The Princes Shadow

Chapter 11

Emerin POV~

We had reached the door to Moria, after hours of walking. Gandalf was feeling around the stone, to see exactly where the door was,

"It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Gandalf said. As the clouds seemed to move away, the moons light shined upon the stone, revealing the doors intricate patterns,

"It reads, 'Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, speak friend, and enter," Gandalf read what was unscripted on the door.

Great, a riddleI,

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked,

"It's quite simple, if you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf explained. He said something in old elvish, but the doors didn't open. He tried again, this time, saying something else. Nothing,

"Nothings happening." Pippin looked up at me. 

Gandalf put his hand on the door, trying to push the door open,"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs."

"What are you going to do then?" Pippin chirped,

"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." Gandalf was obviously annoyed with Pippin. I looked down at him and felt bad.

While Gandalf kept rehearsing different spells and incantations to try and open the door, we all sat down and waited,

"How long do you think until he'll get it?" Pippin sat down beside me,

"I don't know." I admitted,

"Where are you from?" He asked,

"Mirkwood Forest." I replied shortly,

"Whats it like there. I'd never left the Shire before all of this happened, so I haven't seen much." He rambled,

"It's nice. Some parts of the woods are dark, with evil things like huge spiders, and orcs, but the palace is well protected." I remembered all the times I had gone deep into the woods, exploring,

"You live in the palace? Are you royalty?" He looked up at me curiously,

"I live in the palace, but no, I'm not royalty," I chuckled,

"Does he live in the palace too?" He nodded to Legolas, who sat quietly a few feet away, probably listening in,

"Yes." I looked back at Pippin,

"Is he royalty?" 

"Yes, he is the prince." 

Pippin looked at him in shock, "Should I be calling him Prince Legolas, then?"

"Ask him," I nodded my head, motioning for him to ask Legolas,

"Um... Legolas," He called out, catching Legolas' attention,

"Yes?" He looked towards us,

"Should I be addressing you as prince, or something like that?" Pippin asked,

"Not unless you want to." Legolas smiled.

Pippin walked away, sitting next to Merry, and they began to throw rocks into the river,

"Do not disturb the water." Aragorn stopped them, 

"Oh it is useless," Gandalf huffed, still unable to open the door,

"It's a riddle." Frodo stood up, "Speak friend and enter... What's the Elvish word for friend?"

"Mellon," I called out.

The doors opened to reveal a large, cavernous space in front of us. The Mines of Moria. 

Gimli was staring around in awe, glad to no longer sit there waiting,

"Soon master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone!" Gimli seemed to be in his own world.

As he continued to speak, I looked over at Gandalf who was lighting his staff so that we could see. I turned my gaze to Legolas who didn't seem to be paying attention to anything that the dwarf was saying. When he saw me looking at him, he smiled at me.

"This is no mine..." I looked to where Boromir was taking in the scene around us, and decided to do the same. I was shocked to see skeletons surrounding us,

"It's a tomb!" Everyone turned to Boromir in a panic. Gimli took in the sight and cried out,

"No... no!" I could barely see his pained expression in the dark, but I could hear the devastation in his voice.

Legolas tore an arrow out of one of the skeletons skulls, "Goblins!" He looked at me, and drew out his bow, as did I,

"We make for the gap of Rohan. We should never have come here." Boromir had drawn his sword out. 

"Now, get out of here. Get out!" Aragorn cried.

We all ran back outside, the hobbits being the first ones out of the mine. Before I could get out, a tentacle wrapped around Frodo's foot, and pulled him into the water,

"Frodo!" Merry caught everyones attention,

"Help!" Frodo cried out. Aragorn unsheathed his sword and started forward, towards the beast. The hobbits pulled Frodo out, only for the beast to grab him again, and pull him back towards the water. Legolas shot an arrow at one of the beasts tentacles. Aragorn went into the murky water, slicing through the tentacles with his sword, trying to save Frodo. The creatures head peered out of the water, sending slight chills down my spine. It opened its mouth, ready to swallow Frodo whole, and then Boromir cut through the tentacle holding Frodo, and the creature recoiled in pain,

"Into the mines!" Gandalf called out to us. 

"Legolas!" Boromir said, causing me to turn and look at Legolas. Legolas drew his bow, and shot an arrow into the beasts head. He then grabbed my forearm and pulled me into the caves. Huge boulders began to fall down from above us. We scrambled out of the way, barely escaping. All of a sudden, everything was quiet besides the sound of our breath. It was pitch black. I could feel Legolas' hold on my arm, not loosening, as if I was going to suddenly disappear.

"We now have but one choice," Gandalf lit up his staff, "We must face the long dark of Moria... Be on your guard. There are older, fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world."

We all started walking in a straight line, following Gandalf, "Quietly now. It's a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed." 

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I know I haven't updated in a while. Sorry. Don't forget to VOTE, comment, and follow.

Thanks,

-Jackie