The Fellowship trudged along the narrow strip of land beside the black lake, dwarfed by the towering cliffs of Moria. Cold wind howled around them, sending shivers even through thick cloaks. (Y/n) kept a vigilant eye on the water, each ripple making her more uneasy as they neared the gateway.
Gimli's voice broke the silence as he gazed in awe at the cliff face. "The walls of Moria!" he declared with pride.
Gandalf approached the smooth stone, reaching out his hand. As his fingers brushed it, thin lines of silver light bloomed beneath his touch, illuminating a faint outline of a grand, arched doorway.
"It is Ithildin," Gandalf murmured, the lines growing brighter, revealing intricate patterns and ancient Elvish script. "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight."
The moon rose behind the mountains, its light catching the runes, which sparkled like freshly spun silver. Gandalf read aloud, "The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."
Merry frowned, puzzled. "What do you suppose that means?"
Gandalf's expression was confident as he answered, "It's quite simple. If you are a friend, speak the password, and the doors will open." He raised his arms, chanting, "Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!"
The Fellowship waited, eyes fixed on the door with hope. But the stone remained closed, unyielding.
Hours passed as Gandalf attempted spell after spell, frustration growing in his voice. Sam stood nearby, half-heartedly packing and unpacking pots, while Aragorn murmured farewells to Bill the pony.
"Mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill," he said softly.
Sam nodded, giving the pony a final pat. "Goodbye, Bill." They watched in silence as the loyal animal trotted off into the shadows, unknowing but trusting.
Beside them, (Y/n) was setting Hades free, whispering instructions in his ear. Hades nuzzled her once, seeming to understand, before he too trotted off into the night after Bill.
At the edge of the lake, Merry and Pippin amused themselves by tossing small stones into the water, laughing quietly as ripples danced across its glassy surface. But the laughter was short-lived as (Y/n) stepped forward, grabbing Pippin's arm mid-throw.
"Do not disturb the water," she warned, her tone somber. Her gaze held an intensity that silenced both hobbits. She exchanged a look with Aragorn, who nodded and moved his hand instinctively to his sword.
Gandalf finally gave up, slumping down beside Frodo in a moment of rare resignation. His frustration was evident, and he gave a sigh, watching Frodo who peered thoughtfully at the door.
"It's a riddle," Frodo said softly, realization dawning. "Speak, friend, and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?"
Gandalf's eyes lit up, and he whispered, "Mellon."
The great stone doors swung open soundlessly, revealing a pitch-black passageway leading into the heart of the mountain. They took a cautious step into the dark entryway, but just as the last of them crossed the threshold, the water behind them stirred.
A sinister ripple grew and surged towards the shore.
Inside Moria, Gimli strode forward confidently, calling out to Legolas, "Soon, master elf, you'll enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves: roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone." He gestured grandly at the walls, almost proud. "This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin... and they call this a mine," he scoffed. "A mine!"
But just as Gimli's voice echoed into the cavern, Gandalf's staff ignited, casting a dim, haunting glow over the chamber. Horror struck the Fellowship as the light revealed countless dwarf skeletons scattered across the floor, relics of a battle long past. Rusted armor and weapons lay among the bones, evidence of the fierce skirmish that had claimed their lives.
Boromir's voice was tense. "This is no mine... it's a tomb."
Gimli's eyes were wide, terror creeping over his features as he took in the sight. "No... no," he whispered, his voice cracking.
Legolas pulled an arrow from one of the fallen bodies, grimacing. "Goblins!" he spat.
Weapons were drawn as the Fellowship backed toward the entrance, their breath shallow with dread.
Without warning, Frodo was yanked to the ground, his scream shattering the silence. A long, slimy tentacle wrapped around his ankle, dragging him toward the lake.
"Frodo!" Aragorn cried.
"It's the Watcher!" (Y/n) shouted, drawing her sword and rushing forward.
With swift, precise strikes, Aragorn and Boromir hacked at the monstrous tentacle holding Frodo, managing to sever it as (Y/n) pulled Frodo back to safety. But the lake erupted as a mass of writhing tentacles surged from its depths, filling the entrance. The creature's unholy screeches filled the air as it lashed out, grabbing hold of Frodo once more and flinging him into the air.
"Legolas!" (Y/n) called, dodging a flailing tentacle.
With the deadly accuracy of an elf, Legolas shot an arrow straight into the beast's hideous head. The creature reeled, giving Aragorn and Boromir a chance to pull Frodo free and rush into the mine's entrance. They staggered back, retreating quickly as the Watcher's coiling arms seized the doors. The creature tore them away, the rumbling sound of collapsing stone echoing through the cavern as the entrance sealed shut behind them, trapping them in darkness.
Only Gandalf's staff provided a dim, eerie glow.
"We now have but one choice," Gandalf said gravely, his voice soft but resonant in the still air. "We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard," he warned, his tone heavy with a foreboding that settled in each heart. "There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
They exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of their path before them fully dawning in the darkness.
YOU ARE READING
Lonely Dragon {Legolas x Reader}
Fanfiction(Y/n) or The Lonely Dragon, a name that was known across Middle Earth. Feared....admired.....worshipped All she wanted was to be normal, but that wasn't the case. She was made to be a weapon of war, the spawn of Sauron himself. His plan B if the Rin...
