Title & Chapter Number The Wayward Wish 3/14
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Tortured Scribes
Fandom: Tolkien
RatingNC-17
Disclaimer Thank you J.R.R. for the wonderful playground of Middle Earth. Thank you Peter for the wonderful playground created by your casting department. I don't own any copyrighted material in this fic, I'm just borrowing it and I promise to return it when I'm done. Did I mention I have no money?
Warnings None
Betas Alex and Hedda
Cast Characters for Lord of the Rings, Original Female Character
Timeline Lord of the Rings AU
Spoilers Fellowship of the Ring
Summary The realities of being a modern woman zapped back in time to Middle Earth - minus the fluff.
Notes Elvish is Sindarin; If it looks like Tolkien and it sounds like Tolkien, it probably is. He wrote it first, he wrote it best, I'm just repeating it for storytelling purposes and make no claim that I came up with it. Everyone else has done the Modern Female in M.E., so now it's my turn. Hopefully, I've done it with a bit of style and believability.
Chapter Three: Fire in the Dark
They stood before the Doors of Durin as it glowed in the moonlight. On either side, two huge holly trees that stood as silent sentinels, framed the door. Jessy wondered how they could thrive in this environment. The black water of the lake had poisoned all the other foliage surrounding it.
Currently, Gimli and Legolas were arguing over who started the current feud between the Dwarves and the Elves. Each blamed the other side.
She turned her attention back to Gandalf, who was translating the weird glyphs glowing in the door.
"The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter."
"So basically it's password protected," Jessy said.
Gandalf nodded.
"So what is the password," Boromir asked him.
"I do not know," Gandalf calmly replied as if he were discussing nothing more pressing than the weather. "But it should not be that difficult."
"What?" Jessy screeched. "You dragged us all this way, and you don't know how to open the stupid door!"
There were echoes of dismay from the rest of the party with the exception of Aragorn. Obviously, he had more faith in Gandalf than the others.
Gandalf turned to the door and began muttering some sort of gibberish. Whatever he was trying to do, it wasn't working.
Jessy sat on an exposed root and began to contemplate the benefits of suicide, if only to escape the nightmare that was currently her life. In the distance, wolf howls could be heard.
Gandalf spent several minutes trying every spell he could think of. Then he tried word after word in just about every language he knew. Admitting defeat, he threw his staff to the ground and sat in silent disgust.
Boromir began to throw rocks into the black water, a look of disgust on his face. No one really thought this was a particularly bright idea and Aragorn told him as much.
The wolf howls began to get closer. The party began to get a little more nervous. Gandalf just sat muttering to himself.
Suddenly, Gandalf jumped up. "That is it." He stood before the door and said, "Mellon."
The doors divided down the center and slowly opened. The company started into the mountain. Frodo, who had lagged behind the group, suddenly let out a cry of terror.
A large tentacle had risen from the water and grabbed his ankle. He was being pulled into the putrid, black, water.
Sam yelled what was actually an impressive war cry for a hobbit, and before anyone else could react, jumped in after Frodo. He hacked at the tentacle with his sword, and it loosened its grip on Frodo. They ran towards the others, and together, the company raced into the darkness beyond the doors.
The tentacle was soon joined by a multitude of others, and they reached into the doorway searching for their lost prey. Finding nothing, they pulled the doors shut. In what could only be described as a fit of rage, the water beast began to bombard the doors.
The entire party winced at the sounds of the two large holly trees being ripped up and thrown on the pile of boulders and rocks that had obviously been built up against the outside of the doors.
Then there was silence.
"I fear that way is now blocked to us. We have no choice now, but to cross the mines." Gandalf remarked before turning and heading up the stairs at the end of the chamber.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Jessy muttered under her breath. This remark earned her a sharp look from Legolas. Shocked, Jessy realized that the Elf's hearing was far better than the rest of the party. I'll have to keep that in mind, she thought to herself.
The party trudged up the never-ending stairs, and when they had finally reached the upper levels, Gandalf called for a halt.
"We have climbed about 200 steps," Pippin announced to the group. Jessy looked up to see the steps continue on until they were swallowed into the darkness.
