The Unforgiven { Legolas x OC - LotR Fanfiction}

The pass of Caradhras

Gandalf notified them "It's Saruman!"

With a rending echo, a horde of rock slabs and boulders fell from the mountain's arms. The Fellowship shoved themselves flat against the sheer cliff wall to avoid the onslaught of stone.

The Gray wizard shouted "No!" and stepped out onto the ledge, rising on the snow "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" (Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)

A lectured fight started between both wizards, with Saruman trying to weaken the mountain and the other to put it back to sleep. The rest were trying to survive through it. As lightning struck against the tip of Caradhras, it sent more snow against everyone. Legolas snatched Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just before the ice-fall hit. They ended up covered under the snow. Soon everyone tried to emerge.

Boromir spoke first, "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" the Ranger noted.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go, through the mines of Moria." Gimli explained. He was suggesting to pass through Moria days ago. He thought it would be a safer road.

Gandalf wasn't sure, of fear that lay unsaid. He seemed conflicted. He spoke, "Let the Ring-bearer decide."

Boromir holding Merry and Pippin to him. Both hobbits seemed cold and extremely pale. He shouted "We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!"

Gandalf called him again "Frodo?"

After some time Frodo finally answered, "We will go through the mines."

Gandalf agreed "So be it."

The Fellowship didn't linger any longer. They passed south, along the misty shadow of an aqueduct's ruin. The company of nine and the outcast reached the gates of Moria on January 12.

"Frodo, come and help an old man," Gandalf asked the hobbit they were now facing the wall of Moria. "How is your shoulder?" he asked worriedly.

Frodo answered, "Better than it was."

"And the Ring?" Gandalf gazed at the hobbit and wanted to know "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."

Frodo confused, turned at Gandalf "Who then do I trust?"

Gandalf clarified "You must trust yourself. Trust your own strengths."

"What do you mean?"

The gray wizard explains in a low tone, "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."

"The Walls of Moria!" Gimli spoke loudly as he had finally reached the walls of Moria. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," he noted. He knocks his ax against a rock. Everyone followed along the wall, searching for a door.

"Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf corrected him. As Gimli couldn't hide his wish to enter Moria.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas mocked him.

Ethir glared at the Elf but didn't say anything. Neither did Gimli, he only grumbled.

Gandalf approached the rock between two trees and ran his hand over the cliff. He said "Now... let's see. Ithildin." Beneath his hand run spidery silver lines, faint beneath the added "It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." He looked up at the black night sky, the moon showed up. The silver lines grow bright, outlying 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.'"

Merry walked closer and gazed at the wizard asking curious "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 explained.

"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.) The gray wizard tried everything, though the Doors didn't open.

"Nothing's happening," Pippin commented.

Gandalf glanced at him, looking slightly annoyed. He pushed on the doors. But still, the doors didn't open. "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs," he said irritated.

"What are you going to do, then?" Pippin didn't get the message and went on asking.

"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 shouted.

Time passed and everyone was waiting for Gandalf to open the door. The ranger and Sam were set free by the pony. Since Moria wasn't a place for the poor thing to follow. The rest were sitting not sure what would come next. Until Frodo got closer and read again the saying.

"It's a riddle.." Frodo noted "Speak 'friend' and enter. What's the Elvish word for friend?" he asked Gandalf.

Gandalf answered "Mellon..."

The stone doors slowly swing open, rumbling deeply. The water outside shivers. Finally, the gateway to Moria was open. The Fellowship's darker paths were about to begin.

((Next Chapter: 9))

[last edit 2021/04/17]