Moonbreeze (Legolas x OC)

Part 9

"That wretched creature is here." Ithilae breathes, hearing Gandalf and Frodo speak quietly of him: Gollum, or Sméagol as he was once called.

Celebrimbor nods beside her, pacing up and down the corridor she holed herself up in. "It is only to be expected. He's quite smart. I'm not surprised he's caught the trail." he says.

They've had dealings with him before, some years ago. Having possessed the Ring for as long as he had, he was quite aware of Celebrimbor when they crossed paths. He knew who the elf was and followed them for some time, until he was sure they didn't have what he was looking for. He's more trouble than he's worth.

"Rhaich (curses)!" Ithilae spits before turning her eyes on her grandfather. "Will you stop going back and forth? Your restlessness is getting on my nerves." she complains. "And here I was believing you were the level-headed one of us..." she mutters.

"It's dangerous here. Dwell here too long and you'll find yourself overrun. I can sense the presence of a great host." he warns.

Ithilae glances towards Gandalf. "Well, it is not really up to me."

Celebrimbor goes to speak up, but is interrupted by Frodo's voice drifting towards them, "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." he tells Gandalf sadly, making the elf stop his pacing and cast his eyes to the ground.

Ithilae knows it origins from guilt. They've had the conversation many times over; the One Ring should have never been made. And despite the endless arguments they've had, she always insisted that its existence is not his fault. Sauron's deceiving ways had him not catch on to his plans.

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were meant to have it and that is an encouraging thought." Gandalf reassures the hobbit.

The old wizard surely has a way with words. He can be aggravating, but when it comes down to it, he often knows just the thing to say. But how she does pity the hobbit for his fate.

Gandalf perks up suddenly, "Oh! It's that way!" he exclaims.

"He's remembered!" Merry states gleefully, jumping to his feet excitedly. He's always had full faith in the wizard.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." he explains.

Ithilae rises to her feet with a heavy sigh and joins the rest of the group after one final glance at her grandfather who disappears from her sight soon after. They continue their travels.

"Whom were you talking to earlier?" Legolas questions her as he falls back to join her at the end of the line. She frowns a little, but is not surprised he heard her speaking. Elven ears are sharp after all.

"Did you not know this place is haunted? I was speaking to a ghost of course." she jests half-heartedly. After all, there lies truth in that.

"And what would a ghost have to say my lady?" Boromir cuts in. He is walking in front of them and couldn't help overhear them talking.

They are surprised when her lips turn upwards just slightly, a breath puffing from her delicate nose that make her appear amused. "Why, to worry themselves to death of course." she tells them.

Boromir can't help but snort in laughter while Legolas puts a hand to his mouth, turning his head away to hide his amusement.

Aragorn pauses, having looked back at hearing them converse. "Your sense of humor never ceases to amaze me." he says, shaking his head.

Ithilae looks at him pointedly. "Yours isn't much better." she bites back. She met him first in his teen years where he was getting into all sorts of mischief, though no doubt spurred on by Arwen's brothers.

He shakes his head and turns back to the front, and so does Boromir after a final curious glance. Only Legolas seems to turn to his thoughts, although pleasantly surprised to get more than a sentence out of the elleth, he still feels unsatisfied with her answer. He decides to let the subject go for now tough, knowing he will not receive a proper answer now.

Soon they emerge from a passageway and into a great cavern. "Let me risk a little more light" Gandalf says, letting his staff shine brighter. It illuminates the area and the company gazes at their surroundings in amazement. Vast pillars as far as the eyes can see, rise up to great heights. "Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf."

"There's an eye-opener and no mistake." Sam says breathlessly.

Suddenly, Gimli spots something to their right and dashes off towards it with a cry. He runs of despite Gandalf calling for him and they have no choice but to follow.

They soon find him, on his knee in front of a tomb. He looks to be in agony as he sobs in sorrow.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf reads from the tomb. "He is dead then. It's as I feared." he sighs, taking of his hat.

Boromir puts a hand to Gimli's shoulder as he continues to sob while Gandalf reaches for a book, caught in the grip of a skeleton. He opens it and reads, "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. We cannot get out."

The others look around nervously as he continues, "A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." he finishes.

There is a tense silence that follows, but a racket suddenly interrupts it. They whip their gazes towards where Pippin stands. The skeleton resting on the edge of the well has fallen in and is dragging a thick chain and bucket with it. The noise is deafening to the ears of Ithilae, who winces.

The noise continues to echo though the Mines for a while, and with each thump, Pippin cringes, knowing he is the cause of it.

When the noise ebbs away, Ithilae along with others holds her breath. When silence ensues, she releases her breath, her nerves feeling shot.

Gandalf closes the book with a slam. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" he scolds, taking back his staff and hat from the hobbit who he gave to hold. Pippin looks decidedly guilty.

A low thump in the deep suddenly alerts them. Another one follows, seemingly coming from the well, but as the noise continues, it spreads. It's the sound of drums...