The group ate a light meal, huddled in the small circle of light provided by Gandalf's staff. He instructed them on the dangers of Moria as he passed around the flask containing Miruvor. "It would be wise to conserve our water. It is a three to four day journey to the other side, and the wells may no longer be safe to drink from."
The company again began their journey, and Jessy wondered if they would ever see civilization again. For a mountain that Gimli claimed was filled with his kin, it sure was desolate.
They finally reached the top of the stairs, and Gandalf lead them through dark corridors. Then their path began to descend again. The air grew hot and stifling. Onward they journeyed through the dark. No Dwarf came forth to meet them, and no light other than Gandalf's staff pierced the darkness. Jessy was beginning to have a really bad feeling, the darkness eating away at her. The rest of the party all seemed to be affected by the never-ending darkness, except for Gimli. Legolas suffered the worst of the group, being a child of the forest.
The dangers of the mines soon became more apparent as they went on. Fissures and chasms ran through the walls and floors. The floors were so unstable that cracks would open up beneath their feet, threatening to send them plummeting in to the dark. The group slowed and tread more warily.
After several hours that seemed an eternity, they entered the mines proper. They continued to travel until they came to three gates. The party stopped as Gandalf considered their route. After a moment he said, "I have no memory of this place. I must think awhile before we go on."
To the left of the arches was a stone door still hanging on its hinges. Upon investigation, they found a wide chamber cut into the rock. In the center of the room was a pit with fragments of stone around it. Broken, rusty chains lay at the edge and trailed down into the hole.
"This must have been a guard room. We will rest here, while I ponder the way." Gandalf announced.
The group began to setup a makeshift camp. Pippin, however, was overcome with curiosity and walked to the edge of the well. He picked up a stone and dropped it into the darkness. Finally, the stone hit water with a plunk and the sound echoed up, amplifying as it traveled.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf growled. "This is a serious journey, not a Hobbit walking-party. Throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance. Now be quiet!"
Pippin slunk back to the group, head down.
After several minutes of quiet, a deep drumming sound could be heard. Jessy stared at the well be before rushing towards the stone door to exit the chamber. Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards the group. She turned wild-eyed with panic and in a broken voice said, "Let me go Elf. I can't stay here any longer. Whatever is making that noise can't be friendly."
Frodo reached for Jessy's hand to calm her, but she jerked it out of his grasp. "Don't touch me." She hissed. "This is your fault. The Ring is causing all of this."
Frodo stepped back. A sadness in his eyes as the burden of the Ring felt even heavier. Weighing on his soul.
Fearing Boromir would again take matters into his own hands, Legolas dragged Jessy away from Frodo and the group.
"Jessy! Stop this. You are going to be all right. We are all going to be all right." Legolas had pulled her into an embrace, as he would a frightened child, and was speaking softly into her hair. Holding the struggling girl close to his body. He had felt the call of the Ring ever since they had entered the darkness, and it had taken all his will power to resist it.
The drumming soon ceased and with it Jessy's struggles. He led her back to the group and, in the light, could see that she wore an expression of shock. Her eyes were blank, and she didn't respond when he called her name. The others had little luck reaching her either.
"I am afraid the journey and the Ring have proven too much for her." Gandalf said with a weary sigh. "She has retreated into herself, and I do not have the skill to reach her."
"Will she be able to continue?" Aragorn asked in a worried tone. He didn't like the possibility of leaving her in the darkness but if she were unable to travel, he would do just that.
As if reading his mind, Boromir turned to Aragorn, "You will not leave her here, Ranger. I will carry her, if I must." His voice was quiet but shook with fury.
Aragorn was taken aback by the tone in Boromir's voice.
Gandalf interrupted them, "That will not be necessary, she can travel. But, she will not be aware of her surroundings."
The small group began to share a meager meal of rations. Merry pressed pieces of bread to Jessy's lips and she ate mechanically, no emotion showing on her face.
Gandalf, who was still angry at the Hobbit's foolishness, volunteered Pippin for first watch.
After an hour, Gandalf took over the watch, sitting in the darkness pondering the gates before them.
