the octopus in. “Ver!” Le shouted, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the Mines with him. 

I lost concentration and the octopus pulled itself onto the land, breaking to exit and plunging us into the darkness.