A Peculiar Fellowship

Part Four

Great stone walls loomed before them, and a body of water stretched alongside the path.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gimli said, tapping his ax against the rock as they walked.

"Yes, Gimli," Gandalf replied, "Their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas murmured in amusement.

Laradel rolled her eyes, but she could say nothing in defense of the dwarves. She had seen firsthand how well the doors of Durin could be hidden while in the company of Thorin Oakenshield.

Gandalf muttered to himself as he approached a seemingly blank wall. He ran a hand over the stone, then whispered, "Ah... Ithildin... It mirrors only starlight and moonlight."

There was a pause, then the clouds parted and an intricate design glowed silver on the wall.

"It reads, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.""

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.

"Oh it's quite simple," Gandalf replied. "If you are a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open."

With that, the wizard stepped back and set his staff against the doors, then began to recite some sort of incantation.

Nothing.

He tried again.

"Nothing's happening," Pippin whispered to Laradel.

Gandalf walked up to the doors and began to push against them, trying to make them move.

"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of elves, Men, and Orcs..." he muttered.

"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asked.

"Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf snapped back. "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."

And so, they sat, waiting for Gandalf to open the doors of Moria. There wasn't much to do but sit, whilst the wizard spoke spells at the stone. Merry and Pippin found a brief reprieve in tossing stones into the nearby lake, but their distraction quickly ended when Aragorn bade them not to disturb the water.

Legolas came over to Laradel and sat beside her.

"My lady..."

"Lord Legolas..."

"Please, there is no need to use my title."

She watched him with amusement. "Yet you continue to use mine."

He paused. "Very well then... Laradel."

"Yes, Legolas?"

"I simply wished to ask... That is, I--"

Just then, both of their attention was drawn away when Frodo exclaimed, "It's a riddle... "Speak 'friend'... and enter! What's the Elvish word for "friend"?"

"Mellon."

There was a great crack, and the doors swung open. Laradel turned back to Legolas to inquire as to what he had intended to ask her, but he had already risen to his feet. She joined him, and the fellowship gratefully headed into the cavernous darkness of Moria.