~*~*~*~
Gandalf woke them all after another four hours, having made his decision about the gates. Leading them through the right gate, he was pleased to find a major corridor that had long ago served as a road. They traveled for hours, stopping only briefly on two occasions.
Finally, they entered a great cavern and Gandalf risked more light to show them their first look at the Dwarven city. The walls vanished into the darkness up to the vast roof. The hall was covered with many pillars, and the walls were black and polished like glass. There were three arches on the walls of the room. Gandalf called another halt for the night, and they huddled in a corner shivering, as a steady inflow of chilly air from the eastern arch assaulted them.
~*~*~*~
Jessy struggled against the darkness that held her prisoner. She was running through stone corridors. She searched desperately for the others, but in the darkness could find no trace of them. Always behind her was an evil presence, she was afraid to stop. Afraid that the evil would find her. Afraid it would consume her.
Whispers in the darkness ahead of her. She could hear her companions. She called again and again that she was lost, but they never appeared. They could not find her.
Legolas whispered softly to Jessy in an attempt to reach her once again. He knew, like Aragorn, that if they ran into trouble, Jessy would be liability. He used both Sindarin and Westron, knowing mortals often found the Elvish language musical and soothing.
"Lathr nîn lam Pen'tithen. Hear my voice little one. Tol ad na'ammen. Come back to us. Al'gosta. Fear not. Sí an'ned i'môr. We are here with you in the dark."
Boromir watched Legolas speak softly to the girl. He didn't like the attention he was giving her. Mortal women often became enthralled with male Elves. He was planning to take Jessy back to Gondor. Since the incident on the mountain, he had been racked with guilt. He had finally decided that he would find her a husband and see her safely settled in the White City. Now, the Elf threatened his carefully laid plans.
Jessy listened as one voice rose above the murmurs. It was Legolas. He was calling to her, urging her to rejoin the others. She ran faster through the corridors but could not find him. In time the voices faded, she was alone in the dark.
~*~*~*~
The company followed the faint light emitted from the northern arch. They journeyed down a long, wide corridor. Finally, they entered a second great cavern. It was as grand as the first. To the right was a stone door still on its hinges. They passed through the doors to find a square chamber. In the middle of the room was a single oblong block, two feet long on a slab of white marble. It was a coffin, lit by a single shaft of light from the east wall.
Gimli let out a cry and dropped to his knees.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." Gandalf translated the Dwarven script etched into the lid.
"I am so sorry, Gimli." Merry said as he laid a comforting hand on Gimli's shoulder.
Gimli mourned his dead kin, while the others investigated the small door beneath the shaft of light. It led to a second room in the tomb, which had obviously been ransacked. Old bones, weapons and armor where haphazardly scattered around the room. Gandalf found an old book.
He and Gimli examined it and found that it had been a journal of one of Gimli's kin. The city had been overrun with Orcs, and the Dwarves' escape had been cut off. They had made their last stand in the tomb of their lord.
Gimli put the book in his backpack, so he could show it to his people. They once again entered the great chamber. They stopped short as the sound of a horn echoed across the chamber. It was answered by another horn. The deep throb of drums filled the chamber like a sinister heartbeat.
They rushed back to the tomb, Legolas carrying Jessy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The others rushed to close the other doors of the room except for the eastern door, which Gandalf told them to leave ajar. Legolas found a corner and placed Jessy between two Dwarven skeletons. He placed two shields over her body. They didn't cover her completely but they would have to do. He could only hope that in the heat of battle, the Orcs would not see her.
Gandalf announced that the Orcs had a Cave Troll, and then, the battle was on. Boromir and Aragorn swung their swords, killing Orc after Orc. Legolas shot his bow with a speed only match by his kindred. Gimli killed with a rage born from his grief. The Hobbits fought valiantly for ones so small. Gandalf matched the warriors stroke for stroke with his sword.
As the battle raged, an Orc killed by an arrow from Legolas fell onto the shields covering the catatonic girl. Jessy would never know if it was the sounds of the battle or the shock of the Orc's impact that jarred her awake. But, one minute Jessy was lost in the darkness of her mind and the next, she awoke to a living nightmare straight from hell.
