Aria the Black (Book 2 of the Daughters of Durin Trilogy)

Chapter 9: The Mines of Moria

"Welcome to the Mines Of Moria."

The Fellowship walked into the dark cavern, the thick door shutting behind them. They could see nothing, the kingdom completely encased in darkness. Reaching out, Aragorn touched the walls and recognized the Dwarven make, also finding a torch and picking it up. With a snap of his finger, Gandalf lit the torch, the embers falling at the Fellowship's feet. They peered around them, seeing dust, cobwebs and other kinds of decay. Aria was beginning to realize why Gandalf wanted to avoid this route of passage- there was something eerie and unholy residing here, something that most definitely did not belong.

"It is too quiet. Something is wrong." Gimli's husky voice echoing down the halls, cutting through the silence. He looked around, seeming to search for any signs of his Dwarven brothers. "Balin?" He called out.

"Gimli." Aragorn interrupts. "Let's not go looking for trouble."

"Trouble? What possibly could be here? Besides from the Dwarves, of course."

Aria reached out, gently placing her fingers on Gimli's arm. "Let's wait and see. Until we know for certain that there is nothing here that doesn't belong."

The rest of the Fellowship already did know, however, that the Mines of Moria had seen great tragedy. They walked through the entryway and into the mines, their adrenaline elevated and their consciences sharp, ready for any new dangers thrown their way. After continuing about halfway through the mines, in total silence, they entered an enormous room, lit with some light from the outside. There was a big, rectangular stone in the center, and soldiers' armor outlined the entire room, built into the walls in three rows. The light hitting the stone almost blinded the Fellowship, revealing some ancient dwarven lettering enscribed into it.

"That is a good sign!" Boromir exclaimed. "We must be making progress. Light is a good omen."

"Keep moving." Gandalf grumbled. "We must not dally."

"Wait."

Gimli was knelt before the stone, resting one hand upon it. His head was down, and Gandalf sighed. He knew this moment would come, long before it did. This room was why he wanted to avoid Moria at all costs- the trouble lying inside these walls was demonstrated by this stone, and why it was here. Death had fallen atop this Dwarven empire.

"It's a tombstone." He croaked out, his voice breaking. "Did you know of this?" His head swiveled, his stare directly fixated on Gandalf.

In that moment, the rest of the group saw what truly lay around them. Bodies, dead bodies of the dwarves were twisted in agony and pain. Their skeletons withered to almost nothing, they still wore their battle armor, swords and many other weapons of dwarven make clenched in their hands. Aria gasped in shock, her face sunken in fear as she saw her relatives of old at their worst. Discouraged, Gimli stroked the nearby well, probably made to honor the troubled soul in the tomb.

"Here lies Balin." Legolas read from the inscription. Aria lowered her head, whispering her condolences for her old teacher. The last she had seen of him was years ago, when she had the last of her lessons. He was leaving from Erebor, to here for retirement- he had came here to die.

"He is dead, then. It is as I have feared." Gandalf removed his hat, mourning his friend.

Merry picked up a dusty book off the ground, Sam and Frodo crowding around him. Blowing the dirt from the pages, he passed it to Gandalf, who read;

"They have taken the bridge and the Second Hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. The drums, the drums in the deep..." He trails off.

"We cannot get out. They are coming."

"This is no mine!" Boromir's voice rose above a whisper. Pippin touched the skeleton atop the well, touching it's hand, when it's head rolled off and into the abyss. "Don't!" Aragorn glared at Pippin, grabbing his arm. The rest of the body tumbled down the well, making an ear-shattering clatter as the armor hit the walls. The bucket and it's chain followed, Gandalf staring at Pippin with the maddest look in his eyes.