Chapter 24
~Eliana's P.O.V.~
It had taken us four days until we knew that we were close to the walls of Moria. Gandalf was in the front speaking with Frodo, and I stayed beside Legolas who was lightly arguing with Gimli about dwarfs and their customs.
"The walls...of Moria" Gimli said as he pointed to a great stone wall.
Everyone quickened their pace until we finally reached the wall. Where Gandalf and Gimli were lightly tapping at the walls to search for the door.
"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed" Gimli said as he walked and tapped on the wall.
"Yes Gimli their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten" Gandalf said
"Why does that not surprise me?" Legolas said as he looked at me with a smirk.
Gimli lightly growled at Legolas's comment and I could not help but laugh lightly to myself. I always knew that Legolas always liked to mess around with Gimli and his temper. I walked near Frodo and he slipped by the edge of the lakes waters. I quickly held him so that he would not fall. I stood him up and he mumbled thank you lightly and went to Gandalf. I returned to Legolas's side and I saw Gandald stopp and rub the walls and began to mumble to himself.
"Well, lets see... Ithildin It mirrors only starlight and moonlight" Gandalf said as he looked up at the hidden moon.
It did not take long as the moon came out. The moonlight happily danced on my skin, making me feel relieved in a way. The moonlight also caused the wall to glow, making to door of Moria reveal itself. Gandalf stood back and smiled victoriously as he found the door.
"It reads: The doors of Durin Lord of Moria Speak friend and enter" Gandalf translated to everyone.
"What do you suppose that means?" Merry said as he stared at the wall with amazement.
"Oh it's quite simple If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open" Gandalf said as he put the tip of his staff in the center of a star and said "Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen!"
Everyone waited anxiously for something to happen but nothing happened. Gandalf stood back with a puzzled looked playing at his face. Then he tried a different spell but the results were the same, nothing happened.
"Nothing's happening" Pippin said.
Gandalf then tried to push the doors open but he failed. "I once knew every spell in the all tongues of Elves, Men and Orcs" Gandalf said in complete frustration.
"What are you going to do then?" Pippin asked.
"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 snapped at Pippin.
Pippin put his head down ashamed to look at Gandalf, I felt bad for poor Pippin, he did not deserve to be shouted at, not one bit. A little while passed and nothing happened. I took my time to sit underneath the tree along with Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli. Aragorn and Sam were setting Bill, Sam's pony free. We just sat there not bothering to break the silence, that was until i heard a splash.
'NO!...stop you must not make any movement in the water!' HIS voice shouted in my head, causing me to wince in pain.
"Are you alright?" Legolas and Boromir said in unision.
"I-I'm fine" I said as I got up and I went to Merry and Pippin who were throwing rocks at the lake. I quickly took a hold of Pippin's arm before he could throw another rock into the lake.
"Do not disturb the water!" I hissed out in frustration.
Pippin dropped the rock along with Merry and they both went to sit down.
'Check for any signs of movement Eliana' HIS voice said again, this time a bit relaxed.
I did as I was told and I watched the water for any movement, and it was still, quiet, and calm.
"Oh, it's useless" Gandalf said as he threw his staff on the ground and sat down beside Frodo.
When Frodo stood up, it was then that I saw the movement in the water. Boromir and Aragorn quickly went to my side and saw the waters move too.
'Be careful...prepare yourself...it has awakened' HIS voice said one last time.
"It's a riddle speak 'friend' and enter...What's the Elvish word for friend?" I heard Frodo say.
The waters moved more and more. I quickly took a hold of Azda, ready to fight.
"Mellon" Gandalf said.
The wall rumbled loudly and I heard Gandalf cheering loudly. I could hear the door open but I refused to take my eyes of the water. I felt a hand on mine and I turned to see Legolas.
"Come" He said gently.
As we walked through the doors of Moria my nose was attacked by the smell of thousands of rotting corpses.
"Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone! This my friend is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine A MINE!" Gimli exclaimed loudly.
Gandalf quickly lit up his staff and I walked beside Legolas I could hear crunching beneath my feet, and as I looked down I could see skeletons everywhere. I gasped in horror and examined the skeletons of the corpses. Few were of dwarves. and many more were of goblins.
"This is no mine...it's a tomb."Boromir said gravely.
I watched as Gimli looked around the mine gravely, not believeing his eyes.
"NO! NOO!NOOOOO!!" He yelled angrilly.
Beside me Legolas quickly pulled out an arrow fro a dead corpse. "Goblins!" He said as he quickly pulled out his bow and an arrow, I did the same and Aragorn and Boromir unsheathed their swords.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan...we should never have come here" Boromir said carefully backing out of the mine. "Now get out of here...Get out!" Boromir shouted.
Everyone slowly backed out of the mines, but then I could hear the halflings scream, mainly Frodo.
"Strider!"Sam called out and everyone went to Sam.
"Aragorn!" I yelled and pointed towards Frodo.
Aragorn quickly charged to Frodo to help just as Sam had cut a tentacle to free Frodo. Then more came out and pushed everyone to the ground and it grabbed Frodo's ankle and hoisted him into the air. Aragorn and Boromir quickly fought off tentacles to try to reach Frodo but it was getting helpless. Legolas had tried to fire an arrow, but only managed to loosen the grip. I could not have Frodo die on me, I quickly ran and Dove into the water. The water was cold and if hit me hard, like a thousand knives being stabbed at my body. I ignored it and quickly aimed my bow and arrow right at the beasts head. When I released it I could see nothing but the giant squid loose his thick black blood. I could When I resurfaced I took a quick breath and swam for the shore. The beast had released Frodo and he fell into Boromir's arms. The monster was a bit disorientated from my blow, I smirked victoriously and got out of the water.
"Into the mines!" I heard Gandalf yell.
When everyone quickly ran for the mines The creature went after us again, and I was about to fire another arrow but Legolas beat me to it. He only smirked at me and then pulled my into the mines. The monster tried to follow us but he only managed to cause the front passage way to be sealed shut by rubble.
"Oh no....no no no no no.....please no!" I shouted and began to pound my fists at the large boulders. "No please no...please...I need to get out of here...I can't be here!" I yelled this time, trying to move the large boulders, but failed misserably.
"What's her problem?" Merry asked.
"Oh no...I refuse to die here!!" i yelled again.
"Eliana!..." Legolas said right beside me. His hands slowly take my waist. ~You will be fine~
"What's wrong Eliana...are you scared of the dark?" Boromir teased.
"NO! I am a Linfian! I will die here...this place will be my own grave!" I hissed out venomously.
~Calm down...you will be fine...I will protect you~ Legolas whispered softly into my ear, calming me down quickly.
"Eliana...what is wrong?" Gandalf asked as he lit his staff.
"Like I said before...I am a Linfian elf...there are ways that we live and those ways are in the forest and up in trees...we do not belong underground in a mine.......without the sun and the moon's light...I will die...my body will grow weaker and weaker until I an dead Gandalf...this tomb is not a place for me" I muttered lightly.
"Well we now have but one choice we must face the long dark of Moria be on your guard there are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world...Quietly now it's a four day journey to the other side let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed" Gandalf said as he lead us through the darkness of Moria.
