The Dark Within (Book One)

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"Frodo!" Gandalf calls. "Come help an old man." Frodo catches up to Gandalf and allows Gandalf to steady himself on Frodo. I keep close to them. "How is your arm?" Gandalf asks.

"Better than it was." Frodo says.

"And the ring?" Gandalf asks, Frodo turns to him. "You feel its power growing, don't you? I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from within."

"Who then do I trust?" Frodo asks.

"You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths." Gandalf replies.

"What do you mean?" Frodo asks.

"There are many powers in this world for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested." Gandalf answers. I know Frodo cannot truly trust any of us, we are weak people. We would be corrupted by the ring. No matter how much I tried to resist it, how much I wanted to help Frodo. As soon as I would lay my hand on that ring, it would consume me. I feel no pull to it yet. But if I would take it...

"The walls of Moria!" Gimli says in awe of the large stone wall before us. I'm snapped out of my thoughts. We continue walking. I keep Frodo close by, every bone inside of me just needing to protect him. He was too young and too innocent for where he was about to go, what he needed to do. We walk down a dark path in silence, a lake lay to our right.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli states as we walk next to the wall. He gently taps his axe against the wall.

"Yes, Gimli, even their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf says.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas asks. I stifle a laugh as Gimli grumbles.

Gandalf stops and rubs his hand against the stone wall. I see a faith outline of something on the stone.

"Well, let's see. Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." Gandalf says quietly. The moon appears in the sky, lighting up the door. The outline begins to glow a white light. There is writing engraved on the top. "It reads 'The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'"

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asks Gandalf.

"Oh it's quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open." Gandalf says, confidently. "Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen! (Gate of the Elves open now for me!)" Gandalf says loudly, placing his staff against the door. Nothing happens. "Fennas Nogothrim lasto beth lammen! (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk listen to the word of my tongue!)" he tries again, still nothing.

"Nothing's happening." Pippin says. Gandalf tried to push against the door, trying to force it open. We all back away a bit and let Gandalf do his thing. Sam and Aragorn unpack Bill, Aragorn's horse, and send him away. This is no place for a horse. Somebody sits down beside me I turn and look, seeing Boromir there.

"I just wanted to apologize for what I said at the council of Elrond." He says. "It was not right for me to bring our personal business into something like that."

"I'm sorry for what I said as well about your father." I say, quietly.

"It's alright." He says. "I know how my father treated you all those years. I do not blame you for the distrust you have of him." I nod, his gaze lingers on the scar that wraps my eye.

"Is this... a truce then?" I ask him.

"I believe so." He says, he sticks out his hand and I shake it. He's about to stand when I put a hand on his arm.