His Corrupted Mind [Witch-King x OC]

Chapter XVII : To Escape From Khazad-dûm

"It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone." -John Steinbeck

Gimli was on his knees before the tomb, sobbing as the the rest of the Fellowship and Inconnu drew closer. Her grey gaze wandered throughout the tomb, noting the many skeletons both Dwarf and Goblin. Loose sheets lay everywhere, covered in a very noticeable layer of dust.

"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin,'" Gandalf translated as he read the writing on the slab "Lord of Moria. He is dead then..."

He then took off his hat, his gaze meeting Inconnu's.

"It is as I feared."

The grey wizard glanced down at that moment, and Inconnu did as well, She noted the thick tome in the skeletal hands of a dwarf warrior, and Gandalf handed his hat and staff to Pippin before moving to pick it up.

"We must move," Legolas said quietly "we cannot linger."

Inconnu agreed with him, the more stable parts of her instincts warning her to leave and to do so now. Gandalf now had the large book open before him, his eyes glancing over the words before reading them aloud.'

"'They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums...drums in the deep.'"

He turned the page to continue.

"'We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out.'"

Now Gandalf looked up to the rest of the company, his tone solemns and final.

"'They are coming.'"

A metallic clang sounded throughout the small room, and everyone's attention flew to where Pippin stood by the well, the skeleton upon it no longer having a skull perched on it's shoulders.

The Hobbit looked wide-eyed and Gandalf before the rest of the skeleton also fell into the well. Clangs and the rattling of an iron chain then echoed not only in the room, but also in the darker depths of Moria.

Everyone was stock still, listening intently for any sign of something coming for them. Long moments passed, and Inconnu then dared to breath a soft sigh.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf scolded as he put the book down "Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity."

The wizard took his hat and staff back, and it was then Inconnu ears picked up a rumbling. It was faint, coming from far below them, but it was there and her eyes widened.

"I hear drums." She warned, and Sam drew Frodo's attention his sword.

It was glowing a light blue when Frodo unsheathed it slightly, and then foul cries rang through the air.

"Orcs!" Legolas cried out, and with that the taller folk of the Fellowship leapt into action.

Boromir ran for the doors, intending to shut them and nearly getting hit by a few arrows. Aragorn shouted for the Hobbits to stay with Gandalf before he ran to help Boromir. Together, they closed the ancient doors and propped themselves against it to keep it that way.

"They have a cave-troll." Boromir stated as calmly as he could before catching an axe tossed by Legolas, using it to start barring the doors.

Inconnu helped in this, handing various weapons to Aragorn and soon the door was held closed. Now each ran to different vantage points: Gimli on top of the sarcophagus, Gandalf defending the Hobbits, Boromir on one side with his sword and shields at the ready, and Legolas and Aragorn with their arrows waiting the be released. Inconnu too had withdrawn her bow, though had climbed onto one of the wide ledges for the advantage of the higher ground.