Jessy screamed as she caught sight of the black skinned, hideous creature that lay dead on top of her. She pushed the body to her side with a strength intensified by revulsion. Her scream attracted the attention of an Uruk. He turned and started to advance. He would have fun with the female after the battle, but he would not share her with the others until he was done.
Jessy stared in shock at the grinning horror that was advancing towards her. She groped with her hand until she felt the handle of a sword. She stood and lifted the sword to her shoulder like a baseball bat.
The Uruk laughed at the sight of the small girl holding the sword. She wasn't even holding it right. She would be easy prey.
Jessy closed her eyes and swung the sword. There was a moment of resistance when sword met flesh but then it slid smoothly until it hit bone. She felt warm moisture spray across her face and chest. Opening her eyes, she watched the life drain from the monster's eyes. The sword imbedded into its neck. It fell back on the floor and twitched. Jessy dropped to her knees and retched.
Gandalf yelled for the others to run. Legolas killed the Orc in front of him and turned to the corner where he had left Jessy. She was on her knees heaving. He sprinted over to her and grabbed her by the arm.
p Jessy was jerked to her feet and dragged towards a door under a shaft of light. She tripped over a skeleton and only Legolas' grip on her arm prevented her from falling. She lost her shoe but was unable to retrieve it. Legolas dragged her through another doorway into darkness. She heard Gandalf urging the others to run, and she was dragged down a flight of stairs. They stopped, panting in the darkness, and waited for Gandalf.
Gandalf appeared a few moments later, his staff barely illuminating the area. "We travel on in the dark."
"What has happened? Do they follow?" asked Sam
"I do not know. Something has scared them. We must make for the exit quickly." He extinguished the light, plunging them once again into darkness.
On and on, they traveled. Stumbling down the stairs in the dark. The air grew warmer and warmer until once again it was stifling. They rested very briefly at the bottom of the steps. No one spoke. Jessy tried to remember what had happened. She remembered the room with the well and then `waking up' in the midst of the battle. She was confused. Her right butt cheek itched intently and she wondered idly if some exotic insect had bitten her. Maybe that was causing her confusion, no one had told her anything differently.
The company moved on in the darkness, until they came to an archway with a red-orange light. They entered and found a large cavern. The center had a large fissure and fire licked the edges. The air was hot and smoky, stinging the company's eyes. The stone was hot under Jessy's bare foot.
They heard the throb of drums from the west end of the cavern. The Orcs swarmed on the other side of the chasm. They fired arrows at the company but were unable to give chase. The company raced to the left. Beyond the left arch lay a black chasm with only a narrow, stone bridge crossing it.
"I don't think so!" Jessy said, her voice laced with terror.
"There is no time, Pen'tithen. Run!" Legolas shouted at her, as he returned fire at the Orcs with his bow.
Jessy was just about to explain that she was terrified of heights, when Boromir scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. He ran across the bridge behind Frodo. On the other side, he set her on her feet and turned back towards the cavern.
Jessy looked back as the fire reared and churned in the cavern beyond. Legolas fired a last arrow before screaming "A Balrog". He turned and ran across the bridge, Gandalf following him. Jessy didn't know that a Balrog was, but Legolas' face held nothing but terror. Then she saw it, a great beast of fire. Gandalf stopped halfway across the bridge. She heard the others scream to Gandalf to run. Boromir and Aragorn ran out on to the bridge to help Gandalf. Her feet were rooted, terror held her in its icy grip. The next few minutes were a blur. Gandalf yelled and smacked his staff on the bridge. The side with the Balrog crumbled and fell into the darkness taking the Balrog with it. Gandalf turned, but the monster's whip curled up from the darkness and wrapped itself around his leg. Gandalf fell into the darkness. The rest of the bridge crumpled just as Boromir and Aragorn leapt off it. The flames died, and the company was plunged into darkness.
They ran on and on in the darkness, Aragorn leading them. Finally, they came to the great gates. There was a small company of guards, but Aragorn cut down their leader and the rest fled from his wraith. They passed the gates, down a final flight of stairs and into the meadow beyond.
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