Nor mines nor tombs

784 15 1
                                        

The Fellowship passes south, along the misty shadow of an aqueduct's ruins

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.


The Fellowship passes south, along the misty shadow of an aqueduct's ruins. "Frodo, come and help an old man." Gandalf calls out to the young hobbit. "How is your shoulder?" He asks privately "Better than it was." Frodo answers honestly. "And the Ring?" He asks rhetorically "You feel its power growing, don't you? I've felt it too. You must be careful now. Evil will be drawn to you from outside the Fellowship. And, I fear, from within."

"Who then do I trust?" Frodo looked up at Gandalf, who responds "You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths." Frodo looks confused and asks "What do you mean?" Gandalf goes into more depth to the young hobbit "There are many powers in this world, for Good or for Evil. Some are greater than I am. And against some I have not yet been tested."

Gimli runs his hand along the side of the mountain "The Walls... of Moria!" he whispers faintly Hali looking on with memories playing behind her eyes. The Fellowship stands and looks upon a vast cliff face. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli chuckles knocking his axe against a rock. The Fellowship moves along the wall, searching for a door. "Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf mutters annoyed, "Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas chuffs at the dwarf from a top a large bolder. Gimli grumbles, but says nothing. A foot splashes into shallow water. Frodo gasps, pulling his leg back. A great pool sits beside the rock face.

Gandalf approaches the rock between two trees, and runs his hand over the cliff face. "Now... let's see. Ithildin —" Beneath his hand run spidery silver lines, faint beneath the dirt."It mirrors only starlight... and moonlight." Gandalf mutters as he runs his hand along a smooth wall. As he looks up at the black night sky, the moon appears. The silver lines grow bright, outling a door formed of two columns beneath an arch, with a star in the center. "It reads 'The Doors of Durin — Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.'" Gandalf cheers. Merry looks quized at the wizard "What do you suppose that means?" "Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." Gandalf relpays before muttering spells under his breath, "Annon Edhellen, edro hi ammen!" (Gate of the Elves, open now for me) "Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen." (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.)

"Nothing's happening." Pippin pipes up Gandalf glances at him at him, looking slightly annoyed. He begins to push on the doors, but they remain fast. "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves... Men... and Orcs." Gandalf hisses, "What are you going to do, then?" Pippin asks in all innocence. "Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! 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." Gandalf grumbles. Time passes. The rest of the Fellowship is seated around the doors near the lake. "Ando Eldarinwa... a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa..." (Gate of Elves... listen to my word, Threshold of Dwarves...) Gandalf keeps reciting spells.

Aragorn unhitching Bill's bridle "The Mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill."
Sam gives a teary eyes goodbye to the pony "Buh-bye Bill." "Go on, Bill, go on. Don't worry Sam, he knows the way home." Aragorn ushers Bill off into the night. Bill clip-clops down the shore through the night.

An Olympian's DaughterWhere stories live. Discover now