A Half Elf's Love

Ripples in the Water

(Deliadis POV)

I woke up in someone's arms. They were warm, whoever they were. I blinked away exhaustion, staring up at my brother. I had remembered being with Elladan so I was highly confused.

"Morning." I blinked slowly as a response, my mind still trying to thaw from the cold. "Elladan is currently holding Frodo and Sam. I took you." I nodded, curling into his chest. I was still a bit cold. I closed my eyes, drifting into sleep again. When I opened my eyes again, it was night again. I was lying on rocks with a blanket over me. I pushed myself up, rubbing my head.

"Delia? Is everything alright?" I looked over at Elladan, watching his eyes. He stepped closer, sitting beside me. Everyone else was asleep. I sat crossed legged, looking at my feet. I wasn't quite sure what to say. "Deliadis?" I turned my head, looking at Elladan. He shifted closer, and there was some sort of spark. We both somehow ended up kissing each other. My arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, and his hands were rooted in my hair, ensuring that neither of us could break the moment. I closed my eyes, relishing the feeling. I opened my eyes, only to wake up in the grass. It was a dream. As the sun rose across the field, I saw Elladan waking up across from me. We both locked eyes with each other and began to blush. I bit my lip, rising and rolling up my blanket. I walked beside Aragorn as we journeyed to Moria. All was fine, despite Gimli's incessant shouting. He finally said something useful after a long while.

"The Walls...of Moria!" He unfortunately now had to jabber about Moria. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He hit the rock with his axe. Gandalf shouted back at the dwarf.

"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Legolas suddenly spoke after being quiet the whole time.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I struggled to hold in a laugh alongside Aragorn, who used his hood to hide his face from everyone else. We continued walking, and as we did I saw a lake. I stopped in my place. It was the lake from my vision. I gripped my brother's arm, fear settling in my heart. I heard a splash. It was Frodo's foot. My hands began to shake. I didn't say anything for the sake of the hobbits, for it would scare them even more. Gandalf walked to the doors of Moria, running his hand along the stones.

"Now...let's see. Ithildin...it mirrors only starlight...and moonlight." As if on cue, the moon began to appear from behind the clouds. I stared at the mirky waters, scanning for the tentacled beast that could appear. I stared at the doors, trying to distract my mind. The doors were beautiful, the they clearly had an elven influence. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin — Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'" Merry spoke up to Gandalf's reading of the runes.

"What do you suppose that means?" Gandalf responded, his voice almost cheery.

"Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open. Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" (Gate of the Elves, open now for me!) The doors didn't open. "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen." (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.) Pippin just had to state the obvious.

"Nothing's happening." Gandalf barely cast a glance at Pippin, and muttered quietly to himself.

"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves...Men...and Orcs." Pippin just couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"What are you going to do, then?" Gandalf fired back, annoyance lacing his voice.

"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." Time kept passing, and I kept watching the water with Aragorn. Nothing was taking my attention, until Elladan stood beside me. He whispered quietly to me, trying not to alarm the hobbits.

"This is the lake?"

"Yes." I took a shaky breath, finally looking up at him. Aragorn left to send Bill the pony on his way, away from death and danger. "I won't tell the hobbits for fear of their reaction." Elladan sat, gesturing for me to join his side. I did, rubbing my forehead. This whole mine was a headache and for some reason the stench of death was prevalent. I heard a splash. I turned my head, watching as my brother grabbed Merry and Pippin's wrists.

"Do not disturb the water." He looked like he was about to say something more, but Gandalf shouted loudly in frustration.

"Oh, it's useless!" A ripple ran across the lake. Elladan and Boromir were watching now too. Frodo suddenly spoke after staring at the runes.

"It's a riddle. Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?" Gandalf stood, speaking loudly.

"Mellon..." I heard Legolas grumble to himself about being one of the only elves on the journey and how Frodo should have asked him. I chuckled a little nervously, my attention still on the water. I could hear the doors open, but there was a large bubble that popped at the surface. Elladan and I were the only ones left outside. A tentacle shot out of the water. I screamed and Elladan jumped on the tentacle. I watched as it wrapped around him, and another went towards Frodo. I jumped on that one, only for it to wrap around me. I screamed, fear clouding my judgement. There was a crack and a gasp of pain. I looked up to see Elladan lying on the ground, blood seeping around his head. I let out a scream, only to be plunged under the water. It was freezing and the tentacles were slimy. My vision began to grow dark, as I had no air. I woke up gasping for air and vomiting up water. I was surrounded by a different type of darkness.

"Delia!" Someone threw their arms around me. It was Aragorn. I held onto him, adjusting to the darkness and looking for Elladan.

"Elladan, where is he? He was hurt."

"He's alright. His ankle is sprained and he may have a slight concussion, but he will be alright in a few days, a week at most. Legolas is holding him up right now. We're trapped in Moria and have to journey to the other side." Aragorn pulled me up, letting me lean on him as we began to walk slowly into the mine that reeked of death.