The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 10: Waiting

Chapter 10: Waiting

We decided to make a small camp for a few hours while Gandalf tried to remember which path was the correct one. I for one didn't want to go further into the mines than what was necessary.

I sat on a rock that overlooked the dip in the area where the others had made a small fire and were making some food. I was surprised at how the hobbits were doing on this journey, hobbits are simple folk and definitely are not cut out for adventures; but these hobbits were relatives of Bilbo Baggins.

"At least we get a breather." Legolas sighed as he sat down beside me, I nodded and watched Boromir closely. He was training the hobbits in sword fighting again and seemed to be getting along with everyone, but I was still wary.

I stretched my arms in the air, working out the kinks in my back and wincing slightly. "I hate the mines." I grumbled, looking over at Legolas who chuckled and nodded.

"I feel watched." I sighed and brought my knees up to my chest, adjusting how I was sitting slightly. 

"I know how you feel." Frodo sighed and looked around nervously, I smiled and gestured for him to come sit beside me; he nodded and plopped down with a thud, sighing heavily.

"Thanks for helping me earlier, with the creature outside." He winced as he thought back of how he had almost been eaten by some unknown creature. I shook my head and laughed slightly as Boromir tripped Pippin.

"You're carrying the object that is the reason we are here, I wouldn't let you die." Frodo laughed slightly at my response, I hadn't seen him smile in some time.

"Hobbits are surprisingly resilient," I nudged Frodo's arm, "I'm amazed at how all of you are holding up, especially you Frodo." I looked down at the hobbit who seemed to be deep in thought, "You have more courage than some of the other in the Fellowship," My eyes flickered to Boromir, Frodo seemed to know who I was thinking about.

"Watch yourself around some of the members." I reminded as Frodo pushed up off the cold rock and walked over to Gandalf, earning a warm smile from the old man. Gandalf loved Frodo and Frodo looked up to him and expected him to be there with the Fellowship.

"Anaire," Legolas called from beside me, I had forgotten he was there during my conversation with Frodo. "Did you mean everything you said to the hobbit?" He asked, looking past me at Gandalf and Frodo who were deep in conversation.

"He has amazed me," I said honestly, thinking about everything we had already been through and we were no where near Mordor. "Truthfully, I do not know if he will make it to Mordor. We must have hope." I said softly, my voice trailing off slightly as I thought about how much was depending on the success of this journey.

"I think he has surprised all of us," Legolas smiled and put his hand on my shoulder as he stood and trotted over beside Aragorn and began a conversation in elvish, most likely about which way we were going.

"Ah!" Gandalf's warm voice echoed through the area, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and stare at the wizard who was now up and walking towards one of the doorways. 

"It's that way," He gestured, Pippin ran up beside him and furrowed his eyebrows. I shook my head as I walked over to join the rest of the group, this hallway led deeper into the mines and I did not want that. "The air doesn't smell so foul down here," He chuckled and patted Pippin's head before walking down the stairs with the rest of the group in tow.

The Fellowship walked through a large door at the bottom of the stairway and the room opened up, dark, large shadows littered the ground and Gandalf lifted his staff into the air, "Let me risk a little more light." He said as the dim light that was radiating out of his staff became brighter and illuminated a giant stone hall with enormous geometric pillars and arched ceilings. I gasped as I took in the enormity of the room, this would've been filled with dwarves at one time, I wonder how many orcs are hidden away in this chamber. I pushed the thought away as we advanced through the room.

"Hah!" Gimli bellowed and broke away from the group, charging towards a small room that had a small amount of light trickling through the door. 

"Gimli!" I called after the dwarf who had now disappeared into the room. The group quickly followed him, I froze as I saw the somber scene in the center of the small room.

In the center of the room Gimli was knelt down, sobbing loudly with his head placed on a rectangular stone that elevated above the flat floor. Light leaked through a small window on the far end of the room and lite the stone.

The room itself was filled with decaying bodies, both dwarven and orc, arrows lodged into some of them and the others just strewn out everywhere causing us to have to watch our step.

" 'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' " Gandalf read a runed etching in the stone and sighed deeply.

"He is dead then, it is as I feared."

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