Chapter 10: The Long Dark of Moria
The Company of the Rings watched as Gandalf looked upon the Walls of Moria and muttering something in elvish. Gimli was telling Oin…and who ever would listen…about the tales of Moria from the Lonely Mountain.
‘Mirrors only startlight and moonlight.’ Morril heard Gandalf say. The Moon came out of her blanket of clouds and revealed the door to them.
Morril read what the elvish above the door said.
‘Speak friend and enter.’ Gandalf announced to all.
‘What you suppose that means?’ Merry the hobbit asked. Kal laughed and ruffled the hobbits hair.
‘Quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password. Than will the doors open.’ Gandalf smiled. Gandalf tried something in elvish, but the doors did not open.
Hours passed and the doors were still shut. Kal and Legolas were watching over Merry, Pipin and Sam. Frodo was with Morril by Gandalf. Oin and Gimli, who now seemed like brothers, were talking of Moria. Boromir picked up a rock and threw it in the water that lay near the door.
‘Do not disterbe the water.’ Tintil said looking afraid of the water. Boromir rolled his eyes. He still held a grud at the females in the fellowship.
‘What would a mere woman know of this?’ Boromir asked.
‘I would know more than you, young one.’ Tintil glared. Boromir growled and walked away.
‘There is something evil coming.’ Kal whispered to no one. Legolas looked over worried at Kal. Merry, Pipin and Sam looked sad and hugged Kal.
The water rippled and rippled every few minutes. Aragorn and Kal were constantly watching the water, telling the hobbits to say away from it.
‘I’ve thought of it!’ Gandalf announced. ‘The inscribtion says…speak friend and enter. All I’ve had to do was say friend!’ Gandalf said laughing slightly.
‘Very amusing.’ Boromir grunted.
‘Mellon.’ Gandalf said, the Doors of Moria, creaked and opened. Morril was the first in. She walked lightly over the stone and looked around.
‘darkness……’ the voice whispered in Morril’s head.
‘Soon, Master Elf, you will see the fabled hospitality of the dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone!’ Gimli grunted happily.
‘It feels like home almost.’ Oin whispered.
‘Master Oin, I thought that you enjoyed the open and trees.’ Legolas asked.
‘I do. But Moria…MORIA!’ Oin yelled.
‘Oin!’ Tintil warned. Gandalf whispered something and a piercing white light came from his staff.
‘It’s a tomb.’ Boromir said as he looked around. Legolas saw bent down and picked up an arrow from a deceased dwarf.
‘Goblins!’ Legolas announced. Kal and Morril drew their bows and called for the hobbits to come towards them. Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir stood in front of the group listening and watching for something. Morril stood year the stairs leading further into the mines, smiling and twirling around. There was a scream from behind them. Everyone looked around saw Frodo being dragged by a slimy tentacle.
‘Frodo!’ Morril screamed and followed everyone out of the mine to save Frodo. Bill the Pony, who was standing near the doors of the mines, neighed and ran. Sam screamed for Bill to come back, but he had to choose, Bill or Mr. Frodo. Sam, Merry and Pipin started after the tenticle but Gandalf held them back.
‘Let the others do it!’ Gandalf warned. The hobbits backed down but if one came near any of the others, they were ready to fight. Morril was the last one out of the mine, she watched as Aragorn, Boromir, Kal and Tintil ran into the water slicing the tentacles. Gimli and Oin stood in front of her with their axes poised and ready for a tenticle to come towards Morril.
‘Into the mines….you’ll be safe there. I have a friend there that will help you! Go! Go! GO!……what? The hobbit is what you are staying for? He is useless! He is only weak, he will cower to my power when he gets closer to our domain! I need you here with me…to help me…to make me stronger.’
Morril stood there watching. Now Legolas was shooting at squid looking creature. Aragorn cut the tenticle that held Frodo, Boromir caught him as he fell.
‘INTO THE MINES!’ Gandalf yelled. ‘Morril, hurry, before The Watcher goes after you.’ Gandalf lead Morril into the mines. Tintil and Kal waited for Aragorn and Boromir to get out of the water and into the Mines before they started towards the mines, slicing the tentacles that came there way. Legolas fired an arrows into the Watcher’s eyes, hoping that they could make it into the mines with out him attacking them. It worked. Kal and Tintil ran and grabbed the baggage that the hobbits had separated from the rest. Legolas, Kal and Tintil just made it into the mine before The Watcher attacked them again. The Watcher grabbed the trees that the elves of Hollin had planted and tore them from the doors. The stone around the trees started to crumble and fall once the trees were gone. Soon the doors of Moria were blocked forever.
Gandalf used his staff to make light again. The Fellowship came and made a circle around Gandalf.
‘Everyone here?’ Gandalf asked looking around. Morril was holding Frodo who was shaken up from his encounter with the Watcher. Merry, Pipin and Sam were standing near Morril and Frodo trying to comfort Frodo. Gimli and Oin were checking to see if Boromir and Aragorn were alright and unscratched. Boromir and Aragorn nodded at the dwarves questions. Legolas, Kal and Tintil were separating the Fellowships packs. Legolas nodded to Gandalf as if to say that they were alright.
‘We are trapped.’ Boromir stated. ‘We should have taken the rode to the Gap of Rohan.’ Boromir said.
‘WE would have worse things than the Watcher of Moria attacking us if we went so close to Orthanic!’ Kal said.
‘We will have to face the Long Dark of Moria. There is on way out but through the Mines.’ Gandalf said as he interjected between the Man of Gondor and the Elf from Silme.
‘Stay close, and follow the person in front of you. There are more dangerous things than orcs in Moria. Morril, Frodo, stay close to me. Legolas, Aragorn stay close to the back. Make sure Kal and Tintil are alright.’ Gandalf said looking at the she-elves.
‘We can take care of the hobbits.’ Tintil said hearing what Gandalf said.
‘That seems all you can do.’ Boromir said.
‘Boromir, you will be looking after the hobbits. Tintil, Kal…just help keep watch.’ Gandalf said smiling at the she-elves.
Gandalf started walking and Boromir stopped him far enough away from the she-elves.
‘They are baggage! They are just something that the rest of us have to look after. They should have never come!’ Boromir said in hushed tones.
‘Their time will come. Just like Merry and Pipin. For they are ‘just baggage’ as you say.’ Gandalf said looking directly into Boromir’s eyes. Gandalf than walked away from Boromir, leading the way with Frodo and Morril close behind him.
