Hope ↠ LOTR

VII. Water

The air around them had become gloomy and grey when they had first set eyes on Moria, now they walked along the towering cliff face to reach the entrance to the Mines with the sparse fog surrounding them.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gimli stated while he hit his axe lightly against the rock.

"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten," Gandalf responded from ahead of them all.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas remarked to himself, but everybody heard him.

While they were walking Frodo's foot accidentally slipped into the water and he stumbled backwards from the shock of the coldness and bumped into Athena, who rested both of her hands on his shoulders.

"You're okay, let's keep going," she reassured him when seeing the panicked look on his face.

He nodded a little and relaxed at her presence, but she could not shake the feeling of dread that overcame her as she stared out at the dark and still lake before them, and she was not the only one that felt as if there was something lurking in the water. With her arm loosely around the Ring-bearer she guided the both of them along the path, removing her arm when they reached Gandalf who was standing in front of the stone and muttering to himself.

The Grey Wizard looked behind him and at the moon that was coming out of the clouds, the light of the moon revealing the hidden doorway they were searching for. A silvery glow emanated from the stone and formed lines along the rock that resembled an archway with tree-like shapes weaving around the pillars that would have held it up if they were not just a piece of art. The top of the archway was inlaid with Elvish letters seeing as it was both the Dwarves and the Elves who had made the door when alliances stood strong between them.

"It reads 'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter'," he informed all of them.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked curiously.

"Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." He placed the end of his staff on the star that sat in the middle of it. "Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen! [Gate of the Elves open now for me!]" Nothing happened, so he tried again. "Fenna Nogothrim lasto beth lammen! [Doorway of the Dwarf-folk listen to the word of my tongue!]"

"Nothing's happening," Pippin said when again nothing happened, looking up at Legolas.

"Great deduction skills you've got there," Athena responded, not taking her eyes off the closed doorway.

"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of the Elves, Men, and Orcs," mumbled Gandalf while he attempted to push open the door—which also didn't work.

"What are you going to do then?"

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions I will try to find the opening words," he yelled in frustration, clearing his throat and turning back to the door when he noticed the glare that Athena was throwing his way.

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Gandalf was still trying to find his way inside Moria, having no luck with the door at all. While he continued to ramble to himself everyone had spread out to do their own thing while they waited for him to open the door. Athena stood with her arms crossed together looking out at the lake, watching for any sort of movement but the lake never moved, not a ripple in sight. She heard footsteps approach her side and she looked down to see Merry stood beside her.

"I just wanted to say that I don't think you're foul," he told her, looking up at her.

At his words she smiled a little and nodded, "I'm glad to see that you've changed your mind."