A Promise- a LOTR Fanfiction (Legolas) ❤︎ ✓

Chapter 7: A Journey in the Dark

EDITED 02/06/16

A droplet of water cascades down my neck and onto my back, making me shiver at the sensation. I walk behind the Fellowship, bringing up the rear with Aragorn. He doesn't speak, but for once, I'm okay with that. I'm too cold to carry out a proper conversation, anyways. 

"The walls of Moria." Gimli says in awe, staring at a huge cliff face. We make our way towards the stone wall by inching around a lake. The water is black and murky, swirling with mystery. When I peer at the surface, I cannot see my reflection or the dim moonlight.

Only darkness.

The snow is completely gone from my clothes, but the water still remains. The melted liquid drips icily down my body in thin rivulets before plopping onto the ground, freezing me to the bone. My hair hangs limply across my shoulders. I swallow and cross my arms tightly across my chest. 

Gandalf approaches the rock face and begins to brush off the dirt, running his hands over the cool stone. Dirt and dust is brushed off deftly, sparkling in the air as it turns and falls to the ground. 

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli says proudly.

"Yes Gimli, even their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf responds, still searching the wall, moving to the right as he searches. His grey robes drag across the dirt.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas mumbles from beside me, smirking slightly. I elbow him in the ribs, trying to stop myself from laughing out loud. I shake my head, letting out a puff of air. We continue our slow pace, following the wizard along the perimeter of the rock face and along the edge of the lake.

Splash!

Frodo jumps back from the edge of the water, mouth open with a silent cry. He glances back at the pond, nervous fear radiating from his expressive eyes. I look into the dark waters. I do not know what is in the water, but I feel like I don't want to know either. 

I prod Legolas in the shoulder, eyes still trained on the lake.

"Something lurks within that lake." I murmur softly, unable to shake the feeling of something or someone watching us. Legolas tilts his head at me with a strange look on his face, and then turns to the water. A few seconds later, he looks back to me and whispers;

"Just don't disturb it, and be careful."

Gandalf suddenly stops in between two giant trees, and begins to brush off the dirt on the surface of the stone once again.

"Now, let's see..." Gandalf mutters. "Ilthildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." He steps to the side, and after a moment, the glimmering light of the moon shines onto the rough, grey stone. I raise my eyebrows at the timing.

The stone starts to show some glowing lines, and I can make out a door. Swirling, radiant beams of light emanate from the door to form words and shapes. I peer at the words, recognizing Elvish, but am not able to piece the words together.

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

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asks curiously, tilting his head.

"Oh, it's quite simple!" The wizard says cheerfully. "If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." He presses the tip of his wooden staff on the center of the door. "Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen! (gate of the elves, open now for me!)"

Everybody is dead silent, waiting in anticipation. Wolves howl in the distance, the occasional hoot of an owl echoing along with the wind whooshing through tall treetops.