Colours

Get me a Frying Pan

I took up the rear of the group as we walked through the mines. The one benefit of my eye condition was being able to see slightly better in the dark than most people which I was using to scan for any threats.

We walk up a steep set of stairs and through a haunting dwarf cemetery. The bodies have been thrown all over, clearly the work of goblins. They had scrawled words and rude drawings all over the walls and markers.

Reaching the top of the stairs I almost trip as Legolas stops suddenly in front of me. His hands reach out and help to steady me as I see why we have stopped. The path splits into three separate tunnels in front of us.

Gandalf places his hand in his beard stroking it, "I have no memory of this place."

~~

It was later on and nothing had yet to happen. I move to sit on a nearby rock beside Gimli and sigh.

"These caverns remind me of home," Gimli tells me.

I look at him and take in his melancholy face, "Tell me about it?"

He nods his head. "The mountain is beautiful. There are torches everywhere that light up every crevice and crack of the rock. The bellows roar is constant and the jewels are endless..."

I smile as he goes on about the expanse and beauty of his home. It makes me homesick for Edhellon, my safe haven before I met Aragorn.

"Ah! It's that way," I suddenly hear Gandalf's voice call out.

"He's remembered!" Merry exclaims.

Gandalf laughs, "No. But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose!"

I stand up and offer my hand to Gimli, "Come along, the road goes ever on."

~~

We go through an arched doorway into a beautiful great hall. I gasp in wonder at the beautiful, immense structures.

Gandalf pauses in his footsteps and turns to look at us, "Let me risk a little more light." 

He raises his staff as in shines brighter causing me to blink and cover my eyes unused to seeing light after so long in the dark. "Behold!" he exclaims, "The great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."

The fellowship gasps in wonder at the sight of the hall as I did moments earlier. In awe, Sam states, "Well, there's an eye opener and no mistake!"

All of a sudden Gimli rushes off towards a broken down door in the distance. Gandalf calls out, "Gimli!!" 

We follow after him wondering what he saw and walk into a room that is lit by a lone beam of sunlight shining on a rock slab. A tomb. I place my hand on his shoulder as Gimli falls to his knees and cries out.

Quietly, in the background, Gandalf reads out, " 'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead, then. It's as I feared."

Gimli chants softly as he cries and I rub his shoulder to comfort him. I hear Legolas whisper urgently to Aragorn that we should move on and I turn to glare at him.

Gandalf reads aloud from a book he found by the tomb, "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. A shadow moves in the dark. Will no-one save us? They are coming."

I shudder unnerved by the fear present in those written words. A sudden loud noise causes me to turn and see Pippin standing guiltily next to a well. Suddenly, the whole skeleton next to him is pulled into the well following what it was that fell before.

The fellowship freezes, worried as to who may have heard the noise in the deep. Aggravated Gandalf turns and glares at the small hobbit, "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!"

Pippin looks down at his feet as drums begin in the distance. Quickly I draw my sword preparing myself for battle.

Worriedly Sam calls out, "Mr. Frodo!"

Frodo pulls his sword out of the scabbard a little to show that is glowing blue.

"Orcs," Legolas cries.

"Get back. Stay close to Gandalf!" Aragorn tells the hobbits and pushes them towards the wizard.

I move to grab old weapons and help Aragorn and Boromir blockade the door slightly. Boromir takes a brief look down the hallway before turning and rolling his eyes, "They have a cave troll!"

Planting my feet I prepare for the coming battle, keeping my eyes trained on the door. Behind me I hear Gimli yell, "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

The door starts to shake as the goblins begin to break into the room. They make a hole in the door.

Woosh, Twang!

The sound of arrows begin. Aragorn and Legolas shoot frantically at the Orcs. 

Boom!

The door bursts open. Splinters fly everywhere. I give a battle cry and charge into the fray. I strike here and there. An arm. A leg. Stab them in the stomach.

A roar distracts me momentarily and I turn to see the cave troll burst into the room. He swings his club back and forth with no care of what he hits. 

The stinging of a shallow cut on my arm brings my attention back. I am surrounded by three goblins. Bringing my sword up I deflect a blow meant for my head. I kick the goblin in the stomach. Block the attack from my left. The goblin I kicked bent forward and I sliced his head off.

An arrow takes out the goblin on my right. I turn to see that Legolas had shot it. An orc is sneaking up on him from behind. I reach for a hidden pocket in my cloak and throw a dagger at the orc. 

A sharp pain causes me to look to my left. I stab the goblin causing him to fall, dead. 

A shout from Sam causes me to fight my way over to him. 

Slice. Block. Kick. Stab. Block. Repeat.

Sam swings his frying pan through the air hitting the goblins left right and centre.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," he says surprised.

"Can I borrow that for a second?" I ask. He nods and I grab. Spinning I turn in a circle and knock out each of the goblins around me. I hand it back to him with a nod, "Thanks!"

Slice. Block. Kick. Stab. Block. Repeat.

I keep fighting until a scream from Frodo causes me to turn. I look on in shock as the cave troll stabs him. I redouble my efforts fighting until all the goblins are dead.

Rushing over to him I reach out with my hands to assess his injuries. Frodo coughs and pushes my hands away.

"He's alive," Sam calls out, relieved.

Frodo sits up and takes a deep breath, "It's alright. I'm okay."

"You should be dead. That spear would have skewered a wild boar," Aragorn states in shock.

"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye," Gandalf smiles, knowingly.

Frodo reaches to pull his shirt away revealing a vest of mithril.

"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins," Gimli says in awe.

The sudden boom of drums causes us to remember our coming doom.

Gandalf beckons us, "To the bridge of Khazad-Dûm!"

We all run after him, desperate to